We're going on a holiday now
Gonna take a villa or a small chalet
Costa Del Sol, magnifico,
You know the cost of living's so low...
And we can still get information
Reading all about inflation
And you're never gonna be out of reach
There's a clubhouse on the beach...
Yeah, gonna be so cool
Twistin' by the pool...
----Mark Knopfler
No, we're not on long holiday quite yet----hurry, August.
In fact, I'll host another live chat right here next week, date and time TBA, before we alternate tearing bullishly through the waves and lolling on the hammock.
For the moment, though, let's discuss the straits (Dire or otherwise), in which the Rangers are sailing.
It certainly appears, according to the Swedish press, as if Mats Sundin will skate off to Vancouver or Montreal or Toronto or retire. He didn't mention any other team in my readings.
Worst case scenario for the Rangers: Canadiens.
Reeling in Sundin, in my opinion, would make Les Habs the favorites in the East.
If Sundin goes west, they haven't done much.
Pittsburgh is weakened by the losses of Hossa and Malone; the Flyers will be strong offensively again, perhaps a bit better on defense and uncertain again in goal. Ditto for Washington; I liked Cristobal Huet more than Jose Theodore.
Boston is treading water. The Devs added a winger whom many had hoped the Rangers would land: Brian Rolston; but they need more offense and improved defense, methinks. Tampa's changed the landscape as well. Ottawa's offense is formidable, but goaltending remains a question.
So who can right now say how the re-made, re-modeled Rangers will fare against this lot? Throw out last season. Eight fewer games in the Atlantic Division coming up.
Maybe an overall younger, speedier team, more physical upfront (Greg Moore's deal is one year, $577,500, by the way, so I've kept today's earlier promise) with a re-engineered power play and a more consistent year from Henrik Lundqvist will be just what the doctor ordered against the rest of the conference and the West.
Granted, the Rangers were 20-7-5 against their Atlantic foes. Again, no one can say if that would occur again, even with Jagr, Straka and Avery.
Unchartered waters, these.
Maybe the new lineup will help against the West, where the Rangers were an ugly 1-7-2. I can't read the tea leaves just yet.
Instead, let's consider this from another angle:
Which teams----other than the Rangers----have improved, stood pat, or slid backward?
Thanks...See ya later....
Comments (9)
On paper Rangers didn't improve much, but in reality they are a much better team now.
Zip, YOU ARE THE MAN!!! Thanks for the continued hard work and honest opinions!!
here are my ups, downs and no changes (in descending order from '07 - '08 final standings)...
Montreal: I would say no change really, but I think other teams have improved so much that Montreal will not be at #1 at the end of next year. Maybe finish 4th or 5th in conference? If they get Sundin then they will be obviously improved and maybe fight for #1 or #2. I don't see Sundin in Montreal all though IMO.
Pittsburgh: Slid backwards quite a bit but will be a contender for as long as they have Crosby/Malkin/ Staal as the top three centers. If Fleury plays like he did in the playoffs the nI see Pitt being pretty scary. If Fleury plays weak and nobody scores in Hossa's spot then Pitt will be fighting for a low playoff spot...maybe 6th?
Washington: Will be a contender as long as they are better than the other teams in a very weak division. I love Ovechkin and Green but think losing Huet will hurt. A good underdog and maybe I will put these guys at #3 again if only for the weak division.
New Jersey: UUUGGGHH...more trapping and more Brodeur means they will be sure to finish somewhere in the playoff pack. But I think they are losing a bit more each year and Brodeur has to retire sooner then later.
NEW YORK RANGERS: Obviously I think they have improved if you have been paying attention to my sometimes rather long rants. As long as chemistry eventually sets in before Christmas than I think we could have a really exciting end of the season and a big push into the playoffs. I am thinking (hoping?) that the Rangers can finish near the top of the conference...but I refuse to believe the sky is falling and we will miss the big dance. A solid 5th or 6th place finish for sure if not higher.
Philly: No change, and I think that puts them in the same boat as Montreal who will be passed over by other teams that have improved.
Ottawa: Hate to say it but I think Ottawa is in for a tough road ahead. They will have some good scoring nights but I honestly dont see them really even making the playoffs.
Boston: I think they are improving but at a very slow pace...they will be pretty good in a few years but next year I see an early exit from the playoffs.
Carolina: No change and that is not good for a team that hasn't been all that good for awhile.
Buffalo: See Carolina
Florida: um, I think they will have a good chance at the #1 overall pick in '09.
Toronto: Maybe with some drama gone they can play some better hockey...but I don't see a playoff spot for them.
New York Islanders: See Florida
Atlanta: Will give the Isles and Florida a run for their money in the race to last for the next few years.
Tampa Bay: If Mike Smith is ready to be a #1 and Stamkos is for real than I think TB can possibly be the biggest turn around from a worst to first kind of thing. More realistically I see them having some goalie issues and growing pains. Maybe they make an exciting late push for a playoff spot and then scare some early round opponents?
So that's it...I wrote this off the cuff so please don't bother with spelling corrections or telling me that I have four teams finishing in the same place. I tried to be as honest and quick as I could.
It's about time for a new look Rangers! Change is good and we should all welcome it. If some of the "new" Rangers fail to cut it, then we take a look at all those young guys that everyone is talking about. Lets go Rangers!!!
Hey everybody. Come and check out my blog on the Atlantic Division teams over at IslesNation. I will be covering the Isles, Rangers, Devils, Flyers, and Penguins rather than just focusing on one team. Regardless of your team preference, it is a good way to generate some hockey talk based on your team. Here is the direct link to my blog:
http://www.islesnation.com/justin.htm
I hope to see you guys there!
No one got particularly better except Tampa Bay. The Flyers got decently better with a few additions - Asham, Metropolit. Carolina has a better defense but less forwards - they did what they could with a budget well below the Cap's ceiling.
Rangers are re-formatted, for sure. Their defense is a big improvement over Strudwick, Malik, Tyutin and Backman. If the signings of Redden and Naslund and the trade for Zherdev helps their PP, then it's a big help.
Montreal should still be deadly on the PP, but losing Streit and not replacing him hurt.
http://www.nyhockeyrivalry.com
I like to send this out to bkylnblue and all Islanders fans.
Good read.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/john_rolfe/07/21/nuclear.winter/index.html?eref=T1
Anybody hear anything about Sjostrom?
I’ll just touch on the Atlantic.
Philly: Great team and very much improved from 2 seasons ago. They’ll fight for the division until the end of the season.
Pitts: Hossa and Malone will hurt, but not to the degree some might hope. The Joke is right, Fluery will be forced to carry this team from time to time. If he’s good, the team will finish at the top of the division.
Devils: Scoring is their problem, and unless they find a good touch on some long streaks, Marty is missing the playoffs, but not by much.
Islanders: They’re moving to some remote city covered in snow. They let their wangs dangle too long.
Rangers: 50/50 for the playoffs. For all the talk about replacing Jagr, Avery and Straka with Zherdev and Naslund, this season will be all about our young kids making a difference nightly. (a high scoring Defense, like last year, is key also)
Hank will need to keep is slumps to short minimums. Dawes, Callahan, Prucha, Korpi, _______ (insert any name here) 20+ goal seasons are expected by a few of them. (a third line scoring threat, production from the 4th line)
If this doesn’t happen, we miss the playoffs.
Slick
Funny thing is, Isles will still own the Rags only it will be 4-2 instead of 5-2-1.
Face it, Rags will stink this year. Losing the heart and soul of your team and best player, Jagr. Losing the intangibles guy that kept the other teams off balance, and got you a bunch of wins you'd wouldn't get otherwise, Avery. Losing a top-notch leadership player, that kept the binded the Rags into a team, Shanahan.
Adding a fading Redden (which will be this years TO Blake contract) to your defense helps your opponents and hurts your cap more then anything. Adding an inconsistent Zhederev to replace Jagr, this is laughable . . . you've just replaced a premier fading sniper for the new Oleg Kvasha clone. Adding a fading Markus Naslund is probably the best thing the Rags did . . . even fading he should replace the scoring you lost with . . . Avery, and the leadership you lost with . . . Jagr. LOL
You will stink this year. Face it. Reality stinks, and the Rags will stink even more. You will probably sit around 8th-12th, Isles (as much as hate to admit) will probably sit around 10th-15th, but at least Im realistic as to my team.