First of all, thanks to Sam Weinman over at The Journal News for writing an article on Prucha and his unbelievable character.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20090113/SPORTS01/901130385/-1/SPORTS
There hasn't been a ton of press devoted to Prucha - minus Larry Brooks who's been arguing on his behalf all year now - so any is appreciated.
Pete is now playing with confidence. He always played with heart, but confidence makes a big difference. It is a pleasure to watch. I'm sure - scratch that, positive -there will be a time for me to delve deeper and again into the enigma that is Prucha's time with the New York Rangers. But I think I'm going to take a pass on that for today.
Instead, word has come out courtesy of Larry Brooks, saying that contract talks have begun with Nikolai Zherdev.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01132009/sports/rangers/blueshirts__zherdev_talk_new_contract_149935.htm
Yes, pick yourself up now.
I am not saying that for the reason I don't want him on the team.
I absolutely do.
As one of the few - oh precious few - that can dazzle and make things happen offensively, I'd love to have him.
Just one teensie little problem.
$
$
$
The Rangers, thanks to Skipper Slats, are handicapped for the foreseeable future. How long is forseeable?
Well they are a half year into Redden's 6 year deal. They are one and a half years into Gomez's seven year deal. One and a half years into Drury's five year deal. Half year into Lundqvist's six year deal.
As I highlighted in one of my personal favorites: "Does it Really All Add Up Rangers Fans... (http://naturalhattrick.blogspot.com/2008/07/does-it-really-all-add-up-rangers-fans.html). . . these four players make approximately 49% of the Rangers entire team salary allotment.
Half!
And out of the lot, only Hank deserves what he's getting.
Therefore, the foreseeable future becomes anywhere from 3.5-5.5 years from now.
That's 3.5 years where other "significant" players cannot be signed unless these "insignificant" players are moved. Comparitively speaking.
And do you really think anyone is going to bite at Redden at his $6.5 million per year? Drury at his $7.050? Gomez at his $7.357?
Really?
I just don't see it happening. It would be a gift - a rare gift - if someone would take any of these players at THOSE salaries. A gift!
And frankly I just don't see the other GMs in this league playing Santa Claus to Mr. "If I had the payroll of the New York Rangers, I'd win the Stanley Cup every year" Sather.
So Zherdev wants to stay in New York for the long term. He loves it here. (Face it, of course he loves it here.)
But unless someone owns a time machine to go back and erase July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2008 from everyone's memories, I don't see how it happens.
And if it does - if it does - that's going to be that much less money they are going to have available to sign anyone else to play with those five players. (Well ten players actually if you include Naslund, Staal, Girardi, Voros, and Rozival as well who are also under contract for next year.)
And you want to presumably keep Staal, Mara, Girardi or someone that can actually PLAY defense beyond this/next year?
I'd now like to quote the Everly Brother's hit song:
Dre-ea-ea-ea-eam. Dream. Dream. Dream. Dre-ea-ea-ea-eam.
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2 comments:
-sigh-
Sather really screwed us on this one. We have a couple over touted second line centers, a couple of offensive defensemen who don't even fit the defense first system the Rangers are trying to empoly, and a goaltender. Granted, one of the best goalies in the league, but still. That's it.
We're going to have a serious winger problem next season. Zherdev is going to ask for money. Prucha is probably not going to be back with the team at the team's request (although arguably, since he's only a RFA, which is strange because he's 26 and that's kind of old I thought, but whatever, he might get taken to arbitration, where he'll get paid next to nothing because he hasn't produced, in which case we sneak one more year out of Prucha). Dawes will want a raise. Callahan deserves a raise. All of these players are free agents. We need to sign, besides wingers, Dubinsky who is probably looking for a raise, and Mara, who has been our most physical (minus Staal) and steady defensemen.
It's really scary.
The team has gone through enough of a overhaul last season... what are we going to do when we can't sign half of the guys we need too? Start calling up Hartford?
The only good news about Z working on a contract is that he won't be handed an offersheet, and the Rangers would NEVER BE ABLE to match it.
Imagine if the cap goes down? Dear god.
I cry when I think of the cap going down.
I mean it would serve Sather and his happy wallet right... but I'm a fan and I'd hate to see this team go down that road. Again.
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