tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102291454818563145.post5902195652662243701..comments2023-10-30T10:04:33.980-04:00Comments on Natural Hat Trick Productions: Has Naslund Announced His Retirement. . .?kelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10263870665506009146noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102291454818563145.post-72999303875891691552009-05-05T22:23:00.000-04:002009-05-05T22:23:00.000-04:00I think the thing to best keep in mind here. Naslu...I think the thing to best keep in mind here. Naslund was never going to solve any of the Rangers problems, for one. And secondly, maybe he came here and thought it might be different, but I think we all thought the team'd be different this go around, or hoped for it.<br /><br />BUT...all that aside, I was happy he came here because I always respected him. <br /><br />In the end, he might not have made a huge difference but I still believe he was not a part of the problem. At 35 he led the team (minus Antro) in goals, stood as strong as he could, and was a classy, stand up person. Even if it wasn't perfect, I'll take classy and stand up and he has always been that. Genuine good guy.kelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10263870665506009146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102291454818563145.post-75984394677509722482009-05-04T00:25:00.000-04:002009-05-04T00:25:00.000-04:00What the hell, Kels, now you're making me miss him...What the hell, Kels, now you're making me miss him! :P<br /><br />Seriously though, nice comments from the both of you. I was pretty much on the fence about Naslund all season: I wasn't a hardcore Naslund-basher, but I wasn't exactly running out to buy his jersey either. I appreciated what he brought to the lineup and to the locker room without feeling any sort of attachment to him. <br /><br />That being said, I agree about him being a classy guy, and after reading what the two of you wrote, I certainly respect him all the more. <br /><br />Kudos to Nazzy!<br />AllysonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102291454818563145.post-6416113564045775922009-05-03T12:13:00.000-04:002009-05-03T12:13:00.000-04:00I feel kinda bad for all the negative thoughts I h...I feel kinda bad for all the negative thoughts I had about him. I never followed him too closely in Vancouver, although obviously he was a star there prelockout. I truely believe Naslund did nothing for this team besides pot a few goals. Every night, when I would see him shy away from his checks, or when he would take a bad hooking call because he couldn't keep up with the guys skating around him... yeah, I was frusterated.<br /><br />But this is playing out so much like Jagr's last year here. Questions of effort level as the team underproduced. The difference really was that Jagr was a star HERE, and Jagr changed the culture around HERE, and Jagr was already endeared to my heart as a Ranger. Naslund didn't do anything like that as a Ranger. He did it in Vancouver. <br /><br />So, while I wasn't always happy with his contract, or what he did away from the puck... I do, in some ways, appreciate the time Markus spent here. And if I can think of him as I thought of Jagr, I am actually extremely saddened to see him go.<br /><br />If it's true that we would have bought him out anyway... what a super classy move by a super classy guy. I always thought Naslund was just so eloquent and respectful. And for even that reason alone, it was great to see him in a Ranger jersey.<br /><br />Can't say I'm NOT happy about this, though. It clears some desparately needed cap space.<br /><br />I'll probably repeat most of this in my own blog, later, lol.Kerrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04181684589030780235noreply@blogger.com