The Mystery of Sean Avery. . .

First of all I feel pretty badly that I've been so busy trying to watch all the
Rangers and Coyotes games, in addition to my real job and trying to have a life - an other than hockey life ;) - that the blog is much darker than it was to start last season or that I'd like it to be.

Perhaps part of that is how much more there was to gripe..er talk about
last year - with the record sertting start, to the dismal decline, to the
boring play, to the lack of personality of the players.

Actually, now that I'm listing things, this is sounding a lot like last year on the surface.

Well, with personality that is.

Anyway if you read this blog you know I don't do the Xs and Os thing. There are so many more bloggers that do this and do this well. So instead what you get from me is creative rambling.

Why you haven't gotten that thus far is because - ignoring time constraints that is - I honestly have no more answers than the rest of you.

Which brings us to a topic I can ramble readily about -

Reader Luke mentioned it in the comments here on NHTP. Carp on Rangers Report mentioned it after the Vancouver game two weeks ago. It was a Milbury, McLean, Hrudey conversation on HNIC two Saturday's ago . And Larry Brooks finally out right wrote about it in today's NY Post.

The topic at hand, you ask.

Just what the heck is up with Sean Avery?


First let's break down all the possible things that can be causing Sean Avery to be the anti-Sean Avery.

- He's still playing hurt and either playing through it or not being honest about it.

- He is playing timid because Tortorella has pressured him to do that.

- He is playing timid because he is afraid he can't be the real Sean Avery without punishment from referees.

- He has something personal going on and doesn't have his head in the game.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Now, let's analyze:

Option ONE -

None of us can speak to. I have no more information than you. I
would only hope that if he were injured he'd man up, say so, and take the time to get healthy.

Option TWO -

Tortorella seemed to deny this by his CBC comments and in the Brooks'
article today.

Tortorella got on HNIC when the Rangers were up in Toronto and said that he and Avery had a good relationship and were on the same page.

In Brook's article Tortorella is quoted:

"It's very important for the club for Sean to show his personality," Tortorella told The Post. "I think there are a lot of people around the club and who follow the club who think that the coaching staff is holding Sean back from being who he is.

"That is not the case. I want and we want Sean to be who he is. And he knows that, I guarantee you that he knows that. We've talked to Sean. It's not only the coaches. Everyone in the organization has told Sean that he needs to show his personality out there."

So it would seem, and we would hope, that this is the case.

Option THREE -

When Sean came back last March and started his second stint with the Rangers few could deny he got some unfair treatment by the referees. Things that were very marginal got called because they were committed by #16 in blue, not because they were actually cut and dry penalties.

That isn't to say that Sean didn't earn any of his own penalties or that he was always a target, but it's hard to say he wasn't treated differently. Whether you agree or disagree that he did (or that he deserved it) will probably tell which side of the Sean Avery line you fall on.

The culmination of this "situation" happened in the Rangers first round playoff series versus the Capitals. After a game of four penalties, two of them marginal, in game 3, and 2 penalties in the closing minutes of game 4, Tortorella did the thing everyone wondered if he'd do - he benched Sean Avery for game 5. The Rangers slept through most of Avery's suspended game, and Sean returned a quiet man in Game 6. Sean's best game of the playoffs, and perhaps his renewed Ranger career, came in Game 7, where he skated on the Rangers best line and looked fantastic.

But since the season started and Sean returned from injury (he missed the Rangers first four games of the season), he has not looked at all like the Sean we've known. He had six points in his first 7 games (4 wins and 3 losses in that order), and has had no points in his last 8.

As for penalties, he was called for none in his first 4 games back. He's taken 19 penalty minutes in his 15 games, but that included a five minute fighting major versus NJ on October 22nd.

Surely doesn't appear that he's been getting called as much as he was - although one boarding call was pretty absurd - but that doesn't mean he still isn't playing scared. The league has painted him as a villian. Chances are he still remembers that.


Option FOUR -

- Is Sean distracted? As much as he loved playing in New York, is he over it? Is he over hockey? Is his mind on something else?

Again, only he can answer this but this is the one option I'll be very disappointed in knowing is the right one. Not everyone gets second chances, in the city and for the team they love. Sean is not evil and he doesn't deserve all the crap he endures - at least I don't believe he does - but he owes it to me, and all the others who support him, to be trying with all he has, every single night.

______________________________________________________________________________

Overall:

Now, we may never be able to truly answer the question and pick an option, but I can say this much.

For Sean to be effective he needs to be aggressive. Smart but aggressive. I haven't
seen that yet from him this year. He's played too safe, definitely too safe. And when he's trying to please other people, rather than be himself, he is just not right.

So, if I had to take a guess, I'd say it's option number three we are looking at. For some reason Sean is playing scared, and not being who he can be, who he needs to be. Now, perhaps he is scared Tortorella will not support him if he goes too far in the other direction, afraid he'll be called for too many penalties (a very real risk), and he just doesn't know how to balance that fear.

Sean also, it seems, hasn't had the opportunity to work through it all that much. In the loss in Montreal, he'd have his season high ice time of 18:45. His season low - a mere 5:56 in Edmonton on November 5th. The less effective he is, the less he'll play, as per Tortorella.

However, this was a guy that "potentially" was coming into the season to play with Gaborik and Dubinsky. That may have been tried in the ever-changing switcharoos, but it didn't last.

Sean, when he's been in NY, has played best when he's playing first or second line minutes, with guys of speed and/or talent.

Sean's greatest assets are his skating, his ability to get the puck to where it needs to be, and his work around the back of the net as a setup guy. I haven't seen these things in enough abundancy this year. I fear in addition to whatever fear it is he has, that his lack of production may also be a result of who he is playing with.

I felt, I think rightly so, that Sean could get 15-20 goals this year. But if and only IF he is playing with the right players. But it seems no one on New York that isn't Gaborik, Prospal or Kotalik is the right players - for scoring that is. Not sure where that leaves Sean.

___________________________________________________________________________________

The bottom line is that Sean needs to be the player he can be. He really does. One, for himself, two, for the team, and three, to prove some of his critics wrong. He can't fix everything that's happened. No one expects him to. But if Sean is every able to make the best of his second chance, it's by being a good teammate, and an effective teammate.

It was pointed out, by Milbury in fact, that Sean looked disinterested. Well a disinterested Sean is essentially a useless Sean. He needs to be involved. The Rangers need him to be involved.

Larry Brook's in today's article said,

"This Avery might even get Gary Bettman's seal of approval."

If that doesn't tell you just how far off the right path Sean is, I don't know what will.

What I want, what the team NEEDS, is to have the REAL Sean Avery here, in New York playing for the Rangers. What I want, what the team NEEDS, is to see Sean Avery smiling again.

Even though you never know exactly what he's smiling about, Sean Avery is just so much more likeable when he's smiling, no?

Around the League: When You Need A Laugh, Watch These After Hours Clips. . .

Well no, I didn't watch the Flames/Wild game, as previously mentioned. (In former Ranger's land, Jamie Lundmark got a goal and an assist for the Flames, and #2 Star honors, in case you are curious.)

But...meanwhile that didn't stop me from staying up late and watching After Hours.

And I have to readily admit that I have not laughed that hard at After Hours in a while. (Well not including when they re-showed the clip of Alex Burrows doing his Marc Crawford impression during Ryan Kesler’s interview a few weeks back. That was classic!)

Eric Nystrom, son of Islanders great Bobby Nystrom, was their guest and he was hilarious to watch. In general just a good interview. Down to Earth, self-depreciating. Talked well of his father, and hopes he gets to see some of the success his father had back in the day.

The uncontested best part of last night, however, was when they made him watch a video clip of himself. Apparently when in Quad City Eric did an on-ice strip tease imitating the famous scene from Slap Shot. He said he's seen it hundreds of times and he hope's that was the last (and that his grandmother who was watching in BC was not too embarassed!!). But that won't stop us from showing it just one more time.

For your viewing pleasure here is Eric Nystrom:




Oh and in case you feel cheated, here is the whole Alex Burrows interview on After Hours from October. Move the time to 1:00 to hear the Marc Crawford impression. “Burrr, what you were thinking?”




Seriously, folks, when you need a laugh, I'd find it hard to believe these things won't make you smile.

:)

More Rangers Farewells, Kraft Hockeyville, Where Are They Now and Prucha's First Point. . .

A short post tonight, because I am not relishing having to lose an hour of sleep and go to a hockey game at what will technically be 11:30 in the morning!

If the Rangers have had problems showing up to 1:00 games, and 12:30 games, who thinks they'll be just dandy with an 11:30 one?

I'm feeling it will be a long afternoon already.



More Farewells:

Those heading out to Nassau to see Pete Prucha, Nigel Dawes, and Dmitri Kalinin, enjoy!

Also I must say that it was completely forgotten in all my thoughts and emotions over Prucha's departure from the team that two other Rangers left the team as well.

I heard Dmitri Kalinin speak once, maybe twice, so as a result I know less about him than I do about any Ranger in the last half dozen years, if I had to take a guess. I hope the change of scenery (again) is good for him.

Nigel Dawes wasn't my favorite Ranger, although he did have good moments and I sure liked the guy when he was scoring. A successful junior player, he, like many others, perhaps might not have had the best of chances to succeed here. I think he has a good goal scorer's shot, and that was proven many times in New York. He helped the Rangers win a lot of shootouts last year, and he had some timely goals, namely against New Jersey. Rangers fans should never forget those players that played well against their hated rivals. And he did.

As for the guy, I think I take some solace in knowing in knowing that both Pete and Dawes went together. As much as I still don't like how they both went together, I'm glad they did. I'd imagine if it were one guy going in that trade, instead of three, it would be a more painful adjustment. Instead, you know you have two guys with you who chances are you know pretty well. Pete and Dawes played a lot with each other on the Rangers, at times, and although Pete didn't get interviewed a lot, Dawes would, and he never hesitated to speak of how "Prooch" was playing well. I always appreciated that.

It's mildly ironic in some way that they both did get traded together. So often, and very unfairly, I'd take out my anger on Nigel instead of on Renney, when Prucha didn't play. It seemed a one or the other type situation, when goodness knows it was not that clear cut. Even if Dawes was a good old Western Canadian boy, instead of a European kid. (Sorry, last time.) As it turns out, it wasn't one or the other to be playing in New York; it was neither.

So best of luck to all the new Coyotes.



A Question to Ponder:


Speaking of Western Canadian boy though, a thought struck me earlier today. Nigel Dawes is from Winnipeg. And the Coyotes were once the Jets.

Does that mean Nigel is playing for his hometown team?



Kraft Hockeyville:
Congratulations to the city of Terrace, British Columbia for winning Kraft Hockeyville 2009.

I didn't enjoy the segments as much as last year's, with no disrespect to Cassie Campbell Pascal, because I think she's a doll.

No I think it's only because of how much I miss watching Kelly Hrudey have so much fun visiting these towns while Scott Oake looked like he was being poked with a hot branding iron the whole time.

I miss those two together!!



And lastly, Where Are They Now, for Friday's games. . .

Where Are They Now?

Team Player Action Note
Phoenix Petr Prucha* Assist (PP) 1st point as a member of the Coyotes
Carolina Matt Cullen 2 Assists


Congratulations to Petr Prucha on his first point with the Coyotes. Even though it was in a losing effort, the quotes from last night and the view of it show, it was a great effort from Prucha that allowed Lombardi to get the goal.




As if we'd expect any different.



And yeah, I know, I know. This so wasn't a short post. ;)

When You Wear Your PJs On Game Day and Other Musings From Around the League. . .

Oh those Canadiens. After being in Boston on Saturday, and thus being reminded of the Boston/Montreal afternoon Super Bowl tilt yesterday, I decided to tune in. Not right away, but about halfway through the game.

When my eyes adjusted to the site before me, my first thought was, oh, the Canadiens decided to wear their pajamas to the rink. Excellent.

Note, if you haven't had the chance to seen them, I'll try to post a photo later. To paint a picture, the sweaters were your bleu, blanc, et rouge, in horizontal stripes. Their socks were the same pattern as well. It was dizzying to say the least.



As a note, they were apparently worn during the 1912 season when the Canadiens were a NHA franchise. The CAC on the white maple leaf, stands for "Club Athletique Canadien."

Well in 2009, however, they did not prove to inspire, apparently.

In the part of the game I watched the Canadiens looked flat. The Canadiens dominance of their Boston rivals has definitely slowed since last year's playoffs, but it just looked outright gone yesterday. The only thing that felt old time about the rivalry was listening to the broadcast by Bob Cole. He has a way of making it all seem incredibly nostalgic, which is somewhat rare nowadays.

Back to the teams at present. As if it wasn't bad enough losing to your rival, on Super Bowl Sunday, wearing your pajamas, things did get worse for Montreal.

In a short time period, Robert Lang, Matt D'Agostini, and Guillaime Latendresse all went down and went off the ice. D'Agostini would return. Latendresse and Lang were not so lucky. Lang, I heard this morning, had his tendon cut by a skate blade. For the life of me and throughout the replays, I did not see that at all. But he will be out indefinitely.

So the Canadiens were down three men, four if you count #27.

For Alex Kovalev, the most baffling of superstars, was benched by Carbonneau for about 90% of the third period. This is yet another chapter in the long standing external battle between coach and player, and the long standing internal conflict between Alex and, well, Alex.

After the game, PJ Stock called him - potentially - the most talented offensive player EVER.

The problem is, it's only under the most extreme of circumstances that we see THAT Alex. I've seen that Alex. I have. For love of all the gracefulness that hockey can be, I'd hope that everyone at least once got to see that Alex.

Unfortunately, he is the undefinable example of up and down. I say undefinable because there is really no reason I can see why he plays when he plays and why he doesn't when he doesn't. I'm sure that's the million dollar question in Montreal this morning.

Almost chased out of town in 2006-2007, the best player and team MVP candidate in 2007-2008, and back to being ineffective and openly criticized in 2008-2009. Not many have had the relationship with the fans that Alex Kovalev has had in Montreal during his time there. His rise from Hero last weekend in the All-Star Game to his fall to Villain yesterday afternoon took not a full week to accomplish.

It's interesting to note, however, that Carbonneau had no problem benching his star player when he did not show up.

{pause for affect}.

Post game, Kelly Hrudey and PJ Stock discussed double standards. Apparently Kovalev played better this year with the C he was given in Koivu's absence. PJ questioned why a player who was having as horrible a year as Kovalev got the C. He said another younger player would be called out for having a bad performance, but Alex was almost rewarded. Hrudey said he thinks there can be double standards among stars, in that case. PJ obviously disagreed. Although, let it be noted, neither were defending Kovalev and his season this year. Apparently PJ was quiet the whole game because Hrudey was laying into Alex the whole time.

Anyway, Stock had said perhaps it was the PJs they wore that did the Canadiens in.

Later, he mentioned PJ Axelsson had a great game for Boston.

Ron: So PJs were good for Boston.

PJ: PJs are great.

[I was waiting for that]

PJ pokes Ron.

Ron: Why watch the Super Bowl, when you can listen to this.

Gotta love it.


Around The League:

I spent a lot of time on the way driving back from Boston and once I arrived back home listening to and watching other games.

I listened to Montreal come back against LA late in the game.

I listened to Anaheim/Colorado for a bit.

My 7pm game of choice was the Toronto/Pittsburgh game where they retired Doug Gilmour's #93 before the game.

Oh and before we continue with the game recap, we've run into Leafs Senior Advisor Cliff Fletcher.

Cliff: Who is this guy?
Burke: Doug Gilmour?
Cliff: Dougie Gilmour. hmm. Sounds familiar. Did I draft him?
Burke: Draft him? You traded for him!
Cliff: Woo-wee! What a steal. When's he going to lace up?
Burke: Lace up? They are honoring his jersey tonight. That's why we are here.
Cliff: Honoring his jersey? For what?
Burke: Uh...
Cliff: He hasn't even played a game yet and they are honoring his jersey?
Burke: But Cliff, he was the captain of the team back in...
Cliff: [smiling] I must have picked a winner. Woo-wee!

Thanks Cliff for always looking so, awake.


The real moments of the game, however, came from rookie d-man Luke Schenn.

Listening to the radio broadcast was perhaps as thrilling as watching it.

Their call as Schenn hit Malkin! And the call of the mauling of Tyler Kennedy by Schenn was beautifully intense. I didn't need to see it, I got it.

I guess you can say the Toronto radio team do not exactly love Crosby. I think that's fair to say. They made mention of when Crosby grabbed Brett Mclean off a faceoff and mauled him, tallying 19 or so minutes in penalties. If anyone else did that, they mused, it might have been a bigger deal. But because it was Sidney. . .

But back to Schenn. I later got home and watched his post-game interview. How adorable is he? Laughing, smiling, generally amicable. He really seems ages older than his 19 years. And ready, apparently, to assume responsibility for the Leafs franchise. Their steadiest defensemen happens to be their youngest. And he won't back down from anyone. It's great to see.

Also great to see, would be TWO Schenns playing for Toronto next year. But Luke won't worry about that, just enjoy the moments this year is bringing him:

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Hockey/article/580744

Lastly, I watched the Minnesota/Vancouver game, mostly to see how Dan Fritsche was making out with his new team. I saw him on the ice on a regular basis, which already was a marked change from his time in New York.

And guess what - he was playing center. And taking a couple faceoffs. And, well, playing his natural position.

Tom Renney, take note.

Not that I'd say Dan had a startlingly great game, but, heck, if I hadn't played more than one game in two months, I'd need a few games to get my legs under me too. It's just good to see him playing.

In other thoughts on the game. Cal Clutterbuck. Tell me that's not a fun hockey name? Wow. I kept hearing this guy's name for a while this season, but finally got to see him play. He is fun to watch. Well, he was fun to watch until he took the 5 minute boarding major and was tossed for hitting Alex Burrows from behind. Burrows got a nasty gash by his right eye.

In Vancouver, Mats Sundin is getting booed. Booed badly. And Vancouver is just not playing well. By losing at home on Saturday night, the Canucks continue adding games to their franchise worst home ice losing streak. Not a distinction a team that is trying to turn its franchise around wants to be making.

Now look, I didn't pick Vancouver to make the playoffs here, but I didn't think that adding Sundin would make them worse. If there even is a connection between the two at all.

Boudreau's Son, Jumbo Joe, and Mats With Hair. . .

So I finally got around to watching last weeks After Hours on HNIC. Only five days late, but I was so tired after the Rangers/Ottawa game I didn't stay up as late as I usually do. I know, excuses, excuses.

The highlights:

Bruce Boudreau's son - Brady - is adorable. He interviewed Brooks Laich, Dave Steckel, and Mike Green on a segment shown on Hockey Tonight. For those of you keeping track, Green's new nickname is Lambor-greenie, for his new vehicle. Good stuff.

Mats Sundin was the guest on After Hours after the Sharks/Canucks game. Shocking I know. Scott Oake said, it only took Mats sitting out six months and signing with a western Canadian club for him finally to appear on After Hours. He then asked if he regretted the decision now that he was here. On the show. Ouch. They did tell him he boosted their ratings though.

Mats was given a test to see which Sedin twin was which. I, by the way, think I've finally figured it out. But, sorry Mats, I'm not telling.

Mats fielded a phone call of questions from Glen Healy, former teammate with the Leafs and a genuinely good guy. Mats responded not so much in answers, but with a "fact" that the reason Scottish people, like Glen, wear kilts, was because the Vikings came downt to Scotland and made them.

He said he's still waiting for a response from Healy.

The best part, though, was watching clips of Mats from Draft Day - with hair. People think he's unattractive or menacing, and while I've never agreed with them on either front, he was an adorable little blond kid. He really was.

Like him or not, and I honestly always did, he's had a great career in this league.

Lastly:

Jumbo Joe Thornton gave another good interview, pre-Mats, with a few laughs. First he takes off his shirt pre-interview so appears with only a towel draped around his neck.

Not far into the interview, a voice heard in the background says, "Joe, put your shirt on. You are going to scare the kids!"

The voice?

Jeremy Roenick.

:)

At the close of interview Scott Oake asks Thornton to say something to PJ Stock who is coming on to do score updates. Joe says, "how am I looking buddy," or something along those lines. [Joe joked weeks earlier that there was an over 30 (or 40) league PJ could join in San Jose].

When we finally get to PJ after McClean, Hrudey, and Milbury joke about how cold Joe must be in that hallway, he jokes about how he looks and why aren't they getting on him because he looks like:

"A milk bag."

You can't make this stuff up.

On PJ's list of those snubbed for the All Star game - Patrick Marleau, Mike Green, Brian Rafalski, David Kreiji.

To which McClean said, "I"m working the game and I might not even watch it."

Gotta love it.

A Little Slice Of Everything Else. . .

Random Ramblings From Around the League:

-Pat Kane will miss his first game in the last 117, and his first ever since beginning his career with Chicago, today, with a high ankle sprain. :(

- Last night Scott Oake interviewed a Brenden Morrow in street clothes and asked him about the Sean Avery/Distractions/Stars Slow start. Morrow said, "Unfortunately he did take a lot of the blame - whether it was warranted or not."

Not sure if that's a PR type answer, but I found it interesting. Blame Sean Avery all you want, there was more going on in Dallas. And they were playing better. Unfortunately last night's game got them nothing more than a 4-1 loss to once rival Edmonton.

-Sorry I missed all of the opening of HNIC, but I caught After Hours. Looks like there was a story on Andrew Cogliano, Sam Gagner, and Tom Gilbert living together. Those are always the best, because it just shows young guys, being young guys. Good stuff.

World Juniors:

-Quite an ending to the Canadian/Russian tilt last night. Edmonton fan and draft pick, Jordan Eberle, ties the game at 5 with 5.4 seconds to go, to force overtime, and a shootout. Eberle and golden child Jon Tavares would score in the shootout, lifting Canada to the Gold Medal Game against Sweden this week.

The All-Star-Controversy:

What controversy? The NHL gives the fans the right to vote in whomever they want to start the game. That's a fact. Credit the fans of Pittsburgh for wanting so badly to right the ship, that they began voting - and rightfully so - for Malkin and Crosby to be starters for the big game.

You can say that all fans should be more responsible and vote for the best and not the popularity vote. But, come on, now. Most of us who went to high school can attest that just doesn't happen.

Montreal for their 100th anniversary and All-Star game wanted to have all Habs on the roster. Fine. No different than the Yankees fans stuffing their ballot boxes to get way more Yankees than were actually deserving to play in the last All-Star game at the Stadium this past summer.

Is it right? Probably not. But it's not surprising.

The only thing that is perhaps a little off, is anyone trying to justify these players getting selected on merit. NHL.com's writeup where the fans must have looked past Mike Komisarek's numbers to realize what more he has to offer, is just silly. He's a great D-man. But an All-Star this year. . . sorry, no.

The right people will still go. I think people just have to pay less attention to "starters," knowing what they do about how they are selected.

Obviously if I were voting - and no, I did not - Ovechkin and Tim Thomas would have been in there for the East. But I'm confident they'll get to go. Although Boston should have a lot more than one representative, and if Marc Savard does not get a tip, it's yet another year he's overlooked for how great he his.

Guys like Jeff Carter and Zach Parise should also be rewarded for their great years.

For the Rangers, if anyone goes, it should be Hank. If he doesn't want to, Marc Staal should be considered, even if there is no "real" hitting in the game. If anyone else goes from New York, it will be a joke.

Out West, Kane and Toews are fine by me. Obviously. J.S. Giguere is always a favorite, and he'll be going back home. I think there should have definitely been a push for some Sharks or Wings on the starting ballot, but I'm also sure they will be there come game time.

Overall, just keep in mind that it is, merely, what it is. I happen to enjoy All-Star games, for pretty much everything but the actual game. . .the interviews, the mic'd up goalies, the skills competition - even if that has lost some luster. The game itself, after all, means very little. If Montreal wants to live it up, let them. How many other franchises have been around that long and accomplished so many remarkable things. It'll be quite a show, I'm sure.

Rangers:

-If you want Rangers news, pick up the NY Post today. Not only is their the usual 2 articles - Slapshots and a write-up of whatever Rangers game happened Saturday night, but there is an interview with Tom Renney (gasp), and Hank Lundqvist featured on Page Six Magazine.

-I recommend you do not eat anything while reading the Renney interview. It reads much like his post-game interviews. I find it interesting he talks so extensively of 9-11 and how much it meant to him, and continues to mean to him. Perhaps that makes me less surprised he picked a Canadian-molded American for his team captain. Of course his international career in ice hockey make me wonder how happy he is to have 3 Swedes on the team. You'd think the team colors alone would be enough to set him off.

**Random side note, on Renny, btw. I missed this quote from him after Monday's game against the Isles about one Petr Prucha. Courtesy of Ranger Rants and Andrew Gross: http://njmg.typepad.com/rangersblog/2008/12/watch-out.html

"Renney said he expects Petr Prucha to remain in the lineup, at least for the next few games. Renney said he is looking for some "sustainability" out of Prucha's game, meaning he needs to see exactly what he got last night. Prucha has gone in and (mostly) out of the line because he hasn't shown sustainability in his game.
Prucha said he does not and has not wanted to be traded despite his lack of playing time and, for the most part, does not think or worry about the fact that he does not have a contract with the Rangers past this season.
"Not unless you remind me," Prucha said, when I asked him about it.

To which I say, sustainability my @ss!**

-As for the Hank article in Page Six, it's a good read. He is a unique player. A unique person. And as unassuming a superstar as this team may ever see. It's both intriguing and refreshing.

I just hope they don't ruin him!!

-Lastly, Larry Brooks' article on the game speaks about how the Rangers "specialty teams" are anything but "special." They might just cost this team a playoff berth in the end.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01042009/sports/rangers/special_team_woes_plague_blueshirts_147161.htm

My personal favorite though:

"The shame of it is that the Rangers and the coaching staff seem unable to reverse the season-long follies on the PP. PP? Hey, maybe that's a signal head coach Tom Renney should recognize - PP, as in Petr PruchaPetr Prucha , who scored for the second straight game and is the team's most potent, if unused and thus dormant, weapon with the man advantage.

Of course, it only took half a season for Renney to recognize what Prucha has to offer at even-strength, so it's probably unwise to expect too much. "

So true, Larry. So true.

And what a shame that, of course, Prucha and Valiquette's really solid all around efforts will be lost in yet one more game where their flailing PP lost them a game. And not like they had anything really to do about it. Ideally, a goalie should not be so tested on his team's own PP. And ideally the only guy on this team that has recently scored 16 PP goals in a year, should really be on it.

Sense? Nah, we don't play with sense in Rangerland.



Sad News:

-It's been commented upon, and granted I was a little late to pick up on it, but the news is no less sad today. A tragedy really.

http://tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=261626&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_canadian_hockey

If all players, everywhere, have to tighten helmets so this does not happen, so be it. A small price to pay.

Rest in Peace, Don Sanderson. You never like to hear of things like this happening, and hopefully we never will again.

A Great Captain, A Great Guy, and other HNIC Thoughts. . .

For those of you who know me, I like to watch Hockey Night in Canada when I'm home and Tivo it when I'm not. They do such a fantastic game presentation and you really learn so much about players and teams you might not get to see every day. From beginning to end, it's a worthwhile experience, and one I wholeheartedly recommend to all hockey fans.

Last week (not yesterday) HNIC's After Hours interviewed the Sharks Joe Thornton.

Now I, perhaps a little biased in my opinion, thought Jaromir Jagr should have won the Hart Trophy in 2006, because I saw, first hand, what he did for the Rangers team. But to deny the impact that Joe has had and continues to have on the Sharks would be an injustice.

I already had an opinion that Joe Thornton was a good guy. But his interview really cemented it. It's rare and wonderful to see someone with as great a talent as Joe, be such a genuinely nice and humble guy. He's funny, self-depricating, and actually seems quite an interesting guy. The league should have more of them. For it is the players that make our game great, and great players/personalities like Joe that make good stories.

So, Joe, I will try to be less bitter about the Hart Trophy. A great, stand up guy, and a fantastic hockey player, I'm glad I got the opportunity to hear more about him in his own words. Great stuff.

In other Sharks news, on my way home from the city last night, around 12:30, I was able to catch the last 12 minutes of the Sharks/Blues game on XM. The announcing team said something that really struck home with me.

They said the San Jose team has responded so well to coach Todd McLellan, in part, because he has made it inevitably clear how much he likes and respects each and every one of them. They feel that, they respond. And they are a better team for it.

And their practices sound a hell of a lot more productive than the Rangers ones do, I won't lie.

I mean something has to be going right with them. They have not been defeated in regulation at home all year at HP. Amazing stuff.

And it continued last night. Patrick Marleau, the Sharks rejuvinated captain, scored a late goal to pull the team ahead of the Blues. The announcing team ooo-ed and aa-hhed and said, goal of the year.

As it happens, I got home just in time to see them replaying highlights of the game on NHL Network's On the Fly and I saw the goal. Pretty. Certainly a goal of the year candidate for sure.

From one good guy and a great team, to perhaps the greatest of them all.

In anticipation of Trevor's #16 jersey being raised to the rafters Wednesday [which I hope I get to see], HNIC's Inside Hockey aired an interview with the longtime captain of the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night. It brought tears to my eyes to realize, yet again, how much he has done and continues to do for the game we all love.

He's touched countless lives. Mine included, and I am not even a Cancucks fan or a citizen of British Columbia. But on the other coast and in another country, I feel what he has done and continues to mean for those people.

Our game is blessed to have so many wonderful ambassadors, but there is perhaps none greater than Trevor Linden. One look into his eyes shows you a snapshot of wisdom, talent, grace, and humility. We as hockey fans, owe him a lifetime of gratitude for what he has done for the game we all love.

Trevor Linden has a great, great talent, and is truly one of the most graciously humble guys. To see a less than five minutes snapshot of this truly great man, please click here:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockeynightincanada/insidehockey/



**Author's note. I had written the above post originally and it failed to save. I wish I could have remembered it all verbatim, because I was pleased with it, but this second go is as best as I can do.**

Jersey Retirement Ceremonies and Saturday Wrapup. . .

In the years I've had Centre Ice, I've not had the chance to see all the retirement ceremonies that I've wanted to. Sometimes the coverage I get doesn't begin until after the ceremonies are over.

That being said, Saturday was especially nice. The chance to see not one, but two, retirement ceremonies. Patrick Roy's #33 in Montreal and Wendel Clark's #17 in Toronto. Two different people. Two different ceremonies. But one great Saturday night for all of us that had the pleasure.

I'll start with saying how different the ceremonies were, for two of hockey's greatest cities. I've seen Montreal Canadiens retirement ceremonies before. Most recently the ceremony for Boom Boom Geoffrion before the Rangers and Habs game in March of 2006. Montreal does hockey. Montreal is hockey. There is no denying they can put on some great ceremonies. Historic class.
Add Patrck Roy to the list of French Canadians that I love to hear speak. I greatly enjoy the opportunity to hear the French language spoken, especially in regards to hockey, and this was no different. Patrick's departure from Montreal might not have been under the best of circumstances. But, his return, undoubtedly, was done well.

Wendel Clark's ceremony was different from any I have seen. And I will note, I do not think I've seen a Maple Leafs one before. But from all indications, Clark would have wanted no different than a simple ceremony. Both teams lined up - the Maple Leafs each wearing a "C" and #17 jersey - which to me, gives a sense of passing the torch to new generations. They showed a video montage. Clark spoke. It was just he, his wife, two daughter and son on the ice. He dropped the ceremonial faceoff puck between Jonathan Toews and Tomas Kaberle, which I thought was pretty cool. My favorite part, without fail, was the banner raising itself. Toronto has always had the perfect music for great moments. And this was no different. Clark's ceremony was simplistic class. And I'm sorry, but there may not be prettier banners than those raised for the honored Maple Leafs.

To me retirement ceremonies are nice. Sometimes long and overdone. But it's a special night for the player, his family, and his teammates. And you have to respect that. I've had the incredibly fortunate opportunity to see three such ceremonies in person so far, Mike Richter, Mark Messier, and Brian Leetch. Regardless of whose number is getting retired, my favorite moment is not the speeches or the tribute videos, or the tears, although all those are all special. It's the moment the arena goes dark, and the banner makes its ascent. That always gives me chills. It's a true sense of permanency in the world of sports where sometimes it appears so little stays the same.

Congratulations to #33 and #17.


HNIC recap:

*Watching PJ Stock with his Wendel Clark moustache on Scoreboard Saturday was worth the price of admission. You cannot fake his facial reaction as the moustache began to slip. And the laughing. You try not cracking up when watching that. It's just classic.

*Enjoyed the interview with Mike Cammalleri on After Hours. He told a great story of how Tommy Kostopolos "got" former coach Marc Crawford with shampoo. And how he got traded on Draft Day this year and found out by watching TV. Also, how he is a true fan of Joe Sakic. There are few better than Joe. Good stuff.

*On that note, I am not sure I love Marc Crawford. I don't love his voice. Perhaps at this point it's his hesitancy to ask good questions or questions at all. He seems unsure. And maybe that's natural for a guy who isn't accustomed to doing this. But Scott Oake is carrying the After Hours team. And poor Kelly Hrudey is stuck with coach Millbury. *sigh*

*I couldn't include this above but I had to mention it. Patrick Roy's son is hot. (Actually all of his children are incredibly good looking). But even though his son has his father's temper, Jonathan is pretty to look at. Apparently he's a rap artist now too. His music is on myspace under J.O.E. Daking. Seriously folks, you can't make this stuff up. I'll add a link when I can.


Random Around the League:

*Watched the end of the Habs/Bruins game and the shootout. Amazing announcing team. A true pleasure. And Boston is legit. No question about it.

*Watched the late game - Sharks/Capitals. Didn't quite live up to all the hype (in my head that is), as the Caps were less than stellar. But still a heck of a game. Nice little fight between Brashear and Jody Shelley. Just how fast is Milan Michalek? Jeeze. And just how fast is that whole San Jose team? [Makes me almost shed a tear to think about how slow the Rangers looked against, well, against anyone so far this year.] Rob Blake, Christian Ehrhoff among the league leaders in defensive scoring. A nice feature on how Devon Setogucci stays in shape in the off-season. Badminton. You heard it here first. Badminton. Although I must say it was one of my favorite gym class activities, although nothing beat floor hockey - am I right? And lastly, Joe Thornton got called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, for icing. Not that icing. But for icing Brent Johnson, the Caps goalie. I heard the announcers say it was in the rule book, but I have never seen that called in my memory. [also, did you know there was comcast out west? I turned from the caps feed to the sharks feed and BOTH were comcast which really threw me off. Good deal though when you get the choice of announcing teams, although no complaints of either on Saturday night.]


Rangers:

Rangers play the Coyotes tonight as Wayne Gretzky returns to the Garden for the 2nd time in two seasons. Last I heard Scott Gomez might be more than 50% to play, and if so Nigel Dawes will take a seat to make room for him. But will anybody skate, shoot, or score? That plays for the Rangers? Yeah, I'm not sure what to think about tonight. I'm not trying to get down on them. I'm really trying to be realistic. And the realistic honesty about this is the Rangers stole a lot of points when they were not playing complete games. They are now losing points because they can't seem to stop the bleeding. Big game tonight. Big game.

The Flames/Kings Finale and One Anze Kopitar. . .

Let me just say, the last 1 minute of the Kings/Flames game last night was the MOST exciting hockey I have seen this year. Period. And that might just be because I've been watching the bland (I refuse to say vanilla as an adjective because I, like Steven Stamkos very much like vanilla) play of the Rangers, but wow. Wow. And Wow.

Tim Preissing's guts on that play to literally dive, and keep the puck, snow plow style, in the zone was something. The pressure of the Kings to tie in that last minute was incredible. And it was just by some luck, perhaps, and some Miikka Kiprusoff, that the puck did not go in. Intense.

Earlier, Oscar Moller scored his first two NHL goals for the Kings. The second was to tie it late in the 3rd at 2-2.

Lucky Luc Robataille spoke with the CBC mid-game and said, it's not that their players are young - the Kings that is - it's that they are young and really, really good. And they will get good, hopefully stay good together, and be really something in a few years, and for years to come.

If that game was any indication, I agree.

Calgary, admittedly, did not play their best. Although they've now won 6 in a row. But LA stayed with them, and made it a very close, very interesting game. With an ending, we wish more games had. I know I do.

Credit all around.

And a bonus, because I was home and my Tivo was not left to it's own devices, I got to see all of After Hours. And they interviewed Anze Kopitar. :)

A kid who, growing up in a country that really had very little hockey and certainly not hockey that bread a consistent crop of NHL players (well, none, to be exact), knew what he wanted to do. Be that NHL player. And he did become the first ever from Slovenia. An All-Star last year. He was humble, he was funny, and he was, yes, well-spoken. Why you ask? Because frankly I was a little surprised a guy so young from such a foreign place was dropping "you knows" like kids I went to high school with.

The story goes that as a young teenager Anze told his Grandmother, who taught English, that he wanted to learn the language. He said, I don't expect to be in Slovenia for much longer. And when I get to the NHL I am going to want to know English.

Cocky? Not at all. Confident? You bet.

The league needs more. And I admire his attitude. The Kings have locked him up with a new seven year contract. And with all their young talent- O'Sullivan, Brown, Doughty, Frolov, etc - seem poised to really make a statement for LA in a few years and for a long, long time.

***

Nothing else really much to say on last night. I stand by my statement that there should be, if nothing else, a change in personnel and/or a change in attitude on Tuesday night for the Rangers. We will see.

Oh, but and in mentioning Drew Doughty above, let me just say, he appears to set up the powerplay for his Kings better than the guy the Rangers paid $6.5 million a year to do so. Sorry Wade. Truth hurts.

And as it gets mentioned from time to time, it makes you appreciate BrianLeetch. Brian Leetch was a thousand times more than just a guy who set up the Rangers on the point, but. . .he did that too. And he can never, ever be replaced, we know that. But it also makes me think of the (although most recently injury plagued) great Sergei Zubov who never did get the credit he deserved for being that guy. For well over a decade now.

A fan of the stay at home defenseman? At times. But give me a guy who can step up into the offensive play and make it - - I'll take them any day. Hands down.

Crashing to Earth in 6 Minutes or Less. . .

I'm actually going to keep it short and to the point.

For the first two periods, I was bored out of my mind. It was either penalty kill, or pathetic power play with no real chances (and the same absurd players on it), or 5-5 with no energy. Boring. I miss hockey with crisp passing and end to end rushes. With speed. The Rangers might have been winning for most of it, but it was a very lazy, very boring game.

And when it finally seemed in the 3rd the Rangers found a second or two of energy, they gave it all to Toronto. Credit the Leafs for sticking with it and taking advantage.

That being said, those five goals in six minutes was nothing short of an embarrassment. It shouldn't happen. And I'll be honest, I didn't want it to happen because I wanted the team to win (obviously) and because, especially, I wanted them to win for Steve Valiquette. I like when the backup goalie is able to go in a get a win. I do. And I like Vali a whole lot and he has played very well against Toronto.

But if this is what needed to happen to expose a team that has not, despite the amazing record and the constant winning, played either consistently or well - then I'm glad it did. Not glad that they lost and that they were embarrassed, but that this inconsistent, boring, half-awake/half-asleep hockey was exposed.

And I hope it spurs changes. I hope there is a new PP unit on Tuesday. I hope Petr Prucha or perhaps someone from Hartford is in the lineup, because some of these guys were just coasting.

But bottom line is I hope for more excitement. Games like this, and I don't just mean the collapse, are hard to watch. And it all just got old, really, really quickly.

I'm going back upstairs to watch HNIC. Maybe some other teams know what an end to end rush is or how to score on the power play. I've heard it's an advantage.

G'night all.