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. ;)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Yotes: For Pete's Sake. . .
Now, even though it's incredibly late, and I'm running on a week of little sleep, you didn't really think I'd go to bed without writing something, although just a little something, on the Coyotes and their newest player, now did you?
As I was out on the Island Thursday night, I did not see that game, except for the few minutes I Tivoed through.
I was out Friday night as well.
I plan to watch/skim both games tomorrow sometime. (Wishful thinking though it may be.)
But, I did watch some pieces and I got some quotes for you. I will try - and I do hope other's do the same - to keep the Prucha updates coming as much as possible. That much will not change, I promise. The uniform changed, but my devotion will not.
Surely it'll just take more effort from me, but come on now, what truly great things in life came easy, hmmm?
To get started, before the Yotes -(am I allowed to call them that yet?)- /Sabres game, the talk centered around the new players on the team and their first game the night before.
And after he got an assist - his 1st point as a Coyote and 114th of his NHL career - on Matthew Lombardi's Powerplay goal:
Looks to me from the replay like Prucha went behind the net, got tripped up by Sekera, popped back up, regained control of the puck, and brought it out to a location where Lombardi could make a nice move in front of the net.
Now where have we seen that before? When have we NOT seen that before?
I've only seen a few moments of these games, and I cannot imagine I will be able to watch them in their entirety or see all the remainging games for the team, but a few things encourage already.
Prucha getting the opportunity to play with Shane Doan (a guy having a marvelous year and one of the game's great leaders) and Matthew Lombardi on the 1st line.
Prucha getting powerplay time.
Prucha playing with a young, energetic lineup.
Prucha being coached by Wayne Gretzky.
Tell me that's not a goal scorers dream.
Phoenix, whether it's for just this year or beyond, will be good for Prucha and for for Nigel Dawes as well.
And take comfort in knowing that from my earliest indications, Pete is the same player. He will play with the same spirit, heart, and moxie that we know and love him for. And he will be just fine.
He will be more than fine.
As I was out on the Island Thursday night, I did not see that game, except for the few minutes I Tivoed through.
I was out Friday night as well.
I plan to watch/skim both games tomorrow sometime. (Wishful thinking though it may be.)
But, I did watch some pieces and I got some quotes for you. I will try - and I do hope other's do the same - to keep the Prucha updates coming as much as possible. That much will not change, I promise. The uniform changed, but my devotion will not.
Surely it'll just take more effort from me, but come on now, what truly great things in life came easy, hmmm?
To get started, before the Yotes -(am I allowed to call them that yet?)- /Sabres game, the talk centered around the new players on the team and their first game the night before.
"Petr Prucha came as advertised. A kid that is willing to take a hit to make a play. Gets up after he gets hit. Gets into the scoring areas." - Darren Pang
And after he got an assist - his 1st point as a Coyote and 114th of his NHL career - on Matthew Lombardi's Powerplay goal:
"Prucha did a lot of work though. Prucha was strong on the puck. Protected it. Went to the middle. And then just got it over to Lombardi and Lombardi finished it off."
Looks to me from the replay like Prucha went behind the net, got tripped up by Sekera, popped back up, regained control of the puck, and brought it out to a location where Lombardi could make a nice move in front of the net.
Now where have we seen that before? When have we NOT seen that before?
I've only seen a few moments of these games, and I cannot imagine I will be able to watch them in their entirety or see all the remainging games for the team, but a few things encourage already.
Prucha getting the opportunity to play with Shane Doan (a guy having a marvelous year and one of the game's great leaders) and Matthew Lombardi on the 1st line.
Prucha getting powerplay time.
Prucha playing with a young, energetic lineup.
Prucha being coached by Wayne Gretzky.
Tell me that's not a goal scorers dream.
Phoenix, whether it's for just this year or beyond, will be good for Prucha and for for Nigel Dawes as well.
And take comfort in knowing that from my earliest indications, Pete is the same player. He will play with the same spirit, heart, and moxie that we know and love him for. And he will be just fine.
He will be more than fine.
Who Says You Can't Go Home. . .
As long as I've taken time to clarify what I did in my last post, let's get back to the real hockey stuff, and back to the NYRs.
Rangers/Isles
So on Wednesday I made my first trip to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Its pretty hard for me to believe - and perhaps for you as well - but I had just never had the opportunity to go. But I finally did.
The day after trade deadline day. On a day where so much shook my immediate hockey world as three Rangers departed, and two new Rangers made their debuts.
Oh and some guy named Sean Avery might have played too.
;)
Before we get to the game, let me get this out of the way. Despite everyone - it seems - warning me for years of what a dump the Coliseum is, I did not think that was true. Despite traffic - both inside AND outside the arena - it was a great rink. The arena cooridors were horrific to navigate because everyone is walking the same narrow path. But this is no different to me than the old Brendan Byrne or the historic Spectrum. However, as those two buildings no longer house NHL teams I think that alone is a reason the Islanders definitely need a new arena. But we don't need to go there now.
Point is, I must say that the Colliseum might just have some of the best views of the ice that I've seen in my travels. I had marvelous seats, but it appeared that any seat would offer you an unobstructed view of the ice. I had no complaints whatsoever.
Now I am only admiting this in hopes of being the honest person I've always claimed to be here.
I had plans of going to the game before Sean Avery's return was anything more than a whisper, let alone a real and tangible actuality. But as the date drew closer this really became a big reason I wanted to go. To see this player - THE player's - greatly anticipated return. And after Wednesday's movement, perhaps one of my greatest reasons.
And again I only say that in a measure of my being honest. After my favorite player on the team was traded, I needed something, or someone, - especially at this early and most vulnerable stage - to root for.
Someone with a sense of passion.
Someone with intensity.
Someone else who knew what it meant to - Be a Ranger!
And someone who wore the sweater with pride.
Like him or not, you have to admit, that was definitely Sean. He bled blue.
He cared for this team and his teammates, in a way only he knew how.
Face it, they couldn't have been more different off the ice. But I think on those most basic and respectable levels Sean Avery and Petr Prucha shared some common ground.
Now some may have thought I'd be bitter given the events of Wednesday. Hell perhaps even I thought I might be. But I wasn't.
Now, I wasn't going to do cartwheels if Derek Morris was the first star of the game (wouldn't that have been a story?) or if Nik Antropov scored a hat trick.
But, I did want them to win the game.
Before I go into the who/what and why on that, the game was what it was. A game where the Rangers started slow and were in no way the better team for the beginning half of the game. But a game where, again, they woke up in the 3rd and got some key scoring. The powerplay - yeah, you know that thing the Rangers don't usually score on - came through with two. And for the most part it was a legit victory.
Sean Avery played probably as docile a game as one could expect him to, but he was not invisible. I tried to pay close attention to him, and I thought for a guy getting back to a game he hadn't played at this level in months, he did well for the first time out.
Reasons the game was a good one. The Rangers
a) beat the Islanders
b) scored four goals for the second game in a row
c) won for the 2nd game in a row
and
d) won a game on the road.
New Ranger Nik Antropov got an assist on the Drury PP goal, for his first point.
I didn't notice Derek Morris as much, admittedly.
Overall, important win, considering timing and who it was against. And because, face it guys, every game is going to count from now on. Every single one.
Rangers Trade Deadline Notes:
I don't think I need to express that I wasn't one of the people thrilled with the Morris deal.
Shocked, you are, I know.
And once you subtract the obvious reason why, I just have to look at it in its simplest way. The Rangers gave up 3 guys for one guy. One guy, who despite saying he was "excited" when the Rangers name came into play, I do not believe will be here next year. So three guys, two of which were the part of the promised youth of this franchise, for a guy who will play the remaining games, and if the Rangers make the playoffs, a few more.
Mathmatically, that doesn't add up.
BUT, if you like math - and chances are that trust me you'll know more than the guy I'm about to introduce - meet Glen Sather. He is, quite possibly, the worst mathemetician ever. Ever!
He thinks that paying four guys - three of which are not worth it - 49% of the team allotted salary pool is a smart business decision.
Forget smart.
Forget business.
Forget decision.
And sure as heck forget putting the word think in the same sentence with that man's name.
Dawes and Prucha were both RFA after this year. And Sather has no money to sign the young guys that actually WERE playing on the team. (Sad to say, but true). There's no way he was going to sign these guys as long as all the BIG money players remained.
I'm guessing no one wanted Redden, Drury, or Gomez at those nicely packaged, salary cap friendly contracts, now did they Glennie?
Shock of the year, right there.
So therefore, Pete and Dawes were sent away because there was no place and no money for them here.
No disrespect to Derek Morris - I saw him on After Hours ironically two weekends ago and he seemed a down to earth guy - but you send one of those players and Kalinin to get him. If that. But not Prucha and Dawes. Not Prucha AND Dawes.
Unless you have no choice.
And Glennie, well, the deck is not stacked in his favor.
Now again, he was given the deck, allowed to manipulate it as he wanted, and allowed to keep it, tucked away where no one can touch it, but it's still not stacked in his favor. Some people should just not play cards.
Or manage professional ice hockey clubs.
As for Nik Antropov, I guess the bloggers who had been pining for this guy for months knew more than I did. (Or Sather really does read the blogs. Stranger things, I'm sure). I have no problem with him. But while this is another guy that may help a team that can't score, score a little more than the nothing they had been (before the 2/28 breakout, mind you) he's just another guy that probably won't be around next year.
If that was the plan, rent away. I just still do not think this team has legs to take them beyond a round or two. I won't lie to myself and believe that much changed from what I've seen before my eyes all year long. ALL YEAR. Not just from the point many other people's blinders came off. But even back on game 5 of the season versus Buffalo, the things I was starting to realize.
A Look Ahead:
Rental players or no, sadness over a favorite player gone or no, there are three reasons I want the Rangers to make the playoffs. Three. (Besides the I'm a fan, rah, rah, rah, bs).
1) John Tortorella. While I didn't hate Tom Renney and while I appreciate what he did in the grand scheme, enough of his actions this year put serious doubts in my head that this guy should remain behind an NHL bench. The fact that Sather brought in a guy like John Tortorella was like an unbelievable moment that might only come once. And I think you have to try your best to embrace it. Tortorella, opposite of Renney, will light a fire. He will scream and yell. He will make players lives a living hell if they make his one. And I still think that's what the 75-80% of this team that didn't seem to care, needs. I want to see what he does with this team. Not even this year, but next year. And the first step to that process is this team making the playoffs. They built up their point lead - on boring, stale, vanilla play and shootouts! - back in the first two months of the season. I do not want a new coach, and a better coach in my mind, to miss this first important opportunity to make a statement that a new attitude - offense is not a sin, we can score more than 2 goals, our goalie is not perfect, so we shouldn't make him have to be every single freakin' night - will not ruin this team. It will make them better.
2) Sean Avery. I always hesitated to say I out and out defended Sean before, but you know what, I did. I stood by his ability to play hockey and I will continue to stand by my belief that he can be an effective player in this league again. I had it wrong in Dallas. We all had it wrong in Dallas. But he's getting an opportunity to come home again. A gift that many perhaps thought he did not deserve. Me, I'm still firmly holding true to the fact that Sean was being punished for having a big mouth and a less than keen sense of timing and that there are much, much, MUCH more harmful things going on -repeatedly - in this league that people should be concerned about. If Sean Avery re-born can be even half the Sean Avery that left the Rangers/Pittsburgh series with a bleeding spleen, I think any Rangers fan will take that. The guy is a battler. A bleed for your team guy. A guy that had intangibles, that with the exception of a few players(see below), were very much absent on this team. If Sean can bring that, I am all for it. And for Sean's story to be successful, at least chapter one of book two here, I think helping this team get back on track, and stay playoff bound, is of vital importance.
3) Some Gave All. Guys like Marc Staal (early and through most of the season), Ryan Callahan (every single night), Hank Lundqvist (not perfect but certainly blameless in this season's defeats) and Paul Mara (one of the best attitudes on the team) gave a lot to this team this year. They didn't take day's off. They understood what it meant to come to play and to want to win. They were the ones - namely in this case Hank and Mara - sounding angry and defeated in the locker room post-game. When Gomez was heckling John G for his wardrobe (funny the first dozen times) and while Drury was saying before the fans even had a chance to leave the building things like how he wasn't going to let yet another embarassing loss ruin his holidays, guys like Staal and Callahan brought their games, guys like Mara and Hank got visibly upset. I still believe no one - no one - cares more about this team and is harder on himself than Hank. And to see everyone else (and yes, I'm picking four names, there may have certainly been others that do not fall into the indifferent mold) seem to care so little, not only on the ice, but off of it, really upset me and definitely changed the way I viewed MY Rangers this year. And that fact makes me want the Rangers to make the playoffs even more. To reward the guys that night in, night out, made sacrifices of their bodies and promises to themselves to wear the sweater with pride. Those guys deserve it, especially after dragging 75% of the rest of their team this entire damn season.
Reality?
Now, can the Rangers do this? Can they make the playoffs? Will the new guys help that much?
Probable. Possible. Eh.
I think if the Rangers play like the Rangers of 2/28 and 3/4, and can maintain that sense of energy against clubs better than the, um, well the two worst teams in the league, I think they can still make the playoffs.
But things got a heck of a lot harder Wednesday. Pittsburgh got much better. Buffalo got much better. Carolina won't go away either.
The Flyers are falling a little, and Montreal, sadly for Habs fans, are in a tailspin again.
If the Rangers do have a chance to make the playoffs, one of those teams has to stumble, and Montreal probably needs to continue to fall.
There's a bit of the season left, but not a lot. The Rangers December struggle that lasted through late February, may prove to be too much time taken for granted.
Time, it seems, will tell.
Rangers/Isles
So on Wednesday I made my first trip to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Its pretty hard for me to believe - and perhaps for you as well - but I had just never had the opportunity to go. But I finally did.
The day after trade deadline day. On a day where so much shook my immediate hockey world as three Rangers departed, and two new Rangers made their debuts.
Oh and some guy named Sean Avery might have played too.
;)
Before we get to the game, let me get this out of the way. Despite everyone - it seems - warning me for years of what a dump the Coliseum is, I did not think that was true. Despite traffic - both inside AND outside the arena - it was a great rink. The arena cooridors were horrific to navigate because everyone is walking the same narrow path. But this is no different to me than the old Brendan Byrne or the historic Spectrum. However, as those two buildings no longer house NHL teams I think that alone is a reason the Islanders definitely need a new arena. But we don't need to go there now.
Point is, I must say that the Colliseum might just have some of the best views of the ice that I've seen in my travels. I had marvelous seats, but it appeared that any seat would offer you an unobstructed view of the ice. I had no complaints whatsoever.
Now I am only admiting this in hopes of being the honest person I've always claimed to be here.
I had plans of going to the game before Sean Avery's return was anything more than a whisper, let alone a real and tangible actuality. But as the date drew closer this really became a big reason I wanted to go. To see this player - THE player's - greatly anticipated return. And after Wednesday's movement, perhaps one of my greatest reasons.
And again I only say that in a measure of my being honest. After my favorite player on the team was traded, I needed something, or someone, - especially at this early and most vulnerable stage - to root for.
Someone with a sense of passion.
Someone with intensity.
Someone else who knew what it meant to - Be a Ranger!
And someone who wore the sweater with pride.
Like him or not, you have to admit, that was definitely Sean. He bled blue.
He cared for this team and his teammates, in a way only he knew how.
Face it, they couldn't have been more different off the ice. But I think on those most basic and respectable levels Sean Avery and Petr Prucha shared some common ground.
Now some may have thought I'd be bitter given the events of Wednesday. Hell perhaps even I thought I might be. But I wasn't.
Now, I wasn't going to do cartwheels if Derek Morris was the first star of the game (wouldn't that have been a story?) or if Nik Antropov scored a hat trick.
But, I did want them to win the game.
Before I go into the who/what and why on that, the game was what it was. A game where the Rangers started slow and were in no way the better team for the beginning half of the game. But a game where, again, they woke up in the 3rd and got some key scoring. The powerplay - yeah, you know that thing the Rangers don't usually score on - came through with two. And for the most part it was a legit victory.
Sean Avery played probably as docile a game as one could expect him to, but he was not invisible. I tried to pay close attention to him, and I thought for a guy getting back to a game he hadn't played at this level in months, he did well for the first time out.
Reasons the game was a good one. The Rangers
a) beat the Islanders
b) scored four goals for the second game in a row
c) won for the 2nd game in a row
and
d) won a game on the road.
New Ranger Nik Antropov got an assist on the Drury PP goal, for his first point.
I didn't notice Derek Morris as much, admittedly.
Overall, important win, considering timing and who it was against. And because, face it guys, every game is going to count from now on. Every single one.
Rangers Trade Deadline Notes:
I don't think I need to express that I wasn't one of the people thrilled with the Morris deal.
Shocked, you are, I know.
And once you subtract the obvious reason why, I just have to look at it in its simplest way. The Rangers gave up 3 guys for one guy. One guy, who despite saying he was "excited" when the Rangers name came into play, I do not believe will be here next year. So three guys, two of which were the part of the promised youth of this franchise, for a guy who will play the remaining games, and if the Rangers make the playoffs, a few more.
Mathmatically, that doesn't add up.
BUT, if you like math - and chances are that trust me you'll know more than the guy I'm about to introduce - meet Glen Sather. He is, quite possibly, the worst mathemetician ever. Ever!
He thinks that paying four guys - three of which are not worth it - 49% of the team allotted salary pool is a smart business decision.
Forget smart.
Forget business.
Forget decision.
And sure as heck forget putting the word think in the same sentence with that man's name.
Dawes and Prucha were both RFA after this year. And Sather has no money to sign the young guys that actually WERE playing on the team. (Sad to say, but true). There's no way he was going to sign these guys as long as all the BIG money players remained.
I'm guessing no one wanted Redden, Drury, or Gomez at those nicely packaged, salary cap friendly contracts, now did they Glennie?
Shock of the year, right there.
So therefore, Pete and Dawes were sent away because there was no place and no money for them here.
No disrespect to Derek Morris - I saw him on After Hours ironically two weekends ago and he seemed a down to earth guy - but you send one of those players and Kalinin to get him. If that. But not Prucha and Dawes. Not Prucha AND Dawes.
Unless you have no choice.
And Glennie, well, the deck is not stacked in his favor.
Now again, he was given the deck, allowed to manipulate it as he wanted, and allowed to keep it, tucked away where no one can touch it, but it's still not stacked in his favor. Some people should just not play cards.
Or manage professional ice hockey clubs.
As for Nik Antropov, I guess the bloggers who had been pining for this guy for months knew more than I did. (Or Sather really does read the blogs. Stranger things, I'm sure). I have no problem with him. But while this is another guy that may help a team that can't score, score a little more than the nothing they had been (before the 2/28 breakout, mind you) he's just another guy that probably won't be around next year.
If that was the plan, rent away. I just still do not think this team has legs to take them beyond a round or two. I won't lie to myself and believe that much changed from what I've seen before my eyes all year long. ALL YEAR. Not just from the point many other people's blinders came off. But even back on game 5 of the season versus Buffalo, the things I was starting to realize.
A Look Ahead:
Rental players or no, sadness over a favorite player gone or no, there are three reasons I want the Rangers to make the playoffs. Three. (Besides the I'm a fan, rah, rah, rah, bs).
1) John Tortorella. While I didn't hate Tom Renney and while I appreciate what he did in the grand scheme, enough of his actions this year put serious doubts in my head that this guy should remain behind an NHL bench. The fact that Sather brought in a guy like John Tortorella was like an unbelievable moment that might only come once. And I think you have to try your best to embrace it. Tortorella, opposite of Renney, will light a fire. He will scream and yell. He will make players lives a living hell if they make his one. And I still think that's what the 75-80% of this team that didn't seem to care, needs. I want to see what he does with this team. Not even this year, but next year. And the first step to that process is this team making the playoffs. They built up their point lead - on boring, stale, vanilla play and shootouts! - back in the first two months of the season. I do not want a new coach, and a better coach in my mind, to miss this first important opportunity to make a statement that a new attitude - offense is not a sin, we can score more than 2 goals, our goalie is not perfect, so we shouldn't make him have to be every single freakin' night - will not ruin this team. It will make them better.
2) Sean Avery. I always hesitated to say I out and out defended Sean before, but you know what, I did. I stood by his ability to play hockey and I will continue to stand by my belief that he can be an effective player in this league again. I had it wrong in Dallas. We all had it wrong in Dallas. But he's getting an opportunity to come home again. A gift that many perhaps thought he did not deserve. Me, I'm still firmly holding true to the fact that Sean was being punished for having a big mouth and a less than keen sense of timing and that there are much, much, MUCH more harmful things going on -repeatedly - in this league that people should be concerned about. If Sean Avery re-born can be even half the Sean Avery that left the Rangers/Pittsburgh series with a bleeding spleen, I think any Rangers fan will take that. The guy is a battler. A bleed for your team guy. A guy that had intangibles, that with the exception of a few players(see below), were very much absent on this team. If Sean can bring that, I am all for it. And for Sean's story to be successful, at least chapter one of book two here, I think helping this team get back on track, and stay playoff bound, is of vital importance.
3) Some Gave All. Guys like Marc Staal (early and through most of the season), Ryan Callahan (every single night), Hank Lundqvist (not perfect but certainly blameless in this season's defeats) and Paul Mara (one of the best attitudes on the team) gave a lot to this team this year. They didn't take day's off. They understood what it meant to come to play and to want to win. They were the ones - namely in this case Hank and Mara - sounding angry and defeated in the locker room post-game. When Gomez was heckling John G for his wardrobe (funny the first dozen times) and while Drury was saying before the fans even had a chance to leave the building things like how he wasn't going to let yet another embarassing loss ruin his holidays, guys like Staal and Callahan brought their games, guys like Mara and Hank got visibly upset. I still believe no one - no one - cares more about this team and is harder on himself than Hank. And to see everyone else (and yes, I'm picking four names, there may have certainly been others that do not fall into the indifferent mold) seem to care so little, not only on the ice, but off of it, really upset me and definitely changed the way I viewed MY Rangers this year. And that fact makes me want the Rangers to make the playoffs even more. To reward the guys that night in, night out, made sacrifices of their bodies and promises to themselves to wear the sweater with pride. Those guys deserve it, especially after dragging 75% of the rest of their team this entire damn season.
Reality?
Now, can the Rangers do this? Can they make the playoffs? Will the new guys help that much?
Probable. Possible. Eh.
I think if the Rangers play like the Rangers of 2/28 and 3/4, and can maintain that sense of energy against clubs better than the, um, well the two worst teams in the league, I think they can still make the playoffs.
But things got a heck of a lot harder Wednesday. Pittsburgh got much better. Buffalo got much better. Carolina won't go away either.
The Flyers are falling a little, and Montreal, sadly for Habs fans, are in a tailspin again.
If the Rangers do have a chance to make the playoffs, one of those teams has to stumble, and Montreal probably needs to continue to fall.
There's a bit of the season left, but not a lot. The Rangers December struggle that lasted through late February, may prove to be too much time taken for granted.
Time, it seems, will tell.
Back To Reality. . .
After a two day break, I think its time to get back to reality here.
Now, Natural Hat Trick Productions, from the beginning, was always a
Rangers AND an NHL blog. In fact, it started somewhere around the end of
the Stanley Cup Final last year, and the first few posts had nothing to do
with the Rangers at all.
Obviously as the summer went on and the season began, the water naturally
leveled and there was definitely many more Rangers posts than NHL posts.
Although I have tried my hardest to keep track of as much as possible league
wise, it was a much busier year than I expected.
The only reason, besides my tendency to ramble, that I even bother bringing
it up is to make it clear that this will definitely remain a Rangers
dominated blog. . . BUT. . . given the events of late, I must be honest in that a few other NHL clubs will certainly get more playing time here at Natural Hat Trick Productions.
I'm sure you'll be shocked to know the Coyotes will definitely be finding themselves covered a lot more. I debated making a separate blog, but for now I think I will continue having this be a catch all. And just try to label my posts in a clearer way. Around the League. Yotes. And hopefully everything else will fall under the Rangers.
We'll see how it goes.
Sigh. You want to hear something funny. Not funny haha, but well, the other type of funny. So I started the "Where Are They Now" segment just over a week ago just because I wanted to document how guys like Manny Malhotra, Dom Moore, and Marc Savard were doing. I never realized in such a short time I'd be including yet another departed Ranger. My favorite Ranger.
Yep, life is sure funny sometimes.
And since I brought the subject up, the what should have been Thursday and Friday morning editions of:
Where Are They Now. . .
Thursday: N/A
Friday:
Team Player Action Note
Phoenix Nigel Dawes* Assist on GWG 1st point as member of Coyotes in 1st game
Philadelphia Mike Knuble G(23) Only PHI goal
Florida Radek Dvorak G(11) Only FLA goal
Columbus Manny Malhotra Assist
Minnesota Kim Johnsson 2 Assists
Minnesota Marek Zidlicky# G(11) Note, MZ did not play for the Rangers; he was only drafted by them.
*new team
# draftee
Prucha: 16:03TOI/-1 in 1st game; played 1st line with Matthew Lombardi and Shane Doan
Now, Natural Hat Trick Productions, from the beginning, was always a
Rangers AND an NHL blog. In fact, it started somewhere around the end of
the Stanley Cup Final last year, and the first few posts had nothing to do
with the Rangers at all.
Obviously as the summer went on and the season began, the water naturally
leveled and there was definitely many more Rangers posts than NHL posts.
Although I have tried my hardest to keep track of as much as possible league
wise, it was a much busier year than I expected.
The only reason, besides my tendency to ramble, that I even bother bringing
it up is to make it clear that this will definitely remain a Rangers
dominated blog. . . BUT. . . given the events of late, I must be honest in that a few other NHL clubs will certainly get more playing time here at Natural Hat Trick Productions.
I'm sure you'll be shocked to know the Coyotes will definitely be finding themselves covered a lot more. I debated making a separate blog, but for now I think I will continue having this be a catch all. And just try to label my posts in a clearer way. Around the League. Yotes. And hopefully everything else will fall under the Rangers.
We'll see how it goes.
Sigh. You want to hear something funny. Not funny haha, but well, the other type of funny. So I started the "Where Are They Now" segment just over a week ago just because I wanted to document how guys like Manny Malhotra, Dom Moore, and Marc Savard were doing. I never realized in such a short time I'd be including yet another departed Ranger. My favorite Ranger.
Yep, life is sure funny sometimes.
And since I brought the subject up, the what should have been Thursday and Friday morning editions of:
Where Are They Now. . .
Thursday: N/A
Friday:
Team Player Action Note
Phoenix Nigel Dawes* Assist on GWG 1st point as member of Coyotes in 1st game
Philadelphia Mike Knuble G(23) Only PHI goal
Florida Radek Dvorak G(11) Only FLA goal
Columbus Manny Malhotra Assist
Minnesota Kim Johnsson 2 Assists
Minnesota Marek Zidlicky# G(11) Note, MZ did not play for the Rangers; he was only drafted by them.
*new team
# draftee
Prucha: 16:03TOI/-1 in 1st game; played 1st line with Matthew Lombardi and Shane Doan
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
We Were The Ones That Were Lucky. . .
Before I can even begin to process what the Rangers and other NHL clubs did today, the first thing I absolutely must do is take a few minutes to give
thanks and wish luck to a guy that was and will still remain a favorite hockey player of mine.
I went through similar emotions today that I did for the last few trade
deadlines and free agent frenzy days. I thought, nervously, is this it? Is
this Petr Prucha's last day as a Ranger.
For some reason today I felt pretty good about his chances. He seemed to
finally be getting a real and much deserved chance under a coach that
seemed to understand what he could do. And I thought maybe perhaps Sather would just stand pat and give a team that already just brought in a new coach and Sean Avery, again, a chance to gel.
When I heard that Nik Antropov - a right wing - was coming to New York, my heart started to pound. When I heard Derek Morris's name, and they ticked off the names of the Rangers going back. . .Dmitri Kalinin, Nigel Dawes. . .I thought he was safe. But then there it was. Petr Prucha. My heart sank. I had a very unprofessional reaction for a person listening at work. I immediately stood up and went to take a walk.
So, I said to myself, it seems the "heart" of the Rangers would be a Ranger no more.
And it all happened in a matter of seconds, even though I'd been feeling the fear for years.
Without getting into the good/bad/indifference of this trade - because, face it, we won't know now, we may never know - I want to continue to embrace the guy. The guy that was and the guy that is.
I don't want this to seem like a eulogy. Petr will not cease to be. He is just gone from the place he began, and the place we came to know him best.
I certainly didn't know anything about Prucha before the 2005-2006 season. I rarely kept up with prospects at that time, so he was just another name, and at that time in New York, just another Czech. Well certainly not "just" because goodness knows I've always had a fondness for those players from that country. For their soft-spoken pride and love of the game.
Petr was no different.
He quickly endeared himself to Ranger fans, scoring 30 times in that rookie season, including 16 powerplay goals, a Rangers rookie record. He might have not gotten much league recognition, because guys like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin were playing their rookie years as well, but Prucha's energy and talent were not lost on those in New York.
Those who know and have followed his time here know his next few years were not as successful numerically. They also know that one thing never changed.
His spirit.
This guy had heart. He had spirit. And he had a smile to rival all others. A true champion in that regard, it was hard not to respect a player like that, someone who always put the team first and someone who never complained or felt sorry for himself.
Fast forward to this year. I thought - very mistakenly it would seem - that Petr's place on this team finally - finally! - was shored up and that he'd see regular time again, at last.
How truly wrong I was.
But the smile didn't fade. And every time he got the chance to play, he played as if he were the most talented player on the ice. I've said it before, that some people may take their time in this league, their place in this game, for granted. Petr never did. He played every shift as if it was the most important he'd ever play, every game as if it was his last.
Fans of the team might not agree on whether he should have played or whether he was ever going to be as good as he once was. That's fine. And thanks to circumstances beyond any of our control, we may never know.
But those that loved him, loved him despite all that, and with a faith that he could be that player again, if only given a true chance.
Even though we thought - myself included - that chance would come now on the Rangers, post-Renney, maybe it was just not to be. Maybe, he can only truly get a chance if he moves on.
I know I'm not the only one sad now - and I am sad, as anyone is to lose a favorite player - and it's hard for me to say what I am going to say next, but I think I am not the only one that needs to hear it.
Four months ago, two months ago, three weeks ago, we were hoping that Prucha be traded away. Hoping that he'd get released so that he'd get a chance to play, play a game he loves. Be a hockey player again. It was selfish, we said, to keep him here, just because we loved him. We had to let him go.
What we have to realize is that we still have to think that way. We have to. Because of the moves made today, we have to admit, begrudgingly perhaps, that Prucha would have been the first guy back in the press box tomorrow anyway. No matter how much Tortorella may have liked him. No matter how good he had been playing. He wouldn't have been a full time player on this team anymore.
So even though we knew months and weeks ago what the best thing for him would be, it hurts now to realize the truth in our wishes, because we just saw a few powerful glimpses of the player we once loved coming back to life.
His fight against Bergenheim a week ago.
His goal and his coming to the defense of his teammates on Saturday.
That was vintage Prucha. That was the player we loved, showcasing just why we loved him.
Some people alluded though, and you have to find it in your hearts to agree, if he had to leave, he left everything he had on the ice Saturday night. His final goal. And everything he stood for all this time.
Pride. Sportsmanship. Loyalty.
You'd be hard pressed to find better.
Yes, I've shed a few tears today, and I surely will again. It's never easy to watch your favorite player no longer play for your team. No one would expect it to be.
But I have one more plea for you tonight. We were lucky and blessed to have Petr Prucha on our team - our favorite team - for the better part of four seasons. Truly blessed.
Say he had not been on New York. Say he'd played for another team from the start. Would we, any of us, have the respect and love for him that we do today?
Probably not. Because in a world where favorite teams get priority, and the rest of real life takes precedence over so much else, some other team's "good guy" might not have crossed our radar. We might not have ever had the chance we are now so grateful for.
But now - now - we get the chance to share him with others. Give a whole new group of fans the opportunity to see the player that we so loved watching. And get to know he's going to be the same guy worthy of that love.
For me, I'm going to try at my best moments to look at this as the opportunity to watch and embrace a whole new team. Again. I've done it with other players. And I will - with open arms - do it again. Certainly for someone like Pete.
I've always felt it made me a more well rounded hockey fan, to follow the departed, and in following them, learn about new teams and different players.
And just as I always doubt that there will be another player I will like again on my own team - the Rangers - I am always proven wrong. The heart is fragile, but it does love again. Therein lies the true magic of life.
No, we won't love another as much or in the same way, but others will come. The sun will rise. The puck will drop.
And fans of Phoenix, they are going to love this guy. A loyal, hard-working player, who cares more about his team than himself. Someone who never takes a night off. Someone with passion for a game we all love, passion that is evident in every check, every stride, every goal, and every celebration.
They are going to enjoy him there, of that I have no doubt.
For the rest of us, we get the memories. Memories of a guy who along with the greatest European scorer ever and one of the brightest young goaltenders in the game - in Jagr and Lundqvist - played a big role in bringing back pride to a Rangers organization sorely lacking something to cheer about.
He gave us hundreds of reasons to cheer. Right up until his last moment on Garden ice.
I'll forever remember being there, looking down at that little ball of fire standing at center ice, before being escorted off into the lockerroom to chants of his name.
Pru-cha!
Pru-cha!
Pru-cha!
Better players surely played here and better players will again someday. But not everyone gets their name chanted loudly by a crowd of 18,200 because they did something so worthy of wearing the sweater.
In Petr's rookie year, after a game in which he had a goal, he was interviewed off ice at the Garden for TV - a rarity. When asked about his performance and the goal, he said:
"I was lucky."
He may have been lucky that day.
But we were lucky for 237 games.
For 63 goals.
For 50 assists.
For 113 points.
We were lucky for four seasons to have someone with such humble integrity, such sense of pride, and such character of heart, to play for our favorite team.
Make no mistake.
Pete may have been lucky that day.
But we were the ones that were truly lucky.
**Best of luck, Petr. You will be missed.**
thanks and wish luck to a guy that was and will still remain a favorite hockey player of mine.
I went through similar emotions today that I did for the last few trade
deadlines and free agent frenzy days. I thought, nervously, is this it? Is
this Petr Prucha's last day as a Ranger.
For some reason today I felt pretty good about his chances. He seemed to
finally be getting a real and much deserved chance under a coach that
seemed to understand what he could do. And I thought maybe perhaps Sather would just stand pat and give a team that already just brought in a new coach and Sean Avery, again, a chance to gel.
When I heard that Nik Antropov - a right wing - was coming to New York, my heart started to pound. When I heard Derek Morris's name, and they ticked off the names of the Rangers going back. . .Dmitri Kalinin, Nigel Dawes. . .I thought he was safe. But then there it was. Petr Prucha. My heart sank. I had a very unprofessional reaction for a person listening at work. I immediately stood up and went to take a walk.
So, I said to myself, it seems the "heart" of the Rangers would be a Ranger no more.
And it all happened in a matter of seconds, even though I'd been feeling the fear for years.
Without getting into the good/bad/indifference of this trade - because, face it, we won't know now, we may never know - I want to continue to embrace the guy. The guy that was and the guy that is.
I don't want this to seem like a eulogy. Petr will not cease to be. He is just gone from the place he began, and the place we came to know him best.
I certainly didn't know anything about Prucha before the 2005-2006 season. I rarely kept up with prospects at that time, so he was just another name, and at that time in New York, just another Czech. Well certainly not "just" because goodness knows I've always had a fondness for those players from that country. For their soft-spoken pride and love of the game.
Petr was no different.
He quickly endeared himself to Ranger fans, scoring 30 times in that rookie season, including 16 powerplay goals, a Rangers rookie record. He might have not gotten much league recognition, because guys like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin were playing their rookie years as well, but Prucha's energy and talent were not lost on those in New York.
Those who know and have followed his time here know his next few years were not as successful numerically. They also know that one thing never changed.
His spirit.
This guy had heart. He had spirit. And he had a smile to rival all others. A true champion in that regard, it was hard not to respect a player like that, someone who always put the team first and someone who never complained or felt sorry for himself.
Fast forward to this year. I thought - very mistakenly it would seem - that Petr's place on this team finally - finally! - was shored up and that he'd see regular time again, at last.
How truly wrong I was.
But the smile didn't fade. And every time he got the chance to play, he played as if he were the most talented player on the ice. I've said it before, that some people may take their time in this league, their place in this game, for granted. Petr never did. He played every shift as if it was the most important he'd ever play, every game as if it was his last.
Fans of the team might not agree on whether he should have played or whether he was ever going to be as good as he once was. That's fine. And thanks to circumstances beyond any of our control, we may never know.
But those that loved him, loved him despite all that, and with a faith that he could be that player again, if only given a true chance.
Even though we thought - myself included - that chance would come now on the Rangers, post-Renney, maybe it was just not to be. Maybe, he can only truly get a chance if he moves on.
I know I'm not the only one sad now - and I am sad, as anyone is to lose a favorite player - and it's hard for me to say what I am going to say next, but I think I am not the only one that needs to hear it.
Four months ago, two months ago, three weeks ago, we were hoping that Prucha be traded away. Hoping that he'd get released so that he'd get a chance to play, play a game he loves. Be a hockey player again. It was selfish, we said, to keep him here, just because we loved him. We had to let him go.
What we have to realize is that we still have to think that way. We have to. Because of the moves made today, we have to admit, begrudgingly perhaps, that Prucha would have been the first guy back in the press box tomorrow anyway. No matter how much Tortorella may have liked him. No matter how good he had been playing. He wouldn't have been a full time player on this team anymore.
So even though we knew months and weeks ago what the best thing for him would be, it hurts now to realize the truth in our wishes, because we just saw a few powerful glimpses of the player we once loved coming back to life.
His fight against Bergenheim a week ago.
His goal and his coming to the defense of his teammates on Saturday.
That was vintage Prucha. That was the player we loved, showcasing just why we loved him.
Some people alluded though, and you have to find it in your hearts to agree, if he had to leave, he left everything he had on the ice Saturday night. His final goal. And everything he stood for all this time.
Pride. Sportsmanship. Loyalty.
You'd be hard pressed to find better.
Yes, I've shed a few tears today, and I surely will again. It's never easy to watch your favorite player no longer play for your team. No one would expect it to be.
But I have one more plea for you tonight. We were lucky and blessed to have Petr Prucha on our team - our favorite team - for the better part of four seasons. Truly blessed.
Say he had not been on New York. Say he'd played for another team from the start. Would we, any of us, have the respect and love for him that we do today?
Probably not. Because in a world where favorite teams get priority, and the rest of real life takes precedence over so much else, some other team's "good guy" might not have crossed our radar. We might not have ever had the chance we are now so grateful for.
But now - now - we get the chance to share him with others. Give a whole new group of fans the opportunity to see the player that we so loved watching. And get to know he's going to be the same guy worthy of that love.
For me, I'm going to try at my best moments to look at this as the opportunity to watch and embrace a whole new team. Again. I've done it with other players. And I will - with open arms - do it again. Certainly for someone like Pete.
I've always felt it made me a more well rounded hockey fan, to follow the departed, and in following them, learn about new teams and different players.
And just as I always doubt that there will be another player I will like again on my own team - the Rangers - I am always proven wrong. The heart is fragile, but it does love again. Therein lies the true magic of life.
No, we won't love another as much or in the same way, but others will come. The sun will rise. The puck will drop.
And fans of Phoenix, they are going to love this guy. A loyal, hard-working player, who cares more about his team than himself. Someone who never takes a night off. Someone with passion for a game we all love, passion that is evident in every check, every stride, every goal, and every celebration.
They are going to enjoy him there, of that I have no doubt.
For the rest of us, we get the memories. Memories of a guy who along with the greatest European scorer ever and one of the brightest young goaltenders in the game - in Jagr and Lundqvist - played a big role in bringing back pride to a Rangers organization sorely lacking something to cheer about.
He gave us hundreds of reasons to cheer. Right up until his last moment on Garden ice.
I'll forever remember being there, looking down at that little ball of fire standing at center ice, before being escorted off into the lockerroom to chants of his name.
Pru-cha!
Pru-cha!
Pru-cha!
Better players surely played here and better players will again someday. But not everyone gets their name chanted loudly by a crowd of 18,200 because they did something so worthy of wearing the sweater.
In Petr's rookie year, after a game in which he had a goal, he was interviewed off ice at the Garden for TV - a rarity. When asked about his performance and the goal, he said:
"I was lucky."
He may have been lucky that day.
But we were lucky for 237 games.
For 63 goals.
For 50 assists.
For 113 points.
We were lucky for four seasons to have someone with such humble integrity, such sense of pride, and such character of heart, to play for our favorite team.
Make no mistake.
Pete may have been lucky that day.
But we were the ones that were truly lucky.
**Best of luck, Petr. You will be missed.**
Til We Meet Again. . .
That which is seen, will always be remembered.
He whom is loved, will never be forgotten.
Petr Prucha - New York Rangers - 2005-2009
He whom is loved, will never be forgotten.
Petr Prucha - New York Rangers - 2005-2009
Where Are They Now/Game Stars Edition. . .?
I thought I'd get this done before the rest of the day gets away from us. Happy Trade Deadline Day everyone.
Where Are They Now. . .?
Team Player Action Note
Carolina Matt Cullen G (20), 2A Goal and one assist were SH; #1 Star
Boston Marc Savard Assist
Philadelphia Mike Knuble G(22), 2A #2 Star
Columbus Manny Malhotra 2G (10,11), A #1 Star, GWG
Calgary Jamie Lundmark Assist On PP
Pittsburgh Pascal Dupuis Assist #2 Star
Pittsburgh Petr Sykora Assist
New Jersey Mike Mottau Assist
Edmonton Jason Strudwick Assist (Also looks like took penalty in OT leading to GWG for Nashville - ut oh!)
Minnesota Dan Fritsche G(4)
Again, always more than just the box-score that makes a game, but just a topline look. And lots of stars for former Rangers last night. Also, some 20 goals scorers. (Although Naslund finally allowed the Rangers to join that club this year.)
Countdown to Trade Deadline. . .8 Hours and Counting. . .
Tums and Tylenol ready. . .
Where Are They Now. . .?
Team Player Action Note
Carolina Matt Cullen G (20), 2A Goal and one assist were SH; #1 Star
Boston Marc Savard Assist
Philadelphia Mike Knuble G(22), 2A #2 Star
Columbus Manny Malhotra 2G (10,11), A #1 Star, GWG
Calgary Jamie Lundmark Assist On PP
Pittsburgh Pascal Dupuis Assist #2 Star
Pittsburgh Petr Sykora Assist
New Jersey Mike Mottau Assist
Edmonton Jason Strudwick Assist (Also looks like took penalty in OT leading to GWG for Nashville - ut oh!)
Minnesota Dan Fritsche G(4)
Again, always more than just the box-score that makes a game, but just a topline look. And lots of stars for former Rangers last night. Also, some 20 goals scorers. (Although Naslund finally allowed the Rangers to join that club this year.)
Countdown to Trade Deadline. . .8 Hours and Counting. . .
Tums and Tylenol ready. . .
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