Judging by the reactions of some people, you would think Matt Gilroy is the shining light and only hope of the Rangers, unfairly snuffed out in his prime by a cruel and uncaring John Tortorella. Gilroy was sent down to Hartford yesterday, with Ilkka Heikkinen taking his place, and immediately the pitchforks and torches were being gathered. People wondered why Gilroy was being "punished", why other players weren't being sent down.
Can we get real for a moment? Gilroy isn't being punished. Yes, this move probably had a lot to do with his play in the Chicago game - both standing around while Blackhawks crowded the crease on the first goal, and being burned by Dustin Byfuglien on the second - but that game was just the last straw. Gilroy was great in pre-season and more than solid in the first 10 games or so, but his play has declined since. Has he been awful? No, but he hasn't been good, either. He's had a couple of very good games, a couple of real stinkers, and many games where he was just okay. It's been pointed out that he's the only defenseman on the Rangers with a plus-rating - which we all knows is the be-all and end-all of stats (cue eyeroll) - but nobody seems to notice that since the beginning of November, he's had only 3 points and is a -4.
I could overlook the lack of offensive production if I thought it was because he was concentrating on bettering the defensive side of his game, but it's clear that that's becoming an issue, too. Yes, he's a rookie, and these are rookie mistakes he's making, but wouldn't it better benefit both him and the team if he could work on correcting them in an environment a little less high-pressure than the NHL? In the meantime, Heikkinen - a player who is more physical than Gilroy and has played in a professional league before - gets a chance to prove his worth. A player, by the way, who is the same age as Gilroy and also an NHL rookie.
Some of you might think, But what about the other D? They've been sucking it up, too. There's been grumbling about Tortorella and the lack of accountability, but what can he do? Send down Staal and Girardi? Yeah, that'd teach them a lesson, hold them real accountable when another team snatches them off waivers.
And no, sending Rozsival or Redden to the AHL is not an option, no matter what Larry Brooks thinks. Nevermind the fact that sending them down means we'd have to either a) sign or trade for a D to take their place, which would be hard to do with the Rangers up against the cap and their 50 contract limit; or b) bring up yet another rookie. People seem to be under the impression that the AHL is some kind of magical fairyland where bad mistakes can disappear forever with no consequences. Fact: the AHL actually does have a salary cap, too. Somewhere around $10 million, I believe, and either one of them would put Hartford over. Another fact: the AHL has a limit on the number of vets that can be dressed for a team, and Hartford is at that limit, too.
When it comes down to it, sending Gilroy down is the most sensible choice, both for the player and the team.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Rome wasn't built in a day
It always amazes me how impatient and bipolar Ranger fans are. (I've heard this is true of NY sports fans in general, but since hockey is the only sport I follow, my experience is limited to what I see there.) At the beginning of the season, people were planning the Cup parade, and now, with the team on a downward spiral, people are instead planning on a complete firesale of the team, wanting to get rid of everyone from Voros to Lundqvist to the coach. There never seems to be a middle ground.
I've said it once before and I'll say it again - this just might be a retooling year for the Rangers. I know that's not what fans want - they want to win it all and they want to win it NOW - but sometimes you need to take a step back to move forward. We have Gaborik and Lundqvist for several more years. We have a good core of young players. We have one of the best groups of prospects in the league. Would I like to see the Rangers win it all this year? Of course I would, but as long as the organization lets the kids develop, I'd be just as happy to see them win a few years down the line.
Somewhat relatedly, one of the complaints I see most often is about Tortorella, how he's not getting results, how he's already a failure as a coach because the team isn't winning. I have to wonder - do those people think he turned Tampa Bay into a championship team in one season? If I remember correctly, in his first year, they missed the playoffs and were one of the worst teams in the league. A few years later, they were raising the Cup.
I know some people will see this and think, 'Yeah, like that'll happen to the Rangers. The Bolts had Lecavalier, Richards, and St. Louis.' To that I say, exactly. That team had much more talent than the Rangers currently have, and it still took time before Tortorella could mold them into champions - and mold them he did, considering how young Richards and Lecavalier were, and that St. Louis was a little over one year into his NHL career. How can anyone reasonably expect him to do that in NY in less than a season?
I've said it once before and I'll say it again - this just might be a retooling year for the Rangers. I know that's not what fans want - they want to win it all and they want to win it NOW - but sometimes you need to take a step back to move forward. We have Gaborik and Lundqvist for several more years. We have a good core of young players. We have one of the best groups of prospects in the league. Would I like to see the Rangers win it all this year? Of course I would, but as long as the organization lets the kids develop, I'd be just as happy to see them win a few years down the line.
Somewhat relatedly, one of the complaints I see most often is about Tortorella, how he's not getting results, how he's already a failure as a coach because the team isn't winning. I have to wonder - do those people think he turned Tampa Bay into a championship team in one season? If I remember correctly, in his first year, they missed the playoffs and were one of the worst teams in the league. A few years later, they were raising the Cup.
I know some people will see this and think, 'Yeah, like that'll happen to the Rangers. The Bolts had Lecavalier, Richards, and St. Louis.' To that I say, exactly. That team had much more talent than the Rangers currently have, and it still took time before Tortorella could mold them into champions - and mold them he did, considering how young Richards and Lecavalier were, and that St. Louis was a little over one year into his NHL career. How can anyone reasonably expect him to do that in NY in less than a season?
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
20 games in, time to end the season?
It says something when my sister, who doesn't follow hockey, asks me, "When are you updating again?" SIGH.
And it's not as if there isn't a lot to write about as far as the Rangers go. They were up, then down, then WAY down. Drury and Dubi are both out (Drury indefinitely with a concussion, Dubi 4-6 weeks with a broken wrist). Gaborik's been on fire, Staal's been worrisome, and Michael Del Zotto has far exceeded most expectations.
Now we're at the quarter-season mark. I lurk on a lot of message boards, and it seems that a lot of people are ready throw the towel in already. While the Rangers got off to a hot start, the last few weeks have been...eh. Not that good. The thing that stands out the most for me is that they're not playing nearly as physical or hard as they were at the beginning. They're losing battles for the puck, they're not getting to the goal, they're not finishing checks.
Some people have already chosen to blame this all on Tortorella, which I think is really kind of moronic. At the start of the season, I'd said that it would probably take the team half the season just to get used to playing the way Torts wants them to. Tortorella himself had said he didn't expect the team to be playing the way he wants instinctively until December. Sometimes it takes time for these things. There's not a magic switch Tortorella can flip to have everyone get on track. The 7-game winning streak fooled a lot of people - me included - into thinking this team had it all together right off the bat. Now we're starting to see their growing pains.
The keyword here is 'growing'. The play's looked sloppy, but they have shown flashes of what they could be. As long as I see them learning from their mistakes and trying - and more importantly, as long as I can see that the younger players are growing and developing - I'm going to be happy. Winning will come with all of that. Tonight they play the Capitals, a team that's been playing pretty well without Ovechkin, who returns from a couple of weeks out on injury. You know he'll be hungry for goals after being gone so long. It'll be a good test for the Rangers.
In much sadder news, Brendan Shanahan announced his retirement. The hockey world has lost a world-class player, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him working for the NHL front office or the NHLPA. I only wish he could have retired as a Red Wing. It just seems wrong that his last game wasn't with them (or the Rangers, but that's purely selfishness on my part.)
And it's not as if there isn't a lot to write about as far as the Rangers go. They were up, then down, then WAY down. Drury and Dubi are both out (Drury indefinitely with a concussion, Dubi 4-6 weeks with a broken wrist). Gaborik's been on fire, Staal's been worrisome, and Michael Del Zotto has far exceeded most expectations.
Now we're at the quarter-season mark. I lurk on a lot of message boards, and it seems that a lot of people are ready throw the towel in already. While the Rangers got off to a hot start, the last few weeks have been...eh. Not that good. The thing that stands out the most for me is that they're not playing nearly as physical or hard as they were at the beginning. They're losing battles for the puck, they're not getting to the goal, they're not finishing checks.
Some people have already chosen to blame this all on Tortorella, which I think is really kind of moronic. At the start of the season, I'd said that it would probably take the team half the season just to get used to playing the way Torts wants them to. Tortorella himself had said he didn't expect the team to be playing the way he wants instinctively until December. Sometimes it takes time for these things. There's not a magic switch Tortorella can flip to have everyone get on track. The 7-game winning streak fooled a lot of people - me included - into thinking this team had it all together right off the bat. Now we're starting to see their growing pains.
The keyword here is 'growing'. The play's looked sloppy, but they have shown flashes of what they could be. As long as I see them learning from their mistakes and trying - and more importantly, as long as I can see that the younger players are growing and developing - I'm going to be happy. Winning will come with all of that. Tonight they play the Capitals, a team that's been playing pretty well without Ovechkin, who returns from a couple of weeks out on injury. You know he'll be hungry for goals after being gone so long. It'll be a good test for the Rangers.
In much sadder news, Brendan Shanahan announced his retirement. The hockey world has lost a world-class player, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him working for the NHL front office or the NHLPA. I only wish he could have retired as a Red Wing. It just seems wrong that his last game wasn't with them (or the Rangers, but that's purely selfishness on my part.)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Should've gotten a bigger boat
So. That happened.
I don't know anyone who expected the Rangers to go 81-1. A loss had to come at some point, and I was even prepared for them to lose to the Sharks, but. wow. WOW.
San Jose RW Devin Setoguchi celebrates his second goal of the game
The loss isn't a real surprise to anyone who has been watching the Rangers play. Although they've been winning, their play has been a bit sloppy the past few games. The second period and their penchant for taking bad penalties, in particular, have been worrisome, and both were factors in last night's loss.
Was Tortorella wrong in starting Valiquette? eh. I agree it would've made more sense to have played him against the Leafs and have Hank in against the Sharks, but I don't think we would've won the game even with Hank in the net. Maybe it would've been 5-3, or 4-3, but with the way the rest of the team played, there was no way we would have beaten the Sharks. Yes, Valiquette should have stopped that first goal, but there should have never been a 2-1 in the first place. Heatley was allowed to walk right into the Rangers' zone to score his. Several of the other Sharks' goals happened because a) Valiquette failed to control rebounds; and, mostly, b) apparently no one on the Rangers has ever heard of clearing the crease. There were turnovers; there were countless battles lost along the boards; there were - again - some really stupid STUPID penalties taken by the Rangers.
Whether it was Tortorella's mistake or his wake-up call to the team to get their shit together, I can only hope that the Rangers learn from this game. Take a deep breath, regroup, and go out on Thursday to kick some Devils' asses.
And stop taking so many damn penalties! Sheesh.
I don't know anyone who expected the Rangers to go 81-1. A loss had to come at some point, and I was even prepared for them to lose to the Sharks, but. wow. WOW.
San Jose RW Devin Setoguchi celebrates his second goal of the game
The loss isn't a real surprise to anyone who has been watching the Rangers play. Although they've been winning, their play has been a bit sloppy the past few games. The second period and their penchant for taking bad penalties, in particular, have been worrisome, and both were factors in last night's loss.
Was Tortorella wrong in starting Valiquette? eh. I agree it would've made more sense to have played him against the Leafs and have Hank in against the Sharks, but I don't think we would've won the game even with Hank in the net. Maybe it would've been 5-3, or 4-3, but with the way the rest of the team played, there was no way we would have beaten the Sharks. Yes, Valiquette should have stopped that first goal, but there should have never been a 2-1 in the first place. Heatley was allowed to walk right into the Rangers' zone to score his. Several of the other Sharks' goals happened because a) Valiquette failed to control rebounds; and, mostly, b) apparently no one on the Rangers has ever heard of clearing the crease. There were turnovers; there were countless battles lost along the boards; there were - again - some really stupid STUPID penalties taken by the Rangers.
Whether it was Tortorella's mistake or his wake-up call to the team to get their shit together, I can only hope that the Rangers learn from this game. Take a deep breath, regroup, and go out on Thursday to kick some Devils' asses.
And stop taking so many damn penalties! Sheesh.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Going to Denver, or, How the Avalanche/Nordiques Franchise Hates Me
I'm off to Denver for a few days later this week, a trip I've been planning for the better part of the year. Being a hockey fan, I'd originally thought, 'ooh! This would be a fantastic opportunity to see the Avs in their home arena!' Not that I'm particularly a fan of the Avs, but it's always fun and interesting to visit other arenas. But as luck would have it, the Avs will be on a road trip while I'm in town.
Figures. That franchise and I have a long history, one that's filled with nothing but stories about them thwarting me, all the way back to the days of the Nordiques, when they gave Lindros to Philly instead of the Rangers. (okay, so technically, it was an arbitrator who gave him to Philly, and who knows if we would've won the Cup in '94, considering what we would have had to give up, but still!) Then there was the whole rivalry shenanigans with the Red Wings, matching the Rangers' offer sheet to Joe Sakic, defeating the Devils to win the Cup...no, wait, that last one was actually really awesome.
Plus, I blame them for poor little Nelson losing all hope and dying.
And now this. I come to your fair city, Avs, and you don't even have the decency to be around? SIGH.
In much happier news, the Rangers - along with the rest of the NHL - have kicked off a new season. They lost the opener against the Pens, but considering how poorly the Rangers do in the Igloo, I wasn't all that surprised. Things got a little sloppy at parts, but by the end of the game, I was feeling very good about what I was seeing from them - driving to the net, moving the puck well, and shooting. MAF had to make several amazing saves, and I think he's the main reason the Penguins won that night. (yeah yeah, having Crosby and Malkin helped a little.)
The next evening they had their season opener, which I attended. Things were kicked off by the Blue Man Group, who I only ever want to see in relation to Tobias Fünke, then the team was introduced as one. I liked this for two reasons: 1) it reinforced the concept that they're a TEAM, not a group of individuals who all happen to wear the same jersey; and b) it didn't give the boobirds at MSG a chance to get going. I will never understand why some people feel the need to boo their own team. Do we really want to be like Philly fans? What's next, throwing batteries at the zamboni riders?
The game itself felt like continuation of the night before, but the difference this time was that they were able to cash in on their chances. Well, not on the power play, but even that looked significantly better than it has in the past - although 100x better than zero is still zero. It feels like it's just a matter of time, though, before everything clicks and the PPGs start rolling in. I'm not expecting to be at the top of the league, but even middle of the pack would be a vast improvement.
Tonight they face off against the Devils in Newark. There are two things I enjoy about the Rock: the chicken fingers and watching the Rangers win there. Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to enjoy both tonight.
Figures. That franchise and I have a long history, one that's filled with nothing but stories about them thwarting me, all the way back to the days of the Nordiques, when they gave Lindros to Philly instead of the Rangers. (okay, so technically, it was an arbitrator who gave him to Philly, and who knows if we would've won the Cup in '94, considering what we would have had to give up, but still!) Then there was the whole rivalry shenanigans with the Red Wings, matching the Rangers' offer sheet to Joe Sakic, defeating the Devils to win the Cup...no, wait, that last one was actually really awesome.
Plus, I blame them for poor little Nelson losing all hope and dying.
And now this. I come to your fair city, Avs, and you don't even have the decency to be around? SIGH.
In much happier news, the Rangers - along with the rest of the NHL - have kicked off a new season. They lost the opener against the Pens, but considering how poorly the Rangers do in the Igloo, I wasn't all that surprised. Things got a little sloppy at parts, but by the end of the game, I was feeling very good about what I was seeing from them - driving to the net, moving the puck well, and shooting. MAF had to make several amazing saves, and I think he's the main reason the Penguins won that night. (yeah yeah, having Crosby and Malkin helped a little.)
The next evening they had their season opener, which I attended. Things were kicked off by the Blue Man Group, who I only ever want to see in relation to Tobias Fünke, then the team was introduced as one. I liked this for two reasons: 1) it reinforced the concept that they're a TEAM, not a group of individuals who all happen to wear the same jersey; and b) it didn't give the boobirds at MSG a chance to get going. I will never understand why some people feel the need to boo their own team. Do we really want to be like Philly fans? What's next, throwing batteries at the zamboni riders?The game itself felt like continuation of the night before, but the difference this time was that they were able to cash in on their chances. Well, not on the power play, but even that looked significantly better than it has in the past - although 100x better than zero is still zero. It feels like it's just a matter of time, though, before everything clicks and the PPGs start rolling in. I'm not expecting to be at the top of the league, but even middle of the pack would be a vast improvement.
Tonight they face off against the Devils in Newark. There are two things I enjoy about the Rock: the chicken fingers and watching the Rangers win there. Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to enjoy both tonight.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Absolute Beginners
So, after what seemed like endless months of prodding by the roommate, I've gone ahead and started a blog for my hockey rantings ramblings. I think mostly she grew weary of being the only outlet for my nonstop complaining, but she says that there could be an audience for what I write, so we'll see.
I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted this blog to be, and about the perfect first entry to launch my blogging career. I am, first and foremost, a fan of the New York Rangers, so the majority of posts will be about them: the hopes, the worries, all the ups and downs of being a Blueshirt fan. I thought, maybe I could start off with some thoughtful analysis of the team, looking at its strengths and weaknesses, write about what I think this team can and can't do. I thought, I also like other teams in the NHL, so maybe I could write about the league as a whole, make some bold predictions on what I expect for the season. I thought, maybe I can sit down and come up with some truly insightful and unique viewpoints, things that will make people sit back and think, 'huh.'
And then I realized, this blog will probably mostly consist of things like this:
so there you go.
Good luck to all of the teams this season, and LET'S GOKITTIES RANGERS!
oh! And as a preview of what to expect (other than ridiculous macros), check out the Atlantic Division roundtable that I participated in. I've been assured that I don't come across as a moron, and the other participants had really interesting things to say about their teams.
I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted this blog to be, and about the perfect first entry to launch my blogging career. I am, first and foremost, a fan of the New York Rangers, so the majority of posts will be about them: the hopes, the worries, all the ups and downs of being a Blueshirt fan. I thought, maybe I could start off with some thoughtful analysis of the team, looking at its strengths and weaknesses, write about what I think this team can and can't do. I thought, I also like other teams in the NHL, so maybe I could write about the league as a whole, make some bold predictions on what I expect for the season. I thought, maybe I can sit down and come up with some truly insightful and unique viewpoints, things that will make people sit back and think, 'huh.'
And then I realized, this blog will probably mostly consist of things like this:
so there you go.
Good luck to all of the teams this season, and LET'S GO
oh! And as a preview of what to expect (other than ridiculous macros), check out the Atlantic Division roundtable that I participated in. I've been assured that I don't come across as a moron, and the other participants had really interesting things to say about their teams.
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