Who Should Stay or Go? Part I: Brendan Shanahan

Based on the overwhelming number of responses to my "Where Do We Go From Here?" blog, it's apparent that individual issues must be dealt with one-by-one.

So, let's begin with the most SENIOR of senior citizens: Brendan Shanahan. Should he retire? Should he re-sign? Should he go elsewhere for one, last NHL season?

I don't like to beat around the bush on Seventh Avenue and 33rd Street, so I'll get right to the point.

On the assumption that Jaromir Jagr will NOT be a Ranger next season, Shanahan must be invited back for another term. However, if management learns in a reasonable amount of time that Jagr wants to be back on Broadway for 2008-09, then Shanny must be given a fair "adieu." No more, no less.

As far as The Maven is concerned, there's no room on an invigorated -- and, yes, it WILL be invigorated by younger aces -- roster for two elder statesmen. One is enough.

Of the two, Jagr must get the nod because he's younger, more productive and, clearly, provided leadership and hope during the second round Pittsburgh battle.

By contrast, Shanny was hardly a factor in any way, shape or form; other than to provide his usual post-game and off-day insightful quotes for the media.

But the fact remains that Jagr just might return to Europe and play either in Russia or the Czech Republic. And if he does, more power to him. Contractually, he's free to do what he wants; and he made that clear after the Pittsburgh series ended on Sunday.

Thus, if Jagr goes bye-bye, Tom's Renney-gades will need a veteran player with leadership skills and a resume of championships.

Brendan may not have the wheels, but he certainly has the brains and can add considerable savvy to an increasingly younger dressing room.

My "One Or The Other Theory" goes a step further and it has to do with personalities.

Shanahan and Jagr see the game differently and manage their mates in differing ways. Brendan rates a tremendous amount of praise for the manner in which he helped control Sean Avery, enabling the latter to become a keen asset to the club.

While Jagr's emotions follow a roller coaster curve, Shanny is cool, calm and collected. He's a team guy and proved it early on when he went fist-to-fist with Donald Brashear, one of the most feared fellows in the game.

Whatever happens, the 2008-09 Rangers must be either Jagr's or Shanahan's team. There no longer is room for both in the Blueshirts' dressing room.

Granted, a 2008-09 Brendan would have to adjust to more limited duty on the ice, but his off-ice role -- as an aide to Renney -- could increase; perhaps as a playing-assistant coach.

Personally, I would love to see Shanahan back; but only if Jagr leaves!

Coming up in the next chapter: Should Jagr Return?

MORE:

• Rangers Left Saying 'What If'
• Blueshirts Express Their Disappointment
• Which Players Are Eyeing Europe?

Comments

[James]

Stanley,

Before I talk about Shanny - I want to know what did Prucha do to you to cause your venom? Here is a kid that produced on the PP and was developing as a player until the Rangers signed Shanny. He had chemistry with Drury until his injury and because - for the good of the Rangers - Dawes and Cally developed becaused of increased ice time without the worry of being benched. Other Rangers make mistakes/do nothing and no diatribe from you. Petr Puck was developing into a finisher and getting less that 10 minutes of ice time per game did not help him - nor did it help Dawes and Cally. He scored a lot on the PP playing with Jagr yet you did not call out Renney for not giving him a shot on a PP that did not work all year. You used to have an edge about you where you called anybody out. Now, you pick on the lesser people so that it looks like you still snarl. I strongly believe if Pruch got as much ice time as Cally and Dawes he would have had at least 1 goal like they did against Pitt - maybe more. Man up Maven. There were other issues on the Rangers in both series that you never called out. Having said that - you still are cool!

[bradley]

send that old basturd to the icelanders

[Ron]

I'm guessing you missed all the Ranger games this year... even his biggest supporters know its time for him to hang 'em up. Too many young guys in the system to overpay one of the slowest guys in the league, who has also lost his shot.

[James]

I guess I forgot about Shanny. Has helped keep Avery under control - brought a more professionalized approach and was a good example for the younsters - from training camp through the season. But if the end result is a Stanley Cup then he no longer is a luxury especially without shootouts in the playoffs. We now have Drury/Gomez who can carry the torch. They have both won and can easily assume the leadership role. I like the idea of a player/coach - maybe a PP coach - who WILL be needed to keep AVERY in line in case he is re-signed. He should be a part of the RANGER organization. Is Ruutu a cheaper replacement for Avery & Hollweg?

[bradley]

rangers get 20th pick in the draft this year! get rid of shanny and straka and get a finisher!! theres a reason why this team barely scored over 200 goals and didnt even get 100 pts and finished in the number 5 seed, THey cant score goals

[Ribs]

The game has passed Shanny by. He rarely wins corner or board battles and then is too slow to get back on D. I thank him for everything he has done for the league and for the Rangers the last two years but we will better off going forward without him. And whether Jagr stays should have no bearing on this decision. This team needs to be passed on to Drury who is still in his prime. If Jags wants to stay; great for less money. But the C should sit on Drury's chest and no one else.

[Bill]

Maven...

1. James is totally correct! You attack Prucha mercilessly and give a free pass to Renney. Renney destroyed Prucha... Renney tried to destroy Dawes... Renney destroyed the best plus-minus defenseman we have. (Malik)

2. Shanahan needs to GO! I know the media loves him for his interviews, but he is a negative on the ice.

3. Shanahan or Jagr??? Are you kidding? Seriously, Stan, how can you even compare the two at this point in their careers?

4. I know you are trying to take the focus off the coaching staff. BIG MISTAKE. RENNEY IS THE PROBLEM!

A. FIRE RENNEY

B. SIGN JAGR.

C. DO NOT SIGN SHANNY.

D. ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES!

[Ribs]

Bill, He's all over Prucha to validate Renney and his aweful personnel decisions; see Blair Betts and Ryan Hollweg. Prucha works hard and hits (although undersized) and has a scorer's touch. He just doesn't fit Renney's mold so he watched alot of hockey this season. Fire Renney and he will flourish once again.

[I<3Lundy]

Re-sign the captain. Jagr's still got skills.

[Bill]

Ribs - You are absolutely correct!!!

This whole thread should not have started with Shanahan.

The question should have been...

WHO SHOULD BE OUR NEXT COACH?

Stan's ridiculous attacks on Prucha are an attempt to protect Renney from his dumb and dumber moves regarding the fourth line. The decision to bench Prucha and insert Hollweg into the third game may have cost us the playoffs.

[js10250]

they are NOT going to fire Renny guys, quit dreamin.they need to sign jagr, and guys like Prucha are a dime a dozen. They need a guy like orpick on the back line, and Malone would be great, but he's not leavin pittsburgh

[Ribs]

Guys like Prucha are not a dime a dozen. How many 30-goal scorers did we have this year? Scoring touch is not taught; it is innate. Ask Pierre Larouche and Alexander Mogilny. Some guys have that knack and he has it. The rest of his game can be replaced, the hustle and the puck movement. but the ability to bury it is hard to find and he has proven on this level that he can do it. Let him play with a center who can pass the puck and he will light the lamp. We do not have that many guys right now who have that skill. Dawes, another guy that Renney tried to bury has that knack as well. Ryan Hollweg is too dumb to light the lamp on his end table.

On a separate note, I know that the fire Renney argument is a pipe dream, but that's what I and others believe needs to be done so we'll continue to voice that opinion.

[rangermediocrity]

fire Renney? maybe a bit harsh but howabout some timeouts? game 3, when we came back to tie it at 3, look what happened, braindead Hollweg lost us the game because of too much adrenaline, where was the timeout in the last game when Pittsburgh scored the eventual series clincher in the last frenzied minutes of game? basically here is what we have to look forward to during the summer.

another year where we were neither the worst or best team so what does that mean..
someone else will get the next Malkin or Crosby. we will get another Pavel Brendl(where is he now?) or Al Montoya, Hugh Jessiman etc.

[Bill]

Prucha scored thirty goals in his rookie season and 22 last year. He set the Ranger record for PP goals for a rookie.

So what happened?

First, Shanahan arrived and Renney decided that Prucha's future as a star player should be forgotten. Shanahan was given his place on the power play.

Putting Shanahan on the power play in place of Prucha was a MAJOR BLUNDER. Last year proved that Jagr and Shanahan cannot exist on the same power play.

Yeah, Shanny's a future HOFer and all that, but Renney made a major mistake in destoying the chemistry of the Jagr-Straka-Nylander-Prucha-Rozsival unit.

To cover his MISTAKE, Renney needed to destroy Prucha. Note how Prucha, Dubinsky and Dawes were a great line for a few games earlier in the season. Instead of going with them, Renney switched up the lines.

When Prucha was injured, his fate was sealed. Renney had his excuse.

[rangermediocrity]

u may be right about Prucha, Shanahan should go,Hollweg is brainless,Backman must go,he must have been hanging out w/Hollweg(thanks JD,i guess that was an official divorce from the Rangers),Malik goes. Like everyone is saying, we need some real toughness at the blueline, Jagr got pushed around, Lundquist had no protection, Callahan was the only one w/ any balls to show grit and tenacity. too bad he is only the size of brian gionta. we need a Komisarek.

[avery16]

Renney should be fired are you kidding...... Renney devolped these guys into one of the best defencive teams in the league....so we dont score tons of goals....Renney is responsible for Dubinsky with Jagr did you forget this.... 2nd round of the playoffs may be a bit of a disapointment after signing Gomez and Drury but dont forget this team is still very young and in a couple of years could be a powerhouse.. Get on or off the bandwagon if your a rangers fan dont bash them....... as for you Rangermediocrity good call lets just keep finishing last so we get good draft pics...dumbest comment I have ever read...

[avery16]

sorry Rangermediocrity I thought it was you it wasnt that was directed at Bill

[Gary]

I'm the first to agree that Shanny's skills went down hill this year. Yet, he scord 29 and 23 goals respectively in his 2 seasons here. He provides leadership and is a proven winner. Unlike Messier, he'd be willing to accept a lesser role on the 4th line. Shanny might just retire anyway but he'd be an asset on the team, especially if Jagr decides to play elsewhere.
IMO Prucha hasn't been the same player since he got hurt 2 seasons ago. Remember that Callahan got hurt early this season. Prucha had a chance to take his spot, but didn't do much with the opportunity. Callahan and Dawes deserved to be in the lineup over Prucha
Let's face it, we have 3 guys in Callahan, Dawes and Prucha who are the same size and are supposed to provide some offense. What we need is to move 1 or 2 of them for a bigger scoring winger. I think that Callahan and Dawes are keepers. Prucha is the odd man out.

[Mark n' Miami]

Shanny back? Only as a 3rd liner at best where he can provide a little scoring. The PK he was on diminished along with his production towards the end of the season and into the playoffs(#1 in the Eastern Converence)

[Bill]

Bottom Line - Shanahan Goes

The Rangers need to be Jagr's team, not Shanahan's. When that decision is made, others will fall in place, including the power play and decisions regarding players.

Shanahan is a nice guy, but he stunted the development of Prucha and the power play. He had too much ice time at the end of the season and was a net liability.

BYE-BYE BRENDAN... Enjoy your jersey being raised in Detroit!

[Sherman Allen]

Why are you guys all so down on Shanny. He has been a great, yes the only flaw with the guy was the breaking of Petr Prucha's confidence, who I hope can regain it and prove Renney wrong. Regardless, yes Shannahan is old and has tailed off, but has been nothing but heart and leadership for the Rangers. He is the only guy on the team who actually shoots the puck! is great in shootouts, and great PK. He is a team player and seems like the guy who'll take less money to play a smaller role. If they get rid of Prucha, and he is on the right team, he is going to be putting up many 30 goal seasons. I do not understand why Renney is so sour on the guy. And Avery needs the Rangers and the Rangers need Avery!

[The Maven]

THE MAVEN RESPONDS: LET'S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT; I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST PRUCHA OR ANY OF THE OTHER GUYS. MATTER OF FACT, I LOBBIED MANY TIMES FOR PRUCHA'S INSERTION INTO THE LINEUP RIGHT INTO THE PLAYOFFS. BUT THE GUYS EFFORT WAS HALF-BAKED WHEN IT MOST COUNTED, PRIOR TO THE SERIES-ENDING GOAL. THAT WAS MY GRIPE. NO MORE, NO LESS. I WANT HIM BACK NEXT YEAR. AS FOR THE COACH, NO ONE IS PERFECT. RENNEY JUGGLED A VERY DIFFICULT ROSTER AS WELL AS ONE COULD. YEAH, I WANTED A TIME OUT AFTER THE FOUR-MINUTE PENALTY KILL. THANKS, STAN

[Bill]

The more I think about it, the more I believe that the addition of Shanahan was a major negative to the team.

When he arrived, Jagr deferred to Shanny because of his experience and reputation. Instead of giving Jagr the leadership he deserved, management created a situation with two proven leaders, and the result was the younger Jagr gave way to Shanahan.

This should never have taken place. In addition, when Shanahan arrived, he forced Prucha out - on the power play and as a productive member of the team.

If managament decides to sign Shanahan and not Jagr, I'm out as a season ticket holder. Period.

[Bill]

Stan,

How in the world can you call Prucha's effort "half-baked?" Are you saying he did not give it his all?

Prucha is a dynamo with his speed and effort. He goes hard into the corners, goes to the net and will give a hit every time there is a chance.

You have to admit that Mr. Renney totally destroyed his confidence. Maybe if Mr. Renney had put him back into the lineup at the end of the season and benched Mr. Crosscheck, things would have been different!

[Bradley]

Shanahan better not resign, i swear if that old fossil who just collected a paycheck all year gets resigned, i will Punch Glen Sather's teeth out. Shanahan is a useless old fart who just loved his paycheck, and didnt care about winning, He had enough Cups 3, so he better go along with Sather

[Bradley]

IS ANYONE AWARE THAT GLEN SATHER IS A REAL ESTATE TYCOON IN CANADA? THAT IS WHY WE PROBABLY DO NOT SEE HIM AROUND ANYMORE BECAUSE HE IS TOO BUSY WITH HIS REAL ESTATE AFFAIRS AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE RANGER TEAM. YOU ALWAYS BRING PLAYERS WHO ALREADY HAVE HAD SEVERAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THEY ARE NOT HUNGRY TO GET ANYMORE BUT THEY DEFINITLY ARE HUNGRY FOR MONEY JUST LIKE YOU.

IF THE OWNER DECIDES TO KEEP YOU I AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS WILL NO LONGER BUY TICKETS TO SEE THE GAME NOR WILL WE WATCH IT ON TV. PLEASE PLEASE TAKE COACH RENNY WITH YOU AND HAVE HIM BABYSIT MESSIE'S CHILDREN. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A NEW TEAM TAKE ALL THESE LOOSER PLAYERS SUCH AS SHANAHAN, STRAKA, BETTS, BACKMAN, HOLWEG, ROSWALD AND GET THEM AN APARTMENT ON THE WEST COAST IN CANADA.

I AM SICK AND TIRED OF YOU. YOU ARE FIRED!!!!!

[Frank DeVenuto]

Stan, That's what I admire about you the most. You are always honest and tell it the way it is. I respect your opinions because you KNOW YOUR HOCKEY!! You and I are on the same page with our Rangers. The only good thing that came out of our loss to the Penguins was that our weaknesses were exposed. We need more physical players who are always willing to throw a check as well as take a hit, we need grit, and more speed. We need players that will take the puck to the net. We need players that play a north/south game, not the east/west game. Personally, I would rather not resign Jagr. He is a Hall of Fame player, but he is not what we need in NY. We need a captain that will set examples for the rest of the team. Would Mark Messier tell Renney that he doesn't want to be part of the shoot out line up? Stan, we all know the answer to that question. I can go on and on. We need to look for players that understand the Die hard Ranger Fan and also can connect with the pulse of the Garden Faithful. I know we already have quite a few players like that. Ex. Sean Avery, Gomez, Drury, Dubie, etc. I know you'll agree with me when I say that the Die Hard Ranger Fan wants players on tha Rangers that will leave it all out on the Ice NIGHT AFTER NIGHT. Adam Graves comes to mind!! All the most popular players in Ranger history have been players that fit that profile. Stan, can you think of one player on the 94 team that didn't leave it all on the ice night after night? Exactly!! I will leave you with this; We have excellent veterans for leadership that are still young along with an excellent core of young players, we have a couple of other young players that fit this profile in the minors. We are 3 players away!! Let's look for a big, physical, bruising defenseman, a true puck moving, power play defenseman, and a tough, physical winger who can put the puck into the net.

[Dan]

are you guys for real? shanny lost his shot? thats the stupidest thing ive ever heard. When we went on that overtime win streak towards the end of the season shanny's shootout goals were the reason we were winning. this is the rangers problem they try to fix when its not broken. the only way i would get rid of shanny is if we can somehow get our hands on hossa, which we should have made a push for at the trade deadline. but i say focus on getting brian campell and leave the rest of the team alone.

[Dan]

wow BRADLEY reading your posts makes me feel stupid. you obviously know nothing about hockey or the rangers. and you must not have watched the rangers from Jan Into the second round because jagr was our best player. And to say that he carried our team in the play-offs is an understatement. He's had the rangers on his back since we acquired him. As for messier as captain get over it and stop comparing players to him, he's a one of a kind and he's retired. just because jagr isn't very out spoken with the media doesn't mean he isnt a leader.

[Joe D]

As captain, Jagr didn't have nay effort for 65 games...can't be the case from the captain of the team!!

Shanny played old this year...whoever commented about him playing well...you didn't watch, or if you did, you think lighting the lamp is the only thing that is good, and he didn't even do that much, and was invisible all playoffs (other than one really weak goal allowed by Marty). All he has left is a pretty good shot...no speed, no strength on the boards, and even mediocre passing vision...

I agree...Prucha, Dawes, and Calli are all very similar and one should go...what's awful is that if Renney knew the way Pru was going to be treated upon Shanny's arrival, he should have been dealt...the guy was behind only Ovechkin and Crosby as a rookie, and would of landed us a major player obce we signed Shanny!! Now we are lucky if we get a 3rd round pick, or some other useless Backaman quality player.

[BIGBLUENYR]

MAVEN: It is hard to say, but what if both Jags and Shanny go? I would like Jags back, especially if he plays with that passion that he exhibited in the playoffs. I do not want Jags as captain though. I believe a system of co-captains to rotate through may be better for the team, like flip between Gomez & Drury (like Drury did in Buffalo w/Briere). I think Jags plays better with that "C" off of his shoulder. It was evident when they all wore the "A" and those were his most productive years as a Ranger. If he, Gomez, Drury, and Shanny all wear the "A" it would be better for the team in the long run. I think Jags has something left in the tank. He has to shoot more on the PP. I really think that with teams double-teaming him w/5-on5 and PP, that should free up our center for a clear shot. I really think if Jags accepts that as a role where he becomes the target, makes plays and less goals. If he wants to shoot more, he will score more. He has to be determined and he has said that himself.

I do not blame Shanny for his play towards the end of the season and playoffs. Since he had that late season injury, he did not play as well. They gave him a rest and when he came back he played better, but I do not think he was fully healed. With the playoffs, he probably was playing injured and it just worsened as time went on. I think he would be great on the 4th line and put him on the PP & PK as well. His role will definitely be reduced and I think he would gladly accept that. There is something left in him as well. I know that he would make a smooth transition to behind-the-bench as well if the Rangers want that.

So what if both go? Where do we go from there? We are potentially looking at Jags, Shanny, Straka to retire. We are looking at Rozy, Malik, Backman, Mara, Strudwick (will become part of the coaching staff) all we be going. Hollweg will be gone if not sent away. We will have much of our team gone and our core guys still there with the young guys. Do we search for big power forwards and defensemen? Avery needs to stay in NY and he knows it. I do not think anyone really wants him for what he will be asking; the Rangers just have to give him a long-term contract. They are afraid if they give him too much, then he will not perform. He feels that he will work to show that he deserves that and will give it his all time & time again. We saw his play change after game 1 in Pitts because he obviously was hurt. He wasn't even yapping up a storm. If he was ok, you know he would have been more of a force in that series.

On a side note Maven, someone needs to address the poor officiating. It was obvious in the Rangers-Pens series many times moreso against us (and I think that the OT goal was offside). I have been watching the Pens-Flyers series and I am seeing more of the same. The go ahead goal that Malkin scored was offside. There are many holding/hooking penalties not being called against the Pens and also the nice elbow Malking gave Briere was missed. The goalie interference penalty was a result of the Pens defensemen pushing the Flyer into the goalie. To top things off, every time the Pens get a penalty they are complaining to the refs. Is there favoritism being played in the playoffs? It really appears that way. I think the game has become too fast to call for the linesmen and refs. I think that more are needed (off-ice). There will have to be more video-reviews in certain circumstances. I think it needs to be addressed. Maven, we need you to look into this and have others talk about it. I really believe it has affected a lot of games in the playoffs.

I hope that our Rangers will be a contender next year. The mistakes that they made in the Devils series reappeared in the Pens series. The 4-1 lead in game 5 in which the Rangers controlled and dominated play was changed with a fluke goal and then another. Then we played terribly and hung on the rest of the way thanks to Henrik. The 3-0 lead on the Pens was exactly the same and the outcome was the same (actually worse). So why did that occur in both series? The same think occurred with the 5-0 lead against Montreal during the season. I think something has to be addressed because it was supposed to be a "fluke" according to Renney. That letdown in game 1 against the Pens is what changed the outcome of the series. I know that we played well 5-on-5, but the penalties killed us. If we were such a veteran team, then why did those leads dwindle and momentum swing so easily? If that was fixed after game 5 of the Devils-Rangers series, then maybe we would be talking about the Rangers-Flyers instead!! I hope the coaching staff looks at all of the weaknesses that were exposed during the playoffs and really fix them up in a hurry. Our division is the strongest in the East and we have very strong teams in our division. We need to be better and better. The Pens & Flyers are young, big, strong teams and look at the Caps in the SE division. We shall see what happens.

MAVEN: WHAT SAY YOU??

Thanks for your posts/comments.