Changes Not for Change's Sake
Sather shakes up Rangers roster in search of improvement
Posted on Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 3:05 PMDuring a conference call with Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather the other day, he stressed one point which is evolving into a daily truism — "A general manager should not stand pat; change is important."
The most dramatic changes have been the revolving door in which Scott Gomez exited to Montreal and Marian Gaborik made his way to Seventh Avenue.
Then, there's the Chris Higgins return to the metroplitan area and the lower-level stunner whereby erstwhile heavyweight contender Colton Orr zips off to Toronto, while occasional NHL heavyweight champion — give or take Georges Laraque — Donald (Basher) Brashear walks into the 33rd Street players' entrance.
If nothing else, the events have been stunning and since Sather advises that there still are "balls in the air" (translated: trade talks continuing — agents to whom he's talking) more movement should be anticipated; if not today then tomorrow or next week.
What has captured my attention are players who will become conspicuous by their absence; and I'm not talking about headliners.
Namely, Fred Sjostrom, Nik Antropov and Blair (Don't Forget Me) Betts.
Sjostrom has moved on to the Calgary Flames where he's come under the wing of Devils-deserter-coach Brent Sutter.
Granted, Freddie Boy was not exactly a world-beater, but he sure was fine as a fourth-liner.
Together with Betts, he gave New York a penalty-killing duet extraordinaire and that's not something to forget.
Antropov was another story — sort of schizophrenic if you want to get shrinky about it.
Same as in Toronto, he alternated between sensational and sorrowful with the hope that, someday (tomorrow!) he'd fulfill his notices.
If it happens, it will be in Atlanta where the Thrashers have signed him as a free agent, and that's that.
Meanwhile, Betts — at least temporarily — remains in limbo while his nemesis, Brashear, has been welcomed by Sather who asserts that The Other Donald will be equally embraced by a team that needs an enforcer with Orr off to Maple Leaf land.
Where Betts ultimately lands will be most fascinating — especially with Basher now a Ranger.
This rebuilt Rangers squad will be carved into John Tortorella's mold and you can bet that the process has only begun.
Fasten seat belts, lads and lassies, the fun has just begun!
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