Bluelines: No Worries on Gaborik's Health
Big culture change coming for Rangers
Posted on Monday, July 6, 2009 at 4:45 PM- Not to worry, assures Glen Sather about Marian Gaborik's health. Slats spoke to doctors who performed surgery on the ace. "He is very healthy," says Sather.
After signing the richest free agent deal (annually) with the Blueshirts, Gaborik seconds the motion. "I feel great. Hopefully, injuries are behind me and I can focus on just playing hockey and staying healthy. I played the last eleven games of the year and took time off after to try to get to 100 percent. Now I'm fully training and getting ready for the season, and I'm very excited."
If any club will be experiencing a MAJOR culture change, it will be the Rangers. As the late, great Al Jolson liked to say, "You ain't seen nothing yet!" John Tortorella will redefine the term "work ethic" as the Blueshirts have not known since Mike Keenan won the Stanley Cup for them 15 years ago.
In terms of the roster, Torts puts it very simply: "It's wide open and I'm not afraid of youth jumping in at key positions. We need to change the look of our club. We need to change a little bit of the attitude. It's wide open and that's a good thing for a player."
P.S. – That explains why Scott Gomez is a former Ranger.
- Of the three exiting Devils – Brian Gionta, John Madden, and Scott Clemmensen – only Madden was the most likely to be cut. Madden's offense had diminished drastically along with his defensive artistry. Yet, the Blackhawks still may find him useful in new surroundings.
- Dwayne Roloson and Rick DiPietro aren't strangers. "We have a great working relationship," says Roloson, who worked with DP while playing college hockey.
- Mike Cammalleri on the added pressure of his new home: "It can be a distraction or something you look forward to. It excites me playing in Montreal and in front of people who are so passionate about their team. I know what that was like growing up in Toronto. It's something you only have in select places. There's great responsibility playing on the team."
Look for him at left wing on the line with Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta.
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