The Maven Responds (8/11)
A slew of Rangers questions today
Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 11:15 AMKyle: Dear Stan, The Oilers have announced that they have pulled out of contention for Dany Heatley. Is it possible that Glen Sather could swoop in and take him from the Senators? I have heard various reports that the Rangers are the new frontrunners.
The Maven Responds: Dear Kyle – More easily said than done. "Swooping" in means that Bryan Murray will do likewise and swoop away with a couple of solid Rangers. It takes two to tango – and trade. We'll just have to wait and see. This much is certain; Glen Sather has not consulted with me!
ak27: Stan in regards to your Shootout Answer on 8/6, HOW do you NOT have Ales Kotalik in your Top 3?! He holds the NHL record with 11 career game-deciding goals in the shootout and has converted 20 of his 38 career shootout attempts (52.6%).
The Maven Responds: Dear ak27 – That's why I need you as my "consultant" for important answers. Consider Kotalik in my Top Three. Deduct anyone you want; I bow to your sagacity.
Chall: Dear Maven, I still don't understand signing Donald Brashear and letting Colton Orr go. Orr signed for 1M/yr. We signed Brashear for one year at $1.4M. Brashear is a dinosaur at 37 and has not been hip to the new NHL. He was good at what he did in the "old" NHL. Orr is 27 and still has youth on his side. He is one of the best enforcers in the NHL, even though Brashear is No. 1. But how many more seasons can Brashear last? How much longer can he stay a No. 1 enforcer at 37 and counting.
Brashear may be a slightly better skater as you stated but when it comes down to it, their production level in goals and assists are going to be pretty much even. We let someone go who is still in their prime and could have been an enforcer for years to come (who may even become the No. 1 enforcer) to sign an aging dinosaur who may not last more than one season to MORE money, as well as leaving our future (enforcer) in question.
Our top five contracts (Gab, Drury, Hank, Redden and Rozsie) are a little over $30M. That $.4M is much needed now to sign players and make moves. Every penny counts now. So how can you say we are better off having Brashear? Do you think Brashear can be an enforcer at 38, 39, 40? Or are you trying to just stay positive? Some of us Ranger fans just don't get it and need further explanation. (Note: I'm not saying that Hank isn't worth the money because he is. Gab, hopefully; the others not at those prices, but that is neither here nor there.)
The Maven Responds: Dear Chall – You are not alone among Rangers fans who bridled over Orr's exit. I directly brought that up in my recent chat with John Tortorella. Like Torts, I appreciate Orr's contributions in the past. BUT, let's not turn him into a John Ferguson (scored 20 goals as an enforcer) or even a Dave Schultz (scored 20 goals as an enforcer). Orr was – and IS – a labored skater whose turns are about as wide as a Rockefeller Centre ice rink guard's.
As Torts told me, Orr's Toronto salary is far and above beyond the call of reason. Brian Burke is building a non-scoring goon squad in Toronto, and more power to him. Brashear always has had an offensive dimension to his game. Whether he'll deliver or not remains to be seen, but I'll buy Tortorella's explanation to me that Brashear suits his purposes (all things, including Orr's contract) better with The Donald. This is the beauty of the debate. Time will tell.
Blake k.: WHERE IS THE RANGERS DEFENSE?
The Maven Responds: Dear Blake k. – The Rangers defense will be built through training camp. As John Tortorella pointed out in a long, recent interview with me, the D's foundation will be Marc Staal and Dan Girardi. The hope is that Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival will improve under Torts' direction. The coach made it clear that there's a young, Hartford nucleus from which to choose in camp. Furthermore, there's still plenty of time for a deal, a signing, whatever. This is not an issue over which to be alarmed. Rest assured that the coach will straighten things out. I have consummate faith in Torts starting off fresh in September.
Sincerely,
The Maven
I'll get to more tomorrow, so if you want to pick my brain, CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A QUESTION.
MORE:
