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Interesting Comment over on My KK Blog

by Patrick Hoffman on July 3rd, 2009 at 2:22 pm

Earlier today, I posted the Rangers‘ announcement regarding the signing of depth forward Tyler Arnason and this is what one fan commented with:

Just so Rangers fans understand…you don’t build a team by signing every single big name player you can find/afford and slap him into a long term contract.  Sather is trying to “acquire depth”.  Meaning…because the Rangers have pissed away most of their prospects and draft picks on horrendous trades and bad decisions, Sather has to try and build depth using players that have developed elsewhere.

While it’s not likely to work as there’s no gel between these players at all, it’s better than just signing big name egos because that doesn’t work for any team.  There has to be “buy in” to the organization and it’s system, which can only come with years of exposure (ie AHL).  This is what separates teams like Detroit, Pittsburgh, and New Jersey from teams like New York, Tampa, and Los Angeles.  Every prospect that steps from the AHL to the NHL in Detroit plays the same way as veterans on the team; that will never happen to the Rangers if they continue to build from the top up and sign those players to obscenely large contracts.

5 years for Gaborik?  That’s almost 2.5 seasons worth of work for him.  I also think the Rangers are paying something like 7 million a year for michal rozsival…if that’s true, the real problem with the Rangers is the GM.  Though I knew that the minute they hired John Torterella (not his signing however) and picked up Avery…it was like Sather wanted to create a circus in his locker room.  That was reaffirmed when they signed Donald Brashear after he seriously injured one of their players…on purpose.  Then they ditch Orr (as I understand)…um…they do the same thing, score maybe 10 points a season…and there are plenty of them to go around (Laraque, Godard, Clutterbuck(?), etc.).  Maybe Sather needs to sign the one who didn’t try to kill Blair Betts.

Do you folks agree with his sentiment?
  • rangerfan79

    Is that guy for real?

    I expect a few wolf pack players to make the push to the big club. Signing players like the ones today are just fillers for the farm club.

    Some people just don’t know how to put things into perspective.

    It’s about time sather is doing the right thing. This off season without a doubt I am on board with what the rangers have done so far.

  • rangers9

    This “fan” has no idea what he is talking about. While I do not agree with everything Sather does I think signing Arnason, who has played in the NHL before and been somewhat successful is not such a bad thing. He most likely will not be with NY but who knows what type of injuries happen during the year and they may need him. Last I checked, Tyler Arnason was not a “big name player”, and I am pretty sure he is not getting a long term contract.

    Yes Marion Gaborik is a big name player but I think a risk worth taking. He is a special talent. He is more than a point per game player. He comes with some risk but at anytime any big name player can go down. He was injured in the past but guess what…surgeries fix past injuries. His hip problem was what was causing his groin problems, which caused him to miss most of the time, and he played at the end of last year and lit it up. So with the hip surgery taking care of the hip, hopefully no more problems. Every player in the NHL has an injury history. Its the NHL, not soccer.

    I would say looking at the Rangers prospects they are one of the tops in the league. What prospects have the rangers “pissed” away? Yes draft picks dont alwasy work out but looking at it now I see a very promising future with guys named Grachev, Gilroy, Anisimov, Del Zotto, Sanguinetti, Stepan, Sauer, Byers, Kreider, Bourque and now McDonagh. Combine that with the youth of Callahan, Dubinsky, Staal, Girardi, Korpikoski and Higgens and you have yourself a solid young team to combine with the veterans that Sather signs.ie Gaborik and Drury. These are not the Rangers of the old salary cap era that just bought everything. They are building from within and I for one am pretty excited about the youth coming up.

    Rozival’s contract was front loaded so yes this last year was $7 million but this year is $6 million and 4 and 3 for the next two. I was never a big fan of Rozival and was against his signing but he does do some things well. Its just when he messes up its obvious because he is trying to be too cute. I would rather see a couple of young guys step up this year to take his job and force a trade.

    Tortorella’s hiring was the best thing that could have happened to the rangers. He brings passion and demands respect and accountability. His in your face hockey is going to spark the rangers and make them a team to contend for the Cup year in and year out. They are going to force the issue and bring it to the opponent instead of playing a chess match. I am excited about Tortorella leading this team. He has a recent cup to prove his worth.

    I am not crazy about giving an enforcer $1.4 million a year but Brashear brings a presence that can not be matched. They guy is a nut and the Caps have said he is good guy in the locker room. He is experienced and brings some leadership that may be lacking…Not saying Drury isnt a good leader because I dont know but a couple of veterans in the playoffs goes a long way. I’m sure Orr wasn’t much of a leader.

    With the way the Rangers prospects are lining up I see a bright future for the Rangers. Combining that with pure talent in Gaborik and a proven leader and clutch performer in Drury can only mean success for the Rangers. Why dont you try to look at the positive instead of ridiculing every move they make. While I dont agree with every move he makes I’m just guessing that Sather knows just a little more about hockey than you…

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