Monthly Archives: February 2010
With the trade deadline looming on March 3rd, much of the early week focus will be on the buyers and sellers in the NHL.
Even though the piece is a few weeks old, Wes Goldstein of CBS.com outlines some of the bodies that will be next to impossible to move by the deadline because of the outrageous contracts dished out to them.
The Rangers Wade Redden ($6.5 million cap-hit; 9 points) tops the list:
“Redden’s career in Ottawa was heading south when the Senators made a token offer to keep him as a free agent in the summer of 2008. Instead, the Rangers stepped in and offered him twice as much along with a six-year deal, and they’ve regretted it ever since. Redden has been the poster boy for big-contract busts with declining numbers and increasing time on the bench and sometimes even in the press box. But there’s not much New York can do because Redden has four more years, $23 million and a $6.5 million annual cap hit left.”
Number two on the list is Scott Gomez ($7.357 million cap-hit; 42 points), whom Glen Sather jettisoned this offseason. Also on the list are Daniel Briere ($6.365 million cap-hit; 40 points) of the Flyers, defenseman Mike Commodore ($3.75 million cap-hit; 9 points and on injury reserve) of the Blue Jackets, and goaltender Cristobal Huet ($5.625 million cap-hit; 24-11-4 record) of the Chicago Blackhawks.
…Huet certainly hasn’t been bad, but at two more years of that salary as a 35-year-old, when you have a backup like Antti Niemi the deal looks atrocious. Jonathan Cheechoo is also on the list and the Sens have already sent him to the minors. Sometimes it’s reassuring to see that the Rangers aren’t the only team dishing out some terrible contracts.
Jamie Lundmark was once a prestigious prospect. Taken 9th overall in the 1999 draft – the same one with Pavl Brendl – by the Broadway Blueshirts, Lundmark has epitomized the definition of a draft bust. After torching the lower levels of hockey’s developmental programs, Lundmark has failed to live up to his promise, earning just 29 points in over 100 games with the Rangers.
Now Lundmark is a 29-year-old, who has gone back and forth between the Calgary Flames, Italy, the Phoenix Coyotes, and Los Angeles Kings, only to return back to the Flames again… and now be picked up on waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has 96 points in 280 games played and is looking for another fresh start.
He spoke about his years in New York to the Canadian Press:
“A first-rounder going into New York is obviously a lot of pressure,” he said. “I was young, but also, our team was old. We had a lot of veteran, all-star players who needed to play minutes. Really, I don’t think I learned a lot in the first couple years of my career, and I think that kind of set me back.”
And now he looks at the opportunity with the Leafs as another chance – possibly his last one? – to make an impact:
“But I’m here, and I’m obviously going to play my best, and I think it’s a great opportunity to come in here and, hopefully, get a good opportunity to show people what I can do.”
…I’d love to finally see Lundmark stick, but when you’ve been with about more teams over your career than you have points, it’s not exactly a very good sign. Neither is the fact the Rangers totally dropped the ball in that draft.
There is a belief around the major sports leagues that former players have the potential to make the most informative announcers. Sometimes it works, but there are numerous instances that it doesn’t.
Kevin Weekes, 13-year NHL veteran and former Rangers backup goaltender in Henrik Lundqvist‘s first and second seasons, has recently become a color commentator, latching on with the NHL Network and serving as an analyst on Hockey Night in Canada. Always a consummate gentlemen and a well-spoken individual, Weekes seems to have the pedigree to become a very good broadcaster.
Susan Slusser of FanHouse.com recently caught up with the retired netminder who spoke about the benefits of analyzing after “viewing” the game from the net for his entire career.
“It comes by nature of the position,” Weekes said. “With that vantage point, 90 percent of the game is played in front of you. It’s interesting, because when you’re a goalie, you become a participant and a spectator at the same time. You know what everyone’s responsibilities are, and you’re reading all the plays as they’re coming to you. It becomes a very analytical, individual position.”
Weekes also spoke of how he made the decision to go into broadcasting.
“I knew it was something I wanted to do eventually,” he said. “This past offseason, the opportunity was a little more enticing than the opportunity to keep playing. It offered more opportunity for growth than being a backup, especially behind Martin Brodeur, who plays every night. This was a chance for a good, new challenge.”
…In the article Weekes also discusses the “bias” he has in critiquing goalies, while also outlining his broadcasting philosophy.
…Has anyone ever seen Weekes commentate? I have never, but would like to hear some of the assessments out there.
Update: 3:13PM: Alex Auld spoke to ESPN Dallas about the move:
“It’s exciting,” Auld said by phone Saturday. “Obviously, you want to play for an NHL team, and that’s what I’m getting here. I look forward to going there and seeing if I can help them get in the playoffs any way I can.
Update:12:13:PM: The Rangers have sent a press release on Auld, it is after the jump
Update:12:06PM: The Rangers have claimed Alex Auld on re-entry waivers from the Dallas Stars according to Darren Dreger
…And there is the backup goalie
Original Post: 10:06AM: According to Larry Brooks in the NY Post, the Rangers could be looking at claiming goalie Alex Auld off of re-entry waivers today to solve their backup goalie situation.
Auld is in the last year of his contract and would only bring half of his salary of $1 million to the Rangers salary cap because of re-entry waivers.
This past season for Dallas he was 9-6-3 with a GAA of 3.00 and a save percentage of .894.
In his career, Auld, 29, has played for six teams in the last five seasons and has a record of 83-81-2-26.
…The Rangers should claim Auld, unless someone else does first. At $500,000 his salary is nearly nothing and as Brooks points out, costs less than Chad Johnsons. He is an NHL player and while he isn’t a superstar he can be an adequate goalie and keep the Rangers afloat when Henrik Lundqvist has days off.
(more…)
Aside from being a thrilling tournament for the United States, viewers are able to get a closer peak at players they’ve never really watched before. Though Chris Drury is in his third season with the Rangers, a piece in the New York Times revealed a new tidbit: Drury trained side-by-side with the American women’s defenseman, Angela Ruggiero, who know each other from playing hockey in Connecticut.
Drury and Ruggiero were part of a 10-player cohort who trained in Los Angeles at Athletes’ Performance.
It was Ruggiero’s – who tallied five points and earned a silver medal this year with Team USA - first time taking part in the program. She participated in the same excercises as the men, with only changes in weight. Trainer, Jennifer Noiles, said this to the Times:
“Angela’s training for the hill climb is legendary,” Noiles said. “Every one of us still talks about it to this day. She’d go so hard and so long, I thought she was going to fall off the treadmill. But she just kept pushing and pushing and pushing herself.”
As for Drury, he has trained in LA for the past five seasons and this past offseason focused a lot on gearing up for John Tortorella’s strenuous preseason camp.
“Chris trained relentlessly,” she added. “His work ethic is incredible. He would come to me and say, ‘You know something, I feel like I need to do a little bit more.’ And he’d do it.”
…Definitely a recommended read. Both Drury (3rd Olympics) and Ruggiero (4th Olympics) are seasoned veterans and it’s nice to see them going full throttle to make sure they are in the best possible shape. Ruggiero also must be some athlete, to be the only woman in the program, to be able to keep up.
…Let’s hope Drury doesn’t follow in Ruggiero’s footsteps and can instead pull off the big ‘W’ on Sunday afternoon.
As Adam tweeted last night, Chad Johnson was sent down to Hartford and the Rangers recalled Miika Wiikman. The main reason is that the Wolf Pack has games everyday this weekend, and Johnson will obviously get some time.
In other news, Henrik Lundqvist did not return to Rangers practice on Friday and Michael Del Zotto was also not on the ice.
Even though the NHL does not require the Olympian’s to return to their teams by a specific time, according to Larry Brooks, teams generally want their players back by 5PM the next day. The snowstorm in the northeast definitely impacted this possibility – and I’m sure the Rangers didn’t necessarily mind extra time off for Hank, either.
The Rangers have Saturday off and will practice Sunday – which Lundqvist and hopefully Del Zotto should be around for.
After surviving a last-ditch effort from Slovakia in the third period, Canada has moved onto the Gold Medal Game, with a 3-2 victory.
Brenden Morrow and Patrick Marleau each scored a goal for Canada, while Ryan Getzlaf added a goal and an assist. Chris Pronger had two assists.
Lubomir Visnovksy and Michal Handzus scored for the Slovaks – who did all of its damage in the second half of the third period.
Roberto Luongo made 19 saves in the game, as Canada out-shot Slovakia 21-9 in the first two periods. In the third, Slovakia out-shot Canada 12-7.
Marian Gaborik finished the game with 11:55 ice-time, a shot on goal, and a -1 plus/minus.
Canada will face Team USA in the Finals on Sunday at 3:15PM EST. Finland will face Slovakia on Saturday at 9PM EST.
…My apologies for the late post here. I was out to dinner, saw the score was 3-0 and had my hopes nixed that Canada would be upset. Then I finally found a television and watched the last few minutes praying for a last minute goal.
…Slovakia was by far the inferior team in this one, but it says something that they turned it up a notch to make it a more competitive game. At least Team USA sees that Canada isn’t invincible at all, despite their recent resurgence. What an epic Gold Medal game this is going to be. Let’s go USA!
The United States trounced Finland 6-1 in the semi-finals to advance to the Gold Medal Game.
Patrick Kane scored twice (3), while three players on Team USA had a goal and an assist each: Zach Parise (3,4), Ryan Malone (3,2), and Paul Stastny (1,2). Erik Johnson chipped in with his first goal – and first Olympic point.
Team USA scored all six goals in the first period, as Mikka Kiprusoff made just three saves on seven shots. He was replaced by Niklas Backstrom, who stopped 16 of 18 shots. Antti Miettinen scored for Finland in the third period.
Team USA’s Ryan Miller set aside all 18 shots he faced and now has a shutout streak of 114:40. Tim Thomas got 11:31 minutes of ice-time in the third period, and allowed one goal on seven shots.
Ryan Callahan played 8:15, while Rangers teammate Chris Drury played 11:06 with a shot on goal. Olli Jokinen played 11:19 for the Fins, recording three shots on goal.
The Americans will face the winner of the Canada-Slovakia game – which is to be played at 9:30PM EST – on Sunday at 3:15PM EST.
…Since I’ve been relatively quiet throughout these Olympics, taking it one step at a time, I’m going to refrain from too much analysis here because I don’t want to jinx us. I would’ve liked to see Miller earn another shutout, but it was a nice gesture by Coach Ron Wilson to give Thomas some playing time. It’s a great feeling, but I won’t be fully satisfied until we win on Sunday. The American’s sat back a bit after their outburst in the first, but how can you blame them?
…I’m just so stoked for Sunday. Nobody gave us a chance, yet here we are…
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Slava Kozlov has requested a trade from the Atlanta Thrashers and is willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Kozlov, 37, is in the last year of a three year deal which had a cap hit of $3.6 million.
This season he has 8 goals and 16 assists in 52 games. Last season for Atlanta he had 76 points in 82 games.
…Interesting, he seems to be an ever other year player since 06-07. That year he had 80 points in 81 games, the next season 41 in 82 games then 76 and now 24.
With the Czech Republic eliminated from competing for a medal at the Olympics, the focus of one of the biggest stories of the games, Jaromir Jagr, has switched to whether or not he will return to the NHL next season.
One player has expressed interest in bringing Jagr to his team. Ales Hemsky of the Edmonton Oilers told the Edmonton Sun that he wants Jagr to join the Oilers next season:
“He’s not like he was, but he can still be a difference maker,” he said, adding his impact could be felt in any number of ways. “He’s a superstar. Just having him on the team is good for everybody. That’s why I think it would be good. He’s a guy who can do 70 points. We don’t have guys who can do 70 points.”
Hemsky, 26, is signed with the Oilers through 2012 with a cap hit of $4.1 million. He has 22 points in 22 games for the Oilers this season.
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