Tweet: The Three Priorities
Andrew Gross (Posted to twitter June 28, 2010 12:25 pm via web): #NYRangers coach Tortorella: 3 offseason priorities is center, help on defense and backup goalie. “Strong up the middle,” he said.
…This help on defense that Torts is talking about. Where is that coming from? That is as good an indication that Wade Redden will be gone as any, but who or where is that player? Is that Ryan McDonagh, pending that he signs, or is he talking of just overall play from players like Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy? Marc Staal will be re-signed, and I would assume that if he had to cast a vote, he would want Dan Girardi re-signed.
If they make a run at a big defenseman, Anton Volchenkov, Zybnek Michalek or the unlikely event that Dan Hamhuis signs, that is more an indication that Redden will go, because in any sort of Michal Rozsival trade that will happen, its hard to see the Rangers either a) not coming away with a center or forward that they want, b) someone who doesn’t make equal to or similar money than Rozi.
Backup goalie is important but there are more than enough candidates out there and for Center, the front runner has to be Erik Christensen, but if he doesn’t re-sign their options are more limited. I think that Tim Connolly could be someone to look at but a lot of people like Matthew Lombardi, who I think they already have in Brandon Dubinsky.
