Hockeybird.com: Sather and Puppies

I read the hockeybird message boards and am pleased by the hockey acumen on display. But this also means that intelligent people have made a conscious decision to put their emotions on the line with this team.

But as this year evolves, it begs the question: why do we do it? Is it a disease? Is it morbid curiosity and fascination? Is it memories of Reijo Ruoutsalainen and Mark Pavelich and Eddie Johnston?

Because it doesn't make sense how intelligent people continue to bang their heads against the wall for the sake of this team. The only thing that would seem to make it better is the unconditional adoration of a cute puppy.

OK, we gave you heaps of credit for righting the wrongs of Neil Smith. Specifically, you doled out big salaries to legitimate stars like Eric Lindros and Pavel Bure rather than overloading the roster with veteran dead weight like John MacLean and Valeri Kamensky.

But now that you have a decent core of players, you've spiraled the roster into a confusing hodge podge of talent with no team direction.

We signed Holik for his abilities as a checking center. But Trottier refuses to line match, which gives opposing teams the easy task of keeping their top line away from the hulking centerman.

If a high-tempo constant scoring approach was desired, then why didn't we use the $45 million to sign Billy Guerin, whose physical play and scoring ability would match that plan more accurately.

It's like signing Guerin and then asking him to go to the checking line and dedicate himself to stopping the opposition.

Sather broke up the one effective line he inherited in his first year,
Nedved-Dvorak-Hlavac, and tried twice to fill the void with other players - Zdeno Ciger and Martin Rucinsky.

If the team is going to play a pusk-possession attacking game, the Czech line fits the bill. And, considering that Jan Hlavac was recently traded to the 'Canes for little, it was an available avenue.

Why didn't he pursue this? Is it because Sather's ego is too big in admitting his mistake for breaking them up in the first place? Or is it because such a move would cement Nedved at center and bump favored son Messier to fourth line?

Preaching fiscal responsibility in not signing players like Tony Amonte, Sather then signs Messier for millions with an automatic extension if certain goals are met.

A 42-year old gliding around the ice for 20 minutes a game at second line center - is this a viable plan to put together a solid second half of the season?

Please let Larry Brooks' rumor of an interest in Czerkawski be false. This just may be the move that makes me take a break from the team for awhile.

The bile-churning issue is this little punk's role in holding Tomas Kloucek's arms back while Alexei Yashin gets free right hands on our defensemen. For a GM that preaches camaraderie, this move would smack of hypocrisy and stupidity.

We have a glass ceiling on our success, and Sather won't lift it. Not line matching is one layer, and having Messier as the second line center is the second.

Many of the pieces are there - indeed, this may be on the most talented teams in recent Ranger memory. But Sather's hope to be the '80's Oilers with mostly finesse forwards balanced by goons is doomed to fail.

So, I've decided to get a puppy. A bullmastiff. The little one will be coming home the weekend of Thanksgiving. I'll post pictures - maybe it'll help you too.

Fixed.

I copied the text into notepad and found it to contain the errors. Not sure what you're doing wrong.

Posted by: bird on November 4, 2002 10:53 AM