Hockeybird.com: Dvorak Trade Cures All Ills

The Rangers are to national columnists what Pamela
Anderson is to paparazzi. An easy paycheck.

Have a problem with an overpaid underachiever?
Make a rumor of the guy going to New York.

Give us your $5 million third liners. Give us your
upcoming ufa's. Take our prospects and our
effective veterans. Just leave us Sylvain Lefevbre.

There is a big gap between Cup winners and playoff
contenders. The Detroit Red Wings last year could
be legitimately challenged in a seven-game series by
but a few teams.

But there is a small gap between most teams battling
for the playoffs, especially in the East.

The point? Don't panic. Struggling at the quarter pole
means there is time to make adjustments, as opposed to
prior years when the success of one line (e.g. Fly Line)
would mask team deficiencies.

This team has intangible problems - the passion is
missing (I don't care what any of you say, I miss Theo).
And that needs to be solved, independent of trades.

But the roster infrastructure is missing a vital
ingredient: a physical forward who can provide an
offensive impact in front of the net and the corners.

And, if Sather is able to deal Radek Dvorak for that
player, the lines adjust symmetrically to welcome
back Holik from injury and the new player to the team.

I'm talking philosophy - insert whatever name you take
a liking to. I wrote about Chad Kilger in an earlier
column, so this time I'll use Mike Leclerc.

Eric gets the physical forward he's needed since
Day One, and Messier can feast on the gimmes
that these two forwards generate.

A speed line with some grit. Pavel gets linemates
that can keep up, and who have proven to be effective
at perimeter play.

An energy line, with enough talent to bring a sense
of competition for the top 3 lines. Barnaby,
especially, should move up as soon as someone falters.

This team needs a shakeup, but that doesn't mean
major trades. The pieces are there. So it's fact that
one deal can put the team back on track.

And, the cool thing is, there are players of this
ilk available. Kilger. Leclerc. Gratton. And
these players won't cost you Lindros or Kloucek.

This team needs a trade big time. The mix of players is not proper. A fourth liner for another fourth liner would not be the answer. I think any move Slats makes will involve Kloucek. I just have that bad feeling. I am for trading Devo. It may be the knee but, he has looked lazy the whole season. It has not help that the couple of times he has cruised into traffic has resulted in road kill on the ice. Getting proper value for him will be a problem for Slats. I can not think of a GM that may have a hard on for him.

Posted by: Jack on November 25, 2002 03:17 PM