Hockeybird.com: Cliffs Notes for Ranger Fans

Hunker down folks, the debris from the Kovalev trade is flying
in all directions.

The Rangers are now responsible for everything that ails the NHL:
high salaries, guaranteed contracts, no-trade clauses, Kerry
Fraser's hair, Mike Ricci's nose, Esa Tikkanen's dialect.

So it's no time to be a casual Ranger fan because it doesn't look
like the Rangers are remorseful ... or finished. You either love 'em
or you hate 'em. And dammit, Rocha is right - I love this team!

Kovalev was not a one-time opportunity. Unlike other teams, the
Rangers are a core part of it's ownership's business. The better
they and the Knicks do, the more opportunity for Cablevision
to raise ad prices and push the Metro channel with consumers.

It's not an insignificant point. The company recently decided to
sell all of its Wiz stores in order to focus on its core business,
to the applause of Wall Street. Plus, with the Yankees, Nets and soon
Devils off their channels, it means a heightened focus on the Rangers.
So don't expect the team to be finished looking at high-priced stars
from other teams if it drives interest.

Iginla? Don't laugh. If Sather could pull it off, he'd have
Cablevision's backing.

Oh, other teams are sure to whine about the Rangers taking advantage
of their financial resources, but precious few can make the charge
without being two-faced charlatans. Most teams have leveraged money
when they felt it would serve their needs.

So, to help dedicated Ranger fans make their arguments, I give to
you instances where NHL teams either spent precedent-setting dollars
or took advantage of another team's financial misfortune.

Gave Kariya $10 million years ago when they didn't need to. Recently
got Ozolinsh from Florida, who was looking to dump his $5.5 million.

Expansion team, so not much history. But they did trade for McEachern,
was available from Ottawa because of his $3.35 million salary.

They delivered $7 million to Iginla when they didn't need to after only
one breakout season. Plus, $4 million to Turek?

They implemented an aggressive and sneaky $21 million bonus to Federov
aimed to be a poison pill to Detroit. Plus, they gave Ron Francis
a $5 million salary years ago, which was top dollar at the time.

No one ever called Wirtz a spendthrift. Though $4 million for Fleury
could be questioned.

Got Blake when LA couldn't ante up money to re-sign him. Plus,
$40 million total to Roy, Blake, Sakic and Forsberg.

Able to get Ziggy Palffy from the Islanders, when Spano was
dumping anyone making more than minimum wage.

Bah, they made out like bandits when other teams tried to
raid them - draft picks, Scott Stevens, etc. but one can't
find much fault with their financial restraint.

This one is my favorite. They got Yashin because Ottawa
couldn't afford him; got Peca because Buffalo couldn't
afford him; and got Hamrlik because Edmonton couldn't
afford him. But man can they whine about our spending.

Gratton's $9 million signing bonus years ago. Getting
Roenick for $8 million. And recently picking up salary
dump Sami Kapanen from Carolina, to name a few.

Highest payroll in the early 90's. Now can't support
even a $20 million payroll. If Mario didn't have
deferred payments due him from his playing days, would
he still be around?

Got Selanne when Anaheim was dumping salary. Signed
Damphousse for close to $6 million a few years back.

Claiming significant losses. Though who forced them to
pay $9 million to rfa Weight after getting him from cash-
strapped Edmonton? Or how about getting Tkachuk from
cash-strapped Phoenix. Record setting deal for Pronger, too.

Gave Ed Belfour $6.5 million this summer. (Who were they
bidding against?) Acquired Reichel from Phoenix, who
couldn't afford him. Signed Mogilny for $5.5 million and
signed rfa Mats Sundin for $9 million.

Management gave hockeybird an interview. I can't knock 'em
'cause I'm a slave to the corporate machine.

Got Jagr for a bag of pucks, and more recently signed
Robert Lang for $5 million and acquired Mike Grier from
Edmonton, who couldn't afford him.

So there you have it. Most teams have taken advantage
of money to help their team when they felt it would
benefit them.

That most owners don't see their team as vital to
their core business as Cablevision and the Rangers is
not a New York problem.

Good article, Gabe. Fans of others teams have very selective memory when it comes to complaining about the Rangers. Especially Islander fans.

To fill in the blank for Montreal, isn't Briesbois making about $5 mil a year? That's awfully hefty for a guy who gets 40-50 points a year simply because Montreal doesn't have anyone else so he gets just about ALL of their PP time.

Posted by: Rocha on February 17, 2003 05:52 PM