Hockeybird.com: The Hammer

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be Sherry
Ross of the NY Daily News?

But I have wondered how the Daily News lets her keep her job
in this demanding economy. Do her articles get read in the
same fashion as a car accident gets seen by passers-by?

Her most recent column mocks Sather for trading for Jaromir
Jagr. Yes, this quality journalist is on attack mode
on a trade that wasn't done (a rumor began by her colleague
Dellapina, not her, I might add), and without even knowing
the full details of the potential player exchange.

Perhaps her bio may help shed some light: "Sherry joined the
Daily News in 1978 after working three years for the New Jersey
Devils. A sports journalist since 1978, and a Jersey girl all her
life, she counts as her passions hockey, horses, and Bruce
Springsteen and the E-Street Band."

Devils employee, a Jersey girl, passion for horses and love
for The Boss. Right there you get a glimpse into her
anti-Ranger bias, her hairdo, her sex life and her desire to
belong in the boy's club. Puts it all in perspective.

It's easy to assume someone is ill-equipped for their job,
especially in the NHL, where Sherry Ross can be a reporter and a
dim bulb like Colin Campbell can be charge of the league operations.

But Sather deserves more respect as a GM with trading savvy than
most are giving him credit for. Since he's been here, he's
consistently gotten more back, and given less in return, than
any Ranger fan had a right to expect.

(Writer's note: his trading savvy has nothing to do with his
disastrous decisions concerning Mark Messier)

Sather pioneered the tactic of using his financial leverage as a
prominent asset in NHL trades.

It began with the Bure deal - where he got the Rocket without
giving up anything of consequence on the roster AND giving up
Ulanov's useless contract to boot.

And it's continued with the most recent evolutionary stop being
the trades for Kovalev and Carter, where he netted those players
by essentially agreeing to take their contracts.

If history has taught us anything other than Sherry Ross
has incriminating pictures of Mort Zuckerman, it's that Sather
won't make a move until he's squeezed as many balls as possible.

That means he's going to investigate the current value of taking
a star player with a long-term contract to the fullest.

He'll be looking for two returns:
1. Financial. What contracts can he dump back?
2. What young players can he get?

The second is most important. If he's committing significant
dollars to a star player, he'll need to know that he's got
quality, inexpensive players and/or draft picks to balance.

The media blitz which rumored Carter going to Washington for
Jagr, or Cujo coming to NY? Doesn't make sense and doesn't
fit history.

There is negative value to these high priced stars. So each
team needs to ante up something of significant value if they
want us to take on a heavy contract.

The Washington rumor of Jagr, Yonkman, Havel and cash for
LIndros and a pick is a good start. But I'd bet that Sather
is investigating what value lies elsewhere.

Dallas wants us to take Guerin (or Arnott)? Fine, then we'll
take Brendan Morrow and Loui Erikkson.

Los Angeles wants us to take Jason Allison? Fine, then we'll
also take Dustin Brown and Brian Boyle.

Detroit wants us to take Cujo because they can't afford him
and Hasek? Fine, either Datsyuk or Zetterberg sound good.

Who else besides Sather has the potential ability to take on
an $8-10 million, long-term contract?

This makes it a risky move by Glen, because once the player
is here, it eliminates flexibility. But it also adds pressure
to those looking to dump contracts, because once we take on
one more big contract, we're done.

That's why the primary motive for such a move needs to be
less the star player, and more the other part of the return.

I'm reserving judgement on Sather's next move, because he's
earned the respect as a savvy trader.

Thank god someone has called out for what Sherry Ross is, a nothing! I cannot stand reading anything she writes and I when I'm completely bored out of my mind and the rest of the news has been read I will skim her articles. One article never goes without the Ranger bash in one way or another. I still remember her "bold" prediction in 1997 when she picked a sweep of us by NJ. Real bold there Sherry. It was even nicer to see us outwork and outplay her beloved Devils. Sherry if your reading this, heres some advice, leave NY, go to news12 new jersey or with that other jerk from the record Guiltti and you two can enjoy your Ranger bashing there, god knows nobody in New Jersey cares about hockey anyway...

Posted by: Jim on July 1, 2003 02:13 PM