Hockeybird.com: Ranger-centric Rumors

Anyone else squirming when they read media rumors
involving the Rangers these days?

The "rumors" are the equivalent of a pregnant yak sitting
on our salary cap testicles.

EJ Hradek reported on ESPN that Cujo is destined for the
Rangers because the team needs a goaltender that can stop
30-35 shots per game.

Hey EJ - see the guy smoking a bowl in the corner? That's Mike
Dunham. He had better stats than Cujo, despite playing in back
of a much lesser team. And he makes $5 million less.

John Dellapina writes in the NY Daily News that trading Lindros
would alleviate the overcrowding at center.

Hey John - if Lindros goes, I count Holik and Nedved. Great
reporting - glad to see you're angling for Messier's good graces
since we know he's coming back to get his 7 points to pass Howe.

These rumors have no sense of a Rangers perspective.
Does Glen Sather even employ a PR staff?

First of all, all of the players in this high priced game of
free agency and trades are legitimate Cup contenders except for
New York.

The Rangers already have prominent new faces brought in at the
end of last season (Kovalev, Carter). More roster overhaul
is historically ill-conceived, as there is no precedent for a team
to remake its roster with high salary players and win the Cup
the same year. )Notice I didn't even mention the six years out of
the playoffs to date.)

So, I will act as Sather's PR staff and offer a Ranger-centric
alternative to the rumors currently trolling the media waters:

Media Rumor: Cujo for Lindros; Dunham for Rolston; Federov as FA.
Finances: Major dollars into cap era; $8 million extra to this payroll.

The nugget for Boston, obviously, is dumping Lapointe's $5.5 million
contract. It gives them enough payroll flexibility to pursue Cujo, while
they could dump another salary on Detroit to make that deal happen.

For the Rangers, the idea is to form an intimidating checking line of
Holik centering Lapointe and Rolston, and dramatically upgrade the PK.
It also enables us to keep Dunham and Lindros in the lineup.

Financially, this option adds slightly fewer dollars than the media
rumors, but has a much better result in the cap years when Lapointe
has but one year, while Cujo and Federov stay off our books.

Lindros, Dunham, Lapointe, Rolston and cap flexibility vs.
Federov, Cujo, Rolston and millions of dollars against the cap.

Media Rumor: Jagr and prospects to NY for Lindros.
Finances: $11 million in post-cap dollars with no relief going
the other way.

If Sather is so gung-ho for more offense that he would be willing to
take a multi-year $11 million contract on our books, then it is only
fitting that we give the Caps our big post-cap contract.

I don't agree with trading Holik, but I also don't agree with having
$20 million in post-cap dollars going to these two players.

Media rumor: Federov as a free agent signee for $8 million per.
Finances: um, it's $8 million per year.

Defensive defenseman budget: 1 year, $1.5-$2 million dollars.
Options: Ken Klee, Don Sweeney, Dmitri Yushkevich, Bryan Marchment,
Ian Moran. (Note - Marchment just signed for 1 year, $2 mill with Leafs)

Defensive forward for Holik budget: 1 year, $1.5-$2 million.
Options: Shjon Podein, Scott Pellerin.

Versatile Forward with offense budget: 1 year, $1.5-$2 million
Options: Ray Whitney, Chris Simon, Magnus Arvedson, Jan Hlavac,
Martin Rucinsky

These alternatives complement our current team, create no post-cap
concerns, and the short term deal means there will be real competition
from the kids.

Lindros and Bure could play with Simon. Holik and Lacouture
could play with Shjon Podein. And a replacement for Cory Cross
could be had in a guy like Dmitri Yushkevich.

Sather could then use the extra $2-4 million dollars he saved from
not signing Federov to buy Cablevision subscribers those boxes they'll
need when Ranger games move to a premium channel.

Hey Gabe,

Try "Ronald Petrovicky" and, not going to happen. While Petro works his ass off, he was like -12 last season. B's ain't gonna buy that. Besides in Rumour No 2 your getting rid of Holik for Jagr negating Rumour No 1.

Besides, I'm about to order a No 38 Jersey.

Posted by: mhurley on July 11, 2003 05:55 PM

I'd like to say the typo for Petro isn't a big deal, but truth be known I hate when I make those mistakes. Bah.

As for the Boston "rumor," Boston's primary (only) reason to do the deal would be to free up Lapointe's salary in order to go after Cujo. They could offer another salary dump on Detroit in that deal. Petro is filler. But don't worry. I think it's safe to get your 38 jersey.

(And, to answer your other question, the three rumors are indedepent of each other.)

-Gabe

Posted by: Gabe on July 11, 2003 06:14 PM

Hey Gabe,

Robert still plays back in Slovakia. He ain't half bad either from what I hear from a Slovak buddy. Time for another Brother tandem for the Rangers. It's been a long time since the Maloneys.

Upon reflection, I think young Petro is safe, too. He was a coup for Sather last year and is his poster boy for hard work. Besides, it was fun to see him piss off Nedved with that misguided Check, no pun intended.

Posted by: mhurley on July 11, 2003 07:08 PM

Funny, in my mind Petro was the minor part of this column. But since you bring it up ... I think Petro's a good player, but he rode a good first impression a long ways. The rationale for using Petro in the Boston "rumor" is because I believe Lacouture is a better and more complete player, and with Lapointe and Rolston "arriving," and kids like Garth Murray close to ready, it made sense to send a gritty guy the other way.

-Gabe

Posted by: Gabe on July 11, 2003 10:07 PM

GREG DE VRIES, GABE!!! GREG DE VRIES!!! OHHH YEAH!

Posted by: Some Random Stranger on July 12, 2003 04:08 PM