It's not a coincidence that Chris Simon signed his Ranger
contract about a week after Federov went off the market.
Once Federov was crossed off the list of Sather's options,
there was a lack of center replacements for Lindros in the
case of his trade.
Oh, there are options, as Doug Weight's name springs to
mind. But all require a financial investment that extends
into the cba years - something that carries more, um, weight.
And despite media meanderings to the contrary, Sather the GM
won't equip Sather the coach without Lindros and a center trio
of Nedved, Holik, and Messier.
MATCHING SIMON
Chris Simon is an intimidating, physical presence with
sub-average speed and offensive potential. Who else
does that match up with other than Lindros?
Nedved is a creative center who attacks with speed. Holik
is a defensive centerman. And Messier, my personal feelings
aside, needs breakouts for 5-on-5 chances.
Lindros is the one physical centerman who can profit from
Simon's physical size and offensive potential.
It had been one of the most puzzling decisions of Sather's tenure -
why he didn't get a LeClair-type forward for Lindros so that
Eric wasn't the only physical presence on his line.
Sure, Lindros had brief stints of success with diminutive
wingers such as York, Fleury, and Bure. But the formula made
no long-term sense, as the smaller wingers broke down and Lindros
had no one to take the bullseye off his concussed noggin.
CHRIS SIMON IS NOT SANDY McCARTHY'S REPLACEMENT
For the record, McCarthy's flaw was not that he desired more
of an offensive role. Rather, it was the way he pursued it -
with fancy moves at the blueline. He would dipsy-doo and try
and beat the entire team on his own. That's why he never made
it to a scoring line.
Simon, from what I've seen of his game, camps by the boards
and the front of the net and has an intimidation level around
the league that clears space for himself. He lets others do
the puck handling and positions himself for passes.
This is not to imply that Simon is LeClair. But his roster
spot will be the first time Lindros has had a legitimate
forward with size and offensive skills to create havoc down low.
As for the fighting question - don't look to Simon to fill
the goon role. That will be filled by Richard Scott and/
or Dale Purinton.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Well, it looks like Sather is finally looking to complement
players that are already on the roster, as opposed to
making wholesale changes. (This is further enforced if Sather
brings back Hlavac for Nedved, as Brooks suggests)
It's a stretch to expect Simon to repeat his 2000 season of
29 goals, but it's not impossible either if he plays the
season on Lindros' wing. Don't forget that Simon's low numbers
in recent years came in Chicago with role players on his line
and minimal ice time.
More, Simon can stand in front of the net on the power
play for the Rangers, a simple strategy that has thus far been
adopted only by Holik. That could be a bonanza with the skilled
perimeter players on the team.
At best, this has very positive implications for Simon's offensive
output, Lindros' game, and the team's power play.
Worst case scenario is that Simon is relegated to the fourth line,
where his intimidation can still be a factor for the team.
Contract details haven't been released, but it's unlikely that
either the salary or term are significant.
Conclusion: Thumbs up.
-Gabe
Posted by Gabe at July 26, 2003 08:31 AMeMail this entry!
You might be the only person who thinks the Simon pickup is a good move.
Yes he would be perfect for Lindros and Bure, one player who has scrambled brains, the other has a chronic shoulder injury(or so he claims as why he doesn't drop his gloves very much anymore) meshing with Bure's bad knees.
There were better ways to spend a million dollars and Simone wasn't one of them
Posted by: Sandy McCarthy on July 27, 2003 05:11 AMYou might be the only person who thinks the Simon pickup is a good move.
Yes he would be perfect for Lindros and Bure, one player who has scrambled brains, the other has a chronic shoulder injury(or so he claims as why he doesn't drop his gloves very much anymore) meshing with Bure's bad knees.
Just wondering if you saw Simon play last season with the Blackhawks? When they got him from the Caps they tried him with just about everyone on their roster and he just didn't mesh with them.
He played his way down the lineup not due to anyone else but himself.
If Zhamnov couldn't get him going (and they tried with him) who on the Rangers can?
If you think he intimidates anyone anymore that too is misleading as he had all of 8 fights last season and sadly his once feared hand speed is gone. He got smoked on a couple of occasions something that never used to happen.
There were better ways to spend a million dollars and Simone wasn't one of them
Posted by: Sandy McCarthy on July 27, 2003 05:18 AMFiction: "Simon's low numbers in recent years came in Chicago with role players on his line and minimal ice time." Fact: Simon played only part of one season (last season) for Chicago. He blames his offensive drop off on shoulder injuries.
Fiction: Simon would benefit Lindros because "he lets others do the puck handling and positions himself for passes." Fact: Lindros wanted Rucinsky as his left winger because Rucinsky could handle the puck-carrying chores that are too dangerous for Lindros to undertake these days.
You really don't know what you're talking about, do you?
Posted by: Teacher on July 28, 2003 01:25 AMThanks for your comments. All opinions are always welcome at hockeybird.
If your acerbic remarks are intended to engage me in debate, I recommend you take them to the message boards. I'd be glad to enter into such banter there.
Regards,
Gabe
If you don't mind would you please explain what was so acerbic about my remarks in response to your article.
You wrote a point of view which I found to be suspect. I offered a different view based upon what I saw of Simon's play. He had 2 of the best playmaker centers in the NHL on his line at one time or another and didn't produce.
You said a whole lot about what he could do but yet there is evidence that suggests that might not be the case. You mention that even if he doesn't provide offense then he could still intimidate but that too is no longer the case.
Is it a smart move to pay a 4th liner 1.5 million dollars when he has so very little to offer? Shouldn't the team be able to find their own 4th liners from within their own system? If all they need is a 4th liner to be a goon the Rangers already have as you yourself pointed out have Dale Purinton and Richard Scott so then doesn't that make this move a poor one?
You say that I should take this to the message boards and I ask why? In the message boards it would be quite easy for this debate to get lost in the clutter of the other subjects. This is what you said here so why not address it here?
I find it interesting after reading your last article on RFC writers and egos that you appear to be either very touchy or over sensitive. Maybe you should follow your own words and develop a thicker skin if you are going to write out in the open and not on some message board.
Sorry if you take this the wrong way but after your last article I find it almost hypocritical of you to call my remarks bitter.
Posted by: Sandy McCarthy on July 29, 2003 09:05 PMThis is kinda my fault as this comment section doesn't work well. That's why a debate in this format doesn't work at all.
I'm sorry you don't wish to join up on the boards....but you are welcome to continue to post comments. Just have some more patients....after submitting, wait a while. It can take one to three minutes to post.
Sorry for that....but I didn't write this software.
----}-
Posted by: Bird on July 29, 2003 10:42 PMI choose not to sign up for message boards because by nature they tend to be areas where people can take cheapshots at others rather than discuss issues. Even yours sorry to say.
This is a direct line to your writer and it is also here where there can be little misunderstanding over what is said since the writer's words are right here.
BTW it takes a lot longer than 1-3 minutes for posts to show up as my first response kept getting Can Not find Server messages.
Posted by: Sandy McCarthy on July 29, 2003 11:53 PMI choose not to sign up for message boards because by nature they tend to be areas where people can take cheapshots at others rather than discuss issues. Even yours sorry to say.
This is a direct line to your writer and it is also here where there can be little misunderstanding over what is said since the writer's words are right here.
BTW it takes a lot longer than 1-3 minutes for posts to show up as my first response kept getting Can Not find Server messages.
Posted by: Sandy McCarthy on July 29, 2003 11:53 PMMy apologies for the multiple posts
Posted by: Sandy McCarthy on July 30, 2003 02:38 AMI had given some thought to disabling the comments as they work like shit. But you have given me a legit reason to keep it as it is.
For some unknown reason, that error message does NOT mean the posting went unsuccessful. Quite the opposite....it usually means the post went through. Go figure. I hope to do some upgrading of the software around here at some point and perhaps that will help.
----}-
Posted by: Bird on July 30, 2003 11:38 AMBird
Thanks for being kind enough to respond I only wish I could say the same thing about Gabe
Posted by: Sandy McCarthy on July 31, 2003 02:29 AMHe did respond......
"Thanks for your comments. All opinions are always welcome at hockeybird."
What more did you want ?
----}-
Posted by: Bird on July 31, 2003 11:16 AMThis is a test.
I'm looking into changing the code for the comments to see if I can speed things up.
Posted by: Bird on July 31, 2003 03:06 PMTesting 123......mike check.
Still working on it.
Posted by: Bird on July 31, 2003 03:19 PMSimon sucks. Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah. Sather is incompetent. Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah. Sather screwed us over. Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah. Simon was the worst pick up ever. Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah. hockeybird.com is attacking me. I am going to write and endless diatribe supporting the fact that the world is ending and it is Glenn Sather's fault. Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah. There is no future. Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah. Gabe started a war. Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah. That is all I read. Again and again and again. Oh Jess, make sure that you tell everyone what a fraud I am and attempt to discredit me here too. Do a real good copy and paste job this time.
Posted by: "E"andy McCarthy on August 1, 2003 04:36 PMYou all suck my dick
Posted by: John Smith on August 19, 2003 11:29 PM
|
Recent Articles
|
|
|