One more season, one last chance.

That is my feeling on this season. I've been saying it since the summer. With the Rangers deep sea fishing the last six springs, Sather is on his first (and last) full season as coach and the CBA expiring you needn't listen to my ramblings to know that this is it.

But, as 2003 closes I thought I'd pop in while I'm still straight and post a little something for you guys. First, if you are hanging out here at Hockeybird at midnight then surely you need to go outdoors once in a while....that might be your New Years resolution. Or getting a job or a girlfriend might make some sense.

With less that six hours in the year, lets take a quick yet short and incomplete look back at what we've seen in 2003 and look ahead with our eyes closed in fear for what might be in 2004.

The stats here indicate that more people visited this site in December than any other month in our history. I want to thank you for that. make no mistake, I know that you guys are not here for my crap.....but I have been smart enough to gather a few of the better hockey writers to surround myself with. Pete Rocha's report card is now 4 years old (Has it been that long?) and is by far the most popular feature we have. Word on the street is that it's become required reading at MSG. I think that's a great compliment to Pete. Of course, he still gets his fair share of "Nedved should have had a B+ you moron!" e-mails, but that's part of the fun.

The other writers here have all distinguished themselves very well, gathering followings of thier own. The Rodent is well, just the Rodent. He is read all over the world and I am proud to be associated with him and his site. While some people think that Hockeybird and Hockeyrodent are the same site....that hasn't been the case for years. Each run on thier own server....have thier own domain and are independent of one another. But I live to serve the Rodent, and I do pay him by the column inch.

This past summer I was pleased as the Rangers announced that the High Exalted Grand Poobah himself, Glen Sather would remain behind the Ranger bench. With this one last shot, it made sense to have a little continuity as opposed to bringing in yet another new guy. I still believe that he's the only one for this job. After this season.....no way. Slats no longer has the coaching legs (or suits) and I'm sure we'll see a new head coach whenever hockey at the NHL level returns.

Sather the GM had a pretty good summer. He converted a free agent Brian Leetch into a decent if not better backup in Jussi the Fin and Brian Leetch. Not bad. Slats also picked up Chris Simon and Greg deVries with both making solid contributions despite what the beat writers told you would happen.

Unlike seasons past, I had no lofty expectations for this squad nor did I expect them to miss a seventh playoff session. With two wins in OT on the current road trip we are left with pretty much the same thing we have seen here in each of the last six.....close but not close enough. Now, I'm not saying we won't get to the promised land like I did last year at this time. I think this is a better team with more toughness, better goaltending, better defense and a better shot at sneaking into one of the bottom playoff slots.....but what the hell do I know ? A week from now we could be out of the top eight by 8 points.....right ?

As we begin 2004 I hope that all of you have the chance to see NY Ranger playoff hockey. I hope that reading Brian Leeds' columns make you laugh so hard that you pee in your pants like our favorite Islander fan, Melvin. I hope the kids in Hartford keep Heather smiling. I wish that a dark MSG in the spring is Fiction, not Fact. And I hope that one day soon, each and everyone of gets that ever elusive A+ from Rocha......and the Rodent once again tastes pie (or mhurley, whichever comes first). I hope that Rightbug gets his car fixed and continues his quest for a smoke free sex life.

I hope you enjoyed reading Hockeybird in 2003.....at least as much as we enjoyed brining it to you. Have fun.....we'll see you in the next year, don't be late !

----}- Bird

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