I don't think I'm alone in saying I've had a blast following the trades the last two days, overall probably the most entertaining week of being a Ranger fan since their last playoff series nearly 3/4ths of a decade ago. Following the action on our messageboards -- dozens, if not over a hundred of us -- were glued to the computer for days, multiple websites open, sports radio and ESPNews on in the background, constantly chirping away with speculation and scouting reports and opinions. Food? As many people said yesterday including myself, food was not an option. What if Greg de Vries got traded in the five minutes it took to make a sandwich? I wouldn't have been able to live with myself.
I'm pretty sure by now my computer chair has fused to my spine like a leather burgundy exoskeleton. I guess I'll find out when I finally stand up. Even if I have to have surgery, it was still worth it. And it wasn't just the excitement of trades happening left and right but the excitement of what the Rangers were doing overall and the direction the franchise seems to be headed in. I'll have many further thoughts on that topic in a "Firesale Report Card" pretty soon; hopefully to be finished later today but by the end of the week at any rate.
To start off I was going to list all the players and picks the Rangers acquired and traded away over the last week, but a few paragraphs from today's NY Times article accomplishes that perfectly:
By trading Brian Leetch, Aleksei Kovalev, Petr Nedved, de Vries, Vladimir Malakhov, Rucinsky, Matthew Barnaby, Chris Simon and Jussi Markkanen, the Rangers trimmed nine players who earned a total of more than $31 million of a league-record payroll of approximately $90 million.
In return, Sather stockpiled youth. The Rangers acquired forwards Blair Betts, 24, from Calgary; Jozef Balej, 22, from Montreal; Giroux, 22, from Ottawa; Jarkko Immonen, 21, from Toronto; Umberger, 21, from Vancouver; Dwight Helminen, 20, from Edmonton; Greg Moore, 19, from Calgary; and Rick Kozak, 18, from Philadelphia.
On defense, the Rangers obtained Rachunek, 24, from Ottawa; Grenier, 23, from Vancouver; Maksim Kondratiev, 21, from Toronto; and David Liffiton, 19, from Colorado.
The Rangers also collected a first-round selection and three second-round selections in this summer's draft and two second-round selections in the 2005 draft.
Sather also claimed right wing Sandy McCarthy, 31, from Boston, center Mike Green, 24, from Florida and forward Josh Green, 26, from Calgary.
Actually, Diamos left the older acquisitions out. The Rangers also acquired Chris McAllister (who by all accounts played well yesterday), Steve Valliquette, Jamie McLennan and, um, whatever that guy's name is they got from the little noted Paul Healey trade yesterday.
Rodent has been busy (and hungry as well) lately, checking in with a few thoughts on the recent trades and a short recap of last night's game. What happened to the lotteryWatch?
You wouldn't even know the Rangers played a game last night by reading today's Post. But Larry is on a roll lately, this time talking about how the Rangers made the first right step by rebuilding their farm system, now they have to get the right coach to follow things through. Brooks suggests the Wolfpack's Ryan McGill deserves a good look. Not a bad idea indeed.
Even though I'd almost rather not, as a matter of perspective let's check in with Cranky McCrankster to see what he's bitching and whining about today. No "sure-fire stud prospects," eh Cranky? What do you mean, like an Ilya Kovalchuk or a Rick Nash? And exactly how were the Rangers supposed to get players like that when their trade bait was largely a pile of pending free agents coming off disappointing seasons? Of course, if you look at the other trades of similar players like the ones of Petr Bondra, Geoff Sanderson, Valeri Bure and Marcus Nilson, and compare what they brought in return to what the Rangers received for their players, the Rangers did spectacularly. But don't tell that to Cranky. He's been in an unobjective tizzy ever since his buddy was traded.
Newsday recaps the trades, sans opinion. Here's a short piece noting that Lindros has opted for season-ending surgery and more or less declaring he'd like to come back to the Rangers next season. Nice to hear. They also provide a sentence on the game.
To the Star-Ledger and a recap of yesterday's trade action with a short blurb on many of the recent acquisitions. Also a list of the inbound and outbound.
The Journal News with a few opinions on the firesale overall, and a few blurbs on Lindros.
Phew. Now what are we supposed to do? I feel like I should go outside and staple myself to a tree for a week just to make up for the past week's computer cocooning.
- Rocha
Posted by pete at March 10, 2004 05:47 AMeMail this entry!
I like the Rangers website a lot. Since I checked out your cool website will you please check out mine at www.detroitsports.blogspot.com
Posted by: dan on March 10, 2004 08:45 PM
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