Hockeybird.com: Commence The Jigglin'!

Commence The Jigglin'!

Friday - March 12, 2004

Seeing as they plugged the site about 1,000 times during their show yesterday, and seeing as it was a highly entertaining show well worth everyone's attention, I'd like to give yet another shoutout to the good folks at BroadcastMonsters.com's Thrasher Fan Faceoff. Here's the link to last night's show, featuring our own Brain Leeds. (Or Brain Leetch as he's known down South). Archives can be found on the main site liked to above.

Welcome to any Atlanta Thrasher fans who may have made their way here as a result of yesterday's show. Feel free to make yourselves at home on the boards as, while we have many people who enjoy the Thrashers, we don't have any hard core Thrasher fans represented at this time. While this is primarily a Ranger site, we have forums devoted to the NHL, Poker, Fantasy Hockey and General Nonsense. We also have regular posters representing the Islanders, Toronto, Edmonton, Detroit and other clubs.

Welcome also to any Barnaby Brigade members who were drawn to the site by Tuesday's tribute to The Greatest Ranger Ever To Wear The Uniform. Currently we are lacking fans of Buffalo and the AHL Hapless Penguins, and our only Tampa fan is the traitorous Rustybird who was a Ranger fan until he spent too much time in the Florida sun. (Rusty will call me out for this but Florida has made him soft so I'm not overly concerned ;)

Well all right! Let's commence the jigglin'!

The Rodent gets things started with his controversial speculations regarding sources of locker room strife and a must read mini-interview with Jaromir Jagr, translated from the Czech media by our good friend Coat. A brief quote from that interview:

Every player wants to win games, win the Cup and win individual trophies. But I believe there is a point where you must look back at how lucky you have been in the past, what great opportunities you were given and you have to give something back. I'd like to do what Paul Coffey or Ron Francis did for me. Maybe this is the right time for it. It's time for giving back.

How refreshing is that to read after all of the selfish vets we've had over the years? The whole piece is equally good.

I would talk smack about the Rodent's insane assertions that restraint and wise free agent signings this summer may be the answer to our problems but I won't because, here at Hockeybird, we're all about the love.

Moving onto the Daily News, we read that Karl Rachunek is psyched to play for the Rangers. (Is his name Karl? I just made that up because I'm too lazy to double check.) Quoting from John Dellapina's article:

Karel Rachunek didn't particularly want to throw away a precious and legitimate chance to win a Stanley Cup this season. But then, neither did he want to waste any more time getting on with his hockey career.

"This is a very young team and they're building a new team, a new Rangers," he said. "And I would like to be a part of this team and be a top-four defenseman."

As Mel Gibson said to Be Affleck at the End of Saving Private Ryan, "You've been given a second chance, now earn it. Arrrrghhh...." Or something like that.

Also from the Daily News, this update on Blackburn's shoulder:

Results of the latest neurological exam on goaltender Dan Blackburn showed no improvement in his damaged shoulder nerve. Blackburn is now expected to have an exploratory surgical procedure in hopes of determining why the nerve has not regenerated.

The Daily News needs to hire me as an editor as I just caught and corrected their creative spelling error.

The Journal News has more on Rachunek. They also have this note regarding Bobo: Defenseman Boris Mironov did not skate yesterday because of a sore right ankle but said he would be ready for tonight's game.

With Mironov and Rachunek both playing, I wonder who will sit? It had better not be Bryce Lampman who had an excellent game Tuesday night.

Dunham's awesome performance Tuesday night prompted Larry Brooks to look back fondly at the days when we all loved Dunham. Larry must be tired from the awesome articles he's been pumping out lately because this article is not only short but, contains the following bizarre quote:

Tonight, though, the netminder will seek to post consecutive shutouts when he gets the call in Tampa against the Lightning.

While I'm sure Dunham would be thrilled with another shutout, my sense is he's more focused on a second consecutive win rather than specifically dreaming of the shutout. The Rangers have not won consecutive games since December.

Also, McClennan is slated to start tomorrow which I'm excited about. I think he has great potential. Saddly, I will miss both games so folks will have to keep me updated on the boards.

In Newsday, Arthur Staple professes his love for glam rock with his article on Motley Crew. (Anyone inclined to complain about my spelling of Motley Crew is invited to imagine me extending a middle finger to them (flipping them the Bird!) and screaming, "Death to false metal!!!!") Another interesting Jagr quote from that article:

"It was a different game we had to play the last couple weeks," Jagr said. "[Coach Tom Renney] had to play some guys more than you would normally so we could get a good price for them. I think he was waiting for everything to be done, and now we've got some kids who are going to work hard."

Which is to say that, up to the trade deadline, the coaching strategy was more about showcasing players than winning games. Hopefully, the new strategy will be more of what we saw Tuesday night. Necessity is the mother of brilliance and, in this case, a roster consisting of strangers who had barely had time to meet, nevermind practicing together, was forced to focus on basics. It's astonishing what discipline, patience and a focus on the fundamentals will do.

The Star Ledger has a new Ranger Blog from which I found a link to this entertaining article in USA Today. They've put together a fantasy team made up entirely of players traded from the Rangers and Capitals. It's a great concept and a fun read but I have to say, Kovalev centering Simon and Bondra? Nedved centering a checking line? Crack is wack yo'. Put down that crackpipe and step away from the keyboard.

Damn, I have to proof read this mess? The things I do for you folks...

Anyway, enjoy the game tonight. If it's anything like Tuesday's game it should be a treat.