There is a growing wave of criticism that the team
is becoming the same-old Rangers, wherein they stock the
team with over-the-hill veterans at the expense of
young players.

Now I don't mind if your enjoyment of hockey is founded
on criticizing the team or management. There are no
judgments on this site. (Unless you have bad teeth,
but every place has their quirks)

But I do mind if your criticism is not based on facts,
and this mantra is wrong. So please move on to another
agenda, because there are legitimate ones to embrace.

Players Under 30

The Rangers have fourteen players under 30 years old.
(I'm too lazy to match up birthdays to the years, so
advance apologies if I'm off by a year in some cases.)

Betts (26), Hall (26), Hollweg (23), Hossa (26),
Immonen (24), Lundqvist (25), Orr (24), Ortmeyer (28),
Pock (25), Prucha (24), Rachunek (27), Roszival (28),
Tyutin (23), J. Ward (27).

There is an obvious team development strategy here.
Players in their early 20's are being treated with
caution, and kept in juniors or Hartford unless they
break through. But generally speaking, unless you're
a key cog, the team is focusing on players 25-29.

While you may not agree with this approach, it is a
far cry from past Ranger philosophy ...

Historical Nightmares

The pre-lockout Rangers suited up practically entire
teams of over-30 players, and every time a player under
30 got a roster spot, he got more press than Britney
Spears stepping out of a car without panties.

"Look, Christin Dube is eating horsemeat!"

"Blasphemy - Muckler thinks Malhotra will be a third
line center!"

If if you need help remembering those years, I'm sure
we can post daily pictures of Kevin Stevens, Igor Ulanov,
Valeri Kamensky, Mike Keane, Brian Skrudland, etc.

Other Potential Gripes

By promoting false criticism, you deprive a nation of
antsy fans the ability to vent their frustration at
legitimate points of concern.

If you want to criticize ability, rather than age, than
go right ahead. Certain players deserve the scrutiny.

There are young players in the lineup whose job it is
to simply play "even" hockey. But the lack of points,
shots and toughness lets opponents key in mentally and
physically on the top two lines. Guys like Betts, Ward,
Hall and Hossa need to produce or step aside.

Our defenseman are comically not physical. The team fell
in love with the concept of offensive defensemen back in
the days of "Poti-Leetch for 30 minutes a game",
and no amount of real-time failure will convince them to
abandon the pursuit.

There, see? It's not so hard to focus on legitimate
criticism if that's what it takes to get you through the
season.

-Gabe

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