Did not venture into Manhattan yesterday to catch up with Sean Avery at the NHL Store, which was a calculated risk on my part since you never know what the Grate One is going to say.
However, the tireless Katie Strang of Newsday was on hand so we offer this link to her article. A lot of what Avery said is similar to his comments from the Rangers' break-up day but it is significant that Avery voiced what most Rangers' observers - impartial or otherwise - have been screaming about since Day 1 of the 2008-09 season: the team's glaring need for somebody, anybody, who can put the puck into the net on a consistent basis.
That was the first analysis John Tortorella was giving of the team after he took over, oftentimes saying after a (lost) game, "we need to score a damn goal." No doubt, this was Topic No. 1 - or at least as close to the top of the list as possible - as the team's brass gathered in California this week to plot the team's offseason strategy.
As to that and given the team's salary-cap restrictions and the desire not to trade away emerging young players such as D Marc Staal, C Brandon Dubinsky or RW Ryan Callahan, what would be your gut reaction to taking another run at Mats Sundin if the Vancouver unrestricted free agent does decide he wants to play next season - or at least part of it?
Pros: He showed he can still score with the Canucks, you wouldn't have to give up anything for him, and, if he's being sincere about money not being a determing factor, could slot into some of the money saved by Markus Naslund's retirement. Cons: He's 38 and the Rangers have certainly gone down this (unproductive) path of bringing in aging stars before.
Speaking of Swedes, you see that Helen Alfredsson tied a competitive course-record with her 10-under-par 62 in the first round of the Sybase Classic at Upper Montclair Country Club yesterday? Alfredsson is married to former NHLer Kent Nilsson and the stepmother of current Edmonton Oiler Robert Nilsson. A few years back, when the Sybase was still at Wykagyl in New Rochelle, I was talking to Alfredsson on the driving range. She noticed the pen I was using had a hockey stick-shaped clip-on and I had a New York Rangers' notepad. Naturally, we stopped all that silly golf talk and chatted hockey. Turns out she, naturally, is a big Henrik Lundqvist fan.
Sundin?? No thanks!
Where the heck would he fit in under this screwed up cap system we have in NY?
How about the Rangers tie up the players that they need to w/ contracts & then see if they can get a legit goal scorer with whatever money is left (or by making a trade).
IMO a 38-yr old Sundin is exactly what the Rangers don't need
Posted by: PuckCentral.net | May 15, 2009 at 09:55 AM
Markus couldn't deal with Torts system @ 35. I don't want a half-season rental type player that's even older and probably less motivated. Trade Rosival or Girardi (even though I'd hate to lose Dan) and get a winger in here.
Posted by: TK | May 15, 2009 at 10:17 AM
yeah, no to Sundin. We need the underachieving vets we have to leave soon so the young guys can come up. you look at the teams advancing or threatening to advance in the playoffs (Chicago,Detroit, Boston, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Caps, Ducks) and these teams have half the key players coming from inside their system. We're part way there with Hank, Cally, Dubi and Staal. Need to finish it off by not wasting time and dollars on short term band-aids that fall off in the shower.
Use the open money to lock in C, D, S and start bringing young guys up. Maybe Redden and Roszival can teach a young D on how NOT to do things.
Posted by: Sec67RowG | May 15, 2009 at 01:07 PM
agreed no to sundin. even more so no to free agents period. the cap will also come down by quite a bit in another year which might not be a problem for sundin but would for gaborik, gionta or st louis. no to all of them.
Posted by: LI Joe | May 15, 2009 at 01:15 PM
NO
Not another over the hill veteran ...
I mean WHY is this even suggested Andrew? We have the WORST luck with these types of signings ...
NOOOOO
Posted by: Matty | May 15, 2009 at 02:52 PM
newsday blog is reporting on the possibility of z staying in russia to play
Posted by: LI Joe | May 15, 2009 at 04:34 PM
LI Joe,
Yeah, sort that report and the internet rumor. Wanted to get in touch with Z's agent rather than just posting uncomfirmed rumors. Haven't heard back yet. Will post if/when I do.
Posted by: Andrew Gross | May 15, 2009 at 05:23 PM
Andrew-
On SUndin-and I am sure you are just throwing it out there in the absence of really noteworthy news coming out right about now-not NO but HELL NO-he's too old and they can do better. It's just a question of IF they will do better. Remember it's Slats at the controls
Posted by: Keith | May 15, 2009 at 11:06 PM
I Want Kovalchuk.
Not old Sundin.
Posted by: Leo | May 16, 2009 at 12:08 AM