Larry Brooks: Contract issues loom as Blueshirts struggle with changes

[eco's bones]

Well, most organizations go through that sort of cycle. Sometimes, on the upswing, the best a team manages is the 2nd or 3rd rounds of the playoffs a few times. The truth is, though, that GMs typically don't survive very far into the downswing of it. I would say that there is a pretty good possibility we could see something similar happen in Washington at some point and GMGM will get the axe. We're not going to see that here, unless Dolan changes his mind.

There are positive things our organization can do. We don't have any incoming graduates to the pros from our amateur prospects--so the Rangers should go hard after the best CHL and college free agent prospects. Trevor Van Riemsdyk--might be one (his brother James was a Rangers fan). He's big like his brother and is a right shooting d-man and one of the better college guys up for grabs. Greg Carey of St. Lawrence might be another. Maybe the most dangerous shooter in Division 1 hockey. Rangers should also be on the lookout for a real quality goaltender.

 

[KingWantsCup]

I've been lobbying for trading Callahan and Girardi for a while now. I would have preferred we traded Lundqvist too rather than giving him that wretched contract as well, but oh well. You have to play money ball (puck?) in the cap era. Cold, calculated, logical business decisions need to reign supreme when building a team.

Even if Callahan was having an all-star caliber year, I STILL wouldn't want him resigned because the cost would be too great given what his demands would be with impending UFA status coming up and his history of injury compounded with the fact that his prime is ending or over already.

Emotion has NO PLACE in the business world and that applies to contract negotiations of captains especially. Callahan has been a good captain. Great. He's damaged goods going forward so we need to dump him for picks/prospects. Girardi will finally get overpaid, let him be the Leafs' mistake. Trade him at the deadline to a real contender and we could get a fortune for him.

 

[Fitzy]

I have not seen a NYR scout at a SLU home game this season.

Buffalo, Dallas, and Toronto have been prevalent.

Obviously I'll have a write-up on ECAC free agents at the end of this year. TVR you have to be careful with. He needs AHL seasoning. He hasn't the level of physicality in his game needed to make a smooth NHL transition at present.

 

[beastly115]

This could all be said much easier.

The Rangers built their team for Tortorella.

Sather fired Tortorella.

Sather hired Tortorella's polar opposite.

Sather does nothing but sign dead-weight free-agents.

AV doesn't prepare correctly. Interesting enough, the PP has looked better this season since Arniel actually took the time to watch every minute of Rangers PP last season Homework, it helps.

Rangers suck.

SHOCKING.

Hindsight is 20-20, but I'm sure Sather would go back and untrade Gaborik if he could know full-well that Torts would be gone, and AV would be here.

Just need to re-tool some pieces. Not that far away.

This is basically it in a nutshell. Sather spent YEARS building a team from within only to ruin it all within the course of one season.

We're starting from scratch, folks. I for one will not be along for the ride until Sather is gone.

Edit:
And as for that last part, I also agree. Gaborik was traded because he clashed with Torts. Torts was fired a few months later. Probably one of Sather's biggest blunders I've ever seen of him as a GM and what caused me to stop watching. Awful move.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

This is basically it in a nutshell. Sather spent YEARS building a team from within only to ruin it all within the course of one season.

We're starting from scratch, folks. I for one will not be along for the ride until Sather is gone.

Edit:
And as for that last part, I also agree. Gaborik was traded because he clashed with Torts. Torts was fired a few months later. Probably one of Sather's biggest blunders I've ever seen of him as a GM and what caused me to stop watching. Awful move.

Thats not the only reason Gaborik was traded. He was traded for cap reasons as well. In a vacuum, it was a good move to get rid of a declining player.

Brooks article is spot on. Lets not forget that the players asked for this disaster. The "player's coach." An astute GM would have spent his time jettisoning the players that weren't willing to go the extra mile for the team. You could see it coming from a mile away that this team isn't skilled enough to police themselves and open up the game.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Gaborik was traded because of the salary cap. Period. Writing was on the wall as soon as Nash was dealt for. The amount of revisionist history on here is amazing.

 

[KingStian]

Don't forget; Gaborik was also playing some of his worst hockey ever at the time he was traded away, and Brassard alone had more points (11 in 13) than Gabby (8 in 12) in the regular season after the trade. Brass was also our most effective player in the playoffs with 12 points in 12 games. Of course, he has not been the same player this season with 14 in 32. Gabby has 11 in 17 this season.

I don't think the Gaborik trade was a bad one. He will never be the player he once was, and he most likely could have ended up with a too expencive contract he wouldn't have lived up to a short time into.

 

[silverfish]

Gaborik was traded because of the salary cap. Period. Writing was on the wall as soon as Nash was dealt for. The amount of revisionist history on here is amazing.

As is your hyperbole.

Gaborik was most certainly not traded solely because of the salary cap. Period.

Was it a factor? You bet. Was it the only period reason period. No way.

 

[ltsthinaz]

Don't get the love for Gaborik here. I think it was an excellent trade. Gaborik is a shell of what he used to be, he doesn't have the speed he once had that made him such a threat. I know people are down on Brassard, but while he is a bit up-and-down, he is a skilled player who showed what he could do when put in a position to do so. I for one am not ready to give up on him at all. Playing on the third line with Brian Boyle and the human pylon (Pyatt) hardly is a plus. Last game, when he was out, we didn't have a prayer against anyone with the lineup we put out there.

If you want to talk about someone who is lost out there, talk about Rick Nash. How about getting some return for him? And get rid of his contract, which in the out years will be an albatross.

As to trading Callahan and Girardi for a great return, I'd do it for the right price. I do like Girardi, however, as the Bruins and Ovechkin how they like playing against McD and him. Callahan is to me easily replaceable and a lot healthier and cheaper.

 

[True Blue]

Brooks article is spot on. Lets not forget that the players asked for this disaster. The "player's coach." An astute GM would have spent his time jettisoning the players that weren't willing to go the extra mile for the team. You could see it coming from a mile away that this team isn't skilled enough to police themselves and open up the game.

The Ranger fat cats have not fared well under the "player coaches". These are proving to be no different as they are slaves to history.

 

[RangerBoy]

It would have been hard to keep Gaborik with the cap going down and field a team. Keep the free agents. That's old news.

 

[BrianLeetch2]

Im sorry i love the guy but if the Captain wants 7 years, see ya bye. I think we should keep Girardi. Like someone said earlier it is much harder to replace him.

I just cant fathom signing a guy who gets hurt every single year for big chunks at a time. Sometimes twice or 3 times a season. No way, Sorry Cally but we cant do it.

 

[TheTakedown]

Girardi should stay. He is an allstar defenseman, period. Knows his ****, plays a solid game, and TONS of minutes. Definitely has lost some speed in his legs, so ensuring he is paired with the proper partner is vital for him. Beyond that, like others have said, he is difficult to replace.

Callahan on the other hand... I'm sorry, but if Cally thinks he should get $7M AAV, which happens to be the same as Gaborik's caphit, at HALF of Gabs production....
Seriously, then take a ****ing hike! We don't need another David Clarkson...

Or better yet, he should be sent off for assets back

FWIW, Clarkson will be missing a few more games with a suspension. Not similar to Callahan, but talk about missing games back and forth. It hurts the team, not the player.

As for Gabs, I understand some are saying he is a shell of himself, but honestly if he wanted 1-3 years @ 5M per, I'd take him back

 

[Radek27]

Gaborik was traded because of the salary cap. Period. Writing was on the wall as soon as Nash was dealt for. The amount of revisionist history on here is amazing.

So you believe if Gabby was on his 40 goal pace last season he would have been traded? I really don't think so, he struggled and it gave Torts a chance to get rid of him.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

So you believe if Gabby was on his 40 goal pace last season he would have been traded? I really don't think so, he struggled and it gave Torts a chance to get rid of him.

I was obnoxious in my last comment and I regret that. But yes I do believe that. Unless they were flipping Nash, Hank, or Staal idk how the math would have worked. If they bought out Richards to keep Gaborik their centers would have been Stepan (contract TBD) and Boyle. Miller, Lindberg, Moore (if they could fit him) plus maybe a bottom barrell UFA. No Brassard obviously. Not sure how realistic that was.

If he was on a 40 goal pace they likely would have held him and dished him at the draft for a lesser package. But I don't see how Gabby would have stated a Ranger this year.

 

[RangerBoy]

Andrew Gross

Next season, there's no guarantee either Callahan or Girardi, both unrestricted free agents, will be back. The Rangers must consider the wear and tear on their well-used bodies before offering another long-term deal. It's quite likely another team will value Callahan more.

And it's doubtful Callahan will be offering any hometown discounts, not after the Rangers made Brandon Dubinsky a priority over him during his last contract negotiations.

Change may be inevitable.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/2...__future_suddenly_doesn_t_look_so_bright.html

The Rangers didn't make Dubinsky a priority over Callahan in 2011.

Trade them.

 

[TheTakedown]

Andrew Gross



http://www.northjersey.com/sports/2...__future_suddenly_doesn_t_look_so_bright.html

The Rangers didn't make Dubinsky a priority over Callahan in 2011.

Trade them.

Gross is spot on too. Met his daughter actually (she's very young). Very good family.

I don't see Callahan here next year, sadly.

The only thing that would ruin this is Rick Nash became Captain. I think I'd want to assassinate him.

It does mean that Richards will probably end up with the C (almost positive he won't be bought out)

 

[vipernsx]

Look at the return teams got for Gaustad, Erat, Ryan, Clowe, Kaberle, Kubina, Regehr, etc. These were valuable players to teams but were moved at the right time where maximum value was produced. This isn't about personal feelings towards a player, it's about winning and having a vision on how to get there.

Unfortunately Slats will be Slats and rather than moving the club forward by shedding expiring value for quality assets in return. Instead he'll be trading away picks and prospects for over the hill has-beens to encourage the Rangers to limp to the playoffs so they can be promptly discharged.

 

[chosen]

This could all be said much easier.

The Rangers built their team for Tortorella.

Sather fired Tortorella.

Sather hired Tortorella's polar opposite.

Sather does nothing but sign dead-weight free-agents.

AV doesn't prepare correctly. Interesting enough, the PP has looked better this season since Arniel actually took the time to watch every minute of Rangers PP last season Homework, it helps.

Rangers suck.

SHOCKING.

Hindsight is 20-20, but I'm sure Sather would go back and untrade Gaborik if he could know full-well that Torts would be gone, and AV would be here.

Just need to re-tool some pieces. Not that far away.

Would the oft-injured Gaborik be playing better in the stands with AV than Torts?

I am tired of this nonsense that spews from so many that AV requires different players than Torts and that this is somehow an excuse for the current failures.

All coaches need good players to win. It is that simple.

Somehow Torts won a Cup when he had a talented roster. Did he hold back St. Louis or Lecavalier or Richards?

This is not a defense of Torts. It is simply that almost any NHL coach given good personnel can win. The mark of a good coach is adapting to his roster and playing to its strength.

I am so sick of hearing that the roster does not fit AV. It fits no one. It is not good enough.

 

[Blueshirt Believer]

Would the oft-injured Gaborik be playing better in the stands with AV than Torts?

I am tired of this nonsense that spews from so many that AV requires different players than Torts and that this is somehow an excuse for the current failures.

All coaches need good players to win. It is that simple.

Somehow Torts won a Cup when he had a talented roster. Did he hold back St. Louis or Lecavalier or Richards?

This is not a defense of Torts. It is simply that almost any NHL coach given good personnel can win. The mark of a good coach is adapting to his roster and playing to its strength.

I am so sick of hearing that the roster does not fit AV. It fits no one. It is not good enough.

Well, I would argue the roster simply isn't good enough period. Its poorly constructed no matter what system the Rangers wish to implement.

Its too small and beat up to go back to a defensive grind/grit hockey system that Torts implemented. Its doesn't have enough skill to be an uptempo puck possession game that AV wants.

So we are kinda in roster limbo until some serious trades are made and a directional path is taken. Do I think the Rangers could be playing better? Sure. Do I think they would be playing well enough to contend(even if that means just being a decent playoff team) in any meaningful way? No.

 

[chosen]

Well, I would argue the roster simply isn't good enough period. Its poorly constructed no matter what system the Rangers wish to implement.

Its too small and beat up to go back to a defensive grind/grit hockey system that Torts implemented. Its doesn't have enough skill to be an uptempo puck possession game that AV wants.

So we are kinda in roster limbo until some serious trades are made and a directional path is taken. Do I think the Rangers could be playing better? Sure. Do I think they would be playing well enough to contend(even if that means just being a decent playoff team) in any meaningful way? No.

You agreed with me. The roster is not good enough. I am just tired of people whining that a coach must fit a roster. If that were true, no coach with personnel input should ever be fired.

 

[Oak]

So I guess the majority of us agree on what the problems are, and what needs to be changed. The question is what will Sather do?

If he does something stupid like sign Cally to a long term deal I swear I am going to stop watching the rangers until Sather is gone. There is only so much stupid I can stand.

 

[NYROrtsFan]

You agreed with me. The roster is not good enough. I am just tired of people whining that a coach must fit a roster. If that were true, no coach with personnel input should ever be fired.

Agree completely.

It just goes back to the idiots who still want to blame coaching for this team sucking.

The players aren't good enough. Period. These efforts to absolve them of blame is frustrating.

Torts is a pretty good coach and so is AV.

 

[CharlestownChiefsESC]

The problem with Gaborik was this. Torts put a European player who has played on the right side his entire career on the left side with only a weeks training camp. Than when he didn't perform he demoted him to the fourth line and gave him fourth line minutes and again called him out because he didnt produce. All while doing this he coddled Richards who had a horrible year and basically let Nash do what ever he wanted. If you remember the so win against Boston Nash took a dumb penalty which let the Bruins back into the game. Torts still put Nash out there after that. If that was Gaborik who took the penalty I guarantee he doesn't see the ice the rest of the game. Fact is I think Torts wanted Gaborik gone from the onset by making him do things that he could have asked other players to do. I guarantee you Nash or Callahan could have played the left side last year with no problem, and I also think we could have gotten Dorsett and Moore without dumping Gaborik. Fact is I think everyone is overreacting about Callahan like they did Lundqvist. I think he'll be back but I see Girardi elsewhere.

 

[chosen]

The problem with Gaborik was this. Torts put a European player who has played on the right side his entire career on the left side with only a weeks training camp. Than when he didn't perform he demoted him to the fourth line and gave him fourth line minutes and again called him out because he didnt produce. All while doing this he coddled Richards who had a horrible year and basically let Nash do what ever he wanted. If you remember the so win against Boston Nash took a dumb penalty which let the Bruins back into the game. Torts still put Nash out there after that. If that was Gaborik who took the penalty I guarantee he doesn't see the ice the rest of the game. Fact is I think Torts wanted Gaborik gone from the onset by making him do things that he could have asked other players to do. I guarantee you Nash or Callahan could have played the left side last year with no problem, and I also think we could have gotten Dorsett and Moore without dumping Gaborik. Fact is I think everyone is overreacting about Callahan like they did Lundqvist. I think he'll be back but I see Girardi elsewhere.

What is Gaborik's problem this year?