Dolan- Spend Wisely

I am here tonight to make an impassioned plea to Mr. James Dolan. For far too many years(16 and counting), my beloved Madison Square Garden has failed to raise a championship banner to the rafters. The Knicks have been woeful for well over a decade, riddled with cap missteps and one Isaiah Thomas. The Rangers, while competitive and a perenial favorite to reach the playoffs, have been mismanaged by the same cap malfecence perpetrated by the notorious Glen Sather. These franchises have remarkably found themselves ready to crack open Dolan's endless check book for two big money superstars. In each case, I think Dolan should hold on to his assets and wait for the right fit rather than the big splash.

-> The Knicks: Lebron James. Will he leave his home town? Will he go establish a championship dynasty in Miami on Wade's Heat? Or will he embrace Broadway? I am in the minority that thinks the Knicks should stay well away from this egomaniacal blowhard. "King James" has made a mockery of the free agent process with this three ring circus, complete with formerly self respecting owners, GM's and coaches groveling at his feet. While his talent is undeniable, his maturity and motivation are suspect. Besides, D'Antoni's style would be far more effective with a superstar point guard, a la Chris Paul. Grab CP3 in a trade, surround him and Amare with some more jump shooters and outscore everyone until you hit the playoffs. Then hit the market next year for that one last crucial piece to put the Knickerbockers on that championship level.

-> The Rangers: Glen Sather has a reputation of overpaying for players that are ill-suited to the organization. The problem is that during Glen's reign the Rangers have lacked an on-ice identity. Throwing Ilya Kovalchuk into such a situation would only exacerbate his worst attributes. Ilya is the king of the garbage time goal, amassing impressive goal totals in the least pressure filled situations. Invisible in the playoffs, practically invisible in his stay in Newark. You'd only know he was there when you watch him turn the puck over on the PP from the blue line. Kovalchuk has shown either an inability or complete lack of interest in developing a two-way game. The fire and passion Ilya brings to the ice is great to sell tickets, but such a flashy cap-choking contract is all fans will point to when the Rangers lack a center to feed him (or Gaborik) the puck or one of a half dozen other problems signing Kovalchuk does not address. If Glen's considering banishing Redden to Hartford to bid on Ilya, sack up, demote Redden, and use the cash to lock up Staal and Girardi.

So maybe Dolan shouldn't stray from shelling out the big money, he should really consider spending wisely. Making the playoffs every year fills the coffers, the financial and emotional rewards of a few championship runs to this city make it worth considering.

Rangers Free Agency Recap: Day One

July 1st is upon us! Free agency opened today at noon. Traditionally, Glen Sather takes this opportunity to brake out the Johnny Walker Blue Label, chain smoke a box of Macanudos that he lights with James Dolan's spare $100's while drunk dialing the free agent list and offering ridiculous sums to whomever answers. This July 1st turned out to be a little different this year. Perhaps Messier hid the "good stuff" today, because Glen more or less stuck to a list of needs.

- Rangers re-sign Eric Christensen and Vinny Prospal: These two were much-rumored to be returning. Can't really find much fault in these two. Christensen acquitted himself well playing well out of position as Gaborik's C. Prospal will have to find a way to avoid his "good year, bad year" career trend.

- Rangers sign Derek Boogaard: The Boogie Man comes to Broadway! Brings a familiarity to Gaborik and a whole lot of ass-kickery. Excellent signing. Interesting that the Rangers couldn't re-sign Jody Shelley after he showed all signs toward wanting to come back.

- Rangers sign Martin Biron: Marty is an outstanding goalie to back Lundqvist. He is a great locker room presence and has never really get a fair shot at a starting job outside of Philly, who goes through goalies like Heidi Montag tries out new body parts. Biron has now joined a short list of men who have played for all three NY franchises.

So Glen made it through day one without throwing a ridiculous contract offer at someone or trading away our future to bring in Spezza. Now if only the Sather can lock up Staal and Girardi long term. Hopefully, Mess will hold onto the key's to Mr. Dolan's liquor cabinet and let us start building a championship level franchise.

A State of the Rangers Address

Another hockey season has concluded. Another year without a Rangers Stanley Cup victory. The season played out much the same as others in the regime of Glen Sather. The team started well, floundered till the last conceivable moment, and then made a mad dash for the playoffs. To see the season end on the stick of Oli Jokinen against a third stringer from the loathsome Flyers drives me mad. How was this overrated, over payed, under performing second line center with no aptitude for defense considered the answer at the trade deadline? Sather received credit for his deadline moves, but they were largely done to correct mistakes made just last offseason. Couple that with the disastrous contracts Sather has handed key veterans (Drury, Redden, Roszival) and a seeming ineptitude in concern to free agent evaluation, it leads to a stark conclusion. Glen Must Go.
But banishing Sather to the golf course and away from key decision-making capacities is just a start. A solid decade of not going the next step or making three terrible decisions to cover a single hole is simply not good enough. Redden and Roszival must join the Wolfpack's crusade for a Calder Cup. Give them their loot, off the roster, and instantly the team improves on a number of areas. Precious cap room needed to secure another sniper (not to mention 1st line center, at least 2 mean veteran D-men, a backup goaltender) is freed up. The young defenseman in Hartford could get a crack in camp, or go sign a veteran or two. Give Grachev a job and let him score up here while refining his overall game. Every roster should have that one-dimensional offensive wunderkind looking toward the next rush vs. backchecking. Also give Stepan, McDonagh and Kreider every opportunity to make the Rangers. The NHL has become a young man's game. Placing all three in the starting lineup is an interesting experiment in risk vs. reward that I fully believe the fans would support.
Who should become the new conductor on Mr. Sather's Wild Ride? Though there has been a groundswell of support for Mark Messier to step into the big chair, I have reservations on giving the reins to a rookie. I would lean toward a man who has shown a stabilizing influence on a organizational level. Doug Risebrough comes to mind. Maybe Dolan could pry Lou Lamorello away from the Devs? A pipe dream, I know. The new GM should be prepared to let Tortorella go. I am personally a fan of the fiery taskmaster, but his message was never received and he was tuned out.
I'm not saying that my plan will bring the Rangers Stanley Cup glory or even the air of legitimacy the Garden is lacking. But they start to right a decade of wrongs and begin to establish a solid base of legitimate young talent around which you can shape a roster. So my suggestion- Adios Glen! Hope the cigar tastes a sweet from the unemployment line.