I can go on about a lot of things. About how Drury is a worthless, overpaid, regressing, pathetic, sorry excuse for a captain. About how Tortorella has lost this team through constant line shuffling and singling out certain players for bad play (Kotalik, Redden) but letting others slide (Drury, Roszival), or how Hank is already exhausted and we have no depth at goaltending. I can go on about all these things but I'll keep it short and sweet. We all know what the root of the problem is. All I really want to say is this: Fire Sather
Say it with me now.....FIRE SATHER
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
He's Not All That
Ron Tugnutt, who was at best a slightly above average goalie, posted a modern day record 1.79 goals-against average with the Ottawa Senators during the 1998-99 season. In four seasons with the Sens, his GAA was roughly 2.30. Damian Rhodes, whose weaknesses were exposed in all their glory during his notorious Atlanta days, had a GAA of about 2.50 while playing for Ottawa. He was so highly regarded following his tenure with the Senators that virtually all observers originally felt that the Atlanta Thrashers had hit a home run in acquiring him for their inaugural season. And Patrick Lalime, a marginal backup on most teams, was made to appear a legitimate, perhaps even formidable NHL starter when he played in Canada's capital city. He even appeared in an All-Star game once during his Senators tenure.
Meanwhile, Scott Clemmenson, who couldn't beat out Andrew Raycroft to be Toronto's back up in 2007, steps into the Devils lineup last year in place of injured superstar Martin Brodeur and posts a 25-13-1 record along with two shutouts, a 2.39 GAA and a .917 save percentage before being unceremoniously sent to the minors upon Brodeur's triumphant return. Speaking of Brodeur backups, little-used Corey Schwab found his way into just 14 games with the Devils from 2002-2004. His numbers in those 14 appearances? A save percentage of over .940, a goals against average of roughly 1.25, and no less than three shutouts. This year the honor of serving as understudy in the New Jersey net falls on Yann Danis. Danis has made seven appearances, posting a record of 3-0, a 1.69 GAA, and, yes, a .940 save percentage.
So we come to the man himself: Martin Brodeur, owner of more than 552 NHL wins, 100 shutouts and three Stanley Cups. His career GAA over almost 1,000 games is an astonishing 2.20. His save-percentage is a good (not great) .914.
So, what might have happened had the Senators been able to sustain for 15 years the extraordinary team defense that enabled the likes of Tugnutt, Rhodes and Lalime to shine? And what if one of the three had somehow managed to remain Senator during that entire time? Or what if Brodeur had not returned from his arm injury as quickly last year, leaving Clemmenson to finish what he had started in New Jersey. (Bear in mind that folks were so impressed with Clemmenson's play that some wondered in all sincerity whether Scott Clemmenson would become the first goaltender in NHL history to earn a Vezina nomination in a year that he finished in the AHL)
It is rare that we run across team defenses like the one Ottawa had in the late 90's and early 00's. It is rarer still to find a team that sustains for 20 years this extraordinary ability to bottleneck any offense. Rarest of all (so rare that it has happened only once in NHL history) is one goaltender blessed enough by the hockey gods to play all 20 years of his career behind that kind of defense.
Martin Brodeur is an excellent goalie, with impressive staying power. He is not, however, as good a goaltender as Lou Lamoriello is a general manager. His ability to shut down an opponent is secondary to the combined efforts of a Scott Stevens, a Ken Daneyko, and Scott Niedermeyer, a John Madden, a Jay Pandolfo, and countless other Devils who flourished under the tutelage of coaches like Jacques Lemaire and Pat Burns. Brodeur has much to be proud of in his storied career, but who among us can think of a series that he stole for the Devils the way Curtis Joseph used to for the Oilers and Leafs. Think of Patrick Roy's four Stanley Cups. Did Brodeur's personal heroics in any of his three Cup runs match what Roy did in any one of those four years? Could Brodeur have risen to the occasion, when the rest of his team needed him to carry them on his back? It appears we will never know.
Think, for a moment, of the success an excellent goalie like Curtis Joseph might have had playing behind that kind of team for 20 years. How about, let's say, Mike Richter? Sean Burke? Jeff Hackett? (stop me when you think I've gone too far)
They often say that it's lucky to be good, and good to be lucky. Martin Brodeur, who is considered by some as the greatest goalie in NHL history, has his share of one of those traits. He has a massive surplus of the other.
Meanwhile, Scott Clemmenson, who couldn't beat out Andrew Raycroft to be Toronto's back up in 2007, steps into the Devils lineup last year in place of injured superstar Martin Brodeur and posts a 25-13-1 record along with two shutouts, a 2.39 GAA and a .917 save percentage before being unceremoniously sent to the minors upon Brodeur's triumphant return. Speaking of Brodeur backups, little-used Corey Schwab found his way into just 14 games with the Devils from 2002-2004. His numbers in those 14 appearances? A save percentage of over .940, a goals against average of roughly 1.25, and no less than three shutouts. This year the honor of serving as understudy in the New Jersey net falls on Yann Danis. Danis has made seven appearances, posting a record of 3-0, a 1.69 GAA, and, yes, a .940 save percentage.
So we come to the man himself: Martin Brodeur, owner of more than 552 NHL wins, 100 shutouts and three Stanley Cups. His career GAA over almost 1,000 games is an astonishing 2.20. His save-percentage is a good (not great) .914.
So, what might have happened had the Senators been able to sustain for 15 years the extraordinary team defense that enabled the likes of Tugnutt, Rhodes and Lalime to shine? And what if one of the three had somehow managed to remain Senator during that entire time? Or what if Brodeur had not returned from his arm injury as quickly last year, leaving Clemmenson to finish what he had started in New Jersey. (Bear in mind that folks were so impressed with Clemmenson's play that some wondered in all sincerity whether Scott Clemmenson would become the first goaltender in NHL history to earn a Vezina nomination in a year that he finished in the AHL)
It is rare that we run across team defenses like the one Ottawa had in the late 90's and early 00's. It is rarer still to find a team that sustains for 20 years this extraordinary ability to bottleneck any offense. Rarest of all (so rare that it has happened only once in NHL history) is one goaltender blessed enough by the hockey gods to play all 20 years of his career behind that kind of defense.
Martin Brodeur is an excellent goalie, with impressive staying power. He is not, however, as good a goaltender as Lou Lamoriello is a general manager. His ability to shut down an opponent is secondary to the combined efforts of a Scott Stevens, a Ken Daneyko, and Scott Niedermeyer, a John Madden, a Jay Pandolfo, and countless other Devils who flourished under the tutelage of coaches like Jacques Lemaire and Pat Burns. Brodeur has much to be proud of in his storied career, but who among us can think of a series that he stole for the Devils the way Curtis Joseph used to for the Oilers and Leafs. Think of Patrick Roy's four Stanley Cups. Did Brodeur's personal heroics in any of his three Cup runs match what Roy did in any one of those four years? Could Brodeur have risen to the occasion, when the rest of his team needed him to carry them on his back? It appears we will never know.
Think, for a moment, of the success an excellent goalie like Curtis Joseph might have had playing behind that kind of team for 20 years. How about, let's say, Mike Richter? Sean Burke? Jeff Hackett? (stop me when you think I've gone too far)
They often say that it's lucky to be good, and good to be lucky. Martin Brodeur, who is considered by some as the greatest goalie in NHL history, has his share of one of those traits. He has a massive surplus of the other.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
What a Waste
If you're gonna put 38 shots on goal, you could at LEAST lose 5-4?
This game was over before it started. And that might be the worst part. Outside of Callahan, the team was lifeless and Hank wasn't really himself.
Its particularly frustrating how often we make some of the worst teams in the East, like the 'Canes and Atlanta look great.
Worse news for New York is that Ottawa is playing out of its mind, the Panthers have caught us and if it wasn't for Montreal and suddenly Boston struggling, we'd be on the outside of the top 8, looking in.
I guess the one common thread for the back half of the Eastern Conference, the teams not named DC, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Jersey, is that we're inconsistent and streaky. So maybe we bounce back and put some wins together, but nights like this don't help anybody.
What do you guys think of the Phaneuf rumors?
Tonight: Rangers vs. Hurricanes
Sometimes playing the worst team in the conference at home is a good thing. This is not one of those times. This is a crucial point in the season for a multitude of reasons. In their last 3 games, the Blueshirts have managed just 2 goals, both from rookie Artie Anisimov. Gaborik seems to be wearing down, as if the weight of carrying the team all year has begun to effect him. Poor Lundqvist makes unbelievable saves which he juxtaposes with the most untimely, softest Mike Dunham-esque goals you could possibly imagine. If Lundqvist and Gaborik don't play out of their minds, the NYR has no chance.
I feel like this team has no identity and desperately needs a bit of an edge, some nastiness (not Brashear). Right now the NYR are an uneven, borderline 'soft' team. For all of Sather's personnel changes, this team is statistically performing worse than Renney's 08-09 squad. This team is obviously a few players away from being a contender. As I see it there are 3 potential outcomes:
1- As usual, Sather acquires a big name expiring contract at the trade deadline and gives up some promising young talent ensuring a 7 or 8 seed, 2 home playoff sellouts, and appeasing Jimmy Dolan.
2- Sather sells a guy like Prospal in return for some prospects and continues to build for a future he will hopefully not be a part of.
3- Sather resigns and admits that signing Drury, Rozsival, and Redden was a monumental error which has severely handicapped the team and it's ability to put together any type of championship caliber squad.
I hate to focus on the negatives but I feel like this team has no shot to be anything more than mediocre under Sather.
In closing, Fire Sather. Enjoy the game.
I feel like this team has no identity and desperately needs a bit of an edge, some nastiness (not Brashear). Right now the NYR are an uneven, borderline 'soft' team. For all of Sather's personnel changes, this team is statistically performing worse than Renney's 08-09 squad. This team is obviously a few players away from being a contender. As I see it there are 3 potential outcomes:
1- As usual, Sather acquires a big name expiring contract at the trade deadline and gives up some promising young talent ensuring a 7 or 8 seed, 2 home playoff sellouts, and appeasing Jimmy Dolan.
2- Sather sells a guy like Prospal in return for some prospects and continues to build for a future he will hopefully not be a part of.
3- Sather resigns and admits that signing Drury, Rozsival, and Redden was a monumental error which has severely handicapped the team and it's ability to put together any type of championship caliber squad.
I hate to focus on the negatives but I feel like this team has no shot to be anything more than mediocre under Sather.
In closing, Fire Sather. Enjoy the game.
Game On!
Whattup Puckheads!
Welcome to our blog!
My cousin Sid is the founder of this hockey-oriented web log, which explains how I was lucky enough to become involved. He and I grew up together on the same block, in the idyllic Northern Suburbs of New York City, watching the Rangers, National Hockey Night on ESPN, spending entire weekends trying to get into fights in EA Sports Super Nintendo games and firing pucks at all our friends on the frozen tundra that is parking lot blacktop. Oh, and reading Spidey comics.
Welcome to our blog!
My cousin Sid is the founder of this hockey-oriented web log, which explains how I was lucky enough to become involved. He and I grew up together on the same block, in the idyllic Northern Suburbs of New York City, watching the Rangers, National Hockey Night on ESPN, spending entire weekends trying to get into fights in EA Sports Super Nintendo games and firing pucks at all our friends on the frozen tundra that is parking lot blacktop. Oh, and reading Spidey comics.
Flash forward to present day and very little has changed; now he works on software in CT and I work in the media in Manhattan. Mess, Gravy, Leetchie, The Great One and the two-line pass have all skated off into the sunset. But hockey, and life, is as good as its ever been and this blog will be a reflection of the excitement, diversity and unyielding sexiness that is your favorite sport. And this blog will remind you why despite Versus, the economy, two overseas conflicts, partisan bickering and Ke$sha, we are lucky to be Living in America in the 21st Century.
So enjoy, contribute and never give up on the play in your own zone.
-rv
Here we go... As some of you may or may not know, I am a die hard rangers fan... I bleed red... and blue, and white. I have been a fan for years, through their ups (well... 1 up, 1994), and downs (pretty much every other year).
My friends and I constantly send emails back and forth about the rangers, their situation, their play, their coaching choices, and the d-bags that play against them. I figured I'd take our thoughts public, for better, or what's more likely for worse... I'll let y'all be the judge of that.
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!!!
My friends and I constantly send emails back and forth about the rangers, their situation, their play, their coaching choices, and the d-bags that play against them. I figured I'd take our thoughts public, for better, or what's more likely for worse... I'll let y'all be the judge of that.
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!!!
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