Sod16

I went to bed in the middle of the second OT of the "Stemkowski Game" in 1971 because I couldn't take it any longer. Now as for the Matteau game, we must remember that there are forces in nature that are stronger than even loyalty in the Rangers. I fidgeted throughout the OT because I was late for a date with a very hot stewardess! As soon as I got out from under the pile in my section, I ran out of the Garden.

My entire section in MSG engaged in a pile on.

If the Bruins win the Cup, they will have done it without beating any of the top 6 teams from the regular season. I doubt that's ever happened before. Kind of lame, wouldn't you say?

The curse seemed more real than ever after Zelepukin's goal with 7.7 seconds left. I spent the intermission before the first OT stumbling around the concourse muttering "it can't be, it can't be." I'll never forget the instant, after Matteau's wrap around when the crowd behind the goal started to react but before the red light went on. Was it in!?! Then the red light.

No., but he drew a penalty that got them the first goal with another stupendous play. He didn't do anything but exhibit, moxy, savy, size, and hands. We haven't had an incoming skill player like this since Kovy27. I feel like a kid with a new Christmas toy that I was Jonesing for the whole year.

Watching first two periods of Canada-Finland. I'm in love.

I would have loved to see them call a well deserved penalty when he broke a guys stick before a faceoff in OT and then have the Bruins lose on the power play. The guy is an unmitigated dick. Some people think he's amusing. I don't think slew footing is amusing.

Bringing back McQuaid represents the dumbest proposal I've seen a writer make in a long time, but then again, I thought someone was joking when I saw it announced that we were re-signing Mcleod last year.

Kreider is so noplussed about the specter of trades hanging over players' heads for months before the deadline the past two years that he has said he will not come to camp without a new contract. He really doesn't have option, but it seems like every agrees that a repeat of the past two years is not viable. I think we need to pony up something like $6.6m x 6 to sign him. It sounds like too much, but look at what comparable players are getting. You can't just have young newly drafted players. You have to keep some of that talent at some point, and that means over paying.

Minnesota is heading down not up rapidly. Neiterrider (phon), Granlund and Coyle dispatched at the deadline for little in return. Suter and Parise are old. Dumba is virtually the only skater on the roster with real value. I'm sure Kessel enjoyed his one college season, but not that much.

Bad sign for signing Kreider to something remotely reasonable. I'd take Kreider over Nelson all day long and by a significant margin.

Slow news day when the "news" is that the Rangers are not going to trade for Ryan Callahan. It's one thing having a soft spot for Cally. It's another having a soft head.

Before Game 5 of the SJ-STL series they just did a segment focused on Karlsson struggling to skate in previous game. What's he going to be like 4-5 years from now?

It wasn't a league rule when Slats brought them back.

One nice thing about Sather was that he was a cultivator of Ranger traditions, bringing back traditional tie-down sweaters and not messing around with uniform designs (the way the Bruins have, for example). I feel comfortable that JD will similarly maintain traditions that tie fans like me to the team. The only thing that would have been better than having him back as team president would have been having him back as color man...

It's hard to see them giving a qualifying offer to Claesson with the log jam as it is. I would have to assume they are done with him.

Does anyone actually know whether JD has any kind of personal relationship with Panarin?

There would be an additional cost for Malkin two years from now when, at age 35, he would have to be protected in the expansion draft (NMC), with the result being the loss of that much more of a valuable commodity in the draft.

Given his age and durability, I'm not sure I would sign Malkin as a UFA for three years at $9.5 per. That being the case, I wouldn't trade something of value for him. Even if this is something that Gorton would entertain, I think he'd have to wait until the dust settles on UFAs, Kreider and possible buyouts before determining the viability of such a move.

I love Haglin as a player, but he's not close to Kreider. The Rangers may benefit from Kreider's decline in goal production in the second half, when he played hurt and with a team that was losing two of its best skaters. He's going to cost a lot less than if he'd stayed on that 40 pace.

In this league, you can't just have great under 27 players, and if you want excellent players in their prime, you have to pay them. The Wild didn't want to pay the going rate when Gaborik and Burns were due. They lost them, fell apart, and then had to change course and go after Suter and Parise with wild contracts after the damage was done. If you don't want to pay your home grown talent the market rate, which will always be high, you are going to end up spinning your wheels. Kreider is valuable enough to pay more than you really want to pay him.

Wishful thinking by Brooksie. I doubt it is on Gorton's radar screen. After all, there were not even any reports of them making an offer to Zucc last summer or before the deadline.

Yes, this is another over payment, but not close to the ridiculously rich MSL package when he would only accept a trade to the Rangers or not getting Tampa's top rated prospect for an elite D-Man. I agree that a 2d round pick has about a 20% chance of becoming a decent NHL player. Of course, I don't know what Fox's chances are. The way he's getting played up by some, he'd be a mid to late first round pick if eligible for the draft this year.

With Columbus where it is in the playoffs right now, I doubt Team Panarin is giving off any signs as to who is the front runner. Unless Team Panarin is something like Team Mike Keenan, 1994.

Leafs not authorized to win the Cup by Rangerdom until 2022 (1967 + 55).