Thursday, February 11, 2010

Which mistake will Sather try to erase next?

The Rangers put Donald Brashear on waivers today clearing his way out of MSG. Guess there were no biters on that trade request. (Remember when I said Brashear was an upgrade in the pugilist department? I officially apologize to Colton Orr.) While GM Glen Sather can ship the big lug to Hartford, his $1.4MM cap hit remains as a reminder of how useless the summer was for the Blueshirts.

Let's review:
  • Tyler Arnason - 487 NHL games and 245 points wasn't enough to crack the Rangers' roster. He was assigned to the Wolf Pack and played a 11 games before leaving for the KHL.
  • Brian Boyle - Great size but hands of stone. Essentially signed to replace Blair Betts. No insult to Boyle, but Betts was well liked and a freakishly good penalty killer. Boyle is still on the roster but has to be getting a bit nervous.
  • Donald Brashear - Again, on waivers though that doesn't mean Aaron Voros will lose his seat in the press box.
  • Marion Gaborik - Up until this week when he cut his leg in practice, this was looking like a pretty good gamble. Hell, if he doesn't play another game this season, it's still the best free agent signing since my hero Marty Straka. Needless to say, Ranger fans will be lighting candles Jarkko Ruutu doesn't give Gaborik an Olympic present the way he did Jaromir Jagr.
  • Christopher Higgins - Dealt to Calgary in the package for rental Ollie Jokinen and lunch pailer Brandon Prust. You gotta feel for Higgins. He did everything he was supposed to but just couldn't find the back of the net. A New York boy, who didn't want him to enjoy a long run on Broadway? If nothing else, he'll hold a place in our hearts for getting rid of Scott Gomez's bloated contract.
  • Ales Kotalik - Shipped to Calgary in the deal for Jokinen and Prust. That booming shot from the point wasn't enough to keep him in blue. His 17 PP points still have him tied for 3rd on the Rangers. Kotalik's replacement on the point: Chris Drury and his 3 PP assists on the year. No wonder the powerplay sucks.
  • Enver Lisin - If he could put the puck in the net more often, he'd be the perfect replacement for Nikolai Zheredev, a tantalizing but inconsistent talent. Not yet a total bust but, unlike Boyle, Lisin is a RFA at the end of the season. Sather can just walk away from this contract in June if he needs to.
So all we have left to show for all that off season dealing is Gaborik, Boyle and Lisin. Yet we're still stuck with the worst contract in the NHL. (Check out #2, another Sather signing.) Can't wait for July 1st.

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