Friday, July 29
The Rangers have until 5pm to buy out Bobby and Darius and common thought and grade-school wisdom says they most certainly will, but I'm starting to get the impression that it may not be a done deal afterall. I got to thinking and there are a couple of reasons why they might not rid themseleves of those contracts.
First, over and over the Rangers management has talked about building from within and starting fresh. They've talked about devloping kids and watching them grow into their NHL game. With that in mind, right now they don't need money or cap space. Those kids don't cost shit. And the Rangers aren't going on a shopping spree or even taking a trip to the corner store. They aren't after Naslund or Modano or Forsberg. They probably aren't even after Murray or Amonte or Bondra. Or Stumpel, or Battaglia, or Clymer. They're gonna fill in with the kids from Hartford. So, they don't need the money now and the argument could be made that they won't need it next year. Why not hold on to Holik and Kasper? The fact is if you plan on playing the kids, you might need those contracts just to get to the minimum.
Second, these guys have some game. People say the new rules will help Kasper more than others. He's not a clutchy guy, hit just hits. Hitting is still legal. Additionally, people have always said he can pass reasonably well, though I'm not sure I remember that showing though all that often.
Holik could be retained just to continue to be Holik. He provides grit and leadership... Or something. Maybe he can bake really good and Sather likes cookies. Or he has pictures of James Dolan bent over a Thai midget with an oversized coke straw plunked in his pooper. Plus, Holik and Jagr like each other. Biblically. So he might be kept around.
Third, I don't know how the Rangers marketing department would feel about entering the season with Jagr, Dominic Moore, Fedor Tutin, Bryce Lampman, Kevin Weekes, & Garth Murray on the billboard out front. At least people know Holik and Kasperitis. And they could star in ads reminding us that, "Hockey's Different Here."
More importantly, they would just be throwing money away with little benefit if they bought them out. I know, that sounds a lot like the Rangers we all know and love, but things are changing, I'm telling ya. And yeah, they'd clear up space if they just paid now, but are they going to need or use that space? Wouldn't it be better to get something for that money even if all you're getting is crappy, overpriced douche-bags that lend just an ounce of respectablity in the eyes of fair-weather fans?
Last, the Rangers have been awfully quiet about this. Why would you not even contact Holik and Kasper? Maybe, just maybe, you don't want word getting out regarding a decision that will be met with universal criticism. And the best time to make bad decisions is on Fridays, so you can bury it in Saturday's paper behind A-Rod's birthday party, Larry Brown's favorite pasta dish, and four more drownings out in Rockaway.
Just some thoughts. I guess we'll see soon enough.
First, over and over the Rangers management has talked about building from within and starting fresh. They've talked about devloping kids and watching them grow into their NHL game. With that in mind, right now they don't need money or cap space. Those kids don't cost shit. And the Rangers aren't going on a shopping spree or even taking a trip to the corner store. They aren't after Naslund or Modano or Forsberg. They probably aren't even after Murray or Amonte or Bondra. Or Stumpel, or Battaglia, or Clymer. They're gonna fill in with the kids from Hartford. So, they don't need the money now and the argument could be made that they won't need it next year. Why not hold on to Holik and Kasper? The fact is if you plan on playing the kids, you might need those contracts just to get to the minimum.
Second, these guys have some game. People say the new rules will help Kasper more than others. He's not a clutchy guy, hit just hits. Hitting is still legal. Additionally, people have always said he can pass reasonably well, though I'm not sure I remember that showing though all that often.
Holik could be retained just to continue to be Holik. He provides grit and leadership... Or something. Maybe he can bake really good and Sather likes cookies. Or he has pictures of James Dolan bent over a Thai midget with an oversized coke straw plunked in his pooper. Plus, Holik and Jagr like each other. Biblically. So he might be kept around.
Third, I don't know how the Rangers marketing department would feel about entering the season with Jagr, Dominic Moore, Fedor Tutin, Bryce Lampman, Kevin Weekes, & Garth Murray on the billboard out front. At least people know Holik and Kasperitis. And they could star in ads reminding us that, "Hockey's Different Here."
More importantly, they would just be throwing money away with little benefit if they bought them out. I know, that sounds a lot like the Rangers we all know and love, but things are changing, I'm telling ya. And yeah, they'd clear up space if they just paid now, but are they going to need or use that space? Wouldn't it be better to get something for that money even if all you're getting is crappy, overpriced douche-bags that lend just an ounce of respectablity in the eyes of fair-weather fans?
Last, the Rangers have been awfully quiet about this. Why would you not even contact Holik and Kasper? Maybe, just maybe, you don't want word getting out regarding a decision that will be met with universal criticism. And the best time to make bad decisions is on Fridays, so you can bury it in Saturday's paper behind A-Rod's birthday party, Larry Brown's favorite pasta dish, and four more drownings out in Rockaway.
Just some thoughts. I guess we'll see soon enough.
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