Looking back at the Highs and (Ron) Lows of the Ranger Decade

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 31, 2009 1:00 PM EST in Rangers Analysis Comment 26 comments

Biggest mistake of the decade.....maybe in the franchise's history?

As we close the first decade of the 2000's, let's take a look at some of the highs and lows for the Rangers over the past ten years, and excuse the shameless self-promotion:

The Lows:

2002: Bobby Holik signs with Rangers for 5 years, $45M. The Rangers would buy out his contract after two failed seasons on Broadway.

2002: Bryan Trottier named head coach of the Rangers. To me, this is not only the lowest point of the decade, but maybe in the franchise's history.

February 10, 2003: Rangers reacquire Alexei Kovalev for a second stint on Broadway. Kovalev would be traded to Montreal a year later after scoring only 13 goals in 66 games.

2003: Rangers draft Hugh Jessiman in the first round of the 2003 draft, passing up on players such as Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Seabrook, and Mike Richards. Jessiman never plays a game as a Ranger.

March 3^rd, 2004: The heart and soul of the Rangers is ripped out when Brian Leetch is traded to Toronto. Without looking, I dare you to name who he was traded for. Exactly.

July 1^st, 2008: The Rangers sign D Wade Redden to a 6 year, $39M contract, entire league laughs.

October 13^th, 2008: 2007 First Round draft pick Alexei Cherepanov collapses and dies during a KHL game. He was only 19.

April 24^th, 2009: Rangers coach John Tortorella throws a water bottle at Captial fans sitting behind the Ranger bench at the Verizon Center during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Tortorella would be suspended for Game 6.

The Highs:

2000: Rangers draft Henrik Lundqvist in the 7^th round of the NHL Draft.

January 23, 2004: Rangers acquire Jaromir Jagr from the Washington Capitals for Anson Carter. Jagr would help the Rangers return to the playoffs after a seven year drought, and restore respectability to the franchise.

2005-2006: After a 7 year drought, the Rangers return to the playoffs in the first season after the NHL lockout. Led by rookie goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, Jaromir Jagr, and an influx of European players, the Rangers finish with 100 points.

March 19^th, 2009: Blueshirt Banter debuts on SBNation.

June 24^th, 2009: Blueshirt Banter Radio debuts

July 1^st, 2009: The Rangers sign Marian Gaborik to a 5 year contract.

2009: Jersey retirement ceremonies for Andy Bathgate and Harry Howell. Well deserved, and long overdue.

2006-09: Jersey retirement ceremonies for Mark Messier, Adam Graves, Mike Richter, Brian Leetch. Ok, so that wraps it up for 1994. What say they go win another Cup someday, huh?

Feel free to chime in with your own in the comments.....

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Lets add...

the re-signing or Rozsival and the signing of Drury to the lows

trying to think of more highs but its hard LOL

by MattPwrcf1 on Dec 31, 2009 1:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Another Nomination for "The Lows"

July 2005—NHL and Union agree to Salary Cap. Makes us really pay for Sather’s signing mistakes and puts an end to Glen Sather’s belief that “Anyone can win in New York.”

by It may HAVE to Last a Lifetime on Dec 31, 2009 1:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

your screen name is classic

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 31, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you. Unfortunately, it may be true.

by It may HAVE to Last a Lifetime on Dec 31, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One more Low

The way Sather handled Brandon Shanahan

by MattPwrcf1 on Dec 31, 2009 1:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

and the day we hired Glen Sather haha

by MattPwrcf1 on Dec 31, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2005-2006

w/ the 2010 Olympics coming it hurts to remind me how good & how hot that 05-06 team was before the break. they just werent the same after it & who knows what may have happened. I loved that team, they were fun to watch

Favre 4 Ever
I Believe In Chris Drury

by Plusch on Dec 31, 2009 1:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

High point potentially … Dan cloutier fighting salo and the islanders …. ah damn that was 1998 I think … but close enough

by NYR9320 on Dec 31, 2009 1:46 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

How about Bryan Berard

coming back from that serious eye injury and resurrecting his career with the Rangers?? That might have been Brian’s personal high though and not the Rangers

by MattPwrcf1 on Dec 31, 2009 2:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Acquisitions from Leetch trade

Jim, how could you possibly forget Jarko Immonen and Maxim Kondratiev, two vital cogs in the Ranger machine post-Leetch?

by AZRangerFan on Dec 31, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jarkkomania

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Jarkko just made the Finnish Olympic team. So there’s that.

by Reginald Perrin on Dec 31, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah but he is no longer Ranger property

so that sucks

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by Joe Fortunato on Dec 31, 2009 3:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

drury

I was big on the free agent signing of dru and even when the C was sewn on his sweater. I feel now like he has truly lost that edge of play and confidence that was what gave him the C. I have a strong gut feeling that along with whatever the family problems that dru is having, he will throw in the towel and retire after this season. Now I know he’s still considered mid aged for an NHL player but knowing dru and his work ethic, maybe he’ll just realize he has lost his skill. I’m very curious as to what the rest of you guys think about this.

by gmanuelian on Dec 31, 2009 2:46 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

unfortunately this won’t happen, what person in their right mind would walk away from 21 million dollars. Hes not going to show that class and i think in his mind, hes still performing at an NHL level. We’re stuck with this sunken ship and unfortunately every captain brings down AND goes down with his ship.

by Dougee on Dec 31, 2009 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

High: The Pavel Bure Trade
Low: Not acquiring Pavel Bure’s knees in the trade.

by KingHenrik on Dec 31, 2009 2:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that Bure was a bad move

aside from injuries he might have been the most talented player the Ranger ever had (goal scoring wise) Let’s hope Gabby breaks that trend

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by Joe Fortunato on Dec 31, 2009 3:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

knock on wood

by CrazyRangerFan on Dec 31, 2009 5:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

why would you knock on pavel’s knees to help gaborik?

by mleetch352 on Dec 31, 2009 6:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

its a telling sign wen there are more low points in a decade than high points and the high points list isnt even finished…throw in having sather trying to ’save" season after he fired trottier

by 8kpower on Dec 31, 2009 3:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agree with Matpwrcf1..

Hiring Sather is the worse thing that has happened in THIS decade. It’s simple, without his mistakes, most of the other disasters don’t even happen.
Bring back Neil Smith.

by brad_park on Dec 31, 2009 3:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

by Moshe52792 on Dec 31, 2009 4:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

worst move of the 20th and 21st century….. The pelvic thrusts made by Mr Sather that ultimately led to Glen’s conception.

by Dougee on Dec 31, 2009 4:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

how about adding to the highs: Elevating Gordie Clark and letting him control the draft in 07. our last two drafts have been excellent (MDZ, Stepan, Grachev, Kreider, Werek, Bourque, Horak, Stajcer)

by mleetch352 on Dec 31, 2009 6:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

by gmanuelian on Dec 31, 2009 6:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

you forgot ?

pavel the bust brendl kim jonnson in the lindros trade corey hirsh yukk geez and last but not least hiring glen sather to destroy the rangers …

by lohaus#54 on Dec 31, 2009 7:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Maxim Kontratiev and I didnt look

----Warner----
-------13-------

by Scent of a Woman on Dec 31, 2009 8:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

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