Strategy Down the Stretch
by Jersey BlueshirtFan on Feb 5, 2010 5:17 PM EST
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I hear alot of talk about our draft positions lately. Seems that the idea of conceding defeat and shopping for the future is becoming more and more popular. People say that there is no point in squeaking into the playoffs just to get knocked off early. They say we are not a contender, so we should just start planning now for next season.
It's a logical point of view. If I were running a business, I would probably make that decision. But I am a sports fan, and part of that means that I believe that my team ALWAYS has a chance to win. Its the reason I watch sports. The goal of any sports team is to win...and win NOW.
Underdogs and Cinderella stories happen all the time. There are few things sweeter than seeing an upset in the making. But there's no way to see that happen if we throw in the towel just to get a higher draft position. To me, thats taking a gutless, safe route, and there's no place for that in my sports world.
But I ask you, fellow fans, whats the popular opinion on the matter?
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I don’t think there is a choice here. Its not like Torts or Glen will just tell players to play like shit and lose as much as possible to get a high draft pick.
They are professional athletes and will try to play hard until the end. They also have their pride (at least some).
this assumes that they have played hard up until this point. Also in looking at the schedule depending on what happens these 4 games before the break if they fall back a little from the playoff teams even Sather might have to sell. let’s say they are 5-6 points back going into the break w 20 games to go in the year, sounds doable right? Well, first five games out of the break are: @Ott, Pitt, @Was, Buf, @NJ
by Michael Gleich on Feb 5, 2010 5:46 PM EST up reply actions
i agree with that, but more important to me are the 4 games before the break would be more important to deciding if we are sellers. If they head into the break w 57 pts in 62 games not saying they will sell, but rational people will find it impossible to buy, though sather could do it anyway if we were in the west would be virtually out of it already down 7 points playing the way we are but unlucky for us we are in the east.
by Michael Gleich on Feb 5, 2010 6:20 PM EST up reply actions
Wow
I’m surprised at the results of this poll…quite a majority of you think we’d be better off getting a draft pick.
I hope we dont trade the farm to make a run at the playoffs, but I also dont think we’re too much of a longshot for the 6th, 7th, 8th seed. Once you’re in, its a whole new season.
Keep the faith!
Blunter than Sather's Cigars....
by Jersey BlueshirtFan on Feb 6, 2010 11:50 AM EST reply actions
Top Priority
The Rangers first and most pressing order of business is to fire Sather. It begins and ends with him. Do to his abysmal cap management this team is never in a position to sign a good player when they come available. Put that together with never selling at the deadline (That would mean Sather would have to admit he failed and that will never happen because he’s a pompus arogant a hole), and never finishing low enough for a top pick in the draft and you have the current Rangers. Stuck in the middle of the road. It’s time to realize that while he is here we will NEVER WIN ANYTHING.
As far as strategy goes, I say sell as much as you can as fast as you can and hope this team can turn it around before Hank is past his prime. Don’t tank the season for only a chance at the top pick. Play hard and sell what you can at the deadline and build on the future. Nothing Sather has done since he’s been here has worked. Selling at the deadline is the only thing he has’nt done. Well, he did it before the lockout and that worked ok except for trading Leetch which in my book is unforgivable.They have nothing to lose except one round of playoff games and that’s being generous. I think it’s worth it.
Should be a good game tonight. If the Rangers stay out of the box I think they can win.
Dude, they just signed Marion Gaborik last offseason. He might be the best high profile free agent pick up in the entire NHL since the lockout took place. Of course, the Rangers have three of the stinkier post-lockout high profile FA signings under their belts as well, Drury, Redden, Gomez, but still, its not like cap mismanagement has kept the team from signing great FAs.
Cap mismanagement has limited the ability of this team, and the GM, to do a whole lot of things.
The only reason Gaborik was able to be signed was because Sather managed to somehow pull a complete “Jedi Mind Trick” on Bob Gainey – and dump the horrible contract of Scott Gomez.
Don’t get me wrong – I liked Gomez (didn’t love him, but liked him) and he would do well with Gaborik and in this up-tempo system of Tortorella’s.
But the bottom line is that Sather ends up having to correct horrible FA contracts with “magical trades”. Sooner or later, he’s going to grab that magic hat – and it’s going to be fresh out of rabbits.
BlueshirtBanter - beating up reporters at bus stops since 1994
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| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York Rangers
|
55 | 37 | 13 | 5 | 79 |
|
Philadelphia
|
56 | 31 | 18 | 7 | 69 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
56 | 32 | 19 | 5 | 69 |
|
New Jersey
|
56 | 32 | 20 | 4 | 68 |
|
New York Islanders
|
56 | 24 | 24 | 8 | 56 |
(updated 2.15.2012 at 8:59 AM EST)
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Tue 02/21 | 7:00 PM EST |
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New York Islanders
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Fri 02/24 | 7:00 PM EST |
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Buffalo
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Sat 02/25 | 7:00 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
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@
Boston
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Tue 02/14 | W 3 - 0 |
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Washington
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Sun 02/12 | W 3 - 2 |
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Philadelphia
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Sat 02/11 | W 5 - 2 |
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Tampa Bay
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Thu 02/09 | OT - W 4 - 3 |
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New Jersey
|
Tue 02/07 | L 0 - 1 |
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