NHL Breaking News: Scratch Patrick Sharp Off The Rangers' List
by Joe Fortunato on Aug 3, 2011 2:30 PM EDT
in NHL News
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PrintNot that he was on the list anymore, but just in case he was, you can stop thinking about it now.
Earlier in the off season, when it was unclear wether or not the New York Rangers would be able to lure coveted free agent Brad Richards to New York, the Rangers were linked to a plethora of centers who might be on the trading block or available through free agency.
One of the names that was often linked to having caught Glen Sathers' eyes was Patrick Sharp. Today that dream officially died; when the Chicago Blackhawks signed the impending free agent to a five-year contract extension with $5.9 million annually.
And why not? Sharp was a 29-year-old center who scored 34 goals along with 37 assists last year and also has a Stanley Cup ring on his resume as well.
Join me after the jump for why the Rangers probably had no interest in Sharp after the Rangers took care of all their off season bullet points.
The Sharp signing does not, however, effect the Rangers in any way, shape or form anymore. Since Richards chose the bright lights of Broadway (turning down more money in the process) the Rangers dire need of a first-line center has been filled. Even after the Rangers signed Richards there were some who lobbied for Sharp's presence on the team, especially when Brandon Dubinsky's contract negotiations seemed assured for arbitration.
Sharp was a big part of the Blackhawk's cup run, and would have added a leadership presence along with an air of "having been there before." There are all, of course, characteristics that Richards brings to the table for the Rangers, along with a Conn Smythe Trophy as well.
Plus, there was no guarantee that Sharp would have made it to free agency (obviously, since he didn't) and the Rangers would have had to trade for him to boot.
Obviously this isn't really groundbreaking news for the organization, as I explained above, but in the dog days of August it's always good to add a little big of NHL news to keep the site fresh and the discussion consistent.
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Off topic but, too bad White wasn’t available before we signed Eminger. For a mil I think he’s a better option as a 5, 6 or 7 D if only because he has 2 cups on his resume. He truly is a ‘veteran’ presence on the blue line.
With regards to Sharp, that is a great contract for the Hawks. I never really thought he would see the open market but I won’t deny I entertained that pipe dream more than once. Although I’m not sure what roster spots will be available next year depending on how our kids develop, I can say there will be several more options in the FA market then there were this year, even without Sharp on the market.
I think we can expect to top out at 4th in the conference this year. I don’t think home ice is too far out of reach with our current roster. I think we are better than every team in the Atlantic with the exception of Pitt so I think 4th or 5th is where we can expect to be. Depending on what we add next off-season, and how our kids come along this year, you would have to consider us right there with 5-6 teams considered pre-season favorites for the 12-13 season. Personally, I haven’t been this excited to start the season since the first year after the lock-out, if only because I was starved of hockey for too long, and before that, the late 90’s. LETS GO RANGERS!!!
~R.I.P. Derek
~Those Caps fans sure think they can make some noise.... too bad their team can't.
4th or 5th?
I still think 6-8.
Buffalo improved, Carolina and Tampa will still be in there. The only team dropping out of the top 5 is Philly, and the Rangers are going to be hard pressed to get into that spot. You’re forgetting the Devils with a healthy Parise.
For a better look, I suggest this blog.
I certainly respect your opinion, but I think 4th or 5th is completely in reach for us. Buffalo overspent on a lot of mediocre players, I don’t feel they improved all that much. They are still in that 6-10 range. I think we are better than Carolina who is also in that 6-10 range. Tampa is going to win the SE, Wash will certainly pose an issue and will probably take up either the 4th or 5th spot, but they remade a lot of their roster and I feel it will take some time for the chemistry to develop with them. And the Devils have no goaltending and no back end. They may be able to score a bunch of goals, but will they be able to keep the puck out of their own net.
Maybe not home ice, but I certainly don’t feel we’re going down to the wire this year. I think we get in at worst, 6th or better.
~R.I.P. Derek
~Those Caps fans sure think they can make some noise.... too bad their team can't.
Tampa wil definitely win the SE?
I feel like a certain team in Washington would have something to say about that, especially with Vokoun (amazing goalie) in net.
1) Washington
2) Bruins
3) Penguins
4) Tampa
5) Rangers
6) Sabres
7) Flyers
8) Montreal
9) Devils
10) Hurricanes
11) Panthers
12) Islanders
13) Senators
14) Maple Leafs
15) Jets
That’s what I’m going with personally.
Teams 1-4 are a lock.
5-10 could go anyway.
11-15 can be interchangeable but not playoff bound.. yet.
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
I don’t really see how the Lighting are a lock to finish 4th, the only teams I that I think are locks to finish in the top 4 are Boston and Washington (especially Washington).
Pittsburgh as well
They’ll be getting both Crosby and Malkin back in the first 2 months of the season, plus they’ll have a full year with Neil.
Take it to the net and keep jamming and jamming until somebody comes on you.
- Eddie Olczyk
by Scratch and Snif on Aug 3, 2011 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea but Malkin’s injury was incredibly serious, he may lose a step because of it and he wasn’t exactly lighting up the ice like it was 2009 before that; Crosby could be a concussion away from a serious career crossroad.
Not a lock to finish top 4. A lock to make the playoffs, at least to me.
Should have made that clearer.
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
My only thing is Carolina finished 9th and I do not see how they got better, nor do I see why Tampa will be any better; the Flyers are almost certainly worse, who knows about Crosby’s concussion or Malkin’s knee and I do not expect the Devils to be much better even acknowledging their unsustainable horrendous start. I can see us finishing anywhere from 7th to 4th (maybe 3rd but I do not think we will be better than both the Flyers and the Penguins).
I think the Rangers will leap past Tampa this year.
I like the Bolts since I live in Tampa now, but I think they’ll be worse this year. They lost Gagne, and even though he had a down year, he had a great playoffs and started to look more like his usual self. They really didn’t replace his skill.
Bergenheim had a nice year and a caught fire in the playoffs, so Florida overpaid him. He’s gone too.
Their defense is pretty questionable, other than Hedman and Brewer. Mattius Ohlund, Brett Clark, Matt Gilroy, and Bruno Gervais fill out the top six—how would you feel if they were four of the Rangers tops six? I’d be scared.
…not to mention their goaltending. Roloson had a nice mini-resurgence last year, but he’ll be 42 years old when the season starts. Garon isn’t a terrible backup, but he’s not going to steal Roloson’s job. It’s definitely not a tandem I’d feel comfortable with for an entire season.
With the addition of Richards, a healthy Gaborik, and the continued development of a good young defense, I expect the Rangers to compete for a top four seed this season—and I know it’s a tough conference.
I like to do the stand-up comedy jokes and making funnies.
Follow me on Twitter @paulsoleo
www.PaulsDeep.com
*
- “and a caught fire” = me channeling my Italian grandmother. Whoops.
I like to do the stand-up comedy jokes and making funnies.
Follow me on Twitter @paulsoleo
www.PaulsDeep.com
We would have overpaid for him if we went after him. I absolutely love his game and his character on and off the ice but Sharp in a Rangers jersey was never going to happen.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
Holik
Reading this article, the only thing that comes to mind is Holik. Sather would’ve probably thrown the bank at him. He’s done well the past couple of seasons, I’m just waiting for him to relapse like a fat kid on a diet.
by Beukeboom hockey on Aug 4, 2011 7:40 PM EDT reply actions
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