New York Rangers Practice: Friday Morning Practice Updates

by Bryan Winters on Jan 20, 2012 3:22 PM EST in New York Rangers News

The New York Rangers held practice today, and the noticeable players missing were Brad Richards and Michael Sauer. Last night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Brad Richards took what appears to be a slew foot from Matt Cooke. Richards fell awkwardly on his back, and caused his head to snap back rather quickly.

Following practice, Richards stated that he was held out of practice due to some stiffness in his neck area. However, he did state there is no reason why he shouldn't play tomorrow afternoon against the Boston Bruins. This is definitely good news as the Rangers can't afford anymore injuries at this point. Richards stated after practice that the play was "cheap" and "it wasn't the first time he's [Cooke] done it."

Michael Sauer was also held out of on ice activities today by trainer Jim Ramsey for an unspecified reason. Sauer will also not accompany the team to Boston tomorrow, which will not allow him to get back on the ice. However, Sauer has been working on off-ice condition as of late, which could be the case for his absences.

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Did you call him Matt Cookie on purpose?

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by Brandon C. on Jan 20, 2012 3:34 PM EST reply actions

I actually didn’t haha, that is rather awkward lol

by Bryan Winters on Jan 20, 2012 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

No need to rush sauer back

Insert witty comeback here

by birdmansns on Jan 20, 2012 11:21 PM EST via Android app reply actions

This is definitely the “new” Matt Cooke because the “old” Matt Cooke would have put BR in the hospital. This is a kinder and gentler Matt Cooke for sure. Those anger management sessions are really paying off. The Rangers may not win today but they will be ready to play.

by Richter1994 on Jan 21, 2012 6:09 AM EST reply actions

My latest trade thought: Dubi, AA, MDZ, and Wolstiff for Nash and Prospal. The $$ work this year and going forward as $2M of Drury’s buyout comes off the books next year. So what would that leave us with?

Nash-BR-Cally
Hags-Step-Gaby
Prospal-Boyle-Prust
Feds-Mitchell-Rupp
EC and MZA as spares and Newbury for emergencies. There is enough D to take MDZ’s place.

What about next year?

Nash-BR-Cally
Kreider-Step-Gaby (wow, lol)
Hags-Boyle-Prust (assumed re-signed)
??-??-Rupp
Staal-Girardi
McD-Sauer
Erixon-Stralman (assume re-signed) with Emmy, whomever as spares as McIlrath will not be ready yet for next year. Not bad huh?

by Richter1994 on Jan 21, 2012 7:32 AM EST reply actions

I just ran the $$ for next year plugging in all the known contracts for next season and assuming the following: Kreider gets $2M, Prust is re-signed for $1M, Stralman is re-signed for $1M, Biron is re-signed for $1M, and the 2 open spots on the 4th line cost $1M each. The rest of the line-up is signed at least through next year. If you include Drury’s $1.7M hit next year the total equates to around $59M. So even if the cap goes down 5% next year you still will have around $2M in cap space for whatever. this trade works.

by Richter1994 on Jan 21, 2012 8:06 AM EST up reply actions

I actually like this… but it’ll never go down.
I was thinking about our D situation. We really could dangle a good D player and still be very well off. If we can improve our team that way, we should.
I’ve read that Erixon is dominating on both sides of the puck in the AHL, and logging huge minutes. I think he’s a ppg player as a d-man down there. He’s gonna be good.

by j-red on Jan 21, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

Erixon will be ready next year and McIlrath the year after. No depth issues on D going forward. Don’t so sure it wouldn’t happen. CBJ is up against the cap and has had Nash for 9 years and has done zippo inclusive of this year when they went for it. They will try to clear cap space and go with a more balanced and younger line-up. How could they do any worse?

by Richter1994 on Jan 21, 2012 10:10 AM EST up reply actions

forgot Miller, lol. He might be able to play the 4th line next year. his cap hit is $1.275M I believe.

by Richter1994 on Jan 21, 2012 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

No

"Just reload my weapon, you know?" - Artem Anisimov
"We are going to come to Philadelphia, and we are going to win." - Mr.Sather
"I'm not a screamer or yeller. If I would try to scream and yell at people, it's not what I'd naturally do. So if I tried to do that, it would be awkward, I think." - Eli Manning

by Tripodi on Jan 22, 2012 6:35 AM EST up reply actions

Although this trade my work under the cap I dont think we really need to make a blockbuster trade to make a run in the playoffs. Lets just keep the core we have and see what we can do

by BroadwayBlue30 on Jan 21, 2012 8:47 AM EST reply actions

we need scoring and this trade gives you that without giving up that much on the defensive side of the team (although giving up Dubi is tough). Don’t let Nash’s ~~21 fool you. Mason has been a sieve for most of the year which has contributed greatly to the +/~~. AA takes way too long to release his shots. He’s like Nedved was with the big back swing on wrist shots. Doesn’t work in this tight checking NHL we have now. BTW, Nash will be 28 this year and Dubi will be 26 this year so you’re not really losing a lot of youth.

by Richter1994 on Jan 21, 2012 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

sorry for the cross out. forgot about the “-” issue, lol.

by Richter1994 on Jan 21, 2012 9:28 AM EST up reply actions

Personally, I rather not have 4 guys on the team making ~29 mil, or around that.

For me, its too much invested in 4 guys. I rather bring in a guy making around 3-4 million that can add some scoring and depth, especially with all the kids coming in the next few years.

For me, its time to be patient and stay the course. We’re still going to get better in the next few years.

AA Step Gabby
Kreider BR Cally
Miller Dubi Thomas
Hagelin Boyle Prust
Rupp Lindberg

Staal Girardi
Sauer McD
MDZ Erixon
Mcilrath

I rather see that team 2 years from now than go for the big name now and have cap issues later.

We’re not at our peak now. We’re getting better the next few years. Now is not the time to mortgage the future for a run.

"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!!!

by Moshe52792 on Jan 21, 2012 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

I’m actually ok with what you’re saying as I really do prefer home grown. but here’s the problem, if you have a PP like we do now AND go through 5 on 5 scoring droughts like they have then this team will not be able to contend in the long run. I am a huge Dubi fan and I like AA as well but I am starting to have my doubts whether they are 50+ guys. if they are not then you do the deal I am proposing or at least give it some consideration if Nash is available and I would think he would be at this point.

by Richter1994 on Jan 21, 2012 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

AA is only 23

He had 44 points last year as a 22 year old. Just let the kid mature a bit more and get more stronger and fill out his frame, he will get 50+ easily.

by Tripodi on Jan 22, 2012 6:38 AM EST up reply actions

let me preface that I want as many home grown players as we can have on this team or any Ranger team going forward. I have wanted this since the 1994 Cup. Reality check: home grown does not automatically = Cup. Dubi is my 2nd favorite player after the King. To say that he was MIA yesterday is an understatement. since he has not been scoring he was contributing in other ways. but not yesterday. he was on the ice for both goals as his backchecking was non-existent. AA? did he play? if you think that he will be a 50 pt scorer then I won’t be able to convince you. his release on wrist shot is ridiculously slow. his offensive decision-making is ridiculously slow. those are 2 attributes that do not bode well in this fast NHL. I say trade them and get an elite scorer that you know can pot 40 (the sum of these 2 combined, maybe).

by Richter1994 on Jan 22, 2012 7:49 AM EST up reply actions

No one is saying a guy like Nash isn’t elite, or that Dubi and AA have been anything but bad the last dozen games or so.

But they are young, and improving. But Nash is like 27, and making 8 mil a year for the next 6 years. I rather not have a team of 4 guys, all 32, making a combined 28 million. That’s not a recipe for success.

If this was 2-3 years from now, and we were desperate, I’d make the trade and go for it all. But with all the pieces we have, this team is going to continue to get better and deeper in the next few years. If you want, that’s when you make a trade for another guy to push us over the top.

But right now, despite the scoring droughts, and the bad PP, we are 1st in the league with a team of mostly young players. I don’t see how that trade makes us better in the long run.

AA is 23, and had 44 points last year. He’s going to improve. And regardless of whether he caps out at 50 or not, you need to look at cost efficiency moreso than just points. In a cap world, you need players that will put up numbers better than their contract suggests, and that is best done through youth.

Even if AA puts up 45 points, he’s only making 2 mil. Nash on the other hand is making 8, and we’ll put up 70-80 points. It just doesn’t seem like a win to me, especially if you are giving up MDZ and Dubi along with it.

I’d be patient and let’s see what we have over the next 2 years before we start making big moves to go for the cup.

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

by Moshe52792 on Jan 22, 2012 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

I am happy as hell where we are (except for the PP which we all can’t stand). The issue of $$ vs. the cap is more with Dubi than AA and while Ranger fans have MDZ winning the Norris I think reality checks are in order in assessing our own players. I really think that Sather does not make a splash. I think he tweaks as I would love a low cost acquisition of Doan, Prospal, Ryan Smythe, etc. True rentals that will not disrupt the team. But if Sather is really seeking a top 6 forward then who do you think goes in the trade? It has to be Dubi + to make the cap $$ work because the top 6 guys you’re getting is not making $2M per. it will be more like $5M to $7M per or else why make that kind of deal? Again, my gut tells me Glen does not pull the trigger on something big and maybe waits for Parise after this year. But even then, trades will have to be made because Parise’s getting $8M per, new CBA or not.

by Richter1994 on Jan 22, 2012 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

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