barry beck is dominating right now...
i can barely keep up with him today. barry, you know that your ticket to messier night is one of the hottest sports tickets in a while? people are killing themselves for that one. i think you could scalp the crap out of it. anyway, as always, a nice job with the rangers updates. the rangers are all i have after the giants collapse.
The Rangers acquired veteran forward Petr Sykora from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in exchange for rookie defenseman Maxim Kondrotiev today.
Sykora will join Jagr, Rucinscky, Straka and Prucha as yet another skilled Czech forward. With gifted speed, soft hands and solid stick handling ability Sykora will contribute offensively to a team that has looked all season from scoring other than the first line centered by NHL points leader Jaromir Jagr. It is likely that Blair Betts knee injury sustained during the Rangers shutout win on Saturday over the Florida Panters was a factor in GM Glenn Sather pulling the trigger on this trade that had been rumored for several weeks.
This is an interesting move on numerous levels for the organization. At 29, Sykora is no youngster and the Rangers unloaded Kondrotiev who was a part of a young core of defenseman that was coming up through the system. Acquired through the deal that sent legendary defenseman Brian Leetch to Toronto, Max had struggled to adjust to Coach Renney's system. He had just one goal and three assists this year and had been sent back and forth several times to the minor league affiliate in Hartford. This shows a different course from the direction the organization seemed to be headed as they decided to foster youth from within the franchise rather than signing aging stars in the final years of their careers. However at age 29 and with 6 seasons with 20+ goals, Sykora seems to have several productive years ahead of him and has his name on the cup several times while with the Devils. Meanwhile with some room under the salary cap and sitting pretty with the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference the trade should solidify the roster as the push for the first playoff appearance in 8 years continues.
As previously mentioned on these pages, the Rangers surrounded Jagr with Czech teammates following the conclusion of the lockout and the veteran has enjoyed tremendous success because this season. Additionally this has added a dimension of cohesion and chemistry to the team and can also be attributed to the success that fellow Czech and rookie Petr Prucha has enjoyed in his rookie campaign. Prucha scored his 20th goal of the season on Saturday - a remarkable accomplishment in its own right for a rookie. Now Prucha's name has been thrown around as a candidate for the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) but it appears that award will go to Sidney Crosby or Alexdander Ovechkin who have dominated this year. Perhaps this acquisition will create further comfort and chemistry among this skilled group of forwards.
Stay tuned for the line-up changes that this trade and Betts' injury will cause but I expect Sykora will join the second line centered by former teammate Steve Rucchin.
The Rangers will Retire Mark Messier's #11 to the rafters later this week. There will not be a dry eye in the barn that night.
The Rangers acquired veteran forward Petr Sykora from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in exchange for rookie defenseman Maxim Kondrotiev today.
Sykora will join Jagr, Rucinscky, Straka and Prucha as yet another skilled Czech forward. With gifted speed, soft hands and solid stick handling ability Sykora will contribute offensively to a team that has looked all season from scoring other than the first line centered by NHL points leader Jaromir Jagr. It is likely that Blair Betts knee injury sustained during the Rangers shutout win on Saturday over the Florida Panters was a factor in GM Glenn Sather pulling the trigger on this trade that had been rumored for several weeks.
This is an interesting move on numerous levels for the organization. At 29, Sykora is no youngster and the Rangers unloaded Kondrotiev who was a part of a young core of defenseman that was coming up through the system. Acquired through the deal that sent legendary defenseman Brian Leetch to Toronto, Max had struggled to adjust to Coach Renney's system. He had just one goal and three assists this year and had been sent back and forth several times to the minor league affiliate in Hartford. This shows a different course from the direction the organization seemed to be headed as they decided to foster youth from within the franchise rather than signing aging stars in the final years of their careers. However at age 29 and with 6 seasons with 20+ goals, Sykora seems to have several productive years ahead of him and has his name on the cup several times while with the Devils. Meanwhile with some room under the salary cap and sitting pretty with the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference the trade should solidify the roster as the push for the first playoff appearance in 8 years continues.
As previously mentioned on these pages, the Rangers surrounded Jagr with Czech teammates following the conclusion of the lockout and the veteran has enjoyed tremendous success because this season. Additionally this has added a dimension of cohesion and chemistry to the team and can also be attributed to the success that fellow Czech and rookie Petr Prucha has enjoyed in his rookie campaign. Prucha scored his 20th goal of the season on Saturday - a remarkable accomplishment in its own right for a rookie. Now Prucha's name has been thrown around as a candidate for the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) but it appears that award will go to Sidney Crosby or Alexdander Ovechkin who have dominated this year. Perhaps this acquisition will create further comfort and chemistry among this skilled group of forwards.
Stay tuned for the line-up changes that this trade and Betts' injury will cause but I expect Sykora will join the second line centered by former teammate Steve Rucchin.
The Rangers will Retire Mark Messier's #11 to the rafters later this week. There will not be a dry eye in the barn that night.
posted by fredeeky at
4:09 PM
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