Hey Buzz, WE GOT HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[willyg]

Finally after five long years we truly have something to look forward to.

A true difference maker!

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers signed Bobby Holik from the rival New Jersey Devils on Monday, the first day of the NHL's free-agent season. New York has missed the playoffs the last five seasons and targeted Holik from the start.

Teams were able to start negotiating with unrestricted free agents starting at midnight, and the Rangers wasted little time in grabbing Holik -- a tough two-way center who won two Stanley Cups with the Devils.

''I always knew it was a possibility this could happen, so I always knew what I wanted,'' Holik said. ''The only ones (offers) I gave any serious thought to were from the Rangers. My mind was somewhat made up about what I want to get out of being an unrestricted free agent.''

Last season, Holik had 25 goals and 29 assists with the Devils. New Jersey also made a pitch to Holik on Monday, but it wasn't enough to keep him.

''We did in my mind put in a very substantial offer this morning and we felt comfortable with the offer,'' Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello told The Associated Press. ''There are certain things we can't control. It was a decision he had to make. It's his future, I respect that. I wish him the best.''

It was expected that major free agents such as Bill Guerin, Tony Amonte, Curtis Joseph and Mike Richter might be signed quickly Monday, but only Adam Oates worked out a new deal, leaving Philadelphia for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, before Holik's signing.

[SmedIndy]

Ah, the Blueshirts....cries of exuberance in the summer when they sign their freeagent. Wails of lamentations in February when they all turn out to be overpriced stiffs.

[hmrsf]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
Ah, the Blueshirts....cries of exuberance in the summer when they sign their freeagent. Wails of lamentations in February when they all turn out to be overpriced stiffs.

Is this peeing on someones parade?


Willy G, have no idea whats going on. If you are happy, I am happy for you.

Cub fans can be a downer.;)

[willyg]

There ain't enough piss in the world to rain this parade out!

Hey Mr. Indy, this ain't Fleury, this ain't Quintal, this ain't Kamensky, this is Bobby Holik!

This is the REAL DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hmrsf]

Originally posted by willyg
There ain't enough piss in the world to rain this parade out!



This is the REAL DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love that attitude! Good for you.

Are you one of those nautrally obnoxiously happy people too?:jsmile:

[SmedIndy]

Originally posted by willyg
There ain't enough piss in the world to rain this parade out!

Hey Mr. Indy, this ain't Fleury, this ain't Quintal, this ain't Kamensky, this is Bobby Holik!

This is the REAL DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come talk in March....then we'll see...

[willyg]

The hell with March, you'll hear from me in late June!!!!!!!! :D

As for me just being an overly happy person, not really. I have just suffered watching a crap hockey team for 5 years and finally, FINALLY, they will be better.

[moose]

one player is not going to win us the cup.

that said, i'm pretty damned pumped over this :)

[b-ball-lunachik]

As a Devil fan, I'm obviously not happy. :( Holik was one of my favorites -- I wish him well even if it is for the enemy! ;)

I'm interested to see if Richter, CuJo or someone else will be in goal for them...congrats on getting a great player as much as it pains me! ;)

[Craig S.]

If the Rangers plan on making the playoffs - never mind advancing past the first round - they've got a number of steps still left to take.

First off, I think signing a veteran goaltender is imperative. Not that I don't think Blackburn is good, but he's still only 19 years old! A lot of pressure to put on a young guy. Cujo, Byron Dafoe and Ed Belfour will be available now, so there's not a shortage of possibilities.

Getting rid of Fleury was smart. A good player, but the officials seemed to be focusing too much on him, and the effect it had on his behavior was hurting the team. Now they need to dump Petr Nedved. He's too one-dimensional, and he's too much of an individual.

Finally, adding a defensive defenseman is crucial. Berard, Leetch, Malakhov and Tom Poti are all good offensively, but they get caught a lot and aren't great in their own zone. Kasparaitis will likely resign with the Avalanche, but Chelios is available, as are some cheaper options. Personally, I think Bret Hedican or Igor Kravchuk would be good options. Both are solid in their own end, and I think the Rangers need that.

They seem to be moving in the right direction, but it's too early to call. Remember, they've been excited about several players in the last few seasons, with Bure and Fleury coming to mind. They've got a lot to prove this season, and it should be interesting.

[BuzzBuzzard]

This is a huge addition to the Rangers. Holik brings so much as a second line center and also strips the Devils of a game who could stop the Rangers first line center. I'm dreaming of Lord Stanleys's Cup being back on Broadway.

[willyg]

Absolutely still steps left to take, no question about that.

Blackburn did just about everything that can be expected out of an 18 year old goalie. In time he will prove to be the real deal, however he being the number one goalie of the Rangers is not for several years. Even guys like Brodeur, Roy were in their early 20's when they took over. A guy like Richter was 26 or 27 before his time came. Goalies take a little longer.

I have to belive that the next thing to come (possibly today) will be a goaltender. Personally I have no idea how they got Holik before they got their goaltender. I've heard reports that Cujo will sign today (but not with the leafs). He winds up in Detroit, I have a feeling Richter will be back here quickly.

After that a defensemen. I wish a Dvorak was healthy, and the Rangers had enough to make a serious offer for a Derian Hatcher, but he isn't and they don't. That leaves Chelios and Kasparatis. Although he is getting up there, ok, really old, Chelios proved he could play vs Bertuzzi, and forwards do not get any bigger than Bertuzzi.

Got the forward, and that is great. (Also probably means Nedved is gone!), now it is time for the defensemen and goalie.

Billy G would be icing on the cake! :D

[soxfan121]

You can have Lord Byron Dafoe. I'll even pay Glen Sather to sign him. But if the blueshirts plan on going past the first round, they'd be better off with ANYONE else.

A for Guerin, I really think that he stays in Boston. I hope. Otherwise Jeremy Jacobs better install bullet-proof glass, because most Bruins fans I know would be ready to kill if Billy walked...

[Skip]

I'm just so excited to have a Buzz sighting, that I'll even post on a hockey thread. Sounds silly, but really serious. We need you more often Buzz.

[SmedIndy]

Don't forget Blueshirt fans, you still have the Canadian Cancer...er...Lindros on your squad.

[Duque]

Originally posted by Skip
I'm just so excited to have a Buzz sighting, that I'll even post on a hockey thread. Sounds silly, but really serious. We need you more often Buzz.

Agreed. There's getting to be too many Yankee fans around here. :D

[johnny]

Dangit, they got Darius, too!

He was supposed to come back to Long Island :(

[Craig S.]

Getting Kasparaitis is exactly what the Rangers needed. Just when I'm critical of their lack of defensive defensemen, they go out and get the best one available. Now I'm starting to take their intentions more seriously than if they'd simply signed a big-name goal scorer.

This game of musical goalies is also very strange, especially considering some of the faces changing teams are very familiar.

[willyg]

Although I believe all these moves will help them win games, there is no question Ranger hockey will be exciting this year. They have pissed off the fans of all of their rivals.

Devils - Holik
Flyers - Lindros
Islanders - Trottier

Should make for some interesting receptions when the Rangers go on the road.

[VNV Nation]

Much as I hate to say it, looks like the Rangers will be the most improved team in the league. The addition of Holik and Kasper to go with Lindros and McCarthy means the Rangers will have at least one intimidating physical presence on the ice at all times.

I can't ever recall a Rangers team that could beat you up physically.

Fleury is addition through subtraction. He's gone from being an agitator who gets under the opposition's skin to being someone who takes inordinate amounts of stupid penalties.

More importantly, that's two less players in division that can hurt Lindros.

[SmedIndy]

Lindros is congruent to Loser......the East is wide open though, but the Blueshirts still will have mega issues as long as 88 is around.

[VNV Nation]

I don't see it as a problem. There's not the animosity between the Lindros family and management. When healthy, he seemed to me to still be one of he best players in the league.

If Lindros can manage to stay healthy for 60 games, certainly a big IF, and Richter can stay healthy and effective, the Rangers should be viable contenders.

As far as locker room issues...Lindros' problem in Philly resulted from an extracurricular activity involving one specific player. Aside from that, the only problem he had was trying to hard to "be one of the guys," which is a problem when you're the captain and franchise player. The Rangers don't need him for his leadership.

On another hockey note, The Devils made a huge trade with the Mighty Ducks. Tverdosky could blossom into a superstar, a la Scott Niedermayer...which would be a scary thing....or he could be stifled by the Devils' defensive-oriented system.

[SmedIndy]

I know that story, and that's not what you want in the room. Plus he disappears a lot when the going gets rough.

He's a loser and crybaby in my eyes until he proves otherwise, and since he's backed away from tough situations and whined his way around since juniors, he's got a lot to prove....

[VNV Nation]

That's all well and good, but I don't see how that precludes the Rangers from winning next year.

[Skip]

Well VNV, and I'm not the expert here, it certainly doesn't sound helpfull.... Not that they can't win, but are you pro-Lindros or just *He's a very good/great player who doesn't hurt 'em* kinda guy?

[soxfan121]

Lindros is the Chris Webber of the NHL...all hype, big whiner, disappears in big games.

[VNV Nation]

I don't know if I'm pro-Lindros. I just think that he obviously helps any team immensely when he's on the ice.

You can't count on him, build your team around him, something the Flyers were obviously doing.

As for disappearing in big games, Lindros has scored 24 goals, including an overtime winner and a goal that clinched the Eastern Conference with one minute left in the game, and 33 assists in 50 career postseason games. That's a goals per game and points per game average better than Jaromir Jagr, Joe Sakic, Sergei Fedorov, Brendan Shanahan, Mike Modano.

[Craig S.]

Why I don't like Eric or his dad:

His dad talks about how he didn't push his kids to play hockey when they were young. In reality, he had a rink in the backyard every year, and he had them out there with sticks in hand when they were toddlers. Not that I think it's a bad thing to have them play, but why lie about it?

In the OHL draft, Eric was selected by Sault Ste. Marie, an excellent franchise that has sent many players (inlcuding Wayne Gretzky) to the NHL. He refused to play there, saying he wanted to play only in a city with a university. So he has his rights traded to Oshawa, where he spends his whole junior career, completing no more than 2 courses at York University during that time. He just didn't want to play in the Sault.

So he gets drafted by Quebec. With his dad pushing him, Eric again refuses to play where he's picked. Why? Because there weren't enough marketing opportunities there. So he goes to Philly, Forsberg goes the other way, and a few years later those Nordiques (as the Avalanche) win the Cup. That was bittersweet retribution for Nordique fans. Meanwhile, Eric plays off-and-on hockey, exhibiting very little leadership, and the Flyers crash and burn in the playoffs year after year.

Why do I like Eric?

Because he never turns down the chance to play for his country. He's played in the World Juniors, World Championships and the Olympics, and he loves the opportunity.

Even with all his perceived, and sometimes misperceived, faults about choking in big games, I'd still want him on my team. Of course, I like the Canadiens, and we all know how Eric feels about playing in Quebec, so I've got nothing to worry about. ;)

[Skip]

Excellent post Craig.

[VNV Nation]

Craig:

Don't forget the Canada Cup...Still have never seen a more dominating physical performance.

Also, from what I recall, I think Eric would have played for the Canadians, if they had drafted him....he just didn't like Quebec City or Aubut.

[SmedIndy]

In hockey, unique among sports for me, the regular season isn't that meaningful. It's the playoffs that count. Those are the big games. And where has Lindros been? Same place Yashin was.

(Note....the NBA is registering low on my care scale right now. If the NBA was as fun as the ABA was, then I'd be on the bandwagon, so the above statement stands true in my universe at the time.)

[VNV Nation]

OK, this is it for me, because defending Lindros leaves a bad taste in my mouth, unless it is Lindros vs. Bobby Clarke.

But, in 50 career playoff games, Lindros has 24 goals, 33 assists. Per game, Lindros has been more effective in the playoffs than Yashin, in 33 playoff games, has 9 goals, 13 assists.

Per game, Lindros has been a more effective career playoff scorer (goals and points) than Joe Sakic, Sergei Fedorov, Mike Modano, Jaromir Jagr, about the same as Peter Forsberg.

To say that Lindros is a malcontent, injury-prone to the point of ridiculousness, a cry baby, is certainly fair criticism. To say that he hasn't exceled in the postseason is not.

[sweaver]

Yo, guys, you want a Lindros thread, START a Lindros thread.