AC in TC? Not According to BB!

We're not sure whether to be flattered that Blueshirt Bulletin is being cited a half a world away by the Russian media or to feel slighted that 2007 Ranger first round draftee Alexei Cherepanov dismissed us so easily. When Cherepanov was asked whether he was planning to attend Ranger training camp, "as recently reported in the club publication Blueshirt Bulletin," the Avangard Omsk winger replied, "I do not understand this talk at all! Who has spread this news? Blueshirt Bulletin? Strange. How am I supposed to respond to it? Nobody informed me that I should come to the Rangers camp. And how would this occur? I still have a year on my contract with Avangard. I fully intend to fulfill the conditions of the contract, so in September I plan to start with the team in the KHL, and not go overseas." [Thanks to Laurie Carr for the translation.]

Well, Alexei, first of all, we're not a club publication -- we're an independent publication about the club. Second, it's not up to us to make up stuff like this. Strange? This is where it came from: When your GM, Anatoly Bardin, returned to Russia after his trip to New York in April, this is what he said about you (you can read about it here in English or here in Russian): "As for Cherepanov, he will spend next season in Russia. He has a contract with Avangard. Sather is not entirely against it. Everyone understands that some day Alexei will still leave for the NHL. This autumn he'll be called to New York for training camp -- to see the training center, to take a walk on Broadway. In short, to visit."

So a bunch of New York reporters (me included) asked Ranger coach Tom Renney whether it was true what your GM said, that you'd be at Ranger training camp. "We'd sure like to see that," he said (you can read about it here). "They're working on that right now. Whether or not it happens remains to be seen. But there's a bit of a political thing to it as well. It's part of a contract thing we have to work through. If we can get him to Traverse City [for the Prospect Tournament], that would be great. We shouldn't be so naive as to suggest he's going to come over here [no matter what]. It might be good enough [for him] that that's where he wants to make his living -- it could be very good money, he's in his homeland, culturally it's very easy. Why torture yourself by coming over here when everything's hunky dory over there?"

Alex, you've been talking out of both sides of your mouth about your intentions since you were drafted. So let me tell you a little something. These days, to be a New York Ranger, it's not enough to just want to be a New York Ranger, you have to prove it, prove that you're worthy of it. You're going to go up against guys who don't have half your talent, but who have ten times your desire, and who want nothing more than to make sure you don't take away a job they have their sights set on. That's the way they've been raised, and that's the right way for a prospect to behave.

Brandon Dubinsky wanted so badly to be a New York Ranger that he came to training camp last September and forced his way onto the team with his play and his work ethic and his desire -- and he eventually became Jaromir Jagr's center. Marc Staal wanted so badly to be New York Ranger that he came to training camp last September and, even though everyone agreed he would benefit from a year in the AHL, he forced his way onto the team -- and ended up on the number one defensive pair. Ryan Callahan went to Hartford and busted his butt to overcome long odds to make it to the NHL, and he did -- and then he went back there last year when his game disappeared, without a word of complaint, busted his butt all over again, and came back. Dan Girardi was never even drafted, but he worked and worked and won a spot in New York -- but that wasn't enough, so he spent all off-season getting stronger, and won an even more important spot with the team.

I could go on -- I could tell you about the patience Nigel Dawes has shown as he has worked his way up the ladder, I could tell you how your recently traded countryman Fedor Tyutin learned how to hit NHL-style to make himself into a solid defenseman, I could tell you how a universally hated player like Sean Avery did everything he could, and then some, and then some more, just to win, regardless of the consequences. And if I had to tell you what Petr Prucha would do to win a battle for a puck, the kind of checks he would take and try to dish out with his will o' the wisp body frame, while waiting patiently for his chance at more ice time, then I'd be wasting my time with you.

Alex, these guys want to be New York Rangers. Artem Anisimov wants to be a New York Ranger -- he only went back to Russia for a short time this spring for visa purposes and for a quick visit home, then he was back for Prospect Camp and is going to work his butt off all summer to get to NHL playing weight, then he is going to do all he can to make himself a New York Ranger. Evgeny Grachev already said nyet to Lokomotiv -- he's coming to North America to play junior hockey. He wants to play in the NHL. He wants to be a New York Ranger. You want to stay in Russia? Stay in Russia -- there's no Brandon Sutter in Russia, so if you want to take the easy way out, take the easy way out, as Renney said. Anyway, we don't want anyone who comes just for the paycheck and doesn't want to be a New York Ranger -- been there, done that, wrote the rant. Those days are over.

In other news, the Daily News gets Renney's take on taking on a new roster, while the Post provides its own take. Blue Notes reports that newly acquired Dan Fritsche has filed for arbitration -- guess he hasn't gotten the memo about Glen Sather's distaste for players who file for arbitration (with the Rangers' cap situation, it's not out of the question that the Rangers walk away from an award they can't live with). Howlings reports that David LeNeveu has signed with Anaheim -- I guess the Allaire factor doesn't count for anything when the other team has an Allaire of its own (Benoit's brother Francois). The Boston Globe has a couple of notes on Boston area natives Paul Mara and Patrick Rissmiller -- but they're wrong about Rissmiller, who will make $1 million for one year, not for three (that's Aaron Voros who got $1 million a year for three years).

Comments

[roc]

I hope this isn't the beginning of an ongoing bs with Cherepanov!

[Chris QCT]

Beginning? This has been his M.O. since before he was drafted. Hence part of the reason why he was still there at #17...

[Bob Merchant]

I know one thing, all this must have the attention of the entire management staff at MSG. If any of them did not know what the BB was, THEY KNOW NOW...lol.

I wonder if Alexei has a subscription yet?

[kelly kisio]

send him a free year subscription...

[Chris C]

One of the best articles i have read in a while. Zherdev escaped Russia in the middle of the night to come over to the NHL.

[mhurley]

Jeez, Dubi, tell us how you really feel. ;) So, in otherwords, the Rangers wasted another first round draft pick in Cherepanov? :(

Maybe Jagr will talk to the kid and tell him that when he comes to NY he can have Grachev as his houseboy ala Prucha.:)

[ThisYearsModel]

LeNeveau walks to Anaheim? Nice going Slats. Draft Montya then donate him to Phoenix. I agree with Dubi......sounds like NYC is the last place Cherepanov wants to be. If this is the case........look for him to sign for big bucks over there. Meanwhile.......we have Wiikman and no one else of note behind the king. Great management.

[f-champs]

Where does Cherepanov condend that he doesn't want to be a New York Ranger or that he doesn't intend on competing for a spot? All he said was that he was going to "fulfill the conditions of the contract." That's perfectly honorable. Unlike all the names you mention, he can't stay here anyway. And what makes you think the kid isn't busting his "butt" in Russia just as hard as anyone in camp? Plus, where exactly does he "dismiss" BB? If you wrote he was coming to camp (and I don't remember you ever giving a definitive on it), you got it wrong. "They're working on that right now. Whether or not it happens remains to be seen" doesn't sound very concrete assertion to me. Just because Bardin mentioned camp a couple of months ago doesn't mean Cherepanov is speaking from both sides of his mouth.

A mountain out of a molehill.

[Dan]

I'm not ready to write Cherapanov off yet, obviously he's not the brightest button,I agree he does'nt express his desire to be a Ranger well at all.

He certainly needs some schooling,if only to learn how to express his thoughts better, maybe a certain J Jagr can talk to him and offer advice on the way forward and how project himself and to better deal with the press etc, we can but hope.

[f-champs]

"These days, to be a New York Ranger, it's not enough to just want to be a New York Ranger, you have to prove it, prove that you're worthy of it."

Worthy of what? Getting to the second round? What did Wade Redden give up for his $6.5 mil a year? I bet he always dreamed of being a Ranger. Zherdev's history leads us to believe that he's gungho to be a Ranger? (btw, I love both those moves.)

I love this revisionist fantasy that heart gets you to the Rangers these days? Talent and heart gets you to the NHL. Dubinsky made it and Dane Byers may not, and it has nothing to do with the former having more heart than the latter. It's about talent. I've been watching the Rangers since 1979 and the ratio of players with heart and those who play for a paycheck has hardly changed one iota.

[Matty aka "The Girls"]

You can have all the talent in the world but if you don't work hard you become another Alexander Daigle instead of a player like Dany Heatley ect ... so the point, I believe, was to show that talent alone will not get you a secure job in the NHL ... You also have to have passion and drive and a desire to make the sacrifices needed to play the game at the NHL Level ... for an European kid that might even be more pronounced specially at Chere's age ...

Personally I chose to think that he didn't mean to come off as annoyed and dismissive as he did ... Perhaps his own owner, who had dangled him coming over for training camp, had already let him know that wasn't happening and so he was genuingly surprised at being told that it was being reported that he was ... he doesn't know what BB is and if someone tells him it's a club publication how's he to know, unless he takes the time to look it up, in that moment that it isn't a club publication? While Russia isn't the old Soviet Union we do not know the pressure a young star player faces over there ... Malkin was pressured into extending his contract which is why he came over here the way he did so you can't know and not with someone so young ... For me I'll wait and see what happens since I wasn't expecting to see Chere playing over here until, at least 2009/2010 if not the season after that one ...

[kwill]

The fastest way to get alexie to the team will be artem and zherdev having good seasons in ny. The team winning the cup wouldn't hurt either. Jagr throwing a good word in over in Russia would be a good plan.

I know it was everyone's plan to have them play together too bad they thought it would be in ny, but oh well. The team seems strong I just hope they mesh well in camp, and get it going early and often. Defense looks stronger, not sure why Mara is making a comeback with all the other signings, but the defense looks strong. we'll see how it goes, i hope this isnt a repeat of years past with superstars coming to ny just looking for their checks. The good news is the former stars they signed have something to prove and have a supporting cast to work with.

[f-champs]

Matty aka "The Girls" -- So what if he dismissed BB? IS this blog hallowed ground?

Also, when the Eastern bloc was still Communist, a player defecting was an honorable out because coercion was the only thing keeping them there. These people signed contracts and when they break them it's typically because they want to make money.

[Matty aka "The Girls"]

Perhaps you are not reading what I wrote f-champs ... I don't care if he dismissed BB or not, what I did write is that we don't know if he did to be getting all annoyed about it in the first place and that was my point ... there is no need for any drama specially when no one knows for sure what the kid is thinking ...

[f-champs]

you wrote: "he didn't mean to come off as annoyed and dismissive as he did ..."

How was he dismissive?

Anyway, it doesn't really matter.

[Alan]

f-champs-i gotta say for the second or so day in a row i feel like i'm reading a post i would have written. we're thinking alike. people get into panic mode quicker than i could ever imagine.

[f-champs]

Alan -- You're obviously a immensely intelligent individual.

[iceycup]

i gotta agree with f-champs. mountain out of a molehill.

[Alan]

AN immensely intelligent individual, brother!

[Matty aka "The Girls"]

I made the comment because it was what Dubi alluded to in his post and in which you replied to me in my post "So what if he dismissed the BB" ... stop making something bigger out of nothing ... to me this is a non story and ridiculous on all levels ... he's being dismissive, not being dismissive the point is it doesn't matter because no one knows what he is really thinking or not thinking when things get lost in translation ... in any case this isn't important enough for me to continue to carry on about it ...

[rissfan]

The globe was right. Rissmiller signed a 3 year deal, not a one year deal.

[LisaMY (one of "The Girls") and at work]

Dubi

I think you're being way too harsh on the guy. I don't think he was offended, just a little confused. And frankly, I haven't known a Russian person yet, on this side of the Atlantic, who doesn't get "touchy" when they get confused by something you've asked them. I've never seen people jump to conclusions so fast! And please understand, I'm speaking from general experience.

And considering he's Avengard's 1st prize possession (Jagr is now the 2nd), I always wonder how long the leash is that management has on this kid. Not very long, I'm guessing. I'm sure there is just so much he knows, there is just so much he's told, and there's is just so much he can say. I'm sure he's had a good number of people "talk out of both sides of their mouths" to him a lot. And it must be frustrating. The fact that he has repeatedly said "I still have a year on my contract with Avangard. I fully intend to fulfill the conditions of the contract", tells me it has been drilled into his head and he better not forget it. Ever. I'm sure he's letting his current management know he hasn't forgotten his current deal so they won't get on his back about it. You seem to forget Dubi, he is under contract to Avengard right now. They are the people paying him to play. Not the Rangers. He's their draft pick. That's all. I perfectly understand your point about what kind of work ethic is required by the young players to crack the Rangers roster. But I don't think that, at this moment, it appropriately applies to Cherepanov.

And in case anybody else has forgotten--Cherepanov made a trip to NYC after he was drafted by the Rangers. A trip he had planned for regardless of where he ended up in the draft. He enjoyed his time and was happy being in NYC and he felt very welcome here. To make the assumption that he's dissing NYC or the Rangers is, frankly, tossing the whale.

[Robert]

Geeze Dubi chill the f**k out. The kid said nothing aboutnot wanting to be a Ranger, he's trying to be respectful of the club he plays for right now.

[Greg L]

Being a Ranger means wearing the jersey , period.

Glen Anderson wore it for a 1/2 season and won a cup , is he more a Ranger than Mike Gartner ? ( who is was traded for)

Jean Ratelle played 16 season with the Rangers , not winning the Stanley cup at all . Is Jagr a better Ranger because he broke Ratelle's season points team record? But Jagr only playing 3 seasons .

Is it how long you play? How fast you win? If you win? What difference you made? How you were treated by the fans? Making your G.M right about picking you? What makes you a better Ranger than the next Ranger?

If you flub up and play dumb (Malik , Holeweg and Backman)Are you less a Ranger ? Do the fans deside , who's Ranger and who is n't?

Mark Messier played an outdoor game wearing a EDMONTON OILERS jersey while still playing for the Rangers , Is he less a Ranger for doing that?

"In 1986, after 5 seasons with the Rangers Reijo Ruotsalainen left the Rangers to continue his career in Switzerland. He eventually returned to the NHL to help Edmonton win the 1987 Stanley Cup just a few months after the Rangers traded his rights to the Oilers.

Amazingly, Ruotsalainen returned to Europe again in the fall of 1987 but came back three years later to help the Oilers win their fifth championship in 1990." - Great skilled Ranger , he's a defensman that the Rangers tried on wing for a while. How doe's he fit in??

Other notibles that were Rangers but do you fans really consider them "always Rangers" ?? :
Tie Domi, Simon ,Pilon ,Amonte ,Weight ,Gretzky ,Avery , Kevin Lowe ,McSorley ,Fata ,Blackburn and Marc Savard .

Ranger fans bicker about who's worthy or who's not ...I'd have to say that if you wore the Rangers jersey , your a Ranger!

[zach]

Hes only a young kis who's prob anxious about wanting to leave his home country. Anybody with a brain will realise this........
Nicely put though stating what he is up against with the others in camp.

[paulf]

Being a Ranger can be fleeting. Of the top 12 scorers in the playoffs just a season ago, only a couple are still left with the team. Nylander, Jagr, Straka, Shanahan and Avery, the top 5, I believe, are all gone.

Some of it is by design -- the Jagr faction was always a short-term plan -- but some of it is out of control of management. You can't know in advance who will accept your offers.

[Andrea/the girls]

Wow. Most of us have only seen this kid play on YouTube and we're all so protective of him--from two different points of view! Dubi's a hard-working, long-suffering Rangers fan like us, so cut him some slack on his opinion. He does this for us, for free.

HOWEVER, if you REALLY want to get on someone's back, look up the totally random (and five weeks late) drivel that the Post printed today on their Opinion page. THIS is the guy who deserves your bile. No doubt, we can ALL agree he's an idiot. I hope his newborn daughter grows up to be a diehard Leafs fan. That'll show him....

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07062008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/slap_shot_118613.htm

[Andrea/the girls]

Wow. Most of us have only seen this kid play on YouTube and we're all so protective of him--from two different points of view! Dubi's a hard-working, long-suffering Rangers fan like us, so cut him some slack on his opinion. He does this for us, for free.

HOWEVER, if you REALLY want to get on someone's back, look up the totally random (and five weeks late) drivel that the Post printed today on their Opinion page. THIS is the guy who deserves your bile. No doubt, we can ALL agree he's an idiot. I hope his newborn daughter grows up to be a diehard Leafs fan. That'll show him....

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07062008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/slap_shot_118613.htm

[Andrea/the girls]

OOPS! Sorry for the double NYPost post double NYPost post :-)

Programming reminder: MSG Vault is replaying the Russian National Team playing MSG in the 70s right now and at 9, the look back at the Rangers coaches over the years.

Dubi, are you going to put a countdown to pre-season clock on the right side of your page?

Puh LEEEEEZE, she said whiningly....

[Nic]

andrea

wow the guy who wrote that article is an idiot.
i cant understand why people with no knowledge of the sport attempt to bash it..
hockey is a great sport, very entertaining, yet people always associate it with fighting.....well its a contact sport and its allowed.... hahaha
then you get baseball and basktball where you shouldnt have any contact....yet get bench clearing brawls and no one says a word....
doesnt make much sense to me

[John]

I think there might have been some humor in Cherepanov's answer that was lost in translation...plus, the kid's 19. Give him a break for maybe being a smartass when he gets asked the same question for the millionth time.

[John]

Post article is just sad. There is not one original joke in the entire article. I can't even get mad about it. Mullets! Fights! Hockey fans drink beer! There are fights in hockey! Hockey has low TV ratings! Hockey has expansion teams in cities where it's not cold! None of this is new. None of this is funny. That article just fails on every level.

[Jess]

The saying is "any publicity is good publicity" is how I am looking at what Cherepanov said.

Dubi is entitled to say what he did since some people are forgetting one tiny little detail, this is his place and he gets to speak his mind.

I really do not put much faith into Russian interviews because it always wind up with the player down the road claiming what he said was taken out of context. They will claim and swear that what was written was not what they said.

Odds are very good that Cherepanov has no idea that it was his own GM Bardin is who said that Cherepanov was coming over for the prospect camps and training camp.

[bdubs]

I agree I could see how someone would get annoyed when your trying to stay loyal to your teammates and someone keeps asking well when are you leaving and plus if it helps his development i guess it's for the best.

[Paul R _ _ _ _ _ D]

that article sucked and the guy who wrote it is a douche, lets take it easy on cheraponov, after all he is still a kid.

[laurie]

I just spent 20 minutes composing a reply, only to come back here and find out that LisaMY said everything I wanted to, only better.

As others have said, I think Cherepanov was blindsided by the question, and doesn't know Blueshirt Bulletin from Vogue. If it wasn't clear in the translation, it wasn't him calling BB a "club publication", it was the author of the article. And you can bet that however the interviewer phrased the question (it wasn't included in the article), it was presented in a negative manner, which could go a long way in explaining the seeming annoyance in Cherepanov's reply. I think it's hard for most of us to understand the pressure Cherepanov is under from all sides -- the press, his team, Russian fans, Ranger fans. In many ways, he's become the poster boy for the KHL. I fully expect Bardin to expend even more effort to re-sign Cherepanov next spring than he did courting Jagr this spring. And the Russian press and Russian Hockey Federation will be right behind him backing him up every step of the way. Convincing a young talent like Cherepanov to stay in Russia would be an even bigger coup for the KHL and Russian hockey in general than signing Jagr was. And thus far, Cherepanov has shown himself to be more susceptible to that kind of pressure than many of his peers.

[Thanks to Andrea, 30 more minutes have passed while I was distracted by the Rangers vs. CSKA on MSG... ;)]

Anyway, for whatever reason, be it the rural area he grew up in before being brought in to Omsk to play hockey, poor advice and coaching by his agent(s), or just plain lack of saavy and smarts, he certainly lacks the polish of many of his fellow Russian prospects. While I'd be lying if I said I have no concerns about his attitude or desire to play in North America, if/when he does come over, I foresee him being one of those European/Russian players who attitude and actions are regularly misunderstood and who is often unfairly criticized because of it... not unlike his new teammate Jaromir Jagr was throughout his NHL career.

[BLAZE]

Weren't some people around here a little pissed off that Jagr didn't squash the rumors of a huge contract offer & meeting up with the GM from Omsk right in the middle of the play-offs?

This kid is basically doing what Jagr should have done. Chep is still under contract to Omsk, and still has to have the appearance that he has his teammate’s backs.

[Jeff L.]

I have to say, Dubi, that this article was embarrassing, and it clearly reflects your own insecurities. You jumped the gun far too early on this one, and in doing so you might very well contribute to or cause a problem where there wasn't one before.

A little advice - if you want the Rangers to get what they drafted in this kid, who is supposedly a very special player, take it easy on the kid, don't post asinine articles like the one above, be patient, and keep your mouth shut. It'll be best for all of us if you do.

[Greg L]

Jeff , maybe you should keep your mouth shut , It'll be best for all of us if you do ...Try writing hundreds of articles and have everyone agree . Ok , fine voice your opinion but watch who your telling to shut up ! We like Dubi spending his time writing about the Rangers like he does. Having Dubi keeping his mouth shut would certainly be an end to this site ...Ya flapper.

[Greg L]

Anymore morons have any thing to say about that...im here.

[Leo]

Alexei Cherepanov = a new Alexei Yashin?

Great reply Dubi, this russian guy needs to learn that the NYR are bigger than any player. Bigger than Messier, bigger than Richter, bigger than Gretzky, bigger than Leetch...

[Dubi]

Folks, wishful thinking is not going to change Cherepanov into Anisimov. He dropped from top five to bottom third because people were concerned about his desire. He told New York reporters the day he was drafted that he could get out of his contract after one season, then went back to Russia and, when asked about that statement just a few days later, he said he never said any such thing, that he was going to play two more seasons in Russia.

I could give a rat's ass what Cherepanov said about BB -- I was just using that as humorous fodder. For me, to get on the map like that is awesome. I don't think there was anything lost in the translation -- he didn't have a clue what this "Blueshirt Bulletin" thing was that the reporter was asking him about. He wasn't being "dismissive", I was just having some fun with it.

And f-champs (don't think for a minute I've forgotten who you are), if you're gonna parse words like a Talmudic scholar, go back and see where anything I've said is anything other than one big "if" -- "if" you don't want to play in New York, there are a lot of hungry young players waiting for your spot, and "if" you don't want to play in New York, we don't want you here anyway. You gotta want it -- just like these other guys. Ask Alex Bourret what happens to guys who don't care enough.

As for the idea of wanting to be a Ranger and proving it, unfortunately the economics of the NHL make it hard to apply that to a veteran free agent. But there is no question, none at all, that the Rangers as an organization have made it part of their culture to raise their own young players that way. They've done so for all the right reasons, and the idea is bearing fruit when young guys come in here as hungry as some of these guys are and win jobs and games and hearts. They made a huge error letting Avery go after he established himself as a Ranger at heart in this way, but the other guys are establishing a core that will endure for years.

And just because they have to go out and sign a hired gun to fill a hole doesn't negate the culture change. Just because AC was their first round choice, that doesn't mean he gets a free ride -- maybe from some of you guys, but not from coaching or management. He will have to prove to them that he's worth the money before they give him that shot. Read what Renney said -- if this guy decides that life is easy enough in Russia, that's where he'll stay, and he's not going to shed a tear for a guy who wants to take the easy way out.

Right now, if I were a betting man, I'd wager that that's where this guy is going to stay -- this is one guy who will say, hmmm, millions of dollars to stay home and be a star and play with Jagr, or a two-way NHL entry level contract, maybe have to spend a season in the AHL, and have guys like Brandon Sutter try to take my head off every chance they get. I see no indication -- not like I've seen from Anisimov or Grachev -- that this guy has any interest in giving up the former to endure the latter. Roast me now, but don't be shocked a year from now if it comes to pass.

[Jess]

I just love these bozos who come out of nowhere, never been seen here before and think that have a right to tell someone else to shut up.

Dubi voiced his opinion, that is what editors and publishers do every day on an OP-ED page. In others words to the bozos out there who want to tell Dubi to shut up, Dubi was doing his job plain and simple which is getting people to talk about what is going on in the Ranger world.

Dubi was doing what Dellapina does, what Brooks does, what Zipay does and what Weinman does on a daily basis. He is reporting and commenting on the news.

If you have a problem with Dubi's point of view then last time I checked nobody puts a gun to your head and forces you to come here and read or comment on what Dubi says.

Geeze I can not wait for the online version to start working so we can get away from some of the nonsense that happens at times.

[Dubi]

Jeff -- Disagree with me if you like, but to call me names without offering even a whiff of a counterargument isn't going to carry much weight. "If I want the Rangers to get what they drafted out of this kid" -- nothing I say or do or don't is going to make that happen. It will only happen if HE wants it to happen and makes it happen. That's what I wrote, that's all I wrote, with ample evidence of what happens to players who want it to happen and make it happen. Show me where I'm wrong -- I don't see it.

[ThisYearsMode]

I agree with Dubi. This guy has the look of someone who would rather start in an inferior league (for the bigger than entry level money) than earn his way on to an NHL roster. We'll see, and I hope we are wrong, but would not be surprised. Bardin will throw a lot more money at him than he can make on an ELC. In the past, players made more over here. Not any more.

[Marty]

ORR Strikes Back !!

I whole heartedly agree that this has no bearing on 'the team going into next season' and only serves as more of a distraction on top of the non-sense that the Russian league pulled with Jagr during the playoffs.

The rangers knew this when they picked him but swung for the fences anyway in hopes they could get him here.

BTW - A lot can happen in a year with the transfer agreement and the kids could actually still come over.

Dubi & Jess

Thanks for your insight on these players because I wouldn't have any idea of these issues until after the fact they were gone.

[bdubs]

Oh yes , the ice cream cones......

[Adam S.]

Reading some of these messages, are these Ranger fans who are thinking Blair Betts will be centering the 3rd line? It hit me over the weekend...Everything Glen Sather said regarding adding more speed and skill to this team is exactly what Betts and Hollweg do not bring. While both try hard, they aren't talented, they certainly aren't fast, and can't score worth a lick. They represent what Sather doesn't want on this team and I think we should be looking at lines with Gomez\Drury\Dubinsky\Fritsche as our 4 centers. All bring hard work, determination and an ability to put the puck in the net...

I think when we look back on last season, we should remember how difficult it was for us to score goals consistently with a lineup that had Jagr, Shanny, Avery, Straka...We were a terrible offensive team last season, and I dont see how we would be any worse..Only better...We could've won so many more games if it wasn't for our PP and Jagr was the main culprit as to why we didn't score...We didn't shoot...Rather the Jagr line would wait for the perfect opportunity to shoot, yet many times it never came cause the players would wait for JJ to do something...Or just stand around flatfooted...The 2nd PP unti never developed, as there was no consistency with the players....Now we'll have a team that shoots the puck and goes hard to the net, and that alone will improve our PP. I like hearing it'll be more wide open, that can only help our squad.

Last thing..guys like Dawes Callahan, Dubinsky, are going to have big roles, most likely 1st or 2nd line..And most important, they'll see PP time, which Renney rarely gave them..Also, I'd love to see Demitra here and deal Prucha\Betts\Hollweg to open the remaining space...One mroe vet scorer wouldn't hurt, but if we go in as it is I love the faith we'll be showing in our younger players. Oh, and Dubinsky wont dissapear playing 3rd line...He'll get regular shifts, I'm sure he'll see PP time and will be a big reason for our improvement over last year. We'll see how it goes, but I think we are already a better team, just simply addition by subtraction..I respect a lot of players that were here, but they held us back in a lot of ways.

[Wicky229]

Dubi

I think you are correct both in the comments above and that AC will probably not play here.

Jess/Dubi

Couple questions, does a qualifying offer mean that the RFA will stay with the team for the next season? And do you think that the rangers will sign anyone else that is out there? Struds?

Thanks and keep up the awesome work!!!

[f-champs]

Jess - Op-ed pages allow people to react after they publish those opinions. In comments. In letters. They don't run away from the opinion of readers. They don't block comments unless there are personal attacks (something you know plenty about.)

Dubi -- I didn't parse any words. You must be kidding with your Clintonesque "if" argument. Your whole romatic post about what it means to be a Ranger, is based on the contention that Cherepanov doesn't want to be here. Now, you don't have a clue if this kid has heart or if he's lazy or if he's coming here. You simply repeat what others have said. That's fine. But then to take innocuous comment and extrapolate that he's never ever playing for the Rangers you seem clueless. To begin with he's 19. You may want a polished professional at that age, but maybe he's just a kid. And that kid is arguably the best young player in Russia right now. Maybe he worked his ass off to make that happen.

You're just mad that he called you out for reporting something that wasn't true. No one ever made a definitive statement about him coming to camp. Even if he did, it would be irrlevant. He has a contract and he should keep it.

You remember me? Big deal. I'm just posting to disagree with you. I'm a regular reader, much of what you do excellent, but very occasionally I chime in. You can ban me, of course. It's your site. You may want to grow thicker skin or, prepared, put more care into your opinion posts.