ALL RIGHT. Let’s get this offseason started. The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup because of their skilled forwards; because of their structure; because Chris Osgood – the most successful Islanders goaltender of the Charles Wang Era – redefined his career; and perhaps most importantly . . . all together now . . . because of the way their defense moved the puck without sacrificing anything on the other end.
So, tell me: How can the Rangers spend the $4.5-5M it will surely take to land Pittsburgh’s heavy-hitting impending free agent defenseman Brooks Orpik following his breakout tournament, when it likely will cost around the same $5M per to re-sign Michal Rozsival?
Yes, Rozsival had a disappointing season. But factor in mitigating circumstances – not excuses – that featured a wonky knee, an insecure response to playing out his contract and collateral concern over partner and friend Marek Malik’s downward spiral out of the lineup. Now weigh those against the upside Rozsival displayed the previous two seasons, and most notably in the 2007 playoffs. Is Glen Sather not wiser to pony up for No. 3 rather than get into a bidding war for Orpik . . . if he even hits the market, that is?
The Rangers, we’re told, are among a select number of teams interested in former Penguins defenseman Josef Melichar, who played this season in the Swedish Elite League. A physical-oriented defenseman who will turn 30 in January, Melichar probably can be signed for approximately $1M.
So, are the Blueshirts better off with a combined $6M investment in Rozsival and projected third-pair defenseman Melichar, or with a combined $6.5-7M investment in Orpik and, say, impending Montreal free agent Mark Streit, who would play on the third pair and on the vacated power-play point?
Up front, are the Rangers more likely to win the Stanley Cup within the next couple of years if they re-sign Jaromir Jagr for a base of approximately $5M, or if they instead the cut the cord and invest the $7M per for which Marian Hossa, who in his own breakout postseason, was Pittsburgh’s most consistently dangerous forward?
Are the Rangers more formidable with Hossa on the first unit playing with Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, and Brandon Dubinsky lined up as second and third pivots? Or are they better with Dubinsky playing with Jagr while Gomez seeks a compatible second-line winger and Drury is again dispatched to the third line? There is no guarantee Hossa will sign with the Blueshirts if he gets to July 1, but we have heard nothing to suggest he would not.
The cap is going to be approximately $56M. If Christian Backman’s $2.3M is subtracted from the 2008-09 roster via waivers or a trade, the Rangers should have the space to absorb a fourth $7M commitment.
After plugging in Hossa at $7M, Rozsival at $5M and Melichar at $1M, then subtracting Backman, we have the Rangers at approximately $44.4M, without a back-up goaltender; sixth and seventh defensemen; and without Sean Avery, Brendan Shanahan and Martin Straka.
The puck is in Sather’s end of the ice. And the clock is ticking.
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The NHL’s two most glittering U.S.-based teams meet in the Cup final and the ratings skyrocket. Who would have guessed? Not Tiger Woods. Asked on Monday who would win the Cup, Woods said, “I don’t really care. I don’t think anyone watches hockey anymore, do they?”
We have been told not to be surprised if such a Group II offer sheet is extended to Nigel Dawes, who is owed a $545,000 qualifier from the Rangers.
Why are we getting this feeling that the longer the Rangers take to send out their season-ticket invoices, the more painful they’re going to be to open?
Finally, if the NHL has a sense of humor, won’t Gary Bettman invite Woods to drop the puck at the Red Wings’ banner-raising home opener next season? And wouldn’t Woods be wise to accept the invitation?