Great stuff old school. Also I def remember a New YEARS Eve Garden game in 86 or 87 against the Islanders, Sandstrom scored in OT in a big Ranger win.
- B2B76

yep, I was thinking the same thing. I remember jumping up in the air high in my grandmother's living room when Sandstrom scored that goal

yep, I was thinking the same thing. I remember jumping up in the air high in my grandmother's living room when Sandstrom scored that goal
- jimbro83

And the next day was the Miller/Ridley trade, right?

And the next day was the Miller/Ridley trade, right?
- B2B76

I wasn't alive for the Middleton trade, but that trade was the worst Ranger trade ever to me . Traded my two favorite players on the team at that point.

I wasn't alive for the Middleton trade, but that trade was the worst Ranger trade ever to me . Traded my two favorite players on the team at that point.
- tbreinold

The Sandstrom trade was tough for me. Not because it wasn't a good hockey trade, but because Sandstrom was by and far an away my favorite player on the team.

The Zubov trade was the one trade that, at the time of its making, I was sure would be a mistake.

And the next day was the Miller/Ridley trade, right?
- B2B76

absolutely correct

I wasn't alive for the Middleton trade, but that trade was the worst Ranger trade ever to me . Traded my two favorite players on the team at that point.
- tbreinold

Esposito made it one million times worse by first trading Ridley and Miller for Carpenter, and then trading Carpenter and Laidlaw for 900 year old Marcel Dionne.

Seriously, Espo should have been arrested for those sequence of events.

If you trade for Bobby Carpenter, a former 50 goal scorer who was still only 23 at the time of the trade, at least give him more than 28 games as Ranger to figure it out.

Unbelievably mind boggling

Esposito made it one million times worse by first trading Ridley and Miller for Carpenter, and then trading Carpenter and Laidlaw for 900 year old Marcel Dionne.

Seriously, Espo should have been arrested for those sequence of events.

If you trade for Bobby Carpenter, a former 50 goal scorer who was still only 23 at the time of the trade, at least give him more than 28 games as Ranger to figure it out.

Unbelievably mind boggling
- jimbro83

Plus when you consider he, as a player helped orchestrate the Middleton for Hodge deal, Esposito has been at the heart of three of the worst trades in Ranger history.

So, is it fair to say that next year Callahan is going to receive almost an identical contract to Brown?

Next year, is going to be a challenging summer, in that the Rangers have some good bargain contracts on the books, that are no longer going to be bargains after this summer.

I realize that both will get re-signed, but who would you guys make the Rangers priority next year? Callahan or Girardi?

So, is it fair to say that next year Callahan is going to receive almost an identical contract to Brown?

Next year, is going to be a challenging summer, in that the Rangers have some good bargain contracts on the books, that are no longer going to be bargains after this summer.

I realize that both will get re-signed, but who would you guys make the Rangers priority next year? Callahan or Girardi?
- Pete V

Yep, most likely... I could see Callahan getting slightly less, like 5.5-5.6m, because Brown captained a Stanley Cup champion.

So, is it fair to say that next year Callahan is going to receive almost an identical contract to Brown?

Next year, is going to be a challenging summer, in that the Rangers have some good bargain contracts on the books, that are no longer going to be bargains after this summer.

I realize that both will get re-signed, but who would you guys make the Rangers priority next year? Callahan or Girardi?
- Pete V

I would say pretty close. Brown maybe a little more cause of his cup. I say 5.5 per year for 6 years for Cally.

That 2nd question is a tough one, ideally you would like to keep both and the Rangers should have some decent cap space to get it done but I would think if it came down to it they would give priority to the Captain.

That 2nd question is a tough one, ideally you would like to keep both and the Rangers should have some decent cap space to get it done but I would think if it came down to it they would give priority to the Captain.
- pcjr307

Callahan gets priority.

Girardi is a really good defenseman, but he is replaceable and who knows how many more years he has left playing the way he does.

Callahan gets priority.

Girardi is a really good defenseman, but he is replaceable and who knows how many more years he has left playing the way he does.
- aecliptic

I don't think the answer to that question is as clear as you make it seem. I think a lock-down first pair defender, which Girardi has been, is arguably more valuable than the tough as nails bowling ball winger. They are both incredibly value, but I actually have more concern about how Callahan will hold up, than Girardi. Callahan needs to play balls to the wall to be effective, but doing that gets him hurt. Not to mention, when he turns 30 in a couple of years, is he still going to be able to play that way.

Matt Duchene signs a 5 year extension beyond this coming season.

Can we get a new GM who believes in getting extensions done earlier? Aggravates the piss out of me.

Matt Duchene signs a 5 year extension beyond this coming season.

Can we get a new GM who believes in getting extensions done earlier? Aggravates the piss out of me.
- jimbro83

I would rather have the good negotiator that is patient and gets better deals.

I would rather have the good negotiator that is patient and gets better deals.
- Pete V

I think John Carlson of the Caps and Ryan McDonagh are virtually equal in ability.

Because the Caps gave Carlson an extension earlier, last summer, the Caps got him for 3.967 million a year long term.

It's time for Sather to start thinking ahead a little bit and not being obsessed with "leverage"

I don't think the answer to that question is as clear as you make it seem. I think a lock-down first pair defender, which Girardi has been, is arguably more valuable than the tough as nails bowling ball winger. They are both incredibly value, but I actually have more concern about how Callahan will hold up, than Girardi. Callahan needs to play balls to the wall to be effective, but doing that gets him hurt. Not to mention, when he turns 30 in a couple of years, is he still going to be able to play that way.
- Pete V

I think Girardi will decline before Callahan does.

We will see if Girardi can maintain his level of play without Tort's defensive system, because it took him 3 years to get it together under Tort's.

I think John Carlson of the Caps and Ryan McDonagh are virtually equal in ability.

Because the Caps gave Carlson an extension earlier, last summer, the Caps got him for 3.967 million a year long term.

It's time for Sather to start thinking ahead a little bit and not being obsessed with "leverage"
- jimbro83

I get what you are saying, and I think you need to project on players to get them locked in long term, even if you pay a slight premium. That obviously goes both ways, in that for every John Carlson, you might have your Tyler Myers, but still GMs get paid to make these calls, and they either end up coming smelling like roses, or like something else.

Sather has gotten some very good players locked up to bargain contracts over the years, so I can't be too critical of him. By way of example, look at the difference between the Fowler and Del Zotto contracts. How is Fowler getting paid that much more money than Del Zotto.

In the end, if there is a deal to be made earlier, by all means make it. But, just make the deal just to get it done, because then you can overpay.

I think Girardi will decline before Callahan does.

We will see if Girardi can maintain his level of play without Tort's defensive system, because it took him 3 years to get it together under Tort's.
- aecliptic

I don't understand what you mean it took him 3 years to get it together under Torts. He has been pretty solid, IMO, for a long damn time.

I don't understand what you mean it took him 3 years to get it together under Torts. He has been pretty solid, IMO, for a long damn time.
- Pete V

five-year, $30 million for Matt Duchene

so, Duchene will be making more than John Tavares

what a steal the Islanders have with that Tavares contract

How much money do the rangers figure to have next year after the in house stuff? Alot of these potential FAs in the so called "best free agent class in years" are being locked up

Still have aspirations of the sedins

Callahan gets priority.

Girardi is a really good defenseman, but he is replaceable and who knows how many more years he has left playing the way he does.
- aecliptic

The same could be said about Cally and he's already fallen prey to some of those type of injuries due to his physical play. I at least have the perceeption that defensemen tend to hold up better physically than rough and tumble forwards.

To answer Pete's question, right now it would be Callahan. He represents the identity of the team and is the captain for a reason. However, we'll see how much the team identity shifts under AV. If it does change to less of a shot-blocking, sacrifice-the-body style then I might actually prefer Girardi given what I mentioned about Callahan's ability to stay healthy long term playing the way he does.

How much money do the rangers figure to have next year after the in house stuff? Alot of these potential FAs in the so called "best free agent class in years" are being locked up

Still have aspirations of the sedins
- Slimtj100

Not big or physical enough for my taste, sorry.

How much money do the rangers figure to have next year after the in house stuff? Alot of these potential FAs in the so called "best free agent class in years" are being locked up

Still have aspirations of the sedins
- Slimtj100

two big things need to be figured out first

Henrik's extension and what the cap will go up to next year.

Hard to say without knowing those two things.

first, I see a crazy rumor linking Phaneuf to the Rangers today....

and then I see this:

Howard Berger ‏@Berger_BYTES 10m
Source tells me speculation that #Leafs have discussed a trade involving captain Dion Phaneuf is accurate. And, with more than one team.

Not big or physical enough for my taste, sorry.
- gkmkiller