Rangers79

You heard it from me in the Avery thread...Now we can get down to business and get him signed.

The buzz around here is that the Rangers, in order to clear space for Avery, are looking to send Cullen back to the Hurricanes....Avery is ours, and you CAN'T HAVE HIM..I love this guy....

Have you watched Malik play? outside of his OMGTHATWAZSOOKEWL shootout goal, which was hardcore overrated, the guy is a #4 on his best night and a good #6 the rest. He barely uses his size. Not only is he not "absoultely beyond 'decent,'" but "decent" is being nice. The guy has zero hockey sens Where did you pull " zero hockey sense" from? Did that sound good in your head so you just thought you'd throw it out there and wow all your friends?..Maybe if you said he had "zero football sense" or "zero baseball sense" Sure he's not Norris material (not even close)but not every d-man is....And as far as anyones definition of "decent", well that's subjective..He is in the NHL afterall Yeah. Drury only played on THE biggest offensive powerhouse IN THE NHL with players like Briere and Vanek Briere/Vanek vs Jagr/Shanahan.....Briere/Vanek-vs Jagr/Shanahan.....YOU LOSE!! ...and prior to that, he played with a few guys you may or may not know about (because Im not sure how you could forget where it all started for Drury). Joe Sakic? Who? Peter Forsberg?Who? Hejduk?Who? Tanguay?Who? Deadmarsh?Who? Sure these guys are talented..You may or may not know that....But,are any of these guys better offensively than Jags or Shanny?

Some of you guys are just plain silly. Rangers sign two of the top free agents on the market, ultimately improving the team and giving the fans of New York something very exciting to look forward to, and all some of you can do is find fault and poo poo their chances.. First off, it's only July...It is only July right? Second, if the Red Wings signed either one of these guys some of you would have climbed to the top of the tallest building in Detroit and screamed your lungs out how the Wings just secured the Cup...Give me a break!! Some of you can't give credit where credit is due, nor do you ever see any negative regarding your precious Wings...If a player wears the Winged Wheel they're great, if they move on...they suck or weren't needed..Prime example..How many of you posted that if Schneider was healthy, the Wings would have beaten the Ducks and easily beat the Sens? Most of you wanted him back sooooooooooo badly....He signs with the Ducks and suddenly..."He sucks!!" .You sign Rafalski and it's all about how much better, younger, faster etc.. he is than Schneider.. One poster even had the gall to put him in the top three for the Norris...Apparently Rafalski is the second coming of Bobby Orr to some of you...If he had signed elsewhere, you wouldn't even know he was still in the league... Bottom line is this...As a fan of the Rangers, I like what they've done...On paper the potential is there for a very, very good year...But they don't play the games on paper, and the certainly don't play them in July.....

Yeah, but Gomez & Drury have never played with talent the likes a Jagr & Shanahan. I'd bet the farm their numbers go up significantly. Nylander registered 80 points (83) only once in his career. (ok, he did get 79 in 05-06, so unofficially twice) I'll take Gomez or Drury over Nylander 7 days a week, and twice on Sunday, wouldn't you? And sure their defense isn't flashy, but it is solid...Yes, SOLID...They won't be asked to do much more than feed Jags, Shanny, Ryan Callahan & Peter Prucha then stay at home and clear the crease for Henry. Dan Girardi is a future all star and for a big physical d-man they've got Craig Weller down on the farm. The old saying is, you build a championship team from the goal out. I think most of you would agree, WE'VE GOT THAT COVERED!! And Jags loves....LOVES Avery, and what Jags wants, Jags gets...

Let me ask several of you folks something....Do you consider yourselves hockey fans? Then why wouldn't you watch the Stanley Cup Finals? Is it that you are just Red Wings fans and you couldn't care about anything else?...Let me try another angle.....The Detroit Lions haven't been in the Super Bowl since..........well never, but.......don't you still watch the Super Bowl? The Stanley Cup is the pinnacle in our favorite sport, it's what every player strives for, I just don't understand why you wouldn't watch....I'm not pointing fingers, I'm just curious.

OH MY GOD : : Are you serious? "you never SEIZE to amaze me" SEIZE to amaze...SEIZE? You have just proven & confirmed what a blathering, ignorant idiot you really are...And stop using my high school yearbook picture. My mommy wants it back...She likes to look at it while giving me a bath on Saturday nights..I used that photo to get my modeling career going...Good thing I had just lost 200lbs right before that picture was taken or I might have looked fat. Has anyone seen my pocket protector? Go strum your guitar- or yourself if you're smart enough- and let the big boys ( and girls) talk hockey. When you got something to bring to the table, you go right ahead and step on up to the plate... I'm done with you..And by the way, I'm 43yrs old and have been watching hockey since '77..Now who's your daddy? Answer: I AM....Now go get your shinebox.............. SEIZE? SEIZE? : Seacrest out...

You're right, Goon hockey isn't very popular....$$$$$..With the advertisers that is...$$$$$$..The NHL has to go back to what seperates them from the other sports & what fans love to see and talk about, and that is FIGHTING!!. During the Bettman era they've been slowly eliminationg that element out of the game. .It's no surprise ratings are in the crapper. It didn't matter what two teams made it in to the SCF, ratings were going to be low...Now when I say fighting, I'm not talking about goon hockey from the 70's or the bench clearing brawls that seemed to happen on a weekly basis . ( although nothing makes the heart pound faster than hearing the announcer say " AND THEY'RE CLEARING THE BENCHES!!")..I'm talking about fighting as a intimidation factor and as a deterent..Holding guys accountable for their actions...First, you get rid of that damn instigator penalty..Why do you think players use their stick so much and pull such crap? It's because they know they're not going to have to answer for it by dropping their gloves and throwing some knuckles. We as Americans/Canadiens love our physical hockey..When you go to a game, are the cheers louder for a "pretty" goal or for a good fight? In my experiences 9 times out of 10 it's for the fights..Hell, people get out of their seats for a fight...The Garden this year was never louder then when Shanny took on Brashear & when Colton Orr extracted his revenge on Todd Fedoruk...Now don't get me wrong...It isn't ALL about fighting,(never was) but it is an integral part of the game that makes hockey so special and seperates it from the other sports...You ever wonder why soccer has never taken off in this country? We don't want to see guys running around for 90minutes kicking a ball, in a low scoring game like soccer with no contact..And we've ALL seen how soccer players react to any kind of contact..They act like they've been stabbed 10 times and shot twice..We view them as wusses.. No, give us the strong as an ox farm boy from saskatchewan who's willing to go to battle for his team and teamates. Fighting needs to be brought back into the spotlight, then you'll see rating go up. In my opinion.

Oh Mrs. Andman, your definitions of the words above are laughable. From this point forward I'll disregard Websters silly dictionary and refer to "Mrs Andmans dictionary of b.s." I'm looking at your definition of class..Hmmmmmmmm Do you mean to be classy I need to speak like this. "You appear to be the biggest chicken s*** in Michigan. Grow some balls dude..... stop being a little ***** weasel hiding behind your computer. GROW SOME BALLS kid, be proud of RED & WHITE!" Those words look familiar? They should, they're yours . If that is the definition of class, then I'll never have it..And for the record, aren't we ALL just guests here?

Even though I don't like this talk of expansion, from a selfish standpoint, I would love to get a team back here in Hartford...There's been much talk recently about building a new arena for this alleged expansion team...Even though the Mall had it's moments, if Hartford is ever going to be taken seriously, they've got to get a state of the art arena built...The word is that the Hartford Wolfpack would move down to Danbury and the new NHL team goes into Hartford..As I said though, it's strictly selfish on my part...I don't really think Hartford can handle the NHL....Too many Bruins fans in the north half of the state, and too many Rangers/Islanders/Devils fans in the southern half....Some here in Ct. state, "but we loved the Whalers"..and they did, but I equate that with when someone says "ALL my friends think i'm funny" Problem is, he only has two friends....Just not enough support in my opinion..

I constantly see fans throw around the words; class, classy, classless...If someone doesn't agree with your opinion then they are.....Answer: Classless...If they do agree with you or congratulate your team then apparently they are......Answer: Classy . I would also accept that they "have class".....How is my response to the other poster not classy? What does class in any way, shape or form have to do with my response?..Did you understand what his post meant?

I really don't think it has anything to do with being a "goon" team...Taking the Ducks as the obvious example..They threw their weight around, played physical, intimidating hockey and imposed their will on other teams...Absolutely the Wings have talent, boatloads of it..But do they have the desire, drive or true grit it takes to stand up for each other in the physical/fighting department.... When Pronger plastered Holmstroms face into the boards, someone needed to go out on the NEXT SHIFT and kick his ass....And I don't mean just swinging their purse at him.(Old time hockey....Like Eddie Shore) .You've got to send the message"You're not going pull that crap with my teamate" For me a prime example of that was watching Colton Orr drop Todd Fedoruk after Fedoruk gave the business to Jagr the previous game...It's not about fighting for the sake of fighting for me..This "my tough guy will fight your tough guy" is a bunch of crap...I really do miss the days when if your player roughed up my star player, my tough guy is going after you..NOT YOUR FIGHTER, BUT YOU....It's about sending a message...God I love Nick Fotiu

A-FREAKING-MEN to that....More North American physical players and less Euros...But not just for the Wings, but league wide...

I thoroughly agree with you that there are too many teams in the league..Certain markets just don't seem to work. Who really knows why... I wish Bettman would just chill out with all the expansion talk...Try marketing the teams you already have before you water down the talent pool again..And get a tv package that actually gets the game out to the fans..Yeah, I like what my Rangers did this year. They seem to be very close to playing with the big boys...A couple good moves this off season, and keeping the quality players they already have ( I love this kid Ryan Callahan....he shoots the puck the second he enters the building) and I could see them going very deep in the playoffs next year..Of course, you could probably say the same thing for just about every team in the league right? Enjoy the off season/summer...

I come here to talk hockey with knowledgeable fans. You don't seem to fall into that category .You seem to be of the "follow the leader, oblivious to facts/reality, homer" variety....I am, as my username would indicate, a Ranger fan...I only pulled for the Ducks because of all the b.s. posts by folks like you and several others ( Certainly not all) I respect the Wings players & organization. They obviously know what they're doing..Proof is in the pudding.... I certainly am not trying to change your opinion on anything..You've already sipped too much Red Wing kool aid for that to happen..."Half the board" would agree with you? surprise, surprise...They apparently have been drinking for the same batch of kool aid... And what about the other half of the board?..Perhaps THEY are the correct ones... It hurts me to know that you don't give a "flying f*ck" what I say..Does this mean no Christmas card this year? Once again, you slam the Ducks players/organization for how you perceive their fans passion level to be....I fail to see the connection... You're right, next week they will probably go back to watching the Dodgers, & Angels.. Maybe they'll even go to the beach...Or go shopping. Maybe they'll even go out to dinner...What's your point?..Should they just stop living and wait till next year? I cannot deny, nor confirm what the Duck fan will be doing next week..If you wish to fly me out there, I will gladly find out and report back to you..I prefer to stay in Hermosa Beach if you wouldn't mind booking my hotel reservations...

They're getting a lot of "condescension"....?????????????? Hold up my charge against the northern front???????????????????????? "defend the kindgdom????????????????????? I would love to engage you in discussion, but I have no clue what you're talking about...Perhaps you could send me the "Red Wings to English" translation book... I'm not a Ducks fan...Ranger fan....

Alright!! I'm a "Dude"!!! Well for a bunch of fans who "don't "give a flying f@ck about the Ducks", you should do spend a hell of a lot of time slamming them & and minimalizing their accomplishments....But you're right, you don't give a crap....Oh boy, here we go again -For the millionth time..The Ducks got lucky.....That's all it was right?...Just dumb old luck....Let me tell you something..EVERY team that wins the Cup, gets lucky...You've got to have luck to win it all....Sometimes luck takes the shape of a lucky bounce of the puck...Sometimes a team gets lucky by either a non call, or sometimes a phantom/bad call....And sometimes they get lucky just by staying healthy...You don't get through the regular season & the playoffs without some bounces going your way....And why do so many of you Wings fans slam the Ducks just because of their fan base? that's just pointless..So because there are movie & tv stars in SoCal, the Ducks shouldn't play hard and try to win?..Excellent point.. Great foundation for your argument.

For the record, and for what it's worth Southerwings fan, I can honestly say that on these boards I've witnessed some of the best & most knowledgeable fans that I've ever come across . You are one of them. Truly passionate , but not blind passion....Not "everything my teams does it great/perfect, and everything the other team does is wrong"..Some of you guys REALLY know your stuff...Conversely, some of you are sooooooo out there it's borderline scary...I'm a Ranger fan..Have been since '77.. Only one cup in my lifetime so far...I will always cherish it...I know they're not gonna win every year, and it is disappointing. when they do bow out of the playoffs. But guess what? You move on , live your life and do it all over again the next year. I look forward to many years of debate with you knowledgeable Wings fans....Congrats on a good year.

Oh no!! Ladies and gentlemen we have another internet tough guy among us....Showing your true colors huh?..Can't respond to another fans post without name calling.....I actually registered just to combat you and several other posters who just blow my mind with such, in my opinion, ridiculous statements....I can fully appreciate your love and passion for the Wings, but my God, some of the things you come out with makes me wonder what the color of the sky is in your world....

Please, don't exaggerate just to try and make your point.."you could hear a pin drop"? Really? You must have had the sound down on your tv. And stop making such broad generalizations. Nobody in SoCal cares about hockey? I seriously doubt that...So you're saying that, in your unqualified opinion, since nobody cares about hockey, maybe the Ducks should just give the Cup back? How dare they win the Cup when their fans don't match up to those in Hockeytown... I wasn't aware that it was Bettmans job to make sure that only certain teams played in the SCF....I guess parity is a bad thing huh? Ratings were down, that's a fact..Maybe because you "alleged" hockey fans didn't bother to watch....Your team ain't in it, so you don't care huh?..Yeah, you're really good hockey fans. More like poor sports...

Of all the ridiculous statements I've read on this board, this one might be the most moronic...They didn't deserve it? didn't earn it? If the didn't, who did? Oh wait, don't tell me...it's coming to me.....THE RED WINGS deserved it the most? Am I right? "They didn't deserve it" What do you base that on? You're hatred for them? is that why? That's a good reason. "They didn't earn it? Christ, they worked as hard, or harder than any other team. You don't think they played that well at all? I'm sure they value your opinion..Apparently though, they played well enough huh? They beat every team opposite them...Just think if they had played better..They would have swept every team..Don't let your Red Wing colored glasses cloud the truth

Who gives a crap about next year already?..Christ, it hasn't even been 24hrs since they won the cup and you're already predicting next years outcome...Truly astonishing.....and idiotic.. Oh dear God, please, PLEASE enlighten me how the Hurricanes won the cup with dignity? Oh I know how, they didn't beat your beloved Red Wings to capture the Cup....Oh that makes sense!! Do you even know the definition of dignity?

You're absolutely correct...You're right on target here...As a matter of fact, I just purchased McCreary's new book titled " I hate the Sens, and make sure they don't win" Oh, it's a great read..One of my favorite chapters is: " How I call phantom penalties to screw the Sens" Just riveting it is...There's one part where he confesses, that before games he picks out who he wants to call penalties on, when he should call them and whether or not to make it a minor or major penalty...He even admitted that he has a quota he has to meet. If he doesn't call 22% more penalties on the Sens, he just doesn't feel like his night was complete....

No tradition left in hockey? Gimme a freaking break.....So your answer is to have only one of the original six win it every year? Yeah, that would spark interest all around the country..Way to build the NHL and get new fans... So perhaps you're suggesting that the Floridas' and Phoenix' of the NHL should play their hearts out during the season, but just shut it down when the playoffs come around and let the "unbulls***" market teams coast through to the Cup finals. And how the hell do you know that nobody will care after the first week? And even if they don't, who gives a crap...Should the Ducks give the Cup back because their fans aren't the most passionate fans around?...Are only teams with passionate fans allowed to win the cup? Look , the NHL put a team in Anaheim and regardless of what kind of fans they have ( or you perceive them to have), they put a team on the ice and try to win..And guess what? They won the Cup

Jesus Mrs. Andman!!! Get off that horse already..His pads ARE legal....Did you measure them? Any of your friends measure them?..Surely somebody, anybody on an opposing team would notice that they were illegal..But you know better than anyone else...The fact that he wasn't penalized for his equipment leads me to one of two conclusions..1) His pads are well within the legal limits as specified by the NHL..or 2) Your beloved Red Wings were too stupid to recognize illegal pads and call the Ducks on it...Surely the Wings could have used another power play....AND NOT SCORE on it..