P. Marlowe 748 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 At least the Leafs got to the final four a couple times and always got through a round or two in the playoffs. And I'll disagree with saying that they handed out huge contracts. Save for CuJo and Mogilny, what other big name free agent did the Leafs sign during the Pat Quinn era? Maybe my memory tricks me here. I just had this blurry memory that there were more players who were at the end of their careers and Toronto gave them big contracts. Ron Francis, Phil Housley, Jyrki Lumme, Robert Reichel, Joe Nieuwendyk, Brian Leetch, Gary Roberts. Those are all good signings if their veteran presence works right and if they still have legs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earthhuman 8 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 I feel like their lack of success has to do with the absence of any real system. Successful teams like the Wings and Devils tend to be more choosy when acquiring players, only taking those who they feel would fit into the Red Wing style of play. s*** teams like the Rangers have a tendency of just looking at names, "Oh! Drury/Gomez/Naslund/Redden! Those guys are pretty good! Here, take more money then you deserve." Right, bring back the east-west Czech team! You're right about needing a system, though. Gomez should be making much more of his speed, yet I always seem him going into the zone alone, realizing there are three guys on him, and dumping on net. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Maybe my memory tricks me here. I just had this blurry memory that there were more players who were at the end of their careers and Toronto gave them big contracts. Ron Francis, Phil Housley, Jyrki Lumme, Robert Reichel, Joe Nieuwendyk, Brian Leetch, Gary Roberts. Those are all good signings if their veteran presence works right and if they still have legs. A lot of those guys were rentals and didn't get any contract from the Leafs. Roberts and Nieuwendyk had really good year(s) in Toronto as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shoreline Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Man, it was deceptive at best given the Rangers start they were gonna easily be one of the East contenders, but my short memory ends up being reminded again and again in recent years that the Rangers simply are chokemasters. So again I post the 6 year old cartoon that still holds true today: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 This makes all 4 teams who have opened the season in Europe have fired their coaches this season. I'm a little uncomfortable now with the fact that we're opening in Europe next season. Right. Because the Red Wings organization will magically become terrible overnight because they play two games in Europe at the start of the season.. You can start to worry when the Wings give guys like Gomez and Drury 8 mil contracts, not when they have an extended road trip at the start of the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 A lot of those guys were rentals and didn't get any contract from the Leafs. Roberts and Nieuwendyk had really good year(s) in Toronto as well. Exactly, and none of them made much more than $3 or $4 million. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 John Tortorella and Rangers agree to terms on a contract, however, Tampa Bay has not signed off on this and the NHL is now involved. Rangers could face tampering charges. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjlegend 155 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 I love that if you're an NHL coach, somebody can fire you and force you not to work for the balance of your contract. Just pay Torts his money and let him ruin the Rangers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FinRedWing 172 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Rumoured replacement is John Tortorella. Good,he gives great interviews (especially after a loss). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seeinred 1,488 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 John Tortorella and Rangers agree to terms on a contract, however, Tampa Bay has not signed off on this and the NHL is now involved. Rangers could face tampering charges. A Rangers fan posted this on another message board, from Zip (whoever that is). A Torts compensation precedent? Michel Bergeron, who was fired as Rangers coach on April 1, 1989, was hired two weeks later to replace Jean Perron as coach of the Quebec Nordiques. The Rangers, who would have been obligated to pay Bergeron his salary of about $225,000 for the final year of his contract, were released from that requirement. At the time, Rangers GM Phil Esposito said that the terms of Bergeron's contract allowed him to seek employment elsewhere if he was dismissed and being freed from that commitment "as far as we're concerned, it's compensation.'' This appears to be part of the scenario of the Lightning are seeking from the league in return for Tortorella becoming the Rangers coach and what the league is trying to mediate. When Tortorella was fired last June, he had a year remaining on his Tampa contract. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,232 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Avery should be their new coach. Anna Wintour as head, Avery as assisant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryMalredo 2 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 It's too bad, the Rangers were looking like they could be a threat a couple years ago, before those big contracts to Gomez and Drury. Say what you want about Jagr's leadership skills, but those Rangers teams he led were some of the better Rangers teams we've seen in a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
