Not a shocker. The Rangers need to do something, and they want to try to make the moves within. I doubt they bring up another Dman, rather a forward or two.
I feel your pain, Kaspar is a living legend. The best hipchecker ever.
You hear comments like "he were never that fast on his skates" and stuff like that, but Kaspar had amazing mobility gooing backwards in his prime. He could stand still in his own end. Then accelerate gooing backwards and send someone flying at the boards. Its too bad there aren't clips of these things around, but I remember Simon gooing after Kaspar when he were in Pittsburgh. Kaspar wouldn't fight but both got both got some time in the box. The shift after both were on the ice at the same time, Simons team created pressure in Pittsburgs zone, after about 20 secs of circling Simon got the puck, and saw Kaspar comming after him. Kaspar had like 10 feets to accelerate on, but almost sent Simon over the high boards with a hip check. Simons skates were atleast 12' up in the air.
Though right now, I think Kaspar is done. He played a big role for this team last season. Its possible that he can comeback and be better then what he have been this year if he can be healty this summer. But right now he just don't cut it. He have lost all his mobility.
This is in one sense a quite shame.
But unfortunately a dire necessity.
Hope that someone picks him up. For his sake. And that he has a decent end of his career.
If not - it is also time to rewaive Ozo soon and clear up around 5.500.000 in total cap space. Which is real good for next year and the UFA market. It would make resigning Shanny, Lundquist, Nylander possible with an addition of a nr 1/2 center
and an offensive 1/2 defenseman. Two-way speed is the name of the game nowadays... Not size or payroll
It would be nice to bring up a young guy - maybe Baranka - to test him a little. No point in making him 7th man in the pressbox though...
But something tells me that this is being down in order to swing two "major" deals
A center (Forsberg, Conroy, ??)
And a defenseman (Brewer?)
Only time will tell
But I would bet quite a bit that this will be reality within short. Which should prove to be positive - this year at least.
Let´s hope we keep Prucha, Staal and the real talent through this
But Malik, Immonen, Ward, Hall and some picks can/probably will be released
But something tells me that this is being down in order to swing two "major" deals
A center (Forsberg, Conroy, ??)
And a defenseman (Brewer?)
Only time will tell
Conroy wouldn't be a major deal. He's also not what this team needs right now. Forsberg? Incredibly doubtful. And it was referenced in another thread that St. Louis is trying to ink Brewer to an extension since he's done very well under Murray.
Major deals are largely a think of the past. This team needs youthful exuberance, not old, decrepit players. I wouldn't read too much into this. Kasparaitis' welcome in NY was worn out, and Malik might be next.
Conroy wouldn't be a major deal. He's also not what this team needs right now. Forsberg? Incredibly doubtful. And it was referenced in another thread that St. Louis is trying to ink Brewer to an extension since he's done very well under Murray.
Major deals are largely a think of the past. This team needs youthful exuberance, not old, decrepit players. I wouldn't read too much into this. Kasparaitis' welcome in NY was worn out, and Malik might be next.
I agree about Conroy not being major (thence the quotation marks). But Forsberg and/or Brewr would be major. As I said - only time will tell...
Nobody would´ve guessed Jason Krog would be a Ranger a month ago
Or that the Rangers have 7 signed defensemen on the squad 2007 to contract$ warranting top 4 play - yet have no real top-4 defenders and a ridiculously weak PP due to this.
I mean - the world is full of surprises.
I agree about Conroy not being major (thence the quotation marks). But Forsberg and/or Brewr would be major. As I said - only time will tell...
Nobody would´ve guessed Jason Krog would be a Ranger a month ago
Or that the Rangers have 7 signed defensemen on the squad 2007 to contract$ warranting top 4 play - yet have no real top-4 defenders and a ridiculously weak PP due to this.
I mean - the world is full of surprises.
I just wouldn't read into it any more than what needs to be. They're starting to clear dead weight. Kaspar should've been waived regardless of his salary. He just wasn't effective. Opening up cap space is just another positive result of him being waived.
I know this isn't gonna be a popular statement but I honestly think we should have bought Kaspars contract out at the end of the lockout like we did with Holik.
I know this isn't gonna be a popular statement but I honestly think we should have bought Kaspars contract out at the end of the lockout like we did with Holik.
There were a lot of people who felt that way here at the time. I was surprised that it wasn't.
There were a lot of people who felt that way here at the time. I was surprised that it wasn't.
He turned out to be good for the team last year, and it looked like it was worth it to keep him around.
I have a feeling all of his offseason surgeries really made it difficult for him to perform this year. The recovery process, his age, and possibly that he just didn't work as hard to come back from those injuries as he should have.
In any case, it looked like a good idea for one year, and turned into a bad idea the next. That's sports, and it involves a lot of retrospect.
He turned out to be good for the team last year, and it looked like it was worth it to keep him around.
I have a feeling all of his offseason surgeries really made it difficult for him to perform this year. The recovery process, his age, and possibly that he just didn't work as hard to come back from those injuries as he should have.
In any case, it looked like a good idea for one year, and turned into a bad idea the next. That's sports, and it involves a lot of retrospect.
I think he did has a positive impact on Fedors transition to life in the NHL. It seemed like Kaspar took him under his wing. He definitly helped Toots with the art of the hip check.
I know this isn't gonna be a popular statement but I honestly think we should have bought Kaspars contract out at the end of the lockout like we did with Holik.
And therein lies a better second line center option then the Rangers have now. Also helps in the grit dept too. Hindsight kind of sucks......
