Have to wonder if this will be a step back or not. Only time will tell. He does deserve to finish as a Ranger if anyone does. One year deal though. No more. Don't want to see us tie money up on a player over 35 like the Devils have.
Meh doesn't bother me either way. Not like our top 6 are that great to be honest. Leetch doesn't make them much better from a defensive standpoint either, offensively I think the skills are still there though.
A month and a half ago I told Tim (Singnbluesonbroadway) that I heard Brian would welcome a return to broadway, but the Ranger brass was not that interested. This morning; I hear it's close and could happen as early as this weekend. The Rangers will add one or two more players and we very well could see Leetch back.
Any word on who would be moved from the top 6 and to where?
As always SOTI thatnks for stopping and and hope we see more of you with these potential trades coming down.
A month and a half ago I told Tim (Singnbluesonbroadway) that I heard Brian would welcome a return to broadway, but the Ranger brass was not that interested. This morning; I hear it's close and could happen as early as this weekend. The Rangers will add one or two more players and we very well could see Leetch back.
where are they going to add these one or two more players? They have a full roster right now, except for 1 center position and with that, they had repeatedly insisted they wanted to leave a spot open for a kid to make the team in camp
so, honestly what the hell
I've kind of gone around on the Leetch thing, but my most positive outlook on it was always "it's not the worst thing in the world", but man I really do not want to see it happen.
The other thing is...what exactly made them change their minds all of a sudden? I'm not calling BS on you, SOTI, but a month ago the Rangers had no interest, and now suddenly they're interested? Why? It doesn't make any sense to me.
AND, a trade HAS to happen for there to be room for Leetch. So...who's getting trade, and where, and for what? and blah blah blah.
see this is the problem I have with it all...so many pieces have to be shuffled around. Fletch and I had this argument yesterday...
I guess the idea may be that the Rangers found a deal they want to make that involves moving one of the D they have (if it's Tyutin I'm going to be so pissed) and then want to bring in Leetch...but christ...I have a feeling this is going to be a bad bad move if it goes down
seriously guys, this is not the worst thing, and hardly taking a step back at all. depending on how they use him, I think he can be tremendous for us playing the point on the PP. I myself will be there opening night with a Leetch jersey giving him a standing O and cheering loud everytime he touches the puck.
I see signing Leetch as purely a marketing move and not one that helps the team. His return would likely help ticket sales and would pay for itself in those terms. With respect to helping the team, I suspect that if he plays that his point total will probably be pretty good if he gets to play with Jagr on the PP, but I have concerns with his ability to play much at even strength, and I certainly wouldn't be looking to use him as a leader on the PK.
Last year it was evident that Leetch had well and truly lost a step, and another year is unlikely to help that. Overall I don't really want to see Leetch come back at this stage of his career, as it hurts the Rangers in terms of the cap (and more particularly the ability to make significant moves later in the year), and it doesn't help with development of players IMO.
a trade HAS to happen for there to be room for Leetch.
That is basically the bottom line. IF Leetch is brought back, it is rather apparent that a defenseman has to be traded. My guess is that it is either Roszival or Rachunek. None of the others make sense, unless Tyutin is moved in a package for a young center. This is where the guessing game will come in. Rachunek/Rozsival + Immonen???? Just too many considerations.
For one, the Rangers have no room for him. But I think Edge has really said it best when he posed the question, is it really worth bringing back Leetch to be a guy who will only be used in very limited situations, and will the dynamic he might bring to the PP really be enough to make up for his deficencies in other areas? Is it worth it to carry a defenseman who will pretty much just be a powerplay specialist?
As unspectacular as the Rangers D is right now, I think they are all better than Leetch on the defensive side of things at the moment, and that's what's important to me when it comes to defensemen right now.
You could be right, although I don't think any of us know how well or poorly Leetch would do in the "right situation."
Greatest home grown Ranger of all time. Nevertheless,I'll pass. Sends the wrong signal about the rebuild. I'll take one step back, no playoffs, to develop the kids
Did we really need another Leetch thread just for this? I'm surprised this got this far without getting closed or merged yet...
soti doesn't post often and when he does, people read for a reason.. he's very well respected and you would think anyone reading his post would get the impression he has insider insight.. guess not everyone
Greatest home grown Ranger of all time. Nevertheless,I'll pass. Sends the wrong signal about the rebuild. I'll take one step back, no playoffs, to develop the kids
You know what? If this means that Rozsival and his two-year contract is traded and replaced with Leetch's one-year contract, I'll take it. Such a move will open up a spot on the defense that Rozsival's contract would clog up next year. Off course this is all just speculation on my part, but it is a scenario under which such a move would make sense.
I'm pretty torn here, and for once I'm not sure I'm happy to hear from you SOTI.
I think if Leetch comes back, it's not terrible as such, but it is a step back.
It's not terrible because Leetch might be able to fill a need we have for an experienced point man for the PP. Also it's not certain that Pock is yet or will ever be ready for that role. Fact is beyond Pock, the Rangers have little to work with in this area. Using JJ exclusively is an angle the rest of the league has already started to adjust to. So bringing in Leetch could be seen as insurance....I guess.
Where things go wrong is that Leetch possibly gets too much ice time and gives opponents a chance to expose his defensive short comings. Face it Leetch fans, the guy is not what he once was either on "D" or in generating "O".
All that being said I must concede that bringing him back can be seen in some way as the right thing to do for many fans....but it strikes me as being emotional rather than practical.
In the end if I have faith in anyone to make it work, Renney is the guy to do it. If the discussions get that far, IMO Renney should make the call.
Unless Leetch is on the juice, those re-constructed legs and feet are still going to have a very hard time covering ground in the new NHL and I don't think it'll be any easier come playoff time when he's 39.
seriously guys, this is not the worst thing, and hardly taking a step back at all. depending on how they use him, I think he can be tremendous for us playing the point on the PP. I myself will be there opening night with a Leetch jersey giving him a standing O and cheering loud everytime he touches the puck.
It actually is a step back. It compromises the rebuild. While it is just one move and doesn't mean the rebuild is over, it goes against everything that has been done since March '04. The only vets we have brought in have had an express reason for being here, usually to fill a void or bring an intangible to the team. Riught now, Leetch's defense is suspect and his powerplay presense isn't necessary with Jagr out there. While arguments can be made about Roszival, Rachunek and Tyutin's defense, I'd rather suffer through the mistakes and lackings of the youth than from an aging, retiring defenseman. At worst, we find out now that these kids can't hack it, at best they improve and gain experience.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bathgate
Greatest home grown Ranger of all time. Nevertheless,I'll pass. Sends the wrong signal about the rebuild. I'll take one step back, no playoffs, to develop the kids
Couldn't agree more. I would seriously take a losing season to give some of these kids experience.
Let's be honest. If this thread was about some 38 year old defenseman signing with the Rangers , who has lost many many steps over the last 5 years, we would all be pissed. Throw in the fact that a young, developing defenseman will be moved to make room for said defenseman... come on, we would be rioting at the Garden right now. This stuff doesn't work. We know this, we have lived this. We have brought in aging vets before, former superstars. They come here to pasture and put in effortless seasons. They prevent youths from making the team and sometimes force them out of the organization. We have brought former Rangers back and it never works out. This isn't news, this is history.
You know what? If this means that Rozsival and his two-year contract is traded and replaced with Leetch's one-year contract, I'll take it. Such a move will open up a spot on the defense that Rozsival's contract would clog up next year. Off course this is all just speculation on my part, but it is a scenario under which such a move would make sense.
Yup, add in getting an asset for Rozsival, and I'm fine with a one year deal for Leetch. Put him with Ward at even strength. Put him out on the PP, and keep him away from killing penalties. 18 minutes a night for Leetch, much of which is on PP, and I think he's an asset. Rachunek than moves next to Malik, and you have a balanced defense. I have no problem with such a move, especially if Rozsival is moved.
Problem is we've been waiting for the "right situation" with him for a while.
If he's healthy...
If he's on a contender...
If he's in the playoffs....
Now that he's in his home town....
If he comes back to NY where his heart is...
The guys not a Panda, all these things shouldn't need to fall right to get value.
If that's the case than it sadly tells us all we need to know about a Leetch encore.
If you have to make a list of rules to get the most out of a player, than you probably have to think twice about getting him.
That point is legit to a degree but he was certainly not the cause of the NYR problems during the 7 yr run nor was it his fault that he was the only top end blueliner on those squads that had to overuse him.
The Stretch run he was traded to Toronto he was fanatastic in and then you had the lockout and then Boston last year decided to make like the NYR's on '98-'04 with the team disarray.
With any 38 yr old dman some things will have to fall into place like health and a team depth that doesn't force them to be miscast or overutilized but I think our top 6 wouldn't have to overuse Leetchie and if he's healthy he is light years ahead of any dman we had manning the point on the PP last season.
I see signing Leetch as purely a marketing move and not one that helps the team. His return would likely help ticket sales and would pay for itself in those terms.
but have the Rangers really had that much trouble selling tickets? I mean, if they can't sell tickets after having a successful season last year, do they really expect to sell that many more with Leetch? And how many more are there available to sell? I mean...aren't most games close to being sold out or sold out already?
but have the Rangers really had that much trouble selling tickets? I mean, if they can't sell tickets after having a successful season last year, do they really expect to sell that many more with Leetch? And how many more are there available to sell? I mean...aren't most games close to being sold out or sold out already?
Meh
I agree
From the responses I have gotten from my season ticket reps it looks like the building will be pretty much sold out every single game before the season even starts b/w the full season and mimi/micro plan ticket holders so selling tickets doesn't figure into a Leetch return IMO.
and if he's healthy he is light years ahead of any dman we had manning the point on the PP last season.
For one, that's a pretty huge IF at this point. For two, despite all the talk about how the Rangers PP needs to change, blah blah, I'm still firmly convinced it will run through Jagr just like it did last year. As long as Jagr is on the ice, he will want the puck and that's just how things will go. The defensemen don't run the PP on this team.
well there was that crazy rumor about NYR and EDM. that thread didn't get closed. it completely disappeared! regardless, a trade has to be happening. I mean, that's why Sather's been holding onto his ace in the pocket cap space for, right? I can definitely see Leetch back in blue if some sort of trade goes down. EDM could really use some D-men AND they couldn't convince Leetch to sign out west.
