and by the way, torts had alot to do with zherdev not being back so it aint just slats.
That's why I wish we didn't make a PO, but kept Renney and Zherdev. Instead we will have Torts and probably Fedotenko. Ruslan can take Torts cursing literally in strides. He cannot do many things Zherdev could. Being from Kiev doesn't spell talent.
Im kind of indifferent to this at this point. This was a saga that needed to be over. I liked Z but he's not worth the erratic play at this point IMO. Dust ourselves off and move forward. Good Luck, Niko.
I actually think that teams will be even less interested in him as a UFA than as a trade. At least with a trade, teams can manage salary better and send something back. Now teams will have to cater to his ego and fit him in the budget. A for instance could be Toronto having interest if we maybe took Blake back... but does anyone really think Burke is excited to have both Blake and Zherdev? Look at Tanguay, a better all around player than Zherdev and no one is interested in getting him for 'free'.
I'd like to see how much Zherdev signs for, if it's in Russia or for under $3m we have to cut Sather slack here and acknowledge the unrealistic demands of Zherdev, the poor arbitration decision and the fickle market.
Man, the Chicken Littles are out in full force today. Can we at least be thankful for Dubinsky getting re-signed any second now, or that Sather will add a No. 5 or 6 d-man.
Let's move forward. This team has a ton of talent in the pipeline and a revamped roster for a coach who has a proven track record. To me, Zherdev didnt make or break this team.
That's why I wish we didn't make a PO, but kept Renney and Zherdev. Instead we will have Torts and probably Fedotenko. Ruslan can take Torts cursing literally in strides. He cannot do many things Zherdev could. Being from Kiev doesn't spell talent.
You mean the Fedotenko that resigned in Pittsburgh weeks ago?
Im not crying that Z is gone, although I would've wished to get a little something in return at the very least. But even with Z gone, this team should be better offensively.
I don't see how losing Zherdev is "horrible asset management"...
So in that regard, trading Tyutin (who was overrated on these boards and for the third year in a row had a terrible playoff) for Zherdev was a justified Gamble since Sather knew he was losing Jagr, Shanny, Avery and Straka....
The root cause of the trade was Sather's decision to give Jagr's money to Redden. Each move a monumental failure in retrospect.
I believe Torts had everything to do with Z's departure.
The GM should to his best to give the coach whatever he needs to implement his system and surround his coach with the players that he believes he can win with.
Hitch didn't believe Nick was that player. Nor did Torts. Can't say that both coaches aren't winners. They both saw something that said time to bail on this guy.
Zherdev might not get a contract out of all this but he does get the freedom to go to whatever NHL teams will have him if he can accept their offer(s) or he can go back to Europe. So in a way he's bought his freedom.
Man, the Chicken Littles are out in full force today. Can we at least be thankful for Dubinsky getting re-signed any second now, or that Sather will add a No. 5 or 6 d-man.
Let's move forward. This team has a ton of talent in the pipeline and a revamped roster for a coach who has a proven track record. To me, Zherdev didnt make or break this team.
Actually, it's the smug Z-haters are out in full force. There are far more posts in this thread saying it was the right thing to do. No matter how much you think you're right, you're not going to convince the rest of us that it wasn't a terrible move. Pardon me for sticking to my guns on this one.
And again, although I was a Zherdev fan, the reason that this bothers me so much is not that one of my favorite players has left - I was fine when Slats traded off Leetch and Kovalev, because I thought those moves were necessary to improve the team. In this case, however, I still have yet to have a single person explain to me how Kotalik at $9MM over three years is better than Zherdev at $3.9MM for one year (don't forget you could always let him go thereafter, if he didn't improve under a full year of Torts). Because that IS what it boils down to - a straightup trade of Zherdev for a less talented "enigma" who has already reached his ceiling.
That better be one hell of a player we add with that extra 900 grand.
Its funny because all over the board, here and elsewhere - people are bashing Sather and eating up the fact the Rangers got nothing for Zherdev by letting him walk.
If this had been Lou that made this move it would be considered the right thing to do, because he wasnt the right type of player for the coach and system, while freeing up cash to address other improvements to the team, one being signing a developing RFA center.
I think its somewhere in the middle. Sure, it would have been nice to have gotten SOMETHING of value back for Z, even a low round pick. But i doubt many teams, if any - were interested in giving something back AND adding Zherdev for 3.9. If they really wanted him they could take a chance and see if he would sign with them on the open market and giving nothing up in the process.
Man, the Chicken Littles are out in full force today. Can we at least be thankful for Dubinsky getting re-signed any second now, or that Sather will add a No. 5 or 6 d-man.
Let's move forward. This team has a ton of talent in the pipeline and a revamped roster for a coach who has a proven track record. To me, Zherdev didnt make or break this team.
Exactly. Would Zherdev have made us better this season? Absolutely. But on the other hand would he be re-signed to a long term deal? Doubtful, as he'd probably be looking for even more money next year. So while it sucks to lose an offensively gifted player for nothing, the reality is we'll likely be a better team down the road.
It is not the most ideal situation but it is hard to have every aspect on one team. Dubinsky and Anisimov are both decent playmakers who are only going to get better. Lisin didn't stick with the Coyotes because Wayne Gretzky is a dumbass coach and has no idea what he is doing behind the bench.
Like I said I would like to get a top playmaking center as well but I am just looking at what we have at the moment. Tanguay would be a nice player to get on the cheap but realistically this team needs at least one more defenseman who has played in the NHL and has been solid.
Either way, the offseason has a long way to go. I hope we can satisfy both of our concerns for this team.
I don't even think it has to be a playmaking center. It could also be a playmaking winger. Tanguay fits both bills as he can play both. I still think a playmaker is more important than a third pairind dman, especially since Torts doesn't play the third pairing as much as the top two.
I'd rather have a lesser talent who battles than the most talented underachiever.
add to the fact Kotalik has said Buffalo mis-used him and he has chemistry with Drury. Zherdrv is very good though, and I am quite pissed at this move. But what if there were no options. Would people rather us not be able to sign Dubinsky than to have Zherdev as our 3rd line RW'er? And no Kotalik IS NOT Zherdev's replacement. Lisin is, who will produce at a tad less and for 3 million less. Kotalik is Naslund/Antropov's replacement.
Torts strikes again. So now it is Nicky Z , Betts , Orr, Freddy the shoe wow they just weren't Torts guys. Torts spoke with Fishler and said I liked Betts I liked Orr lol this guy just seems to lie about his true feelings. He hated Orr with a passion words I got from the player. He shut Orr out and he didn't play him or speak to him the last week of the season. Can you imagine what he did to a fragile Nicky Z? Torts is a bully.
Hudler awards a 2 year $5.75M contract at 2.75 & 3.
previous season totals (from most recent),
23-34-57
13-29-42
15-10-25
and two seasons playing only a handful of games.
Zherdev season totals (from most recent) were
23-35-58
26-35-61
10-22-32
27-27-54
13-21-34
I guess that's the difference between coming off your entry level and coming off your 2nd contract. 3.9 vs 2.87 ~ 1M difference. Could this mean Dubinsky is signing for far less than Callahan as some have suggested? 1 year $1.3M to be followed by a nice extension in January?
Dolan runs Knicks same way. I think Dolan approved if not insisted on the decision. I am convinced now that Zherdev is much better off without the Rangers than Rangers without him. We are doomed, while Z has a bright future in front of him. He will play in Toronto and will kick this moron Tortorella arch as soundly as Kovalev did same to Souppy.
We are not making the palyoffs. Lundqvist should request a trade at some point.
If Tortorella and/or Dolan was so against Z playing here, and in turn convinced Sather not to bring him back... then why did the Rangers bother to qualify him?
