Some Thoughts in the Aftermath of a Season

To say that I don't make all too frequent of posts on this blog is about as big of an understatement as saying that Paris Hilton might not be famous for her talents alone. Uhh.. Right..

Anyway, I clearly haven't posted anything since the season's very first game and now, only after the last game--the conclusion of which felt like a punch to the stomach by the by--did I find the need to come back here and speak my mind again. Why I don't know. What I do know is no one is reading this, so let's rock and roll.

I'm going to put together some thoughts on some personnel decisions the Rangers should make this off-season. Here's an installment in that compelling mini-series:

SOME UFA THOUGHTS:

SEAN AVERY:
























[Photo via TheHollywoodGossip.com]

I have to doubt that Martin Brodeur refused to shake Sean Avery's hand simply because of a little stick-waving and crease-crashing. Tomas Holmstrom isn't slighted for the latter by opponents after a hard-fought playoff battle. Would something so insignificant as what Avery did--insignificant despite having a rule created in its honor--really insult Martin on such a deep and poignant level that he'd refuse him that gesture of respect. I'd have to guess that Avery got under his skin in more ways than just those overt, physical ways the camera picked up. I'd bet that Sean Avery dug up some dirt, as he is want to do, and had a few choice words for Marty that really twisted the knife. I could be completely talking out of my rear, but I feel there's something more to it than what we all know about.

That long diversion now out of the way, I can actually answer the question. Do the Rangers re-sign Sean Avery?

Sean has never scored at a higher rate than he has with the Rangers. Ever. He produces offensively. He's never been a better two-way player in his career as the plus figures in his stats attest to. The guy was a minus ten when he came to New York and a minus five the year before with the Kings. He was a plus eleven in 29 games with the Rangers at the tail-end of last season and a plus six this past year. He produced while he could in the playoffs (4-3-7 in 8 gms) though certainly didn't have the effect against the Penguins that he did against the Devils. I'm telling you, if you've got the barbs to use you're going to really rile some people up. If you don't, you're a lot easier to ignore and negate.

Any doubts about his value to this team are easily effaced by moments like these:

* Avery play vs. Buffalo 3/10 - Here Sean absolutely blasts a Sabre in the corner and then sets up a Jagr goal with a nifty backhand pass.


* The game-winning tally against against Buffalo - This was from a bit earlier in the season. The audio on this clip is pretty bad and I'm not a fan of the new video interface that NHL.com uses, but what can you do? Avery scored this goal, the game-winner, set up another goal and also got into a scrap. Punch another hole on Sean Avery's Gordie Howe hat trick frequent customer card. If you get to 12 you get a free catscan! Sweet!


* Whatever he said to Darcy Tucker and Jason Blake--we know now it was nothing as disgraceful as making light of Blake's illness--sure did plenty to stir the pot back on November 10th. He had another Gordie Howe hat trick as he scored a goal, set up one by Brendan Shanahan and exchanged a few jabs with the aforementioned Leafs instigator.


Yes he's injury prone because of the reckless abandon with which he plays. Maybe that can be advantageous somehow for the Rangers management in their quest to sign him to another contract. He really just gives the Rangers the edge that they absolutely lack when he isn't in the line-up. Middle fingers cast at news cameras, crease-bound shenanigans and whatever else you can think up aside, the Rangers need him. He might even need the Rangers. I can't imagine him flourishing in any Canadian city, situation with a hard-assed coach or any place that lacks the energy of New York City. Besides, how is he going to get to his Vogue internship if he's all the way out in the Western Conference or God knows where else?

VERDICT: SIGN THE GUY, TRY TO KEEP HIM FROM BEING A COMPLETE JERK-OFF THE BEST YOU CAN, ACTUALLY GET HIM TO SPEAK TO THE MEDIA AND I THINK WE'RE IN BUSINESS

MARTIN STRAKA:






















[Photo via Daylife.com]

It's hard to say anything bad about Marty Straka. You look at him and see his legs churning under his body in this "Little Engine That Could" sort of way and you respect his effort. He tenaciously backchecks, fearlessly throws himself in front of shots and doesn't back down from anyone. He's a solid Ranger in those respects.

Having said that, he had a rough year production wise for the Blueshirts. He had one of his worst years statistically since the 03-04 season he split between Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. He missed 17 games and went 14-27-41 on the year. Injury or no injury, those numbers certainly aren't indicative of a first liner. His placement at the point on the power play is even more confusing. He has no slap shot to be heard of (maybe less so as recent injuries have added up) so why is he out there? The Rangers need a stud defenseman in that role and they need someone more willing to shoot and less likely to force a pass to be playing on the first line. I'm not sure who that second someone will be, but it shouldn't be Martin Straka. I realize that he and Jagr have this invisible link and that maybe having Marty on the team will be a condition of Jagr's to stay in the New York. If that's the case, then perhaps it's worth it to see him around one more season. I hope to God it's not at the blueline manning the point on the on the power play, but to keep Jags, I could see keeping Straka.

However, if it's not a condition of Jaromir's or sixty-eight decides to bolt the Big Apple for Omsk, Kladno, Pittsburgh or Detroit--who knows where that somewhere would be--then sorry to say it, but Marty goes.

VERDICT: NO JAGS NO STRAKS, NO DEMANDS FROM JAGR TO KEEP HIM, AGAIN, NO STRAKS

PAUL MARA:























[Photo via 5hole.com]

The guy cost the Rangers almost nothing. Aaron Ward is solid depth defenseman, but considering that and the fact that he is 35, Paul Mara really came cheaply. He has been a solid plus player with the team and has brought a level of physicality and power play quarterbacking ability--though he hasn't been given a through opportunity to really show off those man-up skills--that the Rangers d-corps hasn't known in the past few seasons. He put up some solid, solid offensive seasons with the Coyotes--but I guess take that with a grain of salt--and he is a former 7th overall pick. The guy is skilled. He had 42 and 47 points in the seasons that straddled the lockout. He could be the answer to the Rangers power play problems if only he were given a legitimate chance.

As he didn't cost them very much the first time, one would have to think a season with one goal and sixteen assists won't really up his value all that much this second time the Rangers have the opportunity to secure his services. Let him play some third pair minutes with a Sanguinetti or a Sauer, assuming either can make the team, and let him strafe the blueline and unleash some howling blasts on the first power play unit. He and Brian Campbell would look good out there on the ice together with the man-advantage. Very good.

VERDICT: SIGN THE GUY BUT AGAIN, USE IN A WAY THAT HIS STRENGTHS COME TO THE FOREFRONT

That's all for now. Some of the bigger guns to come...