RaginCaucasian

what are they going to do with Montoya?

IMO, that all depends on how successful they are this season...... he will most likely be Lundqvist's primary backup and see anywhere between 10-15 starts this season depending upon his competency level dealing with NHL level talent. Also depending upon his competency of dealing with that talent will wind up setting the market price for his services, if he looks like a star several draft picks or players could be had for him. This is a good problem for the Rangers to have, the only thing that bothers me about this that now with Lundqvist signing only a 1 year deal he and Montoya will be RFA's in the same season (of course anyone messing with an RFA will pay a hefty price to sign and will likely forfeit multiple draft picks).

Just my guess, he plays this year and will be re-signed and then dealt for multiple players/picks..... never easy to find top-flite goaltending.

Why only sign Lundqvist for one year?

He declared for arbitration, coupled with the fact that they don't have a ton of cap space left they need more room to get a long term deal done. With money coming off of the books next season as shown here, guys like Kasparitis will not be back. Straka & Shanahan will probably not return after this season as they will be replaced by the minor league talent which hasn't existed in the organization in years..... luckily there is very skilled talent in Hartford & in the Canadian junior leagues (as well as the US collegiate programs) that can be shown here.

Lundqvist re-signed.

NEW YORK (CP) - Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will get US$4.25 million in a one-year NHL contract with the New York Rangers.

 

The 25-year-old Swede, who was a restricted free agent before the new deal was announced Wednesday, made $817,000 last season when he won 37 games - second most in one season by a Rangers goaltender since Mike Richter won 42 during the team's 1993-94 championship season.

 

Lundqvist ranked fourth in the NHL in minutes played (4,108), tied for sixth in shutouts (five), tied for eighth in wins (37), was eighth in goals-against average (2.34) and tied for ninth in save percentage (.917).

 

The 2006 Olympic champion was hot down the stretch. In his last 44 regular-season games, he had a 1.85 GAA, a .931 save percentage and surrendered two goals or fewer 33 times. He was named first star of the week twice last March and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy for the second consecutive season.

 

In the 2007 playoffs, Lundqvist had a 6-4 record, a 2.07 GAA and a .924 save percentage in 10 games. The six-foot-one, 195-pounder has more wins (67) in his first two NHL seasons than any goaltender in team history. He was the Rangers' seventh selection, 205th overall, in the 2000 entry draft.

Only one more to go with Avery, I don't think Hossa will return unless at a steep discount.

Rangers agree to terms with 600 goal scorer.

Associated Press

 

7/10/2007 5:26:17 PM

 

NEW YORK (AP) - Brendan Shanahan stuck to his word and agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Rangers on Tuesday.

 

The 38-year-old left winger had 29 goals and 62 points with the Rangers last season, his first with New York. Following the Rangers' second-round playoff elimination, Shanahan said he wanted to continue his career and had no interest in playing anywhere but New York.

 

"I had a fantastic time this year and if I play again next year, I'd love to be a part of it," he said in May. "The pieces are there if they want to make it happen."

 

The Rangers pushed closer to the salary-cap ceiling of US$50.3 million by signing star centres Scott Gomez and Chris Drury to lucrative deals on July 1, the first day of free agency, but maintained they still had enough financial flexibility to bring back Shanahan.

 

Now that he is in the fold, the Rangers will seek to make deals with goalie Henrik Lundqvist and gritty forward Sean Avery - who spent time on Shanahan's line after being acquired from Los Angeles. Both Lundqvist and Avery are restricted free agents slated for salary arbitration.

 

 

 

Shanahan was second on the team in goals and fourth in points, He missed 15 games after a violent collision with Philadelphia forward Mike Knuble left him with a serious concussion on Feb. 17.

 

He had one goal and seven assists upon returning for New York's final nine regular-season games and added five goals and seven points for the Rangers in 10 post-season games against Atlanta and Buffalo.

 

Shanahan's numbers could improve next season with Drury on the No. 2 line. The Rangers juggled players all season trying to find the right mix since they didn't have a natural centre to play with Shanahan.

 

His one season in New York had plenty of significant moments. Shanahan became the 15th NHL player with 600 goals when he scored twice against Washington during his Rangers debut last Oct. 5. He also reached the 20-goal mark for the 18th straight season, joining Gordie Howe as the only players to do that.

 

Shanahan leads active players and is 12th overall with 627 goals. The eight-time all-star, who earned US$4 million last season, has 1,294 points in 1,417 regular-season games. In the playoffs, Shanahan has 53 goals, 119 points and three Stanley Cup titles in 157 games.

this better not be true, but I was going through metsblog and there is a poster claiming that he heard on ESPN radio that the Mets are close to trading LMillz to the White Sox for Contreras and a pitching prospect. If this turns out to be true, I am done. The thought of it makes me sick to my stomach, even if it is false. We don't need any more starting pitching yet two of them. This better not be true. :brooding:

Pardon a Yankees fan for interjecting, Milledge for Contreras.......... didn't anyone pay attention to how bad Contreras was as a Yankee? Bringing him back to NY in that media spotlight wouldn't be the best thing for him as he wilted here once already.

Not only that I've got to be honest, I really don't think that Milledge is all that great. Certainly has his personality issues and anyone that gets a escort to his first MLB game from the GM just reeks of locker room cancer to me.

Oh dear...where do you get your facts:

 

8-time Pro Bowler: 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993

 

 

 

Our primary support comes from users like you. Sponsor this page for $55.

 

 

 

+---------------------------------------+-----------------+

| Passing | Rushing |

+----------+-----+---------------------------------------+-----------------+

| Year TM | G | Comp Att PCT YD Y/A TD INT | Att Yards TD |

+----------+-----+---------------------------------------+-----------------+

| 1979 sfo | 16 | 13 23 56.5 96 4.2 1 0 | 3 22 0 |

| 1980 sfo | 15 | 176 273 64.5 1795 6.6 15 9 | 32 77 2 |

| 1981 sfo | 16 | 311 488 63.7 3565 7.3 19 12 | 25 95 2 |

| 1982 sfo | 9 | 213 346 61.6 2613 7.6 17 11 | 30 118 1 |

| 1983 sfo | 16 | 332 515 64.5 3910 7.6 26 12 | 61 284 2 |

| 1984 sfo | 16 | 279 432 64.6 3630 8.4 28 10 | 39 118 2 |

| 1985 sfo | 15 | 303 494 61.3 3653 7.4 27 13 | 42 153 3 |

| 1986 sfo | 8 | 191 307 62.2 2236 7.3 8 9 | 17 38 0 |

| 1987 sfo | 13 | 266 398 66.8 3054 7.7 31 13 | 35 141 1 |

| 1988 sfo | 14 | 238 397 59.9 2981 7.5 18 10 | 38 132 3 |

| 1989 sfo | 13 | 271 386 70.2 3521 9.1 26 8 | 49 227 3 |

| 1990 sfo | 15 | 321 520 61.7 3944 7.6 26 16 | 40 162 1 |

| 1992 sfo | 1 | 15 21 71.4 126 6.0 2 0 | 3 28 0 |

| 1993 kan | 11 | 181 298 60.7 2144 7.2 13 7 | 25 64 0 |

| 1994 kan | 14 | 299 493 60.6 3283 6.7 16 9 | 18 17 0 |

+----------+-----+---------------------------------------+-----------------+

| TOTAL | 192 | 3409 5391 63.2 40551 7.5 273 139 | 457 1676 20 |

+----------+-----+---------------------------------------+-----------------+

And the Dog wonders, could age and supporting cast impact a player's production? Perhaps in 1993, despite playing in 11 games (not 8), and having a "bad season", he still made the pro-bowl...and if you want to say that '86 was his worst season in that system, the Dog would also add that he was injured for half of it, and even Montana is allowed to have a bad season...in this case, it appears he benefited from the system, but in case you need more:

Eighty-one players were selected before the San Francisco 49ers drafted Montana late in the third round. New 49ers coach Bill Walsh ignored the negative scouting reports on his rookie signal caller ("average" arm strength, no touch), and envisioned Montana as the orchestrator of his complex ball-control passing attack: "Joe's ….an excellent spontaneous thinker, a keen-witted athlete with a unique field of vision. And he will not choke. Or rather, if he ever does, you'll know that everyone else has come apart first." Walsh's "system" depended on a nimble quarterback with an accurate arm who could adjust quickly to each defensive sequence as it unfolded. By the 1981 season Montana and the 49ers had become a sophisticated and virtually unstoppable offensive machine, but they met an old nemesis in the National Football Conference championship game, the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys had eliminated the 49ers from their last three playoff appearances, and after six San Francisco turnovers had led to a 6-point Dallas lead, it looked as if history would repeat itself. But Montana drove the 49ers 89 yards in the game's final minutes, and with 51 seconds left connected with flanker Dwight Clark for the winning touchdown on what was one of the most heralded plays of the decade. Known simply as "The Catch," the play began with Montana scrambling desperately to his right with three Cowboys in pursuit. Just before he was about to be thrown for a loss, Montana, throwing off his back foot, lofted a pass that appeared to be uncatchable. He later said he never saw Clark get open but knew his receiver would be sprinting across the back of the endzone as a safety valve on the play. Clark went high to catch the pass, landing just inside the boundary: afterward he marveled at the feat, "It was over my head. I thought, 'Oh, oh, I can't go that high.' Something got me up there. It must have been God or something."

 

hmmm...Walsh took a shot on Montana because he best fit his "system"...

Walsh wisdom:

Bill Walsh, when asked by reporters before the 1979 season if Montana would be given a chance to play or contribute, remarked back, "Joe Who?".

Yeah, there's a real sign of confidence in the guy who is supposed to be "perfect" for your offense ........ good thing you don't coach.

As far as talent evaluation went Walsh was hardly a master of that, who was picked in the 2'nd round by the 49'ers (they had no 1'st rounder)? James Ownes.... a WR so bad they made him a RB..... two years later, I guess it's easy to pick Ronnie Lott when LT was already taken .... but explain picking John Harty when Mike Singletary, Cris Collinsworth & Howie Long are all still there? Lets stop with Walsh being this all knowing charachter..... every GM and coach has their warts.

Also I never stated he played in 8 games in 1993, as a matter of fact I stated in my opening remark that he played 11 games:

Actually he only played part of the 1993 season for the Chiefs (11 games due to injuries)

guess you overlooked that huh simpleton?

As far as Joe getting old or injuries to him or to other players I always laugh at how that usually is the crutch someone uses when their performance suffers (like how Montana had a great season in 1994 and the Chiefs went 9-7).... I only have to look at the Super Bowl Patriots who were ravaged by injuries on both sides of their team (so this way you can't say it was a Belichick defense) who won a Super Bowl despite such injuries.

BTW, you will never see me hype "Pro-Bowl" players as the entire game is a popularity contest (exhibit Tony Romo Carrie Underwood's baggage carrier)..... Joe Montana had no business being on that Pro Bowl team, neither did some of his company:

John Elway- deserved to be there, he did everything for the Broncos that year there were no 1,000 yard rushers & the only thing resembling a WR on that team was Shannon Sharpe.

Warren Moon- threw for almost 4,300 yards & had 2 1,000 yard recievers along with a 1,000 yard rusher

Boomer Esiason- are you kidding? He was awful! 12'th in the NFL in completion warrants a Pro Bowl

And that's just the AFC half of it:

Bobby Hebert <----- Please tell me what the hell he did to get in???? Did he buy a ticket? That must be how.

Phil Simms- Had a pretty average year for a QB but a 62% completeion rate helped.

Brett Favre- Cheeseheads will hate me for pointing this out but he threw more INT's than TD's

Troy Aikman- Won a Super Bowl, deserved it.

Steve Young- Threw 29 TD's (a 2 to 1 TD to INT ratio) #1 in the NFL that year, deserved it.

So tell me how a Pro Bowl should qualify a season as a success when your "prestigious company" includes Bobby Hebert?

Interesting...allow the Dog to counter:

Montana, Joe (Joseph Clifford Montana) (mŏntăn'ə), 1956–, American football player, b. New Eagle, Pa. After playing at Notre Dame Univ., he starred (1979–93) for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League, before moving (1993–95) to the Kansas City Chiefs. Montana came to be regarded as the greatest quarterback in NFL history and was known especially for his collaboration with such receivers as Jerry Rice. He had the second highest pass completion rate on record (63.2%, behind Steve Young); his records included 5 consecutive games with over 300 yards passing (1982) and 22 consecutive completed passes (1987). He led San Francisco to four NFL championships and was the most valuable player in the Super Bowls of 1982, 1985, and 1990. In 1989 and 1990 he was the NFL's most valuable player.

 

Don't you read your own articles? Montana played for the Chiefs from '93-'95...now, which you were kind enough to but in really large writing for everyone, Shottemheimer changed his offense in 1993 with the addition of Hacket to a west coast offense...So, let's review: if Montana came to KC in 1993, and Hacket installed the west coast style of offense in 1993, is it safe to assume that Montana was running that same offense in KC? Or perhaps you know a way in which the Chiefs installed that offense, but had Montana run a different offensive system on the field that only he was privy to...

Actually he only played part of the 1993 season for the Chiefs (11 games due to injuries) and part of 14 games in 1994 before retiring & in your own statement here:

In order to ensure the health of Montana, who always seemed one hit away from a forced retirement Schottenheimer put reins on the highly sophisticated West Coast offense, which works best when all five receivers are out in patterns. After a midseason loss to the Bills, a game in which Bruce Smith nearly beheaded Montana, K.C.'s West Coast offense turned into the conservative, Bob Dole, Midwest offense, often sending out just two receivers.

The midseason loss to the Bills took place in 1994, so if in your previous statements (where you say the system makes the player) why was it that in the previous season (1993 when he ran a West Coast full time) was his worst as a pro?

His second worst season was also when running the West Coast offense (1986) when he only played 8 games & he still had better statisics (2,236 yards passing), his only other year playing less than 10 games was 1982 (played 9 games) and he was still better than in 1993 & running the same West Coast offense (2,613 yards vs. 2,144 yards in 1993).

So if he was a player made by the system why then did he have one of his best years after they "reeled him in" halfway through?

Good for you. The Dog wonders, would you be so kind as to do some more homework and detail the type of offensive system that the Chiefs were running at the time? You're a real peach...

OK Mr. Mental Weakling since you again can't get anything done on your own here you are; I'll put the important stuff in big colorful letters so someone with a 3'rd grade reading capacity (you and eggy) can understand it:

This is what Montana played under in Kansas City

Schottenheimer's Marty Ball parameters are well documented in grammatically correct and perfectly bound volumes. Establish the run. Pass only to set up the run. Win the turnover count. And win the field position tug-of-war. "What I call my favorite football play -- a running play -- we call 40 or 50 power and we called it 15 times today," Schottenheimer said.

This is the system employed while in San Fransisco

The initial Walsh concept was for a standard pro-set offense -- two backs in split alignment, two wide receivers and a tight end -- designed to get the ball quickly from the quarterback to the skill-position players. The idea was to release all five of the eligible receivers at the same time, relying on three- and five-step drops by the quarterback to compensate for most blocking breakdowns, and to throw the ball crisply and on the break.

By the way, the Dog can do some research...from an article which the Dog would be more then happy to provide for you:

In order to ensure the health of Montana, who always seemed one hit away from a forced retirement Schottenheimer put reins on the highly sophisticated West Coast offense, which works best when all five receivers are out in patterns. After a midseason loss to the Bills, a game in which Bruce Smith nearly beheaded Montana, K.C.'s West Coast offense turned into the conservative, Bob Dole, Midwest offense, often sending out just two receivers.

 

You see, Shottenheimer was running the west coast style of offense during Montana's years, but pulled in the reigns on it to better protect him health wise...perhaps you need assistance with research...here's an idea, have BibBlue help you, he seems to be a big fan of research, fact-based debating...

For the record you almost had a point except:

Ultimately, Schottenheimer changed his offense in 1993, when he brought in Paul Hackett who installed the West Coast scheme of the San Francisco 49ers that was heavy on passing.

Montana retired at the end of the year........ oooooppppppsssss

So Schottenheimer ran a West Coast offense in KC for 8 games? Good point.... that really helped your argument

You almost had a point...... numbnuts :bye:

P.S. I added all the smileys so your after school play date buddy/alter ego eggy could get all that. Run along now and get on the short bus.

Hey ragin, Im on your side, dont forget.

 

I clicked on that link, but I cant find out where to view his stats, can you help?

Right next to biography, click on statistics..... viola.

and one is left to wonder if Joe Montana would have had the career he did playing in a different system...

One doesn't have to wonder, Montana played in two vastly different offenses..... the 49'ers west coast scheme and the ultra-conservative "Martyball" in Kansas City.

These are his stats for comparison.......... since you can't seem to do any homework of your own. Must be that "mental defect" you suffer from.

OK, but since you commented, the Dog was actually responding to someone else...

Thought that you were not commenting anymore? Must be that "mental defect" you suffer from....... sad indeed.

Dog, you are trying to reason with someone who idolizes Val Kilmer as the "Ice Man." I stopped attempting to reason with him when I determined that he could not add...or was it read? :bye:

Idolizing a simian can't be twisted into "normal" no matter how you try, one must wonder how you, Bubbles and Whacko Jacko have gotten along on your Neverland Ranch sleepovers...... no, don't tell us.... save it for your shrink. Don't worry though I know that I'm dealing with someone of sub-standard mental capacity...... clap when the monkey comes on the screen jimmy........ pathetic.

Oh, and for math skills here see if you can identify this:

Total 47 Seasons 3633-3748 .492

21-24 (.467) in playoffs

That's the lifetime record for that piddly little franchise called the Angels of whatever city they wish to affiliate themselves with.

Ha ha ha...the Iceman...The Dog wonders how he felt when Goose went down...

 

Anyway - someone who weeps over the hardships of his girlfriend on the boards, then attacks those with emotional issues, makes light of suicide...really has some deep-seeded issues to contend with...that is why the Dog is just leaving this one alone...very unnerving indeed...

Yet you keep responding, pot meet kettle.

Maybe it would be unfair to everyone else?

Didn't want his wife at the stadium with a shirt saying "Mine goes further"

The Dog has no comment here...this statement stands on its' own.

But you always have so much to say...... what's the matter? Gun in your mouth? Busy being "emo" and cutting yourself?

Just another weak individual feeling sorry for himself....... grow up Francis & get a spine..... pussy.

Good for you...the fact that you broke it off with her doesn't nullify the fact that you were concerned enough about losing access to season tickets that you needed to mention that...and certainly doesn't nullify the fact that you have little respect for individuals who may be struggling with emotional issues...

 

anyway, the Dog cares little about the Angels...in fact, the Dog would be hard pressed to name more then one or two players on their roster currently - but the fact that you continue to make a mockery out of suicide and even encourage the practice is disturbing, and dare the Dog say, a possible sign of mental instability...

Actually you are right, I could care less about those that are mentally unstable...... you've got problems, too bad.... again why should I care? Are they mine? Nope, they're yours..... so sorry.

Life is tough & if you aren't prepared to deal with it in some form or another don't come crying to me for sympathy & if you want to blow your brains all over the wall because something didn't go right for you go ahead. You won't see me stand in your way..... hell, the way I look at it you're gonna commit suicide go ahead, I've only got one question for you......... Are you a Giants season ticket holder?

How fortunate for you...and how sadly ignorant and disrespectful you can be...The Dog wonders, there is nobody in your life that has an emotional issue...perhaps a girlfriend? The Dog is thankful for this, because with your little understanding of such issues, you would not be a very supportive individual...it would be as if you had a girlfriend who was having issues, and one of your concerns was that if you break up, you would lose access to her dad's Giants season tickets...that would just be cold...wait a second...

You obviously don't read very well do you, I guess that is what happens to people with mental defects. When did I write that? July 3'rd.... too bad I broke it off with her over the weekend thus nullifying your point. But I guess with your feeble mind that would probably be too much to handle, go back to talking to yourself in the third person.... I've heard that the ladies love it. Hey maybe if your a Giants fan and like girls with mental disorders you can have her...... nah, you're not a Giants fan.

Point is Angels fans and their weak ass team are below .500 lifetime (47 seasons) & got shellacked this weekend, maybe that contributed to Mr. Moore blowing his brains out, perhaps you should do the world a favor & follow suit.

The Italian Hotdog for one, finds this dispicable...The Dog certainly hopes you never have a friend/relative suffer from significant emotional issues...

No, luckily I don't...... all of my family & friends come from good genetics obviously unlike the dog who's got his own set of emotional issues to deal with..... so sad to see.

See here is the difference between the weak (Angels whiners that now need a simian to tell them when to cheer) and the strong (26 world titles) & even when there is a big game blown like Rivera in 2001 nobody shoots their family members half a dozen times and then blows their brains all over the wall...... but I guess that's what happens when you play for a team that has a lifetime record of:

Total 47 Seasons 3633-3748 .492

21-24 (.467) in playoffs

Below .500

I don't follow them closely.

Yet you are always posting about them...... hmmmmm, pot meet kettle.

This could get abusive...

The only thing that got abused was the Angels pitching staff. 18 run deficit in 3 games...... LOL! :clap: :LMAO:

But the Rally Monkey owns Torre...

 

Yankee fans, enjoy the weekend. Go to the beach. See a movie. Spend time with the family.

 

But don't watch baseball. Not this weekend...

 

This could get abusive...

Hmmmm, when I think of the Angels I think of a mediocre franchise that can't hold the jock of one with 26 world titles....... especially compared with their ONE fluke title.

1< and certianly not = 26

BTW, nice job tonight your pitching staff only allowed a football like score in this one...... good job.

I think you popped a vein.

Oh yeah, that's the other thing I think of........ Donnie Moore popping a vein and then popping himself in the head after blowing a lead to the Sox.

Don't worry buddy, you'll be dead before you know it!

Prucha re-signed.

NEW YORK -- Forward Petr Prucha agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the New York Rangers, with whom he has scored 52 goals in two seasons.

 

Prucha, a 24-year-old native of the Czech Republic, will earn $1.6 million each of the next two seasons. He became a restricted free agent after posting 22 goals and 18 assists for the Rangers in 79 games last season.

 

He is the first Rangers player to score 20 or more goals in each of his first two NHL seasons since Alexei Kovalev in the early 1990s.

Good, 1.6 million/year is a bargain for a guy who scores 26 goals (on average) per season. Not to mention is young & with no significant injury history... the only reason that I can think of not signing him long-term is that they need to be conservative for the next two seasons (after which the roster will be replenished with the kids from the farm).

I'd take him in heartbeat over Gomez. 6'4" 225, 24 goals 36 assists last year

with Buffalo, 23 and 34 the year before with Washington. Gomez has scored

more than 20 only once and it wasn't last year, this situation just got a whole

lot better.

Hooray, it proves Lou has a pulse!

Seriously though he's 2 years older than Gomez, doesn't skate as fast and isn't the puck distributor that Gomez is.... he's also been criticized his whole career of not using his size effectively. I'd wait for him to put up an 80 point season before saying all problems are solved.

Yeah he's been a great addition, just toobad he and Aki will be traded for mediocre over the hill starting pitching. And I'm really excited to see how Cashman plans to rape us over the coals when we trade Teixeira to the Yanks.

Quite frankly I don't think that Cashman will be doing the raping..... if he deals for Teixeira I've got a bad feeling that he will mortgage the farm for him..... your GM's asking price is rumored to be quite high (two high end prospects at least) which nowadays most teams are shying away from surrendering.

not quite. but when you have a killer change up, an 88 mph fast ball is plenty fast enough. jst ask whats his name in san diego.

Who are you talking about? Maddux?

Ya know, I have been telling myself that every off season, "We might just suck this year, it's bound to happen sooner or later." I just cant come to grips with the actual fact now. :brooding:

Tell me about it, my friend and I were talking the other night (suspended game against Baltimore) and we were just submitting to the fact that this year is a losing cause. He was in complete agreement with me that they are now inventing ways to lose & that we should pull the plug and be sellers at the trade deadline. Also, we agreed to stop watching this season and look forward to Giants training camp.... we also discussed a potential girl swap ala Mike Kekich & Fritz Peterson but we managed to keep from making any quick Torre-like decisions on that subject.

I'm more amped about Drury than about Gomez but the thing about Gomez that intrigues me is that he is only 27 and in his athletic prime with no significant injury history. And if he can rekindle the stuff that gave him a 84 point season 2 years ago I'd be happy as hell, Drury is a proven winner and a guy who unlike Briere doesn't fade away when the playoffs get going...... I do know one thing is for sure, nobody that is a Sabres fan can be happy right now.

Or a Devils fan for that matter, losing Rafalski and Gomez will hurt.

I was Gomez's number one supporter since his rookie season and throughout his seven (six- lockout) years with the Devils which included two Stanley Cups and some other great memories until recently. The reason for the loss of support is the douchebags at MSG breaking the bank to another Devils fan favorite, forcing them to deal with the loss or overpay themselves. It may have started last year when the Devils got raped with Elias' resigning because of the offer the rangers made- which ultimately effected how much we were able to offer Gomez. But this splits the gap between the rangers and devils even more.

 

While I can't blame Gomez for taking the (most likely) huge amount of money from the rangers, with only a ride across the river, to quote the geico caveman "a little loyalty would have been nice", and I'm sure he won't be forgiven and ever welcome back in NJ by Devils fans.

 

We've been on a slippery slope downhill since the lockout, and I just hope this isn't the final nail in the coffin, with Rafalski gone and now Gomez... I don't think we're going to be contenders for much longer.

 

That picture is fucking classic, personally I didn't want Gomez on the Rangers but considering he is 3 years younger than the other FA alternatives at his position I guess it's a good deal (if he plays the length of his contract he'll be 34 when it expires so these are his prime years). Considering the Rangers still have room under the cap (which is likely to be less after resigning their RFA's) this doesn't hamstring them like the deal that the Devils gave Brodeur years ago.

I just find it interesting how the man who was so great at keeping his teams payroll at a minimum pre-lockout and obtaining maximum results (who is also the same man who was instrumental in getting a structured salary cap in place to end the lockout) can't get it figured out with his own team.

I hardly think that losing Gomez and Rafalski will be the death knell of the Devils but I really think that Lou needs to do something (trade, FA signing, sacrifice a live chicken) because what lies in wait in the farm system to replace the players lost really isn't all that talented especially on defense..... forever the mainstay of the team. It's not impossible to think that the talent that was only with the Devils a few years ago (Stevens, Niedermayer) was generational and might not be seen in their uniform again for a while.

Just so you guys don't think that I'm just sprouting off at the mouth to piss you off I am actually basing this on some sort of factual knowledge: This website is good for anyone looking to know about their favorite team's minor league prospects.

Sorry to cloud up the post but to respond to the post you made about welcoming Gomez back to NJ here is what I have to say and this "incident" that I observed happened during the 2'nd intermission of the last regular season game this past year against the Islanders:

I'm sure there are a few fanatical fans who will taunt Gomez at his first game against the Devils (as well they should.... he is now playing for a divisional rival) the real lunatics (read as uneducated winners ) are the guys who go to the games and can't comprehend the reality of the situation when they say stuff like, "A free Brendan Shanahan Devils jersey???? I'd use it to wipe my ass!!!" Sure you would Vito, you and your uneducated idiot moron half-wits would take the jersey of a player who is a first ballot Hall of Famer who was drafted by your team, has won several Stanley Cup championships and is one of the greatest natural goal scorers this side of Bobby Hull and you would use a authentic jersey of his to wipe your ass...... for what reason exactly? Because he doesn't play for the Devils and didn't win a Cup there? And now happens to play for a cross-town rival? Ok, I get the cross-town thing but the utter lack of respect for a players lifetime achievement is disturbing..... I guess this separates those who understand the game from those who's myopic views of the sport and their fierce allegiance to their favorite team allow that to cloud the issue.

I understand the loyalty factor when it comes to resigning with your original team, you've had success there & the fans think you are the king shit. However the flip side is that your GM either can't or doesn't want to give you a number that you feel is what you deserve. Let's just go down the list of talented players that the Devils under Lou have let get away because of his negotiating strategy (I'll stick to the more recent ones and ones that I felt were particularly relevant):

1. Claude Lemieux (traded away as Lou felt that he wasn't the player that he used to be anymore, later returned and won another Cup with the Devils)

2. Scott Niedermayer (went to arbitration with the Devils not once but twice and lost both times, one can't begin to wonder why he took the chance to get some money, play along side his brother at the same time & win a Cup.)

3. Brian Rafalski (previously a RFA, the Devils gave him fair market value for his output at the time when he was an unproven commodity. After years of increased production they refused to honor his request to stay with the team even after he instructed his agent to give the Devils a home town discount.)

4. Scott Gomez (much the same as Niedermayer, twice going to arbitration losing once and beating Lou the second time after a monster season with 33 goals and 84 points, he was going to get is due on the open market)

I understand that Lou needs to keep payroll down because he was carrying dead weight (see Malakov, ect.) but not resigning key players and with that style of negotiation (as well as managment) who will want to come to the Devils? You don't see lots of coaching candidates lining up to apply for the vacant coaches position of a team that finished 2'nd in the Eastern Conference, either because they don't want to work under the tyrannical Lou or they feel that the team might be starting to see that window of opportunity close or both.

You want to hate Gomez because he took the money.... fine I can agree to calling someone in that situation a sellout. You want to hate him because the cross-town sworn enemy of your favorite team made him a offer that he couldn't refuse (and that the Devils couldn't match without killing their own cap #'s).... fine, hate him because of the rival thing but to get angry at him because of the GM's inability to manage his salary cap #'s is absurd.... be angry at the GM in that situation. If you want to hate him because he made a decision to go play on a team that is younger and still has time to win a Cup before that window of opportunity closes (and it's closing faster than Devils fans will care to admit), that is fine but just ask yourself this question..... if you were him and you had the kind of success he has had & were in the athletic prime of your career (healthy and without significant injury history) wouldn't you want to continue that success?

Going to another team that has a window of opportunity that isn't about to slam shut, that happens to be able to let you play your style of hockey, is willing to give you the money that you feel you deserve (and can because it hasn't mismanaged it's cap situation) is the smarter move if you look at it from the players standpoint. These guys only get really one good opportunity in their career to make this sort of move (as up until this point they are mainly RFA's and don't get priority in the decision the team that owns their rights does), so I say hate if you must but be sure you are doing it with the right motive..... blind hate being the worst of all is far too prevalent in everything including sports.