Dear rangers fans, soon you will see what caps fans had

[Theo 1]

Ward was an outspoken douchebag to be honest. Getting rid of him was half the battle of saving the season.

Shanny and Jagr are tight- No struggle aside from what the media may have said early on. And both players denied it because it was BS. Come on- To anyone who watches every game the notion of a struggle between them is absurd. Not to mention, if in fact there was one, Shanny wouldn't be so gun ho to return. Also to note, Shanny is the one guy who defended Jagr against Brashear. Like I said, to anyone who watches every game, they know that is just not substancial. The facts show they respected each other very much.

Early on, he was using one good arm and he was playing out of shape the whole season. He showed how he played well every game two seasons ago. This year he never got to work out before the season and put on the added muscle- And in season you really cannot do much to correct that. You are very much in the tiny minority of Ranger fans, 96...I will say that. The guy has pretty much shut up all of his critics for the time being during the last two years.

As fans we all want HHH- But honestly- Even Ortmayer, Hollweg took a few nights off last year. One Ranger who didn't was Straka- I will say that. But playing full out 82 games is just not possible- unless you sacrifice playoff performance

At the time Ward opened his mouth, I thought he was being quite timely. They were in a slump, and like you mentioned, it seemed like even the hustle guys were taking nights off. Nobody was saying anything or stepping up. Renney was cow towing to Jagr, Jagr was shaking off shoot out shots (for whatever reason). Somebody needed to say something, and Ward did. I don't know what he said, but I can honestly say that he was right for saying something. I beleive I read that he called Jagr a p^ssy. Which, well, he was. So basically the Rangers made a statement that nobody questions Jagr or the team and proceeded to move him. In the end, and with hindsight, it worked.

The proof will be in the pudding. I liked Jagr's game at the end of the season and I hope he carries it over. He really has nothing to bitch about because he has two premier centers to potentially work with.

The whole Shanny thing was perplexing. I read he came to the Rangers because he was friendly with Jagr. And when the reports came out about the split in the lockerroom, I was confused too because it looked like he was getting along with Jags. But somebody saw something and reported. I think there was some dissention but they put it aside and played. I think when Shanny fought Brashear he was making a statement to everyone, and whatever was between him and Jags was put aside. He was saying, "Jags, you're a snaggle-toothed, flat back of the head Slav, but you're my captain and I'm gonna stick up for you."

That is some big time speculation and really, you can't always believe what you read. You know how many haters were waiting to wight about some kind of NA/Euro split in the room between Jagr and Shanny? It never happened. These guys were always talking and friendly on the bench at all points of the season.

Ward got his face punched in by Brashear after the Shanny fight. Guy is a big mouth.

IMO- The proof has already been shown. Jagr has been spectacular for us and all we could have asked for. Finally the team is really getting built so the best comes out of it.

We will never agree on Jagr, I guess

[#96 0]

Nope. His track record of turning sour speaks for itself. But it's not gonna stop me from getting season tix...section 409...LET'S GO RANGERS! Haha.

[DarkStar50 679]

Sportswriters are interested in selling papers and working angles. Sometimes the facts are good to use in the story but not always. Can we really believe everything Larry Brooks and John Dellapina write in the Post and News? I don't think so. I will let both Jagr and Shanahan's play speak for themselves. So Jagr went sour in DC. That was over 4 years ago. The Caps had been through a few coaches(blame it on Jagr, if you like. Its takes 20 guys to make a team.). Where were the Caps headed? For the penthouse or the outhouse? Yes, the shitter. Fast forward to post lockout. The Rangers are picked for 30th on opening night against the Flyers. Well, they win and they all buy in to Renney's system. The 05/06 Rangers faced post-Olympics burn-out and got smoked in the playoffs. The same core came back with a few tweaks, Shanny, and stumbled in the first few months. It is a fact that Jagr played the first 45 games at 75% with his shoulder still a mess. So, if there ever was a time for Jagr to piss and moan and head south on the team, there it was midway through the season. What did he do? What did he say? He said screw the All-Star Game, I need to work on my shoulder. Screw these shoot-outs because yes, I'm Jagr but I would not be giving the Rangers the best chance to win the damn thing if I take a shot at less than 100%. Then as the team got stronger by adding Avery and dumping Ward, Jagr, too, got stronger. Face it, he never played near 100% this past season. But Jagr played for the Rangers in the face of pain. I have watched Jagr since he was a rookie with the Pens. He has worked his ass off to be the player that he is. Did he screw the Caps and their fans? Yup. Am I going to worry about it and brand him forever? Nope. The body of work that Jagr has produced is too great for me to let that be my final decision maker. Jagr knows where he is in this stage of his career. He knows how many miles are left on his wheels. He knows how many more times he can zig and zag off the wall with the puck to set up his wrist shot. He knows what the opportunities to win it all right now with the Rangers are. That is because he has won it all before. Sorry folks, Jagr can smell it. And like the wolf, he knows when to move in for the kill. He knows he may not get this close again. Herb Brooks was close. The old Russian proverb is "The wolf is kept fed by his feet." Jagr's feet are moving again.

[Theo 1]

Lundqvist is a given and so is Shanny (deal w/ incentives that will count on next seasons cap if he reaches those incentives). ---My feelings at least. They will purge the whole team before not signing Lundy.

Prucha was signed this morning- 1.6 M a year for 2 years. Avery will probably take us to arbitration. Just have to hope they don't award him anything crazy. Hossa might be an odd man out, but his contract will only be about a million or so.

I still feel we trade either Malik or Mara, IMO

Lundy: Check

Prucha: Check

Avery: Check

Shanny w/ Bonus incentives: Check

Hossa around a mil: check

Malik/Mara: BAD

[Cavs019 710]

Mara may not make sense financially but he is rock solid.

[#96 0]

Mara may not make sense financially but he is rock solid.

I second that. I don't think he should get 3 mil a year, but you know what, he really didn't play bad. I thought he could have chipped in a bit more than he did on the PP, but in all other situations, I didn't have anything negative to say.

Yup, when the season was over and it came time to point fingers, I pretty much pointed them at...you guessed it, Jags. But who else is a Jagr Hater like myself supposed to point fingers at, right Theo? Ha.

[DarkStar50 679]

Yup, when the season was over and it came time to point fingers, I pretty much pointed them at...you guessed it, Jags. But who else is a Jagr Hater like myself supposed to point fingers at, right Theo? Ha.

If it makes you feel any better, you could always think of what might have been with Anson Carter.

[#96 0]

Yup, when the season was over and it came time to point fingers, I pretty much pointed them at...you guessed it, Jags. But who else is a Jagr Hater like myself supposed to point fingers at, right Theo? Ha.

If it makes you feel any better, you could always think of what might have been with Anson Carter.

I actually liked him. Def. became a career underachiever IMO, but he wasn't terrible.

Isn't he available this Summer?

[Chadd 916]

Yup, when the season was over and it came time to point fingers, I pretty much pointed them at...you guessed it, Jags. But who else is a Jagr Hater like myself supposed to point fingers at, right Theo? Ha.

If it makes you feel any better, you could always think of what might have been with Anson Carter.

I actually liked him. Def. became a career underachiever IMO, but he wasn't terrible.

Isn't he available this Summer?

Isn't he available EVERY summer?

[DarkStar50 679]

He should have stayed with 22 and 33 in Vancouver. They made him look really good. Those twins would make me look good and I'm older than Chelios!

[#96 0]

Yup, when the season was over and it came time to point fingers, I pretty much pointed them at...you guessed it, Jags. But who else is a Jagr Hater like myself supposed to point fingers at, right Theo? Ha.

If it makes you feel any better, you could always think of what might have been with Anson Carter.

I actually liked him. Def. became a career underachiever IMO, but he wasn't terrible.

Isn't he available this Summer?

Isn't he available EVERY summer?

Ha. He's like the Jay Payton of hockey. Seems like every trade deadline and off season, that guy is either moved to a new city or is talked about getting moved.