Uncertain Futures

Hey Rangers Fans.

Big news in the New York Hockey world. Lets start with the ugly. The NHL reportedly has threatened to sue Madison Square Garden, removing ownership of the Blueshirts from the MSG corporation. This comes in response to the Rangers suit against the NHL for trying to usurp complete control over promotional elements for the hockey club (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3452292). In my opinion, this is the worst thing the NHL could be doing right now. It's no secret that the league has always depended on the success of markets like New York to spur on the ratings of games. For example, game three of the Stanley Cup drew a lower rating in New York than that evenings WNBA match-up involving the New York Liberty. Of course this moment was partially caused by concerns that Pittsburgh would not be able to mount a fight in the series and because of this most fans not living near Melon Arena or in Hockey Town, USA had checked out of the series. However, this is a fact that the NHL cannot ignore. In the post lock-out NHL, when televised games have been relegated to Versus and the occasional Sunday NBC game, the league needs the support of key markets - especially New York. If the NHL wants to pour resources into an endeavour I suggest moving to get hockey back on large networks like the ABC family which includes the ABC network and ESPN. Or, if nothing else, changing their terrible "Yo Momma" adds with Ryan Miller and Jean-Sebastian Aubin. The fact that AMP energy talked the league into this commercial exemplifies why the Rangers should keep control of their own promotions.

In team news, Rangers GM Glen Sather announced that he will not move to re-sign Brendan Shannahan or Sean Avery and that Jagr's future with the club is still in question. I'm unconcerned with Shannahan - but the other two announcements are troubling. Since Sean Avery joined the club in February of '07 the Rangers are above .500 with him in the line-up and below .500 without him. His playoff performance against the Devils cemented the fact that he is the most skilled instigator in the league, a combination that does not come together very often. We've seen him mentally destroy playoff opponents like Keith Tkachuk in the 2007 playoffs and Jeremy Langenbrunner in the '08 campaign. The inside word is that the temperamental 28 year old actually respects the likes of Jagr, Gomez and Drury - meaning that the Rangers offer the perfect environment for Avery to be a controlled menace. When Chris Drury, a player who has won everything, at every level, says he'll take a bullet for a teammate (after Avery's Stick Charades with Marty Broduer in the playoffs) he's a keeper. He is even more important as long as Jagr is a Ranger. With teams continuing to beat Jagr off the puck the Rangers need an equal force to match the physicality with the oppositions superstar. Next years Championship will go through the Penguins, Period. If you don't think that Jarkko Ruutu's sole job in that potential series will be to pound Jagr - you're fooling yourself. Avery offers the perfect counter punch to these situations - losing him to free agency is a mistake.

This offers the perfect lead into point #2. If Avery is going to be defending Jagr - it is going to help if the Rangers still have him. This would be a big loss to the team. I know he's getting older, and I know he dominates the puck - a problem that hinders the creativity of some of the emerging offensive talent on the squad - but face it folks, when healthy - he is still one of the most dominating players in the league. At 36 he is impossible to move off the puck and he brings experience and knowledge to the young forwards on the team. Losing him to Russia is a mistake.

Here's to a '08-'09 Stanley Cup run.

Stay up. I'm out.