As the trade deadline gets
closer and closer the list of defenseman linked to the New York Rangers seems
to growing longer and longer. Any player
that has ever even thought about being a power play quarterback is apparently
up for discussion when it comes to New York being involved in dealing for
them. For the most part the candidates
for the position have been of the rental variety, but that is not the case
today. In this morning’s New
York Post Larry Brooks reports that the Rangers have interest in Ottawa
Senators defenseman Filip Kuba. Kuba currently
has one year remaining on his deal for 3.7 million dollars.
Rumors fly from all over the
place this time of year and there are always bound to be some bad ones, but this
is clearly one of the worst I have seen suggested thus far. I see absolutely no positives to this
move. Kuba, 34, has 0 goals and 5
assists this season while recording a whopping -25 in just 39 games. I do not care how bad your team or your
goalie are, when you are -25 in 39 games you are playing like garbage. I know plus/minus is not the greatest indicator
out there, but when it gets to a certain point it must mean something. Rangers fans complained about Del Zotto last
year at -20, but at least he was bringing some offense to the table.
Yes, he does have a history with
Tortorella. Yes he was a good power play
quarterback; two years ago. Do we have
to revisit the last time that Glen Sather made a move for a defenseman coming
from Ottawa based on what he had done two years before the Rangers got him? This idea is worse than bringing in Sheldon
Souray. If you know me and what I have
had to say about Souray over the last few seasons you will understand just how
crazy that might seem.
Why on Earth would the Rangers
waste a roster spot, development time and 3.7 million on this kind of a
move? I would much rather suffer the ups and downs with Del Zotto, Eminger and Gilroy than do something like this. At least with Del Zotto there is the potential for it to be worth it down the line.
This one does not pass the smell test by a long shot, but if it goes down it will destroy a lot of the good will that Sather has earned over the last few years with his trades.
This one does not pass the smell test by a long shot, but if it goes down it will destroy a lot of the good will that Sather has earned over the last few years with his trades.
