Alex Frolov Signs HC Avangard Omsk of KHL

In the least surprising news of the day category, Alexander Frolov has signed to play in the KHL.  The deal is reportedly for three years with HC Avangard Omsk, according to the team’s website.  While Frolov looking to get his career back led him to the KHL is not surprising, the fact that Omsk would commit to a three-year pact with him at this point is somewhat shocking.  Given both his declining play and shredded knee that he will be coming back from that seems like a gamble, though financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Frolov’s time with the Rangers was a disappointment as he only recorded seven goals and nine assists in his 43 games for the Blueshirts.  He was expected to give them at least 20 goals and 50 points as a secondary scorer to pair with Marian Gaborik, but that never materialized before his season was ended by the knee injury.  The only thing that saved Glen Sather from more criticism with Frolov’s deal was the fact that he only had a one year pact with the forward.  The move was a low-risk, high-reward gamble for Sather and the Rangers and it just didn’t work as well as either side had hoped.

The more intriguing question now might be whether Frolov gets to play with Jaromir Jagr in Omsk next season or if Jagr is coming back to the NHL instead.  Check out this morning’s take on what Jagr could still bring to the Rangers.

Jagr Would Fill Rangers Needs If Price Is Right

Jaromir Jagr has not played a shift in an NHL game since the end of the 2008 season with the New York Rangers, but the nostalgia of bringing back 68 is rising daily right now.  During the 2011 IIHF World Championships he has five goals, three assists in seven games, including a hat-trick yesterday to eliminate Team USA.  While the hat-trick was great to watch for fans of Jagr yesterday, let us also put into perspective that is was scored against a very B type squad the USA had out there including Ty Conklin who is a backup netminder.  The Rangers are looking for someone who is a legitimate star type forward and while at 39-years-old Jagr is not what he was earlier in his career he still has something left in the tank.  The question with Jagr will be what it was when he left three years ago; money.

Jagr didn’t leave the NHL because he couldn’t play at a high level in the league anymore.  Rather he left because no one would pay him what he wanted to be here.  Having played three years with Avangard Omsk maybe he is willing to take less than he would have during the summer of 2008 to end his stellar career with one last run in the NHL.  That run would not be as the player who had 646 goals and 1,599 points in just 1,273 games in his career, or even the one who put up a 25-56-71 line in his final season with New York, but he could easily be a 20-35-55 player with the rules in the NHL today.

Jagr hasn’t committed to where he would like to play next season:

“It’s too early for me, I don’t really know what I want to do next year,” Jagr said Tuesday. “I don’t know where I want to play. Right now I just want to concentrate for this tournament, it’s not going to be more than one week.”

If Jagr does decide to return to the NHL the Rangers should be interested if the price is right.  He can add a veteran presence to the room, leadership and a voice for the young players who might never see half of what he has seen on and off the ice.  What he can bring on the ice is a skilled player that has chemistry with Dubinsky and can help to fix the struggling power play.  On a one year deal, especially if the Rangers don’t get Brad Richards, this is a stop-gap move that helps them next season and risks nothing from the future.

Pending Free Agents: Blake Wheeler (RFA) Right For Rangers?

The chase for Brad Richards will dominate a lot of the offseason headlines for the New York Rangers when it comes to free agency outside of the organization.  How the Rangers do in those attempts to lure Richards to New York will have a large influence on the money that is left under the salary cap and many of the other roster decisions within and outside the organization in terms of need.  If the Rangers fail to secure Brad Richards, and maybe even if they do get him, depending on the money and other decisions they make there are other options out there in the free agent market.  One such option for the Rangers to consider is restricted free agent Blake Wheeler of the Atlanta Thrashers.

Wheeler, 24, was originally the fifth overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes.  After attending the University of Minnesota Wheeler opted for free agency rather than sign with the Coyotes.  During the summer of 2008 he was a highly sought prospect and eventually signed with the Boston Bruins.  Wheeler would make an immediate impact for the Bruins during the 2008-09 season when goals and had 24 assists.  Given that strong opening act in Boston the expectations were high for him.  Following that season, his time with the Bruins was somewhat disappointing to the point where in 58 games for Boston this year he only had 11 goals and 16 assists.  At the deadline the Bruins decided to move Wheeler to the Atlanta Thrashers along with Mark Stuart for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik.  The trade seemed to energize Wheeler as he had seven goals and 10 assists in only 23 games for the Thrashers.  With the strong finish Wheeler has now scored 18 goals or more in each of his three NHL seasons while also playing in at least 81 games each year.

A large cause for why the Rangers would be interested in Wheeler, aside from his individual skill, is the instant chemistry he has shown with Rangers’ rookie forward Derek Stepan during the current 2011 IIHF World Championships.  The two Minnesota natives have combined with Stepan’s former teammate at Wisconsin, Craig Smith, to form the top line for Team USA.  The chemistry between Wheeler and Stepan has been evident from the opening game of the tournament as there is a feel for where one another will be on the ice that usually comes after significant time together.  That kind of feel for another player is something that cannot be discounted by an organization, especially when looking to surround Stepan with wingers who can score and help him continue his own development.  Chemistry is one of those undervalued aspects of the game in terms of line combinations in how it can help to improve the consistency of performance for the players involved.  When you are able to leave lines together it helps all players involved and creates a better foundation for the team on a nightly basis.

Being a restricted free agent and accounting for his strong close to the season as well as good performance in the World Championships it is likely that Atlanta would match his qualifying offer of $2.2 million to retain his rights this summer.  Being a restricted free agent does not preclude the Rangers from pursuing Wheeler either in the form of an offer sheet or through a trade with Atlanta.  With the Rangers likely to have multiple departures from their forward core the idea of adding Wheeler to play with Stepan and possible Mats Zuccarello, who also showed flashes of chemistry with Stepan, is something that should intrigue the Rangers for next season.  Again, a lot of this would depend on the Richards chase, the cost of signing the Rangers own restricted free agents and other roster moves that would be made to create roster spots and cap space, but Wheeler is someone that should intrigue the Rangers for the right price.

Rangers Player Review: Michael Del Zotto

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

In a season where many different Rangers’ young players progressed in their development and impact at the NHL level, Michael Del Zotto had a different reaction during the 2010-11 season.  After a strong rookie season in which he was named to the NHL All-Rookie team Del Zotto regressed in year two.  The nine goals and 28 assists of the 2009-10 campaign raised expectations for the 20-year-old defender coming into the season and significantly intensified the frustration and scrutiny over his play.

All of the concerns for Del Zotto coming into the season revolved around his defensive shortcomings that plagued him during his first season in the NHL.  While his defense was still shaky at times in terms of positioning, and reading the play there was overall improvement on that end of the ice.  The problems were with his offensive and mental sides of the game. 

Offensively he struggled, only contributing two goals and nine assists in his 47 games with the Rangers.  One reason for the lack of goal scoring was a significant inability to hit the net with his shot.  In those 47 games Del Zotto recorded 58 shots on goal, which compares to the 42 times he was recorded missing the net.  For a player of Del Zotto’s skill both his number of attempts and successful attempts on goal are discouraging.  The number of attempts delves into his reluctance to shoot the puck in many situations where he had lanes, but lacked the confidence in his shot.  Instead of firing the shot, he would often dump the puck around the boards for yet another cycle play by the forwards.

The mental side of the game struggles manifested themselves in multiple ways.  The repetition of the same mistakes caused consternation and frustration among all involved because it led to wonders if he was really learning from his mistakes.  The biggest source of his mistakes would be from being overaggressive with the puck.  During his rookie season, part of what made Del Zotto so exciting were the stretch passes he would use to spring forwards like Marian Gaborik.  This season those were misfiring on a consistent basis and more likely to come back at the Rangers with a chance for the opposition.  Instead of adjusting to that reality and making the short, simple pass to get out of his end, Del Zotto would keep firing the long pass.  The other major mistake which harmed him significantly defensively would be the over handling of the puck in his own end which led to turnovers in scoring areas.

The regression within his game got to the point where he was a healthy scratch for multiple games and sent to the AHL for multiple stints with the Connecticut Whale to both work on his game and build his confidence back up.  During his time with the Whale he showed both the flashes of offense he had during his rookie campaign, but also the inconsistency that marred year two.  During his final stint with the Whale, Del Zotto would cap his frustrating year with a broken finger that ended his campaign and recently he also had sports hernia surgery that will have him rehabbing for the next month.

Having a regression as a 20-year-old is certainly not unheard of and does not mean that Del Zotto’s days as a key piece to the future of this organization are over by any means.  What it means is that a young player hit some bumps in his development and now the Rangers’ and Del Zotto will find out the type of player and person they are dealing with in how he responds and rebounds from the struggles.  Many very good players have had sophomore slumps in their careers and now it is up to Del Zotto to make sure that is all the 2010-11 season was and not a prelude to the rest of his career.

New York Rangers Become First Pro Sports Organization To Support Marriage Equality

A couple months ago Sean Avery made some news in speaking out about being willing to support an openly gay player in the NHL.  During the past few days a video has been released of Sean Avery speaking out in support of "New Yorkers for Marriage Equality." The campaign commercial spread rapidly and has been considered a boost to the cause of marriage equality in New York State.   

A little over two hours ago the Human Rights Campaign sent an e-mail notifying that the New York Rangers are backing Avery’s stance on the issue as an organization.  The move by the Rangers makes them the first not only NHL, but professional sports franchise to come out in support of the issue. 

The move by both Avery and the Rangers organization is one that speaks to standing up for things you believe in.  I have no doubt that this is a contentious issue for many, as are most political topics, but for both parties to put their name and in some measure reputations on the line is good to see no matter how you fall on the issue itself. 

Here is the official release:

NHL’s New York Rangers Promote Marriage Equality; First Sports Team to Rally Behind Gay Issue

Further proof that America is at a historic tipping point on gay rights issues – and specifically marriage -- came today in the form of two tweets and a Facebook post from an unexpected ally: the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers. The Rangers become the first professional sports team to actively promote marriage equality by advancing a video released on Saturday in favor of marriage equality in New York State by Rangers player Sean Avery. Earlier today, the team tweeted about it and posted news of it on their Facebook page. Madison Square Garden, the home of the Rangers, later re-tweeted the Rangers’ message.

Sean Avery’s video was the subject of this story in Sunday’s New York Times. Avery is currently in his fifth season with the New York Rangers and helped take the team to the 2011 playoffs. The New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign is centered on video testimonials from New Yorkers who support the right of committed same-sex couples to marry. To date, HRC has released over 30 videos from a diverse group of New Yorkers ranging from Barbara Bush to Julianne Moore.

The fact that a professional sports team – and from the rough and tumble game of hockey, no less -- would be willing to support marriage equality is clear indication that there’s growing support for LGBT equality issues across the board. Over the last month, three different polls have indicated that a majority of Americans now support marriage equality. In New York, a poll recently released by the Siena Research Institute shows public support for marriage equality at 58 percent. No doubt that there are battles ahead, but today, history was made.

Video: Roenick Calls Marleau 'Gutless'; Analysis Or Personal Issue?

Patrick Marleau was owned during the third period of Game 5 against the Detroit Red Wings by Pavel Datsyuk.  If that was not enough to motivate Marleau to be better in Game 6 back in Detroit, Jeremy Roenick gave him more following the game with his description of the performance.  Roenick, known for being blunt in his analysis, called Marelau's Game 5 performance "gutless" and went on to repeatedly take digs at Marleau during the post game including saying that only 19 Sharks showed up for the game.

Video:


Did Roenick go too far?  Is this about a personal issue between Roenick and Marleau from when they were together in San Jose?

Trade: Rangers Acquire Oscar Lindberg From Coyotes for Ethan Werek

The New York Rangers and the Phoenix Coyotes have made yet another trade with one another.  This time the deal is a prospect for prospect swap with New York sending 2009 second round pick Ethan Werek to the Coyotes in exchange for 2010 second round forward Oscar Lindberg.

At this point Werek looks like the more offensive of the two prospects.  This season he recorded 24 goals and 28 assists for 52 points in 47 games played with the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL this season.  The problem for Werek has been injuries as he has had various injuries in his two seasons since being drafted which made making the decision on signing him more difficult.  Seeing as how the Rangers had to sign him this summer or lose his rights they decided to move him for another prospect who would not require that decision this summer or a contract against the 50 contract limit next year.

Lindberg, 19, played 41 games for Skelleftea HC, in the Swedish Elite League (SEL) this season, scoring five goals with nine assists.  Lindberg is considered a very good defensive forward who is excellent on faceoffs, but has developing offensive skills.  To speak to his faceoff skills he was tops in the SEL at 69.6% this season.  He can be left over in Sweden to develop next year or be brought over to develop here, but the flexibility is very appealing.

Here is eliteprospects.com's profile of Lindberg:

A very smart two-way center. Takes care of his defensive responsibilities, but also contributes offensively with good speed, technical skills and playmaking ability. Not an overly physical player, but he gets involved. Pretty good shot, but not a natural scorer. A team player who is good at face-offs.

Lindberg also participated in the IIHF World Juniors tournament for Sweden this year and despite playing a third line center role was tied for the team lead with when he had four points in six games played.