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Pronger Suspended 8 Games for Stomp, What a Joke

Well folks I guess Chris Pronger has photos of Colie Campbell or his son Gregory Campbell.  See my original blog Does Pronger Have Photos of Campbell.   8 games for a career felon???  C'mon Colie, stop with the double standard.  If this was a grinder he would be gone for the season and deep into the playoffs. 

Here's what Soupie had to say ""In attempting to free himself, Pronger carelessly and recklessly brought his foot down."  Un huh and I'm selling a bridge, its located in Brooklyn.  If you watch the video you can clearly see Pronger look down and stomp Kessler's calf.  Freeing oneself from entanglement would require you to shake your leg or pull it out not STOMP on someone.  So once again justice is not served, unless of course the Chris in question is named Simon.

Does Chris Pronger Have Photos of Campbell

If Chris Pronger doesn't get at least 15 games for intent to injure Ryan Kessler I will be convinced that he has photos on Colie Campbell or his son Gregory Campbell.  Maybe one of the Campbell's are client #8?  Haha just kidding but  Pronger has been getting away with murder for years and the league really needs to clamp down.  If you watch the video you can clearly see Pronger look down and stomp Kessler's calf.  This is clearly a case of intent to injure.  Both players are very lucky that Ryan didn't suffer a major injury as the back side of players calves are not protected well by hockey shin guards. Its funny how the NHL treats the haves and the have nots differently.  If a 3rd or 4th line player with Chris' rep did this they would be gone for at least 20 games.  Here's a look at Pronger's most recent dirty plays and soft suspensions.

Compliments of TSN.ca: Pronger has been suspended seven times in his career, with the most recent ones handed down during the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring. He received a one-game suspension from the NHL last May for his hit on Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, and was suspended for a game in June for hitting Ottawa's Dean McAmmond in the head with his forearm during the third period of the Senators' 5-3 win in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.

NY Ranger Marty Straka Due For a Tear

Anyone who has followed New York Rangers winger Marty Straka knows he is very streaky. He’s been quiet (point wise) for a while since coming back from injury.  Any game now I’m expecting him to go on a tear. Marty is much too talented not to start producing like he’s capable of and when he gets going the points come in bunches.  The stretch run would a great time for Marty to get hot and help the Rangers finish strong.

While on the subject I do think that Marty might not be back on the team next year. He is somewhat expendable now that Dawes and Callahan have produced on the top 3 lines.

Rangers Goalie Henrik Lundqvist Ties NHL Record

Congrats to New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist on being only the 2^nd player in NHL history to record 30 or more wins in his first 3 seasons. Who is the other goalie who accomplished this feat? Roy, Brodeur, Sawchuk, Fuhr? Nope good ole Ronnie Hextall. Maybe congratulations are not in order afterall. This could turn out to be a jinx like the Heisman trophy. Don’t let it go to your head Hank, your glove hand is worrying me.  More on that tomorrow....

Something Fishy on Long Island with DiPietro and Islanders

Wasn’t it only 2 months ago fishsticks fans were calling Charles Wang a genius and visionary?

Not sure how many of you caught the pre and post game comments from Islanders coach Ted Nolan and backup Rick DiPietro. Something is definitely amiss with Dipetro and there is more to the story as to why he didn’t start Thursday’s Islanders vs Rangers game. Lets recall last year when the Rick went down with injury and Dubie held down the fort. As soon as Rick was cleared to play he returned as the starting goalie.

This notion about missing time and not being in game shape is bull. Watching last night you could clearly see the often fast talking DiPietro taking his time and answering in a tone which clearly displayed how annoyed he is. This makes me believe the rumors swirling around that this all started Tuesday night might be true. The story/rumor going around is that DiPietro upon hearing he would not start on Tuesday opted out of the game due to his grandmothers death. Ie he would have been there if he was starting but once he found out he was sitting he decided not to attend the must win game for the Islanders. So either Nolan was punishing him last night or really playing a hunch. Net result the Islanders failed to win and now might have an “issue” with their 15 year man. Wonder who Charles will side with?

XM 204 Hockey Sorely Missed

My daily commute is now via the New Jersey  transit train system. Its not bad, except for the 3 times in the past 2 weeks the train broke down. But there is one thing that is killing me and that is that I can’t listen to XM 204. As my family and friends can attest the navigation screen in my car rarely ever tunes to a different XM channel. Man do I miss Mike Bossy in the morning during hockey this morning, In the Slot in the afternoon with Tatti and Espo. Heck I even miss hearing Dennis Potvin in the mornings. XM needs to develop some kind of sling box for my cell phone or iPod so I can listen during my train ride. Now that’s something I would buy.

Ted Nolan NHL 2008 Coach of the Year

Alright let me start by saying I am a huge Rangers fan so this pains me to write this. But if there is another coach in the NHL that gets more from less than Ted Nolan, please let me know. I know that Brent Sutter is doing a great job for the NJ Devils but at least they have a solid organizational philosophy and foundation.

The Islanders? Look at the lineup they’ve got NOTHING.... Yet here they are AGAIN close to a playoff spot and busting their tails on every single shift never giving up. This team barely has a 1^st liner, is plagued by injuries yet they won’t go away. If I had a vote Ted Nolan would be my pick for Coach of the year, even if the Fishsticks don’t make the play-offs.

Avery Not Getting His Due on Broadway

Glen Sather is an absolute enigma. The NY Rangers GM picks and chooses his battles in a bizarre way when it comes to contract negotiating.

What we know: Sather played hardball with Al Montoya over (peanuts) and Al went back to college to play another year. Some say it set Al back and that it slowed his career to the NHL. Now normally I wouldn’t fault a GM but this was during the time when the Rangers would throw money out of the MSG windows at anyone that could spell hockey. 

Sather also is the GM that felt compelled to overpay Henrik Lundqvist and not go to arbitration this summer. I say overpay because if you look at the comparables King Henrik is clearly overpaid compared to his former RFA peers (see Ryan Miller and Cam Ward).

Now good Ole Sather is taking the hardball approach with super pest Sean Avery. This past summer he decided to take Sean to arbitration. Now I’m not a huge fan of Avery’s pre-Broadway work but since he’s been playing for the Rangers he’s been the straw that stirred the drink. The NY Rangers record with Avery is unbelievable vs a sub 500 record when he’s not in the lineup.

Fast forward to last month, Avery decides to negotiate with the Rangers without an agent, possibly thinking he’ll save the organization money and of course gain money for himself. Rumor is he’s asking in the 3.5-3.75 range and a 3-4 year deal. Slats is said to be around the 2.5 – 2.75 range and not budging. Both sides have called talks off and Sather will wait till the off season and let the market decide.

IMO Sather is making a big mistake. I feel based on Avery’s conduct and output in Gotham he will get a 3.5 million per season deal. If he was buried on the 4^th line it would be one thing, but this guy is gelling with Jagr and putting up some decent points and playing great since returning from injury. Slats may not value Avery as a spark plug but wait till he has to replace him next season when the engine is sputtering.

Kevin Lowe Christmas Letter from the Sabres

Do you think Darcy Reiger GM for the Buffalo Sabres sent Kevin Lowe a Christmas this year? Better yet I wonder what its like at the GM meetings when KLow, Ducks Gm Brian Burke and Darcy Rieger are in the same room? I’m sure Rieger and Tom Golisano curse Lowe everytime they run paychex and think about the $10 million that 27 goal scorer Thomas Vanek is getting.

Speaking of Kevin Lowe and the Oilers. How do you think he’s feeling about Dustin Penner? Yeh thought so.

Larry Brooks Clarifies My Al Montoya Blog

Many thanks to Larry Brooks for clarifying my blog on exactly why Glen Sathers trade of Al Montoya was an unmitigated disaster.  Check out my original Al Montoya Trade a Disaster blog.  Here is Larry's article from today's Post (half way down) where he provides more detail on my blog (thanks LB). 

Larry is right that Montoya was ruined by mismanagement of the NY Rangers organization.  Sather through the years has played hard ball with many young players, many times fighting over thousands of dollars while needlessly spending millions on other players.  Montoya was also one of the first big legit prospects under Sather's watch which makes this even more painful.  Had Sather dealt Al last year or the year prior the return would have been significant.