Kotalik got 1 million a year for 3 years, on www.nhl.com and 3 million a year for 3 years on www.tsn.ca. On paper, this looks too good at 1 million and horrible at 3 million, which sounds more like proper value. Honestly, I dont know much more about him than what I just read. He is big and has some goal scoring skills, but he sounds like another Zherdev that will show up some nights and not others.
It's a bad move, no need to get him and too much money to spend everyone realized besides the fact that Callahan and Dubinsky are both gonna get RAISES, Staal and Girardi are free agents next year and while Girardi won't get a raise Staal will, hell Staal may even get an offer sheet if he gets to free agency. I really don't think signing a 3rd line player for 3 million after we're already have 2 overpaid D-men and a overpaid center.
If we wanted to pay 3 million for a guy whose gonna score 50 pts, half ass it, and play no defence we should have just waited on Zherdev's arbitration at least hes a few years younger
Is this just a move to improve the Rangers Power Play and help in shoot-outs (which the Rangers seemed to do pretty well in any case last year) or does this guy have genuine talent - I'd love to hear from people who have seen him play regularly. Seems that 3 years at $3 mil/per may close the door on the prospective Richards deal. It's difficult to see the Rangers pull off the Richards deal while still signing Duby and Callahan for $5-$6 mil between them.
this guy has a snipe and clapper from the point, that could help on the powerplay. The guy has a way for getting game winning goals weather its in regulation or shoot outs. watch video on him he has a snipe and his wrist shot is lethal.
I won't go as far as to say this signing was huge, but the more I read, the more I start to understand why Sather made it. There are 2 glaring reasons (in my eyes) why Glen Sather signed Kotalik
He has good chemistry with Chris Drury. There's no end in sight for Drury's run as a Ranger, and Sather wants to bring out the best in him. Why not add the guy who was on his wing when he scored 37 goals? I'm not saying he'll have a monster year, but they apparently worked very well together and got along great. If it pushes Drury's production up a bit, then it works for me
He's a menace on the Power Play. Somewhere around 40-50% of his points come on the Power Play. The Rangers desperately need someone who can do damage on the PP. He's played the point before, so that could be an added threat that they lacked last year. I got sick of them "trying to improve the PP" by putting Drury on the point, and then Callahan for one game. Those guys don't have the bombs that score from the point. Kotalik, according to a lot that I've read, has a deadly shot from the point. If he pushes the power play up a bit, then he'll see lots of point time over the d-men who couldn't hit the net ever. They couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat. With the exception of Girardi, they can't find the net with their shots. Kotalik at the point on the PP will boost their production. Add Gaborik and their PP jumps from the bottom to maybe 15th in the league? I may be too optimistic, but it sounds like he's a power play specialist, something the team sorely lacked last year
In order for this move to be beneficial, he needs to work well with Drury, better than anyone else in the last few years with the Rangers. He needs to boost their power play. If those 2 things happen, then this signing is a good move. I'm not giving up on this one. A lot of people are saying this is a waste of money, but he could help them with the above things and that would do wonders for the team. Keep your fingers crossed
Lemur, in my opinion I think everyrone is just anxious because Dubes, Cally and Staal(FA after next season) are still unsigned, and the bank account is dwindling. If this deal had happened after dubes and cally were signed, i dont think anyone would complain. Why do they have to wait until the very end to sign those two guys?
I mean they don't have to lock up Duber and Cally now ... if they go to Arb and they make a deal for the rest of the year that will be a cheaper option for the Rangers so they are prob gonna do that. And then work on their extensions during the year. That will save them Cap room for the up coming season.
I think this is a good deal if he and Drury can get it working again. IF that happens then this will be like a 2 for 1 deal. We get a snipping PP QB (who plays the point on the PP which we all know will be a huge help for us) AND maybe then Drury will finally be able to put up the numbers that we expect of him. Drury will prob never be able to live up to the contract, but with a familiar face on the ice that he has had success with before he might finally be able to help the team win.
Plus there is still more that 5.5 mil left in cap room ... and thats if they don't move anyone else or if Redden doesn't go down to the 'Pack (either 1 or the other is very likely to happen). But even if neither of them happen then 5.5 should still be enough to cover whatever the Arb says we have to pay Cally or Duby. I mean i know they are great prospects ... but lets face it ... they don't have the offensive stats to back them asking for more than 2.75 mil each ya know.
I think we will be fine. Like Cuervo said, i think everyone is just a little on edge because the youth core isn't locked up yet. But they don't have to be. I hate to admit it, but it seems to me that Slats is now starting to realize his mistakes and is working on correcting them, thats a huge step in the right direction.
I admit I'm worried a bit too much about them... But I will say this. Glen Sather is still the GM. He makes big mistakes all the time. He's due for another one, and I have a bad feeling Duby and/or Cally will be gone
I know Duby and Cally aren't offensive juggernauts, but it's hard to let them dangle out there when they were key members of the team last year. It could be partly because Tortorella talked them up so much when he came over, and says they're both destined to be top 6 forwards, and Duby should be a top center soon, but it's hard to picture the Rangers in the future without them on the team.
I don't like the mixed signals. The organization loves them, but they keep dishing money out to other players. Wake up Glen. You're looking good. Don't screw it up now
Im on the fence about this deal because yes this guy can come in and improve the Rangers horrible power play but I think we overpaid for a guy 43 pts each of his last two years. Hes a buddy of Chris Drury so maybe that willl benefit both of them. I like that Sather is trying to get more scoring especially on the pp Im just not sure this was the move to make. Lets see how he does because maybe he can help the pp enough to justify his signing, im hoping he does.
I like the deal.. Cally and Dubey will get their money and extensions during the year and Stall as well... I like the moves Sather is making but he can screw it all up real quick if he does not re sign Betts... that guy won us alot of games over the years and he is probably the best overall defensive forward in the game IMO
This move was solely because of zherdev wanting more than 3.25 mil per year. The Rangers are saving 250 k now because of this... so im not quite sure why the money is an issue. Although id much rather have zherdev personally I do not mind this signing at all after thinking about it.
Still looking for them to trade for Richards or even Marleau and getting rid of rozy's or reddens contract but we will see how that plays out.
You may get your wish of dumping Redden or Rozsival (more likely Rozsival). Rumors are heating up yet again with Dallas. The Rangers are apparently interested in Zubov. I don't know if it's legitimate, but apparently Dallas might have a big announcement today or tomorrow. I really hope it's not true. The Rangers don't need an aged blue liner. They need to get younger in that area.
I like Zubov, and if he is healthy I would take his 39 year old body over Rozsival.
Zubov is a legitimate offensive threat on the blue line, and would be a very big asset to the Ranger PP. With Zubov and Kotalik back there on the PP, it has to improve a bunch.
However, he only played half of the 2007-08 season due to a hernia and only 10 games last year because of (I think) a hip injury. Prior to that he stayed healthy. However, I don't kow if we want to bet on him staying healthy.
Could be that Sather wants him for one year while some of the young guns get a little more seasoning. But it's definitely a gamble. He will either look great if Zubov is healthy and the PP improves or he looks like the typical Sather and Zubov doesn't play much.
Sometime, Lemur, you may want to include the source of these rumors in your posts. It would be nice to know if these are coming from bulletin boards like this or someplace with a bit more credibility.
