Comments on: Free Agency Isn’t Free…

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:43:15 +0000

Excuse me, Inferno, I’ve watched him play a lot; I have the Center Ice package and followed Columbus and Chicago very closely in the West and know what I’m talking about.

He was a 4th overall draft pick and has come nowhere close to expectations. He’s pretty good in shootouts and can be an exciting player, but he’s fairly selfish, and he has a bad attitude. He can be lazy, and when things don’t go his way, he pouts. He has a problem with authority as well.

In four seasons with Columbus, he put up 181 points in 283 games, despite playing on the first line for much of his tenure and playing with some very talented offensive players. Trust me, numbers-wise, he hasn’t lived up to a #4 pick, and intangibles-wise, he’s nothing special.

Don’t question whether I’ve watched a player before; I don’t comment on things or events I don’t see firsthand because that would be ignorant on my part. I’ve seen enough of Zherdev to know that he can be a decent player and even a good one in the right situation, but he’s an old 23 years of age right now and I don’t see him progressing as much as people think he will.

By: scummy

scummy — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:28:38 +0000

Good point Inferno… I think we all keep neglecting the fact that the higher ups might be trying to build around Gomez and Drury… The D line should be fairly decent to almost excellent next season. Backman we all wanted to see go (I think) and Tyutin was a big disappointment last season.

By: Inferno

Inferno — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:21:04 +0000

if youve ever seen Zherdev, and the craphole of a team he played for, you wouldnt be saying that. Pair this guy with Gomez, and be prepared to see something special.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:52:37 +0000

Nicky Zherdev has been a perennial underachiever and a big disappointment thus far in his NHL career with Columbus. Dan Fritsche is a nice young player, but he has limited offensive upside.

Inferno, how can you call this a great move? The Rangers have a glut of young wingers now, too many to fit in. Sure, I didn’t really like Tyutin as much as a lot of people did and Backman was just average, but now the Rangers basically have nothing on the blue line except for Redden, Staal, and Rozsival (Girardi is a 2nd, at best, or 3rd pairing NHL defenseman). I understand they have high hopes for Sanguinetti, but you can’t rely on him yet. I’d expect to see Thomas Pock playing full time next year.

It sounds like the Rangers are going for a full-on youth movement now, which was inevitable, but I think last year’s crop had one more run left in them. Now, it looks like the Rangers will be rebuilding. In the East, that may be good enough to make the playoffs, but is that all we want as fans?

By: Inferno

Inferno — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:42:03 +0000

Rangers traded Tyutin and Backman for Zherdev and Fritsche.

GREAT move by Sather imho.

By: Steve K

Steve K — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:22:37 +0000

You’d think, if they let Avery go, they could have signed Ruutu. He’s not Avery, but he’s the kind of pest that at least could help.

By: Eric Rothman

Eric Rothman — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:03:04 +0000

haha Michael he does not speak spanish…don’t ask me what he does for them ha

As for the Reds…its not even worth discussing

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:58:50 +0000

Steve is working with the Yankees SPANISH broadcasting team? Does he even speak Spanish??

Either way, the Yankees are fading fast..

How about that extra-inning loss last night for the Reds, Eric? At least my Braves have the decency to lose in 9 innings and don’t get my hopes up with false comebacks.