Rangers Sign Naslund & Kalinin…Jagr Gone
The Rangers have announced they have reached a two year deal worth 8 million dollars with left winger Markus Naslund.
Also, the Blueshirts have reached an agreement on a one year deal with defenseman Dmitri Kalinin.
But, the Jaromir Jagr Era in New York has come to a close. The team has decided to go in a different direction and will not be offering a contract to the aging foward. Here’s what Glen Sather had to say about Jagr, courtesy of the Rangers Report.
“We decided we were going to move on,” Sather said. “Jagr was very respectful when I told him … We talked about his time here and he thanked me and I thanked him. It was a very cordial parting. You just can’t wait forever on these things.”
The Rangers also say they have an offer out to free agent defenseman Paul Mara and that the return of Shanny is still a possibility.
Interesting moves by the Rangers, let us know what you think below.
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Tags: Eric Rothman
19 Responses
Michael July 3rd at 5:36 pm
To your point about Shanny and Mara, Eric, I can’t see how either of them will be back now. The Rangers have made it clear that they want a young roster and are building for the future, which rules Shanny out (as does the fact that there are plenty of young wingers now on the roster), and as another offensive defenseman, Mara is surplus to requirements.
I’m fairly excited about Naslund, although he’s at least a season or two past his best years. The Swedish connection is fine, but he had a few countrymen in Vancouver as well so I’m not sure that will give him much of a jumpstart. Still, you know what you’re going to get from him, and he’s as reliable as they come (has played 81, 82, and 82 games in the last three seasons).
Kalinin..eh, ok, he gives us a much-needed big body on the blue line, so I’m happy with that. He’s been very poor on the offensive end since the lockout, but that’s ok, I think we have enough of that from the defensemen already.
Michael July 3rd at 5:42 pm
In fairness to Kalinin also, he played hurt for the majority of last season and wasn’t healthy in 2005-2006 either, at least not consistently. When he has been at 100%, he’s been pretty good, so that’s the biggest question mark surrounding him.
McKeever July 3rd at 6:43 pm
Excited to see Naslund play for the blueshirts but its though to see Jagr go. I still wish Sather gave Avery more money but we have to adapt to the environment and roll with it. The Rangers still have a shot at the cup in my book.
Teresa July 3rd at 7:19 pm
Well Eric, no secret from me, I am heart broken that Jagr is not going to be in NY, but it is better for the team. I read some quotes from him saying it didn’t make sense to have 2 guys like Gomez and Drury being on the 2nd and 3rd line. He knew there was probably little chance he would come back if he didn’t make the 84 point trigger. Dellapina had some good quotes from him. I will certainly miss seeing him in each night (especially since I finally got an HD TV).
I don’t know enough about the new guys to make any prediction. I just hope they all mesh well together faster than the group last year.
Michota July 3rd at 7:34 pm
Great signings and for very little $$$. The 2 of them come at less than Jagr & Naslund’s #’s were comparable to Jags last year. Sad to see him go but, he was just too moody last year. Good luck to him he helped turn this team around and it’s a shame he won’t be there to reep the rewards of Ranger sucess.
As for signing Shanny & Mara… GREAT! Shanny’s a great leader and can still put up points. Even if we just keep him for shootouts he’d be an asset. And Mara he was steady on D last year and if he’s willing to take a BIG, and I mean BIG pay cut I’d love to see him back to round out the defense.
All and all I’m pretty happy w/ the direction of this team. The only thing that hurt was loosing Avery… now let’s hope this Andreas Jamtinis a decent replacement.
McKeever July 3rd at 8:38 pm
i ment to say tough not through sorry!
Michael July 3rd at 9:16 pm
With Jagr and Straka gone, and it looks like Shanny will go as well, the Rangers will need a whole new set of captains.
My picks (if Shanny leaves):
C-Drury
A-Gomez
A-Rozsival
Steve K July 3rd at 9:30 pm
While we need wingers, I’m not sure about adding another late 30s past his prime forward for the team. This just strikes me as a move Sather would make pre-lockout. After deciding not to resign Jags and Avery, I’m almost at the point where I’d rather see them keep going for youth and give them a bigger role. As for captains, I agree with Drury as the C and Gomez as one of the A’s, but I think I would give my 2nd A to Staal. He is clearly the future star of this team, might as well groom him to be future captain.
Joe Collins July 3rd at 9:40 pm
Horrrible replacement for Jagr. Naslund has 194 pts since the lockout; Jagr has 290. I’ve never liked Naslund and I won’t start now.
Henry July 3rd at 9:45 pm
Lets hope Korpikoski gets a shot at the big club this year. He looked good in the one game he played against the pens…
Joe Collins July 3rd at 9:49 pm
I’d like to agree on the Staal A but I think he is still too young. I’m sure it will be Drury with the C, then Gomez and Naslund with the A’s.
Are there 3 assistants or just 2? I always thought there were 3.
I’m sure Korpikoski gets a shot, along with Chereponov and hopefully Sangunetti if he is ready.
Michael July 3rd at 10:01 pm
2 A’s and 1 C, although some teams go with 3 A’s when they want to honor the last captain (like NYR did after Messier).
Michael July 3rd at 10:06 pm
Steve K, I definitely agree with your sentiment about Staal, but like Joe, I think he’s still too young for even an A. This will only be his second season in the NHL.
Marc July 3rd at 10:13 pm
No one is replacing Jagr. But I do feel that this is now more of a team, less of a supporting cast for Jaromir Jagr. The team was stalled with him as the man and changes needed to happen, better now than later. For better or worse, we need to make moves, not just settle for more of the same.
There’s more to the Avery situation than meets the eye. Can’t say what, but when a deal like this that looks so obvious is so fishy, that’s usually because something stinks, and I don’t buy it being all about Sather. That said, I’ll miss both these players and wish ‘em well.
Inferno July 3rd at 10:56 pm
we need to make a trade right now. get rid of some our surplus forwards, and bring in a guy like Seabrook.
Gabbi R. July 4th at 12:06 am
I’ll miss Jags, he was my 3rd favourite player. (1st was Adam Graves– I’m dieying for tickets to Graves night!!! my 2nd favourite was Petr Nedved!) I still have my Jaromir Jagr teddy bear and Goals/Points record established T-Shirt. I wish Jags and Straka all the best in Europe, and the best also to Sean Avery in Dallas.
And as for new captaincy:
C- Drury
A- Naslund
A- Gomez
I’m glad we got rid of Backman.
Inferno July 4th at 4:01 am
Nedved? wow, interesting.
Alwasy been a Kovalev fan myself, HATED the deal that swapped those 2 guys (and zubov and samuelson)
My favorite rangers of all time is probably something like:
1)Leetch
2)Richter
3)Messier
4)Graves
5)Kovalev
6)Beukeboom
7)Gretzky
8)Jagr
Michael July 4th at 8:31 am
Inferno, there is NO WAY, and I repeat, NO WAY, the Blackhawks would give up Seabrook. You’re right, he’d be a great addition and I’m with you there, but he’s a big part of the Blackhawks’ future after having a very solid year last year.
Wishful thinking, though.
Mike July 4th at 10:12 am
All us Ranger fans have been allowing our emotions to cloud our judgement of Sather this off-season. I look at what he is doing and it is starting to make some sense. He is trying to build around the two big signings from last year. He went out and has attempted to find players that will gel nicely with Gomez and Drury. I think he may have something with a Gomez, Zherdev, Naslund line, lots of speed and two wingers who are known for their quick strike capabilities. This may turn out okay after all.