Artwork by Michelle Kenneth
Free Agency and I have one thing in common. It begins on my birthday (July 1). I have a complete love/hate relationship with free agency. Sometimes I hate the decisions being made (like the fact that I now have to go to Russia to see Jaromir Jagr play - thank goodness I started taking Russian language classes over the summer). Other times I love what is happening (like Marian Hossa deciding to sign with the Detroit Red Wings).
One story from the NY Post published on July 1 dealt with one particular free agent. Believe me, it was a pleasant birthday surprise for me. Not that it’s happened yet, but talks of it happening as a DEFINITE according to The NY Post brought a smile to my face. Brendan Shanahan may be returning home to the New Jersey Devils, the team that drafted him in the first round, second overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. Shanny spent the first three years of his career with the New Jersey Devils, so ending it in Newark, New Jersey will bring his entire professional career full circle.
Now, the question is: why would Shanny not continue with the New York Rangers? There are a few elements in this.
1) In various media polls throughout the NYC area, when asked who should return next season as a NY Ranger, Shanahan received a 30% approval rating amongst all Ranger fans voting, while players such as Michal Rozsival (D) had a 70% approval rating, and Jagr and Martin Straka consuming the higher end of the ratings coming in around 83-85%. Rangers fans gave no love to Shanahan. Guess they forgot the man played with an injury and made it worse by continuing to play. They can’t say the man doesn’t have heart.
2) If you heard what Coach Tom Renney had to say about Shanny’s performance and how his role would have to be ‘re-defined’ IF he were to return, it’s like smacking the man in the face. After all he’s done for the team and with all of his knowledge…you want to re-define him? Players don’t mesh well with coaches that won’t let them play how they know how to play. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks…you work with what you’ve got. I remember countless interviews where Jaromir Jagr expressly said that the reason why things didn’t work out in DC was because they wouldn’t let him play hockey the way he wanted to play hockey [we won't get into Jagr's personal problems at the time]. Also, based on how I’ve seen the Rangers operate with their players in the past [and yes, I know that they shriek in fear that I'll really tell the world what I know about what they do to their players they want gone], this is a sure sign they really don’t want him back. If he does come back, he’ll be treated more as a nuisance to the team. Doesn’t make sense, I know, but I’ve seen it happen countless times to other players who eventually leave and don’t look back…and they bite their tongues and don’t talk smack about the Rangers to the media (even though they really want to do so). [NOTE: If you're a Rangers fan and challenging this, I recommend you read my exclusive interview with Darius Kasparaitis. I was torn between printing what I know and bending to protect both the Rangers and Darius in the matter, because at the end of the day, he was still employed by the New York Rangers and I didn't want to make things worse for him.]
3) Oh, and don’t always believe that “maybe” Shanahan will return next season from Rangers management. Maybe always means NO in Sather’s book. I have never seen one of his maybes turn into a YES. I always love how he strings everyone along (I’m talking about the fans, sometimes it becomes the player - case in point, Petr Sykora) and alludes a sense of mystery to his decision making. I have one thing to say about that…there are some people who can see right through the shroud of mystery and look right into the soul of the truth. That’s me. While I respect that Sather does this mystery thing b/c being a GM means having a poker face at all times, and the fact that he was extremely nice to Darius when he went through his breakdown and then started going around saying what I was saying about Darius’ performance over the summer, I will not speak ill of him. I have the utmost respect for Sather. This is just how he does business…some of you just need to figure out what is really going on inside his head. You need to rely more on your intuition to decipher Sather’s mixed signals.
4) Glen Sather doesn’t want to sign anyone over the age of 35. So if Shanny’s waiting around for that call from the Rangers, he should think again. Just look at what Sather decided when it came to Jaromir Jagr.
Granted, I am middle of the road on that whole Jagr decision. Jagr should have taken what was offered to him by Sather instead of demanding more, when it was obvious all the way through that Sather wasn’t going to budge. Then again, Jagr would have been an idiot not to accept the offer from Russia. They offered him much more money then he would have gotten from the NHL, even if Edmonton tried to steal him away (good choice on Jagr’s part not to head to Canada). So the whole free agency thing with Jagr was bittersweet (bitter for me, because I don’t get to see the big guy unless I hop on a plane and head straight to Russia; sweet for Jagr because he’s making more money and he’s closer to home).
Now, if younger is better for the New York Rangers, then older is sweeter for the New Jersey Devils. With the signings of Bobby Holik (boy, next season is going to be a riot) and Brian Rolston, the Devils are proving that even if you’re past the age of 35, you still have a home to come home to, especially if you have already dedicated some of your life to the team. So Shanny returning home to the Devils will be the sweetest free agency signing I’ll see this summer…because you know I’m still bitter over Jagr leaving the NHL.
To read more about Shanahan coming back to the NJ Devils and other Devils signings CLICK HERE to go to Inside Hockey.com
The NHL filed papers in Court on Wednesday that could lead to the possible suspension/termination of ownership of the New York Rangers. The NHL has a case in getting rid of the Dolan family after winning their case in November to which a judge sided with the NHL stating that they have the right to control over the Rangers promotions, licensing, website, etc.
Artwork by Michelle Kenneth.
The NHL trade deadline ends at 3PM on Tuesday. Should the Devils make a trade? I answer that question in my Devils column 