Vokoun's Availability Doesn't Help Rangers

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Written on 12/11/2009 by Jim Cerny


Chris Botta has himself a nice little scoop over at Fanhouse today.

Botta is reporting that the Florida Panthers have contacted teams about Tomas Vokoun's availability.

Add Vokoun's name to those of fellow netminders J.S. Giguere, Martin Biron, Jaroslav Halak, and, perhaps, Manny Legace and you have quite a group of experienced goaltenders available via trade.

Dealing Vokoun is easier said than done, what with his hefty contract extending past this season. And it's a huge risk for the Panthers because he has been their best player this season; and what would become of the Panthers without their most important player?

But as Botta points out, Florida has top prospect Jacob Markstrom at the ready beginning next season to assume duties in goal, so the Panthers may be willing to make a deal now during the season as other teams become desperate, as opposed to next summer. They would just have to bite the bullet on this season and see if Scott Clemmensen has any New Jersey magic in him left over from a year ago.

Vokoun's contract is a major stumbling block. Clearly the Panthers would have to take serious salary back in any deal for their No. 1 goalie. But how could the Flyers not be interested in Vokoun, especially with the inconsistent state of their goaltending this season and the current injury to starter Ray Emery?

What about Ottawa? They did swing a deal last spring to make Pascal LeClaire their No. 1, but surprise of all surprises, he is injured again.

Then there is Toronto. If Brian Burke believes his club's recent run the past two weeks is for real, does he consider such a big move? Vesa Toskala has been horrible and Jonas Gustavvson has had heart issues. Logic would say no deal for Toronto because Gustavvson is the goalie of the future, but yet with Burke, well, you never know.

I have chronicled Detroit's goaltending issues before here on Rink Rap. Vokoun would look quite nice in red and white, but no way the Red Wings could slip him in under the Cap, right? Right? Hmmmm......

Of course the playing field changes dramatically if another team---in particular, a serious Stanley Cup contender---loses their No. 1 goalie to injury. That would make Vokoun, arguably, the hottest commodity on the NHL market.

As for backup goaltenders, the question on Broadway is: will Henrik Lundqvist play every game the rest of the season now that his backup, Steve Valiquette, has shockingly flamed out and been sent to the minors?

Well maybe that is not exactly the question, but it is close. The Rangers are right up against the salary cap ceiling and really can't afford to add a Halak or Biron---the most affordable options out there---as Lundqvist's caddy. So right now rookies Chad Johnson and Matt Zaba are alternating playing in Hartford for the club's AHL afffiliate, practicing with the Rangers, and backing up Lundqvist on game day. Not exactly the ideal situation.

"It's a mess," Rangers coach John Tortorella said this morning of the goaltending situation behind Lundqvist. "Let's call it what it is. It's a mess."

Tortorella shared that the plan was for the veteran Valiquette, who earns a Cap-friendly $750,000 this season, to make 15-17 starts this season, "especially with Hank set to play in the Olympics."

Now Torts has no idea when, or how, he can give Lundqvist any nights off, in particular because the team is struggling so mightily right now and needs his play to either steal them some victories or keep them in games. At some point, Tortorella explained, Johnson---a rookie who played at Alaska-Fairbanks last season, and who is considered a decent NHL prospect---will be forced to make a start.

"We sent a veteran backup down and he's still struggling down there, and we don't even know what we have in Johnson," explained Tortorella. "I'm not trying to paint a lousy picture, but that's the picture it is."

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By the way, check out the Rangers Radio page at newyorkrangers.com for an interview Steve Gelbs and I conducted with John Halligan, author of "100 Rangers Greats", this week. Halligan, a long-time Rangers employee, is a true historian of all things Rangers, and our conversation is a lot of fun, and sprinkled with many Rangers anecdotes and memories. Not to mention we have some fun debates! For example how can Mike Gartner, perhaps one of the top two or three snipers in franchise history be ranked No. 67? Fun stuff, so go check it out.

Also, for you folk up in Canada, I am a guest this week on The Fourth Period Radio Show. Dan Kingerski and I will be debating topics such as the return of the NHL to Quebec City, who will be the next coach fired in the NHL, and will Wayne Gretzky coach Canada at the World Championships.

If you are not north of the border, http://www.thefourthperiod.com/ should have the show on its site beginning on Saturday.

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Retooled Canadiens Look for Solid Footing

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Written on 10/24/2009 by Jim Cerny




The Montreal Canadiens spent the better part of their summer retooling the coaching staff and roster following a second place finish in the Northeast Division, 8th place in the Eastern Conference, and getting swept by the Bruins in the opening round of the playoffs.

Now, nine games into the 2009-10 season, the question is: where exactly are the new-look Canadiens after all of the changes?

The answer from new head coach Jacques Martin is, "a work in progress."

"It takes a while, not only from the players standpoint, but from that of a coach," Martin told me this morning at the Bell Centre. "It takes me a while as a coach to really appreciate what a player brings to the table. And as for the team, I think we have progressed, but it will take some time."

Martin's club---with seven players on the roster who did not play for Montreal a year ago---has won two in a row after a five-game losing streak had the Canadiens off to a dismal 2-5-0 start. And Martin is beginning to see some positive signs in his club's all-around game.

"I have been happy as far as how we got better with our fore-checking, spending more time in the offensive zone, versus the first couple of weeks in the season," Martin told me. "We've also been better with limiting the scoring chances for the opposition."

Montreal has surrendered only two goals in their past two games---a 2-1 shootout victory over the Thrashers and a 5-1 win against the Islanders. One of the key reasons for this is that Jaroslav Halak has replaced a shaky Carey Price in goal, stopping 43 of 45 shots in those two starts.

Martin indicated this morning that Halak---sporting a 1.88 goals against average and .921 save percentage in four appearance sthis season---will make a third consecutive start between the pipes this evening against the Rangers.

As for Price, the 22 year-old supposed stud goalie of the present and future?

"I think Carey is OK, he's fine," stated Martin. "He's a young goaltender who can take this time to work on his game."

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Martin was similarly lukewarm about the play of center Scott Gomez, the first of the big names acquired by the Canadiens this summer. Gomez, who will play against the Rangers tonight for the first time since the June 30 trade that sent him to Montreal for Christopher Higgins, among others, scored his second goal of the season on Thursday against the Islanders. So far, he is 2-3-5 in nine games, skating with fellow newcomers Brian Gionta (4-0-4) and Michael Cammalleri (2-5-7).

"We count on Scott o play hard every night," noted Martin. "He's given us some good minutes, in particular against Atlanta (on Tuesday). His emotion and passion were the best they've been all year in Atlanta. He has to recapture that."

You can expect Gomez to play a strong game tonight against his former club. Gomez has always been a big-game player, and while in New York he had some clutch performances against his first club, the Devils.

"This is a business, and I've been in the league long enough to know that it is," Gomez said about the trade following this morning's skate. "Last year was an off year, but it's in the past. I have nothing but great things to say about the New York Rangers organization."

Gomez was his usual wise-cracking self this morning in his chat with New York media. Whether it was telling stories about his difficulties taking French speaking lessons, the obsessive nature of the Montreal media and fan base, his new Mini-Cooper car, or the recently fabricated story that he punched out Sergei Kostitsyn during training camp, Gomez ripped off one one-liner after another.

Of the bogus Kostitsyn story, Gomez said, "I guess that was my first welcome to Montreal. Yeah, that was my initiation, and welcome to Montreal moment."

As far as what's taking place on the ice, another newcomer, defenseman Paul Mara, said, "It's coming along, especially the last two games. You know they live and breathe hockey here, and they're knowledgable fans who know hockey, so that raises our level of play. You come to the rink every day wanting to play better for them."

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On a side note, this week's Rangers Radio talk show, which I co-host with Steven Gelbs, is available to listen to at NewYorkRangers.com. Click on this link to listen. Former Rangers forward Adam Graves is our special gues this week.

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Rangers Radio Debuts with Mike Keenan on Friday

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Written on 10/15/2009 by Jim Cerny


As you can well expect I am fired up to host the brand-new weekly podcast talk program, Rangers Radio, over at NewYorkRangers.com.

While I love serving as the beat writer for the team's official site, broadcasting is still very much in my bones. So the chance to chat Rangers hockey with my co-host Steven Gelbs, while also interviewing current and former members of the organization, and answering the fans e-mail questions, is going to be a lot of fun, plain and simple.

And we have a very special guest for the first show, former Rangers (and Flyers...and Blues...and Panthers...and Bruins...and Flames...and, well you get the idea) head coach Mike Keenan. Expect Keenan to look back at the magical 1993-94 season (it's already been 15 years...incredible!), while also analyzing the current state of the Rangers in his new role as guest hockey analyst for The MSG Network.

Here is complete information on the show from the Rangers official team site.

I have reported on the NHL for 20 years, and for much of that time, I have covered the New York Rangers, whether as a radio reporter, talk show host, reporter for The Rangers Fax Report (remember that oldie but goodie from the mid '90's?!), or as beat writer. Because of that experience, I have many stories to share and insight to dispense.

And if nothing else, I'm good for a few laughs along the way!

Speaking of laughs,  Andrew Gross from The Record in northern New Jersey plugged Rangers Radio in his blog this morning, while also sharing a funny tale about how he crushed my career as play-by-play voice of the New York Islanders earlier this decade. It's funny stuff, and it's 100 percent the truth!!

You should be following Andrew's blog anyway, but definitely check out today's post.

And come join Rangers Radio at NewYorkRangers.com, this week and each week to follow. It's going to be a fun journey.

As a side note, I am considering hosting a weekly NHL podcast based on this Rink Rap blog---seperate from Rangers Radio---not just Rangers-related, but chock full of NHL news, opinions, guests, etc. If you like---or hate---the idea let me know. You might be able to sway my decision one way or the other.

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