754 replies to this topic

[MantaRay]

Thats just called Bad Management.

The Ranger$ were totally unprepared and Blackburn is just not ready to be thrown in the fire. Sather wanted to save face in light of horrible draft record by calling Blackburn, the next Grant Fuhr...as if the kid didn't have enough pressure.

Its funny a team with an estimated $84 million salary base and the ONLY player who came to play this week was TED DONATO.

So much for the infamous: "I will only play for a Stanley Cup contender"--BS.

[sammyk]

Isn't it true that because of his age, he can't be sent to Hartford to play regularly?

Perhaps next year he'll be old enough and they'll sign a backup for Dunham and let Blackburn play for the Pack.

That would be logical though, so don't count on it!

[Triumph]

That is true sammy.

It was clear to Ranger management that Blackburn did not deserve to go back to junior.

However, to play him in 19 straight games was also very stupid.

[bg.]

Look at the bright side Derek, at least we will be getting our playoff money back.

As far as Blackburn is concerned, I think Hartford is a very realistic possibility for him next season. Dunham will be the number 1 and get 60+ starts.

I really think the JR rule hurts top players more than it helps them. Very very few players can play in the NHL at 18 or 19 and have a great deal of success. At the same time those playing with teenagers does very little for the development of those top players.

I think Pavel Brendl said it best a few years ago when he was sent back to JR. "I should be playing with men not boys."

[Chort]

how come "cromo domo - the Mess" did not guarantee that they will make the play-offs??

[bg.]

Mess nailed the most important guarantee during the Spring of 1994. That's really all that matters.

[Triumph]

You're right bg.. Mess nailed that one the same way he nailed that drive on that tough Par 5 dogleg in Spring 2003..

[sundstrom]

at what point does the past become irrelevant? don't talk to me about messier's guarantee. outside of lindros, messier is the biggest burden on this rangers team. no lindros and no messier and the rangers just might have made the playoffs.

[LizDevil30]

Mess's guarantee is a long time ago now. I think 6 years no playoffs really diminishes it too.

[M.]

C'mon guys- mess guarantee is all they have left. Don't take that away from them. I mean, it's not like he nailed the last guarantee that he made two years ago was it, about making the playoffs?

[bg.]

Its been a few years since your team has won as well...

...Game 7 in Colorado isn't close enough...nor is Game 6 in Carolinia.

Honestly I love the way you guys spin things. About a week or so ago after that big Philly win you guys were saying, bring on Toronto, all the pressure's on them. Call me crazy but a team that has its sights set much higher than getting in saying all the pressure is on another team in Round one is very interesting.

Hey, you guys are going to take shots at a guy with 6 cups, I'll bring up the past all day.

[MantaRay]

Mess should have retired three years ago.

He just isn't the force or the threat he was when he left for Vancouver. Geez, why not just bring back Gordie Howie he has a playoff hero a while back too.

[BlueSkirt]

He WAS the greatest leader, but that was then, this is now.

I don't want Mess to leave - he is the perfect albatross around the Ranger's necks.

A perfect 0-for-3 !

[NJDevs4978]

bg even the loss to Carolina is a lot closer than the highest payroll in the league has been the last six years

And yes that was asinine what Cro-Mag said about Blackburn. It SHOULDN'T BE ON THE KID TO BEGIN WITH! Marty has much more of a pedigree than Blackburn and you'd never catch Stevens or Dano saying well it's all gonna rest on Marty's shoulders tonight. Not only was it undue pressure to put on the kid it's flat out admitting your team ain't good enough to do it.

And bg If you're gonna laud him for his Game 6 guarantee forever you have to give him crap for NOT delivering on his promise last year. Not to mention Sather this year .

I'm beginning to buy the overrated leader thing; the greatest leader in all of professional sports hasn't led his teams into the playoffs in any of the past six years.

[westcoastdevfan]

bg you are right. We should feel really sad for the Rangers. All these guarantees and nothing to show for it. I think it would be better if we show support for the Rangers for a good effort and a job well done. Maybe next year will be the year. See you next year Rangers and I hope you continue to play with heart, desire, passion and as a team worthy of a birth to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Good luck! We applaud your effort this year.

[Triumph]

It's not like those 6 years absent from the playoffs have been on bad teams either. All 6 years, it has been teams expected to make the playoffs that did not deliver.

Messier is a non-entity now. I don't even hate him anymore, that's how pathetic he's become.

[Zamode]

Why do Rags fans hold Cromag's guarantee as damn near Gospel? Slats said the same and alot of other guys talk smack, too. He got lucky with a guess.

[LetsGoDevils]

Why do Rags fans hold Cromag's guarantee as damn near Gospel? Slats said the same and alot of other guys talk smack, too. He got lucky with a guess.

It would've been more impressive if he had like actually scored the game winning goal to back up his quote. Mess is done. Stick him back in ice until the next ice age thaw.

[Derek21]

[quote name='bg.' date='Mar 27 2003, 10:00 AM']Look at the bright side Derek, at least we will be getting our playoff money back.


But that's just it bg. I don't want my playoff money back. You can figure out what I mean here.

This team shouldn't be missing it's sixth straight postseason. Even with all the injuries, they still should have been able to win more games. It's sad how heartless they are. Like a bad disease that never has a cure.

As far as Blackburn is concerned, I think Hartford is a very realistic possibility for him next season. Dunham will be the number 1 and get 60+ starts.

I really think the JR rule hurts top players more than it helps them. Very very few players can play in the NHL at 18 or 19 and have a great deal of success. At the same time those playing with teenagers does very little for the development of those top players.

I think Pavel Brendl said it best a few years ago when he was sent back to JR. "I should be playing with men not boys."


Blackie clearly needs to be in Hartford next year. I agree that the JR rule hurts kids because it only leaves their NHL team with two options:

1.Send them back to Juniors where they might be too good to play.

2.Play them in the NHL where it's Sink or Swim. Guys can lose confidence this way if not brought along properly.


I think we've seen a few examples of this.


If Mess really said what he did about Blackie, he was wrong.


But for fans here to say he's not a leader is ridiculous. #11 might be 42 but he brought it most nights this season unlike his younger teammates.

[Zamode]

Derek he's more of a figure head (and some bald head at that) anymore. He should have retired before he left for Vancouver. Of course he is a HOF but it seems to be the thinking of do you go out with a bang or whimper?