Two ex-Pack were signed to new teams yesterday. Dwight “Dewey” Helminen left the Carolina Hurricanes organization for the Silicon Valley, signing a one year deal with the San Jose Sharks. Also signing yesterday was former Pack and Rangers fan favorite, Jed Ortmeyer. Ortmeyer, who last year struggled with yet another major knee injury, left the Nashville Predators and will join Helminen in San Jose. Theoretically, both could wind up visiting the friendly confines of the XL Center if they are with the Sharks farm team in Worcester.
But the one mystery that remains is why nobody has signed the AHL’s top scoring leader from last season, former Wolf Pack forward, and Howlings personal favorite, Alexandre Giroux.
Last season, Giroux played in 69 AHL contests with the Calder Cup Champion, Hershey Bears. He contributed 37 helpers and put in an astonishing 60 goals for a total of 97 points. In 22 playoff games last season, the 28 year old lit the lamp 15 times and helped out on 13 others for 28 points. Yet the Quebec native still sits waiting for a call that an offer is on the table.
“I did have an offer from Washington to stay with Hershey,” Giroux told Howlings. “I mean no disrespect to anyone, but I think I’ve proven all I can in the AHL.”
Giroux said that his then-agent received offers and was pushing him hard to take an offer to go to Russia and play in the KHL. “I think he was more interested in his commission than he was in getting me an NHL deal.” He said. “I think (the agent) left the impression with NHL GM’s that we were heading (to Russia) so some teams that were expressing interest went in another direction. Hopefully my new agent will get something for me soon” Giroux is hopeful that an NHL team will give him the chance to live out his dream. “All I’ve ever wanted was a real chance to make it at the NHL level. I’ve been working very hard this summer and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to announce that I’ve signed with an NHL team soon.”
A SOAP BOX MOMENT…
Given the Rangers current need for a playmaking center who can also put the puck in the back of the net, and given the team’s current cap restraints, wouldn’t a deal giving Giroux a real chance to make the team only make sense? If Giroux, and for that matter P.A. Parenteau, who’s had a very similar career and was signed a few weeks ago, for some reason were not able to make it with full time jobs on the big club in New York, what a lethal combination they would have in Hartford. Having that exciting a team that can light up the scoreboard like those two would bring, and which they have not seen in Hartford since the team won the Calder Cup in 2000, might even reverse the team’s downward attendance trend. Signing Giroux would also give the Rangers two forwards in the system who can score and play in the NHL should the team have some injury issues… It just makes sense. Even if the team gives Giroux a one way NHL deal, it’s not like they can’t afford to pay him if they need to put him in Hartford. It may not happen, but there's been talk of putting Wade Redden and his $6million a year contract in Hartford; so anything they would have to give the 6'3 190 pound left handed shooting Giroux would be peanuts in comparison.
Now, before any of you start accusing us of stumping for a personal favorite, given that last explanation, we quote that great philosopher Michael Corleone who said it so well, “It’s not personal Sonny…it’s just business.” Good business if you ask us.
(Photo courtesy of Chris Rutsch via beanballinc.com)
Comments (17)
rcmsays:
July 19, 2009 at 9:41 AMLet’s balance your arguments from Sather’s point of view.Redden in Hartford. Doesn’t make any economic sense at this time. Besides Torts thought he performed much better in the playoffs. Torts needs more time to develop his team. Alex Giroux -right now the NHL is looking at him as another Jason Krog. Bottom line is he would be penciled in as a 3rd or 4th liner . You know how long 3rd or 4th liners last in the NHL. Rangers have already decided on P.Parenteau over Giroux. They already have to work in(look at) Anisimov and quite a few others who are much younger. Torts has the final say. And he wants the hustle and speed of youth.
Don’t know if I am right but I bet that is what they are saying.
Mitch Becksays:
July 19, 2009 at 3:20 PMThe possibility of Redden in Hartford is real. Likely, no, but is an option. There are other big names that have been dumped into the AHL in order to protect a team against the cap. Lowell probably had that much or more on it’s payroll a couple of seasons ago because the Devils had a ton of bad contracts. I think the Rangers are going to take a long and hard look at Wade at camp and if they do not like what they see may put his unmovable contract, unless they find another sucker…I mean GM to take that contract off their hands, to Hartford. Also, there is another possibility. If the Rangers decided to actively pursue Brad Richards, as Larry Brooks suggests in today’s NY Post, they are going to have to move salary to do it. Dallas is looking to dump salary. They are not going to take on Redden’s deal. So to make it possible, the Rangers will bury Redden in Hartford and bite the bullet on it in order to make room.
In terms of Giroux, my logic is spot on. Jason Krog is primarily a minor league player because of his size, not his skill set. He’s really tiny. I have spent a little time with him and he is so small he looks like you can knock him over standing next to him. Giroux does not have that problem. Let’s be real. Alex is never going to win league MVP, but he is a serviceable NHL’er who has just not found himself with a team where he was in a position to break into the bigs. As I said, Alex and P.A. both have the talent level to make it to the next level and if they don’t then they would make a very deadly first line duo at the AHL level and give the Rangers the chance to call up a scorer in case of trade or injury.
I disagree with you in one area in terms of age. I think that Tortorella made it very clear that he was looking for the best player he could slot in each position. It won’t matter to him the level of experience or the age. It’ll be play your way in or play your way out…as it should be. Alex and P.A. would be given every opportunity to make the club and if they didn’t then they didn’t But having scoring depth is one thing the organization has not had in so long that I defy you to mention a time when they did.
The truth is they will probably not be calling Alex, but the logic to do it is certainly there and as the old saying goes, “it wouldn’t hurt…”
Joesays:
July 19, 2009 at 5:00 PMGiroux does not have the skating ability to be a top 6 guy in the NHL and is not gritty enough to be a bottom 6 guy. His skating ability would not give him an opp to be an effective PK’er, something that many teams look for in the bottom 6 and is not a bruiser that they also want in the bottom 6. It sucks for him, no doubt. But it just isn’t in the cards for him at this stage of his career. His d-zone ability is limited when compared to other bottom 6 guys in the Show. Like many others, he is a top notch AHL’er, but fringe NHL’er. Could he stick? In the right situation. Is it likely? No.
davidsays:
July 20, 2009 at 9:24 AMNo one enjoyed watching Giroux play in Hartford more than me.
But having another guy like Parenteau eating up first-line minutes is just not going to serve the organization well.
If Parenteau was not re-signed, then I’d say, “Sure, sign Alex.” Frankly, I think PA has a better chance of making the Rangers than would Giroux. PA has worked hard on his defensive side of the game — earning PK time. And he will back check. These were never Alex’s strong points.
Sorry to say but “been there, done that” with Giroux.
Mitch Becksays:
July 20, 2009 at 9:56 AMAs I’ve stated, you can never have enough scoring depth on the roster. P.A. to me WILL make the Rangers. They wouldn’t have signed him to a one way deal if they were planning on him being in Hartford. Now if he comes in and has a lousy camp they might or they might even release him outright, but I know P.A. very well and I doubt highly that that is going to happen. In terms of Alex, this is a make it or break it season for him. He knows that. It’s now or not at all. In my conversations with him, he’s aware of the knocks on him and his game and he’s committed to being the best overall player he can. I watched all 12 games that he played in last year with Washington and while he’s not A.O., he didn’t embarrass himself either. He looked like he belonged. The only time that I saw him look bad was on that penalty shot against Henrik. The King ate him up on that one. Alex scored on almost an identical move in Hartford. It’s an adjustment and I think he has the ability to do it.
Time will tell, but again, I think there is nothing but positives to giving him an opportunity in this system.
Joesays:
July 20, 2009 at 10:28 AM“They wouldn’t have signed him to a one way deal if they were planning on him being in Hartford.”
They gave him a 1 way deal because that gives them the chance to give him 500K regardless of whether he is in the AHL or NHL. They threw money at him and he bit probably because no other org was willing to give him a 1 way deal. That type of deal only represents one thing: guaranteed money! It’s actually pretty standard practice for teams to do this. They provide the 1 way deal, the guy knows he risks being in the minors all season b/c team won’t place him on re-entry, but in the end he gets the money and the org either gets a supporting player for the NHL or a top asset in the AHL.
Just because he has a 1 way deal does not, in any way, mean they believe he’ll be in the NHL this year. 500K is peanuts for an org like NYR that throws money around like nothing.
“I watched all 12 games that he played in last year with Washington and while he’s not A.O., he didn’t embarrass himself either. He looked like he belonged.”
To be a full time NHL’er, you need to do a LOT more than not embarass yourself. Just because someone looked like he belonged, does not mean he belongs. A guy like him, when he gets the chance, he needs to do things to keep himself in the lineup, whereas others need to avoid to doing things that get them bumped. If he gets a chance, he needs to show his AHL skills/points translate to the NHL, show that he is more than offense, and finally, needs to be able to grind. Unfortunately, when given opps, he has not put up points or been a grinder at the NHL level. 6 pts in 22 games does not show he can translate his AHL points to the NHL. Before you say he didn’t play much, or didn’t play with the right guys…guess what? That means nothing in the eyes of mgmt/coaches. It’s about creating opps/chances yourself and capatilizing or creating opps for your linemates. Those are the guys that stick. Giroux has not done that much, it at all, at the NHL level.
So in short, Mitch – we get it, your a fan of Alex, but he is not a NHL’er.
davidsays:
July 20, 2009 at 10:41 AMAnother things which works against Giroux coming to the Rangers organization is if he ends up in Hartford the team is already going to have a bunch of “almost” NHL guys.
I fully expect Rissmiller, Voros, and Parenteau (I do think he is a long shot to make the Rangers) to be playing in Hartford. Add Giroux to that mix — I don’t think so.
That is way to many minutes being goobled up and not enough for the prospects.
Mitch Becksays:
July 20, 2009 at 11:08 AMJoe,
You’re making a ton of assumptions some of which I happen to know for a fact are wrong. Parenteau had multiple offers and chose to stay in New York. He also had offers for more money overseas than what he got but again wanted to be here.
Second, no team, no matter what team they are, throws away money for no reason. It’s still a business concerned with a healthy bottom line. The Rangers are no exception. They gave him that contract with a clear purpose in mind. Now that might have changed given some of the players that they also signed, but if you read Tortorella’s comments to Larry Brooks in the NY Post, apparently he has no problem with bringing in the AHL or younger guys if they earn it through their play in camp. The bottom line is that the competition to get playing time in the Big Apple is wide open.
In regards to your comments about Alex, again, you’re nit picking. I was being sarcastic in using the “didn’t embarrass himself.” He played well enough and looked decent enough at the NHL level. You also have to bear in mind that I don’t think that Alex is going to be an NHL All-Star. I disagree with your assessment of whether or not he’s an NHL’er. I think he is. Do I think he’s a big time NHL’er? No one can really say for a fact because he hasn’t been given a long enough look by anyone to warrant whether a final conclusion on that. As I have repeatedly said and will do so again, you can never have enough scorers in your system. Alex is a scorer. You don’t think he’s an NHL caliber player, you’re entitled to that opinion. I am not saying he is or he isn’t. I’m saying that he has proven he can put the puck in the net and having someone like that around is a good thing to have. Just as Washington utilized him last season when they needed a call up, there’s no reason not to use him in that capacity should he not demonstrate that he can do it at the NHL level. Also, as I said Hartford does not sell a lot of tickets. In fact they’ve been selling fewer and fewer virtually since the team first got there. If Alex and P.A. were both in Hartford they would have a very high scoring duo which would be exciting hockey to watch which would help sell tickets.
From every logical standpoint it makes sense. I’ve even heard from people within the organization that agree with it. It doesn’t mean they’ll do it, but the logic is sound from a business point of view.
Lastly, it is not necessary AT ALL, to be condescending in the tone of your comments. On this site, well mannered comments are the only ones that will remain posted. I want this site to be about intelligent discussion. There is no reason to let the conversation devolve into snotty or rude banter. While your language wasn’t bad and your point was clear, it was talking down and your final sentence was to me anyhow, rude. Maybe I’m too sensitive about it, but I prefer to disagree without being that way about it.
Lastly, I don’t want ANYONE to think that you have to agree with me in order to make a comment on Howlings. You don’t. I’ve been told over the last few years of doing this by readers that there are other sites where disagreeing with the host can cause you problems. I don’t know which sites they are, nor do I care. I run this one and not those so they’re unimportant. I only bring it up because that will NEVER be an issue here. You are more than welcome to disagree with anything written by me or any other poster.
I want the tone and language of this site to remain as it always has been by the wonderful people that have continued to support it; polite and logically stated. I don’t think that’s too much to ask and hope you understand. I welcome and respect all that you and the rest of the readers here have to say, even if I disagree with it.
Joesays:
July 20, 2009 at 11:31 AMMitch –
Did not mean to come across in that manner. I’m all for healthly debates.
Sure, I know too, that PA had offers, but he did not have other 1 way offers from other teams. Furthermore, I know for a fact what he made last year (around 300K), and it’s not actually too much less than the 500K deal this year. Lot of guys like PA get oversea offers and yeah, the money can be great, but living/playing over there is not something all want to do, so I’m not surprised he stuck around. Ultimately, though, he is probably targeted for HFD. He’s not going to crack the top 6 or even top 9 in NYC and he is not big enough to be an effective grinder.
Honestly, I think he owed it to himself, to take a risk, take a little less money and a 2 way deal in another org. The 2 way deal, though less money probably in the AHL, would at least allow him to be called up without re-entry. Money talks and in this case, I know he took the money on the table instead of risking not making that elsewhere. But, NYR is unlike other org’s in that they have more money to spend and can afford larger salaries in the AHL. They gave him the money, knowing that if doesn’t crack NYR’s lineup, they’ve got a high end offensive guy for HFD, where as you pointed out, they need it to try to boost attendance.
True, having Alex would provide at the minimum even more depth in the AHL, but unfortunately, unless they move some guys, they have too many vets possibly headed to HFD and taking up too many spots of younger guys. I just think the timing of adding Alex to the org is not right. You may call me nit picking, but it’s the small things that keep a guy from hitting the NHL full time.
You and I disagree re: Alex’s potential etc, but that is fine. Many, many players can put the puck in the net. Quite often it’s the defense and skating that differentiate a guy between being an AHL’er and a NHL’er. With PAP and Alex it is at least one of those areas keeping them from sticking in the show.
Who knows, some injuries occur and next thin you know PAP is playing top 9 in NYC…only time will tell.
Mitch Becksays:
July 20, 2009 at 11:32 AMBefore I forget…one of the beautiful things about growing older, I am still looking for people that would like to be in on buying tickets for the Rangers. I have 16 regular season games left. My seats are in a phenomenal spot. They are section 115 row B seats 5 & 6. The Rangers put mostly families of other team’s players, usually the guys who aren’t dressed sit there and a variety of celebs are there all the time. I’m not making ANY money on this. I’m selling them at face value. I think they’re $95 a seat per game. If you’re interested, let me know.
rcmsays:
July 20, 2009 at 12:21 PMMitch – take one game 2 tickets -week nite only. More on Redden-Watched the 1st 4 games of the playoffs. Stahl and Giradi paired initially to stop Wash best line. Didn’t get job done. Redden and Roz replaced them. Sauer looked good for 1st game of call-up. Didn’t last. They sent him back to learn. The playoffs were too crucial to test younger players. To put Redden in the AHL is a bloggers favorite pastime, but it isn’t going to be happen. In fact it is far fetched. Regarding, Richards, you have an asset in Zderhev that is worth 3.5 mil(if gets abitration at that). Torts liked Richards. I don’t know length of K. But if trades Rozival, caps would even off. Sather is just looking ahead.
rcmsays:
July 20, 2009 at 1:41 PMMore clarification on above and trade with Dallas -Z and Rosy for Richards.
Mitch Becksays:
July 20, 2009 at 5:03 PMrcm,
If you’d really be interested in the tickets, email me at mitch@howlings.net and I’ll explain the details.
Craig Gronlundsays:
July 21, 2009 at 10:28 AMMitch,
Email sent re: tickets.
Thanks,
Craig
Joesays:
August 5, 2009 at 4:53 PMMr. Giroux back to Chocolatetown.
rcmsays:
August 6, 2009 at 8:50 AMGapGeek has Alex at 500000 -Washington. (Hershey,Chocolatetown above)
Joesays:
August 6, 2009 at 12:06 PMMakes sense he’d get 500K if it’s a 1 way. No other reason to return to WAS organization unless they are guaranteeing a good paycheck and possible opp to land a spot in WAS.