COMINGS & GOINGS 

The 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…”

No 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.

“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.

Joe,
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.

Before 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.

More clarification on above and trade with Dallas -Z and Rosy for Richards.

Mitch,
Email sent re: tickets.
Thanks,
Craig

GapGeek has Alex at 500000 -Washington. (Hershey,Chocolatetown above)