Rangers Simply Couldn't Finish

Beyond Game 1, the Rangers simply couldn't finish, the series nor the individual chances. To start Game 7, Avery with a great chance plus a rebound, nothing goes. An Antropov breakaway in the first five minutes, but he doesn't bury it. So what if he scored four minutes later. That goal should have been his second of the period, giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Those are the important early chances I was talking about. Fast-forward to the Federov goal and there is your series. I don't fault Lundqvist one bit for the Federov goal, in fact, The King played tremendous. The diving glove save and kicking blade save were two of his best ever. The Federov shot was a snipe which shouldn't even have left his stick if Redden hadn't played conservative with him. I have no problem with Redden backing off as Federov was streaking, but once he stops short, Redden needs to pop forward and get a stick on it, instead he sat back lazily and allowed Federov to shoot. Come on Wade.

But this game honestly could have gone either way. If Antropov scores the breakaway and the Capitals first goal doesn't pinball into the net, then Federov's goal cuts the Rangers lead to 2-1. But, for obvious reasons, you can't look back and say what-if, so we will leave it at that.

The Rangers have numerous off-season moves to decide upon. In my opinion (while keeping the salary cap in mind although I'm not doing the math):

1. Goodbye: Don’t re-sign Morris, Mara, Voros or Zherdev
   
   
2. Keeping: Sign Sjostrom, Betts, Dubinsky, Callahan, Orr, Korpikoski and Valiquette
   
   
3. Offering: Offer Antroprov a decent contract but not a huge amount and see if he bites. I doubt he will, so let him go (which is okay because they need some cash to sign Staal whose entry level contract I think ends after next season)
   
   
4. Needing: The major off-season task is to get a pure goal scorer. This will be almost impossible because of the Drury, Gomez and Redden contracts.
   
   
5. Solution: To solve the money issue, buyout Redden’s contract (if Mr. Dolan allows it) and use that money to make a run at Kovalchuk who is a free agent (I would think he'd love the limelight of playing in NY). Backup plan is Havlat or Gaborik (I would say one Sedin twin but I doubt they will break themselves up and we can’t afford both)

So here is my lineup for the first regular season game of 2009-2010, keep in mind that 3 spots will be determined in training camp:

FORWARDS
1) Kovalchuk/Gaborik/Havlat-Gomez-Callahan
2) Avery-Dubinsky-Anisimov (I know he is a center, but doesn't he seem like an Antropov-type?)
3) Korpikoski-Drury-Minor leaguer who makes team (Byers / Bell / Pyatt / Parenteau / Grachev)
4) Sjostrom-Betts-Orr

DEFENSE (we should be in good shape with all the young talent)
1) Staal-Girardi
2) Rozsival-Minor leaguer who makes team (Gilroy / Sanguinetti / Potter / Sauer / Fahey / Del Zotto)
3) Mara (keep'um if Redden is bought out)-Minor leaguer who makes team (Gilroy / Sanguinetti / Potter / Sauer / Fahey / Del Zotto)

Like I said, this is all dependent on money, and although I think this may work financially, a guy like Kovalchuk will cost a ton of dough. So I'm not so sure that he is the best move, nor the smartest. But I do know one thing for sure, all you Rangers fans out there undoubtedly feel deflated and want more blueshirts hockey today, but you can't feel as empty as Devils fans. On the last two goals, I guess Marty was just drained from such a long season of carrying the team on his shoulders. Oh wait, I forgot he only played in 31 games this year.

More later or tomorrow...most likely on the exciting world outside hockey...