Naslund Retirement Bittersweet For Rangers

If it is indeed true, Markus Naslund has played his last professional hockey game. It is disappointing to hear because the guy deserved a standing ovation from the crowd before he skated off for the final time. But he is a good man, who is not only passing on his remaining millions of dollars on the second year of his contract, but also did not want his retirement to be a distraction in the playoffs. He had a great career and it is sad to see him go, if it is true. I think this picture pretty much sums up the caliber of hockey Markus has played throughout his life. I'm not sure how old he is here, but the men (rather boys) next to him are Mats Sundin on the left and Peter Forsberg in the middle. If they only knew at the time of this photo what they would become. Quite amazing.

For the Rangers, Naslund's retirement is bittersweet. They are disappointed to see him go. It is a slightly sentimental departure, and from a hockey perspective he did have 24 goals this year. But removing his salary from the lineup allows Glen Sather the financial capacity to now make a much more aggressive move towards a pure goal scorer we've all said that the Rangers desperately need. I still say that Kovalchuk should be pursued. Even if the guy wants long-term money in the range of say 5 or 6 years at $8 million per year, how could the Rangers pass on that? He is too good. The problem is that he will probably draw more money and a longer term elsewhere, so he would have to take a slight discount to play in NY, which I guess is a possibility but not a strong one. Anyways, we'll see what Glen has in mind in the next couple months, but for now, so long Markus. You had a great career.