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Peca Wrong For Rangers

Posted 9:54 AM ET | Comments 6
The concept of bringing Michael Peca to the New York Rangers occurred to me for a minute last month, but I figured there would be no way something like that could get done. Not with the Rangers currently over the salary cap and not with the teams' commitment to the youth movement over the last couple of years.


Could it be that the Rangers are back to their old ways? Spend, spend, spend on veterans that never bring them to the promised land? Anyway you look at this, it seems like desperation. As if the Rangers are trying to collect a bunch of over the hill vets to get them to the Stanley Cup like they once tried to do. Peca may have all the intangibles a team wants, strong faceoff man, nice touch around the net, leadership, experience, but he wants a lot of money and he's aging badly. Which is exactly what fans thought the Rangers would stay away from.

There are two reasons for this move: first, the Rangers realized that the absence of Matt Cullen would be felt a lot more than they previously thought. Second, Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky didn't have a strong showing at rookie camp. Why would the Rangers essentially trade Matt Cullen for Michael Peca? Cullen is younger and faster and already has a year of experience in the Rangers system. Not to mention he had gelled with line mates Petr Prucha and Ryan Callahan. Do you really think Peca can keep up with the speed of that line?

I can understand the appeal when trying to sign a player like Peca, but that goes for any over the hill veteran free agent with a strong track record. We love them for what they have meant for hockey, but do we really want them to play in pace of the stud prospect waiting in the wings?

I may be wrong on this one, but I believe Ranger fans would be with me when I say let's swing and miss with young infusion of talent that has been a trend for the Rangers over the last two seasons. Ryan Callahan, Henrik Lundqvist, Dan Girardi, Petr Prucha, Ryan Hollweg and the guys like Nigel Dawes and Marc Staal who will break into the line up for sure this season, these guys have helped and will continue to make the Rangers a winning team. They have provided a spark and a hunger this team had missed for years.

My best guess is Michael Peca will get a 1 year deal. If the Rangers sign him for more, GM Glen Sather should be questioned about the direction of the team. His youth movement has worked and if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Filed Under:   Rangers   NHL   Michael Peca   Free Agent   Veteran   New York  
August 15, 2007 12:14 PM ET | Delete
I don't think you're wrong on this at all. If the Rangers NEED to spend more money, they should look at a blueliner. I think they're pretty much set in the forward department.
August 15, 2007 1:12 PM ET | Delete
The Rangers look okay, they don't NEED Peca...however I think they look good enough for a cup run already.
August 15, 2007 1:23 PM ET | Delete
Check hockeyrodent for an exceptionally lucid discussion of Peca and the reasons the Rangers might be interested...guest column by Mitch Beck of Blueshirt Bulletin.
August 15, 2007 2:27 PM ET | Delete
All i can say is good luck next year when your cap number becomes a huge issue
August 15, 2007 2:43 PM ET | Delete
LETS GO BUFFALO!
August 15, 2007 2:44 PM ET | Delete
We are all forgetting that big market clubs are immune to salary caps... Especially a New York Club, holier than thou aloof mentalities that they all have
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