Welcome to Hockey Central: Ask the Insiders where fans get to pick the topics. This week, the Insiders answered several questions including whether the Rangers would president and GM Glen Sather if they missed the playoffs; where Jarome Iginla will be playing hockey after 3pm ET on April 3; and whether the Leafs are now committed to keeping Jake Gardiner on the big club.
Scott asks: The Rangers are walking a fine line between missing the playoffs and the eighth seed. If they miss out or are gone in the first round, do you see changes coming at either the GM or coaching level?
Doug MacLean: Scott, the Rangers situation is very interesting. Many have picked them to be a contender and if they miss the playoffs it could be ugly. Glen Sather is a big John Tortorella fan so I really believe he would not be fired. He would be given one more year to take the Rangers to another level.
Jeff Marek: As long as Jimmy Dolan owns the Rangers, nothing is going to happen at the GM level. Dolan and Glen Sather are joined at the hip, so let’s put that one to bed right away. As for the coach, some have said his act has worn thin, especially with some of the key veterans on the team. Can that be blamed for lack of production from Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik and yes, even Henrik Lundqvist? Perhaps. Not making the playoffs would be an unmitigated disaster for the team that many picked to win the Cup this season and even though Sather would be reluctant to pull the trigger on dismissing Tortorella, if the volcano demands a virgin for not making the post season, then Torts is likely the odd man out.
Mike Keenan: Scott, I believe the New York Rangers will make all future management evaluations base on Glen Sather’s plans to continue to work as a manager.
Brian Lawton: If the New York Rangers miss the playoffs, yes I see potential changes at one of — or both — the coaching ranks and in the boardroom. It should be noted that Glen Sather is very close with Jim Dolan and that would take a lot for them to ever consider removing Glen.
Slats has done and seen it all in this business and has certainly earned the right to call his own shots at this stage in his career. If he were to become the president, I could see a guy like Don Maloney moving from the Phoenix Coyotes back to New York. Don is credited with drafting and developing many of the core players that are currently on the Rangers roster.
With regard to coaching, John Tortorella is very well thought of by the other coaches in the National Hockey League. Of course, he is an ornery son of gun but behind all the ranker it is obvious he cares about his players and the game. What he doesn’t care about is the media and eventually when things go south, as they do for every coach at some point, it is never good to be in the media capital of the world with a lot of guys that have a poster of you on their wall with a bull’s eye painted on it waiting for the tide to turn.
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Torts intimidates a lot of media with his blustery ways and you can rest assured if/when he is down you will see a lot of media pile on. The old adage of kicking sand in someone’s face will never be more true than if the Rangers miss this playoffs this year with the money they have spent and players they have brought in (like a Brad Richards who is a Tortorella favourite).
Interestingly, I would say John is completely aware of this and has no thoughts of making any changes. I am sure Slats has sat down with him on numerous occasions and asked him to tone it down but doubtful it has had any effect on John! A leopard isn’t going to change his spots, not even when the GM asks!
Ryan asks: Just read Nick Kypreos saying that it looks like the Flames are finally shopping Jarome Iginla? Where does your gut feeling say he’ll end up? Is Miikka Kiprusoff being shopped as well?
Nick Kypreos: Ryan, I was pushing for Calgary to move Iggy a year and a half ago. As one of the older teams in the league, the Flames needed to recognize that this team was headed in a downward spiral and need a complete makeover. It’s a shame they didn’t decide this much earlier because the trade value on Iggy would have hit the jackpot last year. But hey, better late than ever. If Jay doesn’t ask for a King’s ransom for the captain, I’ll go with Iggy and Darryl Sutter teaming up once again. As far as Kipper West as I like to call him, at his age and most likely wanting a contract extension, it makes no sense to hold onto him any further than April 3rd. These two changes will officially close what’s been a great chapter in Calgary Flames history.
John Shannon: Nobody is more tuned in than Nick, and he was well ahead of the curve on this one. In fact, he’s been saying JI should have moved long ago. Where will he end up Ryan? Only Jay Feaster, agent Don Meehan and Iginla know for sure. Because of a no trade clause, the captain will have full say on his destination. With Pittsburgh appearing to be done their shopping, that would point to Boston, Chicago, and LA as obvious destinations. All Cup contenders, and with a few assets to trade. You also have to wonder if Iginla doesn’t attempt to negotiate a contract extension with the new team before waiving his NTC. A complex matter for sure, and that doesn’t even contemplate what the Flames are asking for and what eventually they get in return.
Is he worth three parts (that means a player, a prospect and a pick)? Might be a tall order for any team to commit to all those player/team asks. I can tell you that teams like Chicago have been asking a lot of questions about Jarome.
The key questions: 1. Can he still skate? 2. How are his hands? 3. Can he accept a lesser role?
And yes, even though Jay Feaster is being very tight lipped, if the rebuild in Calgary has in fact begun, Miikka Kiprusoff is being shopped as well.
In order to rebuild you need assets. That means draft picks and prospects. Both Jarome and Miikka could potentially bring both.
Darrell Samuels asks: Do you think the Leafs are finally content with keeping Jake Gardiner up with the big club or are they showcasing him for a deal for a top goalie or top centre – heading toward the trade deadline?
Scott Morrison: I think Gardiner is playing with the Leafs right now because they needed help on the blue line. They needed someone who could skate the puck out of the zone, jump in the rush, and make the one smart pass to clear the zone. They had given up four or more goals in eight of 11 games. Many believe he should have been up earlier. I don’t think they are showcasing him for a deal, which is not to say he won’t or wouldn’t be included in one, but I doubt he would get moved.
Chris Johnston: Jake Gardiner is here to stay with the Maple Leafs. He’s now played his 80th career NHL game, which means he needs to clear waivers to be sent to the AHL, and I think it’s unlikely Dave Nonis will look at dealing Gardiner now. The Leafs GM is on record as saying he wants to hold on to the team’s prospects and young players and there’s been no sense he’ll change his stance. The only concern Gardiner should have at this point is playing well enough to keep coach Randy Carlyle happy.
Patrick asks: What possible destinations do you see for Jaromir Jagr by the trade deadline?
John Shannon: The destination for Jagr? Patrick, the answer is simple: DALLAS. Joe Nieuwendyk is on the record that he wants Jagr to stay with the Stars, and sign an extension. Jagr has, arguably, been the team’s best player. And he has been a positive influence on Jamie Benn. He’s not going anywhere.
Jeff Marek: I spoke to some people in Dallas Monday who told me in no uncertain terms that Joe Nieuwendyk is not trying to unload Jagr but rather trying to re-sign him. He’s been (outside of Jamie Benn) their best player this year and the fit is working, Jagr reportedly loves it in Dallas too. The big decision is Derek Roy, who like Jagr is a UFA July 5th. Decision time is now for the Stars on what to do with Roy, they’d love to have him but he’s probably looking for something in the $6 million range, a price the Stars are reluctant to meet. If Dallas falls out of the playoff picture leading up to April 3rd I’d look for Roy to go, not Jagr.
Chris Johnston: For my money, the Boston Bruins offer the best fit for the 41-year-old winger. The Bruins see themselves as major contenders and Jagr has shown he still has some good hockey in him — with 14 goals in 31 games for Dallas this season. I know there’s been talk of a return to Philadelphia, but that doesn’t make nearly as much sense. The Flyers are going nowhere fast. Of course, there’s every possibility Jagr will remain with the Stars — GM Joe Nieuwendyk has already started speaking with his agent about an extension.
Rob asks: Given their ages and differences in contracts, who has a higher trade value, Roberto Luongo or Ryan Miller if one of them were to go by April 3?
Doug MacLean: I believe Miller has the best trade value and it basically comes down to one major issue — contract! Luongo has a long term deal that is a major obstacle to making a trade. Miller on the other hand only has one year left on his deal. That is why Miller has more value and is easier to trade.
Mike Keenan: Rob, I believe Miller is the goalie that can be moved before Luongo. Both have equal value in the NHL market but Mike Gillis will have a problem moving Luongo’s contract.
Brian Lawton: As goaltenders they certainly have a lot of similarities besides their showdown in Vancouver for a gold medal. Both have been starting goaltenders for a long time for their respective clubs. Both have had stellar seasons and both are still considered top tier goaltenders in the National Hockey League. The difference in the two now more than anything is the contracts. And it is a big difference maker with regard to trade value.
Ryan Miller has one season left after this one at $6.25 million while Roberto Luongo has nine years remaining on his albatross of a contract that pays him $6.7 million per year for the next six years before it begins a sharp decline. That contract makes Luongo very unattractive. Most teams just don’t want a contract of that magnitude on their books, particularly as the NHL salary cap is expected to be reduced over the next few seasons as we transition into a lower percentage revenue split between ownership and the players of total.
Interestingly, having only one year left on Miller’s contract is going to hurt his trade value as well because it is well known that Ryan would prefer to end up playing a lot closer to his actress wife Noureen Dewulf who resides in LA. One season doesn’t give you a lot of security that he will be sticking around after that.
Regardless, if Ryan Miller had been shopped as hard as Roberto Luongo has been he would be playing for another organization while Luongo has been stuck making movies with back up Cory Schneider in Vancouver. Luongo really is as close as you can get to untradeable with his contract and the number of other options available to teams.
Miller returns a quality player or two back while Luongo waives goodbye ultimately to Cory Schneider not Vancouver!
Mike asks: If Alex Kovalev’s NHL days are finally behind him, what are your lasting memories of his career?
Nick Kypreos: Many fun memories with Alex. Hey, he’ll never be accused of being a leader of any team but that was fine with him and fine for us when we won the Cup in 1994. As long as leaders were in place, Alex could just do his thing with his world class skill level. In the conference final it was Keenan’s switch to get Kovy with Messier that lead to Moose’s historic guarantee hat trick win vs. New Jersey. My best memory of Alex was filming an ESPN commercial promoting an upcoming game vs. the Isles. He looks into the camera and says with his heavy Russian dialect “if it’s one thing I cannot stand, it’s a Long Island accent.”