Cheeky Goal

The Problem with the Rangers

In the NHL -- the land of the disposable coach -- when teams struggle, the ax must fall.

That's why there has been some speculation about the immediate future of Rangers coach Tom Renney.

Now, I'm not ready to confuse Renney with Scotty Bowman, but I think Renney has actually overachieved with this roster. That's right: I think Renney's 29-20-5 record is pretty good when you consider his team.

Renney doesn't have a No.1 center or a No. 1 defenseman. He doesn't have a reliable scorer on the wing. And his most dependable defender is just a sophomore. No, the 2008-09 Rangers aren't exactly an All-Star group.

Of course, Renney isn't without fault. I haven't always agreed with his lineup decisions or in-game moves, and he's got to find a way to make that power-play unit at least a little better.

Still, Renney shouldn't be the fall guy.

The real problem is Renney's boss, Rangers president and GM Glen Sather. If anyone is going to get canned, it should be Sather.

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Jagr to Oiltown?

By David Staples 02-10-2009

ITEM: Visnovsky out, Jagr in, source says.

A source close to Czech hockey ace Jaromir Jagr says that Jagr is close to finalizing negotiations with the Edmonton Oilers, reports Euro-hockey expert Peter Adler.

The source would not say when Jagr would report to Edmonton, how much he would be paid, or how long he would sign for. Jagr is now playing with Omsk in the financially-troubled Kontinental Hockey League.

With news that Lubomir Visnovsky will be out for the season with an injury, the Oilers now have several million dollars free to spend under the salary cap.

Many Oilers fan have long complained that Ales Hemsky hasn't had a proper scoring star at his side.

It appears that Oilers hockey boss Kevin Lowe is about to address this issue.

Grabovski vs Kostitsyn

TSN

Bob Probert versus Tie Domi...Sean Avery versus Dion Phaneuf…Mikhail Grabovski versus the Kostitsyn siblings?

The rivalry between the Habs' Belarussian brothers and the Maple Leafs rookie forward may not be a heavyweight tilt, but it has been one of the more entertaining subplots of the NHL season.

They were all teammates last year in Montreal, however once Grabovski was traded to the Leafs in the off-season, the rivalry really took off. It reached a boiling point just over a month ago during a 6-2 demolition of the Maple Leafs at the hands of the hated Habs. The 25-year old Grabovski was so incensed with the younger Kostitsyn (Sergei) that he shoved a linesman earning himself a three-game suspension in the process.

Following the game, the Leafs' youngster was quoted as saying:

"If (Sergei) wants to fight, we'll go in the street and every minute of every day I'll wait for him and we'll fight."

The reason for the rivalry remains unknown, however teammates on both sides believe it has something to do with sharing the same nationality.

Older brother Andrei would not discuss the feud but did state that Grabovski "…talks too much in the Russian newspapers about me and my brother."

While both players were born in Belarussia, Grabovski believes that Kostitsyn's heritage should be questioned.

"I think he is not Belarussian now, he is French because I never fight with Belarussian guys."

Canadiens heavyweight Georges Laraque thought the prospect of the two flyweights throwing down would be hilarious.

"I think it would look really funny," Laraque said of the potential tilt between the pair who are both generously listed at 5'11".

Other teammates looked at the duel a little more analytically.

"They're both competitive kids with a lot of fire, so if it happens, it would be quite interesting," said Canadiens blueliner Ryan O'Byrne.

"It's always kind of fun when you see a couple of skill players who never fight go at it. But in this situation, I've got to take Sergei. He's the bigger guy, he plays a little meaner out there and, in a fight, I think he'd win."

Injured Habs forward Guillaume Latendresse suggested that the pair settle their differences the old fashioned way.

"If they want to do it, just go to the faceoff circle, drop the gloves and then play hockey and forget about things off the ice," Latendresse told reporters following Canadiens practice Thursday. "Just have fun and let it go. After that, the page will be turned and we can play hockey."

Fans on both sides of the argument hope that the next chapter may be written Saturday when Grabovski's Maple Leafs renew their rivalry with Kostitsyn's Canadiens. If Grabovski wants to exact some revenge, he may have to convince head coach Ron Wilson first as he was a healthy scratch during Wednesday's loss to the Sabres.

When informed of Grabovski's situation, Kostitsyn offered a one word reply.

"Good"

Let the games begin.

Souray we doubted you

It was at 10:25 of the first period when Sheldon Souray blasted the shot that moved him into a tie for the lead as the top-scoring defenceman in the National Hockey League.

Three minutes and 44 seconds later, he lost it back to Shea Weber. But in a city where there used to be several statistical subplots in play at the same time season after season, there's finally one to follow.

NO MISTAKE

And 34 games into the season, you'd have to say Souray has proved that Kevin Lowe didn't make the mistake so many people figured he'd made when he gave the native of Elk Point a five-year, $5.4 million front-loaded contract through the 2011-12 season off the one-year phenomenon of having scored 26 goals with the Montreal Canadiens while at the same time having that eye-sore of a statistic - a minus 28.

As the days count down to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Souray has suddenly put himself into a position, along with Weber, of deserving serious consideration for a spot wearing the red maple leaf.

Last year, healthy for only 26 games and scoring only three goals and producing only 10 points, didn't prove anything.

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Heeeerrrrre's Mats!

VANCOUVER -- Mats Sundin has yet to touch down at the Vancouver International Airport, but the local hockey populace is already consumed by where he’ll land on the Vancouver Canucks’ roster once he starts applying his considerable frame and well-rounded game after arriving in town on Saturday.

Trying to project the exact date of Sundin’s debut has the talk-show phones lines lighting up like a Christmas tree for good reason.

As much as the durable Swede is a point-producing machine with 1,321 points in 1,305 career regular-season games -- and he should mesh seamlessly into a dressing room that houses four of his countrymen -- his on-ice transformation may take longer.

Or, it may not.

Sundin hasn’t played in nine months, only recently committing to the remainder of this season, and the 37-year-old even pondered retirement before agreeing to a pro-rated, one-year contract for $5.625 million US.

Once Sundin gets over the jet-lag, gets familiar with the system and gets to know his new linemates, the guessing game will commence.

Is it better to start Sundin off slow and work him into the lineup in a fourth-line role?

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Bruin Cap Conundrums

General manager Peter Chiarelli has done an excellent job assembling the Bruins roster, using pieces in place from the former regime and acquiring talent via trades or free agency to mold a team regarded as one of the leading contenders for the Stanley Cup.

But the reality of the NHL in the era of the salary cap is that building a powerhouse team is one thing. Keeping it intact is another.

And with the new year soon upon us, Chiarelli faces an interesting number-crunching challenge in trying to get all of his core players safely locked up for the coming seasons.

“There’s only a certain amount of money available,” Chiarelli said recently. “We have to be a little creative.”

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Best of the Week

Sundin a Canuck!!

After six long months, the Mats Sundin saga is finally over as the unrestricted free agent has agreed to a contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

"I am truly excited to be joining the Canucks," said Sundin in a team statement. "Once I made the decision to return to play a few weeks ago, the Vancouver opportunity was simply the best overall fit. I want to thank Mike Gillis and the entire Canucks organization for their professionalism throughout this entire process."

The signing ended months of rumours and speculation around the coveted centre, who was undecided on whether or not he would return to the National Hockey League for an 18th season.

"We are very excited to have Mats join the Vancouver Canucks," said general manager Mike Gillis. "Playing previously in two Canadian markets and consistently being among team and League leaders in scoring, Mats has proven that he can excel under pressure. He adds a wealth of experience, leadership and skill to the Canucks."

The Montreal Canadiens were given exclusive rights to talk to Sundin this past summer in the week leading up to the free agent signing period. The club's negotiating window passed without an agreement and as many as six NHL teams lined up to acquire his services.

Among the teams interested over the last six months were the Canadiens, Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.

The Canucks had the most lucrative offer for Sundin, with a two-year, $20 million contract that was never pulled off on the table.

Sundin, 37, finished with 32 goals and 46 assists for 78 points in 74 games last season with the Leafs, leading Toronto in scoring for the fourth straight year.