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.