"In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail."
_likeachemical_ inspired me to write this entry by a GREAT Letter that she did thanking the team for their wonderful season, it was a very emotional and touching letter that any true Ranger fan would love and agree with ... I am not going to do a letter but I want to give my thanks to all of the guys and people involved in this years success. Reguardless of how it ended, this was just a step in the right direction, we have a truly bright future...
TEAM :
Players
3 Michal Rozsival - Great season, you were a rock all season long and very steady.
6 Darius Kasparaitis - The Crazy Glue that holds the team together indeed, your big hits and your sense of humor are irreplaceable.
8 Marek Malik - Amazing Shootout goal win in the 15th round back in November, that will be in highlights for years to come.
14 Jason Ward - Hard worker every shift, you were sorely missed when you got hurt in game 1 of the playoffs.
16 Tom Poti - As much crap as he gets from a lot of fans he was as steady as he could be this year, and since he's a UFA it might be his last with us.
17 Petr Sykora - LOVE YOU! Loved the WANTING to be a Ranger from the very first game you played and scored a goal. Loved all the MUCH needed shootout goals that were dearly needed by the team at the end. You had a tough playoffs but I am really hoping you come back and get the chance to have a great FULL season with us next season.
18 Dominic Moore - One third of the HMO line. Heart and Determination. Night in and night out everytime he or his linemates were out there together you knew that the other team would have to outwork them in order to get the puck away from them.
19 Blair Betts - tough year with an prolonged injury but such a great defensive guy and faceoff guy for our team.
20 Steve Rucchin - I really admire that you played with a broken bone in your foot in the playoffs and that you have publicly said that you want to back next season because you feel proud ot be a Ranger and feel great about the future of the team.
22 Thomas Pöck - Didn't play many games, next year should be your year to break out. Loved the poise that you showed out there in the few games that you did play.
24 Sandis Ozolinsh - I have tons of respect for what you have tried to do with your life. I felt horrible for you that you were booed the way you were but you have to realize that if you don't hurt the team that the fans will love you. You have 1 year on your contract so you will probably be back and on the few games that you were brilliant you showed how great you can make our PP. If you are back I hope that you play better within the system so that you do not give us, the fans, any reason to boo you.
25 Petr Prucha - I can write an essay about you. Your fearlessness is what I remember most. Almost always the smallest guy on the ice and one of the few consistent Rangers that actually drove to the net and made things happen. Bigger guys would take advantage and the team wasn't able to protect you properly, hopefully next season that will change and you will have an even better year and be fully recovered from the knee injury.
26 Martin Rucinsky - Highlight of the year for me was the first game after the Olympic Break and Brasheur took all those idiotic penalties trying to get at Kaspar and as he's in the Penalty box, you are looking at him and the cameras unknowing about what you are about to do catch you giving him the finger, very creatively I might add and catch Jed's grin. You helped this team this year and I will be sad to see you go if you aren't back.
28 Colton Orr - Through hard work you learned to be more than just a "goon" keep up the good work this summer and you should have a bigger role with the team next season.
34 Jason Strudwick - Fans love to rag on people and you were one of them. I love your heart and how you would stand up for your teammates. I love your wondering eye when the game goes into the shootout and you know that you won't be needed, but I LOVED that in the 15 round shootout you got your turn and you scored!
38 Jarkko Immonen - You only played a handful of games for us but scored on your first two games. Loved your way of playing and hope that you can get a full season with the club next year.
41 Jed Ortmeyer - How many ways do I love thee Jed? Too many to count? You SCORED! Granted it didn't make a different but for nearly 5 minutes we actually had a lead vs the Devils and you and your linemates were the BEST line on the ice on every shift. Love your drive and your heart! Can't wait for next season!
44 Ryan Hollweg - You should wear an A on your jersey next season. The level of fearlessness that you play with and your heart, just standing up for your teammates reguarless that your opponents are almost always twice your size and you are SO young! Love You!
51 Fedor Tyutin - What a great season and you can only improve. Loved how steady you were on the blueline.
68 Jaromir Jagr - What moments do I pick? Breaking the points record? Breaking Gravy's goal record? Your leadership? Your willingness to take the brunt of the responsibility for wins AND loses? Your courage in coming back in games 3 and 4 with a dislocated shoulder, probably risking even more serious damage because the team needed you? I think all your naysayers have been dutifully silenced. How can they question your heart after this season?
81 Marcel Hossa - You frustrated me because when you wanted the puck, when you REALLY wanted the puck you almost looked like Jagr out there as far as keeping the other team's guys away from the puck. You need to be consistent and bring it night in and night out, shift after shift, like your brother and you can be great.
82 Martin Straka - I was afraid to have you on the team. You were so snakebitten with injuries in past seasons but this year you showed how much heart you have and how hard you are willing to play. You are half the size of Jags but yet you get into players faces that mess with him. Biggest moment for me was seeing you get almost knocked out by Guthier and then get up and have a GREAT game in our playoff clincher vs Philly. You Rock! I want you back!
92 Michael Nylander - You, Jags and Marty were awesome this year, I hope that you are back because you guys are something special together. Loved when you slipped up on national tv and said the word shit .. specially since you made that Pierre guy nearly have a siezure by saying it lol.
80 Kevin Weekes - We needed you this year and you came through like a trooper. It must of been hard for you to be the backup when you were brought in to be the starter but you never complained, I will remember your classiness and the partnership that you and Henrik developed and how important you were for the team while Henrik was hurt. I know that the team didn't play well for the most part but I thought you did the best you could.
30 Henrik Lundqvist - What is there to say about you? After Mike Richter was forced to retire due to his concussion problems I wondered when or if the Rangers would ever again find a goalie that would be the face of the Rangers for years to come like Richter was .... I saw several come and go, even a promising rookie get injured way too young. Then you came out, almost out of nowhere(although if I had been paying more attention to international play I shouldn't of been so shocked.) You remind me so much of Richter with your split saves and movement down low. I was so proud of your 30 wins as a rookie and your Gold Medal win at the Olympics. The end of the season was a bitter pill to swallow but I think it's all about learning from our mistakes and then moving on. It's tough that an injury had to derail your wondeful season and your first post season but now you know how to deal with injuries when/if they happen to you again. You will also know what to work on to improve your game. You are the King and we love you Henrik!
Finally the Coaching Staff and Management :
I love Tom Renney and his coaching staff, they are great and I think they also went through growing pains. I know that you guys will take what happened at the end here and learn from it and work not to repeat it next year. I know that it is popular to give NO CREDIT to Glen Sather but I think it is deserved. Neil Smith depleted the Rangers of their farm system for the 1994 Stanley Cup, and while I can't fault him since we won, those decisions certainly had a big impact to us missing the playoffs for 9 years ... in the last 4-5 years, as much as he's been critiziced for bringing in high priced talent that didn't play with heart for the team Sather also rebuilt the Rangers farm system through the draft and quiet smart trades that almost go unnoticed by all who just want to bash him. We now have one of the deepest and most talented farm clubs in the league. A lot of rookies that will be with us next season and will be home grown stars. We already have Prucha and Lundqvist then Tutyn ....
Now next season some of these Rangers that we have fallen in love with wont be back, some will, but to all of them I say THANK YOU, you have truly carved your way into a special place in my Ranger loving heart as one of the most loveable Rangers teams ever, for your hard work and obvious respect for each other and the fans that love and support you.