With the horrific season known as 1999-2000 over the Rangers ship had to be righted, not in order to sail in New York for OpSail 2000 but to save the club from prolonging the embarrassment that they had now become.
Glen Sather the builder of champions in Edmonton has landed in Manhattan and it could not have come at a better time. Sather the designer of the Oilers` dynasty in the 80`s that featured his drafting and nurturing of Wayne, Mark, Kevin, Charlie, Jarri, Paul, Glen and Grant among others (no last names needed)… has an even more daunting task. That being to rebuild the Ranger ship in as short as time as possible with the ever opinionated media on his back, the ownership that wishes to run the club “hands on” and the pressure from Gary Bettman and the NHL to build a new winner in New York…and not New Jersey or the Island. The Rangers have become the flagship team on the American Side of the National Hockey League.
For the Rangers kids, Sather`s entrenchment could not have come at a better time. Neil Smith restocked a few shelves with prospects… Mike York, Kim Johnsson, Radek Dvorak and Jan Hlavac at the NHL level… Pavel Brendl and Jamie Lundmark at the development level and a couple Euro Prospects in Johan Holmqvist and again Rudolf Vercik, in addition with the Baby Rangers in Hartford (AHL) with Tomas Kloucek and Johan Witehall and then there is Manny Malhotra… perhaps Sather is his savior.
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Regardless of what “experts” say, Jamie Lundmark had a very good year for a very poor team. Maintaining a 90 plus point pace on a team that lost far more game than it won proved to be a challenging task for the 19-year-old Edmonton native who now appears ready for a new challenge in the NHL.
The Rangers fully expect 1999 first round blue chipper Jamie Lundmark to make a run for a shot in the 1999-00 NHL season. His work ethic isn’t a problem, nor is his world class skill level but still he isn’t a sure bet to make the team and one must wonder why. The answer to the riddle is simply a lack of space for the young speedster. Where can the Rangers find room with Petr Nedved anchored on the first line, soon to be hot shot sophomore Mike York on line two and most likely Tim Taylor and Manny Malhotra on the remaining two lines? All this and still the possibility of a Mark Messier return looming. One possible solution being thrown around is possibly turning Manny Malhotra into a left winger. Malhotra has proven a little lost at center at the pro level and turning the 6’2 210 center into a winger might solve two problems. Still Malhotra does appear a lot more comfortable at a pivot position.
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Take one look at Pat Leahy’s stats and it is easy to go gaga thinking about him becoming a solid power foward. Take a look at his numbers and the picture comes into focus better. At 6’3 and 215 pounds, the right handed shooting Leahy certainly has the ability to make the show. But it wasn’t always that way. In fact just a year ago Leahy was seen as your typical mid round player with virtually no chance of making the show.
A fifth round pick back in the ’98 draft, Leahy was seen as a kid worth taking a flyer on. The Miami of Ohio player was regarded as a kid with good skills and descent skating ability, and if given time capable of evolving into a real player. Tall and lanky he didn’t have an overpowering physical game and he surely wasn’t a game breaking scorer but the Rangers had faith he could develop his skills over time in the Miami of Ohio program.
The first year did not exactly net the offensive results that the Rangers had hoped for, but still there was a level of improvement. He just wasn’t looking like a minor league player, let alone a potential pro player. Finally something clicked his Junior year. More responsibility, more ice time. Leahy got more comfortable with his body and used it more effectively. The result was 37 points in 34 games as Leahy started to look like a solid player.
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1. Pavel Brendl
Right Wing/Left Wing
Ht: 6’2
Wt. 200
Shoots: Right
Decent skater who knows the offensive flow. Not as bad defensively as some
would have you believe. Needs to work hard everynight. Amazing talent but
will either be the next Mike Bossy or the next Alex Kovalev. Good size, not
overly physical but has shown signs of a nasty streak. Rangers will work him
hard this summer, he will be in shape or else. Rangers invested a lot in
him and expect big payoff. The potential to be a first line superstar winger.
2. Jamie Lundmark
Center/Right Wing
Ht: 6’0
Wt: 185
Shoots: Right
Speed demon with several gears. Does everything well, even the little things
and does it all at top speeds. Didn’t have the offensive season that Rangers
expected but it should be noted he played on a young team that was quite
honestly horrible. He also was away from the team to spend time with the
Rangers, the Canadian Junior team and the WHL all-star game. After slow start
really poured it on and was actually on roughly a 94 point pace {over 72
games). Don’t worry about the numbers, Jamie works hard and has a ton of
talent. Is and always will be a better all around player than Brendl. Figures
to be a first line center in the crosshairs of a Steve Yzerman / Jeremy
Roenick mold.
3. Tomas Kloucek
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Bryce Wandler is a kid who was passed up in the NHL draft since first eligible back in ’97. He has descent size and good ability. Sometimes it takes a trade to get a kid going and in Wandler’s case his trade to the Swift Current Broncos was one that possibly set forward in motion a potential career. He does have talent but has been on a rather mediocre at best team. He is a signing that doesn’t hurt the Rangers and at the very least gives them some depth. You have to remember that Dan Cloutier was the goalie of the future and so now the Rangers are trying to get some options out there for the future.
It’s hard to say where exactly a kid like Wandler fits in. Labarbara has been good for horrible teams. Pay no attention to the win loss records or the GAA, the key is the save percentage and in the case of Labarbara it’s always been solid. Mike Richter’s numbers don’t catch the eye but everyone know how good he has been, it’s the same with Labarbara. Holmqvist has all the tools to be a number one goalie but one questions whether or not he wants to come to North America. What he does depends on how set the Rangers are in the net. McLean is a solid veteran who will serve good as an interim backup. Labbe was just a signing for the farm club, not seen as NHL material, plus he is already getting ready to turn 28. Hnilicka is already going to be 27. Both goalies are minor league types, not NHL prospects.
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