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Wayne Gretzky
by Meredith Martini
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The Rangers' 98-99 campaign was a huge disappointment. For they
second year in a row, they failed to make the playoffs. Injuries
plagued the team all season but the real reason was because they
just weren't that good. They failed to get a legitimate scorer
to ride Wayne Gretzky's wing and subsequently I believe that
mistake was the final straw for The Great One. That solidified
his untimely decision to retire. Gretz dealt with a nagging
injury to his vertebrate all season, even missing a month, but
still managed to lead the team in points again. He tied and
passed Gordie Howe on the all-time list for professional goals
scored with goals 1,071 and 1,072. I feel fortunate to have
watched this man play the game over the last two decades. Now he
can ride out into the sunset saying, "YEE-HAW! I'M WAYNE GRETZKY!
YEE-HAW!"
MVP: Adam Graves...HANDS DOWN! I know the 15 assists
aren't impressive and neither is the -12, but he scored
38 goals after recovering from major back surgery and he was a
tenacious pain in the ass on the power play and on the penalty
kill. He was a horse playing in all 82 games and was clearly the
heart of this club.
SURPRISE: This distinction has to go to John MacLean. He
was signed as a free agent back in July and he provided a second
line punch that the Rangers desperately needed. He also played
in all 82 games while scoring 28 goals and grabbing 27 assists.
He was gritty all season long and his eye for the net during
short-handed situations helped the Rangers overcome a 14-month
short-handed goal drought.
DISAPPOINTMENT: The whole damn team. Yeah, there were
bright spots but overall the Rangers were pathetic. Watching
them made me think of one thing...vomit. They just could not put
two passes together or win consistently. Every time I thought
"Okay, they've turned the corner," they would go on a losing
streak. Just a shame that they couldn't make a run this year.
The young talent is there and they have older troops to lead the
kids, but they lacked cohesiveness and discipline.
OFF-SEASON CHANGES: As I write this the Rangers have
already offered a trade to the Fishsticks. They want Rich Pilon
and Ziggy Palffy in exchange for Niklas Sundstrom, Todd Harvey, 2
minor leaguers and #1 pick this year and 2.5 million in cash.
This deal is still awaiting league approval. OH HOCKEY GODS
PLEASE LOOK DOWN ON US! I hope the Rangers don't get screwed as
they did when they tried to get Lindros from Quebec. Palffy IS a
bona fide goal scorer the Rangers desperately need. Pilon with
provide Ulf Samuelsson-like toughness on the blue line. Rumors
out of N.Y. also have the Rangers going for Valeri Kamensky come
July 1st. The thought of a first line made up of Nedved, Palffy
and Kamensky makes me so happy. We'll see. If they fail to make
the playoffs again, I'm through rooting for them.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: As everyone knows by now, Ziggy Palffy was traded
to the Kings and not the Rangers. Oh well. Maybe next year. Or
the one after that. Or the one after that.)
