Ranger Fans Voice Their Opinion on Who Should Stay, Who Should Go

In a recent study conducted by Phil Kocher, of Dissension Media, on a New York Rangers message board that will remain anonymous for the time being, he meticulously created twenty-five poll threads, one for each of the players who played for a substantial amount of time on the Rangers this season.

The question he asked was simple; should he stay or should he go? This question was asked of everyone. For the most part, the results were what we would generally expect, but who was voted the player that should stay the most may surprise you, as should several others.

Below are the complete results of the survey:

Who Stays

Artem Anisimov: 100% stay/0 % go. (47 voters)

Michael Del Zotto: 98.55% stay/ 1.45 %go. (69 voters)

Brandon Prust: 98% stay/2% go. (50 voters)

Erik Christensen: 97.96% stay/2.04% go. (49 voters)

Jody Shelley: 97.62% stay/2.38% go. (42 voters)

Marc Staal: 96.36% stay/3.64% go. (55 voters)

Marian Gaborik: 95.16% stay/4.84% go. (62 voters)

Brandon Dubinsky: 91.94% stay/8.06% go. (62 voters)

Henrik Lundqvist: 91.67% stay/8.33% go. (72 votes)

Alex Auld: 90% stay/10% go. (40 voters)

Ryan Callahan: 89.58% stay/10.42% go. (48 voters)

Vaclav Prospal: 84.72% stay/15.28% go. (72 voters)

Dan Girardi: 81.82% stay/18.18% go. (66 voters)

Sean Avery: 75.71% stay/24.29% go. (70 voters)

Matt Gilroy: 67.5% stay/32.5 go. (40 voters)

Anders Eriksson: 61.36% stay/38.64% go. (44 voters)

Who Goes

Stephen Valiquette: 98.04% go/1.96% stay. (51 voters)

Wade Redden: 96.30% go/3.70% stay. (81 voters)

Olli Jokinen: 95.29% go/4.71% stay. (85 voters)

Enver Lisin: 86.49% go/13.51% stay. (37 voters)

Chris Drury: 72.09% go/27.91% stay. (43 voters)

Brian Boyle: 71.19% go/28.81% stay. (59 voters)

Michal Rozsival: 60.94% go/29.06% stay. (64 voters)

P.A Parenteau: 60% go/40% stay. (40 voters)

Aaron Voros: 53.85% go/16.15% stay (52 voters)

As hard on Lundqvist as I have been this season, I am still shocked that his rating did not come closer to 100% than it did. Furthermore, I find it laughable that Jody Shelley, Erik Christensen and Brandon Prust have more people wanting them to stay than the team’s franchise goaltender.

Anisimov may have a bright future with this organization, but he will probably be my biggest surprise in these results, as he is the only player to achieve 100% in anything. It was also shocking to see Wade Redden n0t get to 100%, although he did come close.

Not many surprises all around, although I was expecting some of these polls to be more unanimous than what they ended up being. Fans are nearly torn on Voros, with close to a 50/50 split. Quite surprising considering that everyone hated his guts midway through the season.

With the buzz factor, Jokinen’s poll generated the most attention, as he garnered 85 total votes. Meanwhile, not many people cared to click on Enver Lisin’s poll, as he received only 37 total votes. Most of these polls had a good enough sample space to generate the overall attitude towards the Ranger players, even though I wish some of the polls in the 40′s had more voters.

Chad Johnson, Bobby Sanguinetti, Corey Potter, and Corey Locke were not polled, because they did not play enough.

Hats off to Phil for taking the time to conduct these.

In a separate poll conducted by myself a little more than a week ago, I asked fans on this same board who they wanted to be the team’s backup goalie. Even though 90% chose Auld in the previous poll series, the results were a little more broken up, almost contradictory to the above.

Out of 45 voters, 16 wanted Auld to be the backup, 15 chose Chad Johnson, 10 wanted Johan Hedberg to be signed, 3 wanted Martin Biron to be signed, and one person voted “other”.

Needless to say, the Rangers have a lot of work to do in the off-season, and I still am not expecting them to do anything major. Probably just a few small moves here and there. If the Rangers wanted to please their fans, they would look at some of these numbers and act on them, but I am sure that will be highly unlikely.

New York Rangers Free Agents: Who Stays, Who Goes?

Even if the New York Rangers manage to slip into the playoffs, they must begin to look to the future, starting with their own free agents and who they will bring back and let walk when the off-season begins.

1. Olli Jokinen (C)

2009/10 salary: $5.500 million

For the past two seasons, Olli Jokinen has been a shell of the player that once scored 30 goals and 90 points with the Florida Panthers. The Rangers stole the one time superstar from the Calgary Flames, in exchange for Chris Higgins and Ales Kotalik, who have combined for a total of 32 games played, 4 goals, and 2 assists. Jokinen, meanwhile, has 3 goals and 10 assists in 20 games.

He has shown promise is certain situations since being acquired by the Rangers, but a lack of consistency has plagued him, and led to him being called out by head coach John Tortorella a few days ago. Because the Rangers will be in a strong need of offense next season, and Ilya Kovalchuk is on the market, letting Jokinen walk to save that $5 million would be the ideal move.

That’s what the trade really was, a salary dump, and the Rangers should allow the course to run itself. However, if Jokinen were to take a pay cut, and accept a one year deal for $4 million, then I would consider having him back, but that is unlikely.

Final Verdict: Do not re-sign

2. Vaclav Prospal (C/LW)

2009/10 salary: $1.1 million (Receiving $1.167 million from Tampa Bay due to a buyout)

The Rangers signed Prospal this summer to play center alongside Marian Gaborik this season. For the most part, the tandem worked, and Prospal sits second on the Rangers in scoring, all while being paid modest sum of $1.1 million dollars. This can clearly be called the steal of the summer.

Prospal’s natural position for his entire career has been on the wing, and it only goes to show how poor a depth the Rangers have, since their number one center for the majority of the season has been a career winger. But even so, he and Gaborik have found great chemistry, and he has even played well when being moved around on different lines.

The Rangers should look to re-sign Prospal, who will be getting a raise. Given that he is 34 years old and will be getting money from Tampa Bay until 2015, the raise should only be slight, and he should play on the wing if the Rangers can get a real number one center.

Final Verdict: Re-sign for two years/$3.6 million

3. Enver Lisin (RW)

2009/10 salary: $790,000 (RFA)

At the beginning of the season, Lisin showed flashes of brilliance with his lightning speed and heavy shot. Unfortunately, he soon fell into the doghouse of John Tortorella and has not been given ample playing time in months.

At only 23 years old, he still has a lot of potential, and as much as I would like to give him a chance, would it be worth it for the Rangers to re-sign him only to have him be scratched or given five minutes of ice time on the fourth line? If John Tortorella is fired, I imagine he will be re-signed, but if not, than the Rangers will have to not offer him a qualifier, because he is a restricted free agent. The Rangers could also look to trade his rights, but I doubt they could really fetch anything for him

Final verdict: Do not re-sign

4. Erik Christensen (C)

2009/10 salary: $750,000 (RFA)

Who would have thought that a third line center claimed off of waivers would end up being the Rangers’ number one center later in the season? Since being picked up off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks, Christensen has played very well in the roles he has been assigned.

Although he does not have the caliber of a number one center, he has formed good chemistry with Marian Gab0rik and Vaclav Prospal. He has a very heavy wrist shot, back checks, and has decent speed. He also has an excellent scoring percentage in shootouts.

The Rangers should look to bring back the 25 year old, to play on the first line, or even slide down to the third line if the Rangers were to acquire a center over the summer.

Final verdict: Re-sign for two years/$1.8 million

5. Jody Shelley (LW)

2009/10 salary: $725,000

After being quiet during his first few games as a Ranger, Shelley has quietly found himself a nice role on the fourth line. After forming chemistry with Artem Anisimov and Brandon Prust, he has also been seen as defensively responsible, and has been on the ice for late shifts when the Rangers have a lead.

He is a better skater than Brashear and Orr, and has been a decent fighter. He also does not

take dumb penalties, which is the fault of many enforcers. I should hope that the Rangers would look to bring him back for another season.

Final verdict: Re-sign for one year/$750,000

6. Brandon Prust (RW)

2009/10 salary: $525,000 (RFA)

Since being acquired by the Rangers, Prust has been relatively calm and unnoticeable. He led the league in fighting majors at the time the Rangers acquired him, but really has not been as active with the Rangers. He has shown good speed, and the willingness to stick up for his teammates, but if the Rangers choose to re-sign Shelley, and keep Voros, there really would not be a need to have him back.

The Rangers should try to give a youngster the spot next season; a player like Dane Byers or Devin DiDiomete could fit in well, and for less money.

Final verdict: Do not re-sign

7. Dan Girardi (D)

2009/10 salary: $1.6 million (RFA)

When Dan Girardi hits free agency, I would hope that the Rangers run as fast as they possibly can. Aside from not being physical, Girardi has been a shell of that ultra-calm defenseman we saw two seasons ago, and for the beginning of last year. He has been, in one word, brutal.

As an unrestricted free agent, the Rangers simply cannot just walk, but they can choose to not offer him a qualifying offer, or even try to trade his rights for a late round draft pick. Getting a 5th or 6th rounder could be a pretty good return.

The Rangers then also call up Potter or Sanguinetti for next season, to give them a chance.

Final verdict: Do not re-sign

8. Marc Staal (D)

2009/10 salary: $765,000

The one thing that is on the mind of every Rangers fan out there is what the Rangers will be paying Marc Staal, and how can they afford him. First of all, I am not Staal’s biggest fan, and consider him to be an ordinary defenseman, who is so highly overrated by fans and analysts alike, simply because of his last name.

That said, I would like to see Staal brought back for next season, but without breaking the bank. Should Staal sign for only one year, to bridge the gap until the Rangers can pay him more the season after, than he would get less. But if the Rangers can lock him up long-term, then they can pay him more.

Final verdict: Re-sign for one year/$1.8 million or four years/$12 million

Other Players

In the last few games, P.A Parenteau has been playing very well, now that it seems he will finally be given a chance to prove himself. He has skated well and has shown offensive prowess on the top two lines. However, there is a catch– Parenteau is a top-six player or bust. He is useless on a checking line, and the Rangers should only bring him back if they can guarantee him a spot on the top two lines. Should this scenario be possible, then I think a one year/$600,000 would be fair.

Anders Eriksson has been unnoticeable in the two games he has played since being called up from the Wolfpack, after being acquired from Phoenix in a deadline day deal. On this defense, though, being unnoticeable is almost as good as actually being good. At 34 years old, the journeyman can be the epitome of a 7th defenseman, and can be valuable down the stretch for the Rangers next season, without hurting the development of any of the Rangers young defensemen. He should get a one year deal for $550,000.