The Shanahan to Rangers Saga Finally Ends

Earlier today, Larry Brooks reported that Brendan Shanahan will not continue to wait for a contract from the Rangers and has instructed his agent to field offers from other NHL teams. This comes after four months of waiting around for Glen Sather to present him with a contract, a contract that would never be offered.

The truth is, there was never a place for Shanahan on this 2008/2009 Ranger team. "How could that be?!?" some of you may exclaim. "He's a future Hall of Famer! He has 650 career NHL goals! How could there not be a place for Shanahan on this team?" Yes, he will undoubtedly be a first ballot Hall of Famer, and he has scored 650 career NHL goals, but does that mean he is entitled to a roster spot on the New York Rangers? The answer is simple...No.

Brendan Shanahan signed with the Rangers in the summer of 2006 after potting 40 goals and adding 41 assists (81 points) for the Red Wings in the 2005/2006 season. After employing Shanahan for nine seasons, the Red Wings were looking to field a younger team, and needed all the money they could get in order to make sure that young stars like Datsyuk and Zetterberg would be able to stay in Detroit for a long, long time. Shanahan accepted this, and sought out the New York Rangers, who were the biggest surprise of the 05/06 season. The Blueshirts had been predicted to finish last in the East prior to the season, only to go on and make the playoffs, ending an eight year playoff drought. Going into 06/07, the Rangers were looking to contend, and Shanahan was looking for a contender. A great match it was.

Shanahan started the 2006/07 season with guns blazing and personally carried the team through many games in the early part of the season. However, in the second half of the season, Shanahan's goals came farther and farther apart. Shanahan finished his first season as a Ranger with 29 goals and 33 assists (62 points). A respectful season, but a large decline in production from his previous season point total of 81. The Rangers eventually lost to Buffalo in the Second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Disappointing, but another successful season nontheless. After adding Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, and resigning Shanahan for one more year, the Rangers appeared to be the early season favorite to win the Stanley Cup for the 2007/2008 season. For much of the season, Shanahan played on a line with the speedy, slick passing Scott Gomez. However, Shanahan's production again dropped, this time to 46 points (23 goals, 23 assists). The Rangers lost to the Penguins, who eventually lost in the Stanley Cup Finals.

This past offseason, Glen Sather & Co. gave the Rangers a complete makeover. Gone were Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka, Marek Malik and Sean Avery. Wade Redden Markus Naslund, a few other bottom line players were signed, and Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche. The message was clear. This was Gomez and Drury's team, and it was a team built for speed. The two centers had been surrounded by young, speedy wingers who were capable of keeping up with the pace of Gomez and Drury. Shanahan however, was not offered a contract, but continued to wait for one to be presented to him.

From an outsider's point of view, this was a simple case of Glen Sather trying to be as polite and respectful of Shanahan by saying "Thanks, but no thanks, Brendan." Sather took note of the speed that led the Detroit Red Wings to the Stanley Cup last season, and wanted the 08/09 Rangers to play a similar game. Because of this, there would be no spot for Brendan Shanahan. The previous playoffs, Shanahan looked gassed, often trailing far behind the play and was incapable of keeping up with Scott Gomez.

Sather also saw the calibre of young players the organization had, some of which were on the cusp of breaking into the NHL. Players like Korpikoski, Dawes, Callahan and Anisimov, were all arguably deserving of roster spots. Coupled that with the additions of forwards Nik Zherdev and Dan Fritsche, both only 23, and the writing was on the wall. Why take a spot away from young players like Korpikoski or Dawes and give it to a soon to be 40 year old whose production has dropped from 81 points in 05/06, to 62 points in 06/07, to just 46 points last season. That is about a 25% decrease from each season to the next. That, ladies and gentlemen, is quite an alarming rate. Glen Sather should be applauded for sticking to the plan and not signing an aging veteran whose production was quickly decreasing.

So, to bring this novel to a close, Shanahan's lack of production, age and declining ability (he often looked like his skates were made of concrete), along with the commitment of the Rangers to be a faster team in 08/09, are the reasons that Brendan Shanahan will soon be finding another team to play for. My last point has to do loyalty of an organization to a player. In the case of Shanahan, the Rangers do not have any, and rightfully so. Shanahan only suited up in the Red, White and Blue for two seasons; it is not like he scored over 300 goals for us, like he did for the Wings (309 regular season goals). While he showed leadership, his void can easily be filled with the likes of Redden, Gomez, Naslund, and of course, Captain Clutch himself, Chris Drury.

While I wish Shanahan the best of luck with whatever team he winds up with, I cannot be more relieved that that this Brendan Shanahan saga is finally over.