The usual state of affairs when the Rangers sign a free agent goes something like this: Free agent is past his prime and his best days are well behind him, but he signs an outrageous contract, then plays like crap while laughing all the way to the bank (see Redden, Wade or Fleury, Theo).
But the Blueshirts have hit the jackpot this year with Marian Gaborik, Vinny Prospal, and Ales Kotalik (well, three out of four ain’t bad—Donald Brashear and the word “jackpot” don’t go together, except to his agent). Unfortunately, it’s the rest of the roster that’s dragging the team down.
Gaborik, Prospal, and Kotalik have scored a combined 26 goals. The Rangers have a total of 62, which means those three free-agent pickups have contributed 42 percent of the team’s scoring.
Prospal’s the bargain of the century with his $1 million contract (I’m so old I remember when a million dollars was a lot of money). Kotalik gives the Rangers the point man on the power play they’ve been missing the past few years. And Gaborik is having his best season, which says a lot. ...
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Article written by Hot Stove New York