BiggnightsWhy Brian McCabe Will Bring the Stanley Cup Back to New York City
March 1st 2011 02:50
Newly acquired New York Rangers defenseman, Bryan McCabe
Alright, hockey fans, I know a lot of you probably only clicked on this link out of pure skepticism, but allow me to defend myself. Let me begin by analyzing the undeniable needs of the New York Rangers prior to trading for McCabe:
1. Powerplay quarterback-sorry, but Michael Del Zotto will not cut it
2. Veteran defenseman who can log big minutes-Steve Eminger, 27, is their oldest defensemen, while rookies Michael Sauer and Ryan McDonagh are playing close to twenty minutes per game
3. Playoff experience-nine players on the current roster have never played in a playoff game before
4. First line center-how many times has this been repeated?
McCabe may not be a first line center, but he is a reliable, veteran defenseman with 51 games of playoff experience. He has quarterbacked the powerplay in the past, and now possesses the Rangers most lethal shot from the point. While the Rangers may not have a high scoring offense, their grinding style of play will make life tough for any playoff opponent. McCabe adds a veteran defenseman to the mix who will bolster the powerplay and may be the final piece needed for a deep playoff push.
It's also worth noting that this trade was a complete steal for the Rangers. They gave up Tim Kennedy, who failed to make the team out of training camp, and a third round draft pick. Compared to the price Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli had to pay for McCabe's former defensive partner in toronto, Tomas Kaberle, Rangers GM Glen Sather looks like a genius. Sure, I may have gone overboard in my title, but I'm allowed to dream, aren't I? Let's just hope McCabe isn't Wade Redden, round 2.
* images on this page were taken from the following Wikipedia pages:
Bryan McCabe
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