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head coach: John Muckler

roster: C - Wayne Gretzky, Harry York, Esa Tikkanen, Marc Savard, P.J. Stock. LW - Adam Graves, Niklas Sundstrom, Kevin Stevens, Bill Berg, Darren Langdon, Bob Errey, Tim Sweeney. RW - Alexei Kovalev, John MacLean, Scott Fraser, Todd Harvey, Johan Witehall, Shane Churla. D - Brian Leetch, Jeff Beukeboom, Ulf Samuelsson, Alexander Karpovtsev, Peter Popovic, Zarley Zalapski, Doug Lidster, Eric Cairns, Jeff Finley. G - Mike Richter, Dan Cloutier.

transactions: Gonesville: Johan Lindbom (Sweden), Bruce Driver (retired). Charlie New Guys: Esa Tikkanen, John MacLean, Scott Fraser, Peter Popovic, Zarley Zalapski.

1997-98 results:

Record...........25-39-18, 68 PTS, 11th Eastern Conference 
Goals Scored.....197
Goals Against....231
Power Play.......17.7% (5th)
Penalty Killing..85.4% (11th)

BLUESHIRTS BOUND FOR MEDIOCRITY

Now that the shock of Mark Messier's sell out is starting to wear off, the New York Rangers are hoping for a much improved effort in 1998-99. The atmosphere surrounding the club is said to be significantly different than last season, when a confused group of Blueshirts staggered to a 25-39-18 record. That's sick. The team's attitude better be improved, because the roster isn't.

OFFENSE: Center? Anybody? Please?

The big flaw in New York's offense is in the middle, where Wayne Gretzky is the club's only scoring threat in the middle. Pat LaFontaine's well-deserved retirement has left a gaping hole on the second line. Adam Graves usually filled in for Laffy last season, but he belongs on the left wing. So far at training camp, coach John Muckler has been experimenting with Niklas Sundstrom and Alexei Kovalev at center. But if either of those guys are used in the middle it would break up the only bright spot of last season, namely the Gretzky line that carried the offense over the second half.

So what are the Rangers going to do? Well, to start they've invited Esa Tikkanen back to the Big Apple for a tryout. Seeing how he's good buddies with Muckler and Gretzky, the term "tryout" is really just a formality. He should have the team made. GM Neil Smith's only concern is that he doesn't want to hinder a young player's development by handing Tikkanen a job he doesn't rightly deserve. The only catch with that reasoning is what young players do the Rangers have that are capable of centering the second line?

Tikkanen could be just a stopgap until a deal is worked out to acquire a big name talent. Rumors are circulating that the Rangers might decide to make a run at restricted free agents Doug Weight or Petr Nedved, both of whom, incidentally, were Ranger property in the past.

Speaking of rumors, recent talk has Smith making a bid to Pittsburgh for Jaromir Jagr. The deal would include cash and not much else. Even if Jagr doesn't get landed, New York remains a possible destination for holdouts Pavel Bure and Keith Tkachuk.

But getting back to the situation at center, the only other candidates on the roster at the moment are Harry York, Marc Savard, and P.J. Stock. York is a gutty kid that hits and works hard every shift. He should be a good fit on the third line. Stock is a scrappy brawler that would provide a spark as the fourth center. That leaves Savard. The 21-year-old is probably the young player Smith was eluding to when discussing Tikkanen's role with the club. Savard is a quick skater with terrific puck skills but, at 5'10" and around 175 pounds, he may be too small and defensively-impaired to handle second line duty, especially with Gretzky already on the number one unit. A center tandem of Gretzky and Savard won't exactly match up well against many teams.

Todd Harvey, who was acquired late last season from Dallas and never played a game with the Rangers due to a knee injury, could also be in the picture at center. Of course, he first has to sign a contract. Muckler didn't hide his disappointment when Harvey failed to show at training camp. So even if he shows up he's going to work his way out of the dog house. Oh yeah, then there's that whole thing about him being a stiff, too.

John MacLean and Scott Fraser were signed over the summer to try and add some scoring pop. MacLean is no stranger to Ranger fans, having spent most of his 14-year career with the arch-rival New Jersey Devils. Not the offensive force he once was, MacLean remains a natural shooter capable of contributing 25 goals. He's also an intense competitor that doesn't mind playing chippy. Just ask Sundstrom, who had his arm busted by a MacLean slash in the '97 postseason.

Fraser was inked on the strength of the 23 points he had in 29 games with Edmonton last year. A somewhat choppy skater with good hands, Fraser should be able to provide some points and maybe help out on the second power-play unit, but counting on him to deliver on a consistent basis might be strong.

One guy not returning this season is Johan Lindbom. The winger decided to bolt back to his homeland and signed a five-year deal with a Swedish club team. But never fear, the Rangers have another Johan in stock. Johan Witehall, selected in the eighth round of this June's Entry Draft, has a shot at cracking the lineup. The 26-year-old Swede has excellent speed and has displayed some aggressiveness. The combination might win him a spot on the fourth line.

Looking at the big picture, the Rangers will have a solid top scoring unit with Gretzky, Sundstrom, and Kovalev. If they can find a legitimate number two center to go along with Graves and MacLean, the second line won't be too shabby, either... extremely slow, but not too shabby. That leaves York, Harvey, Stock, Kevin Stevens, Bob Errey, and Tim Sweeney to round things out. It's not great, but things could be worse. See Calgary.

DEFENSE: Two Habs Added

The top four spots along the blue line have been pretty consistent over the past two or three years in New York. Brian Leetch and Jeff Beukeboom have been together longer than cheap wine and brown paper bags. Both men had rather forgettable seasons a year ago and will be looking to make amends. Leetch is also entering the final year of his contract and is hoping to get a lucrative extension. Guys tend to have big efforts when searching for new contracts. Expect Leetch to rebound.

The second pair will likely feature Ulf Samuelsson and Alexander Karpovtsev. Ulf isn't the hitter he once was, but he still knows all the tricks in the defensive zone and will do what it takes to win. He's not in hockey to make friends. Karpovtsev is a big rangy defender that never gets the respect he deserves. Not only is he competent in his own zone, Karpovtsev has the skills to contribute at the other end and is usually a fixture at the point on the second power-play unit.

There will be some new blood among the final three or four spots. Peter Popovic and Zarley Zalapski were both signed away from Montreal over the summer. Popovic is similar in style to Kjell Samuelsson. The 6'6" Swede is a pure defensive defenseman. Despite his size, Popovic isn't known as a banger. If he were more of a physical force he could really be an impact player. As it is, he's still a steady presence that uses his reach to disrupt flow and tangle up opposing forwards. He should be a nice addition.

As for Zalapski, why's he still playing? I mean, what's the point? He's like so 1989. Zalapski is an excellent skater and can move the puck, but what has he ever done to warrant staying in the NHL? He's never played on a winning team... and there just might be a correlation there. It's the Curse of Zalapski. Run for your lives!

Apparently Doug Lidster is still around to add some mobility, but fellow veteran Bruce Driver decided to hang up the skates after 15 years in the trenches. Driver's absence opens the door for Zalapski to anchor the power play with Leetch. Run for your lives!

Big ol' Eric Cairns could add some toughness if he ever agrees to a new contract.

All in all, the Ranger blue line isn't that terrible. A top six of Leetch, Beukeboom, Samuelsson, Karpovtsev, Popovic, and Zalapski is somewhat respectable... a bit old and cumbersome, but respectable nonetheless. Provided, of course, the Curse of Zalapski doesn't strike! Run for your lives!

GOALTENDING: Aunt Jemima Returns

After a somewhat turbulent off-season, Mike Richter will be returning to the New York goal crease. The man with Aunt Jemima on his helmet considered some offers but just couldn't turn his back on his Ranger teammates. In a related story, Mark Messier returned to New York over the summer to personally kick Ranger fans in the groin.

Richter's a workhorse in net. He'll play 70 if needed. He was somewhat inconsistent last season, but it's tough to play your best every night when the team in front of you sucked as bad as the Rangers did. Richter should have a strong year. Goaltending won't be a concern.

Sophomore Dan Cloutier will be serving as Richter's apprentice. Smith and the Rangers are high on Cloutier so he'll probably see about 25 starts. Come to think of it, the last time I was high on the Cloutier I saw about 25 of things my damn self.

GEE, THAT'S SWELL

* Gretzky provides inspiration to senior citizens all over the world.

* Leetch is due for a big year.

* Richter will provide solid goaltending.

GRIEF

* Not much scoring depth after the top line of Gretzky, Sundstrom, and Kovalev.

* Center is a glaring weakness.

* Curse of Zalapski.

1997-98 OUTLOOK: All good teams are strong up the middle. New York's lack of depth at center will kill them over an 82-game slate unless something's done to address the situation. But even if they get another center, they still don't have much talent on the wings to fill out three quality lines. The defense isn't bad and goaltending shouldn't be a problem, but it's going to be brutal watching the offense try and produce goals. With that said, Gretzky, Leetch, and Richter still might be enough to keep the Rangers ahead of the Islanders and Penguins.

But 1998-99 will just be another wasted year on Broadway. This team is as close to winning a Cup as the Nashville Predators. Bringing in veterans like Tikkanen and MacLean isn't the answer. Yet until Gretzky retires, Smith will continue to lean on veteran players and forsake a complete rebuilding process in favor of trying to surround the Great One with a somewhat competitive squad. That's nice and all, but it's not the way to win a championship.

PREDICTION: Third in the Atlantic and in the hunt for the final playoff spot in the East.

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