PD.Girardi
Name one player who controls which team the Stanley Cup
lands this year. Crosby? Toews? Getzlaf? Chara? All good answers. I say Dan Girardi
Casual fans might not
even know who Dan Girardi is. Girardi is a very good , defensive defensemen man
with some offense skills. He is also in a contract dispute with the New York
Rangers. The Rangers want him to sign a contract extension for much less than
he thinks he deserves. If Dan Girardi does not sign a contract extension before
the March 5th trade deadline the Rangers said they will trade him. His trade
could turn a one and out team into a contender and a contender into a champion.
Dan Girardi contract status affects the East playoff picture
dramatically. If he stays and signs with New York the Rangers remain a second
tier threat for the Eastern Conference crown. Though Boston and Pittsburgh
remain favorites in the East, the Rangers have the top end scoring and
goaltending to reverse their bad start and make a Cup. If the Rangers trade him
to an Eastern team he immediately upgrades that team’s blue line. In Boston he
helps the Bruins overcome the loss of Dennis Sidenberg and fixes the only
possible chink in the Bruin armor. If the Rangers trade Girardi to Metro rivals
Flyers, Islanders or Capitals all of those teams would a dangerous first round
opponent.
They say you can never have enough defensemen so every team
out West could use a D man of Girardi caliber. But two teams in particular
could really use Girardi. The Colorado Avalanche, who probably even are
surprising themselves this year, need some veteran leadership on the blue line
to go along with their young talented forwards up front. The Anaheim Ducks, arguably
the best team in the league, could use Girardi
to improve their defensive depth. Girardi physicality would help the
Ducks against the big contenders out West who play a heavy game like the Kings
and the Blues. Girardi is also mobile enough to skate and hopefully shut down
the skilled Blackhawks and Sharks.
Offensively Girardi has a decent shot and more importantly
makes a good breakout pass.
The important sports news this spring in NYC won’t be if
Carmrlo Anthony gets traded but if Dan Girardi does.
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