Monday, November 20, 2006

Leadership Award Tears Open Wound?

1) The recent awarding of the silly 'Messier Leadership Award' to Brenden Shanahan has apparently made the simmering feud between Jagr and the European contingent on the Rangers, and Shanny and the North Americans, a bit more out in the open.
2) Last season,despite not being the official captain, there was little doubt who the leader was. JJ was the defacto captain both on and off the ice. Being that there was no North American with any significant profile, and the line up was dominated by Czechs/Europeans, there was little apparent problem.
3) With the inking of Brendan Shanahan, along with Cullen and Ward the Rangers changed the make up of their team to an apparent small degree, but with the addition of Shanahan, they also added someone who was used to/comfortable being a leader.
4) Our sources close to the team tells FAUXRUMORS that there was almost instant resentment from Jagr. Players(even many Euros) naturally gravitated towards the affable former Red Wing. The Ranger brass sensing this decided to try to assuage their cranky Czech by making him the captain. Were told this didn't do the trick.
5) Though the two seem to have decent on ice chemistry; working well on the PP unit together, we're told that they almost never converse in the locker room, and never away from the rink. There was almost an uneasy feeling among many teammates. Then last week when the inane award was given to Shanahan, despite JJ leading the league in points. Jagr was enraged. Not directly to Brendan, or management, but one of our sources who speaks Czech said he over heard JJ say some very unflattering things about his fellow 600 goal club team mate.
6) How this will all play out remains to be seen. Its any one's guess if this is partly responsible for the slower start to the Ranger's season. What is likely is that Jagr will be more likely to threaten retirement after this season if Shanahan(on a one year deal) is brought back next season
As always we will stay on top of this an all other developments as they occur

25 comments:

Off the Post said...

i have to tell ya I still have some buddys who work at the garden and they say its even worse than what you wrote. Surprised its been written about more

Off the Post said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joseph said...

so jammy can't coexist with shanny eh, you sure love your 2 superstar rivaleries...jammy has a big ego i am sure...but why would an insignificant thing like a messier award set him off? the rangers problems this year have less to do with jammy, and shanny, and more to do with their piss poor defence.

faux rumors said...

1) Hey welcome aboard! Feel free and send any further information you may have. You can either be the go between, or have your buddy e-mail us directly to fauxrumors@yahoo.com
2) We have quite a few sources, but will NEVER turn new ones away!

faux rumors said...

1) Oh, we can't disagree that the Ranger's problems so far this year are in large part to their porous defense and mediocre goaltending
2) The ladder can be in part due to our exclusive Lundqvist partying issues. The leadership 'problem' can not be helping though

Little Joe said...

Hey faux, how about some rumors! I mean i like all the behind the scenes intrigue you guys put out, but what most of us come here for are to read what rumors you are hearing!

Joseph said...

too many chiefs not enough indians...nice come from behind victory against the devils the other night though...and hank well that is the whole sophmore hangover, coupled with maybe a few real hangovers..he will be fine.

faux rumors said...

1) Not all super star combos end up in a rivalry. certainly the malkin-Crosby JJ-Shanny problems have been visited here already.
2) Pronger and Niedermeyer seem to be coexisting quite fine, thanks. No word that peca and his former nemisis (well most of the league's nemesis) Tucker are on bad terms
3) Additionally, dynamite combos like Thornton-Cheechoo, Hossa-Kolvachuk, etc have not been having any difficulties that we have been alerted to. Certainly if any develop, you can be sure we will report it here!

faux rumors said...

1) hey 'Little Joe', hold your horses(no pun LOL) on the rumors. We only report credible mayterial from reliable sources.
2) We don't accept money from readers so we never feel obligated to make up nonsense to keep our readers happy
3) We do however welcome all comments/suggestions Joe. As long as posters don't spam us. ; )
As always keep it here for the latest credible rumor information!

Antzmarching said...

1. Forget the shimmering feud and controversy for a second. In looking at LEADERSHIP awards, how is it possible that the top leader on the Stanley Cup Champs is overlooked? Not only did Rod Brind'Amour orchestrate last year's run to the Cup, lead the team in playoff goals, and win the Selke, but he is SECOND in the NHL in points THIS year.

2. The Messier Award is a joke in my estimation. What are the chances that a player from Los Angeles or Columbus could ever win this nonsensical distiction regardless of their role on and off the ice? It'll be Jagr next month, maybe a Kovalchuk eventually, and a string of Crosbys.

3. The NHL continues to undermine itself with pathetic and lame promotions like this. Why not just make Messier the Assistant Commissioner or Director of some silly made-up position? From last night's goal reviews, it really looked like Mess was heading up the video replays. Shanny's stick was clearly above the legal height limit, and Tampa's goal clearly WAS NOT kicked in. Remember, the rule on kick in goals has been amended.

4. Antz, back from the 3rd World, and not happy with things.

The Messiah said...

i've been lurking but silent about all this leadership award crap. sorry guys, but messier deserves all the props he gets! His detractors are just jealous.
Shanahan deserved the award. Who cares what that guy in carolina is doing. No one goes to their games anyway

Joseph said...

messier was an asshat...and this award i am afraid to say is a farce..mess is going to hand it out to all his friends in the old boys club...i exepect that the award will float aroung the t.o./detroit/new york triangle...new school kids like ovechekin, crosby, or kovalchuk have no chance at winning this award... i agree that brind amour should should have been up for consideration..all and all shanny isn't that bad a pick...but when an award with messier's name attached to it is given to a ranger, it sure looks suspect.

faux rumors said...

1)Not sure if that Messiah guy was being truthful or sarcastic, but we have to agree with Pinko and Antz that:a) The award is a farce
b) to name it after Messier is questionable
c) To have the first recipient a ranger makes it seem contrived

Unknown said...

Good to see FAUX is still commenting on his own BLOG entries!

The Messiah said...

I was not being sarcastic fauxface. The award is a great idea. You Ranger haters can say all you want but he deserves all the praise and respect he gets!

Joseph said...

messier will always be an oiler in my mind...oh ya i forgot, one cup with the rangers is worth 4 from the oilers...please, dude the rangers???

Unknown said...

I think Messier's leadership is severely underrated by many in hockey (obviously not by the NHL though). But I do have a problem with the new Messier award...I just think there are better examples of leadership that would better embody the award...I still have visions of Messiers classic sucker punch from behind to the back of the head of Jamie Macoun, knocking Macoun out cold and nearly ending his career. Not sure that is the type of 'Leader' we want to embody into an award.

Police Squad said...

i always liked messier when he played here, but can see how some might feel he was a bit chippy at times

faux rumors said...

1) Chippy?? He had to be one of the dirtyest players in NHL history.
2) Have no idea why, but he must have gotten away with more high sticks/elbows than any player we have ever seen

Joseph said...

i suppose you can't discount his leadership, i was never in the locker room with the guy, but hey he wore the 'c' wherever he played. but he was a dirty dirty hockey player on the ice, he would cut ya up, or knock ya out with an elbow...but he never ever dropped the gloves..he was like bobby clarke, but bigger.

Joseph said...

spector, via hadley is reporting that forsberg, might be dealt to san jose or colorado in the next 24 hours....and the yotes, want a new goalie by wednesday...just thought i'd through some rumours your way..your job i know, but hey i see and hear everything.

faux rumors said...

1)The only way Forsberg goes to SJ is if Nabokov goes the other way, else it'll have to be a multi player block buster as SJ is right up against the cap and couldn't otherwise absorb Forsberg's salary
2) Colorado on the other hand has enough space as of now, but just barely.

Joseph said...

and why would san jose want yet another elite center...talk about an embarrassment of riches...i can understand the flyers interest in nabokov..but the sharks, would have joey t, marleau, and forsberg....the avs make way more sense..liles, and budaj perhaps.

faux rumors said...

1) The Avs would be MUCH happier unloading your buddy Theodore, and his absurd contract.
2) Budaj appears to be the Avs goalie of the future as well as the present

Joseph said...

oh geez, the flyers aren't dumb to trade for theo.....ha or are they??