This Fish Stinks from the Head

It's funny. At the beginning of the year it seemed like everyone was predicting the New York Rangers to be Cup contenders, and at the very worst, a lock for a playoff spot. Then the Rangers jumped to the top of the standing with a brilliant run of games and it looked like they may be making a run at the Cup. Could another 1994 be in store for Rangers fans?

Then, the team started to even out. Their domination slowly, painfully, slipped away. Over the course of the season, the holes in the Rangers lineup became clearer and clearer. The Ranger's fall from grace had begun.

Now, with about 20 games left, the Rangers sit only 2 point ahead of 9th place and barely holding onto a playoff spot. They have 10 losses in their last 12 games. Gomez, Drury, and Redden, the players the Rangers signed to monster contracts, have all but disappeared and it's the third liners that are holding the team afloat. The "King" has lost his throne.

Now, one more piece has fallen away. This afternoon, Glen Sather announced that Rangers head coach Tom Renney was being relieved of his duties. In his place, the hot-headed, fiery John Tortorella was brought in to turn the slumping club around.

Some might say that Renney should have gotten more out of his players. After all, their contracts had the Rangers up against the cap. Aren't your most expensive players supposed to be your best. That Drury and Gomez and the rest had all but vanished was blamed on Renney.

And to be fair, Renney's easy-going approach did not help the Rangers as they slowly crashed back to Earth. But the true enemy of the Rangers is the man at the top:

General manager, Glen Sather.

Sather put this team together. Like Ranger's GMs of old, Sather took full advantage of the cash cow that is New York Rangers hockey. When the free agency rolled around last year, Sather threw everything at the best available, and hit the jackpot.

But there was a problem that few noticed. These monster contracts were far above what these players were worth.

It was Sather who paid second line players what first line superstars would be paid. And no matter who the coach was, it's clear that these players may never end up living up to their contracts.

It was Sather who let Jagr, their best player, their leader and point producer, walk away to Russia.

It's Sather who foolishly thinks the key to their success was a "sloppy second" named Sean Avery. Avery is now toiling away in Hartford, just waiting for that opportunity when the Rangers will be desperate enough to let him back into a league that by all means wants him gone.

It was Sather who loaded this team up with huge contracts so that the Rangers now have no space to move.

It was Sather who above all else, threw so called superstars together and hoped it all would fit.

So of course Renney is somewhat to blame. And he was all but crucified by Rangers fans who shouted for his head.

But I sincerely hope that once Torts hits the same roadblock, and these Rangers sink deeper and deeper those harsh eyes of the fans will look farther up the ladder.

Because as long as Sather is GM, the Rangers will never contend.