by Timmy Corbett
The rangers have signed the mammoth 6′ 4″, 236 pound left winger, Chris Simon, and at age 31, his size is still a viable weapon. He also fills a huge hole the rangers have on the left wing. The Rangers are at risk of losing their top left wing prospect in John Tripp, making the lack of warm bodies critical. Ronald Petrovicky is a solid fit on Nedved’s line so logic would dictate he would stay there. Dan Lacouture is a hard worker and defensive specialist but is lacking the experience to prove he can allow his forwards the ability to be that much more dangerous. Matt Barnaby is a feisty, instigating pest who can have the occasional fight, Simon is cut from the same mold.
Simon is much bigger and can fill many different roles Barnaby can not, simply because of size Simon is intriguing to be put on a line with Lindros or Holik. Don’t think Simon is a traditional first line left wing, but Barnaby wasn’t either… by a long shot, Matt did fill in nicely wherever he was asked the last few seasons. Simon, in 11 seasons in the NHL, his best year was 1999, he had career numbers, however, he never topped 20 assists ( he did it again last year ). A top line wing who is expected to do the dirty work for the rangers light hitting wings and fragile centers would be expected to have better numbers passing the puck.
Likewise he is far from an offensive force with goals. He once scored 29 goals (again in the’99 season), a respectable sum but his second best total was just 14, in the 2001 season. His value is in his penalty minutes, he isn’t afraid to do the nasty business in the corners or along the boards. In his best year, he amassed 146 minutes in the box, surely a player who can play on the edge.
The rangers have been lacking a one two punch of left wings since Pat Verbeek was slashed due to salary restrictions (remember those days? ) As much as I like Verbeek, the rangers needed Beukeboom more in the 1995 season it was a sound move. The lack of the one two punch was never more apparent with the loss of Adam Graves. The void couldn’t be filled by Esa Tikkanen, Theo Fleury, Jan Hlavac, Kevin Stevens or some guy named Robitaille. Simon is someone who can hit the corners like a hungry dog, he is someone who can crash the net like it was made of glass. Simon is someone who can make a difference in a game, but history shows us he isn’t someone who can change a season.
A good pick up, but it is nothing more than a band aid on a team that is bleeding six seasons worth of playoff absence, let alone respectability.