by Steve Giacobello
The “Fleury Debate” has been an on-going topic amongst Rangers fans ever since the feisty 5’6, 180lb right winger came to the Rangers as a UFA from the Colorado Avalanche in July of 1999. Is Fleury a valuable piece to the puzzle that will return the Rangers to some sort of respectability throughout the hockey world, or has he done more damage than good since arriving? An honest argument can be made from both sides; Let’s take a look at Theo from both sides of the fence……
One can make a good argument that Theo is exactly what the Rangers need. Fleury undoubtedly, on many nights, has been the most passionate player on the ice for the Blueshirts, and has played with more fire, intensity, and emotion than all his teammates. While paired on a line with Eric Lindros, Fleury played a hard nose style of hockey, skating ferociously around the offensive zone, going to the net, taking the body, digging in the corners, and clearly had a big hand in the early success of not only Lindros, but the Rangers as well. All of this, while returning from missing a good portion of the previous season because of a relapse of a substance abuse problem.
Now, on the other hand….. one can also make a good case that Fleury is too much of a distraction to the team, and hurts the Rangers more than helping them. He led the team, and the league at times, in penalty minutes with over 200 , and his actions, on and off the ice, all to often stole the headlines. Actions such as his “Chicken Dance” against the Islanders, his alleged fight with the San Jose mascot, being rumored to have given in to his substance abuse problem, and leaving the ice during the third period and not returning during a big game in the middle of a crucial road trip for the team, all arose at some point during the season.
Also, let’s not forget to mention Theo’s on-going battle with officials for the amount of penalties called on him, and the lack of calls for the numerous violations, and liberties taken against him. Clearly just too much controversy surrounding one player to NOT cause a distraction in the locker room. But is Fleury the victim here, or is he the problem? I say he’s the victim. How many of us knew of any kind of a battle with a substance problem that Theo has had prior to becoming a Ranger? Has Fleury ever been on the highlight films for anything other than scoring goals? Has Fleury ever been surrounded by so much controversy before becoming a Ranger?
The problem here is that Fleury is a Ranger now, playing in the biggest city, and on the biggest stage in the NHL. Once you become a Ranger, your life becomes an open book for all the hockey world to read…….. past, and present. Once the slightest bit of controversy begins around you here in N.Y., and as a Ranger, you are under a microscope being watched by fans, media, players, officials, and management all around the league, as well as the NHL itself. Bottom line is that Theo Fleury is guilty of one thing…Being a New York Ranger and not knowing what to expect, and how to handle it. The quicker he understands what comes with the territory in playing here in N.Y., and learns how to ignore it, handle it better, and turn the other cheek, the quicker he can get back to being the player the Rangers need, and the type of player that will have the Garden faithful chanting his name. Until he does, being a Ranger won’t be much fun, for not only him, but his teammates, and us. This is one Rangers fan who hopes it’s not to late