That was the response I got from JJ when I sent him a text message telling him Brendan Shanahan was not going to play for the Rangers but was going to play for Rangers biggest rival, the New Jersey Devils. Sure, New Jersey is where Shanahan's NHL career started but does it have to end there too?
Its been a year of shocking signings. Jagr going to Russia, Sundin choosing Vancouver over the Rangers and now Shanahan off to the Devils. All three are explained away by the salary cap. The Rangers are flush with awesome, although very expensive, talent. Its sucks when money prevents players from playing for what JJ considers the greatest team ever.
Jagr will make millions more playing in Russia simply because of taxes. His NHL salary was heavily taxed. In Russia, he gets all of it. For a guy wrapping up his hockey career, I guess this makes sense.
Why would you play for the Canucks when you could play for Rangers? Does it really matter if you are making $2 million or $6 million? If he Rangers had room under the cap, Sundin would be blue shirt instead of a Canuck. But it would come at a cost. The Rangers would have to trade someone else away.
Same story for Shanahan. For him to become a Ranger, someone else would have to go. Maybe Nigel Dawes and a few other new fan favorites? Who knows! At least he is playing. Shanahan as a Devil is better than Shanahan as a spectator.
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