If you live anywhere near New York City, you know the holidays are in full swing. Traffic is at an all time high, the sidewalks are especially difficult to navigate and Rangers tickets are astronomically high for teams that aren’t very good. Also, there are pretty awesome displays, lights and huge trees everywhere. It’s a lovely time to be around the city.

It’s also a lovely time to reminisce about whether we’ve been naughty or nice and, if we’ve been very good, what we should ask for. Let’s be honest – who doesn’t love gifts?  Last year, the staff at BSB asked Santa Sather for some moves and, well, basically none of us got anything (except a commenter asked for Lee Stempniak- bold move). Maybe we were all very bad. This year, instead of having a BSB-wide wish list, you’re all stuck with mine.

First of all, I would love for Kevin Klein to be a permanent fixture on the first power play unit. Maybe Vigneault – and I say AV because ultimately, each decision goes back to him – can swap him in for one Dan Girardi, also a right handed shot and also not shooting 21% so far this season. However unrealistic it is that Klein will keep up as an offensive juggernaut, currently 6th in the league for goals by a defenseman; why not take advantage while you can? Girardi is the source of roughly all of my ire this season, and isn’t helping a thing on the power play. Let’s make this happen, AV.

Secondly, I would love to trade away Marc Staal. Not for a bag of pucks, of course, but Staal isn’t himself and, frankly, isn’t worth the money that defensemen are demanding lately. Blame Brooks Orpik and his disgustingly irrational contract, but so much of what a player can demand comes from precedence, and a pylon is basically comparable to Orpik. In 11 years time, Orpik has 132 points and averages less than 20 minutes on the ice per game. He also makes $5.5M this year. To say his agent is a very persuasive individual is an understatement.

Staal just straight up is not the same player we saw years ago. There are a handful of reasons why he may look afraid of the puck, varying from a concussion to a broken orbital bone suffered in one of the most awful games to attend. Injury luck isn’t quite on his side. That being said, I quote Mr. Vigneault: “Hockey players are tough SOBs.” A player can’t be afraid of the net, and a defenseman particularly cannot be afraid of the puck. At (nearly) 28, Staal certainly has some good potential ahead of him; it just scares me to see him decline before money is even thrown at him. While he can still demand quite a bit on the trading block, I hope that Sather doesn’t make the Girardi-contract-extension decision and instead tests the waters. Let’s not forget, this is the man that fleeced Montreal for our captain.

Lastly, please, please, PLEASE, an extension for Mats Zuccarello. If for no other reason, so that I could watch him endlessly be awkward at events like Fan Forum and in fantastic television broadcasts like Boys in Blueshirts. But really, cause he’s the feisty little spark that the Rangers absolutely cannot lose. He’s usually in the middle of whatever is happening offense-wise on the ice. At 5’7, he’s not scared to challenge anybody – and I don’t mean drop the gloves, cause frankly, we get all our #toffness from Tanner Glass, thank the hockey gods – on the ice for the puck. He makes things happen. He won’t demand too much money and really I think that our 5 year center Derick Brassard sort of needs him around. Let’s keep him…. PLEASE.

What are you wishing for this holiday season?

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