Blueshirt Bulletin’s speculation that Jed Ortmeyer might be a goner has put an offseason bee in my bonnet. As though anything I write would have any impact on Glen Sather and the management of the New York Rangers, I feel compelled to comment none the less.

I love the way some Ranger fans are so willing to cast aside Jed, like his contributions to this team have been marginal. Avery may be the new media darling around here but Jed has been the heart and soul of this team since he first set foot on Garden ice. Jed certainly doesn’t have the scoring touch of an Avery but then I am sure Jed doesn’t say nasty things to other players in the face off circle either. Sometimes, being good at keeping the puck out of the net is almost better then putting it in.

I’ll bet Renney regretted scratching Jed in favor of Isbister in Game 2 against Buffalo. Like Isbister was going to make a real difference offensively? God knows I support Tom and what he has done with this team but I was hopping mad at the game when I heard Jed was scratched. Had Jed been on the ice, the puck that went in when Hossa blew his assignment on the PK maybe doesn’t go in. Buffalo had one powerpaly goal in three chances and that was the one that went in.

A while back, when people were marginalizing Jed’s impact on the team during his recovery, I looked up Kris Draper’s pre 2005-2006 stats with the Wings. Scoring wise, they are not too different then Jed’s. Over time, look at the impact Draper has had on the Wings. Jed has perfected killing penalties and grinding to an art form. Losing Jed now would be like throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Jed was the Captain of the University of Michigan’s Wolverines and led them to the Frozen Four twice. Red Berenson thinks the world of the kid. Jed has won the Steven McDonald Award twice. Messier even said Jed has Captain’s blood in his veins. I’m convinced that letting Jed go will come back and bite the Rangers in the ass bigtime.

Sather and Messier are always going on about doing things with class. Sather should do the classy thing, pay the kid his signing bonus and give Jed a decent contract for the next couple a three years.

Jesus Christ, if they can piss away money on the waste of space Holik turned out to be and Ozolinsh, to name a few, they should pull their finger out and do the right thing by our Jed.