After that last playoff game in 2006, when the Rangers were swept by the New Jersey Devils, I met Jason Strudwick across the street from the Garden. He was going into the “Local” with Ortmeyer and Hollweg. I shook his hand and expressed my appreciation for his hard work and my hope that he would come back and play again for the Rangers.
When training camp came, Jason had not been resigned. He went to play for HC Lugano in Switzerland. He got married. He got on with his life. Around January of last season, rumor had it that Sather was so distraught by the team’s lack of defense, he called good old reliable, steady Jason Strudwick. Unfortunatley, Jason was committed to play for Lugano and it would have cost Slats too much to buy him out and bring him home.
Jason came back after Lugano was eliminated from their playoffs. He played eight games for the Rangers. Even though he was ineligible for our playoffs, he hung around to help out his teamates. He did things to make their lives easier so they could focus on the playoffs. He picked up drycleaning. He ran errands. He even walked Henrik Lundqvist’s dog. He went above and beyond the call of duty.
Last night, Jason Strudwick scored the game winning goal in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins and his teammates mobbed him like he had scored the game winning goal in a Stanley Cup Final game seven. I haven’t seen the Rangers that joyful since they swept the Thrashers. Jason Strudwick was just as joyful when he scored the shootout goal against Washington that allowed Marek Malik’s between the legs goal to happen.
I can remember this past summer when Strudwick was resigned. There were more then a few people out there on various and sundry blogs and messageboards that were cursing and screaming. What was Sather doing? Was he crazy? Why wasn’t he signing a puck moving defenseman? Why was he taking away a spot from a Wolfpack kid or a prospect? Many were incensed by Strudwick’s resigning.
Jason Strudwick is a versitile and reliable player. He can play forward and defense. He isn’t flashy. He doesn’t put up the big numbers. He is solid and reliable. He is good teammate and mentor to the younger players. He get’s the job done. He doesn’t put a dent in the salary cap. Talk about value for money! I hope Sather gives Struddy a nice little bonus. He deserves it.
I have been wearing my 2005 Opening Night, Authentic, Hurricane Katrina Jason Strudwick Game Worn Jersey since I got it in November 2005. Jason even signed it for me. When people see that jersey, they know that it’s me, MHurley. On any given night, unless Struddy is a scratch, there are only two Strudwick jersies in the Garden. One is on Jason’s back. The other is on mine. I wear it proudly.
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Posted under New York Rangers
This post was written by m hurley on November 18, 2007
I agree entirely about Strudwick. In baseball he’d be your perfect utility player. He scored three goals in his last full season, the Niedermayers have Strudwick genes after all, but that’s not his value. With Strudwick out there, you have another guy that can drop the gloves, which is good for the team. Minnesota has Boogaard, but that didn’t deter Ohlund from a vicious slash on the legs of Koivu breaking a bone (four game suspension.) Should he play when Malik comes back? Probably not. But as the season goes on, he’ll get his innings. Speaking of Malik, few probably remember that it was Strudwick that scored in the 14th round of that famous shootout after Muir put Washington ahead thus setting up Malik’s heroics. His two cousins Scott and Rob watched on TV and they said they fell off the couch when that happened.
Renney deserves credit too for putting him out there 4 on 4 with the game on the line particularly against a high-flying team like Pittsburgh. What he lacks in skills, he makes up in smarts.