All Business

Interesting line of text in Zip's blog at the end of his mid-term report card.

And maybe MSG needs to pull back on the Rangers' string of demands and commitments for promotion and marketing and allow the players more time for hockey and non-business activities. The place is always sold out, merchandise is selling, how much more awareness and dough do they need to generate and establishing an identity for players? Winning more will provide plenty of rewards. It's a results business.

Of course its no excuse, but you have to think after a while it can wear a guy down. The focus should be on the ice, he's right about that.

Makes you wonder if its like this everywhere for the players or if its extra demanding for the Rangers being that they are in NYC.

But rather interesting to see Zip comment on this, especially since he's around the team on a daily basis.

Something similar was said last year about David Wright of the Mets. How he was giving too much of his free time to doing promotional events and didn't have enough time to rest.

I'm not around the team enough to say whether this is true or not, but I definitely think it wasthe case with DW.

I also remember Renney commenting on Lundqvist in the same fashion last year attributing some of his success to the fact that he wasn't wearing himself as thin as he had in his rookie season.

He said that he was always willing to do anything promotion related, anything that anyone asked - but Renney kind of reeled him back because it was too much.

I agree, these guys are paid to play hockey not be public awareness spokesmen for every other orginization that is looking for a donation & free exposure, I'm all for giing of ones time & charities, but you have to draw a line @ somepoint & think of the well being of the yourself & the team, also it's up to the coaching staff to help set the limits as well.

Thats whats wrong with Malik!!! He signs WAY too many autographs for his adoring fans. His popularity is hurting his game.