Ever since the rumors a week ago, and now the official news yesterday, of Ryan Malone joining the New York Rangers on a tryout basis, many fans have expressed their opinions on social media and blogs, mostly negative. So negative that I feel some fans are highly overreacting.
This is bad because if you ask anyone who knows me, they would say I tend to overreact a lot, so if I say you are overreacting, you should really stop what you are doing for a second and breathe.
Bolts by the Bay
I have read from fans that Malone would ruin the Rangers locker room, which is not true. Malone is considered to be a team player and great in the locker room.  As a matter of fact he was recommended to the Rangers and invited to informal skates by ex-teammates, and now current Rangers, Martin St. Louis and Dominic Moore, and by Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan, who worked out with Malone in Minnesota over the summer.  But just because he made some mistakes and was arrested for DUI and cocaine possession in April, everyone is so quick to pass judgement.
Speaking of drugs, fans have also said because of Malone’s addiction problem that being in New York City is not the best thing for him. This is very true, but since he is well liked by his former teammates and many current Rangers, that are now aware of his demons, I am sure the team will look out for him if he is signed. And if he relapses and becomes a distraction, the Rangers will release him and eat his contract, which would be less than $1 million for one year. There could even be a stipulation in his contract (that does not exist yet) that if he is released by a certain date then the Rangers do not have to pay him and his contract does not count towards the salary cap.Â
The point is we do not know yet so why bash the guy and the possibility of the Rangers signing him when his contract with the team does not even exist yet?
The most popular anti-Malone rant I have come across has to be that he will prevent/stunt the growth of the Rangers youth.
Huh? Â Because splitting time with Tanner Glass on the fourth line, similar to what the Rangers did with Derek Dorsett and Dan Carcillo last season, can prevent the growth of Rangers players who are not ready for the NHL yet?
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There is also this fear that the Rangers can send him down to the AHL and that he will take the roster spot away from a deserving prospect.
Yeah, that is not going to happen.
Malone has been in the NHL for 10 years now and is 34 years old. Â If the Rangers do sign him and during the course of the season he is not performing, they will release him, and even if the Rangers do send him down to the AHL, Malone will probably asked to be released at that point anyway.
Chances are though, all of this will be for nothing, as Malone will just be here for a tryout and nothing more.  The Rangers doing him a favor to help get his career and life back in order should be praised and not ridiculed in my opinion.
Especially since, once again, he has not even signed a contract with the Rangers yet.