Here's my priority list:
1. Somehow ditch Trouba
2. Find a credible right wing to play with Kreider and Zibanejad
3. Improve the 3rd line
I don't foresee there's anything you can do with Panarin or Zibanejad, both of whom are on NMCs, and Kreider is a relative value at $6.5M, even with his inconsistency. Could they get a guy like Guentzel as well...not sure, he's going to earn a lot, and the Rangers may not have the money.
The third line needs something, and that might mean moving on from Kakko...it'll be a sell low kind of thing, but maybe you can get a defensive guy in return that can be used to help that side. Can they trust Chytil's health? Not sure, I have my doubts...but maybe you just kind of ride your luck a bit...he has the speed and ability the Rangers need if he can stay in the line-up. I don't think Cuylle's really an option as a third line guy yet, so I'd prefer him banging around on the 4th line with guys like Goodrow and Rempe, or whomever they want to put down there.
On the defense, I think you also have to look at whether you renew Lindgren. I love his heart, but he's undersized, and is wearing down already I think, so have to wonder whether there's a better option out there.
Without moving everyone, the Rangers will have around $9.5M to sign Schneider, Lindgren and Kakko and look for some depth. It's not much...so moving Trouba's contract would be the big one for me.
Here's my priority list:
1. Somehow ditch Trouba
2. Find a credible right wing to play with Kreider and Zibanejad
3. Improve the 3rd lineI don't foresee there's anything you can do with Panarin or Zibanejad, both of whom are on NMCs, and Kreider is a relative value at $6.5M, even with his inconsistency. Could they get a guy like Guentzel as well...not sure, he's going to earn a lot, and the Rangers may not have the money.
The third line needs something, and that might mean moving on from Kakko...it'll be a sell low kind of thing, but maybe you can get a defensive guy in return that can be used to help that side. Can they trust Chytil's health? Not sure, I have my doubts...but maybe you just kind of ride your luck a bit...he has the speed and ability the Rangers need if he can stay in the line-up. I don't think Cuylle's really an option as a third line guy yet, so I'd prefer him banging around on the 4th line with guys like Goodrow and Rempe, or whomever they want to put down there.
On the defense, I think you also have to look at whether you renew Lindgren. I love his heart, but he's undersized, and is wearing down already I think, so have to wonder whether there's a better option out there.
Without moving everyone, the Rangers will have around $9.5M to sign Schneider, Lindgren and Kakko and look for some depth. It's not much...so moving Trouba's contract would be the big one for me.
wash, rinse, repeat? Trouba isn’t the problem, He actually gives a Fiddler’s f!ck. Where in the hell were the aforementioned dudes in your post. Sorry, they can get to base camp but they’re not getting to the summit. Just my opinion and it’s based on seven decades of watching this “team.”
Don’t forget - “Hockey is different here” and “There’s no quit in New York.” Yeah, right. I’m done.
I have to digest this first after it gets all the way down. Right now it’s stuck in my craw. Take a day or two to sort through it.
I pretty much concur with these moves. I would take a look at separating Kreider and Zib -- too much time, effort and cap space have been spent trying "to get them going". Enough is enough.Here's my priority list:
1. Somehow ditch Trouba
2. Find a credible right wing to play with Kreider and Zibanejad
3. Improve the 3rd lineI don't foresee there's anything you can do with Panarin or Zibanejad, both of whom are on NMCs, and Kreider is a relative value at $6.5M, even with his inconsistency. Could they get a guy like Guentzel as well...not sure, he's going to earn a lot, and the Rangers may not have the money.
The third line needs something, and that might mean moving on from Kakko...it'll be a sell low kind of thing, but maybe you can get a defensive guy in return that can be used to help that side. Can they trust Chytil's health? Not sure, I have my doubts...but maybe you just kind of ride your luck a bit...he has the speed and ability the Rangers need if he can stay in the line-up. I don't think Cuylle's really an option as a third line guy yet, so I'd prefer him banging around on the 4th line with guys like Goodrow and Rempe, or whomever they want to put down there.
On the defense, I think you also have to look at whether you renew Lindgren. I love his heart, but he's undersized, and is wearing down already I think, so have to wonder whether there's a better option out there.
Without moving everyone, the Rangers will have around $9.5M to sign Schneider, Lindgren and Kakko and look for some depth. It's not much...so moving Trouba's contract would be the big one for me.
I too am concerned about Chytil.
They should sell high on Lindgren.
I think Rangers will move on from Kakko.
The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. The Rangers lack the toughness required to win a Cup. The D corps could not win battles against the forecheck and spent too much time poking at pucks along the boards and behind the net burning shift after shift being trapped in their own zone. The leader on D Adam Fox is too soft and although can make some slick moves to get pucks, he is near useless when it comes to physically being able to win puck battles. He takes up ~10% of the cap. Personally I think the entire D corps is crap. Fox is a pussy, Lindgren is going to go off on a stretcher, Miller is a clown, Schneider is lost sometimes, Gus is gone, and TROUBA is tits on a bull. Fox should be a winger. He just doesn't have the size and strength to be a top pair D man.CK and Zib need a winger but he has to be tough/gritty AND skilled. You need penalty killers that play on the 3rd and 4th line and stop depending on CK and Zib to kill penalties. Goodbye to Kakko, Wennberg, Roslovic. You need a 4th line that can play heavy and defensively not be a liability and stay out of the box. Othmann should make the team next season. Cuylle played as well as you could have expected him to in a limited role. And lets find out what Edstrom has. Roorbroeck will be in Hartford next year and let's keep an eye on him. he is big and strong and can score. And we need a coach in Hartford.
In the end, the Rangers were who I thought they were. I said in Oct/Nov that they didn't have the physicality to compete with hard/heavy playoff teams like the Panthers....They were lucky to make it to 6 games. They were outplayed/out physicalled every game
The only guys that I think earned their paychecks this playoffs.
Igor
Trocheck
Cuylle
Goodrow
Lafreniere
If they need me to bleed, then I'll bleed for my team
According to broadcasters, Fox was dealing with a bum shoulder -- that surprised me since we already knew the knee was problematic.I'd like to first hear who was playing hurt before suggesting moves as I suspect Trouba and Fox were banged up.
As for Trouba, I didn't think he was 100% when he came back and his movement was definitely impaired. There was also talk of Kreider and Zib playing with injuries (not sure what Kreider's was, but I heard/read that the crosscheck to the back in the Canes series never stopped bothering him).
Rangers should stop wasting time and resources trying to find someone to play with CK and Zib. Anyone have any idea how many players have been tried in that RW slot over the past 2+ years. Personally, I would bite the bullet and put them on separate lines.The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. The Rangers lack the toughness required to win a Cup. The D corps could not win battles against the forecheck and spent too much time poking at pucks along the boards and behind the net burning shift after shift being trapped in their own zone. The leader on D Adam Fox is too soft and although can make some slick moves to get pucks, he is near useless when it comes to physically being able to win puck battles. He takes up ~10% of the cap. Personally I think the entire D corps is crap. Fox is a pussy, Lindgren is going to go off on a stretcher, Miller is a clown, Schneider is lost sometimes, Gus is gone, and TROUBA is tits on a bull. Fox should be a winger. He just doesn't have the size and strength to be a top pair D man.CK and Zib need a winger but he has to be tough/gritty AND skilled. You need penalty killers that play on the 3rd and 4th line and stop depending on CK and Zib to kill penalties. Goodbye to Kakko, Wennberg, Roslovic. You need a 4th line that can play heavy and defensively not be a liability and stay out of the box. Othmann should make the team next season. Cuylle played as well as you could have expected him to in a limited role. And lets find out what Edstrom has. Roorbroeck will be in Hartford next year and let's keep an eye on him. he is big and strong and can score. And we need a coach in Hartford.
The only guys that I think earned their paychecks this playoffs.
Igor
Trocheck
Cuylle
Goodrow
Lafreniere
I've said pretty much the same thing over the past few years. I remember JD (and possibly Gorton as well) saying point blank that this team was not built for the playoffs. I believe Drury said the same thing at one point.In the end, the Rangers were who I thought they were. I said in Oct/Nov that they didn't have the physicality to compete with hard/heavy playoff teams like the Panthers....They were lucky to make it to 6 games. They were outplayed/out physicalled every game
I think Goodrow is another one you still look at moving. Maybe after these playoffs they'll find someone to take the remaining 3 years @ $3.6M. He had career years in playoff goals (6 versus a career high of 2 before) and points (8 versus 6). Hard to see him being that much of an impact again on the scoresheet. Beside which he's not particularly physical, or at least not very effective with it.
Think you could save a couple of million there and go for look for other options....trade for something like him at the deadline if need be, but having the dollars would allow you to look for more.
Here's my priority list:
1. Somehow ditch Trouba
2. Find a credible right wing to play with Kreider and Zibanejad
3. Improve the 3rd lineI don't foresee there's anything you can do with Panarin or Zibanejad, both of whom are on NMCs, and Kreider is a relative value at $6.5M, even with his inconsistency. Could they get a guy like Guentzel as well...not sure, he's going to earn a lot, and the Rangers may not have the money.
The third line needs something, and that might mean moving on from Kakko...it'll be a sell low kind of thing, but maybe you can get a defensive guy in return that can be used to help that side. Can they trust Chytil's health? Not sure, I have my doubts...but maybe you just kind of ride your luck a bit...he has the speed and ability the Rangers need if he can stay in the line-up. I don't think Cuylle's really an option as a third line guy yet, so I'd prefer him banging around on the 4th line with guys like Goodrow and Rempe, or whomever they want to put down there.
On the defense, I think you also have to look at whether you renew Lindgren. I love his heart, but he's undersized, and is wearing down already I think, so have to wonder whether there's a better option out there.
Without moving everyone, the Rangers will have around $9.5M to sign Schneider, Lindgren and Kakko and look for some depth. It's not much...so moving Trouba's contract would be the big one for me.
wash, rinse, repeat? Trouba isn’t the problem, He actually gives a Fiddler’s f!ck. Where in the hell were the aforementioned dudes in your post. Sorry, they can get to base camp but they’re not getting to the summit. Just my opinion and it’s based on seven decades of watching this “team.”
I don't doubt Trouba cares a lot...but he just can't play well enough to actually do much about it. While I'd love to look at options on Zibanejad and Panarin, the only way they're leaving is if they agree to waive their no-move clauses. You can't even save money if you buy them out because of the way their contracts are constructed.
On Kreider, I think you hold onto him because you still going to need guys who can put the puck in the net, and he still has enough there that you're probably not going to do better.
For my mind the defense is where you start though...need to figure out how do I get a better. Trouba is probably looking at being a 3rd pair d-man, and that makes no sense to me, so if I can move him I do. I also look to see what I can do with upgrading Lindgren, I think if I can get a guy who can solidify that pair, or push Schneider down again, then those are the things I'm looking at. Oh, and they have to be good at moivng the puck out of their own zone.
No matter how you slice it Zibanejad, Kreider, Panarin and Trouba were key contributors for the loss to Florida. The forwards just didn’t get anything done and Trouba has played his way into a hard hitting, too slow 2nd pair guy on a non playoff team “Darius Kasparitus anyone”, which is likely where he is headed. I don’t see Panarin, Zibanejad and their No Movement clauses going anywhere. Kreider as of July 1 is tradeable to teams on his approved list. But it ain’t happening.
I see Trouba, Kakko, Goodrow, and maybe Lindgren traded. Gustafsson, Roslovic, Wennberg and Wheeler walking. That’s potentially a 8 player turnover. Certainly enough with the right moves to dramatically improve the team. The only ones in there that will be missed are Goodrow and to a lessor degree Gustafson. Not sure other than Rempe and Edstrom if any more Hartford help is available.
The jump in Lafreniere’s game alone will be a huge boost, but he and Trochek need a line mate that plays hard in the playoffs. The Zibanejad, Kreider connection remains with the same issue, nobody can play with them. Drury will undoubtably try another patch. And with Vesey, Rempe, Brodzynski, Edstrom, Cuylle and Chytil available, try to come up with two bottom 6 lines. I'd prefer Drury got rid of Vesey, Brodzynski, and Chytil and brought in warriors, but he won't. Chytil is one knock away from drooling, another reason to move on..
Do I agree with this? NO. Do I expect different. NO.
Drury will undoubtably try another patch.
Yeah, Drury has shown himself to be a risk-averse GM. I expect minor changes around the edges of the roster with similar results next spring. Need a Neil Smith sledgehammer to the team core approach. Waste of Shesterkin's prime years.
I think that first off-season where he made a bunch of missteps put him back a bit
Drury will undoubtably try another patch.
Yeah, Drury has shown himself to be a risk-averse GM. I expect minor changes around the edges of the roster with similar results next spring. Need a Neil Smith sledgehammer to the team core approach. Waste of Shesterkin's prime years.
I think that first off-season where he made a bunch of missteps put him back a bit
Can you expound upon that a bit sir?
Drury will undoubtably try another patch.
Yeah, Drury has shown himself to be a risk-averse GM. I expect minor changes around the edges of the roster with similar results next spring. Need a Neil Smith sledgehammer to the team core approach. Waste of Shesterkin's prime years.
I think that first off-season where he made a bunch of missteps put him back a bit
Can you expound upon that a bit sir?
I think he came into the first off-season so laser focused in adding grind that he didn't really do it in a measured way. His acquisitions/signings of Blais, Tinordi, Reaves, Nemeth and Goodrow were all meant to add a physical element...and with maybe the exception of Goodrow to some extent, none of them panned out.
Nemeth and Goodrow picked up contracts that were too long. Tinordi was barely an NHLer, Reaves was well past his prime, and they were too optimistic on Blais, even with an uptick when he got back to St Louis (which has since faded again).
That collection of five moves, plus trading away Buchnevich for little to nothing, was a tough way to start, and felt forced. I think that taught him something to some extent, and that is to be a little more discerning.
I think when you add in the Kane move, which was a bit forced as well...then I think he probably looks back at those and thinks I need to be more discerning and not be attracted to just the image or what you get on the face of things.
On the other hand, I think he perhaps learned a little this trade deadline too, in that sometimes you're going to be faced with some high risk costs for rentals and you may need to take a run at it sometimes. Though it's hard to fix your team at the deadline, you really are just reenforcing your depth and options...not trying to address flaws - despite what some commentators say.
The Rangers ultimately need to figure out how to get better at 5v5, and that probably also includes figuring out how they get the puck out of their own zone more effectively...so will be interesting to see how Drury approaches that.
Florida is a better team. They beat us in the regular season they beat us in the playoffs. They beat the Rangers in every metric and the Rangers were lucky to have won 2 games. Their top 6 didn't exactly light it up either and it's very common in the playoffs to see top 2 lines get cancel out and the series decided by 3rd and 4th line players and goaltending. Rangers need to get tougher on the boards and win more puck battles. Rangers need more physicality on D... We think that a smooth skating Dman makes up for lack of physicality but it doesn't in the playoffs. I'm tired of waiting for Miller's potential. He is just not smart enough and constantly out of position/reaching. I have seen a lot of Dmen who weren't fancy skaters that were very effective. Rangers top pair D just doesn't cut it. Lindgren has the heart of a lion but is just 20lbs. too small as top pair Dmen are concerned is he in the top 20? Fox has a world of talent but lacks the physicality it takes to be an effective top pair Dman in the playoffs. (yes I know he had a sore knee but I am more concerned about his balls than his knee). Everyone is going to hit him in the playoffs.
If Trouba's play was the fault of his broken leg then he should have been sitting. Who does he think he is ... John Wayne? It was selfish of him to play and play so poorly.
As far as the Rangers getting a RW, they need to cut bait on Kakko. Laf had a good year. The Rangers can't afford anybody worthwhile in free agency and Drury would have to pull off a miracle to improve that situation.
Rangers need a 3rd line that can contribute and a 4th line you can trust on the ice. 3/3rds not 2/3rds. If Rempe is going to play he needs to figure out how to stay out of the box. 3rd and 4th liners need to be able to play on the PK to avoid killing top line forwards and screwing up line combos.
Here are the challenges:
Extending Igor's contract.
Finding cap space by offloading over paid players.
Overcoming team toughness issue.
Finding production and value in Hartford
Finding a worthy 1st line right winger
Finding muscle on defense
If they need me to bleed, then I'll bleed for my team
Latest Post: Training Camp Roster Our newest member: Anarion Recent Posts Unread Posts
