What happens next

What happens next? 

I chose the Rangers make the playoffs. Starting the season with a better d group and better d metrics last season plus Igor makes the playoffs  realistic for the Rangers. If Pearrault and Laf can continue their play from last season post panarin and Dorofeyev can fit in, the offense should be much better.

Miller getting hurt is a given, I just hope its not a constant, season long mess like last year.

In light of last years season,  think Schnieder's contract too expensive to trade unless the rangers eat $$ or give him up for the proverbial bag o' pucks.

Dury is not getting fired unless the Rangers come out and shit the bed for 2 months. I do not see that happening. 

Schneider gets traded.

And Smit makes the team out of camp.

I vote they make the playoffs. They were 12-10-3 for their last 25 games. Mediocre, but a big improvement over the 25 games prior, most without Fox and Shesterkin. On paper, they have improved the top six and D. Do I think they have a shot at the cup? No, but I will be cautiously optimistic and say they should make the playoffs. 

I want to be optimistic. I want the Rangers in the playoffs and a lot better than the last two seasons. But changes made up front don’t make me see a better group than the pre trade of Panarin group of forwards. Gone are Trochek, Panarin, Brodzynski, Sheary, Carrick, and Edstrom. And in are Bjorkstrand, Dorofeyev, and  Veleno. Panarin for Dorofeyev is a wash with Panarin the overall advantage. Trocheck even at the float level he played at the last two years would eat Bjorkstrand in his sleep and Carrick and Veleno let’s just say Veleno has some boots to fill. So I don’t see an improvement up front at all. And to have any chance of playoffs  Miller has the challenge in front of him. Any less than major improvement in his game and health is a must. He goes south the Rangers are dead. Unless Laba has figured out over the summer how to be a productive second line Center. I like him he’s got a game on the come, but don’t think he is second line Center material yet. 

Defense I don’t like the Petersen trade who effectively blocks Smits from real opportunity to be challenged as a number two pair d man. Petterssen is a journeyman, obviously attached to Sullivan. Vancouver is still laughing at getting a first. Durzi, I like a lot, but Drury should have stopped with him. Petterssen and his NMC for the next two seasons was a stupid deal for Drury to take on. Far better to have gambled on one of Robertson, Smits, or even Fortescue could have gelled with Durzi. Instead a journeyman is blocking them for the next two seasons with his NMC. He was terrible in Vancouver they couldn’t wait to dump him. This trade is on Sullivan all the way and we are about to find out about his player personnel skills. And I don’t forget his last years boy Sheary on the team because of Sullivan. So go Rangers go, but I won’t be holding my breath.