I know a lot of Rangers fans are upset by the fact that we traded a great prospect and another first round pick for Yandle. No one wants to go trough the post 94 cup era again with and aging team that keeps adding veteran players to try and win now at the expense of the future. But this team is different and poised to be good for a long time. Lots of youth in the core of this team and some really good prospects that are close to helping.
Looking at the current roster, the Rangers have eight forwards 30 or under (seven that are 27 or younger) that are top nine players.
Nash (30); Zucc & Brassard (27); Haglin (26); Stepan (24); Kreider (23), Hayes (22) and Miller (21).
They also have also have five D-man that are 30 or younger (average age is much older than the forwards, but D-man typically have a longer shelf life).
Assuming they keep this group together, the Rangers should be pretty good for the next several years as the core enters their prime. They also have a pretty deep farm system with a some very good prospects:
J Fast (23) is on the team now (obviously) and should be 3rd/4th line defensiveness specialist for many years.
O Lindberg (23) I assume he cracks the roster next year and has upside
P Buchnevich (19) Potential stud and top six forward who will play in North America next year and could even see some time with the big club
A Tambellini (20) 4th in WHL in goals and promising potential
B Skjei (turns 21 this month) Stud D-man prospect with top pairing upside
D Mcllrath (22) hope for the best as a 5th/6th D-man who's big and strong
R Graves (19) having a strong season in the QMJHL and has NHL potential
AND Two of the better goalie prospects who The Ranges hope can take over Hank in a few years. I think Halverson is the real deal, but he's till young and it's too early to tell.
B Halverson (turns 19 this month) one of the best goals in the OHL and played for the USA team in the world Jr's
I Shesterkin (19) Won gold at world Jr's with Russia (I think he split time)
In summary....The Rangers are poised to make a run at the cup this year, and hopefully for years to come. Sather has done a really good job building this team and deserves a ton of credit.
Hopefully there's a buyer for Boyle this summer, that would help a bit. Glass I think we're stuck with.
Really hope the salary cap goes up more than is being reported. The league is in a pretty good financial situation right now from TV money. It'd only make sense
"Winner: Today's New York Rangers
Glen Sather went all-in on winning the Stanley Cup right now. Keith Yandle makes an already sturdy blueline even more formidable, especially since he can be used in a specifically offensive role. Sheppard, Summers and Klingberg help fill out a roster clearly primed for a deep playoff run. But these moves come at a cost, as we'll touch on later.
Loser: Tomorrow's New York Rangers
Going all-in has consequences, as Rangers fans might learn a few years from now. Giving up Anthony Duclair plus a 2015 second-rounder and a 2016 first-rounder for Keith Yandle might open the Stanley Cup window now, but it makes the future bleak. The Rangers will go four years without drafting in the first round now, something that can set a franchise back years. If they win a Cup, it was worth it. If not, Sather might be out of a job."
To me it comes down to Hank... if he comes back 100%, then these moves made enough sense, and I'll live with the consequences. If not, Sather should tender his resignation this spring. It's a firable offense.
Kyle - agree, there's no reason why the Cap remains so stubbornly low. It's insulting that a couple of franchises continue to get bailed out - at least half the teams in this league would spend $10mm more per year if they could. Players are getting screwed.
On MZA - i hear you on flexibility to trade him after next year, but did you see his comments in the paper today? I'd feel terrible doing that, the guy just took less to play here and loves it here. Hopefully there are other ways - Boyle, Glass, MSL etc to free up cap space.
The first is just the increasing cap total over the next few years and the other is MSL comes off the books, or is signed at a reduced rate next year. They can also buyout or trade Boyle.
I'd be shocked if they trade MZA as he's a really got fit for this style of play
Zucc got fair value (not adjusted for the ridiculous amount guys get on the open market) for his production, imo.
There are levers of flexibility cap-wise over the coming years, but the obvious 'peak window' is this year and next - possibly extended if Skjei and Buchnevich excel early on.
We're levered to Lundqvist, though. Three, maybe four years, of him being a top five goalie is reasonable to expected.
The first is just the increasing cap total over the next few years and the other is MSL comes off the books, or is signed at a reduced rate next year. They can also buyout or trade Boyle.
I'd be shocked if they trade MZA as he's a really got fit for this style of play
I don't think Boyle can be bought out because he falls over some age restriction contract the NHL has. At least that's according to Brooks. But, we will save some $ with MSL and hopefully we get get rid of Glass and Boyle during the offseason. We need some Sather magic.
Boyle - ( New Window )
Quote:
via two ways.
The first is just the increasing cap total over the next few years and the other is MSL comes off the books, or is signed at a reduced rate next year. They can also buyout or trade Boyle.
I'd be shocked if they trade MZA as he's a really got fit for this style of play
I don't think Boyle can be bought out because he falls over some age restriction contract the NHL has. At least that's according to Brooks. But, we will save some $ with MSL and hopefully we get get rid of Glass and Boyle during the offseason. We need some Sather magic. Boyle - ( New Window )
My bad...I thought I read that he could.
In terms of true production value, I agree that the deal he signed is about in line. Anything higher than that is probably an over-pay in terms of smart management.
Not as long as Dolan owns this team. Sather is GM for life and maybe even beyond. He'll arrange trades from the grave.
The two guys who really matter and arent locked up -- Stepan and Kreider -- will be resigned. Even if we have to trade a Zucc to make room (and regain assets in the deal).
I predict that in 4 years the Rangers will trade for someone who will be hailed as "finally, a guy who can QB the powerplay".
Doesn't spell doom, it just ignores all evidence on how to sustain success in this league.
And if it was just the one time thing it could be more understandable, but that's three years in a row of major hits to organizational depth and assets.
It doesn't mean doom, but it sure as fuck means it will be tougher to maintain.
This is one of the strangest things I've ever seen. Coach and GM are meeting behind the bench to discuss who can be their goalie midgame.
One goalie neck injury shouldn't happen in a decade... and that's two in one month.
We saw it 2 years ago when our best defender at the time was knocked out down the stretch and into the playoffs by an eye injury.... a really good young defender three years ago in our organization had his career ended by a rather innocuous hit into the boards in the offensive zone... I remain at a loss to understand the lack of player safety in this league.
Concussions seem to be down this year at least - seems more luck, i'm not certain - but players heads still seem to be as exposed as ever as chins and neck areas still remain highly exposed....
For a multi-billion business its embarrassing to watch.
This pretty much cinches Boston's 8th seed.
Cant make this up.
And me..
eat a dick, Brett..