NFT: New York Rangers Fans

Really? He's a decent #6 dman. Remember when Steve Eminger was a really solid #6 dman for us? Shit, Diaz looked good last year. I think the lesson is that with our ability to provide sheltered minutes to the bottom pair, a lot of guys can do the #6 dman job. No reason to pay a lot of money for your 6th/7th dman.

sheesh

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Stamkos and Malkin to NYR. Confirmed. - ( New Window )

One of my favorite columns.
Friedman - Sportsnet - ( New Window )

Benoit Allaire is the man:

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With Sean Burke looking for a new organization, Arizona attempted to recruit Rangers’ goaltending guru Benoit Allaire. Allaire has a home in the area, but declined. There’s a long-term commitment in New York.

In comment 12318368 BrettNYG10 said:

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. Stamkos and Malkin to NYR. Confirmed. - ( New Window )

Neither are old enough to join the Rangers.

After Stamkos signs a five year deal elsewhere in 2016 then Slat will give him the 10 year deal on his 31st birthday.

Vojtech Mozik. 22 y/o, 6'3" 200, put up 10-19-29 in 51 games in the Czech league.
Link - ( New Window )

A lot of news regarding the Rangers focus on defensemen (czch, college free agent).

In comment 12319723 Greg from LI said:

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Vojtech Mozik. 22 y/o, 6'3" 200, put up 10-19-29 in 51 games in the Czech league. Link - ( New Window )

Do it. The cupboard is almost bare

But he's been in camp with the Rangers the past two years, so they know him fairly well. I imagine he can skate given how AV likes to use his defensemen.

We were much more effective getting up ice and on the attack during the regular season. Giradi and Staal were the biggest culprits. As they were slowed they became targets for the opposition forecheck. It was a stark difference from what we watched all year imo.

Adding more mobility and passing on the blueline would help tremendously given the style we want to play.

The Stralman debacle is going to haunt the fanbase for years. Everyone from Sather to AV are culpable. He's effective on their power play. He's skating the puck. He's shutting guys down. It's tough to swallow when we as fans were all over the need to bring him back.

Is Kristo also an NHL or bust contract this Fall?

In comment 12320077 JonC said:

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Is Kristo also an NHL or bust contract this Fall?

Yep

It sounds like Buffalo is the newest contender in on Cam Talbot talks.

Still remains to be seen, but It seems like Slats/Gorton are doing a good job of drumming up the market.

Cautiously, I'm becoming increasingly optimistic that Cam+ (say, Klein) could get us into the first round of the draft.

Works for me

Klein for McDavid.

then, make a decision on Hags means the cap/money questions are potentially answered for next season.

That is, if their goal is to effectively trot out the same team in 2015-2016.

I don't think that's the wrong answer, but I suspect that Slats/AV have a more significant change in mind.

to a roster that won the Presidents' Trophy and was 20 minutes away from back-to-back Cup Finals? I understand moving out Talbot and Klein, but unless they're cutting Glass and re-tooling the 4th line a bit, I don't think Slats and AV want to fix something that isn't broken.

I'm expecting Lindberg to make the team, and hopefully Skjei by mid-season, at the latest. McIlrath and Allen are make or breaks, as is Kristo). I'd look to upgrade Glass but AV loves the dude. The key being it's time for farm system kids again in the bottom lines.

It's pretty clear Nash is the player to talk about, if they decide bigger changes are preferred.

I basically said as much in my post.

Based on some of AVs comments about physicality after the TB series, and what we know (and often fear) about Slats, I just won't be surprised if they try to do something bigger.

I'm not vehemently against a bigger change for the primary reason that next offseason will likely be even more financially difficult than this offseason if we only do the bare minimum to make the pieces fit this year. I really want to keep Yandle (more than most, from what I have seen around here), and we obviously need to lock down Kreider. Also a ridiculously strong FA class next year.

Just something to keep in mind. Need to balance between keeping us poised for the deep runs we've had and creating some flexibility to continue to keep the window open as long as possible.

I know he was injured for most of the year, but Pysyk is one FANTASTIC defenseman AND he's a RD.

not sign for Boyle and not trade for Yandle?

In comment 12321758 Giants2012 said:

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not sign for Boyle and not trade for Yandle?

Oh look, a dead horse. Let's beat it

In comment 12321640 NYerInMA said:

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to a roster that won the Presidents' Trophy and was 20 minutes away from back-to-back Cup Finals?

They were also 90 seconds away from losing in 5 games to Washington. It wasn't an impressive playoff performance from this group. Injuries played a part, but i'm just not sure how much. I dont think any of us know.

But I generally agree that wholesale changes are not needed. I do think however that Glass was a blackhole on that 4th line and they need more from the 3rd and 4th lines next year. Put too much stress on the top 2 lines, which are not as good as what other playoff teams have (since those other teams have benefited from top 5 picks post lockout).

Upgrade Glass for christ's sake.

As for the third line, they were putrid in the postseason too but i guess you just have to hope/assume that Hayes/Fast/Lindberg will get better with experience. I wouldnt touch it - we cant touch it given cap restraints.

...unless they find a deal they like for Nash.

I dont consider Klein and/or Talbot major. They'd need to be overwhelmed to move Stepan IMO.

In comment 12321723 Anakim said:

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I know he was injured for most of the year, but Pysyk is one FANTASTIC defenseman AND he's a RD.

Why did he collapse?

so he could be gone.

In comment 12321817 Giants2012 said:

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In comment 12321723 Anakim said: Quote: I know he was injured for most of the year, but Pysyk is one FANTASTIC defenseman AND he's a RD. Why did he collapse?

He collapsed?

The Buffalo Sabres organization had every intention of shutting down Pysyk until next season after doctors had been unable to pinpoint the reason for his Feb. 28 collapse during a pick-up basketball game with teammates.

But the third-year defenseman said he has undergone every test imaginable, and the specialists found no reason for alarm.

"I've been to enough doctors hopefully for the rest of my life," Pysyk, 23, said after Tuesday's practice at Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester Community War Memorial.

"They did tests of my heart, on my head, nothing."

He said the cause of his apparent seizure on the morning of Feb. 28 was dehydration.

That's a shame. I know he was a fantastic defensemen a couple of years back and he was named one of the young stars of the Sabres, along with the Russians and Girgensons.

It would be nice to add another power forward to the fold, though every decision NYR faces now will need to tie into a longterm projection for the cap.

I'd be trying to kick the $ to him instead of Hags.

I suggested that a while back but everyone said I'm crazy, that Chicago would never let him go.

than NYR makes an offer they refuse to match, but that's the type of upgrade I'd be searching for. CORE.

Saad is going to get decent coin. I would LOVE to add him.. he's another budding young PFD who will probably be outstanding the next few years as he really starts to hit his stride and develop more. I just don't think it's realistic. Even if Chicago can't hang onto him, someone else will be willing to pay more than we can.

amongst GMs in hockey that they rarely give out offer sheets. And if they do, it creates some serious bad blood (see below).

I don't get it though. The goal is to improve your team. Saad is enticing
Brian Burke vs. Kevin Lowe - ( New Window )

When the Avalanche sent Neil Smith a framed print of the famous picture of Nelson Rockefeller flipping the bird after they matched the offer.

That we can't offer some RFAs contracts (depends on the money we offer) because we have no first rounder next year.

In comment 12323907 Kyle in NY said:

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amongst GMs in hockey that they rarely give out offer sheets. And if they do, it creates some serious bad blood (see below). I don't get it though. The goal is to improve your team. Saad is enticing Brian Burke vs. Kevin Lowe - ( New Window )

agreed that there probably is an unspoken rule... but not sure about using Brian Burke as referance point. Burke is simply a grade A asshole and petulant child... most GMs are more professional.

Better example is probably when Philly tried to steal Shea Weber.

gotta be realistic

Someone is going to break rank -- guy had 52 points and 23 goals at age 22 and has been even better in the postseason. Someone's going to give him $5-6mm, maybe more, per year.

Question is whether Chicago can match by somehow getting BOTH Sharp and Hossa off the books... just not sure how they can possibly get off the hook with Hossa. That contract is insane and they should have amnestied him, even if he's still productive currently.

Saad on NYI, Pittsburgh (doubt they have cap space), or Washington (I think they have $16 mil to play with) would be scary. He's from Pittsburgh, hopefully that doesnt factor in.

In comment 12323925 Greg from LI said:

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When the Avalanche sent Neil Smith a framed print of the famous picture of Nelson Rockefeller flipping the bird after they matched the offer.

That's hilarious. I never heard of that before.

I can't stand the NHL's old (white) boy's network. Fortunately, it seems like fresh thinking is being injected a bit - surprisingly from former players,

I'd love Saad. Don't you need the picks to even make an offer, though? And Chicago will likely reach a deal with him.

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So these steps proved good enough to finance the Avs’ match of the Rangers offer to Sakic, and he stayed in Colorado. Frei writes that after the Avs matched, Lyons sent MSG President Dave Checketts a framed copy of the famous picture of Nelson Rockefeller’s single-digit response to hecklers at a 1976 campaign stop.

I remembered how stunned people were by that offer sheet at the time, but reading the article reminded me of why - the high-end salaries in the NHL up to the Sakic offer sheet were around $3 mill, and the 3/$21 offer more than doubled that overnight. All the top players started asking in the $7 mill range.
How Joe Sakic Changed the Hockey Business - ( New Window )

In comment 12323959 MetsAreBack said:

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In comment 12323907 Kyle in NY said: Quote: amongst GMs in hockey that they rarely give out offer sheets. And if they do, it creates some serious bad blood (see below). I don't get it though. The goal is to improve your team. Saad is enticing Brian Burke vs. Kevin Lowe - ( New Window ) agreed that there probably is an unspoken rule... but not sure about using Brian Burke as referance point. Burke is simply a grade A asshole and petulant child... most GMs are more professional. Better example is probably when Philly tried to steal Shea Weber.

Sure, but it almost never happens regardless.

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In comment 12323925 Greg from LI said:

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When the Avalanche sent Neil Smith a framed print of the famous picture of Nelson Rockefeller flipping the bird after they matched the offer.

I've always said and felt that deal saved hockey. I felt the Yankees were destroying baseball (the field leveled a bit since then) and the Rangers were on their way to destroying hockey. After the 94 season Smith just started throwing cash around and trying to buy anybody. Once Messier left and there was no cap (as you know) I felt the Rangers were about just buy Sakic and send the payroll through the roof. The Avs matching the offer was Rangers arrogance humbled IMO and saved hockey.

On the flip side, once a cap was in place, I think that saved the Rangers as they started building from within (a few amnesty buyouts a decade later helped too).

And for my childhood.

caused by the bad signing probably did force the Rangers to "build from within". But I dont think that is the driver of the recent success vs. prior failure. I think the difference was just better drafting.

Rangers drafting from 1995 to 2003 was really terrible. We had much better picks that we have now, and did a lot worse with them. 96-22 overall Jeff Brown never made the NHL. 97-19 Cherneski of course got hurt. But then 1998-99 happened. 3 premium picks in Malhotra (I hated that pick), Brendl, and Lundmark. Yes the drafts sucked, but still. No #1 in 2000 (Lundmark); Hank in the 7th round though. 01-10 Blackburn, another premium pick, gets hurt. No 2002 #1 (Bure?). 03-12 Jessiman is a total bust in the deepest 1st round ever. 04-6 Montoya and 04-19 Korpikoski contribute nothing to the team and were effectively dumped (ie not sold off in a win-now trade). Dubi and Cally are drafted in 2004. Starting in 2004 we get a significant piece in every draft -- Staal 05, AA 06, Hags 07, Stepan 08, Kreider 09, Fast 10, Miller 11.

So yeah, the free spending did us no good, but I'd say the main reason we failed was the poor drafting. Since 1994, we've drafted only two guys (Savard, Zidlicky) with 325+ points. The recent draftees will eventually get there (Cally, Dubi, Stepan in next two seasons), but it's pretty sad with respect to the earlier picks.

I had such high hopes.

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Jamie Lundmark will be a great Jeremy Roenick/Steve Yzerman type player and at least 1 of their goalie prospects will be a star.

HF - ( New Window )