NFT: New York Rangers Fans

In comment 12309260 Greg from LI said:

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From everything I've been reading, he's clearly their best D prospect and looks like he's at least very close to being ready. They really could use another defenseman who can skate other than McDonagh.

From your lips to God's ears.

If Skjei is ready, I'd like to see them clear 2 of the 7 D spots to at least keep Allen/Mc as the 7th. It would be a shame to let both walk away for nothing. I don't know enough about the management side of hockey to have any idea what teams will trade for guys like that when they know you're over a barre on having to promote them or cut them loose.

In comment 12309225 NYerInMA said:

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The Rangers don't need to get tougher, they need to get better. All this crap about "toughness" is stupid and outdated. The Rangers Can't Fall In Love With The Wrong Type Of Players - ( New Window )

Yeah, tougher on the boards doesn't cause turnovers, clear out the front of the goaltenders crease or disrupt the oppositions goalie. It's not like the Kings didn't dominate the boards , clearmout their crease or disrupt the opposition by being physical. Tampa locked down the center of the ice for almost eight of the last nine periods and the Rangers couldn't get to the net.

that Brooks gives as an example, you take it. but there's no reason to think they'll give that much up. So then, as Greg said, you have to replace 40+ goals from the roster if you move Nash. Just don't see it happening. Don't want it to happen either

I don't think this roster needs a major overhaul. Let MSL go, no price should bring him back. There's 5.2 million off the cap to work with for starters.

it sucks to be talking about next year right now instead of discussing the Rangers chances against the Blackhawks. I so wanted them to win it all this year. This really blows.

In comment 12309267 BrettNYG10 said:

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If we do go with the same defense, I'd have our 7th play 60 or so games, rotating through to give certain defenseman a break (namely Boyle and Girardi). Girardi has looked gassed these past two seasons. Sit him for 10-15 games during the year. You have to make the arrogant assumption that you're going to make the playoffs with this group.

Really like that idea. If Hunwick was willing to come back, I'd gladly bring him in for that role. Thought he actually looked fresh and fast in the early minutes he got in game 7.

not more tough up front. We already made an assenine mistake bringing in Glass over Brian Boyle at similar money - please dont repeat it.

We dressed 11 forwards in game 7 and one of them, Glass, saw less than 6 minutes ice time (still managed a minus-1 in that limited action). And people wondered why after the game guys like Hagelin were saying they were exhausted?

And while the focus will be on the top line, as it should be... a major reason this team fell short this year vs going to the Finals last year... is because we got so little out of the 3rd line. Hayes 7 points, Hagelin 5 points, Fast/MSL minimal when they were on that line, etc.

Last year we got a ton of production out of guys like Pouliot, and even Hagelin and Carcillo were more productive than this year's version. We were essentially a two line team this year and that's not going to cut it.


Personally i dont know why a team like the Blues that perennially underachives would want to bring in ... a playoff underachiever in Nash. Makes no sense to me - I'm hoping they have interest in Talbot, but not getting my hopes up there.

Nash makes a lot more sense for teams like Toronto or Edmonton (he could teach those young kids on EDM how to approach the game and he wouldnt have the pressure to lead in goal scoring with McDavid and N-H)... but i dont he'd agree to go to Edmonton and anywya... yet again after a disappointing postseason, you are not getting fair return for the guy if you try to deal him now.

At least let him help you get to the playoffs again next year. He is an outstanding regular season player at least.

I'd keep him around as a 6th/7th D if the price was right.

He can start for someone in the NHL

He's an elite player, he had a regular season for the ages, and he busted his butt in the playoffs and played a key role in a run that was 20 minutes away from SCF. You may as well blow up the whole team and start over if you trade Nash.

I'd be the last dude to suggest a Glass over a more skilled player.

they need to do something that gives this team a stronger ability to compete over sixty minutes of playoff hockey.

is huge factor in next season. I think he has it in him. We saw that in the 2nd half of the regular season. And he got a bit of a learning experience with his inconsistent playoffs that will hopefully serve him well.

That's in addition to guys like JT and Fast. Those guys should be improved players next season at reasonable salaries that should add to the depth.

Lindberg looks primed for a callup, wish Buch was an option next season.

Skjei and Lindberg were ready to fill key roles for the squad.

while a few still don't get it.

He just completed a really good season in the juniors. Does he stay at that level or is there any possibility he moves up quickly like Duclair did this past year?

He struggled mightily at UND, and the big numbers he's been putting up in Calgary were as an overaged junior.

The 'toughness vs. skill' argument isn't saying to rid yourself of Nash/Stepan and grab Carcillo/Prust - the argument would be to trade for guys with lesser skill but play a different game that may be more conducive to playoff success. Swap a first liner for a second line talent who plays a bit more physical.

I don't know any great examples, but I'd imagine proponents of it would support a Nash for Lucic type deal.

I'd trade Nash, but for a package that helps us now. I dont think we lost because of Nash. I think we lost because (1) the Zucc injury and MSL decline caused us to be a 2 scoring line team, and we're actually a bit under talented as a two scoring line team, and (2) the defense is starting to show its age.

What pisses me off is that the solution on D was so clear last season. Trade Girardi for Vatanen+ (this was the rumor). Think of the fallout -- we probably resign Stralman, dont sign Boyle, dont trade for Yandle when Boyle was disappointing during the regular season, and arent limited by DG's NMC.

Also, Staal is at a crossroads. The advances stats indicate that Stralman carried him last year, and he was pretty bad in this years' playoffs. The defense isnt as consistent and the offense is disappearing.

And the 7D/11F decision was understandable, but may have really hurt us. With how little time Glass got, we essentially ran with 10 forwards - and we also had MSL sucking.

The Rangers had three forwards get 20 minutes of ice time, with Kreider at 19:59 and Stepan at 19:47. I think the only other time a forward got >20 minutes of ice time this post-season was in OT games. I think it had a real impact.

He gets a bit of a pass.

But apparently his NMC doesn't kick in until July 1st (I'm not positive on this, so if anyone knows please correct me). He might be the most movable guy, even though I'd rather trade Girardi.

In comment 12309376 Greg from LI said:

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He struggled mightily at UND, and the big numbers he's been putting up in Calgary were as an overaged junior.

He's a power forward. He'll struggle at any level until he is physically stronger than the competition. If he becomes a player for us, I suspect the real contribution is 3-4 years away. He'll need a few seasons in the AHL, and then 80-160 games in the NHL as a learning curve. Look at guys like Miller and Kreider. It's really hard to break in as a PF.

In comment 12309376 Greg from LI said:

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He struggled mightily at UND, and the big numbers he's been putting up in Calgary were as an overaged junior.

Tambellini left college and went to the juniors as an overaged player? Is that common? In what way did he struggle at UND? When I was reading about his good play with Calgary, I didn't know that he left school to play with them or that he was older than the other athletes in the league. That seems disconcerting.

Excellent post, strongly agree.

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He went 2-2-4 in 19 games at North Dakota and then left the team to play in the WHL. It's really unusual, which is why it gives me pause.

In comment 12309426 Greg from LI said:

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He went 2-2-4 in 19 games at North Dakota and then left the team to play in the WHL. It's really unusual, which is why it gives me pause.

Yeah, that would give me pause too. Well, he did dominate the competition when he moved which I guess he was supposed to do when he joined Calgary. Better than to continue to struggle.

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All the tears - ( New Window )

It was a stupid place for him to go in the first place, and he realized that once he was there. A future PF with a boy's body has no place in a decent NCAA conference. If he was 210 lbs when he went there, we could talk. But he was listed at 6-3, 167 on their roster (and I've heard he's really 6'4). At that weight he had no ability to play a power game against young men 3 and 4 years older than him. Add in the UND was a destination for talent -- they just lost their coach to the FLYERS -- and his struggles and low status on the depth chart makes a lot of sense.

Dom Moore is a rock, but Glass has to go and the third spot on the line needs to be figured out. I never got a good read on Sheppard, some nights it seemed like he was ok, but his icetime would seem to indicate that he didn't have the confidence of the coaching staff.

In the playoffs as he was in the regular season. I thought he looked a bit better, particularly early on.

In comment 12309455 BrettNYG10 said:

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. All the tears - ( New Window )

When all of BBI was up in arms since early August about this -- and since when do we all ever agree? -- you knew it would not end well. Unreal, will never ever understand it.

NYerMA - Sheppard's not sticking around. Not sure why AV never liked him either -- and why we went with Glass (and gave him <6 minutes) in game 7 over Sheppard, when JS at least can play a few different positions and has ~20 points/year to his resume vs nothing from Glass.

I know it all happened pretty suddenly friday night, but not AV's finest hour by any means.

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He's clearly a guy who can coach, but I have some real reservations going forward.

In comment 12309484 MetsAreBack said:

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In comment 12309455 BrettNYG10 said: Quote: . All the tears - ( New Window ) When all of BBI was up in arms since early August about this -- and since when do we all ever agree? -- you knew it would not end well. Unreal, will never ever understand it. NYerMA - Sheppard's not sticking around. Not sure why AV never liked him either -- and why we went with Glass (and gave him <6 minutes) in game 7 over Sheppard, when JS at least can play a few different positions and has ~20 points/year to his resume vs nothing from Glass. I know it all happened pretty suddenly friday night, but not AV's finest hour by any means.

No, I think AV's a great coach but his adjustments and lineups can be head-scratching at times. For G7, I'm surprised that AV still thought McDonagh with a busted ankle would be a better play than a healthy Hunwick. I know I'm beating the dead horse, but AV's obsession with Glass is a real problem if it keeps cratering the 4th line and wearing down the other 3 lines that have to pick up the slack.

I understood playing MSL in the first round and part of the second. But it was obvious he was done. He couldn't do anything. And to not only play him, but stick him on the PP was idiotic. He was truly an anchor for whoever he played with.

And if AV wanted Stralman back, he would have been. He shares blame. It's weird that a guy who places a premium on puck moving defensemen decides that Girardi was a better option than Stralman.

In comment 12309501 BrettNYG10 said:

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And if AV wanted Stralman back, he would have been. He shares blame. It's weird that a guy who places a premium on puck moving defensemen decides that Girardi was a better option than Stralman.

Yep. He never gave Stralman a shot at the PP, even though the Rangers PP was awful, and now Stralman is running an ace unit at Tampa. Infuriating.

Infuriating.

He is the type of guy who I was dying to see on the Rangers as a kid when they were missing the playoffs every fucking year. I'd love to see him win a Cup. I think he is a much better second pairing guy than first.

we might be playing Chicago now without McD and Staal, and who knows about Zucc.... so .... that's the only way i can bear this is that maybe we were just cursed this year with injuries anyway. (oh and that thank God Callahan wasnt the one to score the GWG Friday)

As you said the other day... only 33 more years to go!

CHI, but with the injuries I'm not so sure. Would have loved the opportunity to see, though.

And while I think McDonagh is going to have a great bounce back year, I am a bit concerned about him being injury prone. I stood next to him last year and he seemed meaningfully shorter than me with a pretty narrow frame. I have a hard time believing he weighs >20 pounds more than I do.

Then again, Toews is similarly skinny and has held up well.

Drive me to the looney bin:

While it's a foregone conclusion to most of us that MSL is a goner, there is a piece of me that fears they might be stupid enough to bring him back.

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Rangers 2015-16 - ( New Window )

If it comes out that MSL was playing with some horrible injury this post-season, I think they'll entertain it. He looked like shit ever since the knee injury.

It's entirely possible that the top 9 is already set -- Step, Brassard, Hayes up the middle, Nash, Kreider, Hags @ LW, Zucc, Fast, Miller @ RW. That's actually a pretty young group -- as of now Nash is 30, Zucc & Brass are 27, Hags 26, and no one is 25. With Buch back in Russia, only Lindberg threatens that alignment internally (Hayes to wing, Fast or Miller to RW4).

The drama is all in the back 6 and whether Talbot gets traded. I think two of the top 6 will not return.

basically means they chose him over re-signing MSL for a similarly priced deal. They only have about $11.5M in projected cap space ... estimates for Step and Hags alone figure to potentially eat $9M of it, shit is snug. MSL would have to return on the cheap, which might be enough to nudge him out the door.

$59.5M committed.

In comment 12309175 JonC said:

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It's less about being eager to move Klein, and more about having to make decisions to create some movement ability under the cap. Imv, they need to adjust the roster in a manner that brings some more snarl/physicality that levels the playing field in terms of playing sixty aggressive minutes, getting dirty goals in front of the net, etc. In order to achieve the movement ability, at least one sizable contract will need to be moved. The candidates would appear to begin with Klein, Boyle, or Girardi on defense, and Stepan or Hags on offense. They can probably move Talbot for a draft pick, but a McIlrath is perhaps a trade sweetener at best now. This is where Deej steps in and provides some longer term vision. grin

That's fine and I think it ultimately comes down to whether or not you think Klein is a second or third pair guy. If he's a second pair guy, which I think he is, he's a bargain at 3 million. If he's a third pair guy, he's overpaid at 3 million. I think we should keep him for the aforementioned reason and pair Yandle or maybe even Skjei with him.

Retweeted Seth Rothman (@RothmanHockey):
Zucc was in hospital for three days, couldn't talk for four days

Retweeted Steve Zipay (@stevezipay):
More NYR injury news: Staal, hairline fracture, ankle, suffered in regular season

Retweeted Steve Zipay (@stevezipay):
NYR injury news: McDonagh fracture, right foot, Gm 4. Girardi MCL sprain Gm 4, Zuke brain contusion, not yet healed, expect full recovery

@PLeonardNYDN
Zuccarello said he had temporarily lost ability to talk & move his arm. Needed speech therapy. Blood in brain #NYR