I didn't know why Larry even writes this shit because it's not worth the wasted ink. Miller is an all everything do everything player. Yeah they'd have to get something uber significant for him but unless Jeff Gorten loses his sensibilities Miller isn't going anywhere. He means too much to the fabric of the this team. His upside is still expanding and he is only going to get better and his consistency will be a hallmark.
The Flyers had a player a number of years ago and I have a lot of friends who are diehard Flyers fans and I live in Flyers country and they viewed him unfavorably. Jeff Carter. I told them they were crazy. I would take him on my team any day. The guy is a machine. Has been for a long time. I always like to remind them of it too. I'm not saying J.T. Miller is the same player. All I'm saying is J.T. Miller is a constant threat. He too is a machine out there.
Please Larry. I hope this is the last time we have to read about J.T. Miller and trade rumors.
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I think Shattenkirk improves the chances of this group enough that he's worth a first. I think his addition along with Skjei taking another step makes this team a favorite.
I hate to say it, but the last two Blue Jackets games I watched they look like legit contenders to me. I resisted buying in to them for so long, but I'm growing convinced.
I wonder if they make any moves at the deadline. I think they could use another top 6 defenseman, maybe a top 9 forward, but they're not lacking much to be a complete team and they kind of get lost in the shuffle being bad for so long and in a division with heavy weights like PIT, WAS and NYR.
Why not just suggest Crosby or McDavid while he's at it?
Yeah, I think he's a very good player and an asset - but he's outperforming and is going to crash hard next season. I also think Buchnevich can fill in admirably along with Miller and Hayes.
McDonagh-Shattenkirk
Staal-Holden
Skjei-Girardi (should be Clendening, but I'm trying to be realistic)
Why not just suggest Crosby or McDavid while he's at it?
That's kind of the point...that there's no sense in trading him because you're definitely not getting that kind of player back
Will still be a huge bargain next year even with significant regression.
He's shooting at a 20% rate. His career average is closer to 13%. It's more about maximizing asset value to improve the team overall than anything else. He's a valuable player even when he has brick hands like he did the previous three years.
Will still be a huge bargain next year even with significant regression.
That's a fair point. I'm putting a lot of trust in Gorton to replace him - I think he's proven to be great at finding good forwards.
Plus, we can always re-sign Glass.
I still think Anaheim and NYR should be working something - would help both this postseason, but also better protect both in the expansion draft too. LAK and Nashville may also be decent partners.
With the expansion draft looming, unlike Brett, I'd rather trade current talent for defense help than 1st round picks. We are scratching Buchnevich currently for crying out loud and Puempel isnt terrible either. Yes, rash of injuries could happen, but I'd rather deal one of our 3rd liners (Grabner, Lindberg, Fast) along with Klein or Holden ... for that 2nd pair Dman.
And PJ you've mentioned 5 times now how much you want to blow the Jackets. We get it, they looked good the past 2 games. They also lost to us 3-2 less than 2 weeks ago so... I'd put them in the 2nd tier with NYR, Anaheim, Chicago, etc.
Top tier - Washington, Pitt (though fun/depressing fact - under a 3 point regulation win system, we'd have 115 points to 114 for Pittsburgh currently, granted they'd have one game in hand), and I guess Minnesota though i havent watched them all that much
Second tier - NYR, CBJ, Anaheim, Chicago, maybe San Jose
Third tier - Ottawa, Montreal, NYI, Boston, Edmonton, LAK with Quick back
I still think Anaheim and NYR should be working something - would help both this postseason, but also better protect both in the expansion draft too. LAK and Nashville may also be decent partners.
With the expansion draft looming, unlike Brett, I'd rather trade current talent for defense help than 1st round picks. We are scratching Buchnevich currently for crying out loud and Puempel isnt terrible either. Yes, rash of injuries could happen, but I'd rather deal one of our 3rd liners (Grabner, Lindberg, Fast) along with Klein or Holden ... for that 2nd pair Dman.
And PJ you've mentioned 5 times now how much you want to blow the Jackets. We get it, they looked good the past 2 games. They also lost to us 3-2 less than 2 weeks ago so... I'd put them in the 2nd tier with NYR, Anaheim, Chicago, etc.
Top tier - Washington, Pitt (though fun/depressing fact - under a 3 point regulation win system, we'd have 115 points to 114 for Pittsburgh currently, granted they'd have one game in hand), and I guess Minnesota though i havent watched them all that much
Second tier - NYR, CBJ, Anaheim, Chicago, maybe San Jose
Third tier - Ottawa, Montreal, NYI, Boston, Edmonton, LAK with Quick back
What does this have to do with anything?
The Blue Jackets beat the Rangers two weeks before that.
You know how hockey is, any team can win any game. Hockey logic doesn't work that I beat you so I'm better than you. Canadiens just beat the Rangers in NY. I don't think they're a better team. Weird comment.
I think the Rangers and BJ's play today, hoping for a good game.
And I don't want to blow anyone, I resisted buying into the Blue Jackets hype, I felt like they were smoke and mirrors, I don't think that anymore. I think they're legit. May not win the cup, probably won't, but I like their roster.
Not a huge deal.
I also think they have the best top young d-pairing in the league.
I think the Rangers and BJ's play today, hoping for a good game.
Canadians won a shootout of a tie game. That's not the same as "beating" someone. You won a skills competition, congrats.
All I'm saying is the Jackets are a good playoff team but they dont scare me more than Chicago, San Jose, Nashville, or even a healthy Ottawa. We'll see what happens - Torts has certainly done a nice job over there and the Bob staying healthy for it seems like the first time in his career a big plus for them too.
Yes, we play them today, I have my jersey in the office with me at the moment and meeting my brother-in-law for pregame drinks at 3pm. Both teams rested their #1s yesterday for this game but its the 2nd of a back-to-back for both too. We'll see what happens - kind of relaxing going to this game knowing a loss may be for the best :)
Should we considering bringing back MDZ as a rental or has that bridge been burned?
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Canadiens just beat the Rangers in NY. I don't think they're a better team. Weird comment.
I think the Rangers and BJ's play today, hoping for a good game.
Canadians won a shootout of a tie game. That's not the same as "beating" someone. You won a skills competition, congrats.
All I'm saying is the Jackets are a good playoff team but they dont scare me more than Chicago, San Jose, Nashville, or even a healthy Ottawa. We'll see what happens - Torts has certainly done a nice job over there and the Bob staying healthy for it seems like the first time in his career a big plus for them too.
Yes, we play them today, I have my jersey in the office with me at the moment and meeting my brother-in-law for pregame drinks at 3pm. Both teams rested their #1s yesterday for this game but its the 2nd of a back-to-back for both too. We'll see what happens - kind of relaxing going to this game knowing a loss may be for the best :)
I definitely agree the Blue Jackets are in that tier, just saying that the Rangers beat them is not a huge indicator in determining the better team. Even by your logic say the Canadiens tied the Rangers, I don't think they're equal teams.
I also don't think the Rangers or any team approaches playoff seeding like the fans do (and I know you never said they do). They want to win every game. And I think losing a couple games to keep the WC2 spot even if it is an easier road to the playoffs but then perhaps they limp into the playoffs might do the team a disservice.
I'd rather be playing well, winning, and feeling good than lose games but keep an easier path to the cup.
I'm not saying I want to go through Pittsburgh or Washington per se, that's silly if your options are Montreal or Ottawa, but I'd let those things take care of themselves. and I think that's how the coaches and players approach it.
The most i've ever seen teams do is in the last couple weeks of a season, a team might reduce minutes of the top players while asking more of the bottom two lines. Tampa was pretty aggressive on that front two years ago. But its really rare that a marquee player gets scratched if he's healthy, teams just dont go that route.
Even as a fan I wanted to win the Toronto and NJ games, even in overtime when we'd already gotten a point. Maybe its the scars that still remain from the 2007 Mets - but I take nothing from granted. We still need another 15 points to make the playoffs.
Vesey has played well lately, but he's never played more than what, 30 games in a season?, and if you want to get anything out of him come playoff time you really need give him some extra rest now.
Why is it a goalie is only asked to play 60-65 games a year but deep teams dont actively look to rotate defenders and forwards and keep those guys as fresh as possible too?
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With all due respect you want to trade the leading scorer and arguably one of the fastest skaters in the league in Grabner. I think that's nuts.
Yeah, I think he's a very good player and an asset - but he's outperforming and is going to crash hard next season. I also think Buchnevich can fill in admirably along with Miller and Hayes.
Here's the problem with not trading Grabner. You will likely lose him to the expansion draft in the off season. So, if you can pair him up with one of your old Defense-man as a salary dump, then you might have to do it. However, I like Grabner's speed, which we missed last year when Hagelin wasn't on the team. This is the dilemma facing the Rangers at the trade deadline.
I agree with what you said. However, can't Las Vegas team flip a drafted player for draft picks or other players?
Exactly. JT Miller is going nowhere. He, Kreider, and Hayes are the core of this team going into the future. Throw in Vessey, Ziba and Buch and that is a bunch of young guys who can give you two very solid lines for the next 7-8 years.
McDonagh-Shattenkirk
Staal-Holden
Skjei-Girardi (should be Clendening, but I'm trying to be realistic)
Brett, what are Shattenkirk's contract status and pay grade?
Part of reason I'm asking is whether he becomes FA next year w/o giving up so many valuable pieces (the mistake the Bulls avoided and the Knicks didn't when Dolan gave into Carmelo's demands)?
I've not been alone, obviously, in seeing the growth of Skjei/Clendening. Brady has the power, speed and tenacity to stay with most forwards driving the zone and riding them off the play, and his acceleration and puck carrying ability are on display just about every game.
Clendening, I was impressed with his overall play even though he had had been sitting most of the season. I was critical of some of the decisions he made in his own zone, a bit of panic and not fully confident, but the more ice time he is getting, the more comfortable he looks.
What I'm saying is that I agree with you and others here that as currently constructed, I don't think the Rangers neutralize an offensive juggernaut Pens, Caps, Chi or even a WC team that gets hot (Minn, LA, SJ?) over a 7-game series. But I'm not sure how wide the shortfall is, esp. if #5 sits more in favor of #4.
I don't think the shortfall is as large as I thought earlier in the year. I think a second pairing caliber righty to play with McDonagh and log 27 minutes a night during the playoffs might be enough (I think that highly of McDonagh, frankly).
I think Girardi would be fine on the third pair. The issue I have is that I think the same of Staal - who I think has struggled more than talked about - but pairing them together is a disaster, they're both flawed in the same way.
On paper, I think they're an average dman away, but I don't think AV will make what I deem to be the necessary adjustments for us to get there. But acquiring Shattenkirk would be enough, as long as he's getting 25 minutes come playoff time.
Of course, this offense and Lundqvist might be enough despite all this - I won't rule it out. I've grown a bit more optimistic of late. I think the rest of the league is more flawed than it seems.
I still wish we signed Schultz this past off-season. That could have been the difference maker.
But you're completely misunderstanding what he wrote. He didn't suggest any sort of JT Miller trade rumors. He said other teams keep asking about him. And that the Rangers continue to say no. And that it would take an equally unlikely return to even get the Rangers to listen.
The story was not about Miller trade rumors; it was about other teams recognizing how good Miller is and seeing if they can somehow pry him away.
I was too lazy to find that thread - probably better for it.
And to be fair on Staal, I think Holden is fairly mediocre. He should be a #5 dman. Staal isn't good enough anymore to be the best guy on a second pair.
I'd swap the Skjei-Clendening pair with Staal-Holden in terms of usage.
Defensively, Id like him in certain situations to be a little bit tighter to the opposition, Vigneault said. But hes competing hard, hes battling when hes out there. Every time he plays, every time we ask him to play, he gives his 100 percent. Thats all you can ask from a player.
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Teemu Pulkkinen traded to the Coyotes
https://twitter.com/Russostrib/status/836301390318354432
Verified account@TSNBobMcKenzie
3m3 minutes ago
TB working to finalize a trade to send Brian Boyle to TOR. No trade call so nothing official yet.
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