Uncle Larry wrote an article about how JD and Gorton will explore buying out the final year of King Henrik's contract this summer. Apparently they're not getting great offers for Georgiev and may decide to keep him and platoon him with Igor next year.
You've gotta feel for Henrik. I mean he's a New York icon, who has given his all while here. Hell, he still doesn't want to leave despite the writing on the wall. He's going to be a Hall of Famer and will most likely have his jersey in the rafters at MSG. But he's clearly not as good as he once was and both Igor and Georgiev are superior and have outplayed him.
It sure does suck. It's similar to the Eli situation. These situations rarely end well.
Where I once thought a buyout was a very unlikely scenario, it certainly seems like the more logical route at this point. Especially if they want to make a run at re-signing Kreider and lock up Deangelo, they're going to need to clear some space.
And perhaps Hank is coming to that realization too. May be best for both parties. He deserves one more run with a contender.
What do they think they so desperately need the cap space for?
Kreider?
He's in demand, and it's another conundrum for JD and Gorts
It wouldn't be a total loss either. Use the money you save by trading Trouba to re-sign DeAngelo. You already have Fox, who could potentially play first-pair minutes, and the third RD could be Joey Keane for the rest of the season and if he sucks, you likely have Nils Lundkvist coming over next year.
I really wish he'd accept a trade. Shesty needs to play - he has shown that he has nothing to prove in the A.
DQ has his crooked grin on when he discusses Igor, likable kid. Writing is on the wall for all to see, and fans have taken to him, another two syllable goalie chant, going back to the days of Ed-die..........
Talent was never his issue. He's so hot and cold that it's frustrating.
What do they think they so desperately need the cap space for?
Kreider?
Does a buyout even create much cap space? How much of a $3MM savings would be left over after re-signing Georgiev?
Also, makes sense for them to try and re-sign Kreider. He's a really good (underrated!) player and "win-now" mode for NYR can't be too far in the future with the clock running on Panarin and Trouba's prime and both signed to monster contracts.
I think trading for Trouba was a mistake. I liked it at the time, but that contract really hurts. It's not one of those insurmountable mistakes or anything, but it will be much harder to fill holes in 2-3 years when the window is hopefully opening up.
Pretty light rental market, he's considered the best player that's fully available. A late first and a solid prospect should be in play. But is that worth it when this group should be looking to turn the corner in the next few seasons, and Kreider could be a big part of that?
Henrik - A buyout makes sense because it does not have the long-term cap impact that Girardi, Shattenkirk have/will have. In my viewpoint, this would not be a move to save money, it would be a move to ensure that we move forward with a platoon of Igor/Georgiev going forward. Carrying 3 NHL quality goalies is not sustainable for a multitude of reasons.
Kreider - I wish like hell they were going to be able to afford to keep him. I don't see it happening, but I do think extending him for 5 years makes a lot of sense. You can't have all young guys, and Kreider brings a skill set that is rare, albeit, only seen for stretches before disappearing for others. It may be shortsighted on my part, but if it were my decision, I'd offer him a 5 year extension with an AAV of $7 million. Now, ask me during one of his 15 game stretches where he's invisible? I say trade him haha. But the way he's played the past month or two, it's hard to imagine the Rangers without him.
He's in demand, and it's another conundrum for JD and Gorts
it's no secret I've always like Kreider and always felt like he's been disappointing. For what he is though I agree he's in demand.
The player who has surprised me the most is Zibanejad. What a player he has become. Elite, top line center, solid in both ends.
I even wonder how much Z has elevated Kreider's game.
not saying Kreider isn't playing well on his own, but man Z has elevated his own game.
Made this point last week, but since DQ switched up the pairings, putting him with Lindgren, Trouba has played very solid hockey, imo. Lindgren is a solid stay-at-home type and frees Trouba up to attack and he's a physical force in the neutral zone, incited a few scrums as teams retaliate.
Similarly, d'Angelo needs Staal to stay back, but it's not a zero sum game.
But I'd rather take the chance that he can find his game, than move him while re-signing Tony and elevating his role. In a season or two, Fox will be putting up similar point totals to TDA, if not exceeding them outright. He's been that impressive.
I wouldn't trade him. Yes, he's underperformed, but so has Skjei. I'd look to trade Skjei before Trouba if I was inclined to trade either - which I wouldn't not be looking to do.
It's so hard to find RD now even if Trouba is an overpay I don't think he suddenly became talentless.
Best goalie of this generation...
I also think Fox can handle top pairing minutes one day.
Kakko has been a bad NHL player so far. Mostly really bad. Which is fine. He's shown enough skill and promise that I'm not concerned long-term. But acknowledging his performance without the caveats is important when analyzing the weaknesses of the team.
The bottom six sucks and the defense sucks. The top six is actually pretty good IMO.
Best goalie of this generation...
Easily the best goaltender to never win a Cup. It's such a shame.
It would also be a shame to lose Kreider over a few bucks or years. He's got a combination of speed, size and skill that the team is desperate for in their forward group, and you're gonna trade him for a mid or late 1st in the hopes of finding those attributes elsewhere? You want more of that type of forward, not less.
In order to keep him, Henrik likely has to go. And down the line, CK will likely have to go when a similar decision is facing the team.
Just my take, and I love The King.
He'll be a first ballot HOF. They'll retire his number and it should go right next to Ewing's a perfect bookend.
He'll be a first ballot HOF. They'll retire his number and it should go right next to Ewing's a perfect bookend.
There was really no need to validate Greg's post, it stood pretty well on its own.
Game 1: Outshot by 16
Game 2: Outshot by 6
Game 3: NYR outshot the Kings by 17
Game 4: Outshot by 22 but won
Game 5: Outshot by 21
Was it Lundqvist's fault that they didn't score in games 5 or 7 against TB against a broken Bishop?
second set TB, offense just disappeared (for long stretches) in all but two games, iirc
agree with your charac re bottom 6: as presently constituted, this group could do either or both of the above in SCP
a lot of work to be done
But the poor Hank stuff is enough. The Rangers mortgaged their future to win now and had a few chances and couldn't get it done.
I don't feel sorry for him. He had his shot.
The parallel to Ewing is amazing. Ewing had his chances too and couldn't get it done. Neither lost with the better team but they didn't lose to super teams either. They were right there and couldn't finish it off.
But the poor Hank stuff is enough. The Rangers mortgaged their future to win now and had a few chances and couldn't get it done.
I don't feel sorry for him. He had his shot.
The parallel to Ewing is amazing. Ewing had his chances too and couldn't get it done. Neither lost with the better team but they didn't lose to super teams either. They were right there and couldn't finish it off.
Why don't guys like this find another team to root for. They are insufferable and tedious. Hey, let's put Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Dan Marino, and all the other great players who didn't win a championship, all in the Hall of Not Good Enough with them.
Howden has career 3rd line upside and McKegg is a journeyman on his 5th or 6th NHL team.
They cannot keep up with Kakko or push him to improve IMO and playing alongside them I don't see how will help his development.
He may as well be in La Liga if this is their plan.
When I watch Kakko I can see his 20/21 year old self becoming a smaller Sasha Barkov he's showing glimpses into that, but why waste time languishing on the 4th line.
It's not just Quinn, Julien does it MTL, Vigneault did shit like this before. A lot of coaches do this to young skill guys. I don't get it.