Unrestricted Free Agents:
Alexander Wennberg
Jack Roslovic
Erik Gustafsson
Chad Ruhwedel
Blake Wheeler
None of these players are worth bringing back, except maybe Ruhwedel on a cheap contract for the third pair. However, we didn't see enough of him this year to make a definitive judgment.
Restricted Free Agents:
Kaapo Kakko
Ryan Lindgren
Braden Schneider
Kakko is the biggest decision. What will he ask for? Despite many appreciating him as a solid defensive forward, he might be better served on another team. I think the Rangers will trade him.
Lindgren is incredibly tough, a true warrior in the mold of Dan Girardi. However, he's always hurt, has slow foot speed, and contributes little offensively. I'd bring him back for two years, but he likely wants a long-term deal. Drury should be cautious not to overpay, learning from the Girardi and Staal extensions.
Schneider is a must re-sign. He's young and still has room for improvement.
Team Needs:
Despite being a President's Cup team, we have several holes to fill. If we keep our main core in the top-6, we desperately need a legitimate top-6 right winger. Look at the revolving door at RW: Roslovic, Chytil, Wennberg, Wheeler, Vesey, Goodrow... We need a long-term solution.
Additionally, if we move on from Zibanejad, we'll need a top-6 center.
And we need a PMD. With a gimpy Fox, we had no one to move the puck of the zone for long stretch-passes and it was a HUGE problem. I'm hoping we give Zac Jones a real look despite his size.
Ironically, my top free agent target is left defenseman Brady Skjei. He would be an excellent replacement for Lindgren, given his great skating, offensive contributions, and ability to handle top-4 minutes.
I think the core will remain intact, with Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, and Jacob Trouba staying. Their contracts may be too difficult to move. Kreider, I guess will stay. Panarin will stay because of his contract, but I think it's safe to say that he cannot be counted on come playoff time.
The two biggest decisions are Mika and Trouba and of the two, I believe Captain Jacob Trouba needs to be off this team.
Rob Luker
@RLuker12
Since being acquired by #NYR in 2019, Jacob Trouba's on & off ice goal results at 5v5, regular season & playoffs.
On Ice: 268 GF, 289 GA (48.1%)
Off Ice: 580 GF, 506 GA (53.4%)
8M per for a boneheaded, cheapshot captain, who is a penalty-making machine and is a poor skater, puck-handler, and decision-maker. He needs to go. We'll need to replace his physicality on the blueline for sure, but Trouba should be considered addition by subtraction.
And I suggested this in another thread and perhaps PJ or someone could discuss this even more elaborately, but if possible, I'd look to trade Mika in a deal similar to how he was acquired in the first place, i.e. for a young center. The names that come immediately to mind are Shane Wright, Elias Pettersson, Marco Rossi, and Trevor Zegras. IDK if it's possible and Zibanejad has a full NMC. We may be stuck here.
And we officially have the 30th pick in the NHL Draft. We only have four picks: a first, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth.
My rough projected lineup:
Kreider - Zibanejad - ?
Panarin - Trocheck - Laf
Cuylle - Chytil (assuming he's in full health)- Othmann
Vesey - Goodrow - Rempe
Berard-Brodzinski-Edstrom
Skjei - Fox
K'Andre - Schneider
Zac Jones - ?
?
?
Igor
Quick
True, but 94 made up for it.
This team could use a very good young C/D. They have Othmann at LW, Perreault at RW and Fortescue at D.
This team could use a very good young C/D. They have Othmann at LW, Perreault at RW and Fortescue at D.
Three players from USNDTP could be there around 30.
Teddy Stiga F, smooth, finisher, good fundamentals and IQ
EJ Emery, RD, good size, room to grow offensively
Cole Hutson, LD, Lane's younger brother, not quite the elusiveness of Lane, but still a really good puck mover will be drafted earlier than Lane was. similarly sized.
a few Canadian players who could be there
Ryder Ritchie, RW, reminds me a little of Lafreniere
Sacha Boisvert, C, good size, played at Mt. St. Charles Academy in RI
Jett Luchanko, C (not just his name, he's a speedster)
Any of those 6 would be good IMO, plus a couple Euros.
there should be a good player there at 30.
I will be forever grateful to Neil Smith and Mark Messier. They made it happen. At least for me I think Sam Rosen will be correct. That's the only NY Rangers Stanley Cup I will ever see.
I think the window has closed. This team is capped out with very expensive players at or near the end of the prime that can't be moved. This was their chance and they fell short.
Mark Messier trade got Rangers the right player at right time - ( New Window )
Out of the rest of the OPs list of FAs and RFAs I hope only Schneider is back and think he should be paired with Jones from day one of the season.
I like Trouba but he is not part of the solution. Whatever makes the most cap sense is what they should do with him.
The most disappointing player vs the Panthers for me was Miller. I thought this was the year he would become a star player. He was abused by FL. If the right return is available he's a prime trade chip for me.
Mika and Fox are going no where. The Rangers are stuck with them so finding complimentary players to those two should be the #1 and #1A priorities of the off season. The Rangers need to find Fox a left-handed Beukeboom instead of pairing him with the opponent teams punching bag.
X.com - ( New Window )
Ouch, the comments. lol. Maybe I have some blinders on for Trouba. Though jfresh is a douche and I think a goalie so automatically his opinion is discounted (no offense CHP).
just his nature. Most of the hockey stat/analytics guys reply to you on twitter or their websites if you have questions about their formulas, or results for a player. He just ignores people (or me at least), plus as I said I think he's a goalie - I shouldn't need to explain it any more than that. lol.
Good morning. We need to get tougher. Schneider skates with cement in his skates. Also need players who stand in front of the net come playoff teams.
Quote:
then the fans get what they deserve.
A guy who doesn't take stupid penalties, make terrible passes consistently, and frequently get himself out of position?
I was waiting on the other thread for the Trouba apologists to emerge and for us to be told he doesn't suck and its not his fault. And here it is. Now we don't deserve Trouba. lmao.
@SNYRangers
Jacob Trouba told reporters today that he played the entire playoffs on a broken ankle
12:08 PM · Jun 4, 2024
What the hell did they bother trading for a solid depth defenseman like Ruhwedel for if they were going to play Trouba with a broken damned ankle instead, no matter how ineffective he was?
Quote:
Rangers Videos
@SNYRangers
Jacob Trouba told reporters today that he played the entire playoffs on a broken ankle
12:08 PM · Jun 4, 2024
What the hell did they bother trading for a solid depth defenseman like Ruhwedel for if they were going to play Trouba with a broken damned ankle instead, no matter how ineffective he was?
I was going to say he looked injured, but the haters would think it was an excuse.
I don't think he even had a hard hit after the Caps series - including the missed elbow - and while he blocked shots - I noticed not to his usual volume.
it's always a tough call IMO about how hurt someone is and how much of a gap there is between the injured player playing injured and the replacement. I don't think coaches are always right, but my guess is they evaluated all the options and felt like Fox and Trouba gave them the best chance to win.
Trouba stunk. You can't tell me Chad Ruhwedel wouldn't have done a better job. At least give him a shot and, should he fail, you can go back to Captain Pegleg.
Also, lol, no one wants to hear this, but by almost every quantitative measure, so not the "he stinks" or "he's a turnover machine", Schneider (for example) was worse than Trouba or as bad, except for PIMs. Miller was worse in most stats, Lindgren and Gus worse than Trouba in most and Fox worse in many.
For the playoffs Trouba compared with the other Rangers D
More points than all except Fox
Tied with Miller for most goals
Fewer giveaways than all D except Lindgren
More takeaways than all other D (tied with Miller)
More blocked shots than any other D
More hits than any other D
+- after only Fox and Miller
and he allegedly had a broken ankle.
So the coaches probably didn't think Ruhwedel was going to outproduce Trouba as much as the fans hate him and Jones would have been a disaster IMO. If they didn't think Ruhwedel was going to outplay a healthy Schneider, when an injured Trouba was still better than Schneider and Lindgren, etc.
One thing Rangers fans while looking for their boogeyman also don't mention is the last couple games of the series, Barkov invisible offensively, Tkachuk invisible offensively, Verhaeghe invisible offensively, Reinhart invisible offensively - none of those 4 even had a point in the last couple games - the pivotal games 5 and 6. Those were their top 4 scorers during the regular season. Igor was awesome, of course and that's a lot of the story, but the Rangers didn't lose this series because of their D IMO. they lost because they scored 5 goals in 5 games of the series. they scored 5 in the other game alone, but 5 goals in the other 5 games is why they lost and a lot of that falls on the power play.
As captain, you're supposed to put your team in the best position to win. Trouba didn't. He tried to tough it out and it cost them.
- The Rangers decide to not put him on LTIR and open up $8.5m additional in Trade Deadline Cap Space
- The Rangers play 11 games without him in the lineup and then force him back despite not being fully healed
- In those 11 games, the Rangers go 9-2 against one of the toughest stretch of their schedule and Zac Jones plays terrific hockey
- Zac Jones never plays again and Jacob Trouba plays below replacement level hockey in the playoffs"
As captain, you're supposed to put your team in the best position to win. Trouba didn't. He tried to tough it out and it cost them.
GTFO with this ridiculous take. It's not on him to make that call. it's the coaches and the trainers and medical staff.
Man, you really hate this guy. like it's personal for you to have such an awful take.
Quote:
17 of the 35 goals against us in rounds 2 and 3 of the playoffs were scored with Jacob Trouba and his broken ankle on the ice. And he didn't think he was a problem and that he was holding the team back?
As captain, you're supposed to put your team in the best position to win. Trouba didn't. He tried to tough it out and it cost them.
GTFO with this ridiculous take. It's not on him to make that call. it's the coaches and the trainers and medical staff.
Man, you really hate this guy. like it's personal for you to have such an awful take.
Not at all, PJ. It's not personal at all. I want to like the guy because A) he's our captain; and B) he brings size and snarl to this team. The problem is that he's not very good, he never really was very good, and he doesn't play with a high hockey IQ. He'll take stupid, undisciplined penalties that will hurt his team and go for the big hit (with some being dirty) instead of being defensively responsible.
And this is the end result. He played horribly and was one of, if not the, main culprits.
This is on the coach. It's his job to make that decision, not Trouba's.
This is on the coach. It's his job to make that decision, not Trouba's.
Agreed.
Also, lol, no one wants to hear this, but by almost every quantitative measure, so not the "he stinks" or "he's a turnover machine", Schneider (for example) was worse than Trouba or as bad, except for PIMs. Miller was worse in most stats, Lindgren and Gus worse than Trouba in most and Fox worse in many.
For the playoffs Trouba compared with the other Rangers D
More points than all except Fox
Tied with Miller for most goals
Fewer giveaways than all D except Lindgren
More takeaways than all other D (tied with Miller)
More blocked shots than any other D
More hits than any other D
+- after only Fox and Miller
and he allegedly had a broken ankle.
So the coaches probably didn't think Ruhwedel was going to outproduce Trouba as much as the fans hate him and Jones would have been a disaster IMO. If they didn't think Ruhwedel was going to outplay a healthy Schneider, when an injured Trouba was still better than Schneider and Lindgren, etc.
One thing Rangers fans while looking for their boogeyman also don't mention is the last couple games of the series, Barkov invisible offensively, Tkachuk invisible offensively, Verhaeghe invisible offensively, Reinhart invisible offensively - none of those 4 even had a point in the last couple games - the pivotal games 5 and 6. Those were their top 4 scorers during the regular season. Igor was awesome, of course and that's a lot of the story, but the Rangers didn't lose this series because of their D IMO. they lost because they scored 5 goals in 5 games of the series. they scored 5 in the other game alone, but 5 goals in the other 5 games is why they lost and a lot of that falls on the power play.
You're a smart hockey fan, so I feel like you already know this and maybe you're just dug in on the Trouba thing, but an inability for the defense to a) prevent zone entries at will by the opposition and b) effectively handle puck retrievals and move the puck out of their own zone with possession absolutely is a contributing factor to why the Rangers struggled to score goals. And I feel like Trouba plays a significant role in that. It's not just him. The powerplay failed too. Both things are true. Trouba also wasn't the only defensemen that struggled (though he does make more against the cap than all of them besides Fox). This has been acknowledged. But you're going to have to give me something more than blocked shots, hits, and a lack of giveaways because he's just flipping the puck out to safety constantly to tell me why he's actually better than the perception right now. Pretty clear downward trajectory he's on at the moment
What on earth was he doing on the Bennett goal in game 6!? I've never seen anything like that.
Again, though - why did Laviolette play ALL of these guys every game despite the injuries when he had options that were at least decent?
You're a smart hockey fan, so I feel like you already know this and maybe you're just dug in on the Trouba thing, but an inability for the defense to a) prevent zone entries at will by the opposition and b) effectively handle puck retrievals and move the puck out of their own zone with possession absolutely is a contributing factor to why the Rangers struggled to score goals.
Agree 100%. It's very difficult to score goals when you're struggling mightily just to get out of your own end.
This is on the coach. It's his job to make that decision, not Trouba's.
I can agree with that
@vzmercogliano
Kakko was pretty honest in his self evaluation. Said Lavi told him he’d play with 20/93 over the summer, “But all those games we played together, it never worked out that well. If you're playing those minutes, you have to score some goals.”
Will he be back? “We’ll see.” #NYR
1:39 PM · Jun 4, 2024
Quote:
and they needed PP success to win the series. It was one of my keys going in.
Also, lol, no one wants to hear this, but by almost every quantitative measure, so not the "he stinks" or "he's a turnover machine", Schneider (for example) was worse than Trouba or as bad, except for PIMs. Miller was worse in most stats, Lindgren and Gus worse than Trouba in most and Fox worse in many.
For the playoffs Trouba compared with the other Rangers D
More points than all except Fox
Tied with Miller for most goals
Fewer giveaways than all D except Lindgren
More takeaways than all other D (tied with Miller)
More blocked shots than any other D
More hits than any other D
+- after only Fox and Miller
and he allegedly had a broken ankle.
So the coaches probably didn't think Ruhwedel was going to outproduce Trouba as much as the fans hate him and Jones would have been a disaster IMO. If they didn't think Ruhwedel was going to outplay a healthy Schneider, when an injured Trouba was still better than Schneider and Lindgren, etc.
One thing Rangers fans while looking for their boogeyman also don't mention is the last couple games of the series, Barkov invisible offensively, Tkachuk invisible offensively, Verhaeghe invisible offensively, Reinhart invisible offensively - none of those 4 even had a point in the last couple games - the pivotal games 5 and 6. Those were their top 4 scorers during the regular season. Igor was awesome, of course and that's a lot of the story, but the Rangers didn't lose this series because of their D IMO. they lost because they scored 5 goals in 5 games of the series. they scored 5 in the other game alone, but 5 goals in the other 5 games is why they lost and a lot of that falls on the power play.
You're a smart hockey fan, so I feel like you already know this and maybe you're just dug in on the Trouba thing, but an inability for the defense to a) prevent zone entries at will by the opposition and b) effectively handle puck retrievals and move the puck out of their own zone with possession absolutely is a contributing factor to why the Rangers struggled to score goals. And I feel like Trouba plays a significant role in that. It's not just him. The powerplay failed too. Both things are true. Trouba also wasn't the only defensemen that struggled (though he does make more against the cap than all of them besides Fox). This has been acknowledged. But you're going to have to give me something more than blocked shots, hits, and a lack of giveaways because he's just flipping the puck out to safety constantly to tell me why he's actually better than the perception right now. Pretty clear downward trajectory he's on at the moment
Dumping and chasing out of the zone, while better than not exiting the zone and having defensive zone turnover, is much worse than possession exits or passing exits. It was also playing into Florida's strengths since they have more that do a good job doing the dirty work of grinding for pucks on the boards. you are right that not having zone exits is the number one reason they lost.
@vzmercogliano
Kakko was pretty honest in his self evaluation. Said Lavi told him he’d play with 20/93 over the summer, “But all those games we played together, it never worked out that well. If you're playing those minutes, you have to score some goals.”
Will he be back? “We’ll see.” #NYR
1:39 PM · Jun 4, 2024
I want Kakko back but suspect he'll be dealt.
Quote:
Vince Z. Mercogliano
@vzmercogliano
Kakko was pretty honest in his self evaluation. Said Lavi told him he’d play with 20/93 over the summer, “But all those games we played together, it never worked out that well. If you're playing those minutes, you have to score some goals.”
Will he be back? “We’ll see.” #NYR
1:39 PM · Jun 4, 2024
I want Kakko back but suspect he'll be dealt.
I would love to see Kakko back on a top 6 line where the C doesn't only have eyes for his LW.
Quote:
and they needed PP success to win the series. It was one of my keys going in.
Also, lol, no one wants to hear this, but by almost every quantitative measure, so not the "he stinks" or "he's a turnover machine", Schneider (for example) was worse than Trouba or as bad, except for PIMs. Miller was worse in most stats, Lindgren and Gus worse than Trouba in most and Fox worse in many.
For the playoffs Trouba compared with the other Rangers D
More points than all except Fox
Tied with Miller for most goals
Fewer giveaways than all D except Lindgren
More takeaways than all other D (tied with Miller)
More blocked shots than any other D
More hits than any other D
+- after only Fox and Miller
and he allegedly had a broken ankle.
So the coaches probably didn't think Ruhwedel was going to outproduce Trouba as much as the fans hate him and Jones would have been a disaster IMO. If they didn't think Ruhwedel was going to outplay a healthy Schneider, when an injured Trouba was still better than Schneider and Lindgren, etc.
One thing Rangers fans while looking for their boogeyman also don't mention is the last couple games of the series, Barkov invisible offensively, Tkachuk invisible offensively, Verhaeghe invisible offensively, Reinhart invisible offensively - none of those 4 even had a point in the last couple games - the pivotal games 5 and 6. Those were their top 4 scorers during the regular season. Igor was awesome, of course and that's a lot of the story, but the Rangers didn't lose this series because of their D IMO. they lost because they scored 5 goals in 5 games of the series. they scored 5 in the other game alone, but 5 goals in the other 5 games is why they lost and a lot of that falls on the power play.
You're a smart hockey fan, so I feel like you already know this and maybe you're just dug in on the Trouba thing, but an inability for the defense to a) prevent zone entries at will by the opposition and b) effectively handle puck retrievals and move the puck out of their own zone with possession absolutely is a contributing factor to why the Rangers struggled to score goals. And I feel like Trouba plays a significant role in that. It's not just him. The powerplay failed too. Both things are true. Trouba also wasn't the only defensemen that struggled (though he does make more against the cap than all of them besides Fox). This has been acknowledged. But you're going to have to give me something more than blocked shots, hits, and a lack of giveaways because he's just flipping the puck out to safety constantly to tell me why he's actually better than the perception right now. Pretty clear downward trajectory he's on at the moment
I'm not dug in on anything. NYR fans for some reason more than most fans love to find a single person to blame.
Hockey is not that game even though some of the fans on here won't be happy until it's unanimous and everyone blames one guy.
I pointed out the Rangers scored a combined 5 goals in 5 games of the series and that's is why they lost. If you want to twist that lack of scoring to pin it on one defenseman out of three pairs of D struggling with his puck retrievals and breakouts, then go right ahead, but it doesn't make me dug in, it makes you hockey illiterate.
Trouba absolutely contributed to the loss, just like all the D did and the forwards all did I seriously doubt the outcome would have changed for the better (even a little) had Ruhwedel or Jones replaced Trouba. In fact you probably see some points from the FLA top 4 in the last two games without him.
If any of you guys are the types to believe you can win Powerball, I have a pie in the sky dream for you that solves the #1 C issue....Leon Draisaitl is a UFA after next season and the Oilers might very well be unable to retain him.
How on earth they make that happen, I have no goddamned idea, but reach for the stars!
That's just, like, your opinion, man.
They played very well with Jones in the lineup over Trouba. No, it wasn't the playoffs, but it did happen.
I've continued to emphasize over and over for the last three days that Trouba is not the only player or defensemen that struggled. The loss does not fall solely at his feet, and as a whole I didn't like the way the entire defense played. So you're either intentionally twisting my words or just playing ignorant. Either way, it's tired. If you don't understand how a defense that struggled to move the puck (the entire group, not just one player!) contributed to a lack of goal scoring, then maybe you're not the hockey authority you clearly think you are.
Quote:
Trouba absolutely contributed to the loss, just like all the D did and the forwards all did I seriously doubt the outcome would have changed for the better (even a little) had Ruhwedel or Jones replaced Trouba. In fact you probably see some points from the FLA top 4 in the last two games without him.
That's just, like, your opinion, man.
They played very well with Jones in the lineup over Trouba. No, it wasn't the playoffs, but it did happen.
The dude abides.
Trouba never looked the same after returning from the IR.
Sure, he’s never been fleet of foot or had quick hands but we’ve seen him light people up and we never really did see much of that if at all. He was too busy chasing and running around.
I agree with the previous poster who asked what he was doing on the Bennett goal. Running out to the blue line and whiffing on a check, especially while being compromised, was so unnecessary.
If any of you guys are the types to believe you can win Powerball, I have a pie in the sky dream for you that solves the #1 C issue....Leon Draisaitl is a UFA after next season and the Oilers might very well be unable to retain him.
How on earth they make that happen, I have no goddamned idea, but reach for the stars!
More attainable might be someone like Stamkos or even Crosby. How awesome would that be? lol. Crosby as a Ranger. I know they're both significantly older than Draisaitl, but both would be the Rangers 1C in 2024-2025.
I don't seem EDM dealing Draisaitl, but who knows, stranger things have happened I guess.
@NYP_Brooksie
To clarify. Trouba’s ankle was healed by the start of the playoffs. He never said he played on a broken ankle during the playoffs.
1:57 PM · Jun 4, 2024
If his ankle was truly broken, I question how healed he could have been given that he came back in the regular season after only three weeks. He certainly didn't look good after he came back.
@NYP_Brooksie
To clarify. Trouba’s ankle was healed by the start of the playoffs. He never said he played on a broken ankle during the playoffs.
I don't think it's one-sided but obviously it helps playing with someone like Kucherov. Stamkos has become a beast on the dots, and was a multiple Richard winner before Kucherov even became his teammate.
Quote:
Stamkos, I wonder how much he's buoyed by playing with Kucherov.
I don't think it's one-sided but obviously it helps playing with someone like Kucherov. Stamkos has become a beast on the dots, and was a multiple Richard winner before Kucherov even became his teammate.
If we traded Zibanejad, Stamkos would obviously replace him on the PP on the dots.