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
Certainly possible. I was wondering what Canada will do for the 4 nations and Olympics. So much talent, do they keep players like Stamkos and Crosby who were thought of as shoe-ins in prior INTL events or go with more of a youth movement.
Also, I think there is a better chance Crosby gets traded than Draisaitl does.
though both are steep long shots to be moved IMO.
If Sully left I think there was a better chance Crosby goes too, but the new GM (Dubas) could decide to abandon the "let's cling to the old core" approach that Hextall was married to.
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!
Well you want to go real crazy, Rangers are going to have $19.6 million of space opening up right when McDavid enters free agency.
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Because he can't block a trade, unlike many others on the roster, he remains an excellent defensive forward, and he still has enough skill that you can project him blossoming as a scorer. Gives him more trade value than other possibilities.
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!
Well you want to go real crazy, Rangers are going to have $19.6 million of space opening up right when McDavid enters free agency.
lol. The Oilers have 4 players under contract for that season (2026-2027.) They have a projected $67M in cap space.
I think this SCF could play a big role in what happens next for both Draisaitl and McDavid (captain obvious?)
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Well McDavid is going to get sick of disappointing Alberta and will want to crush the hearts of NY'ers instead!
I think this SCF could play a big role in what happens next for both Draisaitl and McDavid (captain obvious?)
Oh yeah, completely agreed. If you want to keep the NYR hope alive, you root for the Panthers.
Allaire will continue to serve as the organization’s director of goaltending, but the well-respected 60-year-old has opted to no longer serve as the club’s goalie coach on a day-to-day basis, according to a source.
ESPN’s and NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report the possibility of Allaire scaling back.
This was Allaire’s decision as he wraps up his 20th year with the Rangers, who plan to lean on him during their process of finding a new goaltending coach.
NY Ppst - ( New Window )
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The Rangers’ goaltending guru, Benoit Allaire, is scaling back his workload.
Allaire will continue to serve as the organization’s director of goaltending, but the well-respected 60-year-old has opted to no longer serve as the club’s goalie coach on a day-to-day basis, according to a source.
ESPN’s and NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report the possibility of Allaire scaling back.
This was Allaire’s decision as he wraps up his 20th year with the Rangers, who plan to lean on him during their process of finding a new goaltending coach.
NY Ppst - ( New Window )
I wonder if Valiquette would consider the position
I'm so sick of hearing about 1994. Win another Cup.
Link - ( New Window )
Very well done, I thought, with the focus being on the whole Steven McDonald story.
Mike Keenan did not look good. Not sure if he’s battling something or if he just hasn’t taken good care of himself.
My favorite Ranger of all-time, Brian Leetch, has gained more than a few lbs as well.
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Tonight at 9
Very well done, I thought, with the focus being on the whole Steven McDonald story.
Mike Keenan did not look good. Not sure if he’s battling something or if he just hasn’t taken good care of himself.
My favorite Ranger of all-time, Brian Leetch, has gained more than a few lbs as well.
Leetch looked like he lost a battle with a bee
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In comment 16530825 Anakim said:
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Tonight at 9
Very well done, I thought, with the focus being on the whole Steven McDonald story.
Mike Keenan did not look good. Not sure if he’s battling something or if he just hasn’t taken good care of himself.
My favorite Ranger of all-time, Brian Leetch, has gained more than a few lbs as well.
Leetch looked like he lost a battle with a bee
More like a nest of bees!