Z is skating as of this past weekend (he did not play in the scrimmage though). Hopefully he'll be good for Thursday. Reading some notes it looks like the 4th line will be Lemieux with Howden and Rooney (one of Howden or Rooney will play C the other W). And Johnson and Smith as the 6th/7th dmen one paired with DeAngelo on the 3rd pair. Miller starts with Trouba. Exciting, and if Miller is ready for it this team takes a step up in potential for this year.
Rangers center Mika Zibanejad said he's feeling good after testing positive for COVID-19, which delayed his start to camp. Whether or not he plays Thursday he's taking it day by day. Hopefully he plays Thursday, but if not he won't miss more than a game or 2 to get his timing back. Practiced today.
Thats a relief about Zib, you hate to hear he tested positive but better now than mid way through the season. Hopefully Miller has the strength and decision making to be a top pair d-man! Excited to see him play.
I don't believe any of that Buchnevich praise crap from Quinn. Buchnevich is a moron and I don't ever see that changing.
Sounds like Barron will start on the taxi squad. Quinn thinks he was pressing a little bit feeling like he was expected to make it right away.
Here is a look at the expected lineup: Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Pavel Buchnevich Artemi Panarin – Ryan Strome – Kaapo Kakko Alexis Lafrenière – Filip Chytil – Julien Gauthier Brendan Lemieux – Brett Howden – Phil Di Giuseppe or Kevin Rooney K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba Ryan Lindgren – Adam Fox Jack Johnson – Tony DeAngelo Brendan Smith (7th D) Taxi squad: Keith Kinkaid (G) Anthony Bitetto (D) Matthew Robertson (D) Morgan Barron (F) Colin Blackwell (F) Libor Hajek (D)
A little disappointing that Hajek can't earn a regular spot but maybe he just isn't going to turn into much other than a spare type. Good sign that Robertson is already up to being a taxi squad player at his age. I think the WHL not playing factors in.
I agree on Hajek, and think that is accurate on Robertson. Also no AHL at this point plays a role with some of the taxi folks. To me I like those lines to start with, and when I see the 4th line I think they can play a regular shift, which will help.
Jack Johnson sucks moose balls. So I see Hajek if he can do anything replacing him. If not, he's done here. Di Giuseppe sucks. Barron will get it together. You can already tell Quinn is pulling for him.
Maybe if they're in the playoff hunt in the spring they'll trade for a 3rd pair upgrade of some kind if needed to get them through the year.
If Miller is ready, I am less concerned about the 3rd pair LD. I would hope between Smith, Johnson, and Hajek one can step up. If not and we are in it, yes look to add via trade as mentioned, but if our biggest D concern is 3rd pair LD, we are in a good spot. As for Barron, I agree he should eventually take a place on the 4th line with Lemieux and Howden. I really like the 4th line options we have this year. First time in a while we can say that, and say our 4th line can take a regular shift, and say our top 9 is filled with true top 9 guys, not 4th line guys playing in the top 9. I like it. This is a good team, that may be one year away from truly contending and having the flexibility to complete the team with the needed additions, but either way this year should be a lot of fun. Defending and winning faceoffs will determine our fate.
Knowing the playoffs will be in a bubble again, most likely, is kind of a drag, but next year should get back to normal. For us it's sort of a house money kind of year. Make the playoffs, cool, if not they get another crack at some lotto luck and at worst add another top 10 type prospect. Then next year guys like Lundkvist and Kravtsov maybe crack the lineup and our current guys have another year under their belt.
For next year you also have to add we save 9 mill on dead cap space in buyout reductions, and another 4.350 mill comes off the cap with the expiration of Smith's contract - 13.3 mill in total. That is why to me next season has always been the season Gorton has been pointing towards to finish off this team, and add the final pieces we need. This year is house money in the sense that if we play well, either just make or just miss the playoffs, and the kids get a year of growth out of it, we accomplished what we needed to IMO.
DeAngelo is still a mental case. I think the organization loves Lundkvist and his skill along with being very mature. I hope DeAngelo has a monster year. If he does I would expect him to be a part of a package for a big center. Howden better win 50+ % of his draws this season or he's outta here. Chytil better at worst be a 45% draw guy this year. Like Hayes he sucks at draws early on. Hayes got a lot better. I don't think Dubois will go anywhere this year. However, if DeAngelo and Chytil have real good years I can see the Rangers using those 2 guys as part of a package to get that guy.
In order for CBJ to trade Dubois to us, we'd need to have the best package clearly otherwise no shot they trade him within the division. I am thinking they would be asking for a guy like Kakko or Miller to be in the deal. That's a shame though, because he is a perfect fit for us and would be an amazing final piece.
If Huska or Wall progress into backups maybe they even move Georgiev next year, if he has a good season. For Dubois I'd offer Chytil/Robertson/1st as a base and see if it goes anywhere but yeah it will tough to get Columbus to send him here.
I don't see Chytil and Robertson even being close for Dubois. They would spit Gorton's face. I think they would ask for Kakko for sure. If they trade Dubois they would be in full rebuild mode. Honestly, I think the owner and GM will talk with Dubois and much like what happened here, Torts will be kicked out because he simply won't develop offensive players any longer.
As I wrote, they would ask for Miller or Kakko for sure I believe. And even then unless our offer is clearly the best, I don't see them dealing within their own division.
