Kakko needs to definitely go. Let someone else see if they can get something out of him. He’s the very definition of a bust. Lafreniere turned into the stud we thought he could be. I’ll take that and be happy.
Thankfully Trouba only has 2y left. I don't think they move from him this offseason but maybe in the final year it's a buyout. Kakko still has some value with his age but it's probably a 7/10 on the scale. I don't know how much you can do with Chytil with the health questions.
I would be very surprised if Kakko is a Ranger next season unless something miraculous happens tonight and the rest of the playoffs. The guy just cannot get it done here. From missing open nets, to never shooting, to seemingly having confidence issues. As an RFA with arbitration rights, I think his rights will be traded away. I agree, at least Lafreniere looks like a could be stud that you would hope the # 1 pick could be. I was always much higher on Lafreniere than Kakko, truth be told I really have not seen much out of Kakko to make me think he'll ever be more than a middle of the road 2nd or 3rd liner at best in the NHL. There's value in that, but not # 2 pick level. As for Trouba, I don't put him with Panarin, Zibanejad, and Kakko in my book because at least he hits and adds a physical presence. Panarin and Zibanejad are guys you need to win in the regular season, and there is certainly value in that, but I am just tired of them being invisible in the playoffs as we struggle to score more than a goal or two in almost every big game. They have another chance to show something tonight.
Othmann, and maybe Sykora, should be ready for full-time roles right off the bat next year. Berard I'm not sure about next season but should get a shot in training camp to show some things. Perreault the following year. On D I don't see much immediate help on the way, as Jones probably is trade bait or just a spare, and Robertson hasn't emerged as a big time prospect. Fortescue maybe in a few years.
For starters, if we have to see Zibanejad or East West on this team next season, they might as well end it before it starts. I want both of those guys gone. And it will not surprise me one drop if Igor asks for a trade or leaves as a UFA after next season. Why would he stay, to be Hank with no Cup?
I agree, Mika is # 1 above East West, but East West isn't that far behind. Mika no goals in 11 games; East West one meaningless goal after the game was over, in 9 games.
You clowns go from Hank to Igor and only made the finals once lol keep hanging onto 94 like Sam said this one will last a lifetime who knew it was so literal
Until we get rid of some of these soft fat cat guys, it isn't going to change. Kakko, East West, Mika, Trouba (not soft but fell apart late in the season). These guys are not winning playoff players. They all should go IMO. If Drury runs it back again, he is worse than I think after his trade DL dereliction of duty.
They need to find a C like Lundell who's young. Chytil could've maybe been a guy like that but now has the injury problem. I'd trade KK with the 30th overall and move up as far as you can for the best C available.
Trading for a high draft is not the answer with Shesterkin 28 and a team that is not young up front. Kakko is a good kid but Florida is here to stay for a while. We need more Othmann's. Less Kakko's. I'm for acquiring picks but you must get an asset back. If you can't get a Brady Tkachuk, I would considering moving Kakko to Utah for Crouse and a couple of second rounders. Something like that. Crouse is 27 with two more years of control. He's the type you need when you go against the Panthers. Gourde is another guy the Kraken would be stupid not to move. If they eat half his salary, give them Jones who should have an NHL job and perhaps another mediocre prospect. May not seem like a lot but Crouse and Gourde on this team makes it a lot harder team to play against if your Florida. You add Othmann and Sykora. You have more grit, speed and talent.
Kreider still went to goal, but was much easier to push out from front of net and never finished checks. I don’t know if he sucked because the all time level of suck by his center and that rubbed off or if he was just overdue for his disappearing act but it was unacceptable. Mika has proven now that he’s not built for the playoffs. He needs to be harassed by fans until he waives his NMC and gets out of here. Panarin is Panarin. Rather go east west and avoid people than north south and take a few knocks. And it’s a shame because that is who Kakko has watched and developed to try and be like. Wish we had a Jagr type for Kakko to learn from. That’s what we are missing. A winger that plays like Jagr used to. Physical, uses his body properly, not afraid to get hit but also give hits, doesn’t just dump the puck in and look for someone else to make a play. The good that came out of this series? We know that Trocheck should be our captain next year, not Trouba. Laf has arrived. Igor is an all world goalie. Things that need to happen: -have to get Mika out of here. Panarin is still useful (albeit he disappears big time in physical games), Mika was totally incompetent. -get rid of Chytil and Kakko -let Wennberg and Roslovic go -shop Fox and see the return you can get. Likely you can get a lot of good from trading him. Don’t just trade him for prospects though. Trade him for winning piece(s) -tell Trouba that unless he steps up he will be bought out next year -get someone who was a physical dman in here to coach up Miller and Schneider. -offer Lindgren a team friendly contract. If he says no, thank him for his service and let him walk and get injured constantly for another team. He’s a very good defenseman but he’s hurt too much. -Gust got a lot of shit but he’s fine for a 3rd pair and he’s good on the PP with his shot. If you move Fox, Jones can come up also and play the point on the PP. -GET ALL AROUND TYPE PLAYERS!!! Stop looking for diamonds in the rough that only play gritty and have no skill or only have skill but are softer than tissue paper. -Brady Tkachuk you could try to get but that might take a lot to get. I would offer Fox in that trade as a start and then go from there as I believe that by including Fox you don’t have to include key prospects. Other than that, I’m sure lots of you here have ideas but honestly, I have ZERO faith in Drury to get anything done to help. I expect the same team more or less out there next year and us to waste another year of Igor with a good enough team, but not a great enough one EXACTLY like all the Hank prime years.
I'd move Kakko and Chytils salary out for picks, then maybe even seriously consider a buyout for Trouba this year. Sign people like Debrusk, Martinook, Monahan and Montour. Tkachuk isn't happening. Maybe Winnipeg would be willing to part with Ehlers. I wouldn't trade Fox, people like him are hard to come by, he just needs to stay healthy and maybe work on strength/conditioning a little more. Lindgren could go too. Don't see any of the big 3 salaries moving. Othmann should be ready to fill a spot.
I would not buy Trouba out, why would you when his NMC goes down to a 15 team NTC July 1st, trade him if anything. Buying him out with 2 years left saves you $4M against the cap each of the next two seasons, at the cost of $2M each of the following two seasons. That is not a good decision I don't believe. Brooks article is spot on and says what I have been saying since last night. Talks about exploring trading Trouba, Kreider, Zibanejad (I would add East West to the mix as well). Also says this summer has to be about adding Size and Strength, and add a real physical matchup line, not a skill finesse "scoring" 3rd line the Rangers have had the past few seasons. His bottom line is you cannot run this core back again, the evidence is clear: I do not believe the Rangers can run it back again. I believe that the evidence gathered from this conference final defeat to the Panthers on top of the evidence gleaned from the six-game conference final defeat to the Lightning two years ago frames the case that the core has gone as far as it can and there must be essential changes to the group. Rangers have tough Jacob Trouba, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad decisions (nypost.com)
Right, i mean maybe you can trade him and eat 3m in salary which would be more optimal. Can't see anyone taking on the full $$.
Kakko is an RFA made $925k should be cheap to resign. Roslovic, Wennberg, Wheeler, Ruhwedel. Gustafsson are all UFAs probably all gone. Lindgren and Schneider are RFAs would think Drury tries to bring both back.. Mika has a no move clause with a 21 team no trade list so a trade may be possible.
Zibanejad has a full NMC, it becomes a 21-team NTC 7 days before the 29-30 trade DL, which is the final season of his current deal. They have to get him to try and waive it I think. Schneider is back for sure as an RFA without arbitration rights, the question with him is bridge deal or longer term. I think they have high hopes for his future as a top 4 dman. Lindgren comes down to ask. If they can keep him around his current $3M cap hit, maybe low 3's, I think he'll be back as an RFA with arbitration rights. If he wants $3.6M or more I look to move his rights. Kakko's current deal has a $2.1M AAV. He is someone I look to move as I'd guess he'd want something that starts with a 3, and I say no. He is an RFA with arbitration rights, and I can see his rights being traded unless you can really get him on a good deal, or his trade value is very low, which is possible. The UFA's all should be gone, I agree, and I will miss none, maybe Gust a tiny bit, but not really too much.
