Now is when you'll hear all the stupid Rangers rumors as usual. They will include the normal. Rangers vastly overpaying for players who aren't impact players. Rangers having players that nobody has interest in despite the fact they can play good hockey.
Glen Sather announces official retirement from the Rangers/hockey....BYE! Thanks for literally NOTHING, you overrated clown.
I am sure you will all love this; Brooks wrote an article this afternoon saying the Rangers are very interested in bringing Kane back. It is going to be an interesting 8 days; I do expect Drury will be busy making some moves.
I feel like I’m in the minority here but I do NOT want Kane here. He’s a perimeter player that’s on the downside of his career. I don’t care what he did at a lower organization with minimal talent around him with Detroit. He will become another Panarin, skating around the outside and looking for others to make a play. We need physical forwards, which are not easy to come by. We need physical dmen. We need physicality. We need guys that aren’t afraid to go to net with or without the puck. Kakko ain’t it. Chytil ain’t it. Mika ain’t it. Panarin ain’t it. Kreider could be but he’s turning soft sadly. Trocheck IS that guy. Brodzinski sucks. Cuylle is young so maybe he can grow into that role. Laf IS that guy. Wheeler is too old. Vesey is a role player, but plays his role well. Roslovic is gone as is Wennberg, both TOTAL acquisition BUSTS by Drury. Rempe is what he is, a role playing 4th liner. So out of our 14 forwards I have faith in 4-5. This team needs a top line power forward RW, at LEAST 1 faceoff master center, and grit/size on the defense. My gut tells me that Drury will bring in Kane on a overpriced deal and we will mostly run it back with the same team and supposed to be shocked that we can’t compete at the same level next season we did this year. Drury is in over his head and I expect that to be on full display this offseason sadly.
I don't think you are in the minority at all, most do not want Kane here, and neither do I considering his age, his size, and his style of play. As for Drury, I agree he is over his head, and said it day one he was hired by Dolan/Sather (I knew Sather wasn't retired and I told you guys he was in on the Drury decision, I was serious about that). With that said, I am going into this summer with an open mind. Let Drury surprise me hopefully and make the right moves that need to be made, trade the right guys, and bring in the right guys. He got off to a good start with Goodrow I think. Sadly, my expectations are very low for him though. We'll see.
The Goodrow situation was a VERY shitty one. Drury fucked that up on both ends. He gave that shitty deal to him and then was also an asshole by waiving him knowing SJ was picking him up. Was it necessary? Yes. Could it have been handled better? Also yes. Goodrow was just overpaid. He wasn’t terrible, but he WAS terrible for the money he was being paid.
Supposedly Zegras has NY as his preferred destination if Verbeek/Anaheim deal him. From what I have seen Verbeek is tough to deal with, so not sure that one happens.
I agree with everything you wrote, except I am not really bothered by waiving him for SJ to claim him, that's business. Sure, Drury could have given him a heads up, but I don't see that as a huge issue. Drury did what needed to be done due to his clear overpayment of Goodrow, we agree on that part for sure. Goodrow was fine in his role, he was simply overpaid by Drury, agreed.
They are looking into moving KK with the 1st to move up. They need higher end C in the system, and maybe a future Fox type. Or maybe they move up and end up trading that pick for a younger cost controlled guy.
I saw the Kakko rumor also. Maybe # 14 with SJ or # 20 with Chicago (that is not high enough IMO). Both teams have two picks in round one.
Moving up in this draft is dumb if you are using Kakko. Using him to take a chance on Zegras makes more sense.
Instead of Kane or Toffoli, I wonder if Drury will look at Bertuzzi. He is bigger, plays a more physical game, and has scored 20 + goals four times in 6 NHL seasons. Coming off of a one-year $5.5M deal, maybe you can get him for $6M per +/-, and he won't turn 30 until Feb 24th. He might be a very good fit with Kreider and Zibanejad.
i would love Bertuzzi. Can score, play on top 2 lines and is a pesky mofo with good size. obvious concern would be how much and how many years. At 29yo you don’t want him on an 8yr deal or something stupid.
If Kakko is gone Kane is an upgrade but I would still make signing Guentzel my priority if I'm Drury. Move Chytil and his $4.5 while you're at it Chris.
I was thinking 4 or 5 years, at $6M per +/-. My guess is he makes too much sense, and the star gazing Rangers would rather a bigger name like Kane or even Toffoli. But I think Bertuzzi would be almost a perfect fit for what the Rangers lack.
I think Guentzel is a pipe dream for the Rangers. He is going to get over $8.5M per, and 7 years, I just don't see that contract fitting with the Rangers. I think Bertuzzi is the perfect target that fits the need and the budget.
