It's time to turn Miller and Fast into a 3rd line center, put hayes on wing and get rid of Stepniak and Glass. Rebuild 4th line which shouldn't be that hard as w already have 4th line center. Either Klien or Stall need to be traded as well. I like them both but we cannot go forward with both of the them on the team, or maybe keep both and trade Boyle. He frustrates me!
I would put CK and Hayes together, nothing wrong with shaking things up a little. CK isn't the only one underperforming, add Zuccarello and Hagelin to the list.
We agree 100% on CK and Zucc. CK and Zucc are the killers. Based on career numbers and what you'd expect from Hags he is not underperforming though. Hags is on pace for 17 goals and 35 points. Guess what he did last season...17 goals and 33 points. Now I fully understand if you and others want/expect more from Hags, but at this point he is what he is...a 3rd line winger who adds speed. If he scores 16 goals +/- and 35 points +/-, we should be pretty content and that is what we should expect at this point. CK and Zucc on the other hand are killers. CK we wanted 25-30...he has 4 right now. Zucc we wanted 55-60 (at least 50) points...he is on pace for 35...with only 4 goals right now...no good.
I do expect more from Hags because his numbers are trending downward, his first season he scored 38 points in 64 games, then 24 points in the shortened 48 game season followed by 33 in 72 games last year. His career numbers are going the wrong way for a guy who has more experience than CK/Zucc and exceptional speed, this year 11 points in 25 games and it's a contract year. Also Hags is a zero physically and marginal at best on defense. I agree CK and Zucc have been disappointing to say the least and I don't know that I would even consider resigning Zucc if I were in Glen's shoes. In my opinion as I've stated before CK needs to be dropped down to the third line with Hayes, bump Hags up to second line to take advantage of his speed with Brassard's passing.
To me, Duclair needs to be put on the top line. Hayes to wing. Kreider to the 3rd line. Glass, Staal, Miller, and Zucc traded for ROR. Glass has to be included. ROR's value has had to drop. He makes a lot and is always greedy with his contract. His numbers are way down this year. I think that offer can get it done. Av's will try to sign Staal and Zucc. If they can't, they will move them for other pieces. It's a lot to give but ultimately it will save us at least 3 million on the cap as Staal and Zucc will probably make over 9 combined. Duclair-O'Reilly-Nash Hagelin-Stepan-St. Louis Kreider-Brassard-Hayes Stempniak-Moore-Fast McDonagh-Girardi J. Moore-Klein Hunwick-Boyle Next year if he's available, I sign Boychuk, trade off Moore and hope St. Louis takes a pay cut. The defense will take a hit this year but the offense will potentially be set for years. Next year you potentially have. Duclair-O'Reilly-Nash Buchnevich-Stepan-St. Louis Kreider-Brassard-Hayes Hagelin-Moore-Fast McDonagh-Girardi Boychuk-Klein Skjei-Boyle
We'll agree to disagree on Hags. To me his numbers are the same as last season, and maybe a very small drop from the prior season. He is essentially on the same pace as last season almost exactly. He is a plus player every season (+5 right now). I view him for what he is. If he scores 16 goals and 35 or so points that's what he is to me. His high is 17 goals last season...he is on pace for 16 right now. His high is 38 points his rookie season...he is on pace for 36 right now. He was a + 10 his 2nd year. A + 8 last year. A + 5 right now. He is a 3rd line winger. And if you wanted to say I expect more, okay that if fair but that's on you expecting a player who is what he is to be more. And even if you wanted more...what is more? 18 goals and 40 points? Basically pretty close to what he is on pace for anyway? I agree 100% on Zucc and CK, they each have 4 goals and Zucc on pace for 35 points, but I don't agree on Hags. He is doing what he does, and exactly what he did last season pretty much. And even if we were to agree he should give us more, we are talking maybe an extra goal or 2 and 3 or 4 extra points...nothing crazy.
Well all the geniuses calling for Kreider to be benched without saying who should take his top 6 minutes can breathe easy, he collided with Hagelin in practice and was helped off the ice.
I hope it is nothing major, even though he has struggled we need Kreider in there and hopefully playing through and getting out of this rut. On the flip side it appears Glass will be back in (AV must be related to Glass I guess). John Moore was paired with Kevin Klein and Tanner Glass was with Dom Moore and Jesper Fast. (NYR) The Rangers PP units were: Dan Boyle, Ryan McDonagh, Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan and Marty St. Louis. (NYR) John Moore, Dan Girardi, Rick Nash, Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello. Tanner Glass is on the ice this at Rangers practice today. (NYR) Glass said that he hopes to play tomorrow against Pitt. Alain Vigneault was heard telling the players not to stand still.
Kreider might learn something sitting in the stands. He should try watching. D. Moore. If Kreider played nearly as hard as Moore, he would be putting up about 60 points a season. Kreider is flat out, a lazy dog on the ice way too many games.
Frankly, I've had it with the excuses for Kreider. Torts is long gone. And spare me the misconduct penalty he got nonsense. What the hell does that have to do with putting the puck in the net?
perhaps AV and Torts saw something ..or lack of something...that warrant sending Kreider to Hartford?
Kreider said in today's paper he can't be worried about scoring or the rest of his game will suffer lol....IMO he should start worrying, the main reason he is here is because of his scoring ability.
