Should Gorton scratch this season, commit to a one year rebuild

I agree with you Mess. I doubt Hayes or Kreider get these long term big money deals as of today, but they will both get more than this year I'd think. So I do think there is a legit question about what you do with them.

On Nash, I agree and it is what it is. I don't see it changing, but I simply do not seeing us dealing him. We would have to take back less value than what he is worth on the ice IMO. Now maybe you can say it would be worth it to get rid of his cap hit, sure we would have to take some contract back which will offset some of the Nash savings, but I don't see the Rangers doing it. I think Nash will be here. That is my opinion and I clearly could be wrong, but my money is on Nash being here through this season at least, and most likely longer than that.

 

The problem is the core on this team can't get IT done

 

Who do you consider CORE on this team?
Girardi, McDonagh, Stepan, Nash, Zuccarello, Brassard, Staal ?

Our CORE is definitely not on the high end!

 

Add Hank as well of course. And the reason it isn't good enough is we lack the stud scorer. That is where Nash has let us down. That is what we thought we were acquiring when we dealt for Nash, but it hasn't worked out in the playoffs.

Still...with that said...we did make a SCF and an ECF with Nash...so we had our runs...and still can. We just need some extra firepower upfront.

Maybe if Buch comes over in February and we can deal a dman for a forward that will be enough. We do that Hayes/Kreider can wake the F up this team can still make a run...I truly believe that.

 

Girardi and Staal are not part of the core anymore, by a longshot. They're part of the, what's the word i'm looking for, i don't know, deterioration?

 

As usual when discussing the D 71 you have ZERO objectivity and it has been that way for years.

And even if you think they stink, which you have thought for years, they are still part of the core. Being good or bad isn't the deciding factor about core or not, it is their contracts and how they are viewed by the management/coach. Girardi and Staal both wear A's...they are both held in very high regard by the coach...they both have long term contracts with NTC's...whether you like it or not clearly they are considered part of the core for this team.

 

You also need to factor in Keith on D...total stud on a huge discount deal (lower cap hit than Staal same as Girardi).

And up until this season the cap hits for Kane and Toews were both 6.3 mill, which is 4.2 less per or 8.4 less combined. Let's see how long they can sustain their success with those huge cap numbers. The cap hits for Crosby and Malkin were 8.7 mill each up until last season when Malkin jumped to 9.5 mill.

And they also got Hossa signed to a now not allowed deal under the new CBA that has only a 5.23 cap hit. And Seabrook's cap number goes up to 6.875 after this season.

So I am not saying there aren't elements we can take to use as a guide when working with a cap, but for us I don't think it is really apples to apples. And let's see what they do with Kane and Toews with huge cap hits now.

Personally I think the Hawks biggest advantage has been getting Hossa to sign under the old CBA, getting Kane and Towes to take very team friendly deals up until this season, and getting Keith to sign a ridiculously cap friendly deal. Now that Kane and Towes and Seabrook are all getting raises, and big raises for K&T, let's see if they can still sustain their success.

But I do agree there are elements we (or any team for that matter) can take from the Hawks with regards to cap management. Maybe it is working with your players to get them to take less to win. Maybe it is playing hardball a little more to get better cap hits...worked with Zucc.

So I do agree that the Hawks are a model the league should follow...I just don't know if it can be replicated though outside of being more frugal with your deals.

 

I also really wonder if our model, huge cap hit goalie and big cap hit dmen, is a winning model. If you look now I think it is fair to wonder if we have too much money tied up in our D and goalie, and we don't have enough money to spend on our forwards.

Not sure, but it is fair to wonder that I think.

Hank is absolutely worth the cap hit he has...but do you need an 8.5 mill per cap hit goalie to win? Is it a winning formula to have a goalie with that big of a cap hit?

Fair questions I think. Not sure of the answers.