Yeah...but you just painted a picture where Staal gets moved. That is the only shot. I feel pretty confident that no way is Yandle here with Staal and G and McD. That's the point...and honestly I wouldn't want that anyway. That would be a terrible way to build a team. That's like 22 mill plus tied up in 4 dmen. Doesn't even count Klein. And an 8.5 mill goalie. Again, I know fans complicate things, but this is simple as it always has been...Staal or Yandle cannot be here long term...and with Staal signed and Yandle not he is the odd man out it appears. And McIlrath takes Boyle's spot. Skjei would be odd man out if Yandle and Staal and McD are all here...which will not happen.
It isn't simply can we find money, you actually need to build a well balanced team...and having all that money tied up in the D and goalie is far from balanced. I simply cannot see that happening. Much better shot they let Yandle play through the season here and walk then sign him long term with all those other dmen signed already...unless they can deal a dman...then the dynamic changes.
Chuck where we disagree is with you saying Yandle isn't a difference maker. He has the talent and ability to make game changing plays, and he's done so several times already. He out produces every other dman while getting less ice time and it would be a huge, huge blow to lose him. There are no reasonable replacements for his offensive skill, especially with Boyle leaving after this year. I also don't know if I believe these reports that he "doesn't want to sign here." It's one thing to say you want to test FA but I'm not sure I remember a player saying they flat out will not sign with their current team. I want to see that reported elsewhere before I buy into it completely. But if it's true and he will not sign there, we absolutely have to trade him. If it's not true, it will still be very risky to hold him and not trade him. Gorton will have to find a way to dump Staal in the offseason, which is no guarantee but may be more likely once the Staal situation in CAR is figured out. It's a calculated risk. The failure was not having this figured out by now. There should have been a plan in place from day 1 to figure out how to keep Yandle on this team.
Either way I see he is a good player and an important player for the team. So whether I think he is a "difference maker" or not I don't think matters. I know he is an important part of the team, so no disagreement there. As for the 2nd part, yeah that is all rumor non-sense BS...who knows what Yandle wants. I don't even factor some rumored comments into my thinking...none of us know for sure. All of that is nice, but doesn't change the simple question you need to be asking Prod...do you keep him at the DL and simply let him walk for nothing this summer. I really think that is the bottom line question you and Gorton need to be asking and answering. The rest is fluff noise I think. Knowing that Staal has a NTC, knowing that even if we deal Staal it would be a risk on some level to know if we will resign Yandle for sure this summer, and believing the Rangers don't really want to deal Staal anyway (that is speculation on my part but I have never heard one comment or rumor or anything that they want to move Staal or G) I would deal Yandle this season and get some value back. I think we can flip him for a good forward upgrade (again speculation but players like Yandle are valuable to teams looking to make a run). Reading between the lines on your post I kind of think you feel the same way as I do (cannot let him walk for nothing). Maybe your opinion would be keep him and let it play out this summer. Meaning see if we can deal Staal this summer to resign Yandle. If that is your take, I get that POV for sure, but I would not do that...simply too risky for me. A lot of moving parts to hope all come together. Staal waives his NTC, we find a taker for Staal, Yandle resigns. A lot of faith we can pull all that off...and the downside is he walks for nothing. I wouldn't go that route unless I knew for 100% sure by the DL that was all in place, which I think is highly unlikely because you are basically telling Staal you are dealing him after the season, but I 100% respect someone if they feel that is the way to play. There is no right or wrong answer...simply us giving our opinions on how we would play it with Yandle.
If they're serious about going for the cup, which i'm sure they are, they need to acquire a forward outside of dealing Yandle, as they need both. Use an rfa forward plus a pick/prospect to a rebuilding team looking to move a ufa. It wouldn't really be gaining by trading Yandle simply for another roster player, as you're now weakening the D.
I think this is also still a little premature. Let's see where we are at the deadline before we say we have to trade him. What if we rattle of 12 straight wins and play lights out? What if Gorton is able to fleece somebody out of nowhere and get an impact forward here without having to trade Yandle? What if we get a guy like Ladd for just futures? Still saying not worth the risk, trade him? If when the time comes we are where we are now, and that's playing uninspiring hockey while coasting along in the 2nd or 3rd spot in the met, and no true impact guy is coming, I think at the end of the day we'll have to trade him. And depending what we're able to get back it will be one of the worst asset management failures I can remember for this front office.
Exactly, it makes little sense moving him if you're not out of a playoff spot, which they most likely won't be in another month.
a LOT can happen between now and end of Feb so our needs may be a lot different. We may go on a tear and will be buyers and go for it, or we may tank and blow up the ship, who knows. Also, keeping Yandle at the DL does not mean he's going to be gone for nothing in the offseason, so that is not "the question to ask". We can keep him at the DL AND keep him long term if the GM can do some maneuvering and trade other assets.
From where we are right now, unless i see a direct quote from Yandle or his agent saying "we will not resign in NY" then Yandle is a keeper and you do what you can to keep him here long term, both because of his ability (frequent top-10 scoring D in the league before coming here) and because of what we gave up for him.
The risk is there 31...that's the point as I just laid out. I personally would not take that risk, unless like I said yesterday we are rolling and truly a top SC threat...then maybe you take it. If we are not it is a very low % play to keep him and expect you can move Staal or Girardi, both of whom the Rangers have shown no interest in moving up to this point. AND they would have to get one of them to waive their NTC. AND they would have to find a taker to move one. That is way too risky and too many moving parts for my liking. Again simply my opinion. So yeah I do think that is the question, because unless the Rangers can deal a dman no shot Yandle is back...and honestly thank god for that. No way I want even more money tied up in the D and goalie. We cannot afford to have another big ticket dman.
And your comment you do what you can to keep him here long term equals you must find a way to move Girardi or preferably Staal since he is also a L shot. It is that simple. There is no other move. It must be one of those two in order to have a balanced team IMO. You cannot have G, McD, Staal, and Yandle all signed long term for 22 mill +/-...that would be crazy. And an 8.5 mill goalie....meaning goalie and 4 dmen make over 30 mill on the cap. Cannot do that IMO. Double so when Staal and G are not stud dmen as we all say in here. And BTW...I am with you 100% 31. I would love to move Staal to keep Yandle...all day.
I'm not trying to be funny or disparaging, but maybe Staal is suffering from concussion aftereffects still and decides to retire after the season. Better shot at the powerball, i know.
that would be the worst thing that could happen to the franchise. There would be record trades and coach firings in a season and there would never be any continuity. Let's hope no one on this board who wants to buy the team ever wins the PB.
I think this article is spot on http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/a..._rangers_wasted_keith_yandle/s1_8405_20169163 It is true. He doesn't want to sign here and I don't blame him. Please fire AV.
2009, good article on AV's usage of Yandle. In my opinion this has been his worst coaching decision, even worse than playing Glass every day. Yandle is being completely misused and there must be huge disconnect between AV and the front office. Why do we pay such a premium for this guy if the coach doesnt plan to use him? Regarding him not wanting to sign here: still not sure. I see why he wouldnt want to (see above), but for what it's worth, Yandle was quoted in the post just two days ago saying he likes it here and it has been a good fit: On the rumors: "If a team wants you, that’s a good thing. If you’re being talked about, that’s a good thing. But my sole focus is helping this team win. I love being here, I love playing for the Rangers. It’s a good fit for me. Just looking to see where it goes." Is he just talking nonsense and giving reports what they want? Maybe. But it also could have been a tactic by Yandle's agent to leak that out. Guys like McKenzie havent reported it and until I see it from guys like him I dont think I believe it. I still have faith we can keep this guy.
I don't buy the rumor nonsense either...I am with you there Prod. And I have very little faith we can keep him here because I don't see us being able to move Staal (or Girardi), or even wanting to move them, which I think would be a must to resign Yandle. Is what it is IMO.
