AWESOME trade. Staal is a perfect fit here, and honestly we didn't give up much. Not surprised we got it done as I said this AM. When you decide to keep Yandle knowing he walks for nothing this summer, that means you go all in to win. You don't keep Yandle and say okay now let's middle road it upfront. Deal that had to be made AND honestly we didn't give up much IMO. I never thought we'd have to give a 1st and I never thought we'd have to give a top prospect like Skjei or Buch. Great job Gorton.
They had to give up something to get him. Does it put them over the top?? I dont think any team puts a team over the top...except maybe for Vermette last year (lol)
Staal/Step/Nash Miller/Brass/Zucc Kreider/Hayes/Stalberg Glass/Lindberg/Moore/Fast Those lines are SC worthy for sure. Maybe flop Kreider and Miller. Maybe flop Fast and Stalberg, but overall those lines are deep and talented. Mc/G Staal/Boyle Yandle/Klein Hank in goal. That is a SC level team. And assuming we can get by the Isles in round one, will not be easy because the Isles will sell their soles to win that series, wow what a 2nd round series that will be against the Caps. Move that had to be made. Staal is a perfect fit. Checks many of the boxes we needed checked. Let's get it on.
The NHL playoffs are what they are. This isn't the NBA where you can predict the winners before the playoffs even start. All you can do in the NHL is put yourself in the best position possible to be a good deep team, and then hope things go your way. And by adding Staal, a must add in terms of a forward upgrade, we are in that small group of legit SC threats. Will we win the cup...no clue because the NHL playoffs are so tight. Do we have a much better chance with Staal added...hell yes IMO. All we can ask for.
That's why we have McIlrath as well. And who knows...maybe we add a depth dman also. Still time left. Those lines are deep and legit. We have all the pieces to make a long run. Who knows if we do it because we have the Isles and Caps in round one and two respectively, but we are a good deep team. We'll see how it goes.
That might be one of the worst trades in the history of the organization. Saarela is currently producing at almost the same age as the two fins projected to go 2nd and 3rd in this draft and he's winning 57% of his draws. Another crippling trade but a fucking stupid organization that has 1 cup in 74 years.
You better hope this team does not win the cup dump...LOL. You bailed months ago, as the team still sits in 2nd place in the Met and the East. Now we add Staal as well. For your sake hopefully they don't win a cup....
1:59PM: The Rangers will have $497,863 in cap space to make another move tomorrow. (General Fanager) 1:54PM: Staal was only willing to waive to come to the Rangers. (Lavoie) 1:51PM: Carolina will retain 50% of Staal's contract. (Friedman)
I would focus on a depth dman OR a 4th line PK type. I think the depth dman is the bigger focus if I could make one more move. I knew the Canes would never get this huge haul for Staal. No shot as a rental and a full NTC. That is why Gorton was able to get him for a very reasonable price of no 1st and no top prospect. A couple of 2nd's and a solid but not top prospect got it done.
Just another example this dumb fuck organization is turning back into the retards they were in the late 90's and early 20's when they thought they could win a title with older fucks on the decline.
I knew it dump is gonna lose it when he sees Saarela is gone. We love hank but once he leaves, the team will be garbage for like a decade...LOL
2016 and 2017 2nd's. So a later 2nd in 2016. And unless we fall apart, it will be a later 2nd in 2017 as well.
That's reality Step. When you have a world class goalie about to be 34 you focus on winning now. That's how it works. You got to focus on now. Now I agreed 100% with dump...NO 1st ROUNDER SHOULD BE DEALT, and we didn't deal a 1st. We dealt a couple of late 2nd's. We also didn't deal Skjei OR Buch OR the top goalie prospects OR Graves OR a few of the other guys you all loved. I just don't see how this isn't a great deal for us. And I really think we make a big push to resign Staal. Once we decided to keep Yandle knowing he was walking this summer, a deal like this was a must as I said this AM. Only logical thing to do.
I like it as well. But I understand why Dump and others don't. We have lost a lot of youth lately. But picks are picks and 2 2nds and prospect who isn't in our top 3 isn't bad for a player who has been great is big and physical and is only 31. This is now a top 5 team in NHL going into playoffs. Small move coming to help PK. Let's see where the chips fall.
Maybe they will trade Hayes for McGinn who is a UFA and get back the boat load of draft picks the Sabres have.
