Jack Eichel back...are there any former Rangers on the Sabres? Should be a good game, some young talent on Buffalo.
Eichel is a beast. Wish we had him. Like I said a week ago. Every 2 points we get with get with Zibanejad out as well as Buchnevich it is a good thing. I underestimated Buchnevich. He's very creative. However, like most of us said. He's a beanpole. He needs to get much stronger.
This defense is just brutal. Zibanejad or not. If this d does not get upgraded, the playoff run will end rather quickly in the spring.
Sabres led by Eichel beat Rangers 4-3 in regulation. Rangers could not get out of their zone in a hectic 3rd period. Ranger D is this team's Achilles heel.
I think Klein is going to be dealt on his way with a forward or forwards they don't want to protect but have to, for another defenseman. Lindberg clearly is on his way out. Shame. I think Lindberg would have been a dynamite 4th line center but AV has his head up his ass with certain players. Maybe they can get Tanev. Vancouver blows. Perhaps if you package Klein, Lindberg and a goalie prospect in college like Wall or Huska, you might get that done. I wouldn't offer a ton for Tanev. He's an upgrade over Klein the way Klein has played however not a big upgrade over Klein when he plays like he's capable of playing.
Lindberg is in trouble. He had BILATERAL hip labrum surgery. Usually one of those is enough to set you back a year, but two, at the same time, is almost unheard of. He had a very awkward skating stride that let to significant hip stress, and has had to learn a new, less stressful stride. He has been a step slower ever since coming back, and I doubt he'll be able to be much of a contributor this year. He needs an entire offseason to re-strengthen and readjust to his new skating motion. I hope he gets that chance with us but he very well may not. And given those problems Im not sure what the trade market will be for him. I wanted to sell high on Klein last year when he was playing well defensively but also scoring at a very impressive pace. We sat on him and are now in trouble on the right side with the way he's playing. We're lucky he has a friendly contract which gives him some value around the league.
The biggest trading chips in the system are any goalie not named Shesterkin. Kovacs. Zborovskiy. On the roster I would say Klein would have value and is a guy they could move. Potentially Lindberg as well as Jooris. Graves isn't going anywhere. They love him. I would probably say Day isn't going anywhere. Goalie would be where they would trade fromi.
Do you have any interest in Shattenkirk? I dont recall your stance on him. Right handed D man who can move the puck and gets on the scoreboard, especially on the PP. Better defensively than Yandle (who I still think got a raw deal from some but that's an argument for another day). He's having another great season. Yes we can likely sign him this offseason but this forward group can win if we just get the back end in order. McDonagh-Girardi Staal-Shattenkirk Skjei-Holden not awful.
Shattenkirk is a die hard Rangers fan. The entire league knows it. Knows he will sign as a UFA next year with NY. So, to me that is a done deal. So why give up anything for him. It's also why I think the Rangers will attempt to package Klein with some players for a guy like Tanev or Stone on defense. So they can have two righty defenseman in their primes going forward the next 4-5 years. Rangers also need to start putting some emphasis on drafting right handed defenseman higher in the draft. For whatever reason, AV spat on McIlrath which is funny since Klein blows now. Girardi is ancient and Clendening is clueless defensively.
