The Rangers seem to make trades nobody sees coming. I never saw Zibanejad for Brassard. I'm thinking Stepan might go for Bennett on the Flames. They have two really good centers and they have a good team. Stepan might put them into a position where they can make a deep run. Bennett is coming off a down year. He's only 20. I think Stepan and Klein for Bennett and a second up might be something that seriously interests the Flames. That greatly improves their team for next year. It gives the Rangers an interesting young player to plug in and try to develop. I suggested this trade on another board. Nash and Raanta for Roussel and Nichushkin and a second. Russians love NY. I think Nichushkin makes his way here. He clearly has no interest playing in Dallas. Rangers have the best goalie coach in the world. They will develop another backup.
I should be the GM. Stepan would have been gone before the start of this year. So would have Klein and Staal. Three players that killed us in the post season. Klein was so bad he didn't play.
Dump, the guy we need is Trouba who fits our team like a glove. What do you think we need to give up to make that trade? He is definitely available.
Well they would first ask for Skjei which I wouldn't do. The forward crop in the minors other than Gropp is either thin or not developed yet. So you can't go giving up forward prospects or cheap forwards on the roster unless you get some back in trades. Little is a FA for them next year who will be 30. I don't see them signing him or him wanting to sign. They have a fabulous young talented winger in Kyle Connor. Stepan would be a great fit to develop the kid and give them a nice one two punch at center with Scheifele. So, I see them having a lot of interest in Stepan. That would then free them up to move Little for a defenseman. He should easily be trade-able with one year on his deal at 5 million. They probably would want a vet righty back like Klein. I have to think they want a talented righty defenseman prospect like Zboroskiy. I think he would be a must have for them. Their goalie situation sucks and always has. They will ask for Shesterkin which will be denied. Probably will pick one of Halverson, Wall or Huska. Which one they like best. Stepan, Zboroskiy, Halverson, Klein for Trouba and say a 3rd Tough to give up Zoborskiy but I have to do that deal since this team might make a run if Trouba can up his game another level.
It's easy to play message board GM where you can just snap your fingers and players would be gone. Everyone seems to think no other GM in the league sees or knows about the struggles of some of their players. The idea and what nobody ever wants to do is move some of their guys when their value is at their highest. They always want to wait until not only a decline but a splat at the bottom of the mountain. They went high with Brassard off a 27 goal season and got something younger and hopefully better in return. Staal and Klein both fell off the mountain and splattered. Staal now skates like he's in cement and when I saw him on his hands and knees helpless while Ottawa tied game five that was the last straw. I would keep Girardi around as long as Staal is out. He has to be because he has become more of a liability than anyone out there. Stepan also needs to go and this teams needs a number one center badly. How somebody who can't win a face off and is bad with the puck became this teams number one I have no idea.
One again you are thinking like a fan. GM's don't look at players struggling on a team as their value being diminished. They look at the back of their hockey card first to see the track record. Second, they look at their teams system and their coach and determine if that player would fit better on their team. AV wants to play a run and gun, speed game. Obviously, Stepan, Staal and Klein aren't going to flourish in that system. Lots of teams don't play that style. They actually care about keeping the puck out of their net. Thus, those guys would fit those systems better.
Also, people act like Staal and Girardi used to be better skaters. No they weren't. They skate the same now as they did 8 years ago. They were never good skaters. I saw Girardi and Staal get beat to the outside 8 years ago just like I do now. The difference was they played in a defensive system where the team basically gave up nothing other than those one on one matches they might lose to the other teams forwards. Also, Hank was younger, quicker and his pads were bigger. AV keeps going to a more run and gun, all speed system. Every year he gets worse with it. Years ago Girardi and Staal might get beat to the outside for a couple goals in the game. Difference was the rest of the game the Rangers wouldn't let up any goals and win 3-2. Now they lose games 4-3, 5-4, 6-5. You could put Staal on Ottawa and he would be a huge upgrade for them. Their defenseman other than two are rejects. Even in that all defense system they play, those guys still suck half the time.
I honestly don't know where Staal would flourish. The guy looks done to me and is a concussion away anyway. Watching him struggle mightily to skate back and on his hands and knees in the crease against Ottawa was pathetic. Klein's injuries caught up to him as he was very banged up the last few years. Still has trade value though with a contract that has a year left and is reasonable. Does it really matter what they move it for if they can? He wasn't playing anyway and you open a roster spot for Graves or somebody else. Don't want to rewrite history with Stepan. His regular season numbers were in line and he wasn't the only one to have a terrible playoffs. Has scored some big goals for this team over the years and was part of the wars but isn't a number one center. The Rangers can't be sentimental here and if he right deal can be made they have to take it.
Girardi and Staal also accumulated a lot of miles and got heavily banged up. Also, of course everyone is going to get older and not be what they once were. That being said Staal was just plain bad. Girardi sure wasn't perfect but he did play a decent playoffs while Staal to me was useless. Build up the defense around Hank and if that's done with Graves and the kid they signed from the KHL then that's fine. If you believe in the stats they say that Hank faced more high danger shots than anyone else. If that could be rectified he's obviously still good enough and has some years left to be able to carry the team.
There's something floating out there that we may have signed a Czech dman named Radim Simek who's 24 and a pretty solid offensive type. His coach is coming over for development camp apparently.
Is it me or is every UFA signing with the Rangers? Sure seems like it. The Pack need a complete overhaul starting with their crap coach.
It is no secret for those who follow hockey that the Rangers' top farm team, Hartford Whalers, was the worst team in the American Hockey League and, for that matter, in all of AAA hockey leagues. Poor administration down to inept player talent, this organization definitely needs an overhaul. Rangers, too, will need an infiltration of better talent. And with the addition of Las Vegas team, Rangers will lose players. Who? Who knows. This organization needs better talent and toughness. Too much favoritism for my liking.
Yes. I think with some of the signings and a second year for many players down there they will be a lot better. Coach sucks IMO and they need a change.
^^^^disagree 71 ........Schoenfeld on the parent club would be a joke. If he was incompetent on the minor league level, on what planet would he have success on a major league level? That's like rewarding an individual for being a failure.
