I've always liked CK and thought Torts and AV both gave him a raw deal but perhaps they saw something we fans didn't see. Whether it's immaturity or underperforming his best season was 53 points when he has the tools to be a 60-70 point guy. I think the Rangers can keep him with Namestnikov's $4 mil coming off the books and currently being about $1.2 under the cap. I just don't want to see him walk for nothing if the Rngers don't plan on keeping him ala the fishsticks disaster with Tavares (not saying they're the same player but CK has value). It's a contract year for CK and he does have 2A so I wouldn't call him invisible yet but it's reasonable to say he hasn't played to expectations. .I agree with moving Skjei, he's only 25 and $5.25 for 4 more years doesn't make sense now that Gorton has shored up the defense but is very reasonable for a team looking for help. If only Gorton had dumped Staal last year. Again I ask why the f the numbnuts at NHL scheduling have the Rangers off for 6 days after an electric start. No professional organization knows how to stifle its exposure better than the NHL.
Part of the reason he’s somewhat invisible thus far is that he’s being centered by the slowest forward on the team. Half the time Strome isn’t even in the picture when Kreider gets the puck and moves up ice. Kreider has been most noticeable on the power play and generating a few chances on his own chances with his speed, but he still needs a center who can at least keep up for him to capitalize on those chances. He’s never been a guy who can create consistently solely on his own. Playing with stepan, playing with Z - he needs guys who are able to get him the puck in space and keep defenses honest. Kreider is gone if he doesn’t take a bit of a discount but I truly hope he does. He’s an important player with a rare skill set and will be the backbone of our second line and power play for years. Right now he’s not in an ideal situation. Dump- Lee’s contract is 7m per, not 6. Another ridiculous contract. If Kreider wants that he will have to get it elsewhere.
Yep. Read it wrong. Even dumber. Then, he's not getting more than Lee either. Both his and Hayes contracts are idiotic.
Well, Gorton is cold blooded with players when it comes to contracts. If you don't fit in his plan, you are out. Zucc was loved here but he got the boot. Kreider really seems to love this team. Many of the kids go to train with Kreider in the off-season. I have to believe that he will take a discount. Now, there were rumors he almost got dealt to the Leafs last year. Don't know how valid that is.
I think Gorton was smart not to resign CK over the summer and seeing the free agent moves he made makes it more understandable. He's basically giving Kreider the opportunity to get $7 mil as long as he plays to his potential. The days of Sather rewarding players just for logging games/seasons with the Rangers are gone - time to earn your money boys!
To me the debate is not whether or not the Rangers CAN afford to fit him in, they can if they make some other moves and let people walk even with a ton of dead money next season. So they CAN find a way, I am saying ZERO shot they do keep him if his cap hit starts with a 6 or higher...ZERO. They will have kids to pay in a few years. Other moves to make. You cannot have Kreider on this team making over 6 mill per. And again there is no way in hell the Rangers will do that. As for Hayes...please stop. AGAIN...it only takes one team. I can bump 15 threads where it was said no shot Hayes gets the type of contract he got, yet he got it because of the Flyers. It only takes one team. And there will be at least one team that will pay Kreider over 6 mill per. That contract would be a disaster, and no way the Rangers do that. Only shot he is back is if he takes a contract that starts in the 5's (or a one-year deal for a little more). Mark that one down.
Sorry Fan but if CK plays to his potential and puts up 65-70 points as they used to say on Wayne's World - way. Salaries only go in one direction in the NHL and since his cap hit is $4.623 CK isn't looking for a $400K raise, he's going to easily get $6+. If he's having another low 50's season no doubt Gorton will move him. As far as kids to sign the only other UFA making money next year is Namestnikov at $4 mil. Fast, McKegg and Haley are hardly cap busters. For RFAs next year the Rangers have Georgiev, Strome, Lemieux and Tony D. The following year you have UFAs Hank, Staal and Smith coming off the books leaving plenty of dough for Buch, Howden, Andersson and Hajek so long term cap concerns are completely unfounded. Gorton has done an excellent job cleaning house and freeing up money for the future.
Agree. The young kids won't paid for a long, long, time. Zibanejad is on a nice contract for a long time. Staal and Smith along with Hank come off the books next year. There is plenty of money to sign Kreider at 6.3 or around there. His discount doesn't need to be that much. Skjei is a guy you can easily move any time you feel a prospect can take his place.
1. Kreider has maxed out at 53 points in his career (scored over 50 twice). He is not all of the sudden scoring 65-70 points. 2. Again, I am not saying the Rangers cannot find a way to fit him in at over 6 mill per, I am saying NO SHOT they would sign him for that much. Please understand the difference. They will not do that, and rightfully so. We'll have kids to pay in a few years. 3. Again, I absolutely 100% agree someone WILL give him a contract in the 6's or higher per year. I just know it will not be the Rangers. But yes a team will absolutely give him that type of deal panzer, I agree as I wrote earlier.
Rangers will sign Kreider as they realize that Skjei is not worth his contract with what they have waiting to replace him.
There is no chance the rangers are not signing kreids. They’ll have plenty of Money after trading namestikov tonight and those of you saying he’s been invisible I counted 4 breakaways in those 2 games skating past the defense with his speed. His presence in front of the net is top 2 in the league on the PP. right now he is playing with strome who is a stiff at center and slow as shit. He played hurt the end of last season when most guys would ha e sat out. Also, you need someone that can play with kakko and protect him from the inevitable runs guys like ovechkin will take at him. Kreids doesn’t fight much be cause he doesn’t have to. No one wants any part of him. When the nonsense starts and he skates into the play all the shit stops. No way the rangers are not resigning him as the players look up to him and a noticeable drop off on the team when he is out. If you think he’s only getting 5 chuck your Drunk. He’ll be I’m the 6.5 range Somewhere. For my money they already Moved namestikov and can get rid of skjei anytime.
We'll see...no point in debating right now. I see no way the Rangers re-sign the disappearing man for over 6 mill per on a long term deal, but time will tell. And again, it is not about whether or not they have the money/can afford him, that is not up for debate...they can make it work if they want to, I just don't think they do at that price or he'd be re-signed already.
I think they'll wait until Feb to see how both the team and he are doing, which they could hold over him for his $$ if he has 18g. If not then deal him for a mid-late 1st.
Just another 3 and a half days until their third game....horrible schedule-making. Also, there are two other teams (Phi, Chi) that have only played one game so far but, of course they opened their seasons in Czech Republic. As much as I love hockey the NHL execs are absolute boneheads.
