He may end up there in time but, Quinn is likely thinking he doesn't need to make changes to the top two lines right now. They are obviously clicking well.
If we win next two games, we shouldn't be sellers. Maybe not buyers, but most certainly should not sell anyone, even Fast. If we are 9 points above .500, the team should stay as is IMO. If Fast helps us make playoffs, that worth more in a long run than 2nd or 3rd round pick, which has a greater probability of not working out, ending up being a waste anyway. I figure 14 above .500 gets you into the playoffs. The team is on the rise and is hot right now. To dismantle the team right now brings loser philosophy, and unfair to the players. Two years of selling is suffice. Plus they have enough picks and assets at this point to build a good long lasting Stanley Cup team in a few years. We don't need anymore. If we go by Boston model, they were sellers for 3 years in a row, but they still came in 9th in the conference, very close to playoffs with 90+ points every year. That thinking carries over from year to year. I don't us to become Edmonton.
Agree if we beat the Canes which we almost always do, have to go for it. It's great experience for the kids playing high intensity games like this down the stretch. Fast has to go though. He's a UFA. You can't lose him for nothing plus the kid Gauthier they just got should be on the first line. His upside is tremendous. Fast won't be the factor that gets us in the playoffs. Kreider to me is a guy they will sign. Fast has been an excellent Ranger. He's not needed here. Barron is coming and we have lots of role players.
If Gauthier can kill penalties as effectively as Fast then I agree with you. Can he? I read he did kill penalties in the AHL, but is he good at that. Fast is our best penalty killer and our PK is finally decent after two years of struggle. Perhaps we keep him for PK purposes? I agree, Fast on second line is crazy. Fast waste golden opportunities that Panarin passes due to inability to play on Panarin's level. On the other hand, it says a lot about Panarin that he continue to pass knowing Fast sucks.
Our PK unit is 18th. Hardly anything to get excited about. Our PP is 7th. That is good. I'm pretty sure Gorton will make a couple deals to get in a physcial, PK role player at the deadline to replace him if he has to.
Ondre Kase goes to Boston for their 1st and Backes so i don't see how they'll be able to deal for Kreider now. Could be Colorado or StL or bust.
Boston despite their dumbass fans got ripped off. You don't offer up your first just to dump Backes and get back a role player like Kase. Doing dumb crap like that is how we got in a position where we needed to rebuild.
Kase is damaged goods with the concussions. Gorton not taking the shit sakic and the blues offering. Kreids is going nowhere and if they sign him tmo which I suspect they will maybe he skates onto the ice wearing the C.
Zibanejad is now playing at a superstar level like Panarin. His faceoff percentage has dropped this year though.
Kreids signs today and skates on to the ice tonight with the C sewn on his chest. If gorts trades him now the way they’re playing it’ll kill the locker room and I think he’s too smart to do that. Big garden party tonight as we catch and eat some sharks
Pretty sure the Rangers aren't going back to an official Captain any time soon. Also feeling confident Kreider is staying with the Rangers. The Rangers asking price is (rightfully) too high for teams that are still in the market.
We are at a pivotal moment now. Gorton/JD have to be smart here. Our playoff odds are like 30%, and if we slip in we'll most likely play the Bruins in the 1st round. Odds of us winning that series would be slim. Now I would agree it would be good experience for the kids to get into the playoffs, and worst case play meaningful games down the stretch even if we do come up a bit short. With that said we absolutely cannot let that derail what could be a special team for years to come hopefully starting next year, and worst case the year after and beyond I believe. If we can get a 2nd or a solid prospect for Fast, we have to deal him. If we cannot resign Kreider for a reasonable 5 or 6 year 6 to 6.5 per deal by the DL, we have to deal him. After the trade DL all the leverage goes to Kreider. We either risk losing him for nothing this summer, or we potentially have to give him a huge 7 mill plus deal. At this point both sides should know where negotiations stand, and if they want to get it done, they can and will by the DL. If not we have to deal him. It would be crazy of Gorton/JD to not deal him, and not have a new deal in place before Monday. This is where Gorton/JD cannot be sucked in. I have enjoyed watching the team the past few weeks. I have even turned a bit on Kreider, I would resign him if he is willing to be a little flexible and resign for 5 or 6 years and 6 to 6.5 per tops, but if he is looking for a 7 mill + deal for 6 or 7 years, we have to deal him. It is the only logical move. He either resigns by the DL or we must trade him. It will be a very interesting few days here, and I do not think Gorton/JD should do anything to derail next season and beyond. Be smart guys. Do not lose focus on the big picture goal and go for short term gratification.
With Reimer and possibly Mrazek out for awhile you'd have to think Carolina will be considering AG in the next few days. They have 2 1sts and 2 2nds this year, plus a solid forward prospect in Bokk. I could see a Kreider deal coming in Monday at 6/40m.
I just don't think they are dealing Georgiev. If Shesterkin ever went down they would be screwed. Hank is pretty much in retirement now. Shesterkin stole that game yesterday. That is why Hank did when he was younger. I also don't think they want Georgiev in the conference if they did ever deal him. At this point I don't think they are dealing any players who are really helping them win. That includes Fast. If anything, the re-sign Fast and then deal him for more in the off-season. This run has basically put a hold on selling. As far as Boston goes. I'm not impressed. They are a PP and one line team. Shut that line down and they don't win. They are also hot heads. We now have players on our team that clearly get under their skin. Rare a team makes back to back long runs. Boston had their chance last year. They blew it. Shesterkin like Hank is the great equalizer. I would think Tampa has to answer for that disaster of of last year and go on a huge run. Otherwise, they are breaking that team up.
I don't think moving Skjei and bringing up a Rykov or Hajek is going to be that much of a blow to the team. No interest in having Skjei's NTC kicking in next year. Simply put, we have cheap, replacement options for him. Essentially Kreider at 6.6 would be a 2 million raise from where he is now. So people saying we don't have cap room for him are fn stupid and don't look at all the team contracts. The key is Hank retiring or being bought out and moving one player like Skjei. Basically, TDA is going to get Skjei's contract if you move him. You buy Smith out if you can't find somebody stupid enough to take him. You might if you attach a prospect with him. The problem will be Strome. I'm not giving him more than 5 million a year. His offense is mostly a product of Panarin. He plays well with him but he's not worth more than 5 million. Trouba's contract is a nightmare. Wouldn't shock me to see him moved before 4 years of his NMC kicks in. I get the sense that whatever the move JD and Gorton make, it won't be something that people see coming. Only thing I do know is that they are signing Kreider. His chemistry with Zibanejad is rare. You don't find that very often.
Brooks article is spot on today. There are two options for Kreider, sign him by tomorrow or he must be traded. There is no middle ground. Please do not be shortsighted and lose focus Gorton. As for Fast, there is a little more wiggle room given his trade return won't be a huge impact anyway. If we can get a 2nd or solid prospect I deal him. If it's a 3rd I think I pass and hold him for vet leadership given a 3rd rounder is at best a crapshoot anyway, with low odds to be an NHL player. Then he walks this summer. Do not be stupid Gorton. Reasonable contract or trade for Kreider.
JD and Gorton sit in the drivers seat, every game the Rangers win lessens their urgency to make a deal. 70 points with 21 games left has them right in the hunt. I think JD knows what a rare player the Rangers have in CK and anticipate them resigning him in the $7-$8 range. If they trade CK it would have to be a ridiculously lopsided deal in the Rangers favor but the odds of resigning him will be slim as he'll get ridiculous offers in free agency. It's just nice to see playoff implications after 2 years of crap.
