Fixing the team next year ideas

First thing I would do is talk to some of the young guys. I'd tell Lafreniere and Miller take boxing lessons. Both of them need to play a lot more nasty hockey and need to be physical. Especially Miller. Barron same thing though he did want to go with Oshie. I doubt he's had much experience in that role. Second thing I'd do is trade Buchnevich. I start liking his game but then I watch him when games get physical and he just uses his stick and takes dumb penalties and essentially disappears. On another team more physical already he would be OK. I'm not sure about Chytil. He's really soft. He needs a talking to as well. He's another guy that needs boxing lessons and has to be more physical. I would go for a guy like Evander Kane. He's tough with skill. He makes 7 million a season but let's face it, Buchnevich will want close to that. You have pieces like Jones and Reunanen who you can send over there with Buchnevich for Kane and probably get back a second rounder as well. San Jose blows. They need more young, cheap, talent. Kane would fix a good amount of the toughness issue. This is not a difficult get for the Rangers with their farm. Kane can also play on one of the top 2 lines and you might even get San Jose to retain some of his salary. Third, I'd pick up Lucic at half retained which should be easy. Calgary sucks and is void of young talent. Lucic can play on the third line. I'd send back Howden and a prospect like Gettinger. Again, you probably can get back a pick with Lucic. These moves are not difficult and they are the kind of moves Gorton refused to make. Thus why he got his ass fired.

 

I am not going to get into a bunch of names we have no clue are available. What I will say is we need a top C added, and some North-South tough gritty players added. That has to be the focus to supplement Kakko, Lafreniere, Kravtsov, Miller, Fox, Schneider.

Buch should go, but not for the reasons you mentioned. He should go because he will want 6 mill per +/-, and we cannot pay him that as another finesse winger. He has to be dealt IMO.

Chytil is a we'll see, he may have to be included in a C package. Other kids and Strome will have to go also (too many kids, cannot pay or play them all).

We'll see how it goes, but rebuild over, that much is clear.

 

Speculating on potential targets and analyzing fits and availability is half the fun of being on a message board. More than one of us identified Trouba as someone who fit a need and could be available before JG brought him in.

Buchnevich is the odd man out much the way Hagelin was. Kreider signing put him on the hot seat, but winning the lottery for a winger sealed his fate. I like the player but he has to go, to fill holes elsewhere and save cap.

The big decision will be Zibanejad. If Eichel is the target and it costs us extending Zib we need to find another 2 way top 6 C. That isnt Eichel’s game right now. Could become that some day, much the way Zib grew into that. But Eichel isnt that player right now. Not sure Eichel is the right move for that reason but depends how Drury compliments that move.

Trocheck was was brought up here several times last deadline. He is a bit undersized but he plays tough, he hits and shoots, and has fit in seamlessly on a very good CAR team as the 2C. It was a very good move for them. Thats the type of player we need down the middle. More I think about it Monahan isnt really that guy. Lindholm would be the better target if we are looking at CGY. Eichel-Lindholm down the middle is very solid and complimentary.

E. Kane would be a very good target, though has a reputation as an asshole in the locker room. Asshole on the ice is one thing, in the room is another. I believe Byfuglien and Ladd quite literally ran him out of WPG. Maybe he’s grown up by now, but no denying what he brings to the table.

ANH might need to re-think things, Comtois is a guy I’d love to pry away. Young, hits and can play.

Guys like that. Players who can play a heavy game at both ends of the ice while contributing offensively in a meaningful way. They are hard to find, but Drury will need to do so. We simply cannot continue to be bullied the way we have been the past 2 seasons.

 

I think Zib comes down to what he's asking for. If Zib wants 8 mill +/- we can do it. If he wants 10 mill +/- he should be moved. If that's the case I love Monahan from the Flames (assuming we are not on his 10 team no trade list). He'd be a great compliment to Eichel at C. With the Flames missing the playoffs in the weak North division, I have to think they are open for business. Frankly I would like either Monahan or Lindholm.

Unfortunately we are stuck with Kreider and his bad contract. Dude had like 8 or 9 good games all season, and I fear it will only get worse in years 2-7.

 

I’m all for having both Eichel and Zib if we can make it work and Zib’s contract is reasonable. That’s best case scenario IMO, and would take a lot of pressure off Zib to be the guy on both ends of the ice. It’s not impossible to do but will be hard.

If that’s not feasible, I dont think Eichel and Monahan is the right combo. Though I like Monahan, that combo leaves a lot to be desired defensively. You’d have to bring in yet another C for the third line to play important D minutes. Zib-Monahan (or someone similar), or Eichel-Lindholm (or someone similar). That’s the way to go.

 

I am higher on Monahan than you are. Any combo of Eichel/Zib, Eichel/Monahan, Eichel/Lindblom works for me. And other combos that include the 4 work as well I think. Either way I do think we should have a defensive, PK, FO guy at C on the 3rd or 4th line. That is the right balance. That's why Chytil is interesting to me. Does he stay to be the 3rd line C? Is he a winger not a C? Does he get moved in a package for a top 6 C? A lot of questions about him.

With 31 mill in cap space, assuming a DeAngelo buyout, and a lot of assets (including Buffalo's 3rd round pick - which is essentially a late 2nd), Sather/Drury will have a lot of options to round it out.

 

Wouldnt say Im not high on Monahan, he's a good player that has been brought up here before and Id gladly take him. But there are also real shortcomings to his game that would be exacerbated if the plan was to play him with a player like Eichel as your 1-2 C combo. Either way, I doubt that combo would ever materialize, those are two very big trades to make in one offseason.

Zib-Larkin is another possibility that should be pursued.

 

What we really need...is a Tkachuk. Either one.

 

Agreed, it would be difficult to see us dealing for 2 C's on that level. I'd say one for sure to pair with Zib next season, I still think Eichel most likely, and then we'll go from there.

I also read Larkin is not available and Y considers him part of the future. Who knows, but I read that last week.

Options...we certainly have options, and assets, and cap space. Good things to have.

 

If Messier was the coach, I would not worry about Kane. One thing Messier as the coach would bring is leadership. A player like Kane probably would worship Messier. Rightly so. Plus Messier would probably bring in two tough bastards as assistant coaches. That's another reason why I want Lucic here. Kane is not the big man in that lockerroom physically with Lucic there.

 

Justin Richards was called up. He should be looked at as maybe possible 4th line help with his strength on FO. He, Barron, Blackwell if he's still here and maybe a trade/FA could be the options there.

 

You have to wonder if Messier was coaching what Kreider would be like because I'm sure Messier would constantly tell him he's playing like a pussy.

 

Messier would be interesting as the coach to see how the players would react to him. The thing I’m worried about is Quinn’s relationship with drury both professio ally and personally as they supposedly are close friends. If that’s true Quinn will be back next year unless Dolan tells drury to get rid of him!

 

I think at best it is highly unlikely Quinn is back next year, but if he is so be it. I think he did fine with the kids this year. He doesn't put the team together regarding toughness or calling up players (which BTW I am not critical of Gorton for this season since it was always a transition growth season not an expectation of winning season anyway).

Messier has zero experience as a coach - zero. I know some will say who cares he's Mark Messier, but that is not ideal.

If Quinn is gone, and I fully expect he will be, that is fine, and I rather hire an experienced proven NHL coach than a guy like Messier.

 

I honestly believe Messier hasn't been hired as a coach because the fans and organization revere Messier so much that if they every had to fire him it would devastate them. However, I would just set it up with Mess that if there came a day that would happen, he would be moved to the front office. They can safe proof it. I can also see Mess totally gooning it up in a game when he is pissed and then pounding the other teams coach. LOL

 

Messier would break skulls in the locker room if they play soft. A lot of broken chairs would be flying out of the rangers' locker room.

 

he would beat the shit out of Wilson himself after the game in the tunnel.

 

If Messier is coaching he's not going to tolerate Chytil as a 3rd line center. He's going to want a good faceoff center who is tough, can grind it out and score dirty goals.