Schneider sent down to the AHL for cap reasons (paper transaction). This should allow the Rangers to trade for Kane on Wednesday. Thinking he should be in lineup next game at Philly. He is just sitting in Chicago waiting for this to be official. Exciting.
if the season ended right now based on confrence standings and 1 played 8 we would be the 7th seed and would have played Carolina...so not sure why you think its a joke format
I kind of like the old style, divisional playoffs over the 1-8. It lends itself to the rivalries already built in and has more of a randomness to it which is what kind of makes the nhl playoffs unique.
1. It is not just about the Rangers. 2. Almost every year there is a 1st round matchup that pits two very highly rated teams 1. BOS, 2. CAR, 3. NJ, 4. TOR, 5. TB, 6. NYR, 7. Isles, 8 Pens This year today the playoffs would be essentially the same. Right now we'd play NJ and TOR and TB would play as well. But that is not the case every year. On top of that, I just don't think divisions are the way to determine playoff seeding. No other sport does that. Do it by conference, not division.
The only chance I see of this team doing anything in the playoffs is if they get Kane, he's playoff Kane of old, the Rangers play more of a trap style in the playoffs, waiting for turnovers and Shesterkin is hot. Otherwise, they have no chance.
Do you ever have a positive outlook on anything - such a fake fan. You already said no playoffs a real possibility, and Titanic. And there is no "if" they get Kane. He will be here within the next 48 hours - period.
Basically Kane put the Blackhawks in an impossible spot where they couldn’t get that much. He earned that because they don’t win any of those cups without him.
With the cap limits he faced Drury has done an unbelievable job improving this team for the playoffs. It is still up to the players on the ice to get it done but on paper this team is markedly better than last year's. The young players had a taste of what's involved in a long playoff run and now have Cup winners in Kane and Tarasenko on board. Drury even improved the #6 dman size with Mikkola and Harpur. GG wanted 100 points to ensure a playoff spot and the Rangers get there with 12 more wins so the not making the playoff crowd can now pivot to poor playoff performance.
Yup. I think Drury has done a great job clearing every penny he needed to fit Kane in. The only "risk" i see to this cap dancing is if Kravtsov finally figures it out in VAN and we got so little for him because he was being moved to clear cap space. Other than that, the picks given up for for years down the road, so it's not like we "mortgaged the future". From here on out, Gallant needs to deliver and make no mistake, anything less than ECF is a poor performance in the playoffs.
Excellent maneuvering by Drury. I would agree with the "risk" regarding Kravtsov but at the same time the Rangers do have other forwards in development that even if Vitali becomes top 6 forward it won't reflect poorly on the Rangers for trading him. They are definitely taking their swing this year. I still think they have some vulnerabilities on the defensive side and 'sand-paper' as Fan put it. I was watching the end of the Bruins/Flames game last night and was reminded just how good of a team the Bruins are...and WOW are they fast...like 80% of that team can fly on the ice. They are playing out of this world and I can't stand those two fucking goalies with their post game celebrations.....whatever, Im digressing. Here's to hoping the Rangers STAY HEALTHY and put together another big run come April/May and god-willing June.
I agree with your last statement on Gallant, and I may even say getting to the SCF is the baseline considering we made the ECF last season. But that is why this is so difficult, look at the East. To get to the ECF we need to beat NJ and CAR. To get to the SCF add in one of BOS/TOR/TB. That is so crazy difficult. Again, could lose in round 1 to NJ and no one would be shocked or consider that a big upset. At days end it is what it is, and results are what matters, so I agree, but man the NHL playoffs are a tough road, especially the East this year.
Gallant will be gone next season. Kane will sign a one year deal here next season for like 2.5. He’s made enough money. I think he wants to play New York.
I think he's going to end up in Buffalo on a 4-5y deal for like 5-6m. I'm sure he'd like to stay here but i don't know that we can fit him, nor would he be willing to go that cheap. We'd have to trade Kakko or Lafreniere with Othmann coming.
They both worry me...lol. I do think NJ is a tough matchup for us. They do seem to have our #. My hope is in the playoffs we are at their level, not like the regular season where every game against us is a SCF game for the Devs.
I'd much rather have Carolina. Because Carolina is so aggressive and just throws the puck on the net, it forces our dumbass forwards and defenseman to concentrate on defense and counter punch. Which is how they should play all the time because when they go on the offensive, they suck and let up glorious scoring chances constantly.
