Adam Fox is an excellent hockey player. The reaction to trade him because he’s having a down year after an injury is ridiculous. Not to mention who are you trading him for exactly?
McDavid. Fox is a realistic piece needed to get a top center, the rest of the talent is locked up in NTCs. I'm not calling for the trade because I think Fox's skills are slipping, quite the opposite, he'll never have more value. Panarin, Trocheck, Mika and CK are in the prime of their careers and Laf seems to have found his game - the window of opportunity is open, Chytil and Kakko offer little reassurance, Filip is done for at least this year and Kakko has done nothing to show offensive prowess, even when there's a glimmer of promise, injury soon follows.
My take is you get Kakko back here in the next few weeks, I think that will help solidify the wings. I look at adding a solid, gritty, tough, playoff performer who can win faceoffs in the # 3 C spot, and a solid gritty tough dman. If you add those two pieces, I think the Rangers look pretty solid to me. And with Chytil's money added, they should be able to get it done. That allows you to bump Bonino down to the 4th line, use Schneider/Gustafsson as the 7th dman, and gives you a nice top 9 with Kakko back with Kreider and Z, and Cuylle on the 3rd line with Wheeler and the C added. I'd take my chances with that team. And if Chytil ever made it back for the playoffs, all the better.
McDavid? Come on be realistic... What would you offer in addition to Fox to get McDavid? Giving up Sheetzy and multiple firsts?
Do you think McDavid is content to play out his career missing the playoffs every year in Cowtown Canada?
Do you think Edmonton will miss the playoffs every year? They've made the playoffs the last 4 years in a row....something the Rangers were not able to accomplish.
I didn't think there was any chance the Breadman would sign here back in the day but here he is kicking ass.
why? coming from Columbus and getting a massive salary? McDavid you would need to trade for and give up a lot more than Fox
Artemi turned down more money from 3 teams to come to the Rangers Al, you're an accountant correct? So yes I was surprised that he came here for less money, guys like Wheeler do that not stars entering their prime. I used McDavid as an example of the type of player I would want back for Fox whose longevity concerns me but is still a top offensive dman in the NHL. McDavid makes $12.5, Fox $9.5 not sure how much more salary the Oilers would want to add thinking this imaginary scenario through so draft picks and prospects. With the Giants season over long ago and the only excitement being a Jersey caricature there's been more time for hockey reading much of it about McDavid being unhappy. I don't see him staying in Edmonton.
The McDavid talk is moronic. A buy low deal like on Zibanejad is what the need which is why I mentioned Zegras.
Zegras has 2 years left on a $5.75 contract for a guy who plays no defense, career 40% faceoffs and can score but would likely cost more than Anaheim's pick of players who can't crack the Rangers lineup.
