They gave up the 12th pick to Pitt, Drury knocked off the easy contracts with Rempe, Robertson and Edstrom it would be a great if he could get rid of Laf.
That’s what I figured they would do with 2026 draft stronger. Now I wonder if they trade Laffy to get up to draft Hagens.
Even if they're slightly better next year, they could always use a 4th rounder or prospect to move up, so I kind of agree with this move. Better draft apparently next year too.
I was surprised he gave up this year's first, and didn't like it initially, but the more I think about it it's the correct move. I expect the Rangers to be a good team next season, and I bet Drury does as well, and he'll be aggressive to improve the team this summer. But, in case they stink, unlikely IMO, trading the first this year gives the Rangers a good pick in a deep draft next year. Most importantly to me, it gives the Rangers a good trade asset to move at the trade DL if they are competing for a Cup. I also think Drury came to the conclusion the Rangers most likely weren't getting a big-time player at # 12 this season, and in a deeper 2026 draft, the Rangers could pick closer to # 20 and maybe still get a better player than at # 12 in this year's draft. After factoring that all in, I changed my mind and think this was the right decision by Drury, my initial mindset was incorrect.
It sounds like it's almost a foregone conclusion Miller will be traded this week/weekend, and certainly by July 1. Miller might get traded for picks, and maybe a gritty forward with some bite, then the Rangers could sign Gavrikov from the Kings to replace Miller and make some other moves. If it happens, Fox will have a solid partner, and I'd move Schneider to the 2nd pair with Borgen. Then I'd try and move Soucy's $3.25M cap hit, he makes too much for the 3rd pair, that was a very dumb panic trade by Drury. I have a feeling it's going to be a busy week for the Rangers
They say Lafreniere is not on the block. Don’t know what they could give Chicago to get up to 3. Miller and Perreault. Something like that.
Not sure about this defenseman they seem to want from the Kings. Seems like Drury and Sullivan are trying to build a bigger, mistake less prone defense. Miller is big but he’s a pussy and is a turnover machine. I can’t figure how Drury can move up to the third draft pick if he wants Hagens if Lafreniere isn’t on the table. Like I said, I think it would have to be K dumbass, Perreault and maybe Garand.
Garand is a perfect example of a test for Drury. The Rangers do not need him with Igor here; Drury should be dealing him now when his value is high before his value diminishes over time. That is a test Drury has failed before; Garand should be at the top of the trade chip list with Miller.
He probably views Garand as the long term backup to Shesterkin. He consistently has raised his level play in the AHL playoffs.
I think Chicago will keep the pick and take Martone or Misa. They still are a year or two from being a playoff team so a prospect like that actually fits their timeline.
Making Garand the backup, when I'd assume he has good value as a potential starter for a team, doesn't make much sense to me, and seems like misuse of an asset. Right now, is the time to trade Garand, not in a year or two when his value could go down as he is not playing in the NHL. Best case after next season, Garand is a 20 game +/- backup to the highest paid goalie in the NHL, that is not smart asset usage. I would think if you packaged Miller and Garand, you could get a nice return, this is the kind of stuff Drury should be focused on.
I don't see how an accurate value can be attributed to Garand with no NHL experience., would have made more sense to let Quick move on and make Dylan goalie #2.
I agree with that, my point is it seems unlikely his value will rise playing in the AHL, so I'd look to deal him now rather than have his value decrease like some other kids in the past. I don't see a world where Garand is ever a player here, what is the point of keeping him to play 20 games behind the highest paid goalie in the NHL IF he has value on the trade market, seems illogical to me. We keep a tradable asset to be a backup; I don't get that logic and asset management.
I think what may happen is they'll keep him as a cheap backup for 26'/27' and then deal him once he's shown himself in 40+ games.
Maybe a trade will happen, and maybe it won't, but I would put very little stock into what Eklund says, that guy is never right. I still believe it is highly unlikely Lafreniere gets dealt unless Drury can get top value for him, otherwise it would be very stupid to deal him at reduced value. What could the Rangers have gotten for Lafreniere last year at this time, that's the starting point for any Lafreniere trade, otherwise it makes much more sense to hold and expect he'll have a good bounce back season under a new coach.
Yeah, I don't see anyway the Rangers could get up to 3 or 4 unless they package Perreault, K. Miller and Garand.
How is Drury going to get top value for a bust like Laf? The notion that Laf is going to come into camp in shape and flying around the ice for the first time in his career is optimistic, he's been a big part of the problem, a #1 with a terrible work ethic leading to underperforming on the ice with zero leadership skills. It's funny how so many on the board couldn't get rid of Goodrow fast enough because of his $3.6 mil salary but no effort Softo Krappo making $880k more was fine. Michael Peca was on a podcast and said the coaching staff was faced with a team prioritizing healing emotional scars from unseen roster moves instead of focusing on hockey. Good for Pecahead for being honest, I thought the Goodrow move was a poorly done as well but had no idea how deeply it hurt the team.
Exactly, he's not going to get good value for Lafreniere right now, which is why I wouldn't trade him. Things usually don't work out in your favor when you sell low. Your best bet with Lafreniere is to hope/expect improvement with a new coach and hopefully a rededication to hard work. We know he has talent, we saw it last season, especially in the playoffs, so to me it makes very little sense to sell low. You seem to be dismissing the fact that Lafreniere scored 28 goals last season, almost all at even strength. He also scored 8 goals and 14 points in 16 playoff games, and at times looked like our best player during that run. So no, I wouldn't sell low on a guy I know has talent as I've seen him do it last season. If Drury can get a very good return for Lafreniere I'm fine with moving him, but not for pennies on the dollar. As for Goodrow, it was ONE BILLION % the right move to get rid of him and remove his cap hit. What was not right was how Drury handled it, it was amateur hour at its best, totally bush league how it was handled and the lack of communication. What is also true is some of the players were whiny B's, and that is ridiculous, led by Zibanejad from all accounts. One thing that will be huge next season is Sullivan cannot take any of Mika's BS. If he sulks, whines, doesn't play hard his butt needs to be scratched, period. It's time for the coaches to start running the show, not the whiny players.
First of all, you're full of shit. He's not a bust. Second of all, he came in 2 years ago flying around the ice and basically was 30-30 with no PP time because the dumbass coaches on this team sucked off the sensitive vets. You are in the long line of Rangers fans who think all the Rangers players suck and average to crap players on other teams are really good. It's been that way with this dumbass fan base for over 30 years. Lafreniere was easily our best playoff guy 2 years ago other than Shesterkin. Especially against Florida. Last year he was lazy like 75% of the team. The pussy vets set the tone for tanking the season and unfortunately, Lafreniere bought into it.
