Great trip. I thought they would play well and win games on the trip, but even I didn't think they'd win all 5. The last two games not perfect, but Vancouver and Winnipeg are good teams, the Rangers were pretty solid, and they were at the end of a long trip, with a lot of travel. Overall, really awesome stuff. Now they come home, where they haven't played as well as on the road. One thing I will add is the Met looks top heavy to me so far. The Pens, Caps, Flyers and BJ's I don't think are very good teams. The Isles I am in the middle on thus far. Similar to last season, you could see the Rangers, Devs, and Canes pull away from the rest of the Met teams over time.
Great win in OT, Igor stole the game with several spectacular saves. Panarin 2nd in NHL behind Hughes in scoring.
Winnipeg is not a great team their average. Right now the west is struggling. I would think the best team they played was Vancouver. They look pretty good.
I didn't see anyone say Winnipeg is a great team. They are a solid team IMO, as is Vancouver - who I agree is the best team the Rangers played on the trip (Winnipeg is 2nd IMO). When I look at the NHL this year Vegas and Colorado stand out to me in the West as the clear two best teams. After that Vancouver is right there. In the East I think you have the Devs, Canes, Rangers, Bruins, and maybe the Leafs and Lightning as the class. Add it all up and I think the East is way deeper and better than the West, even though Vegas and Colorado are 2 of the top 4 or 5 teams in the league (and maybe both top 3). One team I do not like, and think they are way overrated is the Oilers. I see a team with the best player in the league, another top 4 or 5 player, and then 3 or 4 other decent forwards, and that's all. They have zero depth, their D is not good on D (they have a little offensive punch), and they have a big question mark in goal. That is a team people said can win a Cup this year, and I don't see it at all. I think people say that because of McDavid and Draisaitl.
McDavid to the Rangers at the trade deadline. McDavid for Lafreniere, Chytil, Miller. Othmann, Gararand and 3 first rounders. Lmao
I know you are kidding, but you'd have to add in a lot more salary to make that work. The Rangers have zero cap space. Start with Panarin, or Fox, or Trouba, or Zibanejad (and maybe 2 of them - or 1 and Kreider).
If the Rangers make a big move I’m thinking. Kakko, Jones and maybe something like Garand for Zegras and some picks. Zegras is ripe for the taking.
I'll say this, I am just not a Kakko guy. I just don't see it with him. Yes, he can control the puck pretty well when he uses his body, but it turns into nothing. He doesn't shoot enough, or finish, misses the net when he does shoot. Not a big fan, and I think Laf is ahead of him, and if given the choice long term I would take Laf to get there before Kakko. So, I agree if I was going to deal one of them, Laf or Kakko, I would deal Kakko for sure.
I told you this about Kakko 3 years ago. Lafreniere on the other hand, dosen't look like put much time into conditioning this summer but is still off to a decent start points-wise.
