He's been available before and I don't think it's crazy to think he could be moved. WPG seems to be in a perpetual state of mediocrity (except when they play us)
It doesnt have to be Kane, but I don't think Sather should rely exclusively on free agency and needs to make a trade here. The cap is going up for everyone, not just us, and there will be some absurd contracts handed out. I don't want to go thru bidding wars on every piece we want to add because we won't just be looking for role players. We need impact players and they won't be cheap. And second, this season isn't over yet. If we can get a Kane or somebody similar here by the deadline in an MDZ package we might be able to put some wins together for this year. Then you have that piece moving forward and it's one less hole to plug in FA.
Brassard is in his 7th year and is making $3.7 highly unlikely Glen would get him for $2.5. I would go after Dustin Penner from Anaheim, he's huge (6'4"/247), has 23 points in 25 games is still young and is making $2 mil this year, Alexander Steen is also a UFA and may be a less expensive alternative to Stastny.
If McIlrath, Miller and a 1st and 3rd got it done I'd take it for Kane. I don't think DZ adds all that much to a deal right now.
Brass makes 3.2 and is having an off year. The point is if he is an RFA he has little leverage and we have seen what Glen does to our RFA's in those situations and glen always wins. Either way you resign him if its reasonable. Penner will get a raise and hes injury prone. Steen is going to be the guy that someone pays far too much for because he is having an incredible season right now.
71, need to find someone besides Mcilreith in that deal. Once big mac gets up here and starts crunching people in the corners and the wings, throws people out of the crease and starts beating the shit out of bullies like lucic you will see why he can't be traded.
If Steen hits UFA status he will be the flavor of July 1 and wont come cheap. He has 1 year wonder written all over him BTW. I have always liked Penner. Didnt realize he had that many points this year he is big and plays big.
Brassard's cap hit is $3.2, his salary is $3.7, capgeek has him listed as a RFA, nhlnumbers as a UFA either way he's still going to want $4+, unless he has a huge second half don't see how you can justify that salary.
I think McIlrath brings elements that are missing, but I'm still not sold on him having enough of an overall game to be an everyday NHL defenseman. Sounds like he's making good progress according to Schoenfeld so maybe I'm just underestimating him. As long as his skating and footwork come along I guess he'll be ok. No doubting he can pound on some people which this wimpy group can't.
Like the Blackhawks will ever let Kane or Toews go! What all of you are actually saying is that the Rangers scouting staff sucks royally.....and Sather listens to them.....and you prefer Sather go after players who will never be available. I too do not trust Sather. He hasn't bulit anything in 15 years.
71, Schoenfield is another Sather hire that makes me mistrust Sather's present hockey acumen. Trusting what Schoenfield says is a joke. I have been to several Whalers games and McIlrath is not NHL ready. He gets caught out of position and is not a very good skater. He is definitely a 'project'. I cannot believe they drafted him. He may be down there for a year. If he gets called up this year, it's a Sather panic move. If you are just looking for a fighter, McIlrath can fight.
Schoeny's a smart hockey guy, so I don't doubt he's telling it like it is. Whether McIlrath ever turns into a steady NHL defenseman is the question. I still think they overreached pretty good for him but we'll see.
It's the defense, and not one certain player on the defense, but the whole defense. They are soft, weak, have troulbe clearing the crease, clearing the puck and how often do they lose sight of ANYBODY skating all alone in front of Hank? they are incapable of creating anything in the offensive zone, and hitting? Forget about it. The only defender worth keeping is McDonagh ... The rest? Get something for them, and bring up some of the youngsters. I'm tired of their mistake prone brand of hockey
McIlrath is 6'5" 230 and was drafted for his toughness. Who the hell cares if he can't skate like the wind? The Rangers have plenty of softies on d that can skate, McIlrath was drafted to clear the crease and be physical, very little skating necessary to fulfill those objectives. I'm more concerned with how he would handle fighting NHL goons than whether he can keep up with Crosby in a footrace. This is the same bs that went on with Kreider, every other team in the NHL puts their top drafts into the mix immediately. How much worse can he make this Ranger team?
Not for nothing, I hear you jam the D is terrible right now, but I can't put it all on the D when 1/2 our forwards cannot score a lick, and we have two combined goals in two games against goalies I have literally never heard of. It is more than just the D.
They're constantly going to the ice around their own net either on their own or just falling down. They cannot clear anybody out and like was mentioned about they never take their man and lose sight of guys all the time. The defense has stunk big time.
