Not sure why you doubted the Kings, this is what they do dump. Same deal every season. As for Boyle, not sure what you mean. Simply no shot he gets benched...none. He has his ups and downs, but he is also a +14 playing 20 mpg. Not getting benched no way. On Zucc, I never thought they'd deal him, and always thought they wanted him back, but we'll see what he asks for on a new deal. No shot they trade him either way, BUT it is possible he could price himself out of here. But they would let that play out rather than deal him by next week. He is a big part of the team. With that said I don't see him as a 5 mill player, and I think that's what he wants. To me mid 4's per seems fair, but I know he wants more. Just not sure I feel Zucc is worth 5.2 per let's say. Seems high to me.
Couple of other comments. Hags is now on pace for 20 goals and close to 40 points. Playing really well. He is important to this team and will get a little raise as an RFA this summer. Brass is on pace for almost 20 goals and nearly 70 points. What a year he is having. Making some great passes. He has turned the corner in his career it seems. Stepan is on pace for 17 goals and 64 points despite the 14 games he's missed. Really good stuff from him. Stepped his game up like Brass. Our C's are now a strength. Kreider on pace for 20 goals and 45 points. Think we wanted 25 +, but he has also stepped up his game. Good to see. Zucc on pace for 17 goals and 50 points. He has also turned it around as we said. Went 19/60 last season, so closing in on those numbers again. Some good stuff going on with this team on O. It is why I have flipped and think we should target a dman to play with Boyle as our # 1 focus prior to next weeks DL. Watching the D play recently concerns me. Never thought I would say it this season, but get a dman over a top 9 forward. I think that is the smart play. Then just add a gritty depth forward who can maybe take some faceoffs. Think we need that dman.
Kings defenseman as a group suck. Don't be fooled. They will not get it done in the playoffs this year.
Different point. Do I think they'll win the West...no. I do think they have a shot to get to the WCF though, assuming they get into the top 3 in the Pacific. That division is weak. I think the Ducks would beat them, but I won't say no shot. Right now I would go Ducks and Preds in the WCF. I like the Blues team but don't trust their goalie play. And while the Hawks have a lot of talent, they have been up and down. That can change though of course, but sitting here today I'll go Ducks and Preds in the WCF. In the East I like Montreal and us or the Caps in the ECF...today. Again could change 25 times by the time the playoffs start.
I do like that team a lot. I just don't know if I trust Elliott to get them past the Hawks in round 1 and the Preds in round 2 (assuming they end up 2nd behind the Preds). But man for man on the team I think they are very good. Maybe the best team in the NHL.
The Rangers and Mats Zuccarello are not “remotely close” when it comes to a contract extension for the Rangers winger. (NY Post) The Rangers have offered Zuccarello between $4 million and $4.25 million on a four-year deal while Zuccarello is looking for more than $5 million on a longer term deal. (NY Post) Zuccarello will NOT be traded though as he is a big part of what the organization views as a Stanley Cup contender. (NY Post) The Rangers want to keep Zuccarello and are expected at some point to raise their bid to between $4.5 million and $5 million. (NY Post)
chuck, what about Tampa? You think we can get by them this year? I would be more concerned about them then the caps.
I cannot give Zucc more than 5 mill per. I go into the mid 4's, 4.6 or 4.7 TOPS, and that's all I can do. I felt the whole time mid 4's was fair, and I cannot go much higher than that. 4.7 tops IMO, but rather stay around 4.5 per.
With the playoff setup in the NHL, we wouldn't play TB until the ECF, unless 1 of us finishes as the WC, which will not happen. The top 3 teams in each division cannot cross play each other until the CF's. So you only have to play one of TB, Montreal, Det and it wouldn't be until the ECF. Out of those teams Montreal would be the team I'd least like to play.
I am with you Step. I cannot go higher than 4.7 like I said, and rather be at 4.5 tops if I had my choice. To me that is very fair for Zucc if he wants to stay here. 1 mill raise on this season. Now no doubt someone would give him 5 if he went to the open market, but if he wants to stay here take mid 4's bro.
The East is tough though man. Isles, Caps, TB, Habs, Wings all tough teams IMO. Nothing easy there. To me two things need to happen if we want a long run: 1. Hank needs to be back in March. Obvious but still needs to be said. Back in March so he can get back into shape for the playoffs. 2. We need to add pieces by the trade DL in 9 days. If we stand pat we are not winning a cup. I think we need a dman and a forward. One a bigger chip and one a depth guy. You decide which is the bigger chip and which is the depth add. That's how I view it. But make no mistake about we can be one and done for sure this year...OR we can win the cup. East is tough and 5 or 6 (not sure about the Wings) teams can win it.
Everyone remembers all too well the last time the Rangers finished first 2011-2012 season. New Jersey beat Rangers in the CF 4-2....tough to believe with the state of NJ now. I just think if we advance, the Isles will be an obstacle.
We need to beat at least one of the Isles or Caps (maybe both). And while I do think the Isles are real good, and 100% can beat us, I still rather play them than the Caps. The Caps are due to beat us in a series. OV is just so dominant (add in Backstrom as well). Counter to some peoples thinking, Holtby is better than Halak IMO. The Isles have that 4th line that pounds us, but the Caps have maybe the best 3rd line in the NHL. The Caps have more playoff experience. And I think the Caps D has the potential to be better than the Isles D as well. Neither would be easy. Both could clearly beat us. But if given the choice I "rather" play the Isles. I still think the team that ends up with the Pens/the WC in round 1 has a huge edge in the round 2 series. Playing Pitt/Fla/Bos won't be as taxing as playing Wash/NYI in round 1 (especially if it is Pitt or Fla).
And since you mention 2012, let's hope Sather doesn't do what he did that trade DL...NOTHING...which was an epic failure on his part, and could have cost us a shot at a SC that year.
From a standings POV these next 3 games are really big. CBJ, Calgary, Zona. All at home this week. Need 6 out of 6 points IMO. CBJ will be on a back to back, they are at Montreal tonight. Calgary has dropped 2 straight, and is average. And Zona is one of the worst 3 or 4 teams in the NHL. Biggest reason we need 6 for 6 IMO is the schedule after these games. Look at this: At Philly, Nashville, at Detroit, at Chicago, at NYI, at Washington That is a crazy hard 6 game stretch, 5 on the road, before we play at Buffalo and host Florida. Isles and Caps to end the stretch are back to back nights. If we get 4 or 6 points out of that 12 without Hank, consider it solid. So it makes the next 3 games at home really big and to me it is very important to go 6 for 6.
feeling the pressure, Chuck? LOL What is this "they are due to beat us"? With the exception of last year........I would always feel through the years that the Rangers would be able to beat Montreal in the playoffs. It has been a while, but we did it last year........after how many decades??? Every year is different. YA NEVER KNOW.
That's just a law of averages comment. But the other 9 things I named are more the point with the Caps. That was just a hey at some point the Caps will win a series against us comment. Overall it is what it is. You play who you have to play. If you want to win a cup you need to beat good teams, so get it done. We can beat the Caps and Isles of course. They can both beat us of course. 3 very good teams IMO. I just happen to think the team that gets to play the Pens or the WC in round 1 would have an advantage in the 2nd round over the winner of the NYI/NYR/Caps series. That series is going to be a long physical series and will certainly leave its mark on the winner in round 2 (and moving forward into the ECF if they win in round 2). With all that said...just win regardless of matchup.
