Playoffs

[panzerporter]

Although the odds are definitely narrowing, the Rangers still can make the playoffs if they start stringing some wins together. After 53 games they have 56 points. Generally reaching 95 points will get you a spot in the playoffs so 39 points in 29 games isn't impossible.

 

[Ranger71]

It's gonna be tough to jump that many teams in 2 months, plus they haven't shown the consistency to win more than 2-3 in a row. Shest being in will help but they don't have the horses to make that kind of run this year. You can't get shutout by Buffalo needing points desperately.

 

[kreidertime]

I think they need to keep Kreider and use some prospects to bring in a young, proven, top 2 line wing to put with Panarin instead of fast. Dump strome and Buchnevich. They should make the playoffs next year if Shesterkin plays 75% of the games

 

[Ranger71]

I wonder if Anaheim would be willing to move Rackell in the offseason. It would probably take 2 1sts to get him.

 

[kreidertime]

Are you on crack? He's not worth 2 first. He had a 51 and 69 point season. He has 33 points this year. He'll be 27 in May. He'll get a first and a very good prospect. That's it. Meier is a the guy you go after. He's 22 and is a top 6 forward. Sharks suck ass and totally need to rebuild. Starting in goal. The contracts they gave out are so incredibly stupid, I cringe just looking at the moronic contracts they gave Karlsson, Burns, Vlasic and Kane. The first two they are stuck with. The second two if they retain half, they might dump them for a minimal return. Meier makes 6 million for a while. If they trade him for say Buchnevich, Georgiev, Keane and Hajek they can get some guys to start for them and be cheap for a while. They have a lot of work to fix that mess their dumbass GM created. That kind of deal, coming out of nowhere is what I expect JD and Gorton to do.

 

[Ranger71]

Not 2 lottery picks but a first and a late 1st, which essentially is a high level prospect. 27 isn't old and he'd put up 60 pts with Panarin. Plus his salary is very reasonable for 3y and Anaheim should be going full rebuild. SJ probably the same soon but i don't know that they'd give up Meier.

 

[kreidertime]

Biggest problem making the playoffs is the west fn blows. They don't win many games vs teams in this conference. Going through the Lightnings salaries. They better win this year. Their goalie is up for a contract. I hope he asks for 10 million a season. Cirelli is up for a contract and he's breaking out this year. Sergachev is breaking out and he's up for a contract. They are fucked beyond belief. Nobody is going to want their role guys making 5 million on long term deals because they won't do half of what they do on another team. They might have to convince Stamkos to accept a deal. I'm going to laugh when I see what happens to their cap situation.

 

[Messiah717]

They would have to go on one of those take 9 of 10 runs.

 

[panzerporter]

Four games later now 25 games left to get 31 points, no ridiculous run necessary 16-9 gets it done. If they reach 95+ points the Rangers will naturally jump teams to get a playoff spot. Great experience for a young team who never play like they're out of a game. Just need to lock up CK, I'd offer 5 yrs $40 mil and hope he takes it. Trading him leaves no guarantee the Rangers resign him since he's hands down the best free agent available.

 

[mrmel29]

If they trade kreids they would be idiots cause they can’t replace what he does and you can forget the playoffs for a couple more years. We have enough prospects. They just need to mature now. Trade some excess D and goalies and get the skilled winger they need that comes to the party with a mean streak in him

 

[Greyvtrayn]

To me that strategy makes the most sense. However, they do not have the cap space currently to sign him as far as i know. Any deal will need to wait until the offseason when other contracts come off. There's no way to know if Kreider could be re-signed if they traded him and I think he is more valuable over the next 3+ years to the Rangers than anything they could get back in a trade.

 

[kreidertime]

They easily have the cap space. I explained this in a previous thread. Cap space is a non issue.

 

[mrmel29]

After the rangers beat up on the bruins today they will be 5 points out of a WC with a game in hand. HERE WE COME!! Oops, almost forgot, KREIDS is going nowhere!!

 

[panzerporter]

After 72 points last season and 79 the year before finally another playoff run. Quinn has done a great job teaching this young team to finish games. Gorton has the power position of not having to trade anyone at the deadline, he made some great deals last year so there's no reason to thinks things change this year. Unless a deal involves Hank, Staal or Smith I'd have to be bowled over by another team to make a move. The team has nice chemistry just needs to get tougher, Boston will be bringing the heavy game tonight Staal better buckle it up and summon his inner Ryan Lindgren! CK makes $4.625 so a $3-4$ mil raise barely dents the $11+ mil in cap space they currently have (helps when 8 guys on the roster make under a mil). Sign him and roll on to the playoffs!

 

[kreidertime]

Quinn doesn't deserve much credit IMO. He's virtually done nothing. The team was a disgrace defensively for a long time this season and the only reasons they won games was because of Panarin and Zibanejad which he had nothing to do with. He handled Andersson poorly. Lindgren clearly made the team to start the season and his dumbass sent him to the minors for Hajek and Staal. Fox was drafted by Carolina and developed in college. His game was already there. Biggest thing Quinn has done is getting through to TDA. He has been really good with him. Second biggest thing he's done is have the balls to bench Hank. Buchnevich is still a bumbling idiot and Quinn and his staff can't get him to put it together. Skjei pretty much has stayed the same. Gorton and now JD have put a lot of talent out there. They should improve. Quinn has hardly been a big reason this team is getting better. The team only started winning when Shesty took the pipes with Georgiev. That was going to happen no matter who the coach was.

 

[panzerporter]

Totally disagree, your judgement on Quinn is clouded by your devotion to Lias but if you're evaluating Quinn on that premise he's had far more successes than failures among the young talent. I honestly hope Lias works out and it's way too early to know how things will shake out but to date he hasn't done shit but embarrass himself with his childish antics and the Rangers organization for wasting a #7 pick on him. Benching Hank and Staal sent a message to the team but they remain a huge distraction to a new coach leading a rebuild. You keep killing Buchnevich despite his 21 goals (7 PP) and cap friendly contract/RFA status. Scorers are not easy to replace so I don't see him going anywhere, my chief complaint about him is he hasn't finished on breakaways but he sure is getting a lot of chances.

Quinn stresses that the defensive unit moves the puck quickly out of the zone facing the opponents net instead of turning their back and that one defender always stays in front of the net when another chases. These aren't radical philosophies, most other teams do the same but AV's lack of emphasis on defense led to much of the unit's problems and guys like Skjei struggling now. The Rangers offensive success stems from quickly moving the puck out of their own zone creating numerous chances. Blaming Quinn for anything bad but chalking up all the success as inevitable is silly. Good coaches motivate their players and this team plays motivated hockey, that's why this year has been so enjoyable to watch. Fear not, all is not lost yet with the silver medal chucking Swiss miss Lias. It would be interesting to know how his teammates felt about that look at me moment, might shed some light on the current situation..

 

[Greyvtrayn]

Dude, I agree with much of what you said but you need to stop saying Buchnevich has scored 21 goals....its not even close. He has 13 and only 3 on the PP.

 

[Ranger71]

With Buchnevich half the battle is just getting him to stay positive and not pout..Kakko has some of that early on too.