Well, a lot to look forward to. Hayes should not be dealt. He has really turned into a heck of a player. Trading him would put way too much pressure on Andersson and Howden. Zibanejad is what he is. He's a good forward. HF moron posters suck off DeAngelo. Pionk is flat out better. I think in a couple of years he becomes a Stralman type with some patience. Vesey knows his role. Zucc is on a fast decline. Better to move him. He has a couple good years left. Kreider should be our captain. Chytil is pretty close to being a top 6, scoring forward. He's trending up. If Quinn is going to play Lias under 10 minutes. Send him down and let him play in the AHL. I think Lias is a great fit to be on a line with Howden for a long time. However, both are young and haven't figured it out yet. I would like to see a 4th line of Gettinger-Fontaine-Fast eventually. That would be something interesting. Gorton probably needs to think about dealing a player like Zucc, Namestnikov or Staal for a NHL ready, fringe 2nd liner but more a 3rd line forward, righty shot with some size. Rangers better wake the fuck up and pick a lot of righty forwards with their top picks because they have jack shit in the system for righty scoring forwards. I actually feel bad for Shattenkirk. He took less to come here. Honestly, he should accept a trade to a team like the Devils believe it or not. They are starving for a legit PP QB. Severson blows. Maybe roll the dice on a kid like McLeod who is a righty. Not sure he would go to NJ. He probably grew up hating the Devils.
It would be great if they could get a 1st for Hayes and still maybe find a way to bring him back, but i don't know how often that happens. Zucc, Namestnikov, Fast and maybe McQuaid all will be on the block. I think they should extend Kreider but he would certainly bring back alot for 2 playoff runs for a team. Fast is a great 4th liner for a team.
Gorton A - Has done a great job clearing dead wood to make way for youth, 4 draft picks playing in Juniors Hayes A - on track to finally crack 50 point threshold. Lock him up! Kreider A - 40 goal season gets an A, now give him the C and a contract Pionk A - leading defensive unit in minutes and scoring Vesey A - on pace to shatter his career high 28 points, great defensive play Zibanejad A - on track for a 75 point season Fast B - great defense, offense improved last year should be better Chytil B - 19 years old and already moving well, when Filip fills out - look out! Howden B - another part of the youth movement, scoring has dropped a bit but he's 20 Quinn B - like his coaching style but too many leads lost Buchnevich C - hopefully Quinn will wake him up DeAngelo C - not big enough should move to RW McQuaid C - hasn't played much but hits best, something sorely lacking on this team Namestnikov C - hasn't lived up to 1st round status, needs to score more Smith C - looks lost often but will take the body and drop the gloves Staal C - still a kneeling sieve defensively but showing sputters of offense Strome C - good trade for Spooner Claesson D - should be a young player in his spot Shattenkirk D - awful defensively, unimpressive offensively, hurt exclusively Skjei D - brutal turnover machine coupled with newly found Staal-like softness Zuccarello D - been hurt so hopefully he gets things going, -15 in 24 games
Claesson's been pretty steady for what he is and doesn't make alot of crazy errors like some of the higher priced people, so I'd give him maybe a B-.
