As I said in the last thread. I expect the Rangers to struggle to get the 7th or 8th playoff spot. They will only do so if Shesterkin in a contract year doesn't have his usual first half, head up his ass start. I would not be surprised if Drury is fired at the half-way point in the season. I expect Othmann to be rotting in the minors. I would also not be surprised to see Edstrom sent back down to keep Brodinsky here. Lava will most likely be canned at the end of the season. Panarin, Kreider, Trochek and Zibanejad are all another year older. I suspect at least 2 of them will be asked to waive their moronic NMC and NTC clauses. I doubt any of them will agree to it much like jackass Trouba. Kreider is a life long Ranger so I doubt he will be asked to go anywhere plus the kids love working with him. He's a teacher for them. I believe Lindgren will get traded at the deadline. Shesterkin's greed will play into that. Trouba will be given the season then traded very soon after it is over. There will be a lot of frustration watching the team this year. Rangers will be sellers at the deadline.
I don't know that they'll make the ECF again but I think with Carolina's regression a bit that they end up 2nd in the Met behind NJ. It may be a slow first month or two as it usually is for them but I see this group having one more good regular season in them. The Shest contract situation could distract him a little early on but he should have a solid year. We"ll see how Smith does with Z/Kreider but they likely will make one big forward deal at the DL. 3rd pair D could be a bit of an issue that they may have to address in Feb too with a minor deal. Hopefully the 4th line can be decent and maybe Othmann emerges to help the bottom six. We"ll see if Rempe or Edstrom are legit going forward too. I'll say they make the 2nd round but end up losing to the Devils in 7.
We'll see how things play out, but on paper the current team is worse than the team that ended the Florida series. Wennberg, Roslovic, Goodrow, and Gustafsson are gone. The only player of any value added was Smith (you can throw in Carrick as well if you want, but I think he is just about useless). I also think the Devs got better, and a few other teams did as well. I don't see this team competing to win the division. If I were to make a prediction, I'd say battle for 3rd in the Met/a WC spot. The only way they'll exceed that is if the kids take nice steps up. Kakko, Jones, Othmann, and Cuylle especially, and add in Edstrom/Rempe to give them a decent 4th line. You also have to wonder if Trocheck and Panarin will have career seasons again and can Lafreniere build on his season/playoffs. I am not optimistic going into the season, team needed big changes and Drury did absolutely nothing, and only subtracted from the team. This is a stale core that has proven they cannot get it done, and is now a year older, why would this season be any different. I expect a step back, and I don't see a long playoff run (2nd round at best). Hope I am wrong, but that's how I see it currently. As a little aside, I really want to see Mancini with the team taking Lindgren's spot. It is the right/best move for the team.
Igor - Rangers should not give him a cap hit that starts with $11M. I max at $10.6M to $10.9M AAV, which allows him to be the highest paid AAV goalie ever, more than the $10.5M AAV Price got. Trouba - will be gone either at the trade DL or next summer. I see almost no chance he's a Ranger next season. Lindgren - same as Trouba. I cannot bring him back next season unless he takes a big home team discount, which is highly unlikely to happen as he didn't this past summer. Kakko - last shot for him to prove it. If he doesn't step up this will be his last season as a Ranger.
If they give Shesterkin a huge contract, it has to be with an agreement that there will be no movement clause or no trade clause attached to it and they must also move bad contracts like Trouba and Zibanejad and rebuild quickly again. NJ will get several injuries like they do every year and the Sabres still fucking suck.
.000001% chance of that happening. All of the top players who get big money deals have a NTC/NMC, Igor will be no different I expect.
Othmann sent down. Not the worst thing but you start to wonder a little about whether he's not progressing maybe quite as quickly as hoped offensively.
Swayman just signed with Boston for 8-years $66M, which is a cap hit of $8.25M. Not at the same point in their careers or accomplishments, but hopefully that can be a guide and maybe Igor can stay at $10.9M or under for his cap hit. If he really pushes the Rangers for $11M +, let alone $12M +, I just don't think it is good for building a complete team, I hope he understands that. He can almost double his AAV for 8-years, surpass Price for the largest goalie AAV ever, and stay in the 10's. Be smart for yourself, and the team Igor.
Yeah, he needs to get a dose of reality. If the Rangers have to pay him 12, then the better start playing Othmann, Mancini, Jones, Robertson and Berard sooner than later. They will need cheap replacements.
The Rangers easily made the playoffs last three years, no reason to think the wheels are going to fall off now especially under the guiding hand of Lav the Savior, holder of the President's Trophy. I expect big things from Laf and Chytil, provided he stays healthy, but Kakko has done nothing to impress me other than fail to register a hit all preseason. Othmann would be a huge offensive upgrade in Krappo's spot as that kid never passes up the open shot. I think Mancini/Jones as #6 dman are decent replacements with potential. Finally a large intimidating 4th line, grab your air sickness bags Satherites things might get a little bumpy this year! Let's Go Rangers!
You’re on fucking drugs you delusional buffoon. A lot of teams in the conference got better and the Rangers veteran core is getting old.
At some point, you need to open your homer eyes and accept reality. Rempe is a lumbering assclown. Maybe in 2 years he will be something.
