Ahhhh, the air doesn't stink in here now

[kreidertime]

Breath it in.

As far as the team goes. As I posted on another board. It's like the hockey Gods keep knocking out our defenseman until McIlrath can get his shot and stop being screwed over by the organization. This team is soft. You saw it last night. Mentally they are incredibly strong but their defense doesn't hit and neither do 90% of their forwards.

Glass is freakin useless. He sucks at everything as expected. The fact this clown has a job on our 4th line is embarrassing. Put Miller on the 4th line. Let him learn how to play defense in the NHL and kill penalties. Miller doesn't have to get top 9 minutes to break in the NHL. Glass needs to be sent to the minors if possible. If not, traded.

Stempniak is a bumbling idiot on the PP. I can't wait until Stepan and Boyle get back. Things look bleak now. All the clowns that went to Tampa are playing way over there head. Crappy teams always come out of the gate fast until they realize they suck and the good teams rev it up.

That being said, you can how some of the future might shape up. St. Louis is starting to look done and his age. I don't think the Rangers bring him back. For the first time I think they sign Staal, trade J. Moore and move Skjei next year into Moore's role. Hayes will definitely take Boyle's role with a lot more offense.

Basically, Klein has to be traded for McIlrath to play. I'd rather they made that move this year and package Klein with a guy like Stempniak and perhaps Fast for a player like Roussel that can take Pouliots spot on the Zucc line. Dallas is an embarrassment defensively. They have 3 excellent offensive players and the rest of the team for the most part has no clue how to play defense. All three of those players can help that crap defensive team a lot.

 

[panzerporter]

Totally agree about McIlrath, he's had two games NHL experience during which he fought and held his own with one of the NHL's tougher players and delivered a few big hits but that small sampling serves as evidence for some that he's not NHL ready. I think AV's closed minded approach toward certain players is his greatest weakness, he did the same crap with CK at the start of last season now with Miller and McIlrath this season. These guys are first rounders who have been given no opportunity in the case of McIlrath or limited opportunity in the case of Miller.

I agree with trading Klein despite his explosive 2 goal start he's still small and soft. I can't see signing Staal for the money he's going to want though the season is early. He played a great game last night and I hope this becomes the norm. A player I think could be packaged to make a move is the one dimensional Hagelin. Realistic trade proposals have to include something of interest for another team to make a move and Hagelin's speed can't be overlooked. He's is the last year of his contract and is going to cost a lot of money for the limited production he's given.

I'm not sure what you expected from Tanner Glass, he wasn't brought here to score goals, that's what the top 2 lines are supposed to be doing. Glass was signed to be physical and he currently leads the Rangers with 33 hits (Girardi 2nd with 24, Brassard & J. Moore 3rd with 16). You can't complain about a lack of physical play and then send down the only guy among the Rangers forwards who takes the body.

 

[kreidertime]

Glass blows. His hits are meaningless and are delivered with no effect. He kills all the offense on the line with his incompetence. He's also not a good PK player from what I've seen.

 

[panzerporter]

I guess you score hits similar to how a figure skating judge works (meaningless? hit with effect?), ah well to each his own regardless how inane the criteria. No Ranger is throwing hits resulting in a player being carried off on a stretcher unless there's a major attached to it. Guess who's dead last (23rd) on the Rangers in time on ice per game? Tanner Glass gets a mere 10:07 buts still does what he was brought here to do and leads the team by a ridiculous margin and his teammates on the 4th line are not exactly lighting it up offensively either.

The primary problem with this team is an utter lack of offensive contribution by the defense. AV had a decent system for breaking out of their zone last year but to date has failed to readjust to how opponents are defending the Rangers breakout making assists a rarity for their dmen this year. MSL needs to pull his head out of his ass and start putting the puck in the net, same crap we put up with last year after the trade. Aside from Nash who's had an incredible start the forward play on offense has been anemic.

What the hell was AV thinking putting D. Moore in on the shootout with so many better options. I would have given Tanner Glass a shot first.

 

[theProdigy223]

I've been on board with trading Klein for awhile. Not because he's awful, but I don't understand paying a 3rd pair Dman 3 mil per when we're experiencing the cap crunch that we currently are. Next year won't get any easier with Hags, Stepan, Staal and Zucc all due for new contracts. Get a good pick for him, give the spot to Allen or McIlrath and be done with it. I don't see him as ever being a full time top 4 guy on a team that expects to win. Not big enough, not a good enough skater and not enough offensive capability.

And as for Hagelin, he's enticing to use as trade bait because he's a valuable player. I don't trade him. Fastest skater in the league and our top penalty killer. He's perfect for AV's system at even strength too if we can actually find a center that can skate with him. Forcing him to play with Richards most of last year was beyond stupid, Hagelin could have done an extra lap around the rink and still beaten that guy out of the zone. Miller would go well with him but apparently he needs to stay in Hartford for another 7 season.

 

[kreidertime]

I would like the lines to be as follows. This factoring in a trade of Klein and Stempniak for a wing that makes sense for Zucc. If you can't get Roussel, I would think you could get Foligno for that package plus maybe a 3rd from Buffalo. Klein is a better player than Foligno. Mueller sucks by the way also. There is nothing wrong with putting Hagelin on a line with Moore and Hayes. You could play that 4th line as much as the third line. Team needs to limit St. Louis minutes. He's ancient.

Kreider-Stepan-Nash
Foligno-Brassard-Zucc
Duclair-Miller-St. Louis
Hayes-Moore-Hagelin

McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Boyle
Moore-McIlrath

If Foligno didn't work with the Zucc line.

Kreider-Stepan-Nash
Hayes-Brassard-Zucc
Duclair-Miller-St. Louis
Foligno-Moore-Hagelin

McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Boyle
Moore-McIlrath

 

[chuckd3534]

Never understood the issues with Klein. He is what he is, I think a lower 2nd pair or top 3rd pair dman, but he is solid. Maybe been our best dman this season thus far. Was starting to play with McD prior to last night. Cap hit of only 2.9 per. I guess I miss it with him. Certainly nothing great, but a solid dman who can play on the 2nd pair if we need him to, plus a decent cap hit. On top of that his value in a trade would be nothing special, so not sure what you would deal him for. If you just want to get rid of his 2.9 per cap hit, okay, but you are not getting back some really good player for a solid not sexy 4th dman type like Klein.

As for Glass I agree. He would be my odd man out, but doubtful that happens. AV likes him, so he will play. Actually Malone on waivers today, so he will be gone, further locking in Glass' spot on the 4th line. I rather have Malone on the 4th line, but it is what it is. Don't love Glass, but certainly not going to make a big issue out of our 12th forward. More important things to focus on.

 

[panzerporter]

The issue with Klein is that on a healthy Rangers team he's a 3rd pair dman period. If Hunwick, Kostka, Allen or McIlrath were in his spot the Rangers wouldn't have had to cut loose Malone and his $700K salary due to cap restrictions.

 

[chuckd3534]

I don't disagree, he is a 4th dman skill wise. I just worry about other things that are way more important for the team than a 4th dman type who quite frankly has been our best dman so far this season. Maybe we can save 1-1.5 mill or so if we had a kid in Klein's role that's fair, but on the flip side we also wouldn't have a guy who could step up and play a top 4 role as he has this season, and we also wouldn't have a guy who was maybe our best dman through 9 games. But that's just my own personal take on the situation. To each their own.

 

[kreidertime]

I like Klein a lot. However, we have McIlrath who needs that spot. Klein has a great contract considering what most clowns are getting. Team needs Staal the more I see this defense. They have another year of Boyle before they need a right handed replacement.

 

[kreidertime]

I think the organization is very high on Skjei. They are probably souring a bit on Moore who I still think is good as a bottom pair guy. Let's say they sign Staal and trade Klein

You have

McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Boyle
Skjei-McIrath

This is why I back a Klein trade. If they want Skjei here next season, they need to play McIlrath now. If they don't, then they probably keep Moore one more year while Skjei plays in the AHL. Bodie has 8 points in 9 AHL games but he's 165 pounds and he's 24. Maybe he will be a late bloomer at 25-26 for some team. Walcott is the guy that needs to be watched. Last year it was Duclair. This year it's this guy. I think he's a steal for us.

 

[chuckd3534]

We'll see what the future holds. A lot of ifs there. Not to mention if we are concerned about the cap not sure giving Staal 5.5/6 mill per is a smart move. But we'll see what they decide to do. I do 100% agree that if we do decide to keep Staal at least 1 of Moore or Klein have to go, if not both of them.

 

[kreidertime]

I was for trading Staal. Especially at the money he would get. However, watching St. Louis play, I don't think he has much left and they most likely won't bring him back unless he plays for a couple of million. So, that money can be used for Staal. I see no way they don't trade Klein. The Glass signing was moronic from day one. A complete waste of money.

 

[chuckd3534]

If I truly think Skjei and McIlrath are ready to be full time players next season, I rather keep Klein at half the price, or close to it, of Staal. Klein, Moore, Skjei, and McIlrath can fill out spots 4-7. McD, Girardi, Boyle would fill spots 1-3.

I think that would give us much more cap flexibility to fill out the rest of the roster. But again that is just my opinion.

 

[mrmel29]

Chuck, I think we need to sign staal with our d situation. I think where we save the money is by kissing msl goodbye after the season. He's got like 2 goals in 30 something games, can't put the puck in the ocean,constantly gets knocked off the puck, turns the puck over a lot, is a total smurf on the ice and will be replaceable next season with more youth like buch who could be here etc. Staal can play on the first or second pair and eat up major minutes and is one of the core players we need for a team with the stanley cup as its goal. Not a big moore fan and skjei who I like will most likely need some ahl time before he gets up here. Really hope big mac gets a long look and plays well enough that they can trade klein for a pick or whatever else they can get for him.

 

[chuckd3534]

Just not sure we need a big ticket item like Staal on D given his skills have been declining some the past year or two. Double so if Skjei and McIlrath are truly ready. We can have Klein, McIl, Skj, and Moore here for maybe 500-600 K more combined than what Staal will make alone. That is a big deal.

Again, that is based on the assumption that McI and Skj are ready to fill everyday roles.

We'll see what happens. I think there is more than one way to finish off the D.

 

[panzerporter]

In 470 games Staal has 27 goals and 86 assists with a quarter of that production coming in the 2010-2011 season, since then he's been trending downward. The upside is he's only 27 but things you would hope to have seen develop offensively like shooting accuracy/passing in the offensive zone have not and despite being 6'4" he's never really filled out the way I had expected weighing in at only 207. He's definitely been set back by injuries but the bottom line looking at this from a cap perspective you can't justify paying Staal much more than Klein's salary which I can't see him agreeing to. Nothing would make me happier than to see him rebound and put up some decent numbers but he lacks the size to be physical as evidenced by his increasing use of the weak one-handed reach technique.

 

[chuckd3534]

Well said panzer. To me Staal's game on O has gone backwards. And we would want to pay him maybe double what Klein makes? Staal is a solid # 3 dman...maybe can even bounce up to a # 2 for stretches. Staal is better than Klein. But if you told me 5.6 for Staal or 2.9 for Klein...give me Klein all day everyday...double so if you tell me McIl and Skj are ready to have roles next season.

Klein, McIl, Skj, and Moore we can have for 600 K +/- more than Staal alone....tops 1 mill more total.

 

[mrmel29]

Still say would rather have staal here. Last game without McD he was a best out there. Get rid of msl and you have the money for staal

 

[theProdigy223]

I can completely see MSL taking a huge pay cut to stay here. His family is here and he doesn't want to play anywhere else. I wouldnt be at all surprised to see him sign for 2 years at 3m or even even 2.5m per. He's had a long, lucrative career, he knows the cap situation we're in and I'd bet he cares more about winning and playing in New York than money at this point in his career.

 

[Ranger71]

I can't see them trading Klein but you never know. It will be a bit of a blow if Moore doesn't really pan out.

 

[Messiah717]

St. Louis is going to be 40 years old at season's end so this might be it for him anyway.

 

[Stepupstepan]

St.Louis is pretty much done after this season. The guy is not strong enough on the puck anymore. Not sure if it is his age or something else. I can see why Jagr has lasted this long. The guy is still one of the strongest guys in the nhl at his age and is hard to knock off the puck.

 

[theProdigy223]

Looks like MSL is the latest guy for this board to turn on.

We're talking about a guy who just won the Art Ross 2 seasons ago. Yes he looked atrocious in the regular season when he was traded here but after playing 12 years for one team lets give him the benefit of the doubt. For all the crap we gave Nash about his playoff performance we should be giving just as much propts to MSL for his 15 points in 25 games. That's pretty damn good considering what he was dealing with. This year so far he is playing completely out of position. Lets see what he does when he is moved back to RW and paired with a good setup man like Step before we declare the guy dead.

No chance this guy is done after this year. MAYBE if we win the cup and he decides to go out on top. Other than that, no way.

 

[chuckd3534]

I think MSL will take less also, but the issue with Staal is not just finding money to pay him 5.6 or so per, the issue is having another dman locked up at bigger money. Plus Nash at bigger money. Plus Hank at bigger money. You play with fire when you have players like Staal and Girardi making over 11 mill per when you have Hank at 8.5 per and Nash at 7.8 per already. Just not sure we need Staal at that cap number IF we have faith in some of the kids. If we don't...well that's a different story.