Game 76 Devils vs. Bumblings

[Messiah717]

Is it even worth scoreboard watching at this point?

It’s pretty much over now. Four points out with six to go for both teams. The Rangers have shown nothing to suggest they can put anything together and Montreal has played like a team who wants the last spot.

 

[NYR_94]

Plus, look at the Rangers schedule vs. Montreal's schedule, it isn't even close AND the Rangers are 4 points behind. Not to mention the fact, if you watch the past few games, the Rangers seem extremely disinterested and ready for the summer.

The "scoreboard" to watch is related to the 1st round pick. As of right now the Rangers sit in 13th place. Odds are they'll keep their pick as they are 3 points "behind" Utah to move into 14th from the bottom. The Rangers may end up picking exactly 13th, which is maybe the worst-case scenario.

Trade the pick before the draft, along with Kreider and K. Miller, that's what I say.

On K. Miller, someone needs to explain to me why the Rangers would keep him. Unless he can pair with Fox as a top LD, which I don't see him capable of, I don't see why you'd keep him, especially needing to re-sign him long term if you do keep him. Schneider needs to be in the top 4 next season, that means Miller must go. The only way I keep him is if his trade value is terrible, then you have to bite the bullet, and try to sign him on the cheap, or a two-year deal before he reaches UFA status.

 

[kreidertime]

Like I said, bring up the kids from the Pack and see what they can do and let them see how far they are away from making the pros

 

[kreidertime]

I don't care if they have to eat 50% of Mika's and Kreider's contract. Get them out of here. They are a terrible example for the young players at this point. They take up PP and ice time. We can only hope they lose enough to keep their draft pick. Sadly, they are screwed either way. Lose their pick this year. Or next year we might really suck and lose a higher pick. Although, I can't see the team being worse next year with a coaching change and some FA's even if they dump Zibanedouche and Kreider. I still can't believe the dumb fuck Oilers let Holloway and Broberg go. One of the great fuckups of all time.

 

[NYR_94]

I disagree on Zibanejad. He has 5-years remaining on his deal after this season at $8.5M per, you cannot have a dead cap hit of $4.25M per for that long, that would be a very poor decision, and quite frankly awful asset management driven by emotion, which is a terrible way to operate as a leader.

My take on Zibanejad is the Pres/GM and the coach (whomever they will be - Drury/Lav or other people in those roles) need to have a deep discussion with him after the season and tell him bluntly this season was not close to good enough. He needs to work harder in the off-season and during the season, he needs to shoot the puck WAY WAY WAY more than he does, and he needs to bring a higher level of energy/passion/compete moving forward. If he doesn't do those things, his playing time will suffer greatly moving forward. You hope those words, and holding him ACCOUNTABLE, will sink in and he rededicates himself to being a top player next season. I think this is the best option, unless by some major miracle you can get him to agree to be traded, and you find a team willing to take his whole cap hit.

As for Kreider, you have more flexibility, I think you can trade him much easier with 2-years remaining on his deal after this season at $6.5M per. Even with a 15-team no trade list, I'd expect him to be movable without having to retain money, or at most maybe 25%. The GM can get this done I believe.

As for the draft pick, be careful what you wish for. By hoping the Rangers keep their pick this season, pick # 11 or 12 or 13, you are essentially saying they will be much better next season. I think they can/will be, but only if they are bold and aggressive this summer. The worst thing would be the Rangers keep pick # 12 this draft, and watch the Pens get pick # 4 from the Rangers in next year's draft, that would be a disaster. So, IF the pick stays with the Rangers, it should be an absolute major driver for Drury (or whomever the GM is) to ensure the team is very good next season and he needs to be aggressive this summer to make it happen.

 

[NYR_94]

Putting the draft pick aside for a moment, there could be a positive to come out of this season, especially the way it is ending with the Rangers laying down and playing with no passion. If this isn't a sign the core is absolutely done and needs to be majorly overhauled this summer, I don't know what is. To me that message should have been crystal clear after the Florida series, as I said at the time, but now even Drury (or whomever the GM is) shouldn't be able to bury his head in the sand and ignore it. This should be a bright red flashing light - time to overhaul the core in a big way. It has to be an uber aggressive summer upcoming for the Rangers.

That hopefully will be the positive take away from this disastrous season. Hopefully next year at this time we'll look back and say this season was one step back for two or three steps forward.

 

[kreidertime]

You need to stop writing fucking small books when you respond. I’m probably like most posters I get bored after reading about five sentences.

 

[kreidertime]

Zibanedouche fucking blows. I would gladly pay 4.5 million for his salary just to get that piece of shit off the team. That money saved can be used to give Cuylle extension now to lock him up. Our dumbass general manager doesn’t realize if you lock guys up earlier you can save money instead of waiting for them to have a break out year.

 

[NYR_94]

Once again, don't read my posts and feel free to put me on ignore, I am very okay with that.

Thank god you aren't running the team if you think it is smart to have $4.25M of dead cap space for FIVE YEARS. That would be one of the dumbest moves ever made maybe in the history of the Rangers. Even Drury is not that clueless...I don't think. I agree you would do it though, because you run on emotion and anger, so it makes perfect sense to you. And I am all for locking up Cuylle early, but that should have nothing to do with making an emotional knee-jerk poor decision, by dealing Zibanejad while retaining $4.25M of dead cap space for years.

 

[Messiah717]

Kreider, while I appreciate his career with the Rangers can go. He completely mailed it in this season.

 

[kreidertime]

Sad to see. I thought he was better than that.