Is the window closing

[chuckd3534]

What didn't you like about Zipay's article dump?

I think he is wrong about Boyle, he can be bought out. I also see no shot we think about dealing Klein at 2.9 per, great cap hit for his skills. I also think we will be fine with the cap going up 2.5 mill or so, and MSL coming off at over 5 mill per.

Outside of that what don't you agree with? He mentions moving on from Glass. I think his theme is the main core is here and there will be moves around that, which he is correct about...no?

 

[chuckd3534]

I also think TB is a very good offensive team. I think they will score goals against the Hawks. They scored a lot against the Habs and their great D and goalie. If they get shutdown against the Hawks maybe I will feel differently, but truthfully given their high offensive skills, I think our D played well outside of game 3...I really do.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

I think what dump is saying is that the dmen were turnover machines in their own end and we're bailed out alot by hank. Just a guess

 

[chuckd3534]

Could be...and I do think there was certainly some of that. But again TB is a very good offensive team, and will get chances and score goals, look at what they did against Montreal and Price.

I also keep pointing back to the two biggest games of the series IMO, and we score 0 goals in either game. When I am writing the final obit on the series I focus on the O way before I focus on the D. Just my take.

It is always the age old question is it the D or is it the goalie. Don't know, but seeing the team not miss a beat after a rocky start for Cam makes me think the D is better than some give it credit for.

So yeah I don't think this was a vintage performance by the D. This wasn't Pitt or Wash. But given the fact that TB is a very good offensive team, I think the D was solid to very good for the most part.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

Im pretty sure the Rangers used both buyouts... Theyll have to get his consent to buy him out. It isn't automatic like Redden (lol) and Richards... I didn't thjnk Boyle was bad. 10pts in 19 games, played hard. However, in the playoffs this team is missing offense every season

 

[chuckd3534]

They cannot use a compliance buyout and get it off the cap, I believe they can still buy him out and the hit is 1.5 mill per for the next 3 seasons. Pretty sure that's how it works. He may have to consent to it, not sure, but if they say we want to go that route I am sure he will agree.

 

[chuckd3534]

The more I thought about it the more I think you guys are correct on this one. The D wasn't great against the Bolts. I do think McD and G were solid though. I think Staal especially, and Klein weren't great. I also think they were a little sloppy. BUT with that said I do think TB had a lot to do with it as they are a very gifted offensive team.

So I think you guys are correct, but I don't think they were terrible, and I still think G and McD were solid overall in the series given who they were playing against.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

I just felt it was out of character of the team although they D struggled against the bolts all season... It was ironic that they got beat at their own game

 

[chuckd3534]

Right, at the end of the day while the D wasn't great, we didn't lose because of that though strud. We lost because TB beat us at our own game, 2-0 in the two biggest games on our ice. Well said strud.

 

[Disturbed]

The D wasn't great in the ECF but we lost because our top offensive players were not good enough. Stepan and Brass were good especially Brass. KREIDER wasn't great. Nash wasn't great other then 1 gm. St Louis was an abortion all playoffs. Zuc was out.

Look at the Hawks. Toews Kane Hossa Keith and Seabrook always produce in playoffs. That's why they are in the Finals again despite getting a very up and down performance from Crawford this year.

Yes the defense could have played much better but we are out because this team couldn't score goals at home vs an above average but hardly great goalie and defense.

Any offseason moves need to be towards scoring playoff goals. Dirty gritty goals that you need to win series and eventually a cup. It starts w a guy like Justin Williams to replace MLS. It doesn't have to be him but he is just what this team needs. Also I am not opposed to swapping Hags for size. This team has plenty of speed. Speed doesn't get you gritty playoff goals. Physical play and size does.

 

[Messiah717]

Yeah, the bottom line was they didn't score for seven straight periods at home against Tampa. That's just ridiculous and 100% on the offense.

 

[chuckd3534]

If you sub out Hags or MSL for Williams (or a similar gritty top 9 righty winger with some size) I would go to battle with that team tomorrow.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

With Williams, 34 on 10/4, it's all about Term with the guy... Numbers are on the decline but he could rejuvenate here... Of course he will be expected to score big goals in the playoffs...

2 hell yea but very unlikely...3 years would be doable... 4 too much

3 year $9-12 mil would be the ideal K.. The problem is so many teams are going to want him. Just like with Boyle, there will be better offers out there... With 3 cups under his belt what is more important to him at this point... Taking less to play for a contender or $$$$$$$

... Wouldn't be surprised if he took
A big contract from a team like Florida

 

[chuckd3534]

Last two years were 19/43 in 82 games played and 18/41 in 81 games played this past year, pretty similar, but yeah I agree you would expect some decline to start at age 34 next season.

I don't think we get him. He'll have a handful of teams interested, I bet get 4 years from some team, and my guess is a cap hit in the 4's...maybe mid to upper 4's.

We need someone like him in our top 9 though. I am now convinced that's what we need. A gritty top 9 righty winger with some size. I think that's the piece we are missing. We have ZERO top 9 righty wingers, and that is an issue.

We'll see...

 

[Stepupstepan]

Thats exactly where Sather failed miserably to address that issue getting a gritty top 9 winger during the season and at the trading deadline. Instead, he went out and got us Yandle that also cost us a future top line winger. I cant trust him, he will do the same next season. This man needs to step away and let Gorton be the GM.

 

[Ranger71]

Fehr isn't quite what Williams is but not far off in terms of style, and cheaper.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

Chris Stewart is available

 

[chuckd3534]

I think Yandle was a help for sure Step, he played really well against TB, and now we have him at 2.6 next season. And unless you can see the future how do you know Declair is a top line winger? Based on style I rather have Miller than Duclair. Duclair looks like some one who will score, but will he have that physical game you need to score in the playoffs? Miller I think will. Duclair I don't know about.

 

[chuckd3534]

I used to like Stewart, but 8 playoff games with the Wild, zero goals. 81 games 14 goals this season.

He could be a decent fall back since he is a right shot and does have some size, but I would prefer someone better if possible. Plus you just know some team will give this guy over 4 mill per, and that seems like too much to me. I bet he gets like 4.5 or so per for 3 or 4 years.

If the price was right, cap hit in the 3's, I would take him and throw him on the 3rd line, but you just know the price won't be right as some team will pay him too much and he will jump at it.

 

[puck2]

our top 4 d-men are arguably the best in the NHL. If anyone sees them as a problem where does that leave the other 29 NHL teams ? Dan Girardi will go down as one the top 3 defensive d-men in Ranger history. When the Staal, McD, Girardi era does end, you'll be longing for them.

 

[puck2]

hey strudwicksaiditheworst. I would love to see the look on your face if you had to retrieve a puck in the corner with OV bearing down on you like a heat seeking missile or throwing your body in front of one of his one timers. That would be priceless.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

At this point I thibk we're looking at a trade

 

[strudwickisthebest]

Lol Puck2... What happened, mommy and daddy paid for the Internet bill for the trailer? Signal in the trailer park bad?

 

[Disturbed]

You Prob have to go 4 yrs 4.5 w Williams and I might do it. We will hate the last 2 years most likely but if they win a cup so be it.

I don't want Stewart. I want a guy w a track record of doing what this team needs most. Scoring big greasy goals on the post season in huge playoff gms and winning series.

Don't forget who had the perfect shot in G1 of Finals last year in OT when Girardi fell down.

 

[chuckd3534]

I don't disagree with you, but odds are we won't get Williams. If it isn't Williams or bust we need to have a backup plan. Not saying Stewart is that guy, as I said I'm not a big fan either, but we need to add a big righty shot winger to the top 9, and those guys don't grow on trees.

 

[Stepupstepan]

Call up Avery and see what Sean is up to these days.

 

[chuckd3534]

My view is simple. We are square in the middle of our window. We cannot change course now and try and add picks or prospects. We need to stay focused on the prize. If we are being honest, we have 2 maybe 3 more playoff seasons to win a cup. I would be very surprised if we are sitting here in 2018 and saying yes we finally won a cup. I actually think the next 2 seasons are the best shots (along with this season we just blew).

You could argue next season is the best shot.

Most of our important guys are under contract. We get Yandle at 2.6 mill. We get another year of Kreider at 2.6. Step and Miller and Fast will be brought back as RFA's no question in my mind. Miller under 1.8 or so. Step in the 5's. Fast under 1.5 or so. We have a great chance to turn the 5.6 mill UFA money of MSL into something valuable. We can decide to keep Hags and say 3 mill max take it or leave it, and if he says no deal him. Our young guys Miller and Hayes should grow off this great experience they had this season. Hopefully Kreider will mature even more next season and bring it more consistently.

So I really believe if we are going to win a cup with this core group/Hank it has to come in the next two playoff seasons, and next season is really a big time for us due to all the reasons I mentioned.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

After thinking about. Hell no it's not. I thought it was then I asked why. Because Hank is getting older? They have 2 excellent goalies in the system. Have you watched the teams winning cups? They basically are winning them with half-ass goalies compared to Lundqvist other than Quick. Tampa, Chicago and the Ducks goalies all suck compared to Lundqvist. Their teams just score goals for them. Rangers make every half-ass goalie look like a star. Osgood won 2 cups and he's a joke. Halak stinks and he won a cup.

Basically, all the teams winning cups tanked seasons and got a top 3 pick. Doughty with the Kings. Kane and Toews with the Hawks. Maybe Stamkos and Hedman with the lightning. Crosby with the Penguins. Vinny with Tampa. Even the Bruins had a young Seguin and Horton who was a high pick. Hurricanes with Staal. Rarely does it not happen. Part of the reason Nash is such a loser in the playoffs. He's the number 1 pick overall. Freaking score in the post season!

A main reason I think the NHL should penalize a team 5 million off the cap for a period of 5 years for every player that is a top 3 pick max up to 2 player penalty. So, if you are like the Oilers, pick in the top three forever, it recycles. Meaning, you take the last two years in the top three and you lose 10 million off your cap for the next five years. The NHL needs to start severely penalizing teams for being crap and tanking seasons. That is a good way to do it.

Sorry I have to be a nit picker, Halak has never won a cup

 

[mrmel29]

I think what dump is saying is that the dmen were turnover machines in their own end and we're bailed out alot by hank. Just a guess

On the money Al. Mcdonagh and girardi put so many passes on opponents sticks in front that were saved by unbelievable saves by hank. To say because hank did that and no score occurred that they were good is ludicrous. They sucked. Just go back and look at our game threads. How many girardi and mcd wtf are you doing were there? They were human turnovers the whole playoffs saved by hank. And Mcd had more players skate around him in one on one situations than anyone. needs to stop the weak stick check attempts and start laying out guys like a real defenseman does.

 

[chuckd3534]

Way over the top mel, but all good.