Season be a coming thread

[kreidertime]

First time in a long time I'm pumped about this team being able to compete against the top defensive teams who are physical. THN completely wrote off Kakko offensively. He was misused badly by dumbass Quinn. I think Lafreniere, Kakko and Chytil all take huge steps up offensively this season with a normal schedule.

 

[Ranger71]

My prediction for Kravtsov is 15g/27a.

 

[kreidertime]

I don't see that. I see Kravtsov in the minors for a year. Learning how to play NA style. There is no room for him.

Panarin-Strome-Lafreniere
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Goodrow-Chytil-Blais
Hunt-Rooney-Reaves

As currently constructed, there is no room for Kravtsov, Barron, Gauthier or Richards. Thus why I think you will still see a deal where Strome and Kravtsov are moved for an upgrade at center.

 

[kreidertime]

I'm thinking they want Barron to eventually take the third center role. Maybe Richards the 4th center spot. I can see the organization telling them play a year in the AHL. Hopefully a full year. Get better in the dot. Round out their game. Let Gauthier work on his defense down there all year with Knoblauch. I don't see a future here for Kravtsov. If they keep Strome, lose him for nothing. Then they feel Chytil can take a top 2 spot. Baarron and Richards will replace Rooney and Strome in a year. Gauthier with his skating and power has more upside than Kravtsov or Barron. He can do things few forwards in the league can with is ability to beat any defenseman with speed and powering to the net. He's just really dumb on the defensive side. I don't give up on him. Seattle was really, really, stupid taking Blackwell instead of him. That was an enormous mistake.

 

[Ranger71]

Yeah, any big trade will almost certainly include Kravtsov and i agree on Barron and Richards needing one more full year at Hartford. Hence the Hunt, McKegg type of signings. That will kind of be a crap 4th line this year if it's the above group, but i guess this is more of a make the playoffs and see where it goes season to get their feet wet.

 

[kreidertime]

I don't see Kravtsov having a future here. Especially with the draft picks of Cuylle and Othmann. I could be wrong though. Maybe they will decide to get rid of a Hunt next year and move Kravtsov to the third line and put Blais on the 4th line. Either way, they clearly are trying something different this season and they are drafting differently now.

 

[kreidertime]

Islanders found a way to keep everybody other than Eberle who will replaced by Lee coming back. Scumbag players are taking less money to stay there. I think Pulock leaves next year. I think he's a lot more greedy than the rest of the Isles players. They might be the favorites this season. Tampa lost their 3rd line. Just a hunch but I think the Rangers with this coach and the way they are constructed are going to give the Islanders a tough time this year.

 

[Ranger71]

With PB gone and no trade probably until Feb at the earliest, the C depth and scoring will be tested a little. I heard they may be interested in Tarasenko but who knows. Kravtsov i think will almost certainly be on the team, as he showed defensive improvement and maturity since coming back from Russia. Blais i see helping round out a 4th line with Reaves and any of Rooney/McKegg/Hunt. Barron could make it out of the gate but he and Richards probably need more AHL time.

 

[kreidertime]

I don't Kravtsov on this team at all. He's exactly the kind of player Drury wasn't. Drurty has already started the euro cleaning process where it makes sense.

 

[Ranger71]

Sounds like Z and the Rangers are getting somewhat close on a rumored 8y deal. I'd guess something like 8/72. Hopefully not a full NMC.

 

[kreidertime]

Better be no NTC or NMC. That was Gorton's stupidity.

 

[kreidertime]

I don't consider Zibanejad a cornerstone piece. His faceoffs get worse every year. He has shown little compete level in physical, playoff type of games. He has had concussion issues. He's not easy for most players to play with. Only franchise pieces I see here are Fox, Panarin, eventually Lafreniere, maybe Shesterkin, hopefully Kakko and Schneider. That's about it.

 

[NYR Fan]

Not sure what to think about this season. We have made a bet that all we needed was some added toughness, and continued expected improvement/growth of the young players.

Outside of that, we traded away one of our top scorers and PK guys in Buch, right move BTW, and didn't add much outside of the toughness and grit mentioned above.

We'll see if that's all this team was missing, but I for one expected an upgrade at C - someone who can win a FO.

 

[kreidertime]

The Rangers will be much tougher to play against this year. Gallant is the first complete, legit head coach we've had here since Keenan. Torts all defense. Av all offense. Quinn a college coach. Renney a retard. Wilson and Martin are getting beatdowns this season. That you can take to the bank.

 

[NYR Fan]

They will be tougher to play against, but that is not the only thing needed IMO. It will be an open question did Drury make the right play. It is clear he thought all the team needed was toughness and grit added, along with the continued growth of the kids, because we did nothing else except trade away one of our top scorers. We'll see if he had the right read on this. I think they needed a C upgrade as well, hope I am wrong.

 

[kreidertime]

This is the year Chytil better break out. If he doesn't, I think Drury moves him next. I'm expecting 46% on draws and 20+ goals with 30+ assists. If I don't see that, I don't think you see him here. I also don't see Kravtsov making this team unless he had some kind of unreal off season where he put on 15 pounds of muscle. He doesn't seem to fit the style of how Drury is building this team. I would not be surprised to see the Rangers ask Trouba to waive his NMC if Schneider shines in camp.

 

[panzerporter]

I'm not a Zibad fan at all. His numbers have dropped each year and when he does score it's against the worst teams in the league. I wouldn't do a thing with Mika other than tell him to earn the big money this year and that $9-$10 mil will be waiting for him next year.

 

[Ranger71]

If they name a C i would probably go with Kreider who's now the elder statesman of the team. Fox imo is a little young yet for that type of thing, and Zib is a little too soft spoken, not that Kreider is overly vocal either. Trouba could be a possibility but i see him more as an A.

 

[kreidertime]

Trouba makes more sense. Kreider basically doesn't show up in half the games though I think they will give it to him.

 

[NYR Fan]

I agree - I'd go Trouba. Not ideal if the Captain disappears for 1/2 the season.

 

[kreidertime]

Though because so many of the kids train with Kreider on fitness I think they give it to him.

 

[Ranger71]

Maybe getting the C would bring out more consistency in Kreider over the season. Trouba hasn't exactly been stellar for the entire time he's been here. He sucked for most of the first year.

 

[kreidertime]

Another brilliant move by dipshit Gorton giving NMC and NTC's to non cornerstone pieces in Kreider and Trouba. Smh.

 

[Ranger71]

They could be in jeopardy of losing Hajek and Gauthier on waivers.

 

[kreidertime]

I would think that they would have a plan for that.