So now it's a game of chicken for Sather

[kreidertime]

The team is in a weird situation. They seem to match up vs. every other team very well except 2. Tampa and the Islanders. The odds are that there is no way they don't face one of them in the playoffs. So, does Sather roll the dice, keep the roster the same and hope they avoid those teams which I don't see. Or, does he trade Zucc and Hagelin in deals where he changes the way the team plays vs. those 2 teams.

To me, I'd have to roll the dice. Zucc will out price himself here. Hagelin is expendable with a couple of the forwards we have coming here. The odds are just too poor that the Rangers won't face one of those teams. Honestly, it didn't look like they matched up great with Washington either once they got going in the third period.

 

[kreidertime]

Why can I not edit the title. Son of a.....

 

[chuckd3534]

That was a very tough game to be at last night. Crowd was pretty much a split Ranger/Isle fans. Everyone was pumped, and then the Rangers lay an egg in the 1st. If it wasn't for Hank it would have been 3-0 Isles.

The Rangers played much better in the 2nd, but no score, Isles score, and it is 2-0 and the game was pretty much done.

Looked like Hunwick, Brass, and Boyle had rough nights watching from above.

I have said ALL SEASON that if the Rangers want any shot to really be a cup contender they need to add another top 9 forward. It is so crystal clear. The depth and size the Isles have (depth to me is the most important thing in the NHL playoffs) just beats us down. You can see it as you sit and watch. Sather needs to get off his a** and act now. We need another forward. We cannot make it past the 2nd round without one added.

And I fully believe we will play the Isles in round 2. To me the Isles are now winning the Met period. I think us and Pitt finish 2/3 in either order. We will beat the Pens round 1. The Isles will beat the Caps round 1. Us and the Isles will meet in round 2. And unless we add some depth we have little shot. To me it is that simple, and been clear ALL SEASON. Get off your a** Sather.

 

[chuckd3534]

Couple of other comments:

1. Arena is a dump. Actually just REALLY outdated. Looks like it was built in the 70's and not worked on since. One big circle. One level. No extras. Like a scene out of 1978. And I sat in literally the same exact seat that someone sat in to watch the Isles win a cup in 1982. Seat had to be 30 years old. To be honest it is kind of embarrassing for the Isles. Wow.

2. I am now on the bandwagon with dealing Hags or Zucc. Watching those two and MSL play in person against a team like the Isles it is so clear we cannot match up size wise. Those guys get pounded. We have no use for all 3 of them. 2 okay...but we do not need 3. I would deal Zucc, BUT it must be for a top 6 forward in return. Someone who can add some size. Then go out and add another depth forward.

3. That 4th line with Martin makes me jealous. That is exactly the 4th line you want. That is why I want Winnik. We can all knock the Isles, but that is a very good team. Going to be tough to beat if Halak plays well. They will be 1 in the Met, and have a very good chance to get out of the Met if they continue to play their game with size and depth. Good combo.

Bad night...tough being in that 1978 arena last night. All I can say is I hope I get a much better effort tomorrow night. I am due for a W.

 

[chuckd3534]

I said it last year. I said it this year. I'll say it again now. Biggest reason we made the cup run was our depth. We rolled 4 and wore teams down. Well the Isles are that team this season. We cleary are not as we can barely get a 3rd line out there that is a real threat. We must improve the 3rd and 4th lines to have a shot.

And BTW...the sloppy giveaways were bad to see. Missed coverage in the D zone. Just not sharp AT ALL last night. Credit to the Isles for taking it to us in the 1st especially.

 

[kreidertime]

Maybe we can pry Backlund from the Flames for Hagelin and one of our second rounders. Glencross is a UFA. Not sure about doing that swap because Glencross is 31. Rather they deal for somebody they want to sign.

Usually don't like going after Devils. However, Carter and Bernier were players I thought would bring some size to the 4th line. I'd take either one instead of Glass or Stempniak.

 

[Cryptkeeper]

Why can I not edit the title. Son of a.....

What do you want the title to be? I can edit.

 

[NYR31]

What do you want the title to be? I can edit.

He had a typo in the subject line which i just corrected.

 

[chuckd3534]

The issue is how much value do Hags and Zucc have? Hags is a RFA. Zucc is a UFA. That is why I think Hags should be the guy to move because as a RFA I would think he'd have more value. What is Zucc's value to a team that is out of it dealing off players considering he is a UFA...that is an issue.

On Hags, not sure Sather would deal him. He has value as a PK guy and plays well in the playoffs.

I would start by adding Winnik and then focus on the top 9 depth forward.

 

[theProdigy223]

Darren Dreger: The Penguins made a trade offer to Maple Leafs forward Daniel Winnik. The Leafs aren’t ready to move him just yet



Looks like this is another deal that's going to stretch to the deadline to drive up the bidding and maximize value...

EDIT: Dreger's tweet says the offer was made last week, so it's possible the Pens made the Lapierre move instead and have moved on. Either way, shows Winnik is going to draw some interest.

 

[chuckd3534]

And rightfully so Prod. He is the guy I want for the 4th line. Then focus on adding the top 9 forward.

 

[cagedlion]

The REAL problem with the Rangers is DEPTH of capable /talented
players. Ridding the team of some Xplayers lessens the depth chart
............all thanks to the limited CAP SPACE.

 

[Ranger71]

I like Buchnevich alot but i might put him in a deal with Hagelin for a year and a half of Ladd.

 

[chuckd3534]

The Jets are in the playoffs, why would they deal their captain?

 

[Ranger71]

Oh wow, i thought they werent doing well. Dang, forget itm

 

[Stepupstepan]

I said it after the Sens game. They need to deal with the Sens. They are NOT making the playoffs. After watching that game, I think the Sens have the players who would fit in here perfectly on the third and fourth lines. C'mon Sather, we know you can do it.

 

[theProdigy223]

Funny you say that Step, I was thinking the same thing

The Fourth Period: Source saying the Senators have talked about trading Chris Neil, David Legwand and Chris Phillips. Trade talks haven’t hit the serious stage yet. The Senators will meet with Marc Methot’s camp, and if a deal doesn’t progress, they could explore his trade value

Chris Hofley of the Ottawa Sun: Senators GM Bryan Murray suggested before the All-Star break that Chris Phillips and Chris Neil could be traded if the right deal was offered


Man do I hate Chris Neil, but man would he fill a need on this team. He doesnt kill penalties, but he would be a 1000x upgrade over Glass. Signed through next year too with a 1.9m cap hit. Might be a pipe dream because they appear married to Glass at least through this year.

 

[chuckd3534]

At this point I want a top 9 forward with some size AND a 4th line gritty guy...Neil or Winnik fit that bill.

What about the Canes. Riley Nash and Tlusty.

Give them picks, Fast, McIlrath, Lindberg, whatever else they want outside of Dulcair and Miller and Buch.

 

[chuckd3534]

Sather needs to go all in. This is it. We were right there last season. The cap will go up next season. We can let Zucc go this summer. MSL takes 2 mill or a little more less. The time is now.

 

[Stepupstepan]

Neil would definitely help but I would love sather to pry away guys like Chiasson, MacArthur or Stone from the Sens or even guy like Michalek.

 

[kreidertime]

The Penguins have been a foolish organization the past few years going all in. They have a lack of talent at forward on that team produced from their farm other than Crosby and Malkin. They have done very little considering they have those 2 players. One cup is not enough. You have to be careful when you do that. IMO, Buchnevich, Kreider, Duclair and Miller can provide the speed and skill that fits this system going forward. So, Zucc and Hagelin can be moved for pieces the team lacks.

However, I'm not all that impressed with what is currently out there. Zucc I can see them trading for a bigger player. However, Hagelin is a guy they might move in the off-season for a couple of NHL ready prospects at forward with size that they want to attempt to develop and roll the dice. I keep going back to a Hagelin for Dwight King deal. Now that is something I would have interest in.

 

[chuckd3534]

We agree to disagree on the Pens. Now the results have not been there, but I like teams that are aggressive....smartly aggressive. The Perron move was a steal for them, I would love to have him here.

I think you need to be smart about it for sure, but still not be afraid. I have said it 100 times, sometimes you play for the future and the future never comes. There are WAY too many variables to say I can't go for it now becuase 3 years from now I love these guys. I just don't think that works.

And when I say be smart about it, that means don't deal the guys you mentioned Buchnevich, Kreider, Duclair and Miller. That means don't deal for any stupid long term terrible contracts. I agree with you 100% there. But even with that being the back drop, there are plenty of moves we can make to improve. We can deal Fast, or Lindberg, or McIlrath, we have two 2nd round picks, we can deal Hags or Zucc for some top 6/9 size. We have moves to make to greatly improve this team. Sather needs to make them.

If he pulls a 2012, or adds on small little pieces at the trade DL this season I will flip out. The dude is on the hot seat with regards to improving the team. We all know what we need, a top 9 forward with some size and some grit/toughness for the 4th line, now get it done. There is plenty Sather can do to improve this team. If he fails Hank again he should be fired on the spot (which of course we know never will happen). Right now this team will lose in round 2 against the Isles. It is on Sather to make it better than that.

 

[kreidertime]

Sorry Chuck, but there is nothing to disagree about. If you think that team hasn't been stupid and done little with those 2 players, you're on crack. You have 2 of the best 10 forwards in the world and they haven't been out of the second round in 5 years. Their roster has been poorly constructed with stupid moves. Many at the deadline.

 

[chuckd3534]

That is not what I said. Of course the results haven't been there, as I said. That is why Shero was fired, but I do like the fact they aren't afraid to make moves and go for it. In terms of the right moves we agree as I said, they haven't made those. They haven't added that element of toughness they have needed. Their D is even worse now after losing the guys this past summer. I think they are done in round 1 against us this season. So I agree overall.

Where I disagree is I like that they are aggressive and not afraid to make moves. That is my point. I like teams that do that. Sather needs to do some of that this season. That is my point here. Not whether or not their trades have been good trades. Some have and some haven't, but they aren't shy about making moves to try and get the right mix, and I like that.

 

[chuckd3534]

The Pens issue is their big deals.

Crosby at 8.7. Malkin at 9.5. Letang at 7.25 (I said that was a bad resigning the second the deal was agreed to). MAF for 5.25. Too much tied up in 4 players. Really hard to win in a hard cap league when you have 4 players making that much combined. That is their issue IMO.

MAF is not a good playoff goalie. For my money he is one of the most overrated goalies in the league. You cannot trust him in big spots. I would have let him go and went after another goalie rather than bring him back at 5.75 per long term, but that's just my opinion.

They would have been much better off letting Letang walk. Bring in a tough physical dman for 4/5 mill per, use the rest of the money to get a tougher dman for the 4 or 5 slot. Then spend 4 mill or so on a better goalie, someone that can win big games.

That is the Pens issue, not their trades IMO.