At this point there is a very high probability this team goes down in flames the remainder of the season. Seemingly every game there is another injury (or two). They still have many more road games than home games left, 18 road and 12 home (we stink on the road this season). And we are clearly going to sell off at the trade DL.
A top 10 pick is a lock pretty much, we are the 9th worst team point wise today, and if we stink that bad we'll creep closer to top 5 territory. And then who knows maybe we get lucky and win the lottery for a top 3 pick.
The time has come for sure. Maybe we fire AV over the next couple of months, but at this point I don't think it really matters as the window for mattering this season has passed. It is just as likely they simply fire him after the season ends. I just hope the next coach actually cares even a little about D (or knows how to coach it) because I am so tired of seeing the pathetic in zone play we have for 3 seasons now.
Should be a very active trade DL for us. Nash, Holden and Grabner are gone for sure. The questions are Zucc and McDonagh. I would deal both but only if the return is super mega high for two players that are under contract next season at very good AAV's (the teams dealing for them would get two playoff runs). If not I would wait until the summer/the draft and deal them then when in theory all teams and players would be in the mix.
As for McDonagh I hope he goes to Toronto and not TB. I don't need to see TB winning big with a handful of ex-Rangers on their roster. I admit that would bother me. If the TB offer is clearly the best, yeah I deal McDonagh there, but I hope Toronto or Edmonton or another team has the best offer.
It is time for sure. It has been a really good run the past 6 years or so. Hard to say great with no cup, but really good and exciting for sure. Let's hope Gorton can do what the Yanks did at the trade DL two seasons ago and take one step back in order to take 2 or 3 steps forward. Not 100% apples to apples given the sports and the cap, but the template should be that. Trade off now to really retool and be back stronger next season. We'll see what Gorton is made of the next 3 weeks, and then again this summer. The next 5 months will decide his legacy here I believe. We'll see if he has the chops for it.