Some of the shit I've been thinking about. Add yours, comment away.
1a. Draft - Regardless of position or current perceived organizational needs, SELECT THE BEST PLAYER. Haven't we learned not to pass up Fowler for Rath, because we just drafted a puck moving dman the year prior? With a top 10 pick, get the elite talent, don't get cute. Later in the draft, again just finding good NHL talent is tough enough to not worry about position.
1b. What does that mean for this draft? - If we pick #1 we take a Dman. If we pick 2-4 we take a forward. Picks 5-9 are loaded with dman, unless the Rangers like Wahlstrom. Do not underrate Boqvist or Bouchard, either could rise into the top 5. After that, anything can happen, but a lot of Dmen are going in the 1st.
2a. Can't force a #1C - Trading 3-5 of our absolute best assets just to get a 1C, is not practical. For starters, Edm is not trading Leon. Johansson and Duchene and O'Reily are a level below and were only available due to ill will or previous contract issues. Usually it takes a #1 D to get a #1 C, from another very unbalanced team. We are not overweight on D with only one young proven Dman.
2b. No reason to trade Skjei - an over payment is not coming back to make it worth it. A #1 C is not available or planable.. We NEED D, anyway, not another huge hole we can't fill. No one else is close to a top 4, in defensive abilities. Skjei will improve. He fits the profile of talented, young, big and fast. He plays a complete game. D'Angelo is the only other dman with a spot somewhere. Shatty will get to talk to mgmt and the new coach and go from there. Hopefully he is fine with being traded.
3. Brenden Smith - leave him in Hartford!! So what if the kids stink, pay the price and have an epiphany. After the season, tell him to come to camp in the best shape of his life. Work on your hockey too, impress the new coach. Fresh start, make the best of it. Fuck this up and you're done.
4. Hajek and Howden - Both should start the season in Hartford. That should be the plan, no exceptions. Let them get at least a taste of proper development and coaching to help them be a little more ready for MSG. The Rangers and the fans should want them in the A for most of the season, unless they are crushing it.
5. Spooner or Zuc - Possible one stays as our playmaking winger while the other is our trade asset near the draft. We are crowded at C, but Spooner likes the wing. Like Zuc, he has a knack for nifty passes that result in scoring chances. He is younger, should be cheaper and versatile. It could come down to whoever is the best trade asset. Shatty + Spooner/Zuc could get us something we really need. Shatty and Zuc for Josh Manson and a contract shed? That would give us a great top pair righty for Skjei and solve another major problem.
6. Namestnikov - Love him, plays a 200' game at a high level. He really has everything, but size A bit like RNH, but quicker. Zibs/Names is a better 1-2 than Zib/Step or Step/Brass. With Hayes at the 3C and Lias/Chytil, we should be much better up the middle next year and down the road.
7. Lias/Chytil - either could play W. The 4C role is open, if we ice a fourth line with 2 decent players like Fast or Grabs. Neither should be penciled in until each proves he is ready and would benefit from the jump. If one or both tear it up in camp/preseason then we give them some NHL burn.