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2021 Offseason Thread: Fuck Around & Find Out!


Phil

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Dates to Remember:

 

Latest the playoffs could go: July 15

Seattle Kraken expansion draft: July 21

2021 NHL Draft: July 23 & 24

Free agency begins: July 28

Buyout Window — ?

 

 

2020 Draft Lottery Odds:

 

Rangers' odds at first overall: 0.5%

 

 

Offseason Needs?

 

1. Toughness

 

You can argue the value of that all you want, but if the other players play better when those guys are in the lineup, there is no argument.

 

But by and large, they’re talking about toughness playing along the walls, in the corners, at the net front — guys who will get pucks behind defensemen and punish them. The previous administration that was shown the door knew it and were prepared to address it. The owner rambled on about it the other day. His adviser skipped around it a bit but recognized it as a need.

 

One of them arrived in the last week or so in Morgan Barron, and there are more in the system, with Will Cuylle and defenseman Braden Schneider. Barron is NHL-ready, in my opinion, and should be a lock on the opening-night roster. Not sure when Cuylle and Schneider might arrive, though.

 

The bigger question is this: If you can get one of those who can play a significant role and is also willing to fight — and assuming Wilson and the Tkachuk brothers are not going to be available — are you willing to give up some of your top assets to get one?

 

2. 1A center

 

This is and will be a priority. A top-two center, actually.

 

That said, I am more convinced than ever that this doesn’t have to be a top priority, and that it can wait until next summer, if it happens at all. Because Strome did it again; he proved he can be an effective, productive center for Panarin, even with the revolving door on right wing. Imagine if they get or develop a legit top-six right winger? Imagine if he can also bang?

 

I think more likely, next season plays out, or plays most of the way out, when the Rangers then pursue an Aleksander Barkov type — headed for unrestricted free agency and thus perhaps available at the next deadline. He would then have to be signed to a hefty contract extension.

 

3. Veteran defenseman

 

For all the yeoman’s work done by Brendan Smith, on and off the ice, I’m sure the Rangers would love to keep him on a bargain contract. But I also am led to believe they are looking for a significant upgrade with a veteran free agent, perhaps, or in a trade, to eat up some minutes for a year or two while the many young defensemen in the pipeline find their way. Especially if Jim Dolan’s idea is to win really soon, then Schneider, and Zac Jones, and perhaps Nils Lundkvist, etc., need to spend more time in the minors than K’Andre Miller, Adam Fox or Ryan Lindgren did. That’s the usual route for a young D-man, especially if the rebuild is, you know, supposed to turn the corner on orders from the top.

 

So I would expect the Rangers to look at the free-agents list, at the likes of Alec Martinez (whose name probably causes shivers among Rangers fans over the age of 10), or Brandon Montour, Ian Cole, Erik Gudbranson, ranging in age from ages 29-32 on a short-term deal. If they could find one who also has snarl — but god, not a Luke Schenn type — even better. The Rangers tried to fill this hole last offseason and whiffed with Jack Johnson.

 

4. Faceoff specialist

 

Of course it would be paramount that this player would also be able to kill penalties. But he likely won’t help the power play, which almost always starts with the Rangers chasing the puck back behind their own net after a lost faceoff.

 

I don’t know if their skills coach can come up with an answer, or if they need to bring in somebody who can coach that art. But I still think there’s as much will as skill involved, and a level of bearing down required. Whatever it is, it must be better.

 

Maybe, in this regard, they take a run at Casey Cizikas of the Islanders, the best player on one of the best fourth lines in hockey, who will be a free agent at age 30.

 

5. Backup goalie

 

I don’t honestly know how Drury feels about Alexandar Georgiev, whose season was bumpy at best (and let’s face it, No. 1 Igor Shesterkin didn’t shine all season either). I also doubt that Georgiev’s value around the league is better now than it was last season, when it was wait-and-see low.

 

https://theathletic.com/2576809/2021/05/10/what-im-hearing-about-the-rangers-offseason-roster-priorities-five-areas-of-need-facing-new-gm-chris-drury/

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My own personal wish list:

 

1. Trade for Reaves (solves Wilson problem).

2. Trade Chytil after expansion draft for Schenn-like 3C (checks face-offs and toughness).

3. Keep Zibanejad and Strome.

4. Sign OLEKSIAK, Bogosian or Cole.

5. Sign Smith for 7th D.

6. Sign Simmonds, Coleman and/or Goodrow.

7. Bring back Lundqvist!

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Main needs - A Center that's tough to play against. Hopefully big, physical, can play defensively and kill penalties. A guy that leans on you, tough to go through. Ideally, a 3C that can slide up to 2C. Right now, Zibanejad, Strome, Chytil up the middle is just too easy, too soft.

 

top 9 wings I don't touch. Kreider, Panarin, Lafreniere, Kakko, Kravtsov - and they can decide on Buchnevich.

D - I don't touch. Let the prospects battle it out. Would love to see a Taxi squad again next season with Robertson and Lundkvist around. Plus Jones, maybe Schneider. Get a rotation so everyone gets some games.

 

Goalies - Not worried. If Georgiev gets you something via trade, go for it. If not, they're "fine"

 

4th line - this will really tell us what Drury/Dolan think. I imagine they'll add a bit of toughness, it's needed.

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Main needs - A Center that's tough to play against. Hopefully big, physical, can play defensively and kill penalties. A guy that leans on you, tough to go through. Ideally, a 3C that can slide up to 2C. Right now, Zibanejad, Strome, Chytil up the middle is just too easy, too soft.

 

top 9 wings I don't touch. Kreider, Panarin, Lafreniere, Kakko, Kravtsov - and they can decide on Buchnevich.

D - I don't touch. Let the prospects battle it out. Would love to see a Taxi squad again next season with Robertson and Lundkvist around. Plus Jones, maybe Schneider. Get a rotation so everyone gets some games.

 

Goalies - Not worried. If Georgiev gets you something via trade, go for it. If not, they're "fine"

 

4th line - this will really tell us what Drury/Dolan think. I imagine they'll add a bit of toughness, it's needed.

 

They should literally buy an entire fourth line. Let Barron battle with whatever combination of signings/trades they make. Reaves, Cizikas, Simmonds, whomever.

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I think Buchnevich will be traded

I'd like to see the Rangers sign Nick Foligno

 

He might be, simply because he's due such a significant raise, but it sucks, because he's an example of what was working, not what wasn't. He'll win zero fights, ever, but he's first in on every scrum.

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I thought our odds at first overall is 0% because the won it last year?

 

Or did that not take effect yet?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Blueshirts Brotherhood mobile app powered by Tapatalk

 

Doesn't take affect until the following season, I believe.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-draft-lottery-changes-announced-for-2021/c-322838154

 

The 2021 NHL Draft Lottery will be reduced from three drawings to two as part of changes announced Tuesday.

 

The changes, approved by the NHL Board of Governors, will determine the order of the NHL Draft for the teams that do not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

 

Two other changes will begin with the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery:

 

-- Teams will be restricted from moving up more than 10 spots if it wins one of the lottery draws.

 

-- Teams cannot win the lottery more than twice in a five-year period. Wins in the lottery prior to 2022 will not be counted toward this total.

 

The NHL said the changes will reduce the likelihood of the worst-finishing team dropping in the draft order and not retaining the right to the No. 1 pick; reduce the magnitude of any possible drop in draft order for the worst-finishing team; limit the number of teams eligible to win the No. 1 pick (based on final regular-season standings); and limit the number of times the same team can benefit from winning a lottery drawing.

 

The reduction to two drawings ensures that the team that finishes last in the NHL standings would pick no lower than No. 3.

 

So the #3 pick is no longer part of the lottery starting this year. Just the #1 and #2 picks. All other changes delayed until next year.

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I think we're stuck with Kreider until his NMC is converted to a modified NMC. If I were an opposing GM I wouldn't want any part of him. He's too inconsistent, and I wouldn't want a player that could go limp in the playoffs. If somehow we could unload him though, I think I'd have a keg party for a week!!!

 

Trouba's contract blows, but he's the kind of player I like, and I also think we need him back there. This team demonstrated to me that just his presence alone made a big difference in the feel of a game.

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I think we're stuck with Kreider until his NMC is converted to a modified NMC. If I were an opposing GM I wouldn't want any part of him. He's too inconsistent, and I wouldn't want a player that could go limp in the playoffs. If somehow we could unload him though, I think I'd have a keg party for a week!!!

 

Trouba's contract blows, but he's the kind of player I like, and I also think we need him back there. This team demonstrated to me that just his presence alone made a big difference in the feel of a game.

 

The Rangers basically became a wet noodle the minute he got injured.

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Someone can do what Trouba does for a quarter of the price. That someone needs to play LD, not RD. We are full at RD and have no room for Trouba. According to Brooks the Rangers were ready to bring in Lundkvist if they made the playoffs. That means they think he's NHL ready. Schneider is basically ready as he was the best D in the WHL and played a few games in Hartford and looked the part. If he needs time, then someone else that doesn't make $8 mil can fill in that spot.

 

Trouba gets $8 mil, can't even play the 2nd PP unit, doesn't play nearly as physical as advertised, gets pinned in his own zone way too often, and worst of all can't seem to find teammates with outlet passes. Idk if his presence makes some huge difference, but I do know he looks like Wade Redden on the ice. That contract was a colossal mistake and he needs to be moved before the rest of the league catches up on that and we have another buyout on our hands. Right now I think he still has enough of a reputation so that a few teams would still be willing to take him. That won't be true much longer.

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If the Rangers had Schneider in the pipeline sooner, would they have even signed Trouba at all? Kind of like if they had known they were getting the #1 pick last year, they wouldn't have re-signed Kreider. I know it's all hindsight and that might not be the best comparison. There is no crystal ball after all. It was just something I was thinking about. If they can't trade him, he's totally going to be a buy-out candidate in a couple of years.
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Someone can do what Trouba does for a quarter of the price. That someone needs to play LD, not RD. We are full at RD and have no room for Trouba. According to Brooks the Rangers were ready to bring in Lundkvist if they made the playoffs. That means they think he's NHL ready. Schneider is basically ready as he was the best D in the WHL and played a few games in Hartford and looked the part. If he needs time, then someone else that doesn't make $8 mil can fill in that spot.

 

Trouba gets $8 mil, can't even play the 2nd PP unit, doesn't play nearly as physical as advertised, gets pinned in his own zone way too often, and worst of all can't seem to find teammates with outlet passes. Idk if his presence makes some huge difference, but I do know he looks like Wade Redden on the ice. That contract was a colossal mistake and he needs to be moved before the rest of the league catches up on that and we have another buyout on our hands. Right now I think he still has enough of a reputation so that a few teams would still be willing to take him. That won't be true much longer.

 

i dont think there's any fan who wants trouba for the price tag is getting. he's a $6M defender at best. but who's going to take him?

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It's interesting reading "trade Trouba" stuff after how obvious it is we need him. He's not an 8M player, but he's not easily replaceable either. It's a weird situation where I'm not sure there would be a buyer for him given the contract, but I'm not sure the Rangers should be trading him either. Not yet, anyway.
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It's interesting reading "trade Trouba" stuff after how obvious it is we need him. He's not an 8M player, but he's not easily replaceable either. It's a weird situation where I'm not sure there would be a buyer for him given the contract, but I'm not sure the Rangers should be trading him either. Not yet, anyway.

 

Cant live with him, cant live without him type of scenario. Like Dunny and his wife

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My wishlist:

 

1) Trade for Lucic (50% retained) - Has the ability to drag his team into battle and can kick anyone's ass.

2) Sign Getzlaf - Bargain leadership, 3rd/4th line center, toughness

3) Buy a real 4th line - NHL players that know their role (shot blockers, PKers, grinders)

 

Dream list:

1) One of Brady or Matthew Tkchuck

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My wishlist:

 

1) Trade for Lucic (50% retained) - Has the ability to drag his team into battle and can kick anyone's ass.

2) Sign Getzlaf - Bargain leadership, 3rd/4th line center, toughness

3) Buy a real 4th line - NHL players that know their role (shot blockers, PKers, grinders)

 

Dream list:

1) One of Brady or Matthew Tkchuck

 

That's not too bad a list, 31....the only stretch may be the Tkchuck boys, but that's not really asking for a ton.

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New York Rangers rookie Alexis Lafreniere is expected to decline Team Canada's invite to play at the IIHF World Championship, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports.

 

Brooks adds that Rangers defencemen Adam Fox and K’Andre Miller have already declined invites from the United States to play at the tournament in Latvia later this month.

 

https://www.tsn.ca/report-alexis-lafreniere-to-decline-iihf-world-championship-invite-from-team-canada-1.1637285

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