ThirtyONE

8 hours ago, rmc51 said:

Two years ago when the Rangers were a bubble play-in team, we said they were two years away. Now two seasons later they sit 2nd/3rd in the Metro, have flirted with 1st in the Metro for stretches of the season, and we are saying they are a year or three away. No. We are legitimate contenders now, even if more than half of the reason for that is Shesterkin.

 

Speaking of that play-in experience, most of the core here was part of that thrashing by the Canes. You know it's in their memory bank for what's required once the playoffs hit. On top of that, we have a heavier team that plays with balls. We added additional veteran playoff experience to complement the core. We have an experienced coach with plenty of playoff experience at the top. We have plenty of assets to improve scoring and depth. Make the necessary moves to round the team out. The time to start taking punches is now.

I think in the bubble we were saying they were 2-3 years from making the real playoffs. And that turned out to be true. I think now they're 2 years from being in the conversation with the Vegas, Aves, and Tampas. ie. the teams that are actual contenders year after year. 

44 minutes ago, RJWantsTheCup said:

Gallant does have them winning, but you would think they would try the top RW from Hartford or somebody else besides Hunt with Panarin and Strome by now.  Move Hunt to the 4th line in place of McKegg.

Pretty sure the top forwards from Hartford are Barron and Gettinger. They're not NHL players. The RW for the 2nd line is Kakko. Plain and simple. they just have to fill the hole till he's back

I mean, the Rangers ARE likely a few years away for being true beasts of the east, but they're punching WAY above where I thought they would this season. Unlike last time we made a run, the goal should be to sustain year after year, not just go all in and burn down the farm for one or two good runs. Should they go out and get a 3rd liner? Yes. Does that require trading Kakko or Lafreniere? Of course not. The nationally televised games are fun but I'd take anything the pundits say with a grain of salt. They're not watching the Rangers regularly. They don't know who's in the system. 

Realistically, the Rangers could go into the playoffs without doing anything at the deadline and I'd be okay with that. No matter who they pick up, a 1st round exit is likely (based on lack of experience). But the experience gained this year will be invaluable for future success. 

5 minutes ago, Drew a Penalty said:

I wonder what Malkin said to set off Rooney like that.

I think Rooney was hot about the hit earlier (from Boyle?)

Also Malkin has a face that just makes you angry. 

10 hours ago, josh said:

May be the most complete game of the season.

 

1st line great, both ends. Shut down the other team

3rd line was noticeable. 
4th line was awesome. Goodrow makes that line awesome. He gets Rooney and Reaves going, too. 
 

defense was great 

 

Shesterkin solid

 

most invisible players were Panarin and Fox… which is a great sign for the team. 

When Goodrow is slotted down in the lineup, it changes everything. 

Still don't know why we would. He's not gonna get much in return and we need a backup.

2 hours ago, Dunny said:

His podcast is great. He's a pretty good interviewer, and has made obvious strides over his reading of his book for Audible, which was pretty bad.

 

The guy that supports his podcast is pretty good, too.

 

What do people have against his podcast other than subject matter?

 

As for his comeback, he claims to be in fantastic shape, which I would believe, and I would wager he'd be able to have some success in the ECHL if he rides it out, but he topped out as a 3rd liner in the NHL ten years ago, so I can't fathom his comeback getting past the ECHL stage.

Comeback? I don't see it as a comeback at all. It's a stunt. He's 41. He's been out of the league for 10 years. It's a nice way to sell tickets if you're an ECHL team. It's sort of a sad way to stay in the limelight if you're Avery. I can't see any other reason for it.

I can't tell if this is sad or not.

26 minutes ago, Sod16 said:

It's too bad we don't trade with the Islanders.  Clutterbuck would be a good fit and not too dear.

 

Do any teams have a used puck bag available?  I'd be willing to trade the "Turd Line" as a package for one.  In the alternative, the Turd Line for the three Hansons.

Yeah, there's no chance. But you're right. He'd be a good fit.

I saw something on twitter about Rickard Rakell maybe being available. He plays both wings. I dunno if he's been mentioned here yet.

Considering we may be entering into an endemic, the rules could/should change. He also has another year on his contract at which point the vaccine stuff probably won't matter.

13 hours ago, Kevin said:

NHL tonight talking about Tyler Bertuzzi might be available. It would cost a lot since he’s under contract for one more year and a reasonable salary number. 44 points with 23 goals. He is a lefty and I think primarily a left wing but there’s a ton to like about a player like him.

I'm sort of surprised to hear that. I love that dude's game. 

30 minutes ago, Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc said:

Who cares at this point? Chytil, Gauthier, Hunt, McKegg.. They all suck, but someone has to play

Pretty much. It just amazes me how this has turned out. Hunt was supposed to be extra forward, possibly in Hartford. McKegg was supposed to be in Hartford. Gauthier was supposed to be taken for free by Seattle. Now all three of them are playing big minutes every night. I mean it's no wonder the 5v5 stats are horrific. The 5v5 players are horrific. 

Personally, I'd keep him. I dunno know why anyone would be interested in picks at this point.

6 minutes ago, Phil said:

 

Who is suggesting this? I'm pretty sure everyone agrees here:

 

1. He's not a threat for 2C or a believable option for 2RW, so —

2. That makes him a third-line player on a third line that, like him, is undefinable. They're simply a collection of leftovers. So —

3. Why keep him? Because you're afraid he'll figure it out as many as five years from now? That's awful asset management. So —

4. What is his value to this team, today, if not as a trade chip to get a player who can define your third line?

RJ and to some extent JSM.

2 minutes ago, siddious said:

I really want to keep making a Buchnevich comparison who I couldn’t stand his first few seasons as a ranger and who I thought would never amount to much. 
 

ny isn’t patient enough to wait for a guy like Chytil to hit his stride unfortunately. Myself included in that. 
 

He is the obvious man out though 

There you go. That's another good name. I'm also guilty of thinking he sucked until he didn't.

I'll be surprised if Chytil isn't a casualty at the deadline, but I won't be surprised if he becomes a useful player somewhere.

On 2/9/2022 at 12:47 PM, Blue Heaven said:

https://theathletic.com/3112405/2022/02/09/rangers-prospect-pipeline-check-in-skilled-physical-will-cuylle-has-the-makings-of-milan-lucic-in-his-prime/

 

Morgan Barron centering Cuylle next season?!?! 2 guys 6'4 210-220 would be hard to play against. 

I have no idea what people see in Barron, but I'm interested in Cuylle for sure.

24 minutes ago, josh said:

Like who?

I can't think of any non-short guys, or unskilled players, that turned it on late. Zucc, St. Louis, Tim thomas and his stupid fucking helmet.

I mean look at our team Panarin didn't even enter then NHL until he was 24. Mika wasn't a stud until he was 26. You named three guys yourself. It takes a while. I'm not saying Chytil will be any of those players, but the addition by subtraction crowd were probably the same crowd that complained when Pionk and Graves turned out to be decent at hockey.

If you think the team is thin now, take away Chytil and you literally have no way to replace his spot in the lineup. We saw what this team looked like with it's AHL players -- they stunk.

I'm not interested in the trade him for nothing angle. We've seen players wake up and suddenly get it at 25, 26, and 27. I'm not sure I feel like waiting for him to figure it out, but I'm sure he has value somewhere. Trading him for a pick makes no sense considering our lack of depth. He's not addition by subtraction because there's literally no one available to replace him, unless you'd like to see more McKegg 

I got COVID and I was fucked up for quite a while after. I'd ride my bike and then be a wreck for 3 days after. My partner still has exhaustion issues 3 months later.

Hope he and his family are alright. Last time someone just disappeared like this I think I remember it turned out to be pretty dark (drugs, alcohol, etc.)

Hope he's good.  

38 minutes ago, Keirik said:

Dvorak has nearly a 4.5m cap. Even assuming Chytil goes the other way, it’s a clunky fit. We improve in faceoffs though I guess but it’s not a massive upgrade really 

Over Chytil? I disagree. Chytil doesn't even have a position. It would lock in our center position for the next however many years, and if Habs retain money it allows us to keep Strome. Mika, Strome, Dvorak down the middle is very deep.

I dunno if it's possible, I'm just saying if there's one player on the Habs I'm even remotely interested in, it's him.  

2 hours ago, Pete said:

Not without getting a reliable starting calibre insurance policy back. 

Which is basically what Georgiev is... so, yeah. I don't see the point. 

They'll trade him in the offseason, but they need him as insurance to close out the season and into the playoffs.

20 minutes ago, G1000 said:

Dvorak's contract is three more years and he's been god-awful since the pandemic began. At 50% it's palatable, but there's no way Montreal agrees to eat that salary for three more years.

 

I'm passing on him.

He's a good player. He'd be a great 3rd liner. I'd overpay in prospects to fit him on this team and keep his contract low.

Dvorak please. Gorton probably likes our system more than any GM in the league. Krav, Lundqvist, 1st for Dvorak (money retained). 

Makes total sense. Wonder which guys Gorton has an eye on.