RangersIn7

They needed a stalwart stay at home guy on D for the top-4. They needed a high quality 2C at an affordable price. Those adds would’ve established that “core” everyone is looking for with Toronto. They could’ve had both with perhaps still some money to spend. They went for the shiny thing instead of filling two premium spots and still having money and flex. In Summer of 2018, they could’ve acquired guys like Ekholm and Trochek and still had $2.5 million to spend. And probably at not too bad a cost in assets either. Which they had to spend and could have done so without killing their roster. Im saying a move like that was the move. Not 1 huge signing. But 2-3 lower level moves that manifest in a team that is better, deeper, and more versatile.

But they didn’t need a 1C with droves of offense. Or for that matter, another premium offensive forward. They needed a true 2C, another top-4 D, a good quality bottom-6 forward and a goalie. And in 6 years they couldn’t get those things. Cause they ain’t got the paper to do it. Guess what happened 6 years ago? Oh… that’s right…. They gave Tavares 80 million bucks to be their top C when at that point, they had some kid by the name of Matthews who in his first 140 games had 75 goals, and was at the ripe old age of 21

I’m not “blaming” anything on Tavares. Certainly not putting it all on him. I guess I should articulate better Phil, so here goes: Their depth has been the issue. In the bottom-6. But more importantly at D And Freddie Anderson is the best goalie they’ve had in I don’t know how long. They’ve lacked quality players on D and depth, grit, and scoring punch in terms of guys who can really contribute in their bottom 6 for years. Tavares is a top C But they already had a better one in Matthews Plus two premium wingers. And they weren’t close 6 years ago. Go get yourself a 2C and another top-4 D and maybe even a good bottom-6 forward for that money. Or maybe a goalie. They could achieve that now by moving Marner or Nylander, yes. Im saying that the best way to build around this core 6 years ago wasn’t by adding Tavares. It was spending that cap space differently. And if you’re asking for specifics, 6 years ago they had the cap space and the assets to go get many players who filled the roles they needed filled.

I don’t know. Neither do you. They didn’t HAVE to pay any of them at that time. Could’ve just let the young guys develop and go from there. But with that cap space, who knows who might’ve been available to them. There’s so many possibilities Im not suggesting a specific solution or player(s). Clearly it hasn’t worked with Tavares. Stands to reason they might do things differently if they had another whack at that piñata

I’m not at all suggesting that they keep Kadri Im merely suggesting that the core I cited, for the most part, would have been better served by spending that money on 2-3 players, as opposed to 1 player named Tavares.

I get the argument you fine Gents are making…. But it’s misplaced and you’re missing the bigger point. Go back to 2018 when they signed him. Marner Matthews Nylander Reilly Kadri Gardner Kapanen Johnnson Hyman Freddie Andersen All already in house. Then they spent 80 million on JT. Instead of whacking that money up between 2-3 guys that could’ve been huge in their depth, which is what they’ve lacked. Now they could have achieved that subsequent with a deal of Marner or Nylander. Or they could have just not created the problem in the first place.

He’s just a secondary scorer at this point. The whole league knows it. He’s playing out the string to break a record. That’s all

Tavares was the mistake

Then they’d be out 2 premium players instead of one.

I don’t disagree that there are other issues But the lack of depth has been the biggest. That 11 million on multiple players would really help

They’d have been way better served by not signing Tavares years back, and instead putting that money in 2-3 other players that could’ve really helped them and made them deeper.

Finish these guys tonight! LGR!

Don’t let up and bury them tonight! LGR!

To say “Finally” is unfair. It took him 3 seasons and a whopping total of just over 200 games to figure it out at the ripe old age of 22.

Kakko is going to be just fine. Broken record here but… Players are ready when they’re ready.

Keep the pressure on and beat these guys! LGR!

They’re also just not too good.

Gallant is a mixed bag. Does well for a couple of seasons and loses the room and the front office. Hes a good coach. He’s had success. Just don’t ever see him winning a Cup.

Bury these guys and do it quickly! LGR!

That’s all I’m giving him credit for as well.

There are advantages to line shuffling at times, yes. But it’s not usually immediate and you have to keep guys together.

If you preside over something successful, you get the credit for it. Just like you get the blame for failure You can still credit the guy for something whilst pointing out his massive shortcomings I’ll say this though as my operative point on Gallant: Good coach. Not a great coach. High- level. Not a champion. Won a lot. Ultimately lost. Some very positive traits. Some very negative ones. And too many issues with upper management and lack of prep/practice/engagement. Player’s coach. Not detail oriented. He was a mixed bag. Right at the time. Not in 2 years though. They knew what they hired. Its fine. Move on. What they experienced under Gallant will actually help them in the long run.

Ok. Well now this group, under 2 coaches, has 150+ wins and just had the best season in Franchise history. So… this group has to be pretty good. And I’d say the guy who helped put it together is pretty good too. Not sure what the knock is on Drury or what issue you have there or why?

What happened in the playoffs last year was a symptom of the things he failed to do for 2 years. Thats just when it caught up to him. Despite terrible series from most of their best players, the Devils still needed 7 games. He had to make enough adjustments to find a way to win 1 game. He was unable to do so. Now do they still have flaws? Yes. But they’re better now. And it’s hit me over the head kind of obvious. Listen to the people who cover the team. They talk all the time about the night and day difference now. They practice a lot. Theyre prepared They have a system and structure and while some of the same problems plague them, they’ve fixed or improved upon some as well. If you just have no hope for this team and want to say how they have no chance with this group… 2 things then. Stop watching Stop posting

Gallant and his approach and the fact that he was an experienced, veteran coach, is what this team needed when he was hired. He did very well over 2 seasons and the 1 deep playoff run. He deserves a lot of credit for that. But he had his usual disagreements with his superiors. And they didn’t practice. They were not prepared. He did not engage his players enough. He had the usual disconnect with his players that he’s had elsewhere. He failed to provide structure. He failed to prepare his guys. He failed to make adjustments besides shuffling lines. And despite his success, those are huge outnesses. And that got him fired.