Capt

The natural progression of building a contender demands strong center play. I think we can all agree that the Rangers biggest weakness organizationally is at center. This really is a Mika question. What is he? If he's an actual number 1 center than Eichel is not needed and an upgrade over Strome to a more well rounded number 2 guy would be far less expensive and easier to acquire. Chytil could become that guy but time will tell. If Mika is not a number 1, than there is a big problem as there is nobody within the organization who projects to develop into one. They would be forced to go out and get one and number 1 centers almost never hit the market. Eichel is locked up at a fair price and is still under 25. I can't imagine a better option becoming available but with the flat cap who knows. A trade for Eichel would not be same old Rangers, signing a 30 year UFA like Brad Richards would be same old Rangers. Eichel still has 7-8 prime years ahead of him. There isn't a player on the Rangers roster that I wouldn't include in a deal for him. Of course there are guys I would really try to avoid dealing and I rate them this way in order of importance to keeping. 1. Miller (size speed potential of being dominate player for the next 10-15 years) 2. Igor (can't contend without a capable goalie) 3. Laf (purely based on potential) 4. Kakko (potential and steps taken this year looks like he's developing into a stud) 5. Fox (better than the sum of his skills, not fast, not big, not a great shot, he's just good that said he's overrated by Ranger fans but underrated around the league) 6. Chytil (he's developing and a center which is a weakness we are trying to strengthen) 7. Panarin (only because he's older and making tons of money would I place him here) Would trade for a bag of pucks to make cap space: Trouba and Kreider If I'm the Rangers I offer two packages for Buffalo to choose from: Fox, Kravtsov, Barron/Robertson, and 1st or Chytil, Lundqvist, Barron/Robertson, 1st

More than 3 teams will emerge as suitors if he becomes available. The teams you mention are the best positioned now. When a talent like Eichel hits the market there is no telling what could go the other way to get it done. It could be as simple as star for star swap. Those trades are not common place but Buffalo may feel the need to do something like that because that franchise is in tough shape. Meaning the fans will not be sold on drafting their next star being how well the Eichel era worked out for them. Think something like Seth Jones for Eichel straight up

Not sure why Buffalo wouldn’t be holding all the cards here. More teams than the rangers would be lining up for Eichel. We can talk about all the ways to make this trade not painful but that is a pipe dream. You have to give to get. I honestly see no issue including kakko or laf in a deal like that. Either plus a protected 1st would be ok with me.

If Fox is the cost to get Eichel that's not stopping me. I won't like it but you have to give to get. I do think the Rangers will have to move on from a wing at some point. Laf, Panarin, Kakko, Kravtsov, need ice time

Imagine if that was Lemiuex

For as well as Igor has played lately he still lets in some shit goals

I hope your right. I also hope the nhl can help him secure the safety of his family. Terrible story all around.

Maybe not but those comments are not going to look good when they hit the news. I don't ever remember hearing anything about it until someone brought it up here. I would be very surprised if they aren't dragged out again and he has to deal with the mob. A lot has changed since 2017. I hope this bullshit made up story doesn't lead to other problems for him.

https://www.secondcityhockey.com/2017/3/6/14839126/artemi-panarin-racist-comments-video-apology-blackhawk I never knew of the actuations of him being a racist until this thread so I looked it up and here it is. I have to be honest I'm not sure why I didn't know this and how he's escaped the cancel culture. I will say I doubt he does this time around, easy google search led to this article. With the way the Rangers handled TDA, they kind of make it hard to ignore this when it gets dragged up again.

Agree. I don’t want to feed any conspiracy theories either and that wasn’t my point. It’s just that something is up. It just doesn’t make sense how far his play has fallen off. This isn’t your typical slump. This was a dominant player last year who was elite. Not one part of his game is good right now. Kevin Rooney has been better by a lot.

I’ve never seen a player look like he does last March to what he looks like now. If it was drugs obviously the team would know so it’s very unlikely. It has to be injury or his reaction to covid must be severe he just doesn’t look good at all. His point totals are completely earned. He isn’t snake bitten. He’s not getting chances we are used to seeing him get.

If you are being fair this article is not that ridiculous. The points and goal totals are worrisome on its own but if you watch him shift after shift it's even worse. Somehow he looks like he's forgotten how to play the sport. He can't receive a pass, he can't one time a puck (in the past a strength of his) he can't make space for himself, he's creating next to zero chances, he's drawing literally zero penalties and last his defensive game is not what it was either. Face-offs were always awful so nothing changed there. I don't want to say it but it almost screams drugs or it's an injury. It just doesn't make sense the fall off. The numbers can be explained by luck, loss of confidence, etc. However he cannot receive a pass at all, he's whiffing on one timers, he's tripping over the puck. I feel sorry for him, it has to be scary as hell to be him right now wondering what the hell happened too his skill

In my opinion the tda issue was handled poorly by everybody involved but that has nothing to do with bitteto other than giving him the opportunity. If any injury was the reason for opportunity nothing would be said we would just the players game. Up to this point his game has been surprising adequate. Nothing to get excited about but I’m also not desperately looking for his replacement. He’s the furthest thing from the problems this team has experienced

He's been surprisingly good. He makes the simple play and is definitely serviceable. Reminds me of Doug Lister. Nothing to get excited about but does his job night in night out. When you compare him to a guy like Jack Johnson it's night and day. For the life of me I don't understand what they see in Johnson. You notice him almost every shift for all the wrong reasons. Bitetto you wouldn't notice ever unless you were purposely watching him. Of course other than that insane goal he scored.

Hasn't Jim Dolan challenged fans to fights routinely for saying sell the team? Hard to use that as a reason to discipline a player if ownership doesn't seem to have a problem with doing it.