BrooksBurner

Quennville. Bob and Panarin I think both are visiting Florida. I'm just speculating, but there's also a couple of good Russian players on the team and they can afford to sign both.

I would be tempted to give Buchnevich a longer contract now. He scored 20 goals and the potential there is still very much untapped. A 4-5 year contract at 4m per might actually do it. But it all depends on the other moves that Gorton is going to do.

I am becoming somewhat resigned to what seems to be a strong likelihood that Panarin goes to Florida, which would mean moving on to another plan. In that case, you kick the can down the road another year. If Kreider signs at a good rate, fine. If not, just trade him and be done with it. Look to vets to supplement the roster for 2 seasons. Pavelski is a great option if he leaves SJ. Then re-evaluate next summer. Shattenkirk/Smith can be bought out for far cheaper. It would open up potential to be active on the FA market. Only problem is there is nobody on Panarin's level that will be available, unless Hall doesn't resign and would actually spurn NJ for NY. In ths event Panarin actually signs here, flush out whoever you need to flush out. Namestnikov, Vesey etc.

You would think so given that Karlsson is better than Kreider.

Just speculating, but gotta think it's something like 6.5 vs 5.5. Meeting in the middle should be attainable, but there may be a team out there willing to give him the asking price.

The overuse of the word "literal"/"literally".

Lol Vancouver got ripped off

It actually is because normally you're still on crutches after 2 weeks.

Damn. The fact Krebs is walking 2 weeks after achilles surgery is pretty impressive.

Wanted Seider.

Kakko it will be!

I don't know why, but I am getting this last second feeling that the Devils will throw an absolute curveball and go Kakko.

Other than passing on Hughes or Kakko, is there anything from the Rangers that would genuinely shock anyone at the draft tomorrow night? For me it would be getting back into the top 5, maybe with some package like Kreider/Lundkvist/2020 1st.

The narrative would be around his elite skating and passing, and how his style of play fits the best in today's NHL.

If the Rangers had the #1 pick, it would be a lovefest for Hughes around here.

I wouldn't personally put money on Shattenkirk building up his value. I was just suggesting the Rangers may perhaps view it this way. I do question whether Fox is actually ready though. We are being forcefed this narrative that he will seamlessly move from college to the NHL, and we have seen multiple instances in the past where this just isn't the case. If Shattenkirk eats crap minutes on the 3rd pair for a little more than half a season while Fox adjusts to a pro game in the AHL, it just buys time before Shattenkirk can be more reasonably bought out next summer. Fox can be brought up when A) he is ready and it is obvious, conditional pick be damned, or B) after the plateau has been hit in order to keep the 2nd rounder next year. All of this is moot though if there actually is a buyer for Shattenkirk now.

What if the plan is to have Fox in the AHL until later in the year and Shattenkirk stays. Maybe Shattenkirk plays his value up, gets traded at the deadline. I believe the cutoff for that conditional pick going from a 3rd to a 2nd was 30 games for Fox right? Just saying. I realize they paid for him, but maybe the price was paid to start getting him exposure to the professional game in the A the first half+ of the year. Of course, if he plays lights out in the preseason and forces their hand, then hey...the conditional pick doesn't matter and you play him.

Still waiting for some 50 point players at 2 million dollars. I'll lower the bar. 40 point players.

I wouldn't say it's a lock or anything, but I'd give him the benefit of the doubt until he can't do it anymore. He has been a good player for a long time. 34 isn't dead. Look at Pavelski.

You said: "Trade him to anyone for any pick"

He's been a 50 point player even in his 30s. Last year he was hurt the majority of the season. Where are you finding a 50 point player for 2 million bucks?

It does matter though because you don't just give valuable commodities away. Just because his future cap hit might not align with what the Rangers want to do, it doesn't mean there aren't a dozen teams who feel differently and will pay a good price for him. By the way, if I'm choosing between some crap like a 2nd round pick versus holding onto him until at least the deadline, then I'm holding onto him.

Kreider won't get #4 by himself. I thought perhaps Kreider + #20 might get the ball rolling, but obviously that is kaput. Kreider/Lundkvist/pick might get the Avs listening.

The dead cap hit in year 2 is brutal.

It's less about the veterans and more about the 18-21 year old kids seeing guys sort of sulk around waiting to be traded again. Love Zuccarello but he was a drag for a while last year. You'd think someone drowned his puppy in front of him at times. Maybe they've gotten rid of enough over the last 2 years that it's not a problem anymore, but it still seems more beneficial to make the decision now rather than later.