Giacomin

I feel like I remember reading somewhere that Anaheim were really big on him.

 

You could also tell we really wanted him because we already had the jersey made up for him. They were going to give up whatever they needed to give up to trade up to that spot and take him and they knew it.

 

Given the mgmt interviews, the Rangers believed one or more teams likely would select him before 26. I too remember Anaheim as the rumored team. Of course, Miller being from Minn, the Wild were a worry at 24. And St Louis has an excellent track record with their 1sts.

 

I was surprised it cost a 2nd to move to #22, instead of our early 3rd. But it seemed steep only for a moment, until I realized we got the player I wanted! How often does that happen? There are a few threads in this section that show I wasn't the only one who liked Miller before the draft. We are unanimously delighted, so far. No Wisc games till mid Jan, but we have the Worlds to watch.

I'm halfway joking of course, but I really do think his ability is such that I feel absolutely confident he'll make the team. I also think the organization is so invested in him that to not make the team he'd have to be so poor in camp they decided he's simply not ready. And I think he's played enough grown-up hockey in Russia that it seems unlikely.

Agreed on Shesty too.

 

I hear that and assumed that's where you are coming from given his play this year. I did not want to mention injury as something that could derail next year's plans for him with the Rangers, since that would be a jinx. Didn't matter. Whoops there it is. Does not look good, MRI.... ??

He's going to moonwalk onto this team bud.

 

If I had to bet, I'd certainly bet on him. Just staying consistent with the theme that he'll have to earn it in camp. I'm going to assume he will. I think Shesty will too, if he is in camp.

Tarasenko and Kuznetsov staying in the KHL for as long as they did weren't developmental choices.

 

Kravtsov has indicated a desire to come over since he was drafted. The only thing holding him back was his commitment to his KHL contract. Once that expires he's coming over. There's also nothing stopping him from playing say a round or two in the KHL playoffs and still coming over in time for an AHL playoff run if Hartford is in contention.

 

All true and spot on. He's not going to be in the KHL next year. He may not make the team next year out of camp, but I think we'll give him a legitimate shot at it.

He told a reporter, in an interview, his plan for the rest of the season is...

 

Ah,that makes sense. Got it, thanks.

 

I'm with you guys, I have no problem with him getting traded to Ska for the KHL playoffs. :) Also, no need for him to put on a Ranger uniform this year, regardless. Don't start burning a year of his ELC this year, no matter what.

 

Why does he have to tell them anything, his contract is up. Isn't he free to to do what he wants? Is it so they won't/can't trade hum?

Is it 100% that he's coming over already after this season? I see that Tarasenko and Kuznetsov played in the KHL even in their D+3 season. I feel like it would be typical Rangers to rush things.

 

I'm not sure if it is 100%, but I think that is the plan unless he regresses. In this case, I assume the Rangers do not think his current team will be better than having him here under our staff adjusting to the US and either Hartford or NY. I've read he wants to come over after the KHL season ends.

I don't think anybody said offense was an "issue", merely that scouts were uncertain about the offensive upside. Surprisingly you might say, considering he's a convert from forward. So it's good to see him putting up points at this rate. I haven't seen anyone questioning the defensive side of his game.

 

Not so much his defense, more about how refined he is at playing the position. Part of it is the abilityl to reliably shutdown top players rushing into the zone as a traditional standup dman.

 

Here's a great article that really adds some insight and even addresses why he went to Wisc., answering my own question. BTW, he says it was Tony Granato! One of my favs, gotta love it. His hockey hero is Mikko Koivu. There is good stuff about defense, offense, being a "power center".

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/kandre-miller-sees-himself-as-fourth-forward/c-294838648

I'm just going to assume he's going to be Brent Burns and I refuse to be disappointed.

 

Are you busting my balls?

 

Slobber good info. He's from Minny and could have attended any of the midwest hockey schools. Would like to know why he choose Wisc. over Minn and others. Was it simplyb because of their track record with Dmen?

Guess if he continues his dominance thru the season, plus a strong showing at the WJC, he could decide to leave after one year. I'm just not going to expect it, but content to know the team and player will certainly be talking after the year is over. They will talk and make the appropriate decision. If Miller wants to go back to Madison, then it is probably best.

Absolutely my #1 pick for 26 and a lot of fans, experts and scouts think the same. We woulda screw up 48 anyway :)

 

His weaknesses are that he is still learning the position, having been a converted forward. That is not a weakness of his doing and he is growing into the position nicely. After that I can't find a serious weakness, everything is improvable.

 

Burns/Buff is a good comparison if he reaches his potential. Good driven kids with strong work ethic are the best bets to achieve their potential. Go US

 

To pile on, I've only seen Wisconsin once this season, but Miller was the perfect pick. We critique the Ranger's drafting, but they made sure they could select this well-regarded prospect with the upside to be an impact player.

 

However, offense is not an issue. [Gravesy check-out the guys at hockeyprospects.com to supplement Pronman.] Simply, the only big question was him becoming a legitimate defensemen, after playing forward for much of his childhood. That is the main reason not to rush him. Last year, he demonstrated he could. Now he is beginning to thrive under the staff in Wisconsin. I'm guessing he plays at least two years there, then if he and the Rangers think he can make the team, he'll make the jump.

thanks dunny

I'll take another 1C, how's his D?

 

How long have you been a Ranger fan to complain about too many 1C's?

Ronning should be, too.

 

Bye.

 

Geez, you're dying to kill the kid off. Like Pionk, this time last year, except Pionk is much older.

 

He's not Sean Day, who has no hockey sense and possibly lacking in drive. He's a small kid that will need to have his skills fully mature/refined before he can make it. He needs a few years, why are you talking about him, let alone on his back?

Kreider for Borgstrom, straight up

I think they hope Georgiev is Talbot or Raanta, obviously, but that's a long shot.

 

I don't like Hank, there's something about him that's like the anti-Richter, I can't love him, but I hope he keeps this level of play up, that would be pretty fun if he puts together a phenomonal year and they stay on the fringe of the playoffs all year.

 

He's the youngest goalie in the NHL and he looked good last year. Why not see if he can repeat that all season? No pressure to do anything with him except find out who he can be.

 

We are not good enough for Hank to carry us, even if he maintains this level of play. We need high-end prospects for Kreider because 1) they are still prospects 2) our problem: we need top line or top pair potential. Especially for a proven fast 27 y/o PF.

 

Plus, trading some of the guys you want to trade, takes us further from the playoffs.

If he's the real deal, they should go the Talbot route with Gregoriev. They just took a goalie in the 3rd round, so they obviously felt good about him. Think probably 5 years of Shesty and then move him before free agency if his demands are outrageous.

 

This team isn't going to get burned over-paying a goalie again.

 

I'd keep them all until one of them emerges as a clear cut longterm #1 goalie by actually doing it for a year. Unlike Talbot/Ranta, Georgie is not due any kind of money for ages. We can do like Nashville now. If he has a strong year as backup, it would take more than a 2nd rounder to entice mgmt. If Hank gets hurt and he performs the way Talbot did for a month straight, he'd become really valuable at his age.

I can already see how we're going to get almost zero value from Shestyorkin.

 

He's going to be a 5-6 million dollar goalie the year after Hank retires.

 

He'll have at least 4 (I think 5) seasons of team control. We could also buy a couple of years of UFA,. It's a good problem to have. And Georgie is the youngest goalie in the NHL. We may have the Russian Duo.

is this your opinion or you read this somewhere?

 

I've followed his situation and contract since we drafted him. Gotten info from everywhere. Been saying on this board for more than 2 years (particularly to RespecttheBlue), that he was going to have to wait till Camp 2019 to see him. All the sudden that's too soon? He'll be 23 and he keeps getting better. He's a brick wall this year. Hope that didn't sound snarky. Maybe the Rangers decide to play him for a bit in Hartford, especially if Georgie has another good year. He won't be denied his NHL debut for long though. We've all been patient and if he continued to develop this was always the obvious next step.

 

Though for Dunny, with some return snark, wtf are you talking about? You knew the plan for Shesty, he's not 19/20 and he's even better than we thought. He's ready, we can take him out of the oven and serve him to Allaire.

If he keeps this up, it becomes more conceivable that he could be one and done with the Badgers.

 

More likely he gives it 2 years in college, which could be for the best. Then he comes to camp to win a spot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who knows, but seems like if he leaves after 1, he'll need a year in Hartford anyway. He may need a little time in the A regardless.

Good news guys, once that contract is up, his KHL days are over. There is no way the Rangers let him stay in the KHL after this season and Shesty probably can't wait to get the hell out.

I think he's a real prospect.

All up to the lottery...

 

2012 - Edmonton moved from 2 to 1 to draft Yakupov

2013 - Colorado moved from 2 to 1 to draft MacKinnon

2014 - Florida moved from 2 to 1 to draft Ekblad

2015 - Edmonton moved from 3 to 1 to draft McDavid

2016 - Toronto stayed at 1 for Matthews

2017 - Devils moved from 5 to 1 to draft Hischier

2018 - Buffalo stayed a 1 for Dahlin

 

 

Noting is a sure bet. Anything can happen.

 

Yeah and some of that data is when the odds were weighted more heavily to the very bottom teams. Now even the worst team only has less than 20% chance at Hughes. And Detroit is going to be hard to catch, they are keeping kids in the A and have no offense at all.

 

I say we avoid all very high-priced UFA except if he meets these conditions:

 

1. Not older than 27, low miles, no injuries. Especially if 7 year contract

2. Perfect fit, fills positional and skill need.

3. Must be excellent skater and likes to play fast.

4. Dynamic impact player

5. Wants to be here, won't try to extract every last nickel or drum-up a bidding war.

 

I think Panarin is the rare UFA that meets all 5 criteria. As of now, I say we aggressively explore signing him whether we get Hughes or not. This draft already has at least 5 kids who look like very high-end prospects and a very deep first round overall.

I think my precision are panning out:

 

Ronning and Day aren't prospects, they're ECHL fodder.

 

But we don't want that prediction panning out. Plus, no one ever thinks 5'8" is gonna happen. It takes a while for undersized players to be good enough, their skills need to be honed to a higher level. Day already has skeptics and still has a lot to improve if he is ever going to make it. However, these two and many others are not on the cusp and should be evaluated over the whole year.

Still rather have the next two #1 overall picks and enjoy the build toward the Championship. Not to mention how fun it would be to watch our own elite talent on ice. 1986, 1994 those weren't gifts, they were earned accomplishments. That is why they felt so great and burned lasting memories into the minds of those who experienced the pain of the past. Success usually requires patience, determination, failure and endurance.