RichieNextel305

Very stupid player making yet another very stupid play in the playoffs. Simply inexcusable.

While it does make me pause for a moment, this was also a very, very weird (and short) season so I would count that as a variable.

https://nypost.com/2021/05/18/rangers-arrange-rick-tocchet-meeting-in-fluid-coach-search/

Conforto and McNeil are both heading for the IL for 10 days. Neither injury appears to be serious, but always have to be careful with the injuries they both have. In most years, this would be almost a death sentence, no matter how short or long term. Typically, we would have misfits like Eric Campbell or someone like that getting regular playing time with the abundance of injuries. It helps having professional players on your roster and off your bench, like Pillar and Villar, who are more than capable of stepping in. Obviously, they’re not Conforto or McNeil, but they are actual professionals who can do their job. Hopefully they can just weather this little storm here until they’re healthy again.

I mean, I’m sure just about every single team in the league would like to.

Like others have said, I highly doubt the Blues deal him.

Halak would be my guy. I definitely do think we need an upgrade at backup goalie. Someone more consistent and preferably a veteran who can help Igor along.

This is a subject that isn’t discussed a lot. Not the leadership void, the lack of a potential backup. I understand Georgiev may still be around. But if they can figure out a way to offload Georgiev, who might be better off elsewhere moving forward with more playing time, signing a veteran can be key. I think Igor can use the assistance of a veteran in his ear who can help him out as far as preparation goes for big games, and can also lend a hand with some playing time to the tune of maybe 25 or so games. Originally, I had my eyes on Jaroslav Halak, who I believe is a UFA and fits the role perfectly too. He has been a backup, he’s been a starter, he’s comfortable in any environment in any role and has plenty of experience. But if Rinne were willing to slip into the mentor role, he can add some leadership to the room and can also give us a bit more consistency out of the backup goaltender. I think it would be good for Shesterkin. https://nypost.com/2021/05/15/adding-pekka-rinne-would-infuse-rangers-with-needed-leader/

Brind’Amour would be the dream scenario, but I doubt it gets bad enough in CAR that we actually see him leave.

There are a lot of reputable candidates available. It’ll be interesting to see how this process unfolds.

And before that, Florida. He’s a very solid NHL coach.

You have to admit that this would be an amazing, amazing leap of faith by a franchise though. If he doesn’t succeed, what then?

I’m very upset we lost Martin as an assistant. Really like what he did with us defensively. But hopefully this group learned enough to take it with them moving forward. I’d like to see Adam Oates bought in as an assistant coach. He has experience, good with PP, and most importantly can hope with faceoffs, which badly needs fixing with this group.

Just read Brooks’ article, in which he noted that sources indicate that Gallant is at the top of the wish list. I would be perfectly fine with that.

There are a lot of good options out there. I would personally love to see Gallant here. But I’m not opposed to other options, such as Julien, Torts, etc. As I stated earlier, this had to be done now. Because if we kept Quinn and got out of the gate struggling, it would be a less than ideal situation for a young team like this, who would have to hear whispers everyday about whether or not their coach would be fired. Drury was right to do this now.

He wasn’t. He was the only one kept. I’m shocked they let Jacques Martin go.

This isn’t a situation where I dislike Quinn. I do like him, and I do believe he can coach at this level. For sure, wherever he next lands and whenever he does go, he’ll learn from this experience. That being said, I just believe it is time for a change behind the bench. If the mandate is to win, I think a veteran coach who has more experience winning can certainly be of value to this group. And if you don’t do this now and start off slow next season, than this whispers and the murmurs turn into full blown screams for his head. And that can be something that turns into a major league distraction. My opinion is to just do it now, rip the band aid off and you have a good crop of candidates (that will likely grow with other firings, etc.) to choose from that may not all be available if you wait and you do have a slow start and decide to make changes around Thanksgiving, for example.

I just think the whole process to get Eichel is going to be slow moving and will take time. Buffalo is going to ask for the moon and the stars initially and will have to be talked down from there. We are one of the last places on Earth that that franchise would want to send a 24 year old superstar, so they will ask a lot and it will take slick negotiating on Drury and the Rangers behalf. I’d rather him be snooping around for ways you can secure someone like say, Matthew Tkachuk, who fits and fills a need. Again, I’m not 100% opposed to Eichel. But we already have a first line center who, when fully healthy and with 82 games, is likely a 45-50 goal scorer. So what does he bring that we don’t already have? I understand that inserting his talent into any lineup makes a team much more dangerous. But again, I’d rather this organization recognize and pursue our needs instead of a shiny new toy.

It is really, really hard to turn down a 24 year old franchise center with the talent Eichel has. As a Ranger fan, it is really hard to see him available and to say “pass” when it comes to him. I love him as a player. That being said, when you look at the makeup of this roster, when you look at our needs, when you look at what it would likely cost to bring him in both asset wise and then to support his cap hit, it probably just isn’t the right move at the right time. Our issue hasn’t been scoring goals. We have enough talent in our top-6. By adding more to it, thus pushing some of the current members of that group either down the peg or out the door, isn’t what we need IMO. What we need are grizzled vets in the bottom-6 that can help multiply our identity. We already know our top-6, on certain nights, can run a team out of the building with their skill. But, as insurance, on nights and against teams that are defending our skill, we need some help from our bottom-6 from guys who can get in the ugly areas, create chances, stand up for our finesse players and ultimately score some goals too. By no means am I saying piss off to the potential of an Eichel trade. Time will tell what happens with him and that situation in Buffalo. He is a great player. But this isn’t about building a fantasy team; it’s about building a complete team. I love the talent in our top-6, and it will only improve moving forward because I truly believe Lafreniere is going to bust out big time. He’s all-world. The big name, big talent players we have are more than enough. What we need is sandpaper, grit and experience to supplement that talent pool in order to take the next step. I’d rather see us spend the money available on things we desperately need as opposed to pouring a lot into another top flight forward who can score; we already have that.

If I’m the Rangers, I pony up whatever Martin wants to stay. The work he did with our young defense this year, and our defensive scheme as a whole, cannot and should not be overlooked. If he is interested in the HC gig (again, if it even becomes open if we fire Quinn), then I would certainly have no problems with him throwing his hat in the ring. We don’t live in an ideal world, but for me, ideally, next years coaching staff would consist of Julien being the HC, Martin being kept on in his current role and someone like Adam Oates being brought in to help out the PP and faceoffs.

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Love the lineups, but gotta edit it and put Cloutier in net.

Jones should play for Bitetto. No matter the situation with Trouba. Bitetto stinks.

Just shows the need for this organization to bring some grit and size in. Can’t lose Trouba and have it be the end of times because we have no one who can replace his size/effectiveness.