Brooks Gallant Impressed By Hunt, Can He Force His Way Onto Roster?

[Phil]

Quote

The rule application denied the trio time to work but it also opened an opportunity for Dryden Hunt, 25-year-old, below-the-radar free-agent signee to get regular work in a top-six role. The winger took advantage of it, too, impressing Gallant and the staff with his blue-collar work on a night the Blueshirts were lacking in that department.

“I thought he was the guy who stood out the most,” Gallant said. “As soon as we came off the ice, he was the guy we talked about. He took advantage of his minutes, for sure.”

Hunt may be the closest replica to Goodrow the Rangers have, but the undrafted winger with a sum of 89 NHL games with Florida and Arizona is realistically competing for the assignment as the 13th forward. He does not have the experience or back-to-back Stanley Cup pedigree to give the kind of support to Chytil and Kravtsov as Goodrow.

Of course not. Goodrow signed a six-year deal worth an AAV of $3,416,667 while Hunt is on a two-year deal worth an average of $762,500, with an AHL two-way component for this year. And it is the pedigree that makes Goodrow so valuable.

https://nypost.com/2021/09/26/barclay-goodrows-misconduct-spoils-critical-rangers-line-test/

[Drew a Penalty]

He looked like one of the few guys who actually gave a shit last night. He was chucking at the net from all angles, not bad shots though, and was physically engaged where he needed to be. He blew someone up with a big hit that retook possession and was quick to defend Chytil when he slid into the corner hard after a trip. I'm interested in seeing more.

[Phil]

Same. he was the definition of relentless. Never gave up on any plays. In on every fight.

[Ozzy]

Gonna need players like that!  I thought he was fairly noticeable out there last night.

[TwoMinutesForNothing]

As I've been saying, cheaper version of Goodrow.  With him and Cullye we really didn't need to spend that money.  But whatever it's not like we're pushing the cap now.  It's just gonna hurt more in a couple years.

[Phil]

13 minutes ago, TwoMinutesForNothing said:

As I've been saying, cheaper version of Goodrow.  With him and Cullye we really didn't need to spend that money.  But whatever it's not like we're pushing the cap now.  It's just gonna hurt more in a couple years.

Cross that bridge when you get to it (if you get to it).

We hear this kind of foreboding every time someone gets signed. How often does it actually prevent the team from doing what they want to do?

[LindG1000]

I missed the part where having three Goodrows making an average of 1.67M per season each is a bad thing.

[Phil]

I mean, this is a disingenuous way of mitigating the Goodrow contract to make it feel like it's less of an issue (if it ever becomes one). But as I've said before, I don't think it really will be, especially if guys like Kakko, Kravtsov, and even Lafreniere don't truly breakout. Fox will get paid, no doubt, and they have a judgement call to make on Zibanejad/Strome, but without real breakout seasons over the next two years, Kakko, Kravtsov, and Lafreniere are getting bridge deals, not bank-breakers.

[Sod16]

It's not uncommon for guys who are playing like it's the Stanley Cup finals in preseason games to work their way onto rosters only to fade in significance once other players are playing like it means something.  On the other hand, maybe he could be this year's Colin Blackwell.

[Phil]

2 minutes ago, Sod16 said:

It's not uncommon for guys who are playing like it's the Stanley Cup finals in preseason games to work their way onto rosters only to fade in significance once other players are playing like it means something.  On the other hand, maybe he could be this year's Colin Blackwell.

This feels especially true of PTOs (Ryan Malone, anyone?), but probably a little less so with someone like Hunt. This is who he is. This isn't some cocaine-induced increase in performance that's going to disappear the moment he makes the cut.

[Cash or Czech]

Are we really saying Hunt should replace Goodrow after one preseason game? Sheesh.

[Phil]

No. Well, TwoMins might be, but generally, no.

[Ozzy]

I'm think maybe we can use more than one Goodrow-type grinder....I dunno, just a thought

[TwoMinutesForNothing]

26 minutes ago, Phil said:

No. Well, TwoMins might be, but generally, no.

No saying he should replace him now, that ship has sailed. I simply said from the beginning that Goodrow shouldn't have been signed.  If we were legit cup contenders this season then maybe, but we had time to have patience with guys like Hunt and Cuylle.

[Ozzy]

We're probably going to need some depth anyway.  I'm sure there'll be some injuries or maybe Covid shut downs for some players along the way.  Having depth grinders that can step in like Hunt I'd think would be a plus for this season.

I mean, we'll see how it goes, but it's only one pre-season game so far, and these guys are all new....I'm sure Gallant is going to toy with all kinds of line combo's, and why shouldn't he? this is the time to do it.  But I can't see where having some extra depth grinders is a bad thing....surely better than depth perimeter players in my book.

[shestYORKin]

something about undrafted players who make it this far speaks for itself. we need that kind of fire. 

[Drew a Penalty]

 

[Winter]

Goodrow signing doesn't matter with Hunt, if Hunt is this years Blackwell or playing good and Blais is heathy it makes the Reaves thing the waste, not so much the trade but the extension. -- I can see the typical Rangers move of throwing Reaves out there vs. the Islanders and scratching Hunt who is playing good just to lose 5-0... but what do i know lol 

Edited September 28, 2021 by Winter

[Sod16]

10 hours ago, Phil said:

(Ryan Malone, anyone?)

Anyone remember Esa Tikkanen's third and final tenure with the Rangers?   He tore up the league in the preseason games, gimpy knees or not, and then was goalless in 32 regular season games.

[SaveByRichter35]

17 hours ago, Sod16 said:

Anyone remember Esa Tikkanen's third and final tenure with the Rangers?   He tore up the league in the preseason games, gimpy knees or not, and then was goalless in 32 regular season games.

I do not, thankfully.