Wheeler's agent is Matt Keator, If you look at Keator's MO,all of his players go UFA. Whether its Mike Komisarek or Zdeno Chara or Blake Wheeler. Keator also reps Chris Higgins who will be lucky to receive a decent NHL deal this summer. Keator also reps Chris Kreider.
If the Rangers offer him Max $$$ when he wants to turn pro, I dont see him bolting the Rangers. Unless he really wants to be a Bruin?
I wouldnt be. When they drafted him, he said his dream was to play college hockey in Boston. He was happy to be drafted by the Rangers but didnt say his dream was to play in the NHL. The kid walks to a different beat. I dont know if his parents have $$$, but getting $$$ now doesnt seem to be on this kids agenda. How many 18 year old kids from Boston want to learn how to speak russian.
Well, keep in mind that he wasn't one of those prospects that were followed from an early age and had expectations to be drafted heaped on him. He kind of came out of nowhere and even said he was really surprised when NHL teams started scouting him (or his family was? don't remember exactly). He probably never seriously thought about playing in the NHL at that point and his dream was to play for BC
Now with everything going on (his WJC experience, getting invited to the WC's) he's probably realizing by now that this is a big deal and he has a really legit shot to be a NHL star.
Then again I'm completely projecting **** based on the limited information we've gotten
If he's ready, sure I'd like him to turn pro sooner rather than later, but in the end as long as he's a Rangers, I'm cool with it
Rangers, who conducted organizational meetings last week, are believed keenly interested in signing Ryan McDonagh, whose rights they acquired from Montreal in the Scott Gomez deal, but the Wisconsin defenseman has a fair amount of leverage as he awaits an offer.
McDonagh, who turns 21 next month, would play his senior year for the Badgers if he does not turn pro. If he remains unsigned through next year, McDonagh would become an unrestricted free agent as of Aug. 15, 2011.
Chances are, then, if the 6-foot-1, 215-pound McDonagh, who is regarded as a proficient, stay-at-home type physically ready for the NHL, does not sign this summer, he will not sign at all with the Blueshirts.
And though it would seem necessary for Sather to offer the Entry Level max, we're hearing McDonagh will make his decision based less on the contract and more on his perception of the Rangers' program.
McDonagh comes with the #42 pick in the 2012 draft. Any team acquiring his rights knows if they can't sign him then they receive a very good pick in the 2012. Four years after McDonagh was drafted,that 2nd round pick could be more valuable than a 22 year old defenseman who spent the last 4 seasons playing college hockey and who might need some time in the AHL. The Rangers could make that same evaluation next spring if they haven't traded his rights by then.
If McDonagh refuses to sign,the Rangers should throw max money at Derek Stepan. Give him what Vancouver gave Jordan Schroeder,$900,000 max cap(2009 draft pick cap). $125,000 in performance bonuses.$67,500 AHL salary. He had an excellent start to his pro career.
How many college grads will be making $67,500 in their first jobs if they can find a job in this economy?
2008 picks have a $875,000 max cap. Make it too hard for Stepan to refuse. If he refuses,send him to a concussion specialist because he didn't suffer only a minor concussion in the Frozen 4 final.
Let McDonagh play by himself at Wisconsin next season.
Lets say the Badgers did terrible next season... Anyone think an option to sign with the New York Rangers would come into play? This kid obviously wants another chance at the Frozen Four and maybe even the championship? Say his team doesn't make it that far... Couldn't he just sign an NHL contract with us and go to the Wolfpack? I remember Okposo signed a contract with the New York Islanders while college hockey season was still in play, I can imagine McDonagh could do the same thing if his team performs badly.
Every NCAA hockey player could wait 4 years in order to become a free agent.
The Rangers would get the #42 pick in the 2012 draft if they don't sign him.
The Rangers program?Who is this guy Drew Doughty?
Yeah that rule kind of annoys me. If CHL players refuse to sign, they have to go back into the draft, but NCAA players can become free agents. Yeah there's benefits for the NHL teams (they don't have to rush into signing a guy) but it's still a little screwy
As for the "Rangers program", that sounds more like "is there a place for me to play on the team and not spend years toiling in Hartford"
Lets say the Badgers did terrible next season... Anyone think an option to sign with the New York Rangers would come into play? This kid obviously wants another chance at the Frozen Four and maybe even the championship? Say his team doesn't make it that far... Couldn't he just sign an NHL contract with us and go to the Wolfpack? I remember Okposo signed a contract with the New York Islanders while college hockey season was still in play, I can imagine McDonagh could do the same thing if his team performs badly.
Wisconsin lost 6 of their top 9 forwards,Goloubef left,Smith is leaving and both assistant coaches left.
We have discussed their 10-11 team in this thread. Why didn't Goloubef stay?Why is Smith next to go? They are also soon to be seniors. Why aren't they wrapped in avenging the defeat? Such ********.
Okposo looked like an idiot leaving Minnesota 1/2 through the season.
I think we're all jumping the gun on McD here. Who knows what that article is implying by referring to the Rangers "program". To me, it seems like McD is aware of the insane blueline depth the organization has and he might not think he'll get a shot to play if he stays here. I doubt it's about him viewing the Rangers organization or chances of winning as sub par.
This is a prudent thing for a young player to be thinking about in my opinion. But, I think a nice vote of confidence from the front office might be enough to get him on board.
I think we're all jumping the gun on McD here. Who knows what that article is implying by referring to the Rangers "program". To me, it seems like McD is aware of the insane blueline depth the organization has and he might not think he'll get a shot to play if he stays here. I doubt it's about him viewing the Rangers organization or chances of winning as sub par.
This is a prudent thing for a young player to be thinking about in my opinion. But, I think a nice vote of confidence from the front office might be enough to get him on board.
The Brooks article is old news. The Rangers have talked to McDonagh
Put this is the McDonagh thread a few days ago
Quote:
Eaves said junior defenseman and captain Ryan McDonagh has spoken with the New York Rangers, the NHL club that owns his rights, but it’s too soon to know if McDonagh will join junior defensemen Cody Goloubef (signed with Columbus) and Brendan Smith (intends to sign with Detroit) in departing early.
“We’re kind of in a holding pattern right now,” Eaves said of McDonagh. “I think he’s astute enough to know this is going to be a business decision based on what he feels their plan is for him.”
Besides Staal and MDZ,where is this depth? The Rangers have two good D prospects-McDonagh and Sanguinetti. Sauer is made of tooth picks. Potter is a group 6 UFA. Heikkinen is going back to Europe. Williams is a problem child. Dowzak is ECHL fodder. Kundratek and Klassen were both over-agers in the WHL and didn't tear things up this season. Valentenko is another problem child. I asked one of the Russian writers on twitter about Valentenko. Talented player but has a bad attitude was the response. Baldwin is a project. So where is this insane depth on D? I see many numbers but not much quality.
Besides Staal and MDZ,where is this depth? The Rangers have two good D prospects-McDonagh and Sanguinetti. Sauer is made of tooth picks. Potter is a group 6 UFA. Heikkinen is going back to Europe. Williams is a problem child. Dowzak is ECHL fodder. Kundratek and Klassen were both over-agers in the WHL and didn't tear things up this season. Valentenko is another problem child. I asked one of the Russian writers on twitter about Valentenko. Talented player but has a bad attitude was the response. Baldwin is a project. So where is this insane depth on D? I see many numbers but not much quality.
All the prospects you listed are depth. Yeah, none of them are perfect, but how many organizations have 5 perfect blue-shippers on D? None, not even Los Angeles after drafting 5 straight dmen in the first round.
Our D depth in the prospect area is still top 5 in the league. Now they are getting a little long in the tooth (Sauer, McDonagh, Sanguinetti) so a 2nd rounder on a dman this year might not be the worst decision.
All the prospects you listed are depth. Yeah, none of them are perfect, but how many organizations have 5 perfect blue-shippers on D? None, not even Los Angeles after drafting 5 straight dmen in the first round.
Our D depth in the prospect area is still top 5 in the league. Now they are getting a little long in the tooth (Sauer, McDonagh, Sanguinetti) so a 2nd rounder on a dman this year might not be the worst decision.
i retract my comment.....
Last edited by Hockey2000nyr: 05-09-2010 at 07:13 PM.
There are too many people here who still refuse to admit that Girardi is a good defenseman.
He is a average defenseman. Nothing more, nothing less. Sometimes he looks like he can play against the best for games at a time, and sometimes he looks like an AHL defeseman for games at a time.
Tons a good to average defenseman on the UFA market this year so if he wants over 3M, then he can take a hike and we will upgrade to someone else.
Staal will get his 3.5-4M a season as he should since he actually can play against the best for an entire season.
Can u imagine if the Kings didnt trade down and just took Myers instead of Teubert? Doughty, Myers, JJ on defense for the next 15 years lol.
Scary. I knew when they took so many 1st round defensemen that some of em were bound to pan out. They got pretty fortunate with Doughty, he's going to be a hall of famer.
I dont think Hickey and Teubert are going to amount to much.
LA has 5 Blue-Chip Defenseman: Colten Teubert, Jack Johnson, Drew Doughty, Vyacheslov Voinov, Thomas Hickey....
Teubert is not a blue chip. If you are going to include players in the NHL then we have Staal-MDZ-McDonagh-Gilroy-Girardi-Sanguinetti, deeper then LA's pool, which I feel is very overrated outside of Johnson.
What is the OP referring too when he said insane blue-line depth?
Girardi is 26 years old and a group II this summer. Even if the Rangers bring him back,get rid of Redden and Rozsival. Gilroy will be a group II with a $2.1 million QO due next July 1 and arbitration eligible.
I wanna see what this Valatenko kid can do. Even if one Russian reporter said he's a headcase, bring him over. It can't hurt.
As for depth: You gotta hope that any 2 of Sangs, Valatenko, Kundratek (who I'm very high on), and I know they're longshots but Maggio and Klassen pan out. It would be a real bonus if Pashnian comes over in a few years because there is talent there, and of course hopefully McD signs. That's pretty good depth. For some reason I have the most faith in Kundratek and Valatenko.
It would be nice to add a DMan in the draft this year in either round 2 ONLY if he's BPA (Tinordi or Brock Beuk) or in round 4. I like that Ramage kid on Wisconsin a lot he looks like a steady reliable bread and butter guy.
I wanna see what this Valatenko kid can do. Even if one Russian reporter said he's a headcase, bring him over. It can't hurt.
As for depth: You gotta hope that any 2 of Sangs, Valatenko, Kundratek (who I'm very high on), and I know they're longshots but Maggio and Klassen pan out. It would be a real bonus if Pashnian comes over in a few years because there is talent there, and of course hopefully McD signs. That's pretty good depth. For some reason I have the most faith in Kundratek and Valatenko.
It would be nice to add a DMan in the draft this year in either round 2 ONLY if he's BPA (Tinordi or Brock Beuk) or in round 4. I like that Ramage kid on Wisconsin a lot he looks like a steady reliable bread and butter guy.
Definitely bring him over. His team folded and is merging with another team. His contract apparently expired. Valentenko has the ability to play in the NHL but he has to understand that the AHL could be part of his future.
Ramage was available in the 2009 draft but he wasn't taken.
Definitely bring him over. His team folded and is merging with another team. His contract apparently expired. Valentenko has the ability to play in the NHL but he has to understand that the AHL could be part of his future.
Ramage was available in the 2009 draft but he wasn't taken.
I think Ramage gets taken this year, if not, sign him up. He's rock solid.
What is the OP referring too when he said insane blue-line depth?
Girardi is 26 years old and a group II this summer. Even if the Rangers bring him back,get rid of Redden and Rozsival. Gilroy will be a group II with a $2.1 million QO due next July 1 and arbitration eligible.
Again where is the "insane blue-line depth"?
Maybe "insane blue-line depth" wasn't exactly the best phrase to use, but assuming McDonagh is looking to play in the NHL right away upon leaving college, there are certainly several teams on which he'd have a much better shot at doing so than here. He would be fighting with at least two guys just to be the first call up from Hartford.
