You have one of the top goalies in the league and you put one of the youngest bluelines in front of him. Sign Steve Eminger as the veteran. It is also not very deep in proven talent. Not smart.
Since the team has invested so much in the center position now and it's depth at that position you would think they would have signed or traded for a winger to compliment that strength, NOPE.
Giving Mike Rupp 1.5 mil. Why does Slats have to have to have to sign 4th liners to 1+ mil deals every year? We had the most expensive 4th line in history last year.
The Good:
The Erixon trade was filthy for us. If he makes it this year right out of the gate or not it's a great trade.
Our RFAs, I think Slats rocked with this. Cally, Duby and company are now locked up to fair deals, this is our core, this is good.
The draft, i'm not that excited about these kids this year since most considered it a weak draft but we picked up some extra picks to get a better chance of a player in the future.
Since I had realistic expectations I said A "perfect"
Not sure what more could be done... resigned everyone to reasonable contracts, lost Drury (still that damn cap hit but whatever), signed BR, aquired Erixon.
Really nothing more could've been done. I think Slats thinks the LW is showing up next yr and I don't think he wants to upgrade d-men... just allow them to flourish.
I am a tough grader. Slats & Co. did everything that they predictably could have to improve the team. More importantly, they did not make any "face palm" worthy moves.
I would have given an A for a true rabbit out of a hat, such as a trade that brought us an elite, but fairly young, defender or scoring forward at a reasonable price.
For what they did and the obstacles they overcame to do accomplish what they did, I'd have to say it was an A.
A+ would be perfect, and that would meant getting a top-line winger to play with Richards and Gaborik. Hopefully that's solved within whether it's Wolski or Dubinsky.
To get rid of of the dead weight, get all the RFA's signed to good deals, sign Richards, bring in Rupp, and get Thomas and Miller signed to ELCs is a damn good offseason.
What more could we have asked for? Trading up in the draft to get a big time prospect? Offer-sheeting Stamkos and having him sign here? I don't think there's a soul in the Rangers organization that can say they didn't do everything they wanted to do. The only that I would have possibly liked would have been to have traded for Brent Burns, but who was going to want to give up assets equivalent to Setoguchi, Coyle, and 1st?
What more could we have asked for? Trading up in the draft to get a big time prospect?
I would consider the Erixon trade as 'moving up', somewhat. Trading two 2nds and a B-level prospect for a top-10 pick (in the upcoming draft had he been reentered) is essentially 'moving up'.
It's all semantics, though. I agree with most of what you said - and I wouldn't have given up the equivalent of Seto/Coyle/1st for Burns, either - and I love Burns - he'd be scary on a pairing with Staal.
Too bad he re-signed. We'll just have to settle for Suter (I actually would prefer him, but it won't happen) and Parise next summer.
