This is the Rangers first legitimate season as a Cup contender in almost 15 years.
They need to add, but they dont need to add much.
They certainly dont need to subtract. Let that happen in the offseason if they lose in the 1st or 2nd round.
Right now, they need a 4th line defensive center/faceoff specialist and a veteran D-man who's been through a Cup run.
Like everyone has said -- No shootouts in the playoffs. No need to carry Wolski and EC. Avery is the guy I would summon to play LW in the event of an injury.
Leave the team alone for the most part. Let them suffer through a Cup run together.
Staal Girardi
McDonagh Del Zotto
Bickel Stralman
Eminger
Erixon
Lundqvist
Biron
Anisimov, Sauer, 1st for Ryan
2nd for Prospal
I'd be very confident going to war with that lineup. I even like the idea of Erixon-Stralman as the bottom pair a year from now. And before someone makes a fuss about it, I really don't think it's that big of a deal having one defenseman (either McDonagh or DZ) playing their off-side at even strength.
I would be pissed if we traded a 2nd for Prospal. And then you put him on the first line? We need someone else who can put the puck in the net...or win battles along the board. That would be one of the softest lines in hockey. Will Vinny's knee even be functional come April? I know this team just loves to waste 2nd round picks on rentals...but please, pass on Vinny.
This is the Rangers first legitimate season as a Cup contender in almost 15 years.
They need to add, but they dont need to add much.
They certainly dont need to subtract. Let that happen in the offseason if they lose in the 1st or 2nd round.
Right now, they need a 4th line defensive center/faceoff specialist and a veteran D-man who's been through a Cup run.
Like everyone has said -- No shootouts in the playoffs. No need to carry Wolski and EC. Avery is the guy I would summon to play LW in the event of an injury.
Leave the team alone for the most part. Let them suffer through a Cup run together.
I agree 100%. But if you have the opportunity to get a Bobby Ryan for a decent price you do it.
I'd like some small tweaks like going after a Tuomo Ruutu and Saku Koivu. Perhaps Tim Gleason or Cory Sarich to solidify the PK.
Maybe acquire Frans Nielsen from the Islanders? 2nd Round Pick would be great.
Our PK is sixth in the league. How much more solid do you need it? Gleason or Sarich would be at best our number six defenseman at full health. People looking at adding random spare parts are being silly. We don't need another third or fourth line grinder.
I think the best part of this is how much effort you put into this post, dressing it up all nice.
You do realize that the last 4 stanley cup champion teams have only made 1 deadline deal at the most. The Rangers are not going to make 4 trades come deadline day. And why the hell do we want Sarich? Please God explain that one to me. All the defensemen you're ready to deal for him are BETTER than he is and have been better all year. You're making trades for no reason. I dont see why MTL deals us Kostitsyn. Oh because we as fans like Yogan even though other teams may not see too much there. And MTL doesnt need Wolski. They arent gona just do us a favor and take an expiring contract so we can have Kostitsyn who has been better the last couple years.
The only move I agree with is the Christensen move. That's the only one that makes sense. Well Prospal as well as a plan D or E. He shouldnt be the first option or even 2nd, 3rd option. I also think a 2nd round pick and a player is too much for an aging prospal who has had knee problems.
I don't like the players he suggests to add. However...
Boston traded for Horton, Peverley, Seidenberg, and Kaberle.
Ruutu can score as much as Wolski, but he's a better skater, he's very physical, and he works hard. Basically the opposite. Worth his cap number.
Wolski + Zuccarello + 2nd
They get two young players. One that needs a chance in the NHL. One that has no spot in the lineup here. And a high draft pick (2nd round pick is a high pick).
Makes the team that much deeper, that much tougher, that much harder to play against.
Last edited by SupersonicMonkey*: 01-07-2012 at 08:37 AM.
Ruutu can score as much as Wolski, but he's a better skater, he's very physical, and he works hard. Basically the opposite. Worth his cap number.
Wolski + Zuccarello + 2nd
They get two young players that need. One that needs a chance in the NHL. One that has no spot in the lineup here. And a high draft pick (2nd round pick is a high pick).
Makes the team that much deeper, that much tougher, that much harder to play against.
Agreed,
Sooner the better, I'd like to give Ruutu some time to gel with the TEAM before the playoff push. I've seen to many deadline deals prove fruitless due to lack of chemistry. Just saying....Good example being Neal to Pitts last year, looked horrible after the deal, give him some time and now he's comfortable and rolling.
Agreed,
Sooner the better, I'd like to give Ruutu some time to gel with the TEAM before the playoff push. I've seen to many deadline deals prove fruitless due to lack of chemistry. Just saying....Good example being Neal to Pitts last year, looked horrible after the deal, give him some time and now he's comfortable and rolling.
Yes. The sooner the better.
Wolski + Zuccarello + 2nd.
Gives Carolina two pieces they can plug into the lineup.
We waive Christensen. Keep Mitchell definitely, he belongs with the team.
I don't like the players he suggests to add. However...
Boston traded for Horton, Peverley, Seidenberg, and Kaberle.
One trade? Hardly.
Horton was acquired in June 2010
Seidenberg was acquired at the 2010 trading deadline.
Kaberle was a bust. Boston won in spite of his presence on the team.
Peverley was acquired in a salary dump. Boston needed to move money to fit in Kaberle so they moved Wheeler($2.2M)and Stuart($1.675M)for Peverley($1.325M)who needed being more valuable to them than Kaberle.
Boston had already been a 50-win team two seasons prior, so they knew they were on the cusp. The humiliating playoff defeat to Philly made those trades all the more justifiable for both the team and the fans.
I wouldnt make any major trades until after this season. For Boston to win a Cup, they essetially traded:
Wheeler (5th overall in 2004)
Stuart (21st overall in 2003)
Kessel (6th overall in 2006)
Colborne (16th overall in 2008)
A 2012 2nd Rounder (TBD)
A 2011 1st Rounder (Rackell)
A 2012 2nd Rounder (Prince)
A 2009 3rd rounder (Sundher)
A 2010 1st Rounder (Forbort)
A 2010 2nd Rounder (Petrovic)
A 2011 3rd Rounder (Rau)
In Summation, Boston traded 6 x 1st round picks, 3 x 2nd round picks, 2 x 3rd round picks, Dennis Wideman and some scrubs over the course of about two seasons for:
Kaberle
Peverly
Seguin
Kelly
G. Campbell
Paille
I didnt count Dougie Hamilton and Jared Knight because they had no bearing on the Cup run.
The 1992 Rangers were steamrolling everybody and Neil Smith only made two very minor trades after the season started (not counting Moose): He traded Corey Millen for Randy Gilhen (4th liner) in late December and traded Randy Moller for Jay Wells (5/6 d-man) at the deadline.
In 1994 they were steamrolling everybody until they got pimpslapped by the Hawks (Keenan's old team) at MSG right before the deadline. After that game, Keenan went to Smith and wanted half the team traded. Everybody knows what happened next.
The Rangers have excellent prospects in their system. Hagelin, a 6th rounder, has only played 20 games and his value is through the roof. I say keep the team intact, make a minor trade or two and see what happens. The Rangers must be doing something right -- 12 players on the current roster were developed by the Rangers (including Macdonagh who played in Hartford). No need to trade anybody for a top tier rental just yet. Wait it out. Baby steps.
Now, if they lose in the 1st round....all that gets thrown out the window.
I agree with Monkey and Jas who have been pimping Ruutu. He should not cost a core piece and is a FA to be. I have no desire to add $$'s going into a summer with a new CBA looming. Ryan to me is over-rated for what he brings and would cost in trade.
Ruutu is the perfect piece. Top 6 LW who plays our style, hard on the puck in your face hockey. Hits everything HARD, great on the forecheck, solid in all 3 zones and can score. He would compliment Stepan and Richards very well doing the gritty dirty work in the O zone. This would allow Anisimov to move into a 3rd line role either at C moving Boyle to 4th line C, or on a 3rd line W. Team gets deeper, grittier and tougher.
There is no need for any major moves right now. This team is rolling and still in the early stages of success. A minor move to improve the top 6 depth this year, let the team make a run and see what happens. We should be in great shape next year if not better to build on the success.
Seidenberg was acquired at the 2010 trading deadline.
Kaberle was a bust. Boston won in spite of his presence on the team.
Peverley was acquired in a salary dump. Boston needed to move money to fit in Kaberle so they moved Wheeler($2.2M)and Stuart($1.675M)for Peverley($1.325M)who needed being more valuable to them than Kaberle.
You know I spaced out and forgot Horton was traded for at the draft, right?
Still, Seidenberg, Peverley, and Kaberle despite him being a bust, they still made more then one trade during that season.
I feel we don't need to add as much. And can't afford to rip apart the roster and farm system for a guy like Ryan, who I LOVE by the way. I think we would lose too much in the trade.
Im just hoping for Ruutu. And maybe a faceoff guy.
We added Staal. We are going to add Sauer sooner or later. Those are big acquisitions off the IR.
We MAY not be 100% there yet. But im content to allow Kreider the chance to be the missing piece. Our depth is impressive now, soon it will be great.
I agree with Monkey and Jas who have been pimping Ruutu. He should not cost a core piece and is a FA to be. I have no desire to add $$'s going into a summer with a new CBA looming. Ryan to me is over-rated for what he brings and would cost in trade.
Ruutu is the perfect piece. Top 6 LW who plays our style, hard on the puck in your face hockey. Hits everything HARD, great on the forecheck, solid in all 3 zones and can score. He would compliment Stepan and Richards very well doing the gritty dirty work in the O zone. This would allow Anisimov to move into a 3rd line role either at C moving Boyle to 4th line C, or on a 3rd line W. Team gets deeper, grittier and tougher.
There is no need for any major moves right now. This team is rolling and still in the early stages of success. A minor move to improve the top 6 depth this year, let the team make a run and see what happens. We should be in great shape next year if not better to build on the success.
I agree.
Id like to see Arty back at center. On the third line. Let him use his strengths. Two way play in the middle.
Ruutu would open space for Step and Gabby. Well, theoretically, anyway.
Wont cost a lot to get him.
Wait for Kreider to arrive. Bring Tuomo back for a couple years. He's still 28.
Id like to see Arty back at center. On the third line. Let him use his strengths. Two way play in the middle.
Ruutu would open space for Step and Gabby. Well, theoretically, anyway.
Wont cost a lot to get him.
Wait for Kreider to arrive. Bring Tuomo back for a couple years. He's still 28.
if they deal for Rutuu they could easily bring him back given Wolski is off the books and Drury's cap hit goes down nearly half I believe..........not to mention Feds, Avery ,EC off the books and rooks like a Kredier, Miller or Thomas can go for a spot
You know I spaced out and forgot Horton was traded for at the draft, right?
Still, Seidenberg, Peverley, and Kaberle despite him being a bust, they still made more then one trade during that season.
I feel we don't need to add as much. And can't afford to rip apart the roster and farm system for a guy like Ryan, who I LOVE by the way. I think we would lose too much in the trade.
Im just hoping for Ruutu. And maybe a faceoff guy.
We added Staal. We are going to add Sauer sooner or later. Those are big acquisitions off the IR.
We MAY not be 100% there yet. But im content to allow Kreider the chance to be the missing piece. Our depth is impressive now, soon it will be great.
Im not okay with letting a rookie try to be the missing piece in our quest for the cup this year. Next year after he could potentially have a decent amount of NHL experience under his belt? Sure.
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I feel like this is such an appropriate quote for these boards...
"Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level, and then beat you with experience"-Mark Twain
Im not okay with letting a rookie try to be the missing piece in our quest for the cup this year. Next year after he could potentially have a decent amount of NHL experience under his belt? Sure.
He means next year going forward, not this year...