A+ Stay the course and not sell the farm. Listend, I think we all agree that no one here would have thought we'd be sitting atop the East when the season began. Getting rid of young talent for a push this year and not be able to sign key players next year would have set us back AGAIN. I like the non move, keep the talen within the organization in tact and build a championship worty team that will be around for years. Also, sends a strong message at that right time of the year to everyone in that locker room, WE BELIEVE!!!!
I'd be lying if I said I didn't really want to see Nash in Ranger blue for our playoff run. He's a great one to watch and IMO would have given our offense a serious extra gear.
That said, considering contract & leverage I am more than ok that Sather stood pat. The rumored package would have really depleted our depth AND in doing so Slats gives the current group a HUGE vote of confidence.
Wolski + a 5th for Scott + a 3rd is trade I do every day of the week as well.
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"Here we can see the agression of american people. They love fighting and guns. when they wont win they try to kill us all." -HalfOfFame
Still feeling incredulous Sather couldn't pull off anything for Nash, but that's on Howson, not Sather, and not losing any assets other than the 5th for rental garbage is still a good thing. I'm glad he at least put in his bid, and tried to address a problem that may very well come back to haunt this team.
All in all, it was a **** market, with overpriced garbage for the most part.
Poor defensive zone face-offs, a horrible power play, and lack of scoring depth is not making me confident for a deep playoff run.
To me this is a year of growth, and feeling out what needs to be done to put this team over the top, and in the end there's nothing wrong with that.
Aside from not being able to get Nash, Sather did everything right by doing nothing.
A- (Minus because John Scott, why?)
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"I used to pray for good things . I used to ask the Hockey Gods for puck luck for the NYR .
Now all I want is Torts the smug stupid goatee clown to be fired , . I hate Torts . Please hockey gods make him get fired. Please Sean punch him in face" -- Dorado
Honestly, I'm grateful that Howson turned down the Dubinsky/Erixon/Miller/Thomas package. If Nash was signed long-term with a cap hit closer to $5 million, sure. But to give up 3 of our top 5 prospects, plus Dubinsky and a first round pick, under real life circumstances, would have been pretty hard to swallow.
Honestly, I'm grateful that Howson turned down the Dubinsky/Erixon/Miller/Thomas package. If Nash was signed long-term with a cap hit closer to $5 million, sure. But to give up 3 of our top 5 prospects, plus Dubinsky and a first round pick, under real life circumstances, would have been pretty hard to swallow.
Agreed... his cap makes that a rough one to be joyous about.. I admit Id have been pretty pissed....
I wanted Nash in the worst way possible. But I'm very happy Sather didn't make a rash/desperate decision and give away too much. I also wanted Gaustad but not for anything close to a 1st rounder.
I am disappointed we didn't make a move for a guy like AK. Also I'm a bit nervous with some of the comments on here regarding Kreider. A lot of comments are along the lines of "See what happens this year, and, boom, next year Kreider's here and scoring problem solved." We're acting like we have a Stamkos just waiting in the wings. He looks to be a decent player, and I'm glad people are excited about our prospects, but don't overhype him.
Anyways, I'm looking forward to see what this group can do. I'm definitely worried about our overall scoring/PP and how McD/Girardi will be down the stretch (with all those minutes they've had). But, anything's possible with Hank.
I give it an A+. This team, the one that started camp together, went to Europe and fell on its face together, has pulled itself together and is the best defensive team in hockey with a roster of defensemen that pretty much everyone would have laughed at if you told them could do so. This team is in reach of the presidents trophy. You don't break them up. You give them a shot. I like bringing Scott in. I know he's terrible at hockey. But he gives the other guys who are terrible at hockey something to worry about. And if that 5th rounder turns out to be something, well, good drafting Chicago. Pleasure doing business with you.
Steve Downie has gotten off to a great start in Colorado. He could have provided some secondary scoring while also having the "jam" that Torts covets. Sather should gone after him.
I'm not disappointed with anything that went down. Glad Howson is an idiot and didn't accept Glen's overpayment. There wasn't much available to get so I don't know... B-
Good point. Glen should not have offered overpayment.
Max should have been Dubi, Thomas + maybe 1st.
No Miller
no other great pieces.
The above is enough for a guy who doesn't want to play too many places, so not a lot of demand for him, with big contract.
I want to be grumpy about the lack of action. But the point system (should be 3 points for a regulation win) & just oblivious owners/gms of useless teams made it tough to deal.
I mean, the Flames for f's sake don't think they are a seller. The Oil resigns Hemsky. What the hell are these teams thinking? It's unfortunate because it reduces the amount of talent in the playoffs, which is bad for the league.
Hopefully changes are made. I love the shootout, they just need to up the reward for regulation victory (& perhaps OT).
In the end, the lack of point shot & scoring for the Rangers will push them to the brink, maybe they'll be able to survive and get a shot at the Cup, if not, time for off-season moves.
We discussed this topic for 2 months. The market was very bad. The rentals were not very good. The prices were crazy. So many players have restriction clauses. The free agent market this summer stinks. Jeff Carter has a crazy contract.
Bad rental market means a terrible free agent market
Parise will be the top free agent this summer. Semin will either stay with the Caps or go to the KHL. Smyth will stay in Edmonton. Doan will re-sign in PHX if the team is there next season or he will move on to another team. Selanne will stay in ANA or he will retire. Penner will be in Manhattan Beach playing softball. Whitney can still play. 35 plus player. He'll want more than 1 year deal. The guy is 40 years old. Grabovski wants $5M per in a long term deal. The Leafs will give the $5M but not the term. They will re-sign him.
So many of the D have re-signed. Suter is the top free agent D this summer. Lidstrom will stay with the Wings or retire. Some team will pay Wideman. Stuart wants to return to California. Jackman will stay with the Blues. Carle will get good money. Garrison wants $4M-$4.5M.
