putting my thoughts to work

[pld459666]

I comment about this team not being well constructed and thought that I may as well look to go about re-constructing this team in a way that I think that they would be better off longterm.

Basically what I am going to attempt to do is make a few trades that may make sense (but in reality will never happen because we cannot truly rebuild)

What I was looking at in finding a trading partner is a team that is currently on the outside of the PO picture looking in. A team that is currently struggling to score goals that has cap room and prospects to spare. The team that I found that fits that description is the Chicago Blackhawks.

Here's what I am proposing:

Jaromir Jagr to the Blackhawks for Jack Skille, Dave Bolland and the 2008 1st round pick.

The Rangers are in desperate need of some forwards with the combination of size and skill and both Skille and Bolland provide that. Moreso from Skille than from Bolland. What the Rangers have in their system that come close to this is Dubinsky and maybe Korpikoski. Additionally the 1st rounder could be used to add a top notch goalie that will allow the Rangers to then trade one of Montoya or Lundqvist without reservation about the future between the pipes.

Chicago gets a world class talent in Jagr that would put them in position to not only make the playoffs but get a high enough seeding to possibly gain home ice advantage in the 1st round. They would be adding, arguably a top ten player in the NHL without giving up one asset off their current roster. It would allow them to better position their players with Bourque moving to the 3rd line while sliding Vrbata over to the LW with Jagr taking up the 2nd line RW slot right behind Havlat who's now starting to establist himself as a premier player in this league. Additionally, the assets that Chicago are parting with are not going to deplete them of talent. They Keep Towes as their top center prospect and but do part with their top RW prospect in Skille. It would still leave them with Blunden, Bertram, Bochenski in the system all slotting behing Jagr for the rest of this year and next (he will need to have that option guaranteed to be happy). Additionally the Hawks can replenish their RW prospect in the 2007 draft because they would have kept that 1st round pick.

Next I was looking at teh Stars cause I know that they are looking for some additional offence and think that Nylander may be a good fit there, but with my desire to get a bit younger I didn't see a fit there. I was hoping to see if there would be a way to pry AJ Thelen from the Wild, but I don't see Center being a significant enough problem that they would be willing to part with Thelen (their top rated defenceman right now) so I turned to a team that currently is also on the outside of the playoff picture but I think has the wingers needed and strong enough defence to make a push for the playoffs. The Columbus Blue Jackets.

Not only could Columbus use a center, but with LeClaire down indefinately they could also use a better option than Ty Conklin.

Nylander and Weekes to Columbus for Adam Pineault, Kristian-Ole Tollefsen and Ty Conklin

Again, the Rangers are parting with assets that are currently NHL players providing the Jacket with something they currently do not have. A legit 2nd line center in Nylander and a better option to split time in nets than Conklin. The Jackets are also giving up solid value in Pineault, but some that has more seasoning to do before he realizes his full potential. Pineault is a player that can blossom into a nice 2nd line winger or a very very good 3rd line winger. Tollefsen is the physical defenceman that this team could use and Conklin is to replace Montoya who would be promoted to the big club.

Still not done.

With Detroit sporting a solid defence, the loss of Shanny has been so significant. When you have 2 defenceman leading your team in scoring it says alot about your forward depth.

Martin Straka to Detroit for Igor Grigorenko and Justin Abdelkader.

Igor is already 23, he was drafted in 2001 and has had to battel back from a car crash that broke his leg and set him back a few years. He's small in stature and may never come over, but if he did he would be a welcome addition of finesse type talent. Providing insurance should Igor never make the trip across the pond is Abdelkader, a Michigan State University product that plays a chippy game with size to support that style. Could be a very good 2nd liner but would probably find better use on the 3rd line. A solid all around player that doesn't shy away from the physical aspect of the game.

Basically I would be trading what is currently our top line to teams in need of these players at those positions

Out would be Nylander, Jagr and Straka

in would be:

Jack Skille, Dave Bolland, 2008 1st rounder (Chicago), Adam Pineault, Kristian-Ole Tollfsen, Ty Conklin, Igor Grigorenko and Justin Abdelkader

I think that this would allow the Rangers to play a more north south game while also transitioning into a more gritty team to play against. Long-term this would set the Rangers up to be and remain competitive for years to come.

Now here's the kicker. To get the #1 center this team would need, I would look to trade Montoya, Bolland the Rangers 2007 2nd rounder and Chicago 1st rounder in 2008 to Tampa Bay for Brad Richards.

But I live in a fantasy world where this has already happened. and we've won cups and cups.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the madness.

[natureboy*]

we have to clean house but in order to make these smart trades we need a new gm.

[Chimp]

This feels like buying lottery tickets for all your money in order to gain more money, kind of. I would never dismantle the entire team for just prospects. Rangers without the first line = nothing. That's a huge gamble, piled with years of suckiness to come. And I'm talking true suckiness.

While hardcore fans would be satisfied with sucking for 4-5 years before being competitive, (if the prospects become what hoped for) the average fan would abandon the team.

Also, Jagr has stated he will be a Ranger until he quits his NHL career. He has zero trade value. Nylander and Straka is worth tons if you compare salary to production, especially Nylander. I wouldn't trade them. But I guess we'll see what their new paychecks will look like, so I might have to swallow that statement.

[Fletch]

there will be no house cleaning. Signing a guy like Jason Allison is a Sather-type move, but I'd guess that Sather wouldn't want him signed past this year, and who knows what Allison is looking for. Further, I'd question as to why a guy like Allison is unsigned. He's 31 years old. There may be something we're missing.

As for going forward - I think we'd see stop-gap type moves, as this team could very well be a playoff team and Sather's not going to go from making the playoffs, to gearing up the team seemingly better to not make the playoffs the following season - my guess is that's a disaster from a Rangers front off standpoint. You don't bring in Shanny, and pick off a couple guys you thought were cogs of the Stanley Cup champs to rebuild midway through the season.

Having Jagr at a cheap price should afford this team a lot of options (unfortunately the expensive, mediocre defense to start the season made up for a lot of the savings this team realized on Jagr). If they cannot make a playoff team out of what they have, I'd be worried about their ability to turn things around by dumping guys for youth.

[pld459666]

Originally Posted by Chimp

This feels like buying lottery tickets for all your money in order to gain more money, kind of. I would never dismantle the entire team for just prospects. Rangers without the first line = nothing. That's a huge gamble, piled with years of suckiness to come. And I'm talking true suckiness.

While hardcore fans would be satisfied with sucking for 4-5 years before being competitive, (if the prospects become what hoped for) the average fan would abandon the team.

Also, Jagr has stated he will be a Ranger until he quits his NHL career. He has zero trade value. Nylander and Straka is worth tons if you compare salary to production, especially Nylander. I wouldn't trade them. But I guess we'll see what their new paychecks will look like, so I might have to swallow that statement.

Kind of understand what you are saying, but this team has sucked for the last 7 years and the average fan is still here. The only difference is that we didn't accumulate the prospects needed to ensure a prosperous future.

So in that sense I totally disagree with your point of view. As for it being a gamble, it's paid off very nicely for Ottawa, Pitt, Anaheim and Jersey (they did go through this rebuilding effort years ago). The Islanders would be another one of those teams that would be included as winners had they kept even half the prospects they traded.

What i do agree with is Rangers w/o a 1st line = no success which is what's been happening now. Rangers 1st line has been getting shut down and we've lost 6 in a row.

As presently constructed this team has major flaws, the future of the team is also lacking that top notch prospect at the forward position and will suffer because of it.

But again, it's just madness on my part that drove me to

[nyr2k2]

Originally Posted by Chimp

This feels like buying lottery tickets for all your money in order to gain more money, kind of. I would never dismantle the entire team for just prospects. Rangers without the first line = nothing. That's a huge gamble, piled with years of suckiness to come. And I'm talking true suckiness.

While hardcore fans would be satisfied with sucking for 4-5 years before being competitive, (if the prospects become what hoped for) the average fan would abandon the team.

Also, Jagr has stated he will be a Ranger until he quits his NHL career. He has zero trade value. Nylander and Straka is worth tons if you compare salary to production, especially Nylander. I wouldn't trade them. But I guess we'll see what their new paychecks will look like, so I might have to swallow that statement.

Rangers with first line = mediocre and a sure first-round exit .

When Jagr says he will be a Ranger for the rest of his career, I'm thinking that means he likes is here and is planning on retiring when his deal expires. If he was at all open to a trade, and there is really no indication otherwise, then his trade value would be incomprehensibly high.

[In The Flesh]

ITs a cool idea, and I think Jagr would look good on the Hawks. It will never happen, not with this GM. Also Jagr stated he aint going nowhere. ANd like someone said before, this team will be EC dwellers once again for at least 3 yrs.

I've said it before, the youth movement will never hit the lineup until Jagr and Co. are gone. THats just reality.

[dedalus]

I liked it until the Richards part. If you're investing that heavily in the future, why deal so much of it off once you've acquired it?

Also I have no desire to move Montoya now. Lundqvist has not been so good this year that the team shouldn't wait to see what it has in Montoya.

[dedalus]

Originally Posted by Chimp

I'm talking true suckiness.

True suckiness is how you get replacements for Jagr and Shanahan. True suckiness is how you get Gaborik, Heatley, Ovechkin, Malkin, Crosby, etc.

Heck it's how Pittsburgh got Jagr inthe first place.

Originally Posted by Chimp

Also, Jagr has stated he will be a Ranger until he quits his NHL career. He has zero trade value.

I doubt that Jagr refuses to honor his current contract especially if he was going to a team that could actually do something in the playoffs ... which his current team doesn't seem likely doing.

[trench23]

Well thought out.

It will never happen, but kudos on covering the angles

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[pld459666]

Originally Posted by dedalus

I liked it until the Richards part. If you're investing that heavily in the future, why deal so much of it off once you've acquired it?

Also I have no desire to move Montoya now. Lundqvist has not been so good this year that the team shouldn't wait to see what it has in Montoya.

The thought was that a guy like Richards could be that true and legit #1 center this teams needs on a going forward basis. Dealing from a position of strength. I did mention that teh Rangers would use a 1st on a goalie to allow them the ability to move one of Lundqvist or Montoya. Additionally, the goaltending problems that the Lightning have right now may make them ripe for a deal like this. Is it alot? yes, but this is a young proven #1 center with a cup under his belt. I wouldn't expect him to be dealt for any less really.