Does anyone remember when we first acquired him? How 90% of the board *****ed and moaned about how awful he was, and a few posters tried to tell me he was arguably the worst defenseman in the NHL? Anyone remember that? And I told them he was fine as a bottom pairing defenseman, and that I thought we'd all come around on him? I remember that.
Not only did I ***** and moan when we acquired him, but I continued to ***** and moan during training camp when he was an abortion of a defenseman. I have no doubt that Valentenko outplayed him in the preseason games (although Emiger was coming back from an injury).
I am very glad that he proved me wrong, because he ended up being a very solid depth defenseman for us. I am very glad we're bringing him back.
Yes, I am 99% sure that he would have to clear waivers in order to go back down to das Whale. I've said all along that Del Zotto, unless he KILLS IT at camp, will start the season in the AHL. Last season was a total loss for him, both mentally and physically. He needs to play 20+ every night in every situation, hes still only 21 and needs to get his confidence back. Valentenko has apparently proven all he can prove in the AHL, so if he doesn't make the team I'd assume he would be traded.
This year's Sauer
I thought he didn't have to clear waivers because of the number of pro seasons he has played. He's on year 3. Sauer had to clear last year because he was on his post ELC 1 year pre Arbitration contract. I could definitely be mistaken here.
it makes me nervous that there's reports that they're close to an agreement...it makes me feel like the contract is a little more complex than 1 year $1 mil
it makes me nervous that there's reports that they're close to an agreement...it makes me feel like the contract is a little more complex than 1 year $1 mil
He made $1.5mil salary last season, don't see him taking a pay cut to come back.
I bet he'll be right there on a 1 year $1.5 mil deal. Hoping that Sather is smarter than to give him 2 years like he did with EC
He made $1.5mil salary last season, don't see him taking a pay cut to come back.
I bet he'll be right there on a 1 year $1.5 mil deal. Hoping that Sather is smarter than to give him 2 years like he did with EC
I don't know, he had that contract coming in. Who else is going to give him $1.5 million? There probably aren't even a lot of other teams seriously interested.
We need a RD and he can play both sides. He will probably be our #6 for now with MDZ starting out in the minors and getting called up every time we need a defenseman. I think Valentenko will be the #7 who watches most games from the stands. (Not a bad job if you can get it.)
Vally makes the most sense to be #7 because he's the most experienced and oldest of prospects, so he does not need to play on a regular basis and he is the one who has to go through waivers. At the same time, I don't see Vally beating out any of the left defensemen ahead of him: Staal, McDonagh or Erixon.
Eminger makes sense as our #6 because our third-best RD right now is Kundratek, and I don't see the Rangers wanting to move either Erixon or MDZ to the side they are unfamiliar with so early in their career.
I like it, in case one of our young D-Men hit the wall or the sophomore slump occurs, we have someone who knows the system and can step right in without missing a beat
Oh and if two of our three young left defensemen (Erixon, Vally or McD) prove themselves capable of being top-4 defensemen, the most likely person to get traded isn't Vally, it's McDonagh. He's the most proven and the most well-known of our left defensemen, not counting Staal, who won't be dealt.
McD would bring back the most fair value in a trade. Assuming he plays well this season, I can see him fetching back a good top-6 forward at some point between the All-Star break and the trading deadline.
Oh and if two of our three young left defensemen (Erixon, Vally or McD) prove themselves capable of being top-4 defensemen, the most likely person to get traded isn't Vally, it's McDonagh. He's the most proven and the most well-known of our left defensemen, not counting Staal, who won't be dealt.
McD would bring back the most fair value in a trade. Assuming he plays well this season, I can see him fetching back a good top-6 forward at some point between the All-Star break and the trading deadline.
We need a RD and he can play both sides. He will probably be our #6 for now with MDZ starting out in the minors and getting called up every time we need a defenseman. I think Valentenko will be the #7 who watches most games from the stands. (Not a bad job if you can get it.)
Vally makes the most sense to be #7 because he's the most experienced and oldest of prospects, so he does not need to play on a regular basis and he is the one who has to go through waivers. At the same time, I don't see Vally beating out any of the left defensemen ahead of him: Staal, McDonagh or Erixon.
Eminger makes sense as our #6 because our third-best RD right now is Kundratek, and I don't see the Rangers wanting to move either Erixon or MDZ to the side they are unfamiliar with so early in their career.
Vally missed a lot of time when he was in the KHL with injuries, he may be the oldest but I don't really think he has a significant amount of experience more than the other guys. Maybe he is the most developed, it's yet to be seen. They all need to work on their game...
Does anyone remember when we first acquired him? How 90% of the board *****ed and moaned about how awful he was, and a few posters tried to tell me he was arguably the worst defenseman in the NHL? Anyone remember that? And I told them he was fine as a bottom pairing defenseman, and that I thought we'd all come around on him? I remember that.
I still feel the same way--he's slow, inconsistant and doesn't know when to pick his spots, so he's out of position. As a fill in so they don't have to keep a prospect as the 7th D, I suppose, but I don't want him as a regular.
I thought he didn't have to clear waivers because of the number of pro seasons he has played. He's on year 3. Sauer had to clear last year because he was on his post ELC 1 year pre Arbitration contract. I could definitely be mistaken here.
I think he would not have to clear waivers if he were sent down before the season started. But, if he doesn't make the team out of training camp, the Rangers might as well trade him, cause he's going to bolt at the end of the year anyway.
Oh and if two of our three young left defensemen (Erixon, Vally or McD) prove themselves capable of being top-4 defensemen, the most likely person to get traded isn't Vally, it's McDonagh. He's the most proven and the most well-known of our left defensemen, not counting Staal, who won't be dealt.
McD would bring back the most fair value in a trade. Assuming he plays well this season, I can see him fetching back a good top-6 forward at some point between the All-Star break and the trading deadline.
Absolutely horrible idea...McD is gonna be a stud on this team for years to come...
The early reaction on Eminger was warranted, if you remember Torts wasn't playing Sauer and was playing Eminger and Gilroy, and back then Eminger was just as bad as Gilroy. He came around though (and so did Torts when he permanently played Mike ) and is a very solid bottom pairing guy.
) and is a very solid bottom pairing guy.
