254 thoughts on “Sad Day for GMEN fans, LGR”

  8. Grabner so good he scores even when we don’t play.

    Like Carp said the goalie put on waivers from Saturdays game.

    Regarding expansion, there are circumvention rules in place from both sides. Vegas and other teams. Vegas has 2 day window before other teams to talk to ufas and rfas. If they sign one of those guys the other team doesn’t lose another player. If they wait and do a wink wink and later sign a guy that will be looked into. Same with the wink wink on a team agreeing to sign a ufa but not signing the guy yet to avoid having to protect him. Heavy penalties for that stuff.

    Also on expansion teams do have to make 2 forwards, 1 defensemen and 1 goalie available who have met certain criteria. Years of service, games played and signed or offer tendered in case of rfa for the next year.

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  12. RFA’s do not qualify under the exposure requirements, even if they’re tendered a QO, unless it’s a goalie. That’ why exposing Fast, Lindberg, Pirri, Hrivik, and Puempel will not be enough, Grabner is the only one who may be exposed and qualify under the rules. They’ll need to find ( trade?) another one

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  13. I’d think the other would be Girardi in regards to the second unprotected Dman, Doodie. After which they’d buy out his contract. Or is the buy out period before the expansion draft? Either way Gorton can’t possibly leave Grabner unprotected with the year he’s having. It should be Fast. If AV doesn’t like it then fire him and let him live out his days in Canada writing his novel: “Yesper, Yesper oh where have you gone?”

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  15. Grabber has done great; playing with Miller and Haze hasn’t hurt him. The benefit of AV’s Top 9 strategy is a traditional bottom 6 forward is going to get more chances. This guy potted over 30 in a season before albeit 6 seasons ago. In Sept ’15 the Azzlanders traded him for 5 players coming off an injury shortened year.
    .
    Skills are there and we let Hags go so tough decision to make. Beware of a long term deal like Pullout with the Earlers. Don’t forget he started his career in Vancouver playing for Bazooka Joe.

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  17. BDL

    they do if we tender them as rfa’s. If we don’t they would be ufas. I think we will tender both.

    Not in any set order the guys at risk are (and yes some of us would love 1 or another to be grabbed). I’m not including guys we might ask to waive nmc like Girardi as very unlikely they’d be grabbed anyway. Also not including Puempel or Pirri for talent, injury, or contract expiring reasons.

    Raanta
    Grabner
    Fast
    Lindberg
    Holden if don’t take care of Girardi issue
    Klein

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  19. SN, even with all the goals this year, I think the most important part of Granber’s value here is still his speed and pk ability. They can replace the goals but having a guy that fits so well in multiple areas of the game isn’t a void easily filled.

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  20. I think to much is being made of the potential to lose Grabner. Even if they contorted themselves to keep him, he is gone the following year. Not worth trading someone over. If the lose him, so be it.

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  21. Alex- that’s incorrect. The only RFA who qualifies as a requirement when tendered a QO is a goaltender. So giving Fast and Co. a QO will not make them meet these requirements.

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  25. This year they have caught lightning in a bottle with Grabner. They should not, and we should not expect the same next season. He was brought he to shore up the 4th line and PK. That is what should be expected of him next season.

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  26. James – love the Grabber. Worried about long term deals for inconsistent players. Still have to see this produce in PO, something Hags did with consistency (not just on scoresheet)
    .
    Trust Commish Gorton until he pulls a Sather and loads the Cap up on bad contracts and trades away draft picks and young players for older rentals.

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  28. http://nypost.com/2017/01/09/each-goal-by-rangers-revelation-is-an-expansion-draft-headache/

    parts shown below

    A refresher course on the rules: 1) Each team is allowed to protect either eight skaters and one goaltender or seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender. 2) Players with no-move clauses must be protected unless they agree to waive that right. 3) First- and second-year pros and unsigned draft picks are exempt from claim. 4) Each team must expose one goaltender who is either under contract for 2017-18 or a restricted free agent who has received his qualifying offer. 5) Each team must expose one defenseman under contract for 2017-18 who played at least 40 games this season or 70 combined last year and this. 6) Each team must expose two forwards who meet the same criteria.
    As for the Rangers, who will protect 7+3+1.

    Goalie: The Blueshirts are obligated to protect Henrik Lundqvist (no move). Thus, Antti Raanta will be exposed for claim by Vegas.

    Defense: Ryan McDonagh, Nick Holden and Marc Staal (no move) will be protected. Brady Skjei is exempt.
    Dan Girardi owns a no-move clause. Expect Gorton to either ask Girardi to waive the no-move or to buy out the Blueblood defenseman before the list is filed. If Girardi is amenable, he fills the exposure requirement. If the Rangers buy out Girardi before the draft, then Kevin Klein is the only current defenseman who fits the bill. Adam Clendening is a restricted free agent who would both need to sign an extension and play at least 31 of the final 40 games to qualify. Not likely.

    to be con’d

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  29. Wicky- to answer your question from last thread. In Girardi’s case, it’s hard to tell. Generally, the receiving team has no obligation to reinstate player’s NMC. As a rule, if a player waives his NMC to be traded, it’s usually to a specific team, and it’s usually negotiated between his agent and a said team that they will reinstate his NMC. In this case, it’s a bit more difficult. There is no guarantee that Vegas will reinstate his NMC if they take him, and I do not think he can negotiate that prior to waiving it.

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  30. Forwards: All right, here’s the mess. Rick Nash (no move), Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Mats Zuccarello, J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes will be protected. There are your seven, and Grabner is nowhere to be found. Jimmy Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich are exempt.

    Indeed, at the moment, Grabner is the only Ranger forward who fills the exposure requirement. Jesper Fast and Oscar Lindberg are pending restricted free agents. So is Brandon Pirri. So is Matt Puempel, who would need to play 18 games in order to qualify if signed before the draft. Of course, Gorton could sign any one of his pending Group II’s to extensions at any time (though we are told there are no ongoing talks with any) or acquire a compliant forward through trade.

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  33. BDL, I like the idea of hanging onto Grabner not because I think he’s a 30 goal scorer (absolutely caught lightning in a bottle) but because of his speed and ability on special teams. They let both those things go when they traded Hagelin and they paid for it the following season. They found it again and yes they just so happen to be getting some offense out of it. Not going to be much available this summer unless you want some sloer guys on the wrong side of 30 in the top 9 for the same money it will cost to keep Grabner at least one more year. He’s not going to duplicate the offense next season so it’s not like they’ll need to pay him above value.

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  38. And to bring things back to the ground floor here there’s still a trade deadline and half a season left to get through. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.

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  39. http://www.espn.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/43125/rumblings-las-vegas-will-get-a-head-start-on-free-agency

    Sources told ESPN.com that as part of these fascinating expansion-draft rules we keep learning about, the Vegas organization will have a 48-hour window ahead of the expansion draft in June to speak with and sign any pending unrestricted or restricted free agents whom the 30 teams left unprotected for the expansion draft.

    So, for example, let’s say for whatever reason Brent Burns remains unsigned by the San Jose Sharks by June (and I’m not saying that’s going to happen, just using him as an example). Would the Sharks want to protect Burns in the expansion draft if they feel he’s walking out the door July 1?

    Let’s pretend they don’t, and Vegas has the opportunity to negotiate with Burns ahead of the expansion draft and sign him. Pretty unreal, right? But it’s possible, according to these rules.

    Now, one can’t imagine Vegas would want to launch its franchise by overpaying a number of UFAs. But for a real difference-maker? Who knows.

    And the same goes for RFAs, who obviously are younger. Any RFAs left unprotected for the expansion draft can become property of the Vegas franchise if they agree to terms on a new contract within that 48-hour window.

    Another important detail: If any of the 30 teams loses a free agent to Vegas during this 48-hour window, it no longer can lose anyone in the expansion draft. In other words, that free agent lost counts as the one player lost in the expansion draft.

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  40. Kenny last night in Anaheim talking about how Langway tutored Stevens, Stevens tutored Neidermayer, Neidermayer tutoring Fowler, and she told two friends, and she told two friends and so on and so on

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  42. Who thought up this gem? “Each team is allowed to protect either eight skaters and one goaltender or seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender. ”

    So, you can protect 8 skaters and a goalie or 10 skaters and a goalie.

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  45. If Vegas wants sign Fast prior to the draft, that will be all NY loses. But unless he is signed to a deal by NY (not a QO), exposing Fast ( and other RFAs ) will not meet the criteria of exposing at least 2 eligible forwards.

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  46. news out of Washington that Donald Trump’s hair is expected to hire Hank’s hair as its own senior level advisor once in the White House. Hank’s hair expected to immediately begin divesting itself from all outside follically inclined interests

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  47. Wicky – I wasn’t thinking of any specific former AV defenseman. I was just saying there might be a player that AV would be more comfortable playing ahead of Gerund.

    CBJ Beachball not the only goalie on waivers this morning. The Oilers have waved Jonas Gistavsson.

    Trying to figure out the Expansion Draft is harder than trying to her cats because I expect George McPhee to make side deals to add picks/players to draft Player B instead of Player A.

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  48. Hope the blueshirts have lots of fun in the sun (but stay off the Giants party boat…😉). Grabs should be getting a new tat of Clendenning’s face for giving up that goal so he could have a hattie! 1st star of the week is 👏🏼!

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  49. thanks ilb. I obviously wasn’t thinking too hard. I was just thinking of sneaky ways get around this expansion draft.

    Obviously smarter guys have thinking about this longer than I have.

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  50. All star lineups announced tomorrow – who do you guys think makes it for the Rangers? Does Grabner have a shot? The Captain? Kreider? Those are the 3 I think are most deserving. Love to hear what you all think before the announcement comes down.

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  51. I think the captain since I believe it’s 6 f, 3 d, 2g

    it’s a skating game and several in our division have forwards I think will get taken

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  59. Anthony and ilb
    Thanks for responding.
    –
    I don’t think there is any chance Girardi gets claimed.
    –
    Could free up a protected forward space for grabner by moving a forward for d man or two for one trade (no idea who or for who)
    –
    I still like my idea of trading for pending ufa with agreement of re-signing him after expansion draft.
    –
    I hope gorton spends as much time on these scenarios as we do 😉

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  62. NYY held Cano hoping to win that year rather than trade when he still had value, NYR should be looking for some younger return on Nash (not needing protection) rather than playing the contract out next season. Whether there is 1) a dance partner and 2) he is willing to go is a different question. Unless of course you think he will start scoring goals in the playoffs as a Ranger.

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  64. In your guys (and girls) humble opinion, who is the better D man right now in Winnipeg, Myers or trouba? I mean Myers is 4 years older, but neither is old. Myers has put up some points, is fairly mobile for a big guy, but trouba seems like he can be something prête good in a couple of seasons.

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  65. Wick – I would just either, preferably what costs us less; both will be making above $5 per so then you can’t have The Thunder Bay Shuffle Board Champion or The guy who used to be good and tries hard.

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  73. Wicky – In terms of fantasy sports I would say Myers is the better fantasy player because he is the better offensive d-man. The one caveat is that he has to stay healthy – and he hasn’t been that healthy the last couple of years.

    In terms of “real” hockey/pick for the Rangers would be Trouba. I think he might be the better defenseman going forward even though Myers may score more.

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  84. [posted this on the wrong thread this AM, PST. Sorry to disturb the flow] The hit was clean by today’s rules, and Laine, when he sees the video–probably doesn’t remember it–will likely say the same. It’s the sort of thing that will have some like me, who prefer to see the Laines of the world on the ice, hoping for a rules change. There’s not much he can do to avoid it other than not look at the puck he’s trying to catch (I disagree that he wasn’t paying attention–he was paying perfect attention).
    Others, like Wicky, I’m sure would like to keep big hits like that in the game (I’m not being flippant–just noting a difference in taste). It’s a real trade-off. You’re never going to remove concussions from the game, but I wonder if a “defenseless receiver” rule has been/will be considered. Regahdless, I’m sure everyone hopes he comes back from this. A great young talent to say the least.

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  85. And, Wick, since I mentioned you in passing, as much as I love mixing it up here with you and others–keeps things lively, I hope, Ye Olde Conflicte of Ideaes and all–I hope you understand that as much as I [sincerely] love to hold down the Lady Byng wing here, have always hated fighting, think it’s what puts the NHL on the second tier, blah, blah, blah… I do respect that you and others watch the sport hoping there will be more grit and pop and, yes, glove-dropping, than the current Rangers incarnation brings.
    And so I understand the urge to bring in a Chris Neil. But I do hope they will wait until after the original line-up returns to health, to see if that crazy start was an aberration or a flash in the pan. If it’s then determined that there’s not enough grit–dirt, even–then by all means I hope management knocks itself out. Literally.

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  90. I was thinkin’ about turquoise, I was thinkin’ about gold
    I was thinkin’ about diamonds and the world’s biggest necklace
    As we rode through the canyons, through the devilish cold
    I was thinkin’ about Isis, how she thought I was so reckless

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  102. George Washington – “I might have been first in war and first in peace, but let me tell you that pulling splinters out of my food really really sucks. Wooden teeth blow”

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  103. Another school, coos, and one I used to share down the line–it’s those Laine hits that have me thinking more deeply about the tooth-rattling, wildly entertaining though it may be. I remember when I was a kid reading an article where the AMA came out against boxing, and laughing. Now that we’re in the age of trying to find out what these concussions are all about, it’s not quite as funny.

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  108. Clavicle-crunching speaks to me, coos, coached as I was years ago to understand toughness as taking a hit to make a play. Best assist I ever got saw the puck in the net as my collarbone broke against the boards.

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  116. I’m looking forward to the Rangers actually having a first round pick this year. Between the expansion draft, our current cap and an ugly/old list of UFAs available this summer, drafting a first rounder for the first time in 5 years may be the best thing they can do.

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  117. Not trying to incite a morning full of line combo discussion (or a riot) but does anything think that if Zibanejad and Buchnevich are both making a return over the next week that the coach may reunite them? perhaps even with Kreider as we saw at the start?

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  119. James, I’m hoping they keep their first rounder and he develops into a decent NHLer. I don’t get excited about the NHL draft though. Except for the first few picks the rest are developmental projects or college players and we won’t see them with the big club for 3, 4, 5 years. That’s why they shouldn’t draft for need because what they need now may be different when that player is ready for the NHL.

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  120. As long as we don’t go into the draft with a pre-determined pick for a particular asset (ie. Size – see Jessiman, Hugh & McIlrath, Dylan).
    Get the best player available!

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  121. Eli – We get off the bed and go out to our car which should be parked on the Parkway , but’s parked on the Driveway, then drive it to the Parkway which should be called the Driveway. Or words to that effect.

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  122. You’re correct, Charlie. It’s not necessarily about drafting for need this year but what I feel is a step towards rebuilding parts of the team over the next 3-4 years. Most of the NHL players they could bring in by trading that pick won’t be here/even in the NHL anymore in those 3-4 years.

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  123. Eli- “well I threw good and the defense did some stuff that was good but we didn’t win which wasn’t so good.”

    Reporter- Eli have you ever considered a shrimpin ‘ boat once you’ve retired?

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  124. Good point Simon. The important part for them is that they actually get a first round quality pick this year. Only way I sacrifice that is for a young dman with top 2 potential. And when I say young I mean 20 not 27.

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  128. Carp, that is a great read from Henrik. I love those Players Tribune pieces. Such fun to get a peek into the psyches of world class athletes. “Never give up” seems to be the operative mantra. That and gratitude to parents, coaches, and all of those who support and encourage them along the way. My stepson was a professional hockey player for 10 years who came out of a small town in Maine and is a coach now. He always talks about the importance of the support he got from his Mom and Dad from the age of 4 right until he retired. He’s doing the same thing for his kids now and telling them to dream big just like his parents told him. Good stuff Hank.

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  135. I’m already semi-retired James G that’s why I drive a Pedicab in downtown St Pete 3 days a week. I see more yoga pants and man buns in 1 day than you could ever imagine!

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  143. They should do it anyway to sell high. No way does he produce like this again next year. He’s gone way above and beyond what could have been reasonably expected of him. This is supposed to be a 4th liner/3rd liner in a pinch.

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  144. Again, you have to remember that trading Grabner leaves a hole that was pretty big without Hags last season. Gotta keep in mind what he actually means to this team. Has nothing to do with 19 goals this year. And if there’s a GM that trades for him bc they think they’re getting a guy who will score 30 a year in a top 6 role then shame on them.

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  147. I’d agree Grabner is a 100% sell-high case if I weren’t watching him with my own eyes and if he’d never gone 30+ before. These goals he’s scoring are no flukes, and it’s hard to see how he could bring back anything like his goals/dollar or its equivalent. But if Gorton sees something…

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  150. Norm
    Sorry for the late response…opinions vary, so not a big deal. I also think they should wait until everyone is healthy before making any significant moves. I don’t think the early season playing style, while successful in the early part of the regular season, is any sort of playoff successful style. At least not with out some sort of group of players that show they can dump, chase, and retrieve and play a down low cycle game in the opponents end for a sustained amount of time. For me, it would be nice to see the rangers with a player that could get under the opponents skin a bit and get them (especially their better players) off their game. I’d like to see a team that isn’t so fun to play against regardless of the score. Nothing like a complete overhaul, just a couple of players.

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  154. Norm
    Re fighting/fighters…I’m not interested in any one dimensional player regardless of what their one dimension is (ie just a fighter). If a guy does a decent job when dropping the mitts, great but I don’t want him on the team unless he can contribute in other areas as well (it’s why I like Roussel a lot, and he’s not really that great of a scraper). I’m ok with fighting, not staged fights (although I could watch the start of that devils rangers game all day), but fighting for a teammate even if it’s after the fact. That’s what sets hockey apart (in a good way) from other sports to me. The willingness to put yourself in that position for a teammate.
    –
    I like the hitting, don’t want it out of the game. Hate to see an injury to any player, but hitting needs to stay in the game. I don’t think the problem is the hitting, I think it is the speed, rules, and to a lesser extent equipment that is the problem (but that’s another convo ;))

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  156. Norm- what rule changes could you suggest that would make the McCabe Laine hit illegal without making a big impact on the nature of the game? He wasn’t engaged with another player, he had just released the puck and no one else possessed it yet, McCabe didn’t leave his feet and it didn’t look like the head was targeted. In fact Laine seems to see McCabe and jump to try to avoid the hit and actually makes the impact greater. Not sure you can legislate this one away unless you want to make it like rouging the passer in football.

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  162. jgt, a small correction before I address your good question. I didn’t remember the hit the way you described it, so I went back to look again. To say he had just released the puck is accurate only to the extent that he sensed what was about to occur, said, “Oh, merde,” and tried, too late, to avoid the carnage. It’s not as though he had just made a pass and then got clobbered. I’ll start where most people probably agree–the outcome was not desirable, for Laine, McCabe, the league, most fans? And it’s not the old, helmetless days where players had to take care of each other. The hip check is no more, I get that.
    But I don’t think any new rules need to be introduced. If I were king, it would be one of those emphasis instructions, to allow refs leeway to call unnecessary roughness in a situation such as this, when a player has no choice but to look down when trying to catch a pass from that angle and is thereby a helpless target, or whatever the NFL calls that in reference to its receivers. To me, the roughness was unnecessary–McCabe could have checked Laine in the old-fashioned sense (when check meant “check progress” rather than “hit”), simply by getting in his way without necessarily knocking him forcefully on his ass, bouncing his head off the ice. If it was not McCabe’s intent to injure, it’s not as though he cared much if the injury occurred or not.

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  166. There’s also the helmet-to-helmet aspect that refs could be told to include in their interpretations. McCabe could have been called for roughing himself, looking at the stitches he got from the collision above and below his right eye. He was lucky he didn’t get knocked out, and I hope Laine is lucky enough to be able to come back. 18 years old.

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  167. So is all this Grabner talk because of blue-shirts banter? They’re not going to trade him at the deadline for picks anymore than they were going to make Raanta the starting goalie. Now hypothetically if a team like Winnipeg wanted to make a hockey trade and have him included in a deal for a top dman that’s a different story.

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  168. James I saw that some “article”. I find it hard to believe that a team is going to give up a first round draft pick for Grabner when they could have signed him in the summer for nothing.

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  170. Cross Check, I don’t mind referees being given more leeway to help with player safety in any way that works. To me, disagreement about refs being allowed more or less judgment pales in comparison to players getting Sauered. But it will likely take a Darryl Stingley for anything to change, just as traffic signals often arrive after the accident rather than before. Human nature.

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  173. RIP Detective McDonald. Never met you as I have not lived in the area for 25 years, but I feel like I knew you. Your courage and perseverance will serve as an example that we will all try to follow.

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  174. Anthony, I think to a certain extent Rangers fans/writers (not talking about people here) tend to over value what we have. When Talbot was here there were some that thought he was going to net us a top 20 draft pick, maybe even top 10. I just think Grabner has been in this league long enough for most GMs (if not all) to know what he truly is. And that’s not to knock the guy, he’s got talent and his goals aren’t flukes but he’s in the right style system at the right time. Similar to Pouliot. That’s not to say teams don’t have a need for a guy like Grabner, just that no one is going to go “oh look he’s a goal scorer now!”
    This organization only makes deadline deals that they feel gives them a chance to win. It’s as simple as that. If the right deal is out there for guys they’re willing to part with then that deal will get done.

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  176. I certainly don’t want to see anyone Sauered and I’ve officiated hockey games for many year so I’m not against giving the ref some latitude in making a call but you have to provide clear criteria for exercising judgment. For instance a penalty shot is a judgment call, but, I know there are 5 things I have to look for to call it. On a hit like that what criteria should be applied to determine if it a minor, major or no penalty at all? Keep in mind he is going to see this once at full speed and we would like to see it call relatively consistently.

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  178. RIP, Officer McDonald. His tributes, before the award given in his honor was announced, always choked me up. I’ll always remember him with his wife and son beside him while he gasped for air in between his words urging our boys to victory. I hope the Rangers continue the ‘Extra Effort’ tradition with his son.

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  179. A clean hit is a fantastic euphemism for what happened to concussed Laine (and the stitched-up McCabe). Nothing clean about it, but legal by the current rules, certainly. Lots of debate about it away from this blog, btw.

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  180. jgt, much respect for anyone who refs–I’ve only done it a handful of times and hope never to do it again. And while I appreciate the need for criteria, there will always be a “know it when I see it” aspect (Justice Stewart re. porn) to calls about unnecessary roughness. And the calls will always be inconsistent–it’s more a question of what gets communicated to teams and refs pre-season. This season, for instance, in the Premier League, refs were told to yellow-card dissent almost immediately, and while the severity has faded as the season moved along, it’s a first step to getting rid of that particular bit of opera, just as diving has diminished in that league over the last few years. I have no idea if the NHL will do anything to protect players in Laine’s defenseless position–perfectly-timed, vicious, open-ice collisions don’t happen that frequently, but, man, when they do…

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  182. I’m sympathetic of your position but don’t know how to apply it. You could automatically remove the player (with or without a penalty)who initiates the hit that forces the other player from the game and let player safety hash it out, but, I am sure this would be seen by any as pansification.

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  189. So just to chat up the free agent dman scenario for a minute, with Justin Schultz having such an important role for Pitt this season, it’s likely he could get stupid amounts of money thrown his way come July 1 perhaps leaving the door ajar just enough for the Rangers to pick up a guy like Kulikov (still won’t come cheap) wouldn’t mind him as Girardi’s replacement. and if they lose Holden maybe Cody Franson could be another target if he isn’t gobbled up right away and takes a modest deal. Thoughts?

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  192. James
    I’m not touching those last two here, but the organization I’d at least have a different coach and yes, quite a few NHL rule changes.

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  203. In defense of the Blue Jackets, they had to play a goalie that they just called up from the AHL. He was playing in his first NHL game ever because Bobinsky was sick. Other than that I’m glad that they are losing while they catch up to the number of games played as compared to the Rangers.

    Sorry Norm. I don’t like the idea of a penalty for roughness. Getting rid of fighting is OK with me for the most part, but not physical play. The game will end up looking like an All-Star game with little defense.

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  208. Could see Columbus swinging a deal for Ryan Miller or Cam Ward at the deadline. Two rebuilding clubs that could use to rid themselves of a veteran goalie for some prospects/Picks. Not really sure what Dallas is going to do with their 1, 1A situation. Read an article yesterday suggesting Girardi and Raanta for Nemi or Lehtonen.

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  209. They pulled the trigger pretty quickly on McIlhenney. Kind of like Biron after the SJ debacle. Maybe they should have made sure they had a Cam Talbot in waiting before they cut him loose. Did Halak get claimed by anybody? He’s pricey for a backup. Not sure if they have the cap space to absorb him.

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  210. Maybe Torts is making an overseas call to Nikolai Khabibulin. “Get your $%%% back to the state and (%*(*(*%..You better (*%(#*$# be *#%(%(%#& ready for one last (#*$(*%%#* playoff run. %#(*%!

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  212. Old Ranger fan, I think it runs deeper than the loss Saturday. McEihinney is 33, he’s been very average over his career with 5 different teams. #s are respectable this season but he was a big part of the ugliness last year when Bobrovsky was injured. I think JD and company know they needed an upgrade if they want to sustain the success they’ve had this season.

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  214. Funny tidbit – Torts was Rangers coach when everyone’s favorite analyst Steve Valiquette got blown out by Pittsburgh and placed on waivers (ending his NHL career). He should have gotten in on the Torts post game interview that night. “Vally get the (*%(#*#$* out of here you $%(*%* piece of *#%*%. You %#(*$ know I don’t (*%*$#(#* have any *%(*%*% tolerance for )(%#)(%(% %*(*($#( back up goaltending.

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  215. Bob is on notice, SN.
    Torts: “watch your (*#$(*$( Bob. Or I’ll )**(* makes Siberia *(%*#($*#( look like %*(*#(*$( club (*%(*#( med vacation you (*%(#*$($ punk!”

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  218. Don’t see how that trade helps the Rangers, James. I think if the Rangers do anything, it going to be a minor deal to upgrade Clendenning. I can’t see them paying the price during the season for a top 4 ( it would really be top two because the idea would be to pair him with McD),right shot Dman.

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  219. Some rule changes I would make…in no particular order
    It would be a minor penalty when a player turns towards the boards to take a hit. There would also be a fine system just like embellishment for the player.
    –
    Clutching and grabbing would be allowed once crossing the blue line.
    –
    Instigator penalty would be eliminated
    –
    If two penalties are called for the same on ice incident and one is embellishment, the other penalty is wiped out.
    –
    Every game misconduct would come with an automatic one game suspension of the next game and pending review for further games.
    –
    Goalies below the goal line would be fair game.

    Liked by 1 person

  220. Wicky,
    The one I like the best is a game misconduct is followed by a one game suspension. I really think that one would serve a purpose. I do not like making the goalie fair game for two reasons, one, right now, the Rangers goalie would be Skapskimor Halverson. The goalies would get hurt. And two, the Dmen would just get killed if the goalies stopped playing the puck.

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  221. The suspension should be when those two teams face each other again, if they don’t that season, then the next game.
    The ‘grey area’ call of turning back would be a tough call to make. Funny how they still let players cross check a player from behind in the corner with no penalty unless egregious.
    Goalie pad rules enforced.
    .
    Clutching and Grabbing may slow down the rush but also slow game to an ant crawl in settled zone play
    .
    New Post? A little sad that the title of current post does not reflect the real sorrow in Rangerland today re NY’s Finest Ranger Fan’s passing.
    .
    Who’s in charge here?

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  222. “Goalies below the goal line would be fair game.” – Hank’s reply: They’re not already?

    Stupid rules that they have: If you hit somebody in the head in the run of play you get a game misconduct and a suspension. If you take off your gloves and repeated punch a guy in the head you get a 5 minute major for fighting and that’s all.

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  225. ODE to beepbeep

    ‘there’s talk on the street; it sounds so familiar.
    Great expectations, everybody’s watching you.
    People you meet, they all seem to know you.
    Even your old friends treat you like you’re something new.
    Johnny come lately, the new kid in town.
    Everybody loves you, so don’t let them down.’

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  227. What, I ask, is so difficult in Buttman and his intellectual elves dictating to these Zebras in no uncertain terms that they cannot tolerate ANY play that proves outright dangerous to a competitor’s health and his hopes for a hospital-free career? Intentional, unintentional with malice or no malice aforethought, no matter. Stop with concentrating on the ticky-tack.

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  229. Don’t agree with any of those Wicky.

    The lack of instigator penalty would be an invitation for flyers hockey circa 1970’s. Unless you think those guys were just defending themselves.

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  231. Remember one thing about teams trading veteran goalies, they need to have a veteran to expose in the Expansion Draft. If a Miller/Ward do get traded, then Vancouver and Carolina have to go out and make deals for expansion draft eligible goalies. That was one of the big reasons the Rangers signed Auntie to a two-year deal – which is probably why the Rangers went two years with Grabby.

    Beachball being claimed by Toronto shows how badly Jhonas Enroth has been. They have been waiting and waiting for Karri Ramo to get healthy so they can sign him. I think he might be out for another month.

    You have to wonder if the Isles and Jets tried to recall Halak and Pavelec if some NHL teams wouldn’t jump on them for half the cap hit.

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  232. Bdl
    One of the problems of the league right now is the speed imo. Just flat out onions to the wall from one end of the ice to the other…200 foot drag race. That’s why I allow clutching and grabbing (a bit of interference if you will as long as its direction is the same as the offencive player) in the d zone, slow down the forechecker a bit. At the same time creative guys and danglers are still going to be able break ankles and leave guys without their jocks. Goalies being fair game below the goal line will be play at your own risk and provide more scoring chances (they already can’t play the puck below the line in part of the area.
    –
    I do not feel that the 1970s will return with the absent instigator penalty, the game has evolved from that. just because the instigator penalty is gone, does not mean a player can not get an unsportsmanlike major/misconduct or game misconduct for adding to a situation.

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  236. It won’t be long before i get to see Tanner Glass in an EIHL uniform – saw Brian MacGrattan playing for Nottingham on NYE and he wasn’t too bad – but i’d say thats the level Tanner should be aiming for now!

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  238. FYI – Just saw in the Transactions that the Ducks acquired Enroth from Toronto for a 2018 7th round pick. Anaheim’s AHL goalies are both hurt so Jhonas heads to San Diego. Hmm, SoCal in January – not too shabby if you have to be in the AHL.

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  248. It sucks what happen to laine, but there wasn’t a thing wrong with the hit…nothing. What McCabe said in post game interview was egregious though.
    –
    I don’t ever want to see any player injured, but physical contact sport will have injuries, it just will. No one has to like the injuries, i don’t.

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  249. Laine comes back quickly, no rules change; never comes back, another sad tale, no rules change. A player is paralyzed by one of these, perhaps a discussion. It’s an odd bind- very few want to see a player’s career ended, but most want to see the dangerous collisions that cause those careers to end. As just one fan, I have no problem with the violence that comes along with playing this ultra-fast game, but I think there’d be more than enough of it to go around if the NHL put in some ‘defenseless receiver’ rules for Laine-type hits.
    I agree it’s pansification to call players for stroking an opponent’s glove with a stick blade; not so sure it’s pansification to put the brakes in the increased violence brought on by a game that’s getting bigger and faster on the same-sized rinks.

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  250. Wicky, my computer shut down mid-typing, so I missed your, “It sucks what happen to Laine, but there wasn’t a thing wrong with the hit.” Didn’t see it until I posted, strange sort of vibin’. I understand what you mean, but of course there was something wrong with the hit: its outcome. It may be there’s nothing you can do to keep these hits that so many love and try at the same time to minimize the Sauer-ing, but it’s certainly worth debating, as has been happening elsewhere.

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