218 thoughts on “Rangers 2, Sabres 1 (OT)”

  5. SN

    Was thinking same thing watching the game. We are watching Miller mature by leaps and bounds this season. He looks to me like he’ll have an A really soon and a C eventually. I was so wrong about him.

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  7. Good afternoon, boneheads!
    Once I get my dad back to reasonable shape, I’ll get back to this place full time too.
    Just want to add that along with Hank and Nash, Kreider was tremendous too. McDonagh goal goes in regardless whether Zucc touches it or not. The goalie couldn’t see it anyway because of Kreider.
    I think they need to think reall hard about trading Stepan and getting some good value back. It looks like Hayes and Miller should be your 2 and 3 line centers.

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  8. Would Miller be wasted as a third line center ilb? He’s top 6 to me. If you trade Stepan, and in not for it or against it, you must get a center in return.

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  9. You also need to look ahead when making these decisions. Both Nash, and Grabner (LWs) are more that likely to be gone after next season. You trade Stepan, and then make Miller a center, leaves you very thin on LW.

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  10. I don’t think he’d be BDL. “Third” line is just a title as today’s NHL dictates the need for 3 lines that can go. Also the distribution of TOI and some special teams play would keep him plenty involved. Although he’s had great chemistry with Hayes this year. So there’s that

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  12. Don’t see the Jets having interest in Zucc. They have Laine and Wheeler on the right and some very good wings on the other side as well.
    I can see Arizona being a potential trade partner for the Rangers again.
    Anaheim as well.

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  14. I’ll preface this by saying I’d trade anyone, 1C included, in the right deal. Here’s more useful percentages:
    Pirri 56.5 in 200 face offs
    Zibanejad 53.6 in 481
    Lindberg 50.8 in 150
    Stepan 46.1 in 958
    Hayes 44.6 in 637
    Miller 43.3 in 215

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  17. A team in need of a two way center would be the only suitor for Step. Maybe St Louis? Don’t really see any market for him at the deadline when you can have bigger stronger albeit it injury prone center in Hanzal for almost half the price

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  19. Nash is immovable at this point. No one was taking his 8 million dollar contract even when he could stay healthy for the majority of a season.
    He was on fire when he got hurt though. Sucks

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  20. BDL, with Nash and Grabner gone you also gain almost $10.5M in cap space. That gets you what you need. And, like people mentioned, Hayes/Miller could distribute time equally. I, too, initially thought they should get a young, reliable 3rd line center in the Stepan trade, but Miller could make them being very deep at center. And Stepan could get you a solid R side defenseman, not a rental. And Stepan is from Minnesota.

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  24. Having said all this, deep inside I strongly believe they’ll go after Shattenkirk in the offseason while getting a rental in the meantime. Not what I think they should do, but just a feeling. I only hope they don’t go after him now and give up an asset. Or two.

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  28. You think it’s out of line that Hayes and Miller will each be getting 5 mill a year after the 2018 season?
    I am not against trading Stepan. I think the idea does make sense. But moving Miller to center weakens another position. You have to get a center for Stepan.

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  32. First, it’s only 9.5 for Nash and Grabner.

    Second, While Hayes and Miller will be over 10 combined, the net increase will only be over 4 combined (both currently make over 6 combined).

    Third, I’d rather keep Miller as a top 6 wing, but I’d still trade Stepan.

    In two years:

    Butch-Zibanejad-Zuke (which I will preemptively name the “BuZZ” line)
    Kreider-Hayes-Miller (the All-Americans)

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  33. BDL – only the difference between what they get paid now and future salary would be going to miller and hayes. maybe $ 2 million more each.

    losing Grabner is not a money saver. He is an unbelievable bargain.

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  36. The guy that makes way more sense to trade, from a Rangers point of view, is Zucc.
    You guys are right, I jumped to 10 mill, and it will only be about 5to 6 combined.

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  44. VC is my TBD – forgot about the other Young American
    (Young American, young American
    She wants the young American
    All right!)
    .
    THE – Zika – Butch
    Kog – Miller – VC
    Grabner – Hayes – Zucc
    .
    Nash should be traded, he has way more value than anyone else and this team ain’t winning no Cup this year or next.
    Step has the NTC kick in after this year; trade him for a RD1/2

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  45. Zika is the one needed a raise which is why Ott traded him; too cheap. Lucky for NYR his injury may bring down price tag but he is $5M per. Butch and VC will get bridge deals after next season I believe.
    Happy to pay Miller and Hayes if they continue to produce!

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  50. So I’m BANJing…new post anyone?! Wtf?!
    –
    Why not step for Duchene?! I mean, duchene is slightly younger, faster, a bit better on draws (I’m sure a stat hound will look that up for me), and makes a little less $$$ per season as well.
    –
    I think the jets might be interested in zucc (despite the rw thing) just to have him feeding laine.
    –
    I’d rather have trouba than shattenkirk any day. Regarding d men I think Anaheim, Minnesota, Winnipeg, and Vancouver (just for doodie because he hates gudbranson so much;)) are the most likely trade partners.
    –
    I’d love e Kane here, fat no to franson.
    –
    I’d part with the 1st rounder for this draft…maybe even for hanzal (depending on rest of deal).

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  55. Doodie
    Because they clearly have an issue there with underperforming players (perhaps a not so good dynamic in the “room”). So you “shake it up” and move a piece, but get a NHL player with a decent pedigree back letting McKinnon and other players, fans, the rest of the organization know that there will still be an effort to win.

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  59. Lol, you guys act like trades like that never happen…and they do, especially in the cap era when the $$$$ match up fairly well. So are we saying duchene is that much better of a player than stepan? Just making sure we are all on the same page.

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  61. I am not by any stretch trying to say Stepan is a better player than Duchene.
    Stepan, 485 gp, 123 g, 343 pts.
    Duchene,538gp, 171 g, 406 pts.
    Add that Stepan is a much better two way player and it is a lot closer than you think. Having said that, I would trade Stepan for Duchene in a heartbeat.

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  63. Wicky – The problem with Kulikov is that he is really banged up this year. I read this week (sorry, can’t remember where) that Kulikov is so banged up that Bylsma is going to restrict his practice time. If he needs that much “maintenance time” I wonder if he would ever be able to fit in with the team.

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  64. Franson will come cheaper than most and a solid RD2. Trying to plug holes as the right side of the D is gushing.
    Kane is the most intriguing; lot’s of baggage, lot’s of talent, lot’s of girt/jam/snarl

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  67. Regarding VC;
    Haze first 50 games he was 9-15-24 getting prime top 9 minutes with Hags, Miller, and Marty St Louis
    JT Miller’s first 50 games 9-12-21 (two seasons when he was getting a regular turn)
    .
    VC is 12-8-20 in 50 games playing up and down the lineup with Pumps, Pirri and Fast.
    He is RW2 and he will score 23-25 goals; especially if he puts on 10-15 lbs. in muscle

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  69. SN
    Agree re Kane. Respectfully disagree on franson. Was not impressed with his game (admit a very small sample set). Also, if a team wanted him, now is the time to get him. Once shattenkirk is off the table, the price for any righty d man is going to go up. There are a other potentially available rightys I’d prefer over franson (just my opinion of course).

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  70. Wicky trades like that do happen but that particular trade wouldn’t happen. In a scenario where a player needs a chance of scenery on a good team then yes you’re right.
    If the Avs weren’t in the basement there probably wouldn’t be much talk about shopping him in the first place. It’s a safe money bet that since they are, they’ll be looking for prospects and or high draft picks.

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  71. I clamored for Franson a few years back when they needed a PP defenseman, but I don’t see how he’s better at preventing goals than the current crew.

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  72. A couple of defenseman who could prevent goals would be nice. I know pp quarterbacks and puck movers are all we are supposed to clamor for but I’d like to see a dman who isn’t on his butt watching a goal get scored once every3 games or so

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  73. You guys did notice McD playing the entire PP as QB. That’s your top defender having to play the entire PP. Franson, a PP QB, is a huge upgrade offensively on Klein/Girardi and a wash defensively with 2016-17 Klein. Will come at a reasonable rate which has to be factored into the calculus.
    .
    Shatty would be an absolute nightmare for both the D and the Cap for the next 6 seasons. Gotta to let that ship sail.

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  75. I have a feeling if the Avalanche look to sell at the deadline they are going to blow it up ala the 76ers. They are going to look for picks, prospects and young cheap NHL players – in other words the exact opposite of Derek Stepan,

    As for getting a defenseman, I think the Rangers might have to settle for bringing a depth guy who comes in as insurance in case someone gets hurt. After the top 6 the depth is wanting. I would definitely not look to add anyone who is not a FA at the end of the year unless it is a steal.

    Gorton is going to have be even better this summer than he was last year because he is going to have to navigate the Expansion Draft, a stagnant cap and improving the team. If we could ever get Girardi to waive his NTC would it be worth the Rangers time and effort to talk Vegas into taking him by offering them a prospect (not that we have a lot of those), a player or two or even a 1st rounder in 2017?

    That might sound like crazy talk, but if the Draft is as blah as they say then it could be worth the gamble to completely eliminate Girardi’s cap hit fully without any penalties.. You have to think out of the box like Neil Smith did in 1993. The Rangers were going to lose either Mike Richter or John Vanbiesbrouck in the Expansion Draft. So, he trades Beezer to Vancouver for what later turns out to be Doug Lidster and signs Glenn Healy to back up Richter – and the rest is history.

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  77. Just got a chance to watch the game and liked a lot of what I saw especially from Grabner and Nash among others. I feel like Nash is ready to explode. And Grabner did everything but score last night. But serious question here. There has been a huge narrative this year and last about Henrik never taking ownership for losses or somehow throwing his teammates under the bus. I watched the post game press conferences that Hank gave to MSG and to NBC. I do not see how it is possible for a person to take more responsibility for his struggles than Hank did last night. He literally told Pierre if we can get “consistent goaltending from me” we will be a very dangerous team. He told Giannone and Pierre both that he cannot drop from “A” Games to “C” games and give his team a chance to win. He also told Pierre that when he has a bad game his teammates take extra care to protect him and help in in the next game. Where does that no ownership narrative come from? The guy bleeds blue and hates to let his team down. I’d love to see that line of talk forever buried. Hopefully he can find the needed consistency going forward and Nash et al will go on a tear. Watch out!

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  84. Hank’s hair provides enough extra credit to raise the grade from F to C.

    On the earlier stuff about face offs – on the whole I think that stuff is over rated. Ducks are best at 55.1% and Edmonton worst at 47.2%. Most teams see about 60 FO per game so over a season the spread from top to bottom is 4.74 per game. Toss the top/bottom and it comes in to 3.42/game or roughly 1 per period. The bulk of the teams are 51/49, a 2% spread amounting to 1.2 per game difference. The NYR, to date, would end up down 2 ish. Think its a stretch to say those 2 (3%) are going to be the game changers.

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  88. Here’s my 2 part question for the day/ are offensive defenseman all we’ll see with AV as our coach (regardless of their defensive capabilities or lack there of) and if so-is Ryan Graves part of the long term plan in NY ?

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  89. James
    Sadly that may be the case on both points. I do think graves shot is something they really like, but I wonder if it’s enough for him to be at the top of our “next guy up” list and not be trade fodder.

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  90. I’m not sure av’s job is as safe as his extension might indicate…I was listening to tsn radio last week and there was some pretty good insight on the hitch firing in stl and how players tune out different coaches with different styles differently (I am not saying that is what is happening here at all) and that once a coach reaches 4 or 5 seasons it can become a problem…millennials sheesh 😉

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  93. I get that feeling too BDL, and it’s unfortunate. It’s the log jam at LD that’s at the root of it.

    Wicky, I agree whole heartedly. I had nothing to say on the extension given to AV because it’s not a guarantee of any kind. I think it’s just a few more feet of rope that he will either hang himself with or use wisely. This organization loved Renney and Torts for a while too. It’s a business at the end of the day.

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  95. As if that wasn’t enough BDL, I dropped him from my fantasy team this week! I know everyone says don’t be fooled by stats but it seems like every Wild player has a minimum of 13-15 goals. Except Parise that is…But Nino Niederreiter has been solid. Refresh my memory-How’d that one work out for Snow and the Isles? I guess they have a good thing with Clutterbuck though. Haven’t seen his #s but they did just give him a 5 year extension which I assume was because of production soo….

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  97. I know why AV likes Fast.

    AV likes his team to be fast. Fast’s last name is…Fast. Therefore… get it?

    Fasth tricked AV by changing his name to Fast.

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  99. Couple of tidbits…gm fletcher of wild over all star break stated any deals he made at deadline would not include any D man, he wants his D depth intact for playoffs.
    –
    No one at this point is interested in a sign and trade for shattenkirk due to stagnant cap (potentially) next season. He seems to be a rental only.

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  101. Fasth’s name change is reminiscent of Notre Dame’s Joe Theismann whose name pronunciation was changed from the original ‘Theeesman’ to ‘Thysman’ in order to rhyme with Heisman, the prestigious trophy he was trying to win.

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  103. That situation w Shattenkirk is like the one with Brad Richards back in 2011. The Stars wanted big value for him and he wound up not moving at the deadline. Then July 1 they all went after him

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  104. Richards moving like a lethargic machine from the opposite boards toward his bench while his replacement waits 45 seconds for him to arrive so he can jump on the ice.

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  111. Wicky – It is possible that the Blues started tuning out Hitch and it happens. The St. Louis situation is even more complicated that Hitch was stepping down at the end of the year and his replacement was already on his staff.

    The question to answer was Hitch being forced into stepping down or did he do it on his own. I read somewhere (sorry, memory is shot of late) that said he might want to get back into coaching. With 781 wins, he is one behind Al Arbour for third overall and 19 shy of 800.

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  114. If they all played like Jesper Fast, does that mean they can all score 4 goals over a 73 game stretch, have no fear of being benched, and still get 14 plus minutes a game?

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  125. If you are concerned about bears in the wild, just remember…
    If it’s black, fight back
    –
    If it’s brown, lay down
    –
    If it’s white, good night

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  126. Wow, how the memory fades….. If you would have asked me, I would have said that Brad Park played most of his career with the Rangers.

    From Uncle Larry’s column today:
    Park played 465 games as Ranger and 501 as a Bruin. He went to the Stanley Cup final once as a Ranger and twice as a Bruin. He recorded 378 points (95-283) wearing the Blueshirt and 417 points (100-317) wearing the spoked B.

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  127. Also from Uncle Larry,
    It was a very difficult choice and I even asked if they could split it half-and-half, but when all was said and done, the Bruins never traded me,” No. 2 (not 22) told Slap Shots, alluding of course to the deal in which he and Jean Ratelle (and Joe Zanussi) were sent to Boston in exchange for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais. “All these years later, it still hurts that I got traded. Yeah, it does.”
    ——
    I didn’t realize players took being traded so personally until I heard Esposito on the radio tell the story about why he hates the Bruins because of the trade. He ended his story with “F the Bruins.” I feel the same way about them, but for different reasons.

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  128. BDL, clearly you do not appreciate Fast’s ability to deflect a puck. I have no problem with how hard he tries. Irrelevant. If I got to play a game with the team, I’d try really hard as well. Doesn’t mean anyone would appreciate me on the third line.

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  134. James,
    I know who Stone is, but I honestly don’t know what a Stone is. Looking at his numbers, he is playing 20 minutes a game, and he is only minus 7. I know many here think plus, minus is a useless STAT, but when you are only a minus 7, on a team as bad as the Yotes, that’s a good STAT.

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  137. He’s a guy I’ve had my eye on for a while BDL. Used to chat with the head scout for the Yotes and he loves the guy. Good size, skates well and is steady in his zone. He isn’t Keith Yandle by any means and you wouldn’t see him QBing the power play but he’s a righty that could allow Mcdonagh to move more freely without trying to get back and play d for two men

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  202. Speaking of Nash. Now, when game is over.
    SN, there is no offence – you entitled on you own, subjective opinion to rate players, but a school of arguments is a little bit questionable for me. First and foremost I think, that rating players of your team supposed to be based on their general and complete usefulness for this team, hence is relative to others in same position in the team. So how come that Nash, who is third in the team by goals per game, is somehow number 9 by rating, not to mentioned his PK and tremendous defending abilities. If it comes to your salary/predicted goal’s pace ratio comparison to others, how about bunch of 9mil. players like Stamkos, Sedins, Getzlaf, Bergeron, Parise, Giroux, Perry (enough?) in this season, all scored less, playing more games. Or for example – Mr. Big Shot – Crosby, in some seasons finished like 07/08 (with 24goals), 11/12(8!), 14/15(28). I don’t think that any of fans or experts would rate those players in their respective teams as low as you did. But again, it is my personal subjective opinion. Sorry.

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  206. 4ever – I do not assess a mid-season as goals per game because how many games you play counts. Nash was tied with Nick Holden for 9th in team scoring and 4th in goals so that is a generous B- for all his helpful back checking…

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  208. Stamkos – Inc./A; 17GP; 9-11-20
    H. Sedin, B-; GP52; 11-21-32
    D Sedin, C; GP 52; 11-17-28
    Getzlaf, B; 47GP; 8-31-39
    Bergeron, B-; 52GP; 13-16-29
    Parise, C; 42GP; 10-14-24
    Giroux, B+; GP 52; 12-29- 41
    Perry; B; GP59: 9-27-36

    They all outscoring your boy Nash; 14-11-25
    Stamkos has been out most of the season but was top 3 in scoring when he was hurt.

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  210. Hank looked pretty good…take away two terrible d man plays by Girardi on the last flames goal and skjel on the Brouwer goal and he gave up one.

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  212. I think, in regards to Nash, it’s partially his role and you have to think at 7.8 mil per and the only (at this point)first line forward on the roster, the defence is certainly a plus. That said, the points are probably a bit more of an “expected” benefit.

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  216. No go time again? Full azzed…these things can be pre-set ahead of time. OR at least text me or someone with editorial access and ask for help 😉

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