242 thoughts on “Clean Slate”

  2. If we are able to trade Girardi, it will be a Girardi for No Girardi plus we retain 25-50% salary. If we get anything back other than a late round draft pick or body for the farm team thats a bonus.
    Every GM in the league knows the history, knows the possession struggles, lack of foot speed, its no secret, there will be no wool pulled over anyones eyes this time (Bob Gainey is no longer a GM). Other GM’s may even demand a sweetener just to take him at reduced cap hit!

    I wouldnt be surprised to see some sort of LTIR fudge but i don’t know if Girardi’s desire to play will put the kybosh on that.

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  4. Good morning Boneheads! I can’t put into words how I feel watching the pens lose. Other than it is exhilarating! I’m just hoping the Preds can get this done so Zika can write his next hit “Cindy’s Tears.”
    Gorton will fix this mess, athough I believe it’s going to take awhile. Getting a #1 Center & a 1 #RD will need some creativity on his part.

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  6. Good morning bonehead nation! Got to love the smell of a Cindy loss to start the day. Heard it said before the series started, Preds win all their home games, take one in Pbgh. Almost there.

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  7. Repost off ill timed Russian Fake News Post
    ======================================
    Now they can expose Fast with injury (should have anyway, but at least Commish Gorton can placate Vino) along with Rantaa Clause, add a trade – Girardi for picks allows to keep both Oscar and Grabber.
    .
    Cup Final seems like a Preds Defense v Pits Offense but Preds O is better than Pits D and goalie playing better as well so advantage Nashville. Refs, of course, on Pits side.

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  8. Girardi has value at 3M for 2 seasons; not at 5.5M for the next 4 (we hope…)
    .
    Preds winning neutral zone with quick puck movement. Pits scoring drying up.
    Kessel 0-2-2 in last 6
    Kunitz 2 goals in POs
    Hornquist 0-0-0 in last 5
    Cullen 1-3-4 in last 14
    Rust 2-2-4 in last 15

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  24. Carp sorry you are smarter than Gorton your track record confirms it. 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-3! But tell us who do you think the Rangers will lose? I say Lindberg!

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  27. In this day and age it technically isn’t for nothing, it’s stepan for no stepan.
    –
    I wouldn’t do it that way, but cap space is now an asset.

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  29. In theory if they lose stepan in draft, gain cap space and sign shattenkirk (in 10′ pole in shattenkirk btw), you have basically traded stepan for shattenkirk

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  33. RR2.0–

    Because by trading Stepan for a draft pick, and signing Shattenkirk, you still have to lose Lindberg/Grabner/Fast/Raanta.

    Exposing Stepan, losing him, and then signing Shattenkirk allows you to keep L/G/F/R.

    So the question is: is a draft pick more or less valuable than any of LGFR?

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  39. Today June 6

    Six more days to June 12.

    On that day rangers need to ask staal and girardi to waive nmc in terms of expansion draft. Let’s go Jeff clock ticking.

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  41. Whoa fellas, I already said I would trade step for a centre and have no interest in losing him for “cap space”asset. I was just pointing out a “potential” organizational train of thought based on the tsn info.

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  42. Unless Gorton has a deal where he exposes Stepan and Vegas picks a player the Rangers want and trades him to the Rangers … Or, Rangers expose Stepan, Vegas signs a UFA, eats part of his cap space and trades him to NYR (who pay full salary but are only charged half cap hit). … Or Rangers expose Stepan and Vegas takes him and, for example, agrees to take Girardi (assuming Girardi waives). …

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  46. I suggested leaving Stepan un protected weeks ago. With the idea being Vegas takes him and picks somebody for the Rangers in the expansion draft. The Wild, Preds and Ducks seem like they are are going to have to expose a Dman they don’t want to lose.

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  48. Carp regarding Kovalchuk.

    once he’s 35 in april he is subject to rules regarding 35 years old. if he retires with years left on contract the team gets hit anyway. teams are very reluctant to go more than a year or 2 with 35 year olds and that’s not the case for 34 age.

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  49. But he’s not a UFA this year, and thus there is no bidding war, and thus he won’t get anything close to the stupid money that would be available next summer. Plus NJ would need to trade him. Plus he would miss the Olympics. If he wants big $$, it will be there next summer. Not this summer.

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  76. Rangers fan – preseason: This team isn’t talented enough to win the Cup.
    Rangers fan – post season: The team didn’t win the Cup. The coaches should be fired.

    Liked by 2 people

  78. I do love reading all the outrage on other sites about how the Rangers are going to lose Fast, Grabby, Lindberg or Aauntie. The process is designed so that all the teams will lose a good NHL player, because what they don’t want is Vegas to stink the place up for years to come.

    Mr Foley has ponied up a nice shiny $500m into Bettman’s and the other owners bank accounts for the right to have a decent NHLer from each of them.

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  79. Charlie,
    Just for argument sake. The season may look, and start one way, but as it goes on it looks different. The Rangers ended up on the other side of the playoff bracket. Not beating the Sens, and then not getting to face a beat up Pens team, who they had beaten two of the last three playoffs, is a disappointment. To me this was an opportunity missed.

    Liked by 2 people

  82. Rangers fans preseason-oh this team is fast, it’s just about speed, one of the deepest top 6, look at that forward depth, best in the league

    Rangers fans post season-maybe it’s not just about speed, maybe we don’t know as much as we think about the style of play and the roster, but none of this has anything to do with the coach and his system and the way he does things…nothing.

    Bdl
    Missed opportunity most definitely

    Liked by 1 person

  84. Sorry, but I agree with Carp. People think that there is a simple resolution to a complex problem. Just fire the coach and everything will be fixed. People don’t know what Arniel does, but they want him fired. People have no idea what AV tells the players at practice and in meetings, but what he teaches them is wrong.

    Eh. I say get better players. Do they have decent forward depth? Sure, but they’re all mediocre players. If all your players are mediocre you’re going to get a mediocre team. I happen to think that the coach did a pretty good job getting a 100 point season with the talent available to him, but that me.

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  86. How many seasons should a coach get? I think AV is a good coach. A good coach who had a bad season in 2015/16. A good coach who had a bad playoff this season. Sometimes a coach can only take you so far, and then change is needed.

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  88. That’s a fair question. Most recent cup wins were by coaches who were fairly recent hires. At least four times they were midseason replacements (latest was probably Larry Robinson who took over with 8 games left in regular season). The last coach who won his first Cup with a team was Al Arbour, who did it in his 7th. Even the longest time between Cups for coaches who won multiple Cups was 4 for Scotty Bowman (98-02).

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  90. AV likes nude under raincoat Pidto because Pidto covertly gives him all the answers on ‘Stump the Coach.”

    ‘Who wore diapers until he was in junior year of high school?’

    ‘Ah, that would be Hayezy.’

    ‘Damn, coach, that’s sixty-one our of sixty-two!’

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  91. I just don’t see this team making the playoffs next year. No star power and none of the 5 making over $ 5 million is playing to the contract. Trading all those picks hurts a ton. That plus other teams are on the come.

    Yes I was wrong this past year as I expected us to miss the playoffs.

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  94. Not sure you can make a prediction without knowing what the roster is going to look like. Even if they do nothing, other than losing one player to Vegas, this roster is a playoff roster.

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  99. Coach is fine – problem is the players. Got it. So tired of this rationale. They know more so fans should just shut up and take what is served up.
    .
    Players are put out in the ice in certain situations by the coaches. Most observant Ranger fans were very critical about AV’s personnel deployment in POs, especially on back line. Even Corp albeit ex post facto.
    .
    It is fair to question coaching strategy and with this team the ‘Going to a Go-Go’ style of Vino is a dream from Oct thru January and then not so much when real hockey is being played after the ASG. The question for Gorton as he retools is does he get players who only play fast in the AV Way or get more well rounded players who can play both but shine when the ice gets smaller. Doesn’t win beauty points on 7th Ave during the holidays but may get you closer to the ultimate prize in the Spring.

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  101. Nashville has top forwards?
    Only 1 top 30 in scoring
    Arvidsson tied for 35th in points
    Johansen tied for 42nd; 2 ahead of Zucc
    .
    Forsberg 24th in goals; 3 more than 31st – Kreider who played in 7 less games

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  107. By the time today’s players get to the NHL, I doubt if even a few of them ever truly learn anything new ever again except how to fit into their present head coach’s humorous and inflated sense of his own imaginary hockey genius.

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  113. These 2 teams are demonstrating that you can rely on star power and a supporting cast OR with solid defense, good depth and great goaltending. Either way you can win.

    We don’t have that top level superstar and our defense was far from solid, hence why we are watching from the outside.

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  114. looks like we are drifting back to the we suck and won’t make the playoffs analysis… think we have pretty decent core and that Vesey is going to be a beast sooner rather than later … also think Gorton knows what he’s doing

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  116. I don’t think we suck at all, i’m very optimistic about our chances if Gorton can tidy up Sather’s mess on the blueline. I think we have some young guys who are going to make for a very good top 6/9 for the next 4-5 years at least (Miller, Kreider, Vesey, Haze, Zib, Zucc, Step, Bucha), we have 2 great young defensemen but they need at least 2 more.

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  119. I agree with Bobby and Simon. The young core is very solid, though inconsistent. The roster can be fixed with a few shrewd moves. It should still be a playoff team and one of the better teams in the East.

    On the other hand, the league is so loaded with parity that a few moves that don’t work out, or if certain areas aren’t upgraded, it can go off the rails quickly. I think it was seven of the 16 teams that made the playoffs in 2016 failed in 2017 … or seven that didn’t make it in ’16 did make it in ’17.

    So those spots are tenuous and there are no guarantees. But as we’ve also seen, there are no super teams in the playoffs. The Rangers, despite a mostly woeful performance by their top nine forwards, despite what is considered a shoddy defense group, and despite some off nights for Lundqvist, and despite blowing those leads (yes, blame the coach for a lot of that) should have been in the ECF and might have had a shot to beat Pittsburgh (I don’t actually think so).

    But upgrades are needed. I think they have the right guy in charge to do that.

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  121. Carp,
    I agree about the young core. I would add this. THe young core needs more responsibility. The are a few guys ( Kreider for one), who are still not trusted, and treated like rookies.

    Liked by 1 person

  123. You don’t agree they need more responsibility? Or you think they already have it. Because I don’t agree with that. There needs to be a changing of the guard.

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  125. The go to guys when the game is on the on line Carp. That is what I mean by changing of the guard. For a few years it has been the same guys. Stepan, Zucc, Nash, and Fast. 2015/16 season they gave up to many to count late goals. This playoff season was more of the same. Time to trust the young core.

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  128. AS far as Kreider goes. I know I have said this many times, but he does not play as much as he should. I believe he averaged a career high TOI this year at 17 minutes a games. It should be even higher. Closer to 20.

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  129. I’d like to see Kreider play more, too. He certainly can handle it. But he’s not going to be a guy on the ice protecting a lead. I don’t think Zuccarello should be, either. But the Rangers really lack that type of forward in their top nine. Stepan should be one, but wasn’t that this season.

    Kreider, Zucc, Hayes, Miller, Vesey … who do you trust in a defensive posture? And Fast, despite his rep, has spit the bit in those situations a lot.

    Liked by 1 person

  130. Fast was pretty bad at it in 15/16, better thus past season. That’s kind of my point Carp. I Would to find out if Miller, KReider, Hayes or Vesey can do it. We say they can’t, but they have never really been give that opportunity.

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  134. Alex,
    Earlier you mentioned the Preds 4 stud Dmen. Take a look at there TOI compared to there 5/6 Dmen TOI. That’s playing your best players.

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  135. BDL

    the difference between those 4 and the other 2 is huge and they’re also in the playoffs. Mcd plays a lot more than others on our defense too. Skjei might get there to a lesser degree.

    Otherwise the difference in the Rangers in forwards and defense is not nearly that dramatic.

    Yes when Glass is in he shouldn’t play the minutes the top 2 lines play and he doesn’t. But he still should play 10 min. When it gets to 5 min ot I only see 3 of our dmen playing which is as it should be.

    Also have to play the situation. Reg season different than playoffs. Play to the score too. For example see what Ottawa dd a couple of games sitting Karlsson a whole period.

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  136. And in the finals there has been an extra day frequently between games and from here forward there will be. Far different than 3 in 4 in reg season. So again play to the situation.

    I have seen some multi ot games where some guys don’t play at all. I don’t agree with that extreme unless hurting really bad or a goon or pylon type.Not just talking rangers and not just talking this year.

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  137. Vesey has plenty of skill …thinking about that goal in Columbus when he beat defenseman wide and roofed puck shortside ..not many guys can make that play

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  139. Me likes the NYR forward core – the back line needs a big time reboot which will most likely involve front line pieces in exchange.
    And please NO Shatty on Broadway – good years 1&2 will not make up for horrendous years 4-7.

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  141. SN- I suspect that if Gorton fails in his attempt to get a top 4 R d-man in a trade, he will go hard after Shattenkirk. And I agree that would be a mistake down the road. That would also mean getting rid of one of 2 big contracts on defense, and shedding some salary upfront. They still need to sign at least one RFA forward ( or someone eligible from outside) to be compliant with the expansion rules, and depending on who is traded, they will protect either Lindberg or Grabner. If they protect Grabner, they will need to sign 2 forwards.

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  144. I thought swearing wasn’t allowed on this blog. What the covfefe is going on here?

    I mentioned it before when talking about Subban and it applies to guys like Shattenkirk also. People, and especially the media, focus on the offensive production because it’s something that can be measured. There are no statistics for times you left the front of the net unguarded and the player you should be marking is left all alone. The team has tried in the past to get a “power play quarterback” and it always seems to backfire. Just think Redden, Richards and Yandle recently. Get a defenseman who’s best talent is playing defense.

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  145. Gorton was there for the Yandle trade. Has he changed his thinking since? The trade for a D will have to be made soon if Shatty is the backup plan. He will be off the market in the first week of July. The offer will be struck during the period when UFAs can talk to other team and closed right after 7/1. Will the Girardi buyout go down in the next week or so? The expansion draft is next, then the entry draft and UFAs. A month from now the roster may be very different. Glad Slats is not in charge. The pace would be too much for him and the potential for a screw up would be high.

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  146. CCC, I disagree, especially regarding Subban. The numbers and eye test both bear out pretty clearly that Subban has been the Predators’ best shut down defenseman.

    As for your statement of “best talent is playing defense”, in today’s game, getting the puck out of your zone with possession is the most consistent way of keeping it out of your goal. Guys like Staal and girardi, who even when they weren’t as terrible as they are now, still treated the puck like a grenade, just invited more pressure and offensive opportunities against the team.

    Shattenkirk’s long term contract will be a disaster, but simply because it will be too many dollars for too many years, especially late into his career. But I think he is a really good player.

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  147. To the multitude average (and/or young) sports fan, offense sells tickets and promotes viewership. Only grizzly old wizened beasts like us enjoy hot mustard, bear meat, Ballantine Ale, muddy, snowy football, and wicked defense.

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  148. Shattenkirk did not have best playoffs but he was paired with Orpik… thinking he would look much better with McD and help powerplay but its all about the dollars and length contract

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  149. 4 days left and no mention of staal and girardi being asked to waive nmc in terms of expansion draft. How they haven’t been asked so they could protect another player to me is nuts. Vegas not taking them.

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  150. BREAKING: Word is, Staal and Girardi are being asked to waive nmc in terms of expansion draft so the Rangers can protect other players.

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  151. Truly gratifying how many boneheads have finally come the the conclusion that Staal is just a shell of what he once was and is prematurely aging and deteriorating further even as we speak. Doesn’t mean he’s a bad person.

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  153. If you add a real number two Dman to play with McD, the opinion of Staal and Girardi changes. If you make them the 5, and 6 Dmen, and play them in the teens minutes wise. They become very serviceable Dmen.

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  154. Girardi still has the moxie. He’s either long term hurting or has lost his technique. Regardless, at this point, he ain’t never gonna get no better and figures to further deteriorate.

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  157. BDL – that is a ton of cap space tied up in your 5/6 to say nothing of the additional top 4 guy they add. The value of Klein and Holden was as much about the dollars than the adequate performance.
    .
    One of the anchor twins has to go. Girardi will face the higest performance regression given physical deterioration while Staal, if not injured, will exhibit more of the middling D and puck handling miscues, but is probably more servicable on a night in night out basis.
    .
    Placing Shatty with Orpik was Shatty’s agents’ worse nightmare; he will still get paid a ton of dough; buyer beware.
    .
    The Yandle deal was an overpay (more on the picks than player) but he was what was needed on the backline and played the role well. Glad they did not resign him.
    .
    What is the talk about Graves? Can he play at this level? Can he switch to right side??

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  158. I got the impression last season that Girardi, perhaps fully realizing his defensive deterioration, tried more to join the play, looking to do some scoring, but that even further reduced his D performance.

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  162. SN,
    ITS hard to do, I get it, but you have to put there cap number aside. If they remain with the team, and I think they will, they should be 5/6.

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  163. “4 days left and no mention of staal and girardi being asked to waive nmc in terms of expansion draft”

    No news on anybody being asked to waive on any team. Don’t expect it until at least the day before.

    As for them not being claimed, I think Girardi would be a pass, but Staal still has a good rep with the old-school GM types. I can picture him being claimed if he was available.

    Liked by 1 person

  168. Staal would play on 3rd pair in Nashville and be 4 – 6 on Pitts if they were fully healthy.
    You guys watched the NYR playoff games, right? He stunk most of the time. But it was Holden’s fault…

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  169. Hell no on Shattenkirk

    Eric

    at this point neither Staal or Girardi is taking the place of anyone we want to protect. Certainly neither Klein or Holden would be missed. The only way that changes is if we trade for a dman before the expansion.

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  172. Cooscoos / SN

    there is not 1 ranger making over $ 5 million that would sign today to their remaining contract. Things have changed since those contracts were signed regarding health like concussions or wear and tear from many many blocked shots.

    Having said that the buyout is very very expensive. For many years to come. And I certainly do not want another mistake signed in Shattenkirk. A buyout is not a get out of jail free card. A trade even eating some dollars is far preferable.

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  174. This is from a couple weeks ago and just never got around to mentioning it. A vetted well-informed poster (gm of two minor league teams during his career) mentioned he heard from his connects to watch for the rangers and panthers. That Dave tallon has regained control of the organization and that he feels they took too much of a step away from what worked for them in their division winning season and feels they missed the presence of one of the defensivemen who left. Said he’s interested in one of the rangers defensmen fans feel are untradeble.

    I think the defenseman he’s missing is willie Mitchell and the guy he’s interested in is girardi. Very similiar players. Girardi is still a good player, not a 1st pairing guy anymore and not worth his cap hit to a cap ceiling team, but he’s still a serviceable player and great locker room guy.

    Liked by 1 person

  176. https://www.sny.tv/rangers/news/looking-at-the-rangers-2016-17-season-as-a-whole/235139348

    Adam Rotter: The Rangers ended up finishing about where I thought they would heading into the season, 3rd in the Metro or the first Wild Card. I’m not sure I predicted a third straight 100 point season and their 102 points was one one more than they had in 2015-16, but also had the one spot lower in the standings. But a B+ sees like the right grade for the team this year. After last year’s loss to Pittsburgh many thought that the Rangers would miss the playoffs this season but this was a motivated, committed group that used speed to capitalize on offensive opportunities. Antti Raanta was big at times, Henrik Lundqvist was up and down but found his game. Michael Grabner was a 27-goal surprise and part of a line with Kevin Hayes and JT Miller that drove the Rangers for stretches. I think the Rangers enter this offseason in better shape than they did last season, certainly up front, but there is a definite need to improve on defense. If the Rangers can improve on defense then they can likely be in a similar position to this year, but if they don’t then it will be a much tougher road.

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  177. Nick Cotsonika‏Verified account @cotsonika

    Sullivan says two-day break between games might allow him to use top players more, knowing they have had and will have time to recover.

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  178. I realize everyone wants to coronate the NHL as a ‘speed’ league and AV wants to play Go-Go hockey but does NYR have personnel across the forward group or within the back line to play that way? Particularly down the middle…

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  180. Carp,

    I love how you broke down the reasons why Stepan would be unprotected. Really dialed in there. The one where vegas claims, signs, or trades for a player the rangers wanted and then retain salary is something I could see happening, with or without Stepan involved. McPhee has so many interesting moves and tactics to make. Must be overwhelming. Me thinks gorton, realizes the uniqueness of the situation and pulls off some really solid maneuvers.

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  181. Here’s what I don’t get. The team isn’t as talented at the top forwards (pens have..blah blah etc), so shouldn’t you play a style reflecting your talent then? I mean the sens do. The preds do, with respect to their forward talent).
    –
    How this is not on the coach is beyond me. I mean he wants to play all star hockey with a team of not all stars? It’s like me saying I want to enter an F1 race with a Honda Accord.
    –
    Play a system that suits your “talent” level.
    –
    Did the kings in ’12 or ’14 have 2 stud fwds? Kopitar and….carter maybe?
    –
    No way do I have a 10+ mil third pair in the cap era…no way. That’s as bad as making your goalie the highest paid player on your roster.

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  184. Doodie, you’re argument, while it is valid has nothing to do with what I was saying. I was saying that people put too much emphasis on goals and assists (measurable offensive statistics) than whether a guy can play defense. Why do you think Lettang gets Norris Trophy consideration and McDonagh doesn’t get a sniff? It’s because he gets a few more goals and plays with Crosby, Malkin and Kessel so he gets a bunch of assists. McDonagh doesn’t get the offensive stats so he can’t be a better defenseman according to the people who vote for such things. Yes, getting the puck out of the zone is a valuable asset, but still, the other team is going to have control in your zone. What does the guy do then? For me, if you play defense then your first objective is to defend.

    It’s like saying you want a goalie who is good with the puck over a guy who makes a lot of saves. I seem to remember a certain goalie for the Flyers who was great with the puck, but giving up goals was a little problem of his. The goalie’s number one job is to stop the puck. A defender’s number one job is to defend.

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  185. I guess I should then say that IN MY OPINION — with no emotional attachment or rooting interest (other than my Penguins) — that I think Staal is better defensively than Cole, Doumlolin, Daley, and much better than Hainsey and Maataa and whatever scrub they use as a No. 6, and he’s better than either clown on Nashville’s third pair. IN MY OPINION.

    ALSO IN MY OPINION, Staal is top 4 on Washington, top 4 on the Islanders, Flyers, Columbus, Montreal, Ottawa, etc. etc.

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  186. Bdl,
    I’d take Girardi, he’s more valuable to this team than staal.
    –
    Since staal is so great, we shouldn’t have a problem getting him to waive his clause because he can go anywhere in the league since every other team will want him.

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  187. Wicky

    but the buyout is not a free pass with a huge cost attached for many years to come. nobody here would sign them now to those remaining years.

    regarding the teams you mentioned ie the sens in particular. we’ll see how they do next yr and beyond.

    av got the rangers to finals and semis when his goalie and some of the dmen were more in their prime. had some good vet forwards as leaders too.

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  188. agree on Staal assessment Carp …Hainsey Maata and Cole especially have been getting abused in finals…. makes Ottawa loss all the more painful since I think Ranger offense would have done some damage against Pens

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  189. Suffice to say that the Left side of the D has been mightily hamstrung by the right side. McD need a partner he can trust and the PP needs a QB.
    Stop me if you have heard this before…

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  191. I like shattenkirk a lot. Like him enough to allot 4 million in cap space to him. If Gorton can work something out where vegas signs him and retains on him, so the cap hit is such, I would trade assets to do so. Have a feeling the rangers bring in two RD. One young player in a trade, and shattenkirk through some clever maneuvering.

    McD-shattenkirk
    Skjei-trouba/dumba/Manson/tanev/smithstaal-Klein/Holden/poink

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  196. I think in the next work stoppage the owners need to have a way to get out of long term contracts that fizzle after a couple of years. Yeah, there’s the buyout, but it’s still a major hit on the salary cap. I don’t know how they would do it so that both sides agree, but it needs to be done. Being locked into a long term contract when a player declines rapidly (see Callahan, Ryan) can be a big PITA for a lot of teams..

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  198. Alex – Shatty looked like Caca playing with Orpik which is nobody’s idea of a steady partner.
    Would not sign Shatty, but the right side needs to be addressed as the first order of business.

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  203. Charlie – I always thought my idea of a “designated player” who does not count against the cap would help lessen the problems – especially for teams who are good at developing players and have to find ways to pay them all (e,g, Chicago).

    I wonder if the new CBA would allow teams one “free buyout” per X amount of seasons. I term it free because there would be no cap implications in terms of penalties (might have to put an age limit of some type). However, said team would have to give up their first round draft pick.

    In theory that could be done now by finding a team that will take the contract because they need to get to the cap floor, but it still involves finding a team willing to take the player. This way you can do it with the waive of a pen and not worry about the pick you gave to another team coming back to bite for years to come.

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  204. Cross Check

    I can see the buyout becoming 1/2 not 2/3 the way it is now. It won’t go lower than that.

    The owners drive the bus so they will look for a higher percent overall and they’ll get it. Now 50/50. Will go to 55/45 Lockout for a few mos and the players cave.

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  206. SN

    I’m on record on not wanting him. Many will join me quickly when they see him every day.

    Anthony

    I hate that idea (1st paragraph) . Gives teams with players like a McDavid , Crosby, Tavares, Matthews a huge advantage. Makes tanking even more desirable.

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  207. Fixing/improving the g-men might improve the forwards defensively. If the D corps is stronger, the Rangers forwards won’t have to cheat down low as much. As a result, they can be out closer to the point to contest shots and passes. It cuts down on the running around the forwards do and it cuts off the free back pass to the points – something which is the root to the forwards always running around in their own zone.

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  210. Alex – Of the four players you mentioned, only one is in cap hell – the Pens. I bet a team like the Islanders (and Coyotes and other cash-strapped reams) wouldn’t even use it.

    I don’t think it has any play in terms of tanking with the draft lottery in effect. And so what if teams tank. Look how long it has taken the Oilers to become relevant again. Just because you tank or rebuild, it doesn’t mean you are going to successful at it.

    Eventually, you are punishing teams for becoming too successful to the point that they can’t keep their own players. Even if you are a financially responsible team that has drafted well (w/out tanking) and spent your free agency money judiciously and wisely, you will come up to a point where you are going to be capped out – especially if the cap remains level and doesn’t increase every year.

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  212. Anthony

    my point is each teams home drafted player is not comparable in terms of value. Some are $ 5 million or more higher in value than others. With Henrik on his last legs we have nobody close to being able to utilize that the way some other teams would. I could have used Kane from Chicago as another example. Karlsson. Doughty 2 more examples and again especially Doughty not even close to Crosby and Mcdavid

    Tanking doesn’t guarantee a Mcdavid but you’re making it another reason to do so.

    Again I hate that idea.

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  213. Anthony

    that will also serve to reduce the cap because the owners share is not going down due to those players not counting. So with 50/50 split (and worse with next lockout) the cap available to each team will be driven down. So Crosby and Mcdavid get their $ 20 million per year. Add enough of those mega contracts deserved or otherwise and the cap for everybody else goes down. Since they create cap at league level even if the indiv team on the surface doesn’t get banged for it under your proposal.

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  214. Pissburgh media d-nozles are mad lol

    They say Preds arena uses fake noise generator.

    ….
    Jeff Verszyla @Verz

    I’m really getting tired of hearing about Nashville’s fans…supporting a team in one Stanley Cup Playoffs does not make a Hockey Town
    10:11 PM – 5 Jun 2017
    —————–

    Presented without any edits, Kingerski’s claims:

    I’m convinced the Bridgestone Arena is using the PA to amp crowd noise. Facts–the arena plays warm-up and in-game music at 110-112dbs, as measured by my own device. At the height of the crowd mania in Game 4, I believe my radio trained ears heard the pops and cracks of over-modulation. Lastly, the sound levels are never shown in the arena, unlike every other arena in which I’ve covered games.

    Why would the “record holder” not show the sound level? The loudest the sound meter (on my iPhone) hit was about 114dbs. 114 is a great number and the crowd is engaged for a full 60 minutes. People don’t leave 10 minutes early to hit the bars or beat traffic.

    However, I believe I call “bunk” on the 130dbs claim, at least achieved organically. However, the Predators are welcome to prove it.

    http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/pittsburgh-media-nashville-not-a-hockey-town-preds-using-fake-crowd-noise/

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  223. How the F-CK do they call matching penalties on crosby and subban?! That cry baby bitch gets away with everything. Should’ve been a preds PP.

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  228. Pierre LeBrun‏Verified account @PierreVLeBrun

    Those double off days just so beneficial to a Penguins team coming off two 7-game series… look re-charged, re-energized tonight

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  231. i guess even barkley flipped the station

    i think the nhl tries to avoid nba finals conflicts at all costs so that’s why they didn’t play last night

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