214 thoughts on “New Post”

  1. Trade Zuccarello yesterday. I don’t care what the return is. See what the market is for the overrated Skjei. Keep all picks. Draft best available player. Keep Hayes, trade Zibanijad.

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  2. For those who were pushing for Darryl Sutter as Rangers coach, he has retired from coaching according to Eric Francis of Sportsnet.

    Interesting scheduling quirk for the Rangers is that it appears they are not anyone’s homer opener. while Nashville is the Rangers and Islanders home openers.

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  3. “Interesting scheduling quirk for the Rangers is that it appears they are not anyone’s homer opener.”

    Always the bridesmaid, never the bride…

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  7. AnthonyM, in reference to your 2nd round targets..what do you think about this defenseman named Ball.? ..heard he is nasty and 6’6 and can play…should be in range of 2nd round picks …they were talking him up on 31 Thoughts podcast

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  8. I’m right in the middle. I think Gorton is going to make one trade we like, and one we don’t. I think he’s going to make one first round and one second round pick we like. One first round pick we are not sure about, and one first rounder we hate.

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  10. #9 is going to either be Wahlstrom, Dobson, or Bouchard. Whichever one, there will be varying degrees of like/dislike, but we’ll be okay.
    #26 we’re going to hate. Someone who was supposed to go around 12-13 will drop and be available (Sandin, Veleno, Wilde, Kupari, etc) and we’ll draft somebody that’s a consensus middle-of-round-two pick.
    #28 we’re going to go with the best player available, but it will be at a position we don’t really need help in, like depth center or left defenseman (Ty Dellandrea, Isac Lundestrom, K’Andre Miler)

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  13. Hockey central at noon had Waddell on and he said he didn’t care if he won trades, team needs a different feel to it.

    Seems like gorton should be on the phone to Carolina

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  14. Will be in Copenhagen during the draft so I’ll have to check the blog to see how the Boneheads think Gorton did. Also going to Norway and Sweden so I’ll keep an eye out for Zuuuuc and Hank.

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  22. The draft scenario that would make me the most happy is this. At 9, in this order, Tkachuk, Wahlstrom, or Kotkaniemi. 26, Serron Noel. 28, K’Andre Miller.

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  23. Noel like a shot if he’s still there at 26, BDL. I love Miller, but that’s just a crowded posish, and I’d love them to use that pick on one of those skilled Russians if they’re still around (Denisenko or Kravtsov…though those guys could go as high as the early teens). I’ve said I’m a little spooked about Kaut’s health…but if he’s there at 28, I think he’s a slam dunk at 28.

    I’ve been reading a lot about Jay O’Brien as well. New England prep school center (Thayer Academy) who has a ton of skill and a good frame. He’s ranked anywhere from end of R1 to middle of R2. He could be a possibility at 28 if they really like him. Though we are picking #39 the next day, so maybe we hold off.

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  24. Dave,
    I think they need to grab a Dman with one of there two late firsts. It’s a deep D draft, and there are no guarantees that all the D prospects they have now make it. If they do, and the D they take in the draft pans out, you have a great trade chip.

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  25. BobbyO – If Pat Verbeek was “The Little Ball of Hate” then Kevin is “The Big Bahl of Hate”. I looked at Bahl for the Rangers in the second round, but I had him going before the Rangers pick at 39. Not sure if I would take him that high – might take him with their second 2nd round pick. I’d feel better if he wasn’t the first d-man the Rangers drafted.

    He is a big boy (6-6/230) but he is about average in the things most teams are looking for now on defense – skating, puck skills (handling and moving) and overall offensive game. It is possible they develop as he matures.

    If AV were coach there would be no way Bahl would be considered. We still have to see what Quinn is going to want his d-men to do. I know ISS sees him as a bottom-pair d-men which is fine because he does bring a physical /size aspect to the game that can offset what he can’t do if he is the 6th d-man.

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  28. Just can’t go off board again at 9! Whoever they choose I hope it’s the player they think has the highest ceiling at D or forward, not who has the safest floor

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  42. That article on Dobson vs Bouchard is intriguing. Would make me excited for either player (granted another defensive prospect in the system after the assets obtained at deadline make me temper enthusiasm for drafting more D).

    Both 6’3
    Dobson superior skater and defender

    Bouchard with a special shot (power, release and accuracy) and offensive playmaking.

    We haven’t had many blueliners scaring the opposition with a cannon from the point. The one annoying comment about Dobson was him sending wristers towards the net. We have enough of that. I want someone with a cannon like byfglen or younger chara where a shot blocker had to think twice and a shot really created mayhem.

    That being said. Glad Vancouver sounds like they need defense. Maybe wahlstrom drops to nine

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  43. Vancouver need everything!
    If each team fill their most glaring need then i think its Wahlstrom or Bouchard that drops to us at 9 if we dont trade up or anyone goes completely off the board.
    Montreal will trade down or take Kotkaniemi, no one else really has a hardon for him or particularly a center so they may be able to reade down a few and still get him.

    Lots more Karlsson trade rumours today, be interesting to see what happens. If they are going to trade him this would be the best draft to do it as i’ve not seen so many good defensive prospects in recent years.

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  47. Simon – I’ve also seen Detroit linked to Kotka (I’m making an exec decision to shorten that name) so i have a feeling he’s gone even if Montreal passes.

    Though if he’s available at 6 – do they like him enough to trade up?

    I’d be thrilled if Wahlstrom makes it past Chicago. That team really needs to start thinking about life after Keith and would be well served grabbing a Dman.

    I’m honestly happy with any of the 2-3 best available players that should be around at 9. I’m even coming around to Boqvist a little.

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  49. Another thing to consider is that the escrow next season will fall below double digits ( projected 8%) first time in years. It was 11.5% last year, and was as high as 16% at some point during current CBA.

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  51. From Pronman QA

    “Brandon F: To what extent is Kotkaniemi’s skating an issue? Could it seriously hold him back from being a top-six forward like it has for Strome?

    I think it’s average. Some NHL scouts I talk to agree, some disagree and say below-average. There are below-average skaters in the NHL who are top-six forwards. It’s not about one attribute, but a combo of all a player’s attributes. I think he’s very skilled and very smart, and at that size, playing C competently, unless you’re dragging anvils, that’s a top-six forward. Maybe the skating plausibly holds him back from being an impact guy, but I’m not there.”

    ? next coming of all the crap dished out to Stepan for his skating

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  55. Interesting that Pronman thinks Kotkaniemi’s skating is average. The ISS Scouting Report lists his skating as “Very Good” (Skating was his 2nd best Strength) with comments like:

    “He is a tall, lengthy skater that has deceiving speed in open ice.”
    “He’s a horse. Skates well, is physical, good puck skills. Strong on the puck and wins a lot of wall battles. Skates well for a guy this size.”

    I also purchased the Draft Report from Steve Kourianos (TheDraftAnalyst.com). He is the guy who has been on MSG for their brief Draft “show” (Arda Ocal hosts). This is what he says about J.K. (he has him rated # 11): “He makes up for an average first step with excellent awareness and anticipation, and he’s difficult to knock off the puck once he maintains control. Strong on his skates and heavily involved in puck battles, Kotkaniemi is highly reliable on odd-man rushes but also nimble
    enough to cut sharply across the grain and throw defenders into a state of confusion.”

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  56. Did anybody catch Carp’s comment that the Rangers like Kotka, but view him as “less skilled that Chytil” ?

    Not that I dislike Kotkaniemi, but if he’s viewed as a potential first liner by a fair number of scouts, and our team views him as less skilled than a center we already have, and one of the only reasons he’s being considered as our necessary “pick him if he falls to us” guy is because we need a first line center…something doesn’t add up.

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  58. Something tells me that with all the GM’s around the league knowing the the Rangers are open for business Gorton will be getting low-balled. I mean when you put up a for-sale sign who has the advantage buyer or seller?

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  64. The key to working a bidding war is to realize when the deal on the table is acceptable, and accepting it. ie NOT passing on 16th overall in 2015 because your backup goaltender “could get more.” That’s when Matt Barzal magically turns into Ryan Gropp.

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  70. Its going to be a busy couple of days. I expect at least one current Ranger to be an ex-Ranger by Friday night and on top of that by Saturday night we will have several new Rangers to welcome!

    If Spoons, Zuuuuccccc and Namestoolong (and possibly Hayes & Vesey) are all still here by Sunday i’ll be shocked.

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  71. Gut tells me that something will happen today. Not so sure it’ll be anything that we’ve been thinking or speculating.
    Guess we’ll have to see what happens.

    also, the more you read articles about the players in this draft the more watered down this draft really seems.

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  72. What would be a shame is i think Quinn could be the guy to really push Hayes and Vesey into being the best they can be – i wouldnt let either of them go. Same with Butch and Kreider.
    He’s a details guy, hands on, lots of advice and guidance, hard work. Almost polar opposite of AV

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  74. One other thing-Congratulations to Taylor Hall for winning the Hart. Fans love to deem players “no good” or “bust” because they deal with injuries or begin their careers in tough situations.
    Hall went through a bit of both the first few years of his career while Seguin has really been great for a while.
    Nice to see Hall put it all together and show that he is a legit star in this league even if it’s for a team I can’t stand.
    I’m sure Oiler fans are in agony thinking of what might have been if the 26 year old veteran was playing along side McDavid for 82 games this past season. 93 points may have been 12o points

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  76. agree JamesG —really hoping they can package later 1st round picks and or Namestnikov/Spooner to get another first rounder in top 15 … Montreal needs centers but not they would probably need to include #9 …maybe Ottawa or Arizona a possibility. Really think Flames are the team they are most likely to make a trade with

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  78. James – i’ve read so much rubbish over the past few days! The one thing cap space does is it creates many fantasies in cap strapped teams fans heads that we would take their bad deals for equal or greater return!

    I’d offer them a 7th round pick and ask them to pick up 50% of his salary!!

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  79. Calgary would be a good trade partner in my opinion. Obviously they want to move up into 1st or 2nd round. They have a couple of guys that would fit here in theory. Rangers are obviously being linked to a lot of different names but I think that’s because A) people don’t believe they’re rebuilding the way they say they are and B) because they’re the NY Rangers and well, refer to A again.
    I’ll say this though-I like Doug Hamilton (refuse to call any grown man ‘Dougie’) Has a cap hit similar to Staal but is only 25 y/o as opposed to the usual suspects who are usually pushing 30. His skill set isn’t readily available these days via trade either. Could it get done? The answer always depends on what you have to give up to get such a guy.
    If the price is right I think he could help.
    I also think Panarin would be a great addition. Even though at first glance you can argue that it would be a trade for “today” , he’s only 26 and I don’t see his skills falling off the radar like a power forward or a high mileage player.

    Erik Karlsson, Drasaitl etc is all unrealistic speculation.

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  80. Simon, the best thing about this draft as well as after the first week of July is that we’ll finally have a clearer picture of what kind of team Gorton intends to go forward with. We don’t know the meaning of “re-tool” or rebuild in his mind.
    I know it doesn’t involve 33 year old power forwards with 7 -8 million dollar cap hits.

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  81. I don’t think we’ll really know if we are rebuilding the way they said until July 1st. As much as i’d like to see Tavares, Panarin or Karlsson on our team i think the previously announced rebuild is going to put the player off.

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  82. Couple interesting things…,

    if Nashville trades for Erik Karlsson, will they involve a third team to take Ellis with the way the sens are trending?

    ROR is due his annual $7.5 mil bonus on July 1st, if teams want him, asset cost will be much higher after that due to the Buffalo payout.

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  83. Karlsson is a guy linked to the Rangers simply because we’re the Rangers. Anybody coming up with those fantasy isn’t a legit sports writer in the NY market, and is still stuck in the mindset that the Rangers operate like they did in the 90’s.
    On the flip side – Draisaitl speculation is NY-based writers underestimating how small-market teams operate.

    I will say on Karlsson – at first I thought it was kind of weird that they’d give away Hoffman for a 3-pack of tuxedo t-shirts, and still turn around to shop Karlsson. They probably could’ve done a little better holding onto Hoffman for a little bit. BUT – imagine the absolute horror if, after all that BS, they traded Karlsson FIRST? Dorion and Melnyk would’ve had to flee the country.

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  85. Dregger has the Rangers staying the course. Does not think they are players for any of the big name guys. I find that to be good news. Now is not the time.

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  86. https://www.sny.tv/rangers/news/how-the-rangers-fared-in-nhl-award-voting/282204824

    The 2018 NHL Awards were held on Wednesday and the Rangers had the following players pick up votes:

    Lady Byng: Ryan Spooner (tied for 26th) one 2nd place vote, one 3rd place vote
    The Rangers did not have any players generate a vote for the Norris, Calder, Selke, Vezina, Hart Trophy or any of the end of season All-Star teams.

    Jeff Gorton did not receive a vote for GM of the year.

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  88. Ottawa getting killed on Hoffman deal …they are not going to move Karlsson without getting a haul. Also if they are going to trade Karlsson why not give the 4th pick to Avs this year instead of next when their team may have better shot at next year’s number one pick/Hughes

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  90. I’m sorry but our biggest rival who’s beaten us 12 out of the last 13 times we’ve played is absolutely kicking our butts this offseason. Tavares is definitely going to sign with them now that they got Barry Trotz. Lou will now get a decent goalie and a couple of defensemen (maybe Carlson) and they’ll win the friggin cup…book it.

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  92. Don’t worry about the Fishsticks, Scottsdale. Let’s rebuild and see what we’ve got. So what if they have Trotz? Look at the talent Trotz had to work with. We’re not competing for a cup in the next few years. Now is our time to restock the cupboard. What are we supposed to do? Trade half the team for Karlsson / Panarin? Here’s a novel concept- build through the draft.

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  93. Craigweather, now it looks like they’re signing JT. We definitely should worry about them as they’re our biggest competition. To not worry about them would be a Mets thing to do.

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  95. Scottsdale,

    How many cups have the Isles won with Tavares so far? How many playoff series have they won? You think Grubauer or Talbot will be the missing piece to get them there? I sure don’t. The Rangers need to worry about themselves and not what the Isles are doing. I could care less if the Isles are better than we are next year. We’re not supposed to be good next year. And maybe we’ll have a shot at Jack Hughes! Let’s build the team the right way instead of going after every shiny new toy. Patience…..

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  103. You’re crazy cooscoos blsming Av for our current troubles

    You’re right about management if you mean Sather. You know Olga’s favorite

    How many draft picks were traded?

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  105. Just stop it with the Islanders crap.
    Since I was 13 I’ve spent every off season hearing about how we are inferior to the Islanders and “here they come ready to soar past us as an organization.” Them besting the rangers in the regular season is merely bragging rights. Similar to someone winning an arm wrestling contest on the deck of the titanic.
    Worry more about the Rangers

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  106. LOL Easy, Coos. Unless Trotz is gonna split into 5 pools of ooz that form a top four defense unit and a goalie they aren’t going anywhere- even with Barzal the savior

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  109. AV ruined three talented D coaches and our defense along with it. Slats and Gorton were no help and either blind or (fill in the blank). They got lucky (sort of) with a couple three college kids after having tossed our legitimate picks to the wind.

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  110. James, I get it. Filthy Fish! But I disagree that them beating us on and on regular season means nada. Dagger through my heart each and every time, even pre-season. I the kids coming in here don’t know there is a serious rivalry extant, and that they have to stand up and be counted, somebody had damn better tell them. AV obviously didn’t.

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  112. And he can shove his bubble gum up his wide azz. Maybe that’s why he’s always picking at his wedgie – bubble gum stuck to his azz hairs and Fruits of the Looms..

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  115. Was it Av’s fault that guys like Girardi and Staal got older (and / or hurt) and paid a ton of $ for many years. That Stralman was allowed to walk to bring in Boyle.

    I really don’t care if you’re patient or not cooscoos. the old way was not working.

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  118. Why is Gorton a joke, because he didn’t wait to hire Barry Trotz? I thought the consensus was no more retread coaches. But then again, if the Rangers waited and hired Trotz and the Isles hired Quinn, I am sure fans would be complaining that we went for the retread rather than bringing in new blood.

    Yeah Trotz wasn’t much of a genius was he before the goalie he benched at the start of the playoffs fired off back-to-back shutouts to eliminate the Lightning and cost the Rangers an extra shot at a 2019 first round draft pick.

    As far as I am concerned, the Fishsticks deserve that Danny DeVito/Penguin looking coach.

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  119. Anyhow, getting back to things that actually matter- I don’t like this philosophy of passing up on Wahlstrom if he’s available because he’s a Center. First of all, you need quality down the middle more than ever these days. Secondly, it’s nice that these kids like Chytil and Howden show promise and have talent but I must have missed the memo about how there are guarantees in hockey now. No guarantee these guys are going to be proven top NHL centers. Right now their job is to develop and to show they can be NHL PLAYERS. No guarantees. If Wahlstrom is as skilled as they say passing on him would be stupid. Plain and simple.

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  121. This will be a solid test for Trotz.

    I like the guy as a coach, and under different circumstances I’d have waited for him. But this is the wrong team/time for Barry Trotz. At least he’ll be available in 3-4 years when we’re ready to contend again.

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  122. Division nothing. The last three Cups were won by two of the most talented teams in the league.
    Still waiting to hear about who this dream team in the front office are going to play in goal and on defense.

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  125. Yea i don’t get worrying about the Isles at all. They haven’t had any postseason success in the last 20+ years, so hard to see them as much of a rival in that sense. If Lou was 30 years younger maybe I’d worry more about him building a dynasty, but he is a placeholder until he convinces the owners to let his son take over. They also need a strong goalie and D corp before there is any real threat of them winning the Cup. They can likely acquire a young backup goalie to start this year, but won’t be a proven commodity. Don’t see them assembling a strong defense all this offseason.
    —
    Gorton is and should ignore what the Isles and other local teams are doing. Need to build this team the right way even if that means missing the playoffs a couple more years. All fans should be on board with that!

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  126. What exactly is being “aggressive”? Trading Kreider, a bunch of picks, etc??? I’m not willing to trade Kreider, I’m sorry… Because I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you have to give to get…. Zibanejad, spooner, Hayes, Namestnikov, Zucc are not going to do it! Do you have any idea what it would take to bring in Karlsson or Panarin? Way more than we should be willing to give up. And those are players that only have 1 year left on their contracts. There are NO guarantees that they’d sign long term deals here. So what exactly should they do… Wave a magic wand, and poof! There’s no quick fix… and that’s fine! It may take a few years. That’s life! You think signing Carlson to some ridiculous contract will cure all of our shortcomings on the back end, while overpaying for Karlsson or Hamilton? Time to show a little bit of patience for once.

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  128. I forgot to mention this earlier in the day. I am reading Bob McKenzie’s “Hockey Confidential”. I started a few months ago but stopped reading when I got the chapter on analytics (yuck).

    Anyway, I picked it back up and he had a chapter that dealt with Connor McDavid and his development at the start of his Junior career. One of the things McKenzie writes about is the use of “exceptional player status”. For those who don’t know, you must be 16 in order to start playing Major Junior unless you apply for that status. There is a process and a review board that goes through the applications.

    As of the writing of the book (2014), there were only four players granted that status: John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, McDavid and the Rangers very own Sean Day. Since that book was published a fifth player was granted the status – Joe Veleno and he became the first non-OHL player to do it.

    It got me thinking and wondering if Day’s development as a player would have been different if he had to wait and extra year before joining the OHL. He was such a big kid physically, but I wonder if his game was at the same level as his size. It would be an interesting thing to ask Rangers management when the team convenes for training camp (hint, hint Carp :-))

    The whole process is very secretive and the names of players not granted the status do not get released. McKenzie said there was a player that had applied around the time of the first four, but was not accepted. McKenzie doesn’t name him but he says there were enough “clues” and “ways” for people to figure it out. Note: I just looked it up and it might be John McFarland was the player McKenzie was talking about.

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  131. I believe Day also had some serious family drama going on in his life, that kind of derailed him. But who knows…maybe he wasn’t ready for junior and would’ve been better served waiting an extra year.

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  133. I have seen Wahlstron listed a Center and a RW, but most hockey people see him as a winger. If I had my druthers (wow that makes me sound so old), I’d love to see Wahlstrom at #9, Bokk/Noel/Kaut at # 26 and then possibly a d-man at #28 unless a scoring forward slips down.

    I kind of regret going the safe-ish way with Benoit-Olivier Groulx. I think it was a case of me liking a player and zeroing in on him rather than looking for the bigger bang for the buck.

    I have been reading a lot lately about a C/LW Blake McLaughlin – not s much specifically for the Rangers, but just a forward who could slip into the bottom of the 1st round. He played in the USHL and was in the top 20 in scoring. I see him more of a 2nd round guy myself.

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  134. I zoned out on the family stuff with Day. I still don’t think it was a bad pick. I have no problem taking a chance in the 3rd round, specially on a player who has the physical attributes (6-3/230-ish). He scored 14 points in 16 games so maybe the switch was finally flipped on – five years is a long time to spend in Juniors.

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  135. “Three to four years when we’re ready to contend again? This team plays soft and disinterested as it is. Now we give them license for years and years to skate around in circles collecting massive paychecks? Wrong message.

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  137. Coos – I’m giving them 2 years for the rebuild, another year to get into the playoffs and go a round or two, and then the 4th year to be serious about going deep.

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  138. Only what Hank and Shatty making over $6m/yr as of now, so not sure who you are talking collecting massive paychecks on the rangers anymore. They need to bring in the right mix of young players and vets and install a solid defensive system and uptempo/aggressive attacking system. That isn’t going to all be accomplished this season or next as very good chance only one or two of the players they traded for at the deadline will even be close to NHL ready this year and likely none of this year’s draft picks will be unless they sneak into the top 3 somehow. Patience grasshopper.

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  139. Cooscoos

    massive paychecks?

    don’t see too many going 3 or 4 years with that type of compensation on current team. even those with 3 years left on their contracts will likely be gone before that 1 way or another. maybe exceptions being henrik and shatty.

    they will have a lot of younger cheaper guys which contradicts your narrative.

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  142. We have the Isles on the road to improvement (I have to think Tavares returns), the Flyers youngins are only getting better, reports of Washington’s demise was a bit premature, Carolina will walk away tomorrow with a super-rookie (or a trade haul), Pittsburgh is Pittsburgh, Columbus is always tough, NJ is out to prove last season wasn’t a fluke, Tampa is stacked, etc etc.

    We, on the other hand, are looking to trade players for assets. I’m not holding my breath for the playoffs this year.

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  144. There is no one thing to concentrate on in icing this team. Concentration has to be in MANY areas. This is not the kind of situation a competent GM allows himself to fall into.

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  147. So what’s the point of icing a team that’s good enough to make the playoffs? Uggh. Enough with the same garbage we’ve always done in terms of chasing every big name AFTER their prime. Funny thing- these great players we chase…were DEVELOPED by other teams. Here’s a novel idea: How about we develop our own players….

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  149. I think they’re going to be a fun team to watch. They’re going to work hard, they’ll have some skill on display, but I just don’t see them winning very much. If not – we got the wrong kids.

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  152. Coos- Every big name player that seems to be on the Market be it via trade or free agency. I’m not saying a few players couldn’t help through a signing/trade… but swinging for the fences is not the way to go right now. There’s no cutting corners. That’s the kind of garbage this franchise has always tried to pull off, and for once it looks like they’re finally doing it the right way. With that said, this draft and the next will be CRUCIAL. They need to find elite talent… not 3rd liners/3rd pairing D. I really wish we had someone other than Gordie to make the call on that… he’s the worst.

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  153. Prolly go with 3 assistants for the beginning of this rebuild.

    Kreider and Shattenkirk and one other

    If they are sure they will resign Kreider long term and not trade him he can be captain.

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  154. If I’m gorton, which I’m not (obviously), and the sens haven’t traded karlsson by the start of the first round and the forward I want (or forwards) are gone early and the best player is a D man, I offer 9 up in a deal for karlsson.

    Not only will karlsson be a better d man next year than any of the d men available at 9, but he’ll be a better d man in 5 years than any available at 9.

    I’d rather have a forward than any of the d though, but I’m not sure a forward that is worth it at 9 will be there.

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  158. But it will cost you likely three more top assets for Karlson though, Wick. And we don’t know what shape his ankle is in now or will be in a year, two years, three years, etc.

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  160. Pete
    Don’t disagree re other assets and I expect it to not be cheap. Depends a lot on the other assets…I start with Tampa 2nd next year and a third this year plus a player or two depending on players obviously.

    As far as his ankle, always a tough call but guy had a lot of stuff besides ankle going on and still had 60+ points in a down season. Not to mention coming off playing in ECF.

    Honest question, when was our last d to score 60+ points…even on their not “down season”.

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  173. I guess a team can talk to a guy before July 1 (on those guys whose contracts end in 2019) but they can’t sign a deal before July 1.

    so there’s more risk of only having the guy for 1 year of trade in June.

    with the rebuild I’d rather hold off anyway. I want guys whose best days will be as a Ranger instead of for some previous team.

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  174. Darren Dreger
    ‏Verified account
    @DarrenDreger

    Offers made on Ilya Kovalchuk. LA believed to be among them. Kings, Boston and San Jose and Vegas still in the mix.

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  175. NHL Public Relations
    Verified account
    @PR_NHL

    The @NHLPA and the @NHL announced that the Team Payroll Range established for the 2018-19 League Year, pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, provides for a Lower Limit of $58.8 million, an Adjusted Midpoint of $69.15 million and an Upper Limit of $79.5 million.

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  178. Wick, if Ottowa has any idea what they are doing (and maybe they really don’t) they will want an Nhl ready defenseman (Brady or Pionk) to replace Karlson and then at least two top assets-think Chytil and the Russian goalie or a next year’s first.

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  181. I expect that Namestoolong and Zuc will be destination elsewhere post draft. Wonder too if they might not move D’Anger and/or Smith (and some cash).

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  184. I don’t follow the draft prospects too closely. Obviously I’ve been researching the top 10 of the class though. Just curious if there are any good goalie prospects this year?

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  187. Top goalie prospect is kind of a dying breed Dan. Occasionally someone pops up in the mid to late first, but generally there won’t be a goalie on the rankings until well into the 2nd. That being said, you never know when someone in the late R1 might reach on a guy.

    The last time I remember there being a few REALLY good R1 caliber goalies were when Subban, Dansk and Vasilievsky went.

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  191. Lucky for everybody involved, that’s correct Dan 🙂

    Best goalie prospect this year is a guy named Amir Miftakhov. And he might not go until R3. Not that it’s a weak crop of goalies – there’s just no stud or two.

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  195. So Coos what would you have them do this offseason? Sign a bunch of UFAs or trade for a bunch of vets just so they can make the playoffs this year? You do realize how counterproductive that will be given the numerous holes we have on our team and system, right?

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  202. If you’re anxious about the draft, just project ahead three years from tomorrow, and try to guess which players Gorton could have drafted instead of whatever Hugh McIlbust he actually picks.

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  208. Lots of words from Jeff about sticking with the rebuild, but listen to the bits in between about if there is a deal to move up or move down ar acquire a young player (the way he qualified it means basically in their 20s) then they will consider it.

    I hope that means he is exploring what it would take to get Artemi Panarin from Jarmo and the BJ’s and seeing what other potential center pieces are out there……calling messrs Karlsson and Tavares.

    You see the whole point of a rebuild is to rebuild around something, so i don’t buy that we are just going to add lots of pieces and hope to find a gem in them all. I expect one big deal and then use the draft to build the supporting cast.

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  209. Afraid we likey have to wait to see if Panarin hits the market next offseason, will be too costly to acquire him via trade. Of course you ask, but have to be realistic as well. Just not sure there is such a big deal out there Simon, but Panarin wouldn’t be it (good player, but a 30 goal guy, not a 50 goal guy) and Karlson is too expensive and very likely damaged goods with that ankle. Could be a surprise out there but no idea what it would be

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  210. 233 points in 243 games though Pete – thats 78 points a season and he wasnt playing with a 40-50 goal scorer to pad his assist stats. He was 25 points clear of any other BJ’s player. Thats the kind of 20-something i’d build a team around and happy to give up a few assets to get him

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  211. Brooks article this morning almost sounds like he’s pouting because the Organization is sticking to its plan.
    It’s like egging on a guy in recovery to have a drink. Can’t stand him sometimes.

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  214. Brooks wants a big trade so he can have something more interesting to write up because when it comes to the kids in the draft, he knows no more than the rest of us

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