Good morning, Boneheads!
I got a lot of catching up to do, so be patient with me. I don’t follow the draft and the youngsters as much as some of you do. In fact, most of my knowledge about draftees comes from the blog, thanks to many of you (hi, BDL). But from what I read yesterday, that Yanic’s kid was the right choice in their situation. He was the best available player left, and he happened to play their position of organizational weakness. I don’t know what’s the fuss about. Skating? You don’t score 132 points in 63 games walking on the ice in Uggs.
As far as the start of free agency in 30 min. We all know the drill. They don’t have enough cap space to sign their own FA and fill the rest of the spots, let alone sign some expensive UFA. I don’t expect anything earth shattering. But let’s give Drury a little credit. He did very well getting both Tarasenko and Kane under the cap when anyone said he couldn’t do one of them, let alone both. While I don’t think there will be a big fish coming to Broadway, there are some moves to make in order to fill all the necessary spots adequately. Just remember, there is no reason to panic and make all the moves right away. They don’t have to be cap compliant during offseason. As long as they under $91.85M ($83.5M+10%) of total AAV, they are good to go until after the training camp. Also, there could be some real short term solutions/bargains on that buy out market.
Have fun!
241 responses to “It’s Go Time! (Free agency edition)”
Friedman shot down the Lafrenière stuff.
Eli,
I’m still laughing.
twitter been down for me. will have to rely on here and san rosens nhl.com blog. plus nhl network
If you scroll down below there’s a Twitter link that pretty much gives all we need to keep track.
Rumor is Rangers are getting Wheeler somehow.
Happy Bobby Bonilla Day!
Let the games begin!
Bdl
Never said book it.
This just in from Mollie :
“ Hearing the Rangers are in the mix on RW Blake Wheeler. He would be reunited with his former Jets teammate Jacob Trouba if this gets done. Rangers could sign Wheeler to a one year-over 35 deal with bonuses.”
R. Oreilly to Nashville
Eli,
The blond joke.
Mollie heard that from Dregger.
Bdl
Got it.
I actually had a real life experience with an attractive blonde I worked with. I told her a blonde joke, looking confused she look me right in the eye and said, “I don’t get it.”
Aaaand….
How many >30’s are in the top 6?
(Just asking)
Bdl
Just in case
An old blind cowboy strolls into a bar one day. Without knowing it, he has actually entered an all-girl biker bar by mistake.
He wanders over to a bar stool and asks the bartender for a shot of Jack Daniels.
He sits there for a while, then calls out to the bartender. “Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?”
At that point the entire bar falls deadly silent.
In a very deep, husky voice, the woman next to him says, “Before you tell that joke, cowboy, I think it is only fair, given that you are blind, that you should know five things:
1. The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat.
2. The bouncer is a blonde girl with a club.
3. I’m a 6-foot tall, 175-pound blonde woman with a black belt in Karate.
4. The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weight lifter.
5. The lady to your right is blonde and a professional wrestler.
Now, think about it seriously, cowboy… Do you still wanna tell that blonde joke?”
The blind cowboy thinks for a second, shakes his head and mutters,
“No… Not if I’m gonna have to explain it five times.”
Quick signed with Rangers.
Wheeler Stealer
And happy to here Busto still gets the highly sought after 3rd line LW. For what 3 more years?
I like the player (Wheeler). I am concerned about his locker room reputation.
Ilb I think you meant happy Canafire day!
We are in the redzone for air quality now, 155 and climbing
Wheeler did play with Trouba so they likely asked Trouba
I really wanted Wheeler. Partially for NHL on my PS5.
https://www.nhl.com/news/2023-nhl-free-agency-live-blog/c-345152300?tid=281072352
see 12:38 pm re wheeler
A moment of silence for the creator of The Clapper and Chia Pets 🪽
“I really wanted Wheeler. Partially for NHL on my PS5.”
Where is my PS5?
Rangers sign free agent F Tyler Pitlick to a 1-year deal worth $787,500.
Lol @ Pizza Boy for repeated dumpster diving!
Friedman: Good guy Riley Nash goes to NYR. Two-year deal: one-way first year, two-way second year
Oh and Aunty re-signed with Carolina for 1.5
Friedman: Alex Belzile on a two-year deal to NYR…two-way first year, one-way second year
Essentially you’re getting a poor man’s Josh Anderson for the right side, but actually gaining scoring ability for the top six.
you’re getting a poor man’s Noel Accari at 4C. Giving up some faceoff ability but it experience.
That should have been.
And happy to be here Busto still gets the highly sought after 3rd line LW. For what 3 more years?
As far as I’m concerned, today is a win in my book. Unless drury goes and does something stupid….
The only thing bad is that next year, Wheeler might price himself out of the Rangers’ range, even with the cap going up.
Way more signings than I though Drury would make.
These are hold over moves. Not win now moves. They can still make a little noise depending on what the team does but they weren’t trading Kakko or Lafreniere and they weren’t going to have the balls to move Panarin or Kreider so..
bread and kreider won’t accept a deal this year. can change in a year or 2 re kreider as becomes partial no trade. we’re stuck with bread for 3 more years. kreider been one of our solid playoff performers last 2 years. he’s hardly the problem.
Wheeler also a playoff performer just FYI
The problem in the playoffs more often than not is the long haired Disc Jockey.
I am very surprised at Drury’s level of activity today. I didn’t think the Rangers could afford to dip into the market. I wonder why Drury was so quick….to sign Quick when Cam Talbot was available. I’m guessing Talbot’s asking price was to dear.
https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/rangers-sign-blake-wheeler-and-jonathan-quick-to-start-free-agency/?utm_source=push
on the signings. some for ahl of course
Rich that’s why I was saying the other day that there’s always more to the situation than fans specula about.
Where there’s a will there’s a way
And personally I love subtle strong moves over blockbusters. These are the ones that don’t get made a huge deal but usually pay off
PuckPedia
@PuckPedia
The #TimetoHunt signed 27 y/o UFA LD Niko Mikkola to 3 year $2.5M Cap Hit Deal
Year 1 $2.5M Salary & $500K Signing Bonus
Year 2 $2.5M Salary
Year 3 $2.0M Salary
Drury …hitting line drives
…painting the corners
Drury and his wife have early dinner reservations
What sweaters has Drury hung on the backyard clothesline that you can’t see from the street?
add bonino at 800 k
Larry Brooks
@NYP_Brooksie
NYR 11 F: Kreider, Zibanejad, Kakko, Panarin, Trocheck, Wheeler, Chytil, Goodrow, Vesey, Nash, Pitlick; 7 D: Lindgren, Fox, Trouba, Jones, Schneider, Harpur; 2G: Igor, Quick. Leaves approximately $7.663 for K’Andre, Lafreniere and another F.
Drury to wife at dinner: ‘You want pepperoni on that?’
So far so good, quite surprisingly. The only concern – will we become the oldest NHL team, signing 3 players with the collective age of 109 between them? As it was shown, Rangers are speed challenged already. Other than that we got proven, hardened veterans legionaries who know at least how to win and even more – how to lose…
young ones Jones, Cullye and/or Othman may still make squad…signing veteran center depth at these prices seems like a no brainer
The emotional abuse of Tyler Motte, take 2.
other thing is Motte probably not returning and Goodrow back to wing
Looking at how Vince lines it up I’d still like a different style player in place of CHytil
Vince, 😂
BDL, I remember you mentioning that “locker room issue” with Wheeler. But I imagine Trouba had his significant input in that decision. Otherwise, it’s a great signing. What’s here not yo like? I think first thing they’ll do is try and see if he could that missing link on the R to play with Panarin.
Cups seem to follow Quick…also we have a new Quickie!
Quick is relatively Fasth.
Everyone Drury added today has some size and toughness. Wheeler with 700+ PIM in his career. Everyone of this veterans can be removed from the roster without any impact on their salary cap. Still has money to sign both Lafreniere and Miller. And still hast time to make trades etc. Can’t complain about his work today with what he had. Though, as someone mentioned on Twitter today, people would fine many reasons to complain about McDavid to NY for the 7th rounder trade.
carpenter to sharks
Wheeler is pretty slow tho…
Anchovy Boy pretty shrewd with his discount sandpaper purchases. Now needs his expensive glossy paint to pretty up the room.
Sorokin just got paid.
These vets are not an issue the Rangers are on a win now with the top 6 Sidewinders, so there’s that. If they can’t get it done over the next couple of years it’s letter time.
Gustafsson?
Depth LD, Eli. Solid signing. Harpur, Jones and now Gustafsson will be trying to win 6/7 spot
I wasn’t complaining it was more like, my word Drury’s on a rampage.
Sidewinders and masters of the “ForeGlide.”
Think Drury caught most off guard. Fans, media were all off for the holiday weekend and boom.
Gotta love it.
That said,,there have been holes on this team and no money to plug them up. You can do it this way or not at all. I commend him for not just doing it but doing it with the style of player he knew he has to get back to. Stuck to a budget doing it too. There were guys who would had to take modest offers due to the cap. Drury didn’t budge.
Not an all star team but certainly better balanced and much deeper. Worrying about age and speed etc is a waste of time as they’re stuck until big contracts are moveable
James
You sound like me.
We may not see this lineup in October. I don’t think it’s the final product. Still some holes to fill. Neither Trocheck nor Chytil are going to center checking line. They still have issues with FO%. Drury has now enough time to address some issues via hockey trades.
Tip of the cap James. You were on this the entire time. Wheeler, and the cap. Well done.
Vince is to funny. Sources tell him that Gustafson and Jones will be on the team, and competing for 6/7. Who told you this Vince? Because if it wasn’t laviolette or Drury, it’s meaningless.
devs did lose graves and wood so that could hurt them
they kept mcleod
gettinger from hartford went to detroit
I hope Gettinger gets a chance.
This hole on the LD may need to be addressed at deadline. Unless they trade Lindgren.
So was it really Staple who said Drury was “quietly “ shopping Lafreniere?
Wheelers wheels may fit perfectly with bread
Panerin likes to slow the game down and dipsy doodle
Wheeler can help provide space and muscle
I just can’t see Lafreniere wanting to spend another 2 years on line 3 and basically zero PP time. What am I missing?
st pete
if he signs it will be for 2 years. he really wouldn’t have much say in where he plays. meaning in what role. maybe to get a bit more playing time he can get some time on the pk.
Is Drury going to trade Goodrow so he can afford all these cheap players? Lol
Ilb,
It was Staple. Staple is also the guy that has been insinuating that it’s a work ethic issue with Lafrenier. Rooks referred too the same thing in his recent article. Said there were murmurs about Lafrenier work habits.
Alex
I understand he doesn’t really have a choice. But if his attitude stinks what’s the point.
then we trade him for a center or rw
i wouldn’t miss him from what he’s shown so far.
Erik Gustafsson is joining the NYR on a one-year contract worth $825,000.
Wow. Ryan Reaves gets 3 years at 1.35 mil from leafs
3 years!
Cap space wise it’s a shame we couldn’t afford to keep mikkola for 2.5 mil
But I guess that’s how the cookie crumbles.
Goodrow goes nowhere.
Laffy questions? First time I’m hearing it
cc
might have had to go 3 million for mikkola. no state tax and all
i would have liked to keep him too
the hard cap and variation with state taxes still chaps my cheeks
NYR signing a lot of cheap LD depth. Wonder if something is brewing with Jones and/ or Miller.
No one mentioned that they signed Bonino?
You get a contract! You get a contract! You get a contract! EVERYONE GETS A CONTRACT!
NYR signed Bonino.
There, I just mentioned it, Gravy.
Thank you, I was waiting for the official announcement.
gravy
see my 3:03
https://www.nhl.com/news/rangers-rebuild-depth-with-little-salary-cap-space/c-345177378?tid=281072352
article and some highlights on signings
Anyone know why a point getter like gustafson is going on his 7th NHL team in about 10 years?
Dom Moore situation ? Like wanted by teams making a run? Or is there clearly holes in his game?
Thanks, Alex. I apologize to the blog for my oversight.
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Philadelphia announces 2x$2.375M for Garnet Hathaway
Solid day for the GM
So Drury thinks if you are going dumpster diving you need to get there early before all the good stuff is gone. It’s like Black Friday at Walmart.
Very excited to watch preseason
Can’t get here soon enough
Also, how is staple even considered a journalist? Unconfirmed sources putting Laffys name in his mouth. What a clown. Never ever would I pay for athletic again. Was only there for carp.
Alex 7:52
Exactly my point.
James G 6:26pm
‘ Not an all star team but certainly better balanced and much deeper. Worrying about age and speed etc is a waste of time as they’re stuck until big contracts are moveable’
Larry Brooks 1:06pm
https://nypost.com/2023/07/01/forward-blake-wheeler-signs-with-rangers-in-nhl-free-agency/
They signed Bonino from the WFAN Overnight?
Chelios disgruntled. Could be had.
Whenever I and a handful of others emphasized in the past the need for grit, spit, and muscle, a horde of Posters would jump us and ridicule the thoughts. Suddenly, everyone’s on board.
Solid moves by Dreary; Wheeler could be a steal playing opposite Bread; 9 ES goals in 72 games is not impressive but 4-2-6 in 5 GP w/ 17 hits v. Vegas in POs is impressive.
Joe Bonino is a long time coming for a lock down 4C type and other Vet filler can only help.
If nothing else a statement that this team is looking to win now, not when waiting for Perrault to show up in 4/5 seasons.
So can we respectfully call this the geriatrics rebuild, retool, re-whatever? Don’t think this was the direction we hoped the letter was heading. Not trying to be negative here, but I think the devils will be doing a awful lot of pylon practices in training camp.
I say this, Drury didn’t have much of a choice. This will be now or never with this group of vets.
Minx, Broadway always welcomes aging stars for a last curtain call. Box office remains uncertain.
ORF: If Gorton was the hedgehog, Drury is the seagull who raids the dumpsters at Playland. Watching from the sky for the moment the trash gets put out and swooping in to get the most tasty bits left.
If there are indeed work ethic issues with Laf it is disappointing they had no idea before taking him #1.
The Chase Bridge team. Not unexpected until the cap increases, and they have have more flexibility in 2024-25.
JD: ‘First thing I do, I get rid of some Scouts.’
Scouts: ‘First thing we do is we get rid of JD.’
Vally, who is often Drury’s mouthpiece, said Lafrenière needs work hard over the summer. No more golf.
Bdl
Doubt he does anything differently. Character flaw.
never really questioned Laffys work ethic…more about his foot speed. Hopefully this is the year he puts things together
Laffy laughing too much?
Kinda surprised Valley is still here. Too honest.
Good morning, Boneheads!
Plenty of crazy contracts around the league, as usual. Despite the fact that very few teams had a significant cap space to spare, there are still many, many overpayments.
I believe out of 9 signings 5 will be here on opening night. Wheeler, Quick, Bonino, Pitlick and Gustafsson. I think Gustafsson may turn into under the radar signing. That might make Zach Jones decision a bit difficult. He is going to be waiver eligible this September
Laffy can be at times impressive. Solid NHL caliber. #1 Overall? It is to laugh.
Beez – I’ll send my chekhov to you for your Seagull comment.
Miller holding out? If so, he has major cojones.
Sad to see Mikkola go. Very happy we still have some depth with Harpur around
The jones decision is not difficult. Trade him if you can, waive him if you can’t. Drury cannot repeat the fiasco that was Kravtsov last year. Keeping him, while losing others because Kravtsov needed to clear waivers. Harpur a more valuable player than Jones. Mackey a more valuable player than Jones.
Ryan Reaves, who suddenly became obsolete in NY and was jettisoned to Minnesota, keeps getting paid, and keeps getting long term contracts at 36. His three-year deal in Toronto, by the way, doesn’t fall under 35+ rule because the way it was structured- no salary increase year to year, and no signing bonuses beyond first year of his contract.
Who wins the most ridiculous contract this year? And who wins the most discounted one?
On Wheeler –
1/ The team culture/leadership stuff is fairly well out there. Though he did ultimately take responsibility prior to the C being removed, it is something NYR should be aware of. Do not make him part of the leadership group.
2/ This was written about Wheeler prior to last season:
3/ He had 16G 39A last season, 9G and 31A at ES with 17:03 ATOI and 51.3% FO so the above advice seemed to have been taken with reasonably good results for all. For those looking for physicality, you may want to check your expectations. At least on a hits basis (not the only measure of physical play) he has fallen off from his long run average of 4.0/60mins to 2.6.
Leafs dis their team makeup, admit they are pussywillows by signing Reaves.
Reaves never did much effective fighting around here. and that’s all he can do. Threw some hits, though, if he could line you up.
I listened to Valley on the Athletic Ranger podcast. He didn’t really criticize LAF’s work ethic. He is a big believer in off season skill development even for NHL players(he runs goalie camps). He said LAF should seize this as an opportunity to up his game and mentioned skating in particular. This is especially true since he will have a new coach and start out with a clean slate. Staples was the one who brought up work ethic more and keeps pushing to trade him. He still is sticking to that line even though Drury categorically denied it. My thinking is they both could be telling the truth. Other GMs may have asked about LAF so there could have been “discussions” but they weren’t initiated by Drury and he didn’t seriously considered them. It actually a non-story.
The money is fine, but 3 years for Reaves is over the top. All things considered (salary, term, effectiveness, NY taxes), Wheeler’s contract may be the most discounted. I realize he’s still getting paid by WPG, but he could have chosen any team for the contract.
In general, the guys Drury signed had to have wanted to play here.
If you make big bucks, you don’t want to come to NY unless they give you even bigger bucks to make up the difference. Trouba didn’t have to get paid so much; his then fiancee MD was coming here no matter what and he would follow. wherever.
Ducks have alot of young center depth ……wonder if Verbeek would move one
Graves – your 10:28 comment seems to make sense – but why I don’t know.
If Wheeler, coming off a $8.25M per year contract, signed a one year deal worth $3M he’d come up on top of his buyout payoff.
guys just want to stay in league. very few guys like eric staal can sit out a whole season and then return. so even a league minimum keeps up hope for future contracts
Will the day come when some large business owner or CEO Ranger fan sub rosa doles out millions in ad spokesman $ to some Superstar that Drury could not otherwise afford?
AARP is now a sponsor for the rangers.
I get some of the signings. But Pitlick and Nash? Really? It is even questionable that Bonino can handle the 4th line center job, although they needed somebody. Glad to see Kane go to Buffalo so we don’t have to deal with that potential drama for the next few months. Other clubs in the conference improved, especially Buffalo.
Miss Mollie:
#NYR sign RHD Mac Hollowell to 1-year deal.
RIP Kane
Give Miller a Bridge Deal: Learn how to play Defense or jump off the Tappen Zee.
Friedman says: Anthony Duclair is being traded to San Jose
Ouch! Ilya Sorokin extension in NYI is 8x$8.25M
When did Kane go to Buffalo?
Cheap seats on the Ledge available now. First come, first served.
Good for Buffalo.
When they aren’t playing the rangers I root for them to do well in their division
I’m not seeing Kane news anywhere. You have a link?
That article on Wheeler is a reach. Plenty of older peers made adjustments to stay credit and productive. Marchant, Pavelski, etc all doing their thing
March and Pavelski are pretty good skaters tho… 🙂
The scouting report on wheeler mentions his skating speed for his size is impressive. So if he loses a step he then becomes nhl average which would be ok depending on how he is deployed
Laviolette I have faith will know how to put him in a position to succeed. He’s coached enough players on that side of their careers
as noted above, prob best deployed as 3RW as far as even strength time and some 2nd pp time as well.
Laf-Mika-Kakko
Panarin-Chytil-Goodrow/Kreider
Kreider/Goodrow-Trockeck-Wheeler
don’t really care-whomever-Prob vesey
When Brooks said “We need more Goodrows, not less”, Drury took his words literally.
Lafreniere needs to get his Carcillo together.
lias signed 2 way contract with mtl – the gm who drafted him
Hahahaha.
Have at it hedgehog 🦔
I wonder if Lias will do the trip over the wire routine on opening night in Montreal.
Poor kid….when he did that at MSG I just shook my head. Everything that could go wrong was going wrong. Is Murphy’s law a thing in Sweden?
When Kravy was traided to LA the writers and fans said they’d fleeced the rangers and he was a great get
How do we rub their noses in an “I told ya so moment”?
Or do we just chuckle in quiet reflection ?
TYM, Nash is signed to replace some experience/leadership in Hartford. But Pitlick is a steady, prototypical 4th liner, who can forecheck and kill penalties. Someone (Cuylle? ) will have to take his job away from him.
bertuzzi 1 year deal with leafs
5.5 mill
Bananajad preparing for training camp.
Imagine the DJ were to blow his knee out working a club like that …
In other “news”
Kailer Yamamoto on a one-year contract with a $1.5 mil AAV w/ Seattle
Kravy went to Vancouver-and didn’t do much. Lias went to LA and they drafted Cuylle with the pick. They got nada for Kravy as Lockwood has moved on. The Canucks still have his rights if he ever comes back.
Oh yes. My bad. Thanks for the correction ORF. Wish I could edit my post 😜
Addition by subtraction with the Kravy saga. The last/worst vestige of OTBG
Lias turning into cuylle is a real life Rumpelstilskin straw into gold scenerio
Let’s face so far the rebuild is a failure. But still, the gizzers may pull it off.
Being one of the last 4 teams standing a year ago and having a team be of relevance I’d say is not a total failure
Though some define success only by winning the cup
I can’t be that hard of a grader or else every season would be a disappointment. Even if we won 5 cups in my lifetime. I couldn’t imagine calling every year not won a failure. That’s too many and not enjoyable
Missing the playoffs is a failure
First round exit feels like a failure depending on how and who beats you
But beyond that. I’m satisfied with the season and am left with hope of building and tweaking
I was referencing building through the draft since the letter. I know there are some potential good picks in the pipeline, but seriously they haven’t proved anything yet. 9 #1’s since 2017 which one knocks your socks off.
Laffy
Schneider
Miller
Kaako
Chytil
Othman
Perrault
All legit NHLers (or blue chips for the last two )
That’s a pretty decent percentage considering only two were top 5 picks
Busts
Krapsoft
Lisa
Nils
Are there other teams that don’t have busts from first rounders?
As a whole. Looking at that group, it’s not as crappy as it seems the further we get from the Lisa and Krapsoft incidents
Chytil and Miller are their most impressive first round picks to date and even more so relative to where they were each picked. Let that sink in for a minute
We also developed lindgren after nash trade
Turned 2 seconds into fox
Got a 25 yo Trouba for a 1st and Hayes
Drafted and developed Shesterkin
Cuylle looks very promising
I’d say our team is a lot better since the letter and has been built in multiple ways
The FA geezers are stop gaps that fill holes cause by the cap
I urge you to re read the brooks piece on Laffy
That kid is very impressive. The covid shutdown has certainly delayed his arrival. His play to date with missing his last developmental season and no camp. And a weird return to play.
Not sure what people expect
He is no bust. He is very impressive.
(Schneider is also as impressive if not more than Miller)
Pete,
You are underrating/undervaluing Schneider.
Thanks for filling me in on what I already know. When they raise the cup with this team I’ll gladly take a knee.
Schneider may end up being great BDL, but haven’t seen too much from him yet absent a few big hits now and then.
Clegg, people expect him to more consistently show why he was highly touted before the draft. And while none of those things were positives, he wasn’t alone there and has had multiple offseasons since to come back a better player without doing so yet
This camp will be very telling as he better be coming into it in the best shape of his life with noticeably improved skating
Am I the only one that knows the meaning of knocks your socks off?
Pete, that is exactly the point with Schneider. He’s not a “puck moving defenseman” who is just a good forward who can play some defense. He actually plays defense.
Like many, I have my issues with Miller. But he is the more impressive pick when compared to Chytil. Did not play D many years before selection, basically thrown into top line minutes with a line mate who is not a pure defender either. #3 in ATOI/gm for his draft class (#3 ES/#28 PP) and is #21 in pts/gm
Chytil has always been a forward/center. He’s not been that great at things a center is expected to do but has improved other than FO. Offensively continues slow and steady progress. Pts/gm basis he is #18 of his draft class (with at least 40games) though #40 in ATOI (#34 ES, #23 PP). Obviously part of the TOI is the players above him, though every draftee has that issue to one extent or another. He does rise to #8 in ES G, partly a function of not breaking into the PP units.
9:04 – Dr. Seuss?
🙂
Beezle, just don’t think he does it all that well yet. Not bad, but think he is appropriately slotted on the bottom pair.
I also wasn’t saying Chytil and Miller have been anything that special, more an indictment on numerous failed picks and how underwhelming Kakko and Laf have been to date
How many cups have McDavid and Matthew’s won? Or how many playoff series.
Team sport; one guy only solves one problem, need 22 to win consistently
Pete – have to agree to disagree on Schneider
coos 10:13
I should have known!
Pete 10:27
Thank you, exactly my point.
SN
I don’t give a rats rear about what other players or teams do. Well except the pens. I hate the pens!
that’s cool. and a good stat, but have to balance against him not getting the hardest assignments regularly. But by all means i’d be all for ditching trouba next offseason and putting Schneider in top 4
Crosby to the Rangers.
Crosby brings Hope.
St Pete. Very sorry to see you are so hard to satisfy.
Cup or Bust is a very difficult way to live life as a fan of any sport. Have at it I guess. But the negativity is exactly what ILB and James have mentioned wanting to see less of in the past few months.
I appreciate your commitment though.
Pete
If you havent “seen” much from schneider yet, then I’m not sure what games you have been watching or exactly how you assess a defenseman
Laffy has been fine. Has had some big moments and has shown strength and grit. Has had some scoring slumps as expected for a 21yo. But to dismiss his 19g and 16g first 2 full seasons (rookie was 56g wierd covid year) with almost ZERO PP time, and minimal top 6 time is a bit strange to me. Its not laffys fault he did not start his career as the best player on his crappy team like most of the other guys that went first OA getting 20min games and first PP assignments.
marc staal signed with philly. 1 year. 1.1 million
Negativity can be a valid opinion in and of itself, and ilb and James, with all due respect, can state and defend their own opinions. Let the comments roll!
Corporal Clegg
You really are misunderstanding me. All I am saying in a nut shell is my overall disappointment in the 1st rd draft picks.
As far as winning the cup I just haven’t had the confidence that Panarin, Zibanejad, Kreider, and Trouba are the right vet leaders to get it done. If that’s negative than so be it. Come October I will rooting for them to go all the way, just like I have since 1971. I spite of my frustration with the big 4 I did predict them winning it all in 2023-2024.
Eventually Staal signs with Moose Jaw for $8.75 per hour.
No problem St Pete! Let’s go rangers!
coos
Shuffleboard comes to philly.
Post here for FREE! Just add shipping and handling.
Unless there are trades.
Bread Chytil Krakko
Kreider Mika Busto
Goodrow Vermont Wheeler
Vesey Bonino Pitlick
Miller Trouba
Viking Fox
Gustafsson Schneider
Run with it.
George Washington never got a College degree, which is why he never went anywhere in life. Need that sheeepskin, bubela.
I have a college debris and never went anywhere either.
All and everything in my life I owe to my alma mater (my nourishing mother), college and university means nothing to me.
Kreid – Mika – Kakko
Pan – Trocheck – Wheels
Laffy – Chytil – Good Row
VZ – Bonino – Othy
Fox Lindy
Trouba K’A
Schneider Gustafson
Prince
Quick
I don’t think it’s the final product, Eli. But even if it is, it’s already more than competitive lineup. I think there might still be a hockey trade, and I believe Cuylle and Othman will be given a hard look. Though now with Wheeler here, they will probably give Othman more time to adjust. As they should.
If Lav is going with a checking line would assume Trocheck and Goodrow will be on it…Kakko makes sense as other winger
4everanger
Having Lafreniere playing 3rd line minutes with a non-checking center, and Goodrow is not helping him one bit. He needs top 6 minutes and more than 30 sec. of PP time to succeed. Othmann will obviously get a look in camp but he should be getting top line minutes in Hartford for at least a year.
All three of chytil, kakko and Laf need top 6 minutes next year and not on the same line
evening out ice time for the two pp units should be a no brainer.
Pete,
But how do you do it?
I’ll take a go at it.
Kreider, Zibanejad, Lafrenière
Panarin, Chytil, Kakko
Goodrow, Trochek, Wheeler.
Vesey, Bonino, Pitlick.
Now if you want Lafrenière on LW, that means your leading goal scorer moves to the 3rd line.
I know there is a big push to have Chytil be the “2C”, but here is the problem,
Chytil does not kill penalties, he’s not someone you want on the ice late in games, and even with more PP time, he’s still not going to get the minutes Trochek will. So you can call him 2C, but reality is he’s still going to be 3C.
i don’t get the kreider on 3rd line and laffy on 1st line stuff.
Bdl
Did you see my 1:15 post? The key was “unless there are trades.” It’s the same line up as yours.
Alex,
Me either. Lafrenière is going to have to play the RW to go top 6.
BDL, repost from above. Chytil just needs to get 2C minutes at even strength and equal time on the pp. Trochek can win a faceoff, but shouldn’t be on the top pp unit over all three of the kids and nor should Wheeler
Laf-Mika-Kakko
Panarin-Chytil-Goodrow/Kreider
Kreider/Goodrow-Trockeck-Wheeler
don’t really care-whomever-Prob vesey
Time is nigh for #13, #24, and #72 to come up big or get out of town. Okay is not good enough.
Pete until Chytil can get at least 47% on FO he is not (or should not) be put at 2C.
Granted, their database is lacking when it comes to correctly defining “center” but all I have to go with.
Last season, of those NHL listed ‘centers’ who took at least 500 ES FO and had ATOI at least 16 minutes (consistent with being a 1/2C) – 54/67 had FO% of 47% or greater.
I like Bdl’s lineup which is the same lineup I posted earlier. Since we rarely agree it must be right.