Good morning, boneheads!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
We don’t have too many of these left unfortunately. The game days, that is. Not St. Patties 😃
The other post was getting too long.
I’ll be leaving for the Wickyland tomorrow. Skiing and spending some time with the big guy and his beautiful family. Can’t wait!
I will post the Go Time post tonight, after that Doodie, JamesG, and maybe CCCP will take care of this place.
Here is Carp’s mailbag from yesterday.
92 responses to “Game Day”
1st?
Last?
Red Tanks and the Fish Tanks now both have 1 win in their last 10.
Smart teams!
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Out to lunch sign papa? No, but don’t think they should be making short term moves that don’t advance rebuilding. Maybe Kovalchuk could help that cause tho I tend to think it would more just make them a little too competitive. Also not sure why Kovalchuk would want to go to a team that may not even make the playoffs, but who knows
Not the best time of the year to be winning when you’re in this position, but part of me likes seeing these kids succeed. The other part of me just thinks one thing…..TANK!
I know what you mean simonkimbrell, it’s hard to want them to lose. Some of these guys are playing for NHL careers and they want to prove they belong. Bad goal tending will accelerate any tank which is nor the Rangers problem. It’s not in Hank’s DNA and Boy George is auditioning for a back up next year!
I don’t really give a crap if nobody believes me, but Slats is not involved in the decision making. I have a story that proves it, but those who doubt me already aren’t likely to believe the story. So …
I’m so trying to stay away from this tank/win conversation, but I’m not sure I can. Especially if someone names the Fishsticks a smart team after they’ve been tanking for years. And guess what, still tanking.
I don’t fault the Rangers for not tanking. I feel like the Rangers are due a little luck in the lottery. Not saying they’ll get Dahlin. We’ll see.
Carp- So it sounds like they’re probably going to choose between Hayes and Namestikov? One stays. One gets moved at the draft?
Tanking sure doesn’t guarantee success for future years. I’m happy to see the team play the young guys and get some wins in the process. Carp, I believe you and really want to read the story…
Was being somewhat facetious there calling those teams smart, but winning these games isn’t smart for the Rangers.
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But carp believe you said Sather need to convince Dolan to go public with the rebuild and id bet money he convinced him overall it was a smart move. So can’t really say Gorton is fully autonomous in his job either.
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Playing young guys on D and in goal late, but still have young forwards in Hartford they could call up instead of playing this entire 4th line and playing Fast on the top line hardly screams a coach/team letting younger players play in new situations with added responsibility
Nice piece on Buchnevich, including some…ahem…stats.
https://nypost.com/2018/03/17/pavel-buchnevichs-transition-to-life-in-us-just-got-easier/
Noticed that I’m busy packing, right? Plenty of time.
Have fun in the Boze! (While the rest of us, of course, struggle to put food on the table 🙂 )
Butch will replace Zucc and VC can replace Nash.
Excited to see the 2 young pivots up here soon.
Ronning’s season almost over. Get him up to NY, see if he can can score there, give McCleod a purpose in life.
I believe Carp when he tells us that Slats lets the GM have the reins, but I sense that he contributes with his theory of overall direction. Maybe Dolan’s just there to eventually fire the GM if he needs firing and to spare Dolan the aggravation, who, like Buttman gets a journalistic and fandom pie thrown in his face whenever he takes stage.
*maybe Slats is just there to…
McLeod will start earning his check next Saturday ( with 9 games left ), and will double his worth 2 games after.
Unlikely VC ever replaces a Nash, though it wouldn’t be difficult in the Playoffs.
I still say Slats has a voice in the McLeod type role. Just a good guess. It’s been his M.O.
Vesey could replace the version of Nash we had the last couple seasons, but not the one who arrived here from Columbus (at least in the regular season). Wouldn’t take much to replace playoffs Nash!
If you have not seen the Chyti goal from last night, check it out, explosive.
Maybe…
Why was Slats there at the presser before the trade deadline? He also announced right before the presser that he is back and involved again. So kinda hard to believe that he is gone when slats himself says that he is back.
Carp
What’s the story you have that proves slats is gone? I’d be interested to read/hear aboot it.
‘May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.’
https://streamable.com/4q7au
I have 100% faith in Carp. The rest of you lads ☘️ have way too much free time
If they decide to keep AV,(I’m not advocating for that), he and Hank might need to have a heart to heart. Can’t continue to give up 40-50 shots a night. And way too many of those shots are quality scoring chances.
I’m sure we’d see at least one new assistant if they keep him.
Carp, email
Erin Go Braless
Will VC replace Nash’s 200 ft game – not likey, but the offensive output will be at the same as Nash of the last 2 years if VC gets the same PP time.
‘ May those who love us, love us;
And for those who don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts;
And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles,
So we will know them by their limping!’
I’m so old school.
like Herm Edwards and Betty Davis.
I want my team to win every game.
I don’t care if they have young or old players.
Just win baby.
You play to win the game.
Fukc tanking.
Many here would probably choose Nash over Kovie for the same $ and term.
Not me.
Been there, done that.
No to Nash.
Fire Sather
I’d rather they not sign Kovalchuk as stated before, but don’t want anything to do with Nash. He would just take a spot away from a young player at this point. Expect the same defensive dysfunction if AV is still here. Time for him to go and for a new slate of coaches to come in with a new system and some more let’s say dynamic assistant coaches would be great too!
NY Jets trade their 1st RP(#6 overall), two 2nd RP’s, and a 2nd RP next year to move up to #3 overall this year.
If I had to choose between Nash, and Kovalchuk, I would choose Kovalchuk. That would be for one reason, he scores goals. I don’t want Kovalchuk because I don’t trust him, and I do not trust that the Rangers would give, or get him for a smart contract.
Ballsy move. Not sure anyone except Dahlin is enough of a sure-thing to even consider something like that.
Tom,
Speaking as a Giants fan, I think this is a great trade by the Jets. The Giants should follow by trading down to 4 with the Browns, giving the Browns one and two, and putting the Giants in position to take Nelson wile receiving some extra picks.
Tom, I don’t anyone with the #2 or #3 pick in this year’s draft would trade it for even all three of the Rangers 1st round picks. The potential high end skill is at the top of the very top of draft, not at #10 and certainly not in two picks in the late 20s. So would be much better for a team like Arizona, Buffalo or Vancouver to get a potential 1st line winger in Svechnikov or Zadina instead of a possible 2nd pair defenseman at 10 and then maybe 2nd or 3rd liners at the end of the 1st round.
Boy I need an editor, can’t type today!
Pete-i don’t disagree, but that guy in AZ doesn’t seem all that sharp.
BDL-i’m a Giants fan too. So you don’t think they should take one of the QB’s?
Would I take a QB? I’m not sure. I don’t think they are taking a QB. I think they want either Barkley, or Nelson. Both make a ton of sense if they are looking to win right now. Also, watch out for the Bills to try and trade up to 2.They have 12, and 21, plus an extra 2 and 3.
If the right team got the #3 pick it’s possible the Rangers could trade their highest 1st and Brady for that pick, but don’t know enough about Zadina to say if that would be worth it for the Rangers.
Is this thing on?
Y’all better not be watching hoops.
Shouldn’t the Jets and Giants draft a center? After all, I am told that you need for a center to win a championship 🙂
If the Rangers are going to wait to win until they get a first line center, then the wait will never be over – to paraphrase Sam Rosen. Those things don’t grow on trees, unless you are the Penguins.
No college hoops for me. The Blue Devils ruined my rooting interest. Did just finish a baseball draft and now I have to call my nephew and his wife because I am an uncle again.
I’m not advocating for a foolish contract with Kovie. But, to say I don’t want him even on a contract that fits into the structure of the team because “it goes against the rebuild philosophy” is, IMO, just absurd and too rigid. And those who believe he is washed up, what’s your basis for such a statement? I only know the guy was a threat most everytime he was on the ice during his previous tenure in the NHL. If the scouts think he’s washed up, then Gorton will act accordingly.
Pete, other way around…. The going-public thing was Dolan’s idea, which is why Sather had to be there too. But you guys can continue to believe the fairy tale that Slats is running things if you want.
I’m going to postpone the full discussion on full rebuild for those times when we won’t have any games to discuss. But I believe that full rebuild as it was known before salary cap is over. The last couple of teams that succeeded took very long to do so. Some who took that path are at the stage where they’re at the end of this long path, and are failing.
Many reasons. One, you can’t tank and get a generational player ( if one is even available) because there is no guarantee you’re winning the lottery. Second, the CBA cycle often comes to an end by the time you’re ready to make a splash. Nobody knows what that brings in terms of the cap and salary/contract changes. Add to that the expansion teams.
You’ll have to build by drafting, trading, ang FA signings. Smart GMs want to be competitive ASAP.
NY will start with multiple draft choices, some established youngsters. They will have to trade, and sign FAs. People who want to tank now, and especially next season, are still thinking old NHL. The landscape is different now.
ILB, so true. couldn’t agree more.
So to ILB’s point: Nashville never tanked. Have a great GM who takes risks. Have a solid coach. Traded well. Drafted well.
Toronto did tank and got Matthews, but they did a lot of other things including hiring Lamorillo and Babcock, unloading bad contracts trading and drafting well. And they’re still not there.
Lightning never tanked.
I’m also not trading Skjei to move in the draft. He is not untouchable, but if I trade him, he should be packaged for an established NHLer. Skjei, in the worst case scenario, is an NHL player. At best, he’s probably 2nd pair. Nothing wrong with that. Why would you trade him, at 23 ( almost 24 ), AND your first round selection to get someone who may or may not play in the NHL in 2-4 years?
Ok. Maybe that’s wrong. Stamkos and Hedman 1st and 2nd overall in 2008 & 2009.
Agree on Skjei ILB.
Fixed a few typos/grammar mistakes in my posts. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m procrastinating the packing thingy. I think I’m gonna succeed 😃
There’s a very vocal minority here calling for a tank.
Lou is far from flawless, especially after winnng his 3rd Cup. Volchenkov’s contract comes to mind. I think Marleau contract is going to come back and bite him. Too many years, too much money for 35+ contract that you can’t hide anywhere
Chicago knows how to tank.
Anti-tank missiles flying!
Tanks for the Mammaries.
2008, Cam Atkinson, 6th round. Reverse lottery pick.
With Mcdavid’s 12.5 mil per year contract kicking in next year and a bunch of RFA’s also up, maybe the rangers can package Skjei and pry away Draisaitl from the oilers.
Draisaitl Gears
So a 20 month tank is too long – can’t even last more than one season out of the POs?
.
1 Cup in 78 years, now we know why…Sign Kovie, he’s the answer, just like Bure and Lindros and …
.
If the goal is to be competitive, it’s a very low bar as 16 out of 31 make POs and GMs talked about adding more at the past meetings.
Dry-Sitel is 22 and he’s a horse, but he also comes with an eight-year contract for $8.5M per … not saying I wouldn’t do it.
Gonna take a lot more than SkjeL. A Lot more.
See what I did there?
Guess I misunderstood Carp, my bad. Totally agree SN.
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ILB and others, hoping or wanting the Rangers to draft in the top 5 this season and at least next is hardly asking for too much and it is not at all a misunderstanding of the current NHL. Who is the last Cup winner that didn’t draft one or multiple of their best players at or near the very top of the draft? Yes you need to also make smart trades, sign key free agents and have a great scouting department so you can find gems in later rounds. However, it’s just very hard to succeed in a cap world if you don’t start with getting elite young talent early in the draft. Tampa hasn’t even won a Cup yet, but they had three top 3 picks in recent years (Drouin being traded for what appears to be a future stud defenseman) and even Nashville (again not yet won a Cup) had the 4th overall pick (Seth Jones) who they moved to get their current 1st line center (though he isn’t of the same caliber of Crosby/Malkin, etc.)
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Not saying I necessarily would move Brady to move up in the draft, but that’s the kind of move it would take to even have a shot this year of drafting a potential 1st line forward. And for whatever it’s worth, some of the talking heads have said the two top wingers may be NHL ready by next season or soon thereafter. However, even if it were to take 2-3 years, that’s the reality of the draft. It’s the truly exceptional 18 year old who is ready to play in the NHL right away.
Nor is there anything wrong if Brady turns out to just be a solid 2nd pair D, but the question is how much are we paying him to be that for us and how are we getting the two top pair defenseman we also need (not to mention another righty D or two)? And how are we getting the likely two to three top line forwards we also need? We don’t have a deep enough pool of high end prospects or skilled enough group of current NHLers that are likely to bring back multiple top line forwards or 1st pair defenseman.
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At best we could put together a painful package to maybe get one guy like Draitsal (if I’m Edmn, I’d demand Kreider, Brady and a pick/prospect), but it’s no sure thing that he is truly a number 1 center or could put up similar numbers without McDavid and that’s quite a gamble for guy owed $8.5m/yr for the next 7 seasons. But you make that trade and then who is he playing with?
SN
cut those years substantially
territorial rights back in the day
no drafts back in the day
no free agency for more than half those years
couldn’t even play home playoff games – circus
That whole filthy apartment with SkjeiL, Vesey, and the Big Bad Wolf won’t get it done.
I miss Donuts. He seemed like a reliable, shiny anchor to me on this big, cumbersome, trying to get into the harbor boat.
Carp says “you don’t believe me? You get ugotz from now on!”
Lol @ Sheamus!
ILB is right, btw. This isn’t the pre 2005 NHL anymore. Only small market teams or teams who make really poor decisions wind up unable to put a competitive team together.
This isn’t the Carolina or Edmonton organization. Certainly isn’t AZ.
While the rangers haven’t necessarily drafted well they’re still a big market team that remains attractive to players for various reasons and they have made some trades and signed some guys that can help get the job done at times.
They seem to have some good pieces to move forward
With that said, the draft is essential when it comes to turning a competing team into a contending team. It’s a balance these days -especially under the cap- and it takes brains as well as money to get the job done. They have to be careful with UFA signings this year too. I’m not convinced Kovalchuk will do what Jagr did once he was traded for back in the day. Wouldn’t give him more than what Radulov (who they should have rolled the dice with) got from Montreal when he came back.
Mc’ILB if you miss your flight you may get put to work with a roof rake tomorrow😀
Pete, better question is how many of those who drafted in top 5 haven’t won the Cup. And how many of them, including ones drafted at #1, are far away from winning it. And how many already have their window closed while never getting a sniff.
Alright, now I’m serous. Gotta go pack. There’s a game to watch too.
Listen they don’t need a top five draft pick as badly as they need to draft the best player available even if said player is a year or two away.
They also need to be weary of doing something they may be tempted to do such as 6×6 for a guy like JVR or a 3 year deal for Kovulchuk
Carp, when I said “package” Skjei, I meant skjei plus other players/picks to the oilers.
They don’t need a top 5 pick as much as someone capable of picking intelligently. Something that seems to have eluded the Rangers for the last 18 years or so…
So sheamus you said you agreed with ILB and then essentially agreed with me in saying the draft is the key to turning into a contender.
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Agree we have the advantage of being a big attractive market, but 1st line centers almost never become available via trade or free agency so instead we usually end up paying 1st line money to 2nd line talent and then get upset when they perform like 2nd line talent.
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So I’m sorry we do need at least one or two 5 picks because just drafting the best player available at 10 or later isn’t gonna solve the issue of us not having top talent. That is a good way to get the best 2nd or 3rd liner though. I do agree tho that far too often the rangers have seemed to not pick the top talent available and last year may have been another example, tho time will tell.
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Ilb, only one team wins the cup each year so of course it doesn’t work for everyone. But as mentioned above, given the unique position we are in being in NYC and being attractive place to play, we don’t have to rely entirely on the draft like Edmn or Arizona. But we still need those 1 or 2 top line young players and 9 times out of 10 you only get those guys at the top of the draft. All ears though on realistic ideas for getting those kind of young players through trades and free agency.
Sooo, Carp- After you’re done explaining to us what it is that Arniel does, maybe you can explain to us what it is that Sather does if he’s not making the decisions like some boneheads suspect. ; )
Boston @ Tampa. 7:00. Sounds like a good game…
Apparently Slats sits in his office, smokes cigars, scratches his prostate and keeps Dolan from getting involved.
Boston @ Tampa. Perhaps one of the answers to that age old question- Where do Rangers go to win a Cup?
Is this blog busted or is it just the Rangers?
He definitely keeps Dolan from getting involved. I spoke with Slats yesterday, as a matter of fact. He was being interviewed on the team website for something or other.
Got you, Carp! 😃
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