Busy Week Ahead

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Good morning, boneheads!

After a little post-SC hiatus, this week gets busy.

The 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas starts this Friday, June 22. Round 1 at 7:30 pm ET ( TV-NBCSN ), round 2-7 continues on Saturday, June 23 at 11 am ( TV- NHLN )

I also suspect we will start seeing some ordinary course buyouts this week, the deadline is June 30th.

I’ll watch for Carp’s article(s) in The Athletic so I can link it here.

Also, AnthonyM will give us the links to his write ups about the incoming draft.

Click here to read Carp’s article about Neal Pionk.

Click here to read AnthonyM’s NHL Draft Preview articles.

UPDATE: Click here to read Carp’s new article

311 responses to “Busy Week Ahead”

  1. simonkimbrell Avatar
    simonkimbrell

    Out of interest – does anyone know what happens when a player who is traded with retained salary is bought out?

    Actually i just answered my own question…..
    https://www.capfriendly.com/buyout-calculator/matt-beleskey

    So would the Bruins make a trade with us to buy him out? Not of the player himself, but assets or picks
    If NYR bought him out the Bruins and Rangers would each pay $483k, $983k, $583k, $583k instead of 2 years of £1.9k each. That buys the Bruins some much needed cap space this year and next.

    Presumably we will just bury him if he doesn’t make the team

  2. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    first two times in a row!

  3. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    DAMNIT

  4. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Not a bad thought Simon.

    Being that we are using the next 2-3 years for player development, we can also use our cap space as an asset, like Arizona always seemed to do. The Lucic rumors are a bit disconcerting, even with Draisaitl, because of his term. But if we can find a cap-strapped team who has a bad contract with 2-3 years left on it, that’s in our goldilocks zone.

  5. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    One other thing is Lucic has a NMC his whole contract (with a modified ntc the last two years), which most important for whoever acquired him means that you have to protect him in the next expansion draft. So we’d risk having to expose a guy like Buch, Vesey, Brady (if still here), etc because of Lucic.

  6. Eric-8th in metro Avatar
    Eric-8th in metro

    What will Gorton do

    My bet we will hate first move

  7. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    UK- buying Beleskey out will cost NY $900K in cap hit more than burying him in Hartford long term.

  8. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Carp is up! Well, maybe he isn’t up yet, but his article is 🙂
    Post updated.

  9. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    Pete

    probably not Brady because forwards and defense are in different pots unless we thought of going the 4 defense route and less forwards.

    at the time of the next expansion draft in say 2 years we could buyout some who at that point would have 1 year left on contracts. Or Lucic could be bought out even with 3 years left on his deal.

  10. BobbyO Avatar
    BobbyO

    good point Pete ….mentioned Brower from Flames since his contract would expire before next expansion draft…plays some wing too and Flames owner probably hates idea of a buyout.

  11. simonkimbrell Avatar
    simonkimbrell

    ilb – i knew you’d know!!

  12. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Dave
    Thanks re last thread!

  13. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Cccp said there were not going to be any buyouts happening league wide

    😉

  14. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Get ready, kesler is coming!

    😉

    E4

  15. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Yep – just what we need – another middle 6 center. Good job Eklund.

    And if we wanted Dougie Hamilton, Brouwer might be a must-have if we want to keep the acquisition price reasonable

  16. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    As this week unfolds I am looking forward to some predictions from the “The Hack of all Trades” you know who you are _i__y! Yes just fill in the blanks!

  17. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    If Galchenyuk is going to play centre in Arizona like they say, does that make Dvorak available?

  18. AnthonyM Avatar

    I am sure ILB will post this up at the top (I hope :-)), but I just wanted to let everyone know that War and Peace, er, my 2018 Draft Preview articles are done and have been posted.

    You can find them at the temporary home of Ranger Ramblings (the one with the two “R’s” that has been around since 1996) at https://rangerramblings.wordpress.com/.

  19. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Post updated. AnthonyM’s articles are ready!

  20. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Anthony
    Great work, thanks for doing that!

  21. Guest Bloggers Rule Avatar
    Guest Bloggers Rule

    Woohoo! This isn’t a guest blog, but it still RULES!

  22. James G Avatar
    James G

    Beautiful. Thanks Anthony!

  23. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Also one less potential centre in the Montreal organization

  24. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    This day in hockey history, June 18th 1987, the New York Rangers traded their first round pick in the 1988 entry draft along with $75,000 to the Quebec Nordiques for Michel Bergeron. What made the trade unusual was that Bergeron was the head coach of the Nordiques. This was the first time a team ever traded for a coach

    The Rangers’ last coach, Tom Webster, was unable to finish out his rookie year because of an inner-ear problem that even surgery failed to correct. Phil Esposito, the Rangers GM, took over and brought a fiery style to the bench, and he was looking for someone with similar qualities.

    Esposito said that he had asked the Nordiques about Bergeron almost as a joke during the National Hockey League draft last Saturday in Detroit. Esposito was shocked when the Nordiques’ general manager, Maurice Filion, said, ”Let’s talk.”

    Losing makes Bergeron angry. A story his mother tells concerns his teen age years, when he was invariably the top student of the month at the school he attended in Montreal. One month, another boy was named the top student. Bergeron beat him up.

    In 1964, goes another story, he toured Cuba with a Canadian baseball team as its catcher. Fidel Castro, who was treated with kid gloves by opposing players, performed for the Cubans. Castro hit a long drive that he was thinking of stretching into an inside the park home run. As he rounded third, the throw came in to Bergeron at the plate. Bergeron took the throw and threw the ball to third, where Castro had to dive back. The Cuban leader got up, dusted himself off, and cursed Bergeron.

    It turns out it wasn’t a very good trade, as the Rangers went 36-34-10 missing the playoffs that year. He was fired with two games remaining in the 1988-89 season for going over Esposito’s head to the owner to advocate player trades.

    http://i63.tinypic.com/21bn8cl.jpg

    Vintage hockey.

  25. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Can’t wait to tear into those, Anthony.

    Jim Cerny just reminded everybody of the Mattias Norstrom trade debacle. Ugh – I clearly remember that night, as it was pre-knowing-everything-in-real-time-because-internet. I turn on the game, and there’s a graphic up detailing the deal. I took one look, screamed for my dad to come in. He enters, takes one look, and lost his mind.

  26. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    I find myself torn between wanting the Habs to take Kotkaniemi, so someone unexpected falls to the Rangers, and wanting Kotkaniemi for the Rangers.

  27. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    BDL – it’s a win-win in my book.

    I’m guessing if he doesn’t go, we’re choosing between Kotkaniemi and Boqvist (and go for K)
    And if he does go early, along with Dobson -we’re probably choosing between Bouchard and Boqvist (and go Bouch)

  28. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Out of all the guys mentioned in the top 10 in the draft, Boqvist is the one guy I do not want.

  29. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    I just read a nick that had Zadina going at 9 (steal if it happened imo).

    I’m seeing a trend developing about the prospects 3-12.

    Seems like a lot of “talking heads” are now saying clear #1, a clear #2, then it gets interesting.

    Most of the prospects 3-12 have overall the same potential level but with different sets of skills that they are better or worse at. A lot of teams may go need since 3-12 are are very similar to best available.

    At least that is how I am readinging what they are inferring in their writings.

  30. AnthonyM Avatar

    Micehl Bergeron – Le Petit Tigre. Good old Tom Webster, felled by that bad inner ear infection. A friend and I ran into him at the one Rangers Fan Club Dinner Dance that I attended. We were waiting for the elevator when we saw him. I casually remarked (and I was half joking) that I bet he wasn’t looking forward to the elevator ride because of ear problem. He answered with a serious no. I looked at my friend and said he isn’t going to be around too much longer – and he wasn’t.

    Of course, everyone wanted to sit at Ron Greschner’s table because of Carol Alt. We sat at Larry Melnyk’s table. Before you laugh, you have to realize his fiancee was absolutely gorgeous! Oh, and Melnyk seemed like a nice guy too 🙂

  31. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    I think Boqvist has the highest upside of any of the d men not named Dahlin, I also think he is the furthest away from being on an nhl roster of the top group behind Dahlin.

    I’d take Bouchard hands down of that group, followed by Dobson, the Boqvist.

    Only guy I don’t have much interest in is one trick pony Hughes.

  32. Eric-8th in metro Avatar
    Eric-8th in metro

    What I don’t like about Boqvist is his size. I’m not a fan drafting under 6 foot Dman

  33. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Trots not coming back to the Caps.

  34. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    If they draft a Dman, I would prefer Bouchard and Dobson. But I really want them to draft a forward at 9.

  35. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Good year to be in top 9 of draft. Guess Pete was right in rooting for the tank!

  36. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Boqvist has the most bust potential of anybody in the “top 8.” Concussions concern me as well. He could be Shayne Gostisbehere or he could be the Gerund. He’s a guy who I could honestly see dropping to the teens.

    (Though this top 8 really needs to be expanded to 10 because Wahlstrom and Kotkaniemi are in that tier.)

  37. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Sheldon Keefe “Its good to be the hottest coach on the market.”
    Barry Trotz “Hold my beer.”

  38. Eric-8th in metro Avatar
    Eric-8th in metro

    Unless trotz knows JT staying for sure I can’t see how he takes job. Unless isles offer 3 mil plus. Double salary compared to caps

  39. AnthonyM Avatar

    My main concern with drafting a small offensive d-man is not having a big/physical/strong defensive d-man to partner up with a Boqvist or Hughes.

    Cue the gnashing of teeth of some Rangers fan who are going to start whining about the Rangers not waiting for Trotz.

    I have seen a couple of Mock Drafts that have the Rangers selecting Merkley in the first round, which I just don’t see. It is one thing to draft redundancy in positions or types of players, but why why you do it when the negatives with Merkley are the same as D’Angelo.

    I know all about the high-risk vs. high-reward argument but something just makes me say nay-nay when it comes to Merkley – unless you are talking in the 2nd round. I would be more likely to gamble then than in the 1st round.

  40. AnthonyM Avatar

    I forgot to add that I read that TSN’s Bob McKenzie has a positive update on the health of Martin Kaut. From TSN:

    “- Czech forward Martin Kaut, No. 16 on the TSN list, was flagged at the NHL Combine medical screening for a congenital heart condition. He wasn’t able to do any physical testing and coming out of the combine there were fears being expressed by some teams about his status.

    Fear not, he now has a clean bill of health, which has been submitted to NHL Central Scouting and the 31 teams. Last week in Prague, Kaut underwent an ablation procedure to correct the issue, although after doing the procedure, the specialists maintained they don’t believe he actually had the condition that was initially diagnosed.

    In any case, doctors have signed off on full medical clearance and unrestricted activity for Kaut and this isn’t expected to affect his draft status.”

  41. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    I’m happy to draft Merkley at 28 Anthony. He’s probably 2-3 years away. DeAngelo is 1 year away from his ELC expiring. If he has a good year, he’s likely going to get a 2-year bridge, which puts him as a free agent around the time Merkley would be ready. We’d also be one year away from Shattenkirk’s deal expiring. If DeAngelo shows he’s worth keeping around, and Merkley develops into a top prospect – it’s a good problem to have and one becomes a tradeable asset.

  42. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    I don’t think Dangelo sticks. IMHO.
    May make a NHL career as a journeyman but not anyone a team is going to build with and around. Maybe I’m wrong but I think I’ve seen enough of him.

  43. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Big no thanks to Merkley imo.

  44. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Also – we didn’t draft Cam Fowler simply because we thought we already had a similar player to build around in Michael Del Zotto. Not that I love Fowler, but he’s a legit 2/3 defenseman, and Michael Del Zotto is Italian for “Of the Zotto.”

    So anyway – to pass on Merkley with a late pick, if he happens to be the best available player, because DeAngelo…I think that’s a mistake.

    And about Kaut – glad he’s healthy – I would hate to see a kid have to give up at this point, or be put in danger. But after Cherepanov…consider me spooked.
    IF teams are scared off and he’s there at 40? That’s worth a flyer.

  45. James G Avatar
    James G

    Anthony I share the same hunch on Merkley. And in general I don’t think they have room in the organization for another undersized defenseman so count me out on the other two as well as far as the 9th overall pick is concerned.
    I think JK or Whalstrom at 9 is a big win.
    It’s beginning to feel like most of the guys with potential in the organization are blueliners so I have my heart set on a forward at 9 as well as 26. Especially with the 28th pick and second rounders in their pockets

  46. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    I would prefer a forward as well James. Unless we land Dobson, or Bouchard is the last man standing after a run of forwards, I’d like Wahlstrom or Kotkaniemi.

  47. James G Avatar
    James G

    I knew Wick would see it my way

  48. James G Avatar
    James G

    Keep forgetting Shattenkirk is a Ranger.

  49. James G Avatar
    James G

    Trots will go to Minnesota. Why would a guy who finally won a Cup want to go deal with a dumpster fire like NYI?

  50. James G Avatar
    James G

    And before Sheldon Keefe takes the job as islanders coach he should consider that his Marlies probably could have won 4 of 7 from NYI in a playoff series..

  51. AnthonyM Avatar

    JamesG – One of the hardest things I had in coming up with names was trying to keep in mind the Rangers *saying* they want to take the best player available and trying to maintain the need for a balance of prospects throughout the organization.

    I kept running into a while of centers when I was looking at forwards, especially as I started looking at the third round and deeper. At that point I was looking for some wingers to help balance things out.

    I also kept running into the “problem” of having a lot of USNTDP players on my lists. I am not sure if that was coincidence or if DQ’s involvement kept leading me that way. Another problem was coming across a few of Quinn’s former B.U. recruits. I dropped a late round kid because he was yet another BU guy (C/LW – I think the name was Tyler Lewis) – also he was on the smallish size.

    As for Merkley, to me it is not even so much as the duplication as it is I’d rather not draft that type of player. All of the fans who want Fowler would be pulling their hair out at some of his defensive miscues. The rangers didn’t draft Fowler because of Del Zotto, they passed on Fowler to try and bring in the big physical d-man the team has craved since Jeff Beukebook retired. As for me, I was all in on Vladimir Tarassenko 🙂

  52. AnthonyM Avatar

    In full disclose, Oliver Wahlstrom is my guy. I had a couple of ways that he could fall to the Rangers at nine, but I realized it was working out only because I really wanted him to go to the Rangers.

    I have this feeling we might go for a bit of a reach at #9 for someone like Denisenko or Kravtsov based on what Carp said about Pronman’s list.

  53. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Anthony
    Not funny

  54. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    “The rangers didn’t draft Fowler because of Del Zotto, they passed on Fowler to try and bring in the big physical d-man the team has craved since Jeff Beukebook retired. ”

    Fair enough – but it didn’t hurt that MDZ was coming off a very promising rookie year.

    Anthony – If you’re right about them wanting Denisenko or Kravtsov…hopefully they realize that this can be achieved by packaging 26+28 and trading up to the late-teens. Ugh.

  55. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Wonder if Dallas might trade nikushkin since he said he’s coming back to the nhl?

  56. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Wouldn’t surprise me at all if we find a way to draft the forward with the smaller offensive upside at 9! But if Wahlstrom is available it would be crazy not to take him. I’d draft him before Tkachuk, but that is not a choice we’ll have to make.

  57. James G Avatar
    James G

    Oh Trotz is RESIGNING. Not RE-SIGNING🤷🏼‍♂️

  58. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Best case scenario for the Rangers is Montreal grabbing Tkachuk at 3.

  59. BobbyO Avatar
    BobbyO

    dont see nikushkin with Rangers if Ruff sticks around. If draft is deep as they say, Rangers should just use the picks and stockpile

  60. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Based on carp’s comment re Pronman, tkachuk could be the target.

  61. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    I’m so dizzy just looking at all these potential wheeling and dealing by everyone. At this point we’ve gone through so many possible scenarios, some of them are bound to become reality.

  62. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    BobbyO,
    Agree, use all the picks. They become assets.

  63. Eric-8th in metro Avatar
    Eric-8th in metro

    We all know rangers will have a reach pick at 9. Last year at 7 when lias was drafted at 7 and compared to niklas sundstrom we all went nuts. Let’s be honest they won’t make the obvious at 9.

  64. Bobbyo Avatar
    Bobbyo

    Good read Anthony M …hope you are right on one of 4 options at Number 9…thanks

  65. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Dell = of computers

  66. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Anthony
    I agree would love to see the Rangers end up with Wahlstrom could turn out to be the goal scorer they need. And if that’s they guy they really want for sure he won’t be at #9.

  67. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Imagine that Rangers ranked 25th in NHL power rankings for 2018-19 imagine that!

  68. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    NYR might have taken Trotz had he been eliminated early from Cup contention. Irony.

  69. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Get some damned spirit on this team!

  70. Rangers Report 2.0 Avatar
    Rangers Report 2.0

    Draft is going to be the most interesting in a while

  71. tomb Avatar
    tomb

    Anthony

    Thanks for all your hard work. I read the first three articles, then i got overwhelmed. I will tackle the rest tomorrow.

    The Rangers are in a rare spot of even drafting one player on the first day Personally, I hope they keep all their first rounders.

  72. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Nice work Anthony thanks great read!

  73. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Where are these carp chirps regarding pronman’s ranking? What did carp say?

    Anthony M just got home for the evening but I’m looking forward to reading. Thx bonehead

  74. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    Is Milan Draisaitl a Ranger yet?

  75. Eric 8th in metro Avatar
    Eric 8th in metro

    Love it Craig. Can you imagine drasaiti.

  76. Alex Avatar
    Alex
  77. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Trying to decide how much better Ryan o Reilly and Bennett are as players than Zibanejad

  78. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    links to the video in 5 min segments totaling about 1/2 hour

  79. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Good work Anthony. Fun to read up. Love the overview of who the players compare to on the different lists. Makes this week leading up to draft much more fun. Glad the website worked out.

  80. simonkimbrell Avatar
    simonkimbrell

    Its a very optimistic comparable! I wonder who Huge Specimen’s comparable’s wouldve been!!

    Thanks for the write up Anthony

  81. Pavel Brendl Avatar
    Pavel Brendl

    Don’t forget about me!

  82. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    The more I read about the depth of this draft in mid to Late first round and intro second round the more I’m happy this is the year we sold for extra picks.

    The contenders first rounders coming back are always late so your never getting top tier prospect with those. But this year it seems like a good year to get good assets down there. Maybe it’s my excitement bias though…

  83. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Good morning, boneheads!
    Very well done, AnthonyM! Thank you!
    The more I read about this draft, the more I’m convinced that unless Gorton can trade up into the first 3 spots, or he can trade for young, NHL ready forwards, they should keep all 3 first round selections. And probably both second rounders.

  84. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Hoffman to SJ. That was fast.

  85. simonkimbrell Avatar
    simonkimbrell

    I’m tempted to stay up and watch for a change (although its 12:30am start) just to see how the top 10 plays out. Will someone reach for Kotkaniemi? Where will Tkachuk go? What order will the tier 2 D-men get drafted?

    To me at the moment it sounds like it not worth the price of moving up, given the top 10-12 are expected to be solid NHLers – but that depends on if someone starts to drop down the board.

    We’ve also got a lot of picks so i’d expect us to maybe take a flier on someone like Merkley or another high-risk/high reward type if he’s still there at the end of the 1st round.

  86. simonkimbrell Avatar
    simonkimbrell

    TRADE: The #Sens have acquired forward Mikkel Boedker, defenceman Julius Bergman and a sixth-round choice in the 2020 NHL Draft from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Mike Hoffman, Cody Donaghy and Ottawa’s fifth-round pick in 2020:

  87. simonkimbrell Avatar
    simonkimbrell

    I presume the future Mrs Hoffman will also be shipped out of Canada ASAP ?

  88. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    I’m sure the Shark wives are just giddy

  89. simonkimbrell Avatar
    simonkimbrell

    She might need to go live on an island with Carlos Sanchez……….anyone remember Andres Escobar 1994?

  90. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    That’s absolutely brutal for Ottawa. Hoffman can play. Without the other BS, he’s a guy that should’ve gotten them a first rounder, or an R2 plus a top-5 prospect.
    Instead the dumped him for a nothingburger with a bad contract, swapped nothingburger prospects, and swapped nothingburger picks.

    But they did employ Chris Neil for a solid 10-12 years so don’t feel too bad for them.

  91. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Simon,
    It does not sound like Kotkaniemi is a reach at all.

  92. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    They should change their name to the Bull-E- Sharks!

  93. AnthonyM Avatar

    JPP – I tried to hunt down where Carp’s comments can be found, but there are just too many posts. Carp had spoken to someone within the Rangers organization and was told that if Pronman’s rankings of players was how the Draft actually went, then the Rangers would be happy. The 9th player on Pronman’s list is Brady Tkachuk.

    BTW #10 is Ryan Merkley, # 13 is Grigori Denisenko and #15 is Vatila Kravtsov.

  94. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Anthony – also worth nothing that Pronman had Dobson ranked in the late teens on that list. I think if they had to choose between Tkachuk and Dobson, they’d be halfway to the stage with the latter’s jersey before the 8th pick’s name was out of Bowman’s mouth.

  95. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Not that I wanted any part of that guy’s drama, but seeing what Hoffman got given away for, I’d have to think a comparable Ranger deal would’ve been

    Hoffman, Donaghy, R5
    for
    Beleskey, O’Gara , R6

    I mean…you do that deal right? All this guy does is put pucks in the net.

  96. simonkimbrell Avatar
    simonkimbrell

    Pronman offers a slightly different take on it, but i’d be happy with Tkachuk at 9. I wonder whether the Isles will gamble on Merkley with 2 consecutive picks?

  97. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    By all accounts tho sharks have been trying to move him for awhile so wonder if they waited too long and turned down better offers or if other GMs already knew about the office ice stuff and have consistently refused to offer much. In any event SJ is gearing up and if they could add Tavares (may not be possible under the cap now) things could get interesting.
    —-/
    How much different do we think the Rangers rankings are to TSN?! Can just see it, “the Russian and Czech wingers aren’t defensively responsible enough and their character isn’t as good as Drury’s”

  98. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Pete, as long as the first player comparison out of Pierre’s mouth isn’t “Jesper Fast,” we’ve done aight.

  99. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Think isles trade one of those picks for a goalie. Pronman did say that he didn’t think the draft goes according to his own rankings, just his evaluation. Would be fine with Tkchacuk at 9 so long as we didn’t pass one Wahlstrom or good righty D

  100. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Or Anderson or Howden Dave!

  101. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Heh Pete. I still think Lias Andersson will skew closer to Jonathan Toews (lite) than Jesper Fast. But even the staunchest Jesper fans didn’t want to hear that name after a top-10 pick .

    And I can see the Isles flipping 12 for Grubauer and 31. That’s the big rumor/assumption making the rounds.

    Every time a good backup on the cusp of starting gets traded for an R1, it’s like a knife through my heart. #thanksglen

  102. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Im thinking Drury-lite! Yea they blew that Talbot trade big time!!

  103. Old Ranger Fan Avatar
    Old Ranger Fan

    Grubauer started the playoffs for the Caps. He’s more than a good backup and has more of a track record than Talbot or Raanta. Still think Sather(or Gorton ) panicked on Talbot. Not so much on Raanta.

  104. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Hayes, Zuccarello, TonyD, and 28, to Calgary for, Bennett, Hamilton, Fox, and Dube. Would you do it?

  105. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    USAToday (not exactly my choice for top sports reporter, but I digress) has a Mock with us getting Dobson @ 9, Kjell’s kid at 26, and Bokk @ 28 (those last two making a Merkley sandwich).

    Something about these mock drafts. Dobson, Wahlstrom, Kotkaniemi, Bouchard…I think we’re going to be okay!

  106. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    BDL – my first gut reaction was “like a shot.” Zucc living on borrowed time, TonyD’s future is questionable. But is it just the wrong time to pick up a guy like Hamilton? I dunno. I don’t think we’re giving up enough in that deal for the return, so I’ll go with “yes please.”

  107. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Bdl
    Yeah I would probably do that hoping the best on getting Hamilton. But I don’t think Calgary pulls the trigger on it!

  108. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Anybody else hitting the refresh button, waiting for the big Namestnikov for R3 trade to go down?

  109. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    “With this year’s 9th overall pick, the New York Rangers proudly select from the Lisbon Matadors of the Portuguese Fandango Dance Hockey League (PFDHL)…. Carlitos Caca.”

  110. James G Avatar
    James G

    “Lives up to his name, Sam”

  111. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Pronman in the Athletic just posted his mock with Dobson to rangers at 9
    Tchachuck to vancouver
    Walstrom to chicago

  112. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    pronman making me giddy

    “26. New York Rangers: Serron Noel, RW, Oshawa-OHL

    Noel is a guy with a wide variance of opinions among people I’ve talked to due to a lot of potential but issues with his hockey IQ. Some teams have him top 15, others outside the first round. For the Rangers, they don’t have a big guy like him with his skills in the system, as few big men can skate and handle the puck like Noel can. He’s also a great kid with a ton of upside. With the Rangers entering a rebuild, they can afford to wait on a guy like Noel who will need a while to develop.”

    Yes please

  113. James G Avatar
    James G

    “Hello Dallas! With the 9th pick in the 2018 nhl draft..the NY Rangers RE-SELECT Daniel Goneau of the Montreal geriatric league.”

    Clarke: “well, we like the player. We feel he’s finally come into his own. You know what they say about these drafts: third time’s a charm!”

  114. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Hoffman just got hot-potatoed to Florida for a 2019 R2. Late-ish round picks involved on both sides as well.

    Good job by the Sharks, tbh. They got rid of a crap contract/player in Boedker for an R2, basically. Nowadays, to jettison a Boedker, you’d need to include an R2.

  115. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Yeah – if the draft went the Pronman way, I’d be super satisfied.

    AND – you know there are guys who always drop in the late first round. You never know…we could be looking at someone like Sandin, Kupari or McLeod on the back end.

  116. James G Avatar
    James G

    WOW Hoffman gets traded for “not much”. Put twitter aside for a sec. Guy is a 50-60 point player in the NHL. Big pick up for Sharks. Ottawa on their way to first overall pick next summer.

  117. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    LMAO JamesG

  118. Eric-8th in metro Avatar
    Eric-8th in metro

    Be awesome Hoffman gets moved to a 3rd team.

  119. AnthonyM Avatar

    BDL – I’d do the deal although Bennett is going to need a new deal and Hamilton’s deal is pricey ($5.75 million). I would be in favor because I like Dube and Fox. However, I don’t see Calgary doing it.

    DaveB – USAT not that bad, but I’d rather two forwards and one d-man. I would love it if Vancouver went Dobson giving the Rangers a shot at Kotkaniemi/Wahlstrom. I wouldn’t mind Kjell’s kid but would stay away from Ulf’s kids – they don’t translate well into the NHL.

    Cregg7 – If the Rangers get Noel at #26 then it “almost” doesn’t matter who they draft at #9 and #28. Noel is the guy I would like the Rangers move up from #28 and get into the middle of the 1st round to grab. Pronman’s draft is one that I could sign up for – although I would hope Book (or even Kaut if he is truly healthy) would slip to 28.

  120. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Hoffman will be a Ranger and Namestnikov will be a Flo Rida before the day is done. Book it. Tony DeAngelo is already showing them condos.

  121. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    I wonder if San Jose included Evander Kane’s track suit to sweeten the Pot for Florida….

  122. James G Avatar
    James G

    Not knocking Dobson but my concern is that if they go with a Dman at 8 then their top 10 prospects/players will arguably be comprised of about 8 defensemen.

    Rykov (L)
    Lindgren (L)
    Hajek (L)
    Gilmour (L)
    Day (L)
    Dobson (R)
    Pionk (R)
    DeAngelo (R)

    Prospect wise you really only have Andersson, Chytil, Howden up front as far as “top guys” of the future.
    I’d rather them come away with a forward at 9..

  123. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    Luckily, Carlitos Caca is a forward….

  124. Booby Avatar
    Booby

    The San Jose fans who chose to sleep in a little today missed Hoffman’s entire career with the Sharks.

  125. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Agreed on Ulf’s kids Anthony.

    I just think we’re in an amazing position if we do it right. Someone takes Dobson and Kotkaniemi before us, we get a shot at Wahlstrom and Bouchard. Someone grabs Wahlstrom and Tkachuk, we get a shot at Kotkaniemi and Dobson. There’s no wrong answer in there!

    There are so many guys to be excited about late in the first, even though a few are kind of redundant. I like K’Andre Miller, but we already have that role filled in Ryan Lindgren. We have at least 7 Lundestroms and McLeods in the system already.

    With that 28th pick, I’d like them to swing for the fences on a high risk/reward guy.

  126. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    Bouchard reminds me too much of MacDonagh. Not a “bad” thing…. but I just want someone with the potential to be “elite”… not “above average”

  127. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    And McDonagh……….

  128. James G Avatar
    James G

    I guess I’d remove Day from that list but even without him I feel like the future of this team is defense heavy.
    We don’t need a repeat of mid 2000s

  129. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Bdl
    All day everyday

  130. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    “Ottawa was interested in making a trade involving players with Florida, according to Dale Tallon. He never offered the package of picks to the #sens that he ended up sending to San Jose.”

    well that sucks for them

  131. James G Avatar
    James G

    “Hi Doug? Yeah this is Susan Holder Burns..you know..Brent’s wife? Yeah you and I are gonna have a little chat”

    Hour later: Hoffman to FL..

  132. James G Avatar
    James G

    While Ottawa has the phone lines open maybe Karlsson goes somewhere today

  133. AnthonyM Avatar

    How soon before the Panthers wheel Hoffman off to a KHL team for some caviar and a case of vodka?!?

  134. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    NYR trade Kevin Hayes, Brady Skjei, picks 9/26/28 and next year’s 1st rounder to Ottawa for Erik Karlsson. 😁

  135. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    I’m more than ok with taking a righty defenseman with 9th pick. Many of the trades we try to propose is for exactly that.

    meaning Bouchard or Dobson.

    up front Kotkaniemi.

  136. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    Don’t worry Alex….. with Clarke in charge, we’ll take one of the Russians, or Farabee…… Typical off the board crap coming our way. This is why I don’t know why I’m super excited for the draft when I KNOW how it’s going to go down.

  137. James G Avatar
    James G
  138. AnthonyM Avatar

    James – Good point on the overload of d-men (although Gilmour, Day and Tony D are not in the same class as the others), but I don’t want to take a forward for the sake of taking one. You kind of run into the same type of center we already have with Andersson, Chytil and Howden if you are taking a Veleno, Hayton, Lundestrom or McLeod. If one of that quartet is around later in the 1st round you can take them.

    That is kind of why i Mentioned Denisenko and Kravtsov because they are not what the Rangers have (scoring wingers). I know people are going to complain about taking one of them as a reach, but will complain about the Rangers going safe with Lias at #7.

  139. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Dew U now the weigh to San Jose?

  140. James G Avatar
    James G

    Doodie just shredding Ottawa to pieces on Twitter.

  141. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    I remember when Doodie did his shredding for us

  142. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    I like the Dmen in the top part of the draft, except for Boqvist. But for me the 9 pick needs to be a forward, and if they don’t end up with Kotkaniemi, Wahlstrom, or Tkachuk I’d be a little disappointed.

  143. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Doh!

  144. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Gorton is probably on the phone with Dale Tallon right now!

  145. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Not fair to Sam Rosen to choose anyone with 3 or more syllables in his name.

  146. James G Avatar
    James G

    Anthony, the thing of it is even if in another class those three you mentioned are still very relevant as far as developing Players in the organization. They may not rank as high as those other dmen but I feel like there still higher up on the food chain than most forwards.

    I hear you loud and clear about the situation they could face at 9.
    Since there’s 4 dmen likely to go within the top 10 it could be the only way to take the best player if the top ranked forwards all go early.

    And no matter how inept the Rangers have been before id like to think they can find a forward of value when they own 10% of the top 50 players in this draft.

  147. James G Avatar
    James G

    BDL it really depends on how many of the teams ahead of them go for a forward. Those three you mentioned could go along with Svechnikov and Zadina by pick number 6..

  148. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    San Jose mgmt. extolling Hoffman’s offensive abilities. They got that right.

  149. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Carp has another article. Post above updated. Looks like I chose the wrong week to be busy at work 🙂

  150. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Hoffman is in Florida already? Probably not for long. Take-home? Careful who you’re dating 😉

  151. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    James,
    That’s the worst case scenario. My gut ( it’s on the big side) tells me one of those 3 will be there.

  152. Booby Avatar
    Booby

    With each passing day and the more I read, I’m starting to think that Zadina could actually fall to us.

    I should probably stop believing that.

  153. Booby Avatar
    Booby

    Oh, forgot to mention. Thanks for all the work you put into your draft preview, Anthony. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

  154. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    There is ZERO chance that THE Zadina… will fall to us.

  155. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Gorton in great position to strike. Can’t screw this up. If he does, he’s an imposter.

  156. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Told you Trotz was leaving no matter what. We should have waited him out.

  157. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    The fact that all these young kids jump up and down draft rankings tells you how official these rankings really are ( Hi, Carp! ). And how much all these scouts really know. Watch Dahlin become available at 26 come Friday night.

  158. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    San Jose clearing the deck for Kovalchuk

  159. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Or Tavares, Wicky…

  160. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    Imagine THE Kreider… and THE Zadina on the same line..

  161. Booby Avatar
    Booby

    Good point, ILB. Along with the fact that every year players rise and fall dramatically only days before the draft. Seriously, what could have happened this week to cause such extreme differentiating views from what was previously thought? Writers gotta write, I guess.

  162. BobbyO Avatar
    BobbyO

    based on deep draft of and interest in Defenseman and Centers why couldn’t a Zadina Tkachuk or Wahlstrom be available to Rangers at 9 ?

  163. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    Bobby- simple. ONE of those teams ahead of us will use their head and take the best available player….

  164. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    I mean *Booby.

    Hans! Booby! I’m your white knight.

  165. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    Wahlstrom maaaaaaybe. The other 2 will go before we pick…..

  166. Spaulding Smails Avatar
    Spaulding Smails

    What’s a Doodie?

  167. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Gorton could ask Dale Tallon if he wants to flip Hoffman to NY for a 3rd rounder. There is so much carcillo flying around on social media in NY, nobody would even notice his girlfriend’s posts

  168. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Ilb
    Yep, could be Tavares indeed

  169. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    With the smaller tire fire Montreal is, I can see Hoffman there sooner than later

    😉

  170. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    THE Zadina

  171. Booby Avatar
    Booby

    Dale Tallon said the Panthers feel like Hoffman and his fiance will fit in well with the wives and girlfriends.

    Um, what?

  172. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Tails of Hoffman

  173. BobbyO Avatar
    BobbyO

    Craig thats the point ..have to assume 3 teams make that decision…figuring one of those guys will fall

  174. Eric-8th in metro Avatar
    Eric-8th in metro

    Watch Zadina be available rangers pass and Clark picks some European ranked 20-25

  175. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Eric, whoever said Euro is, he’ll have put up 7 points in 45 games, but was a boy playing with men.

  176. Eric-8th in metro Avatar
    Eric-8th in metro

    Exactly Dave. He will compare to a 3rd liner

  177. AnthonyM Avatar

    I wonder if the Sharks traded Hoffman because he didn’t know the way to San Jose?

  178. James G Avatar
    James G

    Tallon: “well you know how those South Beach broads can get.”

  179. Alex Avatar
    Alex

  180. James G Avatar
    James G

    Sharks have been rumored for a while to be preparing to aggressively persue Tavares.
    If Tavares doesn’t re-up with NYI he’s apparently entertaining no more than five teams. Assuming SJ Montreal and Toronto are 3/5 of that..

  181. Booby Avatar
    Booby

    Yeah, James. I saw a Dreger thing the other day that said if he doesn’t have a deal inside of a week, Tavares is flying to southern Cal to meet with 3-5 teams. So you have to assume the Kings, Sharks, Clippers, Dodgers and USC Trojans are in the mix.

  182. Rangers Report 2.0 Avatar
    Rangers Report 2.0

    Pronman’s mock has us taking Dobson at 9 over Boqvist. I hate that.

  183. Rangers Report 2.0 Avatar
    Rangers Report 2.0

    There is 0 chance Zadina falls to 9.

  184. James G Avatar
    James G

    Booby I feel like if an Anaheim Ducks fan read that post they’d feel REALLY terrible lol

  185. James G Avatar
    James G

    Zadina and Tkachuk will both be long gone by 9. Writers just stirring the pot as we head towards Friday.

    As for Tavares I’m guessing the Rangers aren’t even slightly in the mix so I’m not going to waste time speculating about him anymore.

  186. James G Avatar
    James G

    No to Boqvist btw

  187. Rangers Report 2.0 Avatar
    Rangers Report 2.0

    Why, is he too good of a player for you?

  188. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    His concussion issues are a tremendous red flag, 2.0. And, according to scouts, he was a no-show at the 5 worlds tourney…. or whatever it’s called.

  189. James G Avatar
    James G

    Craig’s comment +Boqvist’s size = my response , Doodie

  190. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    No to Boqvist’s size matters just ask Hoffman’s girlfriend!

  191. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Management (Slats and Gorton )must hit at least one triple this time to avoid being called incompetent.

  192. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    Elliotte Friedman
    ‏Verified account
    @FriedgeHNIC

    There is word today that Artemi Panarin has told CLB that he is not ready to consider an extension “at this time.” (UFA July 2019.) As a result, the Blue Jackets are testing the market for him.

  193. AnthonyM Avatar

    Craig Button is not that high on Adam Boqvist as per his appearance on TSN’s Vancouver 1040.

    https://www.tsn.ca/radio/vancouver-1040/button-don-t-feel-boqvist-is-in-same-class-as-hughes-dobson-bouchard-1.1073407

    Here is the blurb for the radio clip: “Craig Button voices some concern about Adam Boqvist’s ability to play when he’s challenged by better players, and admits he has Boqvist below the group of Quinn Hughes, Evan Bouchard, and Noah Dobson in his rankings.”

    FYI – Not sure when this was taped but it was before Kyle Dubas was named GM in Toronto.

    Button feels the Canucks need a d-man who can move the puck and get it out of the zone. If Button is right that Noah Dobson goes to Vancouver, then that leaves a forward for the Rangers. – our boy Ollie Wahlie.

    Here is Button’s Mock Draft: https://www.tsn.ca/tsn-hockey-mock-draft-the-intrigue-starts-with-the-habs-1.1116064. He has a couple of interesting picks at 26 – Jay O’Brien (bit of a reach) and 28 – Vitali Kravtsov (would be great value at that point).

  194. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Now Doodie is shredding the salad joint! What will he shred next?

  195. Rangers Report 2.0 Avatar
    Rangers Report 2.0

    I eat a miserable salad almost every day. It’s the only thing that keeps me from ballooning up any larger than I already am. I’m very sensitive to changes to it because I already hate that I eat it so often.

  196. Rangers Report 2.0 Avatar
    Rangers Report 2.0

    Button is a buffoon. There’s a reason he hasn’t been an executive in like 15 years.

  197. AnthonyM Avatar

    Doodie, don’t hold back, what is your real feelings about Craig Button? 🙂

  198. 4everanger Avatar

    I know for sure who will NOT be Rangers: Tavares, Kovalchuk and first 8 draftees picked up in R1.

  199. Rangers Report 2.0 Avatar
    Rangers Report 2.0

    And those complaining about Boqvist’s size, he’s the same height as Ghostisbere, 1 inch shorter than Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang. He is one of the youngest players in the draft and can still add a lot of muscle to his frame. I’m not remotely worried about his size.

  200. Rangers Report 2.0 Avatar
    Rangers Report 2.0

    I am envious of how thick his hair is.

  201. James G Avatar
    James G

    Doodie you should change it up from salad have some Fasolakia Giaxni and maybe a little gemista!

  202. AnthonyM Avatar

    Yes, Boqvist is close in size to those three, but Ghost was a 2nd round pick and Letang was a 3rd (first pick of the round). If we can get a Boqvist-like player in the 2nd round then I say do it.

  203. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Agreed on Button. He’s one of those guys that opens his mouth, I know I’m going to disagree with whatever comes out, and then I’m right.

  204. Rangers Report 2.0 Avatar
    Rangers Report 2.0

    Anthony, those picks, especially Letang, were a long time ago. The league is changing and the body type of defensemen is evolving to be smaller and more mobile. I think Boqvist is going to be one of the ten best players to come out of this draft. Him, Dahlin, Hughes, and (assuming he can get his act together) Merkley are the only defensemen in this draft with real first pairing upside. Lots of strong second pairing guys like Bouchard, Dobson, smith, Miller, Sandin. But Boqvist has potential to be special in a way many others don’t.

  205. Rangers Report 2.0 Avatar
    Rangers Report 2.0

    Albin Eriksson is this year’s Dylan Samberg: a player who was third/fourth round just a couple of months ago, but is now the sexy prospect who will go in the 2nd round.

  206. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    Why do I feel like Wahlstrom will be Nash 2.0, and not in a good way?

  207. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Doug Wilson making gorton look like a beer league gm.

    Great work by Wilson.

  208. James G Avatar
    James G

    Man, with the way you argue a case for Boqvist you shoulda been a lawyer, Doodie…

  209. James G Avatar
    James G

    Size aside, any player these days with any kind of concussion history makes me nervous. Especially a smaller player in a league where guys are getting faster and faster and head shots aren’t uncommon

  210. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    If Boqviust’s listed as 5’11, you can bet your condo he’s closer to 5’9.

  211. James G Avatar
    James G

    Then there’s Fletch. 6’5, with the Afro 6’9, pretty good dribbler…

  212. James G Avatar
    James G

    Sergey Zborovskiy we hardly knew ya

  213. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    What’s with the big and ongoing Drury ass kissing operation? Vesey’s got a lot to prove and he’s probably not going to do it here.

  214. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Manny just found a pigeon turd on his patio ledge. “Honey, get the Super up here!”

  215. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    4ever

    what if we trade for one of those picks

  216. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    How about that Fletch?!

  217. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Good article carp, but poor work by Gorton if the reason they didn’t trade Zuc was because they were too busy with the Mac trade. That’s why you have assistants, Slats, e-mail, text, etc.
    —-
    So reading between the lines, do they think the Finnish center is more talented than the center they chose 7th overall last year?!
    ——
    Zadina is who you trade up to get, not future 2nd line winger Tkachuk! Still take OW over Tkachuk if given the chance as Tkachuk is Mose valuable as a compliment to scorers like OW or Zadina.

  218. James G Avatar
    James G

    Closer we get the more I want either Wahlstrom or Zadina. Which sucks because we aren’t getting either

  219. Rangers Report 2.0 Avatar
    Rangers Report 2.0

    Coos, he was measured at the combine at 5’11 1/2”. Can’t fake it there.

  220. James G Avatar
    James G

    Betcha even as a third liner, if Vesey has a consistent defined role on the team under Blizzard treats he will score 20-20-40 without any issues. Perhaps 25-25-50 if he’s a top 6 W..

  221. James G Avatar
    James G

    If Boqvist was 7’ and 270lbs I’d still worry about his noggin

  222. James G Avatar
    James G

    Speaking of Manny I wonder what the excited to terrified ratio will be come Friday night.

  223. Booby Avatar
    Booby

    If any player were 7’ and 270, all of Wicky would explode.