There you go, guys. Ping pong balls are over with.
I decided earlier today to stay away from the blog, not to post a single post, and decided to deprive you of a Go Time Draft Post. Told myself if I do that, they will win #3 spot. Didn’t think it would 1 or 2 for a second.
Yeah, I’m a little superstitious. Sue me. I’m pretty sure now that it worked. 😃
Maybe not. But it surely worked better than trying to tank, as many have suggested. Because anyone residing in the first 3 spots got pushed back.
Here are the final draft standings:
1. New Jersey Devils
2. New York Rangers
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Colorado Avalanche
5. Los Angeles Kings
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. Buffalo Sabres
8. Edmonton Oilers
9. Anaheim Ducks
10. Vancouver Canucks
11. Philadelphia Flyers
12. Minnesota Wild
13. Florida Panthers
14. Arizona Coyotes
15. Montreal Canadiens
Picks 16-31 will be determined after the results of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
A lot to discuss. And the playoffs start tomorrow.
UPDATE: Click here to read Carp’s story about what transpired in Toronto last night. The story about Steven McDonald’s shield used by Gorton as a lucky charm is very special.
265 responses to “Rangers Started Offseason on a High Note”
“And if he’s gone, you aren’t attracting any elite UFAs this offseason”
Very good point.
Honestly, my preference is to sign him, as long as he’s not trying to get upwards of $8M a year. If not, I like the idea of a hockey trade. If you can use him to pick up a guy who can transform our defense, like a Parayko (not happening) or Trouba (possible?) or at the bottom end a Ristolainen, I think it’s worth exploring. But if they feel he needs to go, and the best offer on the table is for futures…I really don’t see it as the end of the world in a vacuum. If, as ILB said, trading him means Panarin and others take a hard pass at the Rangers…that’s a good enough reason for me to gamble and keep him around – and if trading him is their plan, then letting it go to the deadline if necessary.
I agree Ilb, but this team needs elite scoring talent, and we are not 3 deep down the middle.
Lots of youth and lots of holes to be filled. Rangers have NEVER had a top 3 pick in the history of the lottery.
Rangers can’t miss with Hughes or Kappo at #2.
Wicky have you wrapped your head around Kappo coming to the Rangers is a reality? And we don’t have to trae KREIDER to get there!!
Just for argument’s sake, does a youngish UFA think that a team with Kreider is an attractive option but a team with a core of let’s say Zibanejad, Kravtsov, Kakko, Dach, Howden, Chytil, Buchnevich, Andersson, Shestyorkin, Hajek and Fox isn’t?
For all of those advocating trading Kreider for a pick or as a throw in with one of our picks to move up, I just have one word for you:
Birds
As in the difference in worth between 1 and 2.
Me thinks the backline is already taken care of; need to focus on forwards.
Unless we get serious talent for THE, yes.
‘Backline taken care of?’ Get a grip, Amos.
yea i’m not convinced any of those guys are 2nd line centers as of yet and not sure where they plan on playing Kravtsov, but he and Chytil are the two i’d say have the necessary offensive talent for it as of now
Many overstate the attraction of THE to other free agents. We aren’t talking Michael Jordan or Gretzky here. Personally, I think they will be moving him.
It’s Kreider per se. Is that you’re moving your first line winger at 28. You’re not ready to compete
Anyhow, without moving up I wouldn’t mind taking a flyer on Lavoie with the ‘Peg R1.
ILB, you’re not wrong but on the other hand that first line winger will probably be 30-31 before they’re ready to contend.
I’m not on the trade Kreider bandwagon btw. Just making what i think is a fair point.
Offensively – they could be ready to compete. If they get Panarin, if Buchnevich keeps trending up, if Zika’s season wasn’t a fluke, if Chytil takes the next step, if Kreider sticks around, and depending on guys like Kravtsov and Kakko (I’m really counting those chickens) stepping in right away – they can be very good up front very quickly…and scary to play against in 2-3 years.
The defense is still a huge mess, and they aren’t going anywhere if they don’t fix it. Without eating salary or buyouts or sweeteners, we’re looking at Staal, Shattenkirk and Smith after another 2 seasons. And even then, we have a lot of kids who are likely just getting into AHL action around that time. Fixing our defense to be able to legitimately compete by next season is a tall order. It might even be broken going into 2020.
I’m with James on that one – I was more so discussing Kreider possibilities and draft day trades. But if it went down that way – I don’t lose sleep over it.
I still think Kreider will sign with the Rangers and give us a hometown discount. The GM’s around the league knows who he is. Kreider isn’t getting 7 to 8 mil. The Minx has spoken!
Ilb,
Thanks for having my back. James and his posse were ganging up on me.
I know a lot of folks like to bring up how many ot/so losses the rangers had as a negative, but realistically if they won half of those, where are they in the points?
The team has not great contracts on D and in goal, and the d men with low contracts are terrible on d.
They have cap space and assets plus decent nhl talent at forward as they sit today.
I think they’ll be fine and as discussed by some throughout the season playoff competitive next seasons.
I have to think the JVR contract (7M x 5) is the AAV benchmark for Kreider, plus 2 years of inflation. If he goes for less than $7M per I’ll be shocked.
LOL, BDL. you know- I try to make some conversation so the day doesn’t turn into a pissing match about trading the #2 pick and how Hughes and Kakko are garbage and this is the thanks I get.
With Panarin out of the mix I’d go for stop gap Pavelski and Ferland. Maybe see if Boyler wants to come back for a year to center the 4th line as well. Keeps the younger guys learning in the AHL. You’ll compete but you won’t contend. And even competing will be tough unless theres some significant change on the blue line.
Wick you’re correct and not just because you’re part of the posse. 🙂 I think with Georgiev in net you’ll make a lot of games that the D could lose become winnable.
32-50 could be 40-40 next year. With the right UFA signings maybe 45-35. But to contend with the big boys of the league?
This:
Skjei-Pionk
Staal-Shatty
Smith-DeAngelo
Has to become this:
Skjei-Someone
Hajek-DeAngelo
Lindgren-Fox
2019-20 slogan
“NOTHING LEFT TO ASSESS UNTIL YOU ELIMINATE THE BIG BAG OF “S”!!
ideally Brady is not on our top pair, but yeah
I think Skjei can develop into a guy who can play with a top defenseman, but won’t be able to carry a top-pair on his own.
Panerin had great chemistry with Patrick Kane, who last I checked was still in Chicago.
I’m not assuming that Quenville makes Breadman to the Panthers a foregone conclusion.
If I’m Panarin I want fame and fortune and that spells New York, New York!
This is a GMs dream. No overthinking. You take what the Devils give you and don’t look back. If the pick doesn’t pan out, it’s not on the team. Drafting someone line McIlrath opens you up for a lot of criticism. Drafting Hughes/Kaako does not.
What is this fascination with Fox? Another puck moving defender in the VC mold? James already has him on the third line before he’s even signed a FA contract (a year away). Ugh.
You wan’t a fox, I’ll run one over and mail it to you.
Minx, Breadman already has fame and some fortune and he’ll get a good bit more of the latter playing over half his games in a tax free state, plus his old coach back. But he won’t get a shampoo commercial.
Kreider Zib Buch
Kaako Hayes Kravstov
Strome Chytil Names
Anderson Howden Lemiuex
Love the rangers pr machine…it’s top shelf.
That mass email the morning about one player changes it all lol.
Brilliant
I don’t think we see Hayes back here. It’ll be interesting to see if he can do more in the these playoffs. He’s tended to do a disappearing act in years past.
Beezle
You know what I mean? There’s a Huge difference between NY & Sunrise Fl.
Some will love this
Kreider Zib Zucc
Kaako Chytil Buch
Strome Anderson Kravstov
Names Howden Lemieux
😉
NEW POST
Haze should be fine playing 3C for Jets in POs. Gunning for his large late 20’s contract; most likely be biggest contract of his career; still some questions on PO performance.
Once upon a time we had a playoff defense, now 1/2 of them play for Tampa.
In 2 years maybe DeAngelo and Skjei are the only 2 left on D.