2013-14 New York Rangers Breakup Day

[True Blue]

To me, hard decisions need to be made. Even if everyone is resigned, that is not good enough. The team, as constituted, was not nearly good enough against the Kings. The Rangers looked like a middle weight fighting a heavyweight. They need an infusion of size and attitude. They cannot continue to ice the mighty mites.

That said, there is a cap. Which means decisions to be made. Even with the buyout of Richards, they are still squeezed and cannot make foolish decisions. Couple that with the need to be better and Jackass can have his hands full. Which is why they really need to look at the roster and figure out who is not only a part of the solution, but who fits in the best. Staal will need to be given a top pairing defenseman's contract. Zucc will need to be resigned. They need to add size.

Two players that will probably make the same amount of money is Stralman and Brassard, probably in a similar $4.5m range. I would resign Stralman and let go of Brassard if I HAD to make a choice. I would also let Pouilliot go. And Moore. Extend Staal. Sign Zucc. Resign Boyle. Then utilize Hagellin as a chip/part of a trade to bring in a younger, bigger center than what the Rangers currently have. Boyle and Moore do not belong on the same team. No team needs 2 4th line centers. I would also resign Carcillo.

People have their favorites and their own views. I am sure that there were Boston fans who did not want to let Kessel or Sequin go. But those were tough decisions that needed to be made and they used to help build a contender that can play with anyone in the league.

The Rangers do not need to build a team that will compete with Montreal. The Rangers need to build a team that will compete with Boston. With LA. With San Jose. With Chicago. With Anaheim. Results may not come in year one, but they can come fairly quickly. And with Henke still in goal.

 

[TheTakedown]

To me, hard decisions need to be made. Even if everyone is resigned, that is not good enough. The team, as constituted, was not nearly good enough against the Kings. The Rangers looked like a middle weight fighting a heavyweight. They need an infusion of size and attitude. They cannot continue to ice the mighty mites.

That said, there is a cap. Which means decisions to be made. Even with the buyout of Richards, they are still squeezed and cannot make foolish decisions. Couple that with the need to be better and Jackass can have his hands full. Which is why they really need to look at the roster and figure out who is not only a part of the solution, but who fits in the best. Staal will need to be given a top pairing defenseman's contract. Zucc will need to be resigned. They need to add size.

Two players that will probably make the same amount of money is Stralman and Brassard, probably in a similar $4.5m range. I would resign Stralman and let go of Brassard if I HAD to make a choice. I would also let Pouilliot go. And Moore. Extend Staal. Sign Zucc. Resign Boyle. Then utilize Hagellin as a chip/part of a trade to bring in a younger, bigger center than what the Rangers currently have. Boyle and Moore do not belong on the same team. No team needs 2 4th line centers. I would also resign Carcillo.

People have their favorites and their own views. I am sure that there were Boston fans who did not want to let Kessel or Sequin go. But those were tough decisions that needed to be made and they used to help build a contender that can play with anyone in the league.

The Rangers do not need to build a team that will compete with Montreal. The Rangers need to build a team that will compete with Boston. With LA. With San Jose. With Chicago. With Anaheim. Results may not come in year one, but they can come fairly quickly. And with Henke still in goal.

So you want to trade 2 center man to make our already horrific center depth even worse? Who do you expect to replace those players?

Fact is this team needs a small injection of size and some center skill and were nearly there. A puck moving defenseman would be a bonus too

 

[haveandare]

I don't know why anyone is mentioning Diaz at all. He showed me absolutely nothing in his time. IMO, J Moore is a better player than him in every single way.

Also, I don't think Klein is nearly the liability people are making him out to be. He's a little too good for the third, so that's his ideal spot, but I'm not about to consider him on a Diaz/Moore level defensively. He's far better.

 

[Whiplash27]

I have a simple rule. Never overpay 4th liners. I know we all fall in love with these guys because of how hard they work, but there are so many players in the NHL that can come cheap who will play just as well.

 

[Tawnos]

I don't know why anyone is mentioning Diaz at all. He showed me absolutely nothing in his time. IMO, J Moore is a better player than him in every single way.

Also, I don't think Klein is nearly the liability people are making him out to be. He's a little too good for the third, so that's his ideal spot, but I'm not about to consider him on a Diaz/Moore level defensively. He's far better.

We're talking about Diaz as a part time #6, generally #7 defenseman, nothing more. Besides, hard to judge a defenseman coming onto a team playing this style at the deadline. Like Klein, Diaz would look better with a full training camp.

 

[True Blue]

So you want to trade 2 center man to make our already horrific center depth even worse? Who do you expect to replace those players?

Fact is this team needs a small injection of size and some center skill and were nearly there. A puck moving defenseman would be a bonus too

No, I am making a choice between Brassard and Stralman. The Rangers desperately need size. And if the salary cap only allows for one or the other, then I choose the defenseman. I like Moore. But he is redundant on a team that already has a perfectly good 4th line center.

The team does not need a small injection of size. They need a lot of it. And an attitude adjustment. They did not loose on lack of skill. They lost because they were fighting out of their weight class.

 

[haveandare]

We're talking about Diaz as a part time #6, generally #7 defenseman, nothing more. Besides, hard to judge a defenseman coming onto a team playing this style at the deadline. Like Klein, Diaz would look better with a full training camp.

He's a fine #7. Any talk of him getting regular minutes, especially over Moore and/or Klein is crazy talk to me.

Diaz played the way he has in any game I've seen him for any NHL team. Better than average with the puck, worse than average with the body, overall, not great, but serviceable in a pinch.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Yeah, some serious underrating of Klein going on here. He was second fiddle on the right side behind Weber playing 18-20 minutes a game in Nashville before Seth Jones fell into their laps. He'll be just fine playing on our second pairing if needed.

 

[AHB*]

I have a simple rule. Never overpay 4th liners. I know we all fall in love with these guys because of how hard they work, but there are so many players in the NHL that can come cheap who will play just as well.

That has worked out oh, so well for us in recent years.

 

[TheTakedown]

Yeah, some serious underrating of Klein going on here. He was second fiddle on the right side behind Weber playing 18-20 minutes a game in Nashville before Seth Jones fell into their laps. He'll be just fine playing on our second pairing if needed.

I feel like this as well.... But our 3rd pairing takes a pretty bad hit... U less we look into signing someone like Mesjzaros

 

[haveandare]

No, I am making a choice between Brassard and Stralman. The Rangers desperately need size. And if the salary cap only allows for one or the other, then I choose the defenseman. I like Moore. But he is redundant on a team that already has a perfectly good 4th line center.

The team does not need a small injection of size. They need a lot of it. And an attitude adjustment. They did not loose on lack of skill. They lost because they were fighting out of their weight class.

I'm skeptical of the idea of emulating last year's champs. It changes every year, and it's purely reactionary.

Build your team to play the best way they can and be the champs yourself, write the narrative. Be the team that other, less creative teams try to emulate.

A huge injection of size and an attitude adjustment is unreasonable to expect in one offseason. I think it's easier, and far more realistic, to make this team a better skill team than it is now. Get more comfortable with one another. Tweak the game plan. Retain who you can, and don't ever add just to add. Only add pieces that fit what you're trying to do.

An OT goal here or there, and this team doesn't "desperately" need anything. IMO, they don't "desperately" need anything even having just lost.

 

[Fitzy]

Staal-McDonagh
Allen-Girardi
Moore-Klein

or

McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Allen
Moore-Klein

I'd expect AV to be hesitant, like Torts against putting two young defensemen together. Torts always avoided Gilroy-MDZ as a pairing.

 

[Inferno]

if these guys are going to walk, the Rangers need to trade their rights for draft picks. i dont care if its a 7th...dont let them walk for nothing. even 7th rounders on rare occasion turn into gems.

 

[I Eat Crow]

I feel like this as well.... But our 3rd pairing takes a pretty bad hit... U less we look into signing someone like Mesjzaros

Mez sucks. I like where your head is though, thinking outside the box. Would rather promote from within.

Stop Coaching Pat:

"@PLeonardNYDN: Lundqvist is completely devastated still"

Poor guy. Get him a 1:1 sitter just to make sure he doesn't do anything self destructive. Dead serious. I'm really concerned about him.

 

[NickyFotiu]

At Boyle's age coming off a high profile cup run the time to cash in is now or never. We may resign him but he is going to look at what other teams over him. Great 4th liner. Below average 3rd liner. A GM might have seen he beautiful move he made to score the game 5 goal and think he can do that regularly. If some team pays him 4 mill a year there is nothing we can do.

 

[Wolfy*]

If Boyle departs we really become a smurf team, that's why we lost against LA.

Slats has to look for some big bodies to sign, and not too soft.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

Yeah, some serious underrating of Klein going on here. He was second fiddle on the right side behind Weber playing 18-20 minutes a game in Nashville before Seth Jones fell into their laps. He'll be just fine playing on our second pairing if needed.

I agree. Klein looked just fine to me. He was always having to adjust to Moore's defensive lapses. Even so, I thought he played well. He's not an upper echelon 2RD, but he's decent. Sliding him up onto the Staal pairing might even free up Staal to be a little more aggressive offensively.

Also, I was seriously impressed by Klein's offensive instincts during this playoff run. We didn't convert on many of his chances, but he seemed to have perfectly timed rushes almost every game.

 

[Trainmman]

Not sure if this has much significance but:

Richards will not meet with the media today. (Andrew Gross)

 

[TheTakedown]

Mez sucks. I like where your head is though, thinking outside the box. Would rather promote from within.

Stop Coaching Pat:

"@PLeonardNYDN: Lundqvist is completely devastated still"

Poor guy. Get him a 1:1 sitter just to make sure he doesn't do anything self destructive. Dead serious. I'm really concerned about him.

There's also Tom Gilbert, 31 year old stop gap Offensive Defenseman...

although I'd be more comfortable with Diaz at that point, who has already proved he can play 2nd pairing minutes

I agree. Klein looked just fine to me. He was always having to adjust to Moore's defensive lapses. Even so, I thought he played well. He's not an upper echelon 2RD, but he's decent. Sliding him up onto the Staal pairing might even free up Staal to be a little more aggressive offensively.

Also, I was seriously impressed by Klein's offensive instincts during this playoff run. We didn't convert on many of his chances, but he seemed to have perfectly timed rushes almost every game.

He has a good hockey IQ.. Knows when to rush and when... I think he's about as skilled as stralman, but has even better stick handling capabilities... they both skate like bunnies running ouyt of the road :p

 

[nevesis]

@PLeonardNYDN: Lundqvist is completely devastated still

 

[Beer League Sniper]

I don't begrudge Boyle chasing the cash at this point in his career. The dude was a heart and soul player for us, always selling out to block a shot. With his style of play, a 4 or 5 year contract could very well take him to retirement. I expect him to get at least the Prust contract ($2.5M AAV for 4 years), which I don't think we can match.

I might be mistaken, but wasn't DelZotto his best friend on the team? Maybe DelZotto being traded jaded him a little on the nature of the NHL business. Just speculation on my part, of course.

 

[Ail]

@PLeonardNYDN: Lundqvist is completely devastated still

How does he think the fans feel? At least he still gets to wake up and be Henrik Lundqvist. Time to focus on winning next year Henrik.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

Not sure if this has much significance but:

Richards will not meet with the media today. (Andrew Gross)

I don't think he's talked to the media since his demotion in Game 4.

 

[haveandare]

I hope Hank trains like a freaking mad man this summer and comes back on fire next year.

Knowing what little I know about him, I almost expect that. I've never seen anything from him that makes me think he's the type to sit around a feel sorry for himself. He'll decompress a bit, but then it's work time I'd bet.

He'll remember laying in the crease at the end of game 5 until he wins a championship, and I think that's great for him and for the Rangers.

 

[nevesis]

I hope Hank trains like a freaking mad man this summer and comes back on fire next year.

Knowing what little I know about him, I almost expect that. I've never seen anything from him that makes me think he's the type to sit around a feel sorry for himself. He'll decompress a bit, but then it's work time I'd bet.

He'll remember laying in the crease at the end of game 5 until he wins a championship, and I think that's great for him and for the Rangers.

He will decompress in Sweden for a month and change. Then he's coming back mid August. I'm doing a goalie clinic with him then.

His fire has never been raging more than right now. He got a taste of the finals and is inspired more than ever to get back.

Lets hope Slats and co build the team up in front of him.