Speculation: 2013 Off-Season Speculation/Be the GM Thread

[AIexisLafreniereNYR]

2013 NYR Offseason

Fire:
Head Coach: John Torterella
Mike Sullivan
--
Hire:
Head Coach: Alain Vigneault
Mark Messier
--
Amnesty Buyout:
Brad Richards
--
Resigning
RFA's
Ryan McDonagh - 5 Years / 20.5m (4.1m)
Derek Stepan - 4 Years/15.2m (3.8m)
Carl Hagelin - 2 Years/5m
John Moore - 3 Years /6m
Mats Zuccarello - 1 Year/1.8m

UFA's
Ryane Clowe - 2 Years / 5m
--
Free Agents:
Sergei Gonchar - 1 Year / 3.5m
Mark Streit - 2 Years / 6m
Nik Antropov - 2 Years /5m
Raffi Torres - 3 Years / 5.7m
--
Trades:
Michael Del Zotto & JT Miller for Bobby Ryan
Anton Stralman for a second round pick during the 2013 draft.
--
2013-14 Starting lineup

Carl Hagelin - Derek Stepan - Rick Nash
Bobby Ryan - Derick Brassard - Ryan Callahan
Mats Zuccarello - Nik Antropov - Ryane Clowe
Derek Dorsett - Oscar Lindberg - Raffi Torres

Dan Girardi - Ryan McDonagh
Marc Staal - Sergei Gonchar
Mark Streit - John Moore/Dylan McIlrath

Henrik Lundqvist
Martin Biron

 

[Kendo]

I just don't understand how some people would be reluctant to trade McIlrath since he's the only one of his ilk that we have, but would be open to trading Girardi (one of our two righties) or Dizzy.

I think you have to look at Staal, McDefense and Moore as similar players. McD could get us almost anyone we would want (maybe Gomez?) but his value is just as high to us, so probably not him. Moore has a lot of upside, but his trade value isn't as high as his value to us. That leaves Staal. His value on the trade market would be pretty high, and we lucked out with McD supplanting him as our #1.

I would rather stand pat for one more year, but if we wanted to really upgrade our offense at the expense of defense, Staal would make the most sense.

 

[NYR Viper]

The case with Burmistrov is, a MDZ for Burmi trade is kinda high risk high reward. It's kinda the equivalent of what Holmgren pulled with Schenn/JvR, and so far it looks like it backfires for Philly. Also, not sure if WPG would even be interested in MDZ when they already have a great OD in Byfuglien and two guys who know how to get the puck in the opposite zone creatively in Bogo and Enström.

However, with the play of Stralman and Moore, it sure looks like one of them could snatch a Top 4 D spot on this team. I'm just questioning if MDZ is the right guy to can. He's still very young and has shown flashes of potential at times, the obvious problem is consistency. Sometimes seems like he's not the most brainy guy. In a way, he reminds me of the Dubinsky situation: Has his strengths, but just doesn't stick to them, instead trying to be a player he's clearly not. As others surely have noted, however, there are not a lot of players who play D on a level MDZ does at his age. He will never be a Top Pairing D IMO, but he's already a damn serviceable Top 4.
Sell Girardi? Tough one, he usually gets a lot of **** around here, but he's a guy who can log 25+ minutes a night, usually looking solid in the process. That's a thing he has over MDZ. Seems to be a machine when it comes to terms of health.

Offense is even more tricky. At some point you have to buy out Richards, we can all agree on that. My main issue, though, is going with Stepan and Brassard as our centers on lines 1 and 2. I like to see Stepan as a very good 2nd line center and Brassard as a great 2nd/3rd line tweener right now (he's obviously played a lot better than that, but I'd like a bigger sample size before declaring him something more). Both have shown they have the potential to be a lot more. But relying on them as your top guys as early as next year to me means 2 more years of Hank getting older without being a real contender for the cup. Bringing in Stephen Weiss to roll him as a 3rd line center gives you a situation where you don't have a real "first" line, but you do get a 2a-2b-2c situation:
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan
Kreider/Nash-Brassard-Zucc/Nash
Clowe (?)-Weiss-Zucc/xxx
The problem here of course is, you have 3 smallish pass-first centers and except for Clowe, who I'm kinda worried about, no real physicality. Kreider can bring some, remains to be seen if he can fill in a Top 9 role next year. Weiss is kinda risky as well.
I think we'll see one more year of Brad Richards (hooray!), while the rookies battle out the remaining spots in our bottom 6 with Asham (I think Boyle and Dorsett are locks). And then there's the question how Rick Nash will do in the future. That's nearly 8 million dollars of salary with a huge question mark when it comes to performance.

Our future looks a little more cloudy than last year. Hopefully, I'm proven wrong.

According to the WPG fans, they are interested in MDZ. They like the basis of MDZ + _______ for Burmistrov + 1st

They like MDZ for Burmistrov + 2nd

I don't think that's enough

 

[Fitzy]

All this trading for a young pivot speculation, however is contingent upon Sather buying out Richards this summer.

 

[slipknottin]

If we're talking to Winnipeg, the first player I ask about is Dustin Byfuglien. He'd be bigger for us than Burmistrov or even Kane. A real offensive defenseman with size and grit.

Why would the jets have any interest in moving Byfuglien?

One of the youngest teams with no cap issues... Trading one of their top players? For what in return?

 

[Tawnos]

With Richards likely gone, do we stand pat with our center depth being Stepan, Brassard, Boyle, Miller, Lindberg?

Or do we sign a potential top 6 guy? Roy, Ribeiro, McDonald, Weiss?

Or do we shore up our bottom 6? Cullen, Zubrus, Malhotra, Handzus, Wellwood, Antropov, Gordon, Lapierre?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I just don't understand how some people would be reluctant to trade McIlrath since he's the only one of his ilk that we have, but would be open to trading Girardi (one of our two righties) or Dizzy.

I think you have to look at Staal, McDefense and Moore as similar players. McD could get us almost anyone we would want (maybe Gomez?) but his value is just as high to us, so probably not him. Moore has a lot of upside, but his trade value isn't as high as his value to us. That leaves Staal. His value on the trade market would be pretty high, and we lucked out with McD supplanting him as our #1.

I would rather stand pat for one more year, but if we wanted to really upgrade our offense at the expense of defense, Staal would make the most sense.

Staal cant play NHL hockey due to high eye. How exactly does that make his trade value high?

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

All this trading for a young pivot speculation, however is contingent upon Sather buying out Richards this summer.

I think him being a healthy scratch tonight is a pretty good indicator.

 

[NYR Viper]

With Richards likely gone, do we stand pat with our center depth being Stepan, Brassard, Boyle, Miller, Lindberg?

Or do we sign a potential top 6 guy? Roy, Ribeiro, McDonald, Weiss?

Or do we shore up our bottom 6? Cullen, Zubrus, Malhotra, Handzus, Wellwood, Antropov, Gordon, Lapierre?

I think Gordon would be a great addition. I also would rather go with a trade for someone like Burmistrov or something like that or the 3c.

All this trading for a young pivot speculation, however is contingent upon Sather buying out Richards this summer.

I think it happens 100%

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I think him being a healthy scratch tonight is a pretty good indicator.

Im not completely sure.

Theres going to be a lot of politics within management regarding Richards' future. Its easy for us as fans to say "he sucks, buy him out!" but that $24M in buyout money is real.

 

[nyranger61494]

Im not completely sure.

Theres going to be a lot of politics within management regarding Richards' future. Its easy for us as fans to say "he sucks, buy him out!" but that $24M in buyout money is real.

Really, really, realy hoping it happens and it's Sather's death knell as GM.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

Im not completely sure.

Theres going to be a lot of politics within management regarding Richards' future. Its easy for us as fans to say "he sucks, buy him out!" but that $24M in buyout money is real.

I honestly think that one of the main reasons he is a healthy scratch tonight is to preserve his health in order to buy him out. Can't amnesty an injured player.

 

[NYR Viper]

Im not completely sure.

Theres going to be a lot of politics within management regarding Richards' future. Its easy for us as fans to say "he sucks, buy him out!" but that $24M in buyout money is real.

But would they rather him suck for another 82 games and pay him his entire salary for another season? If they buy him out now, they only have to pay 2/3's, no?

 

[Fitzy]

So, say we...

Buy out Richards
Trade Pyatt for a pick
Release Clowe

Trade MDZ for Burmistrov+ the 13th pick.

Trade Staal for Jeff Skinner

Sign Sergei Gonchar (1-2 years)

We could run

Skinner-Stepan-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-Callahan
Hagelin-Burmistrov-Zuccarello
Asham-Boyle-Miller

McDonagh-Girardi
Gonchar-Stralman
Moore-Eminger

 

[Tawnos]

I think Gordon would be a great addition. I also would rather go with a trade for someone like Burmistrov or something like that or the 3c.

I'm a fan of Gordon too. Usually in the upper range of the 50s in FO%. Has some speed. Great PK guy. Isn't particularly old. My only problem with him is that he's definitely a 4th line C and not a 3rd. Bringing him in ensures that Boyle is our 3rd line guy. Not really what I'd like to see.

 

[Tawnos]

So, say we...

Buy out Richards
Trade Pyatt for a pick
Release Clowe

Trade MDZ for Burmistrov+ the 13th pick.

Trade Staal for Jeff Skinner

Sign Sergei Gonchar (1-2 years)

We could run

...

And spend another 30 games watching our team try to figure themselves out.

 

[Punxrocknyc19*]

Buyout: Richards


UFA: sign Bryan Bickell (3 years 2.5 per year) (rangers need more size especially up front)..
UFA: sign Weiss (3 year deal 4.0 per year)
UFA: sign Nathan Horton (4 year 4.5 per year) Rangers need some much needed size in top 6.
UFA: sign Chad Larose (3 year 2.5 per year) rangers need some speed up front as well..
UFA: sign Ryan Jones (3 year 2.0 per year) upgrades the bottom 6
UFA: sign Scott Hannan (2 year 2.5 per year)

resigns:
Stepan
Hagelin
Zuccarello

trades:
Asham, Pyatt, Powe, Boyle for picks and prospects
Del Zotto for prospect and 1st round pick


Rangers lines

Hagelin Weiss Nash
Bickell Stepan Horton
Zuccarello Brassard Jones
Kreider Larose Miller

Staal Girardi
McDonagh Stralman
Hannan McIlrath


alot more grit and size.. something NYR needs besides a new coach

 

[Tawnos]

I guess measured and prudent has been thrown completely out the window. When will you guys learn?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

But would they rather him suck for another 82 games and pay him his entire salary for another season? If they buy him out now, they only have to pay 2/3's, no?

I actually think Richards will bounce back and have a solid season next year, no matter where it is.

 

[NYR Viper]

So, say we...

Buy out Richards
Trade Pyatt for a pick
Release Clowe

Trade MDZ for Burmistrov+ the 13th pick.

Trade Staal for Jeff Skinner

Sign Sergei Gonchar (1-2 years)

We could run

Skinner-Stepan-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-Callahan
Hagelin-Burmistrov-Zuccarello
Asham-Boyle-Miller

McDonagh-Girardi
Gonchar-Stralman
Moore-Eminger

If they move BOTH Staal and MDZ they better be sure as **** that McIlrath will be ready to see 15+ minutes a night or sign someone who is capable of that on a nightly basis.

Also, would rather see Streit for 2 years.

Ideally, with the Burmistrov trade....

Buyout:
Richards

Trade:
Pyatt
Asham
Powe
Boyle

Sign:
Streit - 2 years
Gordon - 2 years
Murray - 1 year
Eminger - 1 year

Re-sign:
Stepan
Hagelin
Zuccarello
McDonagh

Trade:
MDZ + St. Croix/Thomas for Burmistrov + 13th

Staal for Skinner


Line-up:

Skinner-Stepan-Callahan
Zuccarello-Brassard-Nash
Hagelin-Burmistrov-Zuccarello
Kreider-Gordon-Boyle

McDonagh-Girardi
Moore-Stralman
Murray-Streit (can switch the bottom-pairing and 2nd pairing whenever)
Eminger

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

I actually think Richards will bounce back and have a solid season next year, no matter where it is.

And you think the Rangers should take that chance based on a random whim rather than the way he has played? He has never had a stretch this bad in his career.

 

[pld459666]

So, say we...

Buy out Richards
Trade Pyatt for a pick
Release Clowe

Trade MDZ for Burmistrov+ the 13th pick.

Trade Staal for Jeff Skinner

Sign Sergei Gonchar (1-2 years)

We could run

Skinner-Stepan-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-Callahan
Hagelin-Burmistrov-Zuccarello
Asham-Boyle-Miller

McDonagh-Girardi
Gonchar-Stralman
Moore-Eminger

way to small and soft up front.

 

[NYR Viper]

I'm a fan of Gordon too. Usually in the upper range of the 50s in FO%. Has some speed. Great PK guy. Isn't particularly old. My only problem with him is that he's definitely a 4th line C and not a 3rd. Bringing him in ensures that Boyle is our 3rd line guy. Not really what I'd like to see.

I would rather see a:

_____-Gordon-Boyle

As a 4th line. Or maybe:

Boyle-Gordon-Dorsett 4th line? All 3 PK and are pure grinders. All can help in the face-off dot.

And spend another 30 games watching our team try to figure themselves out.

I think at this point, the Rangers are going to have to transition a good amount of this team in order to compete.

I actually think Richards will bounce back and have a solid season next year, no matter where it is.

Eh, what is bounce back? 50 points? Or 70?

I could see him putting up 50 points. I actually see him going back to Dallas honestly. They have Benn who they want to send back to the wing and they need centers. He has chemistry, knows the organization. Just feels right.

 

[Tawnos]

NYR offseason:

Hire an offensive minded assistant
Buyout Richards
Resign McDonagh, Stepan, Hagelin, Zuccarello
Resign Clowe if he's not seeking huge term
Sign Ryan O'Byrne
Sign Clarke MacArthur

Clowe-Stepan-Nash
Hagelin-Brassard-Callahan
MacArthur-Miller-Zuccarello
Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett

Staal-Girardi
McDonagh-O'Byrne
Del Zotto-Stralman

 

[NYR Viper]

NYR offseason:

Hire an offensive minded assistant
Buyout Richards
Resign McDonagh, Stepan, Hagelin, Zuccarello
Resign Clowe if he's not seeking huge term
Sign Ryan O'Byrne
Sign Clarke MacArthur

MacArthur-Stepan-Nash
Clowe-Brassard-Callahan
Hagelin-Miller-Zuccarello
Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett

Staal-Girardi
McDonagh-O'Byrne
Del Zotto-Stralman

MacArthur? O'Byrne is definitely not a top-4 d-man. Moore?