Speculation: 2013 Offseason Thread Part III: Free Agents Suck

[Ola]

Let me add one thing. I get that PHX will want overpayment for Rundblad. But we're not in the position to overpay from a position of weakness for a position of strength. Dealing Hagelin reduces a possible MDZ trade to absurdity. You're not dealing a winger who can play Top 6 minutes if used correctly if you're short on Top 6ers anyway. And no, I'm not convinced by MPS for that position.

I can't agree that we would be dealing "for" a position of strength from a position of weakness if we dealt Hagelin for Rundblad. We haven't had a PPQB since Leetch basically... Offensive D's are to us what goalies are to Philly, a black hole.

Rundblad is a bit of a gamble though. But there aren't many PPQBs out there, and Rundblad got what it takes offensively for sure.

 

[bernmeister]

Here ya go:

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Ryane Clowe ($3.500m) / Derek Stepan ($3.500m) / Rick Nash ($7.800m)
Chris Kreider ($1.325m) / Derick Brassard ($3.200m) / Ryan Callahan ($4.275m)
Carl Hagelin ($2.000m) / Alexander Burmistrov ($1.750m) / J.T. Miller ($1.244m)
Eric Nystrom ($1.500m) / Brian Boyle ($1.700m) / Derek Dorsett ($1.633m)
George Parros ($0.9375m) / Darroll Powe ($1.067m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Ryan McDonagh ($3.500m) / Dan Girardi ($3.325m)
Marc Staal ($3.975m) / Mark Streit ($4.000m)
John Moore ($0.965m) / Anton Stralman ($1.700m)
Steve Eminger ($0.750m) /

GOALTENDERS
Henrik Lundqvist ($6.875m)
Martin Biron ($1.300m)

------

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $61,584,167; BONUSES: $1,287,500
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $4,003,333

Trades:

Taylor Pyatt + Michael Del Zotto


Alexander Burmistrov + WPG 1st '13



Arron Asham + Mats Zuccarello


George Parros + FLA 2nd '13 + FLA 4th '14


Signings:
Eric Nystrom - 3 years @ 1.5 million/season
Derek Stepan(RFA) - 3 years @ 3.5 million/season
Ryan McDonagh(RFA) - 3 years @ 3.5 million/season
Carl Hagelin(RFA) - 2 years @ 2 million/season
Steve Eminger - 1 year @ 750k
Mark Streit - 2 years @ 4 million
Ryane Clowe - 3 years @ 3.5 million/season
Alex Burmistrov(RFA) - 2 years @ 1.75 million/season




Reasoning:

I like the idea of getting a good, young 2-way center in Burmistrov to add to the center corps here. He can play wing if need be and the Rangers feel Lindberg is ready to be that 3c. The 1st rounder will help the Rangers add another good prospect to the stable.

The Asham deal moves out Arron who was pretty good here last year, but it brings in Parros who is one of the better heavyweights in the game and a great locker room guy. Zuccarello is dealt for the picks, allowing the Rangers to select in this years 2nd round.

I re-signed Clowe and Eminger as the Rangers UFA's, I like what they both bring. I think 3 years is fine for Clowe if he will take the money I offered. Eminger is an ideal #7 for this team.

I signed Nystrom and Streit as I am big fan of both. Nystrom brings in a very good PKer and a player who brings some nastiness and edginess to his game. He can play center and wing and can play as a 3rd or 4th liner. He will help chip in some goals from the bottom-6 which was devoid of any offense this season.

Streit is the wildcard here. He is obviously up there in age but I really feel that if paired with a solid defensive d-man like Staal he will thrive. They need someone who will command the PP and bring a shot from the point. Streit brings both of those things. 2 years max but I would also like to bring him in to be a bit of a mentor to some of the younger players who have some talent like Moore and McDonagh to refine their offensive games.

FL does not do this.
do not want Streit unless 1 overpay but ONLY FOR 1 YEAR, and I could do that because I translated vets into high end prospects on ELC

 

[Raspewtin]

Maybe Streit for 2 years? Maybe Ehrhoff is bought out? I think Stralman, when paired with Staal, is a good top-4 d-man as well. I would rather him start the season on the 3rd pairing for injury depth.

both solid ideas, Ehrhoff did wonders for an AWFUL Buff team this year, I'd love him here.

 

[bernmeister]

Streit is going to get paid. No more free agents. Make some smart trades. Find a young, right-handed PMD who is ready to break out. Blum, Ellis, Elliot, Barrie, Vatanen, Clendenning, Rundblad, Murphy, etc. Do the Avs really want Jones at #1? EJ and Jones are both righties and aren't guaranteed to play on the same pairing. Their PMDs are righties.

Bingo.

 

[NYR Viper]

I'm willing to give Zucc the benefit of the doubt. I think he's more than a "add a little offense to the 3rd line" kind of guy. He has very good chemistry with Brassard and is one of the most creative players on the roster. He was very good in the post season and down the stretch. I'm also looking at it beyond a top/bottom six mentality and looking to put together 4 lines that are all made up of players who can compliment each other.

Hags-OL/Miller-Cally is a fast, gritty, defensively responsible line. All three can generate offense. If we flipped MDZ and Boyle to Edmonton for the 7th pick and MPS, Hags can slot in with Stepan and Nash and MPS can take his spot.

Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett worked very well for us in the playoffs. I don't want a 6'6 enforcer there because he lines up a big hit every 5 or 6 games. Pyatt is a good player.

Brassard/Zucc/Kreider could be deadly off the rush and once they get puck possession in the offensive zone, Kreider can create space for the others to get on the cycle.

If I am the Rangers and I can move him for a return of some solid assets, I pull the trigger. I like him, and I know he can put up points, but he just looks so out of place in the top-6 and in the bottom-6 on a contending team....

Haley sucks. If he's on the roster to start the season, there was no point in firing the coach, because the team is going nowhere with scrubs in the lineup.

Boyle and Dorsett are good bottom-6 players. Pyatt is OK as the 13th forward. He had a good playoffs. The others, no dice. This is how management should look at the lineup, IMO:

Kreider/Hagelin-Stepan-Nash
Zuccarello-Brassard-xxxxx
Hagelin/Kreider-Lindberg/Miller-Callahan
Fast/UFA-Boyle-Dorsett
Pyatt

Fill in that second line RW hole, whether it be someone like Michael Ryder or via trade.

I would be okay with Haley as the 13th forward. Again with Zuccarello. Talk about a bad left-side. I don't think that offense would be in the top-half. It doesn't matter if you add Bobby Ryan to that hole.

 

[bernmeister]

Based off http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=672780


So we can pretty much forget the Staal to Carolina for 5th+

Think he's trying to talk down/eliminate the price of the +.
Still does main deal.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

What would u guys give Lecavalier? how " cheap" are u looking if hes bought out

 

[bernmeister]

I'd rather the 5th and 7th than the second. Just my opinion.

You're entitled to that op, brother.

But you do realize that #2 overall is likely to guarantee either McKinnon OR Jones?

 

[Chief]

As he enters his walk year, does Lundqvist need to have the Rangers go out and acquire an elite player (or two!) to show him that they are serious about winning a Cup?

That's the key question for me entering into this offseason. If the answer is yes, then you're talking about a trade (or two) since it's a weak free agent class this offseason.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

I would be okay with Haley as the 13th forward. Again with Zuccarello. Talk about a bad left-side. I don't think that offense would be in the top-half. It doesn't matter if you add Bobby Ryan to that hole.

So we're supposed to just get rid of our second leading playoff scorer?

Zuccarello is still young and has room to improve. I'd rather the Rangers not pull a Calgary and just let a talented player walk for nothing.

 

[RangerBoy]

Pierre LeBrun

It could be an interesting year for power forwards on the July free-agent market with both David Clarkson and Ryane Clowe set to become unrestricted free agents.

The Rangers may not have the cap space to do anything with Clowe given that Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin also need new deals (and raises), although time will tell on that front. The Devils have had preliminary talks with Clarkson's camp, but nothing serious yet, a source said.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/201...ryan-bickell-emergence-key-chicago-blackhawks

Last week,Carp(I think it was him)or Katie Strang reported Torts getting fired lessened the chances of the Rangers re-signing Clowe.

 

[Raspewtin]

You're entitled to that op, brother.

But you do realize that #2 overall is likely to guarantee either McKinnon OR Jones?

butttttt you realize the 5th and 7th can be Darnell Nurse AND Vladimir Nichushkin? A defensive monster and a big Malkin Jr. Would rather them.

 

[Kwayry]

I'd rather keep MDZ than trade him for MPS + 7th. I am not too high on MPS. He is a decent 3rd liner with stone hands. I am not too high on draft picks either. There is no such thing as a sure thing in a draft.

I like Rundblad, but not at the expense of Hagelin. Rundblad has potential sure, but it's still unfulfilled.
Hagelin is a consistent top 6. His speed is deadly, and even more so on the pk.
Rangers are thin on the top 6 LW, Hagelin is the only proven top 6 LW the team has. Losing him without a plan in place for his replacement is a recipe for disaster.

 

[iamitter]

You're entitled to that op, brother.

But you do realize that #2 overall is likely to guarantee either McKinnon OR Jones?

And #5 and #7 could get us Nichushkin and Lindholm/Barkov.

The top portion of this draft is very deep.

 

[Trxjw]

If I am the Rangers and I can move him for a return of some solid assets, I pull the trigger. I like him, and I know he can put up points, but he just looks so out of place in the top-6 and in the bottom-6 on a contending team....

Most "unproven" players look out of place in the top-six. Until you let a guy prove himself, that's not going to change. How many times have we thought a player wasn't good enough and went out to replace him with a UFA that eventually amounted to nothing? Players developed from within have something to prove and play for the team. Guys coming in as FA's just want a paycheck. Zucca broke into the league with us and came back to us this year having improved in just about every facet of the game. Time to give the guy a real shot at finding his potential.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

So we're supposed to just get rid of our second leading playoff scorer?

Zuccarello is still young and has room to improve. I'd rather the Rangers not pull a Calgary and just let a talented player walk for nothing.

Depends what is available via trade but I think of anyone is let go it's Zucc, reason being he's most effective in the top six, overcomes his diminutive stature fairly well but doesn't make it a non issue and is low man on the totem pole.

I like him but if you can get a bigger player of the same caliber I think you take the bigger player.

No knock on Zucc and I could be wrong just my opinion.

 

[Raspewtin]

why is everybody so high on Rundblad? He's on his third team with no full NHL season yet.....

 

[iamitter]

butttttt you realize the 5th and 7th can be Darnell Nurse AND Vladimir Nichushkin? A defensive monster and a big Malkin Jr. Would rather them.

Nichushkin is more of a Nash than Malkin. It looks like a pretty clear top 7 in this draft - I don't see Nurse there. I wouldn't be surprised if he or Ristolainen cracked the top 7, but I also think they would be reaches/would depend on if people like Nich slide.

 

[Trxjw]

Rangers need to stop trying to build their team by poaching the players they need from other teams with a big check. Who is the core of this team? It's the players we've developed from within, or the ones who were brought in via some savvy trades. Stop with the FA's.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

As he enters his walk year, does Lundqvist need to have the Rangers go out and acquire an elite player (or two!) to show him that they are serious about winning a Cup?

That's the key question for me entering into this offseason. If the answer is yes, then you're talking about a trade (or two) since it's a weak free agent class this offseason.

yes, this team needs more offense AGAIN for Hank to believe he can win a cup here

 

[Son of Steinbrenner]

I'd sign Briere in a heartbeat. Briere would help the power play and give the roster some flexibility because he can play both center and wing. Briere is a clutch player and the type of veteran the Rangers should be looking to acquire to replace Richards.

Somebody posted (probably RB) that Briere didn't want to leave the Philly area because of the proximity to his kids. (who can blame him for that)

The Rangers would offer an opportunity for Briere to be an hour flight away from Philly or a 2 hour plus car trip. It seems like the perfect situation for everybody involved.....

 

[NikC]

So we're supposed to just get rid of our second leading playoff scorer?

Zuccarello is still young and has room to improve. I'd rather the Rangers not pull a Calgary and just let a talented player walk for nothing.

He's a good playmaker, VG passer, stickhandler... be realistic though. the guys is really small. does he have enough raw skill to break the top 6? IDK.

 

[NYR Viper]

What would u guys give Lecavalier? how " cheap" are u looking if hes bought out

2~3 years 4-5 million/season

So we're supposed to just get rid of our second leading playoff scorer?

Zuccarello is still young and has room to improve. I'd rather the Rangers not pull a Calgary and just let a talented player walk for nothing.

Not nothing, a decent return.

Most "unproven" players look out of place in the top-six. Until you let a guy prove himself, that's not going to change. How many times have we thought a player wasn't good enough and went out to replace him with a UFA that eventually amounted to nothing? Players developed from within have something to prove and play for the team. Guys coming in as FA's just want a paycheck. Zucca broke into the league with us and came back to us this year having improved in just about every facet of the game. Time to give the guy a real shot at finding his potential.

While that is true, I guess that looking at Stepan, Brassard, Hagelin, Nash and Callahan in the top-6 makes me yearn for a bigger presence in the way of physicality.

Depends what is available via trade but I think of anyone is let go it's Zucc, reason being he's most effective in the top six, overcomes his diminutive stature fairly well but doesn't make it a non issue and is low man on the totem pole.

I like him but if you can get a bigger player of the same caliber I think you take the bigger player.

No knock on Zucc and I could be wrong just my opinion.

That's how I feel.

Rangers need to stop trying to build their team by poaching the players they need from other teams with a big check. Who is the core of this team? It's the players we've developed from within, or the ones who were brought in via some savvy trades. Stop with the FA's.

They need to key in on more young players who are being stifled. Is Rundblad that player? Not sure. He hasn't sold anyone on his defensive acumen.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

Rangers need to stop trying to build their team by poaching the players they need from other teams with a big check. Who is the core of this team? It's the players we've developed from within, or the ones who were brought in via some savvy trades. Stop with the FA's.

Exactly this. Also beware the love affair of players having big playoffs. Yes Bickell is playing very well, but you don't want to be the team that overpays him and can't give him the same opportunity as the Hawks. Some of these guys are just in their perfect situation right now. Like Vrbata who can't produce outside the desert as an example.

 

[RangerBoy]

I'd sign Briere in a heartbeat. Briere would help the power play and give the roster some flexibility because he can play both center and wing. Briere is a clutch player and the type of veteran the Rangers should be looking to acquire to replace Richards.

Somebody posted (probably RB) that Briere didn't want to leave the Philly area because of the proximity to his kids. (who can blame him for that)

The Rangers would offer an opportunity for Briere to be an hour flight away from Philly or a 2 hour plus car trip. It seems like the perfect situation for everybody involved.....

Briere and his wife split up. She still lives in south Jersey with the kids. Briere would look for a team close to south Jersey. Rangers. Devils. Caps.