NHL Entry Draft: 2025 Draft Pick Watch

If I was Drury Id contact Pitt to see if any kind of deal can be made. Id look at the options.

1. Ask Pitt do they prefer 2025 or 2026?

2. Ask Pitt do they desire any of our players.

3. Ask Pitt what they would be willing to give up to make the 2025 or 2026 decision.

While we are not in a great spot the option to choose which year can be an asset so we should approach the option as something with value.
Why would Pens open their cards?
 
Why would Pens open their cards?
They might not but by not picking up the phone they lose any chance at influencing our choice in they want it to be made. They may have a strong preference on 2025 or 2026 and be willing to cement their preference.

A good trade helps both teams. Maybe there is a move that we would both like? Maybe they like one of our players? Maybe they would move a player that we like? Can't hurt to use this pick as a way to leverage that discussion especially with Sully having some insight.
 
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They might not but by not picking up the phone they lose any chance at influencing our choice in they want it to be made. They may have a strong preference on 2025 or 2026 and be willing to cement their preference.

A good trade helps both teams. Maybe there is a move that we would both like? Maybe they like one of our players? Maybe they would move a player that we like? Can't hurt to use this pick as a way to leverage that discussion especially with Sully having some insight.
Doesn't hurt to open a dialogue.
 
They might not but by not picking up the phone they lose any chance at influencing our choice in they want it to be made. They may have a strong preference on 2025 or 2026 and be willing to cement their preference.

A good trade helps both teams. Maybe there is a move that we would both like? Maybe they like one of our players? Maybe they would move a player that we like? Can't hurt to use this pick as a way to leverage that discussion especially with Sully having some insight.
I'm saying that they will pick up and listen to what Drury will offer but they won't say we "prefer" this or that.
 
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Where did you get this from? IMO it's actually the other way around - Drury's decision re. the pick will indicate his thoughts about roster direction.

It was made pretty clear to the fans and the players last summer that this was their last crack at the can. Trouba made reference to it, and I believe Kreider and Laviolette each did as well(?).

Even if the idea is still to win now, running this same core group back would be bonkers. They suck, they're aging, they've buried two coaches and did their damnedest to bury Drury (who now appears to have the blessing of Dolan to do as he sees fit).

That said, Zib may have the most immoveable contract in the league. And I'm not sure if Panarin will be willing to waive anytime before mid-season. So perhaps Drury's hand will be forced to a point.
 
It was made pretty clear to the fans and the players last summer that this was their last crack at the can. Trouba made reference to it, and I believe Kreider and Laviolette each did as well(?).

Even if the idea is still to win now, running this same core group back would be bonkers. They suck, they're aging, they've buried two coaches and did their damnedest to bury Drury (who now appears to have the blessing of Dolan to do as he sees fit).

That said, Zib may have the most immoveable contract in the league. And I'm not sure if Panarin will be willing to waive anytime before mid-season. So perhaps Drury's hand will be forced to a point.
I agree with the bolded.

I highly disagree on Zib's contract. 52% on FO and still had 62 points. I think his contract is quite movable. Would we get much? No. Which is why it won't be moved. Drury is going to do exactly what he shouldn't, run it back and push for a cup with an aging, bad roster.
 
I'm saying that they will pick up and listen to what Drury will offer but they won't say we "prefer" this or that.
Hard to say. Why wouldn't they say what they prefer if they saw some benefit in making a deal? They could ask for something and what's the worst that happens? We say no and do what we were going to anyway?
 
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I'm saying that they will pick up and listen to what Drury will offer but they won't say we "prefer" this or that.
Pitt really has nothing to lose by saying what they prefer. We are not going to make our minds up based on what Pitt says they prefer. If they say nothing then we make the decision on our own. Pitt did not gain (or lose) anything.

If they say they like one (25 or 26) than maybe a deal could be made that we both like. If not then we make the decision based on what is best for us. Both teams have nothing to lose by discussing the situation and nothing to gain by not discussing it imo.

I'm pretty sure we will discuss it. It would be negligence by both GMs not to discuss things before making the decision. Maybe Drury could go either way but Pitt prefers next year. Then Pitt should say how much they are willing to pay for us to give it next year. I look at it like a stock option. We are selling the option to Pitt. Pitt should be willing to say how much they are willing to pay for our option.
 
Hard to say. Why wouldn't they say what they prefer if they saw some benefit in making a deal? They could ask for something and what's the worst that happens? We say no and do what we were going to anyway?
Exactly! They can only gain. They can not lose.
 
I agree with the bolded.

I highly disagree on Zib's contract. 52% on FO and still had 62 points. I think his contract is quite movable. Would we get much? No. Which is why it won't be moved. Drury is going to do exactly what he shouldn't, run it back and push for a cup with an aging, bad roster.

I mean immoveable in the sense that he has to waive his NMC (which he has said that he won't do), and buying him out only saves us 667k for five years, then costs us 333k for another 5.

I agree that he has value around the league still. I just don't think we're able to move him or justify buying him out.
 
I agree with the bolded.

I highly disagree on Zib's contract. 52% on FO and still had 62 points. I think his contract is quite movable. Would we get much? No. Which is why it won't be moved. Drury is going to do exactly what he shouldn't, run it back and push for a cup with an aging, bad roster.
I don't think that Drury wants to do that in the slightest. Maybe the NMC's tie his hands to some extent but he didn't seem happy to have to run it back last year either

As for this draft pick thing I wouldn't be in the least surprise if the Rangers hold onto this years pick. GMs would rather do what's in front of them than plan on being worse next year
 
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I agree with the bolded.

I highly disagree on Zib's contract. 52% on FO and still had 62 points. I think his contract is quite movable. Would we get much? No. Which is why it won't be moved. Drury is going to do exactly what he shouldn't, run it back and push for a cup with an aging, bad roster.
This is where I believe Dolan becomes a big factor.....if I recall correctly, the Rangers celebrate their centennial this coming season.....Dolan will want them to be as competitive as possible.
 
I mean immoveable in the sense that he has to waive his NMC (which he has said that he won't do), and buying him out only saves us 667k for five years, then costs us 333k for another 5.

I agree that he has value around the league still. I just don't think we're able to move him or justify buying him out.

I think Zibs wants to play hockey. If the coach and GM sit him down and explain that they may not have a spot for him on the PP, the PK and in the top 6 this year, I think Zibs will want to explore playing in another city. Last year Zibs did not play like a top 6 center. His defense at center was really bad imo. He did look like a top 6 RW after the JT trade. The team may want to keep him in that RW role.
 
I think Zibs wants to play hockey. If the coach and GM sit him down and explain that they may not have a spot for him on the PP, the PK and in the top 6 this year, I think Zibs will want to explore playing in another city. Last year Zibs did not play like a top 6 center. His defense at center was really bad imo. He did look like a top 6 RW after the JT trade. The team may want to keep him in that RW role.

Why would the team not have a spot next year for their 5th leading scorer at 5v5, 2nd leading scorer at 5v4, and leading scorer at 4v5 this year?
 
Why would the team not have a spot next year for their 5th leading scorer at 5v5, 2nd leading scorer at 5v4, and leading scorer at 4v5 this year?

Pro sorts teams chose to go in a different direction often. JT is obviously the teams #1 center. Vince is probably #2 especially since he plays with Bread often. If the team felt they needed a more physical, more defensive center than Zibs may not be their guy. They may want a different type of team than we saw last year. They may go younger. They may go more physical. All sorts of reasons they may not have a role for Zibs. Zibs 20 goals and 62 points were basically his lowest production since 2017-18. At age 31 they may look at him as a player in decline. He was also had the worse plus/minus on the team by a substantial margin.
 
Why would the team not have a spot next year for their 5th leading scorer at 5v5, 2nd leading scorer at 5v4, and leading scorer at 4v5 this year?
I think if you play like a AHLer for hte first half of the year and then play well the second half then...well, that's good you played better but that first half of the season was absolute killer. It's the empty calories shit. You can't be held up as this great player if you're bad for half the year.

They need him to be better and not make excuses for him like you are
 
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