Around the League 2019-20 Pt. 2

[Stimpythecat]

NYR once again bailed out by the league’s roulette wheel. Hilarious.

I will never get tired of seeing ol’ Hank sprawled out on the ice after game five.

 

[Stimpythecat]

steve dangle is not happy.

 

[KINGS17]

It was freakin fantastic!!! Loved it. And it sure looked like that Ranger ball went through the side. Hmmmm wonder if it was meant to be that way.

Rags ball definitely in through the side opening on the left side of the screen.

 

[kilowatt]

The only team I would have preferred to win for sure is the Panthers, I’d rather not have Lafreniere in the West if possible. I like Minnesota and Winnipeg more than I like the Rangers, but I think I’d rather have the Rangers win the lottery so we don’t see Lafreniere as much.

No matter what, I’m glad it wasn’t Pittsburgh, Toronto, or Edmonton.

Congrats, Rangers fans!

 

[SettlementRichie10]

The last time we picked #2 things worked out pretty well for us. So I’m happy.

 

[Ignite111]

Eh, I'm indifferent with the Rangers winning it, just glad that Lafreniere (assuming that is who they pick) will be in the Eastern Conference.

I'm more pleased by the fact that teams like the Penguins, Leafs and Oilers are not being rewarded for their ineptness, and Leafs fans suffer from yet another loss for the second day in a row. Their first round pick will now transfer over to Carolina.

I mean was I right or was I right????

 

[raswilliam]

Lafreniere prediction - he goes to a big market team. Rangers or Leafs. The fix is in.

 

[Sol]

LaFreniere is on his own tier. If the Rangers consider trading down for him for Byfield then the Kings need to jump on it.

Hilarious part is while LAF is the best player available, he's also the one position they don't need at all. And coincidentally enough, they need a center really badly.

And if they do take LAF, and they probably will, the rangers won't be going to the last dance any time soon.

 

[Polar Bear]

LaFreniere is on his own tier. If the Rangers consider trading down for him for Byfield then the Kings need to jump on it.

Hilarious part is while LAF is the best player available, he's also the one position they don't need at all. And coincidentally enough, they need a center really badly.

And if they do take LAF, and they probably will, the rangers won't be going to the last dance any time soon.

You always go BPA in the draft though. We'd probably just move Kreider to line 3 or trade him. Kakko s already on the right. Good problem to have. Probably why you guys would take Byfield even if you had a glut at C, always go BPA.

 

[kingsfan28]

The Ranger trading down is an interesting possibility. We do have a bunch of extra seconds in this years draft.

 

[Polar Bear]

The Ranger trading down is an interesting possibility. We do have a bunch of extra seconds in this years draft.

Price would be way more expensive tbh. Look at it if you were picking 1, would you accept just 2nds?Would require a large overpayment.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

There is just no way the Rangers pass up on a player like Lafreniere. No way.

 

[Brodeur]

From #1 overall to something like having a pick somewhere in the 40+ range in less than a second.

Reminds me of Jerry West at the 2003 Draft when he was GM of Memphis. Because of a trade from years before he took over, Memphis had owed a lottery protected first rounder to Detroit that kept rolling over. Finally in 2003 it was only protected if it was the top pick. So when they counted the order in reverse, the last two spots were down to Cleveland and Memphis. In that moment, West knew he was getting LeBron James or absolutely nothing.

It's easy to forget that Memphis forked over the 2nd overall pick since Detroit used it to select Darko which became the bigger punchline.

 

[Sol]

You always go BPA in the draft though. We'd probably just move Kreider to line 3 or trade him. Kakko s already on the right. Good problem to have. Probably why you guys would take Byfield even if you had a glut at C, always go BPA.

I'd usually agree if this wasn't such a clear cut case. The only reason I disagree with your idea of moving Kreider down or trading him is that that's not going to get you the kind of center you'd need. Only LAF can give you that option to put your likely center issues in the very near future to rest. I almost always agree with BPA but I think the Rangers have an opportunity here. The rangers need Byfield more than they need LAF imo. That was obvious in the games

 

[kilowatt]

It’s also worth noting that Lafreniere is a significantly better prospect than Hughes or Kakko. I’d argue Byfield and Stützle are too.

 

[Mattias]

Can see rangers offering Kakko for some Center help. His value is lower than what it was but it’s a possibility.

 

[Polar Bear]

I'd usually agree if this wasn't such a clear cut case. The only reason I disagree with your idea of moving Kreider down or trading him is that that's not going to get you the kind of center you'd need. Only LAF can give you that option to put your likely center issues in the very near future to rest. I almost always agree with BPA but I think the Rangers have an opportunity here. The rangers need Byfield more than they need LAF imo. That was obvious in the games

Again, if two prospects are relatively close in ranking your point absolutely has merit. However, Laf is by consensus in his own category per Bob's scouts (which s usually accurate board wise and its been confirmed that we're one of his teams). Gorton has already hinted we can get that number 2C via trade or free agency. The odds Laf is not the selection is slim to none, which in no way is a slight against Byfield.

 

[Polar Bear]

Can see rangers offering Kakko for some Center help. His value is lower than what it was but it’s a possibility.

Would sooner offload our 2nd first and some of our good prospects for a legit 2C than Kakko, imo.

 

[TruKingFan]

Would sooner offload our 2nd first and some of our good prospects for a legit 2C than Kakko, imo.

But you need a 1C not a 2C. Do you think either Zibanejad or Strome is a legit 1C?

 

[Polar Bear]

But you need a 1C not a 2C. Do you think either Zibanejad or Strome is a legit 1C?

How is Mika not a 1C?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Some former Kings in the KHL.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

How is Mika not a 1C?

Even if he's not a high-end one (ie was this the best year he'll ever have? or does he settle in at 70+ pts now?), he's flanked by enough high-end wingers that he'll make it work, as he's a good two-way player too, not just some liability.

If Chicago can get by with Anisimov next to Kane, I'm sure NYR can get by with some combo of their centers.

 

[Polar Bear]

Even if he's not a high-end one (ie was this the best year he'll ever have? or does he settle in at 70+ pts now?), he's flanked by enough high-end wingers that he'll make it work, as he's a good two-way player too, not just some liability.

If Chicago can get by with Anisimov next to Kane, I'm sure NYR can get by with some combo of their centers.

Yep. I think Mika over the past two years certainly solidified himself as a more than sufficient option at 1C. What we will likely do and was hinted at by our GM is to enter the trade market for a 2C, probably using the CAR 1st we own alongside other goodies.

 

[jfont]

But you need a 1C not a 2C. Do you think either Zibanejad or Strome is a legit 1C?

I mean the Devils won the cup with Jason Arnot at 1C.. They can make it work if their D steps up.

 

[Brodeur]

I mean the Devils won the cup with Jason Arnot at 1C.. They can make it work if their D steps up.

That was a beautifully deep team up front:

Elias-Arnott-Sykora
Brylin-Gomez-Mogilny
Pandolfo-Holik-Lemieux
Nemchinov-Madden-McKay

I understand that the Devils were labeled as forever being boring and low scoring, but for a three year stretch (more or less the Arnott years) they scored more goals than the Red Wings and Avs. 2nd in GF in 1998-99 and 1999-00, and 1st in 2000-01. Nothing wrong with having three balanced lines and a killer PP.