Speculation: Be Slats ...

[gardenparty]

A little more size and grit up front. It's needed in the playoffs. It just is.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Here is a Q:

If you assume that B. Richards is bought out (which is almost a given at this point) ... would you sign Stastny to replace Richards? What would he cost/yr?

No. Signing Stastny means losing 2-3 key players that we wouldn't be able to replace.

Not a chance I sign Stastny.

In fact, I put JT on that 2c to grow for half a season until he clearly becomes worthy of the role. I think he'll earn that spot with just half a year of consistent NHL play.

After that, I give Nash 2 years here, trade him, and then make a big run at Stamkos.
Signing Stastny eliminates chance of signing Stamkos, and there's no question about who the better player is there.

 

[OverTheCap]

Buyout Richards. Dangle Nash out there to see what he could fetch in a trade. Try to sign Moore, Boyle, Stralman to reasonable contracts. Make an effort to extend Staal and sign our RFAs.

Forget about Stastny. The Rangers could desperately use some forwards with a strong net presence and finishing ability. We have too many playmaking forwards and not enough finishers.

 

[Inferno]

as much as i want Boyle & Moore back, i dont see it happening for either of them. I think the Rangers are going to have to let them both walk sadly.

May have to play a Kid line for the 4th.

Hypothetically....

Kreider - Stepan - Nash
Pouliot - Brassard - MZA
Hagelin - Grabovski - MSL
Fasth - Lindberg - Miller

3 rookies on the 4th line wouldnt at all shock me as scary as it sounds. The cap numbers are REALLY hard to make work. And i think the Rangers really need to try hard as hell to keep Stralman.

 

[NewLife]

Some cubans, drink fine botles of bourbon and see what I ends up with the other day.

 

[GregSirico]

No. Signing Stastny means losing 2-3 key players that we wouldn't be able to replace.

Not a chance I sign Stastny.

In fact, I put JT on that 2c to grow for half a season until he clearly becomes worthy of the role. I think he'll earn that spot with just half a year of consistent NHL play.

After that, I give Nash 2 years here, trade him, and then make a big run at Stamkos.
Signing Stastny eliminates chance of signing Stamkos, and there's no question about who the better player is there.

Fair point. You really think Stamkos would come here? Too bad we can't revisit that "almost" trade from several years back.

 

[GregSirico]

as much as i want Boyle & Moore back, i dont see it happening for either of them. I think the Rangers are going to have to let them both walk sadly.

May have to play a Kid line for the 4th.

Hypothetically....

Kreider - Stepan - Nash
Pouliot - Brassard - MZA
Hagelin - Grabovski - MSL
Fasth - Lindberg - Miller

3 rookies on the 4th line wouldnt at all shock me as scary as it sounds. The cap numbers are REALLY hard to make work. And i think the Rangers really need to try hard as hell to keep Stralman.

You're giving Pouliot some hefty goals to fill ... IMHO. I Do agree that Moore might be gone but I think Boyle stays (maybe even at a discount)

 

[ImIdaho]

as much as i want Boyle & Moore back, i dont see it happening for either of them. I think the Rangers are going to have to let them both walk sadly.

May have to play a Kid line for the 4th.

Hypothetically....

Kreider - Stepan - Nash
Pouliot - Brassard - MZA
Hagelin - Grabovski - MSL
Fasth - Lindberg - Miller

3 rookies on the 4th line wouldnt at all shock me as scary as it sounds. The cap numbers are REALLY hard to make work. And i think the Rangers really need to try hard as hell to keep Stralman.

I'd honestly look to see what Girardi could get us. I still think he has trade value. Then, there is the question of Staal wanting to stay here.

Hope Allen and McIlrath are ready for the big stage next season.

 

[Ex Officer Friendly]

1) Richards amnesty.
2) Resign Stralman, Boyle, D. Moore + Zuke, Brass, Kreider
3) Trade Staal + Dorsett + Kristo for Edler and Kassian
4) JT takes over 2C
5) Allen takes over 6 LD

I watch Vancouver pretty regularly and I have never been impressed with Kassian everyone thought PooPoo took bad penalties Kassian is worse

 

[tomobson]

We're gonna have to let Stralman go, as much as it sucks, we won't be able to trade Girardi since he's got a NMC I'm pretty sure. Think Staal will be better next season and he hopefully finds a little bit of offense he was starting to develop before he took those injuries. Gonna have to hope one of the kids can step in and get the job done with stralsy gone.

Obviously buyout Richards. I'd hang on to Nash because I think we won't be able to move him for anything worthwhile and just hope he has a strong bounce back season and hopefully postseason. Resign the guys we can on the offensive side, throw in JT and hope for the best. TBH I don't see much that we could do in FA to bolster our offense. We just have to hope our players get better. Maybe Sather can make one more robbery of a trade before he hopefully retires.

MZA has to be one of the better play-makers out there right now, how I wish we could get him someone that could finish. His line could have a monster season.

 

[Zil]

1) Amnesty Richards
2) Do whatever it takes to re-sign Stralman
3) Bring back Boyle and Moore
4) Look into dealing Nash. He's a good player, but his cap hit is untenable for his level of production. I'm especially interested in dumping his salary because Stamkos hits UFA in two seasons. Unlike other UFAs we've brought in, he'll only be 26 when he hits the market. This also frees us up for trade acquisitions should Stamkos not reach free agency.
5) Lock up Zuccarello long term. At least consider a long term deal for Kreider. Bring back Brassard on a two or three year deal.
6) Hand the keys over to Gorton.

 

[ArPanet]

Kind of afraid Slats will be interested in Mike Richards. Kings definitely want to deal him.

 

[Beacon]

The buy-out of Brad is a given. Anything short of that should result in Slats getting hospitalized for senility.

Trade Dick Rash. I think we could get a 45/50-point center like Brassard plus another prospect for him.

Getting rid of Brad and Dick Rash saves us $15.5, though getting back a player for Rash would reduce that to about $13. In addition, we will get about $7 from the increased cap space, making it about $20.

Our cap at this point is $39,500.

Boyle, Pouliot, Moore and either Diaz or Falk will cost about $7, taking that to $46,500.

Stralman and Moore will be about $6.5, bring it to $53.

Kreider and Brass are another $7, so that's $60.

If and when Allen and/or McIlrath is ready, trade away Klein for prospects, saving additional money.

So long as we dump Dick Rash, we have more than enough money to sign Stastny and we'll still have $3M-4M left in cap space.


Kreider - Stastny - MSL
Hagelin - Stepan - whoever we get for Rash
Pouliot- Brass - Zuccarello
Dorsett - Miller/Boyle - Fast/Boyle
Moore

McDonagh - Girardi
Staal - Stralman
Moore - Klein/Allen/McIlrath

This team is much better, much younger than what we have right now. This could would've lasted more than 5 games in the Final.

 

[Tundra]

Nash's value had to take a big hit, unless it's someone who has a mancrush on him.

 

[Zil]

I don't get the Stastny love. I'd rather see what we have in Miller while waiting for a better option to appear. Seriously, at this point we should be doing everything in our power to make sure we have room to potentially add Stamkos should he hit free agency.

 

[Placid]

Little shocked at how many people want Nash out.

I thought that to be fairly obvious ? He earns a ton of cash for being an offensively driven player.

While he hasn't even remotely hurt us defensively (i'd say he has been a very good defensive player), at his paycheck, that is just not enough.

To put it at its most basic level, he is put on the ice to score goals, and is paid extremely handsomely for it. But unfortunately it does not appear to be happening.

Which is very unfortunate, as he is a very good player. But it is what it is.

 

[17futurecap]

FORWARDS
Rick Nash ($7.800m) / Derek Stepan ($3.075m) / Martin St. Louis ($5.625m)
Benoit Pouliot ($2.200m) / Derick Brassard ($4.000m) / Mats Zuccarello ($3.800m)
Carl Hagelin ($2.250m) / J.T. Miller ($0.894m) / Chris Kreider ($2.300m)
Derek Dorsett ($1.633m) / Dominic Moore ($1.800m) / Jesper Fast ($0.805m)
Daniel Carcillo ($0.825m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Dan Girardi ($5.500m) / Ryan McDonagh ($4.700m)
Marc Staal ($3.975m) / Joni Pitkanen ($3.000m)
John Moore ($1.500m) / Kevin Klein ($2.900m)
Raphael Diaz ($1.000m) /
GOALTENDERS
Henrik Lundqvist ($8.500m)
Cameron Talbot ($0.563m)
BUYOUTS
Wade Redden ($0.000m)
Brad Richards ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $69,600,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,645,000; BONUSES: $445,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $955,000



I don't think we will be able to afford Stralman and Boyle. Was looking at UFA dmen and the three I was looking at were Tom Gilbert, Pitkanen, and Andrej Meszaros. Took a chance on Pitkanen after he missed the whole season with an injury. Not sure if that number is too high or too low for a guy coming off a season long injury, you guys tell me?

 

[JC704]

Amnesty Richards.

See if you can trade Nash (doubt that's possible, so do the next best thing and go get a Center to either play with him or balance out the lineup better)

Stralman, Zucc, Brass, Moore and Boyle must be re-signed.

I LOVE Staal and I have his jersey, and we've basically seen the core of this entire team turn in the last three years, but if it takes Staal to land another top C, then you need to do it. Get San Jose on the phone and see what we need to add to Staal to get Pavelski. If we can sign Stastny, then trading Staal for a Jordan Staal-like (eh?) return would be the next best thing. I totally believe teams like Colorado, Anaheim and Dallas would all be in on Staal.

I believe the lineup next season has to look something like this:

Hagelin/Kreider - Stepan - Nash
Hagelin/Kreider - *Insert C (Stastny/Pavelski/Spezza etc.) - MSL
Miller - Brass - Zucc
Boyle - Moore - Kristo (think he can take on this role)

McDonagh - Stralman
(Hm?) - Girardi
Moore - Klein

Allen/McIlrath/Skjei fight it out in camp. Hopefully Allen/Skjei impress and progress enough to balance out the D corp as the season goes on. Signing a D will be key. Hopefully one can be had in the $2-3 million price range as a 1-year rental/stop gap.

As for the trade: The MSL stinks in the regard that we don't have a first-round pick because I would have offered Staal, Fast/Kristo and our 2014 1st for Pavelski, but a C/forward like him with some size and checking ability needs to be looked at. They could not maintain puck-posession in LA's zone and they were GASSED after all these overtimes, rendering our "speed advantage" practically useless.

 

[Zamboner]

I agree with the consensus here except resigning Boyle (unless he doesn't want a raise, which I doubt). It'll be way too much money for a 4th liner, which is just not a smart hockey move in a salary cap era. Can't be sentimental about it. They weren't going to survive when Betts was let go. The 4th line was going to crumble when they didn't resing Prust. And now we're gonna hear similar things about Boyle. But once again, we'll be fine. 4th liners can be found for cheap. The next Brian Boyle is out there. And hopefully, he won't fall down quite as much.

 

[thepoeticgoblin]

1.) Buy out Richards
2.) Shop Nash [I'm not completely onboard with this point but it doesn't hurt to see what other GM:s might offer]
3.) Kick the tires on Kadri and Pavelski... And Weber (doesn't hurt to ask)
4.) Resign our FAs
5.) Don't look to the "big" free agents. Mistake written all over all of them. Stick to the trade route. Free agency is a joke with the new CBA.

 

[NewLife]

Okay get rid of Brad asap!

Re-sign Zucc , Boyle, J&D Moore, Brassard, Strålman and Poo if he isn't stupid and pricing himself out, it'll be tight and the cap flexibility next to none but it's doable.

Deal Dorsett, we can probably bring back Moore and Boyle (which is the most important player on the awesome 4th line) if we shread some of his 1.6M and replace him with a cheaper player in Fast, Carcillo will be good to have around as a cheap spare

JT in for Brad, as I see it we don't have anyother choise by now, I got intrest for like one UFA C, that is Santorelli (great skater and can play the puck) but he is gonna stay in Vancouver. So just stay away please. If just look at on ice present I even think it's an upgrade at this point espacially if you let him setle in for a mounth or so with consitent ice time. He just needs to play.

Youngers are gonna push for a spot at the camp and later on come to december/deadline. See where you got in guys like Allen, McIlrath, Lindberg, Kristo, Hrvik maybe Haggerty have learned a thing or two training with the pros.

Staal situation needs to be sorten out this summer, no more deadline drama ala Callahan/Girardi! Strålman must be brought back, way to good of a asset to let go away for nothing.

Explore trades options for younger forwards, Staal, Girardi, Nash. For example can a guy like Etem be had for Staal just do it, promote Allen who probably can be paired with Strålman for a solid safeplaying second unit.

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster
FORWARDS
Chris Kreider ($2.500m) / Derek Stepan ($3.075m) / Martin St. Louis ($5.625m)
Benoit Pouliot ($2.000m) / Derick Brassard ($4.000m) / Mats Zuccarello ($4.000m)
Carl Hagelin ($2.250m) / J.T. Miller ($0.894m) / Rick Nash ($7.800m)
Dominic Moore ($2.000m) / Brian Boyle ($2.700m) / Jesper Fast ($0.805m)
Daniel Carcillo ($0.825m)
DEFENSEMEN
Dan Girardi ($5.500m) / Ryan McDonagh ($4.700m)
Marc Staal ($3.975m) / Anton Stralman ($4.000m)
John Moore ($1.500m) / Kevin Klein ($2.900m)
GOALTENDERS
Henrik Lundqvist ($8.500m)
Cameron Talbot ($0.563m)
BUYOUTS
Wade Redden ($0.000m)
Brad Richards ($0.000m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $70,111,667; BONUSES: $445,000
CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $988,333

 

[haohmaru]

I keep as much of this team together as I can - Boyle, Zooks, Brassard, Moore, etc...

Buyout Richards.

I think you have to move Staal if you expect to sign Stralman and replace Richards with a 1B or #2 Center (Derek Roy?). Don't want Statsny. Don't think Miller is ready for a huge role unless he gets his **** together this summer. Maybe Staal for Spezza... but that cap hit. And his injury proneness. Ugh.

 

[Blueshirt Believer]

I keep as much of this team together as I can - Boyle, Zooks, Brassard, Moore, etc...

Buyout Richards.

I think you have to move Staal if you expect to sign Stralman and replace Richards with a 1B or #2 Center (Derek Roy?). Don't want Statsny. Don't think Miller is ready for a huge role unless he gets his **** together this summer. Maybe Staal for Spezza... but that cap hit. And his injury proneness. Ugh.

UGGHHH Derek Roy.....

 

[Vitto79]

I think the real killer on the team (and I applaud his effort this year) was Richards ... but moving forward from him financially will be a smart move. The only problem is we have 2 centers (Step and Brass) ... if we resign Moore he is an excellent 3/4 C, but we still need someone up the middle with skill.

So are people going to admit giving Richards this yr was a good move? Given the ufa options it was but of course now he needs to go.

I think Boyle is gone . The rest stay. If Stralman gets too much term then sign dan Boyle for 2 yrs . Helps PP

 

[haohmaru]

UGGHHH Derek Roy.....

Hey, it's not like I'm huge on it, but Richards will leave a hole that we can't fill internally. There aren't a lot of options out there. Bolland? Good luck signing him to a reasonable contract.