TSN: Brad Richards has been BOUGHT OUT.

[hi]

Inevitable, but still great news.

Hopefully Glen has finally learned that signing the big name free agent doesn't work.

 

[n8]

what are the odds of a sign and trade? Pretty much you get whoever wants a free 6th pick sign Richards to a 1 year contract and flip him back to us. Is this circumventing the CBA? Not saying I advocate this. Just curious if it's feasible.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

gomez was good defensively?

don't ever remember that.

Gomez produced to his career averages while here in NY. Paying a 60 point player to come in and produce 80 points is stupid on the teams part.

That's what they did with Gomez.

7 per back then is a whole hell of a lot different than 7 million today

I'm looking at Stastny to be an improved version of Brad Richards. 55-65 points, better defensively, better on draws and don't be slow as ****.

Same cap hit, but a better player? and no assets wasted to acquire him? Sign me up

The problem is that we can't sign anyone else if we sign Stastny. And then we are going to be penny pinching on Zucc. We have too many needs to sign Stastny and be able to fill those needs, too.

 

[Jersey Girl]

do the Rangers even have a first round pick to trade, or are you saying a first round pick in 2016 and 2017, so the Rangers can go a few straight years without a first round pick? Also, if Staal is playing well and the Rangers are looking like a contending team, I don't think he's a guy who gets traded at the deadline.

Well, we are already going a few straight years without a first round pick - 2013, 2014 and 2015. So yeah, it looks like Sather's next option is to trade the 2016 and 2017 first rounders.

I didn't think there was any chance they would ever trade Callahan, until the leaks of his contract demands went public, and the same could happen to Staal.

 

[nevesis]

I don't consider O'Reilly flawed.

The other guys? Yeah. Especially Thornton.

I think Miller is a good trade piece, though. Miller and picks gets it done for Thornton at the deadline if that's a direction Slats wanted to go in. And you do it without opening up a massive hole on the back-end.

I thought this was a great read from Blueshirt Banter on Thornton…made me think differently about it.

Player: Joe Thornton

Status: About to enter a three-year, $6.75-million per year contract.

The Why: After the Sharks blew a 3-0 series lead against the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings (vomit) the Sharks' brass wanted changes. Rumors surfaced that both Thornton and Patrick Marleau were on the trading block. The team wants to move in a new direction and they want to revamp their defense while doing a minor rebuild.

The How: Well, this is where it gets a little complicated. Thornton has a no movement clause in this new contract, so he has complete control about where he goes. And while there are some parallels to the Martin St. Louis or Rick Nash situation, this one is a little different. Both Nash and St. Louis wanted out of their respective clubs to come to New York; while in this case Thornton is being asked to be moved and he has control about where. This takes some of the leverage out of Doug Wilson's hands.

The Cost and Level of Interest: Thornton is 34 years old, which might be seen as a detriment, but he's shown no signs of slowing down. Last year he had 76 points (65 assists!) in 82 games. The past five years combined he's scored 352 points in 371 games. He has had tons of chemistry and success with Nash Internationally and his acquisition would make the Rangers top scorers (Nash, St. Louis and Chris Kreider) that much more dangerous.

The playoff choking narrative is a dumb one (he has 100 points in 132 playoff games) and he's a big player with tons of experience. His hockey IQ and his vision is close to the top of the game, and he's a guy who can help the Rangers in every situation.

The problem is what it will take to get him. If defense is actually a direction the Sharks are moving in the Rangers don't have much to offer. Or maybe they don't have much they can offer. I wouldn't move prospect Brady Skjei and I wouldn't move John Moore. I don't think it makes sense to trade Marc Staal at all -- especially with Anton Stralman seemingly on the way out -- and Dan Girardi (who has a NMC) isn't going anywhere.

So defensively who does that leave? Dylan McIlrath and Conor Allen are two prospects who probably have some value to San Jose. And the Rangers might be more willing to move one of them since Skjei is coming soon and Mat Bodie is also in the fold. Will that be enough? Maybe. Maybe not. This one is tricky.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I don't consider O'Reilly flawed.

The other guys? Yeah. Especially Thornton.

I think Miller is a good trade piece, though. Miller and picks gets it done for Thornton at the deadline if that's a direction Slats wanted to go in. And you do it without opening up a massive hole on the back-end.

O'Reilly is probably the best of the bunch. But he'll still take large assets to acquire, is not a #1C and is overpaid (and will continue to be overpaid) thanks to that offer sheet snafu. The least worst candidate.

 

[Fletch]

Staal is the only legitimate trade piece the Rangers have. I hate the idea of using him to go after flawed candidates like Thornton, O'Reilly, Spezza, whatever imperfect center candidate we can think of. I am really fearful that the defensive depth that helped this team along collapses like a house of cards without Staal - who has always been painfully underrated by Ranger fans.

I agree. It seems as though any hole you plug creates another hole, yet it's depth that helped the Rangers this season and it's top-end depth that seems to be lacking. You can move the pieces around in many ways, but one issue is the Rangers have been successful with young talent and now many have grown into larger contracts giving them not so much flexibility on the financial end, which is really where the hinderance is. $6.7MM comes off the books and much of that just pays the guys who are deserving of raises. There are ways of working around it; I'm just having trouble getting there.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

what are the odds of a sign and trade? Pretty much you get whoever wants a free 6th pick sign Richards to a 1 year contract and flip him back to us. Is this circumventing the CBA? Not saying I advocate this. Just curious if it's feasible.

Dont think thats legal.

And from an on-ice perspective, I dont know why you'd even want Richards back.

 

[n8]

disagree.

good defensively. skates well, would be our best F/O man and that's with Boyle still here.

Can play a speed game as his skating while not a strong point, is not a weakness either.

Better option than giving up assets for Thornton in addition to parting with similar coin.

I feel like you are exactly describing Gomez (circa 2007) there...

 

[Fletch]

Well, we are already going a few straight years without a first round pick - 2013, 2014 and 2015. So yeah, it looks like Sather's next option is to trade the 2016 and 2017 first rounders.

I didn't think there was any chance they would ever trade Callahan, until the leaks of his contract demands went public, and the same could happen to Staal.

I don't know if you're advocating that, but man, going that long without a #1 pick is tough, and just because he's gone a certain period doesn't mean he can say, well, let's go for broke. The asset base will just continue to shrink.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I agree, but Miller + picks nets nothing of value I would think.

I still think the Rangers best course of action is trying to re-sign all the free agents, and looking to make a cheap/shrewd acquisition at center. Not a reach for the stars move, but a guy that can slot into the top 9.

Miller + first round picks nets a decent amount.

You bank on Miller having a good year. I think he can be successful with MSL and Hagelin. If he does, he becomes a great trade chip or a guy we can keep around for cheap.

Your desire is mine, too. Re-sign as many people as you can and try and bolster the line-up with cheaper signings. I want Mason Raymond for us. Especially if we lose Poo. He and Hagelin are essentially clones and he fits our speed game for a T. Plus, AV is very familiar with him.

I posted my line-up in the roster movement thread. I don't anticipate Boyle back (a shame) or Stralman back, though. Maybe we can re-sign Stralman if he wants 4M and a NMC.

 

[pld459666]

The problem is that we can't sign anyone else if we sign Stastny. And then we are going to be penny pinching on Zucc. We have too many needs to sign Stastny and be able to fill those needs, too.

that's fair.

Kreider, Zuccs and Brassard have to be taken care of.

I'd let Pouliot, Moore and Boyle walk. Play Miller, Fast and Lindberg

but I do agree, lets see where the team is after getting the important RFA's re-signed.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

So this leaves them with almost 24M of cap space.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

that's fair.

Kreider, Zuccs and Brassard have to be taken care of.

I'd let Pouliot, Moore and Boyle walk. Play Miller, Fast and Lindberg

but I do agree, lets see where the team is after getting the important RFA's re-signed.

Kreider will get a bridge.. Sather is not going to just hand out long term deals IMO

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

I'll never forget that goal with 6.6 seconds left. Good luck brad

or that goal in Phoenix

 

[pld459666]

I feel like you are exactly describing Gomez (circa 2007) there...

gomez was never a good defensive player

gomez was horrible on draws

Gomez was a fast player

How is noting all that Stastny does well describe Gomez?

completely different players

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

that's fair.

Kreider, Zuccs and Brassard have to be taken care of.

I'd let Pouliot, Moore and Boyle walk. Play Miller, Fast and Lindberg

but I do agree, lets see where the team is after getting the important RFA's re-signed.

I would seriously try to keep Moore and Pouliot.

Why break up our best line? And why let go the only player on this team who can win a faceoff?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I thought this was a great read from Blueshirt Banter on Thornton…made me think differently about it.

I actually like the idea of Thornton. Hes got something to prove and is a legitimate #1C.

That said, in what dream world are we getting him for scraps involving Connor Allen and/or McIlrath. The conversation starts with Staal and thats where it ends for me.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

that's fair.

Kreider, Zuccs and Brassard have to be taken care of.

I'd let Pouliot, Moore and Boyle walk. Play Miller, Fast and Lindberg

but I do agree, lets see where the team is after getting the important RFA's re-signed.

This is a disaster in the making.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

or that goal in Phoenix

Lots of former Rangers in that pic.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

gomez was never a good defensive player

gomez was horrible on draws

Gomez was a fast player

How is noting all that Stastny does well describe Gomez?

completely different players

Gomez was certainly a good defensive player. I don't know where you are getting that he wasn't. He was getting over a minute of PK time in his last season here per game.

He was a decent defender for sure. At least as good as Stastny and probably better.

 

[jcnyranger]

Gomez all over again.

Stay away from Stastny.

A voice of reason; but if we could trade him for a D as good as McD like we did with Gomez....

 

[Jersey Girl]

that's fair.

Kreider, Zuccs and Brassard have to be taken care of.

I'd let Pouliot, Moore and Boyle walk. Play Miller, Fast and Lindberg

but I do agree, lets see where the team is after getting the important RFA's re-signed.

Hank just got a bad chill down the back of his neck when you posted this, and he has no idea why...he just knows something is wrong somewhere.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

that's fair.

Kreider, Zuccs and Brassard have to be taken care of.

I'd let Pouliot, Moore and Boyle walk. Play Miller, Fast and Lindberg

but I do agree, lets see where the team is after getting the important RFA's re-signed.

Moore stays.. Boyle will go, and we could probably still keep Poop depending on what he wants.

It's very possible to fit in Stastny at 6.6-7M (overpay) while still keeping most of the team in tact IMO.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

This is a disaster in the making.

Wait, letting two of the best 4th liners in the league walk and replacing them with rookies is a disaster?