Confirmed with Link: Buch traded to STL for Blais + 2nd (2022)

[Hunter Gathers]

I am not mad about this trade.

 

[Tob]

Drury is going to make a great AGM after this tenure with the Rangers.

 

[Jim Ramsay]

This is exactly my point, you get this EASY at the trade deadline and probably more if he has another good season like that. They sold for no reason.

They sold now to free up salary for this season.. eichel incoming...maybe more?

 

[NYR Viper]

I think the team likes Blais to the point that they want to keep him long term in a specific role for a lower cap hit.

I will be honest, I’m somewhat underwhelmed by the return but Blais is a useful player

 

[Edge]

Brooks has his head so far up Sather’s ass right now. I know you can read this Brooksie. Hi.

Larry is all about the here and now. He wants action, he wants immediate results, he wants something to write about. His job depends on it.

You can't do that with prospects and futures and a slow cook. So he's always going to be pulling for something he can write about. He also wants access --- and that's what Sather gives him. So it's in his best interest to pump the tires on this shit as much as possible because it keeps him employed.

Larry is 70 years old. This is his end game. There is no PR job after this. There is no 2025 cup parade. He wants action so that he can follow-up to that action by either building it up or tearing it down.

 

[NYRangers0723]

I think the team likes Blais to the point that they want to keep him long term in a specific role for a lower cap hit.

I will be honest, I’m somewhat underwhelmed by the return but Blais is a useful player

I don’t think anyone disliked the player but we are just underwhelmed by the other piece. A second is ok but a very meh return

 

[Uglybstrd]

This, this is what we traded a 1st/2nd line RW for:

It`s a dime a dozen player, could easily been found among UFA players this summer.

I`m shocked, wtf was Drury thinking.

 

[Machinehead]

Can anyone speak on Blais? What kind of player is he? What is his upside?

In limited viewings, imagine if Howden were ok. Try to get your head around that. Really high-octane player, busts his ass all over the ice, hits everything, you'll hear Sam say his name nine times a shift. Not a great skater but I don't know where the comments that he skates worse than Lemieux/Howden are coming from.

Now keep in mind, I said if Howden were OK, not if Howden were good! Limited offense, doesn't tilt the ice in either direction.

Not big but I almost think that's a good thing at this point. Tampa did extremely well with small grinders. Maybe there's upside there but I doubt it.

I like the player, but I thought Buchnevich had more value.

 

[jay from jersey]

This isn't some Greek tragedy. Buch is not a true first liner and not a line driver.

We all knew he was the odd man out with the spoils on wing.

He's a good to very good player who in inconsistent.

Blais is not done developing either. Maybe he becomes a Coleman clone. He's now going to be attached at the hip to Goodrow.

If Blais is Adam Hall on the Rangers (remember his an an emerging power forward in 2006?) then it's a wiff, but if Blais has a Brandon Prust/Fedotenko impact on the team the next 3-5 years, they're in business.

It shows you that once again, we the fans overvalue Buch.

This, ive been saying, even though Buch had a solid 2 shortened seasons, he’s never hit 70 pts in an 82 game season. He’ll even 60. Like Kreider he was prone to 10-15 game stretches without showing up on the scoreboard. Consensus was not to pay 6.5 plus for 5-6 years for that kind of uncertainty. Sorry but it’s facts.
I love Buch too. I’m gonna miss him but the fact remains rangers have a ton of young talent on the wings that need minutes

 

[brakeyawself]

Thoms is cost controlled, they weren't moving him.

Regardless, that would have been fair return for Buch. Which was the point. You just don't trade with St. Louis then rather than taking, what seems like, one of the first deals available for one of your top 6 forwards. And obviously the majority of people feel similarly.

 

[cwede]

I thought return coulda been more. But I am ok with it.
Frees minutes for Laf/Kakk/Krav.
Gives Gallant a more balanced roster.
I think Blais has upside, was deeper on a deeper roster
Folks here been praising 2022 draft class.
I believe NYR gonna be ok, competitive

Gonna miss Buch.
Still miss Zucc. And Dubi.

 

[smoneil]

I think the team likes Blais to the point that they want to keep him long term in a specific role for a lower cap hit.

I will be honest, I’m somewhat underwhelmed by the return but Blais is a useful player

I know Blais is signed for this coming season. Anyone know his status after that? Is he UFA? RFA? I can never figure out the rules on things like that.

 

[Edge]

@Edge Do you know the direction that Drury wants to go? I understand wanting to get the right guys for the 3rd and 4th line. I get Strome for a solid vet defenseman, and hopefully a trade for Larkin but honestly whats the plan when/if strome is traded?

Also i saw that you mentioned Krieder is possibly being dealt. Whats the idea behind that? Cap clearing or to add to something else to get that young top 6 center?

I think he has vision for roster balance.

It's quite possible that he is saying to himself, "We have all this top-end young talent. This is our future, but we're not going to get there with them on the third and fourth lines. These are prospects who are do or don't type talents. We're gonna put them in those roles and surround them with talent who bring different elements to different roles."

And the truth is, he isn't wrong. The devil is in the details of getting there.

Acquiring someone like Blais isn't a bad move. Having him as the main piece for a 26 year old top 6 winger who is a RFA is questionable though.

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

Larry is all about the here and now. He wants action, he wants immediate results, he wants something to write about. His job depends on it.

You can't do that with prospects and futures and a slow cook. So he's always going to be pulling for something he can write about. He also wants access --- and that's what Sather gives him. So it's in his best interest to pump the tires on this shit as much as possible because it keeps him employed.

Larry is 70 years old. This is his end game. There is no PR job after this. There is no 2025 cup parade. He wants action so that he can follow-up to that action by either building it up or tearing it down.

The team last year was disappointing in a lot of ways, less than the sum of its parts, league average in the standings, but from the perspective of these guys and what their job is it was probably the most "exciting" team in the league? Like I don't even like our beat writers that much but I'm bummed out for them that they couldn't get closer to it because of COVID.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

ugly ugly

 

[will1066]

In limited viewings, imagine if Howden were ok. Try to get your head around that. Really high-octane player, busts his ass all over the ice, hits everything, you'll hear Sam say his name nine times a shift. Not a great skater but I don't know where the comments that he skates worse than Lemieux/Howden are coming from.

Now keep in mind, I said if Howden were OK, not if Howden were good! Limited offense, doesn't tilt the ice in either direction.

Not big but I almost think that's a good thing at this point. Tampa did extremely well with small grinders. Maybe there's upside there but I doubt it.

I like the player, but I thought Buchnevich had more value.

Yup. A Howden type with a mean streak

 

[Thirty One]

This, this is what we traded a 1st/2nd line RW for:

View attachment 455360

It`s a dime a dozen player, could easily been found among UFA players this summer.

I`m shocked, wtf was Drury thinking.

Blais has 4 more points in his NHL career (through age 25) than Buch had in February and March.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

They sold now to free up salary for this season.. eichel incoming...maybe more?

They could have been able to afford Eichel even with Buchnevich this season. They had the cap space. They dumped him for no reason even if its for cap space

 

[nsvoyageurs]

Buchnevich was the Rangers best forward last season. The return is awful. Ridiculous. Atrocious.

The player the Rangers take with the Blues' 2nd round pick next year they are getting (if they keep it) had better turn into something more than just "useful". Had better turn into a top 6 forward/top 4 defenceman for the sting of this trade to heal a bit.

 

[Jim Ramsay]

They could have been able to afford Eichel even with Buchnevich this season. They had the cap space. They dumped him for no reason even if its for cap space

Thats why i say eichel plus maybe more?

Maybe trade for eichel an additional player?

Or else i dont understand why to do this trade now

 

[jay from jersey]

I think the team likes Blais to the point that they want to keep him long term in a specific role for a lower cap hit.

I will be honest, I’m somewhat underwhelmed by the return but Blais is a useful player

Everyone talking about finding the “next Goodrow” here’s a possible one. Now we have the real Goodrow and a possible next 1 too

 

[Adam Fox Time]

There must be something we don't know regarding the contract negotiations because that is a terrible return.

 

[bobbop]

Coyotes contact told me they hope to have two more first draft choices tonight in addition to OEL trade.

Nothing further. No idea if Rangers are involved. Coyote management has been sequestered since 5:30 this morning.

Stay tuned.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

The return sucks but IF Kakko and Kravtsov break out (I expect Lafraniere to) Rangers will still have enough firepower and it does make them harder to play against for sure, but Chris this return still sucks lol

 

[Filip Chytil]

I leave for a few hours and this is what happens????

Drury is going to destroy my liver.