I may be underestimating Manson's value, but are you underestimating Manson's flaws.
Be honest. Who has been better this year. Malinski or Manson. They are not similar players other than being R shot, but which one would you want to have more TOI this year? Which one is giving the Avs more?
If Kreider can return to form or some sort of form he had the past three years... he's a better player than Manson and by quite some margin in my mind.
funny... but you still didn't answer the question.
Drury may get fired, but if he does... the new GM still isn't likely to pursue a tear down given the long term contracts you have in place with an elite goalie in his prime and LaF. As well as extensions coming for K Miller and Schneider. The Rangers are in no position to tear it down. They'll try to retool. You and I both know this is far more likely than a firesale.
I am still looking for what the question was.
To me it boils down to this. Who is the core and who is not?
Core: Fox, Igor, Laf, Cuylle, Schneider.
Chytil would be but his history of injury takes him out. You can't build on him.
Zibenejad is one of the great mysteries of the NHL. There were times when he was just dominant. Now he has fallen as far off a cliff as I have ever seen. He needs Austin Powers to go back in time 3 years and find his Mojo. I don't think that's going to happen for him here.
I love Panarin, but he has one year left after this. Him being told we are breaking it down vs retooling may get him to waive his no trade, and a 50% retained Panarin is a blue chip on the trade market.
Trocheck is a decent veteran to have around at a reasonable salary. You gotta have a couple grownups in the room. He stays.
Lindgren is the Ryan Callahan of defensemen. He plays like Iron Man and is built like Ant Man. Guys like that don't age like wine in a cellar. They age like milk in the sun. He could be a nice bottom pair guy for a contender, and I hope he gets his name on the cup, but he's probably out of the game by 31-32. It would be a mistake to give him the money/term he is going to expect.
Don't get me started on K'Andre Miller. He has zero hockey sense. He has zero mean streak. He doesn't process or think the game well at all. He is a bag of magic beans. I know we can find some GM who doesn't really watch too closely and allows youtube highlights to count as scouting, and will pay well for these magic beans. If that happens, I would drive KAM to his next destination myself. He has to GTFOH.
The rest are a cup of coffee you forgot about. It isn't hot, it's not really cold, depending on how you feel that day, you could finish it, or you could get rid of it and get something else.
This core is now on its third coach since the letter and they still haven't turned the corner. Look at the East. What fairy dust are you sprinkling on this group to get them past the Florida Panthers? The Devils have eaten them alive this season. They can't even handle the Flyers.
The season is only a waste if you don't do something with it. If you don't think you can win it all, then get busy towards that goal. I don't think they can win it all. I have watched every game this year and it's broken. If you are a veteran on this team and you can't lead the way out of this, then it's time for you to go. We need to either find people who can or create the void for new voices to step up and become those leaders. Doing that is still getting something out of the season.
