Drury basically is taking the team in the direction I think it needed to go. I was hoping for more with the Buch deal though and I think he could have done better at the draft and I would have gone with Wallstedt. That said Blais is a decent player and Othmann a very good prospect.
We needed to add more physical presence but also find guys who can fit into roles. Goodrow, Blais, Nemeth, Reaves and Hunt are guys like that. They deepen the team in areas that needed to get deeper. We have loads of talent. We were short on battle and short on those we could depend on to do the little things that win hockey games.
This Athletic journalist isn’t very good.
This. That’s why this article is little more then toilet paper. Context is key and it doesn’t take into consideration what the rangers have as a whole, and just jumping to conclusion on the perceived bad moves.
The clock has been ticking on Buch for a while as a Ranger. It was plain as day for anyone to see that we weren’t resigning him with what we have in the system and Kreids and panarin signed. There were also questions about Buch if he can continue to produce this way over an 82 GM full year. In the past, he’s gone many games without showing up on the scoreboard, just like kreider. His best 2 years statistically, have come in shortened seasons and projections come heavily into play. Nothing is a given at that point
Goodrow is a solid move and an important player on any team looking to play in the playoffs or for the cup. He’s a great add for NY. There’s no reason to be hung up on 6 years. If his play falls off a cliff after 4-5 seasons, his buyout doesn’t hurt this team.
Blais, Hunt, Goodrow, and Reaves all good character/locker room types that play physical and are not just run of the mill bottom 6 types. Each guy has their own unique style that addressing what this team lacked for a while now.
I think Many people are sleeping on Blais’ skillset. Sure he can hit and grind, but he can also score and play with top talent, much like Goodrow in that regard. I think when people see Blais in a similar role to what Blackwell was last season, and see what he can do, most fans will change their feelings on him. He def has the ability to score 40 pts depending on where he plays.
Adding this guys may not have been the sexy moves, but they were currently the right moves in addressing what this team sorely needed. Our system had no one like these players coming up soon. It was vital to add that style to the line up and in the locker room ASAP.
This team is better, more balanced, and more competitive then the team we saw on the ice last season. It also should be better going forward for years to come.
To me, Drury did his job. He’s seen/heard the biggest concerns the team has, and addressed them with solid players with good character going FWD. Blais and Goodrow both has won the cup as well. Very wise to add guys like that to a young impressionable locker room.
Drurys biggest blunder to me, was not trading strome before the season starts. Between Goodrow, Barron, etc they are guys who can step into the 3C role. Having Strome block Chytil out of critical top 6 minutes in an important year is wrong. Strome is also going to take PP time away from one of the kids. He’s got to go.
