Do we buy-out Richards and make a play for Stastny?

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

A poor decision is releasing Richards without a back-up plan.

No, a poor decision is not releasing Richards and subjecting yourself to his declining play until hes 40, or dealing with a recapture penalty.

An equally poor decision is being so adamant about a backup plan, that it jades the decision making process.

Releasing Richards and signing Stastny for no other reason than him being the best center available in a weak C market is so silly...so Rangers.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I see you've tried to avoid answering my question in two threads, now:

Who is trading us a "top-notch, young center" (for Marc Staal)?

Still waiting for an answer.

Do you expect someone not working in the Rangers front office to be able to answer that ******** question?

 

[Hunter Gathers]

No, a poor decision is not releasing Richards and subjecting yourself to his declining play until hes 40, or dealing with a recapture penalty.

An equally poor decision is being so adamant about a backup plan, that it jades the decision making process.

Releasing Richards and signing Stastny for no other reason than him being the best center available in a weak C market is so silly...so Rangers.

So then, instead of complaining, provide another plan. I'm all ears. I've been all ears. Releasing him and sitting pat is not a realistic plan.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Do you expect someone not working in the Rangers front office to be able to answer that ******** question?

I expect someone proposing that we trade Marc Staal for a "top-notch, young center" to 1) have a center in mind and 2) have a proposition in mind.

Is that really too much to expect from someone on this board? Has this board fallen off that hard?

 

[silverfish]

I expect someone proposing that we trade Marc Staal for a "top-notch, young center" to 1) have a center in mind and 2) have a proposition in mind.

Is that really too much to expect from someone on this board? Has this board fallen off that hard?

I do wonder if the Avs would listen to a proposal along the lines of rights to Brassard and Staal for the rights to ROR... He'd solve that center issue in a hot-second.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I think that we should trade for a top notch, young center, a top notch young defenseman, and a top notch young GM. I have no idea what we would trade, who we would trade with, and what people I'd trade for. So let's just let someone else fill in those less important aspects.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I do wonder if the Avs would listen to a proposal along the lines of rights to Brassard and Staal for the rights to ROR... He'd solve that center issue in a hot-second.

Staal AND Brassard is a bit of an overpayment if you ask me, man. I could see Staal and something small. I don't see the need to have Brassard in there, too, unless something else is coming back.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Miller needs to be the 3C next year.

Be it Step-Brass-Miller or Step-Richie-Miller.

Either buy out Richie and get cap space flexibility, or trade Brass for a pick and to keep Richie with MSL.

 

[Inferno]

buyout richards, dont sign stastny, play Miller.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

buyout richards, dont sign stastny, play Miller.

That would be the worst decision possible. The only way that is OK is if we add another very good winger.

 

[silverfish]

Staal AND Brassard is a bit of an overpayment if you ask me, man. I could see Staal and something small. I don't see the need to have Brassard in there, too, unless something else is coming back.

Hm, you think? That's a trade I don't even know if the Avs would listen to. O'Reilly is a stud 23 year old C. The only reason I think they might consider it is that it shores up their D big time adding Staal. Brassard could be kept by them, or swung for a draft pick. The Avs have absurd center-depth, especially if they decide to keep Stastny.

O'Reilly's numbers are pretty outrageous. 24 goals, 51 points, 7 PPGs and 17 PPPs, averaging 19:32 a game.

His QO is working against him, though. Wouldn't put it passed any team to lock him up long-term and buy some UFA years.

A one-two punch of Stepan and O'Reilly would be incredible.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

That would be the worst decision possible. The only way that is OK is if we add another very good winger.

I disagree.

Richards hasn't been good enough to make downgrading to Brass at 2C crippling to the team. Richie's been solid, yeah, but I think Brass can fill the same role: especially with MSL on his wing.

Miller needs to play in the NHL. He's too good for the AHL and could eventually (should, hopefully) take the 2C from Brass.

I have no problem signing Stastny, but not doing so isn't the worst thing to happen, imo.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Hm, you think? That's a trade I don't even know if the Avs would listen to. O'Reilly is a stud 23 year old C. The only reason I think they might consider it is that it shores up their D big time adding Staal. Brassard could be kept by them, or swung for a draft pick. The Avs have absurd center-depth, especially if they decide to keep Stastny.

O'Reilly's numbers are pretty outrageous. 24 goals, 51 points, 7 PPGs and 17 PPPs, averaging 19:32 a game.

His QO is working against him, though. Wouldn't put it passed any team to lock him up long-term and buy some UFA years.

A one-two punch of Stepan and O'Reilly would be incredible.

ROR is very good, but stud? Eh, we'd have to disagree, there. I like him a lot, but I really don't see him having much more value than Marc Staal (although I'm talking about a SIGNED Staal and not a UFA-to-be Staal).

I disagree.

Richards hasn't been good enough to make downgrading to Brass at 2C crippling to the team. Richie's been solid, yeah, but I think Brass can fill the same role: especially with MSL on his wing.

Miller needs to play in the NHL. He's too good for the AHL and could eventually (should, hopefully) take the 2C from Brass.

I have no problem signing Stastny, but not doing so isn't the worst thing to happen, imo.

Brassard is a horrible 2nd line center. He's way, way, way too streaky to take the reigns. I really like him as a 3rd line guy, but we'd have one of the worst groups of centers in the league if we go with Stepan - Brass - Miller. That's just disgustingly awful.

The worst thing we can do is simply go with those three. Unless we are signing or trading for another wing to boost their play up somehow.

I'd just vomit if we went into the season with those guys as our top 3.

 

[Miller Time NYR]

I would be much more ok with buying out Richards and rolling Stepan-Brass-Miller if there was a guarantee Stepan would put on 20 pounds in the offseason and learn how to skate, and Brassard somehow figure out what consistency is. Dont want to overpay for Stastny, I like the idea of, if it comes down to trading Staal, moving a package of Staal and Brassard for a top notch center and a young 2/3 LD.

 

[Calad]

mehh

 

[Beer League Sniper]

Stepan-Brassard-Miller is a recipe for disaster, and something the organization would never in a million years do. If any one of those players fails at their respective positions (Stepan at 1C, Brass 2C, Miller 3C), we literally have no back up plan. Not to mention that Stepan is the only defensively competent center in your Top-9, and none of them can win draws. You can't just throw your 4th line out there for every defensive zone draw.

I think it's a foregone conclusion that Richards gets bought out, the risk with that contract is simply too great. But does anyone really expect the Rangers to buy out Richards and NOT replace him? Stepan could have a bounceback season and play 1C hockey, but Brassard is way too inconsistent and weak defensively to handle 2C duties long-term. Next season for Miller should be about solidifying his spot in the lineup. To put him in a sink-or-swim situation at 3C is moronic.

I don't know what the solution is to be quite honest, but management won't sit and do nothing. Either by trade or free agency, Richards will be backfilled. To expect anything different is willful ignorance.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Stepan-Brassard-Miller is a recipe for disaster, and something the organization would never in a million years do. If any one of those players fails at their respective positions (Stepan at 1C, Brass 2C, Miller 3C), we literally have no back up plan. Not to mention that Stepan is the only defensively competent center in your Top-9, and none of them can win draws. You can't just throw your 4th line out there for every defensive zone draw.

I think it's a foregone conclusion that Richards gets bought out, the risk with that contract is simply too great. But does anyone really expect the Rangers to buy out Richards and NOT replace him? Stepan could have a bounceback season and play 1C hockey, but Brassard is way too inconsistent and weak defensively to handle 2C duties long-term. Next season for Miller should be about solidifying his spot in the lineup. To put him in a sink-or-swim situation at 3C is moronic.

I don't know what the solution is to be quite honest, but management won't sit and do nothing. Either by trade or free agency, Richards will be backfilled. To expect anything different is willful ignorance.

It would be the same situation we had last year when Kreider failed. We had no back-up plan. Was so terrible since the team could have been very good had Kreider played to his potential.

 

[silverfish]

Stepan-Brassard-Miller is a recipe for disaster, and something the organization would never in a million years do. If any one of those players fails at their respective positions (Stepan at 1C, Brass 2C, Miller 3C), we literally have no back up plan. Not to mention that Stepan is the only defensively competent center in your Top-9, and none of them can win draws. You can't just throw your 4th line out there for every defensive zone draw.

I think it's a foregone conclusion that Richards gets bought out, the risk with that contract is simply too great. But does anyone really expect the Rangers to buy out Richards and NOT replace him? Stepan could have a bounceback season and play 1C hockey, but Brassard is way too inconsistent and weak defensively to handle 2C duties long-term. Next season for Miller should be about solidifying his spot in the lineup. To put him in a sink-or-swim situation at 3C is moronic.

I don't know what the solution is to be quite honest, but management won't sit and do nothing. Either by trade or free agency, Richards will be backfilled. To expect anything different is willful ignorance.

Agree with this wholly. Can't see Richards on this team in 2014-2015. Can't see Glen going with Step-Brass-Miller down the line. Don't necessarily have the creative mind outside of pushing for ROR to figure out how it gets filled in - this assuming we are not big players for Stastny.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Agree with this wholly. Can't see Richards on this team in 2014-2015. Can't see Glen going with Step-Brass-Miller down the line. Don't necessarily have the creative mind outside of pushing for ROR to figure out how it gets filled in - this assuming we are not big players for Stastny.

The only way I can think that we roll with that group of centers is by signing another big time winger. It would be the only acceptable way, IMO.

 

[AWall THE CLAW]

Why? Buy out an overpaid center so we can turn around and overpay for another center? How much more offense is Stastny going to bring compared to Richards? The idea is to buy out Richards so we can get either some cap flexibility or get the cap space to bring in a significant upgrade.

Here's a move you make: get rid of the Gomez contract and his 15 goals so you can afford Gaborik's 40+ goals.

Here's a move you don't make: buy out Richards and his 55 points so you can sign Stastny and his 60 pts.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Why? Buy out an overpaid center so we can turn around and overpay for another center? How much more offense is Stastny going to bring compared to Richards? The idea is to buy out Richards so we can get either some cap flexibility or get the cap space to bring in a significant upgrade.

Here's a move you make: get rid of the Gomez contract and his 15 goals so you can afford Gaborik's 40+ goals.

Here's a move you don't make: buy out Richards and his 55 points so you can sign Stastny and his 60 pts.

Well, in theory, Stastny should last longer than Richards since he is younger. The theory is fine.

But we then sacrifice roster continuity for more turnover. So that also needs to be weighed. It's a tough choice, IMO.

 

[silverfish]

The only way I can think that we roll with that group of centers is by signing another big time winger. It would be the only acceptable way, IMO.

I wouldn't be opposed to making a large play for Vanek. Wouldn't want to pull the trigger on Moulson.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I wouldn't be opposed to making a large play for Vanek. Wouldn't want to pull the trigger on Moulson.

Dunno about Vanek. He's just such a slug sometimes out there. But I'd probably think about it at least.

 

[mas0764]

That would be the worst decision possible. The only way that is OK is if we add another very good winger.

No, the worst decision possible is bringing Richards back and having him be a $6 million albatross around our necks in future offseasons, preventing us from acquiring legit talent.

Why is playing Miller at 3C next year the "worst possible decision"? Because it's a downgrade? Yeah, and?

I think everyone knows you might be sacrificing wins next year to do that. We just don't care because we value having the $6 million to spend on someone else in 2-3 years more than we value the extra few wins Richards will provide.

If I thought Richards was the difference between a Cup or no Cup, I'd want to keep him. I don't.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

So then, instead of complaining, provide another plan. I'm all ears. I've been all ears. Releasing him and sitting pat is not a realistic plan.

It is a realistic plan if Stastny is the only option available and you want to make 2 good decisions in a row.