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

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

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?

Personally, I think packaging a roster player or two for a young center would be a great move. Couldn't tell you who is available because I dont work in the NHL.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

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.

It's a terrible decision because Brassard is not a #2 C. Period. That's easily one of the worst groups of centers in the entire league. We would have zero back-up plan if Brassard or Miller couldn't handle the duty. A win-now team shouldn't be banking on maybes.

This team is in win-now mode. We aren't in "Z0MG WORRY ABOUT RECAPUTREZ 4 YEARS FROM NOW" mode. If there is no other option than Richards, they should just keep him and worry about the money problems later.

 

[Miller Time NYR]

Paul Stastny
Olli Jokinen
David Legwand
Derek Roy
Saku Koivu
Dave Bolland
Mikhail Grabovski
Steve Ott
Vernon Fiddler
Brian Boyle
Jay McClement
Trevor Lewis
Michal Handzus
Dominic Moore
Scott Gomez

Basically the top 15 UFA centers coming this offseason.

Pretty top heavy list, alot of teams will be looking to add center depth, alot of money will be thrown around to guys on that list.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Personally, I think packaging a roster player or two for a young center would be a great move. Couldn't tell you who is available because I dont work in the NHL.

Hey, as said, I'm all ears. I just hate the lazy posting that that example is. Don't just say, "HEY GUIZ WE SHOULD TRADE FOR A TOP NOTCH CENTER."

That's just silly and is the type of stuff you hear on WFAN.

What center? Who are we trading with? What are we trading? I really don't think it's asking much to put an ounce of thought into it.

 

[silverfish]

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

Agree. He'll put up numbers, but if he signs here for let's just say 7x$7million, he would get ROASTED on these boards every game. Just because of his demeanor.

In Buffalo, they had a radio station that promoted the hashtag campaign #LazyVanek, just because he was always so non-chalant about everything

A good one:

"@MegRobertson: RT @LindyRuffsTie: Vanek is so lazy, he scores just so he can go back to the bench and sit down. #Sabres #LazyVanek hahahaha

https://twitter.com/jponthedrive/status/62240351917846529

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Basically the top 15 UFA centers coming this offseason.

The only interesting player is Stastny. What a horrible list.

 

[mas0764]

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

There probably are other options and you'd probably have one in hand before buying out Richards.

But in a theoretical world where it was "Keep Richards or Buy him out with no immediate FA replacement" the smart move is still the latter.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

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

Completely agree on Vanek. We already have one part-time slouch in Nash, I'm really not interested in having another.

We need to target someone like ROR. The Avs are very deep at C with Duchene, MacKinnon, Stastny, and ROR. There's probably a deal to made with them, we will hate the price, though. I'm sure there are a couple other teams with a glut of capable centers on the roster as well.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

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

I'm all for signing Stastny and dumping Richards. I wouldn't think twice if that's what we did.

The ******** cap recapture really ****ed our team over.

 

[mas0764]

This team is in win-now mode. We aren't in "Z0MG WORRY ABOUT RECAPUTREZ 4 YEARS FROM NOW" mode. If there is no other option than Richards, they should just keep him and worry about the money problems later.

Well, it shouldn't be.

You should keep your options open for being able to sign or trade for a real difference maker like another Rick Nash should one come available.

To do that requires you to have cap space.

If that means sacrificing a year or two while waiting for one, that's the right move.

"Win Now" would be the best option if we had a realistic hope of beating Pittsburgh or Boston in a 7 game series. We don't.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Well, it shouldn't be.

You should keep your options open for being able to sign or trade for a real difference maker like another Rick Nash should one come available.

To do that requires you to have cap space.

If that means sacrificing a year or two while waiting for one, that's the right move.

Why shouldn't this team be in win now mode?

We have a very good group of defensive players (including three top-pairing guys), we have Rick Nash, MSL, and a solid group of forwards (even in his down season Stepan is still putting up first line numbers). Our players are buying into AV's system. We have the best goalie in the world.

This team is the very definition of a win-now team.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I'm all for signing Stastny and dumping Richards. I wouldn't think twice if that's what we did.

The ******** cap recapture really ****ed our team over.

I dont know. Stastny's offensive game has really taken a hit in the last 4 seasons. Could he be a substitute for Richards? Sure, I guess. But is that really saying much?

It would actually be refreshing if the Rangers plan didn't bend towards the best players available on the market every year.

 

[Trxjw]

I doubt we'll go for Stastny, but I'd be surprised if the Rangers go into next season with Stepan, Brassard and Miller/Lindberg as their top-3 centers.

 

[mas0764]

Why shouldn't this team be in win now mode?

We have a very good group of defensive players (including three top-pairing guys), we have Rick Nash, MSL, and a solid group of forwards (even in his down season Stepan is still putting up first line numbers). Our players are buying into AV's system. We have the best goalie in the world.

This team is the very definition of a win-now team.

Because we are still an elite player away from being able to hang with Pittsburgh and Boston consistently. That's why.

You don't shoot your wad to be the third best team in the conference. That's where we lock in, either by keeping Richards, or likely by signing Stastny. I mean, yeah, "anything can happen" but then you are counting on a season like 2011-12 where all the other top seeds get eliminated again.

I wouldn't plan on building towards that. Hank's closing window is exaggerated, the guy has another 6-8 years left.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Don't want Stastny at what he'll command, and he's too similar to Stepan, IMO.

Just buy out Richards and have Miller play on the 2nd/3rd line.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I doubt we'll go for Stastny, but I'd be surprised if the Rangers go into next season with Stepan, Brassard and Miller/Lindberg as their top-3 centers.

Frankly, I don't see Stastny hitting the market at all.

I dont know. Stastny's offensive game has really taken a hit in the last 4 seasons. Could he be a substitute for Richards? Sure, I guess. But is that really saying much?

It would actually be refreshing if the Rangers plan didn't bend towards the best players available on the market every year.

Richards has been a big part of this team's scoring since, you know, he's the leading scorer. So it is saying quite a bit.

 

[mas0764]

I doubt we'll go for Stastny, but I'd be surprised if the Rangers go into next season with Stepan, Brassard and Miller/Lindberg as their top-3 centers.

Despite fear of the wrath I may incur for not having a name in hand, I would love to see the Rangers go after a guy in a trade.

Have to put out feelers and get creative.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

The Klein, MSL, and Girardi transactions effectively put this team in win now mode. If we dump MDZ, Callahan, and Girardi for futures, of course we're retooling. But we didn't. We're going for it whether we like it or not.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Just buy out Richards and have Miller play on the 2nd/3rd line.

vomit.gif

Because we are still an elite player away from being able to hang with Pittsburgh and Boston consistently. That's why.

You don't shoot your wad to be the third best team in the conference. That's where we lock in, either by keeping Richards, or likely by signing Stastny. I mean, yeah, "anything can happen" but then you are counting on a season like 2011-12 where all the other top seeds get eliminated again.

I wouldn't plan on building towards that. Hank's closing window is exaggerated, the guy has another 6-8 years left.

Says who? We just traded for MSL. Our defense is leaps and bounds better than Pittsburgh's (so is our goaltending). I'm more scared of Boston than Pittsburgh, but I don't think that MSL has been here long enough to get a good gauge on how well we can compete with them.

Hank may have 6-8 years left. But are you seriously suggesting that this team will be remotely the same in 6-8 years? We have no idea who will leave, who will get hurt, who will break out (and demand a huge contract), etc.

You have to deal with the cards you currently have. We have a very good team that can do some real damage if Hank gets hot in the playoffs. This is absolutely a Cup contending team if Hank plays as well as he should play.

 

[AWall THE CLAW]

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.

I'm very much in favor of standing pat for the most part and embracing the idea of having a little cap maneuverability, as well as going to battle with the same group. From 2010-11 to 2011-12, all the team really did was throw Richards into a group that remained intact. The player he replaced? Essentially Erik Christensen. The team went from sneaking in on the final day by the grace of the Tampa Bay Lightning to a #1 seed and a bounce away from hosting Game 7 of the ECF. The moral of the story is to address GLARING needs and eliminate only inconsequential players.

Stepan - Richards - Brassard have combined for 125 pts this year.

Want to take a stab at what the 'Hawks top 3 centers have put up this year? (hint: it's less).

AV's willingness to go with 3 balanced lines has worked. So what if we are missing a pivot with gaudy stats? If you want to address a glaring need, go out there and get a defenseman who's going to to put up big points. Stralman has a single goal this year and isn't the puck-moving standout we hoped he would become. If you want to replace him with a true puck-mover from the blue line, THAT'S how you get better.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

vomit.gif

Why?

He's gonna need to be given a chance eventually.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

The Klein, MSL, and Girardi transactions effectively put this team in win now mode. If we dump MDZ, Callahan, and Girardi for futures, of course we're retooling. But we didn't. We're going for it whether we like it or not.

Bingo.

And I'd rather go for it full bore than half ass it. You'll never win by half assing it but you'll at least have a shot if you really go for it.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Why?

He's gonna need to be given a chance eventually.

And he will. As of right now he's nowhere near ready to be a 2nd line center on a contending team.

 

[Thirty One]

If John Moore was on our first pairing, would that make him a #1 defensemen?

Edit: Nvm, I misinterpreted your point.

oofobon, pls

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.

How would you propose fitting either Richards or Stastny under the cap?

 

[silverfish]

And he will. As of right now he's nowhere near ready to be a 2nd line center on a contending team.

I think Miller remains wildly overrated on these boards. He's hardly solidified himself as an every-day NHL third-liner, and people are penciling him into a full-time top-9 center spot on a team looking to compete?

I don't think so.