Speculation: Free Agent Frenzy Part III - Will EK stay or will EK go?

[AlternateSideParking]

Cirelli is a nice player. That said, picking him over Andersson is very subjective...a little like picking Svechnikov over Dahlin.

You don't say?

Subjective like Malkin over Ovechkin? Or Doughty over Stamkos? Or Hedman over Tavares? Or Seguin over Hall? Or Laine over Matthews?

 

[NYR Viper]

It's poker. Gorton flinched first. If Yzerman said no and they lose in Round 2 or 3, he might be more desperate at the draft.

It's a matter of opinion. Trading a star should bring a star or potential star back.

I'm glad McDonagh's gone. He was brutal and declined fast. Just wish they got one elite stud rather a bunch of good to very good prospects. It wasn't bad trade. Just wish it brought back something real exciting.

But if you read your last paragraph and you realized this, wouldn’t, say, the TB Lightning also know this about McDonagh?

 

[kovazub94]

It's poker. Gorton flinched first. If Yzerman said no and they lose in Round 2 or 3, he might be more desperate at the draft.

It's a matter of opinion. Trading a star should bring a star or potential star back.

I'm glad McDonagh's gone. He was brutal and declined fast. Just wish they got one elite stud rather a bunch of good to very good prospects. It wasn't bad trade. Just wish it brought back something real exciting.

You saw it. Yzerman didn’t?

 

[darko]

Everyone knows Swedish marriages last no less than 366 days.

Had his first wife simply been from Kyrgyzstan then we wouldn't have to raise this issue, guys.

Had he been from Kyrgyzstan he'd have 8 of them.

 

[broadwayblue]

Speculate and discuss all you want, we all do, but your post was bad all around. Bringing up his divorce and try to paint it as something nefarious and unusual is just bad form.

And btw, 2/3 of a 25 year old single malt in combination with mother earths finest herbs while waiting for the Marbella sunrise has me very relaxed.

Which single malt?

 

[AlternateSideParking]

But if you read your last paragraph and you realized this, wouldn’t, say, the TB Lightning also know this about McDonagh?

No. They either ignored it or pretended to ignore it. They just gave him a silly extension. They obviously wanted him bad. Especially to not let him go to Boston or Toronto. I'm sure McDonagh's reputation around the league is 10x stronger than it is around here.

Execs have their jobs on the line, which means their staff as well. Seems like they overlook the fine details to "improve the club".

Redden, Clarkson, Staal, Girardi, Ryan, Lucic etc are perfect examples of the fans being smarter than the GM.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

You saw it. Yzerman didn’t?

You think Yzerman and his pro scouts watched the last 150 games McDonagh played? They probably watch 5-10 games max.

Gorton obviously did. So did we.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Maloney is notorious for the Jessiman pick, but 04 was really a wasteland for us. Montoya at 6, then again neither Olesz nor Tukonen (both vouched for by top NYR scouts) had careers either. Korpikoski at 19, we almost went Zajac. Is that a game changer? Probably not, but it’s a puzzle piece missing.

Interesting to note, we sexted with a slew of 2nd rounders, either by draft or later via trade: Chris Bourque, Darin Olver, Roman Voloshenko (RIP), Bruce Graham, Dane Byers, Enver Lisin; all prior to Dubinsky at 60. Its a Murders Row of hot garbage, and although Dubinsky had a legitimate NHL career, he didn’t ‘move the needle’ - he was mostly a tough 3rd line kid that capped out at 40 points - not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Roman Lyashenko not Voloshenko

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Hajek will be a very good defense men. He will be head and shoulders above Mac in the 2019 season.

Do you mean 2018-19 season or 2019-20 season? And you are saying Hajek will play better NHL hockey than McDonagh?

 

[Tawnos]

Trade negotiations are not poker.

 

[ncmike]

I don’t know off the top of my head, but yes obviously the leverage is tough. Could they really have not made the call on McD last summer? The inclusion of Miller is the real aspect that takes the deal downward for me, not to rehash the same argument. Regardless of “character” he is a 50-60 pt player with RFA years left...hardly a throw in and I don’t think appropriate value was returned.

Maybe some addition by subtraction?

 

[Good Intentions]

This side of FA, sometimes the biggest acquisitions in shifting culture aren't even on the active roster. Is MSL on Gorton's list? I want this son of a gun behind our bench:

 

[TheGuarantee]

Yes. Tyson Barrie is a 50 point RHD. That is high end production from the most valuable commodity in the entire sport.

Yes, true, but I’d still take Kreider. Most valuable commodity is quite the hyperbole.

 

[Leetch3]

Yes, true, but I’d still take Kreider. Most valuable commodity is quite the hyperbole.

we also took ethan werek before barrie

 

[Tawnos]

Roman Lyashenko not Voloshenko

I wasn’t sure what he meant by sexting with 2nd rounders, so I left all the other errors alone.

 

[Boris Zubov]

You saw it. Yzerman didn’t?

Yzerman just gave him a contract that's going to look very bad in 3 years.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

This side of FA, sometimes the biggest acquisitions in shifting culture aren't even on the active roster. Is MSL on Gorton's list? I want this son of a gun behind our bench:

Thy not this guy:

 

[JT Kreider]

Yes, true, but I’d still take Kreider. Most valuable commodity is quite the hyperbole.

Nah, a puck moving offensive RHD is the most valuable commodity in the NHL right now.

 

[darko]

Nah, a puck moving offensive RHD is the most valuable commodity in the NHL right now.

Good thing we have Shatty.

 

[Alluckks]

It's poker. Gorton flinched first. If Yzerman said no and they lose in Round 2 or 3, he might be more desperate at the draft.

It's a matter of opinion. Trading a star should bring a star or potential star back.

I'm glad McDonagh's gone. He was brutal and declined fast. Just wish they got one elite stud rather a bunch of good to very good prospects. It wasn't bad trade. Just wish it brought back something real exciting.

Please tell us more of your insider information of how the deal went down

 

[darko]

Please tell us more of your insider information of how the deal went down

Gorts is an idiot. Everyone knows you wear sunnies when playing poker.

 

[Leetch3]

It's poker. Gorton flinched first. If Yzerman said no and they lose in Round 2 or 3, he might be more desperate at the draft.

It's a matter of opinion. Trading a star should bring a star or potential star back.

I'm glad McDonagh's gone. He was brutal and declined fast. Just wish they got one elite stud rather a bunch of good to very good prospects. It wasn't bad trade. Just wish it brought back something real exciting.

if gorton said no then you are right yzerman would be more desperate now and would be offering ottawa so much more for karlsson as we'd be sitting around with our balls in our hands

 

[Lone Ranger]

Ultimately I do agree with you. Gorton may have “done fine” given the circumstances but that doesn’t mean he is blameless.

There is a ton to be optimistic about RE Hajek, Howden, AND Lundkvist. They are all really solid to good prospects. But realistically as we sit here 4+ mos removed from the trade, it’s not unreasonable to fear that Gorton failed to get a player as good as McD OR Miller which is a pretty poor look. Lot of hockey to be played though, as cliche as that is...

The reasoning behind trading McD and Miller wasn't just about Gorton trying to get players of commensurate future value. It was also about the Rangers getting assets for players that they didn't want to make large financial commitments to, in light of the team's current makeup. If you factor in the future cap flexibility, along with the assets we received from Tampa, I think it puts the trade in a better light.

 

[Lone Ranger]

Karlsson was married before, to a Swede. Despite having been together for years prior, the marriage lasted a year. Certainly don't want to judge, but that's fairly unusual. (Not as unusual as the cyber bullying story from last month)... but still unusual.

Each hour that passes without an (official) Karlsson trade, the more bizarre the entire Karlsson situation becomes. Given that this player is the second most gifted hockey player in the game, I'm highly curious as to why he's not the most desired trade target since Lindros.

Is there an understanding behind the scenes that he's a more risky proposition than most will stomach?

His first wife vetoed the handlebar mustache. She had to go.

 

[Lays]

Cirelli is a nice player. That said, picking him over Andersson is very subjective...a little like picking Svechnikov over Dahlin.

Andersson is a much better prospect ainec. Cirelli has a few years on him as well. Cirelli doesn’t play with the grit that Lias does and Cirelli isn’t a leader type. Lias has a much better shot and defensive play. Lias’ IQ is slightly better (both have absurdly high hockey IQ) Cirelli is a better playmaker, but isn’t as gritty and doesn’t go the dirty areas as much. I don’t get why we’re comparing them though, they play nothing alike. Lias is a net front guy and more of a shooter. No bias even here but Lias is much better as a prospect now and even when Cirelli was at Lias’ age he wasn’t a better prospect