Speculation: Free Agent Frenzy Part V: Gorton is on McLeod Nine.

[Vitto79]

Gotta think Gilmour takes his two way deal too

 

[Ola]

Gotta think Gilmour takes his two way deal too

How long until the deadline? Is it noon today?

 

[Irishguy42]

How long until the deadline? Is it noon today?

Tomorrow (July 15) at 5pm ET is the deadline for qualifying offers to be accepted.

 

[Mac n Gs]

This was surprising to see. The top5 of that 2012 draft class is something else, especially looking at who went after:

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

This was surprising to see. The top5 of that 2012 draft class is something else, especially looking at who went after:

I think you meant top-4 cause Rielly is a beast

 

[Siddi]

I didn’t see that game, what happened?

Nashville went all smashville on our asses.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I think you meant top-4 cause Rielly is a beast

Eh, he’s a bit overrated to me and Lindholm went sjortly after, and I easily choose him

 

[BBKers]

Gotta think Gilmour takes his two way deal too

Bigras as well

 

[Ola]

There were a lot of trades this draft/July 1 plus minus a couple of weeks.

Besides the contract dumps:
-Domi för Galchenyuk
-The Hoffman deals
-The ROR trade
-The Hanfin and Lindholm for Hamilton and Fox trade

Four hockey trades, it’s more than you usually see. 8 GMs pulled the trigger on something. 25% of all teams.

It’s not easy for Gorts to get something done, nobody does anything when it comes down to it. The Cap is blamed, it’s BS. The problem is that there is no pressure on GMs to do anything. A trade is just further exposure, and they can keep saying that they are building for the future.

Some make it sound like it’s an extremely advanced puzzle to make a trade fit under the cap. It’s BS, so many contracts are roughly in the same neighborhood. A 2.2m contract for a contract that is like 1.5 to 3.5. There are hundreds of potential targets. Building a team is a puzzle, still almost nobody — or scratch that — nobody can fill a need by trading like a LW because you have LW depth for a LD where they have a need with someone needing the opposite. It’s laughable.

Only one trade is made due to need somewhat, and that is the Hamilton trade. The rest are motivated of other things, the Hoffman GF mess, Galy and Domi needing a change of scenery, ROR wanting out and so forth.

Why is nobody calling out GMs for being so extremely risk adverse?? Why aren’t owners acting?

 

[Thirty One]

Lots of people mentioning Hartnell, but he’s a guy I picture signing for cheap on a contender if that option is available to him.

 

[NYR94]

This was surprising to see. The top5 of that 2012 draft class is something else, especially looking at who went after:

Didn't snow offer Columbus the islanders entire draft worth of picks to move up that year?

 

[BBKers]

Lots of people mentioning Hartnell, but he’s a guy I picture signing for cheap on a contender if that option is available to him.

Or we sign him cheap and collect something at the TDL

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Not much for JG to do:
1. Sign RFAs
2. Trade Spooner for mid 2nd and a Close to NHL ready B Player
3. Bring in a vet G cheaply just in case
4. Take on Cally for Raddysh (if we have to buy him out next year, figures are reasonable)

Deadline:
1. Trade Zuc as rental for a 1st and B prospect
2. Look to offload Staal/Smith if possible and eat part of contracts and add C prospects, late pick if it helps
3. Consider Hayes/Kreider/Naz/Shatty if we are blown away
4. Ask Hank his preference again (things change in a year)

2 years
KZKrastsov
Naz Chytil Buch
Meskanen Andersson Raddysh
Vesey Howden Fast

Skjei Hayes return
Hajek trade/FA
Lindgren/Miller ADA/Pionk

Shesty/Georgy

 

[Avery16]

Lots of people mentioning Hartnell, but he’s a guy I picture signing for cheap on a contender if that option is available to him.

You mean, if and when he decides he’s healthy enough to play another season

 

[nyr2k2]

It all remains to be seen. Hartford/Connecticut have been pretty bad over the last decade. Chicken or the egg issue, but a lot of good franchises have good farm teams that get post season experience. Of course you need to acquire young talent but part of it is committing to AHL career players that flesh out the roster.

I want to see how camp shakes out. If McLeod winds up on the whale rounding out the roster, it's far from a bad signing. Protection, work ethic, experience. He can show the way to the prospects. I'm curious to see if the rangers start making an effort to improve Connecticut in the hopes of making some deep runs.

IDK, they've had guys like Megna, Luke Adam, Kampfer, Tarnasky, Chris Bourque, Chris Mueller, etc. They've had guys with good work ethic and experience down there (I'm not getting into "protection") and those are just the guys with NHL experience (plus there are others I didn't mention). They've had plenty more AHL lifers. Just last year, AHL guys, they had Kosmachuk, Schneider, Whitney, they brought in Sproul, DeSalvo, Catenacci, Selleck, etc. So, they tried.

It hasn't worked out for them for a variety of reasons. The AHL vets or NHL guys phoning it in and Company Man Ken not holding people accountable, Ken not being a good coach in general, a weak prospect pool, etc. Hey, I hope McLeod goes down and "shows then the way," though I'm not sure what he'd be showing other that working hard to be okay at punching other players is a good way to continue to find employment.

Let's hope it works out.

 

[Thirty One]

Or we sign him cheap and collect something at the TDL

Yeah I’ve thought about this marketing strategy for the Rangers.

Instead of picking a contender you think will have a good shot at the Stanley Cup in the summer, sign with us for one year. NMC but you have to give one team you will accept a trade to if asked. Live in NYC with all the hookers and blow you can ask for for five months, and then get to pick your team you’re going on a playoff run with after watching most of the season play out.

 

[bobbop]

McLeod at $750,000 1 year is preferable to Komorov or Reaves at $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 for 3-4 years. No doubt this was a last resort for management to bring back McLeod. Sometimes it's just familiarity and known entity over going out and inquiring about a player that is in limbo.

They just want a tough guy in the lineup for the Islanders games. After a glass of ice tea, I think McLeod will likely play 10-12 games a year if all goes according to plan but if we get a lot of injuries, the coaching staff might be tempted to put McLeod in over an AHL caliber forward because of McLeod's veteran presence and his intangible energies even though AHL lifers are more skilled than McLeod.

Reaves got $2.75MM for two years. A year ago he was traded for a first round draft choice. He can actually play hockey in case you haven’t noticed.

We missed there.

 

[AKA Chief]

Forsberg had groin problems. Philly was pissed at him for playing. Sundin was 35 or 36. They played in a best of the best tournament, look at the Czech team they crushed. But you of course have a point.

Just saying, I don’t think the talk about spreading out the talent by Bern is that outrageous. But Boo just haven’t been good enough after his concussion. Can he step up this year?

OLA, you know I respect your opinions. You're one of my favorite reads on here. Understand what you were trying to say, and agree on Boo. In fact, I'd say he has done nothing to show that he will compliment talented players in any substantial way.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

This was surprising to see. The top5 of that 2012 draft class is something else, especially looking at who went after:

The first two round wow. Rangers got one of the better players in the 1st. Several later round picks would go in the top 10.

 

[Mikos87]

Veteran leadership. Zucc, Henrik, staal, possibly Cally if we take on his deal

All strong leaders.

Hars working guys... Fasth, Henrik, zucc, staal, possibly Cally.

It's an area I have zero concern about.

Of Cody McLeod leadership is what's going to make or break these kids careers...we are in much bigger crap than any of us want to admit.

With that said I do buy the protect the kids in the ahl argument because whoever said it...I think @NYR Viper points out that it is still a bit of a goon league. so if McLeod is going to the minors that's fine. And I guess if u want to dress him for the isles since they are 50% worthless idiots who will take runs then sure that's fine too. Other than that it's worthless. Fighting is worthless. It would be one thing If McLeod belted people with hits from time to time like Chris neil or something. But he doesn't. He doesn't crush ppl with hits....fighting is more or less gone from the game, he can't skate hit pass etc. I'd honestly rather have tanner glass...and I can't believe I'm saying that.

Hank yes. Staal-> mailed in a season prior to last. Zucc-> everyone's chum... Fast-> hard worker... None of those guys are ones that I'd follow.

That said you need guys that can look after the young guys. I dont see Cody playing 30 games even, so I'm not worried about the on ice impact.

I'm not sure if you want to cultivate a yuppie culture that AV did. Guys like Shelley and Prust did a great job back in the day. I'm hoping McLeod can do the same.

Again, not saying he should play 20 games but just help the guys with the off ice stuff.

 

[Boruto]

Reaves got $2.75MM for two years. A year ago he was traded for a first round draft choice. He can actually play hockey in case you haven’t noticed.

We missed there.

$2.75M for a guy that is tough and can play minimal amounts of hockey, 79GP 4-6-10 is an over payment. Jesper Fast, albeit as an RFA is making $1.85M putting up 40 points over 82 games, skates well, have offensive skills, and can definitely take a step forward if he get consistent middle 6 minutes. I get your point about Reaves being acceptable while McLeod is unacceptable but spending $2,750,000 of cap on Ryan Reaves is still too much for me. Pittsburgh giving up just short of a 1st round pick in that deal overall for Reaves is and was a stupid move and they know it well. That trade shocked everyone including Reaves who didn't expect to hear his name in a trade for a 1st round pick. PIT increased his value in that trade. "If the two time consecutive champs value this man so highly, he must be worth a lot".

 

[Edge]

Good point. He is talented and in an absolutely perfect situation now. I’d think he’s good but this season is like: are you a star or a secondary scorer?

I will say that I think he has the potential to be a star. But there’s something that’s been missing to this point — a certain killer instinct.

Granted it hasn’t been helped with injuries, but I firmly believe that Zibanejad has the ability to be a first line center.

 

[Mikos87]

This was surprising to see. The top5 of that 2012 draft class is something else, especially looking at who went after:

The funny thing is that some people thought he had Niedermayer potential... Murray has thr legs but not the brains. Still a very good D. But injuries kept him from getting the minutes.

CLB has a stacked D when healthy. Kukan is a really good one.

 

[bobbop]

$2.75M for a guy that is tough and can play minimal amounts of hockey, 79GP 4-6-10 is an over payment. Jesper Fast, albeit as an RFA is making $1.85M putting up 40 points over 82 games, skates well, have offensive skills, and can definitely take a step forward if he get consistent middle 6 minutes. I get your point about Reaves being acceptable while McLeod is unacceptable but spending $2,750,000 of cap on Ryan Reaves is still too much for me. Pittsburgh giving up just short of a 1st round pick in that deal overall for Reaves is and was a stupid move and they know it well. That trade shocked everyone including Reaves who didn't expect to hear his name in a trade for a 1st round pick. PIT increased his value in that trade. "If the two time consecutive champs value this man so highly, he must be worth a lot".

I don’t value Reaves highly because he was traded for a draft pick. I’m not that stupid. I’ve watched him play for the last several years and have always been impressed. He was a valuable player for the Blues and he was excellent in the playoffs. When he was inserted in the San Jose series, he changed the dynamic. Pittsburgh players were very unhappy when he was traded to Vegas.

 

[SA16]

Reaves can't play. He gets outshot and outscored by a mile when he's on the ice and he puts up no offense himself. He also takes a lot of penalties. He hits a lot and he slows the game down a lot when he's on the ice.