Speculation: Free Agent Frenzy Part VI: Someone Get Gorton A Vesey Button.

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Maybe the lottery balls flow our way this year for a prize that is almost as nice as Dahlin.

Getting first pick is great, but if we are really bad, like one of the 2-3 worst records in the league, we'll be guaranteed a top 5 pick. This team last year was too in-between for their own good. We were bad early on, but we were bad with McDonagh, Miller, Shattenkirk, Grabner, Nash, Smith. Bad for a team with playoff expectations. Not bad enough to get one of the highest picks. A team that is rebuilding needs to set out as bad with a young roster. You'll end up in mediocrity land with the 9th pick, if you do what we did last season. Its better to correct a mistake late than never, but the Rangers lost themselves a top 5 pick by not announcing themselves as rebuilding a full year ago.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Getting first pick is great, but if we are really bad, like one of the 2-3 worst records in the league, we'll be guaranteed a top 5 pick. This team last year was too in-between for their own good. We were bad early on, but we were bad with McDonagh, Miller, Shattenkirk, Grabner, Nash, Smith. Bad for a team with playoff expectations. Not bad enough to get one of the highest picks. A team that is rebuilding needs to set out as bad with a young roster. You'll end up in mediocrity land with the 9th pick, if you do what we did last season. Its better to correct a mistake late than never, but the Rangers lost themselves a top 5 pick by not announcing themselves as rebuilding a full year ago.

The mantra that you need to draft in the top 3 to find elite talent has been proven wrong so many times.

 

[aufheben]

I’m not sure if I’m more surprised at Wilson’s contract or Capitals fans being happy with his contract

The latter is completely unsurprising to me.

 

[Gardner McKay]

The latter is completely unsurprising to me.

Im as big of a Tom Wilson fan as anyone out there but... that contract is way too much.

 

[thethirdhockeyman91]

With Tom Wilson getting over 5, the Hayes camp is probably asking for 7 now and if Wilson is worth 5, then Nayes is worth 7. f*** general managers who sign these ridiculous contracts, it’s drives up the price for ever other free agent.

 

[Section311]

Any NTC/NMC for Wilson?

With the contract he got there was no need for a ntc because it’s already unmovable

 

[TheGuarantee]

With Tom Wilson getting over 5, the Hayes camp is probably asking for 7 now and if Wilson is worth 5, then Nayes is worth 7. **** general managers who sign these ridiculous contracts, it’s drives up the price for ever other free agent.

Not really how it works

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Possibly. Kreider was hurt. Smith was banished. The kids weren't up yet. They really didn't have (and maybe still don't) players to replace the people they traded. Namestnikov was probably shell shocked. The whole team, I think, was in a state of stupor given this announced rebuild was probably something they didn't see coming.

It'll be interesting. I think if certain things come together the right way, we can be competitive. Not Stanley Cup competitive, but in the running for 8. It just as likely they'll finish bottom 5. Oddly enough, I'm looking forward to this year a lot more than last year.

We haven't come close to replacing what we sent out. The issue with what you're saying is that you've basically ignored the 2+ months of horrible hockey they played prior to selling everyone off. Yes it only really started to reflect this in the standings after December, but they were getting their teeth kicked in way before they announced that they were going to sell. Their record against team that made the playoffs after the new year was something like 3-17. 2 of those wins came against back ups or back ups of backups (to be fair, we won 2 of those games with Pavlec and Geo)

They actually performed slightly better once the guys were sold off but it was still really more of the same where they got heavily outplayed in almost every game. Some of that was AV, but some of it was also what they were throwing out there.

Now if certain guys take a big leap forward next year its one thing, but it would have to collectively be like 4 or 5 guys with others maintaining their level of play - When you're asking for all of this to come together, you're really asking for too much.

 

[egelband]

Im as big of a Tom Wilson fan as anyone out there but... that contract is way too much.

Mentioned it in the ‘around the league’ thread but Wilson has got himself under the league’s microscope now. Either he’s going to have to stop the dirty stuff or he’s going to be sitting a lot. Either way, he will never be as effective and valuable as he is now. Unless he develops some new skills. He truly signed his contract at the exact best time.

 

[Fvital92]

One must know these two players pretty well personally to make such a definitive statement.

They are pro players paid millions to play, people sometimes pity a lot these guys for nothing.
Of course both of them were pissed they were traded to a shitty team, Spooner was absolutely miserable in his first interview here, but that didn't stop his performance. Namestnikov didn't do nothing here, which was pretty disapointing.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Honestly though, I rather have Wilson destroying people and putting up 30 points @5.17 mil than Namestnikov @ 4 mil scoring 45 points.

Still though I don't understand why they paid Wilson so much, were they scared he can turn into 60 point player if they gave him a bridge deal and demand 8 mil?

 

[Irishguy42]

Honestly though, I rather have Wilson destroying people and putting up 30 points @5.17 mil than Namestnikov @ 4 mil scoring 45 points.

Still though I don't understand why they paid Wilson so much, were they scared he can turn into 60 point player if they gave him a bridge deal and demand 8 mil?

Because they paid for his playoff performance this past season. 15 in 21.

But let's never mind that the rest of his playoffs are 5 in 41. Or 104 in 391, if you look at regular season.

35 points spending 660 of 1080 minutes with combination of Backstrom/Ovechkin/Kuznetzov.

Garbage contract. The only redeeming part of Wilson is that he can skate well enough to keep up with being on the first line.

Zucker scored 33 last year. Goals. Signed 5.5x5. Mucu better player getting a little bit more.

The thing that really gets me about this deal is the term. Six years is a lot for Wilson.

 

[Ghost of jas]

We haven't come close to replacing what we sent out. The issue with what you're saying is that you've basically ignored the 2+ months of horrible hockey they played prior to selling everyone off. Yes it only really started to reflect this in the standings after December, but they were getting their teeth kicked in way before they announced that they were going to sell. Their record against team that made the playoffs after the new year was something like 3-17. 2 of those wins came against back ups or back ups of backups (to be fair, we won 2 of those games with Pavlec and Geo)

They actually performed slightly better once the guys were sold off but it was still really more of the same where they got heavily outplayed in almost every game. Some of that was AV, but some of it was also what they were throwing out there.

Now if certain guys take a big leap forward next year its one thing, but it would have to collectively be like 4 or 5 guys with others maintaining their level of play - When you're asking for all of this to come together, you're really asking for too much.

So much this. Just about every argument about why the Rangers could challenge for a playoff spot is complete with not only "yes' being the answer to every question mark they have, but, a resounding 'yes'. When this team had better and more consistent offensive players, it still found ways to struggle offensively through periods. Even in younger years, Henke had periods of not being able to cover the inefficiencies in front of him. Even with deeper squads, injuries took their toll. Even having a top notch defender such as McDonagh didn't make better defensive groups competent. And now, a team with a new head coach with no prior head coaching experience in the NHL is going to have immediate success, especially in a division where none of the playoff teams above them went backwards? Even newbies such as Hynes and Hakstol needed a couple of years to reach the playoffs. This roster has no resemblance to a playoff-caliber team.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Honestly though, I rather have Wilson destroying people and putting up 30 points @5.17 mil than Namestnikov @ 4 mil scoring 45 points.

Still though I don't understand why they paid Wilson so much, were they scared he can turn into 60 point player if they gave him a bridge deal and demand 8 mil?

$4MM for a player that can score 45 and play center is a steal.

 

[haohmaru]

We haven't come close to replacing what we sent out. The issue with what you're saying is that you've basically ignored the 2+ months of horrible hockey they played prior to selling everyone off. Yes it only really started to reflect this in the standings after December, but they were getting their teeth kicked in way before they announced that they were going to sell. Their record against team that made the playoffs after the new year was something like 3-17. 2 of those wins came against back ups or back ups of backups (to be fair, we won 2 of those games with Pavlec and Geo)

They actually performed slightly better once the guys were sold off but it was still really more of the same where they got heavily outplayed in almost every game. Some of that was AV, but some of it was also what they were throwing out there.

Now if certain guys take a big leap forward next year its one thing, but it would have to collectively be like 4 or 5 guys with others maintaining their level of play - When you're asking for all of this to come together, you're really asking for too much.

There are no "issues" with what I've said because I haven't said that I expect them to do ANYTHING. All I've said is that going into this season I don't know what to expect - we could be out of it by January (which is clearly YOUR position) or if certain things fall into place we could be competing for a playoff spot at the deadline (which isn't even saying that we're making the playoffs - it's saying we could be in the mix for the 8th spot).

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Im as big of a Tom Wilson fan as anyone out there but... that contract is way too much.

Jesus, missed that one, but thinking about it, the Caps overpaid him maybe by 1 million per year, tops.

 

[East Coast Bias]

Honestly though, I rather have Wilson destroying people and putting up 30 points @5.17 mil than Namestnikov @ 4 mil scoring 45 points.

Still though I don't understand why they paid Wilson so much, were they scared he can turn into 60 point player if they gave him a bridge deal and demand 8 mil?

There’s a 4 year difference in that contract. Wilson got 6 years. Names 2.

 

[haohmaru]

Honestly though, I rather have Wilson destroying people and putting up 30 points @5.17 mil than Namestnikov @ 4 mil scoring 45 points.

Still though I don't understand why they paid Wilson so much, were they scared he can turn into 60 point player if they gave him a bridge deal and demand 8 mil?

I'd rather have Kevin Hayes at 5 x 5 than have Tom Wilson at 5.17

 

[darko]

There’s a 4 year difference in that contract. Wilson got 6 years. Names 2.

This.

 

[Ola]

My first reaction to the Wilson signing was ‘great, he will be a worn out concussion victim in a few years after everyone have settled their scores with him night in and night out’, but one thought that struck me was that, is there anyone to settle scores with a Wilson still out there?

Look at Lucic, he is done physically and mentally. It takes its toll even on a monster like him. But Lucic fought how many times, 50?

I know a bunch of arguments can be made left and forth. Wilson turtles. Lucic had other issues. Etc etc etc. Sure, but the phenomen is still there.

 

[Cag29]

So much this. Just about every argument about why the Rangers could challenge for a playoff spot is complete with not only "yes' being the answer to every question mark they have, but, a resounding 'yes'. When this team had better and more consistent offensive players, it still found ways to struggle offensively through periods. Even in younger years, Henke had periods of not being able to cover the inefficiencies in front of him. Even with deeper squads, injuries took their toll. Even having a top notch defender such as McDonagh didn't make better defensive groups competent. And now, a team with a new head coach with no prior head coaching experience in the NHL is going to have immediate success, especially in a division where none of the playoff teams above them went backwards? Even newbies such as Hynes and Hakstol needed a couple of years to reach the playoffs. This roster has no resemblance to a playoff-caliber team.

Jack Hughes here we come! I can deal with growing pains. We need high end talent to go with our new suddenly deep group of prospects.
Hopefully they install Quinn’s system in Hartford so the kids are groomed before being brought up to the big club. LGR!

 

[RangerBoy]

So much this. Just about every argument about why the Rangers could challenge for a playoff spot is complete with not only "yes' being the answer to every question mark they have, but, a resounding 'yes'. When this team had better and more consistent offensive players, it still found ways to struggle offensively through periods. Even in younger years, Henke had periods of not being able to cover the inefficiencies in front of him. Even with deeper squads, injuries took their toll. Even having a top notch defender such as McDonagh didn't make better defensive groups competent. And now, a team with a new head coach with no prior head coaching experience in the NHL is going to have immediate success, especially in a division where none of the playoff teams above them went backwards? Even newbies such as Hynes and Hakstol needed a couple of years to reach the playoffs. This roster has no resemblance to a playoff-caliber team.

Gorton was on the NHL Network on Tuesday night. He was asked which player he wants to see take the next step. Gorton said Zibanejad and the Rangers will need a big season from him if they want to compete for a playoff spot.

 

[eco's bones]

I have strong doubt that the Rangers will make the playoffs this next year. I have no doubt though that they will try. I suspect we'll land somewhere in the 8-12 range before the next lottery drawing.

In any case there are downsides and upsides to practically everything you do. An upside to the team finishing 10th worse for instance would be one or both of Chytil/Andersson establishing themselves as bonafide NHL players or it could be other guys. The Rangers are going to be looking at a lot of players over the next few years and weeding out those who work and those who don't and even moving some of those who do work for other assets. That doesn't mean though we're never going to be in the playoffs again. We are at a point though where just making the playoffs--not contending for a Stanley Cup is the goal.

 

[Good Intentions]

$4MM for a player that can score 45 and play center is a steal.

Beyond the points, you're paying for Namestnikov to be a cultural bridge for this youth movement. Multilingual, relatable and young in his own right (25), has a winning pedigree from some pretty good teams, defensively responsible, Namestnikov is central casting for what we need. I think he's going to be very good New York Ranger.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I have strong doubt that the Rangers will make the playoffs this next year. I have no doubt though that they will try. I suspect we'll land somewhere in the 8-12 range before the next lottery drawing.

In any case there are downsides and upsides to practically everything you do. An upside to the team finishing 10th worse for instance would be one or both of Chytil/Andersson establishing themselves as bonafide NHL players or it could be other guys. The Rangers are going to be looking at a lot of players over the next few years and weeding out those who work and those who don't and even moving some of those who do work for other assets. That doesn't mean though we're never going to be in the playoffs again. We are at a point though where just making the playoffs--not contending for a Stanley Cup is the goal.

This is a very optimistic view IMO. The Rangers currently have a bottom five roster. And teams that are potentially in their range - the Isles, Wings and Canucks - all made moves to move towards mediocrity. If Trotz does nothing else, he will tighten up the defense. Both the Wings and Canucks have been criticized for making moves that won't allow them to bottom out. The only team that I can confidently say is guaranteed to be worse than the Rangers is the tirefire known as Ottawa.