GDT: Free Agent Frenzy

[Oscar Lindberg]

Granlund
Haula
Soderberg
AA

They’re not signing any of these people

They’re lowballing these guys who are cheap as it is and when they inevitably decline we’ll be stuck with the same crappy depth that did them in last year

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Smith is the most undisciplined player the Rangers have, and it (among many other things) cost them heavily in the play-in. I am not a fan of his.

But I don't know that I see the point in buying him out.

What cost us was our star players not being star players plain and simple, they simply didn't have their legs and looked a step behind. The other issue is we weren't as deep as Carolina, Fast being out and Lemieux being suspended basically crippled our depth.

 

[Edge]

I guess I am not really what the expectation for free agent signings was this offseason.

With Lafreniere coming in right away, there’s not a ton of room for change via the free agent route unless you find a futures trade for Strome or trade ADA for someone less expensive.

 

[Chytilmania]

Just wait until someone refers to a montage in a post.

That sounds like a challenge, Darsh.

 

[Savant]

Trying to figure out if the best move was not Qualifying Strome in hindsight. The cap space may have been move valuable than the Day 2 pick. But Strome can still contribute obviously. Just seems like Rangers waiting for dominoes that never fell.

 

[haveandare]

I guess I am not really what the expectation for free agent signings was this offseason.

With Lafreniere coming in right away, there’s not a ton of room for change via the free agent route unless you find a futures trade for Strome or trade ADA for someone less expensive.

Seriously, the whining here is nuts. What are they going to do with this cap situation? They spent a ton last year and the cap isn’t going up at all. Plus the cushion they need for bonuses.

The team is going to improve by young players playing better. A ton of the roster is the age where you can reasonably expect them to improve year to year. Plus we just added Laf who will shortly be a better player than almost anyone who has signed anywhere this FA period.

I get people are stir crazy but geez

 

[Edge]

Trying to figure out if the best move was not Qualifying Strome in hindsight. The cap space may have been move valuable than the Day 2 pick. But Strome can still contribute obviously. Just seems like Rangers waiting for dominoes that never fell.

Strome is in a weird spot. He’s going to be looking for a pay day for last season, and even his production since coming over from Edmonton. But I don’t think there’s a league wide interest in that - especially with the economic situation.

In hindsight, the Rangers probably should have moved both Fast and Strome at the deadline.

 

[Raspewtin]

there's your defenseman that's way better than JJ.

 

[Matt Rentfree]

Strome is in a weird spot. He’s going to be looking for a pay day for last season, and even his production since coming over from Edmonton. But I don’t think there’s a league wide interest in that - especially with the economic situation.

In hindsight, the Rangers probably should have moved both Fast and Strome at the deadline.

True, but butterfly effect. If we had done that, we might be sitting here with Lundell instead of Lafreniere.

 

[Kovalev27]

I just was hoping we’d move Strome sign a bottom six center and not sign the worst available free agent player

so far 0 for 3

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

In hindsight, the Rangers probably should have moved both Fast and Strome at the deadline.

Not directing this towards you in a disrespectful way, but it was blatantly obvious at the time that was the move.

Strome was never going to be more valuable than he was than. And renting Fast when you traded away your top LD for futures despite trying to make the playoffs made no sense to me

 

[broadwayblue]

I just was hoping we’d move Strome sign a bottom six center and not sign the worst available free agent player

so far 0 for 3

The first two will happen eventually.

 

[broadwayblue]

Not directing this towards you in a disrespectful way, but it was blatantly obvious at the time that was the move.

Strome was never going to be more valuable than he was than. And renting Fast when you traded away your top LD for futures despite trying to make the playoffs made no sense to me

Fortunately they didn't. Winning the #1 overall was worth losing Fast for nothing.

 

[Raspewtin]

I guess I am not really what the expectation for free agent signings was this offseason.

With Lafreniere coming in right away, there’s not a ton of room for change via the free agent route unless you find a futures trade for Strome or trade ADA for someone less expensive.

Seriously, the whining here is nuts. What are they going to do with this cap situation? They spent a ton last year and the cap isn’t going up at all. Plus the cushion they need for bonuses.

The team is going to improve by young players playing better. A ton of the roster is the age where you can reasonably expect them to improve year to year. Plus we just added Laf who will shortly be a better player than almost anyone who has signed anywhere this FA period.

I get people are stir crazy but geez

It's honestly not complicated. Sign some cheap depth that can do things we lack (PK, especially with Fast gone) and a 6LD. No one asked for an impact move. No one asked to break the bank. No one asked for Hall or Pietrangelo.

The moves they made for Hartford/13F depth are good in Rooney/Blackwell. They got their expansion pieces, also good. It's really not asking a lot to sign 1 or even 2 of the good depth forwards to bolster the 4th line and give it some multi dimensionality. There were literally 15+ players on FA day that fit this criteria not even including players like Wennberg who were likely sought after.

I find it really hard to believe we couldn't get a good forward or two a $1 million cause of our potential arbitration cases. It's not a make or break for our season probably but it was a brainless and easy move that would solve probably the biggest problem our team had last year in a useless bottom 6. Can't believe we aren't allowed to expect the team to improve that.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Fortunately they didn't. Winning the #1 overall was worth losing Fast for nothing.

That's fine, that still doesn't change they made the wrong decision at the time

 

[Ail]

there's your defenseman that's way better than JJ.

Yes but does he have a connection with Martin?

 

[Tawnos]

What cost us was our star players not being star players plain and simple, they simply didn't have their legs and looked a step behind. The other issue is we weren't as deep as Carolina, Fast being out and Lemieux being suspended basically crippled our depth.

I did say among many other issues. But, Smith took momentum changing penalties in both games 2 and 3. It's at least possible that the stars would've found their legs if the little bit of momentum that had in those moments was able to be sustained longer. It wasn't the biggest problem, but it's a perfect example of why I don't like the player.

 

[duhmetreE]

Strome is in a weird spot. He’s going to be looking for a pay day for last season, and even his production since coming over from Edmonton. But I don’t think there’s a league wide interest in that - especially with the economic situation.

In hindsight, the Rangers probably should have moved both Fast and Strome at the deadline.

Strome and/or ADA at 1/2 price should have good value.

 

[Kovalev27]

The first two will happen eventually.

hope so brotha

 

[duhmetreE]

Cirelli makes way too much sense not to sniff around. We have the assets to get it done

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

I just hope they find some guys that can actually PK, otherwise they are going to have to out gun other teams each night.

 

[RGY]

I guess I am not really what the expectation for free agent signings was this offseason.

With Lafreniere coming in right away, there’s not a ton of room for change via the free agent route unless you find a futures trade for Strome or trade ADA for someone less expensive.

I think I just look at this team and say well we really could use depth (just as we needed it last year and passed on cheap vets). The bottom 6 has 1-2 starting spots imo. And then there is the 13th and even 14th forward need with the threat of COVID positive tests. And no I dont consider guys like Rooney or Blackwell as competent options. I get they signed them for expansion purposes, or probably did, but those guys have very minimal NHL experience.

So even with Lafreniere taking a spot, you let Fast walk, so that kinda washes that...and then I look at it and see a need for insurance at 3C to Chytil being more or a wing if he cant produce there and then a 4th line W to compliment Lemmy and can PK.

Granlund, Haula, Wallmark, Clifford, Soderberg, Grabner, Boyle, and Brassard. All guys who can fill in there somewhere and provide important depth as a well as diversify our group more in addition to not rolling out all youth in the bottom 6. This team needs to start taking steps forward. All those guys mentioned are short term 1-2 year options. They arent blocking anyone. And similar to Jack Johnson, if someone like Barron forces his way onto the roster, the Vet contract is cheap enough to be a healthy scratch or send to the Minors, in which case another team might pick up on waivers. OR you can move that vet for a 3rd or 4th round pick.

There is still plenty of time for things to happen but the vibe feels like the FO is very passive about this.

 

[Avery16]

maybe he got tired of doing everyone’s dirty work.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

 

[duhmetreE]

maybe he got tired of doing everyone’s dirty work.

I think he just didn't want to be in New York City anymore. From the cost to all the other crap thats going on.

Making $2M in Carolina is like making $4-6M in New York