July 1st recap: Now and the Future

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

What are everyone's general thoughts about the moves we made today?

I personally feel that we're a much worse team then we were a month ago. I understood letting Pouliot go; he chased the money on a terrible team. It's obvious that winning isn't top priority on his agenda; fine and best of luck to him. But to let Stralman walk for a 38 year old Boyle and to not resign B. Boyle at $2M per? And sign Tanner Glass? I haven't been this disappointed in a while as a Ranger fan.

Are you guys comfortable with the kids filling in spots? Who else, if anyone out there would you guys like to see us sign?

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[broadwayblue]

We are not much worse. Holes will be filled. It happens every year.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

We are not much worse. Holed will be filled. It happens every year.

How?

2/3rds of our 4th line that was dominant most of the year is gone. A big reason why our 3rd line was easily the best one we've ever had is gone. We did nothing to address the glaring hole at 1C while there is a plethora of available high end centers. This was a miserable, miserable day for us

 

[broadwayblue]

How?

2/3rds of our 4th line that was dominant most of the year is gone. A big reason why our 3rd line was easily the best one we've ever had is gone. We did nothing to address the glaring hole at 1C while there is a plethora of available high end centers. This was a miserable, miserable day for us

You are being over the top dramatic. We lost a couple decent guys, but nobody that was part of the core or isn't replaceable. They are 4th line players for a reason. Everyone knew the team was up against the cap and wasn't making a play for a high priced UFA C like Stastny. Every year people get all bent out of shape because we don't have the perfect roster on July 1. We still have July 2 and beyond. We still have training camp. We still have the regular season. We still have the trade deadline. Seriously, relax and stop crying.

 

[Dr. Ogrodnick]

What are everyone's general thoughts about the moves we made today?

I personally feel that we're a much worse team then we were a month ago. I understood letting Pouliot go; he chased the money on a terrible team. It's obvious that winning isn't top priority on his agenda; fine and best of luck to him. But to let Stralman walk for a 38 year old Boyle and to not resign B. Boyle at $2M per? And sign Tanner Glass? I haven't been this disappointed in a while as a Ranger fan.

Are you guys comfortable with the kids filling in spots? Who else, if anyone out there would you guys like to see us sign?

I get the feeling that Boyle was more about the promise of an expanded role. Rangers would have matched that. The terms of the D. Boyle signing aren't that bad, and if he QBs the power play decently it does kill two birds with one stone. I got nothing on the Glass signing, pointless move for a crappy player.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

There is no "glaring hole" at 1C, that is simply your anti-Stepan agenda being at large per usual.

If Erik Christensen was still our 1C, sure, we'd have a "glaring hole", but, please, don't confuse "not necessarily ideal" with "incompetent".

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

You are being over the top dramatic. We lost a couple decent guys, but nobody that was part of the core or isn't replaceable. They are 4th line players for a reason. Everyone knew the team was up against the cap and wasn't making a play for a high priced UFA C like Stastny. Every year people get all bent out of shape because we don't have the perfect roster on July 1. We still have July 2 and beyond. We still have training camp. We still have the regular season. We still have the trade deadline. Seriously, relax and stop crying.

I don't need a perfect roster. For a team that was 3 wins away from lifting the cup, I want a better roster. Forward progress, not backwards. There were several players today that signed for very reasonable contracts, and here we are with Tanner Glass? The strength of this team was it's depth. Rick Nash wasn't scoring in the playoffs. Neither was Brad Richards. Our depth picked up the slack; we should have been doing everything necessary to build onto that depth, not let it walk away for nothing (with the exception of Pouliot, his deal is a joke).

Had Sather been a competent GM, he could have signed a bunch of these guys mid season instead of waiting until the last minute and getting nothing for them. It's terrible asset management. I'm sure Tampa doesn't mind though. They made out like bandits today with 2 of our former players

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

There is no "glaring hole" at 1C, that is simply your anti-Stepan agenda being at large per usual.

If Erik Christensen was still our 1C, sure, we'd have a "glaring hole", but, please, don't confuse "not necessarily ideal" with "incompetent".

There's no hole at 1C? Please. The Kings just made us their ***** because of their center depth. Look at the powerhouse teams in the West. Their 2nd line centers are better than Stepan, and their defense is equivalent.

And show me where I said Stepan was incompetent. He's an excellent 2 way center. But we will not win a cup with him as the best center on the team, period

 

[broadwayblue]

I don't need a perfect roster. For a team that was 3 wins away from lifting the cup, I want a better roster. Forward progress, not backwards. There were several players today that signed for very reasonable contracts, and here we are with Tanner Glass? The strength of this team was it's depth. Rick Nash wasn't scoring in the playoffs. Neither was Brad Richards. Our depth picked up the slack; we should have been doing everything necessary to build onto that depth, not let it walk away for nothing (with the exception of Pouliot, his deal is a joke).

Had Sather been a competent GM, he could have signed a bunch of these guys mid season instead of waiting until the last minute and getting nothing for them. It's terrible asset management. I'm sure Tampa doesn't mind though. They made out like bandits today with 2 of our former players

I don't get the Glass signing either...but it's a freaking 4th liner for crying out loud. Sure, cap space is cap space...but it's 1.5M we're talking about. Hardly the end of the world. If we want another bottom line player we can get one pretty easily down the road. Let's worry about important things. You do remember that Brian Boyle scored 6 goals last season, right?

 

[Doctyl]

2 million is too much for Boyle, especially when we're trying to fit our RFAs under the cap. I'd rather have Kreider MZA Brass than Brian Boyle and Stralman

 

[offdacrossbar]

Awful day

Lose stral. Poo. Boyle. Trade dd.

Add Dan Boyle and tanner freekin glass.

Stepan
Brass
Miller
Moore.

Horrible..horrible down the middle. Small slow and unproductive. Ugh.

I give today a solid woo****inghoo

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Does anyone think the Rangers brass did the honorable thing and told Boyle he would not be used in an expanded role instead of lying to him just so he'd resign?

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Awful day

Lose stral. Poo. Boyle. Trade dd.

Add Dan Boyle and tanner freekin glass.

Stepan
Brass
Miller
Moore.

Horrible..horrible down the middle. Small slow and unproductive. Ugh.

I give today a solid woo****inghoo

The only difference down the middle is no more Richards, who had to be bought out. That and Sather actually did not overpay for a UFA big name player for once.

 

[offdacrossbar]

The only difference down the middle is no more Richards, who had to be bought out. That and Sather actually did not overpay for a UFA big name player for once.

We were weak last year. We are no better or weaker this year. It all starts up the middle.

Slow and small worries me.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Does anyone think the Rangers brass did the honorable thing and told Boyle he would not be used in an expanded role instead of lying to him just so he'd resign?

The history of how Glen Sather has treated players in the past would dictate that there's not a snowballs chance in hell that this is what happened

 

[Inferno]

...as of right now...


Last season:
Kreider - Stepan - Nash

This season
Kreider - Stepan - Nash

Result: Same

Last Season:
Hagelin - Richards - MSL

Next Season:
Hagelin - Miller - MSL

Result:
Worse. Richards scored what, almost 50 points? I'd be shocked if Miller does the same.

Last Season:
Pouliot - Brassard - MZA

This Season:
Fasth - Brassard - MZA

Result:
Worse. That line thrived on chemistry, the likelyhood of Fasth coming in and having the same kinda chemistry is next to zero. Fasth is also a much smaller player that doesnt control the puck nearly as well as Pouliot did. Pouliot was an awesome forechecker for us (when he wasnt taking offensive zone penalties).


Last Season:
Boyle - Moore - Dorsett/Carcillo
This Season:
Bourque - Moore - Glass

Result: Significantly worse. I like the idea of Bourque on the 4th line, but he's a HUGE downgrade from an elite 4th liner in Boyle. Glass VS Dorsett is at BEST a push, and is more likely a net negative. this is a very mediocre 4th line.

Defense:


Last Season:
McDonagh - Girardi

This Season:
McDonagh - Girardi

Result:
Same



Last Season:
Staal - Stralman

This Season:
Staal - Boyle

Result:
Hard to say, I'll call it a push to be fair to both sides. Really tough to say though.



Last Season:
Moore - Klein

This Season:
Moore - Klein

Result:
Same


So our D should be roughly the same, our Goaltending is exactly the same, and our forwards are, as of now, unquestionably worse.

So yeah, we are definitely worse off (as of this very minute) versus last year.

is anyone surprised? Stupid salary cap.

 

[Tawnos]

Inferno... I really... REALLY doubt that the lines stay the same. In fact, I would guess that MSL ends up on Stepan's right and Nash ends up on Brassard's left.

 

[Inferno]

Inferno... I really... REALLY doubt that the lines stay the same. In fact, I would guess that MSL ends up on Stepan's right and Nash ends up on Brassard's left.

its possible. then the 3rd and 4th lines look WAAAAYYYY worse than last year.

 

[Tawnos]

its possible. then the 3rd and 4th lines look WAAAAYYYY worse than last year.

I think we need to sign another winger, personally. Setoguchi, Downie, Kulemin, Booth, Vrbata, Ott, Stempniak, Penner. Someone of 3rd line caliber is out there who is going to get the Havlat treatment. 1 year/$1.5m (maybe $2m at the outside).

Would a 3rd line of Hagelin-Miller-Downie really be that much worse?

You also have to consider that our ES TOI distribution should change. Instead of 15/14/13/10, it should be 16/14/12/10. Stepan jumps from 14 to 16 and Brassard from 13 to 14. You're still rolling 4 lines, but that gives Stepan's line the opportunity to make up for some of the offense that Richards' loss represents, particularly if MSL is on the other wing.

4th line becomes Glass-Moore-Fast. That's still a pretty good 4th line.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

I think we need to sign another winger, personally. Setoguchi, Downie, Kulemin, Booth, Vrbata, Ott, Stempniak, Penner. Someone of 3rd line caliber is out there who is going to get the Havlat treatment. 1 year/$1.5m (maybe $2m at the outside).

Would a 3rd line of Hagelin-Miller-Downie really be that much worse?

You also have to consider that our ES TOI distribution should change. Instead of 15/14/13/10, it should be 16/14/12/10. Stepan jumps from 14 to 16 and Brassard from 13 to 14. You're still rolling 4 lines, but that gives Stepan's line the opportunity to make up for some of the offense that Richards' loss represents, particularly if MSL is on the other wing.

4th line becomes Glass-Moore-Fast. That's still a pretty good 4th line.

I'll take Vrbata, please.

And Fast has proven nothing so far at the NHL level. He's not big and he's not really physically. He's a good skater and solid defensively, but it's wishful thinking to pencil him in to the opening night roster, IMO

 

[TheDirtyH]

I think we need to sign another winger, personally. Setoguchi, Downie, Kulemin, Booth, Vrbata, Ott, Stempniak, Penner. Someone of 3rd line caliber is out there who is going to get the Havlat treatment. 1 year/$1.5m (maybe $2m at the outside).

I'd love Booth at the right price. If we could get him cheap, he's got such great speed, drives the net and shoots all the time. He could be a steal.

 

[Inferno]

I think we need to sign another winger, personally. Setoguchi, Downie, Kulemin, Booth, Vrbata, Ott, Stempniak, Penner. Someone of 3rd line caliber is out there who is going to get the Havlat treatment. 1 year/$1.5m (maybe $2m at the outside).

Would a 3rd line of Hagelin-Miller-Downie really be that much worse?

You also have to consider that our ES TOI distribution should change. Instead of 15/14/13/10, it should be 16/14/12/10. Stepan jumps from 14 to 16 and Brassard from 13 to 14. You're still rolling 4 lines, but that gives Stepan's line the opportunity to make up for some of the offense that Richards' loss represents, particularly if MSL is on the other wing.

4th line becomes Glass-Moore-Fast. That's still a pretty good 4th line.

last year our 3rd line was either...

Hagelin - Richards - MSL

OR

Pouliot - Brassard - MZA

Would a 3rd line of Hagelin Miller Downie be much worse? Yes...much MUCH worse.

 

[Tawnos]

last year our 3rd line was either...

Hagelin - Richards - MSL

OR

Pouliot - Brassard - MZA

Would a 3rd line of Hagelin Miller Downie be much worse? Yes...much MUCH worse.

Hagelin, Richards and MSL produced 24 points between the three of them in the last 20 games of the season. They produced 27 points in 25 games in the playoffs. Offensively, that was our 3rd line. That's 93 points per player in an 82 game regular season. If Hagelin-Miller-Downie didn't produce 75 points in the regular season, I'd eat my hat. The rest of the offense will be made up by the other two lines getting increased ice time.

 

[mike14]

Assuming Boyle can replace BR's PP totals of 5g 14a while providing reasonable d, the big ? Is how we replace the rest of his 15g 17a. Both step and CK should keep improving and I'd be surprised if Nash is as streaky again. Miller won't replace all of richards points but if he plays a full season with MSL he could go 10 g 15 a easily. MSL is also an upgrade offensively. If there isn't someone in the system who can replace at least half of what Poo did we are in trouble.

The PK may take a bit of a hit ( fast looked ok in limited viewing) but we should be pretty sound defensively.

The centre spot is a definite weakness, but if Miller can go ok and one other steps up to Poo levels we should be pretty competitive

 

[Tawnos]

I'll take Vrbata, please.

I'd be pretty surprised to see Vrbata at less than $3m, but he's intriguing.

I'd love Booth at the right price. If we could get him cheap, he's got such great speed, drives the net and shoots all the time. He could be a steal.

As long as the expectation of him is 30-35 points, I see no problem with bringing in Booth. This is not the 30 goal scorer he once was.