The D pairs are what gets me. The forward lines I could live with to an extent.
I just think that D is abysmal. I wouldn't feel comfortable rolling them out behind Crosby and Malkin, let alone behind that forward corps, which is good, but not elite.
I mean, no Stralman, no Staal, no Girardi? That's just not an NHL defense at that point. I think Moore can and will improve a bit, but I'm not counting on that huge of a boost from him. Klein can handle second pair, but is ideal on the third. Allen hasn't shown me he can handle regular NHL minutes over a season, especially on a pairing with another rookie.
Also, just in terms of practicality, Nash has an NTC and I'm not sure he'd waive it for Detriot. I'm also not sure they'd give that sweet of a return for him right now. Colorado just lost a center, isn't going to deal another one for a defender. Staal to Det makes more sense since they desperately just signed Quincey after losing out on a few other FAs they wanted, but I'm 100% against the Rangers moving Staal after losing Stralman. As you say all the time, you need horses, but that's not just on offense.
We are in some level of agreement.
The Fs, while a work in progress, takes a serious step forward with RyJo and has improved cap for moves, guys like Jurco not far away.
The D I agree has been gutted, but there is no other way, and I see it is easier to get good enough D short term while Skjei, Graves, and the like are a year/yr+ away. There is zero chance of getting a guy like RyJo short of this, and we need to lock up Kreider.
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I just think that D is abysmal. I wouldn't feel comfortable rolling them out behind Crosby and Malkin, let alone behind that forward corps, which is good, but not elite.
I mean, no Stralman, no Staal, no Girardi? That's just not an NHL defense at that point. I think Moore can and will improve a bit, but I'm not counting on that huge of a boost from him. Klein can handle second pair, but is ideal on the third. Allen hasn't shown me he can handle regular NHL minutes over a season, especially on a pairing with another rookie.
I wouldn't say abysmal. Certainly a shell of itself. I think we have enough time to make a couple of additional moves btwn now and the season. We can't build it up overnight, I agree, but what we gain in a rarer asset on offense is worth more than defense.
For example, I'm not saying without doing more research this is the move, but you have a guy like Calle Andersson. Assume he's too far away. But you can bundle him and another guy or asset and get a dependable D or 2.
Staal hurts, more than Girardi. But Danny boy is sucking too much oxygen out of the room, and he can be a team player and let us flip him to where he first loved hockey -- Toronto. Or he can stay, and even if he plays well, there will be continued, "we need to move Nash and Girardi, we can't afford them". He and Nash can wait and force NY to sit for now, or they can move to a good team right away that is a fit for them. Staal, says RangerBoy, we should trade now. Ideally I would have preferred to do this before, and with cap, extend Stralman. Now, after moving Nash, we could enhance Staal value with an extension. But if Staal = ROR and ROR + Stepan + is what will get RyJo, that's what ya gotta do.
I agree Moore can and will improve, more than a bit, but less than I've hoped for above. But he's another guy who, showing improvement, can be flipped with assets for a better D coming back if nec.
Klein can handle second pair I agree and as we don't have the luxury of third pair for him atm, that is our stop gap. On Allen, he's looked good enough with the few times he's been showcased.
I would be willing to gamble he can handle regular NHL minutes over a season.
Again, first impression is gambling is reckless, irresponsible; but the truly irresponsible move is to not take the 4 steps back, and 3 forward with RyJo, and be temporarily worse off --- we could get guys over the course of the season.
If we have bigger, stronger faster --- Miller replacing Richards, RyJo, an improved Kreider, --- plus whoever else we can get here by playoffs, we have some equalizer vs, the bigger guys.
Finishing your comments:
Also, just in terms of practicality, Nash has an NTC and I'm not sure he'd waive it for Detriot. I'm also not sure they'd give that sweet of a return for him right now.
It is not certain, but Wings have a group of outstanding Fs that would fit the bill for at least a year or 2. All the value of Nash threads acknowledge GM Holland lusts for Nash, always has. like I said, NY is now a different team, thinner than before due to the cap. Does he want to hear constantly how he and Girardi are sucking all the life out of the room? Or does he want to get out of town on some golden parachute?
I agree it is not 100%, but it is more than plausible: deal works for Wings, for Rangers, and the player Nash.
As to how sweet a return, I saw pre draft Jurco + 1st.
I'll push that to Jurco, Larkin + 1st, but I'll give our lesser 2016 1st as well.
If what I saw was genuine indication, what I'm suggesting there is plausible.
Colorado just lost a center, isn't going to deal another one for a defender.
Ya got me here to extent I originally envisioned this pre-Statsny moving on. Also, if we had done this deal, with ROR for Staal, that would have created a bit of room, possibly enough for them to juggle and keep Stats.
That said, their D is still turdsville, unless I overlooked something during the past few days. And ROR is a prima donna. If they got enough value, they may well cut the cord. I believe they are strong with MacKinnon + Duschene (sp) and if no ROR then who, but I think given their D was a real weakness for them, they do it.
Thanks for the feedback.
Pls feel free to extend with subsequent deals that get us back enough D that had to be sacrificed here for RyJo.
Last questions on the subject.
If you are columbus, you want to extend, we get that.
Say the kid does not want a bridge deal, and wants to get paid NOW.
You don't want offer sheets.
Was my offer of ROR, Stepan + Kadri enough?
