Confirmed with Link: Kris Knoblauch named head coach of Hartford Wolf Pack

[gravey9]

This might be one of the best news i've heard all offseason. A MUST read for everyone here. I for one am absolutely thrilled after reading this. JD already proving what needs to be done.

Our AHL team won't be a joke anymore. Bring in coaches and vets with winning attitudes who are there to communicate and to help kids reach their full potentials to make the NHL. YES YES YES.

On the one hand, this is one of the most exciting developments of the off-season. On the other hand, it's clear Sather and Schoenfeld weren't really minding the store when it came to the AHL.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Uncle Larry checks in with JD update that includes focus on Hartford and player development. Some good stuff here that we will all welcome. Also a bone about possible summer FA activity. Rangers won’t be shy.

https://nypost.com/2019/06/06/john-davidsons-first-rangers-priority-is-an-ahl-overhaul/

All this talk, all this focus, all of these resources (that means money, and lots of it, that cannot be capped by the NHL) and all of this commitment to the building process does not, however, mean the Rangers intend to roll over and wait for next April’s pingpong-ball bonanza. The Blueshirts intend to compete. They are not going to sit idly by on July 1 and allow their lambs to be led to the hockey slaughter.

I assume this is the paragraph you mean when you refer to the “bone” about free agency? Gotta say, to me, that’s pretty vague — and one of the only parts of the piece not supported by a direct quote from JD. Not sure I read that as rolling up the money truck for Panarin (or Karlsson or Duchene, etc., etc.), especially when JD also reiterated the constant mantra about no shortcuts/doing the rebuild the right way. Not saying it doesn’t mean they will, but to me that seems to be more Larry’s agenda applied to JD’s words. Personally, I’m still very unsure of what they’ll do in FA.

All that being said, still, great stuff from JD. Thrilled to read it. Already showing the value of his hire.

 

[Inferno]

I get not developing a losing culture etc etc...but he keeps staring over and over again to be patient, there is no shortcuts etc etc. How is that a pro panarin comment? The losing culture comment can easily be seen as a..... We're not gonna gift wrap spots to kids so we will bring in vets to compete for spots.

That's how I read it anyways.

 

[Leetch3]

Uncle Larry checks in with JD update that includes focus on Hartford and player development. Some good stuff here that we will all welcome. Also a bone about possible summer FA activity. Rangers won’t be shy.

https://nypost.com/2019/06/06/john-davidsons-first-rangers-priority-is-an-ahl-overhaul/

i can't express how much this excites me...like I literally can't express it here the mods won't allow it. the importance of fixing hartford can't be understated and is almost as important as who we draft...

the part that really interests me is the idea of these development coaches that will travel the world to help our prospects develop. Does anyone know if any other teams do this?

 

[Leetch3]

I get not developing a losing culture etc etc...but he keeps staring over and over again to be patient, there is no shortcuts etc etc. How is that a pro panarin comment? The losing culture comment can easily be seen as a..... We're not gonna gift wrap spots to kids so we will bring in vets to compete for spots.

That's how I read it anyways.

I think that same mindset is why we aren't going to see veterans blown out this summer to free up spots for kids. the kids have to win the spots first

 

[nyr2k2]

This might be one of the best news i've heard all offseason. A MUST read for everyone here. I for one am absolutely thrilled after reading this. JD already proving what needs to be done.

Our AHL team won't be a joke anymore. Bring in coaches and vets with winning attitudes who are there to communicate and to help kids reach their full potentials to make the NHL. YES YES YES.

On the one hand, this is one of the most exciting developments of the off-season. On the other hand, it's clear Sather and Schoenfeld weren't really minding the store when it came to the AHL.

i can't express how much this excites me...like I literally can't express it here the mods won't allow it. the importance of fixing hartford can't be understated and is almost as important as who we draft...

the part that really interests me is the idea of these development coaches that will travel the world to help our prospects develop. Does anyone know if any other teams do this?

I commented on this in a different thread, but outside of the development coaches which sound great, the part about "fixing" Hartford isn't really any different than what Drury tried to do over the past couple years. He brought in a younger coach who had some AHL coaching success and was generally regarded as communicative and well-liked by all, he tried to bring in good vets with character like Butler and Holland and so on, he tried to balance youth vs veteran down there, etc.

Drury's intentions and methods for dealing with Hartford, I think, have been pretty true. The execution has not worked out, for sure (although figure two seasons ago with not great prospects we did almost sneak into the playoffs), but he's on the right track. JD's approach doesn't really sound at all dissimilar to what we've been doing. I just hope they do a better job of it than before.

IIRC there was a general sense of optimism with Hartford last year. They had some good veterans and some actual, decent prospects down there. A decent start kind of solidified the higher expectations before everything fell to shit. None of this is to really defend Drury, since obviously he didn't execute, but the strategy was sound and I don't really see much of a deviation from what Drury did in the past, just based on JD's comments.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I still think if Hartford had any sort of steady goalie the past two seasons we wouldn’t be acting like it was some radioactive wasteland

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

i can't express how much this excites me...like I literally can't express it here the mods won't allow it. the importance of fixing hartford can't be understated and is almost as important as who we draft...

the part that really interests me is the idea of these development coaches that will travel the world to help our prospects develop. Does anyone know if any other teams do this?

In the NBA, the Nets have a development staff. Don't know that they travel the world, but they work with the guys on both the NBA and D-league squad.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I commented on this in a different thread, but outside of the development coaches which sound great, the part about "fixing" Hartford isn't really any different than what Drury tried to do over the past couple years. He brought in a younger coach who had some AHL coaching success and was generally regarded as communicative and well-liked by all, he tried to bring in good vets with character like Butler and Holland and so on, he tried to balance youth vs veteran down there, etc.

Drury's intentions and methods for dealing with Hartford, I think, have been pretty true. The execution has not worked out, for sure (although figure two seasons ago with not great prospects we did almost sneak into the playoffs), but he's on the right track. JD's approach doesn't really sound at all dissimilar to what we've been doing. I just hope they do a better job of it than before.

IIRC there was a general sense of optimism with Hartford last year. They had some good veterans and some actual, decent prospects down there. A decent start kind of solidified the higher expectations before everything fell to ****. None of this is to really defend Drury, since obviously he didn't execute, but the strategy was sound and I don't really see much of a deviation from what Drury did in the past, just based on JD's comments.

I think the issue may have been commitment from certain other individuals above Drury (*cough* good ol' boys *cough*). It's not just about intentions, it's about resources and management attention.

 

[nyr2k2]

I still think if Hartford had any sort of steady goalie the past two seasons we wouldn’t be acting like it was some radioactive wasteland

Yeah, absolutely. The defense wasn't great--some guys like O'Gara struggled, Hajek was adjusting, everyone knows my thoughts on Gilmour and Crawley--but the goaltending was horrible. And it wasn't just due to suspect defense, they really let in some awful goals and terrible times. We collapsed late in games a bunch of time and lots of that had to do with poor play in net.

We weren't a playoff team even with decent goaltending, since we were too streaky and guys like Butler and Beleskey weren't that good (and then we traded Schneider for Brickley...), but we could have been at least respectable. Injuries to Meskanen and Gettinger, who had been solid contributors, also hurt. Finally, what I perceived as Lias moping after being sent back down (was that on the coaches?) really hurt, since he was close to a PPG player in his first stint and his time in the NHL should have made him even better. Instead, he wasn't really engaged.

 

[nyr2k2]

I think the issue may have been commitment from certain other individuals above Drury (*cough* good ol' boys *cough*). It's not just about intentions, it's about resources and management attention.

I can definitely buy the resources angle. The fact that we only had Benny, and no other goaltending coach in the organization was inexcusable. Hartford was also very light on coaching infrastructure in general and that all probably played a part in things going south. Stuff like that needs to be further addressed.

Mainly, I was just commenting on the things that JD discussed--those things, I think, we've already been focused on. So hopefully JD is aware of the other shortcomings and addresses them, because otherwise the stuff he mentioned would just be "things that we do but need to do better." Which is never that easy.

 

[Leetch3]

I commented on this in a different thread, but outside of the development coaches which sound great, the part about "fixing" Hartford isn't really any different than what Drury tried to do over the past couple years. He brought in a younger coach who had some AHL coaching success and was generally regarded as communicative and well-liked by all, he tried to bring in good vets with character like Butler and Holland and so on, he tried to balance youth vs veteran down there, etc.

Drury's intentions and methods for dealing with Hartford, I think, have been pretty true. The execution has not worked out, for sure (although figure two seasons ago with not great prospects we did almost sneak into the playoffs), but he's on the right track. JD's approach doesn't really sound at all dissimilar to what we've been doing. I just hope they do a better job of it than before.

IIRC there was a general sense of optimism with Hartford last year. They had some good veterans and some actual, decent prospects down there. A decent start kind of solidified the higher expectations before everything fell to ****. None of this is to really defend Drury, since obviously he didn't execute, but the strategy was sound and I don't really see much of a deviation from what Drury did in the past, just based on JD's comments.

agreed 100% that intention isn't enough. obviously they didn't want hartford to be terrible last year...but I think my excitement isn't simply the intentions but the fact that JD appears to view this as extremely important. this isn't a PR spin article cause most fans could careless about what happens in hartford. JD is bringing it up cause he sees the importance and value in it for the organization...and that commitment from the top is great news imo

 

[nyr2k2]

agreed 100% that intention isn't enough. obviously they didn't want hartford to be terrible last year...but I think my excitement isn't simply the intentions but the fact that JD appears to view this as extremely important. this isn't a PR spin article cause most fans could careless about what happens in hartford. JD is bringing it up cause he sees the importance and value in it for the organization...and that commitment from the top is great news imo

Yeah, I definitely agree that the prioritization of Hartford is a huge, really positive development.

 

[Leetch3]

I still think if Hartford had any sort of steady goalie the past two seasons we wouldn’t be acting like it was some radioactive wasteland

well hopefully with Huska as the backup to Shesty/Georgiev the goaltending situation will be greatly improved.

 

[nyr2k2]

well hopefully with Huska as the backup to Shesty/Georgiev the goaltending situation will be greatly improved.

Huska got off to a rough start his first few games but settled in. He had a .911 SV% over his final six games. That would have been far and away the best in Hartford over a full year. I'm optimistic for him next season.

 

[Levitate]

I get not developing a losing culture etc etc...but he keeps staring over and over again to be patient, there is no shortcuts etc etc. How is that a pro panarin comment? The losing culture comment can easily be seen as a..... We're not gonna gift wrap spots to kids so we will bring in vets to compete for spots.

That's how I read it anyways.

I tend to think shortcuts are more like trading young players/prospects/picks for star players. To be honest, a Trouba trade might be such a shortcut that the team doesn't want to take depending on the cost.

 

[Thirty One]

Did J.D. just tamper with … Mark Letestu?

 

[lucky13]

i can't express how much this excites me...like I literally can't express it here the mods won't allow it. the importance of fixing hartford can't be understated and is almost as important as who we draft...

the part that really interests me is the idea of these development coaches that will travel the world to help our prospects develop. Does anyone know if any other teams do this?

Does anybody know where I can fill out an application?? I’d gladly drop the tool belt for that... haha

 

[Edge]

I get not developing a losing culture etc etc...but he keeps staring over and over again to be patient, there is no shortcuts etc etc. How is that a pro panarin comment? The losing culture comment can easily be seen as a..... We're not gonna gift wrap spots to kids so we will bring in vets to compete for spots.

That's how I read it anyways.

I tend to think shortcuts are more like trading young players/prospects/picks for star players. To be honest, a Trouba trade might be such a shortcut that the team doesn't want to take depending on the cost.

People know where I stand on the Panarin debate.

Having said that, if the Rangers feel this draft has the potential to be the climax of their push to aggressively acquire high-potential, young talent, I can see where they would view Panarin as a component of that.

Putting aside unknown variables such as where they might pick next season, or whether they end up with a first from Dallas, I could see them viewing a Panarin for Kreider swap as a positive, or emphasizing the development of a corps of wingers to assist what they're building at center. So let's say Kreider goes for a pick, and the Rangers take a center/wing they feel could be ready to jump in 2020.

The mindset very well could be to build a group that aims to include Panarin, Buch, Kakko, Kravtsov on the wings, with Zib and Howden at center, and some mix of Chytil, Andersson, the player drafted with a Kreider pick all being eyed for either spots at center or to fill out the wings, along with a guy like Lemieux bringing his game, and rounding it out with the vets and flex options like Names, Strome, Nives, and Fast.

Obviously parts will move around, certain players will emerge, and certain guys will be moved as things settle down, but you've got some options there, and you're not overly dependent on younger guys having to immediately shoulder the load. The obvious hope is that you end up with an abundance of options and can then make a trade from a position of depth and strength, having a better idea of what you're working with.

Trouba gets a bit a more tricky because you're talking about moving pieces before any of this takes place. But a guy like Panarin could be viewed as one of the ingredients for allowing that process to happen. Again, this is speculating on their thought process, not necessarily a reflection of my own.

Now, having said all that, there's a lot of moving parts that have to line up for this to path to materialize. But those conversations, and a book full of different maps, is undoubtedly being discussed as we speak.

 

[Ola]

Did J.D. just tamper with … Mark Letestu?

Would be a bit of a bummer if we lost 2nd overall to Columbus due to JD tampering with Letestu.

 

[True Blue]

Now, having said all that, there's a lot of moving parts that have to line up for this to path to materialize. But those conversations, and a book full of different maps, is undoubtedly being discussed as we speak.

You have just outlined what I mean when I talk about their being a path to Panarin. That starts with them trading Kreider for one of the names we discussed and then still having their 20th pick. More things have to happen, but those is the domninos that would need to fall to start.

 

[Edge]

You have just outlined what I mean when I talk about their being a path to Panarin. That starts with them trading Kreider for one of the names we discussed and then still having their 20th pick. More things have to happen, but those is the domninos that would need to fall to start.

Let's say the Rangers trade Kreider and get a guy they love at center - Cozens, Krebs, Zegras, whoever. Now let's say they also come away with Seider or York at 20. To make it easy, let's say their first round haul is Kakko, Krebs and Seider. They add Dorofyev and McCarthy in the second.

I truly believe the Rangers would add that outcome to the list of the reasons they want to go all-out for Panarin. Obviously, it wouldn't be the only reason, or even the main reason. But you could have scenario where the Rangers brass believes that Kakko steps right in, the center they took is a year out, and the defenseman is a two years out. Now you have a steady stream of high end talent potentially coming in, in addition to what you were already expecting. You're also talking about a 4 draft spread of talent, so it's not like everyone is coming in at once.

You have Dorofyev and McCarthy as intriguing mid-range options and you gamble that they give you the depth you need if you need to move a guy like Buch or another young winger, or a young defenseman as part of a package to shore up an area. So it does play into a bigger picture and broader strategy.

Now obviously what I just described is one of the best case scenarios, and things rarely come that easily or cleanly, but it's not a pipe dream either.

 

[Off Sides]

I'd rather them just keep Kreider non extended if the idea is to add Panarin.

If they are going to go Panarin, utilizing his remaining prime years by adding others who are in their prime years makes more sense than hoping a bunch of prospects hit their NHL primes while he is still in his.

It takes Zbad, Brassard, Hayes, Kreider himself until age 23-26 to maybe start to realize their NHL potential, yet they will expect players they drafted in 2018 and 2019 to hit their prime years while Panarin will still be in his prime years?

 

[True Blue]

Let's say the Rangers trade Kreider and get a guy they love at center - Cozens, Krebs, Zegras, whoever. Now let's say they also come away with Seider or York at 20. To make it easy, let's say their first round haul is Kakko, Krebs and Seider. They add Dorofyev and McCarthy in the second.

Pretty much what I envision would be the way. Except obviously not with Krebs in mind. For me, it would have to be a Newhook at a minimum. Or a Zegras.

Too many moving pieces still. That doesn't account for a guy like Boldy possibly being the falling piece. Would they really pass on him to take a center like Krebs? And if they do take Boldy, does that throw the whole equation off as now you still need to get that center?

 

[True Blue]

I'd rather them just keep Kreider non extended if the idea is to add Panarin.

If they are going to go Panarin, utilizing his remaining prime years by adding others who are in their prime years makes more sense than hoping a bunch of prospects hit their NHL primes while he is still in his.

It takes Zbad, Brassard, Hayes, Kreider himself until age 23-26 to maybe start to realize their NHL potential, yet they will expect players they drafted in 2018 and 2019 to hit their prime years while Panarin will still be in his prime years?

I am with you. But, and this is just putting myself in Rangers management shoes, there is a path to Panarin. But that is one that requires a lot of moving pieces. And some we do not not know until draft day how they will unfold.