Confirmed with Link: New York Rangers Hire John Davidson as President

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

JD is here to win--he helped the Rangers to the finals in 1979, he called the only Stanley Cup season the team has had in 79 years and now he has a chance to be one of the architects of winning another Stanley Cup.

He obviously agrees with the big picture, but he brings a different perspective to the organization. JD is not window dressing for the organization, he will be an active participant in the process, as well as its' public voice.

Welcome back Big Guy!

Speaking of welcome backs...

 

[Fugazy]

No major shake ups needed. Just stay the course and remain patient. Good things are on the horizon.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

“There’s a lot of work to do here,” said Davidson, who played in goal for the Rangers from 1975-83 and was an analyst on the team’s broadcasts for 20 seasons before joining the Blues as their president in 2006. “There’s no shortcuts. It’s nothing but hard work, and it takes patience and resolve, and I really want to make sure that I used the word patience and I use the word resolve, because we’re going to be in a battle here to get this club to be better.”

https://nypost.com/2019/05/22/john-davidsons-dream-now-turns-into-trying-rangers-task/

"A lot of work" doesn't sound like someone who thinks this team is close to doing anything. "Patience and Resolve" hmm where have I heard that before. "We're going to be in a battle to get this club better" This sounds like a guy supporting a move to bring in Panarin for 11 million a season? Would love to see the mental gymnastics involved in spinning this quote that way.

 

[Tawnos]

https://nypost.com/2019/05/22/john-davidsons-dream-now-turns-into-trying-rangers-task/

"A lot of work" doesn't sound like someone who thinks this team is close to doing anything. "Patience and Resolve" hmm where have I heard that before. "We're going to be in a battle to get this club better" This sounds like a guy supporting a move to bring in Panarin for 11 million a season? Would love to see the mental gymnastics involved in spinning this quote that way.

How about the mental gymnastics involved in looking at a single quote and not all of them?

 

[TheBloodyNine]

How about the mental gymnastics involved in looking at a single quote and not all of them?

What other quote? The vague reference to being aggressive? The quote I posted is incredibly cut and dry, on top of the fact that it's the same thing he's been saying over and over again. Patience is a term that keeps coming from JD's mouth, not "we need to be aggressive in this rebuild." Sorry that doesn't jive with your narrative.

Again, read that quote and tell me how that is a man that thinks we should sign a player like Panarin?

 

[Off Sides]

I've always felt when they've used the term "aggressive" it was linked to things like them trading for Fox, moving up for K Miller, trading McD/JT Miller with a year left on their deals instead of waiting until they were pending UFA/RFA.

Similarly when I hear them use the word "accelerate" pertaining to the rebuild, I think of trading for already drafted prospects. For every one of those who works out it accelerates the rebuild.

"Patience" I tend to take it at face value, I think they are talking about letting the process play out. Seeing what all these prospects do as they develop.

No "shortcuts", similarly I think they are talking about not trying to hurry the process along. Avoid just making the playoffs be the priority, more build a roster that can make the playoffs and if so, has a decent chance at advancing it them.

That said, I really hope they figure out the AHL as that would certainly fit in with the patience and development parts. Not so much wins and loses, more making sure that is an optional and fruitful step along the way to the NHL since some of the prospects are likely going to need it.

 

[Tawnos]

What other quote? The vague reference to being aggressive? The quote I posted is incredibly cut and dry, on top of the fact that it's the same thing he's been saying over and over again.

Again, read that quote and tell me how that is a man that thinks we should sign a player like Panarin?

There's no evidence there that the quote you posted is about free agency at all. That's just you trying to read between the lines.

There ARE quotes out there that are directly about free agency, but they leave the door open.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

I've always felt when they've used the term "aggressive" it was linked to things like them trading for Fox, moving up for K Miller, trading McD/JT Miller with a year left on their deals instead of waiting until they were pending UFA/RFA.

Similarly when I hear them use the word "accelerate" pertaining to the rebuild, I think of trading for already drafted prospects. For every one of those who works out it accelerates the rebuild.

"Patience" I tend to take it at face value, I think they are talking about letting the process play out. Seeing what all these prospects do as they develop.

No "shortcuts", similarly I think they are talking about not trying to hurry the process along. Avoid just making the playoffs be the priority, more build a roster that can make the playoffs and if so, has a decent chance at advancing it them.

That said, I really hope they figure out the AHL as that would certainly fit in with the patience and development parts. Not so much wins and loses, more making sure that is a optional and fruitful step along the way to the NHL since some of the prospects are likely going to need it.

Yup. Aggressive = Trading 2 picks for Fox instead of waiting. It doesn't mean sign Panarin/Karlsson.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

There's no evidence there that the quote you posted is about free agency at all. That's just you trying to read between the lines.

There ARE quotes out there that are directly about free agency, but they leave the door open.

And there's the spin!

Explain to me how it couldn't be about free agency? Explain to me what other "shortcuts" he is talking about? Explain to me how "it's going to be a battle to get this team better" means "The Rangers are going to go out and get a high profile UFA right away?"

I'm enjoying this.

 

[Tawnos]

And there's the spin!

Explain to me how it couldn't be about free agency? Explain to me what other "shortcuts" he is talking about? Explain to me how "it's going to be a battle to get this team better" means "The Rangers are going to go out and get a high profile UFA right away?"

I'm enjoying this.

I've already done that re: patience and shortcuts. Read back in the thread.

As for a battle... you really think finding multiple ways to increase the talent level of the team long-term couldn't be part of that battle? Again, you're reading it how you want to read it.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

I've already done that re: patience and shortcuts. Read back in the thread.

As for a battle... you really think finding multiple ways to increase the talent level of the team long-term isn't part of that battle? Again, you reading it how you want to read it.

How is adding a 11 million dollar high profile UFA to a team "battle"? Adding Panarin to this team wouldn't make the team better then? I'm reading it plain as day. You're spinning it so you don't have to come to terms with reality.

 

[Tawnos]

How is adding a 11 million dollar high profile UFA to a team "battle"? Adding Panarin to this team wouldn't make the team better then? I'm reading it plain as day. You're spinning it so you don't have to come to terms with reality.

Yes, adding a UFA that multiple other teams want should easily be considered part of a battle to make the team better. JD was purposely vague in all of this.

As I've said before, he very well might believe that they shouldn't sign UFAs yet, but that's not what he said yesterday. The door has been left open for any and all options, which is what we should all expect and understand to be the case when executives speak.

 

[NYR Viper]

JD is phenomenal with the press. This hire is going to take quite a bit of pressure off of Gorton to do something that makes him visibly uncomfortable which is interviews and public speaking. Gorton has a good mind for hockey, that much is evident based on his track record. So hiring a President who can be more visible and able to handle that side of the job requirement will lessen the load on Gorton to spend more time scouting, watching film, speaking with other GM's, etc.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Yes, adding a UFA that multiple other teams want should easily be considered part of a battle to make the team better. JD was purposely vague in all of this.

As I've said before, he very well might believe that they shouldn't sign UFAs yet, but that's not what he said yesterday. The door has been left open for any and all options, which is what we should all expect and understand to be the case when executives speak.

There has been literally nothing said by him in that quote that was vague. At all.

Patience. It's going to be a Battle to get better (meaning, IT"S NOT GOING TO BE EASY). Resolve. Again, PLEASE spin this for me to say that what he is talking about here means be aggressive and go after UFAs, which is literally the exact opposite of having patience.

 

[Tawnos]

There has been literally nothing said by him in that quote that was vague. At all.

Patience. It's going to be a Battle to get better (meaning, IT"S NOT GOING TO BE EASY). Resolve. Again, PLEASE spin this for me to say that what he is talking about here means be aggressive and go after UFAs, which is literally the exact opposite of having patience.

Only because you're choosing it to read that a certain way.

Again, read the last few pages of the thread. I'm not saying he means pursue someone like Panarin. I'm saying he's doesn't necessarily mean don't pursue someone like Panarin.

As for this back and forth, I'm finished. We're going in circles. You want to interpret what he said. I don't.

 

[Off Sides]

Yup. Aggressive = Trading 2 picks for Fox instead of waiting. It doesn't mean sign Panarin/Karlsson.

It think they are referring to something along the lines, when the opputunity is there, make the deal happen. Not so much try to get total fair value, or try to use their leverage to the hilt. More so try to make the deal equitable for the other team too. On the flip side when they are the ones on the lesser leverage side, maybe take back a little less than they'd like, yet still get the deal done if it fits into their overall picture.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Only because you're choosing it to read that a certain way.

Again, read the last few pages of the thread. I'm not saying he means pursue someone like Panarin. I'm saying he's doesn't necessarily mean don't pursue someone like Panarin.

As for this back and forth, I'm finished. We're going in circles. You want to interpret what he said. I don't.

How exactly am I choosing to read the word "Patience" as any other way than it's dictionary definition? How exactly does having patience equate to a team that goes out and signs an 11 million UFA in the beginnings of a rebuild.

You're choosing to see these direct, unambiguous quotes as ambiguous because you don't want to come to terms with the reality of the situation.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

It think they are referring to something along the lines, when the opputunity is there, make the deal happen. Not so much try to get total fair value, or try to use their leverage to the hilt. More so try to make the deal equitable for the other team too. On the flip side when they are the ones on the lesser leverage side, maybe take back a little less than they'd like, yet still get the deal done if it fits into their overall picture.

We've seen from Gorton that if he likes someone, he goes out and gets them. He desperately wanted Hajek in that McDonaugh deal. He wanted Fox.

 

[Tawnos]

How exactly am I choosing to read the word "Patience" as any other way than it's dictionary definition? How exactly does having patience equate to a team that goes out and signs an 11 million UFA in the beginnings of a rebuild.

You're choosing to see these direct, unambiguous quotes as ambiguous because you don't want to come to terms with the reality of the situation.

If you had read back in the thread, I made it very clear that patience doesn't solely refer to building a roster. It also has to do with how we handle our prospects moving forward, among a few other things. Since JD didn't specify what he wants to be patient about, deciding that he means roster building is interpreting his meaning how you want to.

Read the thread.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

If you had read back in the thread, I made it very clear that patience doesn't solely refer to building a roster. It also has to do with how we handle our prospects moving forward, among a few other things. Since JD didn't specify what he wants to be patient about, deciding that he means roster building is interpreting his meaning how you want to.

Read the thread.

There is literally nothing to read into what he's saying about having patience, how this team has a lot of work to do, how this team needs to have resolved that could reasonable be interpreted by anyone with a firm grasp of reality to say that this means we'll be aggressive in signing free agents. It is incredibly cut and dry. Teams that have patience don't sign players for 11 million dollars. That would be the opposite of patience.

I don't want to read back. Just explain it to me. If you've explained it before it should be easier to do it again. Explain to me how "Patience" equates to signing a big ticket UFA, please.

 

[romba]

Or it’s a very specific reference to not signing UFAs to fill a hole just because you have one. JD was here when they signed Skrudland, after all.

So signing a 'meh' UFA just to fill a hole is a 'shortcut', but signing a big ticket one not to fill a hole is not a shortcut? I think you're mistaking 'short cut' for 'bad deal'. The latter (big ticket) is the real potential shortcut which I think JD is discussing. The former (UFA dud just to fill a spot) is just a waste of time and no one in their right mind would even consider that a short cut so I'm pretty sure that JD wasn't discussing a Skrudland type of signing when he said we're not gonna shortcut it.

 

[Tawnos]

So signing a 'meh' UFA just to fill a hole is a 'shortcut', but signing a big ticket one not to fill a hole is not a shortcut? I think you're mistaking 'short cut' for 'bad deal'. The latter (big ticket) is the real potential shortcut which I think JD is discussing. The former (UFA dud just to fill a spot) is just a waste of time and no one in their right mind would even consider that a short cut so I'm pretty sure that JD wasn't discussing a Skrudland type of signing when he said we're not gonna shortcut it.

There isn't a Cup winning team in recent history that had all of their high-end forwards be drafted by the team, so no... I don't consider signing one to be a shortcut. This is very likely something the team will have to do at some point during this process. That isn't filling a hole just because you have one, but anticipating the fact that you will need to do this (or make a trade somewhere in there).

 

[Harbour Dog]

Happy to have him back in the fold, and it will be pretty cool to see him cheering along with us again. But ultimately, I am ten-fold more concerned about who our GM, coaches, and scouting staff are then who is filling this position.

If he doesn't come in and try to change what Gorton is doing, then he's done his job imo.

 

[TheTakedown]

I think it varies from team to team, but I feel like it’s a cushier version of a GM. They generally they help steer the team in broader strokes than the GMs, they help mediate things between GMs and owners, they can be reps for league meetings, and they make the hires when GMs get fired, some might do more, some might do less, but I feel like it’s not all that important unless your whole organization is a tire fire

It seems to me that the GM is more of the team asset manager, and then the President is the organizational manager. He has power over the GM, but ideally he is not calling the shots *for* the GM, he is letting the GM do his thing

 

[Lion Hound]

So strange that every couple of years Mark Messier's name gets mentioned on either the coaching side or the business side. Then he dissapears like a fart in the wind. JD touched on him in the Michael Kay interview, but didn't really elaborate at all. Why isn't Mess working for the Organization already? Is there something they don't like here?