Confirmed with Link: NYR Fire John Davidson and Jeff Gorton

[rangers1314]

The word of the day is "whiplash"

or "Whirlwind", which Drury said about 900 times.

 

[NYR94]

or "Whirlwind", which Drury said about 900 times.

Yeah my bad that's what I mean to say. I'm still in shock lol.

 

[DutchShamrock]

With Trouba, we had a pretty good idea of what it was going to cost. And I think we paid market price for that as well. I think Trouba's contract with someone else, or as a free agent is more or less what we gave him.

I personally don't have any more concerns about where we're at than I was a week in terms of contracts and moving. And Drury is involved in those processes. So most likely, whatever we were gonna do anyway is probably going to happen. That's the thing, we didn't go outside the organization to change the direction. We just went with a different person who was part of the plan to go down that direction. It's an interesting move to say the least.

I'd say there's a decent chance Buch goes with or without Kreider because of the presence of Kakko and Kravtsov. To me that one was always going to come down to dealing from a position of depth. So they're somewhat connected, but also somewhat independent of each other. I made my case for moving Kreider, so I get that one.

But again I don't think the question is perfection, so much good-bad ratio. I think Gorton had a very good ratio. The JD and Gorton firing are not typical of people you usually see fired. We can piece it together all we want, or ret-con or dissect it until there's nothing left. But there's no getting around that it's an unusual move. It just is.

I agree about the ratio. I tend to look at things as a whole. Don't care about whiffing on Anderson because you hit on Lundkvist and Jones or even Pajuneimi. McDonagh was iffy but he killed it with Nash and Strome. The point is Gorton bought enough lottery tickets. He drafted for elite skill at the top because it's really hard to find that by other means. He was about to turn the corner on fleshing out the team.

I can admit that I'm having a hard time being objective about the Kreider deal. I want to say Kravtsov is probably at least as good at LW and he could play there, but it's the same issue with 2 wingers ahead of him on the depth chart. So it's inevitable.

I'm not happy about moving Buch because fundamentally he represents the purpose of the rebuild. He represents how I want the team to play and approach the game. He bought in to the demands and became effective in every facet. He tried to put Mantha's teeth on the ice during a statement game.

Point being, I can admit that I have trouble being objective in this circumstance but I respect your POV there too.

I don't agree that Gorton should have been fired for botching a few moves. I do think he was maybe a victim of his success because Dolan doesn't understand why we are x numberof 20 goal scorers and we are done for the year. Good point about Drury, basically a consolation prize because we probably maintain course in general.

 

[JCProdigy]

I totally agree with @Miamipuck , GORDON did absolutely nothing for the Rangers over the last five years.

We are coming on four years, and we're universally seen as having one of the top two systems in the league. And that's coming off a span, where we had no first rounders for 4 years.

The oldest draft picks since we actually sent the letter, are barely old enough to have a drink. One of them isn't even in the NHL yet.

This perspective that we've wandered through the wastelands forever is just not even close to reality.

I guess my question becomes, when do people think the Rangers should really be vying for the Cup and who should be leading the way points wise?

 

[Edge]

I agree about the ratio. I tend to look at things as a whole. Don't care about whiffing on Anderson because you hit on Lundkvist and Jones or even Pajuneimi. McDonagh was iffy but he killed it with Nash and Strome. The point is Gorton bought enough lottery tickets. He drafted for elite skill at the top because it's really hard to find that by other means. He was about to turn the corner on fleshing out the team.

I can admit that I'm having a hard time being objective about the Kreider deal. I want to say Kravtsov is probably at least as good at LW and he could play there, but it's the same issue with 2 wingers ahead of him on the depth chart. So it's inevitable.

I'm not happy about moving Buch because fundamentally he represents the purpose of the rebuild. He represents how I want the team to play and approach the game. He bought in to the demands and became effective in every facet. He tried to put Mantha's teeth on the ice during a statement game.

Point being, I can admit that I have trouble being objective in this circumstance but I respect your POV there too.

I don't agree that Gorton should have been fired for botching a few moves. I do think he was maybe a victim of his success because Dolan doesn't understand why we are x numberof 20 goal scorers and we are done for the year. Good point about Drury, basically a consolation prize because we probably maintain course in general.

And I don't hate Drury in the role. There's a lot of potential there. Key word being potential.

 

[Edge]

I totally agree with @Miamipuck , GORDON did absolutely nothing for the Rangers over the last five years.



I guess my question becomes, when do people think the Rangers should really be vying for the Cup and who should be leading the way points wise?

I think next year needs to be when the ascent starts. They have to start making some moves next season, shoring up problem areas, and the expectation does start to become about being a playoff team. How quickly they become a legit cup contender owes a lot to those moves, the development of young players and ultimately having the right coach in place.

But already we have contradictory messaging. One the one hand we "made a move" because we were apparently supposed to make the playoffs. Now, 24 hours later, we're not even fully committed to stating that as the clear goal.

So this is a little bit of the chaos, IMO unnecessary chaos, that we now have to operate and normalize as we move forward.

 

[NYR Viper]

I'm okay with the team wanting to be more aggressive. It does seem like Gorton was a little too over-analytical and while that is sometimes a good thing, it can also bite you in the ass.

The team has assets to use and holes to fill. I do know Drury has always been a bright and intelligent individual who I think will do well in this role.

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

I think you'll see a trend where the people who lean towards a more aggressive approach are going to be okay with the move more than the people who are inherently a big more pragmatic.

Unfortunately, as we've seen for 24 years, the aggressive approach typically generates a shorter life span before the proponents of the approach start to turn on the player/person/coach/whoever they initially were okay with.

It's a bit arrogant to call yourself pragmatic, essentially inferring that those who disagree with you are fools. I consider myself rather pragmatic and I think a lot of the issues I raise are as well. There are reasonable questions surrounding the direction of this team.

The time horizon you're referring to seems much more of a traditional rebuild. In this type young up and comers are usually supplemented with quality veterans who are on short-term contracts. When the young kids are ready to take over, those older vets are either bumped to more marginal roles in favor of the kids or moved on from altogether. This is actually the route I would have preferred.

Instead, what JDJG have done is hand out gigantic, long-term contracts to players whom you'd normally sign if you were several pieces away from being a cup contender. So instead of having a bottom feeder team, we essentially have some of the best lines in the league, complemented by a bunch of green kids or trash heap players. Evidence of this has been apparent this entire season because we have an offense that's setting all kinds of team records, meanwhile, we're not a contending team.

As @nyr2k2 mentioned, it's possible our kids hit their stride in the next year or two, creating an absolute juggernaut that can contend for a few years along with in their prime players. But it's also very possible that we end up with albatross contracts on declining players, against repeating a waste of prime years of our marquee players that we've seen occur time and again.

I also find it a bit ironic that you refer to past history to put down those of us who are OK with these firings. I actually see JDJG having made many of the same exact mistakes that likely blocked us from achieving a cup since 94'. Handing out large contracts to marquee free agents, putting us in long-term cap constraints, yet failing to properly develop a homegrown team.

 

[haveandare]

It's a classic cover-my-ass quote. Didn't they say something about being President and GM being too much for one person when Slats kicked himself upstairs?

“It’s easier if Dolan only has to call one person and threaten to fire them if they don’t do whatever stupid idea just came to his mind”

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Totally. It's my home base.

I sit back with a nice a cocktail, maybe enjoy a dip in the pool, as all the same D-list posters make asses of themselves and give no thought as to why anyone outside the same two or three D-listers don't celebrate their obvious, oh so apparent genius.

Then I smile, have a good laugh, and think to myself, "Aww look at little Nikki trying to flex. Isn't that special. Good for it."

I can't like this the normal way so LIKE.

 

[huerter]

So this is a little bit of the chaos, IMO unnecessary chaos, that we now have to operate and normalize as we move forward.

You're worried about the messaging now? Now? JD and his going north schtick was a joke. The caricature did not have control of this organization internally or the messaging.

Drury is an unknown but he fits the mold of what is successful in today's league.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Fake news, we're going to trade Lafreniere for Messier or whatever

If Messier was in charge, we'd trade Kravtsov for Reaves, Kakko for Maroon and Lafrenière for Simmonds

 

[huerter]

Kravtsov for Reaves
Kakko for Maroon
Lafrenière for Simmonds

 

[chosen]

...Gordon - was never a fan of his....

Hasn’t done a ton with rest of his picks so far...

I love a lot of his other picks.

 

[chosen]

We are coming on four years, and we're universally seen as having one of the top two systems in the league. And that's coming off a span, where we had no first rounders for 4 years.

The oldest draft picks since we actually sent the letter, are barely old enough to have a drink. One of them isn't even in the NHL yet.

This perspective that we've wandered through the wastelands forever is just not even close to reality.

Too many fans are as impatient and incoherent in their thinking as Dolan is.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

good article by Larry Brooks who pretty much agrees with the firings:

Why Rangers owner Jim Dolan fired John Davidson, Jeff Gorton

 

[shnagle]

Whether you were pro JD/JG or against, the one thing I think we call agree on is that we all knew this off season and upcoming trade deadline were going to be extremely important to the direction of the rebuild. Everyone knows critical decisions need to be made regarding Mika, Buch, Strome and adding some sand paper. I think that is the reason emotions are running so high. For most of us old timers, we have permanent PTSD from living through the "dark ages" and Sather's "better to be a lion for a day than a mouse for life" roster building. The prospect of going back to that strategy when so many of us can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel is truly frightening. I try and respect everyone's opinion when it comes to rebuilding this team but having lived through a few of these I would just caution to be careful what you wish for when it comes to speeding up the timeline. Once you head down that direction it's really hard to stop. I'm just trying to manage my expectations by expecting the worst and hoping for the best.

 

[TheTakedown]

Sooooo what was the issue then Jimbo?



if the Dolan and Rangers are gonna lie to us at least get damn stories straight

It's because its not standings related... It's 100% the issues surrounding the Isles losses and the Tom Wilson Debacle -- mind you, not those specific events themselves, but like some others have said on here, how those events transpired and what's leading to them.

To me, the root of the on ice issues were Quinn. That said, I've a feeling that Gorton didn't want to fire him -- considering how lost this team is in crunch time, coupled with the multiple reports of locker room issues/no leadership... Yeah, the blame needs to go higher than David Quinn at that point

 

[chosen]

Another thing I can't figure out is why some fans think Drury will be a great GM. He might be, but I'll bet that before next season, some here will be screaming for his immediate removal for some perceived tragic error.

It's like football fans who scream for the backup QB.

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

Another thing I can't figure out is why some fans think Drury will be a great GM. He might be, but I'll bet that before next season, some here will be screaming for his immediate removal for some perceived tragic error.

It's like football fans who scream for the backup QB.

Many fans on here wanted Cam Talbot anointed as the starter over Lundqvist. Not a great barometer.

 

[Blueshirt Believer]

Another thing I can't figure out is why some fans think Drury will be a great GM. He might be, but I'll bet that before next season, some here will be screaming for his immediate removal for some perceived tragic error.

It's like football fans who scream for the backup QB.

I don't know if he will be a great GM. But, I don't think we will be deviating from the approach too much.

Might be a coach shakeup. Perhaps some quality vet pickups. But, I don't see Drury selling the farm or anything too drastic.

Whether he can turn this team into a cup contender? I don't know, but I don't think the sky is falling for us atm.

 

[fm]

good article by Larry Brooks who pretty much agrees with the firings:

Why Rangers owner Jim Dolan fired John Davidson, Jeff Gorton

Of course he's going to write a piece like this. He needs to maintain his access in the new regime.

Some good points, nonetheless. Still obvious that these firings were knee-jerk nonsense from a coked out brat.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Of course he's going to write a piece like this. He needs to maintain his access in the new regime.

Some good points, nonetheless. Still obvious that these firings were knee-jerk nonsense from a coked out brat.

I agree with Larry, there was something off with the lack of roster building, timidness, lack of physicality and reluctance to hire top coaches.

I also support Dolan's message to NHL and it was sad that Gorton and JD were trying to distance themselves from it.

 

[Profet]

For the record, Hank had no interest in remaining here as a backup.

Aside from the fact it would've been a moot point because he couldn't play, he would not have been happy getting into a single digit amount of games down the stretch.

If one of Dolan's beefs was how the Lundqvist era ended, then he's not paying attention to what was role was available and whether the player even wanted that role.

To be fair, he may not have even noticed Lundqvist was off the team until he got the financial report and the Lundqvist merchandise line item's year over year was so terribad.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I will say this has no bearing on anything but Drury is a better public speaker than Gorton who was one of the most uncomfortable public speaking GMs I've ever seen. It's a large part of the job, though not anywhere near the most important.