Rangers have lost 6 out of their last 7 games. What would you do if you were Dolan (the owner of the team) or Drury (the GM)?

[Canes]

They need to ride this core til the wheels fall off. And it looks bad right now, but the wheels haven't fallen off yet.

 

[HolyGhost]

I admit. I thought they would have pulled the trigger on a deal already.

 

[Stephen]

I would get out the stationery and pen a heartfelt letter. Let it all out.

 

[Drake1588]

My last thread got shut down. I guess it was considered premature.

So if you were Dolan or Drury in this moment, what would you do? What would your analysis of the problem be?

These guys just came from competing in the ECF and winning a President's trophy. But clearly, they are struggling.

You've got a goalie who wants a $12m/year contract who just lost 5 straight games. You've got Trouba who blocked a trade over the summer and is playing AHL-caliber defense with an $8m cap hit.

You've got Miller, Fox, and Lindgren, all of whom look like they are playing like a shell of their former selves.

You've got Zib who looks lost out there and is signed for another 6 seasons at 8.5m.

Your team has relied on special teams and goaltending to carry them over the last 3 seasons.


The big problem is this - for the past 2 weeks or so, this team has arguably been the worst team in the NHL. Arguably, it's been longer than that but goaltending has totally bailed them out.

I would go so far to say that if Panarin or Shesterkin were not on the team (just one of those two) then this team could have the worst record in the NHL. They have carried everyone else. Special mention for Quick who has also played brilliantly when starting.

So if you ran this team, what would you do?

It's not trading veterans with NMCs... because they have NMCs. And it's not trading the younger players who are producing, because why would you trade your best bang-for-the-buck players?

They have to eat it for the rest of the year, and convince the whole organization that no one is getting fired or traded. This is it. This is the team. Everyone needs to focus on building these guys up again, and do their level best to bring the temperature down so players over the age of 27 are not walking on eggshells each day. Management needs to stop making everyone inside and outside the room believe they hate their veterans and want to trade them all - but can't because all the veterans have NMCs. These guys aren't going anywhere, so back them up.

Work with them, accepting that you're winning or losing based on how far those guys can take you. (A) You'll benefit from the production they give you, and (B) they will start dragging their trade value up off the mat. The Rangers are going to need that this summer, when some of those ironclad NMCs loosen up, giving management more room to work with as far as possible trades are concerned.

If they could figure out how to muzzle The Maven and Larry Brooks, it wouldn't hurt. Man, that hockey community is toxic right now. Talk about eating your own.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Let this play out the next 25 games. If the team has cratered you can sell some assets and re-tool. If the team finds itself near the top of the standings again load up for a playoff push.

Even with Kreider I would wait. He will have a larger market by the deadline anyways.

The correct answer is this right here.

See if this group can stop crying over that fact that none of the vets save Panarin have played up to their contract and string a bunch of wins together.

If they're a bubble team near the deadline, you sell everything not bolted to the floor (Lafreniere, Fox, Cuylle) and let Mancini, Rempe, Othmann and Berard cook

 

[hamzarocks]

The initial rebuild failing badly is coming back to bite them now

Andersson --> 7th OA wasted fully

Kravstov --> 9th OA wasted fully

Kakko --> 2nd OA wasted mostly (playing like a good 3rd liner in his D+6 year)

Lafrenriere--> 1st OA hasnt been the projected franchise player yet though has become a good top 6 player with room to get better still.

These were supposed to be core level players who helped out the declining and older core guys like Panarin, Zibinajad, Kreider, Trocheck

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Trouba for an autographed Matthews stick.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

I dont get the Rangers panic, both goalies are over .900 and they have a winning record. And have 5 players at or within 3 points of 20 points. I get Igor isnt playing elite hockey, but surely they can still win with .900 goaltending? No?

No. They are that bad defensively.

Losing Gustafsson and replacing him with Zac Jones was a massive blow that people drastically underestimate. That dude single handedly held this d corps together, even moreso when Fox was injured.

 

[Soundwave]

If you're going to slump it's best to do it earlier in the season.

 

[ijuka]

Truth is, the players aren't trying because they are unhappy about Barclay Goodrow getting waived. They're essentially protesting.

They're probably trying to get the coach fired or something. Either way, I'm convinced they aren't trying.

 

[FiveTacos]

That was supposed to be "d" but it auto corrected to Ducks. Lol

Considering how every Ducks defense prospect seems to be looking pretty decent, perhaps your autocorrect is onto something.

These were supposed to be core level players who helped out the declining and older core guys like Panarin, Zibinajad, Kreider, Trocheck

I think when you see good teams in this situation where the window is close to the end, it can often be traced back to a series of draft misses that could have extended things.

Like Boston whiffing on those 3 consecutive 1st round picks in 15 ... If they hit on those their outlook would be much different now. They could literally have drafted an entire scoring line (Boeser, Connor, Barzal).

It's easy to end up with too many older guys, a few young guys, but start running out of "prime" players.

 

[StreetHawk]

Considering how every Ducks defense prospect seems to be looking pretty decent, perhaps your autocorrect is onto something.



I think when you see good teams in this situation where the window is close to the end, it can often be traced back to a series of draft misses that could have extended things.

Like Boston whiffing on those 3 consecutive 1st round picks in 15 ... If they hit on those their outlook would be much different now. They could literally have drafted an entire scoring line (Boeser, Connor, Barzal).

It's easy to end up with too many older guys, a few young guys, but start running out of "prime" players.

It's the way it is in the NHL. The max term deals and guys wanting security.

Most players don't hit the NHL til they are 20. So, ELC to 23. Then, if they are good enough to get term they get 6 years to age 29. Then aim to max term of 7/8 years to 36/37. So, they sign just 3 NHL contracts. If they can still play can do much shorter term deals at the end.

Cost of doing business. Teams accept that years 6-8 of a long term deal could be bad for them.

 

[Master P]

I think they need another "significant act of violence" to occur before any changes happen.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Let this play out the next 25 games. If the team has cratered you can sell some assets and re-tool. If the team finds itself near the top of the standings again load up for a playoff push.

Even with Kreider I would wait. He will have a larger market by the deadline anyways.

The problem is you wait too long, they may end up neither one thing or the other. I don’t realistically see them falling out of a playoff spot in the East.

The bigger problem for them is anyone they would want to move and would actually move the needle have next to no value around the league either because of their play, their age, or their contract (realistically some combination of the above). So the guys they could actually move they’d want to keep and wouldn’t address the core issues even if they did trade them.

They’re in a really bad spot.

 

[Voight]

Anyone with trade value on that team aside from Fox and Laf has serious trade protection meaning the Rangers won't be able to wheel and deal as they please.

 

[IDEKWTM]

Play some Instagram Hockey, it will help you win more

 

[Whoot Whoot]

I think the problem is the salary cap and not the rangers

 

[qc14]

Let this play out the next 25 games. If the team has cratered you can sell some assets and re-tool. If the team finds itself near the top of the standings again load up for a playoff push.

Even with Kreider I would wait. He will have a larger market by the deadline anyways.

Who are they moving in a re-tool that's actually bringing back anything?

You're not moving Shesterkin or Panarin. Smith and Lindgren are expiring but they both suck and are a large reason this is even a discussion in the first place. I still don't know who's touching Trouba/Trochek/Zibanejad/Kreider especially in-season. Even if you move one, you're still stuck with the other three and they probably aren't improving next year. Are you really getting that much for Kaako or Cuylle? Even if you did why move some of the only good young guys?

Their only hope is for another poorly managed team (Ottawa, Buffalo, maybe Seattle) to talk themselves into making a panic move and gifting them a Cozens or Chabot. Even then it might not be enough.

 

[Ace]

Get in a Time Machine and make actual offers for Jack Eichel instead of saying everything worth anything is off limits only to watch much of it get moved or be put on the block for much, much less.

 

[Mobiandi]

It certainly feels as if they’re headed for a retool sooner than later

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Yet another "sky is falling" thread from a Rangers fan on the main boards.

Rangers fans haven't been able to control their emotions the last few weeks. Stop whining about the team going through a rough patch. Happens to every team in the league. Suck it up. Move onto the next game.

Maybe the team is flawed. So what? Long season. And if the team needs to make some moves, I don't know why that's cause for like 10 threads on the main boards in the last few days about it. There are a lot of imperfect and even much worse teams in the NHL.

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

The initial rebuild failing badly is coming back to bite them now

Andersson --> 7th OA wasted fully

Kravstov --> 9th OA wasted fully

Kakko --> 2nd OA wasted mostly (playing like a good 3rd liner in his D+6 year)

Lafrenriere--> 1st OA hasnt been the projected franchise player yet though has become a good top 6 player with room to get better still.

These were supposed to be core level players who helped out the declining and older core guys like Panarin, Zibinajad, Kreider, Trocheck

Andersson was traded for the pick that became Will Cullye

 

[centipede2233]

Trade shesterkin at the trade deadline retain half and get the best return.

 

[dirtydanglez]

let rempe run wild for a few games to try and get the players back in the game.

 

[MVP Zacha]

Probably just the old "Regular Season Champions Banner" curse. Nothing to worry about.