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)?

[Peltz]

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?

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[Raistlin]

Isn't this usually where 9 out of 10 NHL franchises fire their coaches? Seems to be the first choice no matter what these days in this sport.

 

[Goose]

Meh, they'll be fine.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Sell EVERYTHING!

 

[JKG33]

The Rangers were always a mid team that was carried by the best goalie in the league. Now the goalie is having a rough stretch and suddenly the team doesn't look so good.

It doesn't help when you spend $20m on two forwards who are among the softest in the league and only show up when they feel like it (Zib and Panarin).

But somehow it's all Trouba's fault

 

[CapsCrazyX17]

I would blame Tom Wilson, somehow it has to be his fault!

 

[Bard Marchand]

Isn't this usually where 9 out of 10 NHL franchises fire their coaches? Seems to be the first choice no matter what these days in this sport.

You get one freebie fire as GM where you get to stay relatively blameless, no matter if it goes well or poorly. Gerard Gallant was that guy for Drury. Now if he fires Laviolette it is a gamble for him because if he fires Lavi and the Rangers still suck, then Drury looks bad and is up next on the chopping block.

He's probably desperate to make some sort of trade(s) to shake up that roster but he has a lot of difficult contracts to work with that probably nobody would want to pay equal value for. If he did trade, he'd have to accept a loss in value.

 

[NVious]

Tinker and hope for the best, personally I'm of the belief that you give true contenders rope and this team was 2 games away from going to the finals.

Honestly this team should be going all in on what could potentially be Shesty's last year.

I'm a big believer that when you have a core that you feel has a decent chance at the cup (obviously saying the least you could say about a team 2 games away), you need to be going all in as much as you can in your stars' prime.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Swap Shesterkin for Georgiev and embrace the tank!

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I mean, what can you really do?

If the ship is gonna sink, it's gonna sink.

No trade or two, even a "blockbuster" one, during middle of the season is going to just magically going to turn this team around. The stink and rot go beyond individual players and invovles team/org, playstyle, philosophy etc.

 

[HabzSauce]

First thing I'd do before end of season is trade Shesty....and if possible also trouba.

Get as much of a haul as you can for these guys. Rags can retool without having to tear it all down. And they will probably be better for it if they get the right assets back.

 

[BLNY]

Hire the Pegula family's PR team?

First thing I'd do before end of season is trade Shesty....and if possible also trouba.

Get as much of a haul as you can for these guys. Rags can retool without having to tear it all down. And they will probably be better for it if they get the right assets back.

I'd dump Drury first.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Should have traded Lafreniere and Kakko while they had value.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Play more Rempe.

 

[CaptainShark]

Shesterkin isn’t having rough patch. He is playing poorly on purpose to drive up his price by showing Drury how poor his team would be if the ice an average starter…

 

[HabzSauce]

I mean, what can you really do?

If the ship is gonna sink, it's gonna sink.

No trade or two, even purported "blockbuster" trade, during middle of the season is going to just magically going to turn this team around.

Ya this season is a write off if they make any trades but I'd take the short term L if it makes the rags better in the long run. Doesn't have to be that long of a wait either - rags make the right moves and they could be better even as soon as next season

 

[My3Sons]

Watching them on and off the past few games they seem listless. They are skating but not doing the little things to win. I don't think going public with the potential trade shakeup has helped and I wouldn't be surprised if Trouba and Kreider are sulking a bit. If the team has alienated them that won't resonate in the locker room. Then add in the Shesterkin contract discussions and it is easy to surmise they have a lot of off ice distractions. They are also getting a bit older and have played a lot of hockey with this core the past few years and at this point it's probably difficult for them to get too invested in regular season games. They will right the ship and play better at some point.

 

[unicornpig]

Said it back then signing Panarin was a mistake and it pushed their rebuild forward. Got a lot of shit from ranger fans....

 

[LevelingSolo]

Coach just got them to the presidents trophy last year, he’s not the issue

Could be a slump or they could be in need of a shakeup trade

 

[1989]

I have no love (or hate) or loyalty to the Rangers, so I just take the paycheck and run

 

[Bgav]

Don't make a panic trade

 

[PanniniClaus]

smoke - fire on Krieder and Trouba so make your move. Cuylle is ready to take Kreider's spot and you really get people's attention with a move like that. Trouba is addition by subtraction but I assume you bring Martini back and possibly get a D in the deal.

Othmann and Berard can take roles.

 

[Chainshot]

Seems the first thing from Drury was publicly leaking his memo that guys like Kreider and Trouba are "available". That did seem to inspire them much. They have a great 5-on-5 line with Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko but they're getting little elsewhere. Seems the next thing is booting Lavi and hiring someone else as interim HC.

 

[McShogun99]

Trade Shesterkin to the Oilers at 50% retention for a 7th.....

 

[islesmb]

Do nothing and keep losing but I'm biased...