Confirmed with Link: Rangers sign Blake Wheeler [1Y/800K]

[Fitzy]

They just got a 60 point potential player for a 1 year deal worth 800k in a position of need. It's a no fing brainer

Agreed, so long as they are willing to mix up the line combinations if his play is creating a problem in the top 6.

Like, they shouldn't be afraid to play Wheeler away from Panarin/Kreider if it isn't working.

 

[Atax]

I mean with how little cap space we have, I'm not sure we can complain about the signing. We can, however, complain when hes in the top 6 and getting more minutes then Kakko.

 

[Raspewtin]

What an absolute joke. Let's commit to a rebuild and then keep back filling to old players that can't skate but will eat minutes. what an absolute joke this org is. No direction what so ever

yeah sorry i’m not interested in another year of Kakko being the only RW worth a damn on the team. were you expecting to hand it to Othmann?

 

[IDvsEGO]

What an absolute joke. Let's commit to a rebuild and then keep back filling to old players that can't skate but will eat minutes. what an absolute joke this org is. No direction what so ever

I don’t see him stealing minutes from Kakko.
I see him on a 2nd or 3rd line.
Kreider-trocheck-wheeler is a nasty line.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Wheeler - 55 points in 72 games
Kreider - 54 points in 79 games

Just throwing that out there about “washed up” Wheeler.

 

[BroadwayStorm]

This is a great signing. He has bite and would be a great third line player.

 

[Hire Sather]

55 pts for 800K and people are mad? Trolling?

 

[Daves a mess]

55 pts for 800K and people are mad? Trolling?

Has to be

 

[PuckLuck3043]

What an absolute joke. Let's commit to a rebuild and then keep back filling to old players that can't skate but will eat minutes. what an absolute joke this org is. No direction what so ever

Yea, like they have all this RW depth. You are too focused on age. It's a one year deal at 800k for a 55-60 point player that can move up and down the lineup. I doubt it affects anything concerning Laf or Kakko. They will get their minutes and need to step up.

 

[IDvsEGO]

I actually like this from a develop the kids standpoint too.
Wheeler will put up points, he might be a defensive liability but he might have more motivation with 1 year deal, and might pick up his game (doubtful but a possibility)

But it also gives othmann some time in the AHL to cook. So we don't rush him into the NHL.

And at 800k its a steal for a guy whos likely to put up at minimum 45 points.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Agreed, so long as they are willing to mix up the line combinations if his play is creating a problem in the top 6.

Like, they shouldn't be afraid to play Wheeler away from Panarin/Kreider if it isn't working.

Gallant isn't here anymore. I have no doubt he will be used effectively.

 

[AIexisLafreniereNYR]

Wheel’s definitely declining. He’s probably going to drop off production , if we can get 35-45 points with his salary being what it is along with his veteran leadership im happy. He’s a solid playoff performer as well

He could’ve signed a bigger deal, he could’ve signed a 3m on year deal. The rangers are definitely a contending regardles of the outcome last year. So I’m sure he wants to win a cup before he retires

Love this move. Great job by Dru

 

[Gardner McKay]

If you are complaining about this signing you probably need to take a long look in the mirror and think about if you even want this team to win. A guy who is 6'5 and put up 50+ points in 72 games for league minimum? That's a f***ing heist that the rangers never seem to get. This is a deal that we BITCH about other teams getting and the "rangers never being smart enough to do".

f***ing incredible deal.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

What a great signing! A position of desperate need.

Would love to see a line of Kreider - Trocheck - Wheeler.

 

[AIexisLafreniereNYR]

is wheeler still fast? cant complain about this for 800k. could be a big steal if hes got anything left in the tank.

His legs are pretty much toasted. But he’s still a solid player, especially at 800k

 

[LOFIN]

55 pts for 800K and people are mad? Trolling?

The only issue here is his character. He was the captain when Buff quit all together, Laine wanted a trade out of Winnipeg. He was just stripped of his captaincy. Combine that with the Rangers locker room that is probably not the toughest and most tightly knit out there...

But in pure on-ice value terms, how can someone be mad? We were going into the season lacking a top-6 RW, wondering if either Panarin or Laf needed to convert. We just signed a 55pt (in 72 games) for basically league minimum. Just enjoy this one, bright lights of New York have their benefits.

 

[McRanger92]

55 point player with size at a position of need at basically league minimum. I guess the Garden mystique still appears to some guys

 

[AlaBlueShirt]

The only issue here is his character. He was the captain when Buff quit all together, Laine wanted a trade out of Winnipeg. He was just stripped of his captaincy. Combine that with the Rangers locker room that is probably not the toughest and most tightly knit out there...

But in pure on-ice value terms, how can someone be mad? We were going into the season lacking a top-6 RW, wondering if either Panarin or Laf needed to convert. We just signed a 55pt (in 72 games) for basically league minimum. Just enjoy this one, bright lights of New York have their benefits.

Trouba knows him. Hard to not believe that Drury didn’t have a convo with him before the signing.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Cartoonish joke of a franchise that this is where they are allocating scarce resources

 

[NYRFAN218]

Can't complain at all with the price and their limited flexibility. Only thing I hope is that we don't see vet deterrence when it comes to ice time, especially for the PP, to the vet compared to Laf and Kakko.

 

[Raspewtin]

Cartoonish joke of a franchise that this is where they are allocating scarce resources

to.........a top 6 RWer when we have 0 top 6 RWers?

seems good to me?

if it was tarasenko or something i'd understand this comment but I really don't get it. were they supposed to make a trade with no assets or cap (of which, I understand that is a problem they made themselves)?

 

[17futurecap]

The only issue here is his character. He was the captain when Buff quit all together, Laine wanted a trade out of Winnipeg. He was just stripped of his captaincy. Combine that with the Rangers locker room that is probably not the toughest and most tightly knit out there...

But in pure on-ice value terms, how can someone be mad? We were going into the season lacking a top-6 RW, wondering if either Panarin or Laf needed to convert. We just signed a 55pt (in 72 games) for basically league minimum. Just enjoy this one, bright lights of New York have their benefits.

If the Rangers let a guy come in and ruin the locker room making 800K, that’s more on the leadership in the room.

 

[CLW]

How very exciting.

Sather's minime Sather Jr. keeps doing things the Sather NYR way. Woopee.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Cartoonish joke of a franchise that this is where they are allocating scarce resources

At $800k? Come on man.

 

[LOFIN]

If the Rangers let a guy come in and ruin the locker room making 800K, that’s more on the leadership in the room.

Sure, but that's kinda my point. I wouldn't be worried in him landing say Boston, Tampa, Colorado. But with us?

And maybe I'm overplaying this "issue". We should be happy for such a value contract considering our cap crunch.