Confirmed with Link: Rangers Sign Free Agent D Neal Pionk

[Fugazy]

A huge pickup. I wasn't expecting it--I heard Chicago. The Rangers have become the go to destination for the best college free agents.

Gorton deserves a lot of credit for that. He's been killing it on the recruiting trail.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Found this on the main board for the signing:



That last part is pretty big. Guys who watch these guys are saying he has a shot to get into the lineup next season. That's big

He wouldn't turn pro if he was expected to be in the AHL.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

The only reason they signed Richards is because we couldn't as the team who bought him out. Otherwise we would have won that battle as well.

Meaning they wanted to bring Richards back on? How do you know this?

Richards might be back in the organization in some capacity. He has been at the last couple home games in the press box with the execs. Now all we need is Marty back in some fashion and I will be content

 

[TheTakedown]

Meaning they wanted to bring Richards back on? How do you know this?

Richards might be back in the organization in some capacity. He has been at the last couple home games in the press box with the execs. Now all we need is Marty back in some fashion and I will content

I don't know if that's allowed since the Rangers are still paying him his buyout

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Meaning they wanted to bring Richards back on? How do you know this?

Richards might be back in the organization in some capacity. He has been at the last couple home games in the press box with the execs. Now all we need is Marty back in some fashion and I will content

No, it's just a joke considering a team buying out a player isn't eligible to sign that player. And Chicago then signed him.

Although, Richards was a popular guy in the lockerroom and as a third line center he definitely had a role to fill. Just not at his big contract he signed in 2011

 

[TheTakedown]

No, it's just a joke considering a team buying out a player isn't eligible to sign that player. And Chicago then signed him.

Although, Richards was a popular guy in the lockerroom and as a third line center he definitely had a role to fill. Just not at his big contract he signed in 2011

Such a stupid rule, I don't know why they didn't give GM's the option to restructure the contract.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Want a fun little connection? Pionk and Ryan Mantha were teammates in the USHL. Rangers have probably been watching Pionk for a while.

 

[Ola]

Gorton has had a ridiculous 12 months.

Amen, love what I am seing. I really didn't like his first 12 months here, but after that he has done exactly what I wanted to see.

I went into this in another thread. On average you get a about one decent player per draft. It's a little more maybe 1.3 or something. 1.5.

If we can add say 2 UDFAs that becomes solid players during 3 years, it's basically like having 50% more draft picks. Like getting 50% of seven 1-7 round picks per season. It's huge. And it don't look like a stretch at this point.

Why are these kids choosing NY?

-Openings. That is very important. We have no farm, they will get a shot here.

-Track record. We have done a very good job developing kids. Of kids that did well/stuck out, Grachev and McIlrath have busted and the rest basically have made it. This is in an area where league average might not be higher than 20% maybe, and we must be closing in on 80%. I don't want to get into another AV debate -- besides I even think it's about many many other things than him solely, especially chemistry, peer pressure from within the room, first class organization all through etc -- we are doing a heck of a job making players of solid prospects.

-We threat these kids right. Slats implemented that. I've on many occasions heard how Slats never would hesitate to instantly move a kid that wanted out. We got the rights to Haggerty for Raanta so it doesn't stick out, but it's one example. Those rights weren't valuable at the time, and Haggerty went here in stead of to Chi and regretted his decision. It might not sound like much, but as a European I notice so many situations of kids just being stuck and buried because GMs are afraid they will do better elsewhere. Took someone like Omark 4 years to get out of EDM. This is important, it's maybe not the first thing you say, but if you sign in NY and it was the wrong call -- don't worry we will swing you wherever you want to go. We have done it before and will do it again.

-Good team.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Such a stupid rule, I don't know why they didn't give GM's the option to restructure the contract.

I am happy they don't have re-structure options in the NHL. Look at the NFL and NBA and what a mess that is. The NHL is just clear-cut salaries with a cap hit. Want to get it off the books? You go for a buy out. Want to retain salary? Max 50%. No cutting players, no restructuring, no soft cap.

 

[eco's bones]

Gorton deserves a lot of credit for that. He's been killing it on the recruiting trail.

It doesn't hurt to have an aura around the team that it treats its players really well. And whether we're winning cups or not we're almost always going for it. And then NYC--if you make it there, you can make it anywhere--it's an exciting place to play--you're in the spotlight and if you do well you'll cash in. The Rangers don't cheap out on anything and management and even the coaching staff is committed towards not only winning but building a winning atmosphere. The fact that we haven't won--more about some ineptitude than lack of trying.

 

[Ori]

A great signing - he could be a future key piece to get Trouba!

 

[eco's bones]

Another thing is the Rangers have taken defensemen like Ryan McDonagh and Brady Skjei who in college were pretty much very good stay at home D and turn them into legit two way defensemen with very good offensive games. It would seem to me if you are someone like Pionk and looked at what Skjei was like a couple years ago coming out of college and what he's like now you'd be really excited because once the Rangers got their hands on him Skjei has really blossomed. 39 points in his rookie season with bottom pair minutes for a guy with a pretty strong defensive game is just outstanding.

 

[keppel146]

It doesn't hurt to have an aura around the team that it treats its players really well. And whether we're winning cups or not we're almost always going for it. And then NYC--if you make it there, you can make it anywhere--it's an exciting place to play--you're in the spotlight and if you do well you'll cash in. The Rangers don't cheap out on anything and management and even the coaching staff is committed towards not only winning but building a winning atmosphere. The fact that we haven't won--more about some ineptitude than lack of trying.

I can't imagine going from living in Hermantown/Duluth to NYC haha.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Nice signing. If he does well in the early part of next season, he could be an NHL consideration late in the season. We could really use a productive offensive defenseman who shoots right.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

AV: ", I found the new Clendening"

 

[Graves94]

- Pesan replacing Gernander
- Lettieri, Pedrie, Gropp, Zborovsky, Day joining HFD
- Pionk and Bereglazov replacing Staal and Klein
- Shipachyov signing as a free agent
- Hayes and Raanta traded for Honka and ANA's 1st
- Klein to Calgary for a pick
- Holden picked in the expansion draft
- Nash traded to New Jersey for the rights to Kovalchuk
- Draft Brannstrom and Yamamoto with the two 1st round picks

Kovalchuk-Shipachyov-Buchnevich
Vesey-Stepan-Zuccarello
Kreider-Zibanejad-Miller
Fast-Lindberg-Grabner

McDonagh-Honka
Skjei-Smith
Bereglazov-Pionk

Lundqvist
FA goalie

Don't think so!
Supposedly, he's looking at a contract with an AVV of $5.5M...
As per TSN 690, Habs have/had been linked to him since last year, and have given up, after hearing what he's looking for $$ wise.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I like this signing, but I doubt this guy starts in the NHL next season. I don't even think Graves who has had two successful AHL seasons is likely to start next season in the NHL. Bereglazov will, he's already a fixture with Russia's National Team. He's not coming to NA to play in the minors.

But definitely good to sign a guy who we can send to Hartford, let him develop, and then call up a right shot offensive defenseman when need be. We are building some good depth on defense.

 

[Thirty One]

He wouldn't turn pro if he was expected to be in the AHL.

Why not?

 

[FLYLine27*]

He wouldn't turn pro if he was expected to be in the AHL.

I disagree.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Why not?

I disagree.

The safe choice would be to finish college first. The way guys like Gilmour did.

 

[TheTakedown]

I am happy they don't have re-structure options in the NHL. Look at the NFL and NBA and what a mess that is. The NHL is just clear-cut salaries with a cap hit. Want to get it off the books? You go for a buy out. Want to retain salary? Max 50%. No cutting players, no restructuring, no soft cap.

i meant jsut for the lockout season

 

[LeetchisGod]

Mike: Living in Washington DC I get to focus on the Caps and read about the team. Here is an article in today's Washington Post about Shattenkirk. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ow-he-can-play-better/?utm_term=.241ed7391db5 If the link doesn't work because you need a subscription let me know and I will print the article. But the bottom line is despite playing fewer, sheltered minutes Shattenkirk is a team worst +/- in the playoffs. His delay of game penalty at the beginning of the 3rd period Saturday night with no pressure on him was a bad play for a rookie. You might be write that we should sign Smith (of course we would need to actually play him) and avoid the big Shattenkirk contract.

Hopefully Gorton has noticed Shattenkirk stinking up the joint in DC. He also -13 for his career in the playoffs. As Bray Wyatt would say, "Run".

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

i meant jsut for the lockout season

Oh. Well, they gave 2 compliance buy outs to each team. That's pretty much the same. It's as good as it gets.

 

[nyr2k2]

I'm​not normally one to suggest "this clearly means something bigger is happening" or "trade incoming," but I think it's pretty clear the organization is ready to remake the defense in the summer. They've brought in quite a few younger guys who are close to ready or who should be within a season or so.

I certainly haven't given up on this season, but I'm also really eager to see what the off-season holds. Love what Gorton has been doing.

 

[TheTakedown]

Oh. Well, they gave 2 compliance buy outs to each team. That's pretty much the same. It's as good as it gets.

you couldn't resign the player you bought out though. Rangers absolutely would have taken Brad at $2M/year, and Brad probably would have stuck it out here if he was allowed to.