Ready to sell

[Clausewitz]

Though I've expressed skepticism regarding AV's coaching style -- which might, hopefully, be misplaced after all -- selling would not, in my humble opinion, help this team's long-term growth. We do have talent; it's just easy to equate lack of scoring to lack of talent. Hockey teams are businesses. Frustration (however warranted) shouldn't dictate management decisions -- let alone execution. Successful businesses convey professionalism and stability to employees (or, in this case, players) and customers, so we need to be professional by developing, communicating and sticking to a viable strategy based on our current assets (not ones that we might acquire). Total overhauls convey instability and attract attention to management in a negative way.

Don't get me wrong; there have been times that I've wanted to chuck my TV out the window this season -- whether it be after seeing DZ make a horrible pass or Hank letting in a softie. But, in the end, we can't let emotions cloud our vision. The NHL and the Rangers are, after all and above all else, businesses.

Edit: Happy Christmas to all!

 

[ZiGOODejad]

Too many people want to sell sell sell. Fans wanted Torts out he's gone and now hank sucks and our d is spotty at best. Get a grip guys we aren't selling core guys maybe one but we're not going to ship out the whole team. They will not rebuild this team

 

[RangerBoy]

You're always so quick to attack people who disagree with you.

I never said it was easy. You say I say it was easy. I'm sorry that was the tone you took from my post.

The way Sather runs this team, I think he's more of a Wal-Mart shopper than a Target shopper.

There are players/kids out there that the team can take a flyer on if the rumors serve true. Guys like Connolly, Zucker, Franson, Gardiner. I'm sure Sather has inquired about these players, I also understand that this isn't going to be an overnight process. Omark went to Buffalo for a conditional 6th. There's a guy with skill and talent, something this organization truly misses. Even if we had to stick him in the AHL, he'd infuse a ton of talent at that level. He's a point-per-game AHL player. Don't tell me Hartford couldn't use that, and maybe he puts it together in a new organization. For a conditional 6th.

You purge them for whatever you can. You shop Poo and Pyatt for picks. You can't get them? Waive them. Get them out of the locker room and out of the environment. Then you trade guys like Del Zotto, Girardi OR Callahan, and fill in the roster with what we receive for them. I understand it's not easy, but trades happen in the NHL - we need to be a more active team. I'm sure Sather is active, and I expect the activity to start up when the freeze is over. But don't tell me that I don't understand.

There are a lot of intelligent people on this board, you're not the only one RB.

No one is attacking you or your lack of intelligence but you make it sound so easy. The Rangers brass have not been sitting on their hands and doing nothing.

This team needs a new vision and a new philosophy. Stick to it. Firing the coach and doing nothing wasn't enough.

The same current plan of a little of this and some of that isn't working. Sather backs himself into a corner and then he is stuck. He has been trying to make trades since October. If it was that easy to make moves,they would have been made months ago. The summertime was when major changes needed to be made. The Rangers had no cap space because Sather decided to keep Richards. You build the team in the summer and tweak it during the season. The Rangers need more than tweaks.

The trading deadline is the next pressure point for making trades and that is not until March 5.

Maybe some teams will look to make moves before the Olympic break on February 7. The Rangers play 3 games after returning from the Olympic break and then its the deadline. The Rangers should have an idea of what they want to do by the 7th. Three more games to evaluate isn't going to make much difference.

 

[eco's bones]

Rangers had most of their money already tied up with contracts by the time the UFA season rolled around last summer. They had to keep some space for their RFA's and with RFA's you have to figure someone (like in this case Stepan) is going to hold out for a bit more than you really want to give. Their ability to make deals with other teams was limited going into a new year with a new coach who wanted to make major changes to the system the team was used to--they're less limited now with about two thirds of their roster needing to sign deals for next year. If they were playing well they'd be easier to move for something worthwhile. But here's the Catch 22. If they were playing well the Rangers wouldn't want to be moving them en masse. They'd be buyers not sellers. I don't think the team is committed to buying or selling at this point in time. They're still wondering where the team is and whether it can salvage a playoff spot. The Rangers will go after that final playoff spot no matter whether the team is a contender or not. That is the Rangers MO. It might seem a bit stupid or shortsighted. In the big picture the more years you're away from the playoffs the harder it is for a younger team to take the final step to make the playoffs again. Edmonton is an example of that. All the budding stars and they're nowhere near and probably for the next two-three years. The Rangers are willing to move certain players to upgrade--that is all. If and/or when the team looks to be out of the picture altogether then they'll probably look to do a bunch of deals.

By the way AV seems happy with Pouliot lately. Pyatt I expect will need to be waived. I'm not sure you could even get a 7th rounder for him. John Scott might be more valuable than Pyatt.

 

[Ghost of jas]

No one is attacking you or your lack of intelligence but you make it sound so easy. The Rangers brass have not been sitting on their hands and doing nothing.

This team needs a new vision and a new philosophy. Stick to it. Firing the coach and doing nothing wasn't enough.

The same current plan of a little of this and some of that isn't working. Sather backs himself into a corner and then he is stuck. He has been trying to make trades since October. If it was that easy to make moves,they would have been made months ago. The summertime was when major changes needed to be made. The Rangers had no cap space because Sather decided to keep Richards. You build the team in the summer and tweak it during the season. The Rangers need more than tweaks.

The trading deadline is the next pressure point for making trades and that is not until March 5.

Maybe some teams will look to make moves before the Olympic break on February 7. The Rangers play 3 games after returning from the Olympic break and then its the deadline. The Rangers should have an idea of what they want to do by the 7th. Three more games to evaluate isn't going to make much difference.

The Rangers really need to make the necessary hard decisions and maximize the value of moving both Callahan and Girardi. While both players have been good soldiers, neither player is a fit in AV's system. McD, Kreider, Zucc, JMoore, Miller....these are the players that are much more suited to AV's vision of this team going forward. So, you don't sink valuable cap space log term to players that are falling out of your core and more into the role of complementary players.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

The Rangers really need to make the necessary hard decisions and maximize the value of moving both Callahan and Girardi. While both players have been good soldiers, neither player is a fit in AV's system. McD, Kreider, Zucc, JMoore, Miller....these are the players that are much more suited to AV's vision of this team going forward. So, you don't sink valuable cap space log term to players that are falling out of your core and more into the role of complementary players.

You also don't act to rid the team of players like that or else you end up like Edmonton or Vancouver with what is considered "softer".

 

[Vitto79]

I sell only parts, Boyle has value. The rest of ufa forwards not so much. Pouliott, Pyatt, Moore. Asham and powe of course have no value as they gave been on waivers.

Kreider , stepan , Nash , brassard , hagelin , Callahan , zuccarello, Dorsett , miller will stick for next yr.

 

[silverfish]

No one is attacking you or your lack of intelligence but you make it sound so easy. The Rangers brass have not been sitting on their hands and doing nothing.

This team needs a new vision and a new philosophy. Stick to it. Firing the coach and doing nothing wasn't enough.

The same current plan of a little of this and some of that isn't working. Sather backs himself into a corner and then he is stuck. He has been trying to make trades since October. If it was that easy to make moves,they would have been made months ago. The summertime was when major changes needed to be made. The Rangers had no cap space because Sather decided to keep Richards. You build the team in the summer and tweak it during the season. The Rangers need more than tweaks.

The trading deadline is the next pressure point for making trades and that is not until March 5.

Maybe some teams will look to make moves before the Olympic break on February 7. The Rangers play 3 games after returning from the Olympic break and then its the deadline. The Rangers should have an idea of what they want to do by the 7th. Three more games to evaluate isn't going to make much difference.

This post I agree with, a lot. I've said in other threads that firing Tortorella and bringing on dead weight was just a lateral move - coupled with bringing on AV. Lateral moves.

When you say the team needs a new vision and philosophy, I agree with you. Maybe I take it too far and make it "seem easy" when I discuss things like trades, waiver wire, etc... But that's what it takes to bring in the new vision, to establish a new philosophy, and to build an emerging identity.

Will it happen overnight? Of course not. The foundation, however, can certainly start being put into place in the coming months.

 

[Ghost of jas]

You also don't act to rid the team of players like that or else you end up like Edmonton or Vancouver with what is considered "softer".

So Callahan and Girardi constitute the only leadership and toughness on this team...got it.