Speculation: Roster Building Thread Part IX: Trying To Reason With The Upcoming Season

[Gardner McKay]

I have to tell you, there are a number of people who absolutely FEAST on the negative. If you do an audit of all of their posts, literally 80 percent of them would be negative.

It's not just the negativity, it's that anger and bitterness and extreme knee-jerk reactions to fairly minor events.

Unfortunately, it's not just on here. I see it with many of my hobbies.

And it's hard to find a balance because people tend to push themselves into one extreme or the other.

You have some people who want to look on the bright side of things and ignore that the house is burning down around them, and then you have people who are running around, screaming "fire" the minute we turn on the stove to cook dinner.

There has to be a middle ground.

It is the world we live in. People are constantly "outraged" about every little thing that occurs in their life. Why would their favorite sports teams be any different? It is a waste of time to be outraged about things that are 100% out of your control.

The middle is always the safest place to be. Few people have the emotional intelligence to find the middle though.

 

[Off Sides]

Tough for any RD prospect to find a spot when they sign Shattenkirk, play both Smith and Holden at RD.

 

[GAGLine]

Staal is a lock? They will likely force him to waive his NTC and swallow up 50% of his contract to move his ass out of here.

There's no such thing as forcing a player to waive their NTC/NMC. And which team out there is going to take on his contract for the next 3 years, even at 50%? Which teams are even looking for a dman right now?

He is a lock to be on the roster on opening night. Whether or not he plays or is the #7 on any given night is a different question. If Staal regresses further, he might be bought out in the next year or two. Otherwise, he will be a more attractive trade option as the term of his contract gets shorter. Look at the trade we just made for McQuaid. Trading Staal at 50% and 1 year left is basically the same thing. There was obviously a market for McQuaid, so there will likely be one for Staal at that time. But with 3 years left? Not so much.

 

[NYR Viper]

Looking down the road, would anyone be THAT upset if Gorton re-signed McQuaid to a 1-2 year deal as depth/insurance on the right side? We've discussed this before that the Rangers lack any true RD prospects that are close to the NHL outside of Pionk and ADA. Hajek, Day, Lindgren, Rykov are all LD's.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Looking down the road, would anyone be THAT upset if Gorton re-signed McQuaid to a 1-2 year deal as depth/insurance on the right side? We've discussed this before that the Rangers lack any true RD prospects that are close to the NHL outside of Pionk and ADA. Hajek, Day, Lindgren, Rykov are all LD's.

Don't ask questions you already know the answer to

I personally would not be.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

I have to tell you, there are a number of people who absolutely FEAST on the negative. If you do an audit of all of their posts, literally 80 percent of them would be negative.

It's not just the negativity, it's that anger and bitterness and extreme knee-jerk reactions to fairly minor events.

Unfortunately, it's not just on here. I see it with many of my hobbies.

And it's hard to find a balance because people tend to push themselves into one extreme or the other.

You have some people who want to look on the bright side of things and ignore that the house is burning down around them, and then you have people who are running around, screaming "fire" the minute we turn on the stove to cook dinner.

There has to be a middle ground.

Took the words out of my mouth, dude. I just look around and read some of these posts and their reactions (on both sides) to such trivial things makes me just shake my head. I get being invested into the sport, but we can’t control anything that goes on with this team, and I couldn’t imagine reacting so heavily to something out of my control.

 

[Off Sides]

McQuaid is a lock in my opinion, they did not make the trade to waive him or have him sit.

Shattenkirk, Staal, Skjei, too

I think if Smith shows up in shape he is a lock.

Doubt they signed Claesson to waive him.

Probably not waiving ADA.

To me that is 7 locks, they can keep Pionk up or demote him without waivers. He'll probably fall into that category of may as well have him play more in the AHL than sit in the NHL. Maybe depend on if they think Bigas will be claimed or not if they send him down.

I don't really like the idea that there is not really a much of a competition for NHL D spots, but waivers and circumstance in my opinion have pretty much determined it.

 

[Edge]

It is the world we live in. People are constantly "outraged" about every little thing that occurs in their life. Why would their favorite sports teams be any different? It is a waste of time to be outraged about things that are 100% out of your control.

The middle is always the safest place to be. Few people have the emotional intelligence to find the middle though.

I stopped writing for this site in the early/mid-2000s because having arguments about trivial things just got to be too much.

After 9/11, it was really hard for me argue with someone about whether a marginal prospect more likely projected as a potential third liner, or a fourth liner. My heart just wasn't in it anymore. When you knew people impacted by those attacks, it just wasn't enjoyable to debate Nils Ekman for hours a day.

I also admit that some of the events of recent years have continued to put life into perspective. I've spent a lot of time in children's hospitals as my son receives treatment for Leukemia (he's doing good, in maintenance and we're making progress toward the finish line).

But when you see a parent holding a two year child whose head looks like baseball from stitches and surgeries they've had in their young life, or you make eye contact with a parent who is coming to terms with the reality that their child is going to die, there's something that happens in the pit of your soul or humanity that is irreversibly changed.

I've heard that people with heroine addictions often struggle with the aftermath because it completely wrecks the body's ability to feel joy or euphoria --- creating a somewhat hollow and empty feeling that never really goes away.

Somewhat similarly, when you spend time with sick kids and their families, you find that it's really hard to get emotionally hung-up on things that ultimately aren't a big deal in this world. Yeah you still feel disappointment, frustration or anger --- that's part of being a fan. But it's hard to spend hours upon hours worked up and angry about things --- especially things that are fairly minor in their importance to the team or the sport.

Hockey is a great sport to share with your friends and family. The highs, the lows, the triumph and the agony. But it's a balance as well. Just like the players on the ice need to take a step back from time to time, we do as well.

And even if you're incredibly well-versed in the sport, whether you gravitate towards the data analysis, or North American prospects, or European leagues, there is something to be said for embracing the concept that “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

 

[Blue Blooded]

If DeAngelo didn't have bad luck last year he wouldn't have had any at all. Not only did he spend most of his time on the Rangers with awful partners and had some of the worst on-ice Sh%/Sv% luck (versus xSh%/xSv%) in the league, but when he did manage to play himself onto the top pairing with Skjei (and they were sublime as a pairing) - he immediately had a season-ending injury.

 

[Edge]

McQuaid is a lock in my opinion, they did not make the trade to waive him or have him sit.

Shattenkirk, Staal, Skjei, too

I think if Smith shows up in shape he is a lock.

Doubt they signed Claesson to waive him.

Probably not waiving ADA.

To me that is 7 locks, they can keep Pionk up or demote him without waivers. He'll probably fall into that category of may as well have him play more in the AHL than sit in the NHL. Maybe depend on if they think Bigas will be claimed or not if they send him down.

I don't really like the idea that there is not really a much of a competition for NHL D spots, but waivers and circumstance in my opinion have pretty much determined it.

In fairness, outside of ADA, I don't know if we're really at the point of having interesting competitions for spots on the defense --- yet.

Lindgren (probably) isn't there. Hajek might be, though I really think he would benefit from playing in the AHL first.

For all intents and purposes, Pionk will be a rookie this year.

ADA has a fighting chance, but it's going to be an uphill battle. There's no way around it. Not just because McQ is a veteran, but because of the types of defenseman that Shattenkirk and Pionk are, what they bring to the table, their strengths and weaknesses, etc.

With that said, I don't think the Rangers are all-in on McQ and that he's an immovable object. But a lot of things are going to depend on ADA. Does he go into camp and turn heads and make life difficult, or does he had a mediocre camp where he doesn't really stand out?

If that latter happens, it is what it is --- with or without McQ.

 

[Off Sides]

In fairness, outside of ADA, I don't know if we're really at the point of having interesting competitions for spots on the defense --- yet.

Lindgren (probably) isn't there. Hajek might be, though I really think he would benefit from playing in the AHL first.

For all intents and purposes, Pionk will be a rookie this year.

ADA has a fighting chance, but it's going to be an uphill battle. There's no way around it. Not just because McQ is a veteran, but because of the types of defenseman that Shattenkirk and Pionk are, what they bring to the table, their strengths and weaknesses, etc.

With that said, I don't think the Rangers are all-in on McQ and that he's an immovable object. But a lot of things are going to depend on ADA. Does he go into camp and turn heads and make life difficult, or does he had a mediocre camp where he doesn't really stand out?

If that latter happens, it is what it is --- with or without McQ.

So what's the long term solution to having 3 rd who all have some stuff in common?

Are they really keeping Shattenkirk past this rebuild?

Or are they just not going to try to develop one of ADA or Pionk?

 

[Inferno]

I stopped writing for this site in the early/mid-2000s because having arguments about trivial things just got to be too much.

After 9/11, it was really hard for me argue with someone about whether a marginal prospect more likely projected as a potential third liner, or a fourth liner. My heart just wasn't in it anymore. When you knew people impacted by those attacks, it just wasn't enjoyable to debate Nils Ekman for hours a day.

I also admit that some of the events of recent years have continued to put life into perspective. I've spent a lot of time in children's hospitals as my son receives treatment for Leukemia (he's doing good, in maintenance and we're making progress toward the finish line).

But when you see a parent holding a two year child whose head looks like baseball from stitches and surgeries they've had in their young life, or you make eye contact with a parent who is coming to terms with the reality that their child is going to die, there's something that happens in the pit of your soul or humanity that is irreversibly changed.

I've heard that people with heroine addictions often struggle with the aftermath because it completely wrecks the body's ability to feel joy or euphoria --- creating a somewhat hollow and empty feeling that never really goes away.

Somewhat similarly, when you spend time with sick kids and their families, you find that it's really hard to get emotionally hung-up on things that ultimately aren't a big deal in this world. Yeah you still feel disappointment, frustration or anger --- that's part of being a fan. But it's hard to spend hours upon hours worked up and angry about things --- especially things that are fairly minor in their importance to the team or the sport.

Hockey is a great sport to share with your friends and family. The highs, the lows, the triumph and the agony. But it's a balance as well. Just like the players on the ice need to take a step back from time to time, we do as well.

And even if you're incredibly well-versed in the sport, whether you gravitate towards the data analysis, or North American prospects, or European leagues, there is something to be said for embracing the concept that “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

If there was a hall of fame for posts...this would be in it.

 

[Edge]

So what's the long term solution to having 3 rd who all have some stuff in common?

Are they really keeping Shattenkirk past this rebuild?

Or are they just not going to try to develop one of ADA or Pionk?

Don't really know on Shattenkirk. It really depends on how development goes for the prospects. For all his flaws, Shattenkirk is still an NHL-level defenseman who can put up 10-15 goals and 45-55 points. So until other players establish themselves as NHL defenseman, and then show just what type of defenseman they can be, Shattenkirk is probably staying.

I don't think it's a matter of not trying to develop one of ADA or Pionk, so much as it's the Rangers not taking that development as a given. In the end, the odds of both guys hitting their stride or developing to the point where both are kept, or force a Shattenkirk trade, is probably pretty slim.

Right now, I'd say Pionk has the inside track. This is based on their play last season, especially in the AHL, and circumstances that are beyond ADA's control --- such as the injury.

But I would assume the Rangers want nothing more than for ADA to show up to camp and take the bull by the horns. But again, they cannot take that as a given. There's a lot of question marks on the blueline heading into camp. Until this team has a firm grasp on where certain guys are, they have to hedge their bets a little.

But yes, in ADA's case he is going to be hurt by the fact that Shattenkirk and Pionk have {somewhat} similar strengths and weaknesses. In Shattenkirk's case, he is the veteran that isn't being moved at this time. In Pionk's case, he's in the same age range and is coming into camp ahead of ADA on the depth chart. In the case of Smith or McQ, they are different defenseman who potentially bring another element to the right side.

So ADA is going to have to go out there and establish himself pretty early. But he is also going in front of a coach who doesn't have any particular loyalties or bias' heading into the season.

At some point, it can't be a matter of every star being in alignment. A player has to just go out there and make it so the team can't afford to not play them.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I stopped writing for this site in the early/mid-2000s because having arguments about trivial things just got to be too much.

After 9/11, it was really hard for me argue with someone about whether a marginal prospect more likely projected as a potential third liner, or a fourth liner. My heart just wasn't in it anymore. When you knew people impacted by those attacks, it just wasn't enjoyable to debate Nils Ekman for hours a day.

I also admit that some of the events of recent years have continued to put life into perspective. I've spent a lot of time in children's hospitals as my son receives treatment for Leukemia (he's doing good, in maintenance and we're making progress toward the finish line).

But when you see a parent holding a two year child whose head looks like baseball from stitches and surgeries they've had in their young life, or you make eye contact with a parent who is coming to terms with the reality that their child is going to die, there's something that happens in the pit of your soul or humanity that is irreversibly changed.

I've heard that people with heroine addictions often struggle with the aftermath because it completely wrecks the body's ability to feel joy or euphoria --- creating a somewhat hollow and empty feeling that never really goes away.

Somewhat similarly, when you spend time with sick kids and their families, you find that it's really hard to get emotionally hung-up on things that ultimately aren't a big deal in this world. Yeah you still feel disappointment, frustration or anger --- that's part of being a fan. But it's hard to spend hours upon hours worked up and angry about things --- especially things that are fairly minor in their importance to the team or the sport.

Hockey is a great sport to share with your friends and family. The highs, the lows, the triumph and the agony. But it's a balance as well. Just like the players on the ice need to take a step back from time to time, we do as well.

And even if you're incredibly well-versed in the sport, whether you gravitate towards the data analysis, or North American prospects, or European leagues, there is something to be said for embracing the concept that “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

Well said. I just don’t wish to waste energy on things that, in the end, really have no meaning in life other than as a diversion. Hockey is fun, but, the anger over a trade for Adam McQuaid (for example) is just not worth investing energy in.

 

[Off Sides]

Don't really know on Shattenkirk. It really depends on how development goes for the prospects. For all his flaws, Shattenkirk is still an NHL-level defenseman who can put up 10-15 goals and 45-55 points. So until other players establish themselves as NHL defenseman, and then show just what type of defenseman they can be, Shattenkirk is probably staying.

I don't think it's a matter of not trying to develop one of ADA or Pionk, so much as it's the Rangers not taking that development as a given. In the end, the odds of both guys hitting their stride or developing to the point where both are kept, or force a Shattenkirk trade, is probably pretty slim.

Right now, I'd say Pionk has the inside track. This is based on their play last season, especially in the AHL, and circumstances that are beyond ADA's control --- such as the injury.

But I would assume the Rangers want nothing more than for ADA to show up to camp and take the bull by the horns. But again, they cannot take that as a given. There's a lot of question marks on the blueline heading into camp. Until this team has a firm grasp on where certain guys are, they have to hedge their bets a little.

But yes, in ADA's case he is going to be hurt by the fact that Shattenkirk and Pionk have {somewhat} similar strengths and weaknesses. In Shattenkirk's case, he is the veteran that isn't being moved at this time. In Pionk's case, he's in the same age range and is coming into camp ahead of ADA on the depth chart. In the case of Smith or McQ, they are different defenseman who potentially bring another element to the right side.

So ADA is going to have to go out there and establish himself pretty early. But he is also going in front of a coach who doesn't have any particularly loyalties or bias' heading into the season.

At some point, it can't be a matter of every star being in alignment. A player has to just go out there and make it so the team can't afford to not play them.

I'm not sure that timeline really matches up, by the time Shattenkirks contract ends, if things went well, they could have both Pionk and ADA playing in the NHL. Instead they are going to play Shattenkirk until at least his final year then once they rent him out or whatever they are going to be looking for something like an ADA or Pionk to replace him.

It seems like a rebuilding team would be more looking to produce players who could replace some of what Shattenkirk does rather than just use him until he is gone then have to go look for a totally new replacement.

I am not asking for the stars to line up, I'd be asking that they give some of the prospects some NHL time in earnest to see if any of them can play well enough so they don't need to run out and sign the next Shattenkirk the moment he is gone.

 

[NYR Viper]

I don't understand why Pionk would be given a spot over ADA? I thought ADA was actually the better player when he was healthy, his stats show it and he isn't waiver eligible like Pionk is.

ADA had 8 points in 32 games, Pionk had 14 points in 28 games so points-wise they were pretty even and yet ADA averaged 6 minutes less per game.

ADA had +6% Corsi rel vs Pionk's -6% Corsi rel

 

[LaffyTaffy]

I think Pionk will surprise some people, he sounded really determined to work his a** off this summer and I think he will come to camp ready to go. Also with McQuaid here we pretty much got a Klein/Girardi hybrid if you take the best of both of them. I cant help but see another move coming because there is no way in hell we are icing a dcore with Staal Smith AND McQuaid. Also haven't seen anyone mention the possibility of McQuaid being a Quinn target and Gorton delivering.

 

[Edge]

I'm not sure that timeline really matches up, by the time Shattenkirks contract ends, if things went well, they could have both Pionk and ADA playing in the NHL. Instead they are going to play Shattenkirk until at least his final year then once they rent him out or whatever they are going to be looking for something like an ADA or Pionk to replace him.

It seems like a rebuilding team would be more looking to produce players who could replace some of what Shattenkirk does rather than just use him until he is gone then have to go look for a totally new replacement.

I am not asking for the stars to line up, I'd be asking that they give some of the prospects some NHL time in earnest to see if any of them can play well enough so they don't need to run out and sign the next Shattenkirk the moment he is gone.

I'm not really sure they aren't giving prospects that time. They do want the prospects to force their hand a little more.

If we're talking specifically about ADA, we also have to account for the fact that he's going to be 23 and has played 71 NHL games and 122 AHL games.

If he's no closer to being an NHL defenseman in 2018, than he was in 2015, and he can't raise enough eyebrows with a new coach to make him an obvious choice for icetime, than I think the problem is bigger than the opportunity afforded to him by the team.

I think that's a key difference between someone like ADA and someone like Hajek, or Lindgren. The latter two are younger rookies who are going to need more time. At this point, ADA should be at a point where the pieces are either coming together enough to earn a spot, or they aren't.

Right, wrong, or otherwise --- Over the last 10-13 years, how many prospects have the Rangers given up on too soon, that went on to find become stars elsewhere?

 

[Off Sides]

I'm not really sure they aren't giving prospects that time. They do want the prospects to force their hand a little more.

If we're talking specifically about ADA, we also have to account for the fact that he's going to be 23 and has played 71 NHL games and 122 AHL games.

If he's no closer to being an NHL defenseman in 2018, than he was in 2015, and he can't raise enough eyebrows with a new coach to make him an obvious choice for icetime, than I think the problem is bigger than the opportunity afforded to him by the team.

I think that's a key difference between someone like ADA and someone like Hajek, or Lindgren. The latter two are younger rookies who are going to need more time. At this point, ADA should be at a point where the pieces are either coming together enough to earn a spot, or they aren't.

Right, wrong, or otherwise --- Over the last 10-13 years, how many prospects have the Rangers given up on too soon, that went on to find become stars elsewhere?

I am speaking to only ADA and Pionk.

They traded for ADA, they should try to develop him. Instead it sure looks like they have in the mean time, signed Shattenkirk, played both Smith and Holden at RD in front of him, found Pionk to be more attractive and now acquired McQuaid.

Was the mistake trading for ADA in the first place, or was it the other stuff afterwards?

If the mistake was trading for ADA perhaps instead of only giving him scant ice time when the Rangers do not need offense or toughness, are on the PP or on the PK, perhaps the right things to do would be trading him or even waiving him so he can try to get more ice time in the NHL. That way they can just keep Pionk up and develop him as he will be on the ice during some of those situations.

The other alternative would be to trade Shattenkirk sooner rather than later so they can give ADA some of that offensive and PP time I'd guess.

 

[I Eat Crow]

I stopped writing for this site in the early/mid-2000s because having arguments about trivial things just got to be too much.

After 9/11, it was really hard for me argue with someone about whether a marginal prospect more likely projected as a potential third liner, or a fourth liner. My heart just wasn't in it anymore. When you knew people impacted by those attacks, it just wasn't enjoyable to debate Nils Ekman for hours a day.

I also admit that some of the events of recent years have continued to put life into perspective. I've spent a lot of time in children's hospitals as my son receives treatment for Leukemia (he's doing good, in maintenance and we're making progress toward the finish line).

But when you see a parent holding a two year child whose head looks like baseball from stitches and surgeries they've had in their young life, or you make eye contact with a parent who is coming to terms with the reality that their child is going to die, there's something that happens in the pit of your soul or humanity that is irreversibly changed.

I've heard that people with heroine addictions often struggle with the aftermath because it completely wrecks the body's ability to feel joy or euphoria --- creating a somewhat hollow and empty feeling that never really goes away.

Somewhat similarly, when you spend time with sick kids and their families, you find that it's really hard to get emotionally hung-up on things that ultimately aren't a big deal in this world. Yeah you still feel disappointment, frustration or anger --- that's part of being a fan. But it's hard to spend hours upon hours worked up and angry about things --- especially things that are fairly minor in their importance to the team or the sport.

Hockey is a great sport to share with your friends and family. The highs, the lows, the triumph and the agony. But it's a balance as well. Just like the players on the ice need to take a step back from time to time, we do as well.

And even if you're incredibly well-versed in the sport, whether you gravitate towards the data analysis, or North American prospects, or European leagues, there is something to be said for embracing the concept that “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

This couldn't be more true and reverberates with me at a personal level. My son was born six weeks early and was in the NICU for 27 days earlier this year, all while I was finishing up my Masters degree and my wife and I were moving from our apartment to our house. That was the longest month of my life.

Since then, I haven't posted as much as I used to, but when I do come to post here, it's an escape from the doctor appointments, middle of the night feedings, and unexpected issues with our home that we've had to deal with. That's what hockey and my other hobbies are. An escape. It's why I'm not really getting bent out of shape about what the Rangers or any of my other favorite teams are doing, especially when the Rangers are rebuilding/retooling/rewhatevering. The best I'm hoping for this year is that the younger players get lots of ice time and gain valuable experience, whether it be in the NHL, AHL, Sweden, Russia, NCAA, what have you. If a guy like Mcquaid is brought in to help protect the younger players when shitheads like Tom Wilson or any of the goons on the Flyers, Islanders, or elsewhere are trying funny stuff, then all the better, as long as none of the young guys that have been identified to be core pieces moving forward miss time because of a dirty play that goes unanswered.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I’m expecting them to give Pionk and ADA the year before making a trade for another young defenseman. We know they kept tabs on Adam Fox this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they they try circling the wagons on guys like Rasmus Andersson or Fabbro. Maybe they go for someone that’s a bit older and closer to Skjei’s age to fill the gaps between guys like Keane/Lundkvist and Shattenkirk.

It’s tough to tell with defenders since good cores of dmen are built with guys in their early-to-mid twenties. It’s not like forward where we see guys come in at 19/20 and produce instantly.

 

[Edge]

I am speaking to only ADA and Pionk.

They traded for ADA, they should try to develop him. Instead it sure looks like they have in the mean time, signed Shattenkirk, played both Smith and Holden at RD in front of him, found Pionk to be more attractive and now acquired McQuaid.

Was the mistake trading for ADA in the first place, or was it the other stuff afterwards?

If the mistake was trading for ADA perhaps instead of only giving him scant ice time when the Rangers do not need offense or toughness, are on the PP or on the PK, perhaps the right things to do would be trading him or even waiving him so he can try to get more ice time in the NHL. That way they can just keep Pionk up and develop him as he will be on the ice during some of those situations.

The other alternative would be to trade Shattenkirk sooner rather than later so they can give ADA some of that offensive and PP time I'd guess.

But that's just it, I don't think they're giving up on developing him. I think they're looking for him to somewhat meet them half-way.

So yes, if after 200 some odd pro games, he still isn't taking that next step, there's not going to be the same sense of investment that there is if he comes into camp and makes himself stand out. I think that's probably true for most teams.

Again, I think the biggest change for ADA was the fact that Pionk has probably pulled ahead of him at this point. Pionk was an unknown quantity when the Rangers acquired ADA. The hope is that they both develop, you're lucky if one develops, and the reality is that neither could've developed.

ADA came in with more of the pedigree, but Pionk probably took more advantage of his opportunities in the AHL and NHL.

Unfortunately, that's life.

But no one is going anywhere until ADA shows if he's ready for the next challenge. The Rangers aren't handing him a spot, nor are they trading Shattenkirk so they can throw him into the deep end.

If ADA earns a regular spot, and the Rangers see progress, they'll take it from there. But nothing is written in stone at this point, and you'd like to believe that ADA would rise to the challenge. We can move onward and upward from there.

 

[Avery16]

McQuaid’s even strength TOI/GP last season was 13:56, which put him outside of their top...seven defenders. This does not bode well for us.

 

[LaffyTaffy]

We could be seeing a Karlsson trade within the next 36 hours. Currently a lot of chatter and right now he is at the Sens golf outing so obviously nothing will be announced until tonight. But if a deal gets done it will be either later today or by tomorrow night. Otherwise it gets more toxic and borderline Duchene/Colorado situation.

 

[Tawnos]

McQuaid is a lock in my opinion, they did not make the trade to waive him or have him sit.

I really don't agree with the logic in this argument. This is a rebuilding team, and that's the philosophy in the front office from James Dolan all the way down to David Oliver. They traded for McQuaid, not to play him, but to ensure that in the event that either the younger players need some more AHL time or there are injuries, their backfill isn't a 4A player like Kampfer. This way, they can continue to provide their young players with NHL caliber partners, no matter what the situation. If they were looking to acquire somebody to be an everyday part of the roster, they would have been willing to pay more than they did, or they would have found someone in free agency.