I'm not sure there is much the Rangers can do. Hands might be tied. And it all depends on their self-valuation and approach.
As much as it pains me, Kreider is likely gone. Maybe they keep him to see if he can bounce back. Value is low right now. See where they're at by the deadline.
Mika needs to be worked with to waive the NTC and sent elsewhere.
I would probably find a way to trade Trocheck.
Lafreniere has been a disappointment. Probably time for a change of scenery,
Kaliyev, Parsinnen, Aube-Kubel don't matter. Let them all go.
K'Andre Miller. Traded. You can't lock him up long term. Time to move on.
Really the only defensemen we should keep that would be staples in the lineup are Fox, Schneider, and Borgen. I like Jones but I don't think he'll remain in NY this offseason.
BUT DRURY SHOULD NOT BE THE ONE TO MAKE THESE MOVES!
Large agree overall, but mo specifically imo:
Kreider - no one is paying/taking risk for damaged goods due to injury. I tried to see if other workaround, does not appear to be the case, LTIR him. IF and when he sufficiently recovers, we can weigh how productive he is with what we then have vs trading him based on offers made then
Meeka has to go. Don't wanna hear any bs about we don't retain max 4.25 x 5 remaining seasons to help do it.
The first thing after officially LTIR ck is to signal the core is being dealt. That means Fox and Shesty while we still can b'c very soon they also lock in and have full control. If Fox really loves this team, he will take one for it, go somewhere for 3 or so seasons, and audition to return when his deal is up; but recognize now, we can't placate any egos, we didn't listen to bern, we did too many stupid win now deals, we drafted poorly [Krav over Dotson], and now we need a sharp pivot.
bread also likely gone, maybe tro as well.
The one thing Zib treasures most is his little girl. LA/ANA offers him chance to spoil her w/frequent trips to Disneyland. It could be enuf motivation for him to waive after seeing the core flushed out
Tro I wanna see offers. Strong FO pivot who plays physical commands offers, but unless it's a blow away offer, hold and see if we can't up his value w/better linemates [mo chemistry]
LaF - disappointing. Again prefer to find better linemate results before dealing, although right offer and can't say buh bye fast enuf
Have always said selling to a Canada based team would yield highest return.
MON has Reinbacher, who looked to be a bigger Brian Leetch. No hope there. But I read his progress delayed by issues with both of his knees. This would be HUGE gamble but I would make it, LaF for Rein as a core, we prob have to add but let's say the add is swallow-able.
KAM disagree. You can and do lock him up long term max or close to deal 6-8 yrs 5.25-5.75 per. No nmc, decent ntcs. Keep unless part of package that gets us Byfield, ditto Schneider
Kaliyev, Parsinnen, Aube-Kubel are ok at min $ if not blocking guys like Roo, etc.
I think we need a big deal w/LA for Byfield +, max retained bread for DAL 1st + Bisch. Maybe if we can agree on compensation we route him thru ANA and also try for Helleson.
The rest as noted above needs to be seen.
Lav MUST go.
Drury needs to be surgically removed. Giving power to his replacement if no better is not a net gain. Prob have to make him settle for Pres of Hockey Ops, give GM tryout 1 yr deal.
If don't like it, too fuggin bad, bern can take side gig consultancy while trying to save the world!
There are obvious things the team will need to decide this summer but laffy and kam are going to be two wildcards. Key has been awful and I'm not giving him a pass but this has been progressively worse since Housley got here. You would hate to move him for who knows what and then see him rebound within another team with some actual structure, not to mentioned nyr ld depth is already quite poor.
Laffy is going to be the other wildcard. Conditioning appears to still be an issue with him 5+ years into his career. Defensive laziness and consistency are still regular problems. He's clearly a kid that needs a strong room and culture around him to keep him on a path and that is something nyr does not have. So IF nyr looked to trade him who can take that contract? Who's willing to take it? Who has assets that nyr would want in exchange for that contract? Laffy does not have the kind of league wide value most here probably think he does. I think those people claiming they wouldn't trade laffy for Brady tkachuk earlier this year have moved on from that nonsense.
I wish we were able to take that kakko cozens trade I brought up. Cozens looks like a real player now that he's with a real team.
Whoever makes the next coaching hire really needs to get the right person here. This team needs someone that will demand a standard of conditioning and 200' commitment.
This off-season can be viewed as pivitoal for the organization for the next 3 or so years.
insightful esp bold
rather than dump KK wish we had better commitment to developing chemistry; he produced well w/kid line(s).
Ironically, his CF% stats at 5v5 are pretty good with the Rangers. It’s been 11 games so it’s a small sample size but still interesting.
His playing style just did not fit in Vancouver at all. Something was off there with him. He was pretty good in Seattle.
Borgen is similar in that when Seattle changes their system and signed guys to play ahead of him he struggled. It doesn’t mean he’s a bad player it just means he’s a guy who should play in certain types of situations. IMO, Borgen has been good
agree Borgen has been good; not good enuf for us to sell low on KK, but good enuf we should have taken him from SEA for other currency
Soucy I'm not as bullish on, but the is another one who looks better in certain systems and/or produces better w/certain partner types than others
