I absolutely eviscerated Zib at times this year, but I also had some posts 3+ years ago genuinely arguing he was our MVP at that time. I like to think that I fairly acknowledge improvements/declines without letting my personal feelings get in the way. Mika’s been pretty good since the calendar flipped and definitely has been since 4N. Don’t really care what the reason is - I will 100% take it. I don’t think we’ll ever see the dynamic player that we thought was going to be our 1C until he was 35, but I’m perfectly okay with him on the wing, with the cap rising as long as he continues to play like this. We’re lucky that Miller/Trochek can take the C duties away without it hurting us.
I think Kreider should just be put on the shelf for the remainder of the year. I think the injury questions are hurting his trade value and we could get more for him next year if he comes back rested, recovered and has a much better year. But if he’s kept, I don’t want him playing until next year. If we make the playoffs we can discuss him getting into the lineup, but until he’s healthy, just let him sit. Honestly, I think Mika not having his buddy attached to his hip is part of the turn around for him anyway. I haven’t heard specifics yet but if Fox’s injury is serious, just let him rest the remainder of the year too. I’d much rather have Fox at 100% next year than have him fight through whatever cumulative nagging crap he’s already had and add this shoulder on top. Fox may still be a top 5D in the NHL… when healthy. What does it matter if we can’t ever see him at more than 80-90%?
Panarin is the only one I think is worth putting active effort into finding a deal for. He’s still pacing for 90 points and he’s only a year removed from 120 on a team the whole league knows universally struggled. GMs will still see 100 point winger and getting TWO post season runs at 5.8M has genuine value. Plenty of others are already posting it; he’s the right fit for a Florida/Tampa, maybe Dallas with Seguin out, maybe even NJ with Hughes out - though we know he’d light us up for the one more year on that contract. Not the end of the world though. Vegas. Carolina if they move Rantanen? There’s options, and I don’t really think Artemi would be a hard ass about his NMC as long as we’re sending him somewhere he likes and is competitive.
A lot of people poo-pooed the JTM acquisition. Lots of “he immediately became JT from his first time here” posts and stuff like that when the trade went down. Guy is our best player right now and pretty much has been from his third game or so. He’s a horse physically and will stay in great shape. Wish he was a few years younger, but right now, JT is - I think - more responsible for any perceived turn around this team is experiencing than people realize. He’s the exact type of player that was needed. He’s far from perfect and he has his brain farts and controller disconnects and coasts at times, but when he wants to play, which is 90% of the time, he’s a maniac and I love that. I’m pretty happy with both of these trades by Drury so far. He’s done pretty well with trading since the Buch debacle. I don’t like his contract negotiations. I hate his coaching staff. I’m glad be stood his ground against the country club though.
I don’t care if we make or miss the playoffs. Happy to make it and give Pittsburgh the 16th pick or whatever. Just don’t BUY. That’s all I care about. The team had a nice shutout win (shit opponent, but still) with no Fox, Kreider, Smith, Lindgren. Keep it rolling - whatever happens, happens. Win, lose. Just stay this course. Make the moves like Smith that are obvious and investigate a hockey trade for Panarin. Just please don’t ADD unless it makes sense beyond 2025. That’s all I’m asking. That and don’t rush Kreider/Fox back because we MAY get a WC spot. Sliding into the 8 spot is NOT as valuable as those two being fully healthy next year.
The reasoning with Fox is obvious. With Kreider, he’s a beloved Ranger half of you don’t want to see go… so, he comes back fully healthy and his game picks up and he gets to finish his career in NY without a tarnished legacy OR he comes back healthy but the team still needs further tinkering, and he at least is able to return greater value as a trade chip. There’s no reason to rush either into the lineup right now. Let the chips fall as they will.