Thirty One
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Pre-Game Talk: The 2013-2014 Training Camp/Preseason Discussion Thread
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Boruto
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- Jun 27, 2011
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I think collectively, the learning has been done. No one is giving Richards a free pass. He's expected to perform to make up for last year's failure. His future with the franchise is presumably over after this year due to last year's efforts unless he becomes a 93 point center again this season. There's every bit of learning with Richards. The GM sucks thing is debatable. He's not great but I don't think he's worse than your average GM. As far as Torts, I think a lot of what's going to be different this season is different because of Torts. It's been a substantial amount of time since the recognition of various issues and starting a new camp and season, it's pretty senseless to be holding grudges and calling names. I should reiterate I suppose in that I didn't intend to imply that it should be forgotten but it shouldn't be as if we just lost the series to Boston because Richards didn't show.
Thirty One
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....cause it's just New York Rangers hockey.
It's entertainment and I do what I can to keep it fun. If it's not fun, it's not worth my time.
And what reason would that be?
I think the #1 reason was Sather avoiding a trip to Dolan's office to ask for tens of millions of dollars for a guy to walk away.....again.
GAGLine
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And what does complaining about it do? Nothing.
I was as against keeping him as anyone, but what's done is done. If he plays better this year, it will help the team this year. I'm still hoping he gets bought out next year.
Every team has issues. Constantly griping about them doesn't help. At some point, you just have to accept the way it is and hope for the best until a better solution comes along.
Boruto
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If he's a detriment to the team, Slats wouldn't have kept him. He's capable of being an asset and he is an asset.
I'm not defending Richards with a bias. Just because I'm not on board with ******** on Richards to start the year doesn't exactly make me a part of the "look how calm and rational I am/look at you getting so angry and emotional soapbox crew."
If he plays like the Brad Richards that Dallas had he helps us compete for a cup. One bad season does not mean he is done. if he is then sure the long-term looks bad. He has been a top player for too long to just give up on him. Let's revisit in January.
I agree with this totally. I think the assumption is that just because someone calls a player a name or uses some (GULP)..punctuation (we all know how millennials are deathly afraid of punctuation) that it automatically means we are genuinely angry or bitter over it.
At the end of the day, none of this means a damn thing... we post what we are feeling that very second. Do I really still care, or harbor any sort of genuine emotion over Brad Richards having a bad season? Not one iota.
Life is just too short. I hope he has a great year.
Thirty One
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I have a hard time putting any sort of stock into Richards' season knowing he likely won't be here next season. Hes not a building block. Hes just an expensive piece that got a stay of execution due to senior management politics.
If the Rangers win the cup this season and he plays a key role, I'll stand correct. But Im not holding my breath one that one.
Tawnos
A guy with a bass
*entering patronizing mode*
Let me help you then. Richards is still here because he was a better option to keep on than any of his potential replacements out there. There's a lot going on there, but in the end, it was about the team on the ice, rather than the team on the balance sheet.
....and my ire now lies directly with Sather. I hope his depth bonanza and retaining Brad Richards was worth this.
Thirty One
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who cares dude
some things just don't come across as intended. if I were to say it in front of you I'd be smiling and laughing.
You're really toeing the company line here. Right down to the hasty thought that Richards would immediately need to be replaced.
Tawnos
A guy with a bass
Neither of which affect Sather's ability to sign Stepan. You want to talk about long-term? How about not giving an RFA a two-year deal for $4.5m (which we have the cap space to do)? If you did, then in two years, when he's arbitration eligible, you're going to have to give him a raise.
Cap management.
You can go back just recently and find my thoughts on the situation. That blame would be on Stepan and his agent if they were still fishing for a longer term deal. Now its quite clear the sticking point are likely dollars that Stepan deserves but won't get because the GM has zero clue how to manage a cap.
Thirty One
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Hire Sather
He Is Our Star
if its gunna take 3.5, it might be smarter to just offer something long term at a figure of 4.5-4.7
Thirty One
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Tawnos
A guy with a bass
I don't work for the Rangers. There isn't a line to toe.
The job of every GM during the offseason is to look at improving his roster. Brad Richards would need to be replaced, since he was on the roster for basically the whole season, although you might not need to go outside of the organization to do it. I wasn't talking about UFAs.
Sather's entire roster are free agents next season. But yea, Im sure hes fretting over what Derek Stepan will be making in 2015-2016.
Hes going to get what hes worth in arbitration regardless - it'll likely be north of $4.5M anyway in 2 years, then again thats a # you've simply pulled out of your ass.
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