Speculation: Trade Speculation/Be a GM Thread

[NYR Viper]

If you have a goaltender like Lundqvist, it makes more statistical sense to build a high scoring, offensively minded club than a defensive, shell club.

That's my take on it. If we could get Henrik better than 3 goals a game it wouldn't matter too much if we allowed a few more chances.

This is exactly my feeling. This team is not going to grind out wins. They need to open it up. Add skill. Get a dynamic PP going with the additions of Jokinen and MZA. Go from there.

There's a difference between not being expected to provide offense and literally not providing any.

Powe - a whopping 0 points in 28 games this season
Halpern - a whopping 1 assist in 30 games this season
Boyle - A Whopping 2 points in 27 games this season
Miller - A whopping 4 points (2 in one game) in 22 games this season
Pyatt - An offensive dynamo with 6 points in 31 games this season and a whopping 1 point in his last 23 games.

Regardless of what you may believe about defense, you NEED some form of secondary scoring to win in this league. Our top guys (while not producing what i'd like them to be) can't be relied on 24/7 to win games. There is literally no offense coming from those bottom lines, none, zilch, zippo.

They need to be replaced to actually have some sort of threat out there. Kreider was a start. Zucc is another move in the right direction, Jokinen will be another if he gets to us. All those guys i listed (sans Miller, who should be back in the A for now) are dead weight this year.

100% agree.

 

[Fitzy]

Logically, the more shots on goal we allow, and get as a consequence, the greater the difference becomes between Henrik and lesser goaltenders. If the shots are 40-40, statistically we have a better shot than if they were 20-20.

Not a proven system, but I think they may want to look for an offensive coach next season if we bust out this year.

 

[Stasis]

Gaborik to SJ for Jumbo Joe

Richards and something to Buf for Vanek

Hagelin - Thornton - Nash
Vanek - Stepan - Callahan
Kreider - Miller - Zuccarello
Pyatt - Boyle - Powe/Asham.

I have no idea what I'm doing. I don't do these things, I just sit around and think of stuff I'd like to see without spending too much time comparing salaries or teams desires/needs. I know SJ is looking for a shakeup supposedly, and I know Buffalo needs a center, though I also know they wanna get younger and the Richards contract kinda blows due to length. Details aside, I'd like to see this lineup =)

 

[NikC]

The entire bottom 6 is being scapegoated to a degree, and thats my problem. Powe, Halpen, Boyle, Pyatt -- these guys have either never been big-time point producers or are a decade removed from such seasons.

I cant help but surmise that the original plan for the bottom 6 was to have a group that was defensively responsible. Those guys have done their job in that regard. But since the top 6, in particularly Gaborik and Richards, isnt getting it done, its time to revamp the bottom 6 with more offensively oriented players? Im not a huge fan of management acting upon the knee-jerk reactions of fans -- theres just no plan in place here, and its been an all too common theme of Sather's tenure.

People will be complaining just as much when we start losing games 5-4 instead of 2-1.

i don't think the original plan was to have the bottom six contribute zero offense while being defensively responsible. you can't have a 3C with 1g in 27/30 while being a healthy scratch for the other 3! This doesn't absolve your top six from sucking, but at the same time this bottom six is a flat out failure! scapegoat? give me a break.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Logically, the more shots on goal we allow, and get as a consequence, the greater the difference becomes between Henrik and lesser goaltenders. If the shots are 40-40, statistically we have a better shot than if they were 20-20.

Not a proven system, but I think they may want to look for an offensive coach next season if we bust out this year.

So adding Kreider, Zuccarello, and - potentially - Jussi Jokinen is going to get this team 20 more shots on goal per game?

I dont disagree with your theory that a team with Lundqvist should be more offensively inclined.

What I am skeptical about is that guys like Zuccarello provide an offense upgrade worth having that more than makes up for his very real problems away from the puck. That, Im not so sure about. Im also not sure how these tweaks to the bottom 6 get Richards and Gaborik to play better.

 

[Killem Dafoe]

Gaborik to SJ for Jumbo Joe

Richards and something to Buf for Vanek

Hagelin - Thornton - Nash
Vanek - Stepan - Callahan
Kreider - Miller - Zuccarello
Pyatt - Boyle - Powe/Asham.

I have no idea what I'm doing. I don't do these things, I just sit around and think of stuff I'd like to see without spending too much time comparing salaries or teams desires/needs. I know SJ is looking for a shakeup supposedly, and I know Buffalo needs a center, though I also know they wanna get younger and the Richards contract kinda blows due to length. Details aside, I'd like to see this lineup =)

I love those ideas man and love your humble approach. But I would have to say those deals just wouldn't work. SJ wouldn't trade Thornton and Buffalo might trade Vanek for the right piece, unfortunately, Richards just isn't that piece. Not sure there are many teams interested in Richards right now with his contract as it looks more and more like he is plummeting and not just in a rut.

 

[RangerBoy]

The Rangers didn't add salary in 2010-11 when they had all of those free agents(Callahan,Dubinsky,Anisimov,Sauer and Boyle) to re-sign that summer plus sign Richards. The cap went up from $59.4M in 10-11 to $64.3M for 11-12. Now the cap is set at $64.3M. Need to re-sign McDonagh,Hagelin and Stepan. The Rangers claimed Hamrlik on waivers because he is not owed any money past this season. The Rangers have nearly $54M committed for next season. Replace Boyle at $1.7M with Miller at $1.2M. Miller is the 3rd line center. Lindberg at $760,000 is the 4th line center. Replacing Boyle with Jokinen at $3M is a waste when you have Miller ready for that spot. Miller is better in the middle. Torts is reluctant to use Miller in the middle with the short season. Lindberg at $760,000 and Fasth at $900,000 equals Boyle at $1.7M. Boyle should be moved this summer. Pyatt too.

 

[Fitzy]

Zuccarello, Jokinen, Jagr, these are all propositions that involve helping our second power play unit.

Going into this season I was worried about the PK with the loss of Dubi, Arty, Feds, Pust. The PK has been much worse. I was also worried about the 2nd PP unit. Hagelin isn't a power play guy. We have Stepan, Callahan, Gaborik, Nash, Richards, Del Zotto. 6 guys. After that? We've had Boyle, Newbury, Pyatt on the PP unit this year.

The PK seems to not be a priority with Slats. They waived Halpern. Kept Bickel at forward over Segal. Fix the power play.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

i don't think the original plan was to have the bottom six contribute zero offense while being defensively responsible. you can't have a 3C with 1g in 27/30 while being a healthy scratch for the other 3! This doesn't absolve your top six from sucking, but at the same time this bottom six is a flat out failure! scapegoat? give me a break.

Some fans are jumping for joy about Zuccarello and potentially adding Jussi Jokinen. Thats scary.

Just another example of the fanbase clamoring for change, and not really concerned about the repercussions.

Richards and Gaborik need to play better - period. Im not so sure how adding guys that have displayed the ability to produce marginal offense in the NHL and have some VERY real problems away from the puck is any sort of team wide improvement.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

I still don't understand proposals that send guys like Gaborik/Richards to teams in need of a rebuild.

 

[The Gloaming]

So adding Kreider, Zuccarello, and - potentially - Jussi Jokinen is going to get this team 20 more shots on goal per game?

I dont disagree with your theory that a team with Lundqvist should be more offensively inclined.

What I am skeptical about is that guys like Zuccarello provide an offense upgrade worth having that more than makes up for his very real problems away from the puck. That, Im not so sure about. Im also not sure how these tweaks to the bottom 6 get Richards and Gaborik to play better.

He's saying that this system needs to be opened up more.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

He's saying that this system needs to be opened up more.

And adding Zuccarello with 18 games is all its gonna take, huh?

Even if Tortorella wasnt a stubborn SOB and tried to open up the system, there just simply isnt enough time to do it properly.

Not to mention I think that getting into a track meet with some of the teams in this conference/division is a very, very bad idea -- especially with a disengaged Gaborik and Richards doing his best impression of a 50 year old.

 

[NYR Viper]

Some fans are jumping for joy about Zuccarello and potentially adding Jussi Jokinen. Thats scary.

Just another example of the fanbase clamoring for change, and not really concerned about the repercussions.

Richards and Gaborik need to play better - period. Im not so sure how adding guys that have displayed the ability to produce marginal offense in the NHL and have some VERY real problems away from the puck is any sort of team wide improvement.

Why is one exclusive from the other? When Gaborik and Richards start scoring is it a major issue if the team has multiple threats scoring? Jokinen's points will not be needed?

The Rangers didn't add salary in 2010-11 when they had all of those free agents(Callahan,Dubinsky,Anisimov,Sauer and Boyle) to re-sign that summer plus sign Richards. The cap went up from $59.4M in 10-11 to $64.3M for 11-12. Now the cap is set at $64.3M. Need to re-sign McDonagh,Hagelin and Stepan. The Rangers claimed Hamrlik on waivers because he is not owed any money past this season. The Rangers have nearly $54M committed for next season. Replace Boyle at $1.7M with Miller at $1.2M. Miller is the 3rd line center. Lindberg at $760,000 is the 4th line center. Replacing Boyle with Jokinen at $3M is a waste when you have Miller ready for that spot. Miller is better in the middle. Torts is reluctant to use Miller in the middle with the short season. Lindberg at $760,000 and Fasth at $900,000 equals Boyle at $1.7M. Boyle should be moved this summer. Pyatt too.

Only the Rangers know what their plan is, but from everything I have read and the writing on the wall, moving Gaborik frees up more than enough money to cover all of that.

Also, Jokinen is a LW/C. He can play both. Who do they have at LW? Hagelin. Kreider. Who else? MZA is a natural RW who can play LW. Nash. Gaborik. Callahan. Fasth. All RWers.

Zuccarello, Jokinen, Jagr, these are all propositions that involve helping our second power play unit.

Going into this season I was worried about the PK with the loss of Dubi, Arty, Feds, Pust. The PK has been much worse. I was also worried about the 2nd PP unit. Hagelin isn't a power play guy. We have Stepan, Callahan, Gaborik, Nash, Richards, Del Zotto. 6 guys. After that? We've had Boyle, Newbury, Pyatt on the PP unit this year.

The PK seems to not be a priority with Slats. They waived Halpern. Kept Bickel at forward over Segal. Fix the power play.

If Boyle, Powe, Callahan and Stepan are in the line-up they have enough PKers IMO. Nash and Hagelin can PK as well.

I think the major difference has been the defense and Hank being not as tight as last year more than the forwards.

 

[Dorado*]

The Rangers didn't add salary in 2010-11 when they had all of those free agents(Callahan,Dubinsky,Anisimov,Sauer and Boyle) to re-sign that summer plus sign Richards. The cap went up from $59.4M in 10-11 to $64.3M for 11-12. Now the cap is set at $64.3M. Need to re-sign McDonagh,Hagelin and Stepan. The Rangers claimed Hamrlik on waivers because he is not owed any money past this season. The Rangers have nearly $54M committed for next season. Replace Boyle at $1.7M with Miller at $1.2M. Miller is the 3rd line center. Lindberg at $760,000 is the 4th line center. Replacing Boyle with Jokinen at $3M is a waste when you have Miller ready for that spot. Miller is better in the middle. Torts is reluctant to use Miller in the middle with the short season. Lindberg at $760,000 and Fasth at $900,000 equals Boyle at $1.7M. Boyle should be moved this summer. Pyatt too.

You know what the common denominators of all the rangers troubles are Torts reluctance to do this, he's not a Torts guy , Torts doesn't trust him . This isn't a team because Torts alienates over plays and mis manages everything .

 

[Blueshirt Believer]

And adding Zuccarello with 18 games is all its gonna take, huh?

Even if Tortorella wasnt a stubborn SOB and tried to open up the system, there just simply isnt enough time to do it properly.

Not to mention I think that getting into a track meet with some of the teams in this conference/division is a very, very bad idea -- especially with a disengaged Gaborik and Richards doing his best impression of a 50 year old.

Truth.

Implementing a new breakout system(in of itself)is probably a couple weeks. Rangers just don't have the time.

Torts wasted this season trying to hit a square peg in a round hole with his system.

 

[NikC]

Some fans are jumping for joy about Zuccarello and potentially adding Jussi Jokinen. Thats scary.

Just another example of the fanbase clamoring for change, and not really concerned about the repercussions.

Richards and Gaborik need to play better - period. Im not so sure how adding guys that have displayed the ability to produce marginal offense in the NHL and have some VERY real problems away from the puck is any sort of team wide improvement.

I'm not sold Zuccarello either but He's a talent, and can be utilized to his best potential here on the PP and shootout, which would be more than expected. J.Jokinen would be an upgrade over Pyatt and provide some bottom six offense. He is also good on the PP.

personally i think the problem is the over emphasis on the play away from the puck, and not the play with the puck. we never have the puck, and when we do, we can't get off a shot or pass quick enough...

i see it as a poor man's way of trying to supplement offense. Hopefully a more meaningful solution is in the works.

 

[Kwayry]

To get this straight, Rangers have a need for a 3LW, Jokinen would cost the Rangers no assets but 3M in capspace next season and still not wanted?
Jokinen is not a natural center, he was forced to play center in Carolina.
On the Rangers he would be a wing.
He would give a boost to the bottom 6 offensive production, which is something that everybody was clamoring for.
At this point, the bottom 6 is in flux. Zucc is not certain to be back next season, still searching for the magic formula.

 

[cd211]

Why is one exclusive from the other? When Gaborik and Richards start scoring is it a major issue if the team has multiple threats scoring? Jokinen's points will not be needed?

Only the Rangers know what their plan is, but from everything I have read and the writing on the wall, moving Gaborik frees up more than enough money to cover all of that.

Also, Jokinen is a LW/C. He can play both. Who do they have at LW? Hagelin. Kreider. Who else? MZA is a natural RW who can play LW. Nash. Gaborik. Callahan. Fasth. All RWers.

If Boyle, Powe, Callahan and Stepan are in the line-up they have enough PKers IMO. Nash and Hagelin can PK as well.

I think the major difference has been the defense and Hank being not as tight as last year more than the forwards.

i think a lot of the times, the fwds are out of position, which makes the d work harder in the Defensive zone.. i think if we clean up position and get gabs and richards going, which as of late they are playing a lot a lot better then most of the season.. we;ll be in better shape as well get staal back.. we'll be in better shape.. guys like pyatt are being weeded out which is good.. with zucc i expect him to sit..

 

[16 To Stanley*]

You can't trade Richards within the new CBA. If he retires (which he will) then we are ****ed. He will most certainly be bought out after next season.

 

[RGY]

To get this straight, Rangers have a need for a 3LW, Jokinen would cost the Rangers no assets but 3M in capspace next season and still not wanted?
Jokinen is not a natural center, he was forced to play center in Carolina.
On the Rangers he would be a wing.
He would give a boost to the bottom 6 offensive production, which is something that everybody was clamoring for.
At this point, the bottom 6 is in flux. Zucc is not certain to be back next season, still searching for the magic formula.

Rather see Jokinen than Pyatt right now.

 

[Kershaw]

Stepan for Jussi?

 

[Thirty One]

Stepan for Jussi?

Don't see Carolina wanting a player who "can't skate, can't check, can't win a faceoff, can't shot the puck and who gets knocked off the puck by a stiff wind!"

 

[Kershaw]

Don't see Carolina wanting a player who "can't skate, can't check, can't win a faceoff, can't shot the puck and who gets knocked off the puck by a stiff wind!"

And already balding at the age of 22.

Anyways, where does everyone think Iginla ends up?

 

[Thirty One]

Anyways, where does everyone think Iginla ends up?

The buzz is that he's already skating with Boston. He may have already played a couple of games with them in secret.

 

[Kwayry]

The buzz is that he's already skating with Boston. He may have already played a couple of games with them in secret.

That's why Lucic was moved down to 3rd line.