Where do you see this team?

[TominNC]

It comes up in threads all the time. And granted we don't know what happens as far as trades, major injuries, etc. I think it's safe to assume they add a couple of players. What do you think happens the rest of the way?

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[Rangerboy030]

At this point I'm half expecting we're going to get outplayed and outshot all the way to the Stanley Cup.

 

[apoptygma]

Loosing in 6 or 7 in first round or loosing in the second round. A result all with be happy for before the season started.

 

[Inferno]

Losing in the first round. Probably in 5

 

[Vitto79]

Maybe a 1st round win but that’s 50/50

not complaining as it’s going in the right direction

 

[nyr2k2]

First round dependent on matchup. Bit nothing past that.

Next season is when I hope they become legitimate contenders.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

To me this is really dependent on the deadlines moves they make and how Igor is playing. Reality is the team is only going as far as Igor takes them, like Hank before him

 

[Leonardo87]

I think 1st round exit, maybe get to the 2nd round, depending on opponent of course. This team outside of Kreider, Reaves, and Goodrow really don’t have much playoff experience. Panarin and Mika have some but only like 30 games.

 

[Synergy27]

Deep run depending on how you define “deep”. They can do a lot of damage in the playoffs if things break right.

 

[Idlerlee]

Cup Contender. What are even the replies in this thread. Heatens!

 

[jacko23]

Usually streaming on my phone, but that wasnt an option.

Seriously though, i can see us getting out of the first round, but i wouldnt call that a deep run.

 

[Savant]

Rangers will make the playoffs and have very tough opponents. They aren’t a favorite and I don’t think there is a move out there that makes them a favorite. They are far behind teams like Carolina and Colorado as we’ve seen. Of course maybe Igor has one of those Giguere runs and that is the equalizer. That’s where the Rangers have their advantage. Which sounds familiar.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Definitely in the playoffs. I don't think they match up with the top 2-3 teams in the conference, but the rest we can be competitive with. Avoid Carolina in the first round. What would a Rangers-Caps or Rangers-Penguins series look like?

 

[I Eat Crow]

First, maybe second round exit this year if the first round matchup is favorable. This is still a very young team that is relatively green to playoff hockey. The Rangers will have the advantage in goal against just about every team they may play, except maybe against Tampa. In the playoffs, sometimes that's all it takes.

Moving forward after this season, I'd like to see the Rangers sign Andrew Copp. He's the guy. Do whatever it takes under whichever cap constraints exist. Very solid two way, all situations center that has broken out offensively this year. He's the guy you put behind Zibanejad. Strome walks. Self rent him for the playoffs this year but he's just too similar to Zibanejad and is too prone to boneheaded plays at inopportune times.

I'd also be hoping and praying that either or both of Lafreniere and Kakko take big steps forward next year. They can't be counted on for secondary scoring right now when they really need to be providing it. If the powers that be think they aren't the answer, I would get bold and deal one or both while they have value if you consider next year as the start of this core's window. This team as currently constructed can't afford to wait for them to figure it out in 3 to 5 years. If this team's window is 2022 to 2024 or 2025 when Panarin's, Kreider's, and Trouba's deals are up, let's get players that can help contribute now. As much as I want to be patient with these kids, their lack of contribution offensively is a huge hole and an Achilles heel of this team right now.

Keep Kreider unless a team offers something stupid for him, i.e. Florida offering a player like Lundell or Anaheim offering Zegras, et al. The guy's the best net front presence in the league right now and have been saying for the past one to two years that he needs to reinvent himself as a Tomas Holmstrom like player to prolong his career, and he's done exactly that. He's irreplaceable on this team right now.

Shoot Nemeth into the sun. Jones or Robertson take his place. Trade him to Arizona with a midround pick for a 7th and just admit the mistake. They can take Tinordi too.

Bring Kevin Rooney back. He won't be too expensive. We need to start keeping a couple of our bottom six guys that have worked out for us.

I'd kick the tires on Chychrun, but only pull the trigger on a deal if it makes sense. I'd rather allocate the cap dollars towards a second line center.

This is my keep list out of the blue chip young guys: Othmann, Berard. Don't trade these guys under any circumstance. The Rangers have lacked these kinds of players for years and I'll be pissed if either are traded, especially for a rental. Othmann is looking like the pure goal scorer this team hasn't had, well, ever, and Berard is looking like Brandan Gallagher reincarnated. Keep these guys at any cost.

Trade bait: Kravtsov, Lundkvist, Chytil, Georgiev one of Jones/Robertson, 2022 1st. I use this capital to trade for a middle six center in their mid 20's and to trade up in this year's draft if Brad Lambert drops out of the top 10 for some reason as McKenzie has him now. He's worth the roll of the dice and there's no real reason he's dropping other than injury.

This team makes noise starting next year:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko/Trade
Panarin-Copp-Othmann/Berard
Some combo of Lafreniere/trade, Goodrow/trade, and Barron
Hunt-Goodrow/Rooney-Reaves/Gauthier/depth UFA winger/Cuylle if he makes it

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Jones-Schneider
Depth UFA

Shesterkin
Depth UFA, Halak?

Othmann is most likely for that 2RW spot next year, IMO. Berard stays in college one more year but makes the team starting in 2023. Bring in a veteran backup that can carry a load in case Shesterkin goes down again. Halak, Holtby, Ville Husso, or Charlie Lindgren are my picks here, in that order.

You have this team above, with Lambert, Berard, Robertson, Garand for your top end prospects, with Cuylle, Korczak, Grubbe as your second level guys that will at least carve out bottom six roles on the next tier. Not too shabby.

In short/TLDR, the Rangers are substituting Strome with a solid two way center, jettisoning Nemeth, having Kakko and Lafreniere contributing more, jettisoning the dead weight and excess (Chytil, Kravtsov, Lundkvist) and Othmann or Berard being ready next year away from their window opening, IMO.

 

[Ruggs225]

Depends on who we get in first round. If carolina is our opponent we are one and done. If its wdh ir pitt i think we dan win a round

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Is this the "where do we stand?" or "where is this going?" talk?

Never be the one to bring that up in the relationship. That's the Rangers job.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Carolina, Florida and Tampa all ahead of us and they all will add at the deadline. This team isn't ready until Laf, Kakko, Miller , Schneider and Jones/Robertson are ready.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

It depends upon what they do at TDL and who first round opponent is. Young teams generally go through some pain before going on a deep run anyway. I expect either a first or second round exit which is ok because playoff experience is never a bad thing.

 

[haveandare]

Could see them getting swept or winning a round or even two if the matchups are a little lucky.

Lack of secondary scoring will likely hold them back from more than that. We have a handful of guys who score the vast vast majority of points. Generally that doesn’t pan out in the playoffs.

The absolute biggest factor though is Laf and Kakko. I absolutely refuse to believe this is all they can do. The team needs to put a very very serious priority on helping them figure it out. They would be the biggest “adds” we could make and them playing well as the team goes into the playoffs changes the outlook dramatically

 

[Mac n Gs]

I think they'll go as far as Igor can carry them this year. Realistically, I'd expect them to lose their first round matchup depending on the draw, but I can also see them edging out a series in 6 or 7 games. That being said, I don't think they'll make it out of the second round.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

First, maybe second round exit this year if the first round matchup is favorable. This is still a very young team that is relatively green to playoff hockey. The Rangers will have the advantage in goal against just about every team they may play, except maybe against Tampa. In the playoffs, sometimes that's all it takes.

Moving forward after this season, I'd like to see the Rangers sign Andrew Copp. He's the guy. Do whatever it takes under whichever cap constraints exist. Very solid two way, all situations center that has broken out offensively this year. He's the guy you put behind Zibanejad. Strome walks. Self rent him for the playoffs this year but he's just too similar to Zibanejad and is too prone to boneheaded plays at inopportune times.

I'd also be hoping and praying that either or both of Lafreniere and Kakko take big steps forward next year. They can't be counted on for secondary scoring right now when they really need to be providing it. If the powers that be think they aren't the answer, I would get bold and deal one or both while they have value if you consider next year as the start of this core's window. This team as currently constructed can't afford to wait for them to figure it out in 3 to 5 years. If this team's window is 2022 to 2024 or 2025 when Panarin's, Kreider's, and Trouba's deals are up, let's get players that can help contribute now. As much as I want to be patient with these kids, their lack of contribution offensively is a huge hole and an Achilles heel of this team right now.

Keep Kreider unless a team offers something stupid for him, i.e. Florida offering a player like Lundell or Anaheim offering Zegras, et al. The guy's the best net front presence in the league right now and have been saying for the past one to two years that he needs to reinvent himself as a Tomas Holmstrom like player to prolong his career, and he's done exactly that. He's irreplaceable on this team right now.

Shoot Nemeth into the sun. Jones or Robertson take his place. Trade him to Arizona with a midround pick for a 7th and just admit the mistake. They can take Tinordi too.

Bring Kevin Rooney back. He won't be too expensive. We need to start keeping a couple of our bottom six guys that have worked out for us.

I'd kick the tires on Chychrun, but only pull the trigger on a deal if it makes sense. I'd rather allocate the cap dollars towards a second line center.

This is my keep list out of the blue chip young guys: Othmann, Berard. Don't trade these guys under any circumstance. The Rangers have lacked these kinds of players for years and I'll be pissed if either are traded, especially for a rental. Othmann is looking like the pure goal scorer this team hasn't had, well, ever, and Berard is looking like Brandan Gallagher reincarnated. Keep these guys at any cost.

Trade bait: Kravtsov, Lundkvist, Chytil, Georgiev one of Jones/Robertson, 2022 1st. I use this capital to trade for a middle six center in their mid 20's and to trade up in this year's draft if Brad Lambert drops out of the top 10 for some reason as McKenzie has him now. He's worth the roll of the dice and there's no real reason he's dropping other than injury.

This team makes noise starting next year:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko/Trade
Panarin-Copp-Othmann/Berard
Some combo of Lafreniere/trade, Goodrow/trade, and Barron
Hunt-Goodrow/Rooney-Reaves/Gauthier/depth UFA winger/Cuylle if he makes it

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Jones-Schneider
Depth UFA

Shesterkin
Depth UFA, Halak?

Othmann is most likely for that 2RW spot next year, IMO. Berard stays in college one more year but makes the team starting in 2023. Bring in a veteran backup that can carry a load in case Shesterkin goes down again. Halak, Holtby, Ville Husso, or Charlie Lindgren are my picks here, in that order.

You have this team above, with Lambert, Berard, Robertson, Garand for your top end prospects, with Cuylle, Korczak, Grubbe as your second level guys that will at least carve out bottom six roles on the next tier. Not too shabby.

In short/TLDR, the Rangers are substituting Strome with a solid two way center, jettisoning Nemeth, having Kakko and Lafreniere contributing more, jettisoning the dead weight and excess (Chytil, Kravtsov, Lundkvist) and Othmann or Berard being ready next year away from their window opening, IMO.

In short? You just wrote a book lol

 

[Thirty One]

Think they'll likely be the underdog in the first round matchup. That doesn't mean that deep run is out of the question though.

 

[I Eat Crow]

In short? You just wrote a book lol

To be fair, the "in short" part came after the book lol

 

[NYRFANMANI]

The team, like the board, are in the twilight zone. That's my take.

 

[jay from jersey]

First, maybe second round exit this year if the first round matchup is favorable. This is still a very young team that is relatively green to playoff hockey. The Rangers will have the advantage in goal against just about every team they may play, except maybe against Tampa. In the playoffs, sometimes that's all it takes.

Moving forward after this season, I'd like to see the Rangers sign Andrew Copp. He's the guy. Do whatever it takes under whichever cap constraints exist. Very solid two way, all situations center that has broken out offensively this year. He's the guy you put behind Zibanejad. Strome walks. Self rent him for the playoffs this year but he's just too similar to Zibanejad and is too prone to boneheaded plays at inopportune times.

I'd also be hoping and praying that either or both of Lafreniere and Kakko take big steps forward next year. They can't be counted on for secondary scoring right now when they really need to be providing it. If the powers that be think they aren't the answer, I would get bold and deal one or both while they have value if you consider next year as the start of this core's window. This team as currently constructed can't afford to wait for them to figure it out in 3 to 5 years. If this team's window is 2022 to 2024 or 2025 when Panarin's, Kreider's, and Trouba's deals are up, let's get players that can help contribute now. As much as I want to be patient with these kids, their lack of contribution offensively is a huge hole and an Achilles heel of this team right now.

Keep Kreider unless a team offers something stupid for him, i.e. Florida offering a player like Lundell or Anaheim offering Zegras, et al. The guy's the best net front presence in the league right now and have been saying for the past one to two years that he needs to reinvent himself as a Tomas Holmstrom like player to prolong his career, and he's done exactly that. He's irreplaceable on this team right now.

Shoot Nemeth into the sun. Jones or Robertson take his place. Trade him to Arizona with a midround pick for a 7th and just admit the mistake. They can take Tinordi too.

Bring Kevin Rooney back. He won't be too expensive. We need to start keeping a couple of our bottom six guys that have worked out for us.

I'd kick the tires on Chychrun, but only pull the trigger on a deal if it makes sense. I'd rather allocate the cap dollars towards a second line center.

This is my keep list out of the blue chip young guys: Othmann, Berard. Don't trade these guys under any circumstance. The Rangers have lacked these kinds of players for years and I'll be pissed if either are traded, especially for a rental. Othmann is looking like the pure goal scorer this team hasn't had, well, ever, and Berard is looking like Brandan Gallagher reincarnated. Keep these guys at any cost.

Trade bait: Kravtsov, Lundkvist, Chytil, Georgiev one of Jones/Robertson, 2022 1st. I use this capital to trade for a middle six center in their mid 20's and to trade up in this year's draft if Brad Lambert drops out of the top 10 for some reason as McKenzie has him now. He's worth the roll of the dice and there's no real reason he's dropping other than injury.

This team makes noise starting next year:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko/Trade
Panarin-Copp-Othmann/Berard
Some combo of Lafreniere/trade, Goodrow/trade, and Barron
Hunt-Goodrow/Rooney-Reaves/Gauthier/depth UFA winger/Cuylle if he makes it

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Jones-Schneider
Depth UFA

Shesterkin
Depth UFA, Halak?

Othmann is most likely for that 2RW spot next year, IMO. Berard stays in college one more year but makes the team starting in 2023. Bring in a veteran backup that can carry a load in case Shesterkin goes down again. Halak, Holtby, Ville Husso, or Charlie Lindgren are my picks here, in that order.

You have this team above, with Lambert, Berard, Robertson, Garand for your top end prospects, with Cuylle, Korczak, Grubbe as your second level guys that will at least carve out bottom six roles on the next tier. Not too shabby.

In short/TLDR, the Rangers are substituting Strome with a solid two way center, jettisoning Nemeth, having Kakko and Lafreniere contributing more, jettisoning the dead weight and excess (Chytil, Kravtsov, Lundkvist) and Othmann or Berard being ready next year away from their window opening, IMO.

I have a similar take to this. I also like Copp. I’m a bit worried what his next deal will look like though.
Peg fans say he has hands of stone when it comes to finishing.
He likely won’t be thrust into an offensive/PP role here. But that’s still a worry.
The only big discrepancy I have is with Robertson.
This kid is going to be a good 1. Talent wise, he’s right there with Schneider, but Schneider is down growing and a bit more polished.
Robertson to me doesn’t get enough accolades because of how deep our D is. But it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if in another year once he adds a bit of weight, he becomes a mainstay in our top 6 D.
He’s a guy that could potentially let NYR deal Lindgren or Miller for what should be an excellent return.
At 6’4 200 plus, that’s a big boy that can move the puck well. He’ll likely never be as physical as Schneider, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he passes miller in that department. He’s still growing into his body. He’d be a top 5 prospect on a lot of teams in the league.

I think getting a Gourde/Copp type helps this team more overall then keeping Strome.
Strome produces with panarin, the hope is the other type of player can bring out more of Kakko/LaF and help their production.

strome/Zibby as 1-2 isn’t terrible, but they get exploited by better teams down the middle when they play a more N/S physical game.
Zibby is here to stay. That 2C position needs more of a hard nosed N/S aspect to its game.
Strome has absolutely played well here, but he’s time should be done after this season.

-also I’m pretty sure Rooney gets a higher cap hit/longer term elsewhere. I’m pretty sure he’s a goner. I like him and would like to keep him, but losing him won’t make me as mad as losing Fast.
There was absolutely no reason not to give him the 3rd year at 2-2.25 mill. That was beyond dumb. At 3 years and that cap hit, that’s a highly tradeable contract if need be, taking him to age 31.