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Rangers top-25 questions, list updated with a few more spots remaining |
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The offseason got off to an early start with New York losing five in a row to miss the playoffs before salvaging a win in the season finale. Decisions that need to be made on the coaching staff - which was to be the first question - was decided shortly after the year ended. David Quinn was fired, answering question #1, but many more questions remain. In fact, you can argue that just like the last two seasons, the Rangers have more questions that answers.
Here is the latest version of the
top-25 questions, several of which will be fairly easy, incorporating your suggestions from the prior blog. Where your question has been listed, I have noted credit next to it, as I have done in the past. These will be tackled as the offseason continues, but again,
I throw this to you to provide me the ones you have in case I have missed any.
1) Will David Quinn be back as the coach?David Quinn and most of his staff fired, now what.
2) If Quinn is not back, who should take over as coach? Gerard Gallant? Mike Babcock? John Tortorella? Rick Tocchet? Kris Knoblauch? Patrick Roy? Other?
3) With Mika Zibenajed a free agent after next season, would you start contract negotiations now, and if so, what type of deal would you offer in terms of years and dollars?
4) Pavel Buchnevich is an RFA with arb rights after next season, what would you do with him? Re-sign him long term or deal for a second line center?
5) New York is in the market for toughness and more physical play, where are you slotting that player in? If in the top-six or top-nine, who is in danger of losing his spot and why?
6) Is Jack Eichel still your primary target at center or has his neck injury coupled with the reported high ask from Buffalo and his $10 million salary changed your tune?
7) If Eichel is not the target, do you make a proactive move to try and acquire Aleksander Barkov or wait to see if he becomes a free agent after next season? If Gabriel Landeskog is not re-signed by Colorado, are you making him a priority this offseason?
8) Vincent Trocheck is.a free agent after the 2021-22 season, given how his game has rebounded, could he be an option if Eichel and Barkov are not acquired or signed?
9) Have you seen enough of Flip Chytil at center to determine he is not a fit there, even as a 3C, or did his play before the wrist injury and post-COVID after effects provide enough interest to give him one more shot?
10) Was Kaapo Kakko's sophomore season a disappointment or did the progress he showed - especially late - raised your expectations for next season?
11) Who will be exposed for the Expansion Draft? (TommyGTrain)
12) What will happen to ADA? Is there any circumstance where he could return? (TommyGTrain - but pretty clear the answer on this one is he won't be back. That was made very evident in the column by Larry Brooks that ADA's time with the Rangers - despite the "regime change" is over.)
13) What grade would you give Alexis Lafreniere's rookie campaign? Is he viewed as a top-line left winger for next season? What are his main areas of work this offseason?
14) Which veteran d-man do you want to be acquired or signed this offseason (within reason)? (have seen names such as Alec Martinez and Erik Cernak suggested) If Brendan Smith is brought back, do you still want another d-man added?
15) Depending on who is lost in the expansion draft, are you comfortable with two-thirds of the fourth line coming from Colin Blackwell, Kevin Rooney and Morgan Barron next season? Where do you slot Barron in, third line center?
16) Do you bring back Alexandar Georgiev as the back up goalie, try and re-sign Keith Kinkaid to be the back up or sign another free agent goalie?
17) Will Nils Lundkvist sign an ELC and come over to North America? (TommyGTrain)
18) Is a Captain needed, and if so, who should wear the C on his chest? (musicnutz) (Does Ryan Lindgren's three year, $3 mil AAV extension add his name to the mix?)
19) Are you protecting Brett Howden from the expansion draft, and even if he is, does he have a guaranteed spot in the lineup next season? (musicnutz)
20) Presuming Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba, K'Andre Miller, Zak Jones, Ryan Lindgren are your top-five next season, how are you modifying the d-pairs or does it depend on who is #6?
20) Which one or two of the young ones do you look to lock up for a longer-term deal now?
21) If the Rangers stay in their current spot in the lottery, do you trade the pick for immediate help or start to build up the future pipeline?
22) What would be a successful season in your eyes? Making the playoffs, advancing, a long run?
More to be added
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