So, are we going to have a boring remainder of the off-season with Stepan signing at some point, and not much else? Or does something interesting happen?
- Pete V

if there is a God, something interesting will happen. PLEASE

if there is a God, something interesting will happen. PLEASE
- jimbro83

A pyatt trade or buyout. That's all.

if there is a God, something interesting will happen. PLEASE
- jimbro83

I've said before and I still think it is feasible if one of the kids (Miller, Fast, Kristo, etc.) has a great camp that we will see Pyatt or Boyle moved to open a spot. It obviously wouldn't be a blockbuster move but it would qualify as interesting.

A pyatt trade or buyout. That's all.
- mrhattrick27

You confident that they acquired Moore with the intent of Boyle playing the wing?

Asham and Powe are still on the summer cap. They were waived but since no one picked them up they will have to be waived again prior to the season starting in order to be sent down. If a player is neither sent down or claimed on waivers then the team must waive that player again 30 days later. Plus if Cally and/or Hags out to start the season the Rangers will need to keep someone up front with the team to start the season. May be Kristo or another kid or could be Asham.
- gkmkiller

Whatever the case maybe with the cap, its not exactly 4.6m with the injuries to Cally and Hags. With them not likely being able to go on LITR, waiving Pyatt and Asham becomes moot and were still going to need 2 forwards to play. Which makes the signings of Moore and Pouliot kind of puzzling. The money that went to them is whats jamming us from resigning Stepan.

I do have another theory, and its WAY OUT in left field. Stepan's hold out lasts into the season (until Cally and Hags come back), this allows for the team to waive Asham and Pyatt and whoever to open up the cap space to sign Stepan.

A more reasonable theory, Sather/Clark/Gorton are quietly shopping people. I wouldnt be surprised if one was Boyle and the other was one of the defensemen.

A pyatt trade or buyout. That's all.
- mrhattrick27

A buyout would be foolish. If we bought him out we'd carry a $450,000 cap hit this season and a $550,000 cap hit next season. If we simply sent him to the AHL at the end of camp he would account for a $625,000 hit. Saving $175,000 this year is meaningless and carrying dead weight next season is not smart. I'm sure a trade could be worked out if needed.

The teams biggest question mark is on the left side, with Hagelin, Kreider, Pouilot, Boyle (maybe), and Pyatt manning those roster spots. Obviously, if Kreider doesn't take the necessary step, and Pouilot doesn't contribute something, they will have a problem on that side. Some potential, but also some very big question marks.

A buyout would be foolish. If we bought him out we'd carry a $450,000 cap hit this season and a $550,000 cap hit next season. If we simply sent him to the AHL at the end of camp he would account for a $625,000 hit. Saving $175,000 this year is meaningless and carrying dead weight next season is not smart. I'm sure a trade could be worked out if needed.
- gkmkiller

Sorry I forgot that. I meant demotion.

The teams biggest question mark is on the left side, with Hagelin, Kreider, Pouilot, Boyle (maybe), and Pyatt manning those roster spots. Obviously, if Kreider doesn't take the necessary step, and Pouilot doesn't contribute something, they will have a problem on that side. Some potential, but also some very big question marks.
- Pete V

I think in general we are depending on Kreider to succeed. We have him pegged in the top 6 again this year.

I think in general we are depending on Kreider to succeed. We have him pegged in the top 6 again this year.
- mrhattrick27

Chris Kreider is the key this year. If he develops into a 30 goal scorer, this team can be dangerous. If he doesn't approach that level, that's not good, in that the team would have a bunch of playmaking centers without enough guys on the wings that can put the puck in the net.

You confident that they acquired Moore with the intent of Boyle playing the wing?
- Pete V

I think Brassard plays wing to start with Moore on the 3rd line and Boyle as 4th line C. We have five C's and could be down two top-six wingers to open the year. Makes sense to have Brassard, who played wing in Columbus as well as Center to fill in as opposed to having him be the 3C. Moore has scored as many as 45 points in a season and I believe he can adequately play the 3rd line for a while until everyone is healthy.

Here's what the lineup would look like if Hags and Cally are not healthy to start.

Wings: Nash, Zucc, Pouliot, Pyatt, Kreider and Dorsett. (This assumes Asham and Powe are waived again and start in Hartford or are picked up by another club and doesn't include any kids making the roster)

Centers: Step, Richie, Brass, Moore and Boyle

To me the move that makes the most short term sense is to play Brassard in the top six as a wing and slide Moore and Boyle up. It also allows for a kid to fill in on one of the top three lines. When Cally and Hags return then they can figure out how to slot everyone.

the biggest problem with Stepan and Brassard as our top two centers are that neither one of them is a good faceoff man.

For his career, Stepan has won 43% of his draws, and Brassard has won 45%

Chris Kreider is the key this year. If he develops into a 30 goal scorer, this team can be dangerous. If he doesn't approach that level, that's not good, in that the team would have a bunch of playmaking centers without enough guys on the wings that can put the puck in the net.
- Pete V

Agree, wholeheartedly. I hate for that much pressure and for those high expectations to be placed on him but he needs to become a threat to score 30 at least. I think we have enough skill spread out to get decent production from three lines but to have another legitimate threat to go with Nash opens things up more for everyone else. I hope this kid excels under AV.

Also, the D can make things a lot easier on the F group. We all have seen that untapped ability in McDonagh just waiting to come out and obviously MDZ has a lot fo offensive ability. Moore has skill too. If those guys can up their offensive production by 30% over last year that would be a boost of about 30 points over a full season.

I think Brassard plays wing to start with Moore on the 3rd line and Boyle as 4th line C. We have five C's and could be down two top-six wingers to open the year. Makes sense to have Brassard, who played wing in Columbus as well as Center to fill in as opposed to having him be the 3C. Moore has scored as many as 45 points in a season and I believe he can adequately play the 3rd line for a while until everyone is healthy.

Here's what the lineup would look like if Hags and Cally are not healthy to start.

Wings: Nash, Zucc, Pouliot, Pyatt, Kreider and Dorsett. (This assumes Asham and Powe are waived again and start in Hartford or are picked up by another club and doesn't include any kids making the roster)

Centers: Step, Richie, Brass, Moore and Boyle

To me the move that makes the most short term sense is to play Brassard in the top six as a wing and slide Moore and Boyle up. It also allows for a kid to fill in on one of the top three lines. When Cally and Hags return then they can figure out how to slot everyone.
- gkmkiller

No matter how we slice it, were in a tough situation with Stepan. Before we start figuring out how were going to arrange our opening day line ups, lets figure out how we will make it work against the cap.

Lets say we sign Stepan for 4m AAV. Even with Asham and Pyatt sent down, we have 11 forward starters and 580k to bring someone up. Were between a rock and a hard place.

what would be nice is if Sather can user his jedi mind tricks to get Stepan to take a 2 year bridge deal for 3.5 million a year.

Agree, wholeheartedly. I hate for that much pressure and for those high expectations to be placed on him but he needs to become a threat to score 30 at least. I think we have enough skill spread out to get decent production from three lines but to have another legitimate threat to go with Nash opens things up more for everyone else. I hope this kid excels under AV.

Also, the D can make things a lot easier on the F group. We all have seen that untapped ability in McDonagh just waiting to come out and obviously MDZ has a lot fo offensive ability. Moore has skill too. If those guys can up their offensive production by 30% over last year that would be a boost of about 30 points over a full season.
- gkmkiller

Going into last year, I was pessimistic for some reasons. Mostly because I think the expectations were so high, and I thought the Rangers would feel a great deal of pressure to meet them.

This year, I think I am way more optimistic than anybody else. I don't think this team is too far off. I think they are obviously great in net, great on D, very good down the middle and on the right side, and have potential on the left side (but its a question mark). Personally, and I know that I will get heat for this, but I think they are a trade deadline acquisition of a scoring threat on the wing from really competing for the Cup. Time will tell whether I am way off the mark on this.

the biggest problem with Stepan and Brassard as our top two centers are that neither one of them is a good faceoff man.

For his career, Stepan has won 43% of his draws, and Brassard has won 45%
- jimbro83

See thats bullpoop.. because if you were some fly by Ranger fan Id say go watch some Ranger games after they acquired Brassard. Brassard is awesome at faceoff's when he got here.

Brassard won 52.8% of he faceoffs in the regular season with us, 50% in the playoffs.

if there is a God, something interesting will happen. PLEASE
- jimbro83

Hank extension

Hank extension
- rangerdanger94

Yeah, that needs to happen. Hell, they have plently of UFAs next summer that they could be talking extension with, Hank obviously being at the top of the list.

See thats bullpoop.. because if you were some fly by Ranger fan Id say go watch some Ranger games after they acquired Brassard. Brassard is awesome at faceoff's when he got here.

Brassard won 52.8% of he faceoffs in the regular season with us, 50% in the playoffs.
- aecliptic

he definitely was better after he got here, but I don't believe it's a strength of his

what would be nice is if Sather can user his jedi mind tricks to get Stepan to take a 2 year bridge deal for 3.5 million a year.
- jimbro83

I just want to sign the guy to a 6 year/27 million contract and be done with it.

Mats Zuccarello ‏@zuccarello36 now
Really excited to still be a part of the Rangers! Now of to New York to prepare for the season! #LGR

I just want to sign the guy to a 6 year/27 million contract and be done with it.
- Pete V

I would love that

Yeah, that needs to happen. Hell, they have plently of UFAs next summer that they could be talking extension with, Hank obviously being at the top of the list.
- Pete V

I can see hank and cally being the first 2 to get extended before training camp even starts.

he definitely was better after he got here, but I don't believe it's a strength of his
- jimbro83

Ill take whatever he is doing now for as long as he can handle it. It wasnt a strength of Boyle's either, but somehow he managed to figure it out.