So, the Rangers are doing a rebuild. I hope they don't muck it up by signing Thornton or Shattenkirk. They should focus on getting reasonable deals for the RFAs and trying to get Smith signed for $4M per. Nash should be pushed at the deadline for young players or picks.

I pray we don't do this rebuild like the last one where aging players were added to the roster just to appease the fan base. They eat up minutes from the younger players to boost the win total to barely climb into the playoffs and we pick #17th again.

I'd rather see the young guys play, and if they perform well enough, add the pieces they need later in the year.

I'm okay with trusting Clark and Drury's draft selections. People look at the pre-draft rankings as being a linear gauge of talent when realistically, there probably isn't much of a difference between a lot of the players mentioned. Hell, the NHL has seen more than its' share of top ten busts...

Good blogs, Jan. It was nice to have something to read about the Rangers draft on a Sunday morning.
- Bluey

That's the problem right there, they even labeled a rebuild on the fly, they have to sign UFA to meet the roster needs, even if Andersson can make the team.

So the Rangers panicked and reached. As you a other have said, what is the difference in this draft in terms of talent?
- tomburton99

Our 21st pick was youngest in whole draft, and if he waited till next years draft, he was said to go in top 10. Have faith boys

So, the Rangers are doing a rebuild. I hope they don't muck it up by signing Thornton or Shattenkirk. They should focus on getting reasonable deals for the RFAs and trying to get Smith signed for $4M per. Nash should be pushed at the deadline for young players or picks.

I pray we don't do this rebuild like the last one where aging players were added to the roster just to appease the fan base. They eat up minutes from the younger players to boost the win total to barely climb into the playoffs and we pick #17th again.

I'd rather see the young guys play, and if they perform well enough, add the pieces they need later in the year.

I'm okay with trusting Clark and Drury's draft selections. People look at the pre-draft rankings as being a linear gauge of talent when realistically, there probably isn't much of a difference between a lot of the players mentioned. Hell, the NHL has seen more than its' share of top ten busts...

Good blogs, Jan. It was nice to have something to read about the Rangers draft on a Sunday morning.
- Bluey

people judging this summer on June 25th is just so annoying

it's like walking out on the Godfather after the wedding scene

listen, you don't wanna be called a homer
- jimbo83

1. Vin called you a homer.
2. He called you a homer after you goaded him into argument.
3. It seems you get rattled way to easily now and fly off the handle.

That's the problem right there, they even labeled a rebuild on the fly, they have to sign UFA to meet the roster needs, even if Andersson can make the team.
- tomburton99

Holy crap. Let's at least wait till FA opens July 1 before we get nervous about next her. Nyr will be better than last year. How much so remains to be seen

people judging this summer on June 25th is just so annoying

it's like walking out on the Godfather after the wedding scene
- jimbo83

Who's the Rangers "Sonny" and "Tom Hagen"?

1. Vin called you a homer.
2. He called you a homer after you goaded him into argument.
3. It seems you get rattled way to easily now and fly off the handle.
- tomburton99

oh yeah sure, I am the one who flies off the handle

Holy crap. Let's at least wait till FA opens July 1 before we get nervous about next her. Nyr will be better than last year. How much so remains to be seen
- rrentz

If you're going to rebuild, then just accept the fact that you can't compete. If you want to the team to be better, then they should have kept Stepan and Raanta and added to what they've had. The player on the UFA market are equal to what they had in last year's roster, minus Shattenkirk. You ca't rebuild if you have 35 year old goalie, with 8.5 million dollar cap hit. You try to get him a championship.

oh yeah sure, I am the one who flies off the handle
- jimbo83

You flew off the handle this morning. You got mad at Jan for mention what the flyers did at the draft.

If you're going to rebuild, then just accept the fact that you can't compete. If you want to the team to be better, then they should have kept Stepan and Raanta and added to what they've had. The player on the UFA market are equal to what they had in last year's roster, minus Shattenkirk. You ca't rebuild if you have 35 year old goalie, with 8.5 million dollar cap hit. You try to get him a championship.
- tomburton99

All depends on defining "rebuild on the fly." I will cover that in the next blog, because right now, I am unsure what it means.

You flew off the handle this morning. You got mad at Jan for mention what the flyers did at the draft.
- tomburton99

Oh shut the (frank) up. I DISCUSSED the topic he brought up in the blog. I didn't just go GREAT BLOG JAN! and then talk about what ever it was I wanted to talk about.

Was kind of surprised they did this, especially seeing how Schenn took another step next year. Has to be something else we don't see going on here.
- airjan23

I hate to say it but I took it as the flyers rebuilding the right way. You gotta be kinda garbage for a bit in order to get those top end players a lot of the time I.e. Pittsburgh before Crosby + Malkin, Chicago before Kane + Toews. I love that the rangers are trying to retool and remain competitive but imo enduring those crappy years ends up worth it a lot of the time as the leafs and oilers are now finding out (please don't take this as me saying I want the rangers to be bad or rebuild like the leafs, just giving my opinion on the rebuild process)

I would just love for someone to finally acknowledge that Lehtera has 4.7 million cap hit. That would make me happy.
- jimbo83

lifelong 40 plus year flyer fan
The Schenn trade is classic Hextall. The team couldn't' score goals & he dumps 25 goals, tells the fans "wait 3-4 more years".
Stupid trade, (but the fans in Meltzer's blog will commend it because they are all draft junkies that could care less about losing).
Hextall = suck and draft
Holmgren = dump all picks for vets
No in between.

Oh shut the (frank) up. I DISCUSSED the topic he brought up in the blog. I didn't just go GREAT BLOG JAN! and then talk about what ever it was I wanted to talk about.
- jimbo83

When Jan puts up a blog at 2:30 with good info and opinions on the Rangers draftees than yes it's good blog. Yes you did bring up Lehtera-Schenn point, and then beat your chest into trying to get people to agree with you. Which is your right. But I also have a right in saying that it's also a good deal for the Flyers. Because as of right now they have Giroux, Couturier, Konecny, Lehtera, Filppula on the roster at center. With Nolan Patrick waiting in the wings.

lifelong 40 plus year flyer fan
The Schenn trade is classic Hextall. The team couldn't' score goals & he dumps 25 goals, tells the fans "wait 3-4 more years".
Stupid trade, (but the fans in Meltzer's blog will commend it because they are all draft junkies that could care less about losing).
Hextall = suck and draft
Holmgren = dump all picks for vets
No in between.
- puckhead17

we got a couple of those

That's the problem right there, they even labeled a rebuild on the fly, they have to sign UFA to meet the roster needs, even if Andersson can make the team.
- tomburton99

I wouldn't be pushing Andersson onto the roster next year. Not unless he really kills it in the preseason.

When Jan puts up a blog at 2:30 with good info and opinions on the Rangers draftees than yes it's good blog. Yes you did bring up Lehtera-Schenn point, and then beat your chest into trying to get people to agree with you. Which is your right. But I also have a right in saying that it's also a good deal for the Flyers. Because as of right now they have Giroux, Couturier, Konecny, Lehtera, Filppula on the roster at center. With Nolan Patrick waiting in the wings.
- tomburton99

let me ask you a question, isn't it a FACT that Lehtera scored 7 goals last year and has a 4.7 million cap hit the next two years or it is my OPINION that I am trying to get people to agree with and "beat my chest about"?

Because, I think it's a fact. But perhaps that's just me.

I hate to say it but I took it as the flyers rebuilding the right way. You gotta be kinda garbage for a bit in order to get those top end players a lot of the time I.e. Pittsburgh before Crosby + Malkin, Chicago before Kane + Toews. I love that the rangers are trying to retool and remain competitive but imo enduring those crappy years ends up worth it a lot of the time as the leafs and oilers are now finding out (please don't take this as me saying I want the rangers to be bad or rebuild like the leafs, just giving my opinion on the rebuild process)
- nyr23

Then if going that route, you likely have to deal Lundqvist, because you can't be halfway in or out.

let me ask you a question, isn't it a FACT that Lehtera scored 7 goals last year and has a 4.7 million cap hit the next two years or it is my OPINION that I am trying to get people to agree with and "beat my chest about"?

Because, I think it's a fact. But perhaps that's just me.
- jimbo83

Um, I did agree with you and note that I forgot to add it. We cool?

Depends on what people want as a rebuild..Suck for a bunch of years and hope to get some incredible talent, and female dog and moan about how awful they are for those rebuilding years. Or. Stay competitive and make the playoffs every year with a chance at the cup. I prefer the rebuild on the fly that keep this team competitive with young and veteran players. Because as much as a whole rebuild sounds fun, there is no guarantee you will draft a Crosby, Malkin, McDavid, Matthews... and you just might be a team that sucks while picking ok draft picks

we got a couple of those
- jimbo83

I don't consider a draft junkie that wants to keep dumping players & lose a true fan.
Why dump Schenn who's a 25 goal, 50-60 point player when you are goal starved?
I wasn't crazy about the Rangers dumping Stepan, but they do have additional players capable of filling in, and Shattenkirk's $ will be Stepans. (seemingly).

let me ask you a question, isn't it a FACT that Lehtera scored 7 goals last year and has a 4.7 million cap hit the next two years or it is my OPINION that I am trying to get people to agree with and "beat my chest about"?

Because, I think it's a fact. But perhaps that's just me.
- jimbo83

No you are absolutely right. Stupid move.

Um, I did agree with you and note that I forgot to add it. We cool?
- airjan23

we cool Jan we cool

I am never going give the (frank)ing Philadelphia Flyers credit that I don't think they deserve, that's the jist of this whole thing.

I don't consider a draft junkie that wants to keep dumping players & lose a true fan.
Why dump Schenn who's a 25 goal, 50-60 point player when you are goal starved?
I wasn't crazy about the Rangers dumping Stepan, but they do have additional players capable of filling in, and Shattenkirk's $ will be Stepans. (seemingly).
- puckhead17

I actually didn't even realize that Schenn led the entire league in powerplay goals last year until Tom brought it up.

As a negative.

Then if going that route, you likely have to deal Lundqvist, because you can't be halfway in or out.
- airjan23

For sure, I personally would never just because of what he's done for the organization unless he wanted a trade, but I do believe that in order to accrue top end talent you need to be bad for a little bit unless you're giving up an arm and a leg in a trade or overpaying for a UFA. I don't think the rangers have any elite players at the moment (with the exception perhaps of Ryan McDonagh) because of their recent success. Do I have a solution? No because as a fan I love watching the team win and it hurts me to see them lose but as an armchair GM I think the time is nigh for a roster blowup and a couple lottery picks.