James Tanner: Antti Raanta Out - possibly for the year

Now you have an excuse as to why the yotes will miss the playoffs. Not a dumb excuse, or a flimsy, sad excuse, but a better, more plausible kind of excuse. That’s good.

the Rangers got him from the Blackhawks for Ryan Haggerty

that was actually a heist

who won the trade the Rangers and Arizona made where Raanta was included is still very much unknown

Coyotes found themselves an elite goalie back when they heisted him from the unsuspecting New York Rangers.

Was Raanta going to supplant Lundqvist? What exactly were the Rangers unsuspecting of? You either don't know what you're talking about or you should choose your words more carefully.
New York traded someone they truly got for nothing (see above, thanks Jimbro) and traded him while his stock was high. Getting the 7th overall pick and D'Angelo for Stepan and the latest in a string of back-up goalies to benefit from the teachings of Benoit Allaire was a pretty sweet return, really. Since they had no intention of signing Stepan to the payday he was about to get, they got younger and faster instead. The back-up goalie position is not exactly one you should be afraid to take a calculated risk on.

Was Raanta going to supplant Lundqvist? What exactly were the Rangers unsuspecting of? You either don't know what you're talking about or you should choose your words more carefully.
New York traded someone they truly got for nothing (see above, thanks Jimbro) and traded him while his stock was high. Getting the 7th overall pick and D'Angelo for Stepan and the latest in a string of back-up goalies to benefit from the teachings of Benoit Allaire was a pretty sweet return, really. Since they had no intention of signing Stepan to the payday he was about to get, they got younger and faster instead. The back-up goalie position is not exactly one you should be afraid to take a calculated risk on.
- Tonybere

Hey I don't mind the trade from the Rangers perspective - it made sense based on their needs. But any time you land a legit starting goalie, that's a good trade.

Jimmy Howard, anyone?

Called it Tanner. Arizona sucks, and they will continue to suck. They are not win now. They are not even win in the next 10 years. They need a real hockey market, with real ownership. They are the cap hit eaters of the NHL. Any time a team has a cap hit they don’t like but the players salary is minimal, Arizona bails them out. Any time a team has to “make it to the cap floor” it is bad news. Can’t wait til they are moved.

There go the Stanley Cup hopes...

“Win-Now” Mode will have to be put off for another year or decade....

Does Raanta have to return the Vezina we already gave him, or does he keep it?

Oh shoot. The Coyotes will miss the playoffs - again - and now you can blame it on injuries - again.

At some point it might be worth acknowledging that Keller, Strome, Galchenyuk, Stepan, OEL, Raanta, et al...just aren't that good. Kinda like your predictions.

I think you are over rating Raanta. I don't think he has had enough games to say that he is an elite goaltender. Yes, last year he played great and produced elite numbers. However, if you look at his entire career (and this year's numbers) he has the numbers of an average starting goalie. In fact, Darcy Kuemper has better numbers this year than he does.

Maybe hold back on your proclamations of how great the players are on your favourite teams until it is proven over time. Keep hearing how great a prospect Dylan Strome was, how Chykrun is a top defenseman, how Matthews is the greatest leaf ever, etc. You seem to use sample size in many of your arguments (over 70 games before luck is ruled out or something like that), yet other times you base opinions on stats over a very short period.

I would say Raanta is pretty much equal to Mike Smith as a goalie which is good but not elite.

Watcha'll want for Panik?

Called it Tanner. Arizona sucks, and they will continue to suck. They are not win now. They are not even win in the next 10 years. They need a real hockey market, with real ownership. They are the cap hit eaters of the NHL. Any time a team has a cap hit they don’t like but the players salary is minimal, Arizona bails them out. Any time a team has to “make it to the cap floor” it is bad news. Can’t wait til they are moved.
- celinedionpha9

Yeah but wait till they offer Matthews 20 million per.

Arizona will most likely be looking for a legit #1. Not sure they'll want to try and rely on Hill and Pickard.

Do you think they would make a deal with (frequent dance partner) Chicago for Crawford?

We need to move a couple core guys and Crawford has been one of the rumored ones for a bit now - the Flyers being the top runner right now (in the rumor mill).

I know it sounds crazy, but just a thought.

I love how the guy who gave away Domi for Galchenyuk is still considered a bright young GM. Derek Stepan on pace for 38 points. Haha

James Tanner: Antti Raanta Out - possibly for the year
- James_Tanner

Shouldn't hurt the team at all because they signed the "best backup goalie in the league" to carry the team in Raanta's absence.

I love how the guy who gave away Domi for Galchenyuk is still considered a bright young GM. Derek Stepan on pace for 38 points. Haha
- Fonz19

The last time I checked, Domi was by far the luckiest player in the NHL, and Galchenyuk missed the first ten or so games.

Arizona will most likely be looking for a legit #1. Not sure they'll want to try and rely on Hill and Pickard.

Do you think they would make a deal with (frequent dance partner) Chicago for Crawford?

We need to move a couple core guys and Crawford has been one of the rumored ones for a bit now - the Flyers being the top runner right now (in the rumor mill).

I know it sounds crazy, but just a thought.
- Hank3Henshaw

Chayka said today they will fill in for Raanta internally.

Shouldn't hurt the team at all because they signed the "best backup goalie in the league" to carry the team in Raanta's absence.
- leonkennedy

Given that the best back-up is still not a starter, I don't think you really thought this through very well.

Chayka said today they will fill in for Raanta internally.
- James_Tanner

When Chayka is in his 40's he is going to be an awesome GM. With all the experience knowing what not to do under his belt by then.

The last time I checked, Domi was by far the luckiest player in the NHL, and Galchenyuk missed the first ten or so games.
- James_Tanner

Yeah. Just a couple months of dumb luck for Domi. Maybe the same luck that the Caps used to win the Cup.

#fancystatsmeaneverything

a great goalie (who stays healthy) can carry an average team to the playoffs

looks like that won't be happening in Arizona this year, but you never know when an Andrew Hammond might come out of nowhere

Given that the best back-up is still not a starter, I don't think you really thought this through very well.
- James_Tanner

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...ters-in-the-NHL/243/94385

"Darcy Kuemper is probably the best back-up in the NHL and if Raanta falters or can't stay healthy, Kuemper could find himself in a starting role and the Coyotes would probably be fine."

Fall on the sword James and get it over.

Hey I don't mind the trade from the Rangers perspective - it made sense based on their needs. But any time you land a legit starting goalie, that's a good trade.
- James_Tanner

Except he doesn't start because he's been nothing but hurt as Yote.

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/James-Tanner/3-Coyotes-Have-One-of-the-Best-Rosters-in-the-NHL/243/94385

"Darcy Kuemper is probably the best back-up in the NHL and if Raanta falters or can't stay healthy, Kuemper could find himself in a starting role and the Coyotes would probably be fine."

Fall on the sword James and get it over.
- gramps

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/James-Tanner/3-Coyotes-Have-One-of-the-Best-Rosters-in-the-NHL/243/94385

"Darcy Kuemper is probably the best back-up in the NHL and if Raanta falters or can't stay healthy, Kuemper could find himself in a starting role and the Coyotes would probably be fine."

Fall on the sword James and get it over.
- gramps

Why are you acting as if those words are wrong? Kuemper is injured. They are certainly in better position than they were last year where they had no backup.

If anything, I regret the season is over tone of todays blog more than my optimistic take on Kuemper. Raanta is a great goalie, but maybe they can do ok with Hill and Kuemper.