Skjei paired with Slavin tonight.

Skjei-Slavin
Gardiner-van Reimsdyk
Fleury-Edmundson

Skjei paired with Slavin tonight.

Skjei-Slavin
Gardiner-van Reimsdyk
Fleury-Edmundson
- BINGO!

TOP DOG

For all the talk over the years that ARI should be moved, FLA is the franchise that's the biggest embarrassment. They have a couple of real genuine star players and are routinely run like a beer league team, from the ownership on down. Viola OK'd the signing of Bobrovsky to an atrocious contract and then went out and spent top-dollar on Quenneville and now he's telling Tallon that he has to effectively gut the team to save money.

Giving Trocheck away for peanuts gets them about halfway to that, alleged, $10M number. Matheson stinks, but if they could also give him away for free that'd get them there. Otherwise....I have no idea how they're going to accomplish that. Yandle has a full NMC. Stralman can veto a trade to half the teams in the league and is old and overpaid anyway. They can't/won't move Ekblad. They're going to be in the basement for a long time.
- eichiefs9

According to Custance, the original ask from Florida for Trochek was Martin Necas.

They settled for.... much less.

TOP DOG
- jimbro83

If anybody can cover for his defensive woes, it's Slavin.

I have been to several games down there because I have family down there and it's definitely a weak fanbase

fans of other team's who have relocated down there go to see their teams play there

Tampa has a great fanbase of their own, the Panthers do not
- jimbro83

Isn't a big part of that the Arena is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

They should move them to Miami or something

Skjei paired with Slavin tonight.

Skjei-Slavin
Gardiner-van Reimsdyk
Fleury-Edmundson
- BINGO!

uh-oh

Isn't a big part of that the Arena is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

They should move them to Miami or something
- mdw7413

there's no public transportation to it, but it's right off of I95, very easy to get to it

I just don't think people care down there

there's no public transportation to it, but it's right off of I95, very easy to get to it

I just don't think people care down there
- jimbro83

I bet if they were right in Miami they would do much better

I was very happy with how they handled this. If they had done what we all expected and traded Kreider, Fast and Skjei... we would set ourselves back like 2 years trying to groom and pick up guys to fill in.

The question is, where do we go from here? Im hoping the offseason does Kakko well and hes ready to take on a bigger role next year. However I think were 1 bonafide stud away on offense to really compete for the cup.
- aecliptic

The team needs to play better defensively before we can say we will be playing for a playoff spot let alone the Cup. They have to tighten it up a bit. Getting rid of Shady was a start. The first two lines have carried this team to this point, if they can get secondary scoring, then maybe they can make the playoffs. The fact that they didnt add to the roster shows to me at least, the Rangers know they cant compete for a Cup this year and will let the kids grow and develop another year.

no longer a rebuild, its a build. two 1st round picks can be used to maneuver up or acquire another player in a package. playing smith in the next few weeks will go a long way to see where he is for next year. he will be playing to prove next year he is worth keeping around to get his next, and likely last, contract. same with Staal. I think one thing they need to do in the offseason is replace Lindy Ruff. need somebody that can help with the defensemen a bit better. the wildcard is Henrik. If he chooses to retire, then we have a lot of cap space. if a deal can be made or he gets bought out with opportunity to play elsewhere, then it will free up some space. but either way, puts us in a position where next year at this time, we're adding pieces to the puzzle.

I also don't think they should just shell out big money via FA or even trades. Let 2021 end and see what you have and where to spend it. Trouba, Panarin, Kreids, and eventually Tony will take up significant space
- nyrangers2

As well as Chytil, KK, ADA, and AG. Not to mention Igor will get paid handsomely. I dont think the Rangers can afford another big time FA. They will hopefully have their big time players on the roster already or in the farm system.

If Hank does leave then it will make ADA's and Stromes contracts easier to do. Its not a coincidence that both Strome and Panarin are having career years. Its definitely the chemistry they have.

Some thoughts on yesterday:

I am warming to the Kreider extension. 7 years is simply too long and I don't like the multiple years of NTC on the back end. However the AAV is reasonable and I think we now have our Captain going forward.

I am worried that Shesty is going to be out a long time. Davidson stated that he would be re-evaluated in 2 weeks, NOT out for 2 weeks. So, in 2 weeks they could say he's out for another 10 days. At that point, he will need some games to remove the rust. During this entire time, we will be hopefully chasing a playoff spot.

With Buch possibly missing tonites game, I would give a long look to Gauthier in that spot. All he has done in 2 games is draw 2 penalities ( including a penalty shot! ) in just 13 mins total ice time. He has had a couple of practices now with the team to learn our system. Lets see if he can rise to the occasion and give him a shot.

I love that we unloaded Skjei w/o any retention. Getting a 1st round pick in a year that is considered to be a deep draft underscores how good Gorton can be as our GM. However, we now have a HUGE hole in our line-up on the left side of our defense. To think that Staal can simply slot up to 1st pairing is crazy. He doesn't have the foot speed to play 22+ mins a night and against other teams top players. Will be interesting to see if D'Angelo can fill that spot...

Playoff push ENGAGED!
BIG game tonite! Bring on the Fishsticks! LETS GO RANGERS!!
- TommyGTrain

I see a lot of talk bout who is going to play left side on the top D pair. SMH
You guys mean 2nd pair!! Our top pair for a little bit now has been the amazing Fox/Lindgren pairing!!!
These guys have far surpassed any expectations I held for them this season!!

I have been to several games down there because I have family down there and it's definitely a weak fanbase

fans of other team's who have relocated down there go to see their teams play there

Tampa has a great fanbase of their own, the Panthers do not
- jimbro83

Who could blame Panther fans either. They have a crappy out of date building and are run by idiots. I feel bad for guys like Barkov and Huberdeau who are insanely talented and just pissing their careers away down there.

According to Custance, the original ask from Florida for Trochek was Martin Necas.

They settled for.... much less.
- BINGO!

I don't understand why they felt the rush to get that deal done right now. If that mandate of cutting $10M in salary was true, why couldn't they just have waited until the draft and at least gotten a first round pick+ for Trocheck when maybe a couple teams that exited the playoffs early were a little more settled and wanted to tinker with their roster?

That just screamed desperation to me, I can't figure that deal out at all, from their perspective. Especially since they're only half a game back of a playoff spot right now

- jimbro83

TPE having wet dreams about all the things he can do with those 7th rounders, wherever he may be.

I have been to several games down there because I have family down there and it's definitely a weak fanbase

fans of other team's who have relocated down there go to see their teams play there

Tampa has a great fanbase of their own, the Panthers do not
- jimbro83

I actually went to the draft in 2015 down there. It was a great vacation. Just nuts now many season ticket holders basically just call the Panthers their second favorite team. During the draft sat next to this annoying lady who was a STH and decked out in full Sabres gear.

Funniest thing about that draft though is outside the draf, my friend and I was just talking to one of the locals who actually had Panthers swag on. He said they are the real fans and Tampa the fake ones lol. Recommended a pretty good burger spot though.

Also, it would help if their stadium wasn't seemingly in the middle of a neighboorhood. I haven't encountered anything else quite like it.

Who could blame Panther fans either. They have a crappy out of date building and are run by idiots. I feel bad for guys like Barkov and Huberdeau who are insanely talented and just pissing their careers away down there.
- eichiefs9

They really need to tag onto the Heat whenever they get a new building. The Heat play in a much better location.

I can't believe how little the Panthers have done with seemingly alot. They had in his prime Bure and did zilch with it.

Rangers just have to be careful they don't make the same mistake with Lindgren that they did with Skjei. A big reason why he was so good his rookie year is he was able to play behind players like McDonagh on the left side. Once the purge happened he became the defacto number 1 d man on the left side and that just isn't his game. Now with Skjei gone and only Staal and Smith behind him, Rangers are going to be putting a lot of pressure on Lindgren as a rookie on the left side. I might strongly consider giving someone like ADA a look on the opposite side.

This team is clearly showing the rebuild is behind them. They need to find an legit replacement on the left side in the summer. If they want to be considered a contender for a playoff spot they can't have Staal and Smith being 2/3rds of the left side next season.
- TPC

Lindgren and Fox make for a premier pairing for years to come

If anybody can cover for his defensive woes, it's Slavin.
- BINGO!

seriously if you want a Skeji jersey lemmie know

They really need to tag onto the Heat whenever they get a new building. The Heat play in a much better location.

I can't believe how little the Panthers have done with seemingly alot. They had in his prime Bure and did zilch with it.
- 2sticks1puck

Don't disagree, but they need to get something figured out at the top before they worry about where they play. I understand Tallon probably doesn't have a lot of operating capital to work with and now has to (again, allegedly) clear out another $5M+ in money by next year...but I think he failed big time in moving Trocheck. Maybe that was going to happen anyway, but they got a pile of crap for him. It seemed like he rushed to get it done now instead of being patient and letting the hype train get going on him. Trocheck has slipped a bit, but trading him while his value was lowest was painfully dumb. I'd have taken the chance on him turning it around down the stretch and (maybe) into the playoffs and then selling real high on him.

Don't disagree, but they need to get something figured out at the top before they worry about where they play. I understand Tallon probably doesn't have a lot of operating capital to work with and now has to (again, allegedly) clear out another $5M+ in money by next year...but I think he failed big time in moving Trocheck. Maybe that was going to happen anyway, but they got a pile of crap for him. It seemed like he rushed to get it done now instead of being patient and letting the hype train get going on him. Trocheck has slipped a bit, but trading him while his value was lowest was painfully dumb. I'd have taken the chance on him turning it around down the stretch and (maybe) into the playoffs and then selling real high on him.
- eichiefs9

I don't want to deflect blame from ownership, but it really is a South Florida thing. All of the teams in that area seemingly have some issues financially. The Fins sort of stay afloat because it's the NFL and it's hard not to print money, I don't think they make a ton though either. The Heat seemingly have a decent fanbase, but they had Wade and then Lebron so it was kind of hard not to screw that one up.

What's the worst part is, I'm old enough to remember watching their playoff years in the mid 90s. Maybe it's just revisionist history, but that place looked like it had fans during the time period and of course the insane delays to clean up the rats. I think there is a fanbase there, but the team has given them little reason to come out.

- jimbro83

Imagine Dallas resigned Zucc and we got another 1st rounder. Would be a total wet dream.

Lindgren and Fox make for a premier pairing for years to come
- KreiderBomb

Could be the Beuk/Leetch pair of the future.

I don't want to deflect blame from ownership, but it really is a South Florida thing. All of the teams in that area seemingly have some issues financially. The Fins sort of stay afloat because it's the NFL and it's hard not to print money, I don't think they make a ton though either. The Heat seemingly have a decent fanbase, but they had Wade and then Lebron so it was kind of hard not to screw that one up.

What's the worst part is, I'm old enough to remember watching their playoff years in the mid 90s. Maybe it's just revisionist history, but that place looked like it had fans during the time period and of course the insane delays to clean up the rats. I think there is a fanbase there, but the team has given them little reason to come out.
- 2sticks1puck

I think anyone with mild interest will come out of the woodwork when a team makes the playoffs. Hell, I'd go to a Long Island Ducks game if they made the playoffs and that's dog poop Independent League baseball

It's doubly-sad because they have the advantage of no state income tax, an advantage which Tampa has absolutely 150% utilize for their benefit. They can sign guys to lower cap-hit deals and have them end up with the same net pay as players making millions of dollars more and playing in states/provinces with much higher taxes.