by the time Gretzky was the age McDavid is now, he'd won two Cups
- jimbro83

He was also playing with like 8 future hall of famers.

More holes to fill than a co-ed dorm.
- Tonybere

He was also playing with like 8 future hall of famers.
- aecliptic

that's always the excuse with McDavid

that's always the excuse with McDavid
- jimbro83

Can anyone really name more than 4 people on EDM other than McDavid and Draisitl? Their goalie is trash.

Management has no fking clue what theyre doing with that team.

I honestly don't know what they do know.
I think the answer was touched on in the ramblings here. Trade Draisaitl for a king's ransom.
Edmonton played a 107 minute hockey game for their lives and the 4th line played less than 10 minutes, excepting Khaira who had over 5 min of PK time. On the 3rd pairing, Koekkeok under 10 and Bear under 15 min. Also known as, 16 and 25% of the usage Nurse saw, respectively.
More holes to fill than a co-ed dorm.
- Tonybere

I just don't see moving Draisaitl as the answer for them. Their three "core" players are McDavid ($12.5M), Draisaitl ($8.5M) and Nurse ($5.6m). That's $26.6M and all of those guys outperformed their contracts which is exactly what you need from the top guys. What's preventing them from having any depth is paying Nugent-Hopkins/Neal/Kassian/Russell/Barrie/Bear a combined $25M.

Also, I can't imagine that McDavid would be happy with them trading the only other effective forward on the team.

PS. Your boy Scheifele had quite the game last night.

I honestly don't know what they do know.
I think the answer was touched on in the ramblings here. Trade Draisaitl for a king's ransom.
Edmonton played a 107 minute hockey game for their lives and the 4th line played less than 10 minutes, excepting Khaira who had over 5 min of PK time. On the 3rd pairing, Koekkeok under 10 and Bear under 15 min. Also known as, 16 and 25% of the usage Nurse saw, respectively.
More holes to fill than a co-ed dorm.
- Tonybere

Really that's what they should do. RNH is a perfectly fine as a 2C and they could use that depth to really round out their team. We really are the perfect partner for them, because as I pointed out, we could trade multiple guys and it doesn't even come close to emptying the cupboard.

Edmonton does get a slight break in that Larsson comes off the books and their dead cap money goes down next year. They probably could get a couple of solid low cost options with that money. If they don't trade him, they have t let RNH walk as much as that seems painful to them.

that's always the excuse with McDavid
- jimbro83

It's really somewhere in the middle. It's something that has some validity, but we've seen Crosby drag some pretty ho hum Pens teams at least to the playoffs.

McD can't do it himself, but I take the he should do more a bit more seriously than that dog*&*^ take Brooks liked over the weekend about Ovi, that doesn't even play center.

Perhaps Dolan shook up the Rangers front office to avoid being Edmonton 2.0

There are many similarities to our team:

1) top heavy with 2 terrific offensive lines

2) lack of solid production from 3rd line and a weak 4th line

3) soft as tissue paper defensively

4) an inability to play "playoff type hockey"

Where the Rangers differ is that we have a solid goalie that we ( hopefully ) can depend on. We also have some terrific ( albeit ) young defensive players coming up through our system.

It's really somewhere in the middle. It's something that has some validity, but we've seen Crosby drag some pretty ho hum Pens teams at least to the playoffs.

McD can't do it himself, but I take the he should do more a bit more seriously than that dog*&*^ take Brooks liked over the weekend about Ovi, that doesn't even play center.
- 2sticks1puck

Thing is it was Crosby, Malkin, Letang and MAF. You had your 1C, 2C, 1D and #1G, then they surrounded them with solid middle 6 hockey players. They didnt go out of their way to overpay anyone.

Perhaps Dolan shook up the Rangers front office to avoid being Edmonton 2.0

There are many similarities to our team:

1) top heavy with 2 terrific offensive lines

2) lack of solid production from 3rd line and a weak 4th line

3) soft as tissue paper defensively

4) an inability to play "playoff type hockey"

Where the Rangers differ is that we have a solid goalie that we ( hopefully ) can depend on. We also have some terrific ( albeit ) young defensive players coming up through our system.
- TommyGTrain

The difference is the Rangers tore it down 3 years ago and have some really good pieces going forward, aside from center. Edmonton has been rebuilding for 15 years, and has the best 2 centers, 1 defense man and really nothing more.

The difference is the Rangers tore it down 3 years ago and have some really good pieces going forward, aside from center. Edmonton has been rebuilding for 15 years, and has the best 2 centers, 1 defense man and really nothing more.
- Brukie

Which is a good place to be, however management is clueless and has no idea how to surround these guys with support properly.

Which is a good place to be, however management is clueless and has no idea how to surround these guys with support properly.
- aecliptic

Well Dolan is clueless, lets see what Drury does. You cant just add players before knowing what actually you have. Toughness and grit can be added later on for the most part on the cheap. You need some talent first. The add some chemistry and we will soon be contending.

Perhaps Dolan shook up the Rangers front office to avoid being Edmonton 2.0

There are many similarities to our team:

1) top heavy with 2 terrific offensive lines

2) lack of solid production from 3rd line and a weak 4th line

3) soft as tissue paper defensively

4) an inability to play "playoff type hockey"

Where the Rangers differ is that we have a solid goalie that we ( hopefully ) can depend on. We also have some terrific ( albeit ) young defensive players coming up through our system.
- TommyGTrain

Edmonton doesn't have 2 terrific offensive lines, they basically have 2 top players and RNH

Well Dolan is clueless, lets see what Drury does. You cant just add players before knowing what actually you have. Toughness and grit can be added later on for the most part on the cheap. You need some talent first. The add some chemistry and we will soon be contending.
- Brukie

Is there some rule against having skilled players who are tough/gritty, or does every tough guy NYR acquires have to be a 700k 4th line player? Guys like Wilson, Thachucks, etc are at a premium. I don't think Drury is concerned about finding a 4th line tough guy. NYR needs some players who are tough to play against and can skate and play hockey.

Mantha didn't work out for Caps playoff run, but I think that's the type of guy(s) NYR needs.

I would also love to trade the Pens for Carter's last year. He would slide in nicely to 3C role

Is there some rule against having skilled players who are tough/gritty, or does every tough guy NYR acquires have to be a 700k 4th line player? Guys like Wilson, Thachucks, etc are at a premium. I don't think Drury is concerned about finding a 4th line tough guy. NYR needs some players who are tough to play against and can skate and play hockey.

Mantha didn't work out for Caps playoff run, but I think that's the type of guy(s) NYR needs.

I would also love to trade the Pens for Carter's last year. He would slide in nicely to 3C role
- rrentz

Mantha seemed to lose his Mojo after Buchnevich crosschecked him in the face

Is there some rule against having skilled players who are tough/gritty, or does every tough guy NYR acquires have to be a 700k 4th line player? Guys like Wilson, Thachucks, etc are at a premium. I don't think Drury is concerned about finding a 4th line tough guy. NYR needs some players who are tough to play against and can skate and play hockey.

Mantha didn't work out for Caps playoff run, but I think that's the type of guy(s) NYR needs.

I would also love to trade the Pens for Carter's last year. He would slide in nicely to 3C role
- rrentz

Theres no way Pens trade him, hes so cost efficient for them.

Foligno, Martinook, Crouse, Goodrow are guys Id target for the bottom 6. I wonder if Dvorak can be had for the 3C.

Theres no way Pens trade him, hes so cost efficient for them.
- aecliptic

probably right. He, or a younger version is EXACTLY what this team needs

A culture change is needed. It can't be skill above all else. Anyone watching playoffs can see that solid defensive play and toughness is as or more important than skill. Meaning, the skilled players can't be so one dimensional

probably right. He, or a younger version is EXACTLY what this team needs
- rrentz

I could fvx with Hertl, Lindholm or Trochek at 2C and Dvorak at 3C.

Pipedream/ideal situation would be Lindholm and Dvorak since both are under nice contracts.

Anyone else annoyed by Matthews, as he smirked as he was being dragged around by his collar like a little biatch!? God I wanted him just to get punched in the face

Perhaps Dolan shook up the Rangers front office to avoid being Edmonton 2.0

There are many similarities to our team:

1) top heavy with 2 terrific offensive lines

2) lack of solid production from 3rd line and a weak 4th line

3) soft as tissue paper defensively

4) an inability to play "playoff type hockey"

Where the Rangers differ is that we have a solid goalie that we ( hopefully ) can depend on. We also have some terrific ( albeit ) young defensive players coming up through our system.
- TommyGTrain

I think our biggest issue is #2, though I think we could fix that pretty easily. If Chytil keeps growing, hopefully we keep Blackwell and then we already have the foundation of a bottom 6 with a couple tweaks.

As I said earlier in the thread, I don't question Dolan for at least asking questions as to why things aren't going better, there's way too much talent here.

Perhaps Dolan shook up the Rangers front office to avoid being Edmonton 2.0

There are many similarities to our team:

1) top heavy with 2 terrific offensive lines

2) lack of solid production from 3rd line and a weak 4th line

3) soft as tissue paper defensively

4) an inability to play "playoff type hockey"

Where the Rangers differ is that we have a solid goalie that we ( hopefully ) can depend on. We also have some terrific ( albeit ) young defensive players coming up through our system.
- TommyGTrain

https://twitter.com/PeteB...tatus/1397036297357832195

I think our biggest issue is #2, though I think we could fix that pretty easily. If Chytil keeps growing, hopefully we keep Blackwell and then we already have the foundation of a bottom 6 with a couple tweaks.

As I said earlier in the thread, I don't question Dolan for at least asking questions as to why things aren't going better, there's way too much talent here.
- 2sticks1puck

Chytil definitely isnt the answer. Hes part of the “soft as a pillow” problem.

Chytil definitely isnt the answer. Hes part of the “soft as a pillow” problem.
- aecliptic

I've gone on record saying if trading Chytil in a package for a legit 2C today, I'd drive him to the airport. Strome would be almost the best 3C in the entire league. He'd be a great placeholder for Barron eventually.

I've gone on record saying if trading Chytil in a package for a legit 2C today, I'd drive him to the airport. Strome would be almost the best 3C in the entire league. He'd be a great placeholder for Barron eventually.
- 2sticks1puck

Trade boards seem to be universally happy with Chytil and a 1st for Hertl. The issue we have here is what do we do with Buch if we make a move like that? We have an abundence of kids/talent/prospects and no real way to consolidate it all.