My question is this, because I don't know the possible trade landscape well enough right now: If it isn't Eichel, what other centers could potentially be had that are a substantial upgrade from Strome?

It's not that I don't love Eichel's talent, just the medical uncertainty couple with what the cost would be to get him sets off huge flashing red warning lights for me.
- Pete V

Exactly.

The latest offer the Rangers made, per Brooks, is Kravstov + Georgiev + Jones + 1st.

I’m all about that.

My one hesitation is does Eichel’s contract make it impossible to extend Zibanejad? Because then what? We just let Zib walk for free next summer?

And then we end up stuck with Strome as the 2C anyway.
- rangerdanger94

Having Zib and Strome on new contracts vs Eichel and ?

The latest offer the Rangers made, per Brooks, is Kravstov + Georgiev + Jones + 1st.

I’m all about that.

My one hesitation is does Eichel’s contract make it impossible to extend Zibanejad? Because then what? We just let Zib walk for free next summer?

And then we end up stuck with Strome as the 2C anyway.
- rangerdanger94

If that would get it done, I am all about that to assuming they could make Zibby work somehow as well. Because if you let him walk then you are effectively just rearranges deck chairs.

But they need the medicals. Wouldn't do it without that.

😂 my battery is dying too
- Slimtj100

Apparently there are little blue pills for that sort of thing!

I am actually pretty optimistic about the upcoming season, and I think they were smart to start adding a good amount of grit. Maybe it's overkill, but they needed it.
- Pete V

Oh Im not being optimistic or cynical for the team, just saying theres definitely a divide between how the offseason went amongst fans. There will be a whole bunch of finger pointing and I told you so’s.

The latest offer the Rangers made, per Brooks, is Kravstov + Georgiev + Jones + 1st.

I’m all about that.

My one hesitation is does Eichel’s contract make it impossible to extend Zibanejad? Because then what? We just let Zib walk for free next summer?

And then we end up stuck with Strome as the 2C anyway.
- rangerdanger94

If the plan is to move Chytil to wing then Kravtsov is somewhat expendable. I still think we should sign Ritchie for the 3rd line, could be the best 3rd line in hockey. We still need to upgrade on draws even if we get Eichel, he’s 44% career on draws.

Panarin Strome Chytil
LAF Eichel Kakko
Kreider Goodrow Ritchie
Blais Rooney Reaves

Still no spots for Barron/Gauthier. Maybe if we don’t sign Ritchie Barron is the 3C with Goodrow moving to wing?

It was an exaggeration based on the number of players they had already added who are much more physical than the roster the Rangers had last year. The assertion that they added only one guy (Reaves) who can fight is ridiculous.

You missed Tinordi
- dashripdot

I only listed forwards by choice because so many seem to have an issue with our forward acquisitions, but yes Tinordi was among the defenseman leaders too.

The latest offer the Rangers made, per Brooks, is Kravstov + Georgiev + Jones + 1st.

I’m all about that.

My one hesitation is does Eichel’s contract make it impossible to extend Zibanejad? Because then what? We just let Zib walk for free next summer?

And then we end up stuck with Strome as the 2C anyway.
- rangerdanger94

Exactly.
What is wrong with having Zib stick around? I get that he's significantly older than Eichel. So, offer him an extension and start the conversation. He's not a $10M guy with his injury history, in a flat cap world. Start talking and make that known. I'd be happy with him at $8.5M. He's like the 8th highest scoring center over the last 4 years (or something close to that, I'm not researching right now).

I like the players we’ve brought in, I hate what we’ve given up to get them if that makes sense. Just bc we have depth to make trades/had a lot of picks doesn’t mean we should just give them away. If we wanted Blais that bad why didn’t we just trade him 1 for 1 for a guy like Hajek/Gauthier etc. and don’t say bc it takes 2 to tango blah blah blah. Blais was in his coaches dog house bc of poor conditioning amongst other problems. Even if we gave up a 3rd or 4th for Blais, Buch was a huge trade chip and I think we rushed that one to fill gaps that we felt we needed to fill. At the time was this the best offer on the table? Maybe. But if that offer isn’t a good one u don’t HAVE to make that trade. Let free agency settle and see what teams need what, maybe the offer gets better from another team or maybe it stays the same. I think we’ve played our hand and other teams know that, part of it is Dolans fault but if we sign Goodrow and Ritchie I think teams would have a much harder time reading how much more we wanted to add.
- nyrangers9479

I think we all believed this I just don't think he was as valuable as we thought. He's been relatively inconsistent throughout his career and was coming off a career year. People that like him like us thought "this is just the start of his upward trajectory" others might think "this was as good as it gets for him."

After seeing the number of wingers that weren't qualified, along with some of the other trades that were made, I don't think the market was there. We could have waited, but then what? We open the season with Buch and now we hold back Krav or Kakko for another 3/4 of a year until the trade deadline? We might have gotten a marginally better return but at what cost?

Obviously if it comes out that Drury turned down a 1st or another better offer than sure we can be upset but I just don't see that being the case. I was upset with the trade at first but I've come around to the fact that it was just a necessary evil to round out our team.

If the plan is to move Chytil to wing then Kravtsov is somewhat expendable. I still think we should sign Ritchie for the 3rd line, could be the best 3rd line in hockey. We still need to upgrade on draws even if we get Eichel, he’s 44% career on draws.

Panarin Strome Chytil
LAF Eichel Kakko
Kreider Goodrow Ritchie
Blais Rooney Reaves

Still no spots for Barron/Gauthier. Maybe if we don’t sign Ritchie Barron is the 3C with Goodrow moving to wing?
- nyrangers9479

I dig it

If the plan is to move Chytil to wing then Kravtsov is somewhat expendable. I still think we should sign Ritchie for the 3rd line, could be the best 3rd line in hockey. We still need to upgrade on draws even if we get Eichel, he’s 44% career on draws.

Panarin Strome Chytil
LAF Eichel Kakko
Kreider Goodrow Ritchie
Blais Rooney Reaves

Still no spots for Barron/Gauthier. Maybe if we don’t sign Ritchie Barron is the 3C with Goodrow moving to wing?
- nyrangers9479

They have so many options. Goodrow can play in a lot of spots which is why he got paid imo. Very versatile. Like a baseball player that can play 5 positions

If the plan is to move Chytil to wing then Kravtsov is somewhat expendable. I still think we should sign Ritchie for the 3rd line, could be the best 3rd line in hockey. We still need to upgrade on draws even if we get Eichel, he’s 44% career on draws.

Panarin Strome Chytil
LAF Eichel Kakko
Kreider Goodrow Ritchie
Blais Rooney Reaves

Still no spots for Barron/Gauthier. Maybe if we don’t sign Ritchie Barron is the 3C with Goodrow moving to wing?
- nyrangers9479

All this talk about moving guys to other positions, has Kravtsov played center? He certainly has the game for it.

If that would get it done, I am all about that to assuming they could make Zibby work somehow as well. Because if you let him walk then you are effectively just rearranges deck chairs.

But they need the medicals. Wouldn't do it without that.
- Pete V

Yea the medical issue is a whole different factor to consider.

I wonder what it would take to have Buffalo eat some of the salary.

I think we all believed this I just don't think he was as valuable as we thought. He's been relatively inconsistent throughout his career and was coming off a career year. People that like him like us thought "this is just the start of his upward trajectory" others might think "this was as good as it gets for him."

After seeing the number of wingers that weren't qualified, along with some of the other trades that were made, I don't think the market was there. We could have waited, but then what? We open the season with Buch and now we hold back Krav or Kakko for another 3/4 of a year until the trade deadline? We might have gotten a marginally better return but at what cost?

Obviously if it comes out that Drury turned down a 1st or another better offer than sure we can be upset but I just don't see that being the case. I was upset with the trade at first but I've come around to the fact that it was just a necessary evil to round out our team.
- SkjeiStadium

I agree. The trade market seems to be the pits rn

If the plan is to move Chytil to wing then Kravtsov is somewhat expendable. I still think we should sign Ritchie for the 3rd line, could be the best 3rd line in hockey. We still need to upgrade on draws even if we get Eichel, he’s 44% career on draws.

Panarin Strome Chytil
LAF Eichel Kakko
Kreider Goodrow Ritchie
Blais Rooney Reaves

Still no spots for Barron/Gauthier. Maybe if we don’t sign Ritchie Barron is the 3C with Goodrow moving to wing?
- nyrangers9479

I would rather resign Zib and keep Kravs or whoever else will send packing for Eichel. To me, that seems like the makings for a better overall team.

To me, the issue isn't Eichel or Zib....Both have injury concerns . If Chytil can play an entire season like he did before injury than he can play at 2/3C. Strome can be resigned or traded and Goodrow can also play center with Baron.

Having Zib and Strome on new contracts vs Eichel and ?
- rrentz

I think you’d have to extend Strome if you let Zib walk.

I’m not as down on Strome as others though. I would be totally fine with a Zib- Strome 1 2 punch down the middle.

He benefits from playing with Panarin, but who cares as long as they both put up PPG numbers from each other? They complement each other and play well together and we know that already, it’s not a guarantee that another center, even if it’s Eichel, will mesh with Panarin.

I would rather resign Zib and keep Kravs or whoever else will send packing for Eichel. To me, that seems like the makings for a better overall team.

To me, the issue isn't Eichel or Zib....Both have injury concerns . If Chytil can play an entire season like he did before injury than he can play at 2/3C. Strome can be resigned or traded and Goodrow can also play center with Baron.
- rrentz

Well the issue with resigning Zib is you probably have to 9 mil a year, at a minimum, for 8 years and he’ll be 29 when he signs that deal.

Rather than pay Eichel 10 mil a year between ages 24-29 until his current deal expires.

I am actually pretty optimistic about the upcoming season, and I think they were smart to start adding a good amount of grit. Maybe it's overkill, but they needed it.
- Pete V

Just get me a center please, its all I ask

It makes the 3rd round pick more reasonable now with the extra year

If you think about it the full trade is:

Howden and a 3rd for Reaves and a 4th

I would rather resign Zib and keep Kravs or whoever else will send packing for Eichel. To me, that seems like the makings for a better overall team.

To me, the issue isn't Eichel or Zib....Both have injury concerns . If Chytil can play an entire season like he did before injury than he can play at 2/3C. Strome can be resigned or traded and Goodrow can also play center with Baron.
- rrentz

If you bring in Eichel, in a year, you would have $30+ wrapped up in three players (Panarin, Fox and Eichel), and $40 million in 4 players if they bring back Zib. Then you have guys like Trouba and Kreider that make a bunch to. Keeping Zib and Eichel would mean that someone would have to go.

Well the issue with resigning Zib is you probably have to 9 mil a year, at a minimum, for 8 years and he’ll be 29 when he signs that deal.

Rather than pay Eichel 10 mil a year between ages 24-29 until his current deal expires.
- rangerdanger94

I get that, but does it really matter whose contract will be better/worse 7-9 years from now?. By that time the current NYR team will be long gone, and we can simply dump either of them in Arizona!

I get that, but does it really matter whose contract will be better/worse 7-9 years from now?. By that time the current NYR team will be long gone, and we can simply dump either of them in Arizona!
- rrentz

With the way things have been going lately in the world, I am half expecting the meteor to strike soon, so might as well try to win within the next few years.

My only problem with Strome is how bad he is on draws. Career 45%, regardless of who the other center is (Eichel 44% Zib 49%) we need a top 6 center that can win over 50%. Goodrow is 52% and Rooney 46%.

If you bring in Eichel, in a year, you would have $30+ wrapped up in three players (Panarin, Fox and Eichel), and $40 million in 4 players if they bring back Zib. Then you have guys like Trouba and Kreider that make a bunch to. Keeping Zib and Eichel would mean that someone would have to go.
- Pete V

I'm fine with Eichel over Zib for the reasons you bring up, BUT it doesn't matter if the (frank)ing guy can't move his neck. As of now, nothing suggests he is good to go. Until then, well.........

I'm fine with Eichel over Zib for the reasons you bring up, BUT it doesn't matter if the (frank)ing guy can't move his neck. As of now, nothing suggests he is good to go. Until then, well.........
- rrentz

It’s either Eichel or Zib. Not both