So, what were the right moves, Tom?
I try to see your side of these arguments more than most, but I'm at a loss here and finding this particularly petty.
If these moves are all wrong, what was it that Drury was supposed to do? Please tell us. At times, you seem to lose sight of the fact that Drury has to operate in the real world, not a fantasy GM one. You can look at all the charts in the world and have statistical comparisons of every player to lace them up. But, that doesn't sign contracts and build a team. In reality, you don't always get to spurn the lesser candidates to sign all the best players in the world, as if we are the only club looking to improve.
We are rounding out the roster with players who have skill sets different from what was just shown to not work for us, under the restrictions we currently have. And it's being done in a fashion that makes it easy to move on next season if and when we have greater cap flexibility. Whine about past signings or don't, we still end up right where we are. Time to look forward.
- Tonybere

Othmann. Stick him in top 6. Laf to RW. Both better options that Wheeler.
- tomburton99

I don’t think Othman is even ready for 3rd line minutes yet

I don’t think Othman is even ready for 3rd line minutes yet
- nyrangers2

but Tom wants to be able to complain that the Rangers didn't develop Othmann properly

So, what were the right moves, Tom?
I try to see your side of these arguments more than most, but I'm at a loss here and finding this particularly petty.
If these moves are all wrong, what was it that Drury was supposed to do? Please tell us. At times, you seem to lose sight of the fact that Drury has to operate in the real world, not a fantasy GM one. You can look at all the charts in the world and have statistical comparisons of every player to lace them up. But, that doesn't sign contracts and build a team. In reality, you don't always get to spurn the lesser candidates to sign all the best players in the world, as if we are the only club looking to improve.
We are rounding out the roster with players who have skill sets different from what was just shown to not work for us, under the restrictions we currently have. And it's being done in a fashion that makes it easy to move on next season if and when we have greater cap flexibility. Whine about past signings or don't, we still end up right where we are. Time to look forward.
- Tonybere

I'm just discussing the moves they made on Saturday. Has nothing to do with the season they ha previous. They couldn't do much unless they traded/bought out Goodrow or bought out Trouba. Neither happened. The goal a team should be don't get worse unless you're rebuilding and want the higher draft pick. I just don't see how a 35 year old back up with a little injury history and declining performance is a going to help them in 20 + starts. I also don't see how adding another 35+ year old RW with major speed a defensive issues helps the lack of speed and current defensive issues. If you're gonna sign them, then just do nothing.

but Tom wants to be able to complain that the Rangers didn't develop Othmann properly
- jimbro83

Oh I have full faith they'll do that. The track record for developing makes me look dumber and dumber by the day...

Oh I have full faith they'll do that. The track record for developing makes me look dumber and dumber by the day...
- tomburton99

Laviolette will follow everything the previous coaches screwed up

Othmann. Stick him in top 6. Laf to RW. Both better options that Wheeler.
- tomburton99

Let’s rush him great idea

Wheeler at $800k is fine if he is deployed correctly and doesn’t keep the kids from top 6 minutes. He’s exclusively a passer/playmaker who is slow and can’t play d. He needs two defensively responsible linemates willing to shoot. Trocheck and kreider or laf? He can’t be out there passing to Panarin who passes back to him who passes back to Panarin until we all die of boredom.

Also, if it doesn’t work out he’s only $800k and they need to not be afraid to cut bait.

The charts are relevant but context is important. You’re all a bit right but also douchebags.

Wheeler at $800k is fine if he is deployed correctly and doesn’t keep the kids from top 6 minutes. He’s exclusively a passer/playmaker who is slow and can’t play d. He needs two defensively responsible linemates willing to shoot. Trocheck and kreider or laf? He can’t be out there passing to Panarin who passes back to him who passes back to Panarin until we all die of boredom.

Also, if it doesn’t work out he’s only $800k and they need to not be afraid to cut bait.

The charts are relevant but context is important. You’re all a bit right but also douchebags.
- picklerick

Imagine how he’ll feel when they sign Kane to 800k😂

Imagine how he’ll feel when they sign Kane to 800k😂
- Slimtj100

I mean that worked out well too. Run it back.

I don't think the signings Saturday preclude the kids, Othman and Cuylle, from playing roles during the year. If you want to argue that Laviolette precludes that, I can get on board with that view. But signing depth players at below veteran minimum salaries is not a bad strategy and it should not prevent the young players, mainly Kakko and Laf, from seeing copious ice time.

I mean that worked out well too. Run it back.
- tomburton99

Two hips this time 🤷🏻‍♂️

I don't think the signings Saturday preclude the kids, Othman and Cuylle, from playing roles during the year. If you want to argue that Laviolette precludes that, I can get on board with that view. But signing depth players at below veteran minimum salaries is not a bad strategy and it should not prevent the young players, mainly Kakko and Laf, from seeing copious ice time.
- airjan23

I don't think he will, but I also do know. But given the organizations history of the last 3 coaches refusal to elevate young forwards, I'm doubtful. That's not fair to Lavy and I know that.

I don't think he will, but I also do know. But given the organizations history of the last 3 coaches refusal to elevate young forwards, I'm doubtful. That's not fair to Lavy and I know that.
- tomburton99

at the same time Ive also seen people say they screwed up Kakko and Lafreniere by not giving them AHL time

at the same time Ive also seen people say they screwed up Kakko and Lafreniere by not giving them AHL time
- jimbro83

Ok? I'll take responsibility for those people too.

Ok? I'll take responsibility for those people too.
- tomburton99

and anyway, your God, Patrick Bacon, says that no chance Othmann is an NHL player

so how are clamoring for Othmann to immediately get top 6 minutes from game 1 on October 14th?

I'm just discussing the moves they made on Saturday. Has nothing to do with the season they ha previous. They couldn't do much unless they traded/bought out Goodrow or bought out Trouba. Neither happened. The goal a team should be don't get worse unless you're rebuilding and want the higher draft pick. I just don't see how a 35 year old back up with a little injury history and declining performance is a going to help them in 20 + starts. I also don't see how adding another 35+ year old RW with major speed a defensive issues helps the lack of speed and current defensive issues. If you're gonna sign them, then just do nothing.
- tomburton99

These moves absolutely have to do with last season! Nothing happens in a vacuum. A butterfly flaps its wings in Tokyo and Panarin curls away from traffic at the blue line and all that poop. Last season brought us a new coach, wanting new personel with new tendencies. Another iteration was proven to be the wrong one, so here we go trying a new one. Every Cup winner has its issues to deal with. No team starts the season without flaws.
At least I know that when the puck drops on opening night I will be ready to cheer on every player wearing a Rangers sweater, no matter what their names are. You should give it a try, it makes the whole thing less stressful.

These moves absolutely have to do with last season! Nothing happens in a vacuum. A butterfly flaps its wings in Tokyo and Panarin curls away from traffic at the blue line and all that poop. Last season brought us a new coach, wanting new personel with new tendencies. Another iteration was proven to be the wrong one, so here we go trying a new one. Every Cup winner has its issues to deal with. No team starts the season without flaws.
At least I know that when the puck drops on opening night I will be ready to cheer on every player wearing a Rangers sweater, no matter what their names are. You should give it a try, it makes the whole thing less stressful.
- Tonybere

Give him one of these 🖕

and anyway, your God, Patrick Bacon, says that no chance Othmann is an NHL player

so how are clamoring for Othmann to immediately get top 6 minutes from game 1 on October 14th?
- jimbro83

Ok then Othmann is a bust. That's a win-win for me. (I also cant control how much Patrick Bacon thinks or how his data and models produce expected results.) Nobody on this blog is hoping that Othmann actually fails, not even me. The Rangers cannot afford to have another forward turn into a struggling middle six 6 player. Yet most of te recent forwards turn into that here. Hmmm, why is that.

These moves absolutely have to do with last season! Nothing happens in a vacuum. A butterfly flaps its wings in Tokyo and Panarin curls away from traffic at the blue line and all that poop. Last season brought us a new coach, wanting new personel with new tendencies. Another iteration was proven to be the wrong one, so here we go trying a new one. Every Cup winner has its issues to deal with. No team starts the season without flaws.
At least I know that when the puck drops on opening night I will be ready to cheer on every player wearing a Rangers sweater, no matter what their names are. You should give it a try, it makes the whole thing less stressful.
- Tonybere

I'm not stressed. Just defeated. Opposite ends of the spectrums.

Ok then Othmann is a bust. That's a win-win for me. (I also cant control how much Patrick Bacon thinks or how his data and models produce expected results.) Nobody on this blog is hoping that Othmann actually fails, not even me. The Rangers cannot afford to have another forward turn into a struggling middle six 6 player. Yet most of te recent forwards turn into that here. Hmmm, why is that.
- tomburton99

I dont know, but Im of the belief that it's probably best to give Othmann some AHL time and if that's the route they choose it wont be the end of the world

and it will have nothing to do with Lias, Kravtsov, Lafreniere or Kakko because all players are different

What i am probably most enthused about is the 4th line, more than Wheeler. Bonino and pitlick are legitimately good 4th liners who can shut it down. The other depth guys we added as well are very promising and maybe we could find our '23-'24 Blackwell in the bunch.

If Wheeler still has it and works out, great. I'm not holding my breath on that though.

from the Athletic on Wheeler signing:

The contract

Blake Wheeler signs a one-year deal with the Rangers with an $800,000 cap hit.

Mark Lazerus: Last season, Blake Wheeler was a key part of a Canadian team with lofty expectations, making $8.25 million a season. It didn’t end well, for him or for the Winnipeg Jets. But the beauty of being bought out — once you get over the ego blow of being told you’re so unwanted that a team will pay you to leave — is the freedom it provides. You don’t have to worry about cashing in on your next contract, and you can pick your destination.



So the Rangers were able to add a veteran winger just a few years removed from back-to-back 91-point seasons for less than your average entry-level contract, and Wheeler gets to go to a perennial contender in the Eastern Conference where he can be a mostly anonymous third-line winger and prove he’s not washed at 36 years old.

Does Wheeler, not exactly the quickest guy in the league, have anything left? Well, he had a perfectly respectable 55 points in 72 games last season. He can be useful on special teams and provide some scoring depth. And if he doesn’t? It barely cost New York anything.

An interesting side note: Does this preclude the Rangers from bringing back Patrick Kane? It’s believed Kane very much wants to return to New York. His hip surgery complicates things, but it also might make Kane more willing to take a cheap, short-term deal in an effort to prove he’s still got it — like Wheeler just did.

Contract grade: A
Fit grade: B+


Jets buying out Wheeler's contract

Sean Gentille: Here’s what everyone should’ve remembered coming out of BuyoutPalooza over the few days leading up to NHL free agency: A lot of those guys have already made a bunch of money. The odds that at least a few of them would take cut-rate deals were good.

That’s what we have in Wheeler’s case. The last deal he signed with Winnipeg was worth more than $40 million. He’s going to clear $2.75 million this season in the buyout alone. Why not take less to play where you want to play, in a role that makes sense? So, of course he ends up in New York.

Wheeler was a bubble elite player at his peak. Is he there any longer? Of course not. At 36, it would’ve been weird if he were. But as a complementary player — a middle-six, playmaking right winger who still brings a lot on a power play — he’s more than good enough. Wheeler’s passing ability is fully intact; he was 54th in the league in primary assists/60 last season.

Othmann. Stick him in top 6. Laf to RW. Both better options that Wheeler.
- tomburton99

Sure..stick a kid in a top 6 spot.....then complain about how NYR is terrible at cultivating its young talent

Only way Otthman should stick with NYR this season is IF he plays so well in training camp that he "forces" Drury tonkeep him upnwoth the big boys

Marc Staal to Philly