Jan Levine: NYR fall 3-2 in shootout to LV, top line dominates, Zib finding his game Positive signs despite loss

what position would you want to address in a trade for Kravtsov

Top 6 forward

what position would you want to address in a trade for Kravtsov
- AlfieisKing

Top 6 C/RW, the ideal situation would be Pavelski or Giroux.

Top 6 C/RW, the ideal situation would be Pavelski or Giroux.
- aecliptic

According to reports, Pavs doesnt want to leave Dallas and there is no way the Flyers are trading Giroux to the Rangers, NEXT!!!

According to reports, Pavs doesnt want to leave Dallas and there is no way the Flyers are trading Giroux to the Rangers, NEXT!!!
- Brukie

If Dallas is out of the playoffs come the deadline, I have a hard time believing that he will choose golf over trying to make a run for the cup. He comes here, plays the playoffs, goes back to Dallas in the offseason. Its a win-win situation for him.

Yea, I have a hard time believing the Flyers would trade Giroux to the Rangers, however, Giroux has a full NMC and if the Flyers decide they dont want to resign him, they might as well get something for him. Giroux holds all the cards there.

These guys are the ultimate example of players the Rangers need, however not the end all be all.

If Dallas is out of the playoffs come the deadline, I have a hard time believing that he will choose golf over trying to make a run for the cup. He comes here, plays the playoffs, goes back to Dallas in the offseason. Its a win-win situation for him.

Yea, I have a hard time believing the Flyers would trade Giroux to the Rangers, however, Giroux has a full NMC and if the Flyers decide they dont want to resign him, they might as well get something for him. Giroux holds all the cards there.

These guys are the ultimate example of players the Rangers need, however not the end all be all.
- aecliptic

Boone Jenner would be someone i would target to acquire and would fit the mold of a 3rd line center.

Boone Jenner would be someone i would target to acquire and would fit the mold of a 3rd line center.
- Awolff9

Hes great, but hes also the captain of the Jackets and they just gave him an extension so the likelihood of that happening is zero.

I was clamoring on about it last year, trying to dump Chytil and replace him with Jenner on the third line.

If Dallas is out of the playoffs come the deadline, I have a hard time believing that he will choose golf over trying to make a run for the cup. He comes here, plays the playoffs, goes back to Dallas in the offseason. Its a win-win situation for him.

Yea, I have a hard time believing the Flyers would trade Giroux to the Rangers, however, Giroux has a full NMC and if the Flyers decide they dont want to resign him, they might as well get something for him. Giroux holds all the cards there.

These guys are the ultimate example of players the Rangers need, however not the end all be all.
- aecliptic

Agreed, I dont think Paves would want to but who knows, I just dont think this is the year the Rangers should trade away young assets for rentals, I highly doubt they would make the Cup finals this year, Let them make the playoffs and do whatever they can, evaluate what we have and next year you add the missing piece, as it stands now, they really need multiple pieces and they need players to develop some more.

There is no way the Flyers send Giroux here.

Agreed, I dont think Paves would want to but who knows, I just dont think this is the year the Rangers should trade away young assets for rentals, I highly doubt they would make the Cup finals this year, Let them make the playoffs and do whatever they can, evaluate what we have and next year you add the missing piece, as it stands now, they really need multiple pieces and they need players to develop some more.

There is no way the Flyers send Giroux here.
- Brukie

Youre just not understanding it, this is the one year where the Rangers can afford to be the team that are buyers for rentals because we have 10m+ in cap space to work with. Fact is youre not giving up much in these trades. Its not like youre crippling the franchise by mortgaging your youth.

The same exact team that is out on the ice right now, will be the same exact team that will be on the ice next year, minus maybe a late 1st round pick and a couple prospects that probably would never make the team anyway. However what the kids will get is playoff experience, potentially a playoff run. I dont believe for one second that if we get Pavelski or Giroux, Smith and McNabb that we cant make a run in the playoffs.

As far as Giroux goes, I remember reading that he really wants to go to Ottawa once his contract is up. However, Ottawa isnt going to trade for him, that would be silly. So you, as a GM know you have a player that will not be returning to your franchise, and you wont trade him for some future assets? That GM needs to be fired, I dont care what team it is.

Youre just not understanding it, this is the one year where the Rangers can afford to be the team that are buyers for rentals because we have 10m+ in cap space to work with. Fact is youre not giving up much in these trades. Its not like youre crippling the franchise by mortgaging your youth.

The same exact team that is out on the ice right now, will be the same exact team that will be on the ice next year, minus maybe a late 1st round pick and a couple prospects that probably would never make the team anyway. However what the kids will get is playoff experience, potentially a playoff run. I dont believe for one second that if we get Pavelski or Giroux, Smith and McNabb that we cant make a run in the playoffs.

As far as Giroux goes, I remember reading that he really wants to go to Ottawa once his contract is up. However, Ottawa isnt going to trade for him, that would be silly. So you, as a GM know you have a player that will not be returning to your franchise, and you wont trade him for some future assets? That GM needs to be fired, I dont care what team it is.
- aecliptic

No Im sorry I completely understand it, they have 10m in cap space so you say, use it, trade away first round picks and prospects, cause that is what it will require to get Paves and Giroux, You arent getting these players for 2nd and 3rds, to a team that is incomplete and will be gone probably by the second round. Hell might as well do it, that was the Ranger pattern for years, why stop now???

This is where we completely disagree, you think the Rangers are a player away from making a run in the playoffs, where I completely disagree. This team hasnt made the playoffs in 4 years and aside from CK20 and Goodrow, dont have anyone else who has played past the first round. Teams need the core group to have a few playoff games to bond and understand what it takes to grind out the playoffs. Panarin, Zibby and Strome arent proven playoff performers.

I just think that it will be nearly impossible to take a team 4 years removed from the playoffs to win 3 rounds. Yes you never know but the odds are incredibly against it. Save these picks and prospects till next year, then add as needed.

Hes great, but hes also the captain of the Jackets and they just gave him an extension so the likelihood of that happening is zero.

I was clamoring on about it last year, trying to dump Chytil and replace him with Jenner on the third line.
- aecliptic

Shyt didn’t even realize they signed him to an extension. Has to be a solid center available that a team is willing to part with.

No Im sorry I completely understand it, they have 10m in cap space so you say, use it, trade away first round picks and prospects, cause that is what it will require to get Paves and Giroux, You arent getting these players for 2nd and 3rds, to a team that is incomplete and will be gone probably by the second round. Hell might as well do it, that was the Ranger pattern for years, why stop now???

This is where we completely disagree, you think the Rangers are a player away from making a run in the playoffs, where I completely disagree. This team hasnt made the playoffs in 4 years and aside from CK20 and Goodrow, dont have anyone else who has played past the first round. Teams need the core group to have a few playoff games to bond and understand what it takes to grind out the playoffs. Panarin, Zibby and Strome arent proven playoff performers.

I just think that it will be nearly impossible to take a team 4 years removed from the playoffs to win 3 rounds. Yes you never know but the odds are incredibly against it. Save these picks and prospects till next year, then add as needed.
- Brukie

I never said were getting them for 2nd or 3rds. I flat out said in my post, if you read it, that we would be offering up a 1st round pick, very likely a late pick.

Youre concerned about all these picks and prospects... who are they? Were not trading LAF, Kakko, Othmann, Cuylle, Barron, Schneider, Nils, Robertson... so who are you so worried about us losing? Ask yourself this... these players, how likely is it they they even suit up in a Rangers jersey?

Is trading Libor Hajek and a 2nd round pick for Smith and McNabb going to cripple this franchise? Is trading a late 1st round pick for Pavelski all of a sudden going to destroy what weve built?

You just rinse and repeat the same rigid tired rhetoric about not being there, etc...

Shyt didn’t even realize they signed him to an extension. Has to be a solid center available that a team is willing to part with.
- Awolff9

On expiring contracts, hardly any. This is where the ongoing debate about Pavelski or Giroux as playoff rentals comes in.

On expiring contracts, hardly any. This is where the ongoing debate about Pavelski or Giroux as playoff rentals comes in.
- aecliptic

If work allows, will try and get a blog up on this.
Other options might be Phil Kessel, who is a UFA after the season, Jared McCann, though he is an RFA with arb rights, Kane and Toews, but each have one more year remaining on their contracts, Max Domi from Columbus, Chris Tierney, a UFA after the season, from Ottawa, to name a few.

Much of this will depend on standings placement, since teams now in contention could drop out making Andrew Copp or possibly even Dustin Brown available.

I never said were getting them for 2nd or 3rds. I flat out said in my post, if you read it, that we would be offering up a 1st round pick, very likely a late pick.

Youre concerned about all these picks and prospects... who are they? Were not trading LAF, Kakko, Othmann, Cuylle, Barron, Schneider, Nils, Robertson... so who are you so worried about us losing? Ask yourself this... these players, how likely is it they they even suit up in a Rangers jersey?

Is trading Libor Hajek and a 2nd round pick for Smith and McNabb going to cripple this franchise? Is trading a late 1st round pick for Pavelski all of a sudden going to destroy what weve built?

You just rinse and repeat the same rigid tired rhetoric about not being there, etc...
- aecliptic

Talk about rinse and repeat, LOL your posts are all the same, whine whine whine about this team yet it is still in the infancy stage of the rebuild, some core pieces here but basically a whole roster turnover. You are already rushing in trying to take square veterans and squeeze them into round holes, very rarely does it work out on true playoff teams but you want to try it out on this team, which, hasnt won anything in 4 years, yeah makes sense.

Im worried about losing the next Zegras, yes these players havent blossom yet but you dont know how a player will progress unless they have sometime to develop.


Do you really think that Libor Hajek and a 2nd round pick for Smith and McNabb is what Vegas is looking for??? LMAO put down that cock pipe, Im sure they have something better lined up.

Also do you truly believe that Paves or Smith will put us over the top and bring the team to the Cup finals?? Maybe a round or 2 but definitely nothing more.


We will see.

If work allows, will try and get a blog up on this.
Other options might be Phil Kessel, who is a UFA after the season, Jared McCann, though he is an RFA with arb rights, Kane and Toews, but each have one more year remaining on their contracts, Max Domi from Columbus, Chris Tierney, a UFA after the season, from Ottawa, to name a few.

Much of this will depend on standings placement, since teams now in contention could drop out making Andrew Copp or possibly even Dustin Brown available.
- airjan23

Kane: 2 years left on their contracts, will require retention of 50%. Why is this bad? You cant resign Strome, creating the already deep black hole at center.
Toews: Exactly the same thing as Kane, however, Im not sure how much Toews has left in the tank.
Kessel: The popular RW rental for the Rangers.
McCann: 25yo, will be a RFA, minimum qualifying offer of 3.38m. Good player, doesnt seem to be a full time center, looks like a younger, more skilled Goodrow. I feel like you dont trade for a player like this unless you plan to resign them. Puts you in a situation to choose between McCann or Strome.
Domi: Im personally not a fan of Domi or his attitude. Hes due to be a RFA with a qualifying offer of 6m. Again put in a position to choose between Strome and Domi. Matter of fact, the 6m qualifying offer may price the Rangers out anyway.
Tierney: Good defensive guy, however his TOI and faceoffs have regressed quite a bit last 2 years. Not sure why that is, but if the price is right, could be a good replacement for Chytil on the 3rd line.
Brown: Could be an interesting pick up but hes not a top 6 winger anymore.
Copp: A soon to be UFA I could see a bidding war for at the deadline if WPG is out of it because hes on a favorable contract. I think its a situation we should stay away from.

The guys I talked about...
Pavelski and Giroux dont need to say much here. Theyre on expiring contracts. Top players in the league, excellent of faceoffs and defensively, play both C and wing.
Smith: Another favorite rental rumor for the Rangers because of the Vegas / Gallant connection.
McNabb: Would be our 6th defenseman, moving Nemeth to the press box as our 7th.

Talk about rinse and repeat, LOL your posts are all the same, whine whine whine about this team yet it is still in the infancy stage of the rebuild, some core pieces here but basically a whole roster turnover. You are already rushing in trying to take square veterans and squeeze them into round holes, very rarely does it work out on true playoff teams but you want to try it out on this team, which, hasnt won anything in 4 years, yeah makes sense.

Im worried about losing the next Zegras, yes these players havent blossom yet but you dont know how a player will progress unless they have sometime to develop.


Do you really think that Libor Hajek and a 2nd round pick for Smith and McNabb is what Vegas is looking for??? LMAO put down that cock pipe, Im sure they have something better lined up.

Also do you truly believe that Paves or Smith will put us over the top and bring the team to the Cup finals?? Maybe a round or 2 but definitely nothing more.


We will see.
- Brukie

Zegras? Where? Your idea that we will some how find a Zegras is about as logical as me pushing for these trades this year to make a run for the Cup.

Infancy of what rebuild? This rebuild is over. LAF and Kakko are really the only youth we have in this lineup in any infancy project. Nils is a wash imo, hes irrlevant as far as Im concerned.

Why is a 2nd and Hajek worth it for Smith and McNabb? Well, when Eichel comes off LTIR, Vegas is going to need to make 10m in cap space to activate him. In that trade Vegas takes on no additional money, a 2nd round pick and a useable LD they can put in the minors until needed. Thats why.

This isnt a Pavs or Smith thing... this is a Pavs, Smith and McNabb thing

Lets look at the NY Rangers 1st round.
2021 - Brendan Othmann - no idea yet, looks pretty good.
2020 - Alexis LaFreniere - got lucky, picked the #1 player, hasnt hit. We will see.
2020 - Braden Schneider - one of the hottest D prospects in the league.
2019 - Kappo Kakko - got lucky, picked #2, hasnt hit, good player. We will see.
2018 - Vitali Kravtsov - picked #9, some potential talent, we screwed it up.
2018 - Nils Lundkvist - offensively gifted in Sweden, jury still out at an NHL level.
2017 - Lias Anderson - picked #7, complete bust.
2017 - Filip Chytil - Mr. everyone apologizes for me. Nothing more to add here.

So now you tell me youre afraid of missing out on the next Trevor Zegras after seeing this? Id put my money on a cup before we ever draft a Zegras with the 1st round pick we have.

Zegras? Where? Your idea that we will some how find a Zegras is about as logical as me pushing for these trades this year to make a run for the Cup.

Infancy of what rebuild? This rebuild is over. LAF and Kakko are really the only youth we have in this lineup in any infancy project. Nils is a wash imo, hes irrlevant as far as Im concerned.

Why is a 2nd and Hajek worth it for Smith and McNabb? Well, when Eichel comes off LTIR, Vegas is going to need to make 10m in cap space to activate him. In that trade Vegas takes on no additional money, a 2nd round pick and a useable LD they can put in the minors until needed. Thats why.

This isnt a Pavs or Smith thing... this is a Pavs, Smith and McNabb thing
- aecliptic

Cause you dont know what a player will turn out to be 2 or 3 years down the road!!

Why would Vegas take Hajek??? Please tell me. They have 6 great D amen, why the (frank) would they want him?? To put in the Minors??? You dont think another team will offer more than our 8th D Man??? Remember Tinordi and Nemeth play before him, so he is nothing. So basiclly you are saying Smith for a second round pick. Done deal but I highly doubt Vegas will go for that. Who knows.

Infancy of what rebuild? This rebuild is over. LAF and Kakko are really the only youth we have in this lineup in any infancy project. Nils is a wash imo, hes irrlevant as far as Im concerned.

Not in my eyes, We have Chytil, Miller, Lingren, Gauthier, Laf, KK along with Nils, Even Fox is still pretty young so this line up is brimming with young players who have room to grow.

Our bottom 6 isnt producing and our bottom 3 defense man havent been solid, the Rangers wont go far until these are corrected, bringing in 1 player isnt going to do that!!

Cause you dont know what a player will turn out to be 2 or 3 years down the road!!

Why would Vegas take Hajek??? Please tell me. They have 6 great D amen, why the (frank) would they want him?? To put in the Minors??? You dont think another team will offer more than our 8th D Man??? Remember Tinordi and Nemeth play before him, so he is nothing. So basiclly you are saying Smith for a second round pick. Done deal but I highly doubt Vegas will go for that. Who knows.
- Brukie

The one thing that works against us in a trade for Smith or McNabb is neither have trade clauses on their contracts so Vegas doesnt have to do anything for us. Id stay out of a bidding war for either of them if thats what it came down to. Like I said, Im not here to mortgage our future, just trying to get rentals on the cheap, taking advantage where I can of other teams. Whether theyre out of the playoffs, whether they are cash strapped, whether theyre rebuilding and looking for an asset.

Not in my eyes, We have Chytil, Miller, Lingren, Gauthier, Laf, KK along with Nils, Even Fox is still pretty young so this line up is brimming with young players who have room to grow.

Our bottom 6 isnt producing and our bottom 3 defense man havent been solid, the Rangers wont go far until these are corrected, bringing in 1 player isnt going to do that!!
- Brukie

Chytil to me is a non-factor. He needs to go. However, hes still here and we gotta deal with it. Miller, right now imo, a bit overrated. Lots of mistakes, he cant help himself but to regress back to his comfort zone even if he may for a game make a change. Lindgren & Fox Im not in the least bit concerned about, they play like vets, one of the best duo's in the league. Im less concerned about LAF than I am KK. Where LAF isnt getting top line minutes and opportunities, KK is and hes not converting it into consistent chances. Gauthier is a good player, but hes not moving the needle. Nils hasnt shown me anything to make me believe he belongs in the NHL right now.

However, heres the thing. These are players already here. We got em. Plus guys like Schneider, Cuylle, Othmann, Barron, Pajuniemi, Jones and Robertson.

Youre telling me we need another late 1st round pick? Do we not have enough talented prospects to squeeze into an already full lineup?

You cant neglect the veteran's just because you have a bunch of kids growing within the franchise. I get it, everything you post about will always revert back to your hatred of the Panarin signing.

The one thing that works against us in a trade for Smith or McNabb is neither have trade clauses on their contracts so Vegas doesnt have to do anything for us. Id stay out of a bidding war for either of them if thats what it came down to. Like I said, Im not here to mortgage our future, just trying to get rentals on the cheap, taking advantage where I can of other teams. Whether theyre out of the playoffs, whether they are cash strapped, whether theyre rebuilding and looking for an asset.



Chytil to me is a non-factor. He needs to go. However, hes still here and we gotta deal with it. Miller, right now imo, a bit overrated. Lots of mistakes, he cant help himself but to regress back to his comfort zone even if he may for a game make a change. Lindgren & Fox Im not in the least bit concerned about, they play like vets, one of the best duo's in the league. Im less concerned about LAF than I am KK. Where LAF isnt getting top line minutes and opportunities, KK is and hes not converting it into consistent chances. Gauthier is a good player, but hes not moving the needle. Nils hasnt shown me anything to make me believe he belongs in the NHL right now.

However, heres the thing. These are players already here. We got em. Plus guys like Schneider, Cuylle, Othmann, Barron, Pajuniemi, Jones and Robertson.

Youre telling me we need another late 1st round pick? Do we not have enough talented prospects to squeeze into an already full lineup?

You cant neglect the veteran's just because you have a bunch of kids growing within the franchise. I get it, everything you post about will always revert back to your hatred of the Panarin signing.
- aecliptic

IMO no matter what vet you bring in, he wont put this team any closer to the Finals, which is what the goal is, not to win a layoff round. Save your assets to use on a better day!

As far as the Panarin signing, I hope im wrong and we win the Cup while he is here, It would be nice to win a Cup before Im 60!! After this season, we wil have 4 more years of Panarin to win, hopefully he wont decline to much. It was already stated by the NHL that the Cap will be flat for at least 3 more years only increasing about a million a year. So relief isnt on the way.

The one thing that works against us in a trade for Smith or McNabb is neither have trade clauses on their contracts so Vegas doesnt have to do anything for us. Id stay out of a bidding war for either of them if thats what it came down to. Like I said, Im not here to mortgage our future, just trying to get rentals on the cheap, taking advantage where I can of other teams. Whether theyre out of the playoffs, whether they are cash strapped, whether theyre rebuilding and looking for an asset.



Chytil to me is a non-factor. He needs to go. However, hes still here and we gotta deal with it. Miller, right now imo, a bit overrated. Lots of mistakes, he cant help himself but to regress back to his comfort zone even if he may for a game make a change. Lindgren & Fox Im not in the least bit concerned about, they play like vets, one of the best duo's in the league. Im less concerned about LAF than I am KK. Where LAF isnt getting top line minutes and opportunities, KK is and hes not converting it into consistent chances. Gauthier is a good player, but hes not moving the needle. Nils hasnt shown me anything to make me believe he belongs in the NHL right now.

However, heres the thing. These are players already here. We got em. Plus guys like Schneider, Cuylle, Othmann, Barron, Pajuniemi, Jones and Robertson.

Youre telling me we need another late 1st round pick? Do we not have enough talented prospects to squeeze into an already full lineup?

You cant neglect the veteran's just because you have a bunch of kids growing within the franchise. I get it, everything you post about will always revert back to your hatred of the Panarin signing.
- aecliptic

You need RIF, on what post did I revert back to signing Panarin??

IMO no matter what vet you bring in, he wont put this team any closer to the Finals, which is what the goal is, not to win a layoff round. Save your assets to use on a better day!

As far as the Panarin signing, I hope im wrong and we win the Cup while he is here, It would be nice to win a Cup before Im 60!! After this season, we wil have 4 more years of Panarin to win, hopefully he wont decline to much. It was already stated by the NHL that the Cap will be flat for at least 3 more years only increasing about a million a year. So relief isnt on the way.
- Brukie

Exactly, which is why I think its worth taking the gamble. We have a unique situation that we can take advantage of. We wont lose anything that will effect us long term. I think they owe it to their vets to try to win and they owe it to their kids to show them what its like to win. Get them lusting for it, get them hungry for it, make them addicted to the playoffs. Ill use Tyler Seguin as an example. 2nd overall pick, was a huge disappointment in the regular season, so much more expected. But then the playoffs came, and he got the bug. He got hungry. A switch turned on. My hope is the combined push from the rentals, plus the young kids getting that bug will spark some magic.

You need RIF, on what post did I revert back to signing Panarin??
- Brukie

Youre just the most infamous Panarin disapprover (making up words) on the board.

Looks like rangers game on Wednesday vs Montreal is postponed