Jan Levine: Rangers 2015 Draft Weekend Recap - Trades, Picks, Analysis and More It certainly wasn't boring...though unsure it was good

sather is up to something, there is no way we go into the season with so many young guys on the roster and playing big minutes

At least you guys didn't use your second rounder on a goalie Don't think that hagelin trade hurts you guys too much. etem can put the puck in the net. You just lose a little speed

As someone who lives to see you guys suffer, I can't honestly say I agree with any doom-and-gloom sentiments.

You guys still have a strong core, there are real reasons to believe that one of Kreider/Hayes/Miller does really good things with the continued experience of high-expectation playoff hockey, and while Hagelin is certainly more polished than Etem is currently, Etem is talented and will have more opportunities with NY than he had with the Ducks, who were pretty damn stacked on the wings.

You still have one of the better coaches in the league -- think about it: He has two Cup finals appearances and a conference final appearance since 2011 -- a legit No. 1 goalie, and one of the, what, five best defenses in the league? Maybe higher?

Plus, heading into FA, you could probably cash in Keith Yandle for something comparable to what you paid Arizona; people may moan that he isn't elite in his own end, but the playoffs showed that he is an effective player on a good team, with his minutes and matchups managed properly.

TL:DR: Long story short, I still think the Rags are top two in the Metro and extremely dangerous. They will fill the holes in the lineup -- players want to be in NY, and the holes they have aren't crippling.

I think a few years ago we would have all been thrilled to acquire Emerson Etem, and I think he is still young enough to be excited about. Definitely needed a change of scenery.

I think basing this off season after this draft weekend is like coming to a conclusion about a book after reading a few chapters.

And, guess what, we didn't lose Ryan McDonagh or Henrik Lundqvist yesterday

Antti Raanta is a good guy and will do a fine job backing up the King (presumably). Nice pick up for the Rangers.

Just a general point, once you get past the 1st round in the draft, we as fans are no longer really qualified to say we should have picked player x or y. Team scouts spend countless hours in rinks all over the world watching these guys live and if they like someone a lot, well, that is what they are paid to do -- to find guys that they think can succeed in the NHL at later picks. Again, once the 1st round is over, I could give a damn less about Bob Mackenzie's ranking. The team needs to trust their scouting department to find some diamonds in the rough and late bloomers, and the Rangers scouts are starting to develop quite the repuation of doing so.

Just a general point, once you get past the 1st round in the draft, we as fans are no longer really qualified to say we should have picked player x or y. Team scouts spend countless hours in rinks all over the world watching these guys live and if they like someone a lot, well, that is what they are paid to do -- to find guys that they think can succeed in the NHL at later picks. Again, once the 1st round is over, I could give a damn less about Bob Mackenzie's ranking. The team needs to trust their scouting department to find some diamonds in the rough and late bloomers, and the Rangers scouts are starting to develop quite the repuation of doing so.
- Pete V

the negativity spewing yesterday was really ridiculous. Today one of the first blogs I read was back to a familiar target, Dan Girardi.

"What was proven once again today is that Dan Girardi is standing in the way of a New York Rangers Stanley Cup victory. Perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, but Girardi's albatross of a contract continues to make the Rangers move away valuable depth players and fan favorites. Girardi handicaps the Rangers in a way I have not seen before, as he not only negatively impacts the team on the ice, but he also destroys them on the cap sheet"

http://www.blueshirtbante...-the-rangers-busy-weekend

he also says "Sergey Zborovskiy, one of the worst picks in recent draft memory"

Antti Raanta is a good guy and will do a fine job backing up the King (presumably). Nice pick up for the Rangers.
- John Jaeckel

If he can put up a 1.89 in 14 games with the Blackhawks, I am sure he'll do fine in the 20 games he will need to play when the Rangers give Lundqvist a game off.

I hope Sather has a trick up his sleeve and it's not trading Nash for Kessle!!! Why he didn't take Jimmy Hayes for Talbot is beyond me! I really don't think the money would have been an issue and have the Hayes brothers on the same line with Kreider all big kids would have loved to see that! I think over the past couple of years Sather has not done a very good job. While acquiring Hayes was good but Sather has traded a lot of our core players without getting much value for them. Boyle verses Stralman I mean they make the same money! Boyle verses Glass 500K difference but we also lost our number 1 centerman and penalty kill with that. I get Callahan had to go but to give up 2 first round pics with it for Marty that was a horrible deal!!! Sather had gotten not much for Talbot which I think Sather should have kept him and just waited for a goaltender to get hurt during the year then trade him. Since Buffalo made the dumbest move on the planet with there trade to Ottawa. Haglein to the Ducks wow I thought this was a pretty bad move. Both contracts for Hags and Stepan I remember this like yesterday Stepan wanted ridiculous money and Hags just signed! Sather may no something I don't but I do remember it was Stepan who held out not Hags! This draft was a serious disappointment along with the trades. I think it is time for Sather to step down and give someone else a shot. Sather may have gotten us close but I don't think he is the GM to get us the Stanley Cup.

Real shame Hags had to be a casualty of a bad GM who's been given the keys to the car for way too long, we've replaced 38 goals with 5 so far, for the money left over we aren't gonna find a 30 goal scorer maybe not even 20, all our hopes rest on others picking up the slack and Nash miraculously becoming a go to playoff performer

Just a general point, once you get past the 1st round in the draft, we as fans are no longer really qualified to say we should have picked player x or y. Team scouts spend countless hours in rinks all over the world watching these guys live and if they like someone a lot, well, that is what they are paid to do -- to find guys that they think can succeed in the NHL at later picks. Again, once the 1st round is over, I could give a damn less about Bob Mackenzie's ranking. The team needs to trust their scouting department to find some diamonds in the rough and late bloomers, and the Rangers scouts are starting to develop quite the repuation of doing so.
- Pete V

I have full faith in Clark and his staff, I would have liked Kylington but you're right after the 1st round you never know, just need a good staff like we do have, I thought the Bruins were in a great spot to knock the 1st round out of the park and they reached on all 3 picks

I hope Sather has a trick up his sleeve and it's not trading Nash for Kessle!!! Why he didn't take Jimmy Hayes for Talbot is beyond me! I really don't think the money would have been an issue and have the Hayes brothers on the same line with Kreider all big kids would have loved to see that! I think over the past couple of years Sather has not done a very good job. While acquiring Hayes was good but Sather has traded a lot of our core players without getting much value for them. Boyle verses Stralman I mean they make the same money! Boyle verses Glass 500K difference but we also lost our number 1 centerman and penalty kill with that. I get Callahan had to go but to give up 2 first round pics with it for Marty that was a horrible deal!!! Sather had gotten not much for Talbot which I think Sather should have kept him and just waited for a goaltender to get hurt during the year then trade him. Since Buffalo made the dumbest move on the planet with there trade to Ottawa. Haglein to the Ducks wow I thought this was a pretty bad move. Both contracts for Hags and Stepan I remember this like yesterday Stepan wanted ridiculous money and Hags just signed! Sather may no something I don't but I do remember it was Stepan who held out not Hags! This draft was a serious disappointment along with the trades. I think it is time for Sather to step down and give someone else a shot. Sather may have gotten us close but I don't think he is the GM to get us the Stanley Cup.
- RangerFan1110

actually, Stepan just wanted to be treated the same as McDonagh, and if he was, he would be in the midst of a long term contract right now at about 4.5 mil a year.

Instead, he'll get about 6 million a year and deserves every bit of it

Real shame Hags had to be a casualty of a bad GM who's been given the keys to the car for way too long, we've replaced 38 goals with 5 so far, for the money left over we aren't gonna find a 30 goal scorer maybe not even 20, all our hopes rest on others picking up the slack and Nash miraculously becoming a go to playoff performer
- HankdaTank

The offseason is not over free agency is july first. How any of you guys can complain about the job Sather has done in the last five or so years is beyond me? You've had one of the most competitive teams over that time period. We were all ready to storm the castle last season and the last week before the first game it all came together for us.

Sather has time and if hes proved anything over his tenure with the rangers it's that hes not an idiot. If you arent happy with the roster by then you have every reason to lose your mind. Your team will be just as competitive if not more as last season unfortunately. Cool your jets.

actually, Stepan just wanted to be treated the same as McDonagh, and if he was, he would be in the midst of a long term contract right now at about 4.5 mil a year.

Instead, he'll get about 6 million a year and deserves every bit of it
- jimbro83

I wouldn't be surprised if Step comes in at 7 years $38 million, we're not yet a month into the offseason, part of the reason why I think it may have been a bit premature to unload someone as important as Hags, they better be sure the juice is worth the squeeze

The offseason is not over free agency is july first. How any of you guys can complain about the job Sather has done in the last five or so years is beyond me? You've had one of the most competitive teams over that time period. We were all ready to storm the castle last season and the last week before the first game it all came together for us.

Sather has time and if hes proved anything over his tenure with the rangers it's that hes not an idiot. If you arent happy with the roster by then you have every reason to lose your mind. Your team will be just as competitive if not more as last season unfortunately. Cool your jets.
- Cptmjl

If he's retiring which he should he goes out with zero rings as a Rangers GM, he's now been taken to the woodshed on 4 straight trades, MSL, Yandle, Hags, Talbot

Why did Raanta lose back up job to Darling?

if you are banking on another Lundqvist injury, then Talbot is going to be missed.

If you are banking on Lundqvist staying healthy all season long like he always has except for a freak accident last year, then Raanta is capable of doing as well as Talbot did last year.

I am actually seeing Ranger fans say that Hagelin was better than Stepan and he should be gone.

The crack smoking is alive and well in Rangerland

Why did Raanta lose back up job to Darling?
- jslnyr1102

Darling is the future there, when Crawford got hurt they brought him up and was unstoppable, it's not a knock on Raanta, they had 3 capable goalies

if you are banking on another Lundqvist injury, then Talbot is going to be missed.

If you are banking on Lundqvist staying healthy all season long like he always has except for a freak accident last year, then Raanta is capable of doing as well as Talbot did last year.

I am actually seeing Ranger fans say that Hagelin was better than Stepan and he should be gone.

The crack smoking is alive and well in Rangerland
- jimbro83

I just wanted to bring back the same team minus MSL, Step and Hags should both be here, part of the core that's risen together, Hags was the hero of round 1, Step round 2

If he's retiring which he should he goes out with zero rings as a Rangers GM, he's now been taken to the woodshed on 4 straight trades, MSL, Yandle, Hags, Talbot
- HankdaTank

Its not an exact science. Sather has been "going for it" the last couple of years. Those trades (minus talbot and hagelin) are a product of that. You had a finals appearance MSL was a part of that. Yandle played good for you laat season and is signed through next to an economical contract. All im saying is you have some time. Believe me man im an islander fan I hope youre right about all of this but I dont think you are

Do the Rangers have the cap room to acquire a $2 million type guys in free agency? Need to sign Stepan, Miller, Fast, Etem and McIlrath (who I think needs to be the 7th dmen next year)? Those guys together will probably cost $11-12 million.

I just wanted to bring back the same team minus MSL, Step and Hags should both be here, part of the core that's risen together, Hags was the hero of round 1, Step round 2
- HankdaTank

you know, this theory that the Yandle trade is a complete failure is ridiculous.

He had 11 points in the playoffs and if we had won the 3rd period of game 7 vs Tampa, with the injuries to Girardi, Staal and McDonagh, Yandle would have easily played 25 minutes a night in the finals, maybe more.

He has a 2.6 million cap hit this coming season and will be among the top 5 defensemen in points. It's absolutely ludicrous to label this trade a bust right now.

Do the Rangers have the cap room to acquire a $2 million type guys in free agency? Need to sign Stepan, Miller, Fast, Etem and McIlrath (who I think needs to be the 7th dmen next year)? Those guys together will probably cost $11-12 million.
- Pete V

Hence the possibility of Klein traded for a forward or to free up more cap space. I like Klein and hope we find a way to keep him

Do the Rangers have the cap room to acquire a $2 million type guys in free agency? Need to sign Stepan, Miller, Fast, Etem and McIlrath (who I think needs to be the 7th dmen next year)? Those guys together will probably cost $11-12 million.
- Pete V

it all comes down to Stepan's deal. I think Miller, Fast, Etem and McIlrath will total between 5-6 million. Unless someone signs Miller to an offer sheet and messes the whole thing up.

I still think there is a chance the Rangers heard through the grapevine or were directly told Hagelin was getting an offer sheet, and they thought that the 41st and Etem was better compensation than what they would get.