Jan Levine: Recent Rangers RFA signings, are Blueshirts a bottom-five team? What do you say?

They will never be bottom 5 with Hank. Hank by himself makes the team closer to the top half of the bottom ten.

They will never be bottom 5 with Hank. Hank by himself makes the team closer to the top half of the bottom ten.
- mdw7413

- tomburton99

Whats confusing? 6-10

Possibly, I can never root for my team to lose but if they really suck this year I wouldn't cry either.

Sadly this is 97-2004 all over again.. not bad enough to get a first overall and not good enough for the playoffs... Either tank or don't.. stop half assing it

Sadly this is 97-2004 all over again.. not bad enough to get a first overall and not good enough for the playoffs... Either tank or don't.. stop half assing it
- MeltingPlastic

Can you count from 1 to potato?

If you actually watched NYR through 97-2004 you would realize that this is COMPLETE opposite of that. How many FAs were signed those years who were past their prime or just came for a pay check!!!!!?

Wtf are you talking about? Half ass!!? They are doing a rebuild the right way..being patient and waiting to evaluate prospects and younger players without getting high price FAs this year, who would take up ice time and roster spots. If you are up for a true rebuild, well this is IT

It would be counter productive to ice a team of 18-20 yr olds...like Gorton has said many times.

Guys like Hayes, kreider, zuuc, Zib, etc are worth keeping unless trades develop where It's worth trading them..i.e. EK, Panarin, Seguin, etc, and it might not be worth it still when players of that ILK might be had on FA market next year without giving up prospects/picks/ young roster players

Can you count from 1 to potato?

If you actually watched NYR through 97-2004 you would realize that this is COMPLETE opposite of that. How many FAs were signed those years who were past their prime or just came for a pay check!!!!!?

Wtf are you talking about? Half ass!!? They are doing a rebuild the right way..being patient and waiting to evaluate prospects and younger players without getting high price FAs this year, who would take up ice time and roster spots. If you are up for a true rebuild, well this is IT

It would be counter productive to ice a team of 18-20 yr olds...like Gorton has said many times.

Guys like Hayes, kreider, zuuc, Zib, etc are worth keeping unless trades develop where It's worth trading them..i.e. EK, Panarin, Seguin, etc, and it might not be worth it still when players of that ILK might be had on FA market next year without giving up prospects/picks/ young roster players
- rrentz

That's a bit hash no? I don't want to speak for MP but he may have meant more in the vein of we're gonna miss the playoffs and have some dark times.

I do agree with you that THAT was a different time, we tried year after year with Theo/Kamensky/Quintal/Keane/Skrudland/Holik/Casper, man I can't with all the failed names of UFA's we signed but since Shattenkirk last year I think we're done for awhile with signing big ticket guys. Let the youth be served & watch the talent prosper.

That's a bit hash no? I don't want to speak for MP but he may have meant more in the vein of we're gonna miss the playoffs and have some dark times.

I do agree with you that THAT was a different time, we tried year after year with Theo/Kamensky/Quintal/Keane/Skrudland/Holik/Casper, man I can't with all the failed names of UFA's we signed but since Shattenkirk last year I think we're done for awhile with signing big ticket guys. Let the youth be served & watch the talent prosper.
- B2B76

I know I'm a diiick sometimes., just passionate..At least I admit it! Lol

How any NYR fan isn't excited to see how guys like Kreids, zuuc, Zib, Hayes, Skjei, BUCH, VESEY, Smith, Shatty, Chytil, Andersson, pionk, etc play under new coach, and how prospects/young FAs signed from europe play is beyond me.

This might be most exciting time in 20+ years! Not for winning a cup this year or next, but for building a contender that can last for years. I'm psyched. No expectations/stress.....just young, fast, exciting hockey, that has good fundamentals, and drive.

The time will come for plenty of Top notch FAs to sign here..they will come

All of which is a good foundation for a winner!

I know I'm a diiick sometimes., just passionate..At least I admit it! Lol

How any NYR fan isn't excited to see how guys like Kreids, zuuc, Zib, Hayes, Skjei, BUCH, VESEY, Smith, Shatty, Chytil, Andersson, pionk, etc play under new coach, and how prospects/young FAs signed from europe play is beyond me.

This might be most exciting time in 20+ years! Not for winning a cup this year or next, but for building a contender that can last for years. I'm psyched. No expectations/stress.....just young, fast, exciting hockey, that has good fundamentals, and drive.

The time will come for plenty of Top notch FAs to sign here..they will come

All of which is a good foundation for a winner!
- rrentz

With today’s parity and salary cap, etc...I don’t think the Rangers can just sit back for a season or 2 developing prospects. Maybe they can. I just think that tanking for the big deal prospect is the way it’s gonna be in this league going forward. Not to say it works ( it hasn’t yet for Edm, Buf or Ari ). It’s a long, horrible process but it’s your best chance with a few exceptions.
1. Already have those elite prospects in the system after striking gold at previous drafts with later picks.
2. Already have a solid core of championship caliber core players, just need some depth players to develop.

Does this describe the Rangers at all? I remember Ron Hextall slamming the Oilers for tanking and while the Flyers haven’t done that, they’ve basically been hovering around that non playoff spot for 5 yrs ( tho they did get lucky with a lottery win).

Boston did a soft rebuild but they benefitted by a solid core of vets in their prime and hit on a few studs like McAvoy, Pastrnak and DeBrusk at the draft to restock the shelves.

I think the Rangers have some good young players to build around but I don’t see the game breaking prospect in the system, and with Hank between the pipes, I can’t see the Rangers earning great lottery odds either.

Despite last season's results & veterans' turnover, the Rangers will not be a bottom five team under this new developmental type coaching staff, & their known work ethic. In addition, they still have Hank for now to prevent that from happening, along with a very confident backup in Georgiev who looked calm & well skilled in net when replacing the injured, Pavelec as back up late last season.
The wonder I have barring an extreme on the negative results end, is how close their current as projected roster will finish in likely missing the playoffs as of now. This roster will certainly include Neal Pionk on the right side of what would otherwise be defensive wise, a more questionable & shaky right side back line.
That leads again to everyone's wonder, why Gorton, despite having loads of cap space, has been inactive through any types of moves, (with exception for another LD in Claesson), to bring in one mid level grade & experienced RH shooting d/man for their right side, along with mid level experience at Left Wing, especially with Vesey and Spooner as RFA's. Should results go surprisingly well, that shortage of mid level experienced depth at those two positions, in addition to then help mentor their kids along better, could be in the end the difference to deciding their hopes to reach the 2019 postseason.

With today’s parity and salary cap, etc...I don’t think the Rangers can just sit back for a season or 2 developing prospects. Maybe they can. I just think that tanking for the big deal prospect is the way it’s gonna be in this league going forward. Not to say it works ( it hasn’t yet for Edm, Buf or Ari ). It’s a long, horrible process but it’s your best chance with a few exceptions.
1. Already have those elite prospects in the system after striking gold at previous drafts with later picks.
2. Already have a solid core of championship caliber core players, just need some depth players to develop.

Does this describe the Rangers at all? I remember Ron Hextall slamming the Oilers for tanking and while the Flyers haven’t done that, they’ve basically been hovering around that non playoff spot for 5 yrs ( tho they did get lucky with a lottery win).

Boston did a soft rebuild but they benefitted by a solid core of vets in their prime and hit on a few studs like McAvoy, Pastrnak and DeBrusk at the draft to restock the shelves.

I think the Rangers have some good young players to build around but I don’t see the game breaking prospect in the system, and with Hank between the pipes, I can’t see the Rangers earning great lottery odds either.
- HonkyTonkMan

Tanking does not guarantee a future Cup Win, or even just a Lottery win for the rights to select the first overall pick. Nor does it guarantee that the 4th to 10th picks will work wonders. Your team knows that, and on the Rangers end, they won many playoff series in recent years prior to 2018, in having a non drafted 1st pairing d'man in Dan Girardi, along with a goalie drafted in 2000 as the 205th overall pick in the 7th Round named Lundqvist being alone their franchise. Yet, that didn't lead to a Cup win, due to the roster not being supplemented enough offensive wise, in converse to your Oilers drafting #1 offensive wise, but not supplementing the roster enough properly defensively.

Sadly this is 97-2004 all over again.. not bad enough to get a first overall and not good enough for the playoffs... Either tank or don't.. stop half assing it
- MeltingPlastic

they spent money wildly on the wrong free agents, drafted the wrong guys, made dumb trades and brought Messier back, this isn't the same thing.

if it was 1999, the Rangers would have given a 5 year 35 million deal to Patrick Maroon.

they spent money wildly on the wrong free agents, drafted the wrong guys, made dumb trades and brought Messier back, this isn't the same thing.

if it was 1999, the Rangers would have given a 5 year 35 million deal to Patrick Maroon.
- jimbro83

they spent money wildly on the wrong free agents, drafted the wrong guys, made dumb trades and brought Messier back, this isn't the same thing.

if it was 1999, the Rangers would have given a 5 year 35 million deal to Patrick Maroon.
- jimbro83

Imagine this board if THAT happened!

Imagine this board if THAT happened!
- rrentz

We might lose a few permanently.

I just can't call NYR a total bottom feeder as long as Hank is in net. Sure, maybe he has a crap season... but that guy is one of the best of his generation and still has game.

Wanna' tank? Trade Hank!

I just can't call NYR a total bottom feeder as long as Hank is in net. Sure, maybe he has a crap season... but that guy is one of the best of his generation and still has game.

Wanna' tank? Trade Hank!
- OzBolts

Great, a new hashtag for Tom.

Except for the NTC.

I kind of agree with Jan's take that the lineup is not great but it has some talent. I think this year's finishing spot will depend upon how quickly the young players are able to acclimate and develop into the league and how good Hank can be. If Hank is dominant, then the team could be a middle of the pack team. If he is just o.k., then I see a bottom 10 team (although probably not bottom 5).

Tanking does not guarantee a future Cup Win, or even just a Lottery win for the rights to select the first overall pick. Nor does it guarantee that the 4th to 10th picks will work wonders. Your team knows that, and on the Rangers end, they won many playoff series in recent years prior to 2018, in having a non drafted 1st pairing d'man in Dan Girardi, along with a goalie drafted in 2000 as the 205th overall pick in the 7th Round named Lundqvist being alone their franchise. Yet, that didn't lead to a Cup win, due to the roster not being supplemented enough offensive wise, in converse to your Oilers drafting #1 offensive wise, but not supplementing the roster enough properly defensively.
- RangerSaver

I agree, but the Rangers are in as different a spot today than the Oilers were in 2010 ( Hall draft) as they are from Boston when they took a step back ( rebuild w/out tanking). There is no formula that guarantees a Cup.

Great, a new hashtag for Tom.

Except for the NTC.
- Fenrir

Probably finish right around the same spot as last year, which kinda sucks lol

Can you count from 1 to potato?

If you actually watched NYR through 97-2004 you would realize that this is COMPLETE opposite of that. How many FAs were signed those years who were past their prime or just came for a pay check!!!!!?

Wtf are you talking about? Half ass!!? They are doing a rebuild the right way..being patient and waiting to evaluate prospects and younger players without getting high price FAs this year, who would take up ice time and roster spots. If you are up for a true rebuild, well this is IT

It would be counter productive to ice a team of 18-20 yr olds...like Gorton has said many times.

Guys like Hayes, kreider, zuuc, Zib, etc are worth keeping unless trades develop where It's worth trading them..i.e. EK, Panarin, Seguin, etc, and it might not be worth it still when players of that ILK might be had on FA market next year without giving up prospects/picks/ young roster players
- rrentz

Trust me i watched those teams and I also know the signings they made, the trades they made etc. I'm not some rookie when it comes to this team,this site etc.

My point is, Dolan said he wants to win the way Chicago, the Pens, etc have. Look at those teams back then and they all had #1 overall pics. Besides Edmonton who is the definition of dumpster fire, they took the #1 guy and built around them. I love "most" of the core of this team. To me, Zuuc is who you make captain and build around him as the veteran but i'm not running this team.

I personally don't think making a trade for EK etc is worth it right now. Panarin next summer makes sense if he's available. But if you're going to do it, do it, let the Euro kids stay in the KHL/etc, let the younger kids get some time in the AHL or keep them in college, and go for the #1 overall. Then in 2019/2020 start the process, bring the kids in, sign Panarin, have the core ready to go. Now you don't have to agree with my view, and that's fine as not all will, but honestly the "harsh comments" on this blog are getting to a point where hanging out here and even just lurking isn't fun anymore man. We're all a fan of this team, here to have hockey conversations, not be keyboard cowboys.

Trust me i watched those teams and I also know the signings they made, the trades they made etc. I'm not some rookie when it comes to this team,this site etc.

My point is, Dolan said he wants to win the way Chicago, the Pens, etc have. Look at those teams back then and they all had #1 overall pics. Besides Edmonton who is the definition of dumpster fire, they took the #1 guy and built around them. I love "most" of the core of this team. To me, Zuuc is who you make captain and build around him as the veteran but i'm not running this team.

I personally don't think making a trade for EK etc is worth it right now. Panarin next summer makes sense if he's available. But if you're going to do it, do it, let the Euro kids stay in the KHL/etc, let the younger kids get some time in the AHL or keep them in college, and go for the #1 overall. Then in 2019/2020 start the process, bring the kids in, sign Panarin, have the core ready to go. Now you don't have to agree with my view, and that's fine as not all will, but honestly the "harsh comments" on this blog are getting to a point where hanging out here and even just lurking isn't fun anymore man. We're all a fan of this team, here to have hockey conversations, not be keyboard cowboys.
- MeltingPlastic

they definitely may still do that

Great, a new hashtag for Tom.

Except for the NTC.
- Fenrir

Lundqvist isn't going anywhere. Let's put and keep that conversation in the ground please.