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Performance of recent, as well as prior, ex-Rangers in the playoffs |
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I thought it be interesting to take a look at the performance of the ex-Rangers so far in the playoffs, focusing on those who made the move elsewhere at the deadline. Later in the week I will try and look at either the coaching search or the current top-10 prospect ranking with the draft lottery slated for Saturday night. What transpires that evening will have a material impact on New York for 2018 and beyond.
First, for those teams already eliminated:
Michael Grabner, New Jersey - it’s not a stretch to say New York got the far better of this deal. Before Grabs was dealt, the hope was that the Rangers would get a late-first rounder. In acquiring a second-round pick and Yegor Rykov, it’s fairly clear GM Jeff Gorton got more than a suitable return.
Grabner saw all of his playing in New York at even strength and on the penalty kill. Following his trade up New Jersey, the first between the two teams, his role wasn’t expected to change much. Grabner seemed to never adapt to coach John Hynes’ system and his shooting percentage, 19.1% in New York, regressed to the norm at 5.6% as a Devil, resulting in a sharp decline in production. After botching 32 points in 56 games in New York, Grabner notched just two goals and three assists in 21 games in New Jersey.
Grabner was a healthy scratch for Games 4 and 5, a sharp fall from grace for a forward that was productive the first half of the season. Prior to the trade, speculated contract terms in free agency for Grabner were in the range of three years and maybe $10 million, doubling his salary of his current contract. Now, factoring his struggles, the years and dollars are to be substantially impacted, so maybe he will get two years and $5.5 million.
Team facing a Game 7:
Rick Nash and Nick Holden, Boston - Nash was dealt to the Bruins on February 25 for a first round pick, Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey and a 2019 7th round pick. He scored in his second and third games as a Bruin but his tenure there to date has been marked with the same issues he faced in New York. First, a concussion sidelined him the last 12 games of the season. In the playoffs, stop me if you heard this before, but despite his solid puck possession and shots on net, he has just one goal in six games and is getting called out by the Boston media.
You all know my view on Nash. He is one who does a little bit of everything despite his lack of scoring. But as a player who was brought in to score, both in New York and especially now in Boston, his runs where he can’t put the puck in the net overshadow everything else he does on the ice. Last night, he was moved down to the third line, replaced by Tommy Wingels to skate with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk. If Boston loses Game 7, fingers will be pointed at Nash. But if he finds a way to score a key goal in a win, almost all of his poor performance will just be a footnote.
Spooner can play wing or center and added skill with a bit of grit. He could be a component for the future, or as an RFA, dealt to bring in other assets. Adding him and the first round pick more than tilts the deal in NY’s favor. But if Nash does get a big goal and plays a key role in a Cup run, Boston will be more than happy with that exchange.
Holden went to Boston for a third round pick and Rob O’Gara. At the time, since he cost a fourth to acquire and was miscast on the top-four, obtaining anything, but especially a third, was viewed as a win-win. Holden was utilized as a seventh d-man in Boston, sitting a few games. This has been his role in the playoffs, as he has only played one of the first six contests versus Toronto, meaning another win for Gorton.
Teams advancing:
J.T. Miller and Ryan McDonagh, Tampa Bay - Miller and McDonagh came to the Lightning just before the deadline in exchange for Vladislav Namestnikov, Brett Howden, Libor Hajek, a first-round pick and a conditional second-round pick go to the Rangers. Right now, I would call the deal a mixed bag for the Rangers. We discussed broadly leading up and after the trade why McDonagh might go and reasons that could lead to Miller leaving as part of a deal.
Miller has settled in tremendously well, skating on the top line with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. JT provides the physical presence in front, especially on the power play. There is no doubt he benefits from his line mates, and despite their pedigree, each benefit from skating with Miller. Ten goals and eight assists in 19 regular season games and a goal and three assists in four games attest to what Miller has brought to the Lightning.
McDonagh got off to a very slow start with the Lightning, possibly due to the time he missed with an injury. But McDonagh rounded into form late in the year and has taken his game up a notch in the playoffs, logging heavy minutes on the second pairing. Tampa Bay is in a position to move forward aided largely by the performances of Miller and McDonagh.
Namestnikov was a bust in New York. After rallying a goal and an assist in his first game in New York, he added similar production in the other 18 games he skated in a Blueshirt jersey. As an RFA, he likely cost himself a ton of money with his performance as a Ranger. The Rangers could offer him arbitration or maybe sign him to a short-term deal. One positive is that he helped Buchnevich with his continued transition to the US and could provide the same to Rykov. On the flip side, if he elects arbitration and the award is too high, New York could and might walk away.
Howden has been impressive in the playoffs, showing the skills and leadership that made him a target for the Rangers, while Hajek was a key to the deal with Miller a component of the trade so Gorton could acquire Hajek. The first gives the Rangers three first rounders in this years draft, allowing the team to deal one for a player or package one to move up in the draft, depending how the lottery goes. If Tampa does win the Cup this year or next, the second becomes a first. Overall, the package was nice. I still wouldn’t have minded Anthony Cirelli, especially seeing how he played down the stretch, and Taylor Raddysh was another player on the radar screen. I would have loved Brayden Point, but he was a no-go for Tampa, as was Yanni Gourde. You know my view on Miller but it’s pretty clear New York felt he had to go. Though if Gorton believed that AV was likely gone, keeping Miller would have been the right call. But if Hajek pans out to what Gorton and Gord Clark believe is his ceiling and the cost to acquire him was including Miller, I get it, but Namestnikov sure as heck better produce better next year or bring in a chip for the future
Other ex-Rangers in the post-season include Brandon Dubinsky, Columbus, Eric Staal, Minnesota, Brian Boyle and John Moore, New Jersey, Dale Weise, Philadelphia, Derick Brassard and Carl Hagelin, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi and Anton Stralman, Tampa Bay, Dominic Moore, Toronto and Oscar Lindberg, Vegas. The Blue Jackets, Wild and Flyers are out and of the three, Staal played the most key role for his team. Of those remaining, almost all, save for Moore, have key roles for their squads. None of the extra-Rangers in this paragraph are guaranteed a spot in the third round. But if it is Boston or Toronto versus Tampa, at a minimum, at least one player will be in the Eastern Conference Finals.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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