lol
- TPC

I tell you what, people will think long and hard before they start making these teams.

Where would this site be without gap geek? We would all be using our fingers and toes to figure these issues out
- TPC

On a serious note, all these line combos are pretty much convincing me that, as much as I think he'll bounce back next year, it's going to be hard to keep Richards and change the roster much. Unless Aecliptics numbers on Stepan and McDonagh can be done.

Keep in mind, its AAV.

For example, McDonagh... 6 years, 23 million. 3.25, 3.25, 3.75, 3.75, 4.5, 4.5

Averages out to 3.833333m AAV
- aecliptic

Mcdonagh is goind and should be paid more than Roman Josi. Thats just facts.

On a serious note, all these line combos are pretty much convincing me that, as much as I think he'll bounce back next year, it's going to be hard to keep Richards and change the roster much. Unless Aecliptics numbers on Stepan and McDonagh can be done.
- Pete V

They might be able to be done on short term, 2yr, deals for Stepan and McDonagh.

Give them 3.5m yr 1, 4.25m yr 2... 3.875m AAV. I think those are very doable contracts for both.

Mcdonagh is goind and should be paid more than Roman Josi. Thats just facts.
- tomburton99

He will... in Josi's first 2 years, hes only making 5m in salary... McDonagh will be making 7.75m in my proposal.

On a serious note, all these line combos are pretty much convincing me that, as much as I think he'll bounce back next year, it's going to be hard to keep Richards and change the roster much. Unless Aecliptics numbers on Stepan and McDonagh can be done.
- Pete V

I think it'll be pretty stunning if richy is back. The cons outweigh the pros with him

I think it'll be pretty stunning if richy is back. The cons outweigh the pros with him
- Slimtj100

The one thing that scares me a little about letting go of Richards is the risk of Brassard being what he has been throughout his career -- a 45 point player. I think he'll be better than that, but if he produced at his historical average, that wouldn't be good for the Rangers.

The one thing that scares me a little about letting go of Richards is the risk of Brassard being what he has been throughout his career -- a 45 point player. I think he'll be better than that, but if he produced at his historical average, that wouldn't be good for the Rangers.
- Pete V

I think there are many Rangers fans that feel that way. I kinda lean towards him being what he was in CBJ, I just dont trust him yet.

But again, as I said before... its really hard to believe that Richards could regress as much as he did in 1 year. Its a long shot, but I think Richards puts up 70 points next year if he stays, which is going to make a buyout VERY difficult.

I think the key to this off season will be what Sather pays for our own RFA if he does well they can make moves if not its going to be hard to address the needs

One thing nobody brings up about Richards is what if he does come back next year and is just awful? If they brought him back it would be a play a top 6 role so if he was to be bad he would cripple this team mad keep them from making any upgrades

1. i think stepan is a really, really good 2nd line center or a good enough 1B. not sure he is dynamic enough to be a bonafide 1 but he's only 22 or 23 and was on pace to put up over 70 points so maybe he is. next season will be a big year for his development and we'll see what type of player he can consistently be.

2. agreed.

3. agreed. i think boyle plays best on the wing so we could move him there permanently. obviously, bickell and clowe are also options via FA.

4. i think DZ, mcdonagh, moore, richards, or even brassard should be able to QB the PP as long as AV can coach a decent powerplay.
- rangerdanger94

Some notes on Step: He was the third most valuable Center in the NHL last year according to Hockey Prospectus' GVT ratings which incorporate offensive, defensive and shootout contributions into one metric. I know many hockey fans don't subscribe to those advanced stats but I do feel that his strong GVT showing reflects well on his performance a year ago.

He finished tied for 13th among all NHL centers in scoring with 44 points. If you take away a slow start (1 goal, 5 points in his first 11 games) and he tallied 39 points in his last 37 games. That pace would have seen him score 86 points in an 82-game season. To put that in perspective that point total would have placed him fourth in the NHL among all players last year. He also tied with Lee Stempniak and Ilya Kovalchuk for the most SH points in the league.

He may not be an elite center but I have no problems looking at the evidence an seeing a legitimate #1 center.

Some notes on Step: He was the third most valuable Center in the NHL last year according to Hockey Prospectus' GVT ratings which incorporate offensive, defensive and shootout contributions into one metric. I know many hockey fans don't subscribe to those advanced stats but I do feel that his strong GVT showing reflects well on his performance a year ago.

He finished tied for 13th among all NHL centers in scoring with 44 points. If you take away a slow start (1 goal, 5 points in his first 11 games) and he tallied 39 points in his last 37 games. That pace would have seen him score 86 points. To put that in perspective that point total would have placed him fourth in the NHL among all players. He also tied with Lee Stempniak and Ilya Kovalchuk for the most SH points in the league.

He may not be an elite center but I have no problems looking at the evidence an seeing a legitimate #1 center.
- gkmkiller

Look at boston... neither krejci or bergeron are your typical dynamic top centers, but theyre good at what they do. Important thing is to surround your players with good support and having a good coach to do the proper things

[quote=aecliptic]
And I believe Brassard has the skill to develop into an excellent #2 center potentially giving the Rangers a similar 1-2 punch to that of Boston in the next few years. Of course Brassard needs to develop some consistency but I was satisfied with his effort level upon his arrival in New York. Ideally what Krejci and Bergeron are for Boston is what Stepan and Brassard can be for the Rangers.

Bickell does so many things well one of them is create space for Kane..err, I mean Nash

I got this off of rotoworld:

--One player who could benefit greatly from the hiring of Alain Vigneault as head coach of the Rangers is Michael Del Zotto.
Del Zotto is exactly the kind of mobile and offensively-gifted defenseman Vigneault encourages to join the rush. The Ranger rearguard is expected to be fully recovered from a sports hernia operation by the time training camp rolls around and seems poised to have a big year with Vigneault at the controls--

Some notes on Step: He was the third most valuable Center in the NHL last year according to Hockey Prospectus' GVT ratings which incorporate offensive, defensive and shootout contributions into one metric. I know many hockey fans don't subscribe to those advanced stats but I do feel that his strong GVT showing reflects well on his performance a year ago.

He finished tied for 13th among all NHL centers in scoring with 44 points. If you take away a slow start (1 goal, 5 points in his first 11 games) and he tallied 39 points in his last 37 games. That pace would have seen him score 86 points in an 82-game season. To put that in perspective that point total would have placed him fourth in the NHL among all players last year. He also tied with Lee Stempniak and Ilya Kovalchuk for the most SH points in the league.

He may not be an elite center but I have no problems looking at the evidence an seeing a legitimate #1 center.
- gkmkiller

yea he had an amazing season. let's just see if he can replicate it though. i think he's capable of doing it for sure.

One thing nobody brings up about Richards is what if he does come back next year and is just awful? If they brought him back it would be a play a top 6 role so if he was to be bad he would cripple this team mad keep them from making any upgrades
- fquicks

yea it's a risk but he could potentially score 70 points or more under AV.

yea it's a risk but he could potentially score 70 points or more under AV.
- rangerdanger94

I think 20 goals 50 assists is very possible for him in a new more open style offense.

I think 20 goals 50 assists is very possible for him in a new more open style offense.
- aecliptic

agreed. i wouldn't be surprised if nash scores 40 and richards is a PPG player.

agreed. i wouldn't be surprised if nash scores 40 and richards is a PPG player.
- rangerdanger94

But youre still left with the sticky dilemma of whether or not to buy out Richards. That contract might not bite us now, but it might hurt us later. On the flip side the cap will go up eventually and hopefully if we do keep him it will only be a minor thorn in our side.

How about Hamhuis?
- Chris Erwin

Odd that I see guys wouldn't want him. He's a top notch D-man, just doesn't have the offensive stats. Edler would cost more than 1 year of Girardi.

I get the feeling AV is gonna love Brassard.

But youre still left with the sticky dilemma of whether or not to buy out Richards. That contract might not bite us now, but it might hurt us later. On the flip side the cap will go up eventually and hopefully if we do keep him it will only be a minor thorn in our side.
- aecliptic

I gotta be honest with you, I do not know how it's even remotely possible we keep Richards.

I know you guys put up your cap geek calculators all the time, but Larry Brooks spells it out well this morning:

The Rangers have approximately $13.4 million of cap space for 2013-14 if Brad Richards and his $6.67 million remain on the roster.

You would have to figure nearly all of that would be necessary to sign Group II free agents Ryan McDonagh (expect four or five years between $4.5 million and $5 million per); Derek Stepan (the same term for a bottom line $4 million per); Carl Hagelin (shorter term for between $1.75 million and $2.5 million per); and Mats Zuccarello (two years at approximately $1.5 million).

So essentially, if the Blueshirts opt not to amnesty Richards, this year’s team essentially will be the same as last year’s team, with some tinkering at the edges, (and minus, at least for the first few weeks top-six forwards Ryan Callahan and Hagelin, both of whom underwent postseason labrum surgery).

I gotta be honest with you, I do not know how it's even remotely possible we keep Richards.

I know you guys put up your cap geek calculators all the time, but Larry Brooks spells it out well this morning:

The Rangers have approximately $13.4 million of cap space for 2013-14 if Brad Richards and his $6.67 million remain on the roster.

You would have to figure nearly all of that would be necessary to sign Group II free agents Ryan McDonagh (expect four or five years between $4.5 million and $5 million per); Derek Stepan (the same term for a bottom line $4 million per); Carl Hagelin (shorter term for between $1.75 million and $2.5 million per); and Mats Zuccarello (two years at approximately $1.5 million).

So essentially, if the Blueshirts opt not to amnesty Richards, this year’s team essentially will be the same as last year’s team, with some tinkering at the edges, (and minus, at least for the first few weeks top-six forwards Ryan Callahan and Hagelin, both of whom underwent postseason labrum surgery).
- jimbro83

Yea I think the only way he stays is if Rangers decided they don't need to do any major tinkering to the the lineup. Where all they needed is a change of system.

I can't wait til McDonagh and Stepan are signed long term. Will make it a lot easier to sleep at night

what about the idea of treding for hanzal, very big guy who plays physical and goes to the net. what if we play him on the wing to create space for our scorers let's say a lineup luke this:

nash-brassard-cally
kreider-stepan-hanzal
clowe-miller-hagelin
jean-boyle-dorsett
on the forth line i would really like to see kyle jean play and see what he can do, if he doesn't work out we still could keep one of asham/powe/pyatt

Mcd-girardi
staal-moore
mcilrath-stralman

hank
biron

in that case i traded DZ and zucc for hanzal, that should about get it done,
on a team with better affensive players he can become a better player himself i think