ok most teams need their goalie to be ONE of the best players on their team to have a legit shot to win unless you have that rare team that is really stacked on offense and Defense and get by with just a good to solid goalie.
- Vukota

Yes, he needs to be one of the top 3 players on the team to make the playoffs. He needs to be lucky to win the cup.

Neither am I. Hank isn't going anywhere.

There will, however, be some casualty next year that people aren't going to want to see go. My bet would be in Girardi, just because of the defensive depth in the organization, as much as I would hate that.

I also have to be honest, I would be a little concerned about giving Cally $6 million per long term with the way he plays. But, that is going to be the price of doing business it seems.
- Pete V

You wouldnt rather move maybe Staal?

You got lucky. Cory has been unbeatable thus far. I'm thinking Marty is going to see less and less time as the season goes on. It kills me to think of a new netminder owning NJ's net, but it was bound to happen. Marty looked very slow to me in the preseason.
- WayneZ

We did. Cory has been lights out in the preseason. Wish the Isles traded for him

Well, it's very simple really. Quick has a ring, Niemi and Crawford have a ring. Even Fluery has a ring. Hank? No ring.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

If I had my choice, I would build a team with elite superstar players upfront like the Pens and Hawks, but the Rangers really don't have that luxury, because they haven't been bad enough to draft those type players.

As a result, the Rangers are built from the net out, with a strong goaltender and a strong D. Do they really have any other choice? How would they transition to the Hawks/Pens model, short of tanking for McDavid?

We did. Cory has been lights out in the preseason. Wish the Isles traded for him
- Vukota

I still thought he would of gotten a bigger return. Or that many other teams would have offered something better. But perhaps there just wasnt better options out there.

Lundqvist will be resigned.

Even if it is for the max, there is no way this organization will do what they did with letting Messier go- or Leetch, for that matter. Burned them very badly.

In turn, this is a player still at the top of his game.

I expect Richards bought out no matter what he does this year, the cap to rise considerably and most of the big name players on the team to be resigned...maybe Girardi is the one to get a big contract elsewhere...

All the talk is fun but not very realistic...

We did. Cory has been lights out in the preseason. Wish the Isles traded for him
- Vukota

You can just sign him in the summer of 2015 when he leaves the Devils as a UFA.

If I had my choice, I would build a team with elite superstar players upfront like the Pens and Hawks, but the Rangers really don't have that luxury, because they haven't been bad enough to draft those type players.

As a result, the Rangers are built from the net out, with a strong goaltender and a strong D. Do they really have any other choice? How would they transition to the Hawks/Pens model, short of tanking for McDavid?
- Pete V

this is the biggest problem the franchise has always had.

At least since the 1960's. Before then, the league just made sure Montreal got the best players.

Hank shut out the Caps in games 6 and 7 last year, held Ovechkin to one goal on 30 shots, he tried I assure you
- jimbro83

Of course he did. He couldn't do anymore than he did. And once again that's the point, it's just too much to ask of him.

If I had my choice, I would build a team with elite superstar players upfront like the Pens and Hawks, but the Rangers really don't have that luxury, because they haven't been bad enough to draft those type players.

As a result, the Rangers are built from the net out, with a strong goaltender and a strong D. Do they really have any other choice? How would they transition to the Hawks/Pens model, short of tanking for McDavid?
- Pete V

Hawks also have one super good Dman and two other solid ones. Plus I think the Pens think or thought at the time when they won that they had an elite goalie in chicklets. But that kid hasnt really ever been elite.

Of course he did. He couldn't do anymore than he did. And once again that's the point, it's just too much to ask of him.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

but you are saying that you'd be angrier if they lost Callahan over Hank, and Cally hasn't won a Cup yet either.

The Blues would welcome him with open arms next year.



It is a dream, but I believe that if you dream, you might as well dream big.

I still thought he would of gotten a bigger return. Or that many other teams would have offered something better. But perhaps there just wasnt better options out there.
- poisondhearts37

Rumor was the Isles offered the 15th and Nino for him but the canucks really wanted that horvat kid and figured he wouldn't be around at 15. Who knows really want happens behind the scenes

but you are saying that you'd be angrier if they lost Callahan over Hank, and Cally hasn't won a Cup yet either.
- jimbro83

Just saying that paying a career 45 point player $6 million plus a year would arguably inhibit the ability to go to a non-goalie, defense centric model.

Rumor was the Isles offered the 15th and Nino for him but the canucks really wanted that horvat kid and figured he wouldn't be around at 15. Who knows really want happens behind the scenes
- Vukota

Horvat is going to be an absolute stud. I think he will ultimately be one of the Top 5 players in this year's draft. He does everything well.

Rumor was the Isles offered the 15th and Nino for him but the canucks really wanted that horvat kid and figured he wouldn't be around at 15. Who knows really want happens behind the scenes
- Vukota

I heard Nucks didn't have the cap space for Nino that's why they took the Devils offer. I still think it was a bad move for the Devils. yes it may help them in the short term but certainly not the long term

but you are saying that you'd be angrier if they lost Callahan over Hank, and Cally hasn't won a Cup yet either.
- jimbro83

No, he hasn't, but I feel players like Callahan can get you to the finish line with a surrounding cast faster, than with the a team that depends on the goalie to stand on his head night in, night out.

No, he hasn't, but I feel players like Callahan can get you to the finish line with a surrounding cast faster, than with the a team that depends on the goalie to stand on his head night in, night out.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

How do you make it happen? Trade Lundqvist for Malkin or something like that?

I understand what you are saying, but how do you make the transition to the type of team you want, because you need a couple of bonafide superstars to mask having a mid to bottom tier goaltender.

Just saying that paying a career 45 point player $6 million plus a year would arguably inhibit the ability to go to a non-goalie, defense centric model.
- Pete V

If your saying Callahan is not worth being keeping because he's a 45 point player, you haven't been watching many Ranger games.

If your saying Callahan is not worth being keeping because he's a 45 point player, you haven't been watching many Ranger games.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Sometimes you keep guys just based on theyre character and what they mean to the team. Lots of people think we overpaid for Dustin Brown. But he brings so much to the team. You have to keep him around.

How do you make it happen? Trade Lundqvist for Malkin or something like that?

I understand what you are saying, but how do you make the transition to the type of team you want, because you need a couple of bonafide superstars to mask having a mid to bottom tier goaltender.
- Pete V

Well, if they get off to a rocky start because they can't score goals, we might find out.

If your saying Callahan is not worth being keeping because he's a 45 point player, you haven't been watching many Ranger games.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

No, what I am saying is that if you would prefer to have the Pens/Hawks type model, you can't pay Ryan Callahan $6 million a year, because that would prevent you from loading up on superstars to mask deficiencies in net. You need to put the puck in the net with that model, and you need to have cap space available to make that happen.

That's all I am saying.

Now, tell me how you would use the money saved on Hank to make the team better, and who you would put in net.

You are telling us why it can't work with Hank, but not what the solution is.

Well, if they get off to a rocky start because they can't score goals, we might find out.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

You guys will get goals from Nash and Stepan. Just gonna need to find somemore from the rest of the guys. Hopefully Brassard will continue to do well for you guys.

I heard Nucks didn't have the cap space for Nino that's why they took the Devils offer. I still think it was a bad move for the Devils. yes it may help them in the short term but certainly not the long term
- mighty13duck

I don't think it will come back to bite them if he keeps playing the way he did in preseason. Time will tell I suppose

I don't think it will come back to bite them if he keeps playing the way he did in preseason. Time will tell I suppose
- Vukota

What if he decides he really doesn't want to play in Jersey, and leaves in two years?