DZ is an RFA.
- mrhattrick27

yup corrected that...he still is gonna want more money than you want lay out for an on the job trainee at the defensive position.

The Klein for Del Zotto trade only works because

a) Del Zotto (23yrs old) makes 2.55 and as a RFA is gonna want much more. He may want to not stay in Nashville, and might shot the puck mighty well has a lot of trouble with the rest of defensiev side of the game. It is a guy still in on the job training.

Klein is 29 years is signed at 2.7 until 2018, and a solid player with some snarl.
Ask Dallas' Antoine Roussel
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/121700

NO flight risk for Rangers and is locked as top six guy there who maybe can slide to a second pairing with the right partner.

So as i said from the get go....the Rangers wouldn't be able to get a top four guy for DelZotto (who wasn't a top four guy).
- wiz1901

That's the key that I like; Klein is signed, to a reasonable contract, for the next four seasons.

One less negotiation to worry about and he will definitely provide snarl; something this team has sorely lacked all season long.

I agree. I wish I had a specific current example for you but I don't. I just know we probably had the option of taking a guy who is under 24 years old and struggling on their current team we could of traded for who may of ended up a healthy scratch in NY or reached their potential and I would of liked that better.

EDIT: I got it. Ryan Ellis. shoots righty and the same (frank)ing team and he's apparently struggling in NSH and is an Offensive Dman like DZ who isn't producing offensively.
- mrhattrick27

I guess the Rangers wanted someone more reliable and dependable than a young defenseman with a lot of offensive potential.

That actually concerns me a lot. Hasn't been brought up much. Wheres the J Moore from last year. You sometimes couldn't tell if it was McD or him on the ice at times.
- mdw7413

Its been said somewhere but I think it makes sense. Being paired with MDZ and shifted back and forth between sides made him play a simpler more defensive game. He was limited to playing one end of the ice more because of DZ's offensive minded approach also. I think with a defensive dman like Klein, it will allow Moore to rush up more and be less worried leaving his partner.

Ranger Fans will like Klein. He can play in the top 4 when needed. He'll be back on his normal side. Will give you more offense than you think now that he is out from under the Trotz dump and chase system.

He doesn't drop the gloves often but like Steve Vickers back in the old days, when it happens he cleans house. Very professional player with no diva issues. Sorry to see him go.

I agree. I wish I had a specific current example for you but I don't. I just know we probably had the option of taking a guy who is under 24 years old and struggling on their current team we could of traded for who may of ended up a healthy scratch in NY or reached their potential and I would of liked that better.

EDIT: I got it. Ryan Ellis. shoots righty and the same (frank)ing team and he's apparently struggling in NSH and is an Offensive Dman like DZ who isn't producing offensively.
- mrhattrick27

I think the deal, more than anything, says something about McIlrath. They went out and got the hard-nosed, defensive defensemen that McIlrath was supposed to be, and that guy is tied up long term. Perhaps they felt that McDonagh, Moore, Stralman and Staal can carry the offensive load, and Richards and other forwards can also play the point on the PP to the extent they need a guy to do that.

In the end, the organization, whether right or wrong, decided that they wanted to a stay at home minutes eater than an offensive guy.

I guess the Rangers wanted someone more reliable and dependable than a young defenseman with a lot of offensive potential.
- MidnightMarauder

I guess so. Just seems short sighted. Like I said this makes the 2014 Rangers better. So if we can keep this push we got going then this may be a good move for us. BUT, again, short-sighted IMHO.

I think the deal, more than anything, says something about McIlrath. They went out and got the hard-nosed, defensive defensemen that McIlrath was supposed to be, and that guy is tied up long term. Perhaps they felt that McDonagh, Moore, Stralman and Staal can carry the offensive load, and Richards and other forwards can also play the point on the PP to the extent they need a guy to do that.

In the end, the organization, whether right or wrong, decided that they wanted to a stay at home minutes eater than an offensive guy.
- Pete V

If so then this move REALLY proves how much passing on Fowler because of DZ was a double whammy.

8 pages of comments already, I'm lagging behind.
First, I didn't want anyone traded, I would have preferred to see how far this team could have gone, then re-tooled as needed in the off-season.
Second, now that the trade is done, I don't dislike it ... We traded an Offensive D-man for a Defensive D-man, and with the skill drop off from our 6th D-man to our 7th, getting back a quality D-man was a definite requirement.
Rangers needed/wanted a RH D-man, definetly needed more physicality down low, and are concerned about cap space moving forward. This deal takes care of all 3 wants/needs. What we lose in turn is MDZ's potential and 6 years of youth.

Could come back to bite us if MDZ rounds out to be a 35-40+ pt D-man every season, but at least now we KNOW what we have for the next 4 years.

so who's going to be the new whipping boy?

Ranger Fans will like Klein. He can play in the top 4 when needed. He'll be back on his normal side. Will give you more offense than you think now that he is out from under the Trotz dump and chase system.

He doesn't drop the gloves often but like Steve Vickers back in the old days, when it happens he cleans house. Very professional player with no diva issues. Sorry to see him go.
- MusicCityVic

Nothng wrong with acquiring a low maintenance player for a player with obvious confidence issues.

Hope Del Zotto turns his career around in Nashville but the odds were long in him doing that in New York.

If so then this move REALLY proves how much passing on Fowler because of DZ was a double whammy.
- mrhattrick27

Safe to say the Rangers kind of suck drafting in the first round.

Aside form Kreider not a single player drafted, since the last lockout, has played regularly and actually contributed to the organization now that Del Zotto is gone.

Nothng wrong with acquiring a low maintenance player for a player with obvious confidence issues.

Hope Del Zotto turns his career around in Nashville but the odds were long in him doing that in New York.
- MidnightMarauder

Klein sounds like Paul Mara 2.0 which I have no problem with.

To me this is a case of the coach not liking the player. He's been in the lineup as a showcase. The return says all you need to know about his value. He whined a little about being scratched and the coach took a couple of veiled shots at MDZ a few times. They at least filled a need for the right handed d man. This thing was headed to arbitration and that would've been ugly given Slats approach to arbitration. I think it was best for all parties involved.

Ranger Fans will like Klein. He can play in the top 4 when needed. He'll be back on his normal side. Will give you more offense than you think now that he is out from under the Trotz dump and chase system.

He doesn't drop the gloves often but like Steve Vickers back in the old days, when it happens he cleans house. Very professional player with no diva issues. Sorry to see him go.
- MusicCityVic

And for you guys, with MDZ you are getting a bit of a riddle. He has had two excellent years in the league, his rookie year, and his third year (finished 12th in the Norris race), and he has had two bad ones, his 2nd and 4th year. This year, his 5th year, has been a disappointment. So, which MDZ is the real MDZ? Can the Preds get him back to that rookie and junior year guy, or is what you see now more than norm. I think the Preds made a good deal, because the player you are getting clearly has the higher ceiling, even if there is some risk.

Safe to say the Rangers kind of suck drafting in the first round.

Aside form Kreider not a single player drafted, since the last lockout, has played regularly and actually contributed to the organization now that Del Zotto is gone.
- MidnightMarauder

Staal?

Staal?
- JackBurton37

Right, Staal was drafted in 2005, just as the lockout ended.

My bad.

Right, Staal was drafted in 2005, just as the lockout ended.

My bad.
- MidnightMarauder

That's still only 1 in 9 years ... your point was still on target

worst trade in NHL history

And for you guys, with MDZ you are getting a bit of a riddle. He has had two excellent years in the league, his rookie year, and his third year (finished 12th in the Norris race), and he has had two bad ones, his 2nd and 4th year. This year, his 5th year, has been a disappointment. So, which MDZ is the real MDZ? Can the Preds get him back to that rookie and junior year guy, or is what you see now more than norm. I think the Preds made a good deal, because the player you are getting clearly has the higher ceiling, even if there is some risk.
- Pete V

Maybe leaving the fish bowl will help him. I think Klein is going to flourish in NY

I hope MDZ wasn't too excited about the Stadium Series.

worst trade in NHL history
- Crimsoninja

Absolutely, how about that Downie for Talbot deal huh?

worst trade in NHL history
- Crimsoninja

Eric Lindros, traded by the Quebec Nordiques to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Peter Forsberg, Steve Duschene, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Philadelphia's 1993 first round draft choice (Jocelyn Thibeault), Philadelphia's 1994 first round draft choice (Nolan Baumgartner), and $15,000,000.

Safe to say the Rangers kind of suck drafting in the first round.

Aside form Kreider not a single player drafted, since the last lockout, has played regularly and actually contributed to the organization now that Del Zotto is gone.
- MidnightMarauder

Staal (2005), Bobby S (2006), Chery (2007), MDZ (2008), Kreider (2009), McIlrath (2010), JT Miller (2011), and Skjei (2012).

Bobby S was a clear bust, Chery was a tragedy, and McIlrath is trending bad. The rest either weren't bad picks, or its too early to tell. I would say average, rather than bad, but also effected by circumstances out of the Rangers control in Chery.

Eric Lindros, traded by the Quebec Nordiques to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Peter Forsberg, Steve Duschene, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Philadelphia's 1993 first round draft choice (Jocelyn Thibeault), Philadelphia's 1994 first round draft choice (Nolan Baumgartner), and $15,000,000.
- Iamnumber27

The Nordiques then went on to win 2 cups. Doh!!

perhaps in all of sports now that i think about it