Yeah. Its why Toronto will be stuck in mediocrity for ever.
- s0rcerer1984

Toronto went 5 or 6 years without making the playoffs. Not sure how they compare with the Rangers.

the Rangers had the best record in the Eastern Conference two seasons ago, last year was a train wreck for everyone with the lockout and currently are playing as well as anyone in the league.

Talk of "blowing it up" right now is tiresome

Yeah. Its why Toronto will be stuck in mediocrity for ever.
- s0rcerer1984

I think that it has become obvious that one of the best paths to the Cup is to totally suck for a few years and draft generational talent. But, with all due respect, the Rangers are two years removed from being two games away from the Stanley Cup final. They have an elite goaltender, one of the Top 5 defense cores in the league (IMO), and have some very good pieces upfront (acknowledging, of course, that they can still use some more goal scoring punch).

Honestly, I just don't see a team with Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan McDonagh, Mark Staal, Dan Girardi, Rick Nash, etc., etc. as a team you tear down. I see that as a team that you re-tool as necessary to try to get back to the level that you were at less than two years ago. The Rangers are playing some really solid hockey right now.

the Rangers had the best record in the Eastern Conference two seasons ago, last year was a train wreck for everyone with the lockout and currently are playing as well as anyone in the league.

Talk of "blowing it up" right now is tiresome
- jimbro83

Blow it up.

the Rangers had the best record in the Eastern Conference two seasons ago, last year was a train wreck for everyone with the lockout and currently are playing as well as anyone in the league.

Talk of "blowing it up" right now is tiresome
- jimbro83

Except them Ducks!

Yeah they might be punching above their weight, right now BUT come playoffs we will need more than Cally skating 'round like a headless chook!

the Rangers had the best record in the Eastern Conference two seasons ago, last year was a train wreck for everyone with the lockout and currently are playing as well as anyone in the league.

Talk of "blowing it up" right now is tiresome
- jimbro83

It was a Pens fan that started it this time

Toronto went 5 or 6 years without making the playoffs. Not sure how they compare with the Rangers.
- tomburton99

I never said they did. I just said that Toronto is another team that isn't able to do a rebuild due to the pressure of the market.

Except them Ducks!

Yeah they might be punching above their weight, right now BUT come playoffs we will need more than Cally skating 'round like a headless chook!
- Iamnumber27

Ducks last 10 games they are 5-5. Rangers are 7-3. Ducks lost 3 out 4. Ducks clearly are the better team but are in a small rut.

I never said they did. I just said that Toronto is another team that isn't able to do a rebuild due to the pressure of the market.
- s0rcerer1984

I understand what you at trying to say, and I don't think you are trying to troll, I just think you are underselling the Rangers a bit.

Maybe I am missing it on the Kings but I can only think of one high draft pick and that is Doughty. Carter and Richards were through trades. Kopitar was a #1 but I think 11th overall. The other players were a combination of draft choices that were not top-five, trades and free agents.

The Blues are the same. I can't think of a single high draft pick they themselves exercised.

But I agree with what you are saying. It certainly is beneficial for teams to be terrible enough to draft high end talent for three, four or five years in a row. That doesn't always work as we have seen with Florida and Edmonton.
- gkmkiller

Kings: B. Schenn (5th Overall) was part of the Richards trade. As you stated, Doughty 2nd overall, and 11th overall in 2005 (Kopitar) and 2006 (Bernier). They also did have the 4th overall in 2011 (buy he was a bust, it seems.)

Blues: 1st overall in 2006 and 4th overall in 2008. However, after looking at the Blues it seems they went with quantity in the 1st round w/ two 1st rounders in 2006 and three in 2007. So more of a function of unloading players for picks, than just pure tanking.

Sucking also has a down-stream effect too w/ higher 2nd and 3rd round picks. In any case, you still need to properly manage the team. Edm is an example of a dumpster fire, but I think FLA has a bright future given some time for the kids to mature.

Ducks last 10 games they are 5-5. Rangers are 7-3. Ducks lost 3 out 4.
- tomburton99

But in their last 58 they are 40-13-5, the Rangers in 56 are 30-23-3

But in their last 58 they are 40-13-5, the Rangers in 56 are 30-23-3
- Iamnumber27

But, in the last two years, the Ducks have won "0" playoff rounds, and the Rangers have won "3". Hell, the Ducks didn't even make the playoffs in 2011-2012.

Kings: B. Schenn (5th Overall) was part of the Richards trade,. As you stated, Doughtty 2nd overall, and 11th overall in 2005 (Kopitar) and 2006 (Bernier). They also did have the 4th overall in 2011 (buy hewas a bust, it seems.)

Blues: 1st overall in 2006 and 4th overall in 2008. However, after looking at the Blues it seems they went with quantity in the 1st round w/ two 1st rounders in 2006 and three in 2007. So more of a function of unloading players for picks, than just pure tanking.

Sucking also has a down-stream effect too w/ higher 2nd and 3rd round picks. In any case, you still need to properly manage the team. Edm is an example of a dumpster fire, but I think FLA has a bright future given some time for the kids to mature.
- s0rcerer1984

You mean the same Panther team that drafted Bouwmeester, Weiss, Horton, Frolik, Ellerby, Gudbranson, Barkov and Olesz all with top 10 picks and are set to draft in the 10 again. Sorry if I don't get it. They have good young talent but seem like Florida's version of the Islanders to me.

But, in the last two years, the Ducks have won "0" playoff rounds, and the Rangers have won "3". Hell, the Ducks didn't even make the playoffs in 2011-2012.
- Pete V

But the Ducks won a cup in 2007, the Rangers in 1994... Just stop it you silly billy.

Yeah, the Rangers are playing well at the moment. Competing with everyone.

But the Ducks won a cup in 2007, the Rangers in 1994... Just stop it you silly billy.

Yeah, the Rangers are playing well at the moment. Competing with everyone.
- Iamnumber27

Ducks will win this year again.

Ducks will win this year again.
- mighty13duck

I'm sure the Rangers will have another win this year too

Ducks will win this year again.
- mighty13duck

just like the islanders will finish ahead of the rangers right? everything you predict comes true

You mean the same Panther team that drafted Bouwmeester, Weiss, Horton, Frolik, Ellerby, Gudbranson, Barkov and Olez all with top 10 pick and are set to raft in the 10 again. Sorry if I don't get it. They have good young talent but seem like Florida's version of the Islanders to me.
- tomburton99

Bouwmeester, Weiss, Horton, Frolik, olez, and Ellerby were all drafted under prior GMs.

Dale Tallon, however, has been in charge since 2010. Personnally, I think Barkov, Huberdeau, and a few of the others will be solid players. And unlike Edm FLA isn't drafting just F's every time.

just like the islanders will finish ahead of the rangers right? everything you predict comes true
- rangerdanger94

I predicted the Isles to make the playoffs, but I never said they would finish ahead of the rangers prior to the season. I said the opposite actually.

just like the islanders will finish ahead of the rangers right? everything you predict comes true
- rangerdanger94

Because they have Vanek

I predicted the Isles to make the playoffs, but I never said they would finish ahead of the rangers prior to the season. I said the opposite actually.
- mighty13duck

I predict a riot.

Because they have Vanek
- Iamnumber27

Vanek for Girardi?

I predicted the Isles to make the playoffs, but I never said they would finish ahead of the rangers prior to the season. I said the opposite actually.
- mighty13duck

suuuure suuuuuuure. i believe the exact words you used were that our teams are going in opposite directions and that the islanders are on the ascend to being one of the elite teams in the league and the rangers are declining

anyway, the ducks aren't winning the cup because bruce boudreau doesn't coach cup-winning teams. for years, he's coached president's trophy winning teams that fail in the 1st round. i won't be surprised if it happens yet again for the poor man.

I predict a riot.
- Iamnumber27

I just want the isles to have their own Crosby

suuuure suuuuuuure. i believe the exact words you used were that our teams are going in opposite directions and that the islanders are on the ascend to being one of the elite teams in the league and the rangers are declining

anyway, the ducks aren't winning the cup because bruce boudreau doesn't coach cup-winning teams. for years, he's coached president's trophy winning teams that fail in the 1st round. i won't be surprised if it happens yet again for the poor man.
- rangerdanger94

I did say that but I also said the Isles would not finish ahead of the rangers this year. My predictions were Pens Rags Isles Flyers Caps Canes CBJ Devils