is it confirmed anywher that duclair is for sure going to play junior next year? otherwise i could see him surprise all of us and fill that final 3rd line winger spot
- webleedblue

He'll obviously get a chance to earn his spot in the lineup during training camp like every other player and prospect that is Rangers property but it will be tough for him to win a spot permanently. Even if he makes it to the opening night roster, he might not make it past the 9 game tryout.

He'll obviously get a chance to earn his spot in the lineup during training camp like every other player and prospect that is Rangers property but it will be tough for him to win a spot permanently. Even if he makes it to the opening night roster, he might not make it past the 9 game tryout.
- rangerdanger94

i think if he gets that kind of chance he'll make the team, he just fits our style of play to good

Every team in the league goes through turnover.

The simple fact is that all the players that left just played the best hockey they will likely play in their careers. Do we want to be paying for that little stretch of good hockey? You're supposed to pay for how a player will perform in the future, not for the past.

Anton Stralman had the best season - and the best stretch (playoffs) - of his life. Benoit Pouliot had the best season of his life. Brian Boyle had a pretty consistent regular season by his standards but played the best and most important minutes of his life in the playoffs. These guys are getting overpaid for YEARS for these few good moments from last year. It's what happens when the stars align and a team makes it to the SCF.

Does Anton Stralman deserve $4.5M over the next 5 years? If he plays at the level of his playoff performance every single game, then yea. But what about the Stralman that was god awful for 25% of the season? The Stralman that every single poster here wanted benched, traded, and demoted? Brian Boyle for $2M a year? Pouliot for $4M a year? Cmon...
- rangerdanger94

Stralman is pretty young, he has his best couple of years ahead if him. With the orpik and engelland deals setting the standard, stralmans contract is pretty good.

Stralman is pretty young, he has his best couple of years ahead if him. With the orpik and engelland deals setting the standard, stralmans contract is pretty good.
- Cloud

Stralman has good years ahead of him but I think the last 2 months of the season will be the peak of his play. He damn near outplayed mcdonagh. I just don't see him playing at that level consistently for the duration of the deal. Still a great solid defenseman.

Ill answer it this way...we don't have a bonafide center anywhere in the org but we have close to 3-5 guys capable of what Stralman can do. And were in a win now mode. Hence it be foolish in my opinion to keep a player for 5 years when someone likely equal to him is already in the system (when Boyle is up). If stralman wanted two years i wouldve been on your sode of te arguement. Now, If those prospects don't pan out so be it, but if you have 5 guys long term committed your effectively giving those guys no chance. I have nothing against Stralman. Could it be we don't have enough money for forwards right because we have so much locked up in the defense already? Plus we have a goalie that taking a huge number as it is. It just doesn't seem wise to keep so many guys on defense and another costly one

Not everyone sees the need for a top end center like I do. To which I say, I think those opinions are wrong. Look at the past cup winners and tell me they all don't have better talent then us at center. And we have the eat goalie in the leauge.

Alot of you guys rate our players way higher then other teams players. You sir are the perfect example of that
- Slimtj100

One way to look at it is Ithis:
Unless you think that getting to the cup finals was kind of a
fluke, youve got to believe that the rags are very close to winning
It all and their biggest need is a dominant center. If there is
A way to get one youve got to go for it. I dont know that theres
A chance in hell of obtaining eric staal but he certainly fits the
Bill. You dont get too many chances.

Well we knew it was likely, but how many years are we going to have to do this? I know every player cannot be kept every offseason like in the old days, but some continuity would be nice. I hate that so much money is locked into a few players (yes, I know most teams experience this), just makes it hard to build a real continuous contending team.
- B2B76

In order to do that though you have to identify your core group of players, the guys that can keep you in contention annually for a long time, and lock them up long term. The rest of the roster is usually going to be complementary players, a few of whom are replaced every year either by cheaper free agents or by young talent. In my book, as much as I like Boyle, Pouliot and Stralman, they weren't the "Core" guys on this team. Our core guys are Step, Zucc, Nash (for better or worse), St. Louis (now), McDonagh, Staal, Girardi and Hank.

The downside of building a team with great depth is those complementary players end up pursuing other opportunities that come with more money and/or a larger role than what they can get with their original club. Stralman and Pouliot were virtually scrap heap pickups who found their way here in NYC and ended up making a lot of money when it wasn't that long ago that they were on their way out of the NHL. Now they are solid players, albeit not core guys, and the Rangers simply couldn't afford to keep them.

What I do like, however, is that we do have some young kids that potentially could address those holes. In years past we would have been chasing free agents or making trades to fill those needs. I'm hopeful that one or two of the kids can step in and earn the open jobs.

i think if he gets that kind of chance he'll make the team, he just fits our style of play to good
- webleedblue

From what I understand from people who watch him play, he doesn't have the physical strength yet to play in the NHL.

One way to look at it is Ithis:
Unless you think that getting to the cup finals was kind of a
fluke, youve got to believe that the rags are very close to winning
It all and their biggest need is a dominant center. If there is
A way to get one youve got to go for it. I dont know that theres
A chance in hell of obtaining eric staal but he certainly fits the
Bill. You dont get too many chances.
- BobbySchmautz

I think they over achieved reaching the conference finals a few years ago and I think they overachieved reaching the Cup final last year. The Philly series was shaky at times. The team looked horrid against Pit until game 5. Montreal was simply too shallow to hang with the Rangers in the 3rd round. Boston or a healthy Tampa team probably could have taken the Rangers down.

As the current roster stands, assuming we could get E Staal without losing roster players, I just don't know that he makes the difference. The guy is great but I just don't know. Had B Boyle stayed and the team been able to pick up Legwand I would say absolutely.

I think they over achieved reaching the conference finals a few years ago and I think they overachieved reaching the Cup final last year. The Philly series was shaky at times. The team looked horrid against Pit until game 5. Montreal was simply too shallow to hang with the Rangers in the 3rd round. Boston or a healthy Tampa team probably could have taken the Rangers down.

As the current roster stands, assuming we could get E Staal without losing roster players, I just don't know that he makes the difference. The guy is great but I just don't know. Had B Boyle stayed and the team been able to pick up Legwand I would say absolutely.
- Maskdman3

we had the best record in the Eastern Conference that year

I think they over achieved reaching the conference finals a few years ago and I think they overachieved reaching the Cup final last year. The Philly series was shaky at times. The team looked horrid against Pit until game 5. Montreal was simply too shallow to hang with the Rangers in the 3rd round. Boston or a healthy Tampa team probably could have taken the Rangers down.

As the current roster stands, assuming we could get E Staal without losing roster players, I just don't know that he makes the difference. The guy is great but I just don't know. Had B Boyle stayed and the team been able to pick up Legwand I would say absolutely.
- Maskdman3

And that is the other way to look at it. I do think
The stars had to align for them to make it as far as they
Did but wouldnt it have been great to have one
More important player in those finals?
Could have been the difference i'd say -one OT
Goal could have changed that series. Im talking to you, Rick!
That being said,
It remains to be seen how competetive this
Team will be moving forward; whether they can make
Another run at it or fall back to earth as some predict.
If its the former, you want to have an Eric Staal on the roster this time but
If its the latter than they should concentrate on building from
Within for the time being. Im inclined to go with the latter
but it sure would be awesome to see another Staal out there.
Look at how much of a difference MSL made? - and i dont think he
Even played to his capacity.

I think they over achieved reaching the conference finals a few years ago and I think they overachieved reaching the Cup final last year. The Philly series was shaky at times. The team looked horrid against Pit until game 5. Montreal was simply too shallow to hang with the Rangers in the 3rd round. Boston or a healthy Tampa team probably could have taken the Rangers down.

As the current roster stands, assuming we could get E Staal without losing roster players, I just don't know that he makes the difference. The guy is great but I just don't know. Had B Boyle stayed and the team been able to pick up Legwand I would say absolutely.
- Maskdman3

That's not possible with 69 million dollar cap.

Anyone care for the latest Facebook rumor??

Anyone care for the latest Facebook rumor??
- Slimtj100

Malkin??

Malkin??
- mdw7413

Nope..our boy!

Nope..our boy!
- Slimtj100

Nash for Staal?

Nope..our boy!
- Slimtj100

Oh boy.

Over the past two playoff runs for the Rangers, Derick Brassard leads the team with 24 points in 35 games (H Ref).

Ryan McDonagh is second with 21 in 37
Derek Stepan is third with 20 in 36
Mats Zuccarello is fourth with 20 in 37

--------

Futura

Over the past two playoff runs for the Rangers, Derick Brassard leads the team with 24 points in 35 games (H Ref).

Ryan McDonagh is second with 21 in 37
Derek Stepan is third with 20 in 36
Mats Zuccarello is fourth with 20 in 37

--------

Futura
- evitageN

Kreider also has 22 points over his last 41 games in the playoffs.

Over the past two playoff runs for the Rangers, Derick Brassard leads the team with 24 points in 35 games (H Ref).

Ryan McDonagh is second with 21 in 37
Derek Stepan is third with 20 in 36
Mats Zuccarello is fourth with 20 in 37

--------

Futura
- evitageN

Yet is there a player that's brought up more in trade proposals by fans?

Nash for Staal?
- Pete V

If you wanna believe it or not...it's supposedly Brassard, prospect and picks...for staal..and they keep a decent chunk of his salary

To which I would say...where do I sign. But I've calling this guy out a bit...he's ignoring me when I post

So he says, "they have moved on from Thornton as a target and talking about Eric Staal now"

If you wanna believe it or not...it's supposedly Brassard, prospect and picks...for staal..and they keep a decent chunk of his salary

To which I would say...where do I sign. But I've calling this guy out a bit...he's ignoring me when I post

So he says, "they have moved on from Thornton as a target and talking about Eric Staal now"
- Slimtj100

I love the general statement "prospects and picks" these people throw out in these rumors. Because we are just loaded with those things right now.

If you wanna believe it or not...it's supposedly Brassard, prospect and picks...for staal..and they keep a decent chunk of his salary

To which I would say...where do I sign. But I've calling this guy out a bit...he's ignoring me when I post

So he says, "they have moved on from Thornton as a target and talking about Eric Staal now"
- Slimtj100

Probably some 45 yr old in his moms basement, wearing nothing but boxers with cheetos stains all over them, and wanting people to follow him.

I love the general statement "prospects and picks" these people throw out in these rumors. Because we are just loaded with those things right now.
- jimbro83

Brassard, Skjei/Duclair and both our 2nd's for 2 year of Eric Staal. Oh YES!

I love the general statement "prospects and picks" these people throw out in these rumors. Because we are just loaded with those things right now.
- jimbro83

"He knows someone who know Scott Gortan tho"

If you wanna believe it or not...it's supposedly Brassard, prospect and picks...for staal..and they keep a decent chunk of his salary

To which I would say...where do I sign. But I've calling this guy out a bit...he's ignoring me when I post

So he says, "they have moved on from Thornton as a target and talking about Eric Staal now"
- Slimtj100

Has your brother disowned you yet for using Facebook as a source for rumors? lol

I feel like that could make the Sunday family brunch quite interesting