I'll let him know Jimbro. Since you are the acting congress for Ranger fans. The power to declare war, incite riots on hockeybuzz, and decide who is a fan or not. Obviously honesty is not part of your criteria. Are you denying that the Garden was a helluva lot less full during "the dark years"?
- Cptmjl

Absolutely. The Rangers were always in it in those years until pretty late in the seasons anyway. This is why the Rangers never picked first overall. Or had a first rounder of their own higher than 6th overall. MSG was always packed. And pissed off.

Absolutely. The Rangers were always in it in those years until pretty late in the seasons anyway. This is why the Rangers never picked first overall. Or had a first rounder of their own higher than 6th overall. MSG was always packed. And pissed off.
- jimbro83

Charles Wang doing stand up at the garden would sell out too. Its the garden. I am not impressed

Your fan base also didn't:

- Have an owner charge fans to watch home games.

- Have an owner who simply would not sign star players and let them leave or trade them... consistently.

- Have an owner who destroyed one of the most talented/young rosters in the NHL.

There are other aspects but these are three major ones.
- CaptainBlackhawk

No doubt about it, Hawks fans were getting screwed by team management.

Same can be said for Pens management, at that time, too.

Absolutely. The Rangers were always in it in those years until pretty late in the seasons anyway. This is why the Rangers never picked first overall. Or had a first rounder of their own higher than 6th overall. MSG was always packed. And pissed off.
- jimbro83

Ok. I dont want to upset you. Ill let my friend know hes got to turn his panties in now.

You're right. He's going to come out and say "I want a guaranteed roster spot". C'mon man... you, I and anyone reading this knows that he, nor his agent, would ever say that.

Here's a better question: Why wouldn't a young player want to compete for a roster spot on the most talented roster in the sport, in a sold out building every single game, in one of the best cities to live in the world?

Again... we know the answer to that. As multiple sources have pointed out.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Your argument is flawed because the final 3 choices...the Avs, Bruins, and Rangers...are all deep teams that would NEVER guarantee or promise a roster spot let alone a top 6 spot. The Rangers have maybe 2 openings in the bottom 6 and there will be about 6 players fighting over them with all equal chances to get them.

Why would Hayes choose the Rangers if he really cared about playing time? Or even narrow down the final 3 to include the Bruins and the Avs?

Why wouldn't a player want to compete in Chicago? Simple: he disliked how you traded his brother. That's what it comes down to whether you want to admit it or not.

Are you questioning the loyalty of a Ranger fan? I'd be careful.
- Cptmjl

no, but I AM baffled by how weirdly defensive they're getting.

no, but I AM baffled by how weirdly defensive they're getting.
- BINGO!

They may have some of the most defensive posters on this site. from what I have seen.

no, but I AM baffled by how weirdly defensive they're getting.
- BINGO!

Just noticing?

They may have some of the most defensive posters on this site. from what I have seen.
- mighty13duck

You guys are up there to whenever Hall gets compared to Tavares.

You guys are up there to whenever Hall gets compared to Tavares.
- rangerdanger94

In all fairness that's a better comparison than JT and Stepan which is just insulting

Your argument is flawed because the final 3 choices...the Avs, Bruins, and Rangers...are all deep teams that would NEVER guarantee or promise a roster spot let alone a top 6 spot. The Rangers have maybe 2 openings in the bottom 6 and there will be about 6 players fighting over them with all equal chances to get them.

Why would Hayes choose the Rangers if he really cared about playing time? Or even narrow down the final 3 to include the Bruins and the Avs?

Why wouldn't a player want to compete in Chicago? Simple: he disliked how you traded his brother. That's what it comes down to whether you want to admit it or not.
- rangerdanger94

That is a really stupid reason then. I have a hard time buying that a (future) professional hockey player is upset about the trade of his brother, who the Hawks were never obligated to acquire in the first place. If Jimmy Hayes was still in the Toronto system, would Kevin still be a Blackhawk? I doubt it.

They may have some of the most defensive posters on this site. from what I have seen.
- mighty13duck

It was bad before, but it's gotten much worse since the last time I frequented this site.

You guys are up there to whenever Hall gets compared to Tavares.
- rangerdanger94

None of them cared at all when Okposo was left off the Olympic team. They barely mentioned it.

None of them cared at all when Okposo was left off the Olympic team. They barely mentioned it.
- jimbro83

USA may have placed if he was on it. As an American I was angry of course.

In all fairness that's a better comparison than JT and Stepan which is just insulting
- mighty13duck

Sure, but no one in their right mind would legitmately compare JT to Stepan.

Although now you're kinda crapping on your boy Okposo cuz last I checked, Stepan was good enough to take his spot on Team USA, right?

None of them cared at all when Okposo was left off the Olympic team. They barely mentioned it.
- jimbro83

Why is not getting all butthurt over something out of their control a negative thing?

USA may have placed if he was on it. As an American I was angry of course.
- mighty13duck

See stuff like saying "you guys are so sensitive" really is kind of silly when there are plenty of topics that Isles fans can easily get pretty sensitive about. We are all fans. We all can get sensitive.

That is a really stupid reason then. I have a hard time buying that a (future) professional hockey player is upset about the trade of his brother, who the Hawks were never obligated to acquire in the first place. If Jimmy Hayes was still in the Toronto system, would Kevin still be a Blackhawk? I doubt it.
- Sandus

Correct. Let's assume that his hypothesis is correct; Hayes didn't sign with the Hawks because of "how they traded his brother". Speaks specifically to another point... he's a self entitled punk.

Also - let's completely disregard the multiple sources who specially outlined the reason why he didn't want to play with the Hawks... they wouldn't guarantee him a roster spot or that he didn't think that even if he competed for one that he'd get one.

And Ranger fans are DELUSIONAL if they think that their top 9 can't use a supposed goal scoring/big forward.

Correct.

Also - let's completely disregard the multiple sources who specially outlined the reason why he didn't want to play with the Hawks... they wouldn't guarantee him a roster spot or that he didn't think that even if he competed for one that he'd get one.

And Ranger fans are DELUSIONAL if they think that their top 9 can't use a supposed goal scoring/big forward.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Links to those sources please.

Good luck Kevin. Im sure youll get lots of playing time in the big Apple..


Ummmmmmmmm

Links to those sources please.
- rangerdanger94

John Jaeckel
Mark Lazerus
Jessie Rogers
Scott Powers

You're welcome to do the research on the "links" yourself.

Like I said: Assuming that even there's a hint of your "hypothesis" being correct that he didn't sign with Chicago because his brother was traded.. congrats.. the Rangers just signed a self entitled punk. Great for team chemistry.

John Jaeckel
Mark Lazerus
Jessie Rogers
Scott Powers

You're welcome to do the research on the "links" yourself.

Like I said: Assuming that even there's a hint of your "hypothesis" being correct that he didn't sign with Chicago because his brother was traded.. congrats.. the Rangers just signed a self entitled punk. Great for team chemistry.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I did research their articles and literally none of them had sources. It's all speculation. You know what else they speculated? That he would sign in Calgary or Florida because he would be able to play right away. You know what teams didn't make his reported 4-5 team shortlist? Calgary and Florida.

We'll gladly take Kevin Hayes and you can take your 2nd rounder bud.

John Jaeckel
Mark Lazerus
Jessie Rogers
Scott Powers

You're welcome to do the research on the "links" yourself.

Like I said: Assuming that even there's a hint of your "hypothesis" being correct that he didn't sign with Chicago because his brother was traded.. congrats.. the Rangers just signed a self entitled punk. Great for team chemistry.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Sure your not just a butt hurt hawks fan..... Like you said, Hayes has warts. No one should sign him....loser...

Maybe roster spot had something to do with it, but in the end, no one knows for sure except Hayes. He's a Northeast kid, maybe he didn't want to live in Illinois, especially after his brother was moved. Maybe he wanted to live in NY or Boston. Maybe it was a combination of many things (which it usually is). NY had the living, the geographic area, the potential roster opening, the potential Cup contention, a former BC teammate, a very open policy for kids to play that can perform, and the Rangers are known around the entire league as one of the best teams to play for in terms of what you get in NY with facilities and first rate staff, medical, etc.... Sorry but the truth hurts, we draw players.

John Jaeckel
Mark Lazerus
Jessie Rogers
Scott Powers

You're welcome to do the research on the "links" yourself.

Like I said: Assuming that even there's a hint of your "hypothesis" being correct that he didn't sign with Chicago because his brother was traded.. congrats.. the Rangers just signed a self entitled punk. Great for team chemistry.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I don't think the Blackhawks didn't sign Hayes because he just isn't good enough for them. I think they wanted to sign him and just couldn't get it done. We can debate the reasons. But you act like Chicago didn't want him anyway which is a complete fallacy.

I did research their articles and literally none of them had sources. It's all speculation. You know what else they speculated? That he would sign in Calgary or Florida because he would be able to play right away. You know what teams didn't make his reported 4-5 team shortlist? Calgary and Florida.

We'll gladly take Kevin Hayes and you can take your 2nd rounder bud.
- rangerdanger94

- That's fine. You believe your little hypothesis. The actual reasons why he didn't are the.. well... actual reasons.

- Writers were speculating where he MIGHT sign.

- Again.. you're delusional if you think that the Rangers couldn't use a power forward/supposed young goal scorer immediately in their top 9. Or... arguably their largest weakness.

Carry on. Enjoy the cancer.