Yeah, but when Duclair and Buchnevich join a line up that could include Fast, Kreider, Hagelin. Miller and Nash those tall guys will be left in the ice dust.
- Downeaster

Maybe, but Bjugstad, Barkov and Ekblad are a long long way from slow.

there is no passion there. The arena is full of fans of other teams who live in Florida now who go to the game when their team comes to town.

Also, their slogan is "Chillin with the Cats" which my wife thought was funny when we went, because as people with cats, you know that cats are the laziest creatures on earth and that's a bad slogan for a hockey team.
- jimbro83

I went to an afternoon New Year's game against the Rangers about 4 years ago there. There was nobody there. The Panthers won 2-0 or something like that. It was terrible.

I went to an afternoon New Year's game against the Rangers about 4 years ago there. There was nobody there. The Panthers won 2-0 or something like that. It was terrible.

- Pete V

my wife asked if they pull a string along to get them to come to practice

Yeah, but when Duclair and Buchnevich join a line up that could include Fast, Kreider, Hagelin. Miller and Nash those tall guys will be left in the ice dust.
- Downeaster

You obviously havent watched any of those tall guys skate.

my wife asked if they pull a string along to get them to come to practice
- jimbro83

Or, the little laser light.

Both Boyle and Marty St. Louis need to go...we let MSL walk at end of season and we can easily sign Zuc...Boyle has been horrible in his own zone and mediocre at best on offense- not sure what his contract length or if he has a NTC..most likely.. I wouldn't trade assets for any 'rental' player out there..it's just not worth it... Go with what you got into the playoffs..

You obviously havent watched any of those tall guys skate.
- Cptmjl

Neither has the rest of the world. The Lochness Monster has had more exposure to viewing eyes than the Florida Panthers.

Both Boyle and Marty St. Louis need to go...we let MSL walk at end of season and we can easily sign Zuc...Boyle has been horrible in his own zone and mediocre at best on offense- not sure what his contract length or if he has a NTC..most likely.. I wouldn't trade assets for any 'rental' player out there..it's just not worth it... Go with what you got into the playoffs..
- mattstake

Boyle has a no trade clause, is signed through next year and while I agree he hasn't been as good as hoped, his 8 goals this season thus far this season exceed Anton Stralman's entire goal total in his 3 years as a Ranger. He will get to double digit goals this year.

We are one of the best defensive team's in the NHL. Boyle is on the 3rd pair. It's really not that bad of an issue.

Boyle has a no trade clause, is signed through next year and while I agree he hasn't been as good as hoped, his 8 goals this season thus far exceed Anton Stralman's entire goal total in his 3 years as a Ranger. He will get to double digit goals this year.

We are one of the best defensive team's in the NHL. Boyle is on the 3rd pair. It's really not that bad of an issue.
- jimbro83

The non-flexibility of Boyle's contract next year only annoys me to the extent that if I had to pick two of Boyle, MSL and Zucc, I would pick MSL and Zucc.

I like to value players not just by their point production, but whether they play what I consider to be the more important positions -- i.e., who is harder to replace either in free agency or internally. Defensemen are expensive in free agency and harder to replace internally given the development curve. Centers are similar. I put second line wingers significantly down that totem poll, because theoretically, guys like Duclair, Buchenevic, etc. should be able to replace a lot of that production at 1/5 of the price that Zuccarello is now asking for (apparently).

I like Zucc a lot, but do I want to pay him $5 million per long term? Not really.
- Pete V

I think $5M is fair for Zucc. He provides a lot of intangibles and while he has struggled a bit this season, he was our best forward all of last season and was a huge spark plug for us 2 years ago under torts down the stretch and into the playoffs.

The non-flexibility of Boyle's contract next year only annoys me to the extent that if I had to pick two of Boyle, MSL and Zucc, I would pick MSL and Zucc.
- Pete V

Boyle is blocking McIlrath's spot

Darren Dreger reported on NBCSN that Mats Zuccarello is “going to want” more than $5 million per year on a new contract.

Dreger said that the Rangers are probably comfortable offering Zuccarello a term of five-years but he may want more than that.
- rangerdanger94

Don't believe everything you read.

The non-flexibility of Boyle's contract next year only annoys me to the extent that if I had to pick two of Boyle, MSL and Zucc, I would pick MSL and Zucc.
- Pete V

MSL is all about the playoffs to me. He has never had a bad playoff in his career, he was the offensive catalyst getting us to the finals last year. I reserve any judgement until we see how he does this year.

I think $5M is fair for Zucc. He provides a lot of intangibles and while he has struggled a bit this season, he was our best forward all of last season and was a huge spark plug for us 2 years ago under torts down the stretch and into the playoffs.
- rangerdanger94

Zuccarello, if he has any intention on playing for a good team, will at least try to negotiate with the Rangers on an extension. I do think the team wants him back but if he leaves, for more money, guaranteed it won't be from a team on par or better than the Rangers.

Stralman didn't get a ton more from Tampa, salary-wise, he just got the guaranteed extra year on the deal. I do feel the team likes Zuccarello and they will try to comply and get a deal done.

MSL is all about the playoffs to me. He has never had a bad playoff in his career, he was the offensive catalyst getting us to the finals last year. I reserve any judgement until we see how he does this year.
- jimbro83

St. Louis was horrendous, down the stretch, after the Rangers acquired him last year. Suddenly the playoffs appear and he was one of their most important players during the run to the finals.

I think both he and Dan Boyle will show up when the playoffs start.

St. Louis was horrendous, down the stretch, after the Rangers acquired him last year. Suddenly the playoffs appear and he was one of their most important players during the run to the finals.

I think both he and Dan Boyle will show up when the playoffs start.
- MidnightMarauder

yep, I think both will be huge

Neither has the rest of the world. The Lochness Monster has had more exposure to viewing eyes than the Florida Panthers.
- Pete V

Its pretty crazy how empty that arena can be. Was hoping to get down there for a game in march. You can get some awesome deals with waitress service, center ice, etc for beans.

Zuccarello, if he has any intention on playing for a good team, will at least try to negotiate with the Rangers on an extension. I do think the team wants him back but if he leaves, for more money, guaranteed it won't be from a team on par or better than the Rangers.

Stralman didn't get a ton more from Tampa, salary-wise, he just got the guaranteed extra year on the deal. I do feel the team likes Zuccarello and they will try to comply and get a deal done.
- MidnightMarauder

Zuccarello will be a Ranger next season.

By all accounts the team wants to keep him and he wants to stay. It seems to mostly just be a matter of the current cap making things difficult. He'll sign an extension around the draft when the Rangers have made a bit more room for him.

I like to value players not just by their point production, but whether they play what I consider to be the more important positions -- i.e., who is harder to replace either in free agency or internally. Defensemen are expensive in free agency and harder to replace internally given the development curve. Centers are similar. I put second line wingers significantly down that totem poll, because theoretically, guys like Duclair, Buchenevic, etc. should be able to replace a lot of that production at 1/5 of the price that Zuccarello is now asking for (apparently).

I like Zucc a lot, but do I want to pay him $5 million per long term? Not really.
- Pete V

That's very good fall back and another reason not to go overboard for that production, I love Zucc and his character and I want him on this team but there's a price, same as Cally

yep, I think both will be huge
- jimbro83

Boyle has had an uncharacteristic season in which he has been beset by various injuries/illness. He usually is pretty durable but this season he has missed about a dozen games due to various issues.

It's hard to call this season a dud for Boyle especially when he is one of those players that plays better during the playoffs. Despite the Sharks sh!tting the bed, well almost every playoffs but especially last spring, Boyle usually is one of the few that showed up for them. I think he will play his @ss off this spring.

If Nash continues to be beastly, once the playoffs begin, and Hank comes back strong, I don't see why this team doesn't get to the finals again.

I think $5M is fair for Zucc. He provides a lot of intangibles and while he has struggled a bit this season, he was our best forward all of last season and was a huge spark plug for us 2 years ago under torts down the stretch and into the playoffs.
- rangerdanger94

I think that is fair money for him. I think he can get it on the open market. But, I don't whether the Rangers can afford to give it to him. They prospects that can play at entry level contracts on the wings, whereas that might not necessarily be the case at other positions.

To put it into perspective, while I know Staal is done now, the Rangers would feel Staal's loss a lot more than they would feel Zucarello's. They would feel Stepan's loss more than Zucarello.

Again, this is not about the player at all. I love the player. I just don't know whether it is good cap management to pay Zucc $5 million per long term when you have good young prospects at the position waiting in the wings.

But, I do hope the sides can figure it out. I want him here, just at $4 million instead of $5 million.

Boyle is blocking McIlrath's spot
- rangerdanger94

McIlrath is blocking McIlrath's spot

Zuccarello will be a Ranger next season.

By all accounts the team wants to keep him and he wants to stay. It seems to mostly just be a matter of the current cap making things difficult. He'll sign an extension around the draft when the Rangers have made a bit more room for him.
- BINGO!

If they rid themselves of Stempniak and Glass's contracts, respectively, there should be room for Zuccarello. The team doesn't need to address anything major, in their lineup, plus I feel St. Louis, if he returns, will take a pay cut to help the team remain mostly intact.

McIlrath is blocking McIlrath's spot
- KreiderBomb

They should try to turn McIlrath into a fourth line winger. Then we don't have to go out and sign one of those tough guys for too much money and immediately regret it.

That's very good fall back and another reason not to go overboard for that production, I love Zucc and his character and I want him on this team but there's a price, same as Cally
- KreiderBomb

Team should try to keep Zuccarello back in the fold. Buchnevich is a grade A prospect but I don't think he is ready to make the jump to the NHL next season. Duclair, on the otherhand, will 99.9% be a full time Ranger next season.