Levin's comments on Girardi...

Boyle has and continues to be horrific, joined by the snow angel bunny, Dan Girardi. Maybe the wear and tear from his playing style or long playoff runs has hit him like a ton of bricks, but the decline that started after the LA series looks to be in full bloom. The problem is the long term deal and NMC make it almost impossible to deal now.

"snow angel bunny Dan Girardi"

That's gold Jerry! Gold!

Levin's comments on Girardi...

Boyle has and continues to be horrific, joined by the snow angel bunny, Dan Girardi. Maybe the wear and tear from his playing style or long playoff runs has hit him like a ton of bricks, but the decline that started after the LA series looks to be in full bloom. The problem is the long term deal and NMC make it almost impossible to deal now.

"snow angel bunny Dan Girardi"

That's gold Jerry! Gold!
- madmike71

If the Rags had almost any other goalie they'd be in major trouble. Their defense has looked awful but Lundqvist has covered up a lot of the blemishes. Hopefully their trash play on the blue line continues through the season and Lundqvist isn't able to hold the line for them any longer.

That's the thing, I don't think they need more offensive d-men. They need more guys like Dumo. Not great at one particular thing but good at almost everything. After Lovejoy is gone pouliot will probably be ready for the second line with Cole (at least how I'd do it). Then they can dump scuds and have Dumo Clendening as the last pair. The future of the defense is pretty good as is in my opinion.
- Zac_O

I agree with ya there. The future I'm not worried about. I'm likin what I've seen from Cole and Dump so far this season and I liked Clendening's preseason a lot. His one game wasn't great but I think with playing time he can grow. By next season our d will be solid and I don't think we'll need to invest in top 4. Not having cap space to sign Franson may have been a blessing is disguise

I like this idea of firing tocchet. It'll at least shake up a dead pp. Who do you want brought in to replace him?
- Zac_O

Well the answer here is obvious. He's already been offered an organizational position by JR and his name rhymes with Ponchar.

Levin's comments on Girardi...

Boyle has and continues to be horrific, joined by the snow angel bunny, Dan Girardi. Maybe the wear and tear from his playing style or long playoff runs has hit him like a ton of bricks, but the decline that started after the LA series looks to be in full bloom. The problem is the long term deal and NMC make it almost impossible to deal now.

"snow angel bunny Dan Girardi"

That's gold Jerry! Gold!
- madmike71

And once again I have to give praise to the all-mighty Zeus that they chose Girardi over Stralman.

And once again I have to give praise to the all-mighty Zeus that they chose Girardi over Stralman.
- Victoro311

Oh if only the Pens signed Stralman over Ehrhoff.

And once again I have to give praise to the all-mighty Zeus that they chose Girardi over Stralman.
- Victoro311

Really they chose Boyle over Stralman. They could have kept Girardi and Stralman if they wanted. Staal and Girardi are gonna be Scuderi-like in the near future. Which not only kills a team's chance to compete, it also hampers rebuilding efforts.

Oh if only the Pens signed Stralman over Ehrhoff.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

If only the Pen signed Stralman (long-term for less than Martin) and traded Martin. And still signed Ehrhoff. They would have saved money, gotten younger, and added an asset.

Well the answer here is obvious. He's already been offered an organizational position by JR and his name rhymes with Ponchar.
- Victoro311

U beat me to it. That's Def who I was thinkin. But my response would not have been so clever.

U beat me to it. That's Def who I was thinkin. But my response would not have been so clever.


- pensfan024

My mom always said I was the cleverest oldest child in the family

I like this idea of firing tocchet. It'll at least shake up a dead pp. Who do you want brought in to replace him?
- Zac_O

No way Tocchet gets fired as long as Mario is here. He is the eyes and ears for him.

Really they chose Boyle over Stralman. They could have kept Girardi and Stralman if they wanted. Staal and Girardi are gonna be Scuderi-like in the near future. Which not only kills a team's chance to compete, it also hampers rebuilding efforts.
- jfkst1

They chose Staal over Stralman. Stralman wanted a long term deal and the Rangers were not in position to give he, Girardi(who was already signed) and Staal(who signed the following season) all long term deals considering they have other contracts to concern themselves with.

Can't defend how their defense looks so far and especially Girardi. Good news is that Boyle will not be around after this season and they have a really good blueliner, playing in the minors, in Skjei.

They chose Staal over Stralman. Stralman wanted a long term deal and the Rangers were not in position to give he, Girardi(who was already signed) and Staal(who signed the following season) all long term deals considering they have other contracts to concern themselves with.

Can't defend how their defense looks so far and especially Girardi. Good news is that Boyle will not be around after this season and they have a really good blueliner, playing in the minors, in Skjei.
- MidnightMarauder

I don't hate Yandle on your blue line, I just hate what you gave for him. Well I guess as a Pens fan I'm not upset that we don't have to worry about Duclaire anymore, but the that's just gonna be another bad blue line move in the books for you if Yandle walks or gets extended for 6 mil or more.

They chose Staal over Stralman. Stralman wanted a long term deal and the Rangers were not in position to give he, Girardi(who was already signed) and Staal(who signed the following season) all long term deals considering they have other contracts to concern themselves with.

Can't defend how their defense looks so far and especially Girardi. Good news is that Boyle will not be around after this season and they have a really good blueliner, playing in the minors, in Skjei.
- MidnightMarauder

Yeah, but the Rangers are contenders this season. This is possibly their last year to compete for a SC. So bad long term deals, Boyle being gone next season, and prospects in the minors aren't major considerations to the team right now.

Yeah, but the Rangers are contenders this season. This is possibly their last year to compete for a SC. So bad long term deals, Boyle being gone next season, and prospects in the minors aren't major considerations to the team right now.
- jfkst1

If the defense continues to look this poorly I don't think seeing Skjei up here this season is out of the question.

Their window to contend is as long as Hank remains elite and I don't think that will stop at the end of this season.

I don't hate Yandle on your blue line, I just hate what you gave for him. Well I guess as a Pens fan I'm not upset that we don't have to worry about Duclaire anymore, but the that's just gonna be another bad blue line move in the books for you if Yandle walks or gets extended for 6 mil or more.
- Victoro311

Duclair is a top prospect and so far looks like he is going to be an offensive world beater. But if Yandle remains in NY, on a long term basis and the Rangers contend or pehaps actually win one while he is here, it is hard to say it was a bad move for the Rangers.

Unfortunately you can't steal away players, as solid as Yandle, for nothing. Keep in mind, Girardi will most likely be gone before his contract expires as well. Don't think Gorton has the same old school good ole' boys attitude as Sather did.

Really they chose Boyle over Stralman. They could have kept Girardi and Stralman if they wanted. Staal and Girardi are gonna be Scuderi-like in the near future. Which not only kills a team's chance to compete, it also hampers rebuilding efforts.
- jfkst1

The general hope around Caps parts is that the expansion draft will leave Orpik exposed and a target for the new teams to hit the floor.

Here's hoping.

The general hope around Caps parts is that the expansion draft will leave Orpik exposed and a target for the new teams to hit the floor.

Here's hoping.
- Blackstrom2

Hope the same goes for Girardi as well. Don't think his play will improve as the years go by.

If the defense continues to look this poorly I don't think seeing Skjei up here this season is out of the question.

Their window to contend is as long as Hank remains elite and I don't think that will stop at the end of this season.
- MidnightMarauder

I think very highly of Lundqvist and he might be elite for a long time, but the surrounding cast is aging and expecting them to not show decline is unreasonable. Pens are in a similar predicament. I'm not sure they have more than this season to compete and Rags are probably in a worse position from a longevity perspective.

No way Tocchet gets fired as long as Mario is here. He is the eyes and ears for him.
- joescullz

That's why it's always a huge mistake to hire friends. The only way you should hire a friend is if you're comfortable with firing them.

I don't profess to know what's going on with their PP schemes, but to quote Bob Errey last year.... "I guarantee you Rick Tochett is not telling them to pass and not shoot".

I think much of the problem is with so many gifted players they tend to over-pass and always look for the perfect play. This version of the NHL is not friendly to that type of mentality.

Duclair is a top prospect and so far looks like he is going to be an offensive world beater. But if Yandle remains in NY, on a long term basis and the Rangers contend or pehaps actually win one while he is here, it is hard to say it was a bad move for the Rangers.

Unfortunately you can't steal away players, as solid as Yandle, for nothing. Keep in mind, Girardi will most likely be gone before his contract expires as well. Don't think Gorton has the same old school good ole' boys attitude as Sather did.
- MidnightMarauder

Moving Girardi is definitely a good idea for you guys especially if this kid you mentioned is gonna be that good, but if Girardi continues down his path how do you propose you move him? He's basically a more expensive Scuderi. If someone gave you a pedestrian offer this deadline, would you jump on it in anticipation that he'll become replacement level in the near future? I understand that it probably hurts your cup chances this season but unfortunately by the time you'll want to move on from Girardi it will be too late.

The general hope around Caps parts is that the expansion draft will leave Orpik exposed and a target for the new teams to hit the floor.

Here's hoping.
- Blackstrom2

I think there is almost zero chance of that happening unless the player willingly waives their NMC/NTC to go there. NHLPA is never going to allow teams to unload players with NMC without the player's consent.

I think there is almost zero chance of that happening unless the player willingly waives their NMC/NTC to go there. NHLPA is never going to allow teams to unload players with NMC without the player's consent.
- jfkst1

I would think the NHL creating some 46 or so more jobs will supersede any NMC/NTCs. Not sure how it worked with the last expansions and NMCs/NTCs though.

No way Tocchet gets fired as long as Mario is here. He is the eyes and ears for him.
- joescullz

Mike Keenan is suddenly available. I'm sure Mario is making a big push to get him in the org.

I think very highly of Lundqvist and he might be elite for a long time, but the surrounding cast is aging and expecting them to not show decline is unreasonable. Pens are in a similar predicament. I'm not sure they have more than this season to compete and Rags are probably in a worse position from a longevity perspective.
- jfkst1

Rangers are fairly young around Lundqvist. McDonagh, Kreider, Stepan, Lindberg, Hayes, Miller, Fast, Zuccarello, Brassard, Skjei(imminently) and McIlrath are all in their early-late 20s. Yandle is only 30(assuming he re-signs) Staal the same and Klein is only 31 and looks strong.

Nash is 32, looks awful at the start, but is in solid shape and dosnes't have a huge laundry list of injuries. There's also a pretty solid winger, toiling in the KHL in Pavel Buchnevich, who is pretty long on potential and could be here at the end of this season or next season at the latest.

Long story short(too late), longevity-wise, I don't think the Rangers are as aged as you think they are.