Not sure why Q doesn't just do this:

Hayden-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Schmaltz-Kane
Hartman-Kero-Hossa
Desjardins-Kruger-Tootoo/Moose/Jurco

Not sure why Q doesn't just do this:

Hayden-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Schmaltz-Kane
Hartman-Kero-Hossa
Desjardins-Kruger-Tootoo/Moose/Jurco

None of which are doing anything but become role players at best.
- golfbard

If the Rangers continue to sign undrafted NCAA FA's at this rate, over half the roster with be guys like TVR and Kero...

...recipe for success?

Good afternoon STL, how's that going for the Rags these days? Just saying, not trying to be a smart ass.
- 6628

Good afternoon, numbers - and the question wasn't about how it was going for the Blue Shirts, but trying to give a reason why they were able to sign Latierri.

Like the pretty boy sunday tribune magazine thing?
- 6628

He is a good looking young man - in a manly sort of way....

What? When I say veteran FA's I don't mean guys like Brad Richards who sign here on one year deals at the end of their careers. I'm talking about free agents that are considered prime targets. That would be more concerning than a 20-year-old kid coming off a good NCAA season spurning us to get immediate third/fourth line minutes with a different team.
- TommyHawk

What money is available to sign a free agent considered a prime target?

Stan continues to fail with the college free agent market:

Vinni Lettieri signs with New York Rangers https://t.co/lNyb7CA5t4 #Gophers

— Go Gophers! (@GoldenGophers) March 27, 2017

Free agents the Hawks have come short of signing lately:

Vinni Lettieri
Jimmy Vesey
Drake Caggiula
Alex Lyon
Mike Reilly

— Second City Hockey (@2ndCityHockey) March 27, 2017

- DarthKane

Say what you want about Stan, but right now the Hawks have six 20 goal scorers, and if Hartsy gets two more that's seven. And if Hartsy delivers, three of those seven players will be under $1M annual cap hits for this season. One via trade, one via fee agency, and one first round pick. Some pretty decent GM-ing there.

Here's hoping Hartsy is listening to Coach Q here and comes back and plays like he had all year until this last couple games.

Say what you want about Stan, but right now the Hawks have six 20 goal scorers, and if Hartsy gets two more that's seven. And if Hartsy delivers, three of those seven players will be under $1M annual cap hits for this season. One via trade, one via fee agency, and one first round pick. Some pretty decent GM-ing there.
- acmidd28

I know...I was being sarcastic (*shocker*).

Stan has done a good job signing almost all the team's key prospects. Hopefully Sikura signs in a year from now, it sounds like he will (like Hayden did a year ago) but you never know until a deal is signed.

Bondra is another prospect the team could sign, but there's no rush with him so I wouldn't be surprised if the team waited another year.

I know...I was being sarcastic (*shocker*).

Stan has done a good job signing almost all the team's key prospects. Hopefully Sikura signs in a year from now, it sounds like he will (like Hayden did a year ago) but you never know until a deal is signed.

Bondra is another prospect the team could sign, but there's no rush with him so I wouldn't be surprised if the team waited another year.
- DarthKane

One important thing to note about Sikura is that he was drafted as a center but has been playing wing for at least the past year if not two years at Northeastern. Seems like a smart move by Hawks management to get him wing experience sooner rather than later so that he is more versatile once he does sign with the team.

With Radke on an ATO with the Hogs which could parlay into a ELC eventually plus Knott already with an ELC, I would think at least one of them is on the Hogs next season (possibly both). Maybe Bondra and Iacopelli is in that mix of potential big forwards to join the farm system. I guess it all depends on whether they could still learn more in juniors/college. DeBrincat, on the other hand, has nothing else to prove and should be in Rockford next year.

Interesting, wonder why Kruger isn't in The Dog House as well?
- walleyeb1

Kruger was complaining about having been slashed and really should not have been sent to the box for unsportsmanlike for that, IMO.

Hartman just wouldn't shut up after he was called for a legit penalty.

Kruger was complaining about having been slashed and really should not have been sent to the box for unsportsmanlike for that, IMO.

Hartman just wouldn't shut up after he was called for a legit penalty.
- pdx2ord

Hartman>>Kruger

Neither should be benched, but still....

Benching someone for having a bad game after they've been playing so well for so long is just stupid. Especially when the entire team played like crap and lost 7-0. If i were Hartman I'd be pissed off.

Q strikes again with the stupid line combos. Kero at 2C? Hayden restricted to the 4th line? Hartman benched in favor of inferior players?

5-1 Lightning win

Looks like a slump is in the making. Too much shuffling with the lines. No chemistry/rhythm.
- SimpleJack

So they got whooped 7-0. Big deal. Every team in this league has a game/s like that every season. Let them play through it. Sitting Hartman is just 100% stupid. 38 has been a huge part of this team all year. He has a bad game game and you sit him? How many other players on this team have had brutal games yet play every game?

Dont see the logic in jacking up the lines right now.

Here's hoping Hartsy is listening to Coach Q here and comes back and plays like he had all year until this last couple games.
- 35Tony0

Chances are he would have bounced back fine without being benched.

Now we're just down one more top 9 forward(already without AA) for an important game on the road when we need to be wrapping up the division. Lovely.

From Blueshirt Banter:
Lettieri, 22, just completed a breakout senior season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, scoring 19 goals and adding 18 assists in 38 games. It is hardly a surprise that the Rangers landed him, as there is a relationship on a number of levels. Lettieri attended the Rangers’ prospect camp in both 2014 and 2015. He is the cousin of Rangers’ prospect Tyler Nanne and was teammates in Minnesota with Brady Skjei. Russo reported that Skjei (and Minnesota-native Derek Stepan) made pitches to Lettieri. Finally, Rangers’ President Glen Sather has a long-time relationship with Lettieri’s grandfather, Lou Nanne.



http://www.blueshirtbante...free-agent-vinni-lettieri

So they got whooped 7-0. Big deal. Every team in this league has a game/s like that every season. Let them play through it. Sitting Hartman is just 100% stupid. 38 has been a huge part of this team all year. He has a bad game game and you sit him? How many other players on this team have had brutal games yet play every game?

Dont see the logic in jacking up the lines right now.
- z1990z

I'm 100% with you

Its very dumb

Keep the (frank)ing lines the same Q. Its not that hard. Play your best players, and keep up a solid 4 line rotation.

Chances are he would have bounced back fine without being benched.

Now we're just down one more top 9 forward(already without AA) for an important game on the road when we need to be wrapping up the division. Lovely.
- SimpleJack

I think we can relax a bit here. Hartman has had a few so-so games in a row (looking for more offense and not playing as well defensively, IMO). Q always shuffles the lines at the end of the year to get guys playing time and see if there are any particular combinations that provide something he thinks he needs.

Count me in the "I don't think it matters much" column.

Hartman probably feels "why am i being singled out and benched after our entire team played like poop and lost 7-0??" .....more so than, "I've gotta learn my lesson and bounce back next game." I'm sure he'll say all the right things when he's asked, but deep down i guarantee you he's not happy. I wouldn't be.

I think we can relax a bit here. Hartman has had a few so-so games in a row (looking for more offense and not playing as well defensively, IMO). Q always shuffles the lines at the end of the year to get guys playing time and see if there are any particular combinations that provide something he thinks he needs.

Count me in the "I don't think it matters much" column.
- Chunk

The entire team has been "so-so" Since the Avs game.

Singling out Hartman with public comments and a benching is just pure stupidity.

Hartman>>Kruger

Neither should be benched, but still....

Benching someone for having a bad game after they've been playing so well for so long is just stupid. Especially when the entire team played like crap and lost 7-0. If i were Hartman I'd be pissed off.
- SimpleJack

Wasn't just a bad game.

It was 4 penalties in two games - 11 PIM, at least one of which was in the o-zone, and one of which was for being stupid.

I'm 100% with you

Its very dumb

Keep the (frank)ing lines the same Q. Its not that hard. Play your best players, and keep up a solid 4 line rotation.
- SimpleJack

Playoff X Factor... #LeaveItALoneQ

Chances are he would have bounced back fine without being benched.

Now we're just down one more top 9 forward(already without AA) for an important game on the road when we need to be wrapping up the division. Lovely.
- SimpleJack

Q also wants to show Hayden, Kempny, Kero, Schmaltz, the kids in Rockfish that you have to be disciplined in the show - especially in the tournament - can't be taking stupid penalties then, for sure.

A teaching moment with a larger audience than just #38.

Hartman probably feels "why am i being singled out and benched after our entire team played like poop and lost 7-0??" .....more so than, "I've gotta learn my lesson and bounce back next game." I'm sure he'll say all the right things when he's asked, but deep down i guarantee you he's not happy. I wouldn't be.
- SimpleJack

And why do you think that Q and / or the other coaches didn't talk to him about why he was being press-boxed? (Assuming that he is.)

Wasn't just a bad game.

It was 4 penalties in two games - 11 PIM, at least one of which was in the o-zone, and one of which was for being stupid.
- StLBravesFan

So let me ask you this.....because Hartman commits a few dumb penalties over 2 games, do you really prefer having Jurco or Tootoo in the lineup instead of him for your next game? Does that give the team its best chance to win this next game?

Hartman doesn't need a benching to know he made those mistakes. He certainly doesn't need the coach to be calling him out publicly.

And why do you think that Q and / or the other coaches didn't talk to him about why he was being press-boxed? (Assuming that he is.)
- StLBravesFan

I'm sure they did. And that's where it should have stayed.