really if Miller isn't suited to be a center, then they should trade him for a center
- jimbro83

That would only be if Miller is the absolute necessary piece to be used in part or alone in order to acquire, respectively, either a 2nd line center, or a top NHL 3rd line one.
Prior to the Raanta/Stepan trade, and the signing of Shatty, it appeared that in addition to Raanta, Miller was the key roster player that would have been necessary to part with to land Trouba here, along with a top prospect &/or pick(s) heading to Winnipeg. Then once Raanta was traded, the Jets were forced to look elsewhere for a new goalie to be their #1 starter, (in signing UFA, Steve Mason later on). The word in Winnipeg was then that Skjei would be the key roster piece required in part instead of Miller, to acquire Trouba. That's when the Rangers shifted their concentration to signing Shatty.

he's also only two years removed from his career season of 2014-15

we shall see, I'd feel better if he was at 1 million instead of 1.3 million but whatevs
- jimbro83

Gorton & company underestimated greatly the $2.5M/year that Anders Nilsson (2 years), & Chad Johnson (1 year), would each go for on Day 1 of free agency, with Nilsson being their first target. If they had a hint, they could have signed earlier that July 1st day, the Wild's, Darcy Kuemper as low as possibly 1/2 the $1.3M they signed Pavelec for (at a $3.45M salary decrease), given the 8 games he only played in last season due to injury, & ending up as the Jets 3rd ranked goalie (3.55 GAA & a .888 SV%). The Kings inked Kuemper earlier that day for 1 year at $650,000 only, with him taking a $900,000 salary reduction from his Wild salary. However, with a better Wild team, Kuemper had a 3.13 GAA & a .902 SV% in 18 games played.

Gorton & company underestimated greatly the $2.5M/year that Anders Nilsson (2 years), & Chad Johnson (1 year), would each go for on Day 1 of free agency, with Nilsson being their first target. If they had a hint, they could have signed earlier that July 1st day, the Wild's, Darcy Kuemper as low as possibly 1/2 the $1.3M they signed Pavelec for (at a $3.45M salary decrease), given the 8 games he only played in last season due to injury, & ending up as the Jets 3rd ranked goalie (3.55 GAA & a .888 SV%). The Kings inked Kuemper earlier that day for 1 year at $650,000 only, with him taking a $900,000 salary reduction from his Wild salary. However, with a better Wild team, Kuemper had a 3.13 GAA & a .902 SV% in 18 games played.
- RangerSaver

Hindsight is a great thing...

he's also only two years removed from his career season of 2014-15

we shall see, I'd feel better if he was at 1 million instead of 1.3 million but whatevs
- jimbro83

I don't get the Pavelec hate. He's been a legit starting goalie. He's shown more than Talbot or Raanta did before they came to the rangers. Benoit Allaire will turn him into a stud goalie we're gonna hate to lose next summer.

I don't get the Pavelec hate. He's been a legit starting goalie. He's shown more than Talbot or Raanta did before they came to the rangers. Benoit Allaire will turn him into a stud goalie we're gonna hate to lose next summer.
- rangerdanger94

You don't get the dislike for what you say is a "Legit Starting goalie" that has a career save percentage of .907? Ok then.

You don't get the dislike for what you say is a "Legit Starting goalie" that has a career save percentage of .907? Ok then.
- tomburton99

Playing for Winnipeg jets. Allaire will make him a starter on another team year after he plays with myr

You don't get the dislike for what you say is a "Legit Starting goalie" that has a career save percentage of .907? Ok then.
- tomburton99

But he won't be a starting goalie here. And like others pointed out with Benny working with him he should improve (like every other Hank backup has while they were here).

You don't get the dislike for what you say is a "Legit Starting goalie" that has a career save percentage of .907? Ok then.
- tomburton99

And Raanta lost his backup position to Darling when he came to the Rangers. He was signed to be a backup goalie. I swear, you'll female dog about anything.

Hindsight is a great thing...
- 21peter

Those were the facts & not "hindsight". Their first backup goalie interest was Nilsson, who at $1M in 2016/17, was the lowest paid last season of all the free agent goalies. Reto Berra was 2nd, followed 3rd by Kuemper at $1.55M, who was never in their interest, and signed with the Kings for 1 season at only $650,000. Then came Chad Johnson at $1.7M as 4th lowest paid in 2016/17, who was expected to be due an increase, due to his very well season with Calgary. All other F.A. goalies were either #1 starters or backups at $2.7M & up, starting with Brian Elliot at that rate last year also with Calgary.
If there were no concern with Pavelec's game for next season, then why did he accept the highest decrease in salary and %, from $4.75M down to $1.3M of all the F.A. goalies? His recent seasons' downfall in play due a good part to injuries, are the reasons for that, and also show why he has to prove himself to both be able to remain healthy, and play well once again.

But he won't be a starting goalie here. And like others pointed out with Benny working with him he should improve (like every other Hank backup has while they were here).
- B2B76

Benny has his limitations as well, but not on the instructional side. He can only do so much with Pavlec, with no guarantee of preventing him from suffering any further injuries, in order to return his game back to its success of a few years ago & dating back to his first season in the NHL.

And Raanta lost his backup position to Darling when he came to the Rangers. He was signed to be a backup goalie. I swear, you'll female dog about anything.
- Pete V

Right to the heart.

Right to the heart.
- tomburton99

You are the type that is totally complaining how hot it is this week yet moans & groans in the winter about the snow & how you can't wait for summer, aren't you?

You are the type that is totally complaining how hot it is this week yet moans & groans in the winter about the snow & how you can't wait for summer, aren't you?
- B2B76

Elliotte Friedman:
Hearing NASH and Viktor Arvidsson are working on a 7-year extension at a $4.25 AAV

Locking up players early at a team-friendly cap hit before they get to go to arbitration or take their game to the next level, what a concept.

Elliotte Friedman:
Hearing NASH and Viktor Arvidsson are working on a 7-year extension at a $4.25 AAV

Locking up players early at a team-friendly cap hit before they get to go to arbitration or take their game to the next level, what a concept.
- airjan23

Still have 3 days for Zib...no reason to panic yet

So can i throw this out there...the last time OJ was a free man the Rangers were celebrating their Stanley cup victory with a parade....well he is free again

Still have 3 days for Zib...no reason to panic yet
- TPC

Not talking Zib and not worried, yet. Talking Skjei.

So can i throw this out there...the last time OJ was a free man the Rangers were celebrating their Stanley cup victory with a parade....well he is free again
- TPC

OJ was free from 1995 until 2008, so that doesn't work to good.

So can i throw this out there...the last time OJ was a free man the Rangers were celebrating their Stanley cup victory with a parade....well he is free again
- TPC

The Juice is loose!
Well, soon anyway.

Elliotte Friedman:
Hearing NASH and Viktor Arvidsson are working on a 7-year extension at a $4.25 AAV

Locking up players early at a team-friendly cap hit before they get to go to arbitration or take their game to the next level, what a concept.
- airjan23

You had me worried there for a second Jan, in thinking that Sather had just replaced Gorton as GM. That's because of the way you had highlighted "NASH" there, all in caps. That caused me to fear for a second, that you were also referring that RICK NASH was working on his own 7 year extension with the Rangers at the same $4.25 AAV, until I read your next sentence in assuring why that was not the case.

Elliotte Friedman:
Hearing NASH and Viktor Arvidsson are working on a 7-year extension at a $4.25 AAV

Locking up players early at a team-friendly cap hit before they get to go to arbitration or take their game to the next level, what a concept.
- airjan23

7 years for Zib, let's get it done

So can i throw this out there...the last time OJ was a free man the Rangers were celebrating their Stanley cup victory with a parade....well he is free again
- TPC

Prior to a few days ago, OJ was last a free man in 2008, after being acquitted of the Ron Goldman murder in Oct., 1995. He was free prior to that on the evening of June 17, 1994, the same day of the Rangers Stanley Cup Parade. That was on the evening of his live televised & infamous police chase on a Caiifornia freeway in his Ford Bronco, which also occurred during a Knicks Finals Round win at MSG.
Why that NBA relation? OJ's accomplice, Al Cowlings, later revealed that the Bronco was driven slowly during that chase, so that he and OJ could listen to that NBA Finals Game 5 that night on the radio. I read in some linked article to his parole a few days ago, that a former sports agent of OJ had purchased that Bronco at some later time for $200,000 from Al Cowlings, and had recently turned down $250,000 for it, in believing that if OJ were to be paroled, he would be able to sell it for in between $750K to $1M.

Larry Brooks on the defense and Mika Zibanejad:

http://nypost.com/2017/07...runch-on-rangers-defense/

Much, if not all of this ground, covered in the blog previously

New blog up