I think it would be a good haul, I just can't imagine trading our captain "again". Also would create a very big hole on defense. Unless Gorton says (frank) it and blows the whole thing up this year, I think its very unlikely.
- mdw7413

I can't see a Rangers team having a year or 2 off to rebuild. I would think if they trade McDonagh it's for a like/similar Dman & a pick or 2 - a hockey trade to try & shift some momentum. Trouba or Barrie (just throwing a couple of names here from teams that could probably use & resign him).

Both. I want the Rangers to pull a coyotes, take on a player with a terrible contract so the other team has to included a better pick. The Rangers have start thinking long term now.
- tomburton99

Where is the cap space coming from to take on a bad contract? (Unless it's Nash not McDonagh you're talking about then I understand ).

Yeah but like mrn pointed out, he's 30 when the first year of his new contract starts. He's going to get at least 6-7 years and is probably going to be at-or-around $7M/yr.

That's a major investment in a guy who is going to start declining pretty quickly on the wrong side of 30.

I'm really not trying to be funny or troll here, but the Rangers aren't exactly trending in the right direction to be taking that kind of risk. You could have $15M+ tied up in Lundqvist and McDonagh who, at that point, are going to be on different holes of the back nine of their careers. Doesn't exactly leave a ton of cap space for the Rangers to make moves to better the team.
- eichiefs9

The Rangers exempt in trade talks list is short.....

Lundqvist and Staal, because of the NMC. Skjei, Zibanead and maybe Smith because they just signed him. Everybody else if the Rangers have an offer on the table should at least express dialogue going forward.

Yeah but like mrn pointed out, he's 30 when the first year of his new contract starts. He's going to get at least 6-7 years and is probably going to be at-or-around $7M/yr.

That's a major investment in a guy who is going to start declining pretty quickly on the wrong side of 30.

I'm really not trying to be funny or troll here, but the Rangers aren't exactly trending in the right direction to be taking that kind of risk. You could have $15M+ tied up in Lundqvist and McDonagh who, at that point, are going to be on different holes of the back nine of their careers. Doesn't exactly leave a ton of cap space for the Rangers to make moves to better the team.
- eichiefs9

I dont see how you can give him another contract.

He hasnt exactly been an iron man in his career either

My other hope is Hank gets sick of losing and goes back to Sweden to play for Frolunda

Where is the cap space coming from to take on a bad contract? (Unless it's Nash not McDonagh you're talking about then I understand ).
- Aussiepenguin

either on.

I dont see how you can give him another contract.

He hasnt exactly been an iron man in his career either

My other hope is Hank gets sick of losing and goes back to Sweden to play for Frolunda
- mrn22

I had started to type out a post a little while ago about having to also consider trading Hank, but then I looked at his contract and realized that nobody is taking that thing on for 3 years after this season.

Yeah but like mrn pointed out, he's 30 when the first year of his new contract starts. He's going to get at least 6-7 years and is probably going to be at-or-around $7M/yr.

That's a major investment in a guy who is going to start declining pretty quickly on the wrong side of 30.

I'm really not trying to be funny or troll here, but the Rangers aren't exactly trending in the right direction to be taking that kind of risk. You could have $15M+ tied up in Lundqvist and McDonagh who, at that point, are going to be on different holes of the back nine of their careers. Doesn't exactly leave a ton of cap space for the Rangers to make moves to better the team.
- eichiefs9

I don't disagree with any of what you and mrn are saying. I actually agree. I'm more speaking of what I think Gorton will do.

I said in the summer if Skjei keeps playing well the Rangers might want to look into a trade instead of re-signing McDonagh.

I think a lot more of the season has to play out before the Rangers think of doing anything.

I dont see how you can give him another contract.

He hasnt exactly been an iron man in his career either

My other hope is Hank gets sick of losing and goes back to Sweden to play for Frolunda
- mrn22

Either that or see if he wants to trade Winnipeg.

The Rangers exempt in trade talks list is short.....

Lundqvist and Staal, because of the NMC. Skjei, Zibanead and maybe Smith because they just signed him. Everybody else if the Rangers have an offer on the table should at least express dialogue going forward.
- tomburton99

Have to think McDonagh would be the best (realistic) trade chip they have. I see no reason why they couldn't get a 1st+high-end prospect+middle-6 fwd/2nd pairing defenseman for him. That would certainly accelerate any rebuilding period.

I had started to type out a post a little while ago about having to also consider trading Hank, but then I looked at his contract and realized that nobody is taking that thing on for 3 years after this season.
- eichiefs9

(frank).
Thanks a lot. I honestly thought that Hank only had this season and next left on his contract. If it's possible, I feel even worse about this team now than I did ten minutes ago.
I really thought that Shestorkin (or whatever) was coming off his contract at the same time as Lundqvist.

Does anyone think Mac is tired? He trained all off season and now looks like he's chasing the play.... Everywhere! He seems to be his own worst enemy. AV needs to settle the lines down too Mika, Kreider & Buchnevich were doing well. Put Miller back in the middle of Zuc & Nash. Put Hayes between Vesey & Grabner and you can put a 4th Line of Desharnia, Fast and call up some beef! Tambellni, Fogerty, Fontaine, Nieves. Some bigger bodies and start hitting something! The team is close to getting their poop together. However, AV wont survive if they don't go 3-0 against Nashville, San Jose & the Coyotes.
- rangerbluelou

I don't think that McDonagh is tired, especially when only 10% into the season. I just hope that he did not re-injure somehow his same foot which left him unable to play the balance of a postseason a few years ago, when he simply could not bear even wearing his skate boot, despite receiving daily special medical treatment, and adjustments made to the boot by the equipment crew led by manager, Acacio Marques. It appears to me that at times, he is not getting good jumps upon reads of some transitions whether defensively or up the ice offensively.

I don't disagree with any of what you and mrn are saying. I actually agree. I'm more speaking of what I think Gorton will do.

I said in the summer if Skjei keeps playing well the Rangers might want to look into a trade instead of re-signing McDonagh.

I think a lot more of the season has to play out before the Rangers think of doing anything.
- mdw7413

Yeah this is obviously all insanely premature, but I had my doubts that they would compete this year with a serious dearth of talent at center and an aging former-star goaltender. They look worse than I expected and I fully expect them to, somewhat, right the ship..but I still don't think that they'll be seriously competitive.

(frank).
Thanks a lot. I honestly thought that Hank only had this season and next left on his contract. If it's possible, I feel even worse about this team now than I did ten minutes ago.
I really thought that Shestorkin (or whatever) was coming off his contract at the same time as Lundqvist.
- Tonybere

And finally my long-con of being nice to Ranger fans has paid off!

I don't think that McDonagh is tired, especially when only 10% into the season. I just hope that he did not re-injure somehow his same foot which left him unable to play the balance of a postseason a few years ago, when he simply could not bear even wearing his skate boot, despite receiving daily special medical treatment, and adjustments made to the boot by the equipment crew led by manager, Acacio Marques. It appears to me that at times, he is not getting good jumps upon reads of some transitions whether defensively or up the ice offensively.
- RangerSaver

McDonagh played the vast majority of his career with one defensive partner. That partner is now gone. As much as it may seem that these things don't matter, there is always an adjustment period when a player you have played alongside for years is no longer there. It takes time to adjust.

I am certainly not saying that is the entirety of his problems right now, but I think its definitely a part of it.

Yeah this is obviously all insanely premature, but I had my doubts that they would compete this year with a serious dearth of talent at center and an aging former-star goaltender. They look worse than I expected and I fully expect them to, somewhat, right the ship..but I still don't think that they'll be seriously competitive.
- eichiefs9

Its really the perfect storm. Defense was supposed to be better, but for whatever reason its in shambles. Forwards, especially Nash & Vesey would hit a post on an empty net. Goaltending has been average.

If this keeps going, I would rather they just play bad the rest of the way, sell off some assets and start fresh next year. Coming alive in December and being average and possibly limping into the playoffs would probably be the worst outcome.

I had started to type out a post a little while ago about having to also consider trading Hank, but then I looked at his contract and realized that nobody is taking that thing on for 3 years after this season.
- eichiefs9

Maybe, and it's only a maybe. Winnipeg needs a goalie. They can groom Hellybuck a little. But let's be real, 99.7% sure Lundqvist isn't waiving to play in Winnipeg

Maybe, and it's only a maybe. Winnipeg needs a goalie. They can groom Hellybuck a little. But let's be real, 99.7% sure Lundqvist isn't waiving to play in Winnipeg
- tomburton99

Yeah I guess anything is possible but that's a major long shot on all fronts. Rangers would almost certainly have to eat some of his contract to facilitate a deal and with Girardi's buyout on the books and a potential eventual need to buy Staal out...that seems like way too much zombie cap space to carry.

Its really the perfect storm. Defense was supposed to be better, but for whatever reason its in shambles. Forwards, especially Nash & Vesey would hit a post on an empty net. Goaltending has been average.

If this keeps going, I would rather they just play bad the rest of the way, sell off some assets and start fresh next year. Coming alive in December and being average and possibly limping into the playoffs would probably be the worst outcome.
- mdw7413

The Rangers have start getting back to .500 hockey now and get hot after Christmas ala 2013-14

Yeah I guess anything is possible but that's a major long shot on all fronts. Rangers would almost certainly have to eat some of his contract to facilitate a deal and with Girardi's buyout on the books and a potential eventual need to buy Staal out...that seems like way too much zombie cap space to carry.
- eichiefs9

I know. The Rangers would eat 2 million dollars and get back Mason, Matthias and 1st.

Edit: That's purely hypothetical in my mind.

Jan, thanks for chugging along here. Along with our nonsense, these blogs have to be tough to write.
- tomburton99

That’s putting it mildly

The Rangers have start getting back to .500 hockey now and get hot after Christmas ala 2013-14
- tomburton99

Easy peasy

I know. The Rangers would eat 2 million dollars and get back Mason, Matthias and 1st.
- tomburton99

- eichiefs9

See my edit. Mason stinks and Matthias is bottom 6 forward, the only thing of Value the gets give up is the first.

I think they'd have to at least entertain the idea. They would get a massive haul for him with a year remaining on his very team-friendly deal. 1st, high-end prospect and a roster player, easily.
- eichiefs9

His "team friendly deal" is why they will never trade McDonagh through at least the first half of next season if by then, a new deal can't be agreed upon to keep him a Ranger, instead of signing as a UFA likely with the Wild in the summer of 2019, in his home state he grew up in.
That's unless there's suddenly the need to make a FULL rebuild, with McDonagh then being just one of more than a few of the bigger names to be departing. With the contracts that lower playing level d'man are being paid today, the Rangers would be further behind the eight ball if not retaining McDonagh for good. Maybe the "C" on his jersey is weighing him down mentally, besides A.V. as to his play thus far in their 8 games with his constant d'man pairing changes as well.

Well I'm advocating for AV to be thrown out on his ass, they are ill equipped behind the bench, coaches are expected to solve problems and keep them from reappearing but game after game it's the same awful mistakes, it's a rerun almost every game and that's AV's fault

Nash is not "snakebitten" and the Rangers would be best to move him for an additional draft pick