Jan Levine: Which Ranger would be the most painful to lose in the expansion draft? Comes down to one of four players...

I voted Lindberg

I've said it multiple times, I don't think there is much of a chance Brendan Smith signs with Vegas, so to me protecting Holden over Smith's UFA rights is such a minimal thing it deserves about a 10th of the attention it has gotten everywhere

people just love overreacting to EVERYTHING

I voted Lindberg

I've said it multiple times, I don't think there is much of a chance Brendan Smith signs with Vegas, so to me protecting Holden over Smith's UFA rights is such a minimal thing it deserves about a 10th of the attention it has gotten everywhere

people just love overreacting to EVERYTHING
- jimbo83

can we lose all 4, Johnny?

Good write up, Jan. As you said, it comes down to the 4 we expected it to come down to. My question is, if you are Vegas, do you take players to build a competitive team, do you take the best players available, or do you take the team's most valuable player? You could argue that Raanta is the best player available from the Rangers, but I don't think he's the most valuable to the team. So, does Vegas take Raanta? Or do they take one of the other 3 and hope that the Rangers try to sweeten the pot to not take them?

can we lose all 4, Johnny?
- 21peter

this is pretty much along the lines of the questions I have seen asked out there

I am really surprised that Carp hasn't blocked a thousand people since saturday

people are sooooooooooooooooooooo dumb

I voted Lindberg

I've said it multiple times, I don't think there is much of a chance Brendan Smith signs with Vegas, so to me protecting Holden over Smith's UFA rights is such a minimal thing it deserves about a 10th of the attention it has gotten everywhere

people just love overreacting to EVERYTHING
- jimbo83

Where did I overreact?

Where did I overreact?
- airjan23

Jan, I am not saying YOU overreacted, I am talking in general, you have read twitter as much as I have

1: Lindberg
2:Fast/Raanta

Raanta will suck losing, but I have faith Allaire will be able to find a capable back up.

i dont see LVK taking Raanta. they have Malcom Subban, MAF, and a slew of other good goalies to choose from. why take Raanta when you dont need him? I see them taking either Grabner or Lindberg.

of the 4 i think Fast is the smallest loss. Grabner fits perfectly with our 3rd line and Lindberg is a cheap 4th line C that can step up if needed.

I think the rangers protecting Holden says a lot - maybe they like him more than most people think.

this is pretty much along the lines of the questions I have seen asked out there

I am really surprised that Carp hasn't blocked a thousand people since saturday

people are sooooooooooooooooooooo dumb
- jimbo83

My favorite is how people are mad the Rangers protected "bums" like Nash, Stepan, etc.

Even if they could be exposed, who is replacing these guys? Plus they act like they're going to lose more than one player. It sucks but this is how it is, we just need to wait and see what ultimately goes down.

Where did I overreact?
- airjan23

Great blog Jan!

this is pretty much along the lines of the questions I have seen asked out there

I am really surprised that Carp hasn't blocked a thousand people since saturday

people are sooooooooooooooooooooo dumb
- jimbo83

Just turn the page and play some music, brother

i dont see LVK taking Raanta. they have Malcom Subban, MAF, and a slew of other good goalies to choose from. why take Raanta when you dont need him? I see them taking either Grabner or Lindberg.

of the 4 i think Fast is the smallest loss. Grabner fits perfectly with our 3rd line and Lindberg is a cheap 4th line C that can step up if needed.

I think the rangers protecting Holden says a lot - maybe they like him more than most people think.
- richardson30

Grabs would hurt! His speed and PK play is huge.

Vegas would have a great PK guy and someone who gets breakaways every game. Not many players available w/ his speed and upside

Grabs would hurt! His speed and PK play is huge.

Vegas would have a great PK guy and someone who gets breakaways every game. Not many players available w/ his speed and upside
- rrentz

it's amazing when we signed Grabs to a two year deal last year people were like WHY?????

now Gorton is dumb because he has to expose him

it's amazing when we signed Grabs to a two year deal last year people were like WHY?????

now Gorton is dumb because he has to expose him
- jimbo83

Yup. How many people were so pissed. I was thrilled just for the fact of the PK. Really its all I thought he was going to do. Figured he would be a 4th liner with maybe 10-15 gs

i dont see LVK taking Raanta. they have Malcom Subban, MAF, and a slew of other good goalies to choose from. why take Raanta when you dont need him? I see them taking either Grabner or Lindberg.

of the 4 i think Fast is the smallest loss. Grabner fits perfectly with our 3rd line and Lindberg is a cheap 4th line C that can step up if needed.

I think the rangers protecting Holden says a lot - maybe they like him more than most people think.
- richardson30

When did Subban become a good goalie? I haven't been away that long! I think he's gotten pulled in all but one of his starts in the league thus far.
I stopped trying to figure out who we're going to lose over a week ago. There are WAY to many ways this could go down. Just enjoy this interesting process.
Losing any one of these 4 will sting in it's own way. And none of them are irreplaceable.

i dont see LVK taking Raanta. they have Malcom Subban, MAF, and a slew of other good goalies to choose from. why take Raanta when you dont need him? I see them taking either Grabner or Lindberg.

of the 4 i think Fast is the smallest loss. Grabner fits perfectly with our 3rd line and Lindberg is a cheap 4th line C that can step up if needed.

I think the rangers protecting Holden says a lot - maybe they like him more than most people think.
- richardson30

Depends on whether Vegas sees Lindberg as the better asset to build their own roster, or has a more attractive offer(s) to flip Raanta. There's one less team interested in him now that Calgary traded for Smith. Winnipeg supposedly is still interested. Vegas is doing no team a favor that doesn't help Vegas more than the team they're trading with.

When did Subban become a good goalie? I haven't been away that long! I think he's gotten pulled in all but one of his starts in the league thus far.
I stopped trying to figure out who we're going to lose over a week ago. There are WAY to many ways this could go down. Just enjoy this interesting process.
Losing any one of these 4 will sting in it's own way. And none of them are irreplaceable.
- Tonybere

I think that's the best way to put it

I think that's the best way to put it
- jimbo83

Coming into this offseason I put it at like a 10% chance Stepan was traded...think that is up to 85% now

Coming into this offseason I put it at like a 10% chance Stepan was traded...think that is up to 85% now
- TPC

I always thought it was kind of high since the series with Ottawa ended. His comments about being unable to get himself going in the playoffs after having such a down year, along with the fact that he has a NTC starting July 1st, along with his cap hit

I do know that the organization loves him though, and if they trade him, they'll have to deal with the ramifications with McDonagh. These two guys are the best of buddies and McDonagh is only 2 years away from being a UFA.

I'd be perfectly fine, even HAPPY if LVK took Grabner. For the simple reason that he is the most replaceable of the four.

My Thoughts:

1) Grabner is not going to put up 25 goals a year, 10- 15 is more his avg
2) Grabner is 29 years old
3) Raanta is a GREAT, cheap and reliable backup who is VERY valuable to this team right now
4) Lindberg is young, cheap, reliable and very solid. His play the second half of the season showed the player he can be after finally getting through his injury fully, and will only be better with a healthy summer this year
5) Fast is the most undervalued guy, the grit he provides this team is hard to find. He will also be cheap like Lindberg and solidifies that bottom three.
6) Losing Grabner opens the door to more time for Buch who hopefully grows this offseason.

The above being said, what Grabner did for the Rangers last year can not be understated, but I've said all year, he is the guy to sell high on. His numbers will regress more to the mean of his career stats. He shot out of a cannon to start the year and really cooled off in the second half. Also for the PK, you would still ave Nash, Oscar, Lindberg, Hayes & Miller (The last two were phenomenal on the kill last year for a long stretch)

My 2c

I always thought it was kind of high since the series with Ottawa ended. His comments about being unable to get himself going in the playoffs after having such a down year, along with the fact that he has a NTC starting July 1st, along with his cap hit

I do know that the organization loves him though, and if they trade him, they'll have to deal with the ramifications with McDonagh. These two guys are the best of buddies and McDonagh is only 2 years away from being a UFA.
- jimbo83

Its going to be interesting how Skjei progresses. I could see a scenario where they try to move McDonagh before he is a UFA.

McPhee put out a statement that they want to negotiate these selections with the teams. I think they may select players also on the basis that the new team will give them more opportunity than the present team. The franchise did put half a billion into the league coffers so the owners know it will be win win if the new team draws on the road. May hurt to lose a good player, but they are only losing one and it is negotiable. Don't think the other GM's will vulture, i.e. get McPhee to select Methot and trade him, messing up OTT top four d.

i dont see LVK taking Raanta. they have Malcom Subban, MAF, and a slew of other good goalies to choose from. why take Raanta when you dont need him? I see them taking either Grabner or Lindberg.

of the 4 i think Fast is the smallest loss. Grabner fits perfectly with our 3rd line and Lindberg is a cheap 4th line C that can step up if needed.

I think the rangers protecting Holden says a lot - maybe they like him more than most people think.
- richardson30

To trade him for more assets. If I'm Holland I'm taking MAF, Mrazek, Raanta, Grubauer, and any other valuable goaltenders. Half may not play for them but they'll stockpile a whole bunch of picks.

If losing a backup goalie or one OF a fourth line group of players hurts then the rangers have bigger problem . Let Vegas take who ever they want , keep all picks and move on to the NEXT big event of the summer