If we could just get a taker for Shattenkirk all our buyout problems would be solved. I really like ADA’s game lately, think he could be a solid 2nd pair guy.
- nyrangers9479

As long Deangelo remains mature, and committed to learning the game more, I agree that he has the potential soon to become a 2nd pairing d'man. But for now, he is best suited for their 3rd unit until his extended playing time proves otherwise.

He is a perfect 3rd/4th liner. Good on defense can pot a couple and has some skill, not a liability. More for TJ, but you can't have 4 lines of superstars
- mdw7413

I didn’t say get rid of him I just said that he sucks haha. He’s alright. Like a lot of guys on this team, a very underwhelming part of the roster

I didn’t say get rid of him I just said that he sucks haha. He’s alright. Like a lot of guys on this team, a very underwhelming part of the roster
- Slimtj100

Yup, lots of 3rd liners, would love to have at least 1 line of legit stars

Just caught up on all the comments, thanks for carrying the blog on sabbath. Off to watch last night's game, at ;east the condensed version, and get blog up late tonight, or so I hope.

Nine days to the deadline and no clarity at all, fun times.

The delay with Hayes being dealt is due more than just waiting for Ottawa to either re-sign or trade one or both in Duchene and Stone. The Rangers are not dealing Hayes without any young NHL ready talent coming in return. Their play of late has dictated they are not that far away in thinking postseason for next year, in being in nearly every game right till its end since after the first week of January, as per their 8-5-1 record in their last 14 games.

A few games or so prior to the Kreider-Zib-Zucc line first being utilized, the Rangers were romped by 5 goals in each of 3 straight games of a 5 game losing streak starting at MSG on Jan. 2nd in a 7-2 loss to Pit., followed by a 6-1 losses at Colorado, and 5-0 at Arizona. Those 3 losses alone comprise a (-15) of their (-23) Goal Differential for the season.

Since then, the Rangers final two losses of that streak at Vegas 4-2, and at MSG 4-3 to the Isles in the final 1:30, began an interesting to note, current 16 games stretch of 8-7-1. With the exception of a 7-5 loss at Columbus 2 games later, each of the other 7 losses came in effect by just 1 goal, when not including the opposition's late empty netter(s) scored in two of them (the 4-2 loss at Vegas, & the 3-0 loss with 2 empty netters yielded at MSG to the Canes last Friday).

In addition, without including those late empty netters yielded, they have allowed a maximum of 4 goals in just 3 of those 7 of 8 overall losses. Plus, in those 8 wins, they have allowed no more than 3 goals in all 8.

Just imagine if they had sufficient balanced and consistent scoring from more than just the Kreider-Zib-Zucc line during the time alone that their line was utilized. If so, their deadline plans may have been quite different.

game day blog up