Can’t believe I’m saying this but looks like the Metro will be going thorough Carolina and New York Rangers for the foreseeable future.
- Victoro311

Yep. I'm about to be a big Carolina fan, maybe even bigger than some actual Carolina fans. Did I mention I really don't like the Rangers?

Can’t believe I’m saying this but looks like the Metro will be going thorough Carolina and New York Rangers for the foreseeable future.
- Victoro311

Rangers were smart in starting their rebuild when they were still a playoff contender but no longer a Cup contender. I don't think we're there quite yet, but in a year or 2 it's something to really consider.

Of course it helps when you're the type of city an MVP caliber player will sign with even when you aren't a top team. But they also made a lot of smart seller moves (and a lot of lottery luck).

Only read a little of this blog. Fine job of trolling. Kind of surprised so many bit.
- madmike71

Didn’t read, just commented lol. Absurd headlines like that don’t deserve time to be seriously read.
But he got the clicks, so who really loses? Probably still Buffalo.

If we send #15 to MIN we better be getting a sweetener in return. As for ZAR, he is good and cheap for what he is. Nothing is gained by moving (in fact, we will lose). I just want the GM, JR or another, to be as aggressive as possible. The #15 is now more valuable than we thought our 1st round pick would have been. Parlay that into something that can help us now. I give our window about 2 years. 3 is pushing it. Trade all draft picks, the end is nigh.
- Hockey66

If we send the 15th to Minny, Rutherford needs to be tarred and feathered. That can't even be a discussion. Lottery protected for a reason. Our highest pick since the Pouliot debacle.

Gotta say... I hate ZAR. Plays with no passion 98% of the time.

Didn’t read, just commented lol. Absurd headlines like that don’t deserve time to be seriously read.
But he got the clicks, so who really loses? Probably still Buffalo.
- yelraf10

You guys got Kahun for a human Zambonie, so at least you won that.

If we send the 15th to Minny, Rutherford needs to be tarred and feathered. That can't even be a discussion. Lottery protected for a reason. Our highest pick since the Pouliot debacle.

Gotta say... I hate ZAR. Plays with no passion 98% of the time.
- madmike71

But say Rutherford is looking at the moves to make and its more a 2-3 year plan meaning you likely wont be competing for the Cup next year. Do you risk the wheels coming off and all of a sudden next year the 15th would be the highest you could pick and a chance at a top 3 pick?

I dont know how deep this draft is versus next year's and I see Rutherford refusing to not be playoff contenders, so I agree in that case that it makes sense.

I hate ZAR to. He just never did it for me. Always seems to be a passenger and never does anything. We have guys like Blueger, Tanev, Rust, etc. who can play the penalty kill. Not sure what ZAR offers. I'd rather give that spot to a younger guy with some offensive upside.

If we send the 15th to Minny, Rutherford needs to be tarred and feathered. That can't even be a discussion. Lottery protected for a reason. Our highest pick since the Pouliot debacle.

Gotta say... I hate ZAR. Plays with no passion 98% of the time.
- madmike71

There’s no way we don’t keep this. You know the old man thinks this team is a playoff team, and they are.

There’s no way we don’t keep this. You know the old man thinks this team is a playoff team, and they are.
- kfinl170

I don't mind trading the pick, I actually think we should. I doubt anyone helps us in a meaningful way within the 2-3 year window with that pick, if they even make it to the NHL.

But say Rutherford is looking at the moves to make and its more a 2-3 year plan meaning you likely wont be competing for the Cup next year. Do you risk the wheels coming off and all of a sudden next year the 15th would be the highest you could pick and a chance at a top 3 pick?

I dont know how deep this draft is versus next year's and I see Rutherford refusing to not be playoff contenders, so I agree in that case that it makes sense.

I hate ZAR to. He just never did it for me. Always seems to be a passenger and never does anything. We have guys like Blueger, Tanev, Rust, etc. who can play the penalty kill. Not sure what ZAR offers. I'd rather give that spot to a younger guy with some offensive upside.
- SuperHenderson13

This feels highly unlikely.

Next year is going to be a crapshoot to evaluate thanks to covid. A lot of the big tournaments are cancelled and some leagues may not play.

Rangers were smart in starting their rebuild when they were still a playoff contender but no longer a Cup contender. I don't think we're there quite yet, but in a year or 2 it's something to really consider.

Of course it helps when you're the type of city an MVP caliber player will sign with even when you aren't a top team. But they also made a lot of smart seller moves (and a lot of lottery luck).
- Tojo.

One of the many reasons I detest them.

Rangers were smart in starting their rebuild when they were still a playoff contender but no longer a Cup contender. I don't think we're there quite yet, but in a year or 2 it's something to really consider.

Of course it helps when you're the type of city an MVP caliber player will sign with even when you aren't a top team. But they also made a lot of smart seller moves (and a lot of lottery luck).
- Tojo.

We’re in a different situation IMO. The Rangers didn’t win anything during the Lundqvist Era and decided to turn the page when it became completely futile. They’re a proud franchise and have gone through far too long of a dry spell. We’ve had plenty of success during the Sid/Geno Era even if it doesn’t always feel that way. That affords us the luxury to let Crosby and Malkin ride off into the sunset in Pittsburgh without having to worry about how far it’ll set us back moving forward into the future. We can stomach a bit of a doldrums to let them retire Penguins.

But say Rutherford is looking at the moves to make and its more a 2-3 year plan meaning you likely wont be competing for the Cup next year. Do you risk the wheels coming off and all of a sudden next year the 15th would be the highest you could pick and a chance at a top 3 pick?

I dont know how deep this draft is versus next year's and I see Rutherford refusing to not be playoff contenders, so I agree in that case that it makes sense.

I hate ZAR to. He just never did it for me. Always seems to be a passenger and never does anything. We have guys like Blueger, Tanev, Rust, etc. who can play the penalty kill. Not sure what ZAR offers. I'd rather give that spot to a younger guy with some offensive upside.
- SuperHenderson13

ZAR was literally the best defensive forward in the league by the numbers. He’s a pretty valuable 4th liner when he’s on the cheap.

This feels highly unlikely.

Next year is going to be a crapshoot to evaluate thanks to covid. A lot of the big tournaments are cancelled and some leagues may not play.
- Tojo.

Yeah, we don't have the luxury of taking a year off from competing for the Cup even if there were reasons to do so, so I think it's unlikely, too. The big red panic button should be being pushed and our chips should be being pushed to the middle of the table. Maybe not all of them, but a lot of them.

The big 3 are already old and showing signs of slowing down. 2-3 years from now they will be greatly diminished. I think this coming season is our best chance in the window and it gets progressively harder after that.

We’re in a different situation IMO. The Rangers didn’t win anything during the Lundqvist Era and decided to turn the page when it became completely futile. They’re a proud franchise and have gone through far too long of a dry spell. We’ve had plenty of success during the Sid/Geno Era even if it doesn’t always feel that way. That affords us the luxury to let Crosby and Malkin ride off into the sunset in Pittsburgh without having to worry about how far it’ll set us back moving forward into the future. We can stomach a bit of a doldrums to let them retire Penguins.
- Victoro311

Not nearly long enough as far as I'm concerned.

ZAR was literally the best defensive forward in the league by the numbers. He’s a pretty valuable 4th liner when he’s on the cheap.
- Victoro311

I tend to agree with this. Stylistically he's not what I like in a hockey player, but he's effective.

We’re in a different situation IMO. The Rangers didn’t win anything during the Lundqvist Era and decided to turn the page when it became completely futile. They’re a proud franchise and have gone through far too long of a dry spell. We’ve had plenty of success during the Sid/Geno Era even if it doesn’t always feel that way. That affords us the luxury to let Crosby and Malkin ride off into the sunset in Pittsburgh without having to worry about how far it’ll set us back moving forward into the future. We can stomach a bit of a doldrums to let them retire Penguins.
- Victoro311

I believe you don't live in Pittsburgh or at least haven't for a while so I'll forgive you for overestimating the patience in this town. Sports fans here won't want to wait 5 years to start rebuilding if the team isn't a contender. A lot od them literally ran out of patience last year because back to back Cups apparently doesn't buy you 2 years of not getting close.

A reset doesn't have to involve Sid or Geno or even Letang. They could decide to move guys like Rust, Dumoulin, and Zucker before their contracts expire for futures.

But that's a question for maybe next off-season, I'm still going for the Cup with this core next year.

Yeah, we don't have the luxury of taking a year off from competing for the Cup even if there were reasons to do so, so I think it's unlikely, too. The big red panic button should be being pushed and our chips should be being pushed to the middle of the table. Maybe not all of them, but a lot of them.

The big 3 are already old and showing signs of slowing down. 2-3 years from now they will be greatly diminished. I think this coming season is our best chance in the window and it gets progressively harder after that.
- Hockey66

I agree with this. And if you want another reason for optimism, imagine how hard it will be to go deep this year and then repeat it next year with a short off-season and condensed schedule. That will knock some contenders from this year out.

I believe you don't live in Pittsburgh or at least haven't for a while so I'll forgive you for overestimating the patience in this town. Sports fans here won't want to wait 5 years to start rebuilding if the team isn't a contender. A lot od them literally ran out of patience last year because back to back Cups apparently doesn't buy you 2 years of not getting close.

A reset doesn't have to involve Sid or Geno or even Letang. They could decide to move guys like Rust, Dumoulin, and Zucker before their contracts expire for futures.

But that's a question for maybe next off-season, I'm still going for the Cup with this core next year.
- Tojo.

I've been one of the more positive people about extending the window but I have to admit, I'm pretty worried the window slammed shut. Two years in a row of embarrassing exits is tough to ignore. Some of these teams look way more hungrier than the Pens. Metro is going to be a really tough slog next year.

I believe you don't live in Pittsburgh or at least haven't for a while so I'll forgive you for overestimating the patience in this town. Sports fans here won't want to wait 5 years to start rebuilding if the team isn't a contender. A lot od them literally ran out of patience last year because back to back Cups apparently doesn't buy you 2 years of not getting close.

A reset doesn't have to involve Sid or Geno or even Letang. They could decide to move guys like Rust, Dumoulin, and Zucker before their contracts expire for futures.

But that's a question for maybe next off-season, I'm still going for the Cup with this core next year.
- Tojo.

Just curious, what kind of offer would it take to move from 15 to 2 for Byfield?

Just curious, what kind of offer would it take to move from 15 to 2 for Byfield?
- Brianandr1

It aint happening. We already are missing picks from future years and we dont have the assets otherwise to make it happen.

We need to be collecting as many assets as possible, not trading the farm to get one guy.

#15 has had a lot of good options in years past. Maybe we get lucky and a guy projected to be a top 10 pick falls.

I believe you don't live in Pittsburgh or at least haven't for a while so I'll forgive you for overestimating the patience in this town. Sports fans here won't want to wait 5 years to start rebuilding if the team isn't a contender. A lot od them literally ran out of patience last year because back to back Cups apparently doesn't buy you 2 years of not getting close.

A reset doesn't have to involve Sid or Geno or even Letang. They could decide to move guys like Rust, Dumoulin, and Zucker before their contracts expire for futures.

But that's a question for maybe next off-season, I'm still going for the Cup with this core next year.
- Tojo.

I mean yeah. Most sports fans are stupid rubes who female dog and moan if the season ends in anything short of a championship. Still, this franchise owes a lot to Sid and Geno. Neither should be traded to expedite a rebuild.

It aint happening. We already are missing picks from future years and we dont have the assets otherwise to make it happen.

We need to be collecting as many assets as possible, not trading the farm to get one guy.

#15 has had a lot of good options in years past. Maybe we get lucky and a guy projected to be a top 10 pick falls.
- SuperHenderson13

Depends on your view of Byfield... Some people think he's the best player in the draft. Would you do Malkin and the 15? Would free up a ton of cap space. The logic is he slides in as 2nd line center and you can use the cap space for pieterangelo. hell of a top 4

Just curious, what kind of offer would it take to move from 15 to 2 for Byfield?
- Brianandr1

With the collection of prospect talent LA has? You probably need to offer an established young player like Guentzel or Marino. Maybe Jarry if they really like him because they could use a goalie.

The only reason they would consider trading Byfield is for a young star at another position since they have 3 high wdn center prospects and Kopitar already, but it's hard to trade a center with that size.

I mean yeah. Most sports fans are stupid rubes who female dog and moan if the season ends in anything short of a championship. Still, this franchise owes a lot to Sid and Geno. Neither should be traded to expedite a rebuild.
- Victoro311

Totally agree there. If I wanted to expedite a rebuild, it wouldn't be by trading them.

Now that's a good fit. Most team's would avoid goalie even if he's the best talent available, but you have stars everywhere else so it makes sense.

How you feeling about Rangers winning? It's probably going to be you and them like it's been Pens and Caps on top of the division.
- Tojo.

I'm fine with it.

For all the shiny new toys the Rangers are accumulating, one thing they still don't have is a C.

Zibanejad is great and all but this is a massive outlier of a season for him.