Nils
- nyrangers9479

there are people out there refusing to even consider trading him too

If, and this is obviously a huge if, BUF were willing to retain 25+% salary on Eichel that would be the only way I’d be comfortable getting him. I’d be willing to pay more for them to retain the salary, but overall I think we should stay away from him. It would have to be the perfect combination of salary retainer plus the return to make me comfortable with getting him.

there are people out there refusing to even consider trading him too
- jimbro83

We have Fox and Trouba, I don’t think they got that excited for Schneider and traded up for him to trade him already.

K'Andre Miller is approaching "Jack Eichel level" trade value

like first overall pick trade value

would people be able to handle it?

I'm not even suggesting I could handle it.
- jimbro83

He’s a hard no for me in almost any trade. Kid is going to be an absolute stud

He’s a hard no for me in almost any trade. Kid is going to be an absolute stud
- nyrangers9479

I think he's legitimately as tough to trade away as Lafreniere

If, and this is obviously a huge if, BUF were willing to retain 25+% salary on Eichel that would be the only way I’d be comfortable getting him. I’d be willing to pay more for them to retain the salary, but overall I think we should stay away from him. It would have to be the perfect combination of salary retainer plus the return to make me comfortable with getting him.
- nyrangers9479

Trading Eichel is going to be a tough PR sell as it is for Buffalo to present to its fans. Retaining 25% for the next 5 years is just unrealistic.
As much as I have advocated acquiring him in the past, I have moved on.

Lets target Josh Norris!

Knowing the Rangers FO, they'll probably make a trade involving one of the better dmen, but I can see a very plausible scenario, where in 3-4 years, the Rangers D will likely be:

Miller-Fox
Jones-Schneider
Lindgren - Lundkvist

Miller and Fox will probably both be signed long term ($15 mil combined sound right?). Trouba is a wildcard, but let's assume he is not bought out but traded once his NMC ends. So when his contract is removed:

Jones, Schneider and Lundqvist will all be just finishing their ELC's and up for a bridge deal or signed longer term. Certainly, their play over the next 3 years will dictate what happens.

Even if they are all bridged for 2 years, that's 5 years from this summer before the Rangers really need to make a decision on anyone.

By that time Lindgren will be 28 going on 40, so it's plausible that they'll move on from him before his body completely gives out. We'll all love him in the meanwhile, but if they replace him and trade, say Nils, after 5 years, they'll still have a great top 4, and with good drafts/a prospect surprise/savvy trades wind up with a championship level top 6.

In the meanwhile, if Nils is solid out of the gate, Jones gets going in the next 6-18 months, and Trouba plays like he has been this month, they'll ride this top 6 for a few years and be the class of the league.

Tarmo, Hajek, Rykov, and probably Robertson will all be traded in various deals by 2023/24, although I would like to see more of Tarmo with the big club sooner rather than later. Hunter Skinner? No idea what happens with him.

I think he's legitimately as tough to trade away as Lafreniere
- jimbro83

I think that's the perfect way to say it. He's playing this well mostly on talent and instinct. When he gets really settled in, he could be somewhere between Seth Jones and Hedman. You can't trade that away.

I think that's the perfect way to say it. He's playing this well mostly on talent and instinct. When he gets really settled in, he could be somewhere between Seth Jones and Hedman. You can't trade that away.
- WineryDog

He's only been playing D for like 4 or 5 years, the ceiling on him is scary high. Going to be sad to lose some of the guys inevitably due to trades but he should be untouchable. We need a good young center to grow with the young wingers, but if we don't make a move for one I don't think it's going to stop this teams trajectory. Especially if Chityl can progress this offseason the way he had coming into this year prior to the injury.

Knowing the Rangers FO, they'll probably make a trade involving one of the better dmen, but I can see a very plausible scenario, where in 3-4 years, the Rangers D will likely be:

Miller-Fox
Jones-Schneider
Lindgren - Lundkvist

Miller and Fox will probably both be signed long term ($15 mil combined sound right?). Trouba is a wildcard, but let's assume he is not bought out but traded once his NMC ends. So when his contract is removed:

Jones, Schneider and Lundqvist will all be just finishing their ELC's and up for a bridge deal or signed longer term. Certainly, their play over the next 3 years will dictate what happens.

Even if they are all bridged for 2 years, that's 5 years from this summer before the Rangers really need to make a decision on anyone.

By that time Lindgren will be 28 going on 40, so it's plausible that they'll move on from him before his body completely gives out. We'll all love him in the meanwhile, but if they replace him and trade, say Nils, after 5 years, they'll still have a great top 4, and with good drafts/a prospect surprise/savvy trades wind up with a championship level top 6.

In the meanwhile, if Nils is solid out of the gate, Jones gets going in the next 6-18 months, and Trouba plays like he has been this month, they'll ride this top 6 for a few years and be the class of the league.

Tarmo, Hajek, Rykov, and probably Robertson will all be traded in various deals by 2023/24, although I would like to see more of Tarmo with the big club sooner rather than later. Hunter Skinner? No idea what happens with him.
- WineryDog

I wouldn't be surprised if some of these prospects get traded for picks either. We are going to have a surplus of prospects emerging at the same time, and with a pretty set top 9 going forward, depending on what is done with strome, and more than enough defenseman I think it'd be wise to restock the cupboard with younger players.

Some of these young studs are going to be cap casualties. Kakko, Laf, Miller, Fox, Kravtsov, Shesty, etc. aren't going to be cheap in a few years so it'll be important to have some ELCs coming in down the road.

He's only been playing D for like 4 or 5 years, the ceiling on him is scary high. Going to be sad to lose some of the guys inevitably due to trades but he should be untouchable. We need a good young center to grow with the young wingers, but if we don't make a move for one I don't think it's going to stop this teams trajectory. Especially if Chityl can progress this offseason the way he had coming into this year prior to the injury.
- newenglandpuck

I think I'm one of the few people that like Chytil a lot and still think he takes that 2C role. He's still got some work to do, and he absolutely needs to get better on draws, but he's been playing really well with Laf and Kakko and is still just 21. I also don't think he's a winger. I think people say that because he's bad at draws but there's more to playing center than that. He distributes the puck well coming through the middle and is clearly a natural center, at least in terms of offensive instinct.

Work still needs to be done but I feel like people treat him like a finished product because he's the old guy on his line. He's still got a ways to go before he peaks and he's got a ton of talent around him to help him through it.

Getting lost in all this is I think Gauthier would be a really solid 3rd liner.

Getting lost in all this is I think Gauthier would be a really solid 3rd liner.
- nyrangers9479

whose 3rd line is he playing on? Not ours with our winger depth

Getting lost in all this is I think Gauthier would be a really solid 3rd liner.
- nyrangers9479

I think he's the one that gets picked by Seattle. History with Ron Francis and no space for him on this team with all the wingers we have. I like his game too though it'd suck to see him go. Maybe we get lucky and they take Howden...

I think he's the one that gets picked by Seattle. History with Ron Francis and no space for him on this team with all the wingers we have. I like his game too though it'd suck to see him go. Maybe we get lucky and they take Howden...
- SkjeiStadium

we could always offer up a mid tier prospect and/or a pick to have Seattle take Howdy

we could always offer up a mid tier prospect and/or a pick to have Seattle take Howdy
- picklerick

I don't see the value there. Like you said, Gauthier has no place in this lineup. He may be the better player but I don't think you give up an asset to protect a player that won't be in the lineup.

I think I'm one of the few people that like Chytil a lot and still think he takes that 2C role. He's still got some work to do, and he absolutely needs to get better on draws, but he's been playing really well with Laf and Kakko and is still just 21. I also don't think he's a winger. I think people say that because he's bad at draws but there's more to playing center than that. He distributes the puck well coming through the middle and is clearly a natural center, at least in terms of offensive instinct.

Work still needs to be done but I feel like people treat him like a finished product because he's the old guy on his line. He's still got a ways to go before he peaks and he's got a ton of talent around him to help him through it.
- SkjeiStadium

I am with you on this. What does a 24 year old Chytil contribute to this team. I think we will kick ourselves if we watch him blossom somewhere else.

Right now, he is sheltered and its a good thing for a 21 year old. Just let them grow together.

I think he's legitimately as tough to trade away as Lafreniere
- jimbro83

I think at this point Kravs Kakko and Laf shouldn’t be included in a trade for a center. It anything I would build the trade around chytl, Schneider Jones and a pick. Doesn’t have to be from someone like Eichel. Just a legit number two center at the least

I am with you on this. What does a 24 year old Chytil contribute to this team. I think we will kick ourselves if we watch him blossom somewhere else.

Right now, he is sheltered and its a good thing for a 21 year old. Just let them grow together.
- climbdenali12

The general rhetoric I hear when Laf was struggling to put up points, and same with any of the other younger guys is "you see sparks of talent, it'll come." with Chytil it's always "he has talent but he can't put it all together." He's playing a tougher position and is only two years older. He was arguably our best player before his injury, and without question our best center. He hasn't been that recently with our offense picking up but he's still getting better every year.

Edit to say that I don't think he's untouchable by any means, and if the right opportunity presents itself to upgrade I'm all for it. I just haven't given up on him yet like some others have.

I think he's the one that gets picked by Seattle. History with Ron Francis and no space for him on this team with all the wingers we have. I like his game too though it'd suck to see him go. Maybe we get lucky and they take Howden...
- SkjeiStadium

He can be protected. It’s going to come down to either protecting Gauthier or Blackwell.

He can be protected. It’s going to come down to either protecting Gauthier or Blackwell.
- nyrangers9479

I don't say this because I agree with it and not to provoke you, but Howden is definitely in that conversation from the organizations point of view.

I don't say this because I agree with it and not to provoke you, but Howden is definitely in that conversation from the organizations point of view.
- SkjeiStadium

I don’t know why. I agree with ur assessment of the organizations view of him, just not sure why they have that view. I think if we traded for a center and Buch was part of the deal, Gauthier could get his shot on the 3rd line. He has the size, draft pedigree, has scored/been successful at every level he’s played at. Not sure what the issue is with him that most of us aren’t seeing. He seems to respond well to the benchings coming out playing harder every time but continues to get less ice time/more press box.

I don’t know why. I agree with ur assessment of the organizations view of him, just not sure why they have that view. I think if we traded for a center and Buch was part of the deal, Gauthier could get his shot on the 3rd line. He has the size, draft pedigree, has scored/been successful at every level he’s played at. Not sure what the issue is with him that most of us aren’t seeing. He seems to respond well to the benchings coming out playing harder every time but continues to get less ice time/more press box.
- nyrangers9479

Agreed. I like his game, but he has struggled to produce too so at a certain point you have to earn your spot. Howden is under less pressure to produce because there's less options to replace him.

Buch is tough for me. I get that inevitably he's gonna get moved to make room for the kids but he's come so far over the past few years it would make me bitter to have developed him for some other team. I think he's a great locker room guy too, everyone seems to love him.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of these prospects get traded for picks either. We are going to have a surplus of prospects emerging at the same time, and with a pretty set top 9 going forward, depending on what is done with strome, and more than enough defenseman I think it'd be wise to restock the cupboard with younger players.

Some of these young studs are going to be cap casualties. Kakko, Laf, Miller, Fox, Kravtsov, Shesty, etc. aren't going to be cheap in a few years so it'll be important to have some ELCs coming in down the road.
- SkjeiStadium

i think we need to do some more Keane/gauthier type trades with some of the D prospects that have no chance because of everyone in front of them. obviously for centers though

i think we need to do some more Keane/gauthier type trades with some of the D prospects that have no chance because of everyone in front of them. obviously for centers though
- Mtlca66

I agree. I think we can target a center that's maybe a year or two away and ride out strome/chytil as 2/3C for the next year. We wouldn't pay as much of a premium for that kind of prospect as opposed to a proven player and at this point I trust our scouting staff to target the right guy.

Or if we miss the playoffs we just win the lottery again and draft Beniers...