Dvorak has a career high 38 pts, he started off the year on fire and finished with about 14 points in his final 35 games.
Edit: it was 15 pts in his final 36

Holy overpayment
- nyrangers9479

maybe but this draft is pretty underwhelming

maybe but this draft is pretty underwhelming
- jimbro83

I just don’t see all of that for a 3C. I’d consider 15th overall for him, but don’t think I’d add anything.

I just don’t see all of that for a 3C. I’d consider 15th overall for him, but don’t think I’d add anything.
- nyrangers9479

it's not really that much, I mean, where does Matthew Robertson even fit?

it's not really that much, I mean, where does Matthew Robertson even fit?
- jimbro83

3rd pair with Schneider. I also think AZ is the ones wanting to get back into the 1st, they need us to help them, not the other way around. Robertson has been playing really well and plays with an edge to his game, I don’t see them trading him just to trade him.

3rd pair with Schneider. I also think AZ is the ones wanting to get back into the 1st, they need us to help them, not the other way around. Robertson has been playing really well and plays with an edge to his game, I don’t see them trading him just to trade him.
- nyrangers9479

well you just don't think highly of a player like Dvorak because you care about increasing the toughness more than anything else, I get that

what REALLY helps Arizona more is someone taking Kessel off their hands

they don't have to deal Dvorak by any means, but they have to deal Kessel, he's due a 5 million bonus on July 1st (or the equivalent to whatever that day is this year)

I know Pittsburgh is still in the playoffs and they just won the division but that is a team that is relying on a good but aging core. At some point they will begin to break things down just a bit. I could see them trying to move Malkin in the near future maybe even as soon as this summer.

They are up against the cap and it looks like they will be in the market for a goalie change and getting Malkin off the books would be a huge windfall for them to address that.

Not to mention Malkin missed something like 20 games and they still produced without him.

well you just don't think highly of a player like Dvorak because you care about increasing the toughness more than anything else, I get that

what REALLY helps Arizona more is someone taking Kessel off their hands

they don't have to deal Dvorak by any means, but they have to deal Kessel, he's due a 5 million bonus on July 1st (or the equivalent to whatever that day is this year)
- jimbro83

This is where the Rangers should be creative with their money situation. Figure a way to get the contract, pay it on the day and then trade it for additional assets to use elsewhere. It just seems the Rangers are the ones who always get taken advantage of in situations like this, when it should be reversed.

This is where the Rangers should be creative with their money situation. Figure a way to get the contract, pay it on the day and then trade it for additional assets to use elsewhere. It just seems the Rangers are the ones who always get taken advantage of in situations like this, when it should be reversed.
- climbdenali12

the Rangers did take advantage once, in the Brassard-Zib trade, they waited to do that deal until like July 17th so they would pay Brassard his bonus, and that's the reason Ottawa gave them the 2nd round pick added to the deal

I mean, it depends on if we win the lottery again, but if we don't, the 15th overall pick would be a solid foundation to build a trade package for Dvorak:

15th overall
Sabres 3rd rounder (which is first pick of 3rd round)
Matthew Robertson

for


Christian Dvorak

seems like that would be kind of deal Arizona would be interested in

additionally, Dvorak makes over 5 million in 2021-22 after making 3.4 mil last year

so they could be interested in getting rid of that cost
- jimbro83

I think priority is getting a 2C. Going for Dvorak for the 3C would be the cherry on top.

A line of Kreider, Dvorak, Foligno could be a nice line to frustrate other teams with.

well you just don't think highly of a player like Dvorak because you care about increasing the toughness more than anything else, I get that

what REALLY helps Arizona more is someone taking Kessel off their hands

they don't have to deal Dvorak by any means, but they have to deal Kessel, he's due a 5 million bonus on July 1st (or the equivalent to whatever that day is this year)
- jimbro83

No I think highly of him and think he’d be a great 3C and he’s great on faceoffs. I just don’t think overpaying for him is the answer to our problems. If we could somehow get a 2C and make Strome our 3C that would be ideal.

No I think highly of him and think he’d be a great 3C and he’s great on faceoffs. I just don’t think overpaying for him is the answer to our problems. If we could somehow get a 2C and make Strome our 3C that would be ideal.
- nyrangers9479

This keeps baffling me how Strome is an ideal 3C. Makes me wonder if people are watching these playoffs. Strome is soft, doesnt play much defense and isnt particularly good at faceoffs. How does he make us difficult to play against?

This keeps baffling me how Strome is an ideal 3C. Makes me wonder if people are watching these playoffs. Strome is soft, doesnt play much defense and isnt particularly good at faceoffs. How does he make us difficult to play against?
- aecliptic

I think Strome is a decent defender, albeit nothing special. You can get away with not being the best defender on the 3rd line if you are enough of a threat offensively (think Grabner or even someone like the Pens having Carter). Strome is a threat against teams on lower lines, especially when that line could be Krieder-Strome-Kravs.

You can't tell me that wouldn't cause teams difficulties.

This keeps baffling me how Strome is an ideal 3C. Makes me wonder if people are watching these playoffs. Strome is soft, doesnt play much defense and isnt particularly good at faceoffs. How does he make us difficult to play against?
- aecliptic

Strome is definitely getting worse on faceoffs, both him and Zibinjaed are really

maybe its because it was all these games in the same division all year with the islanders, Bruins, Flyers (Pageau, Czikas, Nelson, Bergeron, Couterier) and the numbers were just worse than in a normal year

but Zibinajed and Strome just seemed to get roasted constantly

personally I think the faceoffs are a bigger issue than the toughness thing

Strome is definitely getting worse on faceoffs, both him and Zibinjaed are really

maybe its because it was all these games in the same division all year with the islanders, Bruins, Flyers (Pageau, Czikas, Nelson, Bergeron, Couterier) and the numbers were just worse than in a normal year

but Zibinajed and Strome just seemed to get roasted constantly

personally I think the faceoffs are a bigger issue than the toughness thing
- jimbro83

The reason why it seems worse then ever is because all of these teams put an emphasis on winning those draws and theyre some of the best in the league at it. Push come to shove, in an important faceoff position, all those teams have a guy they can rely on.

Winning faceoffs has an ability to cause momentum swings. It can frustrate your opponents, elongate possession, can lead to scoring chances or drawing a penalty.

Our players have to work that much harder to get possession when were not winning important faceoffs. Panarin and Zib shouldnt be spending 30s of their shift trying to retrieve the puck.

The reason why it seems worse then ever is because all of these teams put an emphasis on winning those draws and theyre some of the best in the league at it. Push come to shove, in an important faceoff position, all those teams have a guy they can rely on.

Winning faceoffs has an ability to cause momentum swings. It can frustrate your opponents, elongate possession, can lead to scoring chances or drawing a penalty.

Our players have to work that much harder to get possession when were not winning important faceoffs. Panarin and Zib shouldnt be spending 30s of their shift trying to retrieve the puck.
- aecliptic

Everything you said is why you can't take advanced metrics 100% seriously. According to them faceoffs don't matter. Everything above is true, and we've seen the consequences first hand.

Don't overlook the fact that Horvat is their captain. Not just like trading any old player.
Plus, I'm not sure how often Miller has been in the middle and how much he's on the wing, but I know they have used him there.
- Tonybere

If we are going to acquire a Captain, lets aim high and get Ryan O'Reilly out of St. Louis. He checks ALL the boxes for what we need.

Everything you said is why you can't take advanced metrics 100% seriously. According to them faceoffs don't matter. Everything above is true, and we've seen the consequences first hand.
- 2sticks1puck

You dont inherently need to be physical if youre really good at keep away. However, being really good at it does tend to cause guys to get really pissed and take some bad penalties. Thats where you need your guys to step in.

If we are going to acquire a Captain, lets aim high and get Ryan O'Reilly out of St. Louis. He checks ALL the boxes for what we need.
- TommyGTrain

Hes an excellent player.

Reading all these articles about time running out on EDM and McDavid’s patience makes me laugh.

If we are going to acquire a Captain, lets aim high and get Ryan O'Reilly out of St. Louis. He checks ALL the boxes for what we need.
- TommyGTrain

Except the toughness box

I don’t think we’re getting our toughness from whatever center we add. Whether it’s Kupari or Lindholm or Dvorak etc none of them are physical/tough players to play against. I could see PLD as an option out of WPG, they have him playing on the wing but he was Panarins center in Columbus. I’m sure after giving up Laine and Roslovic for him though the talks are going to start at Kakko+. If they’d be willing to take Kravtsov Nils and 2021 1st or something along those lines I’d be fine with it.

I don’t think we’re getting our toughness from whatever center we add. Whether it’s Kupari or Lindholm or Dvorak etc none of them are physical/tough players to play against. I could see PLD as an option out of WPG, they have him playing on the wing but he was Panarins center in Columbus. I’m sure after giving up Laine and Roslovic for him though the talks are going to start at Kakko+. If they’d be willing to take Kravtsov Nils and 2021 1st or something along those lines I’d be fine with it.
- nyrangers9479

The clock is ticking to sign Nils, Im not sure what the date is but Im sure it is before the start of training camp. Im sure if he does sign there will be some sort of handshake agreement that he wont be traded.

The clock is ticking to sign Nils, Im not sure what the date is but Im sure it is before the start of training camp. Im sure if he does sign there will be some sort of handshake agreement that he wont be traded.
- Brukie

This has been stated a couple times recently. We have until June 1, 2022
Lots of time.

Except the toughness box
- nyrangers9479

Toughness like a brawler --- no.
But a TREMENDOUS leader and a Top 5 defensive Center in the league. I would use the word gritty, which this team certainly needs.
He would be the best captain this team has had since Messier.