NFT - ** 2024/25 New York Rangers Season Thread **

[Cr00zng]

Certainly, Bread deserved to be called out for his performance during the playoffs, but he wasn't alone. From Mika, Kreider, Fox, Laffy, etc., they had also disappeared in playoff games. Maybe not as much as Bread, but more than one guy disappearing at the same time had been the main issue for years for various lines. Trochek and others had been pretty much consistent, but during the playoff that's not good enough. This is the biggest problem that Levi didn't fix yet, they were great during the season.

Levi is trying and brought in Rempe for some toughness, that worked at times. Maybe Rempe will be more effective on the ice, aside from scaring players with his size. Aside from Rampe, I hope Levi does something else to fix this... LFGR!!!


 

[kartanoman]

We can't look at this Rangers' season from a "rear-view mirror" perspective, as much as we don't want to, but afraid we have no other choice based on historical trends.

Last year's team played about as well as they could and their disappointing playoff finish doesn't diminish what was one of the great regular season performances at least my eyes have ever witnessed. I haven't experienced more pure fun and excitement following a Ranger team than last season. My wife and youngest daughter caught the fever as well and that counts for something!

Obviously, here, the only thing that counts is hoisting Lord Stanley and I've come to appreciate, especially with this hockey club, it is the rarest and most precious sporting achievement New York sport has to offer. You have to accept the "One Cup in an 81-year Span" background which surrounds this club's annual pursuit of the most difficult path to glory in all of sporting competition. The fact that it is New York, in an age where cost of living presents a competitive disadvantage, the pressure to produce in the World's Most Famous Arena, and the fact the smaller clubs get revved up when they come to town to play and get a taste of the "high life" of New York City, being a Ranger and playing in MSG is an extraordinary privilege which comes with it extra responsibility for the history of the club and that 81-year span the players and coaches carry on their backs every day.

The talk in the papers state this is the "final shot for the core group." Maybe there is truth to that; however, it certainly does not have to define the season which begins in a little more than 24 hours from now.

Why can't the story center on "the core group is NOW ready to take the next step where nothing less than a date in the Finals will be looked upon as a failed season?"

I think we all realize that last season's President Trophy might have meant nothing in the final analysis, and that if they don't win it again it shouldn't mark them as having lost anything from last season. They simply need to be playing solid, winning hockey while being as healthy as possible. That's it. They need not worry about Carolina as they have their number and they don't represent the obstacle in their path to the Cup. They have to get past the Florida teams and their goalies when they get hot.

The team, as is, can get back to the semifinal round if all things are equal. But we know they won't be. How they address those differences, as well as any issues impacting them from within, will begin to show the character of this team. Then, we shall see what Laviolette is really made of.

At Pittsburgh tomorrow; a good opening season test for them to see if they're resiliency is still in top gear! Looking forward to it!

Peace!

[Messiah717]

Reports say Igor turned down an eight year $88 million contract extension.  Enjoy him this season because if that's the case he can go.

[Cr00zng]

I don't disagree... It certainly had been a great season, but the goal had been getting to the SCF. They failed to achieve in three consecutive years. They had proven in three seasons with two different coaches, that they are not capable to reach the SCF. We can blame the coaches, but in my view this is on the players. Certainly, running it back does not look like that the same players will get over the hump this season. I'd be surprised, if they do, but probably will have another great season.That's not enough in my view and basically admitting, that this team reached the plateau and not capable to to do more.
 
@Messiah717 Agree, ride him hard this year and let him go. I like Igor, I really do, but rejecting the $88M/11M/AAV puts him in different light for me. Thanks for the memories Igor....

[DaveBrown74]

I strenuously disagree about letting Shesty go. He's the only key player on the team who consistently shows up in the playoffs. Vezzina caliber goalies in their mid 20s don't grow on trees. Good luck replacing that.

I'm surprised people are so casual about being willing to let a player of his caliber and impact walk out the door just because he doesn't agree to the first offer put in front of him.

[EDjohnst1981]

How much more than 11mil a year does he want?

C'mon Shesty, sort this out.

[DaveBrown74]

How much more than 11mil a year does he want?

C'mon Shesty, sort this out.

I think 12.5 or 13 gets it done.

Fox gets 12. Is Shesty worth less to this team than Fox?

[kartanoman]

I think 12.5 or 13 gets it done.

Fox gets 12. Is Shesty worth less to this team than Fox?

Foxy is a critical piece of any Stanley Cup formula.

Given this team in its current state, the Igor/Quickie formula is the cornerstone and, without Igor, just begin tearing the team apart now and start from scratch. I don't see any other goalie, except maybe for last year's Vezina Trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck, that is going to give you the game over game outstanding performance that Igor has provided the Rangers. The Jets have already extended Hellebuyck's contract after last season to the tune of seven years, $59.5 million dollars, or 8.5 million per season. Considering the cost-of-living differential between Winnipeg and New York, Hellebuyck's home travel from Winnipeg to Michigan versus Igor's travels from New York to Russia, other possible financial factors (e.g. paying taxes in both the US and Russia) and, of course, wanting the recognition of being the highest paid NHL goaltender by a landslide!

So, is it really over a matter of principle whether it is $11 million/year, $12 million or even $13 million/year? If his agents are putting their chips to the center of the table, Igor had better deliver world-class performance from here-on-out or the fans are going to drop-kick him on the next tug-boat pointing due east.

A deal is going to get done soon enough. How it will redefine the goalie market for the NHL is what the other owners, and especially the other goaltenders, will be closely watching for.

Peace!

[Cr00zng]

I don't know, if it make sense to keep an overpaid Shesty. Surrounding him with players who are no better than the Rangers already have and expect them to win the cup is in sane. During the last three season, Shesty had been with the team. The core of the Rangers players were not been able getting to the SCF, much less winning it, with two different coaching staff. This is the fourth year in a row, where they have a chance to get over the hump and still have Shesty for the upcoming season.

I believe Drury did the best he could. Let it play out this upcoming season and readdress the goalie issue, no matter which way the season turns out. If they don't win the cup, it's time for some change and Drury will be frugal, he'll need some cap left for changes. For around $4-6 M/AAV, he could get a goalie, certainly not at Shesty's level, but that would be serviceable, if changes are coming. Even if they win, the same goalie for less should be just fine for couple of years.

Again, I like Shesty, I really do, but he put himself front of the team. It's understandable that he tries to cash in with his records. That's fine and I wish him luck to get it somewhere else...

PS: Shesty borne in 1995, I would not put him into the mid-twenties age group. In couple month he'll be in the early-thirties group and 38 years old in the eighth year of the rejected contract.   

[Messiah717]

Unfortunately, even with the cap increasing Drury is needing to pull every string to start the season under the cap.  He doesn't have any flexibility to do much.  That said it's fair to blame some of the contracts they have out.  Especially the no movement stuff.

[DaveBrown74]

Guys my apologies - I made a mistake on Fox. I confused his 24-25 cap hit with his salary. His cap hit is indeed 12, but his AAV is 9.5  My bad on that. I should have taken more time before posting that.

Getting back to the Shesty issue, I actually like that he's betting on himself this year. That oozes confidence and reminds me of when Aaron Judge did the same thing with the Yankees a couple years back. I'm not a Yankees fan but I remember respecting it at the time. What if Shesty gets a serious injury this year? That $88mm offer won't be there in the summer and he knows it. There's risk involved in what he's doing and he knows it. I like that myself. It's more than just pure greed. There's a balls factor to it that I like.

Shesty plays his best under pressure, so I think we get a great year out of him. Keep in mind we have until July 1 and after this year we'll have a better sense of what we want to pay him, particularly against the context of the other contracts they have coming up (Laffy, Miller, Lindgren, Kakko). Nothing wrong with waiting until then.

[kartanoman]

Guys my apologies - I made a mistake on Fox. I confused his 24-25 cap hit with his salary. His cap hit is indeed 12, but his AAV is 9.5  My bad on that. I should have taken more time before posting that.

Getting back to the Shesty issue, I actually like that he's betting on himself this year. That oozes confidence and reminds me of when Aaron Judge did the same thing with the Yankees a couple years back. I'm not a Yankees fan but I remember respecting it at the time. What if Shesty gets a serious injury this year? That $88mm offer won't be there in the summer and he knows it. There's risk involved in what he's doing and he knows it. I like that myself. It's more than just pure greed. There's a balls factor to it that I like.

Shesty plays his best under pressure, so I think we get a great year out of him. Keep in mind we have until July 1 and after this year we'll have a better sense of what we want to pay him, particularly against the context of the other contracts they have coming up (Laffy, Miller, Lindgren, Kakko). Nothing wrong with waiting until then.

I'm OK with this strategy. If the Vezina winner is only getting $8.5 million (NOTE: adjusted for NYC dollars is closer to $11-12 million), and he is every bit as good as Connor, then go and win the Vezina and collect your payday. The Rangers will be a contender once again, everyone's happy and if they somehow break through to the finals, it's a done deal.

Chips to the center of the table!

[Cr00zng]

There's risk involved in what he's doing and he knows it. I like that myself. It's more than just pure greed. There's a balls factor to it that I like.

There's no question that there some risks for Igor. Albeit that risk is somewhat softened, when this season's salary of $5.6M is taken into account. 

[kartanoman]

So, Igor delivers the first Rangers' shutout on opening night since the Gumper did it in 1956.

Then, after 10 minutes, the Rangers flexed their muscle and it was game over. Where do you want to start with tonight's impressive 6-0 win?

The top line with Vinny Trocheck, Lafreniere and the 🍞 man seemed to do what they want. Big things expected from these guys.

What a great sight to see Chytil back on the ice scoring goals again! Here's hoping he can stay healthy all season because he is a necessary cog in the machine that will take this team the distance.

The special teams yet again are going to be a force this season. These guys may end up setting a record for short handed goals if they keep it up. I've never seen a team so adept at scoring while short handed.

Game one was as impressive as it comes. Next up is Saturday's first look at the Utah Hockey Club; a bit of a stinger for me as this group was the former Arizona Coyotes and my annual chance to see the Rangers locally went with these guys. They're going to be an up and coming club but they always play the Rangers tough. So expect a too close for comfort game but a Ranger win at the end.

Peace!

[EDjohnst1981]

I watched the game this morning.

I was impressed as can be for game 1. Nice to see the depth guys making an early impact. I would have liked to see more shots on that 4-3 pp but outside of that, I was impressed.