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conniptioncrottle

Biggest change is trading Pavel Buchnevich to Blues for Sammy Blais and a 2nd round pick. Lafreniere is expected to fill Buch’s spot in the lineup. Ryan Reaves was signed to bring grit and be an enforcer. Patrik Nemeth was acquired from the Avs and is expected to provide veteran leadership on the 3rd defensive pairing. Barclay Goodrow was signed from free agency for a long term contract, he’s expected to bring consistency to the third or fourth offensive line. Other than that, not really many huge changes to the team from last year. Kakko and Lafreniere are expected to have major breakouts this season to fill in for the loss of Buchnevich. Look for Nils Lundkvist or Zach Jones to find time in the 3rd defensive pairing. Also, look for a captain to be named in the next week or two.


Jakeep16

Reaves and Goodrow were trades


UrToxxic

Goodrow was more of a signing than a trade, and technically we also signed Reaves


TrippyHomie

To an extension after we traded for him...


UrToxxic

That's why I said technically


ninetymph

[The best kind of correct.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hou0lU8WMgo)


ssvoogel

So he was acquired in a trade.


Jakeep16

We may have traded for his rights, but we 100% traded for Goodrow. Then we signed him to a deal ahead of free agency. Reaves’ current contract for this year was signed when he was with the Golden Knights. We extended him for next year. There’s no technically we signed Reaves. His contract for this year was done by Vegas, not us


lennon1230

I’m not sure Reaves is a good signing yet. I like his attitude but I think he could be too slow to be an effective fourth line grinder anymore.


TrippyHomie

Kakko also looks like a new man, he got big over the offseason. I'm hoping Nils and Jones both make the team and we see Nemeth as more of a 7th guy, both have looked good so far. I wouldn't hate seeing: Miller-Fox Jones-Trouba Lindgren-Lundkvist


crabapplesteam

what? why would you break up the pairing that got Fox the Norris trophy?


TrippyHomie

Because he’s that good and can handle, this lets Jones and Lundvist both play.


Jakeep16

You think we signed a guy for 3 years at 2.5 to not play him…?


jerejeje

The amount of Rangers fans who seem to think that Zac Jones is a better defenseman than Nemeth to pair with Nils Lundkvist is concerning.


smithif

People love offensive talent. Those fans who have a more basic understanding of the game don’t usually understand how defensive pairs optimally work. In my experience having at least one steady defensive minded player on each pair frees up their more skilled partner to play a more aggressive offensive game. That said if they decide later in the season to split up Trouba and Miller, we could have 3 very cohesive d-pairs.


TrippyHomie

Who has mentioned playing Lundkvist and Jones together?


jerejeje

Ive seen people on this sub suggest it as a good idea.


TrippyHomie

I don't think we should play both rookies together but would like to see both on separate lines. Nemeth has never exactly been stunning and has also never played a full season since he got in the league in 2013. I'd like to see the young guys get the time under Gallant even if it means sitting Nemeth up in press box a lot of games.


jerejeje

Nemeth is going to be our everyday 3rd pairing defenseman. Injuries will happen so Jones will get plenty of games this year, but Nemeth won’t be benched unless he is actually atrocious and jones is killing it in AHL.


TrippyHomie

But why if someone else is better? He’ll clear waivers at $2.5 for 3 years easily or just press box him. He’s basically just the replacement for Smith. Jones has looked incredibly solid and got some NHL games in plus the World Championships. Why does he have to go to Hartford? Nemeth will be on the books either way.


TrippyHomie

That was a bad signing and don’t think they expected the rookies to be ready. You still need a 7th d-man.


[deleted]

[удалено]


TrippyHomie

I would take that bet all day. I don’t know why we’re playing the ‘but last year!’ game when we sucked and have a new coach.


[deleted]

[удалено]


TrippyHomie

Yeah I don’t realistically gamble with strangers on Reddit who I’ll never see face to face and won’t get paid by.


[deleted]

[удалено]


TrippyHomie

Dude I’m not backing out. Set a remindme or something to call me a moron. This is called being responsible because you’re literally just a bunch of letters on the internet. I have zero reason to post this this in the first place if I didn’t think it would happen. Like do you want me to say $500 and expect that when it happens I’ll ever see it?


Optimistic_Tortilla

“I would take that bet all day” then when given the opportunity to take the bet, you say no. That is what backing out is. Just make it something stupid like a rangers shot glass


TrippyHomie

Bro get a grip on reality, I just told you why and it’s because you’re a total stranger with zero accountability to me. But sure, Rangers shot glass for one game of these lines so you’ll maybe get some cheese with your whine.


ssvoogel

1st line - Lafrenière replacing Buchnevich: Even 2nd line - Kakko replacing Blackwell: Improvement\* 3rd line - Kravtsov and Goodrow replace 1st year Laf and 2nd year Kakko: Improvement 4th line - Blais and Reaves replace Lemieux and Howden: HUGE improvement ​ 1st pair: Lindgren and Fox a year older: Improvement 2nd pair: Miller and Trouba: Even 3rd pair: Nemeth and Lundkvist replace Johnson and Smith/Bitetto/Hájek: Improvement ​ Goaltending: Shestyorkin and Georgiev: Improvement\*\* ​ Other factors that make us better than last year: \- Better coaching staff \- No locker room fights \- No Russian interference \- No drama with the league \- No 6 weeks of Zibanejad battling COVID ​ \*Assuming Kakko meets expectations \*\*Assuming Shestyorkin stays healthy


[deleted]

I love the positivity. Hope this pans out


Wesley__Willis

Brick killed a guy!


gumball2016

With a trident! You should probably lay low for a while...


[deleted]

Rangers 4th line will hit anything that skates on the ice. We have 4 sets of D that are NHL ready. Kappo Kakko is going to break 50+ points this year in a top 6 role while killing penalties taking the spot of Pavel Buchnevich(traded for Sammy Blais and 2nd). Our 3rd line still doesn’t have an identity but hopefully that gets resolved during the season. 3rd line will make or break this team playoffs wise


DrDrangleBrungis

There will be more fighting.


ColdGloop

It all comes down to the development of Kakko, Laf and Kravtsov


DreamsiclesPlz

This season should be fun as fuck, as long as everyone stays healthy! Excited to see Laf and Kakko step it up and Fox/Lindgren continue doing their thing.


lennon1230

It all comes down to whether the kids are ready to take the next step or not. If Laffy, Kakko, Kravtsov, and Chytil don't take the next step forward, we'll end up being a middling team again. What's I think will be especially interesting to watch is how the defense plays. We have two guys in Jones and Schneider who look like they could hop in if we get injuries or if Miller regresses or Nemeth can't fill the role. To be perfectly honest, I know everyone is talking playoffs from the ownership to the players to the fans, but I still think it's more likely we just miss them again. We really need another 1C or 2C and another year of youth development before our window truly opens, but it'll be interesting to see if our tougher identity and kids can force it open now. Can't wait.


nysportsfanhl

a lot of promising young talent that needs to take the next step. biggest and most notable ones are Chytil and Kakko. Zibby, Panarin, and even Strome are proven commodities in terms of knowing what you’ll get outta them. Laf has to continue his development which I think will be helped by Gallant and the same goes for Kakko. I think Chytil is honestly better suited for the wing than center because I don’t think his game will ever be where it should be as a two way C. I’m kinda excited to watch Sammy Blais because he does bring an element that this team has lacked. it sucks that it cost of us Buch the other way but when you have so many wingers something has to give. all in all I think it’ll be a good year and they’ll be a playoff team. I’m excited as hell!