Move laf up 2 and kravtsov up 1

Team is still way to soft to ever win in the playoffs. Tons of talent with little grit and even less leadership. Until Gorton gets this team some real muckers and gritty forwards, that will go to the net, bang bodies and drop the gloves when needed, it's going to be more of the same as we saw this year. Beat up on other soft teams with all their talent and get squashed by big, physical teams that play hockey to win and not just look good. He should try getting guys like Marcus Foligno, Garnet Hathaway and Adam Lowry and forget giving up the kitchen sink to get another soft player in Eichel. Build a real "identity" line to counter teams like the fiststicks. They have enough talent....they need some BALLS.

Amen! We could be the only 2 NYR fans on cf to see the painful reality...
23 cap is the problem, they'd have to be (def/agressive bottom 6) 1yr UFAs Krejci, Foligno... or trade for Reaves, Motte... or Beecher, Comtois...
Only tradeable cap: Buch, Strome, Georgiev then eventually Lindgren and possibly not overpaying on Zib

You are right on your assessment that they are not "there" yet in terms of being ready to compete in the playoffs...but the problem isn't so much a lack of muckers...it's more a lack of a plan to compete against the teams (the good NHL teams) that limit space on the ice...and that's what it takes to play playoff hockey...this is a coaching issue- DQ is not up to making the adjustments needed to go from feasting on the crap teams that provide plenty of space to teams like the Isles that make you fight for every inch of the ice.

Listen- I'm all for adding big, tough guys to the team...as long as they can play hockey. But additions they've made in recent years to "toughen up " the lineup have been a disaster...Tanner Glass and other "fighters" they've added have been a big liability for the marginal advantage of being able to win a fight. That said- every team should be as fortunate to have the Isles 4th line...if the Rangers could add a Czikas- absolutely do it...but whoever they add- will make no difference if the head coach can't make adjustments and the team is always playing to the opponents' strengths.

The 3 players I mentioned can all play hockey, but are also big and physical players that take the body and will stand up if needed. I'm not advocating for a goon, but I am saying you can't win in the play offs without this element on the team, and the Rangers don't have it. IMO, they are not willing to pay for these type players. Foligno gets $3.1 a year and Lowry $3.5. They want this type player for a million or so, which won't get them. They have to stop overpaying for skill guys like Kreider, and pay more for some real bottom 6 guys. A team needs to be well rounded, not just all soft skill guys.

I don't think Ranger management values this type of player enough. They would rather pay $1 million/year for a guy like Tanner Glass than pay Marcus Foligno $3.1 or Lowry $3.5 a year. I think that is a huge mistake. Imagine a line with Foligno on LW, Lowry at C and Rooney on RW. All three are physical and willing to stand up for themselves and teammates, and Lowry wins lots of faceoffs. They cost more but they are a big upgrade over what they have. You have to pay for quality, and until Gorton and JD buy into that, they will continue to be a soft as Charmin team.

Have to admit...I agree with this- but not your take on Kreider. Krieder is a sort of weird player....disappears for stretches- sometimes games...then when he gets "back into the game" he can play with skill AND he can play the tough brand of tooth and nail hockey with the best of them. But you're absolutely right: for bottom dollar you might find an occasional reclamation project who is a temporary quick fix (like Blackwell)...but you're not going to consistently find the combination of skill and physicality that you need to build around....but no matter who you fill out the roster with- if the team is poorly coached, the teams that are well coached will always have their way with your team.