The Fourth Period: David Pagnotta and Dennis Bernstein speaking concerning the New York Rangers and the way they want extra offense and secondary scoring.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Kater Pettersen: “Yeah, and talking of New York, the place do you suppose they go from right here? What’s the following transfer? What’s your prediction for, you recognize, how this unfolds with that additional cap house?”
Pagnotta: “Effectively, yeah, they wish to deal with the offense and add secondary scoring to the lineup. Reilly Smith hasn’t actually supplied that presence thus far this season.
And now with I feel, they’re at simply over eight and a half million in present house, and that may proceed to accrue because the season strikes alongside. In order that they’ve obtained a capability to deal with each ends of the, of the ice. They will usher in some additional scoring by taking a look at somebody up entrance, they usually have the the flexibility now to ultimately substitute Trouba’s presence on that again finish in a high 4 function by bringing in one other defenseman.
So I feel Drury goes to proceed to look to see the place he can match a kind of holes. We’ll see once more. They’ve obtained a sport night time in opposition to Pittsburgh. They’ve obtained a participant in Marcus Pettersson on that again finish that may very well be a beautiful piece for them, however the Rangers have dipped. Let’s see what they do. Let’s see if this sort of jolts them just a little bit. Now that Trouba’s out of the combo.”
Bernstein: “I feel it’s all offense, Kate. I feel once you take a look at the regression of Mika Zabanejad, uh, (Alexis) Lafreniere folks thought, might he be on the 100-point season this yr. That’s not occurring as nicely. Thinks gotta be offense.
And going again to the cope with the Geese, I’m shocked it wasn’t Frank Vatrano that got here again. Like that may be a participant that may, would assist the offense greater than could be. Look, that’s a wage dump, and also you’re going to make it, clearly like, this may’t be the final transfer for Chris Drury, proper? It might probably’t be, proper? In the event you’re going to alter the paradigm in New York, it’s obtained to be offense. I feel ok protection.
Look, they’re by no means going to be a puck possession crew. You’re going to wish (Igor) Shesterkin to play higher. Jonathan Fast’s obtained to remain at that stage. However for me, it’s the offense. It must be a scoring winner for this crew to assist impress this offense that has actually, you recognize, been common at greatest all season.
Pettersen: “Effectively, we speak about blocking out the skin noise you talked about. You already know, this could cool down the Rangers room, however for those who’re in a room the place, you recognize, it’s not performed, how a lot does that actually do?
Pagnotta: “Effectively, it’s an incredible query, as a result of now it’s like, okay, everybody’s sort of presumably wanting over their shoulder for what’s subsequent.
Speaking to some folks across the membership. There was just a little little bit of friction persevering with to construct in that room with Trouba there. So perhaps simply eliminating that presence.
Pettersen: “A small piece.
Pagnotta: “Proper. Takes just a little little bit of stress off, and no less than they’ll deal with their video games.
Kreider was requested this morning, earlier than this commerce occurred, the place his mindset is with Touba seemingly going, he goes, ‘Look, I’ll cope with that tomorrow. We’ll speak about it tomorrow. We obtained to deal with the sport at hand.’ Which is sort of what you wish to hear from, from one in every of your leaders. So deal with the sport in opposition to Pittsburgh. They’ve obtained three different video games after night time in opposition to non playoff groups.
So it’s a possibility to gather 4Ws in a row. You get just a little little bit of that quote, unquote friction out of the room. Perhaps this sort of will get them again on observe right here.
Pagnotta: “Yeah, I agree on that, and particularly the schedule. Have a look at the following three video games, positively winnable video games. I feel they obtained Pittsburgh, Seattle at residence, they obtained, these are video games they obtained to win. They’re not should wins, not going to get rid of them for the playoff race, however they’ve obtained to win.
The opposite questions with respect to the room, Kate, who will get ‘C’ now? Do they wait to the offseason? Do they anoint one of many guys, like Kreider or, or breadman to put on the C, now? What occurs there?
I don’t suppose, I feel it’s just a little overplay with respect to management. Immediately’s level, perhaps there was some friction within the room, which wouldn’t have helped. I feel this takes the warmth off lots of people, as a result of now, okay, there was one transfer. Now we’re going to play the sport.
So do I feel there’s an, a comparable transfer 24-48 hours behind this? No, I don’t. I feel it buys time for Chris Drury to reassess now. However I feel within the subsequent, you recognize, 4 to 6 weeks, you’re most likely going to see one other commerce in the event that they proceed to play at this stage.
Pettersen: “So the hope, I suppose, proper now’s settle in, attempt to get again right into a rhythm, get the offense going, after which see the place it goes and let the chips fall. It’s a part of the enterprise.
Pagnotta: “Yep, precisely.
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