THERE'S NOTHING LIKE TALKING ABOUT THE FUCKING RANGERS AT 315 AM AFTER DOWNING A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE WITHOUT HELP AS WELL AS A TON OF BEER. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE WIN THE FUCKING CUP.
One of the big things Richards was pushing for when looking to sign a contract was not only the commitment of of a team to years and $$$$ but a real plan for the team to finalize a roster that would compete for the Stanley cup. Well, we didn't max out the salary like Calgary offered according to Bobby M, nor did we try to court this guy to NY, and yet BRAD RICHARDS IS A FUCKING RANGER. This guy would not just sign here. Sather must have a plan up his sleeve for the remainder of the off season.
With this being one of the weakest free agent classes available, it's now time to speculate what happens next. Richards wants a LW to play alongside him and Gaborik, and there is no way that LW is going to be Wolski (sorry dude but you're just not proven yet). He wants someone who will solidify that line as an avg of over 75 pts per player. Anyone have any ideas who Sather may be giong after?
There are really only 2 names that I can think of right now that make any sort of sense to me (and that may just be bc of the alcohol). Patrick Sharp and Dustin Penner. Dustin Penner currently makes $4.25 mil a season with 1 year left on his contract before he is an UFA. Patrick Sharp currently makes $3.9 mil and is also an UFA next summer. Out of the two I think it goes without saying that Sharp is the man we want to have, but Penner also has some talent, and with only 1 year left on his contract and the Kings right up against the cap, it wouldn't surprise me if they try to unload him in order to sign Doughty. Keep in mind, LA just signed Gagne to a 2 yr $7 mil contract, meaning gagne is now the top line guy in place of Penner.
Sharp on the other hand is far more complicated. This guy just had the year of his life, and there is no way Chicago wants to watch him walk. At the same time, we have seen Chicago make moves solely to free up salary cap space, and with guys like Seabrook Keith Toews Kane and Hossa locked up long term, they may be looking at some more cap issues come next off season. Sharp is definitely due a raise from his $3.9 mil he is currently at, and Chicago may not be able to fork up the doe to pay him. If you look at the core of the Chicago defense, they really are not deep beyond Seabrook and Keith (yeah they have Hjalmersson and Montador), but they could use that solid defensive defenseman to help out their young goalie Crawford. It's time to trade Girardi and either a young guy like WOlski or Krieder to Chicago and bring in Sharp in return. There is no way Sharp won't resign with the Rangers if he is playing top line minutes with Gaborik and Richards.
This team can fucking do it. Not just yet, but in the very near future. One thing that people really overlook is the fact that we have the best goalie in the NHL between the pipes. With the added offensive support that Richards (and whoever is added to the top line) will bring, he won't have to be spectacular just for us to have a shot.
If you can think of a better suggestion for the top line LW position, please, feel free to let me know, because I want this team to make a push for Patrick Sharp.
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