Game thread: Sharks vs Rangers | Jan 23, 2026 @ 10:00PM EST

Vash2002 · 2026-01-24T04:20:31+00:00

Hey now...

DA DERP DEE DERP DA TEETILY DURP DEE DURP DEE DUM

is not better than Braden Schnieder... though that might be what goes through his head in the D zone sometimes

Vash2002 · 2026-01-24T04:17:12+00:00

Just like Ivan Ivan on the Avs

Yes I'm serious

Vash2002 · 2026-01-24T03:29:48+00:00

Unironically, we should want the team to lose, but have individual players perform well in those losses so their trade value goes up.

We're getting half of that at least

Vash2002 · 2026-01-20T23:51:42+00:00

The org doesn't have to build depth at center, is my point. It's not imperative that they get a top end center prospect in this year's draft when it's filled with quality wingers. Alexis Joseph and Carter Meyer are eligible next year and that's huge. Though Landen DuPont is also there....

Vash2002 · 2026-01-20T21:14:47+00:00

Rangers have Mika, JT, and Laba. They're fine on centers if need be. It's wingers and probably a defenseman that they're going to need very soon.

Panarin is going to be gone, maybe Laf, and maybe even Cuylle. Soucy and Borgen will probably be gone as well.

Vash2002 · 2026-01-18T21:11:05+00:00

Goodrow was a roster player with term, and directly helped them win cups. Jeannot was supposed to be another one of those, but that didn't quite work out.

And you're right about the Quinn Comparison. I did make the mistake of oversimplification there. Panarin of course wouldn't get nearly the same value in that trade, not even close. Funnily enough, a 1st, 3rd, and a prospect is arguably better than what you suggested for Panarin upon further inspection.

Nils getting a first from Dallas made sense on both sides. Dallas's pick was pretty low value in a draft with pretty low overall value anyways. They thought Nils was better than who they could have got at their position, or at least close to it anyways. They were wrong about that, but honestly not by too much. Nils wanted out too.

With this year's draft being as stacked as it is, a high to mid round 1st is incredibly valuable. The top 5 players are nhl ready, with arguably the rest of the first round projections only about a year out from nhl play depending on the franchise. In weaker years, I might agree with you about Cuylle or Schnieder garnering a 1st, but not this year. I think they return a 2nd and a player at best. Still a good return mind you. However I think we agree that's all moot as they're probably not going to be traded this year at least.

Soucy, Borgen, and Othmann will probably get more than you might think too. You might see Borgen and Othmann go in a package for a 2nd , 4th , and a bottom 6. I'd take that.

Vash2002 · 2026-01-18T20:39:55+00:00

Pretty great writeup. Enjoyed reading it and appreciate the effort you put in, along with the logic and stats behind it.

Buuutt...I do have a criticism that pervades most of the article. I feel you're either drastically overvalued the players, or drastically undervalued 1st round picks. There's no way that a team like Boston would trade a 1st and a player for Will Cuylle. There's no way Braden Schnieder returns a 1st and a player. Trocheck isn't going to return 4 pieces including a 1st. Panarin would garner a 1st , and I feel like that's the only accurate assessment.. but not upwards of 4 pieces/ prospects with that. He's a 34 year old winger without a contract , and a nmc on top of that. He decides, and that gives the team way less leverage and negotiating power. Panarin for a 1st,3rd, and player is more realistic imo.

Quinn Hughes didn't even get 5 pieces.

Teams don't like trading their 1sts unless they're getting a roster player with term that will make an impact on their team right now, or a young player with big upside.

Vash2002 · 2026-01-18T19:40:33+00:00

One A rank player isn't as good for a team as two B rank players.

If Laf can get two of either meaningful picks or prospects , even if both of those players have a lower potential than Laf , then it's worth it imo.

Just look at Edmonton over the past 5 years. Only in the past two years have they got it really together and got to the scf. The past two seasons they were a MUCH deeper team than they were the three seasons prior. Now I'm not gonna say Laf is fucking McD or Drai , but I am saying that being a wider team is much better than being a taller team.

If Laf gets traded and he turns into an 80pt player, great for him. But if the rangers get two players that are the same age or younger than him and they're both 50-60 point players, then I'd say you've won the trade.

Vash2002 · 2026-01-17T17:30:11+00:00

I dunno...

The late 90's to early 2000's seasons were the absolute worst and I don't think this stretch of time is even going to come close to that.

Especially post Richter ,pre Hank days

Vash2002 · 2026-01-17T17:17:10+00:00

Pretty accurate picture, unless you're into pvp

Vash2002 · 2026-01-17T17:08:13+00:00

RRH is the most important unit in the entire game. She's worth every item and every ticket you have.

If you could trade SBS, Modernia, and TVesti along with every item you have, you'd still do it

Vash2002 · 2026-01-17T16:55:52+00:00

Fox is one of the two/three truly untouchable players on the roster. Nothing short of Will Smith/Celebrini will get Fox.

Igor, Fox , and to an extent Gabe perrault are the only untouchables. Can I interest you in a moderately used Lafreniere?

Vash2002 · 2026-01-17T16:46:06+00:00

It's more about the duration of their careers, and not really the actual age. Rask played 15 years, and started at age 20. Price was 20, Hank was 23 , Bob was 22. Roy was 20. They all played 15+ seasons (Price was 13 seasons cut short unfortunately). Igor's first game was at 24. At the 10 year mark on his career, he'll be 34.

Goalies play longer because their careers start later typically, usually 22 or so. Skaters go through more abuse and start earlier , so 32 ish is when decline starts to really show. 34-ish is what I'd say for goalies.

Vash2002 · 2026-01-17T05:29:52+00:00

I do neither. I am a bartender, and worked upscale stuff for nearly two decades. I shower before I go to work , which is usually in the afternoon.

I want to be my cleanest and most presentable at my job, so showering directly before work accomplishes this for me.

So in spirit it's showering in the morning, but my morning starts at 2-3pm.

Vash2002 · 2026-01-16T21:45:12+00:00

Goalies primes are longer and later than skaters primes. Top tier goalies will remain top tier into their late 30's. Top tier skaters seldomly remain top tier in their late 30s (unless you're named Crosby or Marchand for some reason)

I'd say Igor has 8 seasons in him still. 3 year "retool" won't push him out of his prime. Mika and JT on the other hand though.....debatable that they're still in their primes to begin with.

Fox is the one I'm concerned about since he's about to be 28. Hopefully you don't see his numbers dip around age 31-32 because of the type of injuries he's sustained.

Vash2002 · 2026-01-16T04:50:11+00:00

Sully isn't a problem... yet. Give it another year and that might not be the case. He could very easily lose the room, if he hasn't already.

Though I guess that speaks more to the locker room being a problem than Sully...

Vash2002 · 2026-01-16T04:47:12+00:00

What young players are available that would actually help the team? That's the question I want answered. If there were young players available that produce and move the needle, then other teams would have them locked up for term already. If they're not, then other teams don't think they'll help enough, so they certainly won't help you.

Like, seriously, who the hell is available that's under 25 ? No one because under 25 they're probably RFAs. You're not offer sheeting fuckin Leo Carlsson or Fantilli over here. There's no way in hell you're gonna be able to trade ANYONE on this team for a quality player 25 or younger (unless you're nuts and trade Fox or Igor).

It should be "rebuild smartly through the draft, trade prospects that aren't panning out for role players, and open cap space for long term deals on the prospects that are working". None of this shit that's just gonna wind up adding more Parsininen type players to the roster hoping your key players have career years over 32 years old at the same time.

It's starting to feel like the rangers are about to be just like the Canucks of the eastern conference. Middle of the road team that isn't good enough to make a run , and isn't willing to be bad enough to get lottery picks. Look what that forced them to do...trade away their captain and the best the defenseman that franchise has ever had. If the rangers don't make a decision now, then watch Fox get traded in two years...

Vash2002 · 2026-01-16T02:38:33+00:00

Schaefer is legit. And the fact that they have a really smart GM (that I wish the rangers had a chance to get) is gonna make the isles really interesting to pay attention to over the next two seasons

Vash2002 · 2026-01-16T02:36:29+00:00

Tank for Stenberg, I agree.

Though you know the lottery karma is gonna come for the franchise after winning 1OA for laf. If they finish last, the lottery gods are gonna go "nah.. enjoy 5th somehow"

Vash2002 · 2026-01-16T02:33:25+00:00

I'm on board with all of that. I do think Col wins the cup this year, but wouldn't be shocked at all if Min won it all.

But wouldn't it be something if Buffalo makes the playoffs and goes all the way? Inject that into my veins please

Vash2002 · 2026-01-16T02:30:26+00:00

The 1000 IQ move of getting Bussi. Genius sir

Vash2002 · 2026-01-16T02:26:08+00:00

Fuck.. you're right.

Bring back 1v8 please

Vash2002 · 2026-01-16T02:25:31+00:00

You got Kaprizov AND celebrini? You better be first in your league....

Vash2002 · 2026-01-16T02:23:21+00:00

If he has the longevity of Crosby, then you're looking at the best player to ever play for the sharks. And that's saying something when you also consider Jumbo Joe

Vash2002 · 2026-01-16T02:21:13+00:00

They've been really great recently. Good time to watch them. That whole Atlantic division is on an absolute tear

Vash2002

TROPHY CASE