Providing excellent value: Chris Kreider Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images

So much has gone on around the league over the past few days it’s worth a brief muse because so much affects the Rangers.

Deadline prices are getting crazier by the year yet the talent level is increasingly worse. When a player (no matter how talented) who hasn’t played all season and is approaching 40 fetches a 2nd round pick and a conditional extra pick, prices are too rich for the Rangers. Kimmo Timonen was a fine player and can still play but you could see last year he had clearly lost a step. The Hawks felt he was worth the investment but the Rangers shouldn’t buy ‘a name player’ for the sake of it.

Who are the Rangers biggest threats in the East? The only team that intimidates me are Tampa. They can score in bunches, are quick and deep and Ben Bishop has often had the Rangers number regardless of the team he’s suited up for. Are they beatable? Yes, but the Rangers slack play in their own zone over the past few weeks would really be exposed by a team whose best player (Stamkos) is only just peaking.

My opinion: as a contender, the Rangers shouldn’t consider trading Zuccarello unless it’s for a ridiculous price. I can’t imagine Sather is remotely considering it as a serious option.

Jaromir Jagr in Florida is wrong, just wrong. I’m an unashamed Jagr fan but even I wouldn’t have given up the picks it took Florida to acquire him and besides, you just know the Devils would have demanded more from the Rangers. Would he have helped the Rangers? He could definitely help along the wall, on the powerplay and would be another possession guy for the Rangers.

The East is wide open but very top heavy. The Red Wings, Canadiens, Tampa, the Islanders and the Pens are all very good teams but all have flaws. The Rangers want to hope the Panthers pip the Bruins to the 8th seed. The bottom half of the East is just awful.

Chris Kreider still has his warts but he’s in full beast mode right now and could be a huge difference maker in the playoffs. His speed has never been more evident and he’s driving to the net so effectively. Since December 31st in Florida Kreider has played 26 games and has 18 points and 11 goals. He could still benefit from a little more consistently but the Rangers have been less reliant on Nash recently, in large part because of Kreider.

It’s a shame the Rangers (slightly) overpaid for Girardi and Staal because generally speaking there are a lot of bargains on the roster this year. Hagelin, Kreider, Dom Moore and Klein are all second tier players playing above their pay grades.

Back to the deadline: is there any value to be had at the deadline? If the price is low enough it would be worth looking at Zbynek Michalek if – as speculated – the cost is connected to appearances and how deep an acquiring team would go in the postseason. The main concern is definitely on the blueline right now. Jeff Petry is linked to the Rangers (who isn’t) but his price won’t represent good value.

Reviewing Cam Talbot. Talbot is winning games, making big saves and at times doing enough to keep the Rangers from beating themselves but his positioning has been a little suspect recently, he’s let in some soft goals and is awful at breakaways and shootouts. Is this water finding its level or does Talbot need a rest? I think it’s a bit of both. Talbot is a good goalie who can probably be a 40 game starter in a platoon but he needs help or a rest… or preferably Henrik Lundqvist.

Back to the deadline II: If the Rangers want some help up front they should look for some scoring depth not necessarily at center. Erik Cole would be a nice add if he was cheap enough and the cap hit was workable. Curtis Glencross would really improve the bottom six but the bidding may be fierce.

Questions:

  • Would you be happy to enter the playoffs with Kevin Hayes at 3C?
  • Who do you fear most in the Eastern Conference?
  • Should the Rangers give up draft picks for another impact player?
  • Who will be the Rangers highest scoring defenseman?
  • What’s the biggest change you’d make to the Rangers right now?

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