Slavin will fix him. Rangers just don’t have the cap space for him? Read somewhere his game regressed this past year.
He’s had undisclosed off-ice issues (people have speculated mental health) the last two years and been really inconsistent. When he’s good, he’s fantastic. But he also seems disengaged a considerably amount of the time. Interested to hear the return given its in-division. Also, would have been *really* cool to just hang onto Niko Mikkola for hardly anything. Drury wanted to build a bargain bin D like Zito has, and then just let his best bargain bin find walk to…Zito.
to be fair, you guys were calling Mikkola a JAG when he signed. Nobody thought he would become this...
Yeah Rangers fans seemed to like him more than the advanced stats did Comments at the time: “Liked him” “He played his role well and stepped up when we needed him. He deserves the raise. It’s a shame we couldn’t sign him” “Will miss him - think he showed some decent play by the end of the season.”
Mikkola also signed for 3x$2.5M. So even if you thought he was JAG - which most NYR fans didn’t - that’s still a great AAV for JAG. Ipso facto, it was stupid at the time when Drury let him walk and it looks absolutely idiotic now.
It also shows how deploying guys the wrong way can have major down-the-lineup effects on other players. Mikkola was used as a 3rd pairing guy and Miller rarely touched our 1st pairing all because we wanted #gritty Ryan Lindgren playing on the top pair with Fox. We have now lost all 3, with very little understanding of what Miller or Mikkola could have been if they were given more responsibility. Just asinine.
Flyers signed Dennis Gilbert. gotta think a trade is coming, these numbers at D just don't make sense. Sanheim Risto Seeler Drysdale York those 5 you assume are locked in. Andre Zamula young guys who both both played more than half their games in the NHL last year and should at least get a chance to make the team Gilbert Juulsen depth guys who I assume didn't sign to play in the AHL next year. that's 9 guys for 7 spots. York is an RFA maybe they move him but that would be pretty shocking. also Oliver Bonk and Hunter McDonald who were both expected to challenge for spots in camp.
Our Freddy Gaudreau replacement Hearing the #mnwild are closing in on bringing back free-agent center Nico Sturm. 5th-best faceoff guy in the NHL last season (min. 422 draws), 2-time Cup champ, fills PK/size/forechecking role— Michael Russo (@russohockey.bsky.social) 2025-07-01T16:42:25.088Z
Sounds like this has “a lot of variables, including a center being sent Carolina’s way. Massive deal.” Per Friedman.
Dom is trash but yeah. That doesnt seem like it will age too well. However a 4.5 AAV might not be anything in 3 years.
Analytics hate this guy Cody Ceci (4x4.5m with L.A) is almost but not quite an NHL-calibre defender.— Micah McCurdy (@hockeyviz.com) 2025-07-01T18:47:51.077Z
Disagree. I enjoy his work. He also puts up with our nonsense on the podcast and busting his balls about being a leafs fan so I'm biased.
That's about the only time Ive seen/heard about him putting up w people busting his balls. Usually he turns into a big piss baby.