BarbaraAlphanse
Guest
Hanzal is available. That is different from past years. I see Hanzal play every night and no question I'd include JT any others in a deal for him. Very valuable and affordable long term piece. He would give the Rangers a 3 deep at center they could keep together for years.
Called this 2 weeks ago. There is really not 1 player that should ever be considered unavailable for a team unless that player is one that the team is preparing to build a nucleus around.
Hanzal is too injury prone to be that player for any franchise.
I love JT. I wouldn't include him in any trade, willy nilly. But I'd have to really think hard about pulling the trigger if much more didn't have to be added for the Rangers afterward.
I'd probably choose not to include him, ultimately. But Hanzal would be someone i'd really pursue if he was within our means to get him.
I can't see Miller being their target, though, in a trade of high scale. Duclair will probably be the guy that they target, and actually - i'd be 100% more willing to trade Duclair for Hanzal as a centerpiece, than Miller.
Miller is a guy who can make a difference game in and game out, physically or via talent. He just hasn't learned defensive consistency/smart defensive decisions, just yet.
Duclair is a guy who I gander will seem invisible when a team is able to mute his razzle dazzle. He needs a lot of work on his play away from the puck. JT... he's, believe it or not, closer.