Speculation: 2014 - 2015 New York Rangers :: Roster building / proposal thread

[Tawnos]

Once the dust settles with the RFAs I fully expect the Rangers to try to bring in another vet wing on a cheap $1M-1.5M deal.

I would assume they want to deal with the RFAs first, see how much cap room they actually wind up with. Can Zucc/Brass be offersheeted? That could factor in as well. Forget what the new rules are with arbitration.

No offer sheets in arbitration.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Neither Richards nor Pouliot have been close to being replaced.

I could see Miller being able to replace Pouilot better than him replacing Brassard's 3rd line production who now has to replace Richards's 50+ point production. ugh.

 

[Savant]

I could see Miller being able to replace Pouilot better than him replacing Brassard's 3rd line production who now has to replace Richards's 50+ point production. ugh.

You are more optimistic than me. Dan Boyle is going to be tasked with those points. Great.

With so few assets they are going to need to get creative.

 

[Zil]

I could see Miller being able to replace Pouilot better than him replacing Brassard's 3rd line production who now has to replace Richards's 50+ point production. ugh.

This roster is entirely dependent on improvements from Stepan, McDonagh, Kreider, and Zuccarello. That's the only way we're going to remain contenders this year. Step and Zucc need to reach 65+, preferably 70+. Kreider and McDonagh need to reach 50+. A big, healthy Nash season would also be helpful.

Richards posted 19 powerplay points last year and that probably cancels out the added offense from Dan Boyle (18 powerplay points). That leaves 32 even strength points from Richards for JT Miller to match. Can he give us 16 and 16?

Dan Boyle barely outscored Stralman at even strength last season 18 points to 13 points so mostly what we did was stand pat in veteran point production while weakening our team defense. The transitions from Dorsett to Glass and losing Brian Boyle likewise makes us a weaker defensive team and adds no offense. We're still left without a Pouliot replacement. Whether we add a vet or a kid like Fast or even Duclair steps in, we need to get that production back too.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

This roster is entirely dependent on improvements from Stepan, McDonagh, Kreider, and Zuccarello. That's the only way we're going to remain contenders this year. Step and Zucc need to reach 65+, preferably 70+. Kreider and McDonagh need to reach 50+. A big, healthy Nash season would also be helpful.

Richards posted 19 powerplay points last year and that probably cancels out the added offense from Dan Boyle (18 powerplay points). That leaves 32 even strength points from Richards for JT Miller to match. Can he give us 16 and 16?

Dan Boyle barely outscored Stralman at even strength last season 18 points to 13 points so mostly what we did was stand pat in veteran point production while weakening our team defense. The transitions from Dorsett to Glass and losing Brian Boyle likewise makes us a weaker defensive team and adds no offense. We're still left without a Pouliot replacement. Whether we add a vet or a kid like Fast or even Duclair steps in, we need to get that production back too.

I agree.

I think if we have Stepan playing like he did from January on, the team will be better than last season even with a weaker bottom six. If Step plays like that, Nash with 55-65 points (30-30, 35-25, something like that.) Kreider with 25 goals.

I'm putting the over-under for McD at 50. He's definitely over .5 PPG, imo, and with a weaker 2nd and 3rd pairing he'll be getting more minutes.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

I'm expecting us to drop off a bit at this point. I'd be pretty shocked if we missed the playoffs, but I'm thinking we'll be closer to 3-4 in the division than 1-2.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

I'm expecting us to drop off a bit at this point. I'd be pretty shocked if we missed the playoffs, but I'm thinking we'll be closer to 3-4 in the division than 1-2.

The only team i'm worried about finishing higher than us in the regular season is Pittsburgh. I could see us being 3rd, but i'm confident we're contending for 2nd all season.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

The only team i'm worried about finishing higher than us in the regular season is Pittsburgh. I could see us being 3rd, but i'm confident we're contending for 2nd all season.

I hope you're right. I think Miller will be better than most think.

Hopefully Lindberg can fill the Boyle void.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

All depends which DStep we get. January-May, 1C Stepan or October-December middle six tweener Stepan?

 

[RangerBoy]

Matthew Lombardi signs two-year deal w/ #NYRangers

https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/489239046619553792

Twitter account of Mayor John Hoven who has the really good Kings sources.

Lombardi suffered a serious concussion 3-4 years ago and wasn't the same player. He played in Switzerland last season.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=43804

 

[Zil]

I hope you're right. I think Miller will be better than most think.

Hopefully Lindberg can fill the Boyle void.

Lindberg makes a lot of sense to me in the Boyle role. I think our optimal lineup is something like this:

Kreider-Stepan-St. Louis
ADDITION-Brassard-Zuccarello or Zuccarello-Brassard-ADDITION
Hagelin-Miller-Nash
Lindberg-Moore-Fast
Glass

My preferred pickup is Stempniak, but we'll see what they can dig up.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/489239046619553792

:|

Ruined by concussions...

 

[Zil]

Is that an NHL deal or a two-way contract? He's really not good anymore.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

LOL wtf is management doing.

 

[RangerBoy]

Lombardi could always skate. Speed.He was used on the PK. He fits the AV system of playing fast.

 

[TurgePurge*]

Neither Richards nor Pouliot have been close to being replaced.

Buddy of mine saw Drury a few weeks ago. He has no interest in coming back to replace Richards. The search continues.

 

[Raspewtin]

Neither Richards nor Pouliot have been close to being replaced.

It's also July 15th.

 

[Doctyl]

Why is anyone complaining about the Lombardi signing? Worst case scenario he sucks and they put him in the AHL and lose a contract spot. Hopefully he overcomes his concussion issues and we have a good bottom 6 guy. There is no risk in this signing at all

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

This is starting to remind me of the 2012 off season where the Rangers made the Nash trade (which was fine), but then couldn't do an adequate job at replacing the depth they lost.. and it looks like we're signing a bunch of guys who are not very good for the depth once again. and I'm not just talking about this signing. Tanner Glass for 1.5M!?

 

[Zuccarello Awesome*]

nope

Solid argument.

 

[Doctyl]

This is starting to remind me of the 2012 off season where the Rangers made the Nash trade (which was fine), but then couldn't do an adequate job at replacing the depth they lost.. and it looks like we're signing a bunch of guys who are not very good for the depth once again. and I'm not just talking about this signing. Tanner Glass for 1.5M!?

Glass can at least PK and block shots, Asham just kinda sucked at everything. Lombardi is a zero risk-decent reward gamble. The organization is also hoping some of the kids challenge for bottom 6 spots.

Can't be mad at management for not signing Pouliot. Stralman they clearly felt was not a long term option. I guess we could've lied to Boyle and stuck him on the 4th after he signed, but they felt Dom Moore was more important and ultimately cheaper than BB.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Glass can at least PK and block shots, Asham just kinda sucked at everything. Lombardi is a zero risk-decent reward gamble. The organization is also hoping some of the kids challenge for bottom 6 spots.

Can't be mad at management for not signing Pouliot. Stralman they clearly felt was not a long term option. I guess we could've lied to Boyle and stuck him on the 4th after he signed, but they felt Dom Moore was more important and ultimately cheaper than BB.

I'm not mad at not signing Pouilot or Boyle (even though for 2M, that's a hell of a lot better value than ****ing Glass)... or Stralman.. etc.. I knew we were losing them because of the raises they would get by someone.. I like the Boyle signing for a few years.. Rangers have just not ever been very good at having depth for more than one season.

 

[LundqvistsEvilTwin]

Whats even worse about losing Stralman and Boyle after a SCF run is that when the NHL 15 DEMO comes out, ill have to play as the Rangers tied 2-2 without the guy who scored the second goal... g-d damnit !!

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

It would not surprise me of the hope is that MSL could bring Miller/Lindberg along in much the same way that Dubi rode shotgun with Jagr his rookie year. That year (07-08) was Dubi's 4th year post draft and his first NHL season. This will be Miller's 4th year post draft as well.

Dubi stepped in an potted 40 points that year. By comparison, the prior year in the AHL Dubi put up 43 in 71 (.61 PPG) compared to Miller's 43 in 41 (1.05 PPG).

Barring something ridiculous (Thornton or ROR forcing a trade here) I would assume they are banking on a repeat. Miller fairly catches some flack for not producing enough to date...but he is a very good prospect. In some ways the expectations have gotten ahead of where they really should be. If he had spent the full last two years in the AHL as a 19/20 year old vs being forced up I guarentee people would be over the moon on slotting him into the lineup.

Yeah, I made the Dubinsky comparison earlier. It is a similar situation. Matt Cullen leaves in the summer, folks are clamoring for an upgrade, management and coaching staff feel Dubinsky can step in, and he does. Dubinsky had some NHL games under his belt, nothing in the way of production. He produced at the lower levels. Jagr helped Dubi in his first full season.

Miller situation is very similar. The players aren't that far off, either. Richards gets bought out, folks are clamoring for an upgrade, management and coaching staff feel Miller can step into the role. Miller has some NHL games under his belt, not much production. Produced at lower levels. St. Louis, Hagelin, and Nash can help Miller in his first full season.

Put Miller with a responsible possession driver like Hagelin, and a veteran leader and scorer in St. Louis. I could see Miller blossoming with guys like that.

 

[NYRFAN218]

All depends which DStep we get. January-May, 1C Stepan or October-December middle six tweener Stepan?

Think there's a ton of factors. A whole year of MSL will help the production. A full year of a healthy Rick Nash will help as well. The team last year was pretty much dog **** up until January and they still finished 2nd in the division.

I don't disagree with BB's (ain't calling you your new name) point that 3rd or 4th would be more likely than 2nd though. I'd be genuinely shocked if we missed the playoffs too. I just don't see it happening. Henrik took a complete ******* team in 08-09 to the playoffs and took another crap team in 09-10 to a shootout away from a spot.