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

[TheTakedown]

Step is a #1 Center... idk why we keep having this arguement... he's not Anze Kopitar, but he's comparable to Giroux and Krejci.... what's wrong with that?

All we need is another player like him (fingers crossed that Brassard can continue developing into that) and we're better off than most think.

 

[Wolfy*]

If there are no more new guys coming in, do you really look at this as a playoff team? I don't.

To me it looks like AV has a long term plan, building a new team from scratch, with all these kids.

 

[Trxjw]

If there are no more new guys coming in, do you really look at this as a playoff team? I don't.

To me it looks like AV has a long term plan, building a new team from scratch, with all these kids.

That kind of flies in the face of the moves the Rangers made leading up to the trade deadline. Losing two first round picks when acquiring a 38 year old winger, as well as re-signing a 30 year old blue liner who isn't an optimal fit for the system doesn't scream "play the kids" or "youth movement" to me.

I think the team will make a move to fill at least one major hole.

 

[TheTakedown]

If there are no more new guys coming in, do you really look at this as a playoff team? I don't.

To me it looks like AV has a long term plan, building a new team from scratch, with all these kids.

I think he sees it with SOME kids...

Remember, our Top 6 is VERY young, with the oldest being 30, the 2 youngest being 23 (obviously sans MSL, who is a stop gap player at the moment).

I think they are looking to make their own bottom 6 over the next 2 seasons. Sather and Gorton learned their lesson when they tried to replace solid bottom 6 guys with asham's, rupp's, and Pyatt's... The signings we've made this offseason are DEPTH, NOT WARM BODIES...

I think Miller is bound to step in and do work this season... The rest, I'm not so sure.

 

[RangerFan23]

Step is a #1 Center... idk why we keep having this arguement... he's not Anze Kopitar, but he's comparable to Giroux and Krejci.... what's wrong with that?

All we need is another player like him (fingers crossed that Brassard can continue developing into that) and we're better off than most think.

Calling Step comparable to Giroux is a little bit generous...

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

Step is a #1 Center... idk why we keep having this arguement... he's not Anze Kopitar, but he's comparable to Giroux and Krejci.... what's wrong with that?

All we need is another player like him (fingers crossed that Brassard can continue developing into that) and we're better off than most think.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Step is a #1 Center... idk why we keep having this arguement... he's not Anze Kopitar, but he's comparable to Giroux and Krejci.... what's wrong with that?

All we need is another player like him (fingers crossed that Brassard can continue developing into that) and we're better off than most think.

Uh yeah I like Steps more than most but lol

Krejci, sure. Giroux? lol.

 

[LundqvistsEvilTwin]

Uh yeah I like Steps more than most but lol

Krejci, sure. Giroux? lol.

yo did the girl in your dp go to harvard?

 

[Championship*]

heres a scenario
for you pick 1
both players want $4m, both players had career years, but whos more the cause of whos break out year? Brassard or Zuccarello?

That doesn't mean I make that horrible, god awful trade you suggested

 

[Chief]

Here's a few reasons why I'm thinking the Rangers will have a better record this season than last.

#1) Our best player, Lundqvist, will play more like our best player and not like the guy who had some people wishing Talbot would start more games. Conventional wisdom said his subpar play was the product of his contractual uncertainty. With that taken care of, I'm guessing we're in for a much better campaign from Lundqvist.

#2) Although you can't predict injuries, I'm going to predict/hope that having 3 of our top 6 players in the lineup, at the same time, won't be a rarity like it was last season when Hagelin, Nash and Callahan all missed time. Not to mention that Callahan missed substantial time (i.e., opening night, another couple of weeks in Oct/Nov and 4 more weeks in Dec). A healthy MSL that misses less time than Cally did will be an obvious benefit to this team.

#3) More offense from our blueline. D. Boyle v. Stralman is no contest. Boyle had 12 goals last season. Stralman had 1...and only 8 in his last 4 seasons.

#4) No Del Zotto/Klein for a full season.

#5) Player development. McD had a blossoming offensive game in the PO's. He could take a step backwards but he could also be on the verge of a breakout season. The law of averages may say that not all of Stepan, Kreider, Brassard, and Miller will take the proverbial next step, (note, their "next steps" aren't all the same next steps) but it's not a huge leap to expect 2 of the 4 to do so.

#6) The roster today won't be the roster at the end of the season. Changes will happen and certain areas that look like needs today will be resolved with new players.

 

[LundqvistsEvilTwin]

That doesn't mean I make that horrible, god awful trade you suggested

well if were not going to re sign staal, id rather stuart then nothing.. if staal is re signed... then yeah this deal is horrible

Little-Zucc>>Brassard-Zucc

 

[Fletch]

That kind of flies in the face of the moves the Rangers made leading up to the trade deadline. Losing two first round picks when acquiring a 38 year old winger, as well as re-signing a 30 year old blue liner who isn't an optimal fit for the system doesn't scream "play the kids" or "youth movement" to me.

I think the team will make a move to fill at least one major hole.

can it fill a hole without creating another hole? Agree with what you're saying, and had tried to respond but you did a better job than I could have done saying what I wanted to say.

 

[Fletch]

Here's a few reasons why I'm thinking the Rangers will have a better record this season than last.

#1) Our best player, Lundqvist, will play more like our best player and not like the guy who had some people wishing Talbot would start more games. Conventional wisdom said his subpar play was the product of his contractual uncertainty. With that taken care of, I'm guessing we're in for a much better campaign from Lundqvist.

#2) Although you can't predict injuries, I'm going to predict/hope that having 3 of our top 6 players in the lineup, at the same time, won't be a rarity like it was last season when Hagelin, Nash and Callahan all missed time. Not to mention that Callahan missed substantial time (i.e., opening night, another couple of weeks in Oct/Nov and 4 more weeks in Dec). A healthy MSL that misses less time than Cally did will be an obvious benefit to this team.

#3) More offense from our blueline. D. Boyle v. Stralman is no contest. Boyle had 12 goals last season. Stralman had 1...and only 8 in his last 4 seasons.

#4) No Del Zotto/Klein for a full season.

#5) Player development. McD had a blossoming offensive game in the PO's. He could take a step backwards but he could also be on the verge of a breakout season. The law of averages may say that not all of Stepan, Kreider, Brassard, and Miller will take the proverbial next step, (note, their "next steps" aren't all the same next steps) but it's not a huge leap to expect 2 of the 4 to do so.

#6) The roster today won't be the roster at the end of the season. Changes will happen and certain areas that look like needs today will be resolved with new players.

They're all good arguments, but the only issue is will the competition be the same? All else being equal to last season, beginning the season with this roster doesn't look a heck of a lot worse than last season's (if you can buy off MSL scoring 25-30 goals without a centerman). If the other 7 playoff teams are the same, however, and some of the lower seeds are better, it could make for a difficult regular season.

 

[TheTakedown]

Uh yeah I like Steps more than most but lol

Krejci, sure. Giroux? lol.

Giroux scored 19 more points at the age of 23 than Stepan did of this year... That's nothing outrageous, considering this is Step's first season under AV.

The real test will be if whether or not Stepan becomes a 70 point player next year. I'm confident most of this had to do with poor-performing/ill-equipped wingers, and a new system for this year.

So, is he exactly like Giroux? No... but compareable? at least a little bit.

Really, all we need is Brassard to hit 55-60 points (possible, but its a coin flip) and all of the sudden we have a Bergeron-Krejci Combo just like Boston...

 

[offdacrossbar]

this roster scares me a little bit. whos gonna score the goals ?

we lost 46 goals from last yrs roster and 126 total points.

richards, poo, stralman, boyle and dd. not key offensive performers in any way but almost 50 goals none the less.

for a team that struggled to score, i worry that we didnt address that enough in the offseason and may have perhaps taken a step backwards. our pp potentially will be better, but 5on5 ? i dunno.

i was hoping for a dynamic play making centerman or a goal scorer on the wing. didnt happen.

goal scoring. it matters.

 

[TheTakedown]

They're all good arguments, but the only issue is will the competition be the same? All else being equal to last season, beginning the season with this roster doesn't look a heck of a lot worse than last season's (if you can buy off MSL scoring 25-30 goals without a centerman). If the other 7 playoff teams are the same, however, and some of the lower seeds are better, it could make for a difficult regular season.

Who in particular?

The three teams will DEFINITELY be fighting for a wild card spot, at BEST... They've made no real improvements.

CAR - No real changes, just some adds on defense...
WSH - Will be marginally better, but I don't expect a transformation of a franchise, especially with those crippling Defenseman contracts
NJD - Will continue to have trouble scoring

These 5 teams will be fighting for playoff spots... PIT SHOULD be in the #1 spot for the Metro, but there's no doubt in my mind the race for 2nd, 3rd, and the 1st wildcard spot will be SUPER tight... But I still see no reason why the rangers don't get 3rd at worst, most likely 2nd.

NYI - Will be contending
PHI - Will be contending again
PIT - Will be contending again
CLB - Will be Contending again
NYR - Will be Contending again

 

[Thirty One]

Who in particular?

The three teams will DEFINITELY be fighting for a wild card spot, at BEST... They've made no real improvements.

CAR - No real changes, just some adds on defense...
WSH - Will be marginally better, but I don't expect a transformation of a franchise, especially with those crippling Defenseman contracts
NJD - Will continue to have trouble scoring

I still think the Devils will be a top-three seed in the Metro. http://rangersunlimited.com/2014/07/11/devils-present-formidable-threat-to-2014-15-rangers/

So does Dmitri Filipovic of the Sporting News: http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/sto...-nhl-offseason-metro-division-mike-cammelleri

 

[pld459666]

confused.

we don't sign one head case (Ribs) that's a proven point producer, but we sign another head case that is one hard sneeze from permant disability?

 

[TheTakedown]

this roster scares me a little bit. whos gonna score the goals ?

we lost 46 goals from last yrs roster and 126 total points.

richards, poo, stralman, boyle and dd. not key offensive performers in any way but almost 50 goals none the less.

for a team that struggled to score, i worry that we didnt address that enough in the offseason and may have perhaps taken a step backwards. our pp potentially will be better, but 5on5 ? i dunno.

i was hoping for a dynamic play making centerman or a goal scorer on the wing. didnt happen.

goal scoring. it matters.

50 goals, eh? what a number can do when it's pulled out of context...

Richards' scored 15 goals at ES, 5 on the PP. Scored 51 points last year, but also scored 19 of those on the power play
Pouliot scored 8 goals at ES, 7 on the PP
Stralman scored 1 goal all year
Boyle scored 6 goals all year
Dorsett scored 4 goals all year

Now lets look at who we've replaced them with

Dan Boyle is a 30-35 point defenseman... last year, he scored 18 points on the power play... wait a second, would you look at that? that's eerily close to the 19 points that Richards scored on the power play... So there goes Richards PP production, and while we're at it, Stralman's *1* even strength goal, plus another 5-7 goals at even strength... so we'll take that out of the equation.

Miller scored 3 goals and 3 assists in 30 games after going up and down between teams last year... This year, it's not outrageous to believe that he can score 10-15 goals, maybe 10-15 assists since he'll be playing with MSL... That's about 20-30 points, which happens to equal Richards even strength production

Pouliot's replacement will be Stempniak, or someone similar, so there are those 15 goals

Dorsetts 4 goals are effectively replaced by Glass' 2 goals... fine, but then we see that:

Boyle's 6 goals can be replaced with Lombardi's 6-10 goals that he could/should score... if unable to, there are plenty prospects that can replace 6 goals...

At worst, we've lost anywhere from 2-8 goals over the course of the year... Furthermore, none of this takes into account the GROWTH of our current players. No reason to think that Zucc at least repeats what he did, Brass hits 50-55 points, Kreider scores 25-30 goals instead of 17, etc...

So, no.... I don't see much different here.... MAYBE, just maybe, we lost Boyle's PKing abilities, but I don't see why one of the depth acquisitions we made could offset that...
I think we're BETTER this upcoming year than we were last year... in a very different way... not just stat wise.

 

[TheTakedown]

I still think the Devils will be a top-three seed in the Metro. http://rangersunlimited.com/2014/07/11/devils-present-formidable-threat-to-2014-15-rangers/

So does Dmitri Filipovic of the Sporting News: http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/sto...-nhl-offseason-metro-division-mike-cammelleri

lets wait and see if they can win a shootout game first, shall we?

 

[Frolov of Wraparound]

confused.

we don't sign one head case (Ribs) that's a proven point producer, but we sign another head case that is one hard sneeze from permant disability?

Lombardi isn't a head case. How in the hell did you gather this? Ribeiro was as bought out from his team for being a problem child. Lombardi struggled with injury issues. I don't see any reasonable comparison here, unless some major character issues have slipped by that i've forgotten.

The *****ing and moaning has gotten real tiresome this offseason, and it's only july 16th. Time for everyone to suck it up, and move on.

 

[pld459666]

I still think the Devils will be a top-three seed in the Metro. http://rangersunlimited.com/2014/07/11/devils-present-formidable-threat-to-2014-15-rangers/

So does Dmitri Filipovic of the Sporting News: http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/sto...-nhl-offseason-metro-division-mike-cammelleri

The NJD defence is major question mark.

When your top pairing consists of any two of the follwing names, there's a big hole there.

Greene, Zidlicky, Salvador, Gelinas, Merrill and Larsson.

Wings are injuries waiting to happen.

Clowe, Ruutu, Havlat, Cammalleri.

I like Henrique, and I'm sure we can expect close to 50 or better points from Elias, but the age factor is real.

Jagr - 42
Elias - 38
Zubrus - 36
Zidlicky - 37
Havlat - 33
Salvador - 38

These guys are going to be key contributors.

The whole left flank at forward carries an average age of 32.75 years old.

The right side is no better.

With Ryder, they average 34 years old, with Bernier it's 33 years old.

I think the devils go into March looking for one of the last 2 PO spots but age, fatigue and injuries have them missing the PO's again.

No way are they better than Pitt, Flyers or the Rangers. Top three in the Met? Not gonna happen.

New Jersey are old, slow, prone to miss alot of time. Very suspect on D.

As much as I can see them fighting for that last PO spot, I can just as easily see complete and utter disaster. pushing for a top 5 pick in 2015

 

[pld459666]

Lombardi isn't a head case. How in the hell did you gather this? Ribeiro was as bought out from his team for being a problem child. Lombardi struggled with injury issues. I don't see any reasonable comparison here, unless some major character issues have slipped by that i've forgotten.

The *****ing and moaning has gotten real tiresome this offseason, and it's only july 16th. Time for everyone to suck it up, and move on.

Head case in the sense of concussions, not in the sense of being a problem child.

We need offence on the cheap. Lombardi is not on the same level as Ribeiro in the regards.

You are right though, there is no reasonable comparison. We got damaged goods, while the difficult personality but hands down better player went somewhere else.

 

[Frolov of Wraparound]

Head case in the sense of concussions, not in the sense of being a problem child.

Fair enough, I didn't think of it that way.

Also, my frustration did not lie with your statement solely. Just using it as a vehicle to vent frustration with the whole board. This time of year is always a pain.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Sooooooooo.....

did we sign Stempniak yet?

Literally makes no sense for Slats not to grab him.