Speculation: 2014 Offseason - Roster Building / Trade Speculation Thread II ‎

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

So then we can't bring anyone in here better than Brassard because they can't hack it.. and we can't win with brassard as the #2 center.. so either way we're ****ed.. nice.

I dont agree with the latter.

You are the ones calling Brassard the #3C on last season's team because he had 6 less regular season points than Brad Richards, which I find absurd.

Any objectionable watcher would surmise, especially as the season went on, that Brassard was the #2C for a Stanley Cup final team.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Step one completed now we have to decide if Richards will be replaced from within the team or if we need to sign someone..

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

I dont agree with the latter.

You are the ones calling Brassard the #3C on last season's team because he had 6 less regular season points than Brad Richards, which I find absurd.

Any objectionable watcher would surmise, especially as the season went on, that Brassard was the #2C for a Stanley Cup final team.

Again, why does everyone make Brad Richards the comparable here? He wasn't cutting it as a 2c either. He had all of 12 points for the team in his final 3 months. He averaged 4 points a month. Most of his points came when the Rangers were bottom dwellers.

Again, save these posts. If Brassard is on the 2nd line come November, there will be a host of angry posters on here talking about Brassard sucking and being over his head.

 

[Mac n Gs]

So Wpg is going to rebuild and trade away their prized young center? Minnesota is going to trade Granlund? And no, I wouldn't say that Kadri is better than Brassard, or at least not better enough to be worth what it would cost to get him.

This is shiny new toy syndrome, nothing else.

Wouldn't really classify Kadri as shiny new toy syndrome. He's shown this year that's he's almost a ppg player on a team that played very poorly, while also having very good possession numbers. For a team that's slowly transitioning towards speed and possession, while Toronto is focusing on TOFFNESS and veterans, Kadri would be a much better fit here. He's constantly undermined in Toronto, and if he's brought in here, the veterans on the team can help kick his ass into gear.

Spezza, Thornton, and ROR are all examples of shiny new toy syndrome.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I dont agree with the latter.

You are the ones calling Brassard the #3C on last season's team because he had 6 less regular season points than Brad Richards, which I find absurd.

Any objectionable watcher would surmise, especially as the season went on, that Brassard was the #2C for a Stanley Cup final team.

BRB, it has nothing to do with being better than Richards.. I think he can be... but Richards almost had 60 points, AND Brassard almost had 50 points.. THAT is the issue.. not just replacing Richards. its also then replacing the almost 50 points that Brassard put up as the 3C.. so yes, if you can find someone who can play a 3c as good as Brassard did last year, I'll be more than fine keeping the same team..

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Again, why does everyone make Brad Richards the comparable here? He wasn't cutting it as a 2c either. He had all of 12 points for the team in his final 3 months. He averaged 4 points a month. Most of his points came when the Rangers were bottom dwellers.

Again, save these posts. If Brassard is on the 2nd line come November, there will be a host of angry posters on here talking about Brassard sucking and being over his head.

Its so amazing this team, with absolute dolts in Brassard and Richards at center, made it to the cup final.

Its almost as if the team is very strong in other areas, they are able to overcome the lack of a 60+ point 2nd line center. Amazing.

Which makes it all the more bizarre that you are willing to die on this hill (and likely disrupt other areas of the team in the process) for a center over Brassard.

 

[Mac n Gs]

On a side note, Marcel Goc could be another cheap option to plug into the lower lines.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

BRB, it has nothing to do with being better than Richards.. I think he can be... but Richards almost had 60 points, AND Brassard almost had 50 points.. THAT is the issue.. not just replacing Richards. its also then replacing the almost 50 points that Brassard put up as the 3C.. so yes, if you can find someone who can play a 3c as good as Brassard did last year, I'll be more than fine keeping the same team..

...and we've gone full circle.

That sure seems easier and more prudent than getting this fictional upgrade, doesnt it?

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

...and we've gone full circle.

That sure seems easier and more prudent than getting this fictional upgrade, doesnt it?

yet people are pegging JT Miller into that spot.. you gonna get 50 points from him?

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

ROR definitely isn't a "shiny new toy". He's a beast player who is still young and has upside. Plus, we've been talking about him here for over a year.

 

[aufheben]

I could see that.. but it shouldn't be anywhere near the 5M that people were comparing Little too.. Little has a 60 point season, 1 50 point season, and almost 2 50 point seasons. Brassard never hit 50.

Who are we replacing Brassard with, and how? We probably won't even be able to replace Richards. Brass was 48th in points among NHL centers, and has a been a good playoff performer for us.

Btw, that 51 point season of Bryan Little's was during 2008-09. Last 5 years (Little/Brassard) have been:

-> 34, 48, 46, 32, 64 ->

-> 36, 47, 41, 29, 45 ->

Little's never played a playoff game, while Brassard's at 35GP - 24 Pts.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

ROR definitely isn't a "shiny new toy". He's a beast player who is still young and has upside. Plus, we've been talking about him here for over a year.

Wonder how Ranger fans would feel about him had he pulled that hold out act as a member of this team?

Hes being paid for that upside right now and will only get more expensive. And thats not even mentioning the assets it'll take to get him.

Pass.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Wonder how Ranger fans would feel about him had he pulled that hold out act as a member of this team?

Hes being paid for that upside right now and will only get more expensive. And thats not even mentioning the assets it'll take to get him.

Pass.

Well yeah, it always depends on the price, but its something worth looking into at least isn't it?

not saying its possible, but what if we traded a Staal package for him, and then replaced Staal with someone who can play top 4 LHD? which usually come cheaper than RHD

 

[Mac n Gs]

ROR definitely isn't a "shiny new toy". He's a beast player who is still young and has upside. Plus, we've been talking about him here for over a year.

Is that actually him, or a byproduct of playing with Duchene, MacKinnon, and Landeskog?

And didn't he mostly play LW this past season as well?

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Its so amazing this team, with absolute dolts in Brassard and Richards at center, made it to the cup final.

Its almost as if the team is very strong in other areas, they are able to overcome the lack of a 60+ point 2nd line center. Amazing.

Which makes it all the more bizarre that you are willing to die on this hill (and likely disrupt other areas of the team in the process) for a center over Brassard.

What is amazing is that we had several regular season debates where you had everyone convinced that this team wasn't going to amount to anything more than a 2nd round exit and I was arguing that we were so much stronger than you were letting on.

Back then your argument was that I was naive and that we had so many other weaknesses and who knows what else.

Forgive me if I don't necessarily jump to agreement with the person who appraised this team as middle of the pack before the playoffs started and is now saying that a middle of the pack player will suffice on a heavily relied on line.

Eventually, that position will need to be dealt with. Yes, I said need. Brassard will not cut it.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

What kind of contract is Grabovski looking for?

 

[aufheben]

I dont agree with the latter.

You are the ones calling Brassard the #3C on last season's team because he had 6 less regular season points than Brad Richards, which I find absurd.

Any objectionable watcher would surmise, especially as the season went on, that Brassard was the #2C for a Stanley Cup final team.

Brassard's line faced the weakest competition of our Top-9, regular season and playoffs. He was also 8th and 7th for AvgTOI [5-on-5] for NYR forwards, also regular/playoffs.

 

[hagsfan924]

I dont know if this has been discussed much here, but Boston might have a difficult time signing their RFAs with their limited cap space.
They're bound to lose Iginla, and their RFAs include Reilly Smith, Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski. They may only be able to keep two of those players and could be at risk of an offer sheet for Smith or Krug. I know it's unlikely Boston trading with us, but any chance of a match?
If we lose Pouliot (or dare I say Zucc) Smith could replace production from our wing position. Krug or Bartkowski could replace Stralman if he takes a better offer elsewhere.
We could offer Boston prospects like McIlrath, JT Miller, Fast, etc.
It's not like we'd be trading our prospects for an aging player like Spezza or Thornton. We'd be getting some good young talent who have played big roles in the playoffs.
Making this trade with Boston though would likely take us out of the running for Spezza and Thornton. ROR could still be had if we move Staal, but I'd hate to lose both Staal and Stralman this offseason.

 

[offdacrossbar]

stasny will only cost us money.

hes a talented player who will thrive in av's uptempo 2way system. hes not a terrific skater but hes no slouch either. hes a good pk guy, very good on faceoffs and has nice offensive skills. hes more playmaker than scorer. he has a good motor and is a very strong forechecker.

if you watch him alot you will see, especially last season, that he was assigned the best offensive lines and did an excellent job checking top centerman and shutting them down. he did all that and still scored almost a ppg. which is saying something.

hes not big and hes not particularly fast. hes 28 and will be 29 end dec.

he wont come cheap but hes got 2-3 good seasons left as hes in the peak of his career right now.

looking at this im not so sure i have a problem with it.

stasny
step
brass
moore

not terrible at all.

 

[OverTheCap]

I have never been a big fan of Brassard, and I have reservations about him being the #2C going forward.

However, I am just not seeing how this team can simultaneously find a replacement for Richards AND upgrade on Brassard, in addition to dealing with either resigning or replacing our other UFAs. The cap flexibility isn't there.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I have never been a big fan of Brassard, and I have reservations about him being the #2C going forward.

However, I am just not seeing how this team can simultaneously find a replacement for Richards AND upgrade on Brassard, in addition to dealing with either resigning or replacing our other UFAs. The cap flexibility isn't there.

well, not when people are throwing out 5M for Brass and Zucc..

 

[GAGLine]

Kadri, in 48 games, nearly matched Brassard's highest regular season performance. He outperformed him with worse line mates this year. So that's just bias on your part.

If Kadri is so good, why is he on the trade block? It's not like toronto is flush with center depth.

Brassard won't cut it. I'd love to save these posts and see how you guys are reacting in November. Brassard isn't magically going to become a 60 point player because you guys say he will... or because we can't afford a guy that can. He is what he is, 45 point player who excels on the 3rd line. Catastrophic if he's 2c.

I never said that he will improve drastically. I said that we don't have the cap space or the assets to acquire someone better.

 

[GAGLine]

stasny will only cost us money.

Money that we don't have. We letting Zucc and Stralman walk so that we can sign Stastny?

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Money that we don't have. We letting Zucc and Stralman walk so that we can sign Stastny?

No one is letting Zucc go.. Stralman maybe..

Well yeah, if everyone wants to bring back Stralman, than we can't upgrade at center. personally, I'd rather upgrade at center (and the offense in general) and our D take a slight hit..

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

If Kadri is so good, why is he on the trade block? It's not like toronto is flush with center depth.



I never said that he will improve drastically. I said that we don't have the cap space or the assets to acquire someone better.

What type of logic is that?

Plenty of players are traded that are pretty damn good. That's not to say that Kadri is pretty damn good but he has that potential.

A lot of times, all that some players need is a change of scenery/coaching to get them on the right track.

He's on the block because that team needs a complete overhaul after their botched rebuild.