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

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

And who's going to play with Miller to put up the 45+ points Brassard put up as the 3c. Exoecting Miller to 've the 3c next year if Brass is the #2 is a huge step back from this year.. I mean we just made the finals do we really think fans are going to accept getting worse?

 

[Matt Rentfree]

I wouldn't say easily 20 goals, but it's certainly a possibility. The kid was a point per game player in the AHL this year at age 20.

I can see Miller putting up 30 points, which is 21 shy of what Richards gave us last season. With McD starting to find his offensive game, I think he makes up for 10 of those 21 points next season. Beyond that, who knows? St. Louis is capable of putting up big numbers, John Moore may improve - there's lots of options. Too early to press the panic button and overspend on UFA's or give up assets for an aging Thornton. IF Grabovski is available for a reasonable cap hit (not likely), fine. Otherwise start the season with Miller and adjust as necessary.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

And who's going to play with Miller to put up the 45+ points Brassard put up as the 3c. Exoecting Miller to 've the 3c next year if Brass is the #2 is a huge step back from this year.. I mean we just made the finals do we really think fans are going to accept getting worse?

He would play with Hagelin and MSL. He can score 30-40 points with them, I would hope.

I can see Miller putting up 30 points, which is 21 shy of what Richards gave us last season. With McD starting to find his offensive game, I think he makes up for 10 of those 21 points next season. Beyond that, who knows? St. Louis is capable of putting up big numbers, John Moore may improve - there's lots of options. Too early to press the panic button and overspend on UFA's or give up assets for an aging Thornton. IF Grabovski is available for a reasonable cap hit (not likely), fine. Otherwise start the season with Miller and adjust as necessary.

Yeah, I think this is being overlooked. We have MSL for a full season, he's going to replace a lot of the 50 some odd points Richards had.

 

[aufheben]

It's not so much Brassard that I'm wondering about for #2C, it's having that whole line bumped up from the 3rd line. Will they be as successful against tougher match-ups over a long season? And they're already a ****-show defensively.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

It's not so much Brassard that I'm wondering about for #2C, it's having that whole line bumped up from the 3rd line. Will they be as successful against tougher match-ups over a long season? And they're already a ****-show defensively.

I'm definitely worried about Brassard as the 2C playing against tougher competition.

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

There's no reason we have to add a center between now and the start the season. This team is good enough to make the playoffs as is if we re-sign everyone. If we still need help come the deadline, we can make a deal then.

If they are able to retain everyone on the roster. If not, if they lose Boyle, i don't see them being nearly as good. Boyle took a lot of important faceoffs, killed penalties incredibly well, and was able to forecheck and keep the puck deep in the offensive zone.

If we replace Boyle with Fast that is a huge downgrade, and a big hit to our ability to win defensive zone faceoffs.

If we lose Stralman or Staal and don't improve elsewhere that is a huge downgrade.

I love Miller. But expecting him to play the most important forward position on a team with contender expectations, is too much right now.

 

[asparkoflife]

If they are able to retain everyone on the roster. If not, if they lose Boyle, i don't see them being nearly as good. Boyle took a lot of important faceoffs, killed penalties incredibly well, and was able to forecheck and keep the puck deep in the offensive zone.

If we replace Boyle with Fast that is a huge downgrade, and a big hit to our ability to win defensive zone faceoffs.

If we lose Stralman or Staal and don't improve elsewhere that is a huge downgrade.

I love Miller. But expecting him to play the most important forward position on a team with contender expectations, is too much right now.

Boyle is a great team guy, does a lot of the small things right, but is the type of player that is replaceable, and not with much difficulty. There are a slew of PK killing, grinding, 4th line types.

 

[Raspewtin]

I wouldn't say easily 20 goals, but it's certainly a possibility. The kid was a point per game player in the AHL this year at age 20.

Don't bother, he senselessly hates Miller for no reason.

20 goals is a leap but I don't see any reason why Miller can't have a very productive year.

 

[Raspewtin]

It's not so much Brassard that I'm wondering about for #2C, it's having that whole line bumped up from the 3rd line. Will they be as successful against tougher match-ups over a long season? And they're already a ****-show defensively.

Call me crazy but I think their matchups and TOI will stay the same.

MSL and Hagelin will still go against tougher matchups, despite who their center is, me thinks.

Remember that we really didn't have a first line all year. Even w/o Richards I don't expect that to change.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Boyle is a great team guy, does a lot of the small things right, but is the type of player that is replaceable, and not with much difficulty. There are a slew of PK killing, grinding, 4th line types.

Boyle is one of the best PK'ers in the league, and is great in the playoffs. Saying he is easily replaceable is quite ignorant.

If that were the case, why is it the Rangers can never develop those types of bottom 6 players?

 

[Raspewtin]

And who's going to play with Miller to put up the 45+ points Brassard put up as the 3c. Exoecting Miller to 've the 3c next year if Brass is the #2 is a huge step back from this year.. I mean we just made the finals do we really think fans are going to accept getting worse?

MSL and Hagelin?

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I wouldn't say easily 20 goals, but it's certainly a possibility. The kid was a point per game player in the AHL this year at age 20.

Kreider didn't even get 20... and he's got a much better skill set and shot.. expecting Miller to put up 20 goals is a HUGE leap.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

MSL and Hagelin?

That's assuming Pouilot re signs, he might want a multi year deal.. If he doesn't, then MSL probably goes with Brassard and Zucc. leaving just Miller/hagelin.. and?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Call me crazy but I think their matchups and TOI will stay the same.

MSL and Hagelin will still go against tougher matchups, despite who their center is, me thinks.

Remember that we really didn't have a first line all year. Even w/o Richards I don't expect that to change.

I really hope the Rangers management doesnt have the tunnel vision of fans that are so concerned about "replacing Richards' 50 points". It goes so far beyond that. The center market is a mess and doesn't provide any suitable options that do not hurt the team elsewhere.

Production can and should come from elsewhere.

 

[Raspewtin]

I really hope the Rangers management doesnt have the tunnel vision of fans that are so concerned about "replacing Richards' 50 points". It goes so far beyond that. The center market is a mess and doesn't provide any suitable options that do not hurt the team elsewhere.

Production can and should come from elsewhere.

A whole year of MSL will make a huge difference. And Richards' really good play really tailed off after the Olympic Break.

In my ideal world we put Miller there and deal with the growing pains. His wingers are excellent defensively to make up for anything dumb he does.

 

[Tawnos]

I really hope the Rangers management doesnt have the tunnel vision of fans that are so concerned about "replacing Richards' 50 points". It goes so far beyond that. The center market is a mess and doesn't provide any suitable options that do not hurt the team elsewhere.

Production can and should come from elsewhere.

Yeah. The other question is whether or not Brassard's productivity can take a step forward with added playing time. If he puts up 55 points (big if) and if Miller/Lindberg puts up 35 points (big if), then we've only "missed out" on 6 points of Richards' production.

I agree with you. And I'm not opposed to trying Stepan-Brassard-Miller/Lindberg and seeing how it goes. If it fails, the trade market is always out there.

 

[Raspewtin]

I don't know how outlandish this sounds, but I expect scoring increases from a handfull of players. Kreider will have a full year's experience, Nash will hopefully have fully healed, Stepan will come to camp in shape, MSL has gotten used to his team and linemates, Hagelin found another gear the entire playoffs that I hope he keeps up, PBZ have all played together for a long time, and I expect McD to take full control of PPQB duties this year, especially with no Richards to defer to.

 

[aufheben]

Call me crazy but I think their matchups and TOI will stay the same.

MSL and Hagelin will still go against tougher matchups, despite who their center is, me thinks.

Remember that we really didn't have a first line all year. Even w/o Richards I don't expect that to change.

In the context of having Miller center them, that would mean he would be the #2C.

AV likes to give all his lines ice time, but the disparity between them is in the competition each line faces. May not seem like it by looking at just TOI, or Pts., but we did have a clear 1st/2nd/3rd line.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

If Miller is the 3rd line center, I'd rather see what happens if we put Brassard and Zucc with someone like Kreider or MSL then.. someone a little better than Pouilot at putting the puck in the net. If it doesn't work, you can always just put them together, but Miller did fine on that same 3rd line replacing Zucc for the little bit he was injured.

 

[Raspewtin]

If Miller is the 3rd line center, I'd rather see what happens if we put Brassard and Zucc with someone like Kreider or MSL then.. someone a little better than Pouilot at putting the puck in the net. If it doesn't work, you can always just put them together, but Miller did fine on that same 3rd line replacing Zucc for the little bit he was injured.

How much work Pouliot does on that line is underrated. He does a lot of the dirty work for his linemates.

I think MSL would make that line worse.

 

[BBKers]

FORWARDS
#1 LW /Derek Stepan ($3.075m) / Rick Nash ($7.800m)
Carl Hagelin ($2.250m) / #2 C / Martin St. Louis ($5.625m)
# 3 LW / #3 C / #3 RW
Jesper Fast ($0.805m) / J.T. Miller ($0.894m) / Derek Dorsett ($1.633m)
Spare FWD

DEFENSEMEN
Ryan McDonagh ($4.700m) / Dan Girardi ($5.500m)
Marc Staal ($3.975m) / #2 RD
#3 LD /Kevin Klein ($2.900m)
Spare D

GOALTENDERS
Henrik Lundqvist ($8.500m)
Cameron Talbot ($0.563m)

BUYOUTS
Brad Richards ($0.000m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$0
------
TOTALS
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000
CAP PAYROLL: $48,220,000
BONUSES: $445,000
CAP SPACE (13-man roster): $22,880,000

Resignings
Kreider $2,65 M
Pouliot (or other big #3 LW UFA) - $1,9 M
Brassard - $4 M
Zuccarello - $3,7 M
D Moore - $1,55 M
J Moore -$1,55 M
Spare fwd - $1 M
Spare D - $1 M
--------------------------
TOTAL - $17,35

Leaves around $5,5 M to resign Stralman + a #2 C
Not happening
Boyle is goner
Stralman too (barring other trade)
Numbers will not work
More changes coming as well - cannot keep it all together
Be so certain

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Unfortunately, I think long-term the Rangers best course of action to remain competitive now and in the future is to sign a guy to a 1 year deal to solidify the 3C position, a veteran with speed who is solid at FOs, and hope that Miller can establish himself at some point in the season.

Looking at - one thing we are overlooking is that next year we have to sign Hagelin, Stepan, Staal, and MSL. If we sign Stralman, Staal is likely too expensive to re-sign. Locking ourselves into a Thornton, O'Reilly, or Stastny contract would mean to keep Stepan, we'd have to move Brassard at the end of next year, which would create the same problem unless Miller was still on the team and developed.

If we do acquire one of those guys, it likely means Hagelin is gone because Stepan will get 5+ and MSL will likely re-sign for the same deal he signed for now (at least I hope).

We just can't afford it. It's the reality of the situation. We need Miller to develop into at minimum a solid 3C and Brassard to take a step into 50 point territory. That's the reality of the situation.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

How much work Pouliot does on that line is underrated. He does a lot of the dirty work for his linemates.

I think MSL would make that line worse.

I don't think that whole line would be good enough for the 2nd line.. but who knows.. JMO.. They are the perfect 3rd line. So now we just need to find someone to replace Richards points, whether its combined or one guy.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Did people watch this team all year? The 1st, 2nd, 3rd line branding is essentially meaningless.

Rangers need to find a way to field 12 capable forwards without dismantling the defense. Thats the goal here.

 

[Raspewtin]

I don't think that whole line would be good enough for the 2nd line.. but who knows.. JMO.. They are the perfect 3rd line. So now we just need to find someone to replace Richards points, whether its combined or one guy.

We'll just agree to disagree because I think that'd be a great second line, at least competent.