GDT: NEW YORK RANGERS WIN NHL DRAFT LOTTERY

[Oscar Lindberg]

In case there was any doubt about them not picking Lafreniere

 

[Doctyl]

Watching Laf’s passing ability, I cannot wait to see him on a PP with Panarin

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

#1 LD is a bigger hole than 2C.

Ideally, you find a way to fill both, but we have the talent to overcome the lack of options at the center ice position. Our LD is balls awful.

 

[Anthony5967]

Not getting why so many fans of other teams, including NYI fans on Twitter keep saying the NYR has no defense going forward. Must not be plugged in with prospect depth. The NYR are b@11$ deep in defensemen.

 

[JimmyG89]

Now hear me out, since our cap isn't exactly the most forgiving next year.

Plan A is obviously some sort of package for a 2C or a 1 LD using Strome, Buch, draft pick or a D prospect.

Plan B which is more likely and could be beneficial is a stop gap 1 yr deal. Thoughts on Mikko Koivu? Minnesota needs to rebiuld. Koivu is a good 2 way gay and good at draws, his foot speed and offensive game isn't what it once was but he could be a great mentor for Kakko and help get him comfortable in the NHL.

Kreider Ziba Panarin
Laf Koivu Kaako
Kravstov/Vet FA Chytil Buchnevich
Lemiux Howden Gauthier

He'd definitely be a cheap UFA signing to fill that slot. Trade bait is fine too, but I'd be more incline to make that kind of a move for a LD with those assets if they are making a push now. Getting a LD to go with Lindgren and Miller would be a sight to behold.

I wonder if they will be looking for a center that is another change-of-scenery type. We've been pretty successful in finding these guys. My eyes are on Wennberg from Columbus. Torts has thrown him on the 4th line. PLD is their guy. Jenner is filling in the 2nd line spot. PLD is up for a new deal and CBJ is cap strapped. 4.9M for another 3 years. Can Wennberg fill in that 2C role for next season like Strome did, all while being cheaper than what Strome would cost? He could even be a buyout candidate for them since his age has the cap hit become next to nothing, but I would think they would rather an asset for a player if they can get it (and since they gutted their farm+picks last year).

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Watching Laf’s passing ability, I cannot wait to see him on a PP with Panarin

In before we waste half the season ripping Quinn for refusing to play him on PP 1 in place of Strome.

... Then he finally does it and the PP takes off to greater heights.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Not getting why so many fans of other teams, including NYI fans on Twitter keep saying the NYR has no defense going forward. Must not be plugged in with prospect depth. The NYR are b@11$ deep in defensemen.

Because they need to make them feel better before facing the reality of the juggernaut they have to deal with for the next decade.

 

[LeetchisGod]

Not getting why so many fans of other teams, including NYI fans on Twitter keep saying the NYR has no defense going forward. Must not be plugged in with prospect depth. The NYR are b@11$ deep in defensemen.

Most fans don't have intimate knowledge of other teams' prospect pools. Not really surprising.

 

[GAGLine]

Plan B which is more likely and could be beneficial is a stop gap 1 yr deal. Thoughts on Mikko Koivu? Minnesota needs to rebiuld. Koivu is a good 2 way gay and good at draws, his foot speed and offensive game isn't what it once was but he could be a great mentor for Kakko and help get him comfortable in the NHL.

He has played his entire career with Minnesota. I'm not sure he'd even be willing to sign with another team at this point. He might just retire and play in Finland or Sweden. If he was willing to sign with another team, I'm not sure he'd be cheap enough to make it worth it. He made 5 mil this year (5.5 cap hit). He won't get that next year, but he would probably sign a 1 year deal, with mostly easily to achieve performance bonuses, that would net him between 3 and 4 mil. Those bonuses could roll over into the following year, if necessary, but we already have a ton of players with performance bonuses, and giving him that type of deal would only exacerbate the issue.

I can't see him signing with us for 2 mil or less without some kind of easily obtainable bonuses. I'd rather just promote Chytil, if we are trading Strome, and see how it goes. We can revisit the situation at the trade deadline.

 

[CaptTennille]

Selfishly, I'm extremely happy the organization's desire to be smart and competitive the last two seasons has worked out. Last year, they win the final game of the season against Pittsburgh lose a draft spot, end up picking 2nd instead of 5th or 6th and end up with Kakko. This year, if they sell at the deadline or don't sign Panarin they're probably a lottery team and miss out on Lafreniere. Funny how the universe works out sometimes.

We've heard Gorton repeatedly talk about doing things the right way and hoping to get rewarded for it. He's now 2 for 2. Tanking doesn't guarantee anything, so make sound hockey decisions and upgrade your team wisely so that whether you luck out or not - you are still in a strong spot regardless. When both happens, they compound one another.

I'm sure people will come out of the woodwork with "You can't praise Gorton for just being lucky!!" No, but I can praise him for avoiding some of the more tempting pratfalls that GM's goad themselves into.

 

[GAGLine]

I hope they can put together a package of picks and prospects to get a legit No. 2 center. That would fill such a huge hole.

We don't have the cap space to really address that this year. And honestly, it's not as much of a need as people think. If Panarin and Laf end up playing on the same line, I could center them

We need to see what moves Gorton has up his sleeve, but it's going to be tough with the flat cap.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Not getting why so many fans of other teams, including NYI fans on Twitter keep saying the NYR has no defense going forward. Must not be plugged in with prospect depth. The NYR are b@11$ deep in defensemen.

Because they are idiots. Miller, Lundkvist, Jones, Robertson all have top 4 potential. Add that to Fox, ADA, Trouba, and Lindgren and you have the makings of a very young and talented blue line. We might have to wait another year to get rid of Staal and Smith and their salaries but the future is bright for this defense.

 

[bernmeister]

I was thinking about what Ottawa might give up and Brady Tkachuk + 3 OA. Is that fair? or would we need more?

That's awesome, and I gather we agree, he stays unless there is simply too much on the table.
But I would go in another direction if we put 1OA LaF in play.

Past 3:30am and I’m still on a high from this laying in bed watching Laf highlights, can’t fall asleep

Oh yeah!
Also, checking out the draft, they said one guy [your moniker] was not just a former NHLer, which I remembered, but was a 1OA, which I did not.
Kudos to EJ!

I can't even believe this is real

Fellow guitar lover, channel your inner Peter Frampton:
...I can't believe this is happenin
to me
I want you
to show me the way...

Lafreniere makes several players on this team expendable now and managing the cap very tricky. Assume that both he and Kakko are scoring well by 20. Gorton has to give both those long term, pay you sooner than later deals to save a few million on the cap. Gorton usually doesn't pay young players that haven't broken out yet higher salaries but he will have to do that now to manage the cap. Also, there can be no chances taken on players long term. TDA will surely be moved now. Rangers can't afford to hope he improves defensively at his price tag. No signing of Strome at the price he will want. Buchnevich has to be moved. You can't hope he finally figures it out. These are the types of moves that must be made when you now have what you hope will be close to three, max contract forwards and maybe 4 with Zibanejad. The top two lines will be salary heavy and the bottom 6 must be high IQ, limited offensive players who rarely ever make defensive mistakes. The defense must be more stay at home, physical, smart defensive defenseman and maybe only 2 guys that are high level, puck movers. The team must make the transition to a defensive team that relies on the great individual talents to make plays to win playoff type games. TDA must be moved and Fox must be given a 7 year, 31.5 extension now. Lindgren a 6 year, 24 million extension. Gorton must now be aggressive with moves based on what he think these players will do long term. If he waits on Fox, he very well might be asking 7 to 8 million a season in 2 years. I also would try to move a player to get an extra first rounder in the year of the expansion draft to deal to the expansion team to get them to take a player of your chosing. A player like Fast who is elite defensively now has to be signed as he is what the bottom 6 on this team is going to need.

Finally, these are the moves I projected need to be made regardless, and getting KK last year and AF or better this one just is accelerant to that.

Not moving CK to center that’s absurd. He can move to right wing if need be.

the two guys I’d like to see get a crack at center just to see what they do are Kravtsov and Lafreniere if anything. Kravtsov

Kravtsov a lot like kuznetsov who moved over later showed me a lot in that world junior. His offense dropped off a bit but it was because he was the most responsible guy on the ice. He took his two way game to another level when he went to center. I like him there would like to see that given another shot as he matures

Lafreniere (and by the way messier moved to center from LW good comparison) I mean how could you not want to see him at center with his vision? He passes the puck as well on the back hand as he does the forehand. His skating and defensive game has improved drastically in the last year. I know his fav players are Kane and Panarin but he is not either of those guys. He has more to his game including the size and grit they don’t. While they are probably slicker players.

most likely he stays at wing but I think you’re doing your franchise a disservice by not giving him reps at center as well to see what he can be there.

There WAS a time LONG AGO when it was fair to ask if use of CK elite speed in a pivot was best.
Unfortunately, he doesn't have that level hands/vision, so no.

Kravtsov does have all that and a bag of chips and should be pivot betw Kakko and breadman, righty shot playing RW.

Does this seem like a remotely possible trade?
Car 1st + ADA + Strome + Kravtsov/Gauthier

For
LA's 2OA OR Ott's 3OA

Considering our system depth I would have no problem making one of those trades and getting Stutzle/Byfield to immdiately play on the 2nd line instead of Strome. Rangers also have to plan for a world without Zibanejad in a couple years. He's likely a cap casualty. Having one of those studs waiting in the wings would be the perfect transition.

I would not surrender Kravtsov esp in that deal and w/o him other sides say no for sure.
We should keep Gauthier and trade those other guys/assets.

First of all, there is absolutely no chance that Gorton trades a DeAngelo or a Strome for simply prospects. That part of the rebuild is over.

Second of all, there is absolutely no way that anyone would make that deal for even the second overall.

Nor do I see Gorton trading production for simply futures. The team is going to be fighting to make the playoffs next year. They are not going to simply give assets away.

Sorry, TB, but hard cap league requires serious $ mgmt.
Also exp drft says hi.

If best package is futures, futures it is, esp exp drf exempt ones.

 

[haveandare]

Most fans don't have intimate knowledge of other teams' prospect pools. Not really surprising.

And if we’re being honest, every fan base thinks their guys will all pan out. Most don’t. We have enough depth there to have good odds of filing out a solid if not spectacular D core. The odds of it being top, top level or of us having extra good d men to move from that pool are slim if we’re being realistic

 

[Doctyl]

We don't have the cap space to really address that this year. And honestly, it's not as much of a need as people think. If Panarin and Laf end up playing on the same line, I could center them

We need to see what moves Gorton has up his sleeve, but it's going to be tough with the flat cap.

It’s going to be really hard with the cap. On the other hand, re-signing Strome isn’t really a money saving move as he will probably want 5+M AAV. I’d really rather find someone worth that money or a cheap stopgap than hand it over to him because he’s here and had a decent season with a Hart finalist.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I understand we all talk about center depth and organizational needs and such, but even if Byfield turns out to be an all star center - you don't take him over the superior winger. You take the best player.

Like think of it like a player like Toews or O'Reilly or Getzlaf or even Duchene. They're legitimate all star players and very valuable.

But do you take them over wingers who are probably a notch above them such as Patrick Kane or Ovechkin or Panarin, just because they're centers? No, you shouldn't.

 

[tlk]

So we have 2 (top) LW with a C set of skills. And a problem in the latter pos...

 

[NYR94]

Pierre is on WFAN right now and compared Lafreniere to Rantanen and Markus Naslund.

 

[trueblue231930]

Do we have any idea what number Lafreniere might take? 91? 22? Something else?

 

[Kovalev27]

Miller
Robertson
Lindgren
Hajek
Jones
Reunanen
Rykov

and the ability for DeAngelo to play the left side.

there’s plenty there for a couple guys to hit. I’m really not concerned about LD we just have to be a little patient there. Especially when our right side is so dominant

I’m really not concerned wirh 2C either when you have Mika a bonafied 27 year old superstar center at the top and Chytil already showing 30 pt downside at 20.

And can roll out play driving wingers like Lafreniere Panarin Kakko to surround them.

Then you have Kreider Kravtsov Gauthier And will probably grab another forward in the first round this year of a super deep draft.

and like it or not this franchise believes in Brett Howden. He’s going to be in the mix.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

If one of Panarin, Lafreniere or Kreider can shift to the right side, this team's top 6 is going to be a nightmare to play against next season.

 

[GAGLine]

It’s going to be really hard with the cap. On the other hand, re-signing Strome isn’t really a money saving move as he will probably want 5+M AAV. I’d really rather find someone worth that money or a cheap stopgap than hand it over to him because he’s here and had a decent season with a Hart finalist.

I'm not convinced that Strome will be looking for that much. In a normal year, sure, but with everything going on, he's probably smart enough to know that he is better off staying with the Rangers for another year and then trying to get paid later.

Strome's QO is 3.2 mil. Would he sign his QO to stay with the team and continue playing with Panarin? He would then become a UFA at the earliest opportunity. He would have another year in which he should have good production, thus increasing his value on the market. The Rangers will have more money the following offseason, or he can explore his options elsewhere. And finally, it would make him essentially exempt from the expansion draft. Seattle would be able to talk to him about a contract, but as a pending UFA, they can't just take him. If he signs for 2+ years, the Rangers can expose him.

With the cap being so tight, I can see Strome taking less on a one year deal in order to set himself up well for the future.

 

[True Blue]

Sorry, TB, but hard cap league requires serious $ mgmt.
Also exp drft says hi.

If best package is futures, futures it is, esp exp drf exempt ones.

Teams that have playoff aspirations all say hi back. They also said because they are trying to compete for playoffs, they are not trading a 60 point defenseman or a 50 point center for nothing but promises of something that will happen in 5 years.

This is a cap league, but you need to manage the cap. You need not manage it by sending away production for nothing tangible.

 

[Kovalev27]

If one of Panarin, Lafreniere or Kreider can shift to the right side, this team's top 6 is going to be a nightmare to play against next season.

Kreider can no problem and has at times when quinn has moved Panarin up to load that line

Kreider can fly thru the zone from either side. Scored a beauty against Carolina from that right side. Buchy is the guy that’s a goner

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I feel confident saying DeAngelo will never play meaningful minutes for this team on the left