Resigning Strome or Copp? (Doubt team can resign both)

[NickyFotiu]

While he probably won't be a Brassard level center anytime soon, Lafreniere-Chytil-Goodrow with Laf and Chytil playing like they are is a very strong 3rd line. We went from our bottom 6 being the worst among playoff teams to a strength of ours in a week. This team always had the goaltending and top end talent. Too bad Nemeth still sucks.

Brass? I said Arty

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Assist notwithstanding did anyone else think that Strome looked far more engaged yesterday and was actually forechecking. Both he and Panarin would actually dump the puck in once in a while rather than look to make high risk passes at the blue line.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Brass? I said Arty

Yeah I know, but I guess I'm thinking big.

 

[tomobson]

There's a good chance the Rangers can't afford either next season. Depth is so damn important that the rangers can't afford a 2c that's going to want upwards of 5mill+. If Strome can "center" Panarin then pretty much anyone can. Chytil or some other bargain bin center should get a shot at 2c next season. Obviously, everyone is going to pick Copp over Strome but if Copp sticks on that second line there's a good chance he'll see a jump in production and put himself into Ryan Strome territory in terms of money. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Strome ends up playing himself off that line once the playoffs roll around because he's becoming more and more of liability as the season goes on, which is right on track and shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. We could end up seeing a Panarin - Copp - Kakko line for the playoffs.

 

[TS Quint]

You know you say he isn't flashy but his finish on the 5th goal last night (watch it if you haven't yet it was a beauty) was something Dryden Hunt could never do. If he goes to the slot like that Panarin will find him and he converts he'll be a very productive player for us. Seems like a Fast+++ and Strome and Panarin were best with Fast.

I think Jet fans were hard on him for his scoring. He played a lot with Lowry and whatever other winger (it didn't matter who) and all they did was play against the other team's best and kick the puck along the boards in the offensive zone.Of course he wasn't going to score much playing like that. Their job was to keep the other team's top line from scoring and giving their scoring lines who might not have the best defensive centre a better match up. But put on a scoring line I think you have a 20+ goal 50-60 point player who will make his line mates look good. Obviously he's no Panarin offensively but I think he is a component to make a good line, letting the skilled players play a skilled game.

 

[LokiDog]

I think, the playoffs will tell the story.

If he's not stepping up his game and players like Kreider and Trouba are... it's not that I'd want to trade him.... we're forced to make a move. His Cap hit opens up a lot more possibilities.

I really think he just needs to get away from Strome. His game is better suited when he's accompanied with hard working 2way players ( Copp and Kakko ) not another floater. This is by far the worst Strome has looked as a Ranger ( since the break )

This is what I expect as well and it’s 100% why I’m giving the 2C spot to Copp and putting Kakko in the top six next year. But, like you said, if he doesn’t step it up and doesn’t return to form next year playing away from Strome… 12M cap space. You may not get another 90 point winger, but you can probably find a 70 point winger and have 6M cap space left over. Plus Laf could play his natural side. Not something I want to see happen, but Panarin needs to play like 2019 Panarin to be a 12M player.

 

[TS Quint]

Panarin and Strome need a gritty forechecking guy on their line, their best season came with Jesper Fast.

BTW, isn't he on pace for 50-60 points already?

That's been his pace for the last two seasons. I just expect that is who he is playing with good players. He's 27, I don't expect any great jumps in offense. But I think he can continue to be what he is at this point.

I come from the Jets board where many posters talk about Copp's stone hands and limited offense. I don't see his numbers that way and I think his game is more than his own point totals.

 

[DanielBrassard]

I think Copp probably fits the Rangers better than Strome does in terms of playstyle. Copp is very good in transition and creating offense off the rush, and is a better puck carrier than Strome is. If Panarin was the guy he was a couple years ago or even last season it wouldn't be as big of an issue but now I think he needs someone who can carry the load a bit in that regard. As well as being more stout defensively and harder on pucks. Strome has been a great Ranger but if it's between he and Copp I think Strome is the one to go.

 

[Kocur26]

Copp will be resigned - Drury didn’t trade that package for a rental .

 

[bernmeister]

Im not sure what people are watching when they watch Chytil to be honest. He has 0 hands, limited hockey iq and vision and i think the worst thing that happened to him was being drafted in the first round because he believes he's a skilled forward where if he was smart he would dump and chase every shift because thats where his strength lies. As much as people want it to happen he's not that guy that can play with a cerebral player like Panarin.

Disagree.
Let's be honest, he got excessively benched by Q.
He was on his way then had a signif hand injury.
That aside, Bobby Orr types that do not merely drive or influence but can single handedly dominate are not even a full hand. Translation: the more complementary a line is, the more likely the results are better.
One construct which works is:
driver of play, facilitator, and finisher/sniper scorer
One paper LaF - Chytil - Gauthier is that line, and while their scoring was low, they did well vs opposition lines. Why low scoring? b'c the scorer LaF was still getting up to speed incl as to his skating. We are taking what we are getting in LaF, but I guesstimate mid of next yr before his skating is where it begins to need be for him to really take off. In the meantime, we need to consider other options.
But the pt remains. Chytil w/correct guys, not Hunt/McKegg types, will work.

Also, for the 3 gazillionth time, it will help when we shed excess vets, get down to a true core, and there are regular lines which are not constantly shuffled. Reduces familiarity which helps with chemistry, etc.

Copp easy.

Would be great if Chytil crushes it moving forward and makes things easy for everyone.

Agree and I am optimistic with sufficiently compatible Ws. Vatrano + Gauthier deserves a look

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Disagree.
Let's be honest, he got excessively benched by Q.
He was on his way then had a signif hand injury.
That aside, Bobby Orr types that do not merely drive or influence but can single handedly dominate are not even a full hand. Translation: the more complementary a line is, the more likely the results are better.
One construct which works is:
driver of play, facilitator, and finisher/sniper scorer
One paper LaF - Chytil - Gauthier is that line, and while their scoring was low, they did well vs opposition lines. Why low scoring? b'c the scorer LaF was still getting up to speed incl as to his skating. We are taking what we are getting in LaF, but I guesstimate mid of next yr before his skating is where it begins to need be for him to really take off. In the meantime, we need to consider other options.
But the pt remains. Chytil w/correct guys, not Hunt/McKegg types, will work.

Also, for the 3 gazillionth time, it will help when we shed excess vets, get down to a true core, and there are regular lines which are not constantly shuffled. Reduces familiarity which helps with chemistry, etc.


Agree and I am optimistic with sufficiently compatible Ws. Vatrano + Gauthier deserves a look

Gauthier and Chytil can't be relied on for offense and the only reason Lafreniere "turned it on" was that he got away from both of those anchors. Gauthier is an Ahl player. Carolina knew what they were doing when they traded him.

 

[bernmeister]

Gauthier and Chytil can't be relied on for offense and the only reason Lafreniere "turned it on" was that he got away from both of those anchors. Gauthier is an Ahl player. Carolina knew what they were doing when they traded him.

We agree to disagree. Eye test confirms neither Chytil nor esp Gauthier are anchors; each skates well w/speed and some power. LaF was the weak link there.
Chytil is already helping drive and making more positive contributions higher in the lineup w'o real anchors McKegg and Hunt.
Gauthier needs to be on a line with a scorer. Chytil is a good facilitator

 

[SnowblindNYR]

We agree to disagree. Eye test confirms neither Chytil nor esp Gauthier are anchors; each skates well w/speed and some power. LaF was the weak link there.
Chytil is already helping drive and making more positive contributions higher in the lineup w'o real anchors McKegg and Hunt.
Gauthier needs to be on a line with a scorer. Chytil is a good facilitator

LMAO at Lafreniere being more of an anchor than Gauthier who is not an NHL player.

 

[Kendo]

The reason I choose Copp here is because I want to see the following next year:

10 - 93 - 20
13 - 18 - 24
72/21/74 in any combo
Literally any two guys plus Hunt & Reaves as 10th-13th F

Defense is set. Nemeth can go. Six guys for bottom NHL pair and top AHL pair. We good.

Goal is set. Georgie should go, but we'd need a backup. Maybe Huska? Maybe Kincaid? Maybe a 35+ for 1 year?

We have the Cuylle's and Khodorenko's and longshot Pajuniemi's to fill F depth. We don't NEED to retain Frankie V or Motte or even Rooney. I'd make an attempt to keep Rooney over Brodz, but it's not necessary per se.

 

[smoneil]

LMAO at Lafreniere being more of an anchor than Gauthier who is not an NHL player.

I don't see Laf as an anchor, but I think his confidence was pretty much non-existent through the first few months of the season. His minutes were down from last year, he pretty much stopped shooting altogether, and he started over-compensating in other ways (trying to be a bit of an agitator, hitting more, etc--which is what led him into some of his penalty troubles). Going up to that top line for 20+ games did wonders for his confidence. I think he's still wary of his shot and needs to pull the trigger more often, but you saw him making creative passes pretty much every game. Now he's back on that 3rd line, but it's working because he and Chytil seem to be playing more assertively.

My only concern about that line is that Laf seems to still doubt his shot, and Chytil is still snake-bit this season. I'm not sure who would be the ideal RW for that duo--a puck hound like Kakko or Goodrow, who would force Laf/Chyt to shoot more, or a volume shooter like Vatrano. I will say that seeing Laf go 5-hole for his last goal struck me as a very good sign. Now he just needs to keep it going and get more pucks on net. With apologies to Bern, I do not think Gauthier is the answer.

 

[bernmeister]

I don't see Laf as an anchor, but I think his confidence was pretty much non-existent through the first few months of the season. His minutes were down from last year, he pretty much stopped shooting altogether, and he started over-compensating in other ways (trying to be a bit of an agitator, hitting more, etc--which is what led him into some of his penalty troubles). Going up to that top line for 20+ games did wonders for his confidence. I think he's still wary of his shot and needs to pull the trigger more often, but you saw him making creative passes pretty much every game. Now he's back on that 3rd line, but it's working because he and Chytil seem to be playing more assertively.

My only concern about that line is that Laf seems to still doubt his shot, and Chytil is still snake-bit this season. I'm not sure who would be the ideal RW for that duo--a puck hound like Kakko or Goodrow, who would force Laf/Chyt to shoot more, or a volume shooter like Vatrano. I will say that seeing Laf go 5-hole for his last goal struck me as a very good sign. Now he just needs to keep it going and get more pucks on net. With apologies to Bern, I do not think Gauthier is the answer.

excellent post and no apology needed if we agree to disagree, esp on isolated item.
LaF + Chytil + correct RW we think works
just also think correct LW + Chytil + Gauthier will also work, and prefer not to throw him away/under the bus without exhausting that possibility

 

[OTGHockey]

Should be a good first chance to see Copp playing center along Panarin tonight. With Hunt on the right, it's not an ideal setup, but Copp seems to imply through his comment that he prefers the center. I think his primary job on offense is going to be skate down the slot, and look to be open...perhaps could be the start of something good.