Speculation: Roster Building/Rumor Thread XVIII

[brakeyawself]

So talking point repeated as truth then.

Look, I get it that the team has issued its marching orders for fans but I’m not falling in line. The Bruins went to 7 games just two years ago with a pint sized defense in comparison.

This size narrative is getting out of hand. Krug Geelczyk and MacAvoy are smaller than if we have 5’11 Fox and 6’ Nils back there with Trouba, Miller, Lindgren, and pick one of Schneider or Robertson.

100%.

2017 Penguins and Nashville teams are examples of teams that made it to the finals or won without having a huge D corp. Highly skilled sure. Huge? Not at all.
Same with 2018 Cup winner Washington Capitols. Bunch of guys at 5'11, 6'.

The Bruins current defense pool isn't exactly enormous.


Golden Knights now do have a pretty big defense corp. So they are an example of the opposite. Probably Florida, Islanders, Canes and TB also.

St. Louis cup team had a fairly sizable D.

If you want to play like Vegas or Islanders, you probably do need a bit larger defense corp. But that's not the only way to win.

And even if you have "tall" defensman, that doesn't mean they are especially physical or tough. Klingberg is 6'3 and I wouldn't exactly call him a power house.

A lot of these teams have quite a few defenders at just 6ft. Which really isn't drastically different than 5'11. And I wonder if all these heights and weights are very accurate. In basketball I feel like some guys get 2 inches added to their height that they don't actually have in reality.

There's more than one way to skin a cat and win a Stanley Cup. And when you have a bunch of very high skill players and high skill defensemen, you don't necessarily need a huge D corp. You do need guys who play physical and tough though, and that's different from size.

I would be pretty optimistic if the Rangers had 4 LD versions of Lindgren and 4 RD versions of Fox. I think that team would still go pretty far. And Lindgren only 6', and Fox 5'11.

Realistically, our defense wouldn't even be "small". It would be balanced. If we play LD's Lindgren, Miller, Jones with RD's Fox, Lundqvist, Trouba. That still gives you 2 sizable defenders in Miller and Trouba. But Miller needs to play tougher IMO to really warrant a roster spot. And I think Trouba needs to change his game a bit, become more defensively oriented and tougher, let other guys focus on offense. And then you have Lindgren, who, even though is just 6' is still tough as nails and does things guys at 6'3 do. And then you have 3 very offensively talented Ds, in Fox, Jones and Lundqvist. While they might lack size, none of them are poor defenders. Well, theoretically. I guess we will still have to find that out about Lundqvist and Jones. But if analysis is any accurate, they are both more than capable defensively. That seems like a pretty balanced starting D corp to me, with the caveat that these players play up to their assumed potential.

Then you have a guy like Hajek who is 6'2 for depth. And maybe in the future Scheider and Robertson who are also fairly sizable and both are actually tough and gritty capable. And if we don't see either Robertson or Schneider this season, I assume we will add at least one more depth d-man who will probably be defensively oriented and on the tougher side.

It's not like we have a bunch of Tony DeAngelos or Tyson Barrie's or Quinn Hughes'. Who I would say all lack a bit of toughness and defensive ability. Our highly skilled defenders are also, at least supposedly, very capable and responsible defenders. All potentially above average defensively.

So I seriously don't see any problem with the makeup or physicality, or let's say the potential makeup and physicality of the current Rangers D corp. Seems it will be quite balanced to me.

 

[Alluckks]

Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams raised eyebrows Saturday night when he said he “would have no problem at all if Jack Eichel is on our team when we start training camp.”
Out of curiosity, I reached out to Jack Eichel’s reps about that possibility.
“Our expectation is that Jack is going to be traded in the near future, and all of our discussions have been centred around that issue,” came a dual response from Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli.
They wouldn’t comment further about Eichel’s status. He’s skating, but it’s believed he will still need surgery — although the Sabres haven’t approved his preferred choice, a disc replacement.

- Per Friedman; Big week for potential Jack Eichel trade, free agency predictions

Eichel's reps were very candid when asked directly by a reputable source. Eichel is not staying. Eichel also still wants (possibly needs) surgery.

No reports at all of any team ever seeing Eichel's medicals yet. No deals ever reported close. Imagine the Rangers offered what was being asked for, then saw the medicals and backed out? Wouldn't take a team of geniuses for the rest of the front offices to get the hint. Buffalo played this whole Eichel situation terribly.

 

[Platano King]

LOL I read that as 'I would take a shit and run."

I think it's going to come down to something along the lines of Chytil, Nils, Geo and the 1st if he comes here. No one is going to pay what Buffalo wants, but they won't just give him away.

They get their draft pick, they get their top prospect, they get 2 young roster players, even though one is essentially a goalie throw in so the optics "look" like their needs have been met.

I wouldn't monetize Nils like this, but I have zero problem trading him. He's more valuable than Schneider atm, but in terms of fit the latter slides in much better than Nils does, both in an immediate bottom pair role where he can get some PK time, and then eventually as a Trouba Replacement.

I'm honestly inclined to agree. With Drury dumping Buch for a bag of pucks some big move like Eichel has to be the justification. Right?

Nils is fantastic, but undersized and skilled. We already have that role filled with Fox. Now that I think about it, Schneider is definitely preferable for the playoffs.

I'm very hesitant on losing Chytil tho. If Eichel comes and Zib is extended, the likely result is 4 players (Zib, Fox, Eichel, Panarin) eating ~35 mil in cap for at least the next five years. Throw in Kreider and Trouba's contracts tying up another difficult-to-move 15 mil and that is an ugly cap situation. If we are gonna trade for Eichel, Chytil could be the cheaper, younger, more cost-controlled #2C rather than a 29 year old Zib making $8m+ with a concerning concussion history.

This is why I didn't want Eichel and preferred Buch to be included in a package for a #2C, or at the very least a pick of good value. But with Drury trading him for some G R I T and magic beans, we are boxed into a corner.

 

[stan the caddy]

Forget Eichel.

You have Strome for another year who plays great with Panarin and Zib centering another line.

They need to play better as a team and they need some more development of the young players. Their success doesn't hinge on having another 1C. Hopefully Gallant gets it done.

 

[bobbop]

Sure. But that was years ago, and his play at center did not justify 6/21. Rangers are less likely to get ROI on that contract if Goodrow isn’t at his best position.

Years ago? He was traded at the 2020 trade deadline.

I watch San Jose about once a week and Goodrow was a capable center for several years.

 

[RGY]

Lots of interesting names thrown around in EF’s blog.

Up front; 6 years x $5 AAV is quite a bit for Coleman. If you can get the AAV down slightly its pretty enticing. I don’t see how Dallas can fit that. Rangers could swoop in.

Saad/Palmieri would be interesting option B’s to Coleman on smaller deals.

(Not in the blog) Warren Foegele is a quality name for the bottom 6 also.

No interest in Danault for me.

(Most not in the blog) The Center market if flooded with options for the bottom 6 that we should be able to find great value at a good cost for us; Bennett, Bonino, Wennberg, Stepan, Getzlaf, and more.

The longer this goes with Eichel, the less he becomes an option to acquire for next season as Drury needs to take care of his team’s needs. I’d say by Tueday if a deal isnt dont (and it doesnt sound like anything is remotely close) then Drury will be pivoting.

(Most not in the Blog) Free Agent : LD — also plenty of veteran LD to choose from. Of course you want quality but that may cost too much or the player may want to go somewhere else;

Ryan Suter
Alec Martinez
Derek Forbort
Calvin de Haan (if not qualified)
Keith Yandle (doesn’t really fit but wouldnt rule him out)
Alex Edler
Ian Cole
Zdeno Chara

This is going to be an interesting week with Drury.

 

[egelband]

If the Rangers aren’t offering Schneider or Lundkvist as pieces for Eichel, Drury isn’t that seriously chasing him

Why bid against himself?

 

[NYSPORTS]

which kid would be getting less ice time? We need a 2C to replace Strome. We need a 6th dman to play with Lundkvist and we need to blow out Georgiev for a veteran back up. None of these things are news to you right?

Chytil, Barron or whomever is lower on the depth chart. Move out Strome who has a year left for an older Center for a year?

 

[NYSPORTS]

Is it so Insane that Fox would take 8.5 for 8 years? I mean do we really have to give him 10 million or 10.5?

that contract would mirror Heiskanen so i’d offer it today and hope he takes it. With the Norris, i think he can ask for more.

 

[Ola]

The rumors about us trading Strome are several and very persistent. To a noteworthy extent.

I wonder if these talks are conditional on Drury getting something done in another move or if its a deal that will be made regardless. If they see Goodrow as a center we have one to many…

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

So what are we thinking for Strome

Vegas McNabb and Reeves?
Seattle Dunn or Soucy and a pick?
Ottawa?

I really don't want McNabb. Soucy I'd be interested in though.

 

[NYSPORTS]

If we give Zibanejad 10.

Fox should get 15

McDavid should get 22

When does it stop?

Trouba gets $8 million so . . . .

 

[Savant]

Years ago? He was traded at the 2020 trade deadline.

I watch San Jose about once a week and Goodrow was a capable center for several years.

Is he a 6 year/22m center? Don’t think so. For that contract the Rangers need better than “capable”

 

[Ola]

You solve a lot of issues by moving Laf to center. It’s a move that has been talked about a great deal before he came to the NHL, because skill wise, he is perfect for the center position. He also got that gritty stubborn mentality that is optimal at center. I think too much attention is put into short term consideration when this move isn’t made, because of course there will be an adjustment period. But it’s hard to not look at our organizational depth chart and come to any other conclusion than that an elite home grown mega talented center would fit in a little better than a LW.

 

[NYSPORTS]

You solve a lot of issues by moving Laf to center.

Laf or Krav. Sure would solve a lot if either can.

watch them both go play center and the Rangers get light at wing. Buch?

 

[Mac n Gs]

This is probably an unrealistic ask, but if we’re discussing Strome with Vegas, we need to get Nic Roy back in the deal. He’s a big, power C that forechecks really well, has good hands around the net, and is actually a really underrated playmaker. He stepped up well these playoffs too when Vegas needed to slot someone up in the lineup, and with them bringing in Nolan Patrick, I’m not sure where he’d fit. I think he’s a decent bet for a breakout candidate, and I think he’d be a really good fit under Gallant.

Another LHD that’s probably been mentioned in the past and is also likely to be moved is Travis Dermott. He’d be a good add as someone that can play both sides and be plugged anywhere on the second and third pairings as needed.

 

[brakeyawself]

I'm honestly inclined to agree. With Drury dumping Buch for a bag of pucks some big move like Eichel has to be the justification. Right?

Nils is fantastic, but undersized and skilled. We already have that role filled with Fox. Now that I think about it, Schneider is definitely preferable for the playoffs.

I'm very hesitant on losing Chytil tho. If Eichel comes and Zib is extended, the likely result is 4 players (Zib, Fox, Eichel, Panarin) eating ~35 mil in cap for at least the next five years. Throw in Kreider and Trouba's contracts tying up another difficult-to-move 15 mil and that is an ugly cap situation. If we are gonna trade for Eichel, Chytil could be the cheaper, younger, more cost-controlled #2C rather than a 29 year old Zib making $8m+ with a concerning concussion history.

This is why I didn't want Eichel and preferred Buch to be included in a package for a #2C, or at the very least a pick of good value. But with Drury trading him for some G R I T and magic beans, we are boxed into a corner.

Good thing then that there’s almost no chance Eichel does come here.

It makes zero sense. Most importantly, he’s not at all the type of player we need. Injuries, cap hit and bunch of other reasons too.

We need a Horvat kind of center really, much cheaper.

And I do kind of agree about Nils being a trade option, just not for Eichel please. Well, we will eventually have to move a couple young D. Who those would be out of Jones, Robertson, Lundqvist, Miller, Schneider and Tuomanen, I’m not sure. I doubt Schneider though. Still think it could actually be Miller or Lundqvist though in the right deal. Lol. Let’s get PLD from the Jets.

Think Chytil going to be fine at center long term.

And I doubt we can even re- sign Panarin in 2026, let alone pay Eichel also. I think that’s why we drafted Othmann. For post Panarin years.

 

[East Coast Bias]

Giving Goodrow 22m, Coleman 30-35m, and someone like Martinez 15-20m would be horrendous.

People haven't re-calibrated from May when they wanted to compile every cup winners' UFA thinking the flat cap was gonna make everyone a steal.

We already saw Goodrow go from people's 4/10 or 3/12 expectation to 6/22. What do you think Coleman is going to go for? Someone's going to offer Martinez 3 years 5m a year.

The market is bad.

 

[duhmetreE]

Good thing then that there’s almost no chance Eichel does come here.

It makes zero sense. Most importantly, he’s not at all the type of player we need. Injuries, cap hit and bunch of other reasons too.

We need a Horvat kind of center really, much cheaper.

And I do kind of agree about Nils being a trade option, just not for Eichel please. Well, we will eventually have to move a couple young D. Who those would be out of Jones, Robertson, Lundqvist, Miller, Schneider and Tuomanen, I’m not sure. I doubt Schneider though. Still think it could actually be Miller or Lundqvist though in the right deal. Lol. Let’s get PLD from the Jets.

Think Chytil going to be fine at center long term.

And I doubt we can even re- sign Panarin in 2026, let alone pay Eichel also. I think that’s why we drafted Othmann. For post Panarin years.

Eichel never made sense. It's a logistical nightmare, creates too many moving parts trying to replace Zibs with Eichel.

They drafted Othmann because he was BPA on their board. Some might say they would have taken Cossa if Red Wings didn't leap us.

 

[Vitto79]

i firmly believe we don't start the season with Strome. the move will be interesting to say the least as it looks like we are going for specific players as opposed to necessarily equal value at first glance.

yea he’s ufa in a year and I think Drury wants a new look. Buch and Strome made the most sense based on contracts

gonna be super interesting to see what they get to replace him at C though . Are they really going to give Chytil top 6 minutes ?

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I really hope Drury knows what he's doing. I'm trying to remain optimistic but I'm not seeing a plan for center if Strome is moved if Eichel doesn't land here. I'm not a fan of giving Danault a long term deal, i think we know how that plays out ie Drury and Gomez two players that were brought here as that style of player. I'm nervous of a zib contract, I'm nervous of anyone signing a long term deal at 28 or 29, imo your best years are generally from 25-31 which puts me out on Danault and Zib. I said it before and i guess i need to see this play out because until he is done making moves it's hard to see the plan, i hope he knows what he's doing, Gorton set this team up by actually committing to a rebuild, something i don't remember ever happening for the Rangers and it would be a shame to see it flushed down the drain. Here's hoping Drury is up for it.

 

[Gardner McKay]

If we trade Strome and don't make any other trades/signings, we just became a significantly worse team.

 

[pld459666]

Lots of interesting names thrown around in EF’s blog.

Up front; 6 years x $5 AAV is quite a bit for Coleman. If you can get the AAV down slightly its pretty enticing. I don’t see how Dallas can fit that. Rangers could swoop in.

Saad/Palmieri would be interesting option B’s to Coleman on smaller deals.

(Not in the blog) Warren Foegele is a quality name for the bottom 6 also.

No interest in Danault for me.

(Most not in the blog) The Center market if flooded with options for the bottom 6 that we should be able to find great value at a good cost for us; Bennett, Bonino, Wennberg, Stepan, Getzlaf, and more.

The longer this goes with Eichel, the less he becomes an option to acquire for next season as Drury needs to take care of his team’s needs. I’d say by Tueday if a deal isnt dont (and it doesnt sound like anything is remotely close) then Drury will be pivoting.

(Most not in the Blog) Free Agent : LD — also plenty of veteran LD to choose from. Of course you want quality but that may cost too much or the player may want to go somewhere else;

Ryan Suter
Alec Martinez
Derek Forbort
Calvin de Haan (if not qualified)
Keith Yandle (doesn’t really fit but wouldnt rule him out)
Alex Edler
Ian Cole
Zdeno Chara

This is going to be an interesting week with Drury.

So, you would swoop in for yet ANOTHER winger that's 29 with a 6 year offer but pass on a center (that checks off more boxes than Coleman) that is 28 years old looking for a similar 6 year deal?

Am I getting that correct?

 

[RGY]

So, you would swoop in for yet ANOTHER winger that's 29 with a 6 year offer but pass on a center (that checks off more boxes than Coleman) that is 28 years old looking for a similar 6 year deal?

Am I getting that correct?

You are getting that correct. I dont like or believe in the value Danault would bring at the numbers he wants.

I am also only interested in Coleman if the numbers come down to say 5 years x $4.5 AAV. They probably wont, at which point I would look to Suter or Martinez. Those will likely be the priority anyway. And then we look for value in the forward group.

 

[Raspewtin]

If we trade Strome and don't make any other trades/signings, we just became a significantly worse team.

seriously this.

we were told to brace for some skill for grit trades but now it kind of looks like we are just bringing in a new third line and not changing anything else.

they really need to impress with that last LHD spot and swing a good center. Promoting Chytil to 2C is ideal but Zibanejad really worries me right now.