Speculation: Roster Building Thread 2019-20: Part XXVI

[Trxjw]

I'm sure there's a decent market for Skjei. If there was a market for John Moore there's a market for Skjei. GM's always like big defensemen with size that can skate and after watching Pionk take off in a new system I'm sure some GM's are wondering if Skjei could do the same.

 

[bobbop]

What's the preferred long term defensive lineup look like around here?

Miller - Trouba
DeAngelo - Lundkvist
Keane - Fox

Lindgren, Skjei, Hajek, Robertson, Zac Jones, Reunanen out?

That’s five right handers

 

[True Blue]

To me this season was Brady Skeji’s chance to step up and seal a top four position for the foreseeable future. That has not happened.

I am with uncle L on this one. If Lindgren can show that he can competently play in Skeji's spot next to Trouba, that might be the writing on the wall for him.

 

[True Blue]

What's the preferred long term defensive lineup look like around here?

Miller - Trouba
DeAngelo - Lundkvist
Keane - Fox

Lindgren, Skjei, Hajek, Robertson, Zac Jones, Reunanen out?

1) that can't happen. The defense is not going to have two RD sliding over to play their off side.

2) Lindgren. Always criminally underrated around here, but I have a feeling that the coaching staff likes him. I also have a feeling that he is writting himself into the family photo in a fairly large way. For the short and mid term, I think that the defense has Trouba, DeAngelo, Fox and Lindgren. With an emphasis of finding at least one bigger, defensive defenseman to play with DeAngelo.

 

[GAGLine]

Strome has value but ultimately he’s gonna be more of a third liner than a second liner if the guys we expect to pan out, pan out. The problem is you just can’t be locked into him at 5 million a year for that.

Strome isn't going to get a long term deal. 2 years @ 5 mil is fine as long as he doesn't get significant movement clauses in the 2nd year. Let him have a 10 team no trade list. And he becomes an option for us to expose in the expansion draft if we don't trade him first.

 

[Savant]

Sick of the Skjei - Trouba pairing. Rangers need to find out if Trouba’s long term partner is on the roster or not. Period. If not, they need to get one. It’s not Skjei and it’s not Hajek. Keep looking.

 

[bobbop]

There's a long list of players who were considered losing players until they were [insert shock and awe] surrounded by top level talent.

Some of the names that were routinely picked on while I was growing up:

Steve Yzerman
Joe Sakic
Ray Bourque
Mario Lemieux

You want proof? Just go back and read some of the comments in old THN Yearbooks/previews of yesteryear.

One my favorite lines that stands out 25 years later?

"The Nordiques went out this offseason and acquired Wendell Clark based on the belief that the team needed a real, natural leader --- something the 25-year-old Joe Sakic is not believed to be."

Interesting story...in 1993 and 1994 I lived in Bucks County PA and would often ride the train home after games with Bill Clement (he was on ESPN at that time)

One night, the conversation turned to Steve Yzerman. Clement was adamant that the Red Wings would not win as long as Yzerman was their centerpiece.

 

[True Blue]

Sick of the Skjei - Trouba pairing. Rangers need to find out if Trouba’s long term partner is on the roster or not. Period. If not, they need to get one. It’s not Skjei and it’s not Hajek. Keep looking.

Looks like they are trying to find out, no?

 

[Tossed Medal]

Interesting story...in 1993 and 1994 I lived in Bucks County PA and would often ride the train home after games with Bill Clement (he was on ESPN at that time)

One night, the conversation turned to Steve Yzerman. Clement was adamant that the Red Wings would not win as long as Yzerman was their centerpiece.

Clement clement hands of cement

 

[kovazub94]

Strome is the guy that if we decide to tie our cart to long term we’ll regret.

He’s blocking Chytil from 16 plus mins a night.
He’s blocking Kakko from Pp1 mins on that right wall.
He plays ZERO defense I mean zero.
And he’s glued to Panarin. Absolutely glued.

He’s a good player but he’s not a top 6 center on a winning team. Do not give him 5 mil plus long term. We’ll regret it.

I don’t really agree with your “blocking” take. I see it as depth. Having Chytil line with let’s say Buchnevich and Kravtsov could create matchup advantage, not unlike when we had P-B-Z as our “3rd line” not long ago.

 

[BKGooner]

Interesting story...in 1993 and 1994 I lived in Bucks County PA and would often ride the train home after games with Bill Clement (he was on ESPN at that time)

One night, the conversation turned to Steve Yzerman. Clement was adamant that the Red Wings would not win as long as Yzerman was their centerpiece.

He was kind of right. Yzerman was the captain, but Fedorov and to some extent Lidstrom were way more important to the Wings winning.

 

[rangers1314]

I want no part of Jack Eichel. Let’s just leave it there.

As someone who has access to people with access...mind sharing why you have that opinion?

 

[bobbop]

He was kind of right. Yzerman was the captain, but Fedorov and to some extent Lidstrom were way more important to the Wings winning.

I think Shanahan coming is also changed the dynamic there.

 

[kovazub94]

The offensive numbers that DeAngelo is putting up are breathtaking. He is still a work in progress in his own end but let’s acknowledge that has also improved.

Fox is an outstanding player. Many nights he has been the Rangers best player. His passing, ability to get shots through and use his smarts to defend are excellent. He has passed the eye test with flying colors.

They are different players. They are both valuable. It’s not an either or.

I might be wrong on this take but it seems to me it’s more common for an offensive D to round up his defensive game than vice versa.

 

[BKGooner]

I think Shanahan coming is also changed the dynamic there.

Absolutley. Management really tweaked the mix of that team with secondary scoring and veterans to take a lot of pressure off Yzerman and let him perform. I also think that without the rivalry with Colorado, Detroit might not have won a Cup until much later in their window. The hatred honed both those teams to a real sharp edge.

 

[wafflepadsave]

I'm sure there's a decent market for Skjei. If there was a market for John Moore there's a market for Skjei. GM's always like big defensemen with size that can skate and after watching Pionk take off in a new system I'm sure some GM's are wondering if Skjei could do the same.

Sure would like to see skjei moved for something different.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I’m comfortable saying Lindgren is not a top pairing defenseman but let’s see how he does

 

[Gardner McKay]

Clement clement hands of cement

Melrose still thinks he coaching, but this is my team.

 

[Leetch3]

Even if one doesn’t underrate Skjei there are valid reasons to move him (not dump) for cap and expansion reasons as @RangerBoy noted.

but the cap and expansion benefits are only real if you replace him internally with prospects and I'm not sure that happens cause the kids aren't ready for that. so you'd be in the same scenario where it made sense to bring in trouba on the right side. so if you end up then making a move to bring in an upgrade on LD, that guy will make more $$ and also need to be protected in the expansion draft...doesn't mean the team wouldn't be better because of it but it potentially negates those as benefits of moving him.

 

[Savant]

Looks like they are trying to find out, no?

Yes. I condone it

 

[Edge]

Interesting story...in 1993 and 1994 I lived in Bucks County PA and would often ride the train home after games with Bill Clement (he was on ESPN at that time)

One night, the conversation turned to Steve Yzerman. Clement was adamant that the Red Wings would not win as long as Yzerman was their centerpiece.

And the truth of the matter is he wasn't entirely wrong to think that way.

Yzerman became a "winner" after they surrounded him with an entire wing of the HOF --- from coaches to wings, to other centers, to defensemen.

 

[kovazub94]

but the cap and expansion benefits are only real if you replace him internally with prospects and I'm not sure that happens cause the kids aren't ready for that. so you'd be in the same scenario where it made sense to bring in trouba on the right side. so if you end up then making a move to bring in an upgrade on LD, that guy will make more $$ and also need to be protected in the expansion draft...doesn't mean the team wouldn't be better because of it but it potentially negates those as benefits of moving him.

Sure but from the opposite perspective the drop from substituting Skjei with a prospect is not as dramatic as the benefit in allocating cap elsewhere, improvement in prospect pool and expansion protection.

We are probably differ not in how good / bad Skjei is but how capable are the guys currently behind him.

 

[Edge]

Strome is the guy that if we decide to tie our cart to long term we’ll regret.

He’s blocking Chytil from 16 plus mins a night.
He’s blocking Kakko from Pp1 mins on that right wall.
He plays ZERO defense I mean zero.
And he’s glued to Panarin. Absolutely glued.

He’s a good player but he’s not a top 6 center on a winning team. Do not give him 5 mil plus long term. We’ll regret it.

I guess it also depends on how they utilize him. If he's a transition piece, and some of the names you mention start taking over his duties, and he's shipped out at a later date, then there's potential value there.

If they're eyeing him as their long term solution as a second line center, then there's a problem. But I will say that I don't think they view him long-term piece. It's just a just matter of when they feel is the best time to cash out on him.

 

[LORDE]

Interesting story...in 1993 and 1994 I lived in Bucks County PA and would often ride the train home after games with Bill Clement (he was on ESPN at that time)

One night, the conversation turned to Steve Yzerman. Clement was adamant that the Red Wings would not win as long as Yzerman was their centerpiece.

I worked with Clement a bunch back in the mid 90s... great guy. Super nice. Nostradamus he was not.

 

[True Blue]

I’m comfortable saying Lindgren is not a top pairing defenseman but let’s see how he does

I am in the same boat, but also at the point of thinking that they have nothing to loose. If he can just be competent there, it would be a plus. Also, as one that clearly knows his role, I think that out of this group, he is the one most likely to play within his own boundaries and not think that he has to do too much. And, as we have seen him battle with Malkin, he is not afraid to go up against the "name" players.

This is probably still not the long term solution, but at this point let's see what he can do with an expanded role.