Speculation: Roster Building Thread DCLXXXIII:Stepping up next? A Top Ten pick???

[GregSirico]

He can put up points but man his overall play just about anyone can see isn't yet ready for regular top 6 minutes unless he makes a huge jump this year.

If that is managements view I hope to God they are right.

Hayes is not yet ready for top 6 minutes, he still has a ways to go. He looks amazing some nights then lost the next ... inconsistency is not what I want in my top 6.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Duchene makes no sense.

Declining player who will cost a bundle to get (which we don't have a bundle) and is only signed for 2 more years.

No thanks.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Rangers do not have the pieces to get a center better than Stepan in a trade..

What are we offering? Mcdonagh?

Skjei, buch and the 2018 1st?

Not going to lie, but if they can get a true #1 center that is young, I move Buch. Skjei I don't think so.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

He can put up points but man his overall play just about anyone can see isn't yet ready for regular top 6 minutes unless he makes a huge jump this year.

If that is managements view I hope to God they are right.

They could view this as another transition year to see what Zib/Hayes can develop into with another year here, save the cap space and hope to find a center maybe at TDL or next off season? I duno.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I agree about Duchene, will cost a bundle on reputation alone, his play certainlny hasn't been worth it.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I would start asking about manylosing teams star forwards centrr or wing. If teams can lose with them they might be willing to lose without them. Also ring the phone of all teams with upcoming cap issues next season.

 

[GregSirico]

Duchene makes no sense.

Declining player who will cost a bundle to get (which we don't have a bundle) and is only signed for 2 more years.

No thanks.

I think it's more of the toxic environment with Joe in Colorado. I can totally see his game coming back to life with new linemates on a playoff team that gets media attention. I don't think he's on a decline, I think he's sort of checked out of Colorado.

 

[GregSirico]

I would start asking about manylosing teams star forwards centrr or wing. If teams can lose with them they might be willing to lose without them. Also ring the phone of all teams with upcoming cap issues next season.

That's what I was trying to explore last night ... what teams have some stars that are awful and need some depth and picks?

 

[alkurtz]

I think there is another factor here that has not been discussed. Over the next few months Crosby will turn 30, Malkin 31, and Ovi 32. It is logical to assume that their skills will soon begin to diminish; in the case of Ovi, it already might be happening. Sid is always one concussion from having his career ended prematurely.

It very well may be that the peak of the Crosby/Ovi era is right now. I know many have expressed doubts about our ability to compete with the Pens over the next few years, and they very well may be correct. But the landscape of the league may very well look different 2 or 3 years from now: the 900 lb gorilla in the room may be gone.

Whether any of the seeming rising powers in the league, Edmonton, Toronto, etc., will continue to grow is unknown.

The question is: what should our philosophy be for preparing for this new landscape? Some say to tank: but tanking is not a guarantee of success, in particular with the the way the lottery works. Plenty of teams have had endless runs of top 10 picks but are still in what seem like decades long periods of mediocrity. For those of us who have lived through long stretches of mediocrity I have this warning: as a fan it is depressing and soul-draining.

I also don't think we should be spending big money on UFAs in an attempt to remain an elite team. I don't believe any one or two players will elevate us to that level, at least in the short run.

Retooling on the fly is, for me, the best choice. it allows us to remain flexible in spending, accumulate assets, remain competitive, plan for the future, and take advantage of any situations that might come our way. The best thing about the last few days? We had a bare cupboard of prospects. Now we have 2 first round centers to watch grow and think about.

As is the case with Maximus: I am a Ranger fan of long, long standing: almost 60 years. I have seen one Cup, one of the highlights of my life, and certainly want to see more. But I am not a Cup or bust fan either. I've learned to take my happiness where it comes and these last 12 years have been just wonderful: the equal to the Francis era when I was a young fan sitting in the blueseats with a season ticket. 82 games is a long season: I want my team to be competitive, I want them to have interesting players to think about and watch. I can't define happiness with winning the Cup and the Cup only. Even though I have gone home disappointed year after year, the Rangers have enriched my life in so many ways. I'd rather retool, stay competitive (at this juncture the team looks like a bubble team to me), accumulate some assets, and prepare for a Sid-less, Ovi-less NHL (or one where they are still productive but not at the level they have been): an NHL that may be right around the corner. "Retooling on the fly" can be interesting as well as a valid philosophy. I'm in to see how it goes.

 

[GregSirico]

I agree about Duchene, will cost a bundle on reputation alone, his play certainlny hasn't been worth it.

No, that's all Joe and his wacky brain.

I agree about Duchene, will cost a bundle on reputation alone, his play certainlny hasn't been worth it.

Which is where fair market value should come back to life and he's worth taking a risk on.

 

[DutchShamrock]

I think it's more of the toxic environment with Joe in Colorado. I can totally see his game coming back to life with new linemates on a playoff team that gets media attention. I don't think he's on a decline, I think he's sort of checked out of Colorado.

We all say it's toxic but absolve which ever player we want. The culture sucks, well he was a part of that. Roy has been gone. O'Reilly has been gone, but hey maybe he supports your argument.

I'm open to his addition but there are big question marks, especially at Sakic's crazy demands. We just better be sure he can live up to his cap and the cost of the trade.

 

[Blueshirts777]

Stepan sucked last year. He was a nonentity for most of the season and was the beneficiary of linemates and massive primo ice time. The reason was because he is too ****ing slow for the game now yet Thornton will thrive in the EC? Naive indeed.

No he didn't, this narrative is ridiculous. He's a 1C, of course he's going to get ice time. And it's not all about goals scored, Stepan helped massively in containing the top centers of this league and bailing out the D on numerous occasions, this goes unnoticed though because it's not tracked.

We are now heavily exposed down the middle and I agree with you that signing old men isn't the answer. But this is the EXACT reason I thought we shouldn't trade him, because there is no replacement available that can play both sides as well as he did.

 

[GregSirico]

We all say it's toxic but absolve which ever player we want. The culture sucks, well he was a part of that. Roy has been gone. O'Reilly has been gone, but hey maybe he supports your argument.

I'm open to his addition but there are big question marks, especially at Sakic's crazy demands. We just better be sure he can live up to his cap and the cost of the trade.

If Joe comes back to reality with what he wants ... a decent young player (not a super star) + a valued prospect or a pick. But to ask for like 3 of your best players for him ... yeah he can f*** off.

 

[Avery16]

By the way, signing Thornton might be the worst idea I've ever heard on this board. That's saying something.

Boyle redux is arguably worse

 

[GregSirico]

No he didn't, this narrative is ridiculous. He's a 1C, of course he's going to get ice time. And it's not all about goals scored, Stepan helped massively in containing the top centers of this league and bailing out the D on numerous occasions, this goes unnoticed though because it's not tracked.

We are now heavily exposed down the middle and I agree with you that signing old men isn't the answer. But this is the EXACT reason I thought we shouldn't trade him, because there is no replacement available that can play both sides as well as he did.

I think bringing up his defensive ability is a very fair point and gets overlooked and I also don't feel like Zib is ready to fill the #1 slot and nobody on the FA market is better than Stepan. Which makes me think they either made this trade knowing they are making a bigger deal later (my thinking) or they are going to go full rebuild (not likely)

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I think bringing up his defensive ability is a very fair point and gets overlooked and I also don't feel like Zib is ready to fill the #1 slot and nobody on the FA market is better than Stepan. Which makes me think they either made this trade knowing they are making a bigger deal later (my thinking) or they are going to go full rebuild (not likely)

I'd be good with either option. Just don't go overspending in FA.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

What are the Rangers offering for a bigger trade?.. They don't have that many impact players, unless a team is looking for a complete rebuild and the Rangers are willing to offer Skjei, Buch or someone like that.

 

[glees68]

Not sure he's available, but what about Tyler Johnson? Haven't watched much Tampa games, so I'm not sure how he's been playing. He is a RFA though.

 

[Avery16]

Sorry just wandering in to this subject and may regret it, but has McKinnon ever been legitimately rumored to be available?

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Sorry just wandering in to this subject and may regret it, but has McKinnon ever been legitimately rumored to be available?

Uncle Larry has mentioned him as the type of player the Rangers could be looking at, in his uniquely oblique manner.

 

[egelband]

I think there is another factor here that has not been discussed. Over the next few months Crosby will turn 30, Malkin 31, and Ovi 32. It is logical to assume that their skills will soon begin to diminish; in the case of Ovi, it already might be happening. Sid is always one concussion from having his career ended prematurely.

It very well may be that the peak of the Crosby/Ovi era is right now. I know many have expressed doubts about our ability to compete with the Pens over the next few years, and they very well may be correct. But the landscape of the league may very well look different 2 or 3 years from now: the 900 lb gorilla in the room may be gone.

Whether any of the seeming rising powers in the league, Edmonton, Toronto, etc., will continue to grow is unknown.

The question is: what should our philosophy be for preparing for this new landscape? Some say to tank: but tanking is not a guarantee of success, in particular with the the way the lottery works. Plenty of teams have had endless runs of top 10 picks but are still in what seem like decades long periods of mediocrity. For those of us who have lived through long stretches of mediocrity I have this warning: as a fan it is depressing and soul-draining.

I also don't think we should be spending big money on UFAs in an attempt to remain an elite team. I don't believe any one or two players will elevate us to that level, at least in the short run.

Retooling on the fly is, for me, the best choice. it allows us to remain flexible in spending, accumulate assets, remain competitive, plan for the future, and take advantage of any situations that might come our way. The best thing about the last few days? We had a bare cupboard of prospects. Now we have 2 first round centers to watch grow and think about.

As is the case with Maximus: I am a Ranger fan of long, long standing: almost 60 years. I have seen one Cup, one of the highlights of my life, and certainly want to see more. But I am not a Cup or bust fan either. I've learned to take my happiness where it comes and these last 12 years have been just wonderful: the equal to the Francis era when I was a young fan sitting in the blueseats with a season ticket. 82 games is a long season: I want my team to be competitive, I want them to have interesting players to think about and watch. I can't define happiness with winning the Cup and the Cup only. Even though I have gone home disappointed year after year, the Rangers have enriched my life in so many ways. I'd rather retool, stay competitive (at this juncture the team looks like a bubble team to me), accumulate some assets, and prepare for a Sid-less, Ovi-less NHL (or one where they are still productive but not at the level they have been): an NHL that may be right around the corner. "Retooling on the fly" can be interesting as well as a valid philosophy. I'm in to see how it goes.

Totally agree. And want to say, excellent post. Thank you.

 

[GregSirico]

Sorry just wandering in to this subject and may regret it, but has McKinnon ever been legitimately rumored to be available?

I fully expect Colorado to move one of Nate or Matt this year Matt makes the most sense ... 2Y left on the deal, inconsistent play, obvious rumors floating for 2Y now with him, Joe keeps playing with flames there ... gotta think he's had it as well. It's become sort of bitter I think. Plus it allows you to go all in with Nate as your centerpiece on the team (which makes sense)

Having said that, if they decide not to do that and say they have some sort of rekindle moment, sign a cap friendly deal and extend him or don't move him, You have to figure Joe knows Nate is his most valuable piece. Just depends on the direction. Let's be glad he's not our GM.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

What are the Rangers offering for a bigger trade?.. They don't have that many impact players, unless a team is looking for a complete rebuild and the Rangers are willing to offer Skjei, Buch or someone like that.

Cap space. They can eat bad contracts.

Superstar D on ridiculous contract: McD

Solid, productive vets on reasonable contracts: Nash (w. retention) or Zucc, perhaps even Kreider.

Intriguing younger players with talent on cheap contracts: Miller, Vesey, Hayes.

Steady, inexpensive, D-man who can play both sides: Holden.

Veteran, experienced D-man with pedigree on reasonable contract: Staal (w. retention)

Just don't move Skjei, Zib, Buch or any of the prospects.

 

[egelband]

I think Gorton has noticed the Rangers are too passive. Too cerebral, even. Not bad to be a smart and circumspect group. But maybe just a little sandpaper needed. I hope Smith comes back too. Ruff also in this direction. Losing Lindberg hurts.

 

[Mac n Gs]

What are the Rangers offering for a bigger trade?.. They don't have that many impact players, unless a team is looking for a complete rebuild and the Rangers are willing to offer Skjei, Buch or someone like that.

This is silly. They have an outstanding top line winger on a great deal in Zucc that would easily fetch a good asset. They can make a hockey type of trade and move Miller or Hayes. Hell, they can shock us all and trade Kreider. We have assets to trade, it's just a matter of to whom and for what?

I'm starting to come around on the idea of Galchenyuk, but I'm still not excited about it. Sam Bennet is another intriguing option. Maybe Rakell out in Anaheim? There's some damn good young players out there, but we just need to find the right deal.

I'm going to keep pumping this one: Zucc or Nash at 50% retained for Henrik Borgstrom and Mark Pysyk/Demers. Gives you a top-4 RHD with term or up for a new contract and another good C prospect that'll be NHL ready in a year or two.