Speculation: Roster Building Thread DCLXXXIV: We have Cap space! Hoorraayy!!!

[Avery16]

Agreed but they may have no choice unless they just go with rookies

I doubt we're going to be able to move Staal. So, barring any signings (saying a lot) we still have a top 4 of:

McD/Skjei
Staal/Holden

We still might even have Klein. DeAngelo is a rookie, but he's third-pair ready. Maybe Berezgalov is too.

Kampfer is technically an NHL D.

 

[Zibanejbread]

As much as I greatly appreciated Smith in his time here - if his price point is over $4 MM per, then I'm OK walking away. I'd rather sign Shattenkirk for a couple million more to provide a more dynamic presence on our d. Also, if (big IF) AV plays DeAngelo like he should, I think he can provide some of the snarl that Smith provided.

McD-Shatt
Skjei-Bereglazov
Staal-DeAngelo
Holden

Shatt on PP1. Skjei/DeAngelo on PP2. Save McD's minutes for ES/PK.

 

[NYR]

I doubt we're going to be able to move Staal. So, barring any signings (saying a lot) we still have a top 4 of:

McD/Skjei
Staal/Holden

We still might even have Klein. DeAngelo is a rookie, but he's third-pair ready. Maybe Berezgalov is too.

Kampfer is technically an NHL D.

They should've been tried as a pair eons ago.

 

[NYR]

Am I alone in thinking?
With all the uncertainty in FA and the fact that you're competing with every other team in the league for the same exact talent leads me to believe that JG doesn't really have much of a game plan?

 

[broadwayblue]

Am I alone in thinking?
With all the uncertainty in FA and the fact that you're competing with every other team in the league for the same exact talent leads me to believe that JG doesn't really have much of a game plan?

Yes, you are alone. Come on, it's not even July 1 yet.

 

[NYR]

Yes, you are alone. Come on, it's not even July 1 yet.

There's NO guarantees come July 1st and thus my point!

 

[bl02]

Alright, let's go. My bonkers offseason plan and then I'm off to bed:

McDonagh to BUF for Reinhart, 1st in '18, and 1st in '19.
Staal + goalie prospect not named Shestyorkin to FLA for Bjugstad and Demers.
Nash @ 50% to NSH for 1st in '18 or '19.
Hayes to MTL for 1st in '18 or '19.
Holden to DAL for Niemi (cap dump), 2nd in '18, 2nd in '19.
Re-sign Smith @ 3 x $4.25MM.
Sign Shattenkirk @ 6 x $6.25MM.
Sign Dadonov @ 2 x $3.5MM.
Leaves you with approx. $2MM working room to start the season.

Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Zuccarello-Reinhart-Dadonov
Vesey-Bjugstad-Miller
Grabner-Nieves-Fast

Skjei-Shattenkirk
Smith-DeAngelo
Bereglazov-Demers

Lundqvist
Niemi

2018: 2x 1st round picks , 1x 2nd round picks gained.
2019: 2x 1st round picks, 1x 2nd round picks gained.

Who's with me?

Man I would be giddy with that many first and second round picks over the next two years. Why sign both shatty and smith? That team probably isn't making playoffs anyway even with skjei and smith. If we do maybe we win a round. I'm assuming you just want to ice a competent team in front of Hank or do you feel that 2017-2018 roster would have a chance at going deep?
Obviously the future would look amazing if they drafted even half way decent in those two drafts.
So if all those deals went down I don't think it would be such a bad thing for the long term health of this team.

 

[broadwayblue]

There's NO guarantees come July 1st and thus my point!

The team (this year's version) doesn't have to be complete for nearly 8 months. There is plenty of time.

 

[Nickmo82]

Ok, this is what I come up with, assuming MacKinnon is available for massive overpayment, which would be required; even then that is still not a given.

Following solidifies Fs at cost of D, but may be workable short term:


1. Nash at half to CBH for Anisimov. Prior to news of Hossa out indefinitely, possibly permanently, don’t see Hawks going here. But provides stopgap so Chicago can continue push for Cup while retooling; and unload Anisimov’s term, which was not that much or that bad, but still creates with badly needed cap flexibility. Rangers can keep AA, or flip him.....

2. McDonagh 4.7 + Skjei ELC < 1 + Anisimov 4.5 to Colorado for MacKinnon + 2018 2nd + 2019 1st. Avs finally have too much on the table to walk away. AA is top 6 pivot nice deal, Skjei ELC is even longer controlled than MacK, and McD is all star LD, who, if they don’t extend, they can flip this year or next for high rental return. Rangers get elite quality C/W to bookend with Kreider on first line, + picks. Avs want it to be 2 2nds, and Rangers ask for 2 1sts, so 1st and a 2nd is reasonable compromise. CK + MacK give NY plausible offset to Sid and banged up Geno. Rangers pick up 4m ish in cap savings.

3. Buchnevich ELC + Zuc 4.5 + NYR 2018 + 2019 3rd to Buffalo for Sam Reinhart 894,167 + NYR 2018 + 2019 2nds. Rangers pick up potential 1C hopefully ready to bust out after year under Blysma, upgrade 2 picks, and pick up another 4.5ish mil in cap. Sabes do not address LD issue, but get 2 Ws, one an ELC cost controlled longer than Reiinhart, and the other who they extend or can unload for a lot as a rental. Both Ws contribute to developing F base, project scoring compatible with Eichel, Nylander, etc.

These are the main moves.
Use cap to nail down extension of youngest core on term with volume discount minimizing annual salary. 8 years or max term to:
Zib, at 5.25 per;
Miller at 4.5 per, and
Hayes at 4.25; also
Smith at 4.25.

Now sign Shattenkirk to 1 year only at 8m per. Chance he might not go there, but 8m is already overpay above and beyond over what I would consider top figure for 1 yr at 7.25. He is taking a certain risk, but he is also investing only 1 year to prove he is worth closer to 8 than to 6. Plus he gets to see how living here works out while retaining options; plus he probably enhances himself financially through ads, etc., by staying in NY.

We also tell Grabner get near 20+ and we start looking at 4 x 4, though that is not an immediate priority.


Okay, so far that is
Kreider - Miller - MacKinnon
Gropp - Reinhart - Zib
Grabner - Hayes - Vesey
Jensen? Puempel? __________?- Nieves - Fast

There are multiple possibilities for 1C. In this scenario, went with known commodity that is fastest for speed betw. Kreider + MacK. However, if it is decided to go big, Zib may well be the pivot; Reinhart is also an obvious possible. Then in addition is the point I have made previously, to much derision, which postulates simply:
Nieves may be healthy enough to rock and roll;
his D and basic passing may be fine;
he may have chemistry w/CK + NM, especially if they do all the heavy lifting on offense as to finishing;
in a construct where opposing defense spreads itself thin attempting to contain both Kreider and MacK simultaneously, even a raw Boo might succeed on offense at 1C.

However, it is not that big a whoop, so let’s roll for now as I have the line shifts.
Other than 4LW, this is a solid F lineup.

Hank is our G, and we should promote Halverson, see if we can up his value, and make use of him as backup.

That leaves the D, which was crippled to make a dominant F lineup. However, if we are objective, we understand that sure, best case scenario, McDonagh/Zuc do a Yankees Chapman and return, hopefully for less, after we got our price. But even still, as RangerBoy notes, we have to be ahead of the curve with Zuc getting at least 1+ mil more, and McD not impossible to almost double to upwards of 8m per.

So we have
Smith - Shattenkirk
Beargloves - DeAngelo
Graves - Pionk,, Zborovsky
Gilmour Day

Try to move Holden now, even add asset to improve return. Depending on who we do/do not acquire in trade (Demers + Bjugstad for reduced Staal?) we have barely enough to get by. But if the rest of the team is SO butt kickin, we can hang on while the backliners catch up.

If Klein retires, which is anticipated, fine, God bless him. If he wants a reduced role at 3RD for half a year and he can handle that, that might be a stopgap, though I am optimistic it will not come to that.

Conclusion: If we do my above changes, while not everything is addressed/finalized, we stabilize most of the roster. Yes, we still need good enough defense, but a high powered offense helps keep puck out of our zone. Team including D gets younger and to some extent that athletic ability automatically helps while waiting for growing pains of experience to resolve.

Preferably, Day will at least get a cup of coffee this year. He slipped in the draft to us, and has apparently shaped up and worked hard. If he sees both McD AND Skjei have been moved, and we are willing to give him as much tutelage as he can absorb, how hard do you think he would bust his butt to get here by January? A Day who is close would be HUGE.

Then we rely on Gordon for FAs, etc.
Try to remove via trade, but if unavoidably necessary, buyout Staal if there is no getting around it.

Dealing D (an area of extreme weakness already) to augment our forwards (an area of strength) is simply bananas.

We had a pretty-high powered offence last year and woeful D. How far did that combo get us?

Also, Shattenkirk would be crazy to sign anywhere for 1 year only. This is his chance at long term security. Hardly likely to risk having a down year/getting injured and lose millions to do the Rangers a favour.

Sakic has lost his mind playing hardball with other GMs. To get MacKinnon you're going to have to gut the franchise. He isn't worth what he'd cost.

 

[Avery16]

They should've been tried as a pair eons ago.

From eons ago:

http://nypost.com/2017/01/05/have-the-rangers-finally-found-a-partner-for-ryan-mcdonagh/

 

[duhmetreE]

Nash for prospect/pick
Hayes (+if needed) for M.Backlund
sign Shattenkirk
sign Dadonov
re-sign Smith
maybe sign Matt Cullen 1yr deal

Kreider Zibanejad Buchnevich
Dadonov Backlund Zuccarrello
Vesey Andersson Miller
Grabner Cullen/Nieves Fast

McDonagh Shattenkirk
Skjei Smith
Staal DeAngelo

 

[Alluckks]

Let's assume that there are no more trades made. Maybe Nash during the season. Miller goes to C like someone said.

Shattenkirk 6 years, 6.75 per year.
Smith 3 years, 4.25 per year
Zibanejad 4 years, 5 per year
Boyle 2 years, 2.2 per year
Justin Williams 2 years, 3.5 per year
Kinkaid 1 year, 850k
Fast 2 years, 1.8 per year

Comes to 74.138

Nash Miller Zucc
Kreider Zib Buch
Vesey Hayes Williams
Grabner Boyle Fast
Puempel

McDonagh Shattenkirk
Skjei Smith
Staal DeAngelo
Bereglazov (hopefully takes over for Staal eventually, or give him time in the AHL)
Holden

Lundqvist
Kinkaid

 

[Ola]

I think many are underrating what we currently have a bit:

Kreider-Zib-Buch
Zucc-Hayes-Nash
Grabner-Miller-XXX
Vesey-Nieves-Fast
McD-(Staal)
Skjei-Holden
Bereglazov-DeAngelo

-Bereglazov is better than people realize. An Anisimov at D if you like. Very good pick-up.

-We will have locked Buch into a gym this off-season, very excited about how he may look. He will be a year older.

-Vesey is a year older, these guys may have some ups and downs their first three years, but he will become a good player.

-We have been looking for that RD for so long. DeAngelo was one of our targets, until convinced of otherwise I am assuming we have done our Due Diligence and that this kid will be great for us. With a kid like him -- the biggest holdback is COMPETITION. They need to play top offensive minutes to develop. He will get that here no doubt. I think he will be great.

-You are in trouble if you are too weak, too slow, incompetent at a certain position. Zib/Hayes/Miller/Nieves are a very strong group in many ways. Impressive group of young hockey players. Fast, strong, big, talented, smart and so forth. Sure our center lineup needs attention -- but it's not a black hole or a disaster group. Having an injured Dan Girardi is troublesome. Playing like JT Miller as say your No 1 center is far from optimal, but I still much rather have JT Miller on the ice for 1/3 of a game than Girardi on one leg for 1/3 of a game. Do you get what I mean? It's flawed, but we can still populate it with competent deserving players which will controll a lot of the damage and I definitely don't see any disaster scenarios as long as everyone is healthy.

-There are some interesting names out there. Gorton might get someone. Take a player like Dadonov, super fast and slick with the puck. Constantly terrorizing Ds. Contract might be a deal breaker, but who knows, I would give him a good sum on a 1 year deal to let him prove himself. There are all kind of different types. Sharp tics a lot of boxes for us. Williams is a winner. Doan I don't like for us, but sure he is an asset in some situations. Kovalchuk is a competent player still that is elite on the PPQB, truly top 5-10 in the world still, contract huge issue. We could take on the Sedins x2. Marleau. Just saying that we have one opening, and it's certainly some names out there. There are forwards with expensive contracts that we might take back if we deal Staal.

-Yes I hate Staal too where I have him. No arguments from me there too. Would L-O-V-E to be able to dump him at 50% retained and bring in McTruck. But I recon I would be too greedy if I got a hang up on that one. Seems impossible that it would happen, but I would love it.

-Look at the mobility we have on that roster! Very little slow dead wood. Very short commitments. A lot of Cap space. A great platform for the coming 10 years.

 

[ponytrekker]

From eons ago:

http://nypost.com/2017/01/05/have-the-rangers-finally-found-a-partner-for-ryan-mcdonagh/

Brooks is clueless. Wasn't he saying Step would NEVER be traded even after everyone else was reporting he had been?

 

[DutchShamrock]

Bern, I honestly wonder if you even watch some of the players you hype on this board. When Eichel went down, they played Johan Larsson at C instead of Reinhart. C'mon now, just accept reality: he's been a winger basically his entire NHL career.

But he's had a good attitude about it so him and some throw ins are worth McDonagh apparently.

 

[pld459666]

Guys, look up.

Filip Chytil is reading the thread. He's here!

If true...

Im a fan kid

 

[DutchShamrock]

Brooks is clueless. Wasn't he saying Step would NEVER be traded even after everyone else was reporting he had been?

No, not true.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

I think a lot of the moves regarding center ice revolve around their projections and timeframe of Andersson and Chytil.

What was interesting during draft night was the comments made saying Andersson could be ready this season (not a good idea imo, should play one more year in Sweden). Chytil could be ready in a year.

Makes sense if they want to move Miller to center for this season if they think that.

The more likely move may be to sign a winger for the top 9 and shore up the right side on D.

 

[Vitto79]

Brooks is clueless. Wasn't he saying Step would NEVER be traded even after everyone else was reporting he had been?

There's a tweet saying nothing serious w AZ then a few hours later a trade . So he was wrong on the Level the rangers wanted to move that contract out

 

[Larrybiv]

I think we should sign shatty..but I. Also more in favor of moving Skjei for MacKinnon.

Can u do a monster trade? Skjei Hayes Miller 2018 first for Duchene MacKinnon and landeskog?

How many teams can absorb that much cap?

Kreider MacKinnon zucc
Vesey zibanejad buchnevich
Landeskog duchene Nash
Really cheap 4th line

McD shatty
And then some combo of Holden pionk bear staal (yuck) deangelo etc

D is very very young and questionable...but man...that offense....


Just unleashing my inner been.

Thats some dream you have there Inferno my friend. That "extra money" we have hanging around will be needed to sign some of our own players down the road.....can't spend all of it......may need some of it for deadline as well as you never know who becomes available.

Love JT, Hayes not as much........hope theyre having a STRONG off season with their regimens. Get stronger.

 

[cheech70]

Rereading Gorts interview he seemed to be fairly confident about teams calling because of the cap space. Trying to think out of the box...who is out there that wants to deal there skilled pivot? No way Patrick Kane ?

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Rereading Gorts interview he seemed to be fairly confident about teams calling because of the cap space. Trying to think out of the box...who is out there that wants to deal there skilled pivot? No way Patrick Kane ?

If we trade for a $10m predator then i'm not watching anymore.

 

[Avery16]

How is Nieves defensively?

 

[Larrybiv]

There's a tweet saying nothing serious w AZ then a few hours later a trade . So he was wrong on the Level the rangers wanted to move that contract out

Even i knew he would be traded.......and I have absolutely NO inside word. The writing was on ths wall.......his time was up here, plain and simple. If Cally could go.......so could Steps. Oh and btw, that hold out......really was where it all began.

 

[Avery16]

We should have reached out to Smith before trading for him. He doesn't want to play here unless we're a top bidder. Guy is 28 and hasn't broken 20 points in six seasons, wants 4 million per.