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

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

I have no idea about Shattenkirk. If there's a wink wink nudge nudge local boy discount thing going on, and it's been kind of understood that way by both parties for years, that's (imo) kind of sleazy and not something the team should enthusiastically share with the local press. Still want it to be the case, of course.

 

[DutchShamrock]

Nash is 33, has 1 year left on his contract, and has scored less than 40 points each of the last 2 years. What do you think that's worth?

My argument, which could be misplaced, is that he is great at the 2 way game. If he is 3rd line in Chicago for example with 50% retained, he's a significant piece. He isn't the go to guy drawing the tough assignments. He can chip in offensively, give you great defensive minutes, pk, and be another leader. Jump up a line or two if there is chemistry or situationally. If Richards could be effective there, so could Nash.

Nashville is another good idea. Dallas could be possible, LA. He can't be your primary weapon but at a reduced hit he is valuable.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I disagree. How you run into Staal and Girardi contracts is paying players who are clearly on the downside of their careers, with little talent, and lack of skating ability, who have also had terrible injuries or play a style of hockey that takes a toll on the Body.

Paying players top dollar towards the tail end of their career is never a good idea.

It was a horrible idea for Staal and G, it would be for Zucc too. Probably not to the extent that it was for those 2, but its very, very likely that we've already seen the best of Zuccarello.

If the idea is to retool and take a bit of a step back for a few years, he would be better served trying to help someone else win.

 

[GregSirico]

I really believe the next few weeks will be VERY telling which direction this franchise is going in. If they pass on Shattenkirk and don't make a trade for a first line center it is clear as day they don't plan on being competitive and are looking at this "rebuild on the fly" thing as a real rebuild, and if that's the case, Nash, Mac, Zucc and even Hank (if he wants) should all be on the table (be it now, or at the deadline) for prospects to rebuild around.

On the otherhand, a signing of Shattenkirk, would indicate they also plan on extending Mac to pair them up for the rest of their careers and they are planning on being competitive. I'm not sure which one it is?

 

[NickyFotiu]

If this team puts Skjei on the trading block for MacKinnon, or quite frankly anyone at all, I'm going to vomit.

Brady will be the best defenseman in NYR this season, doesnt matter what McD does, Skjei will develop over him.

I respectfully disagree. Unless McD's injuries catch up to him I think he remains our best defensive defensemen. Somebody just has to teach him and the rest of the team how to enter the offensive zone when the other team stands on the blue line.

 

[duhmetreE]

What about a trade built around Hayes for M.Backlund?

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Unless the Flames are desperate to re-create the Hayes-Gaudreau magic from their days in BC, I don't know what the motive for them would be.

Backlund finally started to break out last year.

 

[GregSirico]

What about a trade built around Hayes for M.Backlund?

I think a 1 for 1 swap is actually quote fair.

 

[GregSirico]

Unless the Flames are desperate to re-create the Hayes-Gaudreau magic from their days in BC, I don't know what the motive for them would be.

Backlund finally started to break out last year.

For some reason, I think Johnny and Hayes would be FANTASTIC together.

 

[bl02]

I know I'm late to the party but Jeeeez hamonic brought back three high picks and we couldn't even get an extra second for stepan and raanta . Wtf is going on.
I know Stepans contract was a bigger one but come on

 

[broadwayblue]

I really believe the next few weeks will be VERY telling which direction this franchise is going in. If they pass on Shattenkirk and don't make a trade for a first line center it is clear as day they don't plan on being competitive and are looking at this "rebuild on the fly" thing as a real rebuild, and if that's the case, Nash, Mac, Zucc and even Hank (if he wants) should all be on the table (be it now, or at the deadline) for prospects to rebuild around.

On the otherhand, a signing of Shattenkirk, would indicate they also plan on extending Mac to pair them up for the rest of their careers and they are planning on being competitive. I'm not sure which one it is?

I don't expect this team to have significant cap space for very long. Perhaps they pass on the big UFA signings this year, but if they do I'd expect them to revert to making the big splash(es) next summer. That said, I have no idea who might be available next year. I do expect them to extend Mac regardless of who else is brought in.

 

[duhmetreE]

Unless the Flames are desperate to re-create the Hayes-Gaudreau magic from their days in BC, I don't know what the motive for them would be.

Backlund finally started to break out last year.

Maybe try to get something for Backlund since he's a UFA next year.. Hayes slightly younger and restricted. Monahan-Bennett-Hayes

Give us the swedish trifecta down the middle for 2017-2018... Zibanejad-Backlund-Andersson

 

[broadwayblue]

I know I'm late to the party but Jeeeez hamonic brought back three high picks and we couldn't even get an extra second for stepan and raanta . Wtf is going on.
I know Stepans contract was a bigger one but come on

Look at the Hamonic deal more closely. The 1st rounder will likely not be top 10, and 2nd round picks (one is conditional) are crap shoots. And Hamonic is a 26 year old RHD with a good shot, and those aren't so easy to come by. On top of that he has 3 years left at 3.8M/per, which is very affordable.

 

[Trxjw]

Didn't call anyone uninformed, in fact I clearly admitted to being uninformed when it comes to Hintz.

I had not heard of him, so I wasn't sure if he was NHL ready.

Sounds like he might be. In fact, it sounds like Chicago probably wouldn't want to deal him for a UFA to be.

That's my main issue with dealing Nash. He is still an effective player but not quite worth his contract and is a UFA to be. I'm not really interested in the package a rental will likely receive.

Fair enough. I'm hungover today so I'm grumpier than usual.

I think Nash is well into the realm of "highly overpaid" for what he brings to the table. $7.8M cap hit and a $8.2M salary for 20-25 goals and 60-ish games isn't really appealing no matter how you slice it. At least with picking up the tab on Niemi, the Rangers don't have to worry about holding onto any of his deal.

I think Hintz can step in after half a season in the AHL. He's a huge kid and has been playing against men for several years now. If he can chip in 10-15 goals and 20-25 points, that's about 2/3rds of Nash's production from a kid on an ELC. Obviously that discounts some of Nash's other attributes, but I think the team can live without him this season. Particularly when I think it's almost assured this will be his last year with the team.

 

[NickyFotiu]

If we move Nash, are we even trying to be competitive this year? I mean, then move Zucc as well.

We are the Rangers so my hope is that we will do everything within reason to compete. That doesn't mean throwing away our future but it also doesn't mean throwing away seasons like the tankers aspire to do. If we can make a trade that helps the team via Nash we will but if not we can always trade him at the trade deadline.

My thinking is we need to find a first pairing RH Dman and a top line forward. If we can not find a great top line forward (center or wing) I would offer Ottawa a 2nd round pick for Brass (2 year contract). I know many people are hung up on getting a great top line center but I would be okay with Zib, (or even JT) as my first line center if we acquire a great top line wing.

 

[silverfish]

Obviously we'll know a lot more on 7/1, but right now, the plan for what the 17-18 Rangers are supposed to be is sufficiently unclear.

We've taken a major step back (on paper) by dealing Stepan so far.

Is 17-18 the 'transition' year we were promised two seasons ago? Gotta deal Nash and Grabner and Holden and, and, and, etc.......

The off-season is long, but I have no patience

 

[broadwayblue]

Fair enough. I'm hungover today so I'm grumpier than usual.

I think Nash is well into the realm of "highly overpaid" for what he brings to the table. $7.8M cap hit and a $8.2M salary for 20-25 goals and 60-ish games isn't really appealing no matter how you slice it. At least with picking up the tab on Niemi, the Rangers don't have to worry about holding onto any of his deal.

I think Hintz can step in after half a season in the AHL. He's a huge kid and has been playing against men for several years now. If he can chip in 10-15 goals and 20-25 points, that's about 2/3rds of Nash's production from a kid on an ELC. Obviously that discounts some of Nash's other attributes, but I think the team can live without him this season. Particularly when I think it's almost assured this will be his last year with the team.

Agreed on Nash. For ~$8M you expect a guy who is a potential game breaker on a nightly basis. He really hasn't been that as much as I was expecting since he got here outside of 14-15.

 

[GregSirico]

I don't expect this team to have significant cap space for very long. Perhaps they pass on the big UFA signings this year, but if they do I'd expect them to revert to making the big splash(es) next summer. That said, I have no idea who might be available next year. I do expect them to extend Mac regardless of who else is brought in.

2018:
John Tavares
Evander Kane
Mikael Backlund
Mark Stone
Kyle Turris

2019:
Jeff Skinner
Tyler Seguin
Artemi Panarin
Matt Duchene
Jakob Silfverberg
Adam Henrique

 

[GregSirico]

We are the Rangers so my hope is that we will do everything within reason to compete. That doesn't mean throwing away our future but it also doesn't mean throwing away seasons like the tankers aspire to do. If we can make a trade that helps the team via Nash we will but if not we can always trade him at the trade deadline.

My thinking is we need to find a first pairing RH Dman and a top line forward. If we can not find a great top line forward (center or wing) I would offer Ottawa a 2nd round pick for Brass (2 year contract). I know many people are hung up on getting a great top line center but I would be okay with Zib, (or even JT) as my first line center if we acquire a great top line wing.

Would Ottawa even deal us Brass back? I'd take him for sure.

 

[NickyFotiu]

We aren't getting Honka. We got our version. His name is Anthony DeAngelo. We aren't done. There are still moves that need to be made. As confident as I was that our opening night roster would look radically different (and it already will), I am also sure that there are multiple moves that still need to be made (aside from the obvious ones).

One thing that bothers me is if it is true that the Stepan deal was done before the roster freeze, why did Gorton not do something to protect Lindberg? Just seems odd.

That is a legit question but he may not think like we do as fans. He may have been okay with Oscar going if he could save Ranta, Fast, and Grabner. If this deal was done before the roster freeze he risked the deal by exposing Ranta.

 

[LeetchisGod]

Agreed on Nash. For ~$8M you expect a guy who is a potential game breaker on a nightly basis. He really hasn't been that as much as I was expecting since he got here outside of 14-15.

For his salary and expectations, Nash has been a disappointment as a Ranger. The page should have been turned on him awhile ago.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Would Ottawa even deal us Brass back? I'd take him for sure.

They just traded for him less than a year ago and were a goal away from the Cup final.

Why is this even being discussed?

 

[LeetchisGod]

2018:
John Tavares
Evander Kane
Mikael Backlund
Mark Stone
Kyle Turris

2019:
Jeff Skinner
Tyler Seguin
Artemi Panarin
Matt Duchene
Jakob Silfverberg
Adam Henrique

Very unimpressive list outside of JT, Seguin and Panarin. There's also a good chance that none of those three make it to free agency.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Kevin Allen of USA Today also believes that the Rangers don't want to pay Shattenkirk long-term. So add another one to the Rangers won't sign him basket.

Where the Rangers are getting a top-pairing RD is beyond me. So I hope they tear it down.

If we are not going after Shatty who does Gorton have in mind for all this cap space? Gorton mentioned cap space as a reason for the Stepan trade. This could get very interesting.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Would Ottawa even deal us Brass back? I'd take him for sure.

Never hurts to ask. The worst they can do is hang up. Brass did not have a big production year (39 points) and is coming off a injury. I'm not saying we should target Brass. I'm saying he would make a cool backup plan if all else fails and we can get him cheap.