Speculation: Roster Building Thread DCLXXXV: July 1st Is Coming...

[RangerBoy]

Brendan Smith remains an impending free agent, but Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton and the 28-year-old defenseman remain engaged in talks that could keep the important deadline acquisition on Broadway.

“Jeff and I are continuing to have a good dialogue,†agent Anton Thun told The Post on Monday. “Hopefully we’re working toward a resolution that would allow Brendan to return to the Rangers.

“Nothing has changed as far as Brendan is concerned in terms of his desire to sign a new contract with them. Obviously there’s a marketplace both sides are aware of that includes upcoming free agency and possible trades, but I think we’re trying to achieve the same objective.â€Â

With teams able to talk to  but not negotiate with  pending free agents, the Rangers have reached out to Buffalo netminder Anders Nilsson, The Post has learned.

Antti Niemi, a Dallas buyout, Keith Kinkaid, Mike Condon and Ondrej Pavelec may also be of interest as the Blueshirts seek to fill the backup goaltender vacancy created by Antti Raanta’s trade to Arizona.

http://nypost.com/2017/06/26/the-rangers-and-brendan-smith-are-trying-to-get-this-done/

 

[GregSirico]

It's sad that not winning a cup means it's time to rebuild every year for a lot of people here.

This post is spot on and I believe is the Rangers plan. I will be shocked if Shattenkirk isn't a Ranger on Saturday afternoon.

No it doesn't but treading water is not what we want either. This core had a great freaking run and I'm damn proud of it. But I'm also open to evolving and going to the next chapter. I'm not some young what have you done for me lately fan

 

[DutchShamrock]

I had a hunch you might like this idea of bringing in Galyunchuck in return for Zucc.

We'd still need another center and replace Zucc but that is workable and it fits the narrative of "retooling on the fly". Man, this would be a pretty exciting one if this was actually done. I'd also be so bittersweet as Zucc is beloved.

But why does Montreal do this? Galchenyuk is being dangled for a center or d. Just like stepan. If they need a wing that bad they can re-sign Radulov at his ransom instead of losing another asset.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Nilsson would be a great pickup IMO. Couple people here have mentioned him.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

You guys are insane. The ~entire team is under 28 or something minus what 2 guys?
Last 4 years point totals:
96
113
102
101 (in what was supposed to be a possible non-playoff year)

This isn't a video game, this is real life and the Rangers are a business. I forget the stat but it's the 7th or 8th youngest team on average itl?

You JUST saw an 8th seed (NSH) make the Cup Finals and have huge equity in the series, the playoffs are ****ing lotto.

How far do you take this? Trade guys on their 3rd year of ELC for guys on the 2nd year of ELC?

Sign Shattenkirk and Smith, have real competition for the 6th/7th spot with a much better HFD D with the rest, buy at the trade deadline because that's what you do when you're a contender. Sheesh.

With Stepan...


What do you think they are with out a suitable replacement for him? Because short of getting crazy, they aren't finding one this year.


The 8th seed argument is so horrible. When our defense is as good as Nashville's we can have that conversation (no Smith and Shattenkirk don't put us right there.)

 

[Maximus]

But he isn't a center. The Rangers need a center.

He actually is a center and that's why I thought trading for Galy + a #2 pick in '18 in return for dealing Zucc and a 4th rounder in '18 would work for both clubs and is a no brainer for us to do. It fulfulls the "retool on the fly" narrative and it helps fill our need at center that the Stepan void has left us.

Habs would have to go out and get a center to replace Galy(Hanzel? Bonino? maybe even Gagne) and getting Zucc as a bonus helps Habs to not get bent over as much a Radulov is trying to do in asking for the zany dollars. Zucc is almost a buffer for Radulov.

I don't know, seems to make too much sense which is why it likely will never happen...lol

 

[DutchShamrock]

Methot to Dallas per Friedman

I'm interested in the return. Did Vegas overplay their hand? They are going to get stuck with emelin or get forced to pawn him.

 

[effen]

Part of me feels like this is in fact a retool right now, but can spin into a rebuild if things go south during the year. Assets like Nash, Zucc, McD, Grabner, Hayes (and maybe even Staal and Lundqvist) can be sold off to the highest bidder for 2018 draft day futures.

A mid/offseason coaching change (likely to Lindy Ruff) would take place and boom, hopefully we can witness a one year rebuild while also attaining a potential generational player in an extremely deep draft.

Whatcha think?

It's a re-tool for sure, if things go south they'll still go for it because it's not hard to make the playoffs and playoff games are pure profit.

MZA is the best, most dangerous forward on the team and makes any line he's on the #1 line on the team. Chop off everyone's fingers who suggest trading him.

Trading Nash for 20 cents on the dollar is asinine, his potential if he has a good year >>>> whatever water trash he goes for.

McDonagh's an actual veteran #1 defensemen on an excellent contract, like, what? Just, no. Come on.

Grabner's hugely hit or miss, that's whatever. Will either have another great year and price himself out, or suck and not be wanted back.

They've invested a ton of organizational capital into Kevin Hayes, he's not going anywhere being idk, 24 y/o, 6'6, etc.

Staal is a negative asset.

Lundqvist retires a Ranger for a variety of reasons.

Teams don't hold a ridiculous fire sale like this ever.

 

[Synergy27]

I understand both arguments. This Ranger team is a lot better than people give it credit for, and it has been for awhile now. That said, while the playoffs are a crapshoot, this core is/was just not good enough.

I think this retool on the fly stuff guarantees maintenance of the status quo, which is ok given that status quo has been very good over the past several years. I'd prefer a legitimate rebuild at this point, especially because I've lost faith in Hank and a couple of down years would align nicely with Shestyorkin's arrival. It's just never going to happen though, and that's honestly one reason why my passion for this team keeps dwindling.

They're a cash cow. There is no incentive to do it right.

 

[DanielBrassard]

http://nypost.com/2017/06/26/the-rangers-and-brendan-smith-are-trying-to-get-this-done/

So 4-5 years at more than 4M per. Great.

 

[effen]

Sign Thornton, sign Marleau, sign Shatty, sign Smith, trade for John Adams from the Wings because he provides great leadership, one more time for the thousandth time another kick at the can YOLO!

So basically you're bored being a perpetual contender? Glad you don't have any power.

 

[Griffinbw]

So 4-5 years at more than 4M per. Great.

Nothing from Smiths end. Just Brook's speculation

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

So 4-5 years at more than 4M per. Great.

I don't know about this..

 

[Maximus]

All your posts are worth reading, but this is brilliant. I couldn't agree more. There is no other way for this team to go. Any half @$$ approach just a waste of time

I agree Ranger Boy came up with an Opus here.

He almost has me convinced this is the way to go...hmmm

Nah, we need to do this the way JG is doing it. July 1 will tell us all we need to know as to which direction we are going in.

But yes totally agree with Nik, great read Ranger Boy...well done

 

[Mac n Gs]

2nd in 2020 and a goalie prospect for Methot

 

[silverfish]

lmao McPhee is a garbage GM

 

[NYR Viper]

What's the deal with Dadanov? Any chance he signs in NY?

 

[effen]

With Stepan...


What do you think they are with out a suitable replacement for him? Because short of getting crazy, they aren't finding one this year.


The 8th seed argument is so horrible. When our defense is as good as Nashville's we can have that conversation (no Smith and Shattenkirk don't put us right there.)

It's pretty clear the org is a big believer in Kevin Hayes, and why shouldn't they be? He's 6'6, has big time puck skills, and is entering his 4th year. Pretty sure this is an ideal time to see if he can handle a big role.

Your comment on the 8th seed thing holds no water to me. Like 3/4 of the team has a reasonable expectation to "get better" in some way shape or form, but to win the dance you gotta get there first.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I wanted us to draft Glass to replace Glass just for the mixups. Since I didn't get Glass maybe we can get Antti to replace Antti?

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Well Brendan Smith is not a "rebuild" guy.. so I guess we can put that to bed.

 

[NYR Viper]

Well Brendan Smith is not a "rebuild" guy.. so I guess we can put that to bed.

He's a retool guy for sure.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

At this point we could probably get Lindberg back from McPhee for a 2020 5th round pick

 

[effen]

Well Brendan Smith is not a "rebuild" guy.. so I guess we can put that to bed.

He just turned 28 in Feb. 28 isn't old ffs.

If you had a rebuild, wouldn't you want a steady veteran defensemen to take tough minutes and shelter young players?

There's some weird reverse age-ism fetish thing here where the cutoff used to be like 33 (which makes historic sense) and now it's 28 (most players primes, outside of like bigtime scoring wingers iirc).

 

[Maximus]

This isn't a rebuild. Gorton is trying to get cap flexibility going forward maybe not for the UFA class this year, but maybe for a possible trade and/or for the upcoming RFAs next season (Miller, Skjei, Hayes, Vesey).

This is a re-tool. I believe Gorton expects the team to be just as competitive in the playoffs in the upcoming season as they were last year.


If this was a rebuild there is zero chance AV would still be here.


Gorton wanted cap flexibility, he wanted to shake up the core which moving your 1C and buying out your 1RD (lol but that's what Girardi was) both accomplish that.


He wanted to somewhat restock the cupboard a little bit with Andersson and Chytil, but he's not going to do a full blown rebuild, not even close. Rebuilding on the fly means try and get a few younger pieces for the future while also still remaining a contender.

Gorton definitely sees this team as a contender next year. If this was a full blown rebuild Nash would be sold away, Zucc would be on the block, McDonagh would be on the block and Lundqvist would be being pitched destinations to cup chase.

But no, they moves Stepan to get a couple young assets, bought out Girardi, kept AV, don't seem to be looking to move any other core pieces. I guess SF is right, we just all underestimated how badly they wanted to move Stepan before his NTC kicked in.

Excellent read as well as this is the "anti Ranger Boy" approach and the one I truly believe is the way JG is headed. We'll know a heck of alot more on July 1 but if history is our judge, I'd be shocked if Shatty, Smith and some decent to good center isn't rostered as we continue the "retool".

I've said this infinitum. This is NY ****ing City. This is not the Island or Jersey or Colordo or Buffalo or even Pittsbugh or Chicago. We can't just **** up and be ****** while we attempt a full rebuild here in this town.

JG as someone said very astutly yesterday is trying to thread the needle here. Retool, get younger yet stay competitive, playoff worthy, exciting, entertaining and possible Cup contender all at the same time.

So far he's done a damn good job. I think we have to trust him as we go thru the process. Let's see what JG does July 1...we'll know a hell of alot more than we do right now as we all speculate about what players are going to be brought in or not.

Anyways, great read GSC...couldn't agree with your assessment more...well done

 

[RGY]

Good I want Smith signed so we can turn our focus to the next phase