Speculation: Roster Building Thread I (2021 Offseason) - And so it begins...

[Fitzy]

Give me door #3.

Given how rarely high end centers are ever available on the trade market, door number three is probably Ryan Nugent Hopkins

 

[DialUp]

We need speed and quickness at center, and size and grit on the wing.

For example, let Buffalo swing Eichel and Reinhardt for assets, then take their call on Zibanejad. Would CBJ give up Boone Jenner, their 1st and a prospect for Eichel? Sounds fair. Buffalo will get a later 1st and a prospect for Reinhardt.

Send Ziba to Buffalo for a bounty. They can’t bottom up completely. Ziba would be great for them,. Say something like Jenner, Mittlestad and the later 1st. We gain cap space, size on the wing and speed and quickness at center ice.

Move Laf to center. Get a young tough guy like Boko Imama.

Panarin-Laf-Jenner
Kreider-Mittlestad-Kakko
Kravy-Chytil-Buch
Howden-Strome-Imama

Much rather see the above team than some Harlem Globetrotter set-up around Panarin and Eichel.

This quality of satire should be behind a paywall

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

Give me door #3.

Unfortunately Door #3 is Dylan "Duchene" Larkin

 

[CLW]

Seider.

So because Seider is a top pairing potential D, does that mean Lundkvist isn't?

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

So because Seider is a top pairing potential D, does that mean Lundkvist isn't?

I like his chances much better, yes.

People need to prepare themselves for Nils to be more Pionk than Fox, especially out of the gate.

 

[Crease]

The Rangers have to find a way to add another center. Not replace Zibanejad or Strome. Add to them. I don’t think Chytil is the answer there—I like him a lot better at wing.

 

[Avery16]

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Given how rarely high end centers are ever available on the trade market, door number three is probably Ryan Nugent Hopkins

I’d rather see them double down in the strength of the team (elite wings) and solve for 2 way centers who may not necessarily be high end than overpay in assets and/or cap space for players who are too inherently flawed, just because they happen to play C.

 

[Kovalev27]

Mika is a better option than every guy being discussed. And IMO it’s not close

if Eichel is coming it’s not to replace Mika it’s to play behind him IMO

 

[I Eat Crow]

Seider.

Thought he was still in Germany. Fair enough. He is a beast, yes. Legitimate top pairing prospect. Lundkvist has the same potential, IMO, but does not have the 25 minute per night, all situations potential that Seider has. Lundkvist is more of a top 4, 2nd unit special teams off the bat kind of player with potential to be able to do more, but he just won't have the opportunity with Fox ahead of him here.

 

[Rangerboy030]

Was curious, so I peaked into the Sabres board.... one of the first things I read was how with Gorts gone they are gonna get Laf, KK, Nils, Igor and 3 1st's.... scrolled down a bit and someone said he would be "ok" with that. Like wtf? They are setting themselves up for huge disappointment.

I think there's one thing to keep in mind when discussing Eichel trades with Sabres fans here. Trading Eichel isn't just about getting a "fair return", or what makes sense for both teams in a prospective trade.

The Sabres haven't made the playoffs in a decade and that drought is about to get quite a bit longer. We're only just getting to the point in 2022 where making the playoffs becomes a reasonable expectation for the team, and that's 4 years (arguably 5 if you look at the Stepan trade) since we began rebuilding and while having all the advantages of being the Rangers (New York, marquee franchise, known for looking after players, etc.). In my opinion, the best case scenario for the Sabres is probably making the playoffs in 5 years if they trade Eichel, and they're the Sabres - there is no "best case scenario" in Buffalo. That's 15 years between seeing even a single playoff round - about twice as long as our dark ages.

The only saving grace for them over that time has basically been Eichel. Trading him would be an admission of defeat - basically the organisation admitting that the last decade of misery has been for nothing. No "fair trade" could possibly make up for that in the eyes of fans. So we get outlandish trade demands, because that's the only thing that could make this "worth it".

 

[DanielBrassard]

I have a question. Why is everyone trading Nils? Last season he was ADA’s replacement now he’s being offered in every proposal. Is it the emergence of other D prospects?

I haven't seen people wanting to trade Nils. In fact I think I'd rather keep him over Miller, but to acquire a top center we are going to have to give up value and Nils has a ton so unfortunately he might be a requirement in a deal.

 

[CLW]

I like his chances much better, yes.

People need to prepare themselves for Nils to be more Pionk than Fox, especially out of the gate.

You realize it isn't a situation of either or, both may be good right out of the gate? Miller wasn't exactly great this season, not bad but not great either.

But who knows, maybe Miller comes back next season with +30 lbs of muscle and starts beating up Wilson. That would cement his place in the lineup.

 

[Off Sides]

Mika is a better option than every guy being discussed. And IMO it’s not close

if Eichel is coming it’s not to replace Mika it’s to play behind him IMO

Okay (and I do not really disagree), yet if they are then keeping Zbad I feel as if Strome needs to go. They both play this game where it's based on gaining the zone and making that cross ice pass. Like there is no dumping it in and getting it back with them, there is no fore-check and getting it back, nor a cycle where they work until a lane opens.

I think that is where another type of center comes in, Chytil may be that, may not, yet someone with either the speed or idea to facilitate offense beyond that cross ice pass seems to be needed.

 

[Leetch3]

Mika is a better option than every guy being discussed. And IMO it’s not close

if Eichel is coming it’s not to replace Mika it’s to play behind him IMO

there is zero chance you can afford both beyond next year...if you swap mika for eichel (which I don't think we will) its not for the short term. short term its a wash the move would be for long term banking on eichel being in his prime longer....which only works if he's healthy

 

[bleedblue94]

If eichel is a ufa you guys are throwing well over 10mil a year at him just as we did with panarin. He's younger and playing a premium position. Yes we will have to move assets BUT so long as it's going to exclude the obvious off limit guys (and Schneider bc his mix is incredibly unique) I have no issues taking a swing to add him. We won't have room for all the players in our system. Cash some of that stash in for an elite investment and let's try to get somewhere while panarin is an elite player.

I'm not blindly thinking eichel is a golden boy, I know there will be challenges, but this is a swing to make...

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Trading Lundkvist before ever seeing what he's capable of at this level would be incredibly dumb. It's the Brassard for Zib trade, except we're Ottawa. Trades like that are how you ruin a rebuild.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Username checks out.

I actually agree with him but I lol'd

 

[Fitzy]

Larry Brooks hinted at Jones being a possible showcase job for a trade this summer.

Would fit with the whole 'he's another year away' mystery of the timing of his signing.

Edge has said management think that Nils has the highest potential of the guys outside the NHL right now, but that it's because of that, and the depth behind him, that might make him the most enticing piece to return a real solid NHL player.

There's going to be a risk no matter what direction they go. And they will have to give to get. I like Robertson and Jones but if those are the two who are dealt for a real star player I won't be as disappointed as I would be if it was Lundkvist/Schneider.

 

[wafflepadsave]

I would think. Its funny, in 2017, Kassian was great in the playoffs. It got him a sweet deal. Now he is invisible. I wonder if he is back on the blow. When he is on, he can skate, hit, score, etc. When he is not, he doesnt look engaged at all

Kinda sounds like kreider.

 

[Oilers in NS]

Kinda sounds like kreider.

True to that

 

[wafflepadsave]

"I want to go in a different direction"
Before promoting the assistant GM that was here for the last 6 years and keeping the coach would be classic Cocaine James though.

Too bad Rangers fans couldn’t put up a petition that ended up getting up signed by millions of fans saying sell the team!

 

[dshea19]

I would easily trade Jones over Lundkvist any and every day of the week. That is not a knock against Jones at all. Jones may have more dynamic offense, but Lundkvist is superior in every other way and has some offensive upside.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I'd MUCH rather follow the @Machinehead off season plan and sign guys like Danault and Coleman while letting Eichel go somewhere else.

I mean if there is a trade for another guy that can be done that makes sense, sure. But those guys would help us in the areas where we suck and allow us to use some other roster parts to possibly fill other needs.

I haven't seen people wanting to trade Nils. In fact I think I'd rather keep him over Miller, but to acquire a top center we are going to have to give up value and Nils has a ton so unfortunately he might be a requirement in a deal.

And in all honestly, I'd feel MUCH better trading Nils for a lesser name who actually helps this team in other areas than in a package with other players for Eichel, who really brings more of the same.

If someone told me that Mika would extend for 5 years right NOW, I'd go with him over Eichel. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) I'm pretty sure we're going to get insane, pissed off after this season contract year Zibanejad in 2021-22 who scores 50+ and that goes out the window.

 

[Machinehead]

I'd MUCH rather follow the @Machinehead off season plan and sign guys like Danault and Coleman while letting Eichel go somewhere else.

Same