Speculation: Roster Building Thread II (2022-23): The Puck is Prepared to be Mounted

[CLW]

Not seeing how we are “lucky” even when he is somewhat healthy. He’s a complete non factor when in the lineup

And a non-factor he will remain until he gets some games in and finds his NHL legs. Doh.

 

[Flan the incredible]

The Rangers will need Reaves at some point this season. Someone will get beat up and Dolan will lose his mind. Years ago Dolan lost his mind when Orr wasn't dressed against the Flyers and Shanahan was injured in a game against Philly at home. Tom Wilson beat up the entire Rangers team two seasons ago. Who is replacing Reaves?

Blais is expensive. Reaves is expensive. These are rearranging the deck chairs on The Titanic.

The big money players on this team are no shows. The Rangers go nowhere without these players playing like dogshit.

Remember when he stood up after Lindgren got beat up and bloodied in his most recent fight? Oh how about last year when Strome had to defend himself and fight? .......yea me neither. Reaves is useless

 

[CommaSynapse]

He is giving them big minutes.

Laf is 38th in the league in 5v5 TOI. The same as J.T. Miller. More than Trocheck, Tarasenko, Horvat, Barkov, Kopitar, Caufied, Ovechkin, Barzal, M. Tkachuk, Svechmikov etc.

Kakko is 66th. More than Robertson, Rust, O'Reilly, DeBrincat, Giroux, Malkin, Larkin, B. Tkachuk, RNH, Bratt

And what about PP time? Laf and Kakko barely have over a minute of powerplay time per game. Unit one is averaging over 4 and a 1/2 minutes.

If they had proper powerplay time, they'd probably have 5 or 6 more points. 13 points in 20 games looks a lot better than 7 in 20.

 

[SA16]

And what about PP time? Laf and Kakko barely have over a minute of powerplay time per game. Unit one is averaging over 4 and a 1/2 minutes.

If they had proper powerplay time, they'd probably have 5 or 6 more points. 13 points in 20 games looks a lot better than 7 in 20.

Why does it matter how their stats look compared to how they actually play?

 

[Irishguy42]

If they had proper powerplay time, they'd probably have 5 or 6 more points. 13 points in 20 games looks a lot better than 7 in 20.

That "If" is carrying a huge weight here...

 

[CommaSynapse]

Why does it matter how their stats look compared to how they actually plat?

Because they haven't looked consistent. Confidence goes a long way, especially when you feel like you have the trust of the coach.

 

[McRanger92]

The natives are restless

 

[LaffyTaffy13]

That is not a legitimate cup team. Not close. Kane and Trotz do not make enough of a difference.

Whats better Copp and Vatrano or Kane? Because the because with copp and vatrano we were 2 games from making the cup

 

[QJL]

Whats better Copp and Vatrano or Kane? Because the because with copp and vatrano we were 2 games from making the cup

Lafreniere has regressed. Miller has regressed. Trouba has regressed. Panarin has regressed.

These are the problems and why were not a cup contending team right now.

Kane is an improvement over Copp and Vatrano, but he’s not going to make enough of a difference.

 

[EdJovanovski]

 

[Barnaby]

It’s absolutely inexcusable that Krapsoft isn’t in the lineup even though he’s healthy now. Are they trying to force his hand? That would be idiotic. You made amends, play the kid. It hurts his development and trade value at the same time. Shit like this makes you say oh now I know why the Rangers can’t draft in the top 10.

Trade value? Kravstov? When I see him put together two straight NHL quality shifts then I’ll start banging that drum. The fact that he doesn’t look capable of playing a regular shift should make you question the Rangers drafting. Not that they aren’t force feeding him minutes hoping for a miracle. He’ll get a chance again sooner rather than later and he needs to show he can play well.

He is giving them big minutes.

Laf is 38th in the league in 5v5 TOI. The same as J.T. Miller. More than Trocheck, Tarasenko, Horvat, Barkov, Kopitar, Caufied, Ovechkin, Barzal, M. Tkachuk, Svechmikov etc.

Kakko is 66th. More than Robertson, Rust, O'Reilly, DeBrincat, Giroux, Malkin, Larkin, B. Tkachuk, RNH, Bratt

Yea, this narrative that they aren’t getting ice time is absurd. Just because you don’t notice them doesn’t mean that they aren’t there.

 

[Barnaby]

Not to mention, the old adage, a guy shouldn’t lose his lineup spot due to injury.

In fairness, we also say a guy should earn his spot. Kravstov was given one based on draft pedigree. I have yet to see a regular or preseason game where he looks like the better option.

 

[Barnaby]

Remember when he stood up after Lindgren got beat up and bloodied in his most recent fight? Oh how about last year when Strome had to defend himself and fight? .......yea me neither. Reaves is useless

Reaves has left a lot to be desired this year. He never makes a momentum changing hit or fight. He never goes out and gets after a guy taking liberties with our guys. He’s starting to remind me of Rangers Brashear. He’s been there, done that, and he’s ready to collect his paycheck.

 

[Barnaby]

Because they haven't looked consistent. Confidence goes a long way, especially when you feel like you have the trust of the coach.

If they think they’ve shown enough to take PP time away from Panarin, Zib, Kreider, Trocheck, or Fox then they have another thing coming.

At the same point, they get a lot of ice time. They should be able to find ways to contribute especially when they see weaker match ups. I’ll pound the table to see them get more PP time when they look mildly capable of producing there and not just hoping they get garbage points for their confidence.

 

[pld459666]

Why does it matter how their stats look compared to how they actually play?

Because production matters as well.

I want my #1 & #2 OA picks playing well AND producing.

Not giving either (both) significant PP time is probably the biggest mistake this Org has made in terms of their development.

Offensive players need to be put in Offensive situations in order to develop their offensive game.

Not us. Bury em and then justify the burying by bringing up their lack of production.

 

[pld459666]

Whats better Copp and Vatrano or Kane? Because the because with copp and vatrano we were 2 games from making the cup

Copp and Vatrano are the better option.

Combined they produce more and Copp is light years better defensively.

Kane doesn't put the Rangers past Tampa last year

 

[kovazub94]

Not to mention, the old adage, a guy shouldn’t lose his lineup spot due to injury.

What f***ing injury - his toothie is hurting or his tummy boo-boo? I think Gallant also got fed up with this nonsense.

 

[kovazub94]

Because they haven't looked consistent. Confidence goes a long way, especially when you feel like you have the trust of the coach.

Hmmm, I’ve seen a lot of complaining about Kreider for example - a ton of PP time but at even strength he’s somehow..... inconsistent? Paradox

 

[haohmaru]

My takes on some of the conversations going on here recently:

Kravtsov - hasn't had any luck. In today's Brooks article he is ready to play but, as he himself states, isn't 100%. Tough line to tight rope for the coach. I'd rather see him in than Carpenter but, as we all know, this isn't a developmental league and the Rangers are in the muck and can't afford squandering points. He hasn't shown a whole lot but this has been an injury plagued season like I've really never seen before. Tough one.

Power play - yes, I'd like to see more PP time for Kakko and LaF. No, I don't think benching people on the first unit that are among the league leaders in goals and running at 25% is the answer. The real answer here is getting that first unit to stop taking 90 second shifts and getting their asses off the ice faster. And, as much as I'd like to see Kakko and LaF be successful, their ice time has significantly increased this year and... their points really haven't. The 'yutes are 5th and 6th in ice time among forwards and being given top 6 minutes. They have both taken steps forward but still need more time in the oven. These two are both on pace for 28-30 points and have seen (admittedly short shifts) PP time in most games. That really doesn't scream bench Kreider/Panarin/Trocheck/Zib to me.

 

[Barnaby]

Hmmm, I’ve seen a lot of complaining about Kreider for example - a ton of PP time but at even strength he’s somehow..... inconsistent? Paradox

At the end of the year, Kreider’s points are always present. Kreider is probably the best net front presence in the league on the PP. No one is saying Kakko and Lafreniere should be putting up 60-70 points a year with light PP usage. We are saying they get a ton of ice time and need to show more. There’s an excuse every day. Coaching, ice time, PP time, line mates, the moons gravitational pull on the earth… at some point you just want them to be effective on the ice and occasionally show the ability which got them drafted 1OA and 2OA respectively.

 

[kovazub94]

At the end of the year, Kreider’s points are always present. Kreider is probably the best net front presence in the league on the PP. No one is saying Kakko and Lafreniere should be putting up 60-70 points a year with light PP usage. We are saying they get a ton of ice time and need to show more. There’s an excuse every day. Coaching, ice time, PP time, line mates, the moons gravitational pull on the earth… at some point you just want them to be effective on the ice and occasionally show the ability which got them drafted 1OA and 2OA respectively.

Do I want Kids to be more effective? Sure. Do I want them get proper ES ice time? Yup (which they do by the way). Do I break up one of the best PP units in the whole NHL (where the Kids don’t fit its system) because it somehow asserted that PP time would make them more consistent at ES? I don’t buy the argument and I’m not risking PP. Gallant compromises by giving the kids immediate minutes following PP which is perfectly reasonable and fine by me.

 

[McRanger92]

No one would care about Buchnevich for Blais if any of the beloved top 10 picks we had could produce even close to a top 6 level

 

[MrAlmost]

Krav was clearly not in shape when he got to camp and it shows through his ineffectiveness on the ice, when he can actually stay on the ice, which is another sign he was not in shape. Best thing for him might be to get some practices consistently so that he can get his legs back. He has not played enough hockey over the last year and a half.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

5 games without an even strength shot on goal for the 3rd highest cap paid player in the league?

Trocheck remains an elite 3rd liner for a cup contender and a 2nd liner for a team without depth.

13 points is tied for 51st among centers in the NHL.

32 teams in the league. That's 64 top-6 centers. He's maybe in the lower echelon of 2nd line centers but he's very much producing like a 2nd line center.

No one would care about Buchnevich for Blais if any of the beloved top 10 picks we had could produce even close to a top 6 level

The Buchnevich trade wouldn't be criticized as much if:

- The cap space freed up was actually used that off-season, or
- The return was better than a 4th liner and a 2nd round pick, or
- The top-6 spot that opened up wasn't given to Blais/Goodrow/Hunt but to a top prospect instead

Pick one. Just one of these would have alieviated a lot of the criticism of this trade.

 

[GAGLine]

What does cap space allow for though? Them to use futures to bolster a team that is not very good?

I mean of course we'll see how they play between now and then, yet the organization deluding themselves just because they went further than they probably should have last year, and if this year they are in like 7th 8th in the east or whatever at the deadline, seems like a maybe they might want to consider that their current group of vets are maybe just not good enough to add to?

If this team is in a playoff position come the deadline, Drury isn't going to just sit on his hands and do nothing. His big move last year was getting Copp, but I don't see a move like that happening again this year. He also snagged Vatrano for a 4th, Motte for a 4th and Braun for a 3rd. Those are the types of moves we will be looking at.

It's very likely that whatever Drury adds won't be enough to get this team a cup, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't at least try to improve their chances.