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

[IDvsEGO]

We shouldn't have traded a first last year either, even if it meant missing out on Copp.

That run we had was invaluable to the entire team.
Mika went from being quiet early in the pittsburg series, to absolutely on fire at the end.
The kids all had big moments where they seemed to learn and play better as the pittsburg and carolina series went on.

Having that experience, and then the collapse against TB, will let them know they need to put a dagger in their first round team fast. How the playoffs truly play, and how to be dominant.

CK was the only one who'd come into that series from the ranger playoff teams.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

And coaches have gotten fired for less. It’s part of the game, shake it off.

Melrose got fired for doing this exact kind of bullshit with Stamkos.

 

[McRanger92]

I look at the team right now, and we're winning each game in different ways, its not igor carrying us every night, we're out scoring teams at 5v5, we're not relying on a power play.

Our issue is our defense, and a better player to play with schneider or even someone to let trouba get healthy would be huge...

The Rangers need a bottom line forward, and a LD, and i think if we get healthy at the right time we have a good chance to get real hot.

I agree. Defense is the primary need. Miller and Schneider’s roles should increase but they need top 4 insurance if Trouba doesn’t turn it around for whatever reason.

At forward a top guy like Kane is a luxury we don’t need, just give the young guys a shot and trade for a good bottom 6 guy like Motte last year. Othmann could be an option in the playoffs too. With the lack of cap space out there, Drury should be able to get that done without using either of the 2023 firsts.

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

He will just be replaced by some other very cheap vet forward who is overused. It’s partially the coach, but it’s also the reality of the salary cap impacting team depth and having a skilled team with too many players that stop doing the little things too often. Last year it was Hunt, year before it was Blackwell, this year it’s Vesey. We had a nice run with Fast but he and guys like Hagelin are hard to hold onto if you’re paying a lot for your top 5-6 players on your team. When it’s multiple coaches over many years doing the same thing, it’s just a reality.

Exactly. This is the reality of how teams construct contenders in the Cup eras.

I HATE Pittsburgh, but they've always made sure to hold onto their core guys, and that's who they pay. They've brought in rentals (like Hossa) but in the end it was a cast of thousands rounding out their middle 6 whether it was the Dupuis, the Tyler Kennedys, the Conor Shearys, James Neals, the Hornqvists, Nick Boninos, Matt Cullens, Chris Kunitzes, or whoever. They didn't get attached to any of those secondary players, and when they had to make a choice, that's who they walked away from...but the core stayed intact.

The problem with the Rangers is spending top line money for players who are not on the top line. Trocheck is a good player and a huge upgrade over Strome, but that contract is just a killer in the cap era...especially when you pair it with Trouba's.

Add the grit fellating mentality of overpaying for depth and secondary scoring, with the organizational mindset of slow developing all top prospects, and you're guaranteed to never be able to get value from anywhere in your lineup.

Pretty damn hard to win a Cup like that.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Honestly if this team gets Sathered into a decade of suck again by trading the best young prospects for players we can't afford, i may just stop watching this team.

 

[huerter]

Exactly. This is the reality of how teams construct contenders in the Cup eras.

I HATE Pittsburgh, but they've always made sure to hold onto their core guys, and that's who they pay. They've brought in rentals (like Hossa) but in the end it was a cast of thousands rounding out their middle 6 whether it was the Dupuis, the Tyler Kennedys, the Conor Shearys, James Neals, the Hornqvists, Nick Boninos, Matt Cullens, Chris Kunitzes, or whoever. They didn't get attached to any of those secondary players, and when they had to make a choice, that's who they walked away from...but the core stayed intact.

The problem with the Rangers is spending top line money for players who are not on the top line. Trocheck is a good player and a huge upgrade over Strome, but that contract is just a killer in the cap era...especially when you pair it with Trouba's.

Add the grit fellating mentality of overpaying for depth and secondary scoring, with the organizational mindset of slow developing all top prospects, and you're guaranteed to never be able to get value from anywhere in your lineup.

Pretty damn hard to win a Cup like that.

Tanev 6 years
Rust 6 years
Rakell 6 years
Hornqvist 5 years

The Pittsburgh model is having two franchise centers for 2 decades.

 

[bleedblue94]

Can somebody get me caught up on what the hell is going on around here? Vancouver media posted what exactly about laffy? Was it them just drumming up something in their own market? Was somebody just reporting that Rutherford called Drury and asked him about it? Or is there something more than any of this? And by more I mean something actually specific?

 

[Synergy27]

You’d have to think that a pick that could potentially become hometown boy Bedard would be worth far more to Vancouver than recently scratched Laf. Looks like dog days click bait to me.

 

[gravey9]

Can somebody get me caught up on what the hell is going on around here? Vancouver media posted what exactly about laffy? Was it them just drumming up something in their own market? Was somebody just reporting that Rutherford called Drury and asked him about it? Or is there something more than any of this? And by more I mean something actually specific?

It makes no sense. People connecting dots cause Laffys old agent is in Van. Only way they get Laffy is a huge overpay with young pieces and picks. We literally cannot afford any of their established players after this season and no, we will not be trading Laffy for a rental. That’s beyond bad. Even for the Rangers.

 

[Alluckks]

Can somebody get me caught up on what the hell is going on around here? Vancouver media posted what exactly about laffy? Was it them just drumming up something in their own market? Was somebody just reporting that Rutherford called Drury and asked him about it? Or is there something more than any of this? And by more I mean something actually specific?

Bullshit Vancouver media mongering which their front office always uses them for and their fans here have complete blinders. People need to ask themselves why no big name NHL reporter mentioned anything about it. It's a joke, just like the JT Miller shit last year.

 

[Bondra slapshot]

I read the Laf benching in a completely opposite way than the Canucks media and fans did. They think that it's a sign that Laf is soon to be on the trading block. I actually think it's a sign that the Rangers are trying to invest in him for the long term.

If the Rangers started to get the imperative for trading Laf, benching him and having this public affair materialize hurts his perception, thus lowers the trade value. I'm sure the Rangers organization knows this. If they wanted to trade Laf, the play here would be to play him for the rest of the season with the least amount of drama. They're just giving him tough love because they see him as a longterm piece. Makes no sense to hurt the value of a player you want to trade in the near term.

The Canucks media and fans need to get real. I don't doubt for a second that literally every TDL from now until the rest of Miller's contract, they'll somehow keep tying Miller to us. And now Horvat is Miller 2.0. The Canucks media is truly unreal.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Is Laffy having some issues gaining separation at times, yup. Is that a speed issue, maybe. But I also see a guy who is maybe not yet suited for all the stops and starts required of an NHL winger. I see a kid who might actually be a better center. I see a kid with very quick hands, who would be better on the dot that Fil. I see a kid who sees the ice well, who does just fine once his legs are moving. I see a kid who is very good at zone entry when he has possession. And i see a very sturdy player who can D up when he needs to. I would love to see him play the middle at some point in his career. But as of now, he's stuck on the right side of the puck at ES and he's not often in super offensive roles and positions. That is more worrisome than his point totals in many ways.

in post filled with great points, this one needs to get discussed more often imo. In three NHL seasons, it's only gotten more obvious from my perspective that you're right on the money here.

 

[Alluckks]

Gavrikov would be a rental LD that I'd love to get for this year, assuming he doesn't cost a 1st to acquire

Then a middle 6 RW that can play both ways

Ideally, I'd like the lines to get back to this


Laf Zib Kakko
Panarin Chytil Kravstov
Kreider Trocheck Rental
Vesey Goodrow Gauthier

Lindgren Fox
Miller Trouba
Gavrikov Schneider

 

[RangerBoy]

NY Rangers projected lineup: Braden Schneider is blossoming into complete defenseman

The 21-year-old has lived up to his defensive reputation, but he's also proving to be an above-average skater and capable offensive contributor.

www.lohud.com

This is the player Vancouver wanted for Miller last season. You still see idiots proposing the Canucks acquire Schneider for Horvat or Miller.

 

[RangerBoy]

I think 70% of the board would agree with this. I certainly do. The cap crush is too severe with very important RFA’s impending at the end of the season.

Not sure about the fan base outside of HF. Listening to convos on the train, at the Garden. On the Facebook pages and on Twitter. Too many fans that are all over the Kane stuff. The Canucks rumors. Selling important assets for 20 games and a playoff run is where this club got into trouble for decades...just not the right time.

Not to mention. Currently this club is a wildcard team I’m a super tough division. Are they ready to make a play at this stage?

Also I’m not convinced this is a sellers market. Seems like an over abundance of “rentals“ and Most of the big clubs are capped out. Drury has a strong hand here. Play it out and wait for the deal.

When was the last time a high profile rental was acquired in a trade and that team won the Cup? Besides TB which traded for Savard. TB was a Cup winning team and they went for the second straight Cup.

Chicago traded a 1st in 2015 to Phoenix for Vermette. Chicago won that season.

TB and Chicago had already won. Their acquisitions were for role players or depth. Coleman and Goodrow had another season remaining on their contracts.

Which player guarantees a team a Cup? Jeff Marek was saying if you win the Cup, trading a 1st for a rental is worth the price.

Winnipeg and Boston traded 1st round picks to the Rangers for rentals. Both teams lost in the first round.

The Rangers first round in 2022 sent to Winnipeg was conditional based on the Rangers reaching the ECF.

Are the Rangers one or two players away from winning the Cup? If the Rangers were the Wild would Rangers fans believe the Wild is close to winning the Cup? No.

All of these rentals have issues. I was watching the Ducks last night. Which team is trading anything for Kiingberg or Shattenkirk? The Blues guys. ROR and Tarasenko. Both of them are now out for a while. ROR is out 6 weeks with a broken foot. As if his skating wasn't bad enough, ROR will be returning sometime in late February from a broken foot. The deadline is March 3. Kane and Toews. Expensive contracts. Double retention will be needed. Both of them have seen their better days.

 

[mas0764]

That run we had was invaluable to the entire team.

We would have had a similar run without Copp.

 

[IDvsEGO]

We would have had a similar run without Copp.

Im not sure we would’ve.
Copp played pretty big moments in the first two series.

 

[Avery16]

We would have had a similar run without Copp.

I'd rather have Barron on the third line and Lambert, Salomonsson on the horizon than whatever difference Copp made last postseason before leaving for the $.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

NY Rangers projected lineup: Braden Schneider is blossoming into complete defenseman

The 21-year-old has lived up to his defensive reputation, but he's also proving to be an above-average skater and capable offensive contributor.

www.lohud.com

This is the player Vancouver wanted for Miller last season. You still see idiots proposing the Canucks acquire Schneider for Horvat or Miller.

And Chytil + Nils was a "non starter"

 

[McRanger92]

Staple with an early trade deadline article in the Athletic.

Speculates that Kane isnt really a fit and would only make sense if he forced his way here for a "Taylor Hall to Boston" type package.

Rangers unlikely to pay the price on O'Reilly & Horvat.

Mentions a Motte reunion (im all for it), and Kulikov & Adam Erne could be guys in play.

Gavrikov (who I like) will be this years Chiarot and could require a first (pass).

Lafreniere & Kravtsov very unlikely to be dealt, as are Othmann, Robertson & Garand. (My two cents are that if prospects are moved it will be Jones/Cuylle/Berard types)

I'd rather have Barron on the third line and Lambert, Salomonsson on the horizon than whatever difference Copp made last postseason before leaving for the $.

Really romanticizing Morgan Barron here. He's a Brett Howden clone.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Staple with an early trade deadline article in the Athletic.

Speculates that Kane isnt really a fit and would only make sense if he forced his way here for a "Taylor Hall to Boston" type package.

Rangers unlikely to pay the price on O'Reilly & Horvat.

Mentions a Motte reunion (im all for it), and Kulikov & Adam Erne could be guys in play.

Gavrikov (who I like) will be this years Chiarot and could require a first (pass).

Lafreniere & Kravtsov very unlikely to be dealt, as are Othmann, Robertson & Garand. (My two cents are that if prospects are moved it will be Jones/Cuylle/Berard types)



Really romanticizing Morgan Barron here. He's a Brett Howden clone.

Berard should be kept too. Buzzsaw type of player that's badly needed on this roster. Carl Hagelin like but not as good as a skater but with more vinegar to his game than Carl.

 

[lakeshirts37]

I'd rather have Barron on the third line and Lambert, Salomonsson on the horizon than whatever difference Copp made last postseason before leaving for the $.

No

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Encouraging read from Staple. That all makes sense to me.

 

[IDvsEGO]

I'd rather have Barron on the third line and Lambert, Salomonsson on the horizon than whatever difference Copp made last postseason before leaving for the $.

Leaving for the money? Copp was a deadline acquisition, not someone we’d spent years developing. He hit ufa for the first time in his career and actually got to choose where to play, and chose to go home.
We benefit from players choosing to play in nyc all the time, for once it doesn’t work the way we want, even though he was a big part of our run, and people are hinting at him being mercenary.

 

[McRanger92]

Berard should be kept too. Buzzsaw type of player that's badly needed on this roster. Carl Hagelin like but not as good as a skater but with more vinegar to his game than Carl.

Yeah I like Berard but everyone cant be untouchable. I'm not sure what Brett's offensive upside truly is but Sykora strikes me as a similar player. If we keep both firsts and our younger forwards, which seems to be the plan, there's not a ton of future roster space going forward. Certainly not giving anyone away though.