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

[The S5]

Actually, the craziest thought… truly insane. But…

Second line:

Goody- Laf - Panarin

Make Laf the center and play him with Panarin. Give them Goody for D zone draws and the dirty work.

It’s nuts but the minute you put the two guys together who don’t nec fit with other players, and put Laffy in a place where he has to mesh with creative Panarin, he might actually thrive. Like I don’t like any of the Kids on Panarin’s wing but I don’t hate it as much when they’re the center.

I’m well aware that Laffy’s deficiencies could make this line a disaster in their own zone but maybe not…

Ok Galaxy Brain session over. But I mean, nothing else is working with Panarin. And nothing is working for Laffy. At the very least you could get all other lines cooking if you put them together. But instead of Laffy on off wing, you’d have have laffy cutting through the middle.

Are you Laf's agent?

 

[Leonardo87]

Chytil quietly surpasses his career high in points.

And who would've predicted, after 45 games, that Barclay Goodrow would have more points than either Kakko or Lafreniere?

Chytil has been more consistent in production. Kakko had a very good game and got on the scoresheet last night , Laf continues to struggle even while on the Top line and Top PP unit.

In the words of the late Meatloaf, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.

 

[Fitzy]

Not just the figures but the eye test.

Chytil and Kakko do things out there that make a positive difference. Laf has been a passenger. It's been like 16 months since he did something that made me think "There's why he was drafted where he was"

I critique his game for not having changed since Juniors but honestly it might have even regressed slightly. If Laf from a rich family? Does he care about his paycheck?

 

[Avery16]

If Laf is coasting then Trouba and Gallant are to blame for not requiring more of him.

 

[GAGLine]

Not just the figures but the eye test.

Chytil and Kakko do things out there that make a positive difference. Laf has been a passenger. It's been like 16 months since he did something that made me think "There's why he was drafted where he was"

I critique his game for not having changed since Juniors but honestly it might have even regressed slightly. If Laf from a rich family? Does he care about his paycheck?

8 1/2 months ago, he finished the season with 19 even strength goals, then went on to score 9 points in 20 playoff games. There's no doubt he's struggling right now, but there's no need for hyperbole or questioning his motivation.

His first 2 years in the league, he had shooting percentages of 17.9% and 17.3%. This year he's at 6.6%. He has 13 assists in 44 games, which is a career high. Last year he had 12 in 79 games. If his shooting percentage were anywhere close to his career numbers, he'd have at least 5 more goals. 23 points in 44 games with only 1 PP point isn't bad.

It's obvious he's gripping his stick too tightly. He had chances last night, but he doesn't have confidence with the puck on his stick. He will figure it out. We just went through this with Chytil last year and look at how he is doing now.

 

[leetch99]

Panarin's shortcomings are hurting the Rangers more than Lafreniere. The Rangers need to send Panarin to the eye doctor to check his eyesight. Panarin must lead the league in missing the net.

The Rangers aren't getting their money's worth with Panarin.

I'd add him to that above trade package for Bedard .....LOL.....getting him out of here for cap is a win for this club . I think it is still a win at his half cap moving forward . Just get him out of here PERIOD !!!

 

[Vitto79]

Justin Braun for Libor Hajek
Getter done lol

 

[OTC]

Panarin's shortcomings are hurting the Rangers more than Lafreniere. The Rangers need to send Panarin to the eye doctor to check his eyesight. Panarin must lead the league in missing the net.

The Rangers aren't getting their money's worth with Panarin.

I think Panarin is looking for P. Kane. LOL!

 

[TominNC]

If Laf is coasting then Trouba and Gallant are to blame for not requiring more of him.

Yet everyone shed tears when the coach benched him a game.

 

[GAGLine]

I'd add him to that above trade package for Bedard .....LOL.....getting him out of here for cap is a win for this club . I think it is still a win at his half cap moving forward . Just get him out of here PERIOD !!!

He has 3 years left @ 11.6 mil and an NMC. Teams have limited cap space. It's probably safe to assume that he won't waive to go to a bad team. There aren't many options out there. Maybe Seattle? They have a team full of grinders and could use a highly skilled player. They have 20 mil in cap space. We could take back Bjorkstrand, who has 3 years left @ 5.4 mil. Seattle also has lots of picks in 2023.

I seriously doubt he gets traded, but anything is possible I guess.

 

[Boris Zubov]

He has 3 years left @ 11.6 mil and an NMC. Teams have limited cap space. It's probably safe to assume that he won't waive to go to a bad team. There aren't many options out there. Maybe Seattle? They have a team full of grinders and could use a highly skilled player. They have 20 mil in cap space. We could take back Bjorkstrand, who has 3 years left @ 5.4 mil. Seattle also has lots of picks in 2023.

I seriously doubt he gets traded, but anything is possible I guess.

Anaheim needs to make a splash & reunite him with his personal valet, Ryan Strome. Everybody wins.

 

[RangerBoy]

 

[McRanger92]

Panarin's shortcomings are hurting the Rangers more than Lafreniere. The Rangers need to send Panarin to the eye doctor to check his eyesight. Panarin must lead the league in missing the net.

The Rangers aren't getting their money's worth with Panarin.

You'll find no argument from me in regards to Panarin not earning his contract. We are a playoff flameout away from a divorce. I don't think Drury is going to sit idly by as his salary cap is strangled by Panarin floating his way through the next 3.5 years.

We can talk all we want about Laf and ice time and the kids, etc., but the biggest issue is that Panarin cant find chemistry with anyone. Who is the common denominator? He's not the player he was pre-Covid and he's not worth 11.6 million anymore. I know parts of the fanbase think he can do no wrong, but the fact is the Rangers are held back because they are paying an 8 million dollar player 11.6 million. Any real salary relief issues start with, "How to we get rid of Panarin?"

Hopefully he shuts me up and wins the Conn Smythe, but the playoffs this year will tell us everything we need to know.

Pronman updated his u-23 list.

Miller is 21 up from 43 in August
Laf 27 down from 10
Kakko 32 up from 48
Schneider 51 up from 79
Othmann 135 down from 98

Pronman is a dope but Miller is way too low and Kakko below Lafreniere = "I dont watch the games"

If we aren’t in the finals this year ..

Draft day tear down

I Dial up whoever has the 1st pick

Our first
Dallas first
Lafrenniere
Chytil
Cuylie

For Bedard

If that doesn’t work I add KAM.

Kocurmeister

 

[duhmetreE]

No incentive for Lafreniere to do that.

He has a lot of incentive to sign.

He's struggling. Take all concerns off his shoulders, especially if you think he's pressing. Re-affirm your commitment and confidence in him.

It's a win-win scenario for all sides

 

[McRanger92]

Anaheim needs to make a splash & reunite him with his personal valet, Ryan Strome. Everybody wins.

Panarin for Silfverberg & Vatrano. Saves us 2.7 on the cap and gets us some short term easily moveable depth. Strome and the Breadman can go back to their doubles figure skating training

 

[bbny]

He has a lot of incentive to sign.

He's struggling. Take all concerns off his shoulders, especially if you think he's pressing. Re-affirm your commitment and confidence in him.

It's a win-win scenario for all sides

I don't think it's a win for Lafreniere at all. There's zero chance of him not getting a contract like that, either from the Rangers or from another team, so that is not a burden on his shoulders at all. 2 years $2 million per is pretty much the floor. On the flip side, there's some potential he somehow puts together a strong 2nd half and playoffs to bump that up rather significantly. Just no reason for him to sign a thing right now.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

this teams offensive creativity stinks as it is and yet people still want to trade away the one who drives a lot of it lol

 

[Leonardo87]

Anaheim needs to make a splash & reunite him with his personal valet, Ryan Strome. Everybody wins.

Strome has actually found some chemistry with Zegras. That play and goal last night was beautiful. Too bad Zegras handed Pittsburgh the game in OT with a brutal decision on a 2 on 1.

Although..

Panarin - Zegras - Strome

Or

Panarin - Strome - Terry

Damn.

I know we are kidding around here. But I don’t think trading for a 31 yo Panarin with a 11.5 million cap hit is the answer for Anaheim.

 

[McRanger92]

Strome has actually found some chemistry with Zegras. That play and goal last night was beautiful. Too bad Zegras handed Pittsburgh the game in OT with a brutal decision on a 2 on 1.

Although..

Panarin - Zegras - Strome

Or

Panarin - Strome - Terry

Damn.

I know we are kidding around here. But I don’t think trading for a 31 yo Panarin with a 11.5 million cap hit is the answer for Anaheim.

It's a discussion for a different day but 3 x 11.5 for a player like Panarin who wouldnt otherwise go to Anaheim seems like a good thing for them. Shows the league you're serious about improving and takes the weight off Zegras and their other youngins. It's not like the Pacific is a gauntlet or anything

 

[Leonardo87]

It's a discussion for a different day but 3 x 11.5 for a player like Panarin who wouldnt otherwise go to Anaheim seems like a good thing for them. Shows the league you're serious about improving and takes the weight off Zegras and their other youngins. It's not like the Pacific is a gauntlet or anything

Yeah I just don’t think Anaheim wants to give up picks or assets though. If it’s a hockey trade like some of their roster players, Then maybe.

Verbeek is trying to stock up on picks like a squirrel and his nuts for winter. His words were wants to have as many darts as possible to throw at the board.

They brought in Strome and Vatrano for mid-level stop gaps and have Henrique who has been very good for the Ducks kids. The team system and lack of depth is why their production is so down. Panarin would certainly help that.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I think we need to be realistic with where the Rangers are as a franchise when we talk about having not 1 but 2 firsts. We are fighting for home ice with the Devils. I think it’s likely one gets moved.

Honestly who cares about home ice. They play better on the road anyway. I think they finish 3rd in division or WC1 which I'm ok with. I agree that 1 of the first's is going to be moved because we do need help at forward.

 

[Greg02]

I'd like to see Panarin with Zibenejad for a while. Not as a mid-game adjustment, but actually commit to it for five games or so.

 

[McRanger92]

Honestly who cares about home ice. They play better on the road anyway. I think they finish 3rd in division or WC1 which I'm ok with. I agree that 1 of the first's is going to be moved because we do need help at forward.

I guess home-ice wont even matter if we play the Devils lol. I am jacked up thinking of a Rangers-Devils 1st round series. 11 years since out last tangle with our biggest rivals in the playoffs

 

[duhmetreE]

I'd like to see Panarin with Zibenejad for a while. Not as a mid-game adjustment, but actually commit to it for five games or so.

I dont.

I do not want Zibs to slow down his game. He's at his best when he's galloping around. I only see that when he's with Laffy and Kakko. Even with Kreider his game starts to resemble Panarin's.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I guess home-ice wont even matter if we play the Devils lol. I am jacked up thinking of a Rangers-Devils 1st round series. 11 years since out last tangle with our biggest rivals in the playoffs

Yeah, I think we are playing Carolina or Devils in the first round. Either one is a tough matchup but it's better than playing Boston.