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

[Avery16]

But it's like having depth at center is a bad thing. Zibanejad and Chytil have injury histories. Why is having a good group of 3 centers bad? He isn't overpaid. He slots in on both the 2nd and 3rd line well. His faceoff numbers are good. He adds speed and a physical presence to the top-9. I'm confused.

That depth is great but its also why Vesey and Goodrow get time in the top-6 and why Panarin isn't firing on all cylinders.

 

[haohmaru]

We finally have depth at C comparable to the only Rangers team to win a Cup in 81 years and people are looking to trade Trocheck?

S M D H

 

[jerseyjinx94]

HFNYR hates these players lol.

This is hockeys future and they are hockeys present.

 

[Avery16]

We finally have depth at C comparable to the only Rangers team to win a Cup in 81 years and people are looking to trade Trocheck?

S M D H

Wait- you think this roster is winning a Cup? Also, you know our C depth in 94 was Messier, Nemchinov, MacTavish and Olczyk? Kovalev was slotting at C. There are so many seasons we didn't even contend and still had better depth at C than in 94.

 

[effen]

I don't think we could get Tomasino for Kravtsov.

If we could, I'd rather do that.

I don't think Tomasino falls under the struggling kid change of scenery slot like Kravtsov would.

Maybe Filip Zadina. Same age.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I don't think we could get Tomasino for Kravtsov.

If we could, I'd rather do that.

Nashville hasn’t really been making any room for their young guys and already lost Tolvanen for nothing. Hynes just wouldn’t play him last year and Poile’s moves blocked him. I guess that could be the same for Kravtsov too, but maybe they’ll take the chance on him.

Kravtsov is better than you give him credit for

 

[haohmaru]

Wait- you think this roster is winning a Cup?

Maybe not. Definitely not if you’re the GM.

 

[Greg02]

To be fair we signed him with the goal of winning a cup over the next 3-4 seasons, so the back end of the contract, while it may be unfortunate, is treated with the same indifference that the final years of the Richards contract were.

The back end isn't even unfortunate. It'll be very moveable. Someone will want a defensively responsible 3C who is good on draws and doesn't cost much real cash.

Agree with this, but push back on 'vitriol'. I haven't seen any here for Trocheck. He's a good player on a valuable contract, but he isn't clicking with Panarin and Chytil took the spot we signed Trocheck to fill.

Kreider/Trocheck/Vesey(Goodrow) is a great great third line, but its preventing us from improving our top-6.

That depth is great but its also why Vesey and Goodrow get time in the top-6 and why Panarin isn't firing on all cylinders.

Panarin not firing on all cylinders is on Panarin. If he can make it work with Mika, this team becomes legitimately dangerous.

Trocheck slotting up and down the lineup provides us a bunch of flexibility for contingencies.

 

[bl02]

I don't think Tomasino falls under the struggling kid change of scenery slot like Kravtsov would.

Maybe Filip Zadina. Same age.

Interesting The czech kid who has been left behind by Necas/Chytil and he was the more highly touted czech kid by a good margin. 0 points in 9 games but obviously been injured.

 

[NYR Viper]

That depth is great but its also why Vesey and Goodrow get time in the top-6 and why Panarin isn't firing on all cylinders.

Panarin is a big boy. The reason Panarin isn't firing on all cylinders isn't Trochek.

Also the reason the team is playing Goodrow and Vesey in the top-9 isn't Trochek, it's the fact that they cleared the path for guys like Kaako, Lafreniere and Kravtsov and so far only 2 of them have proven themselves capable. Oh and they $3.4m in dead cap space from buyouts AND they have cap space if they really wanted to improve that area.

 

[McRanger92]

Where is the best spot for a Kravtsov trade? The Lundkvist to Dallas fit was easy to project. He scored a goal last night, 5 goals. 15 points. 40 more points to the 4th round pick in 2025 becoming a 3rd round pick in 2025. The Stars needed a D to replace Klingberg. The Stars didn't have a replacement in their system. The Stars didn't have a lot of cap space this season with Robertson and Oettinger to re-sign. Lundkvist to Dallas.

Would Vancouver want Kravtsov? Thomas Drance wrote last season about the Canucks being interested in Kravtsov. The new management wanted to add young skill forwards. They haven’t really added anyone. Hoglander is in the AHL. Podkolzin was recalled from the AHL a few days ago. I was watching a Canucks podcast yesterday and the two media guys were speculating about Podkolzin's future in Vancouver. The previous regime selected him. They said Vancouver needs a D. They also said Vancouver needed a D in the Horvat trade.

Not easy to find the right fit for Kravtsov. The Rangers didn't trade him for less last season. His trade value has not gone up this season.

Kravtsov should agree to a 1 year extension at a similar number to this year. It would show he is committed to the NHL and increase his value to other teams. He's got no value if the threat of going back to Russia is still there.

 

[IDvsEGO]

I think people have a short memory when it comes to Chytl, he is our most often injured player. He strings some good games together and then 'something' happens to him.

Trochek is a great insurance policy.

The Rangers have a great first line center and TWO legit second line centers... being strong down the middle is needed to go all the way

I Hope Fil stays healthy

Fans worry way too much about the cap. They will find a way to get all the kids signed

And before Chytil, Mika was our most often injured player for very similar reasons.
Don’t see the board calling for the rangers to move Mika as he’s one injury away from ltir.
Also I like the center depth we have, but I also don’t think we’d have made the move for him to be a 3c. Once the cap jumps it’s a non issue, but if we lose a kid because of it. It’ll be the worst signing the rangers made since redden.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I really don't understand the vitriol for Trochek at all

he started well but he's been a complete bum for 2+ months now, he's hogging up PP1 slot that should go to one of the kids, and he's stealing ice and cap space from Chytil

 

[Avery16]

Panarin is a big boy. The reason Panarin isn't firing on all cylinders isn't Trochek.

Also the reason the team is playing Goodrow and Vesey in the top-9 isn't Trochek, it's the fact that they cleared the path for guys like Kaako, Lafreniere and Kravtsov and so far only 2 of them have proven themselves capable. Oh and they $3.4m in dead cap space from buyouts AND they have cap space if they really wanted to improve that area.

Its not Trocheck's fault, its the cap's fault. Trocheck's hit is part of that. Chytil is our 2C. Trocheck at 3C is a luxury when Goodrow and Vesey are spending time in the top-6.

 

[McRanger92]

Sam Lafferty is my guy for 4C upgrade.

signed for another year at a very reasonable 1.15, has wheels, an edge and can PK.

He's basically a supercharged version of Motte

Lafferty hurt Filip in the game in Chicago, but I like him as a fit as 4C. That would be a feisty line with a hopefully improved Blais & Cuylle on the wings.

I really don't understand the vitriol for Trochek at all

There seems to be a social media narrative that because of Trocheck we cant re-sign Filip or play him at 2C, which is patently false on both counts. You know whats better than having 2 centers you can trust? Having 3. If the Rangers came into this season with the husk of Paul Stastny as our 3C there wouldve been riots in the streets before Thanksgiving.

 

[NYR Viper]

People are acting like the center depth the team has is abnormal or a bad thing. Let's look at % of cap allocated to centers:


22-23
Zibanejad + Trochek + Chytil + Brodz/Leschyshyn = $17.191667m
Salary Cap = $82,500,000
20.8% of the cap allocated to the center group

23-24
Zibanejad + Trochek + Chytil + Brodz/Leschyshyn = $19.891m
- Assuming Chytil makes $5m
Salary Cap = $83,500,000
23.8% of the cap allocated to centers

Considering the center ice position is one of THE most important positions on the team and the (3) major player there are driving offense and playing in all situations. It's not that outlandish of a cap allocation...

 

[haohmaru]

Wait- you think this roster is winning a Cup? Also, you know our C depth in 94 was Messier, Nemchinov, MacTavish and Olczyk? There are so many seasons we didn't even contend and still had better depth at C than in 94.

That’s criminally underrating Nemchinov - which happened his entire career. MacTavish filled a role that really doesn’t exist anymore. Eddie O didn’t play in the playoffs.

Maybe you can argue Messier / Gretzky in 97 but after that? Crickets.

 

[Avery16]

People are acting like the center depth the team has is abnormal or a bad thing. Let's look at % of cap allocated to centers:


22-23
Zibanejad + Trochek + Chytil + Brodz/Leschyshyn = $17.191667m
Salary Cap = $82,500,000
20.8% of the cap allocated to the center group

23-24
Zibanejad + Trochek + Chytil + Brodz/Leschyshyn = $19.891m
- Assuming Chytil makes $5m
Salary Cap = $83,500,000
23.8% of the cap allocated to centers

Considering the center ice position is one of THE most important positions on the team and the (3) major player there are driving offense and playing in all situations. It's not that outlandish of a cap allocation...

Its not about the cap allocation by position. I've said it multiple times that Trocheck is a good player on a good contract. How are you improving our top-six scoring? Who are you moving to create the cap space necessary for that improvement?

 

[NYR Viper]

Its not Trocheck's fault, its the cap's fault. Trocheck's hit is part of that. Chytil is our 2C. Trocheck at 3C is a luxury when Goodrow and Vesey are spending time in the top-6.

The idea of numbering lines is where the disconnect is. Who cares what line they play on if the team is winning and creating offense?

I ask this, what was the expectation for Trochek coming in? Because at his cap hit, 50 points is pretty much in line with my expectation for him.

Its not about the cap allocation by position. I've said it multiple times that Trocheck is a good player on a good contract. How are you improving our top-six scoring? Who are you moving to create the cap space necessary for that improvement?

When they have a #1, #2 and #10 overall pick playing wing at the ripe old ages of 21,22, 23 the improvement needs to come from within.

 

[redwhiteandblue]

I mean, when are people going to realize at the very least, the Laffy-Chytil-Kakko line is the second line. Nothing is stopping Chytil from being a 2C when he is a 2C.

Hell, these guys are close to making it an A and B scenario with 2 first lines. Laffy deserved that OT winner so bad, he was skating great, he's been making better decisions with the puck. He's doing the dirty things when they need to be done. In fact, they all do it. Line is playing unreal right now.

 

[Avery16]

That’s criminally underrating Nemchinov - which happened his entire career. MacTavish filled a role that really doesn’t exist anymore. Eddie O didn’t play in the playoffs.

Maybe you can argue Messier / Gretzky in 97 but after that? Crickets.

Theres undervaluing Nemchinov and then there's dramatically overvaluing Nemchinov. He was a great player, an ideal 3C. He was not one of the top Cs of the best C depth we had in 82 years.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Center depth is the most overrated aspect in team building but a large portion of this board has been whining about it like it was the one missing link between winning and not winning.

Now they have it and people want to get rid of it lol.

Never change HFNYR.

 

[McRanger92]

Its not about the cap allocation by position. I've said it multiple times that Trocheck is a good player on a good contract. How are you improving our top-six scoring? Who are you moving to create the cap space necessary for that improvement?

Top 6 scoring would improve if the 11.6 million dollar man was on pace to score more than 19 goals

 

[Fitzy]

I mean hockey as a sport has changed so much since 94, but I always felt (I was admittedly only 12 when it happened) that the cup win had to do with fielding by far the best top 4 defensemen corp in the league.

Leetch, Zubov, Lowe, Beukeboom.

Even Wells was still a pain in the ass to play against at his advanced age, and Karpovtsev went on to have a very good career.

 

[Avery16]

The idea of numbering lines is where the disconnect is. Who cares what line they play on if the team is winning and creating offense?

I ask this, what was the expectation for Trochek coming in? Because at his cap hit, 50 points is pretty much in line with my expectation for him.



When they have a #1, #2 and #10 overall pick playing wing at the ripe old ages of 21,22, 23 the improvement needs to come from within.

No. Its not about number lines either. No one is saying that.

You can hope all you want but that isn't happening this season.