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

[QJL]

If we were serious and going for it this year (we should be) heres the moves. I also acknowledge the odds of this happening are 1%.

- Fire Gallant and hire Barry Trotz
- Waive/trade/move both Blais and Reaves and bring up Rydahl as that will allow us to accrue about $7.5-8mm in cap space for the deadline

Deadline Moves
- Kravtsov, 2022 1st, 2023 2nd that turns to 1st if rangers make ECF for Kane. 4th to PHX in return for them taking half of patty kanes cap hit ($5mm but actual $$ will only be around $900K)
- 5th for Nick Holden (bottom pair/#7)
- 3rd for Tyler Motte

Post deadline lineup
Kreider-Zib-Vesey
Panarin-Trocheck-Kane
Kids
Goodrow-Rydahl-Motte
Carpenter

Lindy-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Hajek/Holden-Schneider

^^ that is a legitimate cup team with a cup coach. Drury is brain dead though so this aint happening

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

 

[bleedblue94]

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.

 

[CLW]

If KK and Laf are truly good 3rd line NHLrs than the rebuild is back on.

KEEP those 1sts Chris!!

What's the point in having 1st round picks when the org literally, not figuratively, develops all forwards as 3rd liners? Look at Ortmeyer and the others, they talk about strong sticks and sticks in the lane. But where are coaches with the skill set and the creativity to build lines around the skillset and strengths of our talented top picks? And build from there?

Deep down this org thinks the playstyle of the 2014 LA Kings with some game breaking talent a la Panarin on top is the golden ticket lmao.

 

[MrAlmost]

We need more players that are not typical "Ranger types". Trocheck is not a Ranger type, thats why he is good. The team looked better last year cause we had a bunch of those. Vatrano, Motte, Copp, Goodrow, Reaves. Gotta get back to that.

Trade Reaves. I like him, but we need the space. Get back Vatrano with retention. He is the perfect winger for either Z or Trocheck. Play Kakko wherever Vatrano doesnt. Get Motte and Holden from Ott.

Cut the dead weight. Reaves, Blais, Carp, Krav, Hajek.

 

[TominNC]

Still waiting to se the evidence that the team itself is better w/out him.

The game with Blais-Goodrow-Gauthier as the 4th line, those guys were all over.

 

[egelband]

The rangers are too slow. Too many slow players throughout the lineup.

I think they just look slow because they’re always skating in circles looking for someone open for a pass.

 

[egelband]

i wish we had a power forward like Landeskog. Jamie Benn. Tkachuk brothers, even a guy like Brayden Schenn is a physical guy that can play and fight when needed, cant wait for Othmann Cuylle Sykora Barbashev Berard to be those types in the future


Kreider can be when he wants to be. I wish Mika with his size, would be more physical. I wish Mika had that Ovechkin aggressiveness in his game.. . Too passive at times

That’s the thing. The rangers have plenty of big strong guys but they don’t play that way. They want: pass-pass-pass-tap in. But usually they get pass-pass-pass-turnover. They must mix it up.
That’s what was so exciting about that goal Chytil scored off the short pass a couple games back.

 

[egelband]

For a player that everyone is convinced can't play at 5v5 anymore, is a detriment, and should be moved down the lineup Chris Kreider has the 18th best CF%, 9th best xGF%, and 23rd best GF% of all forwards 200+ mins in the league. And he's done that while shooting 3.5% himself.

Opponents seem to be pretty content letting the rangers hold the puck around the perimeter. Seems the book on the rangers is to stack the middle of the ice and wait for the inevitable turnover, then counter.

If people hate the way we play and the ice time distribution now, god help you if we replace gallant with trotz.

Yep. I don’t think any coach is going to change how these guys play, really. They’re going to have to figure it out.

 

[egelband]

Laf-Zib-Kakk
Panarin-Tro-Chytil
Kreider-Goodrow-Vesey
Blais-whoever-whoever

I’d like to see VK with Panarin. But I like where you’re going with this.

 

[egelband]

Trocheck has been a godsend in my opinion. Without him I think this team might be completely dead and buried by now.

 

[Off Sides]

I have no issue with a Reaves like player. One of them. Not great at actually hockey, but can in those 5-8 or so times a season pay back in a fight. It helps with overall confidence, someone has their back.

I do have an issue with the cap hit being more than like 1M when it comes with a player who can't play hockey to the point it's a negative when fighting is not involved.

That being said, it's not the main issue at all, the players with the highest cap hits kind of suck at everything besides the PP, they are the issue right now.

 

[RangersFan1994]

I have no issue with a Reaves like player. One of them. Not great at actually hockey, but can in those 5-8 or so times a season pay back in a fight. It helps with overall confidence, someone has their back.

I do have an issue with the cap hit being more than like 1M when it comes with a player who can't play hockey to the point it's a negative when fighting is not involved.

That being said, it's not the main issue at all, the players with the highest cap hits kind of suck at everything besides the PP, they are the issue right now.

Islanders developed Martin, Rangers should develop their own tough guy. wish someone like Orr was on waivers. Someone on the cusp worth a risk for a half the cap hit.

Any chance Red Wings trade someone like Givani Smith?

He is a guy that might go through waivers. Can replace Reaves at half the cost. only 24.

Givani Smith Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Givani Smith, a hockey player from Toronto, ONT born Feb 27 1998 who was active from 2014 to 2025.

www.hockeydb.com

 

[RangerBoy]

When does Panarin start taking heat for his play?



Three more seasons remaining on the contract.

Panarin was really good in his first season here. The 2nd year was the short Covid season. He was average. He disappeared for a few weeks to deal with some bullshit allegations. He had a good regular season. His playoff performance was bad, Drury was pissed. Panarin said I have a NMC. f*** you.

The Rangers need more from Panarin for $11,642,857. Panarin gets his points but you should expect for more impact for $11,64,857. People look at his point totals.

Telfon Artemi.

 

[zukeisgone]

It’s early …last year at this time we were winning games we had no business winning….keep the picks…see if we can get hot and finish in the top 15 win the first round to keep Dolan happy and continue the rebuild. Soon enough Laf will figure it out …KAM is not the same player from the playoffs(smart move is sign him now 6x6 before he finds his game)…can Othman be called up in January? Dump reeves and 22…GG is a good coach…Trotz hockey is boring …

 

[cheech70]

When does Panarin start taking heat for his play?



Three more seasons remaining on the contract.

Panarin was really good in his first season here. The 2nd year was the short Covid season. He was average. He disappeared for a few weeks to deal with some bullshit allegations. He had a good regular season. His playoff performance was bad, Drury was pissed. Panarin said I have a NMC. f*** you.

The Rangers need more from Panarin for $11,642,857. Panarin gets his points but you should expect for more impact for $11,64,857. People look at his point totals.

Telfon Artemi.

Forget his salary its was the cost at the time and the perfect storm for Bread. His size is what prevents him from moving up as a top 20 player to a top 10 player. Trocheck has been good for Bread its the other wing that is the issue..Keep plugging in Vitaly and hopefully he can stay healthy .

 

[RangerBoy]

Forget his salary its was the cost at the time and the perfect storm for Bread. His size is what prevents him from moving up as a top 20 player to a top 10 player. Trocheck has been good for Bread its the other wing that is the issue..Keep plugging in Vitaly and hopefully he can stay healthy .

The Rangers could be paying 2 or 3 good players with the $11,642,857.

People on this board complain about the Rangers lacking depth. The Rangers have no money. They get fixated on players making $750,000 or $800,000 but there is a reason why those players are making the NHL minimum salary or $50,000 more than the NHL minimum salary.

The Rangers are top heavy and some of their big money players have been no shows this season. Gallant can't change that. He can take away their ice time. They all have NMC's and huge tickets. He can't do anything to them.

They talk about Kane as the savior. That guy is having an awful season. I watch the Hawks games just to see him because I have a few friends on the Kane bandwagon. I like to give it to them about how Kane is not the same player from the Hawks glory days. He looks disinterested. He looks slow. His defensive play is awful. Stick checking. His shooting % is 4.5%. Are his hands gone? Toews looks better than Kane. Toews might be able to help a team at the trading deadline. Kane is going through the motions. Luke Richardson has that team competing. He was a very competitive player. Kane doesn’t want to engage or even be bothered.

 

[haohmaru]

They talk about Kane as the savior. That guy is having an awful season. I watch the Hawks game just to see him because I have a few friends on the Kane bandwagon. I like to give it to them about how Kane is not the same player from the Hawks glory days. He looks disinterested. He looks slow. His defensive play is awful. Stick checking. His shooting % is 4.5%. Are his hands gone? Toews looks better than Kane. Toews might be able to help a team at the trading deadline. Kane is going through the motions.

Good point - as a depth add at the deadline, I'd take Toews over Kane for a variety of reasons but I'd really want neither one - especially at the cost of a 1st + +

The Hawks are in for a massive overhaul after the deadline/season. They've got 9 players signed for next year and the seven forwards are are 2.6M or LESS. They will be huge players in the UFA market next year.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Forget his salary its was the cost at the time and the perfect storm for Bread. His size is what prevents him from moving up as a top 20 player to a top 10 player. Trocheck has been good for Bread its the other wing that is the issue..Keep plugging in Vitaly and hopefully he can stay healthy .

I'll argue that trocheck is not a good fit for panarin. I like trocheck but him and panarin are always on the wrong page, and the line can't seem to retain puck possession. I'd rather trocheck center the kids at this point then watch him and panarin flub more passes.

 

[kovazub94]

That's cool. Good thing there isn't a direct correlation between how a player looks and how a player performs.

Kreider is fine. Don’t worry - not all of us have such a big disconnect (guess where) between what we see and what stats tell us.

 

[kovazub94]

When does Panarin start taking heat for his play?



Three more seasons remaining on the contract.

Panarin was really good in his first season here. The 2nd year was the short Covid season. He was average. He disappeared for a few weeks to deal with some bullshit allegations. He had a good regular season. His playoff performance was bad, Drury was pissed. Panarin said I have a NMC. f*** you.

The Rangers need more from Panarin for $11,642,857. Panarin gets his points but you should expect for more impact for $11,64,857. People look at his point totals.

Telfon Artemi.

No doubt he should be taking the heat for his recent play but he started the season shooting the puck. This is a thing that he needs to constantly keep on his mind / being reminded of.

P.S. Instead of signing Panarin the Rangers could have kept both Zuke and Buch on their current deals (and probably would have gotten some discount too).

 

[TominNC]

I have no issue with a Reaves like player. One of them. Not great at actually hockey, but can in those 5-8 or so times a season pay back in a fight. It helps with overall confidence, someone has their back.

I do have an issue with the cap hit being more than like 1M when it comes with a player who can't play hockey to the point it's a negative when fighting is not involved.

That being said, it's not the main issue at all, the players with the highest cap hits kind of suck at everything besides the PP, they are the issue right now.

It's not payback if he has a scheduled match with the other team's big useless player. Payback is crushing the middleweight guy who is running your good players. Thise guys have no fear of taking liberties if they're never at risk of a beatdown.

 

[kovazub94]

Another thing that’s missing with Reaves (that he is supposed to be counted on) is setting a tone early in the game if the team come out flat or if they need to stop opponents momentum after a goal etc.

 

[duhmetreE]

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.

sneaking in Trocheck was cute

but this entire team sucks at producing 5v5. The refusal to shoot has always been his major weakness. I remember the good ol' days when Panarin was a machine at even strength and led the league in EVP... 71 Even-strength points in 69 games... Imagine that

 

[JohnC]

I know certain hockey fans have their weird fixation with enforcers but sheesh, Ryan Reaves hasn’t been useful since last October.

Guy’s getting paid $1.75M to be Cody McLeod out there. That’s some expensive dead weight.

 

[effen]

I don’t think any coach is going to change how these guys play, really. They’re going to have to figure it out.

Ive been banging this drum for years and why I was an early advocate for trading Bread and not extending Mika. Mika added some engagement and skating effort to compensate for his probable concussion based playstyle change. But at the end of the day the highest paid players on the teams don't establish in the tough areas because it's hard and they don't wanna.

And that's not gonna win without the 2014 Kings around them. Whoever mocked it, that's actually the correct adjustment to your top guys being soft and not imposing their will! The org isn't as dumb as some like to portray.