Speculation: Roster Building Thread IV (2021 Offseason) - Bob Dylan turns 80 & "The times they are a changing!"

[IDvsEGO]

No of course not.

There if no doubt that Laf can translate to center. The — only — question is how long the adjustment would take. I think moving him to center would be a complete no brainer for many top hockey minds.

Laf has never played center. While we may all look at his game and say center. He doesn’t.
Until he gives an interview where he says “ I want to play center”. Instead of the generic “I’ll do whatever it takes to help the team”.

 

[TheDirtyH]

I like the idea of Laf at center. Way to bold for the Rangers to try, but I think it'd be a worthy course to take. He's got the wheels, the vision... in juniors (where positions and defense don't matter) he roamed the ice like a center, carrying pucks three zones by himself all the time.

Obviously won't happen, but I don't mind the idea.

 

[ETTER DE]

Two or three years ago I suggested Danault as a trade target. Domi had just had a great first season in Montreal and Kotkaniemi looked promising. Thought they maybe would let him go in a trade. But now I dont think its a good idea. Are we really gonna play him with either Lafreniere or Panarin? If you read the Habs site it is clear that Danault is s black hole on offence. No way we are gonna risk Panarins production or Lafrenieres development.

 

[gravey9]

I like the idea of Laf at center. Way to bold for the Rangers to try, but I think it'd be a worthy course to take. He's got the wheels, the vision... in juniors (where positions and defense don't matter) he roamed the ice like a center, carrying pucks three zones by himself all the time.

Obviously won't happen, but I don't mind the idea.

I agree. But I will say this. In Alex Kovalev's rookie season. The cup year. He ended up playing a lot of center ice. Including deep into the playoffs. I wasn't a huge Keenan fan, but I think with your most skilled players, you challenge them, you put them in positions to take on more responsibility and say go kid. Go make it happen. Let's see what you got. I thought Alexis looked a lot more dangerous with the puck on his stick the last 10 games or so. I think i want to see the puck on his stick a lot more next season. I wouldn't mind seeing what happens if we start spotting him minutes at center. I think he would figure it out. The reason it's not tried is that he sometimes gets a little lazy in his own zone where he expects others to do the work until the puck squirts to him. You can't do that at C. So, my guess is that's why this hasn't happened. But, you do have a skate a lot more in the middle. And I think Alexis' first step is only average to slightly above average. It's really the weakest part of his game. Same with Kakko. If they put AF at center, the first step issue goes away a bunch because there's a lot less start/stop at C.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Laf is a LW. That is what he has going to be on this team. Unless a bunch of players heads fall off the chances of hil playing center are close to 0.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

If that's the case then unfortunately for them and him they don't even have a first this year!

Right you are. Even more reason to dismiss the tweet.

 

[Bruner4329]

It's obvious? Here are the current centers of the playoff teams:

Colorado: MacKinnon, Jost, Compher, Bellemarre (Kadri susp)
Vegas, Stephenson, Karlsson, Roy, Brown
Montreal - Danault, Suzuki, Staal, Kotkaniemi
Wpg - Scheifele (susp), Stastny, Lowry, Thompson
Bos - Bergeron, Krejci, Coyle, Kuraly
NYI - Barzal, Nelson, Pageau, Cizikas
Car - Aho, Trocheck, Staal, Lorentz
TB - Point, Cirelli, Gourde, Johnson

There is no Crosby/Malkin type center combination there. Zibanejad/Strome/Chytil is comparable to most of them. CAR/BOS have the best depth. COL the best top end. VGK and MTL don't even have a top 1C quality player right now. The best 2C on the whole list is like Krejci.

The teams with the actual best centers have all been eliminated (McDavid/Draisaitl, Matthews/Tavares, Crosby,Malkin).

I did not say best centers. I said we need to upgrade our center position. As a total group we lack in a number of areas including forechecking, winning faceoffs and presence in the defensive zones. For example you mentioned Krejci which is fine but I rather have Coyle than Strome, There are also a number of others that are listed as the third centers that I rather have than Strome.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I’m starting to think Rangers would trade even Miller before Lundkvist

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I did not say best centers. I said we need to upgrade our center position. As a total group we lack in a number of areas including forechecking, winning faceoffs and presence in the defensive zones. For example you mentioned Krejci which is fine but I rather have Coyle than Strome, There are also a number of others that are listed as the third centers that I rather have than Strome.

If Rangers find a top 6 center they have to trade Strome. Sure they could keep him for one year but better to get assets back. They wouldn’t/couldn’t sign him long term

 

[JayAB81]

I’m starting to think Rangers would trade even Miller before Lundkvist

I really hope they don't trade Miller, Nils, Lindgren, and Fox, I also want to see Schneider get a chance, Trouba is ok, but $8M is a lot on the cap, a flat cap.

Honestly the guys I wouldn't want traded are

Kakko
Lafreneiere
Miller
Fox
Lindgren
Nils
Shesterkin
Schneider
Panarin
Mika
Kravtsov

Obviously Trouba & Kreider can't be, Idk exactly that their NTC or NMC are, or when they expire.

I think a lot will depend on what they do in round 1, I was on The Athletic, I forget the name, but they had us taking a LW at 15, I'd think we're good at LW with Panarin, Laf, Kreider, plus Cuylle & Pajuniemi in the waiting.

 

[RGY]

I’m starting to think Rangers would trade even Miller before Lundkvist

I don’t think that is too outrageous to expect.

Miller just started playing defense like 5 years ago. Lundkvist likely has been playing even longer and is just better and more polished at the position to the point where he could likely provide at minimum the same defensive play while on his off side.

 

[Leetch3]

I’m starting to think Rangers would trade even Miller before Lundkvist

based on what? might be true but not sure what the rangers have done to make you think they would trade either or one before the other

 

[Nickmo82]

Amplifying what I said previously. ....

Everything is interconnected.
We need to add Robertson on LD to Lindy + KAM, with Nils L to Fox + Trouba, with Schneider hopefully replacing JT a bit early after next season.
Zadorov 1 yr only, reserve D, plays vs bigger teams.

Jones -- if we do not get upfront full value, we have to develop showcase him.
Secondarily use as reserve D.
Principally use as W to showcase his offense,

Sell high on Strome, Buch and Zib
we can't afford long term, and none of this stupidity about we have enough draft choices, which can always be used or parlayed.

Admit Kravtsov could be a C. Give him a fair + legit chance. Worst case, it doesn't work for some inexplicable reason, then move on. But on paper, there is already every reason he can pivot, esp if w/correct Ws.
While other possibles, want to start with
Kakko-Krav-Panarin

------
Chytil, like many others, needs to improve his FOs, but otherwise pre injury was clearly emerging 2C. Again, give a full and fair chance w/complementary Ws.
LaF-Chytil-Gauthier

---------
I am very bullish on the above 2 lines, no substitutions pls
Now I am open on the bottom 6.
We may have a better option than Danault, maybe not.
In either event, sign him ONLY for 1 yr, or 2 max [1+ an option, ideally].
He should agree to that b'c I am overpaying him 7.25 per, thus he gets more than he can expect otherwise upfront and can reassess after for final contract.
I go there again ONLY due to short term.
Do not want him long term.

Now we see Jones fit at 3RW
Kreider-Danault/better option that is affordable-Jones

Cutlie-Barron-Blackwell

---------------------
We should not interfere w/LaF development pushing to C. Only after he is fully comfortable do we indulge such an experiment IF he wants and there is a need or we decide to develop pivot depth for contingency needs.
Kravtsov is dif.
He already visually demonstrates necessary passing/skating/vision, etc, has experience, and offered to play C in latest tourny.

responding to @Raspewtin
Kreider-Danault-Kakko would be awesome, but prefer my deployment above.

You certainly put a lot of thought and effort into your line combos and trade proposals, but why oh why do they ALWAYS have you trying to hammer square pegs into round holes?

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

I’m starting to think Rangers would trade even Miller before Lundkvist

Wouldn't be the most shocking thing, the one guy we heard consistently rave about Miller going back to the bubble was JD.

But depends on how they view the long term construction of the defense.

 

[NYR Viper]

Thinking long term, I think the smart approach may be to trade Zibanejad, in return netting a good young center prospect, signing Danault and keeping Strome for a season. Something like:

Trades:
Zibanejad + Hajek to Vegas for Krebs + Reaves + Holden + LV 2nd '21
Buch to Edmonton for Holloway + Khaira

Sign Danault for 5 years @ $6.5m per season with NMC in years 1 + 2 Limited NTC in years 3, 4, 5.

2021-2022 year's line-up is:
Panarin-Chytil-Gauthier
Kreider-Danault-Kaako
Laf-Strome-Kravtsov
Khaira-Rooney-Reaves
Blackwell

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Holden-Lundqvist
Bitetto

Shesty
Georgiev

AHL call-ups
Krebs
Jones
Barron
Schneider
Robertson
Richards
Holloway

2022-2023 lineup is:
Panarin-Chytil-Gauthier
Kreider-Danault-Kaako
Laf-Krebs-Kravtsov
Khaira-Richards-Barron
Reaves, Holloway

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Jones/Robertson/Schneider-Lundqvist

This opens a lot of doors for when someone specifically becomes available that they want to target while keeping cap hits down and developing talent.

 

[NYRangers16]

I love the offseason posters... so many “fun” ideas that are dumb AF

 

[NYRFANMANI]

I love the offseason posters... so many “fun” ideas that are dumb AF

... "offseason" ?

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

I love the offseason posters... so many “fun” ideas that are dumb AF

Bit pretentious... more ideas = more posts..

 

[Captain Monglobster]

Shesty likes to play the puck. We can try him at LD when Georgiev is in net.

Gotta think outside the box.

 

[bernmeister]

You certainly put a lot of thought and effort into your line combos and trade proposals, but why oh why do they ALWAYS have you trying to hammer square pegs into round holes?

thanks for the kind word and as to the other, I believe thinking outside the box is sometimes necessary to solve problems.

The ? becomes is the premise reasonable.
So what did I say in this case?
1. Kravtsov to pivot...
He has actually played C at a high level of competition.
Okay in a vacuum that is NOT enough BUT properly adding in other factors, he passes the eye test as like I said, he clearly demonstrates sufficient or better vision/skating/passing.

2. Jones to (R) W....
this is a matter of necessity.
Unless you sell high on Lindgren, if you don't want to trade KAM and intend to benefit from Robertson's overall toughness, where else can you play Jones?
He is not a C.
there is no room at RD or LD.
What else is left?

Sure, you could trade him now as is, but then you risk getting a lower return.
Have him demonstrate he is potentially another Fox, while also useful at W, go there, and deal him once his trade value is up.

I mean if Kraken would take
15OA, Zib, Buch, Strome + Jones
for
20A + some futures

there ya go.
Then you just draft Beniers, and if he's ready he's our 3C.

And a case can be made either way for SEA going there or not.

But absent something along those lines, Jones has to marinate... somewhere.

 

[Guyute]

Shesty likes to play the puck. We can try him at LD when Georgiev is in net.

Gotta think outside the box.

Might as well move Laf to center then.

Or even bring Boo back to play first line center and sign Chara this summer to slot into 4th line RW (sorry cant help myself, Bern) while we're at it.

 

[WojtekWolski86]

The transitioning wingers to centers at the NHL level is bad enough now we are transitioning defensemen to wingers?

How many trade proposals can people come up with that downright downgrade this team going forward can people come up with. I'd rather stand pat with a new coach then explore some of these terrible ideas.

 

[Deleted member 23124]

Might as well move Laf to center then.

Or even bring Boo back to play first line center and sign Chara this summer to slot into 4th line RW (sorry cant help myself, Bern) while we're at it.

Is Marek The Leak still available?

 

[E-Train]

For factual purposes Kovalev’s rookie season was 1992-93.

 

[E-Train]

based on what? might be true but not sure what the rangers have done to make you think they would trade either or one before the other

His ELC is shinier.