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

[rangers1314]

A few notes from 31T today:
- EF believes that Buffalo has interviewed Rikard Gonborg.
- Says any team that acquires JE must be on board with how he wants to approach his neck injury. Teams are doing their due diligence on the path he wants.
- EF wonders if the JE deal happens sooner rather than later b/c of the injury and its path forward.
- Blues are open for business. Vince Dunn is available and has been for a bit.
- Tocchet is on interview 2 with NYR, CBJ and Seattle. Says hes got a great rep and people respect him.
- Tocchet & Gallent are serious with NYR.

 

[Vitto79]

News Alert: at least one of your favorite prospects WILL be traded, likely sometime within the next year. All these Dmen cant play at the same time.

good chance but they also don’t have to be in the nhl they have AHL options

 

[CLW]

So what team did you watch this past season? Obvious need is center and you bring back all 3 we had? Watching the teams in the playoffs make it obvious we need to upgrade that position in order to compete with the big boys. My concern is the kids may struggle to get better with mediocre centers on their lines.

What has Kravstov done to get top 6 minutes over Kakko? The kid line idea didn't work last year either. I would trade one of Strome or Buch and get Kreider used to 3LW where he will be for the forseeable future imo.

I'll spell it out slower, since you didn't pick up on the context of the post.

Bolded players are players on long term significant contracts. Zib and Buch are both likely to resign imo, the team wants to compete for the playoffs and neither is easily replaceable with like for like and certainly not for cheaper. The others are either vets that need to be moved at some point (Strome eg) or kids that will need to be paid in the near future. The cap situation, and players' willingness to sign sweetheart deals (Tampa style) will dictate moves as much as what the team wants to do.

Clearly there is a need to balance the C position, three offensively minded C with similar strengths and weaknesses are not ideal. If Zib signs, not unlikely, then Chytil will need to improve and prove he is a real top six C in the NHL and Strome is moved out for a cheaper option that plays more of two way game.

The team also has a million kids coming through on the D side at the same time, which just doesn't work for practical and cap reasons. I'm with those who argue that a young, up and coming (and cheaper) C is the way to go rather than spend money on an UFA that will push the cap to the roof. In that context it makes sense to move a veteran/d-prospect as necessary to find a young C for the long term.

 

[CLW]

A few notes from 31T today:
- EF believes that Buffalo has interviewed Rikard Gonborg.
- Says any team that acquires JE must be on board with how he wants to approach his neck injury. Teams are doing their due diligence on the path he wants.
- EF wonders if the JE deal happens sooner rather than later b/c of the injury and its path forward.
- Blues are open for business. Vince Dunn is available and has been for a bit.
- Tocchet is on interview 2 with NYR, CBJ and Seattle. Says hes got a great rep and people respect him.
- Tocchet & Gallent are serious with NYR.

Tocchet and JE are exactly the "bold" (what Dolan said he is looking for) types of moves that would not surprise me after the hatchet job on JD and Gorton. Especially with Sather and his track record back in the picture and a rookie PresidentGM.

 

[rangers1314]

Tocchet and JE are exactly the "bold" (what Dolan said he is looking for) types of moves that would not surprise me after the hatchet job on JD and Gorton. Especially with Sather and his track record back in the picture and a rookie PresidentGM.

JE yes, but not Tocchet. Nothing bold about him. He's done absolutely nothing as a HC. Dullsville, zero juice. The only thing I ever heard about Tocchet is that "Phil Kessel likes him", which got him this MO has a "coach the players love".

If you're looking for the "BOLD, headline grabbing" move, that would be Babcock. But thank Christ thats not happening.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

A few notes from 31T today:

- Says any team that acquires JE must be on board with how he wants to approach his neck injury. Teams are doing their due diligence on the path he wants.
- EF wonders if the JE deal happens sooner rather than later b/c of the injury and its path forward.

I wondered this as well a little while ago. The draft is too late this year for an Eichel trade. My guess is that he's traded before the month is through. Also to that first part, I wonder if that lowers the price knowing that you'd have to let him get this type of surgery that might (MIGHT) render him anywhere from less effective to career altering.

 

[bernmeister]

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

Did Bern say let's make Jones a winger?
I read that correctly right??

News Alert: at least one of your favorite prospects WILL be traded, likely sometime within the next year. All these Dmen cant play at the same time.

To those who wanna be critical, fine.
Just speak to the facts.
@TheBloodyNine is correct, and as I mapped out, someone has to go.
Is anyone suggesting we deal any one of Lindgren, KAM, Robertson, Fox, Nils L and Schneider [Trouba not an option now, and Schneid will step in first chance] instead of Jones?

The whole point of showcasing Jones is to up his value and prove how good he is at NHL level to when we deal, we max our return. I'd like to add and get a Vilardi type back. But LA will try to offer us less. Howev, if Jones is sufficiently proven, his value commands a high en0ugh return.

Jones to 3RW is b'c there is no room elsewhere he has to do second reserve at D.
But IF IF IF we can add further to his value if he demonstrates reasonably good look on offense, that adds still more to his value and enlarges base of potential suitors.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

To those who wanna be critical, fine.
Just speak to the facts.
@TheBloodyNine is correct, and as I mapped out, someone has to go.
Is anyone suggesting we deal any one of Lindgren, KAM, Robertson, Fox, Nils L and Schneider [Trouba not an option now, and Schneid will step in first chance] instead of Jones?

The whole point of showcasing Jones is to up his value and prove how good he is at NHL level to when we deal, we max our return. I'd like to add and get a Vilardi type back. But LA will try to offer us less. Howev, if Jones is sufficiently proven, his value commands a high en0ugh return.

Jones to 3RW is b'c there is no room elsewhere he has to do second reserve at D.
But IF IF IF we can add further to his value if he demonstrates reasonably good look on offense, that adds still more to his value and enlarges base of potential suitors.

So we’re trading for Jones so we can play him in a position he’s never played before, hoping to further increase his trade value?

Did I read that correctly?

 

[jay from jersey]

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.

lay off the devils lettuce broski. Quite a reach from outside the box thinking like trying a 4th line fwd at 1C or moving Kravtsov to 1C which are improbable but still have some grounded basis in reality.

it’s quite another to move one of the premier LD in the league to RW where he hasn’t played in the league ever to benefit for Robertson’s toughness. I’m probably one of the biggest proponents of Robertson on this site. But on his best day jones eats him for breakfast in terms of toughness and physicality

 

[Edge]

It took me a while to realize we weren't talking about Zac Jones, who used to be a forward.

I'm all caught up now.

I'll just see myself out.

 

[Daves a mess]

Did Bern say let's make Jones a winger?

I read that correctly right??

Duh. Chara Boo Jones checking line.
Follow along son.
#inavacuum
#wheresjorts

 

[Doctyl]

Tocchet and JE are exactly the "bold" (what Dolan said he is looking for) types of moves that would not surprise me after the hatchet job on JD and Gorton. Especially with Sather and his track record back in the picture and a rookie PresidentGM.

How is Tocchet a bold move. They’re both bad ideas, but at least I understand why someone like Dolan would want Eichel. Is it the gambling problem that makes him attractive? I don’t see why he would want a coach who hasn’t been successful in the NHL otherwise.

 

[CLW]

How is Tocchet a bold move. They’re both bad ideas, but at least I understand why someone like Dolan would want Eichel. Is it the gambling problem that makes him attractive? I don’t see why he would want a coach who hasn’t been successful in the NHL otherwise.

Bold and smart are not the same necessarily. Bold is a spacious concept.

 

[Doctyl]

Bold and smart are not the same necessarily. Bold is a spacious concept.

but how is Tocchet bold?

 

[RGY]

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

I love the posters who can’t wrap their head around why posters, aka people who sign up for a specifically catered website with a message board, post even more in the offseason in a Roster Building thread throwing out different ideas, and then continue by calling those posters “dumb AF” for doing so.

Sir, I think you’re in the wrong place.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

So we’re trading for Jones so we can play him in a position he’s never played before, hoping to further increase his trade value?

Did I read that correctly?

You know there are people on this board that live to put players out of position. I'm surprised they haven't suggested Jones at center yet.

 

[CLW]

but how is Tocchet bold?

Because he has no talent. It's a bold move to attempt to find success with a coach like that, I mean what are the odds?

 

[Doctyl]

Because he has no talent. It's a bold move to attempt to find success with a coach like that, I mean what are the odds?

Just like bold doesnt mean smart, it also doesnt mean stupid beyond comprehension.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

RE: Tocchet I like that the guy has won as a player and also as an assistant. I don't like any of his previous head coaching stints though. So I guess I'm saying that I'd rather not.

 

[CLW]

Just like bold doesnt mean smart, it also doesnt mean stupid beyond comprehension.

I've seen plenty of stupid beyond comprehension from sports management in my days. They tend to operate our of a fairly predictable framework.

If the interest on Tocchet is genuine and not PR then what can I say.

 

[Edge]

but how is Tocchet bold?

I think he meant bald.

 

[Shadowtron]

I think he meant bald.

You’re on a roll tonight, bud. Lol!!

 

[FIRE DRURY]

You know there are people on this board that live to put players out of position. I'm surprised they haven't suggested Jones at center yet.

I pretty sure I misinterpreted him. Someone else mentioned trading for Seth Jones and I thought that’s who he was referencing.

 

[Ola]

I really don’t have great track of Gallant, but Tocchet could definitely be a better fit with this team than GG. Tocchet is probably one of the safer options out there. He has been around teams winning due to talent his entire life and of course picked up a lot of things playing with basically all the greats. By all accounts he is very professional.

To some extent, I wonder if he isn’t the guy we should have had, while possibly not being the perfect fit for making a team taking another step.

 

[Fitzy]

I wonder if Malkin will be done with hockey at the end of next season. Pretty intensive injury history culminating in this big time knee surgery, and he's only got one year left on his deal.

If he struggles next season I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see him call time on his career a little early.

At that point, Pittsburgh (And Crosby) is going to be at a bit of a crossroads. Letang's contract is up at the same time.

One wonders if Crosby wants to play through another rebuild. Next season may be the last kick at the can for a cup in the Crosby era in Pittsburgh.