Speculation: Roster Building Thread LII: Countdown to Free Agency

[RGY]

Totally agree. If Shattenkirk, Smith, or Staal truly **** the bed this season, they can be bought out next summer pretty painlessly. But I think those guys all have some value still and aren't major blockers, at least yet. Were any of those guys malcontents, it might make sense to get rid of them sooner. But I don't get that feeling.

I think Staal is going to be a valuable veteran on the blueline for this young group.

Smith is a fine 7th defenseman for now. He also drops the gloves when needed.

Shattenkirk, if he is here at the start of the season, will have a decent season and we could move him at the deadline retained.

I could see us starting the season with Panarin signed and Kreider. Then we move Kreider at the deadline if we are only a bubble team.

 

[GAGLine]

I could see us starting the season with Panarin signed and Kreider. Then we move Kreider at the deadline if we are only a bubble team.

We don't have the cap space for that.

 

[egelband]

I think Zucc is very much done with the Rangers organization. He was not happy about how it ended. It sucks but it had to happen, the team is going in a different direction. He doesnt have the legacy or importance that Hank has. Also didnt have a NMC

I think I read that Zucc was always planning to test free agency. I think there's still a good shot he returns to Dallas. But he's going to see what's out there. Which is sensible.

 

[RGY]

We don't have the cap space for that.

Offseason is just getting started.

 

[Off Sides]

Nope, Ocean County.



Pork Roll egg and cheese on a hard roll for the win.

Listen, I enjoy a nice Wawa as much as anyone, but it's Taylor ham

 

[egelband]

Has anyone actually stated whether Smith is playing F or D or both this coming season? I guess it's safe to assume he's a fwd who can shift back to D if needed due to another D getting injured or penalized. But maybe that's easier said than done. Has Quinn or Gorton or even Smith said anything on that?

 

[howztheglass]

I wonder if CK to Col for Newhook+ is still something being discussed??

@Edge

Any thoughts??

I know Edge kind of said he doubts it and JG is in a call me if you want mood.

But at the draft I was thinking the same thing. Colorado drafted Newhook and could put together a really nice package.

Newhook and Kaut ( dreaming ) for CK @ 50%

 

[Chalfdiggity3]

Well, he had a chance to turn it around this past year and didn't. If he is going to turn it around this year, that means he'll need playing time. If Fox needs to start in Hartford, fine, but what if he's ready? How do we divide the starts so that Shatty can showcase himself, yet we don't negatively impact Fox's development? At the end of the day, Fox's development is more important that Shatty's shot at redemption.

If we can't find a taker for Shatty and we don't need the cap space for another move, by all means keep him for a year and hope that he can be moved next summer.

We can easily rotate them in. Fox is not ready as an every day starter yet. What if ada has another melt down, shatty can easily rotate in for either of them throughout the season. Someone will bite bc of injuries or need of him especially for the playoffs.

Smith also can rotate in and seemed capable of playing forward as well. I hate playing defenseman as a forward but I think he will be used as a spare part and idc if he sits most of the season. Again we dont need the cap space now but will in a few years when we are competing and although 3m doesn't sound like a lot but watch as we will need it for a trade or to sign someone we want and cant because of this dead cap space.

Short sighted views dont help create this team into a cup contender. The rebuild is going great so far. Let's focus on keeping the long term goal of perineal cup contenders for a long time.

 

[egelband]

Well, he had a chance to turn it around this past year and didn't. If he is going to turn it around this year, that means he'll need playing time. If Fox needs to start in Hartford, fine, but what if he's ready? How do we divide the starts so that Shatty can showcase himself, yet we don't negatively impact Fox's development? At the end of the day, Fox's development is more important that Shatty's shot at redemption.

If we can't find a taker for Shatty and we don't need the cap space for another move, by all means keep him for a year and hope that he can be moved next summer.

That is certainly an important question. If the Rangers absolutely need him in the NHL lineup, for sure, Shattenkirk is a roadblock. Fair point. Personally, I'd use it as an excuse to protect the pick and let Fox develop in Hartford. Let that play out organically.
But for sure, if the Rangers want Shattenkirk's spot for Fox, that would lead to a buyout this summer.

 

[Edge]

I know Edge kind of said he doubts it and JG is in a call me if you want mood.

But at the draft I was thinking the same thing. Colorado drafted Newhook and could put together a really nice package.

Newhook and Kaut ( dreaming ) for CK @ 50%

Considering Colorado told the Rangers they were comfortable with who they were going to take with the 16th pick, that would be a hell of an about face or a hell of a negotiating tactic.

 

[NernieBichols]

I think I read that Zucc was always planning to test free agency. I think there's still a good shot he returns to Dallas. But he's going to see what's out there. Which is sensible.

I think they are just negotiating
And I don’t mean talking negotiating
I think negotiating via the rest of the market. Zucc is gonna see if he can find a team offering what he wants and leverage it.
Probably also wants a chance to touch base with gorts

 

[GAGLine]

Has anyone actually stated whether Smith is playing F or D or both this coming season? I guess it's safe to assume he's a fwd who can shift back to D if needed due to another D getting injured or penalized. But maybe that's easier said than done. Has Quinn or Gorton or even Smith said anything on that?

Not to my knowledge. The speculation is based on his usage last year. If we carry 23, Smith can be both a spare forward and a spare dman.

 

[Avery16]

A good business person would never do something like this. It's completely inappropriate and would very likely be looked at by both players and management as unprofessional and out of line.

Not only am I sure the Rangers wouldn't engage in such practices, but I'm rather confident anyone who did, would quickly be out of the league.

The NHL is not the real estate business.

To be clear, my suggestion was something of a joke. But given that it is in our interests that he resigns with Dallas, we should at least communicate with Dallas.

 

[ETTER DE]

I think I read that Zucc was always planning to test free agency. I think there's still a good shot he returns to Dallas. But he's going to see what's out there. Which is sensible.

With AV (and Hayes) in Philadelphia, they could be an option. Could maybe use Zuuc to get Patrick going.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese = Top left, I think.

Glad you didn’t say pork roll

 

[Avery16]

Tell him wherever else he is thinking of signing is hiring Torts.

The funny thing is, Torts would kill for Zuccarello. He’s just really bad at player evaluation. Not to mention many other things.

 

[Avery16]

Smith is a fine 7th defenseman for now. He also drops the gloves when needed.

Leaving alone the other problematic parts of this post, 7th Ds don’t get into many fights (at least on the ice. We should never dare Smith to get injured in a fight)

 

[Avery16]

With AV (and Hayes) in Philadelphia, they could be an option. Could maybe use Zuuc to get Patrick going.

Shit what if it’s Hayes talking to Zucc

 

[Off Sides]

Glad you didn’t say pork roll

Does not fit the legal definition of ham, what a ridiculous ruling. How does a hamburger not need to change it's name.

 

[GAGLine]

Offseason is just getting started.

It is, but we still can't afford to keep Kreider and sign Panarin. The money has to come from somewhere. Trading Names, Strome and Vesey would clear 9.375 mil, assuming we don't retain or take money back, but Panarin can only replace 1 of them. We'd need to add at least 1 more forward. With the cap being only 81.5 mil, finding teams to take all those players at full price won't be easy. A buyout of Shatty could be the difference, maybe.

Regardless, I think Kreider gets dealt and then we'll see where we are. I don't think Panarin will be a Ranger, though.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

Nope, Ocean County.



Pork Roll egg and cheese on a hard roll for the win.

 

[NernieBichols]

With AV (and Hayes) in Philadelphia, they could be an option. Could maybe use Zuuc to get Patrick going.

Funny you mention the flyers and zucc.

The game I was at in philly where the hot philly fan rubbed her butt on the top of my head after a goal (she was in the row above me with like 2 other girls and their boyfriends-all flyer fear)

I remember it well. It was lockout shortened season in 12-13. I was there with my dad, I took him on a work trip to show him I do, so he could do it himself on Long Island, and to go to a game.

The rangers were playing like crap. The only guy going, was a recently called-up zucc fresh off resigning after playing the 1st half in the KHL.

During a timeout, zucc’s skating around in front of the bench and I let out a zuccccc from the mid tier and his eyes shot right up at me and my dad.

That was the 1st time my dad was like oh shit, they do hear you. And i was like, that’s what I’ve learnt

Flyer chick rubbed her butt on my head after a goal

I love it

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Considering Colorado told the Rangers they were comfortable with who they were going to take with the 16th pick, that would be a hell of an about face or a hell of a negotiating tactic.

Yeah, way before the lottery there was talk about them really wanting to get a 2C to play behind MacKinnon in this draft, but at #4 they land a guy that can be a do-it-all 1D (which, as good as he is, Makar isn't) and then 16 comes around and they get a guy that's got a really good shot at being that center they wanted. I can't see them giving that up for Kreider at this point

 

[Good Intentions]

It takes a solid 24 post-draft hours to pass to even begin to sort through some of the commentary...

I kept a Carpenillo journal-style bullet-point list entry for post-draft thoughts. Here we go:

1A: Have to begin with Kakko. I’ll refrain from repeating some of the gems that are already in the ‘Kakko thread’ - but this kid is 18 going on 24. He’s going to be a physical monster (wasn’t it Deadspin with the ‘beautiful monster’ WJC entry comment). Jagr was listed as 6’2 208 for the majority of his career, and I believe Kakko fits that frame - and then some. I wish Hughes nothing but the best, but he will be a pee-wee-sized Crosby target for the foreseeable future...I get the notion Kakko isn’t interested in any of this American PR hype with Jack. Kakko is here to play hockey, and he will deliver for us. 93 will be a huge beneficiary - that is a beautiful pair on the ice, and envision both (very low key personalities) getting along well off the ice too. Difficult not to get excited....we have arrived...

2...To land one of the ‘safest picks’ (Robertson) at 49 is an ‘A level’ swing. This pick feels like a Gorton/old Sather-Clark connects with the old-school Alberta trust. As I mentioned prior, the TSN best case comp for Trouba is no mistake - have to love the continuity in pointing to a vet to model after.

3-Continuation of point #2...while we were all (myself included) having an aneurysm over DAL1 and that Game 7 vs St. Louis, I would bet you a good sum that Robertson would have been the pick at #30 too. It’s a good reminder that every team has their list, we were lucky he fell to 49 but the bottom line is we got our guy without moving up etc

4. For those wishing we had a 2nd rounder instead of Fox, flake off - tomfoolery at its finest. That trade was an enormous asset W. Not debatable.

5. How deep have we become? Lias is outside my top 10. Howden-Lias-Lindgren would be 9-10-11 for me. Guys that Barron and Keane are closer to 20 than 10. That is really impressive. Updated rankings should be Top 3 in the league.

6. Last but not least, draft-aside...Eager to see Vesey go (and bracing for the more significant Kreider departure)...thinking of Kreider led me to think of homegrown 1s, which led to JT Miller and Brady Skjei. I can draw many parallels between the three players (obviously Kreider is a tier above) but I’m fearing Skjei will follow Miller as a guy that looks the part (Central Casting as Keith Hernandez would say), size, speed, it’s all there - but the sum doesn’t equal the parts. Perhaps Skjei comes into his own this year (particularly with Trouba - literally - on his side). Skjei is a wildcard player to me. If the light bulb goes on, we are going to make noise this winter.

Very exciting time.

 

[Nickmo82]

I know Edge kind of said he doubts it and JG is in a call me if you want mood.

But at the draft I was thinking the same thing. Colorado drafted Newhook and could put together a really nice package.

Newhook and Kaut ( dreaming ) for CK @ 50%

How often are players that have literally just been drafted moved? Genuine question.