Speculation: Roster Building Thread LVIII: At part 58, I am out of titles.

[Ola]

Kakko should never play on a wing with Brendan Lemieux and Brett Howden

Why not? I think that would be an excellent environment for him, when he is 18 of course (ie not in his prime yet). Kakko’s biggest strength is as a very strong goto individual. His environment requirements are kind of like Jagr’s. Jagr functioned — much — better with Dubinsky and Avery than with Drury for example. I think a Lemieux-Howden-Kakko line could be successful in the same way the line of Avery-Dubinsky-Jagr thrived.

I think that it is very valuable for Kakko to play with someone that plays with a lot of intensity and can tear holes in a defense. That will create havoc and open ice, and when Kakko gets that open ice we will see his magic. Of course it would be best if we had like a Barzal or Point, but it’s probably good that he doesn’t have to play 20 minutes a night and get all attention as a rookie.

 

[pld459666]

You have to wonder what EDM thought about the AlNyls for Jokiharju trade as regards Pulju...

That's a good point.

I wonder if bloodlines had an assist in inflating Alex Nylander value.

I would think Edmonton was encouraged with the return Buffalo got for their underperforming asset

 

[Vitto79]

Dzingel is the only F left to go the rest of the list is likely guys retiring , PTOs, 1 yr cheap deals

So the trade market will open up more

 

[Cag29]

I think that it’s very likely that we will have a 1st line and then at least two lines with equal responsibilities, if not three. If Fast is back in form it’s perfectly possible that the 4th line provide enough spark to be equally important to line 2 and 3 if they have inconsistent young rookies on them.

With our current centers, I would prefer to see Howden with Kakko if not with Ziba. Or Lias if he really has taken a step during the summer, if not I would like to see Lias in HFD. Not Chytil or Strome.

I think that is the best position for Kakko. Easier match-ups. A little smaller role at the start of games, but still two guys who very loyally would support him and look to him for creativeness. Then on nights when he is on, you can start to move him up.

Without Kreider:
Kravy-Ziba-Buch
Names-Chytil-Strome
Lemieux-Howden-Kakko
McKegg-Boo-Fast

With Kreider and without Names
Kreider-Ziba-Kravy
Buch-Chytil-Strome
Lemieux-Howden-Kakko
McKegg-Boo-Fast

Panarin?

 

[Inferno]

Zero interest in brassard. I'd rather give that spot to howden...

Oh yeah I'm sure I'm gonna get murdered here, and I fully understand why.

But I really love howdens game in flashes last year... I see a metric ton of upside to his game and could see him being a 50ish point shut down center in 2 or 3 years. So if there's a spot on the 2c or 3c.. I'm fine with giving it to him. I don't expect us to win this year regardless. Let the kids get their minutes but insulate them from the really tough matchups with zibenjad and panarin

 

[Waivers]

Brassard? You guys are reaching now. Tons of question marks this season, including Year 1 and Year 2 players, with a reclamation project in Strome. Let the kids play. That’s the only way this team gets better. The kids need to play. Let Strome show that he’s trending up again this season.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Zero interest in brassard. I'd rather give that spot to howden...

Oh yeah I'm sure I'm gonna get murdered here, and I fully understand why.

But I really love howdens game in flashes last year... I see a metric ton of upside to his game and could see him being a 50ish point shut down center in 2 or 3 years. So if there's a spot on the 2c or 3c.. I'm fine with giving it to him. I don't expect us to win this year regardless. Let the kids get their minutes but insulate them from the really tough matchups with zibenjad and panarin

I agree. In theory, I wouldn’t mind the concept of a vet center on a cheap deal as a safety net, but we already have both Namestnikov and Strome who can fill that role (unless we’re thinking of moving both of them, which I highly doubt). So let Chytil, Howden, and Andersson show us what they can do.

The only exception should be if you can get a center who can be part of the core (e.g. Dvorak or Borgstrom or the like).

 

[rangers1314]

It'll be interesting to see what Howden brings this season.

Someone, I believe it was Maloney, said at the end of the season that the Howden brothers weren't known for taking their offseason training very seriously...hopefully this is a big summer for him.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Just to be clear this is the Ryan Strome we're talking about. The one who looks bad by multiple models and almost all metrics. And we want this guy as a possible 2C?

Why do we care? We aren’t contending this season.

I don’t get all the freak outs over Strome, Stark, etc. This is not a year we are contending. It shouldn’t matter. If he is still out 2C 2 years from now, then I will have concerns. I highly doubt he will be though.

 

[NYR Viper]

Zero interest in brassard. I'd rather give that spot to howden...

Oh yeah I'm sure I'm gonna get murdered here, and I fully understand why.

But I really love howdens game in flashes last year... I see a metric ton of upside to his game and could see him being a 50ish point shut down center in 2 or 3 years. So if there's a spot on the 2c or 3c.. I'm fine with giving it to him. I don't expect us to win this year regardless. Let the kids get their minutes but insulate them from the really tough matchups with zibenjad and panarin

I'd be just fine walking into next year with Howden/Brassard as the 2/3C combination.

I guess my line of thinking would be, if they can get anything for Strome, the drop off from him to Brassard in actual on ice play would be minimal so adding the asset they receive in return for Strome would be a plus. For example:

To FLA:
Strome
To NYR:
FLA 3rd '20 + FLA 4th '21

Sign Brassard - 1 year @ $2m

 

[GAGLine]

I'd be just fine walking into next year with Howden/Brassard as the 2/3C combination.

I guess my line of thinking would be, if they can get anything for Strome, the drop off from him to Brassard in actual on ice play would be minimal so adding the asset they receive in return for Strome would be a plus. For example:

To FLA:
Strome
To NYR:
FLA 3rd '20 + FLA 4th '21

Sign Brassard - 1 year @ $2m

How much value does Strome actually have right now? I think we'd be better off keeping him and see if he can improve on that value. He's still an RFA at the end of his contract.

If we are going to trade him, I don't then want to use up most of that cap space by replacing him with Brassard. Just leave the spot for Names/Chytil/Andersson/Howden to fight over and use the cap space for what we actually need it for: signing our RFAs.

 

[RGY]

Namestnikov likely wont be here to start next season.

It is ok to have some veterans here, especially on the cheap.

Brassard is still young enough and would be signing a show me deal, while also being someone you can move around the lineup.

You trade Namestnikov for asset(s).

If team is a bubble team or not making the playoffs you could likely flip Brassard for something.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Can something happen today?

Like anything? I'll take a RFA re-signing or a Ruff firing.

 

[Leetch3]

Zero interest in brassard. I'd rather give that spot to howden...

Oh yeah I'm sure I'm gonna get murdered here, and I fully understand why.

But I really love howdens game in flashes last year... I see a metric ton of upside to his game and could see him being a 50ish point shut down center in 2 or 3 years. So if there's a spot on the 2c or 3c.. I'm fine with giving it to him. I don't expect us to win this year regardless. Let the kids get their minutes but insulate them from the really tough matchups with zibenjad and panarin

i'm a big fan of howden...not sure how high his offensive upside is but I think he's gonna be a fantastic 3C. but mika can't be the only veteran center to insulate the kids, he can't play 35 minutes a night. you need to have other options to take minutes if needed...that said though the only scenario that I'd even consider brassard is if we trade both strome and names and need a vet to play center. but if either of those 2 are still here than they are your insurance to insulate the kids behind mika and you don't need another C

 

[haveandare]

Why do we care? We aren’t contending this season.

I don’t get all the freak outs over Strome, Stark, etc. This is not a year we are contending. It shouldn’t matter. If he is still out 2C 2 years from now, then I will have concerns. I highly doubt he will be though.

By that logic put Nieves there then.

Not expecting to win, to me, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter if we’re not putting guys in a good position to succeed. It’s being willing to deal with growing pains and the like.

Strome isn’t even a passable 2C imo. I’d rather at least put a kid there who might grow from it

 

[Leetch3]

Can something happen today?

Like anything? I'll take a RFA re-signing or a Ruff firing.

ruff firing...talk about dreaming big

 

[Leetch3]

It'll be interesting to see what Howden brings this season.

Someone, I believe it was Maloney, said at the end of the season that the Howden brothers weren't known for taking their offseason training very seriously...hopefully this is a big summer for him.

slacking on offseason training won't fly at the nhl level....this is a huge offseason for howden, lias and chytil. they need to add strength and grow into men...I haven't heard anything but I'm really hoping the rangers have them spending time with prentiss this offseason

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Howden is better than Brassard right now. For a team that had Wade Redden past his prime I'm surprised so many would take on Brassard right now.

 

[Trxjw]

I don't think much of anything is going to happen until some of these teams get their big name RFAs locked up. Definitely bogging down the market.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Isn't Brassard like 30? How has he fallen off a cliff so fast?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Howden is better than Brassard right now. For a team that had Wade Redden past his prime I'm surprised so many would take on Brassard right now.

The two aren't even remotely comparable. Brassard on a 1 year deal doesn't hurt anyone

 

[Ola]

The off-season has definitely slowed down now.

It felt like Gorton would have many things lined up when Panarin signed. But conditions change. Read through some Vancouver thread at the trade board. Vancouver has big cap issues, I think that is telling. There are so many RFAs unsigned. I think there will be many holdouts when camp starts. Which price chart applies? Skinner’s or the one we see UFAs has to sign by now? Kreider would be one of the top UFAs next summer, now when everyone are dealing with all concerns — are GMs really keen to set up for another nightmare next summer just about now?

I considered it more like a “let’s look at everything from all angels”- scenario before, but now I am starting to wonder if the buy-out 3 Ds option wouldn’t be best:

-We only lose cap space of 4.9m x 2 years (21/22 and 22/23).

-It gives us decent flexibility both now and in the coming years.

-There is really no point in getting a record amount of cap space off the books in 2021 since the year after many top kids will become RFAs.

-Look, I wouldnt he worried about the blueline even without the tumors.

We should have a very solid all-around top pairing next season. They should play 23-24 minutes a night.

We can keep Claesson around as a 5-7th D, he more or less matched Staal’s play last season, and outplayed Smith.

TDA is an established NHLer, he has played 4 pro seasons.

And we would have plenty of competition for the remaining spots, which easily could be filled with like a Bigras type off the waivers if the kids isn’t ready.

JMHO.


Resign all the RFAs to long term deals. I like this line-up:

Kreider-Ziba-Kravy
Panarin-Chytil-Buch
Lemieux-Howden-Kakko
Namestnikov-Strome-Fast
Skjei-Trouba
Claesson-TDA
Hajak-Fox

 

[RGY]

Howden is better than Brassard right now. For a team that had Wade Redden past his prime I'm surprised so many would take on Brassard right now.

Why is this so incomprehensible?

The discussion starter with Brassard signing a 1 year, $1.5 million deal.

How is that comparable to Wade Redden or any past mistake?

We need to move bodies out, such as Namestnikov, to create some salary relief. But that doesnt mean we shouldnt replace that veteran and just play the kids in roles/minutes they may not be ready for.

ONE YEAR. 1 year. At $1.5 million that provide great insurance and flexibility in the lineup.

 

[East Coast Bias]

Howden is better than Brassard right now. For a team that had Wade Redden past his prime I'm surprised so many would take on Brassard right now.

I didn't watch a lot of Brassard last season, but Howden was absolutely AHL level. So I find that hard to believe.

He needs to be make extraordinary progress just to be a serviceable 4th line C. Forget 2nd line.

 

[SA16]

Why do we care? We aren’t contending this season.

I don’t get all the freak outs over Strome, Stark, etc. This is not a year we are contending. It shouldn’t matter. If he is still out 2C 2 years from now, then I will have concerns. I highly doubt he will be though.

I personally have an issue intentionally giving bad players important minutes regardless of what you are trying to do (provided you have better options obviously). Whether it's Strome, Staal, or whoever. It indicates to me a lack of recognition by the coaching staff. We have three centers who were 1st round picks in the last three years. They can all switch off on that role if none handle it rather than pigeon hole some of them into defensive 4th line minutes with weaker players which will not help their offense. I find Brassard a little different as despite being absolutely horrible last year he does have a history of being a quality player which Strome does not. Not to mention I think Strome will be overvalued by other teams in trade talks due to how many goals he scored last year and "getting out of Edmonton." Not that he has a lot of value but it's more than it would be if he played exactly the same way but ran bad offensively and shot 5% instead of 22.5%.

I thought Howden was really bad last year too and shouldn't have even made the team. The difference is he's 21 and has only one year of NHL experience and has way more room to grow than someone like Strome does.

I also don't agree with the whole "we aren't contending this season" concept. Why don't we see how things play out? The one way to make sure we aren't going to is by intentionally overplaying bad players.