Speculation: Roster Building Thread LXXX: Going 8-0 to close out might not be enough!

[tomobson]

What he's good at:
1. Skating & Motor. He's an above skater on this team. And he rarely stops. You don't have to tell him to be more aggressive in pressuring or forecheck. He is more than happy to be first in on the puck.

I don't really agree with this much. Yea he's a decent skater for this team but not really quick enough to negate his lack of hockey iq to be a good forechecker. Maybe in a year or two he'll become strong enough or develop enough hockey smarts to become a good forechecker but as of now he's below average.

 

[brians1128]

agreed, obviously dont reach if there isnt a C prospect even close...but from everything ive seen about this coming draft there will be alot of potential players around this spot

raty, silinger, mctavish, l'heureux, bolduc

theres a few more but all will probably fall between 10-20

Sillinger and L'Heureaux are most likely not NHL centers, I'd even add McTavish to that list. I think the key with the other two would be to limit expected upsides of them. You can add Svechkov to that list too as a Center who plays a great defensive game and you hope his offensive game evolves. I think all 3 would make it as a 3c, which is fine given a zibanejad resign and maybe a trade for a 2c and or Chytil developing into a 2c. There is also some interesting center names in the mid to late second and third rounds according to Mckenzie's list. Wyatt Johnston at 52, Ryder Korczak at 53, Dylan Duke at 61 (who I also don't see sticking at center), Joshua Roy at 87 interests me with our third round pick. We would need to add a pick to Buffalo's third which is at 64 currently for one of the other 3 prospects. What is going to be interesting is if any trades are made for a 2c this offseason. I could see them liking Larkin if he's available. Eichel will gut too much of what we have built and its going well. Does Buch go in a deal for a center prospect as well. Thats 2 potential centers entering the team in the next to 1-2 seasons and wouldnt force the Rangers to go absolutely center on their first, I'll then throw 2 names out there, Nikita Chibrinkov and Carson Lambos as players on tsn's list at 15 or lower

 

[Ola]

If he could get better at FO, and play a little more of heavy game along the boards, its not far fetched that prime/senior Howden could carve out a role similar to Manny Malhotra, IMO.

Good comparesion. And there are plenty of examples of guys that came into the league with a tad too high expectations, and then carved out a good career. He is improving steadily all across the board. Not saying that he is “good”, but bump all regulators up a notch or two and he becomes a decent bottom two line alternative so to speak.

Howden had a prime opportunity to lay a huge hit on someone last night on the forecheck. He declined to do so. If he doesn’t add that dimension to his game I don’t see how he stays in the league. He is bad to mediocre at everything else. Not a single plus quality.

I agree, but his skating is definitely fine. He covers a lot of ice and gets up and down the ice fast. He can’t really use it to his advantage in offensive situations, but the underlying speed is definitely there.

Ultimately — to a huge extent — what matters to us going forward is about getting a good bang for the buck. Gorton can surely get significant additions by moving out picks and prospects, but we could never fit those additions in under the cap. So every time we can save a dime it’s an improvement in other areas. Howden should make a 1m even give and take a little and if he can contribute — that is good.

 

[leetch99]

Nah that's what imitation crab meat is for. Don't ruin crab with mayo- tastes good on its own

Some friends of mine used to ship lobster to Rick Bowness when he was coaching in Quebec or Boston ? I forget which team it was . He would then always get them tickets in return.

 

[Fitzy]

Some friends of mine used to ship lobster to Rick Bowness when he was coaching in Quebec or Boston ? I forget which team it was . He would then always get them tickets in return.

I like a good lobster or steak but never get them on my own dime. Always company bought. Just a lot of things I like equally that I can get a lot cheaper

 

[leetch99]

Good comparesion. And there are plenty of examples of guys that came into the league with a tad too high expectations, and then carved out a good career. He is improving steadily all across the board. Not saying that he is “good”, but bump all regulators up a notch or two and he becomes a decent bottom two line alternative so to speak.



I agree, but his skating is definitely fine. He covers a lot of ice and gets up and down the ice fast. He can’t really use it to his advantage in offensive situations, but the underlying speed is definitely there.

Ultimately — to a huge extent — what matters to us going forward is about getting a good bang for the buck. Gorton can surely get significant additions by moving out picks and prospects, but we could never fit those additions in under the cap. So every time we can save a dime it’s an improvement in other areas. Howden should make a 1m even give and take a little and if he can contribute — that is good.

Plus he can play the wing and help at C if we had injuries looking ahead to next season . He is still young and can add on another 10 pounds of muscle under the right summer program . It would not hurt my feelings if he was retained on the cheap for another season and if we lost him in the draft...so be it...

 

[leetch99]

I like a good lobster or steak but never get them on my own dime. Always company bought. Just a lot of things I like equally that I can get a lot cheaper

I won't pay through the nose for them either . They run around 6 bucks a pound around here ....might see 7 this Spring/Summer . Crab are around 7-8 this Spring .They can have their job....When the Flyers had training camp here back in 92? Lindros ate 12 lobster while out at sea with my friends ....

 

[NYR Viper]

Post expansion draft, I’m curious if the Rangers can swing a deal that moves Hajek/Gauthier/Howden for a few middle round picks. Add a few 3rd rounders or 4th rounders and open up some spots on the roster.

I’m more inclined to do that than trade down with their 1st

 

[kovazub94]

To be fair, Brett Howden is useful in some ways. First the negatives:

1. His offensive abilities are quite limited. Vision, confidence stick handling and shot are all meh. Offense dies on his stick -- and any time he's placed with an offensive player, fan criticism of Brett Howden skyrockets.
2. On top of that, he has the yips offensively. Whenever he sees an open man or an open net his brain cannot handle it.
3. He's not strong enough along the boards to play his style.
4. He's not great on faceoffs

What he's good at:
1. Skating & Motor. He's an above skater on this team. And he rarely stops. You don't have to tell him to be more aggressive in pressuring or forecheck. He is more than happy to be first in on the puck.
2. He has a pretty good stick defensively. Has a long reach. He's above average at getting in shooting and passing lanes. Overall tenacious defender. One of the best at breaking up passes or blocking a shot.
3. He has shown decent chemistry with Rooney and the two have been pretty good at getting the puck in deep. He's one of the few forwards on the whole team that concentrates on getting the puck in deep.
4. He usually tries to make the smart safe play and is thus reliable and risk averse.

Point is -- while it's easy to see what he doesn't bring. He brings enough strengths currently to be a trusted 4th line player. Say what you want about Gauthier, there's a lot more potential in his talent, but he's not yet as reliable as a 4th liner. Gauths plays like a less effective version of Benoit Poulliot. As such, it's really hard for him to stay in the lineup in a top 9 role and he really doesn't have a 4th liners game -- yet. To me, Julien Gs long term cieling in the NHL is as a middle 6 power forward who could one day be netfront presence on PP2. The issue is -- we currently have no shortage of wingers that can play that role. But I hope we can develop him still.

I was thinking about it watching the game last night. IMO Howden doesn't have any skills that stand out. You mention skating but in today's NHL it can be considered only average. The rest of what you listed is just an effort and discipline. True hockey skills - hands, IQ, shot, physical play etc - all at about the same slightly below average level.

P.S. I loo'ed at the chemistry with Rooney point.

 

[QJL]

To be fair, Brett Howden is useful in some ways. First the negatives:

1. His offensive abilities are quite limited. Vision, confidence stick handling and shot are all meh. Offense dies on his stick -- and any time he's placed with an offensive player, fan criticism of Brett Howden skyrockets.
2. On top of that, he has the yips offensively. Whenever he sees an open man or an open net his brain cannot handle it.
3. He's not strong enough along the boards to play his style.
4. He's not great on faceoffs

What he's good at:
1. Skating & Motor. He's an above skater on this team. And he rarely stops. You don't have to tell him to be more aggressive in pressuring or forecheck. He is more than happy to be first in on the puck.
2. He has a pretty good stick defensively. Has a long reach. He's above average at getting in shooting and passing lanes. Overall tenacious defender. One of the best at breaking up passes or blocking a shot.
3. He has shown decent chemistry with Rooney and the two have been pretty good at getting the puck in deep. He's one of the few forwards on the whole team that concentrates on getting the puck in deep.
4. He usually tries to make the smart safe play and is thus reliable and risk averse.

Point is -- while it's easy to see what he doesn't bring. He brings enough strengths currently to be a trusted 4th line player. Say what you want about Gauthier, there's a lot more potential in his talent, but he's not yet as reliable as a 4th liner. Gauths plays like a less effective version of Benoit Poulliot. As such, it's really hard for him to stay in the lineup in a top 9 role and he really doesn't have a 4th liners game -- yet. To me, Julien Gs long term cieling in the NHL is as a middle 6 power forward who could one day be netfront presence on PP2. The issue is -- we currently have no shortage of wingers that can play that role. But I hope we can develop him still.

He's a below average skater with a decent motor. He doesn't have chemistry with anyone offensively. If you aren't producing with someone, you aren't showing achemistry with them. A good defensive stick and making non-bonehead plays might make you a trusted 4th liner, but not a good one. Howden has one strength - the PK. I'd rather have 4th liners who bring a little more than that.

I hope we hold on to Rooney. That's a good 4th line player.

 

[jay from jersey]

He's a below average skater with a decent motor. He doesn't have chemistry with anyone offensively. If you aren't producing with someone, you aren't showing achemistry with them. A good defensive stick and making non-bonehead plays might make you a trusted 4th liner, but not a good one. Howden has one strength - the PK. I'd rather have 4th liners who bring a little more than that.

I hope we hold on to Rooney. That's a good 4th line player.

Yea I’m done with howden. He may improve, may not but with Rooney he’s at least better at the dot, will drop the mitts, can PK and has decent enough hands as far as 4th liners go. There are just too many guys in the league who are better then howden for the same price, maybe a tad extra. Ideally, a more physical presence with better hands while not losing any speed or PK ability

 

[egelband]

I have no problem with those guys, they serve a purpose, every team has players like that. I don't consider myself and old-time hockey person but I didn't like seeing what Martin did to Trouba, clean or not. They need a player or two to answer stuff like that. Barron, Blackwell, Rooney, maybe a Martin type player would have the makings of a solid 4th line.

Broadly, I agree. But that hit on Trouba didn’t bother me. They were face to face for a long time before the hit landed. Seems to me that it was just bad luck.

 

[Peltz]

To be fair, Brett Howden is useful in some ways. First the negatives:

1. His offensive abilities are quite limited. Vision, confidence stick handling and shot are all meh. Offense dies on his stick -- and any time he's placed with an offensive player, fan criticism of Brett Howden skyrockets.
2. On top of that, he has the yips offensively. Whenever he sees an open man or an open net his brain cannot handle it.
3. He's not strong enough along the boards to play his style.
4. He's not great on faceoffs

What he's good at:
1. Skating & Motor. He's an above skater on this team. And he rarely stops. You don't have to tell him to be more aggressive in pressuring or forecheck. He is more than happy to be first in on the puck.
2. He has a pretty good stick defensively. Has a long reach. He's above average at getting in shooting and passing lanes. Overall tenacious defender. One of the best at breaking up passes or blocking a shot.
3. He has shown decent chemistry with Rooney and the two have been pretty good at getting the puck in deep. He's one of the few forwards on the whole team that concentrates on getting the puck in deep.
4. He usually tries to make the smart safe play and is thus reliable and risk averse.

Point is -- while it's easy to see what he doesn't bring. He brings enough strengths currently to be a trusted 4th line player. Say what you want about Gauthier, there's a lot more potential in his talent, but he's not yet as reliable as a 4th liner. Gauths plays like a less effective version of Benoit Poulliot. As such, it's really hard for him to stay in the lineup in a top 9 role and he really doesn't have a 4th liners game -- yet. To me, Julien Gs long term cieling in the NHL is as a middle 6 power forward who could one day be netfront presence on PP2. The issue is -- we currently have no shortage of wingers that can play that role. But I hope we can develop him still.

I agree with this completely. But I think they’re probably going to trade him.

 

[gravey9]

He's a below average skater with a decent motor. He doesn't have chemistry with anyone offensively. If you aren't producing with someone, you aren't showing achemistry with them. A good defensive stick and making non-bonehead plays might make you a trusted 4th liner, but not a good one. Howden has one strength - the PK. I'd rather have 4th liners who bring a little more than that.

I hope we hold on to Rooney. That's a good 4th line player.

I wasn't advocating for Brett Howden to be a long term solution. I was just pointing out that whatever he does bring currently makes him one of our better options for a 4th liner because he also PKs too. But thats for THIS team. THIS year. As our team evolves, he must grow his game substantially -- (get stronger on his skates, win board battles and learn grow some confidence with the puck). Otherwise, he's gotta go/be demoted. I don't think any of us will lose a second of sleep if Howden is selected in the expansion draft or traded for a 3rd/4th round pick or something.

That said, the other positive that Brett Howden has given the team: he's been useful enough to where we haven't had to force Barron up before he's ready. Though if we get officially eliminated I would like to give Ronning a game.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I like a good lobster or steak but never get them on my own dime. Always company bought. Just a lot of things I like equally that I can get a lot cheaper

Hot take - crab is better than lobster

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I wasn't advocating for Brett Howden to be a long term solution. I was just pointing out that whatever he does bring currently makes him one of our better options for a 4th liner because he also PKs too. But thats for THIS team. THIS year. As our team evolves, he must grow his game substantially -- (get stronger on his skates, win board battles and learn grow some confidence with the puck). Otherwise, he's gotta go/be demoted. I don't think any of us will lose a second of sleep if Howden is selected in the expansion draft or traded for a 3rd/4th round pick or something.

That said, the other positive that Brett Howden has given the team: he's been useful enough to where we haven't had to force Barron up before he's ready. Though if we get officially eliminated I would like to give Ronning a game.

I will because I will be partying for a few days if that happens.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Hot take - crab is better than lobster

Depends on the type of crab....Bairdi/Queen/King absolutely. Snow/Dungeness/Blue/Stone, while still very tasty, I'd rather have lobster.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Depends on the type of crab....Bairdi/Queen/King absolutely. Snow/Dungeness/Blue/Stone, while still very tasty, I'd rather have lobster.

Blue, stone, king, snow > lobster. Although blue crabs are a pain in the ass to eat.

 

[Matt Rentfree]

Depends on the type of crab....Bairdi/Queen/King absolutely. Snow/Dungeness/Blue/Stone, while still very tasty, I'd rather have lobster.

Usually I'd go for lobster, but eating king crab in Alaska was a pretty sublime experience.

 

[Avery16]

Blues are bringing Kostin over. You'd think given our options here and on Hartford, we'd bring Rykov over.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Blue, stone, king, snow > lobster. Although blue crabs are a pain in the ass to eat.

Blue crabs are way too much work for the little amount of reward. Plus they always need some type of seasoning & a lot of it. I love the idea of beating my food with a mallet before I eat it, but they are far down the list of my preferred shell fish.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Usually I'd go for lobster, but eating king crab in Alaska was a pretty sublime experience.

That's a bucket list item for sure, but I have had fresh lobster off the dock in Maine.

 

[Matt Rentfree]

That's a bucket list item for sure, but I have had fresh lobster off the dock in Maine.

As have I - also a sublime experience.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Blue crabs are way too much work for the little amount of reward. Plus they always need some type of seasoning & a lot of it. I love the idea of beating my food with a mallet before I eat it, but they are far down the list of my preferred shell fish.

That's fair.

 

[cheech70]

Our NYR are 13th overall currently in the standings and 5 points from 10th!!!! Not too shabby