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

[FIRE DRURY]

That looks amazing, tons of meat, toasted roll

But, nothing annoys me more than restaurants that use mayo in a lobster roll.

Same. That’s more of a Maine thing. Here in CT it’s almost always served hot w/butter, the way it should be.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Same. That’s more of a Maine thing. Here in CT it’s almost always served hot w/butter, the way it should be.

I'm moving to the Constitution State in July...I'm already dreaming of pizza & lobster rolls. I plan to gain 10 pounds for the winter. LOL. Can't wait to be back on the east coast.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

I'm moving to the Constitution State in July...I'm already dreaming of pizza & lobster rolls. I plan to gain 10 pounds for the winter. LOL. Can't wait to be back on the east coast.

What city?

 

[BBKers]

ummmmmmwrongthread

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Could be a blessing in disguise to have the flaws w this roster get exposed badly now so that corrections can be made ahead of next season.

Resigning everyone and bringing back the same group doesn’t look like much of an option right now.

 

[Nyrtrublue1]

Could be a blessing in disguise to have the flaws w this roster get exposed badly now so that corrections can be made ahead of next season.

Resigning everyone and bringing back the same group doesn’t look like much of an option right now.

I'd be so hesitant to move anyone other than Howden, Rooney, ADA and maybe Hajek

 

[Richard Banger]

Zib Buch Hajek Strome Howden.


Keep everyone else. its a lot to move on from but if we really want to be a elite team for a while you need to make these uncomfortable moves.

 

[Boris Zubov]

What city?

For now West Hartford. Plan to buy a house closer to the Mass/RI borders to be closer to Boston.

 

[Off Sides]

Hypothetically

One wants to move Zbad, Strome, Buch

Yet all the teams looking at them see them as one year under control players before they can hit UFA, and will only offer like 2nd round pick(s) and Howden level prospects.

What does one do?

 

[mike14]

Hypothetically

One wants to move Zbad, Strome, Buch

Yet all the teams looking at them see them as one year under control players before they can hit UFA, and will only offer like 2nd round pick(s) and Howden level prospects.

What does one do?

You look to Seattle who should end up with a fair bit of depth type talent post expansion draft, but will likely need some established top-6 players.
Does having a year of Strome, likely playing for his big pay day, give you chance to convince him to commit to a new franchise? Can you turn him into a 3rd liner (plus pick/prospect) who brings different dimension to what we currently have?

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

The team is in a real pickle with Zibanejad.

The price for his next deal has likely come down due to the flat cap and he’s been trash most of this year. And that contract has a solid chance of being a bad one assuming they do sign him

But they have no one else to replace him. And he’s a UFA next summer so it’s not like his trade value is super high

 

[Crease]

Is there a reason to make decisions on Zibanejad and Strome this offseason? Next season will be contract years. They both may have career years.

 

[Leetch3]

Is there a reason to make decisions on Zibanejad and Strome this offseason? Next season will be contract years. They both may have career years.

absolutely you want to make decisions on them this offseason...if you decide to keep them and extend them now, they still play next year on their current cap hits. but if you decide that they don't fit or you can't afford them because they are asking for too much, you should get far more for them in a trade with a year left than as pending UFAs.

both having 1 year left on good contracts gives us the luxury of being able to punt the decision and we aren't forced to do anything if the right deal (trade or contract) isn't there...but I think the smart move is to figure it out if you can

 

[Avery16]

Rangers shakeup coming after no-show Islanders loss

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Is there a reason to make decisions on Zibanejad and Strome this offseason? Next season will be contract years. They both may have career years.

You absolutely have to make those decisions now. Their value will never be higher than it is before next season, and their value will only go down once the season starts. Plus it's important for our long term planning. Rangers are going to be trying to make the playoffs next season - are they supposed to be sellers as well? They can't lose either/or for nothing.

 

[Ola]

We missed the POs this year. What are the outlook for next year?

1. Think we have 10 wins and 17 losses against the POs teams this year. NYI, Washington, Pittsburg and Boston. We aren’t really close to .500 against them.

We can rely on our skill against NJ, Buffalo and Philly, but we must improve as a team.

2. Our defense got a bump under Martin from my POV. Our PK has been excellent under him too. This is a big improvement. I think our 3rd pairing is a nightmare, if we can solidify that personel wise our defense as such will have come a long way.

3. We were basically a PO team last season. This year conditions have been different, yes. Fact of the matter is that we had 6 wins and 5 losses against the “PO teams” (NYI, Was, Pitt and Bos) last season. This just confirms what I think is very obvious, as a team we are not improving, if anything its the contrary. We are torn between (very) naive attempts to turn us into a team like the Islanders and being a team that gift wraps way to much for the other team. If anything I think we are regressing in all areas except the bump we got from Martin.

4. What can we expect in terms of individual efforts?

I am not nearly as positive here as I gather that many others are. Kakko’s production is basically unchanged from last season, despite huge expectations on improvements. Laf came in extremely far below expectations.

I know from experience that it is easy to take good performances for granted and expect improvements on a team level since the underperformers/kids should head in the right direction. Just Laf, Kakko and co should improve, guys like Buch and Fox can produce less next year if they face adversity.

5. Relative to other teams, we have largely been spared from big issues in terms of covid and injuries:

Man-games lost is not random and largely carries over from year to year. Panarin's absence hurt us, but at the same time, almost all teams have had huge issues this year and 10 games is only a minor stretch.

I am not sure if we can expect big improvements for us relative other teams just because we can't be expected to have Covid/injuries next season. If anything I think we are a bit exposed in this area with Ziba's concussion issues, we have no offensive depth behind Fox and so forth.

6. I see obvious marks of there being tensions between the players on how to play too. Everyone must be on the same page. Why are we so inconsistent? Why do we suddenly play the worst when the game matters the most? From experience, this is also exactly what you get when there is not a clear game plan and everyone aren't pulling in the same direction.

Strengths of this team: We have a tremendous amount of individual talent.

Weakness of this team: We gift wrap way too many offensive chances for the other team. Big issue is turnovers in the transition play.

Summary: Ultimately I think the next big step for this team is to adopt a realistic game plan and work towards becoming a team that can have durable success.

We need to get away from being naive and gift wrapping offense to the other team. But what is the remedy -- for this team -- in relation to that? All teams that have won the Cup the last decade have one thing and one thing only in common. They are all different. Chicago, Boston, Tampa, Washington, Pittsburgh and STL are all different. Designing something that will work with this NYR will be a very elaborate work and it can take time to get there. I know that I am a broken record on this, but I think Dave Quinn is hopelessly inadequate for this task.

One thing that stands out to me is that a lot of our faults are blamed on us making East-West passes per see, but there is almost no talk about how we are pretty mediocre moving the puck in the transition game. Especially compared to like the Chicago and Detroit teams that won like what 4 of the last 15 cups. That is not strange because we have a coach who puts all focus on erasing this part of our game from our game-plan in the transition play, and of course as a consequence never works with the team to improve it in this area. If we want a big immediate improvement that will result in more pts in the standings next season -- this is without any single doubt where the focus should be put. I.e. acknowledging that a big component of this team's future success will be a puck possession game, and improve the "mediocre" level its currently at. It is also extremely obvious that every player aren't on the same page here. This is a big mess.

 

[Ola]

Hot take - crab is better than lobster

(OT but I could not resist.) This above is a bold and interesting statement. As I have owned/managed several top end seafood restaurants (one of which was Michelin acclaimed) in 3 countries throughout my 37 years as a working professional; was one of Northern Europes largest seafood producers for several years; studied fishbiology at the University; worked at the Fullton Market in the 80s/90s, a s o, it might be thought that I have some insight on such a matter.

But one really does not. Taste is simply in the eyes of the beholder. And determined by the quality of the produce. A subjective and hardly an objective parameter that one can fairly judge upon. Fancy stats ain't gonna change that either. I love eating both of these shellfish immensely (warm-water lobster not so much), but in my preferred zone of taste I would have to go with the Kamchatka Crab as being #1 - but only by an inch or so. That being said, you have not tried my European lobster recipes (Homarus gammarus which IMO is overall a bit better tasting than the American lobster/Homarus americanus). If you had, then you also might have a different opinion... Fishy business! 4 sure

I can imagine that crab can be fantastic, but I've never been served a decent crab in Sweden compared to the lobster that can be godly.

Reading this made me really hungry BTW. Going to pick up a shrimp sandwhich right now.

 

[Richard Banger]

Rangers shakeup coming after no-show Islanders loss

I usually don’t read Larry’s shit but he Nailed it. This loss should leave a bad taste in Gorts mouth to make changes.

start with the coach and then the players

 

[Ola]

You absolutely have to make those decisions now. Their value will never be higher than it is before next season, and their value will only go down once the season starts. Plus it's important for our long term planning. Rangers are going to be trying to make the playoffs next season - are they supposed to be sellers as well? They can't lose either/or for nothing.

This is one area I have faith in Gorton in.

Listen, Gorton must seriously -- listen -- to calls on Zibanejad this summer. Right or wrong, this is a relationship that have had issues and we know from experience that players that gets that labeled won't be long-lived in NY, unless they are willing to basically sacrifice everything else (like Zucc did). On top of that, he got concussion issues and he hasn't been able to match up well against the top lines around us.

NHL GMs are extremely flat. It is perfectly possible that there won't be a deal out there that can be made that makes sense for us. We can already conclude that there is no way that Ziba is traded straight up for a center that would put us over the top. Those centers are basically never traded. But cap space is worth it weight in gold. A team like Buffalo must improve. If they lose Eichel, what would they give up for Zibanejad?

We especially need quickness at center ice. Kakko needs it. Laf needs it. Its the best/only counter against other team that have it. Watch Tampa play vs Boston. From time to time they manage to push back Boston's top line completely. Which players stands out and is behind that? Its guys like Point but also Tyler Johnson, Yanni Gourde and co.

Newhook has been mentioned in Colorado, he got those wheels. We have Mittlestad in Buffalo who has improved his play steadily this year. In a sense, I think Casey complements our young top guys perfectly. Especially Kakko. Its essential for someone like Kakko to get a E-W skating threat at center ice. When that guy carries the puck and challenge the defense, the ice open up for the wings. You get a tempo change, and that is what Kakko is perfect at. Coming slightly from behind against a D that has been made to change gears and slow down a bit. If Eichel is out, Ziba for Mittlestad, a 2nd in 2021 and a Buf's 1st in 2022?

 

[haohmaru]

Resigning everyone and bringing back the same group doesn’t look like much of an option right now.

I was thinking the same thing but, equally, wondering what shape that will take. The veteran core up front - Zibanejad, Strome, Panarin, Buchnevich, Kreider, etc... - you have to wonder who is staying. Other than a penalty, I actually thought Buchnevich was our best veteran forward last night.

This team definitely needs some "spine" with talent up front.

And, I hate to jump on the bandwagon, but I think it's time for a new direction with a new coach. Quinn has served his purpose but has also proven that he can't win games like this and really can't even be competitive. It's alarming - not that the young Rangers are losing against seasoned playoff teams but the way they're losing.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Outside of some 4th liners and the addition of a veteran I'm doubtful there's much change this offseason. We will be better just based on the kids progression. But FOR GODS SAKE MAN DRAFT A FEW CENTERS THIS YEAR!!!

 

[haohmaru]

Oh, and Crab > Lobster

 

[Ola]

And I also think Gorton more or less should be pushing for a Buch trade. I love him, but he will get paid too much the way his contract is structured, and we got depth at that wing.

 

[redwhiteandblue]

Lol I haven't seen that movie in years but its raining here for 10 days in Upstate NY so, maybe now is the time.

Living in Dallas, I’ve already had a Hintz jersey for 2 years. Knew he would be great. If Chytil goes the other way and they think he has top six upside, maybe they’d consider it but they really have no incentive to move him. He’s on a great contract and still under team control after, so it’s going to have to be a big time overpay. Dallas fans would say Hintz, Robertson and Heiskanen are the untouchables. Lindholm is probably a more realistic target with Calgary needing changes and he’d be a great addition for this team. I’d be happy with Lindholm. But Hintz would be BEASTLY with Panarin

Yeah, definitely more of a pipe dream. I will say, if Dallas misses the playoffs maybe they look to shake things up. Even then though, Hintz wouldn't be the guy they move. But hey, we definitely have the capital so ya never know. I hope the Rangers will go knocking on doors instead of waiting to be tied to a guy like Eichel by default. I'm wondering where you could shop a package of Strome, Lundkvist or Schneider, Robertson or Jones, and some picks and a roster player to? Would that be an offer that would interest the Stars to listen?

Obviously you'd have to make that happen but I'd rather pay to pry a guy like Hintz out then wait for Eichel for sure. I by no means sit around and hope Jack Eichel doesn't succeed. Yes, Buffalo is a tire fire, but there's something stinky on Jack and I'm over watching star players in any sport giving up on their team. How long till he gives up in NY?

I'd gladly take Lindholm too, I've never really been too on the Eichel train. I don't mind parlaying some of the assets. Sure there are some I'd see rather stay then go in a trade, but paying a massive tag to get a guy out of a situation he's giving up on that he just signed up for for 10 years makes me wanna puke like 2 AM bed spins.

 

[Crease]

20 years ago two teams could shake up their cores in a blockbuster trade. Now, you’ve got the salary cap and every decent player has a no movement clause. Really limits the discussion.