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

[Fitzy]

Barron-Rooney-Blackwell should be the fourth line next season. I think that's fine. Either Barron or Blackwell move into the top 9 on the first injury.

 

[Machinehead]

Also, I've said it before, and I'm gonna f***ing keep saying it, I love how we're looking for a guy to fill the Fast role after actual Fast signed for $2M.

 

[Machinehead]

Barron-Rooney-Blackwell should be the fourth line next season. I think that's fine. Either Barron or Blackwell move into the top 9 on the first injury.

Barron has been a PPG player everywhere he's ever played and absolutely should not be resigned to being a 4th liner.

I'm fine with him getting a look there down the stretch, but I put him in Hartford before I put him on our 4th line for 82 games.

 

[bobbop]

They pretty much play the role of leftover parts.

I agree that having one solid 4th liner is probably a good idea but Goodrow has a reputation and a Cup so I think he could easily get $3m. I would never pay a guy that to put him on the 4th line. He's really a middle sixer on Tampa, so like I said, if we used him that way, I'm all for it.

He will probably trade term for dollars. 3 X $1.75MM should get it done.

 

[LokiDog]

Barron has been a PPG player everywhere he's ever played and absolutely should not be resigned to being a 4th liner.

I'm fine with him getting a look there down the stretch, but I put him in Hartford before I put him on our 4th line for 82 games.

Barron is in a queue to be used as Howden after we move on from Howden. Being eased is one thing. Penciling him into a long term 4th line role is disgusting.

 

[Fitzy]

Barron has been a PPG player everywhere he's ever played and absolutely should not be resigned to being a 4th liner.

I'm fine with him getting a look there down the stretch, but I put him in Hartford before I put him on our 4th line for 82 games.

Anisimov started out on our 4th line and that turned out fine.

And he wouldn't be there 82 games. You've got to think there's an average of 50+ games a year when at least one top 9 forward is missing due to injury.

 

[Machinehead]

Anisimov started out on our 4th line and that turned out fine.

And he wouldn't be there 82 games. You've got to think there's an average of 50+ games a year when at least one top 9 forward is missing due to injury.

Yeah, I suppose you're right. And it would make our 4th line good for cheap because I think he's going to be an excellent player.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

Danault will be seeking the same increase (maybe a little less after this season) as Strome. Danault hasn't demonstrated the ability to produce like Strome has with Panarin. Because of his age, pending UFA status, and decidedly 3C numbers, I'd say its at least as likely that he isn't a better fit at 2C than Strome.

He put up 53 points two seasons ago, and 47p in 71 games last season. He’s not offensively inept. He 100% is a top-6 player.

He might not produce more than Strome, but he’s without question a better player. He’s also good on faceoffs.

I’m not a fan of signing guys in their late 20’s to retirement contracts, but Danault would be a tremendous add to this team.

Laf-Zbad-Kakko
Panarin-Danault-Kravtsov
Kreider-Chytil-Goat

I’d move Strome and Buch and go to war with that top-9.

 

[LokiDog]

He put up 53 points two seasons ago, and 47p in 71 games last season. He’s not offensively inept. He 100% is a top-6 player.

He might not produce more than Strome, but he’s without question a better player. He’s also good on faceoffs.

I’m not a fan of signing guys in their late 20’s to retirement contracts, but Danault would be a tremendous add to this team.

Laf-Zbad-Kakko
Panarin-Danault-Kravtsov
Kreider-Chytil-Goat

I’d move Strome and Buch and go to war with that top-9.

Danault would be an overall upgrade on Strome. Much better all around player who has demonstrated 50+ point paces without the luxury of playing with anyone close to Panarin. Far more competent and impactful everywhere else on the ice.

That Kreider Chytil Goat line wouldn’t work though. The potential is there but honestly, package Strome + Chytil for a middle six physical winger and sign Wennberg to center the third line. Management doesn’t want to trust Goat. He’s not going to get consistent top nine minutes next year. Like Minnesota wants centers. Take Strome’s salary and Chytil, send us Greenway + a pick.

We run Kreider - Wennberg - Greenway or Krav as the third line. We can essentially rotate all of our wings up and down to find chemistry.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Счастливой Пасхи to my fellow Russians.
καλό Πάσχα to my Greeks

Happy Easter!

 

[Ola]

The one big improvement I am expecting next season is the one that will come from Nils Lundkvist, which is kind of crazy in itself.

There are two reasons for why I expect this to be such a big upgrade.

1. The previous player on this position has been a disaster. An OK performance by Nils is so much better than what we have had this year. Playing Ds on the wrong side is bound to fail to start with.

2. The way we play, the way we are built — and especially since we don’t have any quick center that operates really well in the ice between the Ds and the wingers — we just must have Ds that can move the puck.

We are bound to struggle a lot with only — one — PMD on the roster. Going with Smith-Hajak/Bietto or whatever has just been a terrible call by Mr Incompetent. Reunanen should have been planted there next to Smith.

One thing that is easy to forget is that our 1st D pair this season has iced the first performance that relative to the opposition has been perfectly OK since McD-Klein’s strongest season together, like what, 5 years ago? We haven’t been a bad team when Fox has been on the ice. The problem is that we not only lose momentum but basically lose our footing when our 3rd pairing without any kind of PMD ability has hit the ice. Nils should help there.

 

[17futurecap]

Also, I've said it before, and I'm gonna f***ing keep saying it, I love how we're looking for a guy to fill the Fast role after actual Fast signed for $2M.

But that third year at gasp 2 million dollars against the salary cap!

 

[FIRE DRURY]

Danault would be an overall upgrade on Strome. Much better all around player who has demonstrated 50+ point paces without the luxury of playing with anyone close to Panarin. Far more competent and impactful everywhere else on the ice.

That Kreider Chytil Goat line wouldn’t work though. The potential is there but honestly, package Strome + Chytil for a middle six physical winger and sign Wennberg to center the third line. Management doesn’t want to trust Goat. He’s not going to get consistent top nine minutes next year. Like Minnesota wants centers. Take Strome’s salary and Chytil, send us Greenway + a pick.

We run Kreider - Wennberg - Greenway or Krav as the third line. We can essentially rotate all of our wings up and down to find chemistry.

The size and speed and ability to play a North/South games makes that an intriguing 3rd line.

You’re probably right about Gauthier but I’d have zero interest in a Chytil/Greenway swap.

 

[DanielBrassard]

The one big improvement I am expecting next season is the one that will come from Nils Lundkvist, which is kind of crazy in itself.

There are two reasons for why I expect this to be such a big upgrade.

1. The previous player on this position has been a disaster. An OK performance by Nils is so much better than what we have had this year. Playing Ds on the wrong side is bound to fail to start with.

2. The way we play, the way we are built — and especially since we don’t have any quick center that operates really well in the ice between the Ds and the wingers — we just must have Ds that can move the puck.

We are bound to struggle a lot with only — one — PMD on the roster. Going with Smith-Hajak/Bietto or whatever has just been a terrible call by Mr Incompetent. Reunanen should have been planted there next to Smith.

One thing that is easy to forget is that our 1st D pair this season has iced the first performance that relative to the opposition has been perfectly OK since McD-Klein’s strongest season together, like what, 5 years ago? We haven’t been a bad team when Fox has been on the ice. The problem is that we not only lose momentum but basically lose our footing when our 3rd pairing without any kind of PMD ability has hit the ice. Nils should help there.

It should help quite a bit you are right. Understandably we were never going to be able to replace the puck moving/skating ability of ADA this season.

 

[bobbop]

I’d have zero interest in a Chytil/Greenway swap.

Neither would Minnesota

 

[FIRE DRURY]

Didn’t Gorton offer Fast a similar contract and he went with Carolina anyway?

 

[Matt Rentfree]

Didn’t Gorton offer Fast a similar contract and he went with Carolina anyway?

If I remember correctly, Carolina offered an extra year.

 

[East Coast Bias]

What does Gauthier do well that people feel so passionately about his importance to this team?

I don’t hate the guy. And I understand giving kids time. But what is a skill he excels at?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

If I remember correctly, Carolina offered an extra year.

Correct.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

What does Gauthier do well that people feel so passionately about his importance to this team?

I don’t hate the guy. And I understand giving kids time. But what is a skill he excels at?

His ability to use his size and speed and drive the puck to the net.

 

[Synergy27]

Barron-Rooney-Blackwell should be the fourth line next season. I think that's fine. Either Barron or Blackwell move into the top 9 on the first injury.

Blackwell is not suited to the fourth line. He spends way too much time on his ass. He’s an ideal first line AHLer/injury call up for me.

 

[East Coast Bias]

His ability to use his size and speed and drive the puck to the net.

but does he do any of that? He’s big but does he play big?

 

[Synergy27]

The one big improvement I am expecting next season is the one that will come from Nils Lundkvist, which is kind of crazy in itself.

Im also expecting big improvements in production for both Kakko and Laf. If that doesn’t happen, man, I dunno.

Also, I am expecting a new coach with the ability to strategize some competitiveness into these games against good teams, along with perhaps a more sane distribution of ice time.

 

[Fitzy]

Im also expecting big improvements in production for both Kakko and Laf. If that doesn’t happen, man, I dunno.

Also, I am expecting a new coach with the ability to strategize some competitiveness into these games against good teams, along with perhaps a more sane distribution of ice time.

Miller should also improve, in theory.

 

[Synergy27]

Miller should also improve, in theory.

Yeah, that I’m not sure about. Maybe a bit more consistency, but his good has already been pretty good. It’s not going to shock me if Miller is the kind of player that is up and down for several years before he settles in.