Speculation: Roster Building Thread LXXXI: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Pawnee Rangers]

We are in a bad spot with Kakko and Kravtsov. If we trade them at the Draft we would be selling fairly low because their production so far has been disappointing. Keeping both would be somewhat hypocritical as they almost never hit, but with a coach like Paul MacLean I think they will hit a lot more. (for reference take a look at Zibanejad's hits while MacLean was the coach).

I think ultimately both Reunanen and Jones get traded, but I think Jones goes first because he has a bigger name/hype and more NHL games under his belt.

Not sure yet about Kreider vs Trouba. All depends on Schneider, Lundkvist, etc.

Not sure if there is any worthwhile trades for Rooney and Blackwell. probably Blackwell is more likely to fetch a decent draftpick. Rooney can stay if no trades are available.

You don't trade either Kakko or Kravtsov, why would you? Trouba and Kreider have NMC's they aren't going anywhere.

 

[IDvsEGO]

You don't trade either Kakko or Kravtsov, why would you? Trouba and Kreider have NMC's they aren't going anywhere.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we see if ck will waive his nmc for seattle. Potentially offer an incentive to seattle to take him, like a second round or something

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I wouldn’t be surprised if we see if ck will waive his nmc for seattle. Potentially offer an incentive to seattle to take him, like a second round or something

I think there's very little chance that happens. Why would he? Players wait their whole career to sign the contract that gives them security. Also, why are we trading him? He's second on the team in goals scored. You see what this team looks like with guys like Trouba and him out of the lineup.

 

[DialUp]

If Drury can manage to trade Kreider I would crown him the new King of Oh Baby

 

[Avery16]

So your logic would also point to the fact the caps staff should be able to handle the issues, but they haven't well enough to the point they are talking about trading him. I appreciate everyone's viewpoints on here but this is just reckless. Let's bring a guy with term, significant cap hit, a known drug habit, and issues following team rules into a situation overrun with young impressionable players that we hope will be the identity here for a decade. Geesh, what could go wrong...

He's in his prime and his term ends when he's 33. 7.8 million is low for what has been could be a top-six, PPG C in his prime.

 

[bleedblue94]

He's in his prime and his term ends when he's 33. 7.8 million is low for what has been could be a top-six, PPG C in his prime.

It is a terrible idea, this isn't EA where off ice stuff has no bearing on the team/franchise...

 

[Ail]

“Honestly, we have enough talent now to compete for a Stanley Cup,” he said.

If he truly believes that, he's a ****ing moron.

This concerning part of this statement is that it would signify they are content with the core talent that gives him this false impression, and they will instead start filling gaps with young assets and picks rather than putting the core group under a microscope and asking why they seemingly have zero compete. Maybe they think a change in management culture will magically solve that.

 

[Avery16]

It is a terrible idea, this isn't EA where off ice stuff has no bearing on the team/franchise...

2Cs in their prime, under contract at reasonable term, don’t grow on trees. This isn’t EA and people aren’t perfect.

I don’t want to shock you, but Kuznetsov is probably not the first NHL star that used cocaine. He wouldn’t be the first Ranger either.

 

[bleedblue94]

2Cs in their prime, under contract at reasonable term, don’t grow on trees. This isn’t EA and people aren’t perfect.

I don’t want to shock you, but Kuznetsov is probably not the first NHL star that used cocaine.

7.8mil cap hit for a 2c is not "reasonable."

When he signed that contract he was looked at as a 1b center and his productions has been already trending down on a much better team than ours.

He is 29 in a week.

Plenty of players have had coke issues, but most have lasted when on teams with stronger internal structures than a team like ours with an average age of 12

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

For a team that is apparently having issues in the locker room, bringing in another teams locker room problem in Kuznetsov dosen’t sound like a story that ends well for the Rangers

and why would the Capitals move him in division, to a division rival at that?

He’s a great player though

 

[IDvsEGO]

I think there's very little chance that happens. Why would he? Players wait their whole career to sign the contract that gives them security. Also, why are we trading him? He's second on the team in goals scored. You see what this team looks like with guys like Trouba and him out of the lineup.

He still has his contract. He'd be waiving his NMC for a specific franchise, Seattle. After what we saw happened in Vegas, going to a team like Seattle might be an interesting concept. He has to know he's going to be sitting on the third line or even fourth the rest of his NYR career.
He's always come across as intelligent and aware, so he has to see the writing on the wall. I can imagine the idea of going to a place like seattle and playing on the first line, and maybe scoring 30+ sounds far better than sitting on the third line, and maybe getting 10-15 and constantly being booed by the fans for his production vs contract.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

He still has his contract. He'd be waiving his NMC for a specific franchise, Seattle. After what we saw happened in Vegas, going to a team like Seattle might be an interesting concept. He has to know he's going to be sitting on the third line or even fourth the rest of his NYR career.
He's always come across as intelligent and aware, so he has to see the writing on the wall. I can imagine the idea of going to a place like seattle and playing on the first line, and maybe scoring 30+ sounds far better than sitting on the third line, and maybe getting 10-15 and constantly being booed by the fans for his production vs contract.

Why would a Boston guy waive to go to an expansion team who will probably struggle their first few years in the league, all the way across the country? Vegas' inaugural season isn't how expansion usually works. His contract is fine, he's produced relative to his salary, and who is booing him, lol? They just fired their GM and President for building a soft team. Why would they trade one of the few forwards who isn't like that? Makes no sense.

 

[Ruggs225]

My lineup next year would be something like this

Laf - NEW - Krav
Panarin - Chytil - Kakko
Kreider - Barron - Buch
NEW - NEW - Goat
Rooney
Blackwell

Lindgren - Fox
Jones - Trouba
NEW - Lundkvist/Schneider
Smith

Shesty
Georgie

Traded:
KAM - for the #1 center or top center prospect (Larkin/Lundell/Vilardi/Cozens etc. Not sure who is available)
Zibby - for as much of a haul as possible i dont think I want to be stuck with that next contract)
Strome - for as much as possible (definitely don't want that next contract)

The LD man I would try to trade or sign would be a a top 4 dman who would play on third pair. Needs to have some size, and can PK. Can be over 30 as it is a placeholder until Robertson is ready. Not sure who is available but most likely would need to be a trade with a rebuilding team. And having another vet would definitely help.

The two 4th liners need to have some size and tenaciousness. I don't need a goon or enforcer. But players who can play up a line when needed. Players like a Cizikas and Clutterbuck of the isles. I'm not sure who will be available, but we have picks and assets to trade if need be to get an elite 4th liner that fits in the teams timeline.

We still might be a little soft, but i'm honestly not sure who else to trade at this point. Buch I guess, but he isn't really a soft player and he can move up the lineup very easily.

Chytil is still a big mystery to me, but I like his game and I believe he played well when paired with Panarin in the past.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Why would a Boston guy waive to go to an expansion team who will probably struggle their first few years in the league, all the way across the country? Vegas' inaugural season isn't how expansion usually works. His contract is fine, he's produced relative to his salary, and who is booing him, lol? They just fired their GM and President for building a soft team. Why would they trade one of the few forwards who isn't like that? Makes no sense.

He's produced while staying in the top 6, and averaging 15-18 minutes a game.
He's about to be stuck on the bottom 6, with maybe some PP time, and looking at closer to 10-12 minutes a game. He may get moved up based on injuries, but he's going to be overpaid for the role he's moving into, not the role we signed him for. I had no problem with the initial signing, but the problem is he's a bad fit.
For the 6.5m we're giving him, we could easily extend the kids long term as needed, and fill out the remaining of our roster with enough guys with skill and toughness.
Its a good answer to long term and short term problems.

 

[LokiDog]

Why would a Boston guy waive to go to an expansion team who will probably struggle their first few years in the league, all the way across the country? Vegas' inaugural season isn't how expansion usually works. His contract is fine, he's produced relative to his salary, and who is booing him, lol? They just fired their GM and President for building a soft team. Why would they trade one of the few forwards who isn't like that? Makes no sense.

He is like that though. This isn’t young Kreider who was hard on the forecheck and caused havoc. He’s very soft and this year (after getting a pay day) he floated and was the least engaged he’s ever been. 11 of his 20 goals came on the PP and most were alley oop slam dunks from Panarin. 6 of them came in two games. Kreider isn’t the type of player the team needs more of. Just because he’s big and fast doesn’t mean he isn’t part of the problem. He’s actually quite illustrative of the problem. He has no excuse to be so soft and easy to play against with the tools that he has, but he doesn’t bother to use them. He’s considered a leader on the team and the team has a compete level problem. This year he embodied that problem.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

He is like that though. This isn’t young Kreider who was hard on the forecheck and caused havoc. He’s very soft and this year (after getting a pay day) he floated and was the least engaged he’s ever been. 11 of his 20 goals came on the PP and most were alley oop slam dunks from Panarin. 6 of them came in two games. Kreider isn’t the type of player the team needs more of. Just because he’s big and fast doesn’t mean he isn’t part of the problem. He’s actually quite illustrative of the problem. He has no excuse to be so soft and easy to play against with the tools that he has, but he doesn’t bother to use them. He’s considered a leader on the team and the team has a compete level problem. This year he embodied that problem.

Don't agree. And don't be disappointed when he's here next year.

 

[LokiDog]

Don't agree. And don't be disappointed when he's here next year.

I expect him to be here, but I’ll still be disappointed. Chris Kreider is not a guy who is tough to play against and did not bring a consistent effort at all this season. I hardly think I’m alone on that take. He had 9 goals that weren’t PP goals. He’s also the only regular on the team (forward or D) with a negative +/- besides Howden, Lafreniere and Gauthier, if you can even count him.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I expect him to be here, but I’ll still be disappointed. Chris Kreider is not a guy who is tough to play against and did not bring a consistent effort at all this season. I hardly think I’m alone on that take. He had 9 goals that weren’t PP goals. He’s also the only regular on the team (forward or D) with a negative +/- besides Howden, Lafreniere and Gauthier, if you can even count him.

Do PP goals count less than even strength goals? I always thought the most important part of the PP was the goal scoring part. But honestly, all you really need to do is look how the team plays when guys like Trouba and him are out of the lineup. Stinkfest.

 

[Avery16]

https://nypost.com/2021/05/06/chris-drury-could-give-rangers-shakeup-needed-for-stanley-cup-run/

“I’m certainly not going to be hanging around the locker room every single day, but I’m going to be there enough to have the pulse of the team from the inside rather than just looking at it from 10 floors up,” Drury told The Post on Thursday afternoon while driving from the Wolf Pack’s AHL game in Marlborough, Mass., to the Rangers’ NHL contest in Boston.

 

[LokiDog]

Do PP goals count less than even strength goals? I always thought the most important part of the PP was the goal scoring part. But honestly, all you really need to do is look how the team plays when guys like Trouba and him are out of the lineup. Stinkfest.

I don’t even notice Kreider missing (just like he’s not very noticeable when he’s playing). Trouba (and Lindgren) are a different story. That’s been a much bigger factor. The PP goals are fine but it still shows he’s done pretty much nothing with the rest of his minutes and I’m fairly certain there are other players who can bang in Panarin cross crease passes from 1 foot away in that spot. It’s kind of impressive to be a negative player when Panarin, Strome, Buch, Chytil, Kakko, Zib, Rooney, Blackwell, DiGiuseppe, Hajek, Smith, Trouba, Miller, Fox, Lindgren all managed not to be.

 

[smoneil]

I expect him to be here, but I’ll still be disappointed. Chris Kreider is not a guy who is tough to play against and did not bring a consistent effort at all this season. I hardly think I’m alone on that take. He had 9 goals that weren’t PP goals. He’s also the only regular on the team (forward or D) with a negative +/- besides Howden, Lafreniere and Gauthier, if you can even count him.

You aren't wrong, but I do think it's worth talking to him to see if he can re-invent his game. We don't (or at least very soon won't) need him as a top 6, PP1 LW. We do need someone with his size, speed, and skill on the 3rd line to leave the other team with some souvenir bruises every night. He's been a good player for us for years, and I doubt we could move him this summer if we wanted to. It's worth a shot to give him a year to reinvent his game a bit. If he still sees himself as a top six scorer, then maybe he can do something about that NMC.

 

[Kodiak]

I don’t even notice Kreider missing (just like he’s not very noticeable when he’s playing). Trouba (and Lindgren) are a different story. That’s been a much bigger factor. The PP goals are fine but it still shows he’s done pretty much nothing with the rest of his minutes and I’m fairly certain there are other players who can bang in Panarin cross crease passes from 1 foot away in that spot. It’s kind of impressive to be a negative player when Panarin, Strome, Buch, Chytil, Kakko, Zib, Rooney, Blackwell, DiGiuseppe, Hajek, Smith, Trouba, Miller, Fox, Lindgren all managed not to be.

Kreider is going to have to make a decision in the next few years about where he is going to fit in the lineup. His even strength play is slipping and will continue to do so as he ages. If he can add some grit and grind to his game, he can be a valuable (though overpaid) 3rd liner who gets PP and PK time. If he cannot, he is on the path to 4th line PP specialist.

 

[egelband]

So Smitty for sure is coming back next season, right?

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Kreider is going to have to make a decision in the next few years about where he is going to fit in the lineup. His even strength play is slipping and will continue to do so as he ages. If he can add some grit and grind to his game, he can be a valuable (though overpaid) 3rd liner who gets PP and PK time. If he cannot, he is on the path to 4th line PP specialist.

In the next few year his NTC becomes more manageable. I can see him on the 3rd line but not the 4th, where's this other LW coming from that's going to supplant him? People seriously undersell his importance to the team. And it's not like he's not scoring.

 

[Tob]

"My sense is that Rick Tocchet's days now are probably over with the Coyotes at the end of the season. There was sense that perhaps there would be an opportunity to extend, but my sources indicate that it's more likely that Tocchet goes to the free-market."

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