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

[Ola]

He's had some incidents past that. Someone mentioned Brodin. He's also been playing for a coach the last 3 years who preaches no penalties and punishes players for that type of aggression. Do I like Kreider's contract? No, but a lot of that has to do with the flat cap and lafreniere, neither of which were even on the radar when the Rangers signed him, and at the time it was a below market value contract.

Do I want more from Kreider? Of course. But he is still valuable even in a 3rd line role as a guy who will play all three phases of the game, pot 15-20 goals, and can slide up and down the lineup. Plus, having a veteran winger presence who has played in two conference championships and a cup final is going to have value on a team building around young high draft pick wingers.

Yeah you could be right. If nothing else, maybe the turnaround starts with Kreider? Ie that he can be part of the solution?

If it doesn’t, then it will be problematic.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I’m a big fan of Chytil as you know but not in the bottom 6. I wonder if you commit to This new version of Ryan Strome. Do you want more of a sand paper defensively sound 3C . I think it’s a question Drury is probably pondering after the season.

if the plan was to move on from Strome like we had thought Chytil would have gotten those mins but not so sure now

funny thing is I can envision a scenario where none of Zibanejad, Strome or Chytil are here next year.


It would require some f***ery, but I wouldn’t be shocked.

 

[SRHRangers]

If you are in the corner of dealing Z, you want both the Avs and Vegas to lose first round.

And hope they do a panic all-in move in the offseason.

 

[Fitzy]

funny thing is I can envision a scenario where none of Zibanejad, Strome or Chytil are here next year.


It would require some f***ery, but I wouldn’t be shocked.

That would be the biggest most active NYR offseason I can remember.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Any chance of Drury rolling the dice on Zachary L’Heureux?

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Yeah you could be right. If nothing else, maybe the turnaround starts with Kreider? Ie that he can be part of the solution?

If it doesn’t, then it will be problematic.

Was he really part of the problem? I know this guy is a polarizing figure on this board but he was second on the team in goals this year, does stuff no one else does, hosts players at his place in the summer so guys can work out together, he's basically been the defacto captain. Has anyone heard of him being a problem behind the scenes?

 

[Lion Hound]

1994 even.

Same can be said for Tkachuk!

How many pieces did the Post and the Daily News run about Keith Tkachuk coming to NY. It was like a yearly trade deadline peice.

 

[DutchShamrock]

This is kind of overlooked, but how does everyone feel about prospect development from the Rangers? I feel pretty underwhelmed and I wonder if we are lacking or have a deficiency. But I'm not in the know and obviously I'm working off of circumstantial evidence.

I feel like Hartford doesn't have a strong track record of developing role players for one. Our best prospects skipped that phase or spent a minimal amount of time there. The people lingering there seem to never take the next step. Maybe that is an indictment on them, but it should be a question the organization is asking itself. You should always analyze your process.

We are not like Tampa. We are not like the Wings from their cup years. We are not like the Kings.

Am I just seeing it wrong? Ryan Graves needed a wake up call. Guys like Rykov and Bear gloves are just the pool that don't make it. Am I just failing to see more people like Ronning? Or is this possibly Issue 1B for Drury?

 

[LaffyTaffy]

Why would we want Tocchet I really dont get it.

 

[Dr. Ogrodnick]

funny thing is I can envision a scenario where none of Zibanejad, Strome or Chytil are here next year.

It would require some f***ery, but I wouldn’t be shocked.

My hot take is Zibby gets moved this summer.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Do the Jackets have anything interesting for Zibanejad or Strome? They're in that "oh shit" mode apparently. Weird how they're in our real division, but they're one of those teams I draw a complete blank on.

Now this is a team you try to fleece a 2023 1st from. They will be bad coming up here.

 

[Ola]

Was he really part of the problem? I know this guy is a polarizing figure on this board but he was second on the team in goals this year, does stuff no one else does, hosts players at his place in the summer so guys can work out together, he's basically been the defacto captain. Has anyone heard of him being a problem behind the scenes?

He is definitely at the center of our attitude issue, but definitely not any kind of big problem in relation to our overall play. Inconsistent etc, but his play has been perfectly OK from my POV.

But we have 6 winger spots on the top 9. Can’t get a 4th line RW to provide grit, since he only will have an impact 10 minutes a night.

Those wing spots are taken by Kreider, Pan, Laf, Kakko, Buch and Kravy. We preferably need two wingers in the top 9 with more attitude. Which of the above 6 goes out? I wouldn’t mind if Kreider was one of those 2 that is sent out and replaced by someone with more attitude.

 

[RagFinMet]

My hot take is Zibby gets moved this summer.

Doesn't he have a nmc?

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

He is definitely at the center of our attitude issue, but definitely not any kind of big problem in relation to our overall play. Inconsistent etc, but his play has been perfectly OK from my POV.

But we have 6 winger spots on the top 9. Can’t get a 4th line RW to provide grit, since he only will have an impact 10 minutes a night.

Those wing spots are taken by Kreider, Pan, Laf, Kakko, Buch and Kravy. We preferably need two wingers in the top 9 with more attitude. Which of the above 6 goes out? I wouldn’t mind if Kreider was one of those 2 that is sent out and replaced by someone with more attitude.

Moving forward I'm not worried about Kreider, Laff, or Kakko in regards to attitude or not being tough to play against. Not sure what kind of player Kravstov will mature into but I hope he stays. I think they'll be an opportunity to add some of that to the 3rd or 4th line. I also don't have a problem with Kreider on the third line and he's still a tough match for the opposing team. Again, he gets sold short here and I'm not sure why.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Doesn't he have a nmc?

I think so, but you'd think he'd waive to go to a contender.

 

[CLW]

Tocchet is another bad coach that’s done nothing in Arizona.

Also, I genuinely cannot believe that anyone would want to trade Chytil or K’Andre

The mandate is to make the playoffs next year at all costs, or Donal will pop out of his box with the hammer again. The question is who will get moved for veteran impact. Too many kids, too many soft veterans, some awkward contracts and potential long term contracts to be. Drury will have to look for a new veteran coach. The new coach will have the mandate to make the playoffs as a priority and won't be able to afford too much patience with kids if they are not performing from the get go.

Under those circumstances the axe taken to the roster could get bloody indeed.

 

[LokiDog]

I think so, but you'd think he'd waive to go to a contender.

Well if you have one year remaining and your team is trying to trade you they’re probably not re-signing you so you don’t have that much incentive to not waive. You’re moving in a few months eventually. Might as well go to a contender

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Now this is a team you try to fleece a 2023 1st from. They will be bad coming up here.

This would be the dream.

 

[haveandare]

Kreider used to have a good bit of attitude and he still has the skillset to be tough to handle. I’m not at all convinced that he can’t play that way again if the team around him establishes that sort of identity.

Ideally he’d be able to do it anyway, but things aren’t always ideal.

 

[CLW]

If you are in the corner of dealing Z, you want both the Avs and Vegas to lose first round.

And hope they do a panic all-in move in the offseason.

Florida renting Zib for a Cup run next season could be deadly too. Imagine Zib and Barkov as your two top Centers.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Kreider used to have a good bit of attitude and he still has the skillset to be tough to handle. I’m not at all convinced that he can’t play that way again if the team around him establishes that sort of identity.

Ideally he’d be able to do it anyway, but things aren’t always ideal.

Someone here mentioned it last week, I bet he was hurt the last month or so. He started taking a lot of maintenance days which is uncharacteristic of him. The guy carried the team when Zib and Panarin were in various stages of MIA.

 

[bleedblue94]

Florida renting Zib for a Cup run next season could be deadly too. Imagine Zib and Barkov as your two top Centers.

people have imagined it bc they were dreaming of barkov magically appearing here.

I personally dont think any of the four centers on this team are safe to be here next year. That's not to say ALL four will be moved, but (current and future) center has been the biggest question about this team for years (we have many long term options at d, too many wingers, and know who our 1g is) and nothing about this past season gave an ounce of stability to the position at all for anyone...

 

[TheDirtyH]

He is definitely at the center of our attitude issue, but definitely not any kind of big problem in relation to our overall play. Inconsistent etc, but his play has been perfectly OK from my POV.

But we have 6 winger spots on the top 9. Can’t get a 4th line RW to provide grit, since he only will have an impact 10 minutes a night.

Those wing spots are taken by Kreider, Pan, Laf, Kakko, Buch and Kravy. We preferably need two wingers in the top 9 with more attitude. Which of the above 6 goes out? I wouldn’t mind if Kreider was one of those 2 that is sent out and replaced by someone with more attitude.

Chris isn't the type to change the culture, but I also don't think there's a player on the Rangers more willing to buy in to whatever the team needs from him--even if it's not really something he's capable of. I remember early in the AV years, it started with dropping him in front of the net and telling him to figure it out there. He did and quickly became one of if not the best forward in front of an opposing goalie in the league. Every offseason for a while there was something new. First the mandate was for Kreider to add some meanness--he went out and learned boxing. Then it was to be more dynamic as a puck carrier and he came into camp and preseason after a summer with a skills coach making dekes he'd never tried before.

Even this season, I don't think it's a coincidence at all that when Panarin went down, Kreider went on his hot streak. And as the Rangers have rebuilt, he's been more than a pro about it--not whining or even expressing the least regret or frustration like Zucc, Hayes, and Hank--and has embraced the role of housing and helping to prepare the young prospects through the offseason.

You're right that in an ideal world... OTOH Laf has plenty of attitude, and what about the centers you replace Zibanejad and Strome with (two of the blandest players ever from a personality POV)? I think Kreider is an ideal "A". He will buy in to whatever is asked of him. But he's not guy to take charge of that kind of cultural things.

 

[Savant]

Why would we want Tocchet I really dont get it.

I mean besides Gallant, who is an outright better hire? That is available?

 

[Off Sides]

The mandate is to make the playoffs next year at all costs, or Donal will pop out of his box with the hammer again. The question is who will get moved for veteran impact. Too many kids, too many soft veterans, some awkward contracts and potential long term contracts to be. Drury will have to look for a new veteran coach. The new coach will have the mandate to make the playoffs as a priority and won't be able to afford too much patience with kids if they are not performing from the get go.

Under those circumstances the axe taken to the roster could get bloody indeed.

Not sure that is the mandate, yet even if it were like ~half the teams make the playoffs.

What if it just means some different vets and/or some different kids.