Speculation: Roster Building Thread LXXXI - All along the Watch Tower

[Fitzy]

I personally dont think Eichel is a good fit here. He's a great talent but not the one we need imo

What do you mean? Is it a size issue? A two way play issue? I think when you’re talking about a top ten center in the game the “fit” is never a key concern. You get the complementary wingers to make him a fit

 

[duhmetreE]

probably an unpopular opinion but Brendan Smith should be re-signed to a non 4M contract

It's anecdotal but I believe the team shows more resilience when he's in the lineup

 

[Anthony5967]

Gorton will be buying out that Kreider deal at some point.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

probably an unpopular opinion but Brendan Smith should be re-signed to a non 4M contract

It's anecdotal but I believe the team shows more resilience when he's in the lineup

Noted goal scorer as well!

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

Yeah there's, uh, future HFBoards threads you can see in the horizon with Eichel as a Ranger, about his "body language" or whatever, but if you can build a core of Eichel, Panarin, Lafreniere, Kakko, Fox, Miller and Shestyorkin that's pretty good. Even with caveats about the Sabres getting a lot of the best guys underneath that group in the trade, Lafreniere not having that great rookie year we hoped for, Miller only playing 13 NHL games so far etc

 

[Anthony5967]

Yeah there's, uh, future HFBoards threads you can see in the horizon with Eichel as a Ranger, about his "body language" or whatever, but if you can build a core of Eichel, Panarin, Lafreniere, Kakko, Fox, Miller and Shestyorkin that's pretty good. Even with caveats about the Sabres getting a lot of the best guys underneath that group in the trade, Lafreniere not having that great rookie year we hoped for, Miller only playing 13 NHL games so far etc

No way they get him without giving up Laf or KK

 

[Vitto79]

So carp was saying on his last article that the rangers currently don't even have cap space to bring up reunanen, so if thats correct (which I am questioning), i dont see them able to pick anyone up unless trouba goes on LTIR.

yea I don’t get that either ... if Trouba missed 4 weeks that’s 10 games and he’s gonna miss that much Atleast

just LTIR if needed to add anyone

But I’m not a capoligist

 

[Vitto79]

Gorton will be buying out that Kreider deal at some point.

well give it 3 years cause Laf and others need to finish their entry level deals before it may be an issue

 

[The New Russian Five]

probably an unpopular opinion but Brendan Smith should be re-signed to a non 4M contract

It's anecdotal but I believe the team shows more resilience when he's in the lineup

Would definitely sign him to a 1-1.5 mill contract. Fills holes when needed. Great team player. Seems like a good presence around the locker room.

 

[duhmetreE]

What do you mean? Is it a size issue? A two way play issue? I think when you’re talking about a top ten center in the game the “fit” is never a key concern. You get the complementary wingers to make him a fit

There's some bad gossip but besides that he'd be more of the same. Not a 2way center. elite offensive talent no doubt, but is he the guy you win with?

I think we need 'complete 2 way centers' to go along with the high skill winger make up. ( IMO Cirielli is a perfect mold ) If we're talking about major moves/re-organization, maybe it can work.

Point, Cirelli, Gaudette
R'OR, Schenn
Backstrom, Kuznetsov
Crosby, Malkin, Bonino

IMO he doesn't fit that mold. Argument can be made for Pittsburgh but we're talking about a team with one of the best players ever.

 

[SRHRangers]

I'm only dealing for Eichel if it's a lateral move with Zibs involved.

I'm not giving up Kakko or LaF in a deal, and I don't think we got the muscle to make a deal without one of the 3 in it.

 

[Guyute]

Give em Mika, Nils, and a 1st for Eichel.

They can build around the Swedes:

Mika-Olofsson up front
Dahlin-Lundkvist in the rear

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Give em Mika, Nils, and a 1st for Eichel.

They can build around the Swedes:

Mika-Olofsson up front
Dahlin-Lundkvist in the rear

Mika is one year from FA and can’t play for shit right now. He won’t be a centerpiece in any Eichel deal.

 

[NYR Viper]

probably an unpopular opinion but Brendan Smith should be re-signed to a non 4M contract

It's anecdotal but I believe the team shows more resilience when he's in the lineup

I have said the same thing quite a few times. AS a 7th d-man and 13th forward veteran, like Strudwick from many years ago, I'd give him a 2 year deal for about $1.5m per season to keep him around.

 

[MarkMessyay11]

probably an unpopular opinion but Brendan Smith should be re-signed to a non 4M contract

It's anecdotal but I believe the team shows more resilience when he's in the lineup

I have a lot of respect for how Smith has handled his tenure with this team and I think a lot of teammates and members of the organization feel the same. I think he'd be a great vet to keep around at the right price as well. Not sure what type of role we can guarantee him moving forward, however.

 

[Trxjw]

Eichel is an elite player. Not at all worried about him showing his frustrations in Buffalo. He's been on that team for 6 years in which he's had 3 different coaches and 3 different general managers. Every roster they've iced has finished in the bottom-10 and have never come close to sniffing the playoffs. I can't blame him one bit for checking out. Buffalo is the most poorly run franchise in the NHL aside from Arizona.

That being said, if the deal to get Eichel has to include Lafreniere or Kakko then I wouldn't do it. I'll take my chances finding good complimentary centers for both of them instead of one elite center who will cost us another potentially elite player.

 

[Trxjw]

I'm only dealing for Eichel if it's a lateral move with Zibs involved.

I'm not giving up Kakko or LaF in a deal, and I don't think we got the muscle to make a deal without one of the 3 in it.

Buffalo probably won't be very interested in Zibanejad. Even if he gets his act together this year he's a UFA in 2022 and would definitely go to the open market for a better opportunity. Buffalo is going to want players with term or RFA status as well as picks.

 

[BKGooner]

Probably need more injuries for him to get a shot. For some reason he's lower on the depth chart than Jack Johnson

Please Jaques Martin come to your senses. My 6 y.o. could contribute random penalties and being a pylon.

 

[Ruggs225]

probably an unpopular opinion but Brendan Smith should be re-signed to a non 4M contract

It's anecdotal but I believe the team shows more resilience when he's in the lineup

I waa thinking the exact thing when watching the game yestersay. Him on a 1.5m contract maybe even 2m would be fine

 

[gravey9]

Agreed, at least until coaching can get into his head a shooters mentality and see what happens.

interestingly he has a shooters mentality. If you watched him play in AHL, he was very much a bull in a china shop who drove play and didn't really pass. I think his issues are related to when he's off the puck

 

[Fitzy]

probably an unpopular opinion but Brendan Smith should be re-signed to a non 4M contract

It's anecdotal but I believe the team shows more resilience when he's in the lineup

I like the idea of Smith as a 7th defenseman, but I don’t want to have him blocking the development of Reaunanen, Jones, or Robertson.

But if the coach used him as the first spare defenseman I think I’d be more than happy with that.

And of course it will probably take Jones and Robertson more than this season to be NHL ready

 

[Kendo]

If a roster player, Kravstov, Lundkvist, 2021 1st can't get it done, then I dunno. That's three firsts, and Lundkvist has been super hot this season. Even without Laf or KK in the deal, I don't know what team can beat that package without a substantially better roster player centering the deal.

 

[gravey9]

What do you mean? Is it a size issue? A two way play issue? I think when you’re talking about a top ten center in the game the “fit” is never a key concern. You get the complementary wingers to make him a fit

The thing I don't get about Eichel is his temperment. The same issue I had with PLD. What's this BS about being checked out and wanting out? A leader leads. Do we want another 10m player on the team that isn't a true leader? I get what he can do. And I see his talent. It's unmistakable. He likely even has another level to reach. I question his leadership as he enters his prime years. Because as his temperment goes so does the team.

 

[SRHRangers]

If a roster player, Kravstov, Lundkvist, 2021 1st can't get it done, then I dunno. That's three firsts, and Lundkvist has been super hot this season. Even without Laf or KK in the deal, I don't know what team can beat that package without a substantially better roster player centering the deal.

Anything with Byfield/1st prolly beats that offer.

Same if Anaheim got frisky and offered Zegras/1st in a deal.

 

[LokiDog]

There really shouldn’t be any single untouchable for Eichel. Top 10 center in the world with room to grow still. Kakko and Laf may become equally good wingers, but it’s unlikely they reach Eichel’s level, and he plays a more important position. Doesn’t mean I would overpay heavily to get him, just that there isn’t any one player we have that should be off limits for Eichel. Except maybe Fox/Shesterkin in that it doesn’t make sense to create a hole in those positions.