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

[Alluckks]

I'd bet money that the Rangers don't trade Kakko or Laf for Eichel within the next 2 years

 

[Lundqvist 30 NY]

If one goes back and looks at how much discontented young players in their prime were traded for, it's nowhere close to what's being thrown around here. Also considering Eichel has a $10 million cap hit, unless Buffalo retains 20-25%, they're not getting close to multiple 1st's AND blue chip prospects.

Buffalo is going to want some pieces for now and aren't going to go for a strictly futures package, IMO.

My best guess if Eichel is dealt to the Rangers? It happens at the draft or in the time between the draft and free agency this offseason.

Kravtsov is the headlining blue chip prospect, Chytil as the young NHL ready piece, and a decent LHD prospect akin to Robertson or Jones, and a conditional 2022 1st (becomes a 1st if Rangers make the playoffs in 2022, otherwise a 2nd rounder) for Eichel with no cap dollars retained and a depth Buffalo forward like Girgensons or Reider.

Zibanejad then gets dealt to a team looking for a shakeup like Calgary, Minnesota, Arizona, or Nashville for something close to a Marian Gaborik like return (young top 9 center that team soured on but still has promise (Brassard), a good bottom six forward (Dorsett), and a competent #4 or #5 defenseman (John Moore).

I like Calgary and Minnesota the most as Zibanejad trade targets all things considered between their likelihood to deal and having pieces that the Rangers would find desirable.

Buchnevich extended. Deangelo is traded somewhere for a reclamation project at a similar cap hit or is bought out.

It may make a lot of people upset, but that the end of the day, the Rangers are a better team moving forward and they keep all of their good, young players in Laf, Kakko, Fox, Miller, Lundkvist, Shestorkin, one of Robertson or Jones, and Schneider.

You're looking at this for 2021-22 opening night:

Kreider-Eichel-Kakko
Lafreniere-Trade-Buchnevich
Panarin-Strome-Trade
Girgensons/Reider-Howden-Blackwell

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Trade-Lundkvist

Igor
Kinkaid/Vet Backup

Georgiev or Gauthier lost to expansion.

Panarin feasts on the bad matchups against 2nd and 3rd pairing defensemen and you have two other lines with line drivers that can put pucks in the net.

Who do you think that middle 6 center would be from those teams in a Zibanejad deal?

 

[Avery16]

Well Larry speculated that the trade conversation would start with Lafreniere.

Granted, trading your just 1st OV pick for Eichel then giving him the captaincy would be a ballsy move,, but not one that I'm fully convinced wouldn't come back to bite NYR in the ass long term.

That whole article was just a string of half-assed spitballs. Not even worth discussing.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Chytil off the Covid list kakko still on it. Sounds like he’s got it. Christ

Silver lining: Chytil being off it might mean he can start practicing soon, which would be a huge addition to the lineup. He was our best play-driving forward before his injury, and we really need him back in his minutes over Howden/Rooney. I also wouldn't be shocked if he's getting 2C minutes once he's back at game speed, and I liked the chemistry between Kreider and Strome yesterday. I wouldn't mind rolling these forwards once everyone is fully healthy:

Lafreniere-Mika-Buch/Kakko
Panarin-Chytil-Buch/Kakko
Kreider-Strome-Blackwell
PDG-Rooney-Gauthier/Howden/Lemieux

 

[Don Chytil]

I agree, but I also think that Buffalo has to at some point, stop rebuilding.

A prospect may not be what they target. Not if they want to keep Hall there after an Eichel trade

If they want to keep Hall there past this year you would think Zib+ for Eichel makes a lot of sense.

 

[True Blue]

He's smaller than Girardi. You can win with guys like Girardi too. But for how long? I'm not saying dump Lindgren any time soon, but he's not a good candidate for a longer term contract.

And I think brome will tell. And it is worth to see how he holds up. Again, this is the type of player one wins with.

 

[Kovalev27]

Let’s not pretend this thing doesn’t F you up

Cam was rolling before Covid hit him

 

[pld459666]

If they want to keep Hall there past this year you would think Zib+ for Eichel makes a lot of sense.

I'd offer Zib / CK / 1st / Robertson for Eichel

the NMC are an obstacle, but neither should be in the Rangers long term plans and CK would be a nice 2nd line LW behind Hall

With Panarin and LaF here, CK is redundant and an expensive 3rd liner.

 

[TominNC]

And I think brome will tell. And it is worth to see how he holds up. Again, this is the type of player one wins with.

Obviously time will tell. Unfortunately the decision will need to be made before time tells. They decided Girardi was a guy you win with, then he broke down from playing like a guy you win with.

 

[DuneGoon84]

Let’s not pretend this thing doesn’t F you up

Cam was rolling before Covid hit him

Let's all use the covid card. As if he was the only player that had covid and sucked because of it.

 

[Synergy27]

We'll end up with a similar Stepan/Brassard Stepan/Zibanejad center depth in the end by the time we're ready to contend I think. Maybe a trio of ~2Cs in the end.

I’d be more ok with this this time around because instead of having one or two legit 1Ws we’ll likely have 4-5.

 

[rdhstlr23]

I'd offer Zib / CK / 1st / Robertson for Eichel

the NMC are an obstacle, but neither should be in the Rangers long term plans and CK would be a nice 2nd line LW behind Hall

With Panarin and LaF here, CK is redundant and an expensive 3rd liner.

That will never get it done.

We can’t just throw our trash out to Buffalo and expect them to say, yes.

Trash is over dramatic. Zibanejad is awesome, when he’s right.

Why would Buffalo trade their 24 yr old C for 29 yr old players? If Buffalo is dealing Eichel, even if he demands a trade, they’re getting prospects and picks back.

Also, if the Rangers think they can get Eichel without giving away one of their best young players/prospects, then they’re kidding themselves.

Some team will. I hope it’s our team.

 

[rdhstlr23]

I’d absolutely be willing to deal Kakko for Eichel. Not because I think Kakko is a bust, or isn’t going to be good. I just really believe in Eichel and think he’s the type of guy that could get us a Cup with our current roster and prospect pool.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Lafreniere and Kakko aren’t getting traded for Eichel. I’d say 0% chance for Lafreneire and maybe 5% chance for Kakko.

I’d say a deal would be built around our first rounder this year, Chytil and one of Kravtsov/Lundkvist/Schneider and maybe one of our B level prospects.

Or maybe Buffalo wants Mika+? More of a star player swap to make it easier to sell to fans while also getting our 1st rounder and one of those prospects?

 

[NYRKING30]

Let's all use the covid card. As if he was the only player that had covid and sucked because of it.

That’s not the point. The point is it affects everyone differently. Go look up the Risto situation in Buffalo. Someone mentioned Myles Garret from the Browns. Ilya Samsonov with the caps. The UFC has its hottest prospect flown to America to hopefully get better treatment after having to pull out of 3 different fights. What about the Red Sox pitcher Rodriguez that had to miss the season and developed myocarditis because of it. It’s not a black and white type thing, plenty of grey area.

 

[Avery16]

I’m for acquiring Eichel or Barkov, but it’s a mistake to trade Kakko or Laf as part of a return. Trading superior players in the making, still on ELCs, for 10 million dollar players just entering or in their prime will not win us a Cup.

The new struggle for competency is in cap management as much as it is in coaching and development. Moreover, someone like Eichel or Barkov can be acquired with a lesser return than players recently drafted at 1OA and 2OA.

Strome is young and relatively cost-controlled. If he continues putting up points w/o Panarin on his line, his trade value will increase. Chytil projects as at least a good 2C and also has some cost control. Deangelo has some worth. Lemieux, Kravtsov, Pajuniemi, Barron, even Howden all have some worth and could be part of a deal for a 1C. So could future picks.

The Brooks article is clickbait. Whether or not we acquire Eichel, Kakko and Laf are Rangers for the foreseeable future.

 

[Cag29]

Let's all use the covid card. As if he was the only player that had covid and sucked because of it.

That’s not cool man. I wouldn’t criticize someone if they are sick. It hits everyone differently.

 

[DialUp]

The Brooks article is clickbait .

Rangers need to get their centers through the draft and development. Absolutely no cup without it. Chytil could be one (2C on a cup contending team would mean he seriously progressed incredibly, 3C most likely). Mika should have been one, but it's tenuous right now.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

If they want to keep Hall there past this year you would think Zib+ for Eichel makes a lot of sense.

Zib in any Eichel deal doesn't make any sense for Buffalo

 

[TheBloodyNine]

I'd offer Zib / CK / 1st / Robertson for Eichel

the NMC are an obstacle, but neither should be in the Rangers long term plans and CK would be a nice 2nd line LW behind Hall

With Panarin and LaF here, CK is redundant and an expensive 3rd liner.

These two players are never making their way into a Buffalo deal, for so many reasons.

 

[Kovalev27]

Let's all use the covid card. As if he was the only player that had covid and sucked because of it.

well considering this is one guy from a different sport who sucked after and we’re talking about Mika who was the top goals per game scorer in the league last year and now looks like he’d struggle in the A I think there’s something there

 

[Fitzy]

well considering this is one guy from a different sport who sucked after and we’re talking about Mika who was the top goals per game scorer in the league last year and now looks like he’d struggle in the A I think there’s something there

He had an off the charts shooting percentage last season, and has an almost unheard of shooting percentage this season in the opposite direction.

His play has been poor, but he should by all rights be on pace for a 25-30 goal season (over 82) at least if he was getting more puck luck

 

[Kovalev27]

He had an off the charts shooting percentage last season, and has an almost unheard of shooting percentage this season in the opposite direction.

His play has been poor, but he should by all rights be on pace for a 25-30 goal season (over 82) at least if he was getting more puck luck

hes not even a shell of himself. Forget shooting percentage he looks like porcelain out there. Every hit hurts

 

[bl02]

Chytil off the Covid list kakko still on it. Sounds like he’s got it. Christ

So does that mean Chytil didn't have it? If not he was on the covid list for a while so why are we assuming Kakko is positive for it?

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Have to think the deadline for Eichel is 6/30/2022 or effectively the 2022 draft. On 7/1/2022 his NMC kicks in and he is due a $7.5M signing bonus.

I'm sure the Rangers will be in. But the price is gonna be astronomical.