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

[Ola]

I’m not even seeing those excuses. Most people have just rationalized away the lack of production as bad luck or unprecedented COVID era (lack of) preparation. I don’t think any of the folks that are not concerned at all about what these kids have done to date are lacking any confidence at all that they will still end up the game breaking talents we thought we drafted.

This to me is the type of excuse I am talking about! It’s about “what the kids have done”. It’s about if they ‘are the game breaking talents we thought they are’.

Look, take my word for it. Kakko and Laf are talented. They are also teenagers, the NHL is a tough league to play in for kids. But we as an organization cannot afford to drop the ball on two top 2 picks. We got the talent, now — management — must turn that talent into top special players in the NHL.

Blaming what you got to work with with these two, nah, that don’t fly for me. And even becoming “good players” eventually aren’t even remotely enough. Not even remotely. We must turn them into great players. DQ got Kakko focusing on defense and gives him minimal PP time. Is that the right way?

 

[Fitzy]

This to me is the type of excuse I am talking about! It’s about “what the kids have done”. It’s about if they ‘are the game breaking talents we thought they are’.

Look, take my word for it. Kakko and Laf are talented. They are also teenagers, the NHL is a tough league to play in for kids. But we as an organization cannot afford to drop the ball on two top 2 picks. We got the talent, now — management — must turn that talent into top special players in the NHL.

Blaming what you got to work with with these two, nah, that don’t fly for me. And even becoming “good players” eventually aren’t even remotely enough. Not even remotely. We must turn them into great players. DQ got Kakko focusing on defense and gives him minimal PP time. Is that the right way?

Kakko and Laf are never both going to be able to get the 'key' minutes here while Panarin, Buchnevich, and Kreider are around. The coach is almost always going to go with his established star players over less proven youth.

I think WHEN Kakko and Lafreniere become better players than Kreider and Buchnevich, they will play more. But I agree that it's unusual seeing top picks with this much depth at their position ahead of them. It'd be like if Toronto or Pittsburgh got a 1st overall pick and it was a center.

 

[Ola]

Kakko and Laf are never both going to be able to get the 'key' minutes here while Panarin, Buchnevich, and Kreider are around. The coach is almost always going to go with his established star players over less proven youth.

I think WHEN Kakko and Lafreniere become better players than Kreider and Buchnevich, they will play more. But I agree that it's unusual seeing top picks with this much depth at their position ahead of them. It'd be like if Toronto or Pittsburgh got a 1st overall pick and it was a center.

To put it mildly, I would have preferred if Quinn used the talented players he had on the roster to lift the kids instead of using it as an excuse to not develop their offensive game.

 

[Fitzy]

To put it mildly, I would have preferred if Quinn used the talented players he had on the roster to lift the kids instead of using it as an excuse to not develop their offensive game.

Hopefully there is still time for that. Play Kakko with Panarin and, hopefully, eventually Lafreniere with Zibanejad.

If they do end up just running Laf-Chytil-Blackwell/PDG as a third line though, I don't think that's a great position for the young Quebecois.

 

[jay from jersey]

Your kidding yourself if you think lafreniere was a number one in a bad draft. He had done things very few kids ever have. CHL player of the year twice. Dominant at the WJCs

this kid should not be feeling his way thru. You don’t want to blame quinn? Fine. Then blame the player. But pretending everything is peachy with him is bull.

Can’t argue with this. The kid is a thoroughbred. This is probably the least amount of minutes he’s ever played. You need to put these guys in a position to succeed and not cut their balls off when they make a mistake. LaF should be playing a lot more IMO

 

[Synergy27]

This to me is the type of excuse I am talking about! It’s about “what the kids have done”. It’s about if they ‘are the game breaking talents we thought they are’.

Look, take my word for it. Kakko and Laf are talented. They are also teenagers, the NHL is a tough league to play in for kids. But we as an organization cannot afford to drop the ball on two top 2 picks. We got the talent, now — management — must turn that talent into top special players in the NHL.

Blaming what you got to work with with these two, nah, that don’t fly for me. And even becoming “good players” eventually aren’t even remotely enough. Not even remotely. We must turn them into great players. DQ got Kakko focusing on defense and gives him minimal PP time. Is that the right way?

I 100% agree.

 

[Synergy27]

LOL Strome. Man f*** this team.

 

[Blueblood9]

this team needs some kind of shake up at this point. A trade, bench a vet, fire a coach something. Put a fire under some asses and push these millionaire p***ys

 

[CTRanger]

Andersson garbage dubbed nhl ready
Howden garbage
Chytil only figured it out after knoblauch got his hands on him
Kravtsov org thought he’d be in better hands in Siberia
Kakko barely an nhler last season dubbed nhl ready
Lafreniere as close to a generational first overall as you can get without actually being a generational talent. Has 1 point.
Gauthier barely in the lineup

these are all first round picks none are hitting their marks let alone actually looking great under Quinn. Kakko the closest and he’s got 3 points all year.

these are red flags when they all can’t figure it out under the same coach.

Everyone figures it out differently and some never figure it out.

Howden is 22 and in his 3 rd NHL Season. He is a bottom 6 C who is learning to play that role.

Chytil is 21 and has legit top 6 potential. At worst looks to be a middle 6 C who can play up and down the lineup an on both special teams.

Kravtsov is 21 and playing/developing really well in the KHL right now. He has top 6 potential. If he can come over to NA and learn to penalty kill he will play for a long time even I’d the offense doesn’t translate to a top line role.

Kakko is 20 and has been our best forward recently. The top line potential is obvious!

Lafreniere is 19 and has played a total of 15 games. We all are aware of his potential and 15 games hasn’t changed that.

Gauthier is 23, he needs to learn to be more of a 2 way player to stick. He needs to change his game a bit.

Shesterkin, Miller, Fox, Lindgren.

Lundkvist, Schneider, Robertson, Jones.

We are so young, it takes time.

 

[B17 Apricots]

Funny they just showed Jussi Jokinen on the MSG 150, I know some of those kids on the Panthers said playing with him and Jagr helped them tremendously coming into the league... I like Toronto adding Thornton, Marleau, Spezza. We need some WINNER veterans to fill out the roster. I would love to add a Boyle to this group they need something in that locker room

 

[JohnC]

Funny they just showed Jussi Jokinen on the MSG 150, I know some of those kids on the Panthers said playing with him and Jagr helped them tremendously coming into the league... I like Toronto adding Thornton, Marleau, Spezza. We need some WINNER veterans to fill out the roster. I would love to add a Boyle to this group they need something in that locker room

I get the point you’re going for, but you could’ve done better than to list 5 guys who never won

 

[B17 Apricots]

I get the point you’re going for, but you could’ve done better than to list 5 guys who never won

Thanks sweetheart, ya they're HUGE losers

 

[JohnC]

Thanks sweetheart, ya they're HUGE losers

Hell, 2/3 of your Toronto list were labelled playoff failures and actually got stripped of captaincies over them.

Shit, Chris Kreider made it to more conference final/Cup final series than Jussi Jokinen.

It's like you decided you wanted to make a good point then just shit your pants once you went to make it.

 

[B17 Apricots]

Hell, 2/3 of your Toronto list were labelled playoff failures and actually got stripped of captaincies over them.

Shit, Chris Kreider made it to more conference final/Cup final series than Jussi Jokinen.

It's like you decided you wanted to make a good point then just shit your pants once you went to make it.

Or my very obvious point about young players like Barkov saying playing with talented veterans like Jagr and Jokinen helped them. I said I liked Tornoto adding those veterans... I wasnt sitting there making a list of players that won you dumb f***

Top line players, HOF, all star games, playoff series' wins... but nah theyre not winners

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

If we didn't have such shitty C depth, I'd healthy scratch Zibanejad for a game or two

 

[RGY]

Can we trade Quinn?

 

[Daves a mess]

This is all a mental strength thing for Mika now. Not remotely physical. Or I'm sure hed say so to the staff and be shut down for a bit. He's in some endless mind f**k now.

He's got to bear down and fight his way out of this.

And whatever he did post Covid stoppage last March as far as training and down time?

Yeah buddy. I'd switch it up.

Rooting for ya man.

 

[NYRKING30]

Can we trade Quinn?

Yes... for Marc Staal’s former expensive CT digs.

 

[Avery16]

https://nypost.com/2021/02/18/jacob-trouba-injury-presents-rangers-with-salary-cap-puzzle/

 

[Off Sides]

https://nypost.com/2021/02/18/jacob-trouba-injury-presents-rangers-with-salary-cap-puzzle/

Yes the Rangers should add in more cap hit heavy players by using LTIR because that will fix them?

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

 

[Avery16]

Yes the Rangers should add in more cap hit heavy players by using LTIR because that will fix them?

Maybe it’s an opportunity to take on a larger but expiring contract that could be flipped at deadline. Some futures to take on the contract, a little more when contract is flipped.

 

[wafflepadsave]

I don’t get msg but we squeezed out a win against the flyers who were missing 4-6 regulars?

 

[Filthy Dangles]

View attachment 397854

Damn these kids are shitty shots on and off the ice

 

[Filthy Dangles]

So what’s a realistic offer for Eichel if he asks out of Buffalo in the off season?