Speculation: Roster Building Thread LXXXIV: 2021: “The Fun has begun” or “Over & done”?

[Synergy27]

I’m not even sure what to think or say at this point. We were all feeling pretty good coming off of a little winning streak against the bottom of the league’s barrel, but I said prior to these Pens’ games that they would be a better measuring stick for this team. They came up short big time obviously, but I’m not sure what needs to be done other than getting a more experienced coach in here.

I think I’m finally onboard with the contingent that has been writing this season off as unprecedented. It’s really unfortunate because this was supposed to be the “feel it out and make some tweaks” season, but given the circumstances that can is getting kicked down the road until at least next year.

I hesitate to make any significant roster moves because I don’t know that this season and all of its abnormalities are giving us a clear picture of who these players really are. Things I am confident about include:

1. Eichel not being the answer.
2. Howden and JJ needing to be let go.
3. Holding onto Chytil for dear life.
4. Not trading Lundkvist until they see what he can do at the NHL level.
5. Needing to find some physical but still skilled players to diversify the forward group.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Here is the Roster Building thread...

Fire Quinn, Oliver, and Brown. Keep Martin.

Then go from there. To me nothing else matters until those 3 are gone.

CGY and MTL fired their coaches. Its time to get an experienced coach in here. I dont know for sure who that is, but something needs to change here. It needs to change not just for the rest of this season, but for the future of this organization.

No cap

 

[Ola]

Eichel is a top 5 C in the league. He’s worth Chytil plus a ton more

Why?

 

[egelband]

Think most of these guys just need to develop and mature more. That’s all I’ve got!

 

[gravey9]

Why?

The salary cap is yet again the greatest thing that's ever happened to the Rangers. Because if they could have traded for Eichel money-wise in-season, they likely would have. But cap constraints means they have to wait til the off-season.

And that means we just might get to see Lundkvist getting a bunch of games before the season is over. And that might just prevent us from prematurely moving him. I think this kid's going to be something in the NHL and maybe better than any of other D not named Fox. He's too smart. Too steady. Too skilled. He's super efficient as well. He's flown under the radar because of his size. He continues to be underestimated as a purely offensive D just because of his size. But he's an all situations player. He will get a sneaky amount of points because he's just smart. He's the kind of guy you will rue the day you trade him.

No Eichel till we know what we have with Lundkvist.

 

[Alluckks]

I think I would be higher on acquiring Larkin, assuming it means we keep Chytil and Lundkvist, than I would be acquiring Eichel

 

[Alluckks]

Acquire Larkin for a deal around Kravstov + 2021 1st
Trade Strome
Howden/Lemieux/Gauthier in expansion draft

Roll out

Panarin Larkin Kakko
Laf Zib Buch
Kreider Chytil veteran

Lindgren Fox
Miller Trouba
Robertston Lundkvist

Shesty
Georgiev

That looks like a really damn good team

 

[Ola]

I’m not even sure what to think or say at this point. We were all feeling pretty good coming off of a little winning streak against the bottom of the league’s barrel, but I said prior to these Pens’ games that they would be a better measuring stick for this team. They came up short big time obviously, but I’m not sure what needs to be done other than getting a more experienced coach in here.

I think I’m finally onboard with the contingent that has been writing this season off as unprecedented. It’s really unfortunate because this was supposed to be the “feel it out and make some tweaks” season, but given the circumstances that can is getting kicked down the road until at least next year.

I hesitate to make any significant roster moves because I don’t know that this season and all of its abnormalities are giving us a clear picture of who these players really are. Things I am confident about include:

1. Eichel not being the answer.
2. Howden and JJ needing to be let go.
3. Holding onto Chytil for dear life.
4. Not trading Lundkvist until they see what he can do at the NHL level.
5. Needing to find some physical but still skilled players to diversify the forward group.

Ultimately, it’s hard to avoid noting that management has failed on way to many accounts for us to be comfortable with the direction we are heading.

And I can live with mistakes. But the many of the failures comes from management simply not having their heart at the right place and that is harder to swallow.

The current group in the lockerroom is looking like the opposite of what you want to see. Sure they are young and mistakes will be made, but they should be fighting hard, they should stand up for each other, there should not be a deep negative atmosphere around the team and so forth.

How is it possible that we could come to where we are right now? Here is another example of were management shys away from being held accountable. I couldn’t care less about if they on every single account can tell a pretty story that sounds good. Facts are that the players as a group aren’t appreciating the organization (management), they aren’t buying into everyone pulling in the same direction, supporting each other and so forth. If you polled say all players in Carolina on their level of support for their coach in Brind’amour and their management, it would come in sky high above were we would stand.

This is unacceptable and we can’t have this. Management is responsible for ensuring that we don’t get to this point, and they failed. Nothing else matters.

 

[mas0764]

Love Larkin. But the Rangers are so inept at center that acquiring him would inevitably lead to disappointment, because he would be viewed as a savior and could never live up to that expectation. Basically the Trouba of forwards.

Feel the same. Nice player, not for us or our situation though.

 

[Ola]

Larkin is one of the more overrated players in the game in my book. Would be disappointed if he was the guy they went all in on.

He isn’t the type you should give a 10m contract or expect to be a franchise player.

But I do think that he checks several boxes for us on line 2 or 3.

 

[Vitto79]

So if Kravtsovs team loses and he arrives in say 3 weeks. Panarin is back by then

April will be interesting w the deadline.

Could they make a surprise Gaborik type deal w Buchnevich ?

 

[Shesterkybomb]

remember when 75 percent of the board said he’s a pile

Not this guy

 

[Ola]

3 assists for Neil Pionk on the night...

21 pts in 25 games.

What should we learn from this?

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Neal Pionk was not good when he was here let’s not play revisionist history

if you want to complain about something, complain that he got better when he left the Rangers organization

 

[I Eat Crow]

LOL Detroit isn't trading Larkin.

Far more likely we see a "Gaborik like" trade with Zibanejad being dealt than Buchnevich, IMO.

 

[I Eat Crow]

This year was always about phasing out the dead weight and bridging the gap until the last of our blue chip prospects were ready. Not having Johnson, Smith, and Howden on the team next year will do far more for this team than any trade they make for a center or elsewhere. Addition by subtraction.

Howden and Lemieux should be exposed to Seattle this June. Gauthier has showed enough that he may be taken too, but no big deal if he is. One of them will be taken and the others may outright be not brought back or given a QO.

I know we like to shit on him but I'm protecting Strome over these guys. We all saw first hand how horrific our center depth is with Chytil hurt and with Zibanejad having long haul COVID side effects. Have him see a sports psychologist in the off-season but I'd listen on offers for him too. Pass on Eichel unless he comes with cap dollars retained and Kravtsov is the highest vlue chipper dealt for him. Lundkvist should absolutely be off limits.

 

[DuneGoon84]

21 pts in 25 games.

View attachment 405705

What should we learn from this?

Reality sucks. Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[RGY]

Just get rid of Quinn. This team is embarrassing. There is no identity. You never know what you’re gona get from night to night. I get we are rebuilding, perfectly ok with that. But these are NHL players and the Coach cant get them to give a consistent effort. The PP has been a disaster, not one change seems to be made in the approach. Overall its a constant chip and chase and lose the chase, let alone the battle outside of a few players. And lastly it comes down to personnel management. Howden should have been scratched a long time ago. He should be in the AHL. And the Coach just cant see that, he cant identify that. He is the problem. He has no answers during every postgame. Just sounds defeated all the time and that type of look transcends on down to your players.

Get rid of Quinn and then we can talk about everything else

 

[NYR Viper]

The fact that Pionk is doing well in Winnipeg shouldn't be a surprise. That team plays a heavy style where the forwards are always around the net. It's the same reason Trouba had so many points there. They get a ton of traffic around the net and much of their offense comes from screened point shots. Pionk was always good at that.

 

[Fitzy]

Not this guy

Same, though I don't see how we would have fit in our future blue line.

 

[TheGortonConspiracy]

All I’m saying is... we could use a player like Wahlstrom...

 

[NYR Viper]

As far as guys upping their value, Gauthier, to me, deserves more time. The kid is consistently creating chances with his size and speed down low and winning puck battle which this team sorely needs.

Howden has been such a disappointment, I'm ready to move on from him for everyone's sanity (including his own). Find a player in a similar mold and move on.

 

[TheGortonConspiracy]

As far as guys upping their value, Gauthier, to me, deserves more time. The kid is consistently creating chances with his size and speed down low and winning puck battle which this team sorely needs.

Howden has been such a disappointment, I'm ready to move on from him for everyone's sanity (including his own). Find a player in a similar mold and move on.

Will be interesting to see what DQ does with ice time when he has both Gauthier and Kravtsov on RW

 

[mas0764]

So if Kravtsovs team loses and he arrives in say 3 weeks. Panarin is back by then

April will be interesting w the deadline.

Could they make a surprise Gaborik type deal w Buchnevich ?

Eichel!

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

The fact that Pionk is doing well in Winnipeg shouldn't be a surprise. That team plays a heavy style where the forwards are always around the net. It's the same reason Trouba had so many points there. They get a ton of traffic around the net and much of their offense comes from screened point shots. Pionk was always good at that.

That and they have literally no one else on the right side. So of course he’s putting up points lol