Speculation: Roster Building Thread LXXXV: Sell some now, buy some later

[IDvsEGO]

I don't get the obsession with Zegras. Yes, he's a great prospect but not on the same level as Kakko or Laf.

Lundkvist for Zegras makes sense though from a value-perspective. I doubt Anaheim trades Zegras away though

The thing is that while lundkvist is almost equal value to zegras, positionally it hurts Anaheim far more than it does us.
We gain a potential top center, and lose a potential top 4, but we have a Rhd to replace him almost immediately. LA is the better fit, so long as we don’t go after byfield.

 

[duhmetreE]

“It happens very quickly, from getting the call at 11:30 that it might be, I rush home and pack and initially it was going to be one game, but it might be going on the road trip, so pack extra. Really, you didn’t have much time to think about it. Like I said, preparing very minimal, everything was laid out for us by the coaching staff and then when the game started, there are some nerves and excitement, but you get into game mode or coach mode when you call out that first line or change. It’s certainly a night that I’ll never forget.”

 

[BBKers]

Tarmo has the 2nd highest PPG on the entire team.WHYIS HE NOT PLAYING? OP HA s another heavy drink...

 

[Leetch3]

Hartford plays at 1 pm on Saturday. The Rangers play at 7 pm. If the coaching staff isn't off the Covid list by then, Knoblauch and Murphy will have to coach both games. Have any coaches ever done that?

would be interesting but considering the rangers are in washington friday and saturday and hartford plays in providence. I'd be surprised if they coached both games...

 

[Synergy27]

I don't get the obsession with Zegras. Yes, he's a great prospect but not on the same level as Kakko or Laf.

Lundkvist for Zegras makes sense though from a value-perspective. I doubt Anaheim trades Zegras away though

I think a lot of ibis here got locked in on Zegras as the pick before we won the lottery. That, plus his continued development since, and the fact that he plays center is why he remains such an intriguing prospect.

The fact that Kakko is continuing to struggle to score points is another factor.

 

[The New Russian Five]

Lol, ok guy. 27 games in now and Laff still needs a pregame rah-rah speech?

Well he hasn't been benched once, and I have yet to see a game where he is truly engaged. So I doubt Quinn ever game him a rah-rah speech to being with. That's the point I am making.

 

[Tob]

Safe to say Quinn program is to focus entirely on defense and the way to judge these young prospects isn't point production. I'm sure management has bought in as well.

 

[BBKers]

RANGERS likely will need to go something like 19-9 or 18-10 to go to the POs. 7 games remain vs the 2 Bottom Feeders (Debs and the Tatanka feces - but nothing automatic there btw). Plus 4 games vs Phillthy. It will NOT be an easy task

 

[duhmetreE]

Safe to say Quinn program is to focus entirely on defense and the way to judge these young prospects isn't point production. I'm sure management has bought in as well.

Music to my ears that they are practicing tomorrow. Now we just need Shesty to start one of these upcoming games

We win the back2back.

 

[Savant]

I don't get the obsession with Zegras. Yes, he's a great prospect but not on the same level as Kakko or Laf.

Lundkvist for Zegras makes sense though from a value-perspective. I doubt Anaheim trades Zegras away though

I want to play devils advocate here. I don’t necessarily agree with this but here it goes.

I don’t get the obsession with Kakko. I don’t know what he does. I don’t know if his game translates to the NHL and the Rangers are loaded at wing. Why should he be untouchable? His best tool is moving forward with the puck on his stock but he doesn’t really create a ton of offense. It’s like looking at late career Rick Nash but without the defense or IQ. Are we sure he has a good shot?

I think there are a ton of questions around the player, even if he has gotten better compared to last season. That being said, the development of the player is leaving a lot to be desired, and he is not impacting games.

not sure I would move him straight up for Zegras, but it’s not egregious at this point either. Rangers might have to pay $1.50 (or higher) on the dollar to get a center, may as well get a guy with similar upside if they can’t do a blockbuster deal.

 

[Savant]

RANGERS likely will need to go something like 19-9 or 18-10 to go to the POs. 7 games remain vs the 2 Bottom Feeders (Debs and the Tatanka feces - but nothing automatic there btw). Plus 4 games vs Phillthy. It will NOT be an easy task

I think the standings are about right. I think the Rangers are (unfortunately) probably stuck as the fifth best team in the division, but that’s also a fair reflection.

 

[Fitzy]

I want to play devils advocate here. I don’t necessarily agree with this but here it goes.

I don’t get the obsession with Kakko. I don’t know what he does. I don’t know if his game translates to the NHL and the Rangers are loaded at wing. Why should he be untouchable? His best tool is moving forward with the puck on his stock but he doesn’t really create a ton of offense. It’s like looking at late career Rick Nash but without the defense or IQ. Are we sure he has a good shot?

I've chatted with Machinehead a bit about this comparison, as well as prime Alexander Frolov as a Kakko comparison.

The short answer I think is that management doesn't know what we have yet in Kakko, and so they don't feel like shorting him and selling him early in his career- they would rather be patient and see what he turns into rather than gambling him away in a trade now.

The most optimistic peak comparison has been Marian Hossa, the most pessimistic a late career Nash, as you say. I just get the vibe that management isn't going to rush Kakko or Lafreniere, nor actively deal them early on.

The one thing I will contribute to the conversation though is that with a Buchnevich decision looming, what our two young wingers show in that short timespan is going to be very important.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I think people don't know how a rebuild works or how prospects become nhl players. People talking about trading Lafrieniere and Kakko obviously have no patience to build a team properly. These two players have started their careers unlike any prospect in history with covid taking time on the ice away from both of them. There was always going to be an adjustment period but you add in layoffs in training and game time into it, its much harder. I'm not interested in moving either guy. They aren't mcdavid and Crosby but i think they are in the next level down when they are finished products. We can move other prospects, players or picks to fill in the holes, these guys are part of the solution not the problem

 

[AlaBlueShirt]

Kinda scared how they were able to play if Quinn tested positive and he was behind the bench 2 nights ago. You can spread the thing before it shows on the test.

 

[TUQ]

For me, absolutely not.

But boy do I wish we landed that pick from Edmonton back in 2019.

Wasn't that trade supposed to be Buchnevich for the pick? If so, you would have Zegras but you would not have Buchnevich who is finally looking like he put it all together, including phenomenal defense.

 

[Kovalev27]

So buchy let out of the bag that Quinn tested positive also let out of the bag that he had Covid himself over the summer because he has antibodies according to him. Interesting how many guys actually had it that we don’t know about.

we’ve heard thru the grapevine now that buchy Rooney trouba and we know kakko digiuseppe Mika Chytil had it. Who else? That’s 7 out of 23 that we know of. That’s pretty significant

 

[Vitto79]

So what if anything is Smith worth at half price ? a 3rd ? Less?

is PDG destined for waivers when Kravtsov arrives ?

 

[Black Tank]

I think people don't know how a rebuild works or how prospects become nhl players. People talking about trading Lafrieniere and Kakko obviously have no patience to build a team properly. These two players have started their careers unlike any prospect in history with covid taking time on the ice away from both of them. There was always going to be an adjustment period but you add in layoffs in training and game time into it, its much harder. I'm not interested in moving either guy. They aren't mcdavid and Crosby but i think they are in the next level down when they are finished products. We can move other prospects, players or picks to fill in the holes, these guys are part of the solution not the problem

The other somewhat unique aspect to both Kakko and Laf is that they joined a very highly talented offensive team that has the tools to make a run WITHOUT them. It would be great if both were scoring higher but as under 20s it's hard to imagine them carrying the team when you have Z, Panarin, Kreider and new Buch who rightfully get the ice time and opps to get the team contending. Forgotten man Strome also just keeps on putting up points quietly night after night. This is not a team that has a scoring problem. And that makes a huge difference in how they are used and their roles on the team. Will that work for or against them in the next few years? That's the bet the organization must get right.

 

[kovazub94]

Hartford plays at 1 pm on Saturday. The Rangers play at 7 pm. If the coaching staff isn't off the Covid list by then, Knoblauch and Murphy will have to coach both games. Have any coaches ever done that?

This sounds like a 5th grade math problem about a train leaving the station.

 

[Grumpy Vigneault]

This sounds like a 5th grade math problem about a train leaving the station.

It won't work unless we get Elon Musk to build some crazy vacuum tube thing.

 

[frozenrubber]

I've chatted with Machinehead a bit about this comparison, as well as prime Alexander Frolov as a Kakko comparison.

The short answer I think is that management doesn't know what we have yet in Kakko, and so they don't feel like shorting him and selling him early in his career- they would rather be patient and see what he turns into rather than gambling him away in a trade now.

The most optimistic peak comparison has been Marian Hossa, the most pessimistic a late career Nash, as you say. I just get the vibe that management isn't going to rush Kakko or Lafreniere, nor actively deal them early on.

The one thing I will contribute to the conversation though is that with a Buchnevich decision looming, what our two young wingers show in that short timespan is going to be very important.

Not sure why we need to rope Nash into this, can outline the entire development spectrum in one family:

Marcel Hossa (lowest) -------<- Kakko ->------- Marian Hossa (highest)

 

[SRHRangers]

I needed a cigarette after last night lol.

19-20 Zibs is back

 

[Profet]

So I hate to be that guy... But the league has to have taken notice of Buchnevich's play this season.

Maybe he's a guy you sell high on?

Because you have to ask yourself the question, is this peak Buchnevich?

If you think it is, you have to sell, right?

If you think there is more in the tank, maybe you keep him around, but then how does that effect Kravtsov's and Kakko's development and icetime?

It's tough, but if you are managing assets correctly, you need to be selling when players' values are high around the league.

 

[Edge]

Wasn't that trade supposed to be Buchnevich for the pick? If so, you would have Zegras but you would not have Buchnevich who is finally looking like he put it all together, including phenomenal defense.

That is true.

Unfortunately there is a decent probability that Buch might not be here long-term anyway.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I've chatted with Machinehead a bit about this comparison, as well as prime Alexander Frolov as a Kakko comparison.

The short answer I think is that management doesn't know what we have yet in Kakko, and so they don't feel like shorting him and selling him early in his career- they would rather be patient and see what he turns into rather than gambling him away in a trade now.

The most optimistic peak comparison has been Marian Hossa, the most pessimistic a late career Nash, as you say. I just get the vibe that management isn't going to rush Kakko or Lafreniere, nor actively deal them early on.

The one thing I will contribute to the conversation though is that with a Buchnevich decision looming, what our two young wingers show in that short timespan is going to be very important.

They have a known quantity in Buchnevich and two unknowns in Kakko and Kravtsov. Doesn't feel like they'll know for sure by the time they have to make the call on Buchnevich. I guess you hope at least one of the two works out in the top 6, but right now how to you bank of that?

I also feel like Kakko and Laff's lack of ice time last night was intentional. Either they're not doing something the coaches want, they're dogging it in practice or whatever but it feels like they're trying to send those two a message.