Speculation: Roster Building Thread LXXXVI: Spring into action (GMJG outta hibernation?)

[eco's bones]

I don't. Buch has been consistently improving year after year. If anything, I'd be concerned if he wasn't.

You talk about his most consistent season is during a contract year, while ignoring the fact that he's just a better player than previous years.

Not just the points but Buch has been great on the penalty kill. Looks like he’s been doing it for years.

 

[Kodiak]

I get people don’t want to get too caught up on what feels like excuses for this team, but holy shit has this been one of the years. Between injuries, dismissals, COVID, weird puck bounces, etc., I don’t even know where to rank the uniqueness of the season.

My wife has zero interest in hockey, but I've been been telling her about the team this year like a soap opera and she's been very interested. We've had the ADA incident and the Panarin LOA. Prior to the Flyers game, I told her about the entire coaching staff having to go on the COVID list and the minor league staff coming up to coach. Then I showed her the 9-0 score after the game and we started laughing because nothing makes sense anymore. It has really been a year like we have never seen.

 

[MrAlmost]

Can Blackwell play center? I like his game and his compete. I think these lines could be pretty good moving forward if Kravstov can stick in the lineup.

KZB
Panarin-Strome-Kakko
Laf-Chytil-Kravstov
Lemieux-Blackwell-Goat
Rooney

I really just dont think Howden offers as much as those bottom 4 guys. I think he should be the odd man out.

 

[Fitzy]

We finally get one consistent 4th liner and PKer in Rooney, why do folks want to bench him?

 

[duhmetreE]

We finally get one consistent 4th liner and PKer in Rooney, why do folks want to bench him?

Because their opinions come from advanced stats

 

[MrAlmost]

We finally get one consistent 4th liner and PKer in Rooney, why do folks want to bench him?

Oh I don't. I like Rooney. He is a good player. I was just wondering as I also like Blackwell a lot. Perhaps Lemieux is the odd man out. I didn't mean to make it seem like Rooney isn't any good. I'm just speculating.

Blackwell-Rooney-Goat
Lemieux

That's good too. Lemieux has something to his game maybe the others don't, but it doesn't come out enough to warrant him is the lineup over those 3 perhaps?

 

[MrAlmost]

Because their opinions come from advanced stats

I don't really keep up with advanced stats on my own. Only what I see posted here. I have a hard time reading them.

 

[Kodiak]

We finally get one consistent 4th liner and PKer in Rooney, why do folks want to bench him?

Rooney has been a big part of a PK that has become a major strength. He should be locked in to the #4 center spot and Blackwell, Lemieux, Howden, PDG, and Gauthier can cycle in and out of the lineup around him.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Can Blackwell play center? I like his game and his compete. I think these lines could be pretty good moving forward if Kravstov can stick in the lineup.

KZB
Panarin-Strome-Kakko
Laf-Chytil-Kravstov
Lemieux-Blackwell-Goat
Rooney

I really just dont think Howden offers as much as those bottom 4 guys. I think he should be the odd man out.

Just play Rooney at center, Blackwell in Lemieux' spot and done

 

[bleedblue94]

I really am kind of shocked how we beat buffalo by one goal with their 3rd or 9th string goalie in the game for their 14th consecutive loss and then the talk here shifts to playoffs. If we are a playoff team than that game last night isn't even close, it isn't a battle.

This team would have to catch pitt for the last slot (boston is going to finish 3rd as they catch up in games played) so you have to close 8pts on a team that you only have 1 game in hand on and have gone 1-3-2 on the season. Unless they win both the 4/6 and 4/8 games in regulation this team has almost no chance of making the playoffs.

 

[True Blue]

Oh I don't. I like Rooney. He is a good player. I was just wondering as I also like Blackwell a lot. Perhaps Lemieux is the odd man out. I didn't mean to make it seem like Rooney isn't any good. I'm just speculating.

Blackwell-Rooney-Goat
Lemieux

That's good too. Lemieux has something to his game maybe the others don't, but it doesn't come out enough to warrant him is the lineup over those 3 perhaps?

I see Gauthier sitting. Lemieux - Rooney - Blackwell. Or maybe it is Blackwell that sits.

 

[MrAlmost]

I see Gauthier sitting. Lemieux - Rooney - Blackwell. Or maybe it is Blackwell that sits.

While it wouldn't surprise me, I think Goat should be playing. He is a good player and has potential to be more. I wouldn't sit him for any of those guys and until Kravstov gets into a game, I would play Goat on the 3rd line with Laf and Chytil.

 

[True Blue]

While it wouldn't surprise me, I think Goat should be playing. He is a good player and has potential to be more. I wouldn't sit him for any of those guys and until Kravstov gets into a game, I would play Goat on the 3rd line with Laf and Chytil.

Honestly, I see the improvements in his game, but still fail to see what he is doing that everyone keeps penciling him into the everyday line up for.

 

[wafflepadsave]

The freaking nhl goes ballistic cause we got a 1st oa. What a bunch of cry babies. Rangers should just a bunch of door mats in their opinion. Where’s the outcry when Edmonton won 4 times?

 

[wafflepadsave]

Generally speaking those numbers are part of a larger sign that the offense should be coming. That’s huge in my eyes.

Certainly very encouraging.

 

[Edge]

Agree with all of this but every team deals with COVID lists, so it would be in everyone's best interests to leave that out of the excuse folder.

You (the collective not specific "YOU") could replace it with Panarin's leave of absence AND the clear distraction that debacle was to him prior to it.

They do, but I think it's easier to navigate when you're an experienced team, with established depth, rather than a younger team where on any given night five of your forwards have played the equivalent of two or less full seasons of NHL hockey, and as many as 2/3 of your defense has played two or less seasons of NHL hockey.

That's HUGE right now.

If we were take a snapshot of this lineup, we're talking about more than half the players being 22 or younger and having 165 or less games under their belt.

These players are barely old enough to buy a post-game beer, let alone rent a car.

 

[wafflepadsave]

I think it’s the speed. The leagues never been faster. These kids are struggling right out the gate to catch up and then the confidence fails them a bit. But that’s what I see and it makes sense to see them trending downwards over the past 5 years. The speed is crazy right now so much of it coming from the back end transitioning so quickly. You don’t have lugs back there chipping off the glass all day

Marc Staal said thanks.

 

[Edge]

Hell, even Machinehead would be putting up points in that shit tier Canadian division

He needs the new contract to repair his Corvette.

 

[MarkMessyay11]

I really am kind of shocked how we beat buffalo by one goal with their 3rd or 9th string goalie in the game for their 14th consecutive loss and then the talk here shifts to playoffs. If we are a playoff team than that game last night isn't even close, it isn't a battle.

This team would have to catch pitt for the last slot (boston is going to finish 3rd as they catch up in games played) so you have to close 8pts on a team that you only have 1 game in hand on and have gone 1-3-2 on the season. Unless they win both the 4/6 and 4/8 games in regulation this team has almost no chance of making the playoffs.

I don't entirely disagree with you about last night. It wasn't the best 60-minute effort and we weren't nearly as tight defensively as I would like to see. But even the best teams have to struggle their way to 2 points some nights...and the game really wasn't that close either. I haven't seen any advanced stats, but based off my watching we controlled most of the game. Two of Buffalo's goals came off rushes...one was a wicked shot and the other was a breakaway. We also had our 3rd string goalie in net.

Again, not a perfect dominating performance but it's 2 points that they should have gotten and did. Also can't use this as a measuring stick and not give them credit for the way they played against Washington over the weekend.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

The freaking nhl goes ballistic cause we got a 1st oa. What a bunch of cry babies. Rangers should just a bunch of door mats in their opinion. Where’s the outcry when Edmonton won 4 times?

Copied this from a post I shared earlier this month:

They had a lottery starting in 2006 where 1 team could win, but only move up 4 spots. When Edmonton get the first overall pick 3 years in a row, but only once because of a lottery win

2006: STL (No change)
2007: CHI (Moved up 4 spots)
2008: TBL (No change)
2009: NYI (No change)
2010: EDM (No change)
2011: EDM (No change)
2012: EDM (Moved up 1 spot)
2013: COL (Moved up 1 spot)
2014: FLA (Moved up 1 spot)

Then for 2015 they implemented a new lottery, where all teams missing the play offs had a chance to win the 1st overall pick. 1 draw only, with adjusted odds.

2015: EDM (Moved up 2 spots)

Starting in 2016, they would also have draws for the 2nd and 3rd overall spots. This was part of a system change the NHL gradually wanted to implement, hence why 2015 only had 1 lottery like before, but with all non-play off teams involved

2016
TOR: 1 > 1 (No change)
WPG: 6 > 2
CLB: 4 > 3

2017
NJD: 5 > 1
PHI: 14 > 2
DAL: 8 > 3

2018
BUF: 1 > 1 (No change)
CAR: 11 > 2
MTL: 4 > 3

2019
NJD: 3 > 1
NYR: 6 > 2
CHI: 12 > 3

2020
TBD: 8-15 > 1
LAK: 4 > 2
SJS: 3 > 3

And then the 2020 draft had that weird second phase because the qualifying round teams who combined for a 31% chance at winning, won the 1st overall selection in phase 1.


The NHL wants to tweak the system because they feel it's working too well, I guess? Back in 2014 they decided on a revamped system to discourage tanking. Well, good job. It worked. Since they implemented a 3-draw draft, 7 of the 15 draws have been won by a team outside the top-5. The system works. However, I always felt an addendum stating some sort of exclusion based on previous winnings would have been beneficial at the time.

My persoal format would have been something along the lines of:

1st overall: 3 years
2nd overall: 2 years
3rd overall: 1 year

That means that each year, 6 teams are exempt from moving into the top-3. You can still have them win the lottery but only move up as far as 4th, with an additional draw then determining the winner of the spot that was initially on the table.

Now the NHL wants to exclude teams who won the lottery twice, which is fine I guess. It's something at least. But looking at the league's history 2 things are clear to me:

1. No, this is not to "punish the Rangers"
2. Yes, the NHL in fact did act after Edmonton won the 1st overall pick several times in a 6 year span.

 

[Edge]

Slow start is what Kreider, Strome and Shesterkin had.

It took Zibanejad almost half a season to get back to form. Chytil’s injury and Panarin’s LOA had a huge impact, and I won’t even mention other unforeseen issues.

It is what it is. If they play well the rest of the season but narrowly miss playoffs because of the above, I’d put a plus checkmark to the season after it’s over.

Frankly, that's in the realm of what I expected to this season.

I saw a team that could finish where from 10-20, but leaned toward a roster that would have a slow start and ultimately finish just outside the playoffs. My goals were somewhat aligned with what the Rangers expressed hope with --- player growth.

I'm "okay" missing the playoffs if I feel like our young players are coming along and being worked into the lineup.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

The freaking nhl goes ballistic cause we got a 1st oa. What a bunch of cry babies. Rangers should just a bunch of door mats in their opinion. Where’s the outcry when Edmonton won 4 times?

Looks like tanking is back on the menu boys!

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

When you have a good system that works, but it also leads to the mighty Devils and Rangers dynasties circa 2021, I think you have to change it because Steve Yzerman told you to.

 

[Edge]

When you have a good system that works, but it also leads to the mighty Devils and Rangers dynasties circa 2021, I think you have to change it because Steve Yzerman told you to.

I'm sure Lil Stevie made his opinion known --- if anyone knows the value of building around first and second overall picks, it would be someone from Tampa.

But I suspect that the more vocal complaining was from a group of people --- some known and some not so known.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

There's gonna be one team that blatantly tanks for Wright next year, and then another team that obviously tanks for Bedard in 2023 and then teams are gonna complain and its gonna change again. So stupid. Just get rid of the f***ing draft at this point.