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

[Fitzy]

It's also pretty clear that the draft isn't a panacea to parity- it isn't sufficient to fix critically broken teams like Ottawa, Buffalo, Detroit, ect.



If better parity is the goal the NHL needs to think of alternate strategies.

 

[MrAlmost]

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.

I would say that as I have watched, his board work, speed, aggression, and back checking have grown leaps. On top of that, the most important thing I would say is his willingness to go to the net with the puck, which not many of our other players do all too often. And when he goes to the net, he gets there a good amount which is also more than I can say for many of the other players on the team.

He's got the skill and the willingness. I think it would be folly to lose him in expansion or trade him.

 

[duhmetreE]

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.

It's a classic let down game.

I'm happy we got by it but we played down to our competition. We were getting 'cute' and 'playing with our food'.

Shit got serious, real quick. IMO we lose without the PP and/or Kakko is not moved up.

 

[pld459666]

I'm all for developing 2-way players, I'm not of the belief that you should be looking to do that in years 1 or 2 for high end offensive players.

They were drafted for their offensive acumen, not their ability to play defensive sound hockey.

I'd rather they get comfortable being able to generate offense at a high level and ease in the defensive assignments by mid/late year 2 going forward.

 

[bleedblue94]

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.

I'm not trying to be a downer but you can spin it anyway, we barely escaped last night with a one goal win in a game where we blew a 2 goal lead in the third period to a near record settingly bad team, and this NYR team isn't good enough to compare such a win to how good teams halfass their way to some victories. This team hasn't earned such status, as prior to last night we were a .500 team.

 

[wafflepadsave]

B

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

But he might need a play making center.

 

[Mugless]

 

[True Blue]

I would say that as I have watched, his board work, speed, aggression, and back checking have grown leaps. On top of that, the most important thing I would say is his willingness to go to the net with the puck, which not many of our other players do all too often. And when he goes to the net, he gets there a good amount which is also more than I can say for many of the other players on the team.

He's got the skill and the willingness. I think it would be folly to lose him in expansion or trade him.

I am not saying he is getting exposed. I am saying that while I see elements that are improving, I still not see quite enough. Am more than willing to wait and see. But Gauthier is facing an up or out scenario. He needs to take active steps to ensure that he is not on the outside looking in. If Kravstov manages to take the ball and run with it, the clock's ticking gets that much louder.

 

[bleedblue94]

It's a classic let down game.

I'm happy we got by it but we played down to our competition. We were getting 'cute' and 'playing with our food'.

Shit got serious, real quick. IMO we lose without the PP and/or Kakko is not moved up.

See I struggle with let down game status, we played last night the way we've normally been playing which is like a .500 team. I just want to see more before I get excited and .500 isn't a playoff team. Every team in playoff position in the east is 8+ games over .500. Right now I see the same level (not type) of team that we were last year before that ridiculous hot streak, and blowing a 2 goal lead in the third against a historically bad team is... worrisome as usual...

 

[wafflepadsave]

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.

Yeah, I think buch is really finally just putting all the pieces together. He looks very comfortable with his teammates and his defense has improved immensely. He’s never going to drive the play or dominate possession, but he’s definitely a complimentary winger on a 2nd line.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

This is in regards to what @Edge said earlier about prospects not coming out of the gate as fast over the last few years. I think the reason for this is because the league is maxed out in talent. Over the last few decades goons have gone extinct, big slow moving dmen have gone extinct. We are seeing the league operating at full capacity since they got rid of the 2 line pass. Players have never been more athletic and fast than they are now. We are living in the golden age of hockey whether we realize it or not. There’s more talent spread out across the board than at any other point in the history of the sport. Prove me wrong. And that’s why it’s harder for kids to come right away and produce, it’s very rare now. And when you factor in our division this year, you get what you see. My only question to Edge is, do you think the kids having to play against tough teams in the division this year will help their development or hurt it?

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Uhh no Rangers twitter account I wasn't looking to get hype on a shootout attempt that didnt even result in a goal at practice haha.

 

[New York RKY]

Can’t finish, no offense, Quinn has neutered him already!

 

[duhmetreE]

He's got that Panarin flow....

baby bread?

 

[wafflepadsave]

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.

If Blackwell could somehow improve his skating, he would be a keeper.

 

[wafflepadsave]

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.

And as a sidebar, if Rooney and Blackwell come to camp next season and look improved, that’s still fine with the timeline.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Lottery changes are whatever. Unless this team goes off the rails I’m not expecting to be a lottery team beyond this year

Winning a guy like Beniers or Power this year and adding them to this current group would be a nice FU to the league though

At least Buffalo will pick no lower than third, that will really kick start their third rebuild lol

 

[wafflepadsave]

I'm all for developing 2-way players, I'm not of the belief that you should be looking to do that in years 1 or 2 for high end offensive players.

They were drafted for their offensive acumen, not their ability to play defensive sound hockey.

I'd rather they get comfortable being able to generate offense at a high level and ease in the defensive assignments by mid/late year 2 going forward.

Totally agree but Quinn is here to win. He probably fears losing his job just by judging how much he trots out the veterans.

 

[rangers1314]

I'd like to know what guys like @Edge @BBKers think our odds of moving our first rounder this year for a young roster player are...assuming we're in that 8-12 range.

 

[wafflepadsave]

This is in regards to what @Edge said earlier about prospects not coming out of the gate as fast over the last few years. I think the reason for this is because the league is maxed out in talent. Over the last few decades goons have gone extinct, big slow moving dmen have gone extinct. We are seeing the league operating at full capacity since they got rid of the 2 line pass. Players have never been more athletic and fast than they are now. We are living in the golden age of hockey whether we realize it or not. There’s more talent spread out across the board than at any other point in the history of the sport. Prove me wrong. And that’s why it’s harder for kids to come right away and produce, it’s very rare now. And when you factor in our division this year, you get what you see. My only question to Edge is, do you think the kids having to play against tough teams in the division this year will help their development or hurt it?

Agreed with everything you said except part thinks just maybe these kids could have went back for one more year of development for maturity issues alone.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

No, I wanted him to score



/s

 

[True Blue]

And as a sidebar, if Rooney and Blackwell come to camp next season and look improved, that’s still fine with the timeline.

I would easily that this year's Rooney as 4C next year. Blackwell makes for solid depth and can battle it out at camp.

 

[BLOCKERSAVE]

Last game was the first time I've seen Laf shown some stick handling ability. It either the 1st or 2nd period where he was going down the right side and stick handle inside out the defender and took a bad angle shot. Nice play. Most of the year he would just get past the offense blue line and dump it in. Maybe the "stand in coach" let him have a free rein and use his natural skill instead of just dump and chase. Just saying...

 

[True Blue]

Totally agree but Quinn is here to win. He probably fears losing his job just by judging how much he trots out the veterans.

That is pretty much not the case. He gets judged by not only wins and losses. And I would say that actually this year, the wins and losses are far from the biggest factor.

 

[Edge]

I'd like to know what guys like @Edge @BBKers think our odds of moving our first rounder this year for a young roster player are...assuming we're in that 8-12 range.

Hmm, right now I'll guess a 30 percent chance.

There are a few reasons for this:

1. I get the sense that the Rangers, while not stockpiling, realize that they still need to keep feeding into their savings account.

2. With the first point in mind, this probably isn't a draft where a kid steps into the lineup immediately. So you might be looking at 2-3 years away. That doesn't seem like a lot, but it would be a cheap contract coming in when guys like Laf, Kakko, etc. are either signed to their next contract or looking at one.

3. I don't know if this a draft where teams really want to stockpile picks. It's easy to say that we'll trade this pick for one next year, or a young roster player. But our same thought process on trading out of a "weaker" draft will also be the same thoughts behind teams trading into it. As such, I don't know if there will be a ton of potential "young talent for picks" options on the board. So I'd put that down as a maybe.