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

[Tob]

Seattle's pick from VAN is almost certainly going to be Holtby unless we're a dark horse exposing Georgiev. Now that we're down a Lemieux, we can protect Gauthier. Howden or Georgiev, I think Seattle might go for George.

 

[CupSeeker]

It’s pretty rich calling a bottom-six player making 1.55 million ‘overpaid’ when’s few stalls over in the locker room are Trouba making 8, Kreider making 6.5, versatile Smith making 4.35 and perennial third-string G Georgiev making 2.425

Versatile Smith? To be versatile, you have to actually be good at something. And Kreider leads the East in goals. You are not making any sense.

 

[RangersFan1994]

I said this in the Lemieux thread already but with the flat cap, there will be good veteran 4th liners available for cheap for the next few years. Guys towards the bottom of line-ups will get squeezed. Moving on from a player like Lemieux who had stagnated was the right thing to do based on his cap hit.

anyone think he was an issue in the locker room, since they dealt him for very little? so Rangers management rather have this team be very soft. or was this a move so they can call up Morgan Barron

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Seattle's pick from VAN is almost certainly going to be Holtby unless we're a dark horse exposing Georgiev. Now that we're down a Lemieux, we can protect Gauthier. Howden or Georgiev, I think Seattle might go for George.

I would have always protected Gauthier over Lemieux and Howden because he has the most value in a trade IMO

 

[Kovalev27]

IMO you can’t have fourth liners that are a defensive liability and can’t kill penalties. Not anymore. Not in this flat cap world.

 

[Zynbanejad]

Maybe Florida takes a flyer on ADA now?

Someone get hurt?

 

[Flan the incredible]

I really don't understand some Ranger fans when it comes to the cap situation. We have 34 mill next year to spend on basically 3 players (Buch, Lindgren and Shest). The other FA/RFAs are going to make next to nothing. The following year its Mika, Strome and Fox with a few small contracts. We also lose Georgie and Kincaid if they are still around. Unless JG is going to horribly overpay every single one of those guys you arent going to have cap issues.

Everyone says Colorado has loads of cap space and are in great shape yet they have Grubauer who will get more than Shest. Saad and Landeskog who will get more than Buch and Lindgren. Plus they have to pay Makar who will get more then Fox. All of that is this upcoming year and with only 24 mill. Why aren't they screaming the sky is falling like many Ranger fans?

 

[NYR Viper]

Someone get hurt?

Ekblad broke his leg

 

[tomobson]

IMO, it’s time to start rotating Miller with Reunanen to give the American rookie a break. Maybe adding Hajek too to this rotation so it’s three rookies for 2 spots.

It's a good idea but no way in hell will Quinn be willing to do this.

 

[NYR Viper]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Smith traded in the next week or so to a team looking for a veteran d-man. Smith's playoff resume has always been very good. He has been able to elevate his game going back to his Red Wings days and he has been good for the Rangers as well. It may only return a late pick, but I'm expecting him to be gone.

At which point, I am expecting to see Reuanan, Miller and Hajek in the line-up, for better or worse. Maybe rotating Bitteto in depending on who is playing well/poorly.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Seattle's pick from VAN is almost certainly going to be Holtby unless we're a dark horse exposing Georgiev. Now that we're down a Lemieux, we can protect Gauthier. Howden or Georgiev, I think Seattle might go for George.

Are we protecting Kinkaid in this scenario or just opting not to protect a goalie? I wouldn’t really care either way if we exposed Geo, but I’d be shocked if the Rangers did it

 

[True Blue]

Buch and ADA both at 50% for Lundell + pick

we're desperate for a center. I personally think it'd be easier to get a team, with cup dreams, to trade a center at the TDL rather than in the offseason.

Gorton is not trading Buchnevich for a draft pick. The team will be looking to make the playoffs. They are not trading a top line player for picks and prospects.

 

[NYR Viper]

Something to note, the Rangers currently have cap space and IF Gorton wants to use it, he could conceivably step in and absorb some cap hit(s) for other teams in order to secure prospects/picks. If he wants to get creative. Per Capfriendly, they are projected to have ~$11m at the deadline to be able to use. If they trade Smith, even at half of his cap hit, that's another ~$1m ($2.175m in cap gone, assume $1.175m to replace)

 

[NYR Viper]

Gorton is not trading Buchnevich for a draft pick. The team will be looking to make the playoffs. They are not trading a top line player for picks and prospects.

This team isn't sniffing the playoffs. Look at the standings. They are 5 points back AND the Bruins have 3 games in hand. That's a mountain in a shortened season.

 

[True Blue]

This team isn't sniffing the playoffs. Look at the standings. They are 5 points back AND the Bruins have 3 games in hand. That's a mountain in a shortened season.

I was talking next year and the future.

This team is exactly where I thought they would be. A bubble team. The team's success was not going to be strictly tied to whether or not they make the playoffs. But with each year, playoff contention will be come more and more relevant. The pure asset gathering portion of the rebuild is over. And by that I mean trading production for picks and prospect. If Gorton is going to move a top line, two-way playing RW, it will be to shore up another weakness in the line up. Not for futures.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

This team isn't sniffing the playoffs. Look at the standings. They are 5 points back AND the Bruins have 3 games in hand. That's a mountain in a shortened season.

You're right, but I don't think draft picks should be the center piece for any deal involving Buchnevich.

A ready to step in prospect that Quinn won't play or an NHL player with some experience that he won't play either? Sure.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Something to note, the Rangers currently have cap space and IF Gorton wants to use it, he could conceivably step in and absorb some cap hit(s) for other teams in order to secure prospects/picks. If he wants to get creative

I feel like we’ve been talking about the team doing this for years now and they never do it lol

maybe this will be the year they actually use the cap space they have

 

[duhmetreE]

I really don't understand some Ranger fans when it comes to the cap situation. We have 34 mill next year to spend on basically 3 players (Buch, Lindgren and Shest). The other FA/RFAs are going to make next to nothing. The following year its Mika, Strome and Fox with a few small contracts. We also lose Georgie and Kincaid if they are still around. Unless JG is going to horribly overpay every single one of those guys you arent going to have cap issues.

Everyone says Colorado has loads of cap space and are in great shape yet they have Grubauer who will get more than Shest. Saad and Landeskog who will get more than Buch and Lindgren. Plus they have to pay Makar who will get more then Fox. All of that is this upcoming year and with only 24 mill. Why aren't they screaming the sky is falling like many Ranger fans?

You say you don’t understand yet list players whose combined salaries will exceed $34M.

It will be a problem in a couple years.

 

[Avery16]

Versatile Smith? To be versatile, you have to actually be good at something. And Kreider leads the East in goals. You are not making any sense.

Kreider does not lead the East in goals. Ovechkin has more, and Kreider is tied for 9th in goals league-wide. Scoring goals is also just about the only dimension of his game right now, and that alone is not worth his $6.5 million hit.

'Versatile Smith' is sarcastic.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

IMO you can’t have fourth liners that are a defensive liability and can’t kill penalties. Not anymore. Not in this flat cap world.

I kind of agree even though i think we'll miss Lemieux's style of play. Mason Geertsen was moved to forward last week they likely feel he can do the same thing only cheaper.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Kreider does not lead the East in goals. Ovechkin has more, and Kreider is tied for 9th in goals league-wide. Scoring goals is also just about the only dimension of his game right now, and that alone is not worth his $6.5 million hit.

'Versatile Smith' is sarcastic.

Personally I think Kreider is earning his contract at this point, realistically all we need for this team to turn around is for the kids, specifically Chytil, Kakko, Miller and Laf to produce or defend in a way they have the potential to and we're a good team. Smith needs to be replaced, Hajek im ok with if he gets a decent partner.

 

[Avery16]

Seattle's pick from VAN is almost certainly going to be Holtby unless we're a dark horse exposing Georgiev. Now that we're down a Lemieux, we can protect Gauthier. Howden or Georgiev, I think Seattle might go for George.

No matter how much Georgiev's stock plummets, I don't see us protecting Kinkaid over him, unless we're actively hoping to move his cap hit at that point.

 

[MetalJaws]

I'm in the camp that thinks this team is a playoff team. This season is an utter failure. Underperforming young guys, a terrible PP, Goalie and player ice time allocation by Quinn. This organization should demand a better product out of staff and players. It's an easy schedule in April. I'd still think they miss by a little but it's not OK. I'd fire Quinn on principal and get a winner in here that wants to win again.

 

[Avery16]

 

[bbny]

I was talking next year and the future.

This team is exactly where I thought they would be. A bubble team. The team's success was not going to be strictly tied to whether or not they make the playoffs. But with each year, playoff contention will be come more and more relevant. The pure asset gathering portion of the rebuild is over. And by that I mean trading production for picks and prospect. If Gorton is going to move a top line, two-way playing RW, it will be to shore up another weakness in the line up. Not for futures.

This is Buchnevich's first season of top line level production though, so there is some merit to consider trading him at "a high". Previously, average 2nd line production was what Buchnevich has put up. I am sure the question Gorton is asking is if it is the new expectation or if it is a high which Buchnevich will have trouble repeating in the future.

Personally, I have always liked Buch and thought his production was lower than his ability. It's nice to see that change this year. I think he'll stay on track being a 65-75 point player and I'd like to see them keep him, aside from losing him in a trade for a superior player (Eichel).