Underrating him? He is a top 4 defenseman who is 30 years old. There is an understanding of what he is. Its also ok to have 3 balanced pairs, which is what he would allow you to have. You wouldnt have to be so top heavy with you minutes going to your Top 4. And in addition, an Ekholm-Lundkvist pairing could become very good over the course of the year that I wouldnt look at them as being a 3rd pair compared to the other 4
Speculation: Roster Building Thread LXXXVIII: 3-2-1 TDL almost here!
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apoptygma
2-5-9-11
- Apr 9, 2011
- 519
- 387
Regarding RD:
We have atm the following depth
Fox
Trouba
"Hajek/Smith"
Lundkvist
Schneider
Skinner
Fox is a 1D atm, Trouba an expensive but good top4. 2 really good prospects in Lundkvist & Schneider and an decent one in Skinner. Even a real good NHL team does not have 3 RD's that are top pairing or close to it over a longer period of time. If Lundkvist and Schaneider is as good as we hope we still do not have the rooster spot for both together with Fox and Trouba. At some point in the future Lundkvist or Schneider should be used to fill another spot when trading from a position of strenght. When Troubas NMC is over he should be tradeable and have Fox + Lundkvist/Schneider in top4 with a younger/cheaper 3. RD (Skinner perhaps). Those 2 trades should either plug a hole up front or give some real nice picks/proespect value to continue back-filling the team.
The same situation is happening at a smaller scale on LD with 5 young LD's looking good or decent in Lindgren, Reunanen, Miller, Robertson and Jones (maybe even Hajek, still only 23). A player like Robertson may be traded in a year or 2 if Lindgren, Miller, Jones take the spots on the big club, and Lindgren might need to be sacrificed for futures if Miller and Jones becomes good top4 players, leaving the 3. pairing LD to be filled by a younger or cheaper player. Having a good top4 d-man playing on the 3. pairing is not worth the cap unless he is severly underpaid or on a ELC. Those dollars would be better spent on other positions.
Regarding Buch and his next contract:
We can afford him, atleast for the next years. Gueess the key is the movement clausules. With the other RW's beeing Kakko, Kravtsov and Gauthier there is room on the rooster. Not any blue-chipper looking to take a spot on RW in the near furture either. But NYR is heavy both talent wise and in cap on LW, and shallow at center. Buch might be the solution, or part of the solution to get a A+ young centre talent that would balance the rooster out nicely.
We have atm the following depth
Fox
Trouba
"Hajek/Smith"
Lundkvist
Schneider
Skinner
Fox is a 1D atm, Trouba an expensive but good top4. 2 really good prospects in Lundkvist & Schneider and an decent one in Skinner. Even a real good NHL team does not have 3 RD's that are top pairing or close to it over a longer period of time. If Lundkvist and Schaneider is as good as we hope we still do not have the rooster spot for both together with Fox and Trouba. At some point in the future Lundkvist or Schneider should be used to fill another spot when trading from a position of strenght. When Troubas NMC is over he should be tradeable and have Fox + Lundkvist/Schneider in top4 with a younger/cheaper 3. RD (Skinner perhaps). Those 2 trades should either plug a hole up front or give some real nice picks/proespect value to continue back-filling the team.
The same situation is happening at a smaller scale on LD with 5 young LD's looking good or decent in Lindgren, Reunanen, Miller, Robertson and Jones (maybe even Hajek, still only 23). A player like Robertson may be traded in a year or 2 if Lindgren, Miller, Jones take the spots on the big club, and Lindgren might need to be sacrificed for futures if Miller and Jones becomes good top4 players, leaving the 3. pairing LD to be filled by a younger or cheaper player. Having a good top4 d-man playing on the 3. pairing is not worth the cap unless he is severly underpaid or on a ELC. Those dollars would be better spent on other positions.
Regarding Buch and his next contract:
We can afford him, atleast for the next years. Gueess the key is the movement clausules. With the other RW's beeing Kakko, Kravtsov and Gauthier there is room on the rooster. Not any blue-chipper looking to take a spot on RW in the near furture either. But NYR is heavy both talent wise and in cap on LW, and shallow at center. Buch might be the solution, or part of the solution to get a A+ young centre talent that would balance the rooster out nicely.
Doriva
Registered User
Maybe I'm missing something obvious here, but my issue with the Ekholm chatter is that we would have to beat legit contenders offers. Some teams would probably be willing to give up more than we would because they view Ekholm purely as a two playoff run rental to perhaps push them over the top.
Would we be willing to give up the Yandle return for Ekholm ? Because that's what it might take, even with the buyers market. Would we really want to gamble a future heavy return and hope he re-signs ? Because I certainly don't see the point in adding a potential rental when we're highly unlikely to make the playoffs either season.
Would we be willing to give up the Yandle return for Ekholm ? Because that's what it might take, even with the buyers market. Would we really want to gamble a future heavy return and hope he re-signs ? Because I certainly don't see the point in adding a potential rental when we're highly unlikely to make the playoffs either season.
Raspewtin
Stay at home defenseman hater
- May 30, 2013
- 44,301
- 21,909
Ekholm is basically to a T what this roster needs, just not at his contract status.
He's excellent. Would easily trade a top prospect for him if he was a few years younger.
He's excellent. Would easily trade a top prospect for him if he was a few years younger.
Kodiak
Registered User
I can see the value in Blackwell for Seattle. Having someone who can put the puck in the net for next year might be hard to come by. But I would still take Gauthier’s overall package and potential over Blackwell. If my options were Blackwell or Howden, then that’s a different story.
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Correct, if he was a few years younger I would consider a top prospect for him. But he turns 31 in May. He is a solid defenseman, but he isnt 25-27 years old. Thats a big difference for where we are right now.
- Jan 18, 2012
- 35,249
- 53,891
apparently Philly is shopping Nolan Patrick... why not? Our reclamation top 1st round center projects have worked out just fine.
would Philly trade with us?
would Philly trade with us?
Kodiak
Registered User
After last night’s game, I’d like to see what Kravtsov can do with a more offensive player like Gauthier. Put Gauthier in for Howden on the 4th line. And then for the #4 PK spot next to Rooney, rotate the kids and let them audition for PK time.
MarkMessyay11
Registered User
Depending on the price, that would be a very smart risk to take. I don’t see Philly shipping him here though...too much risk on their end unless we paid a premium.
Keep dreaming, Quinn would never do that, especially if it means sacrificing his son Howden
rangers1314
Registered User
I’d be surprised if they move him within the division.
That smells like a move Stevie Y would be in on.
Miller leads all rookie defenseman in goals with 4
TheBloodyNine
Pure Bred Soviet Savage
Ronning is a name I had not heard in a LONG time. Just checked in on him though, 11 points in 8 games with Hartford? Not bad!
HFsNumber1Heel
FKA Roo Returns...Still A Contrarian Apparently
All this talk of trading Zac Jones is silly. By the time he's even a thought will be 2023 minimum and the dynamic of the team will look very different.
For those here remember when Skjei was drafted in 2012 and everyone thought McD/Staal/Erixon were going to block him for half a decade?
Things happen. Injuries, players decline, random prospects ascent, random loud mouth sociopath political defenseman with no emotional intelligence (I was 100% correct on that one) start fights with teammates, etc.
Ekholm serves no purpose for where this team is now. They need ELCs for ROI not guys banking it.
This team needs to focus on getting grit up front with upgrades to Howden/Rooney (Scott Laughton is a wonderful idea).
For those here remember when Skjei was drafted in 2012 and everyone thought McD/Staal/Erixon were going to block him for half a decade?
Things happen. Injuries, players decline, random prospects ascent, random loud mouth sociopath political defenseman with no emotional intelligence (I was 100% correct on that one) start fights with teammates, etc.
Ekholm serves no purpose for where this team is now. They need ELCs for ROI not guys banking it.
This team needs to focus on getting grit up front with upgrades to Howden/Rooney (Scott Laughton is a wonderful idea).
TheBloodyNine
Pure Bred Soviet Savage
I think they would since it's not like Patrick is a top guy for them right now.
Fair enough. He wouldn’t be on the market if he wasn’t tho. Another high risk maybe high reward. Obviously all depends what you’re giving up
Fitzy
Very Stable Genius
- Jan 29, 2009
- 36,368
- 24,174
Good post. I think the battle next training camp is probably between Reunanen(If he isn't dealt), Robertson (Still is very young, probably needs AHL time) and whatever veteran #7 type guy they have around, be it Bittetto or someone else.
Jones is a 'long play'
It doesn’t seem like but Chytil is on pace for 40-45 pts over 82. Not bad. No reason to think he can’t get to 60-65 eventually.
He could be a bit better but hey he’s even getting better at face offs than Mika lol.
He could be a bit better but hey he’s even getting better at face offs than Mika lol.
Forget 4th line for 74...he should be saddled right next to Bread. With Kravy's heavy,quick,closing speed on fore-check...Bread will be in his glory
HFsNumber1Heel
FKA Roo Returns...Still A Contrarian Apparently
The third pair "next year" (in reality three and a half months once the season ends and even less if this team somehow sneaks into that 4th seed) is an open audition. Hajek doesn't really have a guaranteed safe spot and Smith gone unless he comes back at $1 million.
Lundkvist is a favorite for the RHD side and Reunannen/Robertson/Bitteto will all be competing with Hajek for the left side. That doesn't even take into account camp invites, trades, UFAs, PTOs, or someone like Skinner (unlikely) marinating and Nils moves over to the left. Schneider could also be the "bad cop" for Lundkvist and two righties on the bottom pair.
Lots of options.
Filip is a bull in a china shop. Once he gets a little more feel for the puck and slows things down in his mind he is going to explode.
Kocur Dill
picklicious
- Feb 7, 2010
- 3,331
- 1,878
Next week after Blackwell is traded for a 3rd.
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