Speculation: Roster Building Thread LXXXVIII: 3-2-1 TDL almost here!

[Fitzy]

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.

For sure, It's an exciting time to be a Rangers fan re- the blueline.

My money is currently on Hajek being the player selected in the expansion draft, but we will see. I've been unimpressed with Libor, but the fact that Quinn keeps trotting him out over Bittetto is some indication that the organization still thinks he can be a third pairing guy.

Next camp will be put up or shut up for Reunanen given his age, I don't think he has much time left as waiver exempt. It probably doesn't help his chances that he isn't going to be a PK guy to start, but NYR have been sheltering Hajek from the PK as well so who knows.

 

[cheech70]

National Hockey League	GP	W	L	OT	PTS	P%	RW	ROW	GF	GA	DIFF	HOME	AWAY	S/O	L10	STRK
1 Colorado	40	27	9	4	58	.725	24	27	142	95	+47	17-4-2	10-5-2	0-1	7-1-2	W1
4 Tampa Bay	40	27	11	2	56	.700	23	26	138	101	+37	15-4-0	12-7-2	1-1	5-5-0	W1
8 Vegas	39	26	11	2	54	.692	20	26	127	92	+35	15-4-2	11-7-0	0-2	5-4-1	W1
2 Carolina	39	27	9	3	57	.731	19	23	128	94	+34	14-2-3	13-7-0	4-1	7-2-1	W3
3 Toronto	40	27	10	3	57	.713	21	26	133	100	+33	13-6-2	14-4-1	1-0	8-1-1	W5
6 NY Islanders	41	26	11	4	56	.683	20	22	122	96	+26	17-2-2	9-9-2	4-1	7-3-0	L1
9 Pittsburgh	41	26	13	2	54	.659	19	23	141	116	+25	16-3-1	10-10-1	3-0	7-2-1	W2
16 NY Rangers	40	19	16	5	43	.537	16	18	131	109	+22	9-7-3	10-9-2	1-2	6-3-1	W1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

8th in goal differential....maybe with some breaks we could have a better record

 

[Leetch3]

National Hockey League	GP	W	L	OT	PTS	P%	RW	ROW	GF	GA	DIFF	HOME	AWAY	S/O	L10	STRK
1 Colorado	40	27	9	4	58	.725	24	27	142	95	+47	17-4-2	10-5-2	0-1	7-1-2	W1
4 Tampa Bay	40	27	11	2	56	.700	23	26	138	101	+37	15-4-0	12-7-2	1-1	5-5-0	W1
8 Vegas	39	26	11	2	54	.692	20	26	127	92	+35	15-4-2	11-7-0	0-2	5-4-1	W1
2 Carolina	39	27	9	3	57	.731	19	23	128	94	+34	14-2-3	13-7-0	4-1	7-2-1	W3
3 Toronto	40	27	10	3	57	.713	21	26	133	100	+33	13-6-2	14-4-1	1-0	8-1-1	W5
6 NY Islanders	41	26	11	4	56	.683	20	22	122	96	+26	17-2-2	9-9-2	4-1	7-3-0	L1
9 Pittsburgh	41	26	13	2	54	.659	19	23	141	116	+25	16-3-1	10-10-1	3-0	7-2-1	W2
16 NY Rangers	40	19	16	5	43	.537	16	18	131	109	+22	9-7-3	10-9-2	1-2	6-3-1	W1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

8th in goal differential....maybe with some breaks we could have a better record

this is true for most teams since most games are close...but we definitely could have a better record with some puck luck or a play here or there went differently when you consider that we have 5 OT losses and 8 regulation losses in 1 goal games. 1 thing goes differently in a few of those games and we end up with more points....but that applies to alot of times cause things are close most nights.

but the goal differential can be misleading...we are +18 in the 3 games against philly and pitt that we scored 8 or 9...so only +4 in the other 37 games

 

[Kaapo Bustfreniere]

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!

 

[PuckLuck3043]

this is true for most teams since most games are close...but we definitely could have a better record with some puck luck or a play here or there went differently when you consider that we have 5 OT losses and 8 regulation losses in 1 goal games. 1 thing goes differently in a few of those games and we end up with more points....but that applies to alot of times cause things are close most nights.

but the goal differential can be misleading...we are +18 in the 3 games against philly and pitt that we scored 8 or 9...so only +4 in the other 37 games

That works both ways. We are -15 in 3 games also. +22 is still impressive for a team that is not going to make the playoffs.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

For sure, It's an exciting time to be a Rangers fan re- the blueline.

My money is currently on Hajek being the player selected in the expansion draft, but we will see. I've been unimpressed with Libor, but the fact that Quinn keeps trotting him out over Bittetto is some indication that the organization still thinks he can be a third pairing guy.

Next camp will be put up or shut up for Reunanen given his age, I don't think he has much time left as waiver exempt. It probably doesn't help his chances that he isn't going to be a PK guy to start, but NYR have been sheltering Hajek from the PK as well so who knows.

Is Hajek getting protected in the DeAngelo expansion slot? I thought it was between him and Bitteto.

 

[Fitzy]

Is Hajek getting protected in the DeAngelo expansion slot? I thought it was between him and Bitteto.

So I don't think Bitteto has played enough games to be eligible to be exposed, but I could be wrong.

He needs another ten games, and we only have 16 remaining.

 

[Tawnos]

National Hockey League	GP	W	L	OT	PTS	P%	RW	ROW	GF	GA	DIFF	HOME	AWAY	S/O	L10	STRK
1 Colorado	40	27	9	4	58	.725	24	27	142	95	+47	17-4-2	10-5-2	0-1	7-1-2	W1
4 Tampa Bay	40	27	11	2	56	.700	23	26	138	101	+37	15-4-0	12-7-2	1-1	5-5-0	W1
8 Vegas	39	26	11	2	54	.692	20	26	127	92	+35	15-4-2	11-7-0	0-2	5-4-1	W1
2 Carolina	39	27	9	3	57	.731	19	23	128	94	+34	14-2-3	13-7-0	4-1	7-2-1	W3
3 Toronto	40	27	10	3	57	.713	21	26	133	100	+33	13-6-2	14-4-1	1-0	8-1-1	W5
6 NY Islanders	41	26	11	4	56	.683	20	22	122	96	+26	17-2-2	9-9-2	4-1	7-3-0	L1
9 Pittsburgh	41	26	13	2	54	.659	19	23	141	116	+25	16-3-1	10-10-1	3-0	7-2-1	W2
16 NY Rangers	40	19	16	5	43	.537	16	18	131	109	+22	9-7-3	10-9-2	1-2	6-3-1	W1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

8th in goal differential....maybe with some breaks we could have a better record

We lost games 3-6 of the season despite being the better team in all 4 games. If we had won even 2 of those, and kept the shootout loss, we'd be one point behind the Bruins right now (though they'd still have the games in hand).

 

[Miz]

So I don't think Bitteto has played enough games to be eligible to be exposed, but I could be wrong.

He needs another ten games, and we only have 16 remaining.

Aren't they going to prorate the games played requirement for the expansion draft?

 

[Kodiak]

So I don't think Bitteto has played enough games to be eligible to be exposed, but I could be wrong.

He needs another ten games, and we only have 16 remaining.

Bitetto played in more than 54 games over the past two years so he counts toward the minimum exposure requirement. With ADA about to be bought out, the 3 D protected are likely Trouba, Lindgren, and Hajek, unless we acquire a defenseman.

 

[Kodiak]

Aren't they going to prorate the games played requirement for the expansion draft?

Yes. Originally it was 40 games this year or 70 over the past two years. Now it is 27 this year or 54 over the past two years.

 

[GAGLine]

Aren't they going to prorate the games played requirement for the expansion draft?

Yes, it is prorated. All of the info can be found on CapFriendly:

Seattle Expansion Draft Simulator - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

 

[rangers1314]

Pagnotta says Montour has been traded to Florida

 

[Fitzy]

Bitetto played in more than 54 games over the past two years so he counts toward the minimum exposure requirement. With ADA about to be bought out, the 3 D protected are likely Trouba, Lindgren, and Hajek, unless we acquire a defenseman.

Got it, thanks.

Seems like we're gonna come out of this draft relatively unscathed compared to other clubs. Picked the right time to rebuild.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Got it, thanks.

Seems like we're gonna come out of this draft relatively unscathed compared to other clubs. Picked the right time to rebuild.

No need to overthink it. Losing one of Blackwell/Howden/Gauthier is minimal in the grand scheme of things.

Gauthier is the logical choice to protect but they're gonna probably go with Howden SMFH.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Rangers should claim Riikola. He's way better than Hajek.

 

[Mandar]

Rangers should claim Riikola. He's way better than Hajek.

Makes a helluva cough drop too......

 

[NYR Viper]

I don’t understand trading Blackwell. The guy is a high-motor, low cost asset signed for another season. His emergence has allowed Quinn to play the younger guys in proper roles and make them earn their playing time. The guy who has significant value is Buch

 

[DanielBrassard]

I don’t understand trading Blackwell. The guy is a high-motor, low cost asset signed for another season. His emergence has allowed Quinn to play the younger guys in proper roles and make them earn their playing time. The guy who has significant value is Buch

I agree. Unless a team is willing to cough up a 1st I don't understand why we would trade Blackwell. He's a versatile, skilled, high motor player who is on league minimum for a team that is in the midst of being a competitive team by next season. He has more value to us than a draft pick. Is he gonna shoot 25% forever? No but he's still a very useful piece beyond the goal scoring.

 

[Avery16]

 

[DanielBrassard]

Should have traded that for ADA instead.

 

[Raspewtin]

feels like only yesterday montour was in the tippy top of HFNYRs wish list

 

[cheech70]

Its a buyers market so far.....prices reasonable.....lets regroup and continue stockpiling talent in the offseason.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Rangers have two 3rd rounders (their own and Buffalo from the Vesey trade) and three 4th rounders (their own, LA's from Lemiuex, and Ottawa from Namestnikov).

Pay attention to these chips in the next 48 hours.

They might go for a cheap upgrade on the third pair or bottom six, flip a Smith/Howden/Gautheir/Hajek for a pick and package the return with one or two of the above picks for an upgrade, or use a few of these picks as a cherry on top in an unlikely but big trade involving Buch/Strome/Georgiev.

Nothing finite just something to look out for.

 

[rangers1314]

Colorado gets their goalie insurance