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

[kovazub94]

Gauthier’s spot is when Buch is dealt. Kaako, Kravtsov, Gauthier

Is he going to be ok to wait 2-3 more years?

 

[I Eat Crow]

Prediction
Blackwell for a 2022 3rd

I can also see this, but if I'm Gorton, my asking price is a 2nd rounder. It would be very un Rangers-like to deal someone when their value will never be higher.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I’m predicting it’s going to be a very boring trade deadline for we Rangers fans lol.

First TDL in my memory where I legitimately am not looking for them to either be adding or selling anything major, going back to the days of Espo as GM in the '80s.

 

[kovazub94]

I mean if there’s anyone who fits “to capitalize on exceeding expectations” in a short-term performance, it’s Blackwell.

Smith should be traded on his expiring contract.

 

[wafflepadsave]

I'd be slightly disappointed if JG didnt at least clear the deck a bit by 3 PM tomorrow.

I bet nothing happens. And this is one year that it would be ok.

 

[Matt Rentfree]

I mean if there’s anyone who fits “to capitalize on exceeding expectations” in a short-term performance, it’s Blackwell.

Smith should be traded on his expiring contract.

I know it's not going to happen, but if we could get something back for each of Howden, Smith and ADA by the deadline, I'd be ecstatic.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I know it's not going to happen, but if we could get something back for each of Howden, Smith and ADA by the deadline, I'd be ecstatic.

Shit, throw in PDG for a 6th in 2024!

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Isn’t that more like what he’s getting here though? Kakko, Laf, Kravstov, Miller, a Fox, etc are talented kids with big reputations. They’re not marginal late round picks.

17-18 year old Eichel, Fabbro, Keller, Tkachuk, Bellows etc require a lot less coaching/development to perform and dominate in college than an 18-19-20 year old Kakko, Lafrenière, Kravtsov, Miller require to keep up in the NHL.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

My predictions for tonight/tomorrow:

Smith, Howden and PDG go nowhere.

Gauthier is dealt somewhere random for a 5th rounder or another reclamation project.

The Rangers acquire Justin Gabriel from SJ for "toffness" for a late pick.

Going to be a pretty tame 24 hours for the Rangers.

Hall goes to Colorado.

Vegas gets Nick Foligno.

Iafallo goes to Minnesota.

Just about everyone else of note that didn't move already stays put.

I didn't care about Lemieux being traded for a 4th, but a 5th for Gauthier is terrible.

 

[Fitzy]

Is he going to be ok to wait 2-3 more years?

Could be all of three months if the right offer comes along.

 

[Ola]

17-18 year old Eichel, Fabbro, Keller, Tkachuk, Bellows etc require a lot less coaching/development to perform and dominate in college than an 18-19-20 year old Kakko, Lafrenière, Kravtsov, Miller require to keep up in the NHL.

I think this is a topic that should be discussed more, and maybe especially something DQ should become aware of and really consider his approach.

To coach in college required certain things, which naturally impact how the coaching should be done. The talent range is gigantic compared to the NHL, so someone that is talented will perform offensively no matter what. However, it must be very important to get everyone to buy into the system. Also, the kids coming in are more raw — and learning them to play defense is a big part of it.

This shows so so much in DQs coaching. I’ve never ever seen a team that do NOT have any kind of plan for how to ease a 1st overall pick into the NHL. Some kind of idea of which areas he can help you in and which area he needs support in.

You have to go back to the 90s to find a 1st overall pick with less PP time than Laf. And that kid was a 6’6 giraffe on ice that played center and needed to grow into his long legs and arms (Joe Thornton).

And Kakko’s usage his second year is even more troublesome. After this season, Kakko will be 20 years old. He will have been somewhat of a physically mature human person for say 6 years. During two of those years — ie 33% of his physically mature life — he will not have played ONE single hockey game in which he had a big role. He will not have played ONE single hockey game in which he run a PP.

I mean, we will never know how a kid would have developed if used differently, really never. We don’t have an alternative universe to consult. But having followed hockey for 30 years closely you start to notice trends. And one of them is that very young offensively talented kids often does not mature well at all if they play a long time, even multiple years, in a smaller role. Without any doubt, I totally believe that a big reason for why EDM completely butchered all kids they came close to for like a decade was because they got too many top picks and most of them had to take a back seat to others and developed really poorly.

Currently DQ and obviously Gorton&Crew think Kakko all of a sudden will blossom and be a star on the ice, and the same for Laf. We know that they have made unbeliveable mistakes in the past. Nobody is the reason for Lias busting but himself, but rushing him to NA, sending him back and forth between Sweden and NA between summer tournaments, Traverse etc, that was something I am willing to bet my right arm that they themselves wonder how they could do in hindsight. They seem equally clueless with the development of Laf and Kakko. And DQ seems totally zeroed in to do things his way, the “college way”. I am sure that is great in college, but there are big fundamental differences between the NCAA and the NHL.

 

[Ola]

Another thing is, Kravy should definitely go back to the KHL next season. We have no room to develop and support him in the NHL, we haven’t even been able to afford Laf and Kakko any kind of development environment whatsoever.

Laf and Kakko will be in dire need of a reclamation effort next season after the trick we have pulled on them. We can’t muster to support Kravy at the same time.

 

[bobbop]

This feels like they are clearing space for another move.

 

[Ola]

Strome over Kakko on the PP, is that a good call?

 

[Fitzy]

Responding to multiple Ola posts

I think the path to bigger roles for the kids are as follows...

1) Buchnevich traded, either for futures or in a package for a star center. Kakko steps up and takes his role, including potentially some PK time.

2) Kreider stays on PP1, but his role is reduced to a third line forward at even strength. Lafreniere steps up and plays with either Zibanejad or aforementioned star center, if that is the direction they go.

3) One of Kakko/Laf takes Strome's place on the right half wall on the power play.

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Strome-Kravtsov
Kreider-Chytil-Gauthier
Barron-Rooney-Blackwell

At the end of the game down a goal, you have Panarin, Zibanejad, Kakko, Lafreniere, Kreider and Fox on the ice.

 

[Kocur Dill]

I know it's not going to happen, but if we could get something back for each of Howden, Smith and ADA by the deadline, I'd be ecstatic.

Our scouts have pulled a relatively excellent number of valuable prospects from the lower rounds through the past few years, I'd honestly take anything I could get for those players if there is any interest.

As lauded as our pool is already, you need to layer in cheap talent down the road a few years not only to fill holes in the Cap Era, but to make Hartford a competitive environment not solely run by has-beens, career AHL'ers, and fringe players who should really be in the ECHL. HFT needs to be an "ern your spot" environment too.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

If the Rangers walked away with a 2nd (Blackwell), 4th (Smith) and 6th (PDG) I'd be very happy.

Would give them 12 picks in the draft this season (1st, 2nd, two 3rds, four 4ths, 5th, two 6ths and 7th)

 

[haveandare]

17-18 year old Eichel, Fabbro, Keller, Tkachuk, Bellows etc require a lot less coaching/development to perform and dominate in college than an 18-19-20 year old Kakko, Lafrenière, Kravtsov, Miller require to keep up in the NHL.

Sure, but my point is that Laf, Kakko, Fox, Miller etc are more akin to those top guys going into college than they are to bottom round grinder guys who can’t succeed based on skill.

 

[rangers1314]

 

[RGY]

If we were in contention he would be one of those tough as balls, bitch to play against players you add for a deep run

 

[Tob]

If we were in contention he would be one of those tough as balls, bitch to play against players you add for a deep run

GMs shying away from Hall and going to Foligno. Seems like they have a good handle on what's really needed at the deadline.

 

[rangers1314]

I’d imagine Boston is in on Foligno

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Foligno maybe going for a 1st tells me two things

1) Most NHL GMs are clueless

2) This summers draft really stinks if you’re giving up a 1st for Foligno lol

 

[Irishguy42]

1) Most NHL GMs are clueless

This has always been the case

 

[JimmyG89]

Kravtsov does not need anymore time in the KHL. He is ready to play in the NHL. We have plenty of room for him on this team.

As others have mentioned, Kreider needs to go into a 3rd line role at ES eventually as Lafreniere, Kakko, and Kravtsov become more dangerous players.

They could do the same with Buchnevich, but his value as an asset this summer to get that top center they need could be too enticing. It may be hard to actually get one this offseason. Depends on if they look to revisit a potential Monahan deal. Eichel will be available too, but his cost will be extraordinary.