Speculation: Roster Building Thread: New Season Edition

[Kendo]

Here’s a question… do we have the worst defense prospect farm in the league?

With Schneider and Jones graduating, I’m not sure there’s anyone in the system who projects as an NHLer. Robertson is the one maybe.

Robertson looks like more of a "probably" to me.

Skinner, Emberson, & Scanlin, are all decent "maybes," too. We're bound to draft a D in a spot that we would prefer a C in the next draft, so I'm not actually worried about our future D.

Cuylle looks like a "probably," and so does Othmann, plus we have a bunch more better maybes than on D, even if they aren't C's.

We're pretty set besides one good young C, all in all.

We pretty much have our team for the next two seasons, whether or not we get a couple of cheaper guys this or next deadline.

 

[egelband]

Isn't an easier solution to the Kravtsov situation just to see if Seattle would consider exchanging Shane Wright for him? I think they're beginning to understand why he fell in the draft. He played 6:14 in Seattle's first game. No powerplay time. No shot's on goal. In game two he was a healthy scratch. Clearly there is something the Seattle coaching staff doesn't like about his game. They already have their 1C of the future in Matt Beniers so he's not crucial to their success. He could be a potential replacement for Chytil if we can't afford his next contract.

Dude can’t even get 10 mins on a crap team. NO THANKS.

 

[egelband]

If Carpenter can't go, Blais will need to play tomorrow night. Kravtsov will be reevaluated this week. The Rangers have 11 healthy forwards.


Larry is upset. The Rangers could be facing this situation tomorrow if Carpenter is out and Blais isn’t ready. Gallant said Blais didn’t play on Friday because they wanted to give a few more days before returning. Blais at $1,525,000 is hurting the Rangers. The Rangers could have paid two players at $750,000 or a better player who contribute more than Blais. Motte is at $1.35M but Brooks wrote the Rangers and Motte didn’t have contract discussions this summer. Motte wanted $2.5M and the Rangers moved on. They didn’t revisit Motte during the summer when it became apparent Motte wasn’t receiving 4 years and $10M. Brooks had the Information a few weeks ago. NY Post+ article.





The NHL and NHLPA would need to have a discussion. Some agents want to see the PA come up with a solution. The Rangers can use the extra $3M next summer instead of just $1M. Nearly every team needs the extra space.

NHL shouldn’t wait to fix looming salary cap disaster — and here’s how it can

As of Saturday, according to CapFriendly, five teams had zero cap space with another six owning space of less than $250,000, all an injury or two away from calamity.

nypost.com

Yep. It’s getting to be shitty optics for the league. The league and PA have to do something. It makes too much sense for both sides. They just need to find a way to spin it right.

 

[egelband]

I’d consider sitting Hunt and playing both Hajek and Jones. With Blais back the top three lines will get a ton of run. Reaves and Vesey can just sub in on other lines when needed. Carp can have a couple days off to grow back his ear.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Isn't an easier solution to the Kravtsov situation just to see if Seattle would consider exchanging Shane Wright for him? I think they're beginning to understand why he fell in the draft. He played 6:14 in Seattle's first game. No powerplay time. No shot's on goal. In game two he was a healthy scratch. Clearly there is something the Seattle coaching staff doesn't like about his game. They already have their 1C of the future in Matt Beniers so he's not crucial to their success. He could be a potential replacement for Chytil if we can't afford his next contract.

He's only 18, like 1 or 2 games into his first pro season.

Gallant sitting Jones again for Hajek

 

[Chytilmania]

Here’s a question… do we have the worst defense prospect farm in the league?

With Schneider and Jones graduating, I’m not sure there’s anyone in the system who projects as an NHLer. Robertson is the one maybe.

Possibly but we have one of the best defenses, and very young.

Robertson takes over for Lindgren and we could easily hold on to this unit until Trouba’s contract runs out. I think the cap increase will allow us to hold onto guys. Plenty of time to reload but I wouldn’t mind taking a defender after a Center.

 

[GAGLine]

If Carpenter can't go, Blais will need to play tomorrow night. Kravtsov will be reevaluated this week. The Rangers have 11 healthy forwards.


Larry is upset. The Rangers could be facing this situation tomorrow if Carpenter is out and Blais isn’t ready. Gallant said Blais didn’t play on Friday because they wanted to give a few more days before returning. Blais at $1,525,000 is hurting the Rangers. The Rangers could have paid two players at $750,000 or a better player who contribute more than Blais. Motte is at $1.35M but Brooks wrote the Rangers and Motte didn’t have contract discussions this summer. Motte wanted $2.5M and the Rangers moved on. They didn’t revisit Motte during the summer when it became apparent Motte wasn’t receiving 4 years and $10M. Brooks had the Information a few weeks ago. NY Post+ article.





The NHL and NHLPA would need to have a discussion. Some agents want to see the PA come up with a solution. The Rangers can use the extra $3M next summer instead of just $1M. Nearly every team needs the extra space.

NHL shouldn’t wait to fix looming salary cap disaster — and here’s how it can

As of Saturday, according to CapFriendly, five teams had zero cap space with another six owning space of less than $250,000, all an injury or two away from calamity.

nypost.com

Larry's missing a crucial component of the equation. The players are still paying back the owners. Increasing the cap more next year will push back how long it takes to pay off that debt.

More reasonably, the cap increases would need to be spread over 4 years, with the 4th year being the 1st to fully align with revenue.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Hajek:

I want to support this kid because he's been a true pro, but it was obvious in the game against the Jets that if he doesnt get his game going and quick, he doesnt not belong in this league.

His feet can't catch up to what his brain wants to do and I dont think I've seen any player wind up on his ass more on the regular than Hajek. He is not strong on his skates. Its hard for him to avoid contact and even a seemingly pedestrian bump will send him down. You cant have that in this league.

Jones is 3X the skater than Hajek and that alone should have him in the lineup. I dont care how many mental mistakes you can make with the puck or in coverages, if you are not on your feet to make them than its not even a question

 

[TheBloodyNine]

You address it by building the right way, not seeking value-loss rentals where you trade away assets that far exceed the face value of the 8 week return you get back.

The Rangers have built the right way. Unfortunately, as we have seen in other teams who have won and who have not, the cap comes for all. The 20th pick in this coming draft coming in 2-3 years (if that) isn't going to keep the Rangers a powerhouse. Thinking ahead is fine but being in the present when it's time to win needs to be the priority. If the Rangers can get 1 ring out of this thing then the whole situation is a massive success.

 

[haohmaru]

Larry's missing a crucial component of the equation. The players are still paying back the owners. Increasing the cap more next year will push back how long it takes to pay off that debt.

More reasonably, the cap increases would need to be spread over 4 years, with the 4th year being the 1st to fully align with revenue.

People tend to forget the NHL played a season with virtually no revenue and the owners still made payroll. NHL is a gate driven revenue base.

 

[mas0764]

The Rangers have built the right way. Unfortunately, as we have seen in other teams who have won and who have not, the cap comes for all. The 20th pick in this coming draft coming in 2-3 years (if that) isn't going to keep the Rangers a powerhouse. Thinking ahead is fine but being in the present when it's time to win needs to be the priority. If the Rangers can get 1 ring out of this thing then the whole situation is a massive success.

Hitting on the 20th pick is exactly how you become or maintain a powerhouse.

On the flip side paying exorbitant rental prices is what is proven to rarely work.

 

[mas0764]

Isn't an easier solution to the Kravtsov situation just to see if Seattle would consider exchanging Shane Wright for him? I think they're beginning to understand why he fell in the draft. He played 6:14 in Seattle's first game. No powerplay time. No shot's on goal. In game two he was a healthy scratch. Clearly there is something the Seattle coaching staff doesn't like about his game. They already have their 1C of the future in Matt Beniers so he's not crucial to their success. He could be a potential replacement for Chytil if we can't afford his next contract.

Can we swap a former 9th overall pick for this year's 4th overall pick who plays a more important position?

Something tells me that Seattle won't do that.

Yeah, ok, if they bite on that, I'll do it.

 

[mas0764]

In 2025? 2026? Whoever they draft in the later part of this draft isn’t being a plus contribution for the Ranger for at least 2 years from the end of this season, or even ever.

So what?

If "not helping the team win for 2 years" is the criteria for whether it's worth it to actually utilize your first round selections to select draft eligible kids, then unless you are one of the very few top-of-the-draft studs every year who can play as a rookie, you should always be trading your picks?

So why not extend this logic out? Why not trade our first round pick for Justin Braun? What, that first rounder ain't gonna help us. Braun could help as a 7th or 8th defenseman!

 

[Boris Zubov]

People tend to forget the NHL played a season with virtually no revenue and the owners still made payroll. NHL is a gate driven revenue base.

Nobody forgets that at all, but the way the league is managing the cap increases is absurd. What Larry is proposing should've been discussed when the CBA was hammered out in 2020. Nobody had the foresight to see this was going to be a giant problem in just 2 years? Seems unlikely, when we have to watch these glitchy ads on the boards that the NHL claims have been in development for 7 years before rolling them out.

The NHL had a problem with paying 3rd liners like Bobby Holik 9M a year, 20 years ago. I understood it then, but it's been the owners mission to suppress wages since the grand lockout of 04-05. Once the players caved & agreed to the hard cap, the owners have kept them over that barrel.

 

[mas0764]

Here’s a question… do we have the worst defense prospect farm in the league?

With Schneider and Jones graduating, I’m not sure there’s anyone in the system who projects as an NHLer. Robertson is the one maybe.

It's a little less important as there isn't really as much room for prospects to graduate into NHL roles now. That was the whole problem with Lundkvist, not that he was no good.

But yeah the pipeline for defensemen AND forwards is far more bare than people are willing to admit (I'm not sure they have a starting goalie in the system either). Which is why since we spent relatively heavily last year this should not be a year to rent anywhere near as much. Time to restock a bit. Guys you get with late firsts and seconds now will be ready in 3-4 years, and at that time, Lindgren could be gone, Trouba will be gone, and you don't know who else might have to move for cap reasons. You can't be drafting replacements in 3-4 years, you have to draft them now.

Of course this year also needs to be earmarked, in this very strong center draft, for two young centers. Start replenishing wing and defense and goalie next year.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

People tend to forget the NHL played a season with virtually no revenue and the owners still made payroll. NHL is a gate driven revenue base.

I don't forget, I just think it's completely amateurish that the outcome of their business decisions is that COVID is still a negative drag on day-to-day operations. Oh and it is essentially projected to remain so for another year or two.

If the pandemic was even a little worse, and cause another missed or half-missed season, would we be talking about a flat cap until 2027? It's a joke that this is where the league landed as an acceptable outcome.

 

[haohmaru]

I don't forget, I just think it's completely amateurish that the outcome of their business decisions is that COVID is still a negative drag on day-to-day operations. Oh and it is essentially projected to remain so for another year or two.

If the pandemic was even a little worse, and cause another missed or half-missed season, would we be talking about a flat cap until 2027? It's a joke that this is where the league landed as an acceptable outcome.

Well, then you have to blame both parties as it was a collective decision. You can’t just mash on the owners - it’s a group thing. And let’s not forget, either, that nobody knew what road this was going to take and the uncertain future that was 2020.

 

[GAGLine]

Nobody forgets that at all, but the way the league is managing the cap increases is absurd. What Larry is proposing should've been discussed when the CBA was hammered out in 2020. Nobody had the foresight to see this was going to be a giant problem in just 2 years?

They did have the foresight. There's a provision in the MOU for negotiating a more layered approach to increasing the cap. And that is exactly what they are planning to do. The cap will go up over 2 years instead of all at once. Could they have done it over 3 or 4 years? Maybe. But neither of us knows the exact numbers involved.

I don't forget, I just think it's completely amateurish that the outcome of their business decisions is that COVID is still a negative drag on day-to-day operations. Oh and it is essentially projected to remain so for another year or two.

It's not that at all. The issue is that the players still owe the owners money. Players still got paid their full salaries despite revenues being way down due to Covid. Revenues are now higher than they were pre-Covid, but the cap is artificially low to pay off that debt.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Unless you have a dominant team, mortgaging the future for a Cup shortens the window and forces a complete do over.

For the Rangers let's get through most of the season before debating on the "will they/won't they" with Patrick Kane.

I expect this version of the team to be a "work smarter/not harder" in results where they finish either 3rd or in a WC spot but turn it on for the postseason.

The Rangers with this core might end up being like the Capitals who from 2008-2017 came up short, but a scrappier and arguable less talented RETOOLED version of them went all the way.

I don't want to talk about Neil Smith's post-94 because as a fanbase we've analyzed it worse than Star Wars fans with every film preview but yeah, a retool instead of going all in and the narrative here is different.

 

[Daves a mess]

Today’s Media Availability. Sammy MIAs, K’Andrea Miller and Coach Gerard Gallant:







Yes. I’m not a fan of Hunt but as soon as he steps on the ice in a game, in a Ranger uniform, I am rooting for him.

Isn't saying that Kravtsov being in a "no contact jersey" a little oxymoronic?
He's basically been in one of those in every game he's played as a Ranger.

 

[bleedblue94]

Reading these boards you'd think Panarin was the biggest scrub in the league last year.

it's not that at all.

it is the fact that we all know and have seen what he can be when he wants to, and that mixed with the fact he has the 3rd highest cap hit in the league this season for a team that is cap crunched, it makes you expect him to be that elite player he can be when he wants it.

he is so skilled that his performance is simply about the want and willingness, which makes it very easy to point at him when he isnt doing it or isnt willing to adjust for the more defensive hockey that comes later in the season/playoffs.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Well, then you have to blame both parties as it was a collective decision. You can’t just mash on the owners - it’s a group thing. And let’s not forget, either, that nobody knew what road this was going to take and the uncertain future that was 2020.

Mostly a fair point given both parties were involved and the PA had their motivations, but let's also not be willfully ignorant and pretend both sides had equal bargaining power.

t's not that at all. The issue is that the players still owe the owners money. Players still got paid their full salaries despite revenues being way down due to Covid. Revenues are now higher than they were pre-Covid, but the cap is artificially low to pay off that debt.

That is a direct result of how they chose to approach their operating/financial response to the pandemic. They could have agreed to a different solution that was more protective of future league operating conditions, but it would have required additional sacrifice or creativity on the part of the owners.

 

[duhmetreE]

it's not that at all.

it is the fact that we all know and have seen what he can be when he wants to, and that mixed with the fact he has the 3rd highest cap hit in the league this season for a team that is cap crunched, it makes you expect him to be that elite player he can be when he wants it.

he is so skilled that his performance is simply about the want and willingness, which makes it very easy to point at him when he isnt doing it or isnt willing to adjust for the more defensive hockey that comes later in the season/playoffs.

AKCTHUALLY he's the 2nd highest

 

[TheBloodyNine]

So what?

If "not helping the team win for 2 years" is the criteria for whether it's worth it to actually utilize your first round selections to select draft eligible kids, then unless you are one of the very few top-of-the-draft studs every year who can play as a rookie, you should always be trading your picks?

So why not extend this logic out? Why not trade our first round pick for Justin Braun? What, that first rounder ain't gonna help us. Braun could help as a 7th or 8th defenseman!

That's easy, you don't trade a 1st for Braun because he's not worth it and you can get him for way less than that. You trade firsts for players who are worth that high amount.

Go back and look at the teams that has won recently. Avs traded away their first. Tampa traded away multiple firsts. Chicago has done it. Pittsburgh did it. St. Louis. Some of these are for players with term. Some of them were rentals. Rangers don't have a recent history of trading 1sts for guys without term, but when you have 2 that makes it way more palatable and likely.

If you have a chance to win, picks should not be off limits for the right player. If you are a middling or mediocre team, then you keep them. Pretty simple.

 

[GAGLine]

That is a direct result of how they chose to approach their operating/financial response to the pandemic. They could have agreed to a different solution that was more protective of future league operating conditions, but it would have required additional sacrifice or creativity on the part of the owners.

Actually, it would have required a sacrifice by the players, unless you were expecting the owners to just take it on the chin and forget about all that lost money. The players got their full salaries every year despite the lower revenues. I'm not sure how the owners are the bad guys in all this.