Speculation: Roster Building Thread: New Season Edition

[kinger8998]

The SJ duo is definitely the most appealing for team need.

JVR would also be an excellent fit on a line with Chytil and Blais/Vesey/Goodrow as a third line with size and skill that is defensively responsible.

I want to see JVR continue his good start, but hes a veteran, has an edge, and I think he would absolutely be a great fit with Blais and Chytil as you said. Thats a physically imposing 3rd line that could also be an under-the-radar scoring threat. Braun offers familiarity, I really liked him as a calming presence in the postseason on Schneider, and we could do alot worse (Hajek) than him stepping in for an injured player in postseason.

San Jose deal gives us Barabanov for next season at an okay 2.5 million, but would be nice if San Jose could retain that (50% would be great). Similar to the deals Tampa would make for Coleman and Goodrow. Nutivaara is also a serviceable defenseman.

The goal here is to get a player that would actually contribute come playoffs when the grind gets harder and the emotions flare up in a potential 7 game series. Kravtsov doesn't have that, as he couldn't make it to his 3rd shift before being injured, in his only NHL stinit put up 4 in 20, fled the country another time, and looked awful in preseason when given a GOLDEN opportunity at the best spot he'd ever get in our lineup. Also, I don't want to replace Jones in lineup, just have injury insurance on D that isn't Hajek, as well as have the ability to let Jones sit a game if he's struggling in a series.

JVR, although at a different career point than Krav, would UNDOUBTEDLY be more useful in a playoff run than Kravtsov. Kravtsov is likely gone either way this offseason (with Othmann and Cuylle likely both starting season with team), so may as well use him to upgrade 3RW for a playoff run this year

Excellent chance Hunt gets claimed by Arizona. They loved him here and wanted him back. If nothing else, they can flip him at the trade deadline. I’d be shocked if he isn’t claimed.

Can't wait for our deadline acquisition this year to be Dryden Hunt

 

[SA16]

Excellent chance Hunt gets claimed by Arizona. They loved him here and wanted him back. If nothing else, they can flip him at the trade deadline. I’d be shocked if he isn’t claimed.


Pick forwards at the front of the draft. Plenty of very good defensemen available throughout the first two rounds.

Exactly what to you think they will get in return for "flipping him at the deadline?"

 

[kinger8998]

Exactly what to you think they will get in return for "flipping him at the deadline?"

Vitali Kravtsov

(this is satire)


(kind of)

 

[Mac n Gs]

I see we’ve wasted about eight pages arguing that *checks notes* having an elite powerplay and developing Kakko/Laf in top-6 roles in a winning environment is actually a bad thing

 

[JohnC]

IDK about Blais. The talent there is undeniable, but if it doesn't manifest itself in consistent production (for whatever reason), where's the value? Gauthier is also obviously talented but can't figure out how to make his offensive talents work in the NHL, so he's of little value to us at this point. Blais does more than Gauthier to contribute, but it's the same concept. Eventually you either prove you're a valuable contributor or you're gone.

I don't understand the hate for Hunt. He's a good fourth line player. He's not anything special, but I think he's pretty solidly an NHL player on a lot of teams, and could be here, too, if not for our roster/cap crunch. I hope we're able to retain him because he could still prove useful down the road.

For my money, Hunt was probably the best 4th liner we iced last season. It was just a shame it was practically never on the 4th line.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Bummer on Hunt if he gets claimed, think he was an excellent 4th liner. He is the type of player they will have to move a pick for to backfill at the deadline. Hopefully they can find a good cheap option like Motte.

The fact that he wasn't used on the PK likely did him in more than anything else.

 

[MrAlmost]

Mike Grier and David Quinn in SJ. I am confident that Barabanov is on the Rangers radar. Maybe a defensemen as well and Nutivaara makes sense. I like Sturm a lot too.

The dream is still Conor Garland.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

So, if Hunt gets claimed, who becomes the first call up? Gauthier? Rydahl? Rydahl would be my choice, I think he deserved to be on the team from the start.

 

[LORDE]

Hunt is a decent player but folks lamenting him at this pt is well... pointless.

We have options... we will have options moving forward.

Our cap issues were going to wreak havoc (and will going forward).

Hunt isn't the end of unfortunate decisions we'll be making.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Then why bother changing? You seemed to be determined to make a change. Then you claim that it makes no difference. I say let the bad teams have first shot at who they want. It's up to them to make the better choice.

You change because it rewards teams for winning. Didn't say it doesn't make a difference, just that a snake draft isn't likely at all to change the fate of a team that is a bottom feeder good or bad.

 

[BBKers]

If Hunt clears we are accumulating good wealth of depth in the A. Maybe a trade comes outta this. Hunt also might have more value to a team being waiver exempt. But then there’s Arizona, yeah… If Hunt clears, Hajek is next. Drury will then either go waiver wire or facilitate a trade for a vet 7D.

A third line of Blais/Vesey - Chytil - Kravtsov could be boom or bust. The 4 line looks good then though…

 

[QJL]

Here’s a tip; Lafreniere is never going to sign that kind of contract. Miller maybe but not Lafreniere. The Rangers best strategy with him may be a one year bridge.

I see what you’re saying, but there are plenty of comparables on cap strapped teams. If he breaks 60 points, sure that number goes up, but I’m expecting Laf around 45-50 with limited PP time.

Players who have signed that kind of contract:

Nikita Kucherov dropped 66 points in 77 games and signed for 4.667M x 3 years.

Alex Debrincat averaged 61 points for 2 seasons and then signed for 6.4M x 3 years.

 

[mas0764]

What are the odds we actually get McDavid after Panarin's contract expires?

In 4 years? Might prefer Zegras.

 

[mas0764]

Blais NHL PPG .29
Hunt NHL PPG .24

Blais AHL PPG .70
Hunt NHL PPG .70

They have almost identical output. Blais has been a bandaid since he was 17. He has put together a full season one time since he was 17. Blais is possibly the most overrated player this franchise has ever seen. Guy is a fringe NHL/AHL player

I don’t know if I would quite say he’s fringe but he is certainly overrated by this fan base, which they only do in support of the GM because they don’t want to admit he made one of the worst trades of the decade in bringing him here.

The numbers speak for themselves. The game is too fast for him, he is always hurt, and doesn't do nearly enough to justify playing more than a 4th line/13th forward role. He is a heavy body with good hands. Dude skates in quick sand.

At least Hunt knows his role. Hunt has proved to be a more valuable asset than Blais the past 2 years. People paint Blais into something hes not to try and justify the Buch deal. Id give him half a season then just move on. Don't want another Hajek situation

Blais will be gone after this season in favor of cheaper labor. At least there is that.

 

[Lgrsean]

We have two guys, ones a center, who can put up 100 points each this season. But we won’t win until Kakko and Laf are better than them?

And a 50 goal scorer, a young Norris winner and the reigning vezina winner. I mean if Laf and kakko are better than those 5, we would probably win the cup though

 

[Alluckks]

Putting Chytil in a position on the 3rd line where his wingers make it so that he has to be the guy to move play forward could actually give him a boost. Chytil plays better when he has has to rely on himself to make something happen, carry the puck, and be the main guy for shots and playmaking. He'd have to do that with Blais/Kravstov/etc. as his wingers.

 

[Alluckks]

Barabanov is a player I'd love to get, 28 years old but not much time in the NHL, 39 points last year, plays both LW and RW.

Signed for both this year and next year at 2.5

Sharks aren't competing, makes sense as a sell.

Would the Rangers take something out of the Lightning playbook?

Barabanov 50% retained for Rangers 1st 2023; Barabanov at 1.25 for this year and next.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

I have heard that some players could shoot from both sides before the curved blades, like going back to the 30s/40s. Not sure if its true.

There's one man who can answer this question... Stan Fischler, The Hockey Maven.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

I see what you’re saying, but there are plenty of comparables on cap strapped teams. If he breaks 60 points, sure that number goes up, but I’m expecting Laf around 45-50 with limited PP time.

Players who have signed that kind of contract:

Nikita Kucherov dropped 66 points in 77 games and signed for 4.667M x 3 years.

Alex Debrincat averaged 61 points for 2 seasons and then signed for 6.4M x 3 years.

The Kucherov deal was signed in 2016 I believe and the DeBrincat in 2019. All pre-covid and potentially 7 and 4 years respectively from when Laff would be signing his new deal. I dont think they would be used as any comparable.

 

[egelband]

There's one man who can answer this question... Stan Fischler, The Hockey Maven.

Or Dick Irvin. Who attend both of the most recent Rangers Cup Wins.

 

[Ola]

There's one man who can answer this question... Stan Fischler, The Hockey Maven.

No luck googling. But it was one of those things said when I was young looking for sticks with a lot of curve, and some older guy would say something like 'in the old time they played with straight sticks which meant that some could shoot slap shots from both sides just switching how they held the stick'.

 

[Profet]

No luck googling. But it was one of those things said when I was young looking for sticks with a lot of curve, and some older guy would say something like 'in the old time they played with straight sticks which meant that some could shoot slap shots from both sides just switching how they held the stick'.

I'm sure there was at least a few guys who did this.

But I have to look at another sport like baseball. How many players can switch hit? Just because the equipment makes it possible doesn't mean it's a good idea.

 

[QJL]

The Kucherov deal was signed in 2016 I believe and the DeBrincat in 2019. All pre-covid and potentially 7 and 4 years respectively from when Laff would be signing his new deal. I dont think they would be used as any comparable.

Comparable in concept, not in value.

Winning teams need to make things fit. The Rangers can’t offer a long term deal without giving up a significant piece.

What are you predicting on a contract? 1 year? 2 years? Long term and goodbye someone like Chytil/Lindgren?

 

[Off Sides]

If Arizona did pick up Hunt, they'd have to send someone else down. They are carrying a full 23 man roster with 13F 8D 2G. (most teams are carrying 23) They have a couple candidates who could be demoted, yet I'm not familiar enough with them to know if that is something they want to do.

 

[Chytilmania]

In 4 years? Might prefer Zegras.

If Anaheim doesn’t make any noise over the next 4 years I can see him wanting to come home.