Speculation: Roster Building Thread: New Season Edition

[GENESISPuck94]

Jones said he gained 10 pounds of muscle.

That is big for him and good on him for putting in the work

Also said he was happy to be in Hartford for all of that time. Needed for his development.

I have a good feeling about this player surprising everyone in camp.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

I'm fine with him on the 4th line, but he just doesn't have the hands or speed to play higher in the lineup. And honestly, I'm not even sure that someone like Cuylle hasn't already surpassed him. The bottom 6 of our lineup in going to be very crowded if one or two of Kravtsov/Othmann/Cuylle make the team out of camp.

I'm hoping all three make the team. Push out the useless types like Hunt, Gauthier, and Carpenter. Seriously, would we be losing anything by replacing those three stooges with Kravtsov, Cuylle, and Othmann? Sign Vesey, if one of the three aren't ready full time Vesey is better than Carpenter, Hunt, and Gauthier.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Wild card in all of this may be Rydahl. He signed a 1 year 1 way deal and is a ufa after this season. Think the Rangers expect him to compete for a bottom 6 (likely 4th line) role.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

I'm hoping all three make the team. Push out the useless types like Hunt, Gauthier, and Carpenter. Seriously, would we be losing anything by replacing those three stooges with Kravtsov, Cuylle, and Othmann? Sign Vesey, if one of the three aren't ready full time Vesey is better than Carpenter, Hunt, and Gauthier.

I don't think Gauthier makes the team unless he's made a huge jump in the offseason (very unlikely).

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Trocheck-Kravtsov
Laf-Chytil

I think that's what our Top-9 looks like at the moment. Maybe not necessarily in that configuration, but those players. 8/9 spots taken. Then you have a bunch of guys who could be slotted in on the 3rd line (JMO) - Blais/Goodrow/Othmann/Cuylle, with Othmann being the only guy on there that I think is Top-9 or bust. Then, you have a whole slew of players competing for a 4th line spot. I think Goodrow is guaranteed (if he's not already on the 3rd line), but that likely leaves Blais/Cuylle/Reaves/Gauthier/Hunt/Carpenter/Vesey/Rydahl/Brodzinski fighting for 2 or 3 spots, not to mention guys like Trivigno/Pajuniemi/Rueschhoff/Edstrom who are longshots, but not impossibilities if they've taken a big step.

It's going to get crowded at camp.

 

[GAGLine]

I don't think Gauthier makes the team unless he's made a huge jump in the offseason (very unlikely).

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Trocheck-Kravtsov
Laf-Chytil

I think that's what our Top-9 looks like at the moment. Maybe not necessarily in that configuration, but those players. 8/9 spots taken. Then you have a bunch of guys who could be slotted in on the 3rd line (JMO) - Blais/Goodrow/Othmann/Cuylle, with Othmann being the only guy on there that I think is Top-9 or bust. Then, you have a whole slew of players competing for a 4th line spot. I think Goodrow is guaranteed (if he's not already on the 3rd line), but that likely leaves Blais/Cuylle/Reaves/Gauthier/Hunt/Carpenter/Vesey/Rydahl/Brodzinski fighting for 2 or 3 spots, not to mention guys like Trivigno/Pajuniemi/Rueschhoff/Edstrom who are longshots, but not impossibilities if they've taken a big step.

It's going to get crowded at camp.

Laf will be top 6 RW.

 

[Daves a mess]

Julian's first preseason game:

My bet is he is seen taking it hard to the net, then while skating through the crease, falls on is ass as the puck meekly rolls to the corner .

Twice.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Unless there is some huge surprise in camp (like Othmann) we are looking at a top 9 of:

Kreider - Zib - Laff
Panarin - Trocheck - Kakko
Blais - Chytil - Kravstov

Then the 4th line, to me, the only lock is Goodrow in one of the positions since he can play all 3.

Then you have Hunt, Reaves, Vesey, Gauthier, Cuylle, Carpenter and Rydhal competing for the other 2 spots on the 4th line and 1 or 2 reserves depending if the Rangers want to carry 22 or we to start the season (I can see them carrying 22 to start to Bank more cap space).

Cuylle will either be earning a spot to play everyday and if not he'll be in the AHL which is fine.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

Laf will be top 6 RW.

I think so, as well. But rather than get into the minutiae of line combos, I just listed what I perceive to be our Top-9 depth chart with players at their "natural" positions.

 

[pld459666]

Hunt seems like he's completely sacrificed his offensive game to be a banger.

His numbers in Juniors AND the AHL tell me he has a bit of skill, but when he gets to the show, it vanishes.

Could be linemates and role, but he should still be better

Maybe his 2nd year under Turk can draw that out?

If he's with Goodrow maybe the two of them can generate something??

 

[IDvsEGO]

They prioritized Blais over him last year. Was foolish then and would be even more foolish this year. Kravtsov was good enough out of camp to be on the third line. He should be this year.

I think the report we got (which might not be the official version) was that kratsov wasnt entirely in shape and then he got hurt. They wanted him to get some conditioning minutes in hfd. It wasnt about prioritizing blais, it was about kratsov not coming into camp already in shape.
Kratsov in the nhl wasnt getting 20 minutes a game. In the A he could definitely get that for a few weeks to get him into shape.

I'm fine with him on the 4th line, but he just doesn't have the hands or speed to play higher in the lineup. And honestly, I'm not even sure that someone like Cuylle hasn't already surpassed him. The bottom 6 of our lineup in going to be very crowded if one or two of Kravtsov/Othmann/Cuylle make the team out of camp.

I wasnt aware that's a bad thing?

Love seeing Jones taking the initiative to join the Rangers rookie camp as his own decision. Shows some humility which bodes well for his future growth. Pulling for the kid big time. I know he’s got the skill to be on this team. I think his size works against him but really hope he can overcome.

Not sure theres any humility in the decision. I dont think he said he had anything to work on. Just that he wants a running start into actual training camp. Get some game time.
The putting on muscle was humility and self reflection.

 

[chosen]

I sure hope so, because for $12M, he was absolute dogshit to start last season.

8 points in first 10 games.

Kreider had 8 points.

Zibanejad had 7 points.

Fox had 9 points.

That's an awful lot of dogshit players.

 

[IDvsEGO]

8 points in first 10 games.

Kreider had 8 points.

Zibanejad had 7 points.

Fox had 9 points.

That's an awful lot of dogshit players.

I think the point hes making is that panarin was weak on the puck and wasnt dominating play.
Its great that he's able to rack up points when he's not dominating play like that, but points don't always tell the whole story.

Pretty sure his possession numbers were garbage for the first 10-15.

 

[chosen]

I think the point hes making is that panarin was weak on the puck and wasnt dominating play.
Its great that he's able to rack up points when he's not dominating play like that, but points don't always tell the whole story.

Pretty sure his possession numbers were garbage for the first 10-15.

Face it.

If Panarin puts up 100 points this season, some here will dump on him.

 

[RangerBoy]

 

[IDvsEGO]

Face it.

If Panarin puts up 100 points this season, some here will dump on him.

Last season was a career high for points for panarin. But it was also his worst as a ranger.
The two things can be mutually exclusive.
He played far softer on the puck, he wasnt as aggressive and shot far less. His shooting percentage dropped significantly too. from around 15% to 12%.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

8 points in first 10 games.

Kreider had 8 points.

Zibanejad had 7 points.

Fox had 9 points.

That's an awful lot of dogshit players.

He wasn’t the same player, especially early last season. All the raw stats, as well as advanced metrics, bear that out.

And when you’re carrying a cap hit 45% higher than anyone else on the team, as he was last season, expectations are naturally high.

I had nothing but praise for Panarin prior to last season, and for good reason. But last season, he appeared to be out of shape to start the season, and appeared to run out of gas late in the season and into the playoffs. That points to a lack of off-season prep, which I hope doesn’t happen again.

 

[SA16]

Last season was a career high for points for panarin. But it was also his worst as a ranger.
The two things can be mutually exclusive.
He played far softer on the puck, he wasnt as aggressive and shot far less. His shooting percentage dropped significantly too. from around 15% to 12%.

So we should expect him to score at a higher rate then since he actually had bad shooting luck?

 

[Rongomania]

Let the showcase begin. We really can get at least two nice picks or a nice pick and a prospect for Jones/Robertson/Hajek (if he's taken a step) and of course, our dear Nils.

 

[Tob]

 

[Fitzy]

The seas have parted for Jones. If he can't beat out Hajek he doesn't deserve to be in the NHL. Hajek isn't really even a true #7, he's more of a #8 like Kampfer and Bitteto

When they split the squad for preseason games hopefully he gets looks away from Adam Fox so he can show what he can do on the powerplay.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Wish the team would be more economically savy and showcase players more, to grow their value for an eventual trade. I think it would be the difference between a 3rd and a 2nd rnd pick, maybe even a first.

I guess, these kids weren't ready so far, but this year I want to see some rookie show-casing and rotating. Jones and Robertson, the defense specially.

Sad to see Motter go so cheap. Will speed be an issue next season?

 

[Zynbanejad]

Excited to see Jones win that spot

 

[IDvsEGO]

Wish the team would be more economically savy and showcase players more, to grow their value for an eventual trade. I think it would be the difference between a 3rd and a 2nd rnd pick, maybe even a first.

I guess, these kids weren't ready so far, but this year I want to see some rookie show-casing and rotating. Jones and Robertson, the defense specially.

Sad to see Motter go so cheap. Will speed be an issue next season?

How exactly should a team showcase a player, while also trying to win games and develop chemistry among new lines?
We're not in tank mode anymore.

 

[IDvsEGO]

So we should expect him to score at a higher rate then since he actually had bad shooting luck?

He has bad shooting luck because he's shooting from further out, AND also taking less shots.
He was also turning the puck over more often.

Did he score and put up points? Absolutely. But those two stats on their own aren't always indicitive of a great season. When you score the 5th goal in a 5-1 game, you're not really contributing that much but you''ve still scored a goal.

 

[RangersFan1994]