Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Off-season Part I

[I Eat Crow]

Agree with most of this. Especially the Kakko part. But Blais can play RW right? I know he is not a top 6, but he would definitely the choice over Reaves in the top 6.

I think he can play both but was predominantly a LW. Either way, he's another question mark. Can he stay healthy?

 

[Beer League Sniper]

How much will Marchment get as a UFA?

The list of wingers who play with pace is pretty long:

Jarnkrok
Marchment
Raffl
Motte
Rodrigues
Hinostrozza
Vatrano
Mikheyev

All of those guys would help increase the pace of play for the Rangers in terms of getting on the puck carrier and creating turnovers.

Would love the bolded as cheap depth. I remember watching Hinostroza when he played for ND. I was watching Fogarty, and he kept catching my eye as someone with an insane motor. He's undersized, but relentless.

 

[McRanger92]

He's only 'disappointing' if you're expecting him to be the next Hossa. Defensively he is really solid, he plays a power forward game and he skates well. He had close to .5 ppg as a 24 year old in an injury plagued season. Worst case scenario, he can carve out a Lehkonen-like career for himself. Bets case scenario, he continues to improve and gets to 50-60 points per season while providing size and defensive acumen. I'd be all over bringing him in if the return was Georgiev + prospect (like Korczak or Skinner). I'd even look to sign him to a decent term deal (think 4-5 years).

If you trade for and sign Puju, say goodbye to Kakko next year. Everyone is so worried about the future cap, but were trading for and extending another winger? I also would prefer guys who arent prone to injury plagued seasons like Chytil & Kakko.

 

[NYR Viper]

So this works cap-wise:

Trades:
Reaves + Gauthier to Montreal for a 4th '22 + 4th '23
Nemeth to Buffalo for a 5th
Georgiev + Skinner for Puljujaarvi

Signings:
Kaako - 2 years @ $2.3m
Charlie Lindgren - 2 years @ $1m
Keith Kinkaid - 2 years @ $900k
Stastny - 2 years @ $2.75m
Motte - 4 years @ $1.75m
Puljujaarvi - 5 years @ $3.5m

Kreider-Zibanejad-Puljujaarvi
Panarin-Stastny-Kravtsov
Lafreniere-Chytil-Kaako
Motte-Goodrow-Blais
Hunt

Miller-Fox
Jones-Trouba
Lindgren-Schneider

Shesty
Lindgren

$2.15m cap space

If you trade for and sign Puju, say goodbye to Kakko next year. Everyone is so worried about the future cap, but were trading for and extending another winger? I also would prefer guys who arent prone to injury plagued seasons like Chytil & Kakko.

That decision could be made next season. Kravtsov is another option as well to go. Having too many good players is a good thing

 

[RangerBoy]

Evan Rodriguez' name was brought up on the 32T Pod today as potential Rangers 2C. Said a player suggested it to them. Wonder if that player was Evan Rodriguez.

Who represents Rodriquez? Peter Fish. Who was Drury's agent? Peter Fish.

The Zuccarello to Dallas trade was another one that was a period away from hitting the jackpot

Yep. Dallas was up 3-2 in the series. Blues won game 6 in Dallas. The Blues won game 7 in OT.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I'm also not convinced that Kakko survives this offseason. He and Nils seem like the most obvious pieces to be dangled for a bigger fish. Kravtsov as well, though I'm not sure what his value is league wise and perhaps it'd be better to see what we have there instead of letting him go on the cheap.

I'm less convinced that Chytil moves despite the noise (which is almost certainly coming from outside of the organization.)

 

[Anthony5967]

I dont agree with this. Fiala got a 1st and a good not great prospect and is 4 years younger and an RFA. Vancouver overplayed their hand. If they wont budge on their high ask, look elsewhere.

There's a path for Miller to become a NYR without overpaying. Nobody is saying sell the farm for him either. People don't want him because he's a rental. There are pros and cons to every move you ever make. What young 2C is available that a team is going to hand away? PLD is going to cost a fortune. Miller is out the door in VAN. $5.25M cap hit is big. A legit 1C playing with Panarin. The board will quickly forget the tug of war against acquiring Miller when the team is ripping in first place and getting 200-foot play from their centers. When Miller prices himself out, that's it, but it's another run and step closer. Maybe Miller is the piece to get them over the hump. The fact of the matter is this--with Laf, Miller, Chytil, Shesterkin's cheap deal, Panarin, Kreider, and Zibanejad's ages, you have to give it a go now. I don't want Nic fricken Roy, I don't want Copp back at $6M per. Get the horsepower down the middle. Chytil+Lundkvist+ our second on Thursday + conditional second in 2023 (1st if we make the Cup final). Hand me the papers.

 

[RangerBoy]

We don't need him on the PP. There's an open spot with Strome gone, but Strome contributed almost nothing to the PP and we were still one of the best in the league. We have plenty of guys to take that spot who can do just as well, if not better.

Miller led his team in SHTOI/GP among forwards. Vancouver was tied for 2nd worst PK in the league. And despite all that PK time, he only had 2 SH points all year. We don't need him on the PK either.

Miller played 15:41 per game at even strength. On the Rangers, only Panarin got more. Mika was almost a full minute less.

Miller would not get the same ice time here as he does in Vancouver and he would not be as good. He will also cost more than he's worth and we won't have the cap space to re-sign him to a contract he also won't be worth.

Miller plays in every situation in Vancouver. The PP runs through him. I would watch their games. Miller. 5 on 5. PP. Miller. PK. Miller. 4 on 4. Miller. 3 on 3 in OT. Miller. He was the top guy in Vancouver. His usage will not be the same in New York. The first guy on the ice in those situations is/was Miller.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Evan Rodriguez' name was brought up on the 32T Pod today as potential Rangers 2C. Said a player suggested it to them. Wonder if that player was Evan Rodriguez.

Lmao. Well I wouldn't mind picking him up in general but uh putting him at center on the 2nd line isn't where he would be playing.

 

[Raspewtin]

Miller plays in every situation in Vancouver. The PP runs through him. I would watch their games. Miller. 5 on 5. PP. Miller. PK. Miller. 4 on 4. Miller. 3 on 3 in OT. Miller. He was the top guy in Vancouver. His usage will not be the same in New York. The first guy on the ice in those situations is/was Miller.

It won't be the same here either of course but like.......he'd have led us in scoring at least? it's not like we have 3 or more players that score more than him. he'd be right there with Panarin for the team lead at least. Same with the PK/3 on 3/4 on 4, why wouldn't it run through him while he's on the ice? Its not like we have a ton of players better at all those things.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Miller plays in every situation in Vancouver. The PP runs through him. I would watch their games. Miller. 5 on 5. PP. Miller. PK. Miller. 4 on 4. Miller. 3 on 3 in OT. Miller. He was the top guy in Vancouver. His usage will not be the same in New York. The first guy on the ice in those situations is/was Miller.

Miller most plays on the left wall on the PP in Van. With the Rangers there are two players who would play there ahead of him and with the personnel the Rangers have it wouldn't make sense to play him on the left wall or the bumper. So that would force them to play him on the right wall and force Zibanejad back to the bumper. He wouldn't be running the PP here. I don''t like the fit.

 

[bhamill]

As pertains to Kakko's (trade) value, that's a different thing for the buyer than for the seller.
NYR have a valuation of him that takes more heavily into account his improvement defensively, his metrics, his potential (he will be starting his fourth NHL season at the age of 21) and his offensive and possession flashes, while weighing the extenuating circumstances of COVID, injuries (including playing hurt for a long stretch), being a teenager the first two years in an unfamiliar country, and being blocked from pp time by good offensive veterans. They can also bridge him to see how he steps up or doesn't this year.
The buyer will be leery of his offensive numbers and not yet living up to his draft position, and certainly try to leverage those factors to get a bargain.
Basically the buyers set the market so his TRADE value is LOW, which is different than his VALUE as a player being low. That is the absolute WORST time to trade a player, so I think NYR would be stupid to do so, unless of course someone gives us a what WE want.

 

[Thirty One]

Miller most plays on the left wall on the PP in Van. With the Rangers there are two players who would play there ahead of him and with the personnel the Rangers have it wouldn't make sense to play him on the left wall or the bumper. So that would force them to play him on the right wall and force Zibanejad back to the bumper. He wouldn't be running the PP here. I don''t like the fit.

Why wouldn't it make sense to put him in the bumper spot? I don't think Zibanejad is moving off the left wall again.

 

[RangerBoy]

Kevin Weekes on Real Kyper and Bourne this morning regarding JT Miller. He is not sure Vancouver will be able to consummate a deal that they are looking for in terms of their price by the draft. Teams are interested in the player.

Reading in between the lines. Vancouver has a high asking price. Weekes brought up the one year remaining on the contract and they need to get the trade right.

Vancouver hasn't softened their demands. Staple wrote Vancouver has come off on Schneider and they would accept Lundkvist. Doesn't sound like it.

 

[Thirty One]

People are so afraid of acquiring a player and having his point production drop. I want the guy capable of driving the bus, even if he wouldn't be asked to here.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Why wouldn't it make sense to put him in the bumper spot? I don't think Zibanejad is moving off the left wall again.

Because there's no option for him to shoot off the pass when either Panarin has the puck which is quite often as the PP runs through him, or when Panarin goes down low to Kreider who can then hit the bumper for that quick-strike triangle play. With the Rangers PPQB on the right wall and a LH shot around the net it's ideal to have a RH shot in the bumper. If they ran it from the other side of the ice then you want a lefty there.

 

[NYR Viper]

People are so afraid of acquiring a player and having his point production drop. I want the guy capable of driving the bus, even if he wouldn't be asked to here.

It's a valid concern though that the cost will be based on him being a 90-100 point center and yet he will be utilized differently in NY, such that his production may be more like 70-80 points. That would constitute an overpayment being made.

For me personally, I'm less concerned with that, although it's a variable that should be discussed, as I am concerned about having to continue expelling assets for 1 year fixes to the 2C spot. I'm not interested in paying Miller big money on a long term deal which means he's a 1 year rental.

 

[duhmetreE]

The great aspect about JTM is he could drive play 5v5. Something we've been lacking.

He wont be 'the guy' on the PP... don't think he will recreate his nearly 40 PPPs.

The one aspect I love about JTM... he has that asshole cocky swagger... A-type personality... We need it for our soft spoken country club... it was an issue when he was last here but it would seem he 'matured' out of it.

Only way he's worth the price is if he's extended. How much is that extension? I don't see him taking a discount

 

[McRanger92]

It's a valid concern though that the cost will be based on him being a 90-100 point center and yet he will be utilized differently in NY, such that his production may be more like 70-80 points. That would constitute an overpayment being made.

For me personally, I'm less concerned with that, although it's a variable that should be discussed, as I am concerned about having to continue expelling assets for 1 year fixes to the 2C spot. I'm not interested in paying Miller big money on a long term deal which means he's a 1 year rental.

I dont think a trade for one year of JT would really be measured by point totals, more about the success of the team. Giving up assets for a one year rental is a valid concern though. You can tell Vancouver wants the Rangers to pony up with all these rumors that NJ & NYI are interested.

The middle ground on a 2C is Dubois (who no one seems to want either). 2 years before hes a UFA, only 24, plays a solid even strength game with grit that we desperately need in the top 6. Coming to a big market, which he wants, and playing for a new contract on a Cup contender is a good situation for the team and player. They should make it happen if they can.

 

[bbny]

People are so afraid of acquiring a player and having his point production drop. I want the guy capable of driving the bus, even if he wouldn't be asked to here.

It’s never a bad thing to have a backup bus driver. I wouldn’t want the kids to miss practice.

 

[RangerBoy]

The great aspect about JTM is he could drive play 5v5. Something we've been lacking.

He wont be 'the guy' on the PP... don't think he will recreate his nearly 40 PPPs.

The one aspect I love about JTM... he has that asshole cocky swagger... A-type personality... We need it for our soft spoken country club... it was an issue when he was last here but it would seem he 'matured' out of it.

Only way he's worth the price is if he's extended. How much is that extension? I don't see him taking a discount

$8.5M AAV for 8 years.

 

[duhmetreE]

Panarin JTM Laffy
Kreider Zibs Kakko/Kravtsov

not a bad top6.

Bottom6 would need major refinement. I'd assume Chytil + Lundkvist for JTM. Maybe we could sneak Nemeth into the deal, as long as Vancouver is not his NTC

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Just pick someone off the scrap heap in UFA for the 3C spot and hope they overperform. Enough players are going to get cap squeezed that I think we'll be able to grab someone useful. Let Chytil try and grow into the 2C role. Even if he fails, I think we're still a playoff team. Address it at the TDL and go to war.

They don't want to be just a playoff team. They want to win a cup. They feel that if they upgrade 2C and continue to add depth that they can do exactly that. Picking somebody off the scrap heap and hoping they overperform and hoping Chytil does well in a 2c role is maybe something they are unwilling to do. Look at the eastern conference. Is there any team that is head and shoulders better than the rest? The Rangers do have a shot and maybe they want more certainty. We will see what they do.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

May not be a bad low buy option.