Speculation: Roster Building Thread Part I: Summer Wind

[Fitzy]

Bozak doesn't do it for me.

Out of curiosity, why?

Guy had the same number of points as Stepan last year. Would've been one of our top 3 scorers. We're talking about getting him for pennies on the dollar- a #6 dman and a mid level pick.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Why is Toronto trading for Holden when they signed Hainsey and have plenty of depth NHL dmen. Send him back to Colorado or something, but I don't mind keeping him as the 3rd pairing LD that can step up to the 2nd pairing if Skjei struggles.

That's the other thing, can we give McDonagh some time with an actual defenseman to let him show how damn good he is? He's a top GAR (goals above replacement) and game score dman for us, and that saying to trade him because of his impending contract situation is silly. We don't even know if Skei can fully handle second pairing minutes yet. Sophomore slumps do happen.

 

[GregSirico]

I still think the move is to find someone for the top 6 not bottom 6.

 

[GregSirico]

Out of curiosity, why?

Guy had the same number of points as Stepan last year. Would've been one of our top 3 scorers. We're talking about getting him for pennies on the dollar- a #6 dman and a mid level pick.

I love him as a 3C not a 1 or 2. He's a great skater and passes but his size and inconsistency worries me about top 6 mins.

 

[Idlerlee]

90% of them wouldn't trade Zuccarello for Crosby and Malkin.

If we could keep our arguments wihtin the realm of not being condescending towards the opposing opinion, that would be wonderful.

 

[silverfish]

We're starting the trade McDonagh nonsense already? Can't say I'm surprised (for several reasons).

I would look to trade Shattenkirk and Smith because they will be free agents in four years. Rebuild, regress, recoup, reinvigorate.

Younger, better, cheaper, faster.

We need a team of all ELCs, IMO.

 

[bobbop]

No one posted this tidbit from ye olde Brooksie?



http://nypost.com/2017/07/08/ryan-mcdonagh-will-be-in-john-tavares-position-soon-enough/

No Larry.

Praise and Suter contracts will hamstring Minnesota for many years in the future.

EK and OEL also "available" in two years. OEL far more likely than McDonagh to get to market.

Paradigm is changing. I expect McDonagh will get a contract offer similar to what Shattenkirk just received.

I have no doubt Larry gets ideas from the boards. I'm only surprised he didn't pick up on the Anisimov bits.

Another off season is a long way away. Stall rehabilitates his game or becomes a buyout candidate. The draft picks will have a chance to show their wares and we'll know more about how high the ceiling is for this year's rookies. We'll have another season to judge whether The King is in decline or just had an off season. And we'll have a better idea what kind of contract McDonagh will be offered.

 

[Hockeyholic]

What are the chances of the Rangers re-signing Rick Nash?

 

[GregSirico]

What are the chances of the Rangers re-signing Rick Nash?

50/50. I think he's a great team guy but his contract is hard on us. After this is off the books and he wants to come back on a team friendly deal. Definitely.

 

[GAGLine]

50/50. I think he's a great team guy but his contract is hard on us. After this is off the books and he wants to come back on a team friendly deal. Definitely.

I'd say more like 90/10 that he's gone. If we aren't trading him now, trade him at the deadline.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I still think the move is to find someone for the top 6 not bottom 6.

I totally agree. I would go one step further and say we should try to get a top line scorer even if not a center.

 

[Dr. Ogrodnick]

I love him as a 3C not a 1 or 2. He's a great skater and passes but his size and inconsistency worries me about top 6 mins.

Sure, but Hayes as a 2nd line center looks a lot better with Bozak as a 3C, or vice versa.

 

[NickyFotiu]

If we could keep our arguments wihtin the realm of not being condescending towards the opposing opinion, that would be wonderful.

Lets make that Crosby and Malkin for Zooks trade but wouldn't RB call for us to trade Crosby and Malkin because of their age and salary?

 

[Cassano]

I'd be okay with giving McDonagh 8x8 even if he asked. I doubt it'll get that high though.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Younger, better, cheaper, faster.

We need a team of all ELCs, IMO.

Only if we agree that if they play well we trade them right away.

 

[GregSirico]

Stastny

http://blueseatblogs.com/2017/07/09/st-louis-trade-match-rangers/

Looking through the rosters, the St. Louis Blues seem to have the opposite problem. With 15 forwards –14 if you don’t include Klim Kostin, their first rounder this year)– and just five defensemen signed, there’s a potential match with the Rangers.

One of the potential targets could be Paul Stastny. A top-six center, Stastny has one year left on his contract at a $7 million cap hit. The 31-year-old is due $7.5 million in salary, and while that may not seem like much of a difference, it might to a budget team like St. Louis. With long-term deals in place for Alex Steen, Patrik Berglund, and the recently acquired Brayden Schenn, Stastny may be a luxury for the Blues that can help them address their blue line. Plus they need to find more top-six time for Robby Fabbri.

 

[GregSirico]

Sure, but Hayes as a 2nd line center looks a lot better with Bozak as a 3C, or vice versa.

Nothing makes me comfortable with Hayes at the 2 lol.

 

[NickyFotiu]

No Larry.

Praise and Suter contracts will hamstring Minnesota for many years in the future.

EK and OEL also "available" in two years. OEL far more likely than McDonagh to get to market.

Paradigm is changing. I expect McDonagh will get a contract offer similar to what Shattenkirk just received.

I have no doubt Larry gets ideas from the boards. I'm only surprised he didn't pick up on the Anisimov bits.

It is kind of interesting he mentions Bozak now after a weeks worth of HF posts. Coincidence? Maybe?

 

[YetAnotherNorwegian]

A general roster observation: Only 5 Canadians! That must be some sort of a record?

 

[RGY]

I would be happy with Stastny

 

[Mac n Gs]

It is kind of interesting he mentions Bozak now after a weeks worth of HF posts. Coincidence? Maybe?

Brooks has been reposting stuff seen here for a while now. Jay from jersey was posting about Faulk and stuff months ago, and then next thing you know, Brooks throws his name out there amidst the Stepan trade talks. Same thing with Holden for Bozak.

 

[Leetch3]

What are the chances of the Rangers re-signing Rick Nash?

my gut feeling is that the chances are WAY higher than most people think and its more likely to happen then him getting traded. obviously he'd have to sign for alot less but he's not getting big $$ from anywhere on his next deal

 

[NickyFotiu]

If Zibs signed for 5.5 mill how much cap room will we have left?

Around 3mill?

If that is the case Staal as a Ranger may be riding on whether we find a top 6 forward.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Brooks has been reposting stuff seen here for a while now. Jay from jersey was posting about Faulk and stuff months ago, and then next thing you know, Brooks throws his name out there amidst the Stepan trade talks. Same thing with Holden for Bozak.

I think it actually has been years. On another board he repeated some things that were pretty specific several times. That could be a coincidence but it may not be as well.

 

[eco's bones]

The decision has to be made on every player. Some players you bite the bullet on the long term deal into their mid 30s. Other players you trade rather than give them that deal. It's a hard thing to get right, but something that GMs have to consider.

Karlsson is one of the best dmen in the league. If he is still playing at the same level in 2 years, I'm sure Ottawa will re-sign him. Would he sign a 4 or 5 year deal?

Look at what SJ has done with Thornton. His current contract is for 1 year. His last 4 contracts before that were all 3 year deals. He has made roughly the same money on all 4 of those deals and has an even higher AAV on his newest deal. He has continued to play well and has continued to earn big money, but SJ has mitigated their risk by signing him to short term deals.

That's a great model for teams to follow. Maybe you don't sign all of your players to 3 year deals. Obviously you want to lock some up long term, especially good RFAs where you can save some on future caps by going long term, but as a player gets older, shorter term deals are better.

Washington just gave Oshie 8 years at age 30. That's going to be a problem in the future. We've seen way too many players decline in their early 30s.

SJ has handled Thornton really well. Not crazy about their long term deal for Vlasic though.

We can put the 'Warrior' label on Karlsson too. He gets banged up and if he can he plays banged up. These last playoffs were a good example of that. He's a wonderful player but if we're talking those two years before his next contract + 8 more the back half of those 8 could easily turn into a nightmare contract.

That Oshie contract is going to turn bad at some point. I think the Vlasic contract could too. Someone like Brent Burns who is built like a tank--he might be okay doing that. Long term contracts for almost 30's and older is really a bad gamble IMO---and I think especially for defensemen.