Roster Building Thread - Part II: Entry Draft Edition

[WojtekWolski86]

There is zero chance that a team giving Ryan Strome significant minutes in important situations can win a Cup. If they resign him, or go after his brother, any aspirations of winning it all in this “first window” here go completely down the toilet.

We do not need anymore offensively oriented players. We have a top ten C and a 50 goal scorer on the first line. We have the league’s highest paid, and of course defensively questionable, winger on another line. We have three top ten pick wingers beating down the door for more ice time, and a recent first round pick that just scored 50 goals in 66 games in the O.

The pieces needed to score goals are in place. Those players need to be complemented with players that do the shit that scorers don’t like to do. The opposite of Ryan Strome. They cannot afford more offense, and they simply do not need it.

Two way players that make life difficult for the opposing team. That’s it. Do not over complicate this.

Can we sticky this across all Rangers socials?

 

[Raspewtin]

brutal.

you are free to suggest something else

 

[cheech70]

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

Laf has like never played center, Kravtsov played center most of his life and then went back to center as the 1C of the Russian WJC team. I know I think very highly of Krav but even if I thought Laf was the better player, I think Krav is more of a center stylistically than Laf is. Krav loves going to the middle of the ice, which our team is allergic to. Krav is the much better skater

That’s another option and Krav has the size to be a center too. I doubt the Rangers try either at center to be honest, but something has to give. They have to increase the kids’ ice times.

 

[Chalfdiggity3]

WOW!!

At the length, no thanks.

 

[Rongomania]

F*ck outta here. Have fun behind Larkin and not making the playoffs bud.

 

[Kendo]

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This nonsense needs to stop. Of all the things that this team needs to improve, FO's are at the bottom of the list. Plus NO ONE should want that f*** face on his team. He is NOT a better fit just because he plays a certain position and has good face off numbers, he's a heavily declining player who missed an entire year with some mystery ailment (who knows what it was or if it comes back) who sympathized with a GM who overlooked major abuse because apparently, winning was more important than the well being of one of his player.

I'm on the fence about a "half retained Toews," but...

The Av's had medicore to poor goaltending and won the cup. We have elite goaltending and lost. Their talent and depth (both on offense and defense) overcame their lack of goaltending and faceoff prowess.

There's a reason why Georgie is a fit for them and not us. One could make the argument (not you, but some schmuck) that we should trade Shesty for a stud C, keep Georgie, and actually get another Georgie to form a tandem.

It's a different model altogether. I'm happy with our path as long as Drury doesn't mess it up. I'm cautiously optimistic that he won't.

 

[Circus86]

At those terms no thank you

 

[DanielBrassard]

This has been reported for a while. $ is not unreasonable but handing out that term and probably No trades on top of it and I think they should pass.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Edge, before people chased him away, mentioned that, if asked, both would be willing to be dealt to a place of their choice. So, the Rangers would have limited options, but something could be worked out. The NMC is really about having control for the players.

I don't believe that's what he said. It was more along the lines of "don't be surprised if the team approaches one or both of them about waiving".

 

[RGY]

What he and his agent “want” really needs a reality check after what Kempe just signed with the Kings.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Would much rather Malkin at 3x6

 

[Fitzy]

Let's assume NYR don't break the bank on a center in free agency this year. Copp and Strome depart, and no major trade is made.

What options are there out there for a more defensive-minded 3rd line center to hypothetically slide in behind Chytil, as opposed to in front of him?

If NYR go that route, what line does Panarin play on?

Kreider-Zib-Laf
Goodrow-Chytil-Kakko
Panarin-???-Kravtsov
Blais-???-Reaves/Hunt/Motte

Also, slightly odd that we were hearing that both a Kakko bridge and Motte deal were imminent a few days ago and crickets since.

 

[RGY]

Ohhh Toronto

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

He sucked even playing his off wing.

This is blatantly false.

Kreider-Zibanejad-Laf was one of our best lines (if not our best line) of any combo put together last year.

 

[EdJovanovski]

This is blatantly false.

Kreider-Zibanejad-Laf was one of our best lines (if not our best line) of any combo put together last year.

Were they better when Laf was on LW or RW?
IIRC like half of the time it was Laf-Mika-Kreids & the other half was Kreids-Mika-Laf

 

[RangersFan1994]

 

[EdJovanovski]

Let's assume NYR don't break the bank on a center in free agency this year. Copp and Strome depart, and no major trade is made.

What options are there out there for a more defensive-minded 3rd line center to hypothetically slide in behind Chytil, as opposed to in front of him?

If NYR go that route, what line does Panarin play on?

Kreider-Zib-Laf
Goodrow-Chytil-Kakko
Panarin-???-Kravtsov
Blais-???-Reaves/Hunt/Motte

Also, slightly odd that we were hearing that both a Kakko bridge and Motte deal were imminent a few days ago and crickets since.

I would have to think Goodrow would slot in as 3C in that scenario, Motte 4C.
And Panarin/Krav should obviously be above that Chytil/Kakko/Goody line lol

 

[Ola]

A few random thoughts:

1. Agents got the summer of 2025 marked in their calendar. My bet is that there will be a gradual increase starting the summer of 2024. But 2025 will probably have a 3 digit cap.

With the way the land lies, I think we will see more 1 year deals. A limited number of teams have cap space. Everyone have their targets, but nobody knows exactly what everyone wants to do. Under these type of circumstances, you must act fast or risk be left without any of your top candidates.

As a result, someone will stand there 7-14 days into UFA without a contract, probably a bunch of attractive suitors, but with no financial resources. Under those circumstances, it seems attractive to me at least to take a one year deal at a bit higher rate in an attractive market and see if something can be worked out long term next summer instead.

2. Scouring the hockey world for potential candidates for “2C”, a bunch of names has caught my attention. Many are far fetched, and the only ones with any real potential are wingers with center history that might potentially switch to C. Everyone want Cs with speed, teams with bigger Cs are tripping over themselves to get rid of them. The reasons for this is quiet obvious watching the POs the last years.

3. The one name that I do think make more sense than others are Carl Järnkrok. He isn’t the fastest guy, but his high end offensive ability is underrated.

Järnkrok is the typical boom/bust pick, originally made in the second round by DRW, who everyone thought either would become a star our would bust because he was too 1-dimensional for the NHL. Who then trolled all onlookers and became a responsible 4th line center instead, before slowly clawing his way up the lineups for different teams.

He will get a contract of course, but will anyone pay him?

We can offer him something nobody else can, a chance to play with Panarin. He is 30 y/o, but lightly built and not a ton of miles on his body. He could have 5-6 years left in this league. He just came of a 6 year 2m per deal. He out performed that contract slightly the last couple of seasons being over 0.5 PPG three years in a row without PP time and top linemates. I mean, that is not bad.

Could we get him to sign here for like 2m per for two years? Play with Panarin two years in a row, he could definitely ice his best seasons, would of course, or zero reason to not expect him to get 50 pts.

We get a cost controlled asset for two years. It doesn’t matter if Panarin carry him to 65 pts, he is still here at the same cheap rate the following years.

4. There are other alternatives out there. Johan Larsson has been mentioned. But from my POV, Järnkrok has much more potential with Panarin and is the better fit. A RHS, who can feed the LW with his forehand, easier for Panarin to find him. Half good on FOs. And he got that finesse/creative side to his game too. BUT, like he can also be really disciplined which won him a job as Barry Trotz 4th line center for a handful of years.

Take my word for it, if we play Panarin with like a C with size like Sam Bennet, you will ask for way too much 5 on 5 from Panarin when that line is matched up against Tampa, Carolina and co. It will be another line that won’t help our possession numbers against the best teams.

But a Panarin-Järnkrok-X line might just have potential to be really hard to play against. Especially if they really can mesh with the 3rd link.

5. You can create space under the cap with young valuable assets like prospects and picks.

We are dealing away picks like candy lately and won’t draft high in a while probably.

Hence it’s super valuable if Drury can recoup more dealt picks. We are venturing a bit into dangerous Gorton territory here, who sometimes it felt like he only focused on these things and lost sight of the big picture.

But take Chytil and Kravy for example. Both aren’t long away from arbitration rights and if they play well we might not afford to keep them. BUT, they would fetch assets even if they are cap casualties. Getting a 1st here, a 2nd there, is almost a must for this team. Give these kids a chance to succeed, that is win/win. Blais is lose/lose. A 1 year rental.

 

[RGY]

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I would be fine with Henrique on the cheap.

 

[DuneGoon84]

points schmoints

This dude is strictly a Kravstov fan. How many seasons has Kravstov played? Oh wait nvm you can't really answer that.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

ha perfrect so sign him for cheaper than that and more money to bring back Motte and figure everything else out! just feels like the realistic scenario for 2C is someone like him who is short term right now

Signing Stats at 2 yr / 3 mil ballpark allows us to sign Motte, see what we have in Chytil and his kid line, not have to pay to dump Nemeth low this year, go 1.5 on a decent backup G if we need to, maybe lock up Kakko for 3 years, and not F ourselves for Laf and Miller deals next year. It solves a lot of issues and keeps us competitive to next trade deadline.

 

[DuneGoon84]

No thanks

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

View attachment 567021

If Anaheim eats money this makes some sense.

Realistic price point where Nils can be a centerpiece as well.

 

[Circus86]

View attachment 567021

Did Henrique play more at center or at wing for the Ducks? He would be an ok short term solution.