Roster Building thread - Part IX - (2024 edition)

[leetch99]

It's pretty clear cut with Miller. If you think this season is an aberration and that he will get better going forward, then you hold. But if you think this is it and that he will never grasp how to play defense, then you consider trading him. Because, while his value may be lower than it was last year, it could get even lower if he doesn't stop making so many stupid mistakes.

He is also never going to obtain a mean streak that many of us seek ....look how long we have waited for that in Kreider .

 

[Raspewtin]

a trade for lindholm would have me boycotting the rest of the season

glorified third liner that isn’t good at anything

 

[RGY]

The all in move, if we are going in that direction, would be Crosby. Option B would be Gourde. Option C would be Lindholm.

I am not going to overreact right now to anything. Drury and the Rangers were never going to sit tight with the team sitting in 1st place even with the recent struggles over the last 6 weeks. I hope Drury can add guys at fair prices, that’s all I can hope for. I have them needing a Center and a Winger + a depth D. I would like to see them exchange Lindgren out for a Hanifan or Chychrun in some fashion but I dont see that happening.

 

[Mike in Houston]

I think February is a very important month for this group and the core. They play like they started the season and Igor returns to form, then I think Drury should go all in. They continue this .500 shit then he shouldn't do anything. They'll still make the playoffs and Dolan gets at least some playoff revenue and who knows, maybe they can overachieve.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

a trade for lindholm would have me boycotting the rest of the season

glorified third liner that isn’t good at anything

Lindholm is atleast a 2nd liner, I dont think thats the direction we go but he's more than a 3rd line player.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I hope they lose every game in feb.

 

[Harbour Dog]

I hope they lose every game in feb.

If this is what it takes to stop Drury from tripling down on this core by selling off even more of the future, then me too.

 

[leetch99]

Depends on the return but Kakko has all the hallmarks of a very good player in his mid-late 20s. Defensively responsible. Clear skill. Big frame. Former high pick. I’d be weary of selling low.

Move Kreider to RW and slot Kakko down and bump Cuylee up....top 6 is set and Kakko is no longer under pressure to be an offensive key for us and becomes a solid PK and checking line/shut down guy and all while being relatively cheap and will still have the potential to increase his on ice results playing with Othmann and a new center like a Dowd type next season . It is the best move to make for the future of this club .

 

[Synergy27]

Move Kreider to RW and slot Kakko down and bump Cuylee up....top 6 is set and Kakko is no longer under pressure to be an offensive key for us and becomes a solid PK and checking line/shut down guy and all while being relatively cheap and will still have the potential to increase his on ice results playing with Othmann and a new center like a Dowd type next season . It is the best move to make for the future of this club .

I think it is very likely that Kakko and his people do not want this and they are likely the catalysts behind this recent rumor. Kakko is a good player that fills a role on this team, but he’s not going to be a big time scorer and get paid like one here.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

If this is what it takes to stop Drury from tripling down on this core by selling off even more of the future, then me too.

I'm hoping Larry is wrong like he was last year but I don't think he is.

My question is what happens if he goes all in and this core fails again (and they likely will, unless Igor straightens him self out, Zibanejad is able to carry the inevitable Mika March into June and Panarin shows up in the playoffs)? Does he finally start to sell pieces off the core?

 

[McRanger92]

So today we believe Brooks? I can't keep track with all the flip flopping.

Lindholm is good but its Eric Staal all over again. These articles talking about the Rangers all feel like clickbait. I mean there were articles saying Kakko was on the table for Kane last year. A 1st and a young roster player has literally never been the asking price for a rental of Lindholm's caliber. The only way would be if he comes with a (disastrous) extension. And why exactly would the Rangers trying to jump the market Larry? They are in 1st and the deadline is a month away.

Don Maloney is the current president of Hockey Ops for Calgary. This strikes me as him feeding Brooks info to pump up Lindholm's tires despite a 2nd straight down year. The only way I'm moving a 1st and/or Kakko in a deal involving Lindholm is if Hanifin is coming too.

 

[NickyFotiu]

That’s good. I want either a big time move or none at all. Picking up bottom 6 depth doesn’t move my needle

I have said that dozens of times. Some folks think rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic is still the way to the Cup

 

[leetch99]

I think it is very likely that Kakko and his people do not want this and they are likely the catalysts behind this recent rumor. Kakko is a good player that fills a role on this team, but he’s not going to be a big time scorer and get paid like one here.

Haha...if he doesn't score more soon he won't get paid anywhere unless he joins the Swiss league . I just want Cuylee in the top 6 be it either wing if Kreider won't work on RW . Moving Cuylee up increases our physical play and KK solidifies a 3rd line RW problem and also opens up a spot for Othmann next season . We just need a 3rd line C for this season and go plug and play on the 4th line the rest of the way in the playoffs . One simple add upfront . And one simple addition on the D for a 3-4rd pick ? Pray Shesty gets back. Save top picks for future needs .

 

[Vitto79]

You think the Rangers way is the Cup winning way.

The Rangers are trading Kakko and a first round pick for a rental. Who knows what other short term moves are being planned?

I listen to these podcasts and the Rangers have all of these assets to trade. What assets? The Rangers have traded two first round picks for rentals in the last two seasons. Drury traded two 2nd round picks in 25 and 26 to dump Nemeth's contract. Nemeth is playing in Europe.

The Rangers don't have many young assets left. Now Drury is trading the remaining young players for rentals. The draft pick pool is getting low. The Rangers haven't made many high picks in the last few seasons.

Yes. Crash and burn. Dolan loses his sexual assault lawsuit. The NHL and NBA forces him to sell. The Rangers rebuild again because they won't have anything left. The team will suck and they didn't accomplish anything with their short term trades.

You believe Brooks ?
If they deal a 1st plus Kakko for a rental yes they are morons but if it’s for a controlled better player a few yrs older I get it

Lindholm is atleast a 2nd liner, I dont think thats the direction we go but he's more than a 3rd line player.

The guys been great for a few years but inconsistent in Carolina

I’d play him on RW with Zib then trade for a cheaper C

 

[McRanger92]

Pretty obvious what is going on with these rumors. Rangers struggling for a month+, lose Chytil for good going into an extended break. Obvious sellers like MTL, ANA, CAL start calling Drury asking for Kakko in deals for their top rentals, hoping he is desperate. I dont think he bites. Brooks invoking Dolan like he has any idea who Elias Lindholm is when hes facing a harassment scandal and billions in debt from the Sphere. It's a bad move if Drury makes it, but I have a tough time seeing a guys so tight lipped as Drury getting involved in this UFAs to be who dont move the needle.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I'm not trying to bash KK but if I was his dad, brother, mother, etc I'd be like how do you only have 1 assist in 28 games? I could go out there with a no curve stick (if not a broom) and still get more than 1 assist in a game. Come on KK lol

 

[BBKers]

You cannot reasonably trade prime assets (KK + 1st) for Lindholm. He is not that good IMO. Drury has something up his sleeve for sure. But I think it may be something else entirely. February tomorrow. Things will get crazy considering the cap space we have available now with Chytil on LTIR. If Jimbo is actively involved. Then look out!

 

[cheech70]

Spit balling
KK + Robinson+ 1st = Hanifin and Lindblom? its gotta be close?

 

[McRanger92]

Spit balling
KK + Robinson+ 1st = Hanifin and Lindblom? its gotta be close?

Could see something like this if Drury has his sights set on Calgary. He added multiple bodies from St. Louis last year. If you make this move and extend Hanifin, plus add a bottom 6 center with grit, I wouldnt hate it. Lindholm would certainly fit better with Mika & Kreider than Wheeler.

 

[kovazub94]

Kakko could be part of a package that brings back a significant piece. He's a player that would be interesting to teams along with other pieces. That's why he's being discussed, although being discussed obviously means nothing imminent.

Kakko isn't a player that's so bad I need him run out of town, but he's a player we could probably live with trading if the circumstances were right.

If he's not the prime piece in such trade - you'd be selling him at a significant discount. I'd say no to this.

Even if he's the main piece who'd be the potential trade partner there? Probably a Canadian team that has difficulty retaining its own or bringing UFAs to their market. So if a forward it would potentially be an expensive piece coming or with relatively similar contribution to what Kakko provided last season after you subtract PPP. Similar on D but maybe such D would be a better fit. Still expect it to be much more expensive from a cap perspective.

 

[Avery16]

Let’s not forget how disconnected Brooks has been with the front office for years now. I don’t think he sees or smells any smoke anymore.

 

[OthmannOut]

We're so back

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I don't mind trading Kakko if its a young cost controlled player, if its for a rental I'm out, we can't hand over a young player for an outside chance at getting a couple rounds in.

 

[McRanger92]

If he's not the prime piece in such trade - you'd be selling him at a significant discount. I'd say no to this.

Even if he's the main piece who'd be the potential trade partner there? Probably a Canadian team that has difficulty retaining its own or bringing UFAs to their market. So if a forward it would potentially be an expensive piece coming or with relatively similar contribution to what Kakko provided last season after you subtract PPP. Similar on D but maybe such D would be a better fit. Still expect it to be much more expensive from a cap perspective.

The report was the Rangers are "taking calls" on Kakko, so clearly he still has enough value around the league for opposing GMs to be asking about him. Also what discount are we selling him at? He's never been a productive NHLer in his career to this point. Hes never had as much value around the league as we think.

I also wouldnt rule out these rumors coming from Kakko's camp. Its not the first time he has been dissatisfied with his role. I will say its not a great sign that KK talked about being able to "workout" and get in shape while he was out with injury. Shouldnt that have happened this summer? Both sides might be ok with a divorce and if you're sending him to the frozen tundra, hopefully in a package deal for a couple pieces that would be upgrades, it's really not the end of the world. Hes not irreplaceable.

 

[Machinehead]

Is Larry wrong, though?

"But an overpay for Lindholm — which by definition they would be obligated to do in order to obtain the veteran who, by the way, is 9-32-41 in 49 games with two goals in his last 25 games, and welcome to the party! — would be a historically Rangerish move."

He's not wrong. They got Tarasenko and Kane last year, both struggling, both rentals, both aging stars, both obvious moves. People were screaming last year that it wasn't an all-in deadline, and they did that anyway.

Larry's opinions suck and yes, he flip-flops. He'll sit there and say this guy and that guy isn't a game-changer but the next face puncher he suggests will be a game-changer.

That being said, this piece is mostly not opinion. When Larry says "I heard this," he generally heard it. That's not to say that Lindholm is definitely coming here but they're definitely interested. And it's stupid, and people are right to be concerned. Lindholm has been really bad this year and it just isn't the move to make.

Larry mentions a "summer of renovation." I don't know if that's wishful speculation or that's also something he heard, but they're likely going all-in with this group at least one more time. It shouldn't be a surprising notion to anyone that the Rangers see themselves as a contender.