Roster Building thread - Part IX - (2024 edition)

[GAGLine]

Who's that hypothetical defenseman going to replace in the lineup?

It depends on who we get. If we go big for someone like Hanifin, and assuming we don't trade any dmen off the roster, Gus would come out and Lindgren would drop down to the 3rd pair. If we go for someone cheaper to upgrade Jones, then maybe no one, or Gus at times to get the new player some games. Injuries happen too.

We'll have a number of games left to sort it out, but we need more depth. We have absolutely no one who can come up and reliably fill a spot on defense in the playoffs.

 

[bernmeister]

What's the potential asking price for Tanev? Would Jones and a 2nd do it? ...

These guys aren't switching to D at this point in their career, it's the hardest player position to switch to, and given their size I'm sure people have tried them on d over their careers.

Tanev -- shoe on the other foot, would YOU take that?

Ed + Rem on D:
%-wise, you're right, it is a long shot
But there is no harm in experimenting, and again, what if shit happens in the POs? At least this would be some level of being prepared.

 

[Machinehead]

The biggest problem with our defense corps and creating and moving the puck, and we keep taking out guys who do that to add more guys who don't do that.

 

[McRanger92]

I think assuming no injuries between now and the end of the season is a bad assumption. I also think it would behoove the team to give some of these guys a game or two off.

I'd be looking for a bottom-pairing guy with some size. That woudl give the team the option of throwing in Jones, say for Gustafsson or Fox if they need a game off, or someone else if it's for Schneider, Lindgren or Trouba.

Scandella, to me, seems like a low cost guy who would fit.

If they arent going big game hunting for Hanifin, they should add a Mikkola type. He was perfect for the role last year imo. Underrated skater and tough in front of the net.

 

[Raspewtin]

If they arent going big game hunting for Hanifin, they should add a Mikkola type. He was perfect for the role last year imo. Underrated skater and tough in front of the net.

And another horrible passer

I understand why we want a D with size but pretty please can they move the puck too??

 

[McRanger92]

The biggest problem with our defense corps and creating and moving the puck, and we keep taking out guys who do that to add more guys who don't do that.

Id say the biggest issue is gap control. Also Gustafsson makes a lot of bad passes. He is very good in the offensive zone though.

And another horrible passer

I understand why we want a D with size but pretty please can they move the puck too??

Ideally. Who is out there that fits all our wants and needs?

 

[NYR Viper]

Also, side note, for all of the talk of Hanifan in the off-season a guy who low-key is going to be a major addition somewhere is Gustav Forsling. His next deal will start at 28 years old, LD, skates well, moves the puck well, defends well.

22-23
41 points in 82 games , 32 @ 5v5
23:26 average TOI
+2.2 CF Rel @ 5v5


23-24
27 points in 55 games, 21 at 5v5
22:11 average TOI
+5.3 CF Rel @ 5v5


This should be another very seriously considered option to improve the left side.

 

[bernmeister]

And another horrible passer

I understand why we want a D with size but pretty please can they move the puck too??

I hear ya and you're not wrong
but
unicorns cost

 

[NYR Viper]

It depends on who we get. If we go big for someone like Hanifin, and assuming we don't trade any dmen off the roster, Gus would come out and Lindgren would drop down to the 3rd pair. If we go for someone cheaper to upgrade Jones, then maybe no one, or Gus at times to get the new player some games. Injuries happen too.

We'll have a number of games left to sort it out, but we need more depth. We have absolutely no one who can come up and reliably fill a spot on defense in the playoffs.

This is the problem. Robertson and Scanlin haven't proven to be suitable depth options yet and Mackey and Harpur are hurt. They'll need to add a body at the very least. Maybe 2 (one who can play in the AHL wouldn't hurt)

And another horrible passer

I understand why we want a D with size but pretty please can they move the puck too??

Those guys cost A LOT. I agree, I think the team needs to add more players like that in general but I don't see it happening at this deadline. Hanifan or Forsling in the off-season, maybe a Brendan Dillon as well

 

[pld459666]

I'm not interested in adding a 3rd line player that struggles to be dangerous offensively.

Wennberg doesn't provide much, if any, offense and getting a one dimensional player defensively offensively is a mistake.

I'd rather get someone with more balance and I believe Henrique provides that balance. Hes also 53.9% in the dots, would be 2nd on our team.

To me, Wennberg is marginally better than Brodzinski.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

It depends on who we get. If we go big for someone like Hanifin, and assuming we don't trade any dmen off the roster, Gus would come out and Lindgren would drop down to the 3rd pair. If we go for someone cheaper to upgrade Jones, then maybe no one, or Gus at times to get the new player some games. Injuries happen too.

We'll have a number of games left to sort it out, but we need more depth. We have absolutely no one who can come up and reliably fill a spot on defense in the playoffs.

Hanifin? That's going to cost way too much, both in trade chips and in salary.

 

[SA16]

I think assuming no injuries between now and the end of the season is a bad assumption. I also think it would behoove the team to give some of these guys a game or two off.

I'd be looking for a bottom-pairing guy with some size. That woudl give the team the option of throwing in Jones, say for Gustafsson or Fox if they need a game off, or someone else if it's for Schneider, Lindgren or Trouba.

Scandella, to me, seems like a low cost guy who would fit.

Scandella's cap hit is way too high to bring in as a 7th/8th defenseman and it's not worth paying more for them to retain on a guy like that.

I'd be looking at the real cheap depth guys. Like Megna or Dermott,

 

[Gardner McKay]

I hear ya and you're not wrong
but
unicorns cost

And we have picks and prospects to pay for those unicorns.

 

[Machinehead]

Id say the biggest issue is gap control. Also Gustafsson makes a lot of bad passes. He is very good in the offensive zone though.

Every good player makes bad passes. Did you see Fox in the first period last night?

The gap control does suck, but the biggest offenders are guys who are never coming out, at least not this season. All we're doing here is taking away our ability to exit without addressing the biggest culprits in regard to gap control.

Ideally. Who is out there that fits all our wants and needs?

Gustafsson! If you're worried about my needs, please leave Gustafsson alone.

He's fine. He's the only partner Schneider has been good with. It's a whole ass good pair, probably our only good pair at 5v5, and I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Every good player makes bad passes. Did you see Fox in the first period last night?

The gap control does suck, but the biggest offenders are guys who are never coming out, at least not this season. All we're doing here is taking away our ability to exit without addressing the biggest culprits in regard to gap control.

Gustafsson! If you're worried about my needs, please leave Gustafsson alone.

He's fine. He's the only partner Schneider has been good with. It's a whole ass good pair, probably our only good pair at 5v5, and I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.

Trouba is one of the worst defenseman in the league when it comes to gap control and defending the blue line. I think some people actually have him as the worst in terms of preventing entries with possession. Lindgren isn’t too much better. But yeah we need to replace Gustafsson to fix our problems in that area.

 

[McRanger92]

Every good player makes bad passes. Did you see Fox in the first period last night?

The gap control does suck, but the biggest offenders are guys who are never coming out, at least not this season. All we're doing here is taking away our ability to exit without addressing the biggest culprits in regard to gap control.

Gustafsson! If you're worried about my needs, please leave Gustafsson alone.

He's fine. He's the only partner Schneider has been good with. It's a whole ass good pair, probably our only good pair at 5v5, and I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.

Gus can't defend the slot. Im perfectly fine with him in the lineup but regardless of what you or I would do with the lineup they need another defenseman. I am a big Zac Jones fan but it terrifies me that he is our only other NHL capable defenseman.

 

[NYR Viper]

Scandella's cap hit is way too high to bring in as a 7th/8th defenseman and it's not worth paying more for them to retain on a guy like that.

I'd be looking at the real cheap depth guys. Like Megna or Dermott,

I don't think it would cost that much to get them to retain to the point that he is making ~$2.5M which is reasonable. There won't be many teams lining up for his services because of his cap hit and quality of play is my guess.

Gus can't defend the slot. Im perfectly fine with him in the lineup but regardless of what you or I would do with the lineup they need another defenseman. I am a big Zac Jones fan but it terrifies me that he is our only other NHL capable defenseman.

And this is the issue. Jones can't be the only other NHL d-man. The team has been pretty fortunate up to this point with injuries but Lindgren is a walking mummy with all of his bandages and bruises.

 

[Machinehead]

In addition to league-worst offense, Lindgren's defensive metrics are starting to tank hard too.

He's falling into really bad habits. He's giving up the line with no resistance to prioritize blocking. We've seen the "just let the opponent shoot" approach play out and nobody had fun.

It's time to move on.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

I don't agree. I think a top-6 RW is the most important need by far. Remember, Laf isn't even a natural RW.

 

[DanielBrassard]

I don't think it would cost that much to get them to retain to the point that he is making ~$2.5M which is reasonable. There won't be many teams lining up for his services because of his cap hit and quality of play is my guess.



And this is the issue. Jones can't be the only other NHL d-man. The team has been pretty fortunate up to this point with injuries but Lindgren is a walking mummy with all of his bandages and bruises.

Doesn’t seem like the best idea to waste about half the cap space we have on a 7th defenseman. If you ar making a move for a defenseman it has to be with the mind of upgrading on Lindgren that’s the only thing that makes sense.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

In addition to league-worst offense, Lindgren's defensive metrics are starting to tank hard too.

He's falling into really bad habits. He's giving up the line with no resistance to prioritize blocking. We've seen the "just let the opponent shoot" approach play out and nobody had fun.

It's time to move on.

You may be right, but I think there's a better chance of Drury trading you and me than trading Lindgren. It ain't happening this season.

 

[Machinehead]

Gus can't defend the slot. Im perfectly fine with him in the lineup but regardless of what you or I would do with the lineup they need another defenseman. I am a big Zac Jones fan but it terrifies me that he is our only other NHL capable defenseman.

The biggest problem that's easily replaceable is 55. He can't defend the slot either. He's 5-foot-nothing.

If you want size, there's your small player to replace. One who also doesn't move the puck.

 

[Machinehead]

Doesn’t seem like the best idea to waste about half the cap space we have on a 7th defenseman. If you ar making a move for a defenseman it has to be with the mind of upgrading on Lindgren that’s the only thing that makes sense.

Lindgren is at the point where he's not even an upgrade candidate. He's in "addition by subtraction" territory. He's been horrendous this year.

Same for Trouba but there's only so much we can do right now.

We could nitpick the lineup all day but the video game glowing red spot on this team is that half their top 4 sucks.

 

[mas0764]

I would pay Trouba $2M to captain this team

There is literally no reason to pay an extra $2m for captaincy. This isn't Mark Messier.

, so as far as I’m concerned, he’s a $6M defenseman and is paid exactly as he should be.

There are no measurements that back up that assessment.

He's far worse.

I’m done complaining about that contract. If he really drops off and plays like a bottom pairing guy, I’ll be upset, but he’s at least second pairing quality for us.

But he's not. You are letting the fact that you like him cloud your analysis.

 

[McRanger92]

The biggest problem that's easily replaceable is 55. He can't defend the slot either. He's 5-foot-nothing.

If you want size, there's your small player to replace. One who also doesn't move the puck.

I agree but we need to be practical. We are living with him for now. Thats an offseason move, no one is getting traded off the roster now that they've had a nice run of strong play.

There has to be a 3rd pair guy out there who can provide depth for us. No option is going to be perfect, but it doesnt change that its a large team need.