Roster Building thread - Part IX - (2024 edition)

[mas0764]

Ive been critical of Lindgren plenty so Ill leave him be specifically, but the whole left side of the D has been a big disappointment. I was expecting Miller to take a big jump this year into being a top pair guy, but so far it is hasnt happened outside of a few games where he is so good he almost wills the team to victory. Still time left in the season and I love his tools but outside of transition defense he has regressed on that side of the puck. He can't make a first pass and doesnt handle pressure with any urgency. I know Trouba's chart are gnarly and he is slumping since getting off to a hot start (new baby) but Miller doesnt help him at all. Not great support on breakouts and Miller's bonehead plays leave Jacob in a lot of no win situations. Trouba can actually make a first pass.

Gus is simply a solid offensive bottom pair D. Nothing more nothing less. Massive upgrade on Nemeth, Braun, Harpur but still just a guy. He fits Laviolette's system though and I dont think Miller and Lindgren are great fits. They certainly havent figured out how to play it well yet. If the team is going to add a significant piece, it needs to be a left defenseman. Having 7 good defenseman is a feature not a bug so dont ask me "who comes out???". That will work itself out organically.

Lindgren and Miller need to be swapped.

I literally cannot abide Trouba here one second longer than he has to be, but for this season's sake, you need to try Miller and Fox, and Lindgren and Trouba.

And Trouba needs to play SECOND PAIR minutes and assignments with Lindgren, and Miller and Fox take the first pair minutes and assignments.

 

[Machinehead]

Just spitballing but if the lines were:

Panarin-Trochek-Lafreniere
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Cuylle-Wennberg-Chytil

That would leave Vesey, likely someone like Edstrom and maybe someone like Berard on the 4th line.

Berard-Edstrom-Vesey

Or go get a solid veteran who can play 4C and slide Edstrom over to wing.

I think, if they make smart choices with Goodrow and Lindgren and go for a low-key LD in lieu of Hanifan (although I would go HAnifan if he hits UFA and was willing to come to NY), then they should have money to find the right player who could start the year on the 4th line, but be more of a 3rd line type. Maybe someone like William Carrier or Yakov Trenin or Sam Lafferty.

To be clear, I'm not paying out the nose for anyone but they should have some money where they could find the right guy and start him on the 4th line knowing that he would play higher if an injury occurred.

That's a very good 4th line that's actually just our 4th NHL line and not, you know, #The4thLine, and all three of them could move up and not be bad.

That can't be allowed. Has to be against the rules somehow.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

I think if they're looking for a center, I'd be on the lookout for a trade scenario. Pinto has been floated. Boone Jenner is another one. If the Pens fall out of the playoff race, which they may, Lars Eller is another one.

In terms of UFA's, I think the sights have to be on a lower level guy who can provide some depth and add something. I'd be looking at what guys like Stephenson, Roslovic, Blueger, Novak and Wennberg are looking for.

For example, if you throw someone like Wennberg on a line with say Chytil and Cuylle, two guys who like shooting the puck, that may be an effective line. I also don't think Wennberg will break the bank in terms of his next contract.



Hanifan is my target on defense if the cost isn't exorbitant, although I'm also happy taking the low key approach and signing a couple of veteran guys if needed

Yeah, forgot about Wennberg. I thought Eller was cooked, maybe not. Jenner would be awesome but part of a much bigger deal I would imagine. All good, now Drury has to execute

 

[Machinehead]

Eller is like what we thought Bonino was gonna be.

 

[NYR Viper]

Eller is like what we thought Bonino was gonna be.

View attachment 805075

In fairness, he also costs 3x the cap hit ($2.45m) but he's a decent 3C and an excellent 4C. Sucks Goodrow took all that money...

 

[mas0764]

You have to get out of Trouba's contract next off-season. He'd be entering his age 30 season. When people talk about 'slowing down', around that age, the alarm bells are going off for me.

I know 'toughness' and 'grit' but if we can somehow replace Trouba and/or Lindgren for the top4, that'd be great. We'd have around 5-6M for each replacement. I know it's not happening but they will be hinderances to our cup aspirations.

View attachment 805054

Frankly, in an ideal world, I'd like to give Lindgren another chance because he costs just $3m and he actually plays defense. He could even be a bottom pair guy for that money, that gives you long term stability for third pair minutes and just plug him next to your flavor of the month youngster (Jones, Robertson, etc).

Trouba for Zegras.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Is there a rush centric play making winger (LW or RW) who is good at controlled entries and doesn’t completely suck defensively that will be available?

If we’re going to shoot to solve our issues upfront, I’m leaning towards trying to find a fit for Zibanejad. If Chytil is indeed out for the season that’s a different story but it seems like he’s going to be back at some point.

The 4th line will hopefully sort itself out in time.

All of this after finding a fit for Fox though.

 

[RGY]

Only 1 game and certainly it doesn’t change that we need to move on, but I thought Goodrow had maybe his best game of the season last night. Its the quickest he has looked all year.

Lindgren also had one of his best games of the year. Skated very well.

We need a middle 6 Center as insurance for Chytil, whether Chytil comes back or not. After that we need another middle 6 winger. These moves would slot guys down and provide more depth in case of injuries.

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Chytil-**********-********
Cuylle-Goodrow-Vesey/Wheeler

Extras: Pitlick, Bonino

Pitlick probably ends up on waivers. Not sure how that 4th line shakes out. If Goodrow is shipped out, which I don’t see happening then maybe Wheeler could play 4C.

But we need more quality on that 3rd line. That lines needs to be a threat to score but also drive possession where it isnt playing more defense than offense.

 

[NYR Viper]

Is there a rush centric play making winger (LW or RW) who is good at controlled entries and doesn’t completely suck defensively that will be available?

If we’re going to shoot to solve our issues upfront, I’m leaning towards trying to find a fit for Zibanejad. If Chytil is indeed out for the season that’s a different story but it seems like he’s going to be back at some point.

The 4th line will hopefully sort itself out in time.

All of this after finding a fit for Fox though.

I would try Chytil there if that's the goal, although I like Kakko there.

 

[Ail]

View attachment 805066
Wennberg might be the worst penalty killer of all-time which I just think is funny, but he's a net positive at even strength.

I wouldn't mind a line of Cuylle-Chtyil-Wennberg but we have to be careful of the tendency we have to bin "top six guys" and "bottom six guys." The Rangers have been very guilty of that since the Gorton years. It leads to too much pond hockey at the top, not enough scoring at the bottom, and generally useless 4th lines. I would love to see them start not doing that by giving Vesey a real role but we can't have nice things.

Poor roster decisions have been plaguing this team for over a decade. We love to speculate and talk in circles here about trading so and so, or trading for so and so, but how many years could the team have been improved by simply playing guys currently on the roster less or more? Vesey and Trouba are just the latest examples of a coach doing what he thinks is best versus what actually is. Something as egregious as not playing Fox 25+ minutes a night, or at the minimum more than Tuba, isn't even debateable as to whether or not it's the right decision from the perspective of keyboard coaching.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Frankly, in an ideal world, I'd like to give Lindgren another chance because he costs just $3m and he actually plays defense. He could even be a bottom pair guy for that money, that gives you long term stability for third pair minutes and just plug him next to your flavor of the month youngster (Jones, Robertson, etc).

Trouba for Zegras.

Only 3 mill for this season, he’s getting a raise next year.

I’m not paying 4-5 mill a year for a one dimensional defenseman who gets smoked on a weekly basis (sometimes more often.)

Find an actual fit and move him before it’s too late.

 

[Machinehead]

Is there a rush centric play making winger (LW or RW) who is good at controlled entries and doesn’t completely suck defensively that will be available?

If we’re going to shoot to solve our issues upfront, I’m leaning towards trying to find a fit for Zibanejad. If Chytil is indeed out for the season that’s a different story but it seems like he’s going to be back at some point.

The 4th line will hopefully sort itself out in time.

All of this after finding a fit for Fox though.

Wonder what Vegas would want for Pavel Dorofeyev.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I would try Chytil there if that's the goal, although I like Kakko there.

I’m more about getting Kreider away from Zibanejad and giving Zibanejad a player that will fit with him.

Don’t think that’s Chytil. I’d love to play Kreider with Chytil though.

Wonder what Vegas would want for Pavel Dorofeyev.

Can’t imagine they’d want to move him. He’s cheap and they have no cap space.

They don’t really have any glaring needs either other than needing their top guys to not be hurt.

 

[duhmetreE]

If you put the good bars together, you get Will Cuylle!

I'd honestly be ecstatic with a Cuylle production from Trouba or Lindgren

 

[NYR Viper]

I’m more about getting Kreider away from Zibanejad and giving Zibanejad a player that will fit with him.

Don’t think that’s Chytil. I’d love to play Kreider with Chytil though.



Can’t imagine they’d want to move him. He’s cheap and they have no cap space.

They don’t really have any glaring needs either other than needing their top guys to not be hurt.

Zibanejad's issue is he gets lost in himself at times. He needs to SHOOT THE PUCK. His shot is very good. I also think that not having a good RW who can feed him pucks has been an issue for some time. As a RH shot, especially on the rush, I think he would prefer to accept passes from his right so he can accept and shoot in one motion. He likes to pass to his left as that's on his forehand of course and that's why he and Kreider play catch so often.

 

[Machinehead]

I'd honestly be ecstatic with a Cuylle production from Trouba or Lindgren

I like Cuylle. Not everyone needs to be Nathan MacKinnon. He's a solid contributor. I'm also more open to things like "he hustles" and "he finishes checks" when the dude can take a shift in the NHL.

I would like to see Cuylle with guys that have more of a scoring touch (back to the "binning" point) and I also think he profiles as a good penalty killer. Having good players able to PK instead of carrying "specialists" who are useless 90% of the game is always better.

 

[McRanger92]

You have to get out of Trouba's contract next off-season. He'd be entering his age 30 season. When people talk about 'slowing down', around that age, the alarm bells are going off for me.

I know 'toughness' and 'grit' but if we can somehow replace Trouba and/or Lindgren for the top4, that'd be great. We'd have around 5-6M for each replacement. I know it's not happening but they will be hinderances to our cup aspirations.

View attachment 805054

Im not an analytics maven like some people here but this kinda says we should maybe try Trouba and Lindgren together, no?

 

[Machinehead]

Zibanejad's issue is he gets lost in himself at times. He needs to SHOOT THE PUCK. His shot is very good. I also think that not having a good RW who can feed him pucks has been an issue for some time. As a RH shot, especially on the rush, I think he would prefer to accept passes from his right so he can accept and shoot in one motion. He likes to pass to his left as that's on his forehand of course and that's why he and Kreider play catch so often.

This is where Kreider doesn't really make sense as a linemate.

Although Zibanejad's passing is underrated, we do want him shooting in certain situations. Meanwhile, Kreider can't pass at all, and we also want him shooting 5v5.

It works in the sense that they've had pretty good underlying numbers over the years because they're both big and they can just keep the puck if all else fails, but as he's getting older, Zibanejad doesn't really play that way, and Kreider plays that way less and less the more time he spends with Zibanejad.

You're left with a rush line where nobody passes well.

 

[duhmetreE]

Is there a rush centric play making winger (LW or RW) who is good at controlled entries and doesn’t completely suck defensively that will be available?

If we’re going to shoot to solve our issues upfront, I’m leaning towards trying to find a fit for Zibanejad. If Chytil is indeed out for the season that’s a different story but it seems like he’s going to be back at some point.

The 4th line will hopefully sort itself out in time.

All of this after finding a fit for Fox though.

you're describing Chytil but I think Kakko counteract the 100% rush offense. They need more sustained zone time. Kakko helps.

 

[Machinehead]

Im not an analytics maven like some people here but this kinda says we should maybe try Trouba and Lindgren together, no?

The logic actually makes sense because one guy can't defend and the other guy does nothing but defend, but they're pretty atrocious together in a small sample.

The reality is, while guys like Lindgren and Miller are guys you can mix and match based on strengths and weaknesses, Trouba isn't good at anything.

The only way to accommodate Trouba while still having him on the roster is to play him less.

I mean, it's a tiny sample, and I'm willing to try it just to not continue banging our heads against the wall, but I don't see a pair with Trouba on it being effective.

He was never good at defense in top 4 minutes and for whatever reason, his once overlooked 5v5 offense has caved too. Lindgren is not helping his 5v5 offense, understatement of the year.

 

[LaffyTaffy13]

Only 3 mill for this season, he’s getting a raise next year.

I’m not paying 4-5 mill a year for a one dimensional defenseman who gets smoked on a weekly basis (sometimes more often.)

Find an actual fit and move him before it’s too late.

After the season if lindy wants more than like $3mm i think you trade him and sign zadorov

 

[bbny]

The logic actually makes sense because one guy can't defend and the other guy does nothing but defend, but they're pretty atrocious together in a small sample.

The reality is, while guys like Lindgren and Miller are guys you can mix and match based on strengths and weaknesses, Trouba isn't good at anything.

The only way to accommodate Trouba while still having him on the roster is to play him less.

I mean, it's a tiny sample, and I'm willing to try it just to not continue banging our heads against the wall, but I don't see a pair with Trouba on it being effective.

He was never good at defense in top 4 minutes and for whatever reason, his once overlooked 5v5 offense has caved too. Lindgren is not helping his 5v5 offense, understatement of the year.

I thought Trouba was making a good positive impact the first several weeks of the season, but he's regressed back to his norm here. The best route to creating significant cap space this summer would be to trade him, but I don't think Drury would do it.

 

[zlev]

Im not an analytics maven like some people here but this kinda says we should maybe try Trouba and Lindgren together, no?

it means we should hide them on the third pair/play Jones over one of them every other game.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I’m more about getting Kreider away from Zibanejad and giving Zibanejad a player that will fit with him.

Don’t think that’s Chytil. I’d love to play Kreider with Chytil though.



Can’t imagine they’d want to move him. He’s cheap and they have no cap space.

They don’t really have any glaring needs either other than needing their top guys to not be hurt.

The answer is that certain someone that needs to be rescued from being the 4RW in Nashville

 

[McRanger92]

I thought Trouba was making a good positive impact the first several weeks of the season, but he's regressed back to his norm here. The best route to creating significant cap space this summer would be to trade him, but I don't think Drury would do it.

Why not? Drury didnt sign him.

If the team underperforms again theres going to be personnel changes imo and rightfully so. Trouba would still be the easiest to move. 2 years left, 15 team NTC and real salary only 6 million