Roster Building thread - Part IX - (2024 edition)

[McRanger92]

Just get a top 4 defenseman to replace Lindgren. The rest of these takes are just people sticking with whatever narrative they agree with. Chychrun, Hanifin, Provorov all good options, especially because they aren’t rentals (I know Hanifin is but he’s a guy you look to retain).

If they go for a guy like Seeler or Middleton and end up scratching Gustafsson when all 6 are healthy, so be it. Idk why Philly is trading Seeler while 2nd in the metro but I digress. The analytics crowd loves Gustafsson but he’s a bottom pair guy. Injuries will happen and I’d be really happy if he had to step back in. We can whine all we want about Trouba’s contract and Lindgren not being able to stay upright but they will never be scratched nor should they. And the Rangers clearly have Schneider in their future plans, so he’s not coming out either.

You can't clear the crease on a 2-on-1. Our most physical defenseman gives up the most chances right in front of the net because he's usually 20 feet away going for a skate.

Miller isn’t our most physical defender

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I get wanting to add size for the playoffs but it feels like when the Rangers lost a series the past few years it's because the scoring dries up. They scored one goal in each of the last three games against Tampa 2 years ago. They scored one goal, one goal, zero goals, zero goals in their losses to the Devils last year (scoring 5 goals in each of their three wins). They lose because the guys getting paid to be stars and score when it really matters, are no shows. I don't know how more size on the backend solves that.

 

[McRanger92]

I get wanting to add size for the playoffs but it feels like when the Rangers lost a series the past few years it's because the scoring dries up. They scored one goal in each of the last three games against Tampa 2 years ago. They scored one goal, one goal, zero goals, zero goals in their losses to the Devils last year (scoring 5 goals in each of their three wins). They lose because the guys getting paid to be stars and score when it really matters, have gone quiet. I don't know how more size on the backend solves that.

The scoring dries up because the Ranger have relied on PP scoring too much. They need more straight line players. On D and upfront.

 

[Machinehead]

Miller isn’t our most physical defender

Miller isn't on the ice for the most high-danger chances. Not even close.

 

[bhamill]

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.

Lindgren's QO is 3.6. He hasn't done anything this year to warrant much more. If he turns it around he will actually be worth more, if he doesn't, he could be signed for less than 4mil.

 

[NYR Viper]

Lindgren's QO is 3.6. He hasn't done anything this year to warrant much more. If he turns it around he will actually be worth more, if he doesn't, he could be signed for less than 4mil.

That cap space is better allocated elsewhere, even at $3.6m, and especially if they can get a decent return on him as a player

 

[bhamill]

If this team is going to give up assets for someone I hope its not Chychrun. The guy can't stay healthy

Yeah. He's a hell of a player WHEN he is healthy... which is too little. What's the saying? The best ability is AVAILability? It's dumb, but also applicable here.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Miller isn't on the ice for the most high-danger chances. Not even close.

Fun fact time!

The D with the highest HDCA per 60 are

1. Trouba
2. Lindgren.

I'm not counting Jones because he's played 3 minutes this year.

 

[mas0764]

Essentially another Adam Fox.... doing it on a dogwater team

View attachment 805530


I do not know why people sleep on Chychrun. He has true #1 potential

No ability to acquire reasonably.

 

[McRanger92]

Miller isn't on the ice for the most high-danger chances. Not even close.

I’m just kidding around but, are those all situations numbers or just 5v5?

 

[NYR Viper]

Essentially another Adam Fox.... doing it on a dogwater team

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I do not know why people sleep on Chychrun. He has true #1 potential

Can you grab Hanifan's?

 

[bhamill]

At least it's two non-work nights and Anaheim had some mercy on us.

That Tuesday is San Jose is gonna be a no from me most likely.

EDIT: I forgot most of you plebs don't work a 4 x 10 like I do. I will be active for the Vegas game with the few masochists that show up.

I'm old and only work a 3 x 5 these days. hahaha. Plenty of time on my idle hands.

 

[Machinehead]

I’m just kidding around but, are those all situations numbers or just 5v5?

Probably both tbh but what I gave was 5v5.

 

[McRanger92]

Probably both tbh but what I gave was 5v5.

Trouba only plays with Miller 5v5 so I’m confused by how he’s giving up so many more chances. He plays with Lindgren on the PP, so that would make complete sense that they are bleeding chances. Not saying you’re wrong but these advanced stats always leaving me with more questions than answers.

 

[duhmetreE]

Can you grab Hanifan's?

We wouldn't need his PP offense so it works out fine. His 3 year is about the same.... a little worse defense

 

[Savant]

Chychrun will be expensive to acquire. A trade for him requires picking a lane on K'Andre Miller. If there's belief in the org that Miller is a budding star and top pairing guy, Chychrun blocks that.

No it doesn’t. Last I checked teams played with at least six dman a game. You can have more than “top pairing guy”

 

[bhamill]

That cap space is better allocated elsewhere, even at $3.6m, and especially if they can get a decent return on him as a player

I'm certainly not married to Lindgren, so it would depend on the specifics as to whether I thought it was a good idea or not.

 

[McRanger92]

View attachment 805601


We wouldn't need his PP offense so it works out fine. His 3 year is about the same.... a little worse defense

This is the guy imo. Plays big minutes, in the age range where I’m comfortable extending him, a lefty and presumably available for futures.

 

[duhmetreE]

Chychrun will be expensive to acquire. A trade for him requires picking a lane on K'Andre Miller. If there's belief in the org that Miller is a budding star and top pairing guy, Chychrun blocks that.

yeah, I do not see that at all. If anything this helps KAM blossom, probably playing with Fox.

you really need a strong top4 to compete for a cup. We're not there.

 

[McRanger92]

yeah, I do not see that at all. If anything this helps KAM blossom, probably playing with Fox.

you really need a strong top4 to compete for a puck. We're not there.

I think Hanifin would be a good fit with Trouba. Recreate what he had with Morrissey

 

[NYR Viper]

View attachment 805601


We wouldn't need his PP offense so it works out fine. His 3 year is about the same.... a little worse defense

Thank you

This is the guy imo. Plays big minutes, in the age range where I’m comfortable extending him, a lefty and presumably available for futures.

Yeah for me, based on playing style, size, age, position he plays, etc, he's the guy. If he doesn't re-sign in Calgary he'd be my top priority this off-season

 

[duhmetreE]

I think Hanifin would be a good fit with Trouba. Recreate what he had with Morrissey

I'm honestly OK with either Chychrun or Hanifin.

Then the hope is Schneids replaces Troubs in a season or two.

I like Trouba and Lindgren. I just do not think they're good enough in the top4 for a cup. They are both arguably a major risk for deteriorating as they age.... Trouba with how immobile/stiff he is. Lindgren for being an undersized crash test dummy.

 

[NYR Viper]

I'm honestly OK with either Chychrun or Hanifin.

Then the hope is Schneids replaces Troubs in a season or two.

I like Trouba and Lindgren. I just do not think they're good enough in the top4 for a cup

I'm less concerned about who is playing top-4 than I am about rounding out a really good top-6. I like Gustafsson and Schneider together. I think that it is a relatively low cost pairing for the next 2-3 years that can play decent minutes in various situations. Whether they play more minutes than another pairing is semantics but what I do want to see is another LD brought in to help round out the other two pairings.

LD:
Hanifan
Miller
Gustafsson

RD:
Fox
Trouba
Schneider

That's a really good group of 6 d-men and, even assuming a nice contract for Hanifan in the $7m range, it's a defense that shouldn't be THAT expensive over the next couple of years with Miller on his deal for next season, Schneider not likely looking for a large contract (I think ~$1.75M is liekly) and Gustafsson likely coming in around that same number.

I think that's the ideal group. Now if Hanifan re-signs, I could be convinced that going lower cap hit, like Edmundson or Cole or someone like that could allow the team to add a nice secondary scorer/effective forward.

 

[Kodiak]

Less than a 1st and 2 2nds due to having less control.

Maybe a 1st and a 2nd? I don't know? I can't imagine they'd want Lindgren who has a similar contractual status so a 1st and a B prospect?

It would be a risk for sure. I'd rather go with Hanafin if it were up to me but Chychrun is a good player. Can't let our bromances get in the way of making the team better.

I don't know if one season of control is going to make that much of a difference. I'm assuming Ottawa acquired Chychrun thinking that he was a long-term piece. Arizona knew he wanted out and they wouldn't be able to keep him, so they took what they could. Ottawa may be content to hold him and try to sign him long-term in two years, which makes the trade cost more expensive.

the optimist view is he's replacing Lindgren and eventually Trouba's salary.

I can see how our forward core can work. How we also have reinforcements on the way. Our D-group needs major help IMO and we have nothing in the cupboard. IMO Fox, KAM and Schneids are the mainstays moving forward. We need a top4 LHD.

Short term, it could work if you put Lindgren in the deal and dump Goodrow on anyone that will take him. But sending a contract back to Ottawa might increase the cost of the trade. And Goodrow isn't going anywhere unless you package him with an asset or take a contract back, so that should also be added in to the cost of the trade from our perspective.

Long term, it's still difficult. Let's say Lindgren and Goodrow are moved this year. In two years, you move Trouba and that frees up $8m along with any cap increases. We still would need to find cap space for new contracts for Miller, Lafreniere, and Shesterkin (or a replacement) in addition to signing Chychrun long term.

 

[McRanger92]

I'm honestly OK with either Chychrun or Hanifin.

Then the hope is Schneids replaces Troubs in a season or two.

I like Trouba and Lindgren. I just do not think they're good enough in the top4 for a cup

I think Trouba’s value is that he can play major minutes against the best players in the league, in a role where he needs to hit, block shots and break up plays. No one else on the team has that ability. Not a ton of players in the league can do that. Aside from Fox who we don’t want doing it. Trouba’s analytics are never going to look good because of this. And is he overpaid? Yes. But if he gets moved after the season and we don’t replace him with another player who can play those minutes, we’re going to be wishing he was still around. Because even the biggest optimist on Schneider can’t say he looks ready for that role.

That being said, Trouba has been awful recently. Is that because he just had his first kid? I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because he was playing well to start the season when we were 20-4.

Lindgren is the player who you love when your team is an underdog, but when the competition and expectations jump up a level, he’s clearly overmatched. We need a short and long term addition to the top 4. Look how the Manson and McDonagh trades solidified recent cup winners.