Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part LIII

[Edge]

I think some players numbers were inflated a bit in Vancouver last season. Virtanen, Pearson, Gaudette. I wouldn't expect the same numbers if he came here and played in our bottom 6.

Perhaps, but who is his competition as a third line RW next season?

Gauthier?

 

[D713B]

I love when the board becomes obsessed with marginal players. The marginal players on other teams are ALWAYS better than what we already have on our team.

Off season is always entertaining around here.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Perhaps, but who is his competition as a third line RW next season?

Gauthier?

Yes. Or Fast.

 

[Edge]

Fast.

Perhaps, if he re-signs. And if he does, he's probably coming with a price tag that is at least double the cost.

 

[NYSPORTS]

I love when the board becomes obsessed with marginal players. The marginal players on other teams are ALWAYS better than what we already have on our team.

Off season is always entertaining around here.

teams do need the Fast type but a good organization rotates the stock. Can’t pay everybody.

 

[Vitto79]

I'm starting to think that Chytil should be a winger instead of a center

It’s crossed my mind but they would need to acquire someone real good to bump him to RW this upcoming year IMO

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I would be overjoyed to see Morgan Barron become a competent 4C so I don't have to watch Howden stink up that line for another season

But knowing how much the Rangers love them some Brett Howden, I'm sure he'll get promoted to 3C somehow next season

 

[D713B]

teams do need the Fast type but a good organization rotates the stock. Can’t pay everybody.

Agreed. But that wasn't exactly what I was referencing.

More to your point though...I personally don't feel we're in as tight of a cap crunch as some seem to believe. I think they find a way to bring back Fast without it being a detriment to the cap.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Agreed. But that wasn't exactly what I was referencing.

More to your point though...I personally don't feel we're in as tight of a cap crunch as some seem to believe. I think they find a way to bring back Fast without it being a detriment to the cap.

Until you see the contract he gets from Philly.

 

[Edge]

I love when the board becomes obsessed with marginal players. The marginal players on other teams are ALWAYS better than what we already have on our team.

Off season is always entertaining around here.

I don't know if I'd quite place him in the obsessed category right now. I think some people would take a flyer at a reasonable price.

 

[Fireonk]

I would not be looking forward to our PK units without Fast coming back. We just hoping Barron comes in and is ready?
Zib/Howden/Strome/whomever. That's....not great.

 

[RangersFan1994]

everyone wants to talk about upgrading the 4th line and PK, how about bringing back Brian Boyle for a year?

he would provide good leadership and size and can be flipped at the deadline if needed. or does he retire this offseason?

 

[bigdog16]

I think some players numbers were inflated a bit in Vancouver last season. Virtanen, Pearson, Gaudette. I wouldn't expect the same numbers if he came here and played in our bottom 6.

Inflated based on what? The Rangers scored more goals than Vancouver did this year...

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

@KirkAlbuquerque Virtanen had an expected goal total of 10.81 this year 5v5

He scored 11. Thats right in line with what he was doing. The majority of his assists were primary so its not like he was getting those neighborhood points via the secondary assist.

He also produced virtually the same amount of individual high danger chances as Pearson...In 100 fewer minutes played. His rate of high danger production was better than most of Vancouver's top 6 and he didn't spend a ton of time with those guys either.

Doesn't mean that hes a lock to break out and score 30 next year, but he isn't some run of the mill, dime a dozen marginal player. He's pretty good already despite his warts with room to get even better. I don't understand the aversion to the player, especially when he'd both be a massive upgrade to some of the trash we were running out there last year and he checks a few of the boxes for areas where we need to improve.

I love when the board becomes obsessed with marginal players. The marginal players on other teams are ALWAYS better than what we already have on our team.

Off season is always entertaining around here.

Ignorant take is ignorant, in season or off season.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Agreed. But that wasn't exactly what I was referencing.

More to your point though...I personally don't feel we're in as tight of a cap crunch as some seem to believe. I think they find a way to bring back Fast without it being a detriment to the cap.

the cap will a disaster if the Rangers don’t budget this well. A year ago the team basically only had Zibby and Kreider. Kreider who they may have traded. Now they have Kreider, Zibby coming up, Trouba and Panarin. They did luck out for Kappo so now they can anticipate him getting quite a bit down the road. Whoa, now they win the lottery so Laf might be the highest paid in a few years. Add in Fox and what about ADA?

Flat cap the money will go fast. Just ask the Blackhawks

 

[egelband]

Do we need Buch's numbers to improve? Remember, we need depth also. If you believe that both Laf and Kakko are future top 6 players, and Panarin is obviously in our top 6, that leaves one of Kreider and Buch to eventually drop to the 3rd line. As long as we can afford it, that's not a problem. Maybe at some point we'll need to move one of them, but that point probably isn't today, despite our current cap issues. There are other ways to address that. If Buch's numbers don't improve, he's isn't going to get a significant raise. If they do improve, he'll get more, but that's still a good problem to have. We'll have more cap space next year, and if he improves his numbers, he'll have more value then if we decide to trade him.

Tampa signed Miller to a 5 year deal and traded him a year later for a 1st round pick. His numbers at the time were no better than Buch's. Granted, Miller was a year younger at the time than Buch will be next year, but I don't think that will significantly change his value. Not enough that we absolutely must trade him now. He finished the year strong and is still on an affordable contract. Let's have some patience, instead of worrying about maximizing the value of every asset.

That’s my premise. I assume he’ll end up in two years, or less, getting a $5m/year longterm deal. And be a Middle Six tweener. Sure, no problem keeping him up until UFA. Or waiting a year or even two to trade him. (After protecting him from the expansion draft, I guess).

Good player. Good guy. Happy to have him on the team. But will he be a guy worth, to the Rangers, second liner money longterm? I don’t think so. Is his value highest now? I would say ‘yes’. So that’s where I’m at. I feel the same way about Strome, basically.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

everyone wants to talk about upgrading the 4th line and PK, how about bringing back Brian Boyle for a year?

he would provide good leadership and size and can be flipped at the deadline if needed. or does he retire this offseason?

I'd rather sign Johan Larsson.

Hes younger and better. I would have loved Boyle 2 years ago when were were just starting out on this rebuild but I don't know how much more he has left to give. I don't even know if his PK'ing is still good, I'd imagine it is since he was pretty damn elite at it.

 

[Mikos87]

I'd rather sign Johan Larsson.

Hes younger and better. I would have loved Boyle 2 years ago when were were just starting out on this rebuild but I don't know how much more he has left to give. I don't even know if his PK'ing is still good, I'd imagine it is since he was pretty damn elite at it.

Larson's a good 5v5 player at-times- when Buffalo had their soft schedule to start the season, Larson was a very good player, but I'm not 100% sold on him as a PKer that can bring some high energy shifts. Very good depth to have however, just not my first choice. At the end of the day, you need a disposable shot blocker to can skate well, and move pucks quickly towards the need, and throw the body around. You need a 4th line with a real identity, and I think the closes the Rangers have to that is Bret Howden. So either guys like Lemeuix, Goat, or others embrace that role, and I think a guy like Digi fits into that puzzle, you need two more guys who can do that. Getting a veteran I think is necessary, even if it comes via trade, this is a good investment to make in for both player development and organizational depth.

 

[egelband]

Eh, I am not so sure. Gun to head, I still think that Buchnevich gets moved at some point BUT he was trending to a 55 point season which puts him up into the first line production level. And he is still young enough to be able to take steps forward. Remember, under Quinn, that was a rather big step forward. He is only 25. Is it really unreasonable to believe that his game cannot continue to improve? Being spitting distance away from being a 60 point wing at 25 is no small feat.

On the face of it, he’s a first line player. Sure. That’s why I’m worried about his contract. He will get paid like a first or even second liner but end up being further down the depth chart for this team in a year or two.
And in my opinion he’s not a set-in-stone 55 point guy. He needs the right environment. I’d prefer to pay the UFA contracts to guys who drive play more.
I can’t say for sure when the numbers and the production are going to start diverging but personally, I’d just sell high.
Of course, if that’s not possible, I’m more than happy to keep him and kick the can down the road.
My initial question was whether or not he’s currently at his top value considering he’s cost-controlled for a couple more years, young, and coming off career-best numbers.

 

[egelband]

I thought Buchnevich would be a goner for sure this offseason when Kreider signed his extension.

now with Lafreniere coming I can’t imagine any scenario where we’d keep him. We aren’t going to pay him his next contract that’s for sure. Can’t do it.

You said it way better than I’ve been trying to say it. This is the bottom line. It’s a matter of when. And I think his value is highest now.

 

[egelband]

Guys, Lias is worth jackshit.

Liked this post for being the first appearance of the word ‘jackshit’ in the millennium.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Buchnevich is gone, only a matter of when

Unless a really good deal presents itself, I think the team holds off for now

although if Lafreniere comes on strong and Kreider can transition to the right without looking like a dunce, maybe they move him in season

 

[TopShelf86]

I would be overjoyed to see Morgan Barron become a competent 4C so I don't have to watch Howden stink up that line for another season

But knowing how much the Rangers love them some Brett Howden, I'm sure he'll get promoted to 3C somehow next season

Hope not

 

[NYSPORTS]

Buchnevich is gone, only a matter of when

Unless a really good deal presents itself, I think the team holds off for now

although if Lafreniere comes on strong and Kreider can transition to the right without looking like a dunce, maybe they move him in season

omg, if Kreider could ever man RW that would change a lot.

 

[NYSPORTS]

You said it way better than I’ve been trying to say it. This is the bottom line. It’s a matter of when. And I think his value is highest now.

imo, his value will be higher if Laf is the LW on his line. Betting his stats skyrocket