Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part LIII

[BB88]

If the Rangers somehow get rid of Lundqvist either via retirement or trade, would Torey Krug be a fit on the team for maybe $7 million per? This also would require DeAngelo on some sort of bridge deal.

Krug-Trouba
Lindgren-Fox
Staal/Miller-Deangelo

If you need to improve your pp then sure.

But not if you are looking at improving es play/top pairing, wasting your money there

 

[Alluckks]

By the way, don't be surprised if Toronto willing to take a "loss" on a deal for a goalie and/or bottom 6 player if they find a way to move Freddie without equal salary coming back

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

BPA exists, but it's not on a player-by-player basis. Certain players are grouped together as BPA, and within that group it's perfectly fine to go for organizational depth. Not so much what your NHL team is lacking, but what your prospect pool is lacking. Ironically, in our case that's the same (center)

The NBA “tiering” methodology.

 

[pld459666]

Thank god for Gorton. And this is in 2-3 years. That’s a hell of a rebuild - probably one of the best I’ve seen in any sport.

They still have to pan out, and for the most part I think they will, but goodness, that was one hell of a turnaround with regards to where we were and where we are headed

 

[pld459666]

Probably that no move clause in his contract

Or that the Rangers have no interest in trading him

 

[Vitto79]

i'd love to get brodin he'd be close to perfect but the cost in a trade and his next contract is a potential issue/concern...i'm on board if we can keep him long term. but can we do that without trading ADA?

dunn is a nice option depending on the price and at 23 he is the perfect age...but this is the type of deal that we need to think about the expansion draft. we'd be alot better next year, but if we give up assets for him and then lose lindgren to seattle does that make us better? 1 LD in, 1 LD out?

I tend to lean towards unless you are planning to trade ADA or the LD you are trading for is SO good that you don't care about losing Lindgren, that we are probably looking at a stop gap solution here. a UFA signed for 2 years so we can meet the expansion draft requirements that makes us better next year. but then the long term solution comes after that with staal and smith finally gone and the prospects hopefully a years closer. thats when I expect the trade to try to add the 'final piece' to round out the left side

If a LD comes in then ADA is going out. I’m sure that’s the thought process

If nothing better comes up you just keep ADA and either deal w what you have now or sign a vet 1 yr as a stop gap

 

[Tawnos]

BPA exists, but it's not on a player-by-player basis. Certain players are grouped together as BPA, and within that group it's perfectly fine to go for organizational depth. Not so much what your NHL team is lacking, but what your prospect pool is lacking. Ironically, in our case that's the same (center)

In other words, “best player available” does not exist, but “best players available” does. That’s pretty much what I said in a follow up post.

 

[GAGLine]

In other words, “best player available” does not exist, but “best players available” does. That’s pretty much what I said in a follow up post.

And even then, different teams are going to have different values on the same players.

 

[Tawnos]

They still have to pan out, and for the most part I think they will, but goodness, that was one hell of a turnaround with regards to where we were and where we are headed

This is probably what happens when you don’t wait to fall completely out of it before deciding to rebuild. You still have quality players to move for quality assets. Contrast that with the Red Wings, who let themselves hang around the bubble for years, at the end of which, they had little left to work with, as their quality players either aged out of value or contract.

 

[Tawnos]

And even then, different teams are going to have different values on the same players.

Right, but the thing people mean when they say “take the BPA” is more about taking the guy at the top of the internal list, rather than the consensus.

 

[NYR Viper]

I think I would be more inclined to keep the defense as is for another season and look to find a good center. It will be a bit easier for the team to move out a forward who requires expansion protection than a defenseman. As others have pointed out, bringing in a defenseman means someone must be left unprotected which seems like poor asset management. Finding a center somewhere may mean a guy like Buch or Strome are headed the other way but that evens itself out in terms of expansion protection.

All of that said, if the team is considering trading ADA then all of this is moot.

Still pumping Brendan Smith for Michael Grabner

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Right, but the thing people mean when they say “take the BPA” is more about taking the guy at the top of the internal list, rather than the consensus.

Yeah but nobody knows who is BPA on those lists. Teams always take BPA according to their list. It just doesn't line up with the arbitrary ranking that's out there on the internet and fans go crazy over their team "reaching for someone they could have picked in the 3rd round" when nobody knows if that's true. The rankings are based on some sort of consensus but the further down the line you get, the more it becomes arbitrary as to who teams have ranked where.

Fans overreact every year

 

[Tawnos]

Yeah but nobody knows who is BPA on those lists. Teams always take BPA according to their list. It just doesn't line up with the arbitrary ranking that's out there on the internet and fans go crazy over their team "reaching for someone they could have picked in the 3rd round" when nobody knows if that's true. The rankings are based on some sort of consensus but the further down the line you get, the more it becomes arbitrary as to who teams have ranked where.

Fans overreact every year

Right.

I’ve made the point in the past that the rankings in the media are actually the result of a small sample and don’t really reflect a true consensus. Why? Because the vast majority of professional scouts work for teams and teams aren’t sharing their information. Some media types might have good connections in an organization or even a few, but that still won’t compare to the work done by the whole industry.

 

[GAGLine]

Yeah but nobody knows who is BPA on those lists. Teams always take BPA according to their list. It just doesn't line up with the arbitrary ranking that's out there on the internet and fans go crazy over their team "reaching for someone they could have picked in the 3rd round" when nobody knows if that's true. The rankings are based on some sort of consensus but the further down the line you get, the more it becomes arbitrary as to who teams have ranked where.

Fans overreact every year

Thank you. This was exactly my point. Even if a team takes whom they believe to be the best player available, most fans won't see it that way if the pick deviates from the consensus.

 

[Trxjw]

It's funny, the more I look at this roster, I start to think that the Rangers brass would be perfectly acceptable with 2020-21 being a transition year. Even if you don't factor in the shortened season due to COVID, a transition year allows them to get rid of their short-term financial restrictions and get a better picture of how some of their young pieces fit into their long-term core moving forward. Looking at their roster, it's surprisingly easy for them to just bring back essentially the same team and bank on natural player's progression being their added value for the offseason. There are some obvious caveats to this plan in order to deal with the flat cap issues: Staal needs to be bought out, Strome needs to be signed to a 1 year deal, and they need to get creative on Tony's next contract. Maybe they can figure out a way to sign him to a backloaded deal like McAvoy/Werenski within the bounds of the new CBA. The rest of the lineup can be filled out with cheap depth, but I think factoring in Lafreniere and natural progression from Buchnevich, Chytil, DeAngelo, Gauthier, and Kakko puts them in a good enough spot to still be competitive next year. They could roll a lineup like this:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Panarin-Strome-Kakko
Lafreniere-Chytil-Gauthier
Lemieux-Howden-4RW

Smith-Trouba
Lindgren-Fox
Hajek-DeAngelo

Igor
Georgiev/Lundqvist

The lower-end depth is still really weak IMO, and they'd be banking on their top-6 carrying the load again. If this is meant to be a transition year, I think that ends up being a fair enough lineup. I also tried to not over-project younger guys like Barron and Miller winning spots, and it's obvious that LD is still a glaring need.

I definitely agree with you. I think we all jumped on the changes wagon when Gorton and JD were critical of the team's play-in performance but you don't need major moves to address that. Especially when you're adding a player like Lafreniere who is absolutely "harder to play against" and brings some chippiness to his game. We have a 4th line spot open that can be used on a good north-south forechecking winger who can PK (cough*Jankowski*cough). Hajek is still working his way into the lineup so maybe there's room for improvement on LD in that capacity as well. Especially if they buyout Staal. Though it sounds like they might be willing to give Reunanen a shot to win that spot.

Still a lot of young talent in the mix that needs to develop. If Chytil and Kakko level-up next season that's an incredibly potent forward group. If Igor can keep us in the bulk of games we might sneak into the playoffs purely on our offense and goaltending.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I definitely agree with you. I think we all jumped on the changes wagon when Gorton and JD were critical of the team's play-in performance but you don't need major moves to address that. Especially when you're adding a player like Lafreniere who is absolutely "harder to play against" and brings some chippiness to his game. We have a 4th line spot open that can be used on a good north-south forechecking winger who can PK (cough*Jankowski*cough). Hajek is still working his way into the lineup so maybe there's room for improvement on LD in that capacity as well. Especially if they buyout Staal. Though it sounds like they might be willing to give Reunanen a shot to win that spot.

Still a lot of young talent in the mix that needs to develop. If Chytil and Kakko level-up next season that's an incredibly potent forward group. If Igor can keep us in the bulk of games we might sneak into the playoffs purely on our offense and goaltending.

I keep thinking there is a deal to be made with Calgary, even it's a smaller one. The Flames, (according to @Edge), have shown an interest in Andersson, so maybe there is a deal built around Janikowski for a package that includes Andersson.

 

[Leetch3]

I think people get too caught up in semantics when it comes to "BPA" to me it basically boils down to you don't draft based on current needs EVER cause things can change in a hurry and you don't go out of your way to draft based on organizational needs. Position, style of play, etc can be used as tie-breakers between similar level players and if the one of the next players on your list covers multiple needs that is a bonus but you don't go out of your way looking for that position no matter what....if you have a center, winger and dmen pretty even and need a center than great take a center. but if you've got 10 wingers and dmen ahead of the next center you don't

 

[NYR Viper]

I definitely agree with you. I think we all jumped on the changes wagon when Gorton and JD were critical of the team's play-in performance but you don't need major moves to address that. Especially when you're adding a player like Lafreniere who is absolutely "harder to play against" and brings some chippiness to his game. We have a 4th line spot open that can be used on a good north-south forechecking winger who can PK (cough*Jankowski*cough). Hajek is still working his way into the lineup so maybe there's room for improvement on LD in that capacity as well. Especially if they buyout Staal. Though it sounds like they might be willing to give Reunanen a shot to win that spot.

Still a lot of young talent in the mix that needs to develop. If Chytil and Kakko level-up next season that's an incredibly potent forward group. If Igor can keep us in the bulk of games we might sneak into the playoffs purely on our offense and goaltending.

I do like the idea of adding Jankowski as well.

 

[Trxjw]

I keep thinking there is a deal to be made with Calgary, even it's a smaller one. The Flames, (according to @Edge), have shown an interest in Andersson, so maybe there is a deal built around Janikowski for a package that includes Andersson.

I was thinking if the Rangers ended up in their worst case scenario for the Canes pick, maybe there was a deal to be had to swap picks with the Flames. 19 and Jankowski for 24 and something. Maybe Andersson is that piece. That kind of jump would put his value at a 2nd round pick which I think is about right. So basically moving up 5 spots for a 1st and 2nd. I personally think Jankowski is worth a 4th or 5th right now so you're getting that value back on top of the jump in spots.

 

[kovazub94]

the LD depth in the system is the strongest in the organization. those guys aren't ready yet but they are still there. PATIENCE is a virtue

Same point you made earlier. Depth changes. If opportunity presents itself bringing in a quality LD for the long term could be warranted. At least asset spending would be more warranted than spending it to bring a high quality center IMO.

 

[Leetch3]

Same point you made earlier. Depth changes. If opportunity presents itself bringing in a quality LD for the long term could be warranted. At least asset spending would be more warranted than spending it to bring a high quality center IMO.

I will never say no to bringing in more talent....I want as much talent at all positions that we can possibly get. I take the 'problem' of having too many guys over not having enough any day. And if the opportunity is there to add young talent that can be part of the long term solution then I'm 100% for it....but don't make a move as an overreaction to having staal and smith on the current team. that is a short term problem.

 

[DutchShamrock]

I think I would be more inclined to keep the defense as is for another season and look to find a good center. It will be a bit easier for the team to move out a forward who requires expansion protection than a defenseman. As others have pointed out, bringing in a defenseman means someone must be left unprotected which seems like poor asset management. Finding a center somewhere may mean a guy like Buch or Strome are headed the other way but that evens itself out in terms of expansion protection.

All of that said, if the team is considering trading ADA then all of this is moot.

Still pumping Brendan Smith for Michael Grabner

For all the reasons you mention, I'm inclined to find a stop gap on LD. The recent discussion about how RD turned around in a hurry cements it.

We have Lindgren showing promise here. We have a handful developing at LD in the system. That's like ADA being here last year and the RD prospects showing reasons for optimism last year. Two trades later and we are now wondering how we manage the glut.

I'd like to add a solid vet like Sekera with 1 or 2 year UFA deal, no protections, and let the year play out on the back end. Lindgren/Fox has chemistry. Smith/Trouba worked in the bubble. Sekera/ADA could work for both guys. If a young guy, Hajek or Miller for example, impresses and gets into the lineup, they slot into Smith's spot with our most veteran blueliner.

Smith is versatile through the whole line up which could be vital if quarantine rules prevent calls ups from coming in immediately.

Sekera won't be protected so we preserve our 3 D spots. Roll into expansion with our best options.

 

[NYR Viper]

Depth d-men who I would look at for a single year (assuming little to no cost)
Goligoski
Hjalmersson
Holden
Merrill
Nemeth
Kulikov

This one may be way out there but if Boston retained some salary, I'd consider John Moore, say at $1.75m per season

 

[Avery16]

Depth d-men who I would look at for a single year (assuming little to no cost)

This one may be way out there but if Boston retained some salary, I'd consider John Moore, say at $1.75m per season

I don’t think he earned that number with his play this season.

 

[Leetch3]

Depth d-men who I would look at for a single year (assuming little to no cost)
Goligoski
Hjalmersson
Holden
Merrill
Nemeth
Kulikov

This one may be way out there but if Boston retained some salary, I'd consider John Moore, say at $1.75m per season

goligoski and hjalmersson make $5+ mil so I think they are a bit pricey given our cap situation and not really interest in giving up assets for a 35 year old to get the yotes to eat salary...

vegas gave holden a 2 year extension on feb 24th so not sure they are looking to move him.

nemeth only make $3 mil and played 64 games so he is almost at the 70 games to cover expansion exposure so he's a good option if the trade is cheap...

merrill and kulikov are UFAs and would cost no assets so depending on how much $$ i'd probably lean toward one of them on a 2 year deal as the stop gap option given these choice