Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part LIV

[Avery16]

Bjugstad has exceeded 14 points once in the last 6 seasons.

Ignoring totals, Strome’s point per game was also higher than Bjugstad’s in 4 of the 5 seasons prior to Panarin.

Strome is coming off a career year and proven chemistry. Totals, pace, no matter how you cut it, there’s no reasonable argument that Bjugstad steps in at 2C as a more productive player.

For the record, I’m still on the “we need an upgrade at 2C” wagon.

Not true.

In 2018-19, Bjugstad had 12 points with florida and 14 points with pittsburgh for a total of 26 points. The previous season, he had 49. In 2015-16, he had 34. In 2014-15, 43. Thats exceeding 14 points four times in the last six seasons, this season hampered by a back injury.

Another argument is that at 2 million, Bjugstad, only one year older than Strome, could match or come close to Strome's Panarin-assisted output at substantial savings compared to what Strome will make next season.

 

[Leetch3]

Not sure if this was posted in here before. Coyotes are in a bad spot. Salary needs to go out. Yes, there are others on shorter deals that can be moved maybe like Bjugstad was, but they've got no draft picks. New GM. They're going to move a bigger piece out.

Gorton needs to explore Dvorak. That would be a great piece to get back.

too bad we don't have the cap space to take on a bad contract....but it probably won't be the guys we want that get moved. unless they are dumb

btw ex-rangers stepan (6.5), raanta (4.25) and grabner (3.35) make $14.1 mil...those are the contracts they will find a way to unload especially the 1st 2

 

[Leetch3]

Christian Fischer is another name I'd like. He can be had for next to nothing at this point. I also wouldn't hate a Stepan reunion for a year as a stopgap at 2C if Strome is moved for value in a separate deal. If the Rangers take on Stepan's full 6.5 million cap hit, I'd want another big piece coming back if the Rangers are forking over a top pick.

f*** it, let's get silly

To ARI:
Carolina 1st
Lias Andersson (for the lolz, make it full circle)

To NYR:
Jakob Chychrun
Derek Stepan at full salary
Christian Fischer

Strome gets dealt in a separate deal for a 1st next year or two 2nd's this year.

Rangers fill all of their needs in one fell swoop. Top 9 center? Check. Top 4 LHD? Check. Bottom 6 checker? Check.

pretty sure fischer is a RW so change that to dvorak to be safe lol

 

[Leetch3]

they are also very likely to move Kuemper.

both of their goalies make 4.25 & 4.5 mil so if you are looking to clear cap space moving one of them definitely makes sense...(if hank retired) we could potentially dangle georgiev in front of them for either of their goalies if it gets us to a dvorak deal.

 

[LaffyTaffy]

Edge is meeting with connects this weekend no?

 

[Fitzy]

Not true.


Another argument is that at 2 million, Bjugstad, only one year older than Strome, could match or come close to Strome's Panarin-assisted output at substantial savings compared to what Strome will make next season.

If any mediocre jackass could come in and do what Strome did with Panarin then Chytil would have done it already.

Saying Strome's numbers were boosted is one thing. Assuming anyone could have produced at the rate he did is another matter entirely.

 

[bobbop]

I have a few people who are coming to visit me in PA to get away from NY and their cities.

Time will be spent together. Wine will be plentiful. Discussions will take place. I'm actually meeting one of them early in about 2 hours.

I say this with caveat that I will not be grilling them for hours with questions, and anything pre-draft is a subject to some level of confidentiality. And even then, I only get partial puzzle pieces prior to the draft.

Let me know if you need more wine!

 

[NYR Viper]

I’ll just keep saying:

Buch + 3rd for EDM 1st

CAR 1st + Howden + Lemieux + Smith for Dvorak + Grabner

Arizona cuts A TON of salary

 

[GoAwayGiannone]

Edge is meeting with connects this weekend no?

Yes. Top men.

 

[QJL]

Not true.

In 2018-19, Bjugstad had 12 points with florida and 14 points with pittsburgh for a total of 26 points. The previous season, he had 49. In 2015-16, he had 34. In 2014-15, 43. Thats exceeding 14 points four times in the last six seasons, this season hampered by a back injury.

Another argument is that at 2 million, Bjugstad, only one year older than Strome, could match or come close to Strome's Panarin-assisted output at substantial savings compared to what Strome will make next season.

Damn statlines and trades!

In that case, it’s closer than I thought. Pretty close in both games and ppg.

I still think it’s a big jump to assume Bjugstad produces 60 points or stays healthy as a 2C. To each their own.

 

[bobbop]

Not sure if this was posted in here before. Coyotes are in a bad spot. Salary needs to go out. Yes, there are others on shorter deals that can be moved maybe like Bjugstad was, but they've got no draft picks. New GM. They're going to move a bigger piece out.

Gorton needs to explore Dvorak. That would be a great piece to get back.

There’s nothing here that I haven’t posted earlier. Meruillo is wealthy but he is not flush with cash. His core businesses are taking a beating right now. The Coyotes have apparently completed their first round GM interviews and will do call backs and potentially make a hire next week. Understanding the mess they are in, I think they will go outside the organization and hire someone with experience. Possibly Ron Hextall.

OEL is the biggest ticket that could be moved. They will be looking for draft choices and young players, preferably on ELCs. Others may have a different opinion but my POV is that OEL has been pretty ordinary the last 2-3 years and it will be tough for them to find a match. He could end up in Western Canada.

Beyond that, Kessell was a huge disappointment this year. Only way they can move him is retain salary or sell him off at a discount.

I doubt Dvorak or Chychrun can be pried out of there without an significant overpayment.

The one guy who may be available and would really fill a need for the Rangers is Nick Hjalmarsson. Still a great defensive player. Money would have to be massaged but a Trouba-Hjalmarsson would be a terrific shutdown pair until the young ones are ready to take over.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Here's an interesting thought. Vegas, with 11 forwards, 6 defensemen and 1 goalie under contract have ~$4.5m in cap space. I think, ideally, they'd improve their defense and goaltending this off-season, whether that is Lehner or someone else. Reaves just signed an extension for 2 years @ $1.75m per season but it's possible they look to shed a bit of cap space to make room for other moves. That team is clearly competing now.

Tomas Nosek is a UFA. 15 points n 67 games at LW.

Say it costs a 3rd rounder to acquire Reaves as a RW.

Both guys are very good possession players and play a hard, grinding style. 53.3 and 54.4 Corsi for each and they normally play together on the same line. What about adding both guys if, say, someone like Lemieux is used to move up in the draft? Nosek at 2 years to match Reaves' contract.

Ideally honestly, a deal of Buch + Lemieux for Lindholm or Dvorak would complete the forward group pretty well.

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Paarin-Lindholm/Dvorak-Strome
Lafreniere-Chytil-Gauthier
Nosek-Howden-Reaves

I suggested Nosek in the previous thread. He would be a great add to our 4th line & his price tag is very reasonable.

 

[Ola]

Edge is meeting with connects this weekend no?

We need a GDT for this!

 

[usekakkorightquinn]

Barron was one of the top players in college hockey this year. Spare me. He just happened to be on a team that valued defense first. If you read what I posted, I stated that the defense of these two players was light years better than Hayes and Vesey. The Rangers know what they are getting with these two players. They aren't going to worry about whether their offense will translate to the NHL. Both of these players were 2 of the best defensive forwards in college hockey. Try reading. The only reason Hayes and Vesey got the hype they did was because of their offense of the course of three combined years. Both had significant flaws in the other parts of their games.

For starters, you're completely wrong on Hayes. He did jack his first three years in college. Much worse than Barron. Then he played his senior year with Gaudreau which is the only reason his numbers went way up. Vesey was lousy his first two college seasons. It took him to his 3rd season to break out. Both Barron and Richards broke out offensively their second year in college while still being one of the better defensive forwards in hockey.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Has he fully recovered from his injury?

Yes. I don't think it affected his ability but more so that he changed his style over time, playing with MSU. He's a very good 2-way center who reminds me a bit of Brassard with the way he sees the open ice and his teammates. His passes are a thing of beauty.

I truly believe he and Barron are on the same level, albeit different types of players

 

[Avery16]

Damn statlines and trades!

In that case, it’s closer than I thought. Pretty close in both games and ppg.

I still think it’s a big jump to assume Bjugstad produces 60 points or stays healthy as a 2C. To each their own.

Staying healthy does appear to be a bigger question for Bjugstad.

 

[Avery16]

If any mediocre jackass could come in and do what Strome did with Panarin then Chytil would have done it already.

Saying Strome's numbers were boosted is one thing. Assuming anyone could have produced at the rate he did is another matter entirely.

There is actually a difference between veterans and young players. Chytil is still developing. I fully expect that FO sees Chytil as a future 2C, or at least hopes he will be there. Strome vs Bjugstad or another is a question about the interim.

 

[BBKers]

ARRRRRRR!!!!

 

[Tob]

Step already got a $3M signing bonus on July 1st courtesy of Slats and Gorton's structuring of the deal. He's only owed $2M base salary for the calendar 2021-2022 season. As much as he's dropped off in performance, if the Coyotes are cutting salary to save money, Stepan is the last. Having a center to keep the team somewhat held together isn't bad for $2M if they do move on from a ton of good players. Raanta got his $2M in signing bonus as well I believe leaving him with $2M in salary. If they move Keumper, then Raanta will be good to have since he has rebound potential if he stays healthy for only $2M.

Grabner is all $3.775M in salary. He's one that they might move to save money and recoup some draft capital. Still a good player. Goligoski is owed $4M all salary no signing bonus so maybe he gets shipped to clear budget.

As much as money might dictate the competitiveness of the Coyotes, they're not moving Dvorak or Crouse or Chychrun or one of the their good young players to ship their "A" after trading their captain just to save $2M.

 

[haohmaru]

Dvorak's salary is manageable for a long time.

The guy that solves Arizona's woes is OEL, who apparently wants out of there anyway. Keller would be a nice add (Lundqvist + 22OA ?) but I don't see the Rangers looking to do that for another wing. I don't see AZ being much of a fit for the Rangers.

 

[mas0764]

Richards and Barron are incredibly similar to Vesey and Hayes. One less year of college played, better defensively, better intangibles with less offensive game in college. Vesey and Hayes never played an AHL game. I don't expect Richards and Barron to either. Our role players have been pathetic the past few years. Especially defensively. Watching Fast, he embarrasses the role players we have on this team. Our current role players are just plain stupid defensively. They aren't in the right place most of the time. They have no defensive instincts. They don't break up plays. They don't block a lot of shots. They aren't good on the PK unit. Barron and Richards can help change that.

I don’t know about that. Vesey and Hayes were pretty heralded as high end drafted players that never signed. There was a whole media frenzy over Vesey due to how supposedly good he was. Hayes wasn’t that far behind Vesey in terms of stock at the time.

I think we might be discussing lower caliber prospects with Barron and Richards. That doesn’t mean they won’t end up better, but they aren’t the same right now.

 

[mas0764]

we signed him, Austin Rueschhoff and Patrick Khodorenko back in March/April. It adds some depth to the system and hartford but they are a long way from being factors...last year people were excited that we signed Elmer and Newell and they both stink. so we should probably lets this new trio actually play some AHL games before penciling them in the lineup. Its free assets so it can only be positive but shiny new toy definitely happening here

To be fair I don’t remember anyone ever being excited over Elmer or Newell.

 

[doomscroll]

I want to rival our efforts from the 2011 draft.

Matt Puempel died for this

 

[doomscroll]

To be fair I don’t remember anyone ever being excited over Elmer or Newell.

I remember thinking Elmer could be a glue-player

 

[usekakkorightquinn]

It's funny how people forget that Hayes was a total bust and garbage for 3 years in college until Gaudreau helped him get his head out of his butt.