Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part LVI

[NYSPORTS]

It’s almost astounding to realize Brett Howden has never spent a second in Hartford when you consider how awful he’s looked the last two years

It’s possible the team didn’t have plans to bring back Strome so kept giving Howden opportunities for ice time and development. This was supposed to be more of a development year anyway. I could be wrong though.

 

[jay from jersey]

I actually feel more confident in the prospects of Miller or Robertson morphing into a good partner for Trouba. Dunn is often a liability defensively. Morrissey was a defensive stud since the moment he stepped into the league. Very different players.

He was good no doubt and we certainly agree. The key is the mobility and decision making. That allows Jake to trust his off side and dump it off when he gets into trouble. That will allow him to be the physical force he is supposed to be. Some on this site dump on trouba but he is a very good 1st pair defender. He is definitely a 1B unlike a guy like Hedman. He is still you g himself. Getting him a proper partner will go a long way for him as far as earning his contract. Trouba plays very tough physical minutes against the best in the world. He looked good with Brendan Smith at the end for crying out load. A proper partner will go along way to help his game and overall team defense. A side note, with shesty being the full time stater this year that will also help Jake immensely not only in goal but the way he handles the puck. Hank also tried to play the puck and 9 outta 10 times it was a give a away or put the team in a bad spot. Hank couldn’t handle the puck even half as well as shesty

 

[Shesterkybomb]

It has been written in here a million times a million different ways and scenarios for the retention of Tony and staying within the Cap parameters . Buy outs-trades -retirements....and whatever way /combo of to find 5 million for Tony and possibly not needed until the following year . Worse case scenario...you look at it at the deadline when he has racked up almost a PPG average playing with that top 9 we have .....increases his value....and betters our return if a future deal can not be mutually agreed upon . I have a feeling though he will be around for a few more seasons....

I was refering to Tampa adding him.

 

[NYSPORTS]

At this rate, Kravtsov should be back for opening night.

With no trades, this is what I want to see:

Lafreniere - Zibanejad - Buchnevich
Panarin - Strome - Kakko
Kreider - Chytil - Kravtsov
Lemieux - Barron - Fast
Howden - Gauthier

People can complain all they want about Kreider’s money on the 3rd line but I have zero concerns. Guy will continue play 15+ minutes on a line that could be our best on any given night.

Apparently you have no cap concerns as Buch, Strome, Fast were all resigned in addition to Kreider on the 3rd line.

 

[RGY]

It’s almost astounding to realize Brett Howden has never spent a second in Hartford when you consider how awful he’s looked the last two years

This is my biggest issue with Quinn. He has a distinct infatuation with Howden. There could be no other reason why he hasn’t spent significant time in Hartford yet as he should have. He has been pigeonholed into NHL minutes for the last 2 seasons and really hasn’t gotten any bit better. He is atrocious defensively. Atrocious on the faceoff dot. Thus far he has shown he cannot finish at the NHL level effectively. Can’t beat NHL goalies with his shot. Physically, he is behind the NHL demands. He gets bodied out there. The kid needs time in Hartford to fix the gaps in his game, if he ever does. But nope, he will continue to get NHL minutes. He didn’t deserve to make the team last training camp. Certainly not over Lias Andersson. Just too many holes in his game. He is entering year 3 of his Pro career. If he doesnt figure it out soon, he is going to be surpassed by other players in the system. Barron, Khodorenko, and even Lias maybe making his way back. And the bigger issue for me is Quinn will continue to give him NHL minutes with him making his mistakes, living through the “growing pains” that never seem to end, and it will only hurt the team that is trying to transition into contender status.

I also think his roster spot has had an added boost from upper management because he was the only piece from the McDonagh trade close enough to the NHL. And management probably wanted to save face a bit to show they got something impactful for the Captain they traded away. Thus Howden has been given a longer leash.

 

[Machinehead]

Here's a friendly reminder that 136 NHL games by age 21 = "NHL Player"

Yeah, you can just be as bad as you want. Existing in the NHL makes you an NHL player.

 

[Machinehead]

Now imagine a salary cap

lol imagine thinking the salary cap applies to Tampa

 

[jay from jersey]

At this rate, Kravtsov should be back for opening night.

With no trades, this is what I want to see:

Lafreniere - Zibanejad - Buchnevich
Panarin - Strome - Kakko
Kreider - Chytil - Kravtsov
Lemieux - Barron - Fast
Howden - Gauthier

People can complain all they want about Kreider’s money on the 3rd line but I have zero concerns. Guy will continue play 15+ minutes on a line that could be our best on any given night.

Not a bad line up but I think they do want to keep the zibby kreider mojo together.

Lafreniere Zibanejad Kreider
Panarin Strome Kakko
Lemieux Chytil Gauthier
Barron/FA like Girgensons - Howden-Fast
I think you might see some form of this if a combo of Buchnevich, Georgiev, and the 22 OA are packaged for an impact defenseman or to move up in the draft. There are still a lot of unknowns. If Chytil can move up and show chemistry with Panarin and Kakko that would solve a bunch of problems. I also think at some point Quinn will at least try a line of Kreider Zibanejad Kakko. The speed, skill, and size of that line is very intriguing to say the least. That also opens the line up up further but we shall see

 

[QJL]

Apparently you have no cap concerns as Buch, Strome, Fast were all resigned in addition to Kreider on the 3rd line.

Goodbye Henrik
DeAngelo traded
This is the upcoming season so no Buch resigning
Strome and Fast resign

On the record, I think Strome and DeAngelo should be traded. My ideal lineup as Elias Lindholm at center!

 

[NYSPORTS]

Goodbye Henrik
DeAngelo traded
This is the upcoming season so no Buch resigning
Strome and Fast resign

On the record, I think Strome and DeAngelo should be traded. My ideal lineup as Elias Lindholm at center!

not sure what will happen with ADA.

 

[jay from jersey]

This is my biggest issue with Quinn. He has a distinct infatuation with Howden. There could be no other reason why he hasn’t spent significant time in Hartford yet as he should have. He has been pigeonholed into NHL minutes for the last 2 seasons and really hasn’t gotten any bit better. He is atrocious defensively. Atrocious on the faceoff dot. Thus far he has shown he cannot finish at the NHL level effectively. Can’t beat NHL goalies with his shot. Physically, he is behind the NHL demands. He gets bodied out there. The kid needs time in Hartford to fix the gaps in his game, if he ever does. But nope, he will continue to get NHL minutes. He didn’t deserve to make the team last training camp. Certainly not over Lias Andersson. Just too many holes in his game. He is entering year 3 of his Pro career. If he doesnt figure it out soon, he is going to be surpassed by other players in the system. Barron, Khodorenko, and even Lias maybe making his way back. And the bigger issue for me is Quinn will continue to give him NHL minutes with him making his mistakes, living through the “growing pains” that never seem to end, and it will only hurt the team that is trying to transition into contender status.

I also think his roster spot has had an added boost from upper management because he was the only piece from the McDonagh trade close enough to the NHL. And management probably wanted to save face a bit to show they got something impactful for the Captain they traded away. Thus Howden has been given a longer leash.

Agree with 99 percent of post. I don’t know if they think Howden future lies at center or wing more then any member of the board do lol. What I do know is the Org loves him. And people in current positions of power give him an extremely long leash. However I do not agree on Lias. Even if he passes Howden in depth chart with talent, he will never wear a ranger jersey again after pissing on the organizations leg with his antics last year. I hope he keeps improving his stock as a throw in for a trade but he is done in NY forever. Take that to the bank brother

 

[Machinehead]

DeAngelo just makes sense in terms of shedding salary.

Fox is better and Trouba isn't going anywhere.

If there were no cap, I'd happily roll with the three of them.

 

[NYSPORTS]

would be nice if the league allowed a buyout at no penalty considering Covid flattened the cap and changed the market. Honestly, the Rangers may not have resigned Kreider for this much.

Would be better for many teams.

 

[Machinehead]

would be nice if the league allowed a buyout at no penalty considering Covid flattened the cap and changed the market. Honestly, the Rangers may not have resigned Kreider for this much.

I wish they just didn't sign Trouba

But even with that buyout, I would move DeAngelo. You just can't load up one position like that in a cap league.

 

[NYSPORTS]

I wish they just didn't sign Trouba

But even with that buyout, I would move DeAngelo. You just can't load up one position like that in a cap league.

it’s a lot of money for a long time. He is physical and needs a better partner yet i think we would all like to see more offense.

 

[haohmaru]

Yeah, you can just be as bad as you want. Existing in the NHL makes you an NHL player.

10 games, I'd agree with you. 136 before your 22nd birthday? Come on. Somebody will take your job well before that if you suck as bad as some of the rhetoric around here. This is a young guy learning to play and is likely to improve.

This is the kind of stuff that people here bitch about all the time, too - "play the kids" "let them develop" and then the coach does that and "he's not an NHL player" "trade him for a bag of pucks" etc... The dichotomy here is off the charts.

That being said, if his game doesn't take a step forward the near future I have no problem with moving on. There are aspects to his game that show promise and maybe that's what Quinn is hoping will "click" at some point. I don't love his game at the moment, but I see no reason to abandon ship on a 21 year old center that's still figuring it out.

 

[McSauer]

The difference is AV played that system with a veteran team. I think, with Quinn, as the team matures and the defense gets more mobile and athletic, that system will change and evolve.

Serious question: what system do we play right now? I can't see one at all (which is the biggest problem with this coach--besides his man-love for Howden)...how would we evolve something that does not exist?

 

[usekakkorightquinn]

I would bet a substantial amount of money that Buchnevich won't be on this team opening night. He's useless here now. As far as Howden goes. We have been through this before with players like Callahan, Anisimov, Dubinsky, etc.... These types take a while to develop. Howden never got the AHL time like those guys do. However, like those players I think in the next 2 years he will make the jump to a 40 point guy who plays both ends. Probably why I expect he will be the guy they lose in the expansion draft.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

At this rate, Kravtsov should be back for opening night.

With no trades, this is what I want to see:

Lafreniere - Zibanejad - Buchnevich
Panarin - Strome - Kakko
Kreider - Chytil - Kravtsov
Lemieux - Barron - Fast
Howden - Gauthier

People can complain all they want about Kreider’s money on the 3rd line but I have zero concerns. Guy will continue play 15+ minutes on a line that could be our best on any given night.

In general, I like this approach, but:

1) I have a strong suspicion at least one forward (likely Buch and/or Strome) will no longer be here.
2) At least to start his career, I expect Lafreniere to play on the third line and Kreider to remain with Zibanejad.
3) Most reports indicate Barron will be a LW in the pros.

EDIT: and 4) I missed that you still have Fast, who is almost assuredly gone.

So, in other words, I actually disagree with your take a fair amount.

 

[Machinehead]

10 games, I'd agree with you. 136 before your 22nd birthday? Come on. Somebody will take your job well before that if you suck as bad as some of the rhetoric around here. This is a young guy learning to play and is likely to improve.

This is the kind of stuff that people here bitch about all the time, too - "play the kids" "let them develop" and then the coach does that and "he's not an NHL player" "trade him for a bag of pucks" etc... The dichotomy here is off the charts.

That being said, if his game doesn't take a step forward the near future I have no problem with moving on. There are aspects to his game that show promise and maybe that's what Quinn is hoping will "click" at some point. I don't love his game at the moment, but I see no reason to abandon ship on a 21 year old center that's still figuring it out.

Please, save the meritocracy crap.

We have more than enough evidence that coaches play favorites regardless of performance.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

I would bet a substantial amount of money that Buchnevich won't be on this team opening night. He's useless here now. As far as Howden goes. We have been through this before with players like Callahan, Anisimov, Dubinsky, etc.... These types take a while to develop. Howden never got the AHL time like those guys do. However, like those players I think in the next 2 years he will make the jump to a 40 point guy who plays both ends. Probably why I expect he will be the guy they lose in the expansion draft.

1) He's not useless yet at least

2) No reason to trade him now

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

At this rate, Kravtsov should be back for opening night.

With no trades, this is what I want to see:

Lafreniere - Zibanejad - Buchnevich
Panarin - Strome - Kakko
Kreider - Chytil - Kravtsov
Lemieux - Barron - Fast
Howden - Gauthier

People can complain all they want about Kreider’s money on the 3rd line but I have zero concerns. Guy will continue play 15+ minutes on a line that could be our best on any given night.

I think this is what it will be with the exception of Fast. I believe him leaving is a foregone conclusion. Howden, Barron, Gauthier, DiG, Gettinger and whatever cheap FA 4th liner compete for Spots 11-13.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

I don’t believe that Wayne Simmonds has ever gone deep into the playoffs.

That's fair. Second round in 2012 was his longest.

I think for a one year deal a vet like him is fine. He can play the Fedotenko/Prospal role for this group and be in and out of the lineup.

 

[haohmaru]

We have more than enough evidence that coaches play favorites regardless of performance.

And? Is this more true for Quinn than for other coaches? Who cares? It's not like someone worthy was being bumped while Howden was taking their spot on an NHL roster. He'll improve, as will the Rangers.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Those breakfasts with Quinn are really paying off for Howden

But yeah, Quinn runs a meritocracy until it comes to certain players like Strome or Howden. He’s no different than any other coach, anyone saying otherwise is kidding themselves