Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part LX

[True Blue]

right, but if a trade came along for a better upgrade at center than Strome, they just wouldn't sign Strome and would trade him. just saying 23M is a lot to work with even with the dead cap.

I understand, but while the cap room seems like a lot there are still players that will need to be resigned. While I certainly realize the desire for an upgrade, I just am not sure as to who that is. Strome was trending to a 70 point player with Panarin. That worked just fine. You are not going out and getting a 90 point second line center. So what kind of a tangible upgrade are you talking about and how much of that much coveted cap space is it going to eat up for years to come?

 

[LeetchisGod]

I really don't have much interest in doing anymore deals with Tampa. The last one was pretty terrible.

 

[GAGLine]

Yeah, but we also assume they want to keep everyone. maybe they want to move ADA and can get a 2C or a LHD (since we have a lot of RHD), maybe they find a better upgrade than Strome. I really dont think all these guys are coming back

Definitely, which is why I said that any trades will likely include equal cap on both sides. It's certainly possible that we clear more cap by trading one of Strome/ADA, then use that space to acquire someone else.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I understand, but while the cap room seems like a lot there are still players that will need to be resigned. While I certainly realize the desire for an upgrade, I just am not sure as to who that is. Strome was trending to a 70 point player with Panarin. That worked just fine. You are not going out and getting a 90 point second line center. So what kind of a tangible upgrade are you talking about and how much of that much coveted cap space is it going to eat up for years to come?

I guess it depends if people think Strome is that guy, if he's that guy there is no issue with him being the 2C

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

Oh wait, you guys were finding average of actual years...? And calling it average age?

 

[NYRangers0723]

I really don't have much interest in doing anymore deals with Tampa. The last one was pretty terrible.

I disagree that it was terrible. It’s still up in the air but nils and henriksson are real good prospects. I like Hajek and he is still young

 

[Trxjw]

The Eichel to NYR links make sense. David Quinn was his coach at BU. He knows the player well. The Rangers are on an upward trajectory. Eichel wants to win. With Panarin, Lafreniere, Kakko, and Zibanejad also on the team, he doesn't have to be "the guy", even if it seems that he has the personality that he would bask in the opportunity under the big city lights.

Bobby Mac always gets good nuggets pertaining to NYR rumors. He always knows who the Rangers are taking in the draft a minute before they go to the podium. This nugget with Eichel and many others before. He has a source in the Rangers organization that is high up there. That being said, I wonder if Bobby Mac's Rangers source leaked the Eichel stuff on purpose to get another team to lower their ask on another center, as if to say "we have other options here". This screams Barkov to me, and frankly, I'm for it. Both Eichel and Barkov are stars, but Barkov is absolutely more of a need for the roster composition and make up of this team. It's an open secret that Florida was hemorrhaging money pre-COVID. I can't imagine now.

I'm sure McKenzie put it out there for a reason. Part of that is because he's been around long enough that I expect he can tell when he's being fed a line of BS about a scoop but it could be in part what you're saying as well. Buffalo denies and denies. Eichel's camp denies. But now it's out there festering. Could be the Rangers way of trying to light a fire under the Sabres ass by making it public because now it sort of forces them to act to either improve the team immediately or move on Eichel. Both of which seem to be things the Rangers are involved in, in some way or another. The Sabres were asking about Buchnevich last year at the draft. I believe Edge said they inquired about ADA as well. So even if this ultimately doesn't lead to Eichel being a Ranger, it could force the Sabres to cough up a little bit more to add guys like Tony and Buch to help their team in the short term.

Even Fridge touched on in in 31 Thoughts. He said this is something that could come up again in the spring if the Sabres don't make big changes and get better quick. Does anyone thing Adams wants this hanging over his head for the duration of his first year at the helm? Hell no.

 

[Levitate]

I understand, but while the cap room seems like a lot there are still players that will need to be resigned. While I certainly realize the desire for an upgrade, I just am not sure as to who that is. Strome was trending to a 70 point player with Panarin. That worked just fine. You are not going out and getting a 90 point second line center. So what kind of a tangible upgrade are you talking about and how much of that much coveted cap space is it going to eat up for years to come?

I suspect the Rangers would like to find a longer term strong solution at center and Strome isn't that guy, even if he plays well again next year. If you can't find something that works, Strome is fine for another year. If you can find a trade to get a younger guy on a decent contract, then you move on from Strome.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

What were the numbers this year when Deangelo and Trouba played together in spurts? I wonder if they'd consider moving Deangelo to the left side.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I suspect the Rangers would like to find a longer term strong solution at center and Strome isn't that guy, even if he plays well again next year. If you can't find something that works, Strome is fine for another year. If you can find a trade to get a younger guy on a decent contract, then you move on from Strome.

Yeah, this is kinda what I was thinking, you explained it better.

 

[mas0764]

Sigh with the Eichel stuff. We waited a while to acquire this much youth, and before we even know what we have, it’s trade it all away for another big name.

the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Not a single person is advocating trading it all away.

 

[Avery16]

I really don't think Geo has much trade value.

Yep.

 

[Fitzy]

It's tough for me to do cap projections because I think there's a near 100% chance we are going to see more trades this offseason.

I'd be shocked if we just brought everyone back and signed/promoted a replacement for Staal. There's gonna be deals.

 

[mas0764]

Uhh you do realize a) the amount of resources it would take to acquire him (Kiss one of Kakko or Lafreniere goodbye) and b) the cap space he would command thus making us a team with how much of our cap tied into 4 players?

Does everyone see what is going on with the Toronto Maple Leafs right now but just choose to ignore it?

This is unfounded speculation.

Lots can happen, including moving Kreider or others. The cap will also eventually rise. Acquiring Eichel does not spell the end here for Kakko or Lafreniere at all. It might mean guys like Howden can't get big deals as middle 6 players.

 

[mas0764]

ah yes, lets tie up the majority of our cap space in 4 players, cause that’s worked so well for Toronto.

Toronto's problem isn't that they have four stars.

 

[mas0764]

Miller, Kravstov & protected 2021 first for Johnson & Sergachev.

Miller can probably slot in on their 3rd pairing LD right now with sheltered minutes. He's on an ELC so it saves them cap vs Serg. We take a flyer on Johnson who probably has negative value right now, he's a center and we can try him out with our top 6.

Serg slots right into our top pairing and is a force for the next decade+ for the NYR.

I wouldn't include Kravtsov in that deal. Maybe someone else. Miller is an ok inclusion.

 

[Tawnos]

It would have to be... they might be 48 by now, there's no way the average age was 48. Ever.

I wasn't joking either.

 

[Thirty One]

What were the numbers this year when Deangelo and Trouba played together in spurts? I wonder if they'd consider moving Deangelo to the left side.

The Rangers four best pairings in CF% were:
DeAngelo-Fox: 110:09, 65.04 CF%, 61.63 xGF%, 10 GF, 4 GA
Fox-Trouba: 61:31, 59.26 CF%, 68.31 xGF%, 2 GF, 4 GA
Skjei-Fox: 129:07, 56.15 CF%, 54.80 xGF%, 8 GF, 5 GA
DeAngelo-Trouba: 37:09, 54.26 CF%, 66.33 xGF%, 2 GF, 0 GA

3 R-R pairings there, but I would imagine those numbers are somewhat aided by usage.

 

[mas0764]

If Sergachev could be had for the right price (trade cost & new contract) I'd be all in on that over getting a 2nd line center. If the corpses of Michal Handzus and Brad Richards can be cup winning 2Cs then so can Filip Chytil.

The most important part about getting a young #2 center (in addition to Chytil) isn't that we need a young #2 center, it's that it insulates us against Zibanejad injury or age related decline, which is a realistic thing to consider when you think about the fact that he's like ten years older than Lafreniere. Zibanejad is not gonna be the #1C when Kakko and Lafreniere are still in prime league domination mode.

We need another top line center in the system that matches their age. We are about to start winning a lot. You can't count on finding a true #1 C, or even a 1/2C, when you are picking in the 20s or 30s every year.

LD might be a priority but IMO we have way more LD options than we have future center options. I can buy that maybe you address LD first but a future Center certainly needs to be addressed bad, and soon.

 

[bleedblue94]

I will say this again, Gorton has been open about wanting to get better, said the team needed to make some changes, said the carolina series showed they needed to improve in spots, he is not opening cap space to just resign our current rfas, fast, and go into next season with mostly the same roster except for a replacement for staal and laf. That is not his mo, he is working on something and he has his contingency plans. There will be so sort of left field move here before next season to make another stamp on this team/franchise in pushing it towards the next step.

 

[mas0764]

I don't think Serg is a good fit. His strength is offense which we already have plenty of on D.

I'd really rather just plug a solid defensive LHD. Nothing crazy.

I'd rather let our in house LD options cook and re-evaluate in a year or two.

We aren't winning this year anyway. Sign a veteran stopgap and revisit.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I will say this again, Gorton has been open about wanting to get better, said the team needed to make some changes, said the carolina series showed they needed to improve in spots, he is not opening cap space to just resign our current rfas, fast, and go into next season with mostly the same roster except for a replacement for staal and laf. That is not his mo, he is working on something and he has his contingency plans. There will be so sort of left field move here before next season to make another stamp on this team/franchise in pushing it towards the next step.

I agree, we will see more changes for sure.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

I wasn't joking either.

'Cause it means more when you say it, right?

 

[Ghost of jas]

I suspect the Rangers would like to find a longer term strong solution at center and Strome isn't that guy, even if he plays well again next year. If you can't find something that works, Strome is fine for another year. If you can find a trade to get a younger guy on a decent contract, then you move on from Strome.

I'm pretty sure @Edge already said that when he disclosed that Ottawa was asking about Strome.

 

[True Blue]

I guess it depends if people think Strome is that guy, if he's that guy there is no issue with him being the 2C

I view him like this. Everyone always wants Mr or Mrs Right. But there are times when Mr or Mrs Right Now is good enough. And that is what Strome is. Mr. Right Now. Right now is not long term. Right now is right now. And right now, it completely works and will come along at a more reasonable rate than trying to bring in Mr. Right. By having Strome right now, it buys some time to a) let Chytil continue to develop and show that he is ready for that spot or b) let the trade market develop and see what assets can be parted with. There just is no rush at this point and time.