Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part LXVIII

[NYSPORTS]

Not necessarily.

Center is the most important position in hockey and yet the only position that we aren’t really insured against for injury or bust.

In that sense I think it would have been really wise to cash in some assets to try to get up for Lundell this draft; but who knows if that was an option.
.

it is possible Laf turns out to be a Center. Strome could be back. Howden who knows, Barron is on the way and Chytil. Let’s see what we have first and be smart b/c there is an expansion draft next year.

Let’s keep in mind too, the Rangers have a ton of youth and MSG. NHL teams lost a fortune last year and I’m not sure how long it’s going to be until we see sold out arenas. Flat cap and lower revenues means teams may look for bargains and the Rangers certainly have enough inexpensive kids.

Be patient is my take.

 

[lakeshirts37]

i don’t care that he went to Washington. Had he waived his NTC and gone after the Cup i wouldn’t have cared either b/c the Rangers made it clear they were rebuilding. Now Hank claims, at his age he only wants to win lol, yet he never waived his NTC so he could win. So the Rangers had not choice but to buy him out. As a fan i can laugh at it much like i laughed at the Eli Manning debacle.

I really doubt there would be a market for him with MORE years on his contract if there wasn't one this summer...

Get over it.

 

[NYR]

Right, it all starts with the center. And everyone says "oh Edmonton, Edmonton, Edmonton" in regards to the stars playing there not succeeding. But here's the thing: I don't think a witch put a spell on the Edmonton Oilers. I think it's time to admit that they're not competitive because they have one of Draisaitl or McDavid playing like 45/60 minutes and neither of them could point to the defensive zone on a map. So I'd rather have a winger who can do those things.

If I were an EDM fan, I'd gladly take a minimal point reduction if he payed more attention to protecting the house.
He's a big strong dude.
Wouldn't you?

 

[NYSPORTS]

I really doubt there would be a market for him with MORE years on his contract if there wasn't one this summer...

Get over it.

I really doubt you’re following. Get a clue what the point is.

 

[Boris Zubov]

If I were an EDM fan, I'd gladly take a minimal point reduction if he payed more attention to protecting the house.
He's a big strong dude.
Wouldn't you?

That's exactly the point he's making.

 

[Machinehead]

If I were an EDM fan, I'd gladly take a minimal point reduction if he payed more attention to protecting the house.
He's a big strong dude.
Wouldn't you?

Absolutely, that's what I'm saying.

Draisaitl, for all his scoring, was +7 at pure 5v5 play, 132nd in the NHL in 2020. Panarin was +39 at pure 5v5 play, 1st in the NHL in 2020.

Who's giving you more value?

I'm not saying there isn't a *tendency* for centers to give you more value, I just think we need to remove the automatic label.

 

[NYR]

That's exactly the point he's making.

I know but MY point is the importance of strong center depth..

 

[SA16]

Not you toooooo.

This myth needs to die. Good players are important, but it doesn't matter where they play.

I have the feeling that people would feel better about our team if our center depth was something like Zibanejad-Monahan-Granlund-Boyle and we didn't have Panarin on the roster. Of, course this makes no sense. Who cares if your best players are wings? It is obvious to me that we will be weak on center. We have lot of expensive wings and our top prospects are wings. That is always going to be the driving force of this team unless someone is moved. I see no problem with that.

Or what if we signed Tavares but not Panarin? Now our centers are Zibanejad-Tavares-Strome-Howden. And our wings are much worse. Is the team better because it's strong on center? Of course not. Panarin is a better play than Tavares it really doesn't matter that he's a W not a C.

 

[Machinehead]

While I agree that center depth is something to strive for, let's not forget that the Blackhawks won three Cups with an absolute hodgepodge of random 2C's that would be 4th liners on some teams. That's because their wings were insane.

I'm not saying Lafreniere will be Kane nor am I saying that Zibanejad is Peak Toews (Peak Toews has become very overlooked and underrated) but it is possible to build a wing-centric dynasty.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Rangers handled the Lundqvist situation 10x better than the Giants handled Eli

Rangers at least knew when to cut bait instead of forcedfeeding a zombie into the lineup

 

[Machinehead]

Like it or not, heavy on the wings the road we're on. Panarin is already signed and Laf, Kakko, and Kravtsov -while I would give some of them a look at center- are gonna be what they're gonna be.

Maybe down the road you move some of your wing depth for a very good 2C but you gotta compete and see what you have before you do that.

 

[SA16]

While I agree that center depth is something to strive for, let's not forget that the Blackhawks won three Cups with an absolute hodgepodge of random 2C's that would be 4th liners on some teams. That's because their wings were insane.

I'm not saying Lafreniere will be Kane nor am I saying that Zibanejad is Peak Toews (Peak Toews has become very overlooked and underrated) but it is possible to build a wing-centric dynasty.

Hawks lines in the last game of the SCF each year
14-15
Toews Richards Kruger Vermette (Richards was not a good player this year)

12-13
Toews Handzus Bolland Shaw

09-10
Toews Bolland Sharp? Madden (I put a question on Sharp as he was more of a wing but I guess he played both)

This is terrible center depth. Needing to be strong at center is one of the weirdest cliches. You need good players. Doesn't matter where they are. None of these teams had a good 2C. One thing they did avoid is the black holes such as Howden.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

Panarin is a better play than Tavares

That's definitely debatable.

 

[SA16]

That's definitely debatable.

I said it last offseason before the Rangers signed Panarin and he pulled even further ahead during the season.

I don't think it is debatable at all.

 

[NYR]

Absolutely, that's what I'm saying.

Draisaitl, for all his scoring, was +7 at pure 5v5 play, 132nd in the NHL in 2020. Panarin was +39 at pure 5v5 play, 1st in the NHL in 2020.

Who's giving you more value?

I'm not saying there isn't a *tendency* for centers to give you more value, I just think we need to remove the automatic label.

I get what you're saying completely.
I just look at things straight forward..
I'm all about having a balanced lineup, playing super smart and using brute strength when necessary.
I'm playing players to their strengths and everybody has a mission.
Adhere to the system.
No guess work.
f***ing execute..

 

[Machinehead]

Down the line a bit, let's say Kakko is a star and Lafreniere is a superstar. Panarin is Panarin, Kravtsov steps up to be comfortably a top-six player and Kreider still is. You've still got Zibanejad and the center depth is is serviceable with Chytil, Henriksson, and Barron but nobody has stepped up to be a legit 1B center.

You have multiple options here:

-Either make a move, probably Kravtsov because Panarin and Kreider's contracts won't be attractive at this point for a legit center.

-Let Panarin carry the third line like Pittsburgh did with Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel. I'm tempted by this because it makes you impossible to match up against in a series. Just spitballing here:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Lafreniere-Chytil-Cuylle
Panarin-Henriksson-Barron

Good luck, have fun.

Point is, you don't worry about this today.

 

[Machinehead]

I get what you're saying completely.
I just look at things straight forward..
I'm all about having a balanced lineup, playing super smart and using brute strength when necessary.
I'm playing players to their strengths and everybody has a mission.
Adhere to the system.
No guess work.
f***ing execute..

This is why you take the lineup I just posted and give them an actual coach.

Torts had his strengths but was limited, AV was a mad man, and Quinn is over his head imo.

We haven't had a coach in my adult life that I'm particularly crazy about.

 

[lakeshirts37]

I really doubt you’re following. Get a clue what the point is.

Why don’t you get a clue. It wouldn’t have mattered if he waived then because no one would have taken that contract without retaining. Stop complaining about Henrik freaking Lundqvist.

 

[NYR]

This is why you take the lineup I just posted and give them an actual coach.

Torts had his strengths but was limited, AV was a mad man, and Quinn is over his head imo.

We haven't had a coach in my adult life that I'm particularly crazy about.

Agreed 100%

 

[lakeshirts37]

The front office didn’t have a choice b/c Hank never waived his NTC. He was asked if he wanted out, he said no. He could have been moved to contender for years. The whole roster was moved out besides Mark Staal and kids were playing around a dressed Hank who rode the bench. Shes then Georgiev. Don’t move Hank, they’ll dress around you.

Now, now lol he claims at this point in career it’s all about winning? Let’s call it what it was. He had a contract and refused to leave. Yeah, he loved the Rangers and the feeling was mutual but don’t sell me this “all i want to do is win” when he never waived his NTC during a rebuild which is about kids who lose until they learn to win. And make no mistake, he was banking on the Rangers trading Georgiev.

Yikes, you have no clue what you’re talking about lol.

 

[NYR]

I said it last offseason before the Rangers signed Panarin and he pulled even further ahead during the season.

I don't think it is debatable at all.

He's one player and not winning you a cup without the necessary supporting cast..

 

[NYR]

This is why you take the lineup I just posted and give them an actual coach.

Torts had his strengths but was limited, AV was a mad man, and Quinn is over his head imo.

We haven't had a coach in my adult life that I'm particularly crazy about.

DQ is terrible.
I still can't wrap my head around him running the show along with a mediocre babysitter.
The decision making by JG just blows my mind..

 

[Boris Zubov]

He's one player and not winning you a cup without the necessary supporting cast..

You can say that about any superstar.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Yikes, you have no clue what you’re talking about lol.

The letter to fans went out how many years ago? Enough for the entire roster to be moved which you obviously missed. He never waived his NTC dating back longer than apparently you are aware. Yikes, right back ya.

 

[NYR]

You can say that about any superstar.

Sure can..