Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part LXX

[Fitzy]

I was just reading Larry Brooks article about stacking lines and was wondering what would you guys think of these 3 lines? Moving Kreider and Buchnevich to Chytil's line could really help him take the next step. Meanwhile, Lafreniere gets an elite shooter/sniper in Zibanejad & Zibanejad gets the elite playmaker in Lafreniere. Gauthier gives them size and speed on the other wing.

Lafreniere - Zibanejad - Gauthier

Panarin - Strome - Kakko

Kreider - Chytil - Buchnevich

Lemieux - Howden - Rooney

Blackwell

Lindgren - Fox

(Smith/Hajek) - Trouba

(Johnson/Biletto ) - DeAngelo


Shestorkin - Georgiev


Think it would give us 3 very strong lines for the time being. Chances are by the draft some combination of Strome, Buchnevich and/or DeAngelo will be moved for a 2nd line Center.
The following season Kravtsov replaces Buchnevich, Lundqvist/ Schneider are here to replace DeAngelo and Miller/ Robertson are here to replace Smith/Hajek and Biletto/Johnson.
Flame away

Solid lines. I dont think we will see it but I appreciate the balance. NYR in 2015 had 3 scoring lines and an excellent checking 4th, and your lineup I think comes the closest to that.

I also really think if Kakko hit it off with Strome and Panarin that could be a home run. Each of our top 2 picks should be either with Zib or Panarin for development.

 

[BKGooner]

I am starting to se Kakko a little like Rick Nash - he may not need high skill line mates to open up his offense. Two average players can play with him and just get out of the way.

 

[Kovalev27]

Problem with Gauthier is you can’t trust him to play two way hockey especially matched against top lines. He’s gotta figure it out but until then he’s going to struggle to find top 9 mins let alone top 6 under quinn. Confident he can do it but I doubt he’s a top line guy anytime soon

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Brooks' piece aside, I think Quinn goes with the following lines out of camp...

Kreider-Zib-Buch
Panarn-Strome-Kakko
Laf-Chytil-Gauthier
Lemieux-Howden-PDG/Rooney/Blackwell

Lindgren-Fox
Smith-Trouba
Johnson-TDA

Shesty/Georgiev

...not the lines we see by the end of the season.
Anticipating Miller, Barron, Kravstov coming in.
Wouldn't be surprised to see Strome, TDA and Buch going out along with some shuffling around depending on the return.

Yeah this is the conventional wisdom. I don’t like the youth across the 3rd line, I think they could benefit by moving Krieder down maybe once Laf gets his feet wet. Gauthier could learn a lot about what kind of player he could be playing with Krieds. I also think that Bitetto could steal that 6th spot from JMFJ. Not sure what the fancy stats say about who sucks less but I do know that he hits everything in sight which could be good and bad. Lastly, how’s Rooney on face offs? Maybe he and Howton switch? I like DiG as my 13th, Blackwell strikes me as more of a top 9 injury replacement player.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

we traded McDonagh when he only had 2 playoffs and a regular season left on his contract. If Tampa won the cup in that window then I could go along with the notion that Tampa got what they wanted from the trade. They didn't though. They signed him to a deal after his contract expired but at that point, it no longer involved us. It was solely their business with McDonagh and no longer involved the trade. I also think Tampa was going to win the cup with or without him. He clearly didn't put them over the top for the 2 playoff seasons that we traded away.

I think people either forget or just choose to neglect the time relevance with a contract status. We traded a year and half's worth of McDonagh. Tampa didn't win in that window. That was really all our business with them.

That deal could cost them Sergechev.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

A lot of this depends on how fast Schneider progresses. It's entirely possible that in time, both of these things could happen.

 

[Fitzy]

I am starting to se Kakko a little like Rick Nash - he may not need high skill line mates to open up his offense. Two average players can play with him and just get out of the way.

I'm gonna stick to my "Rich man's Frolov" prediction.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Kakko reminds me a lot of Rick Nash, but he isn't as fast as Rick was when he first arrived compared to his peers, or as physically imposing.

 

[Avery16]

Does anyone think that Barron won’t require significant time in Hartford?

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

Kakko reminds me a lot of Rick Nash, but he isn't as fast as Rick was when he first arrived compared to his peers, or as physically imposing.

If he becomes a more consistent and physical version of Rick Nash, that's still a home run pick at #2.

 

[Ola]

I am starting to se Kakko a little like Rick Nash - he may not need high skill line mates to open up his offense. Two average players can play with him and just get out of the way.

I agree for sure, good analogy, but at the same time, I think we should aim to do one notch better with Kakko than CBJ did with Nash.

Kakko must play with someone who can get him the puck early, which Nash had in CBJ with guys like Vyborny and Prospal among others, but if teams focus on Kakko you must also have a speedy threat at center. That is the best way to get someone like Kakko the puck in the areas he is lethal from.

 

[cwede]

Does anyone think that Barron won’t require significant time in Hartford?

i am thinking he spends at least the few months term, as did McD and Hagelin.
Very few NCAA guys, with less than 4 college seasons, step right into NYR lineup - Step and Fox and ?
Also (a) NYR need Seattle exposure guys like Rooney to accrue games and
(b) NYR may try to avoid ELC Bonus/salary cap complications, already somewhat exposed re Laf, Kakko Fox ...

 

[jay from jersey]

Does anyone think that Barron won’t require significant time in Hartford?

I honestly think he comes in has a great camp and starts 4th line RW. It’s not out of the realm of possibility. Either that or he’s on the big club by mid season as an injury call up and doesn’t go back down

 

[Avery16]

I honestly think he comes in has a great camp and starts 4th line RW. It’s not out of the realm of possibility. Either that or he’s on the big club by mid season as an injury call up and doesn’t go back down

He's a lefty

 

[tbassler]

Kakko reminds me a lot of Rick Nash, but he isn't as fast as Rick was when he first arrived compared to his peers, or as physically imposing.

Nash was awesome at one-on-ones and breakaways.

I have seen Kakko stickhandle in heavy traffic and I really hope he eventually excels there at the NHL level. I don't think Nash ever got there.


I can dream in the offseason.

 

[jay from jersey]

He's a lefty

Doesn’t mean he has to play LW. The only spot available he might compete for is RW on fourth line
Lemieux Howden Barron/ Rooney. I’m not sure where else he would play in the line up right out of camp but there. If it’s not on 4th line he is prob destined for the A, which is fine. But he has the size and smarts that if he has a great camp I think he stays with the big club

 

[Shesterkybomb]

If he becomes a more consistent and physical version of Rick Nash, that's still a home run pick at #2.

I think people forget how good Rick was, he was good here but he had some really dominant years in columbus on a terrible team. He was physical, strong, fast and could score. I remember him getting into a few fights there as well. If Kakko turns out like Nash before his concussions I think we will have a serious player.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Kakko reminds me a lot of Rick Nash, but he isn't as fast as Rick was when he first arrived compared to his peers, or as physically imposing.

Kakko reminds me of a mix of Jagr and Hossa.

 

[JCProdigy]

As long as one hand is toward the bottom of the shaft and one near the top, I’m happy

I bet you are....

 

[Avery16]

Doesn’t mean he has to play LW. The only spot available he might compete for is RW on fourth line
Lemieux Howden Barron/ Rooney. I’m not sure where else he would play in the line up right out of camp but there. If it’s not on 4th line he is prob destined for the A, which is fine. But he has the size and smarts that if he has a great camp I think he stays with the big club

We're assuming a lot here, but shift Kreider to RW, bump Howden back up to 3LW with Chytil and Kakko, try Barron at 4C.

 

[jay from jersey]

We're assuming a lot here, but shift Kreider to RW, bump Howden back up to 3LW with Chytil and Kakko, try Barron at 4C.

It’s possible, I just think if he makes the rangers they won’t give him the responsibility of playing center as a rookie. I def think they want Howden to get more time there because management feels he will be a good bottom 6 center. You could be right but I see the rangers starting Zibby,Strome, Chytil, and Howden down the middle to start the season at least

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Kakko reminds me of a mix of Jagr and Hossa.

I dunno, haven't seen that yet, i hope you're right that would be amazing.

 

[NYRangers16]

Just because Florida took a gamble giving the term and dollars up front with the hope that the contract would look better for them down the road, doesn’t mean every team and/or prospect will be handled that way.

If Chytil, Igor, Lindgren are all getting long term deals then I think management is approaching them the right way. Lindgren isn’t getting that. Chytil, unless he absolutely has a monster year, is not getting that. Yeah, its likely they try to lock Igor up longterm, but that is worth it.

Can’t look at everything in a vacuum. Buchnevich, Strome, and/or DeAngelo could be moved after this season. Especially if it came down to improving the 2C position.

I don’t see any reason not to handle it that way. It’s in our interest to sign our young guys long term. But that isn’t an impediment to fielding a great team. We have the most(?), or almost the most cap space among likely contenders next offseason. Let’s see who progresses and who doesn’t this season. Our future is bright.

 

[NYRangers16]

Solid lines. I dont think we will see it but I appreciate the balance. NYR in 2015 had 3 scoring lines and an excellent checking 4th, and your lineup I think comes the closest to that.

I also really think if Kakko hit it off with Strome and Panarin that could be a home run. Each of our top 2 picks should be either with Zib or Panarin for development.

Agreed completely. They def. shouldn’t run a line with Chytil, Laf, and Kakko. Laf with Zibby just screams success. Kakko adds a lot of physicality to Panarin/Strome, and Chytil can play with upgraded linemates. One of Buch or Kreider + whoever else meshes. Can you guys imagine rolling 3 lines like that? The left defense is still a major issue for now, but eh... unless they make a major deal, it seems we will go into the season with that situation. It’s such a glaring need. Lindgren is solid, but no matter what our prospects do this year, there’s no way it will be good enough.

I’d add, if we could add an all around LD type by trade, it might really push us forward this year. The 2C thing can wait... Strome isn’t ideal but I guess we can’t remake the whole team this offseason. Though Gorts has surprised us before.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Nash was awesome at one-on-ones and breakaways.

I have seen Kakko stickhandle in heavy traffic and I really hope he eventually excels there at the NHL level. I don't think Nash ever got there.


I can dream in the offseason.

He started showing signs of it during the play-ins.