Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part LXXVIII - Calm in the eye of Desolation?

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

It can't be just a 7th because whatever team it is, is going to want some salary coming back. Hoping for something similar dollars/definitely not more term. Maybe someone who is underperforming but still useful? Would be nice.

 

[Trxjw]

How about Alex Goligoski straight up for Tony? Golly had a good season last year, not so good in the playoffs. He's 35 and on the final year of his contract. Serviceable NHL defenseman...left hand shot. Completely new management and teammates in Arizona since Tony last passed through town.

If we're getting a veteran D I'd hope for someone a little younger that can maybe skate with the team for a couple years. Gogo could be that guy with an extension but despite the fact that I'm not expecting much for Tony I'd be a little bummed with that return.

 

[haveandare]

I'm fine with Bennett and I'm not saying grit isn't a thing, but it gets romanticized, especially when the guy isn't on our team and he's standing on greener grass. The tangible incidents in which it makes a difference are scattered. On a game-to-game basis, Bennett isn't going to do a damn thing Lemieux doesn't do.

Another Lemieux wouldn’t be the worst thing honestly. He’s been very effective for his role this year

 

[Machinehead]

Another Lemieux wouldn’t be the worst thing honestly. He’s been very effective for his role this year

Right, I wouldn't be against having two of those savages running around, I just don't want people to expect this huge impact.

 

[JohnC]

With him about to be on his fourth team in a young career, and with his track record even before the NHL, I am shocked that there are people that refuse to believe ADA is a headache and most likely not worth the drama. This has nothing to do with political beliefs...

It’s mostly a shame that the time travelers went out of their way to warn the Sarnia Sting and the Tampa Bay Lightning but not us. Sad!

 

[Machinehead]

Brodzinski was just dropped



Perhaps Kakko doesn't have covid

 

[LokiDog]

I'm fine with Bennett and I'm not saying grit isn't a thing, but it gets romanticized, especially when the guy isn't on our team and he's standing on greener grass. The tangible incidents in which it makes a difference are scattered. On a game-to-game basis, Bennett isn't going to do a damn thing Lemieux doesn't do.

That’s probably true, but I’d wager he’d get more minutes than Lemieux and having 14 minutes of Bennett energy and 10 minutes of Lemieux energy would be an upgrade. Bennett is kind of a Swiss Army knife who has under achieved production wise (though brings it in the post season). He can slot anywhere since he plays all forward positions and had the requisite skill to compliment skill players, but doesn’t translate it to production. In all reality he’d probably be a third line version of fourth line Lemmy, but I could definitely see him getting a shot on Panarin’s off wing and finding a good fit there.

 

[haveandare]

Right, I wouldn't be against having two of those savages running around, I just don't want people to expect this huge impact.

Yeah that’s fair. It’s not a team altering addition by any means but could be a useful guy with a little luck

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Brodzinski was just dropped



Perhaps Kakko doesn't have covid

Likely a potential exposure I would guess. Good to have him back tomorrow.

 

[Fitzy]

I feel like this team desperately needs a middle 6 center, and you guys keep talking about left defense.

You pick up a middle 6 center, you can shift Strome to the right and remove a lot of his defensive weaknesses at pivot.

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Panarin-Center-Strome
Kreider-Chytil-Kakko
PDG-Howden-Rooney

 

[MarkMessyay11]

How about Alex Goligoski straight up for Tony? Golly had a good season last year, not so good in the playoffs. He's 35 and on the final year of his contract. Serviceable NHL defenseman...left hand shot. Completely new management and teammates in Arizona since Tony last passed through town.

I don't hate this idea at all. It would really sure up the top 6 for this year with an option for a 1-year extension at a (presumably) lower price next year. Would also be a positive to add a vet like him as a mentor for our young guys. Convincing AZ to take Tony back with an extra year on his deal is the challenge.

I'll leave the cap calculations to the pros, but I'm also not sure if we can take Goligoski's $5.45M cap hit and eat some of Tony's at the same time.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Brodzinski was just dropped



Perhaps Kakko doesn't have covid

Sam or Joe said that they expected Kakko back very soon according to Quinn, so I fully expect he's in the lineup tomorrow.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I'm fine with Bennett and I'm not saying grit isn't a thing, but it gets romanticized, especially when the guy isn't on our team and he's standing on greener grass. The tangible incidents in which it makes a difference are scattered. On a game-to-game basis, Bennett isn't going to do a damn thing Lemieux doesn't do.

Meaningful grit is always useful. I wouldn't want a roster full of these guys, but there needs to be some balance. It's not a coincidence that Tampa finally got over the hump when they started to acknowledge that these players matter.

I won't compare him to Fast as a player as JF is MUCH more impactful across the rink, but in the offensive zone in the corners/along the walls, Bennett is better. Could definitely see a situation where he would really fit in well on Panarin's opposite wing. I don't know if its so much a grass is greener thing as it is a we don't have anyone who can play along the walls outside of a few of our 4th liners, Kakko kind of, and Kreider when he isn't sucking.

 

[LokiDog]

Yeah that’s fair. It’s not a team altering addition by any means but could be a useful guy with a little luck

Production wise, but with a little luck, I think a couple of choice fits like Bennett could be team altering in terms of overall energy and being a tougher team to play against. Not MAJOR impact, unless he somehow became Panarin’s new Strome, but perhaps something that shows we’re cultivating a bit more peskiness and hard nosed mentality. Trouba, Lindgren, Lemmy... the way Howden and Kreider have been playing recently, some American Buch. Maybe adding one or two additional pieces like Bennett and a rugged bottom pair guy shifts the identity/mentality a bit.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Why is Miles Woods still on the Devil's? Why is Brendan Smith still on the Rangers and countless other altercations between teammates?

DeAngelo was singled out and targeted using his past as an excuse.

To me we lost a good hockey player/ asset for nothing and no one cares because of his politics.

That isnt the full reason, but good enough for me

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Still think DeAngelo gets traded for a bottom pair defenseman. With injuries and losing him we are starving for another dman short term. I wouldn't expect someone like Bennett coming back.

 

[True Blue]

Actually Gorton is beginning to show a pattern of poor asset management and Quinn is a shity leader. ADA's outbursts are beginning to fit the pattern.

What are you putting forth as Gorton having a pattern of poor asset management? DeAngelo's poor behavior this year?

 

[RangersFan1994]

 

[Avery16]

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Flames coach Geoff Ward dismissed any talk of Bennett being unhappy with his playing time. Ward indicated he spoke with Bennett before the start of the season to give him the choice of where he wanted to play in the lineup. He started at center and after a couple of games asked to be moved to the wing.

Apparently, Bennett prefers playing wing. Also, what coach lets a player pick where they slot in the lineup? What kind of an operation are they running in Calgary?

NHL Rumor Mill – February 3, 2021 | Spectors Hockey

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I feel like this team desperately needs a middle 6 center, and you guys keep talking about left defense.

You pick up a middle 6 center, you can shift Strome to the right and remove a lot of his defensive weaknesses at pivot.

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kreider
Panarin-Center-Strome
Di Giuseppe-Chytil-Kakko
Blackwell-Howden-Rooney

I think the bigger issue is that we have Strome playing top 6 minutes regardless of whether hes a C or a W. Hes not a top 6 forward.

Also did Buchnevich disappear?

 

[Trxjw]

Meaningful grit is always useful. I wouldn't want a roster full of these guys, but there needs to be some balance. It's not a coincidence that Tampa finally got over the hump when they started to acknowledge that these players matter.

I won't compare him to Fast as a player as JF is MUCH more impactful across the rink, but in the offensive zone in the corners/along the walls, Bennett is better. Could definitely see a situation where he would really fit in well on Panarin's opposite wing. I don't know if its so much a grass is greener thing as it is a we don't have anyone who can play along the walls outside of a few of our 4th liners, Kakko kind of, and Kreider when he isn't sucking.

Basically the way I see it. Bennett fills that hole that Fast left, at least stylistically, and is more skilled than the guys we're trotting out now in that spot. Give him a real shot to see if he can get his confidence going and maybe you can get him chipping in 15-18 goals with Panarin while also taking draws for Strome. I'm not expecting a climb that aligns with his draft status here. Just a guy that's better than what we have now when it comes to filling a spot.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Meaningful grit is always useful. I wouldn't want a roster full of these guys, but there needs to be some balance. It's not a coincidence that Tampa finally got over the hump when they started to acknowledge that these players matter.

I won't compare him to Fast as a player as JF is MUCH more impactful across the rink, but in the offensive zone in the corners/along the walls, Bennett is better. Could definitely see a situation where he would really fit in well on Panarin's opposite wing. I don't know if its so much a grass is greener thing as it is a we don't have anyone who can play along the walls outside of a few of our 4th liners, Kakko kind of, and Kreider when he isn't sucking.

I feel like we almost exclusively have forwards who can play the walls... Zibanejad, Buchnevich, Kreider, Kakko, Laf, Gauthier, Howden, Chytil... problem is we stick to the walls and never get to the middle.

 

[Fitzy]

That isnt the full reason, but good enough for me

There was a kid that Florida drafted a while back- Grimaldi, who was considered a locker room distraction and was told to cut down on the proselytizing in the room.

It doesn't really matter what the subject matter is, if you can't stop dividing people in the room, its a problem.

 

[Fitzy]

I think the bigger issue is that we have Strome playing top 6 minutes regardless of whether hes a C or a W. Hes not a top 6 forward.

Also did Buchnevich disappear?

I knew I forgot someone hahaha.

I'm fine with Strome playing a regular shift with Panarin, I just don't think he should be logging nearly as many minutes on the PP and PK

 

[Bluto]

What are you putting forth as Gorton having a pattern of poor asset management? DeAngelo's poor behavior this year?

Well he traded stepan for him to begin with knowing ADAs history...
Then there was the lias andersson debacle...
The Mcdonagh trade...
Kravtsov last year...
Yeah lots of head scratchers.