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

[kovazub94]

I think we will rise to the competition of the better teams. Usually the case. Cheers!

Or Caps get down to our level, whatever it is.

Doesn't matter as either way we'd need to put our trust into Shesterkin.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Bennett for TDA makes too much sense

 

[Reway10]

Bennett apparently not playing tonight...

 

[eco's bones]

I really think Zibanejad is a hell of a player but he hasn't got anything going his way right now. If he was producing like last year we'd have at least a couple more wins and particularly if our goaltending were a little better than it has been.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

So is Bennett a 3rd liner/grinder type? Or the usual fringe 4th liner at this point?

Looking at quanthockey, Bennett isn't one of the main faceoff-guys for Calgary this season. Overall a 50% kinda guy, still better than the guys on our squad probably.

I want to see a pick coming this way.

 

[SRHRangers]

So is Bennett a 3rd liner/grinder type? Or the usual fringe 4th liner at this point?

Looking at quanthockey, Bennett isn't one of the main faceoff-guys for Calgary this season. Overall a 50% kinda guy, still better than the guys on our squad probably.

I want to see a pick coming this way.

Would love to see Bennett on Panarin's other wing, let him split some faceoffs with Strome and just be a bull in a china shop on that line.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Bennett for TDA makes too much sense

maybe it happens tonight. let's hope the Rangers are involved in this.

 

[LaffyTaffy]

maybe it happens tonight. let's hope the Rangers are involved in this.

Assuming this is true, I still dont see why we have talked ourselves up to want Sam Bennet. He's perfectly fine, but he's not that great defensively to convince me he's worth a trade. His shot is also very meh, though he drives fine offense. Idk how I feel about it. I wont hate it but idk if its the best value for Tony. But oh well. All for sending Tony to Canada.

 

[Fitzy]

All I'll add on the Bennett situation is that, if we do indeed trade for him, I hope they give him a shot at center ice before wing.

It's also concerning how sparsely he's been used on the PK in his career, but I suppose with Zib, Strome, and Howden, we're already set on special teams minutes from centers.

 

[duhmetreE]

It's bad because it's literally in every post regardless of discussion. And often the reason why it's every post is because you try to connect issues to it that are not connected.

I don't know what you're referring to but if it's David Quinn... He's the the coach of the team. If you do not think he plays a role in every aspect of the team, ( for better or worse ) you're wrong.

Your complaint is essentially I'm too consistent... and you don't agree with me so it becomes irritating.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

maybe it happens tonight. let's hope the Rangers are involved in this.

Paging @Edge

 

[Harbour Dog]

I think Bennet is pretty overrated still, but in terms of what we can get for Deangelo as this moment, sign me up!

 

[CommaSynapse]

So is Bennett a 3rd liner/grinder type? Or the usual fringe 4th liner at this point?

Looking at quanthockey, Bennett isn't one of the main faceoff-guys for Calgary this season. Overall a 50% kinda guy, still better than the guys on our squad probably.

I want to see a pick coming this way.

He'd probably be one of our better face-off guys...not sure if that's a credit to him or a sad comment on our face-off ability.

My understanding is he's largely been playing a Top-9 physical role. I'm all about us getting tougher to play against. I know he was drafted as a C, but he looks like he's spent plenty of time on the wing as well. I think he'd be a good 3C while Fil is out and could play in a lot of different places in the lineup once he's back.

Could see him ending up kind of like Namestnikov.

Wonder if we'll also have a cap-dump coming our way.

 

[leetch99]

Bennett is a very safe return.....worse comes to worse and for some reason he is deemed expendable at the deadline there will be many clubs lined up for him because he has another gear in the playoffs . Hopefully JG & JD can come out of this well and the Rangers become harder to play against .....adding Bennett is a great start . He could be a great power forward that was once envisioned for him back in his draft year with the right line mates . Sometimes that is all it takes .

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

I'd like to give him some time at C with decent linemates as a "see what happens" deal, but it's not like Chytil is going to be out forever and you've gotta wait what, two weeks to get a guy in from Canada?

 

[duhmetreE]

maybe it happens tonight. let's hope the Rangers are involved in this.

Hajek and/or Gauthier getting scouted?

I've seen Valimaki's name come up, is there a reason?

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Listen if it’s Bennett let’s just get the deal done already

I don’t think Bennett is going to be a long term piece here but at this stage he’s better than nothing

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I think it's a little early to point to them not producing though --- especially on this roster right now.

In what is a very, very small sample size, Kakko has the most goals in his draft class and the second most points --- behind the guy who went first. He trails Hughes by four points --- all of which seem to have come against the Rangers.

He's been getting his chances and has been anywhere from a 20 to 30 goal pace in this very young season. Frankly, he's come within a short hair of having 3 or 4 goals at this point.

Lafreniere's last couple of games have not been his strongest, but he hasn't looked out of place in the NHL. At this point he barely played a full preseason worth of games in a normal season. He's got a goal in 9 games, or what works out to about 9 over a full 82 game schedule --- again in a very small (too small) sample size. He's another one who could easily have 3 or 4 goals at this point.

But what exactly should they be producing at right now?

Who's there center?

Chytil is on the IR. Zibanejad might as well be too.

That leaves who? Stroke...I mean Strome? Howden?

Who's centering these kids?

I think I'd feel different if this team was firing on all cylinders and these kids weren't getting chances or looked over-matched. But none of those things has been apparent yet.

So how do they compare to their teammates thus far? In that sense, I think they've held their own more often than not.

I'm just not seeing an emerging problem at this point in time.

Mic drop

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Strome has looked okay lately, at least. Maybe right after they took him off the powerplay? It would be so good for the team if Kakko could really get going with those two.

Its becoming obvious that dude needs like 10-12 games to get his legs.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Listen if it’s Bennett let’s just get the deal done already

I don’t think Bennett is going to be a long term piece here but at this stage he’s better than nothing

So Bennett has his issues too? Locker room cancer Pt 2?

Whats the distraction?

 

[Sayba]

Is there any possibility to package DeAngelo, another current player and or prospect and go for something more meaningful? We desperately need another center in our top 6.

 

[duhmetreE]

While the results haven't been there, the way the team is actually playing at this moment is better than at any other time under Quinn. Outside of some isolated periods, they've been on the better end of scoring chances and overall play for the majority of the season. Of course this is a results oriented league, but the progress from being reliant upon having exceptional goaltending to compete, to one where we are in games when the goaltending is subpar is a good step forward.

We've complained over many of years that the team was so reliant on Lundqvist standing on his head to win games. Giving up 40+ shots in multiple games. Being pinned in their own zone for numerous shifts in a row. I've seen less of that in these games this season so far. In fact, they are 3-4-2 in spite of the goaltending they have received in a lot of the games. I think we know of at least 3 games so far they've received far from average goaltending.

They are currently 21st in 5v5 SV%. That's something new for us as a whole. We're very used to getting saves when needed. This season might be the first time I've been overly concerned when an opposing team is in the zone for sustained periods of time, because they haven't been getting that save. I do think this will change. Shesterkin has the pedigree to make it so. Georgiev less so, but we've seen him singlehandedly keep them and win them games. The big thing is will they still continue to be around a 50/50 split on scoring chances and shots.

Our team defense has been much better. We're not giving up 40 shots a game along with the high danger scoring chances.

Bad goaltending can be circled back to Quinn. He doesn't get all the blame but why isn't Shesty getting #1 time? It can be argued all we want but Shesterkin is the #1. Quinn, himself called him the #1 last year. So, why is our #1 goalie not allowed to get in a rhythm?

I do not remember a time where we slept walk through periods. I do not remember the team looking this lethargic through the games. I do not remember teammates getting into fights in the tunnel. Morale has been way down. I do not expect Quinn to be perfect and make all the right decisions... but he's messing up the obvious/simple ones.

There are things that are out of direct-control from the coach. That is not what bothers me... It bothers me when, the things that Quinn does have direct-control over, are botched. There's a major difference and therein lies a majority of my grievances.

 

[Fitzy]

Is there any possibility to package DeAngelo, another current player and or prospect and go for something more meaningful? We desperately need another center in our top 6.

My instinct is that with the start Chytil had, maybe they want to give him a longer look before going outside the organization for a 2nd line center.

Of course, all bets are off if a young star like Eichel or Barkov gets actively shopped.

 

[Edge]

yes, our vets and our goalie play has been suspect but we're also playing the 'weakest' teams in the division.

These next 2 weeks will be very telling. Hopefully everything starts clicking and they play like the 2019 offense, with the added benefit of Jacques Martins defense. Time will tell.

Get Fired or Flourish Fortnight for the team.

You know it's funny, I think our division is somewhat wide open, but I've always been hesitant to call it weak.

Our competition is vulnerable and they certainly have weak points we can exploit.

Yet at the same time, Crosby and Malkin are still dangerous. Ovechkin is as well. Eichel and Hall are dangerous. Boston has depth. Philly is somewhat underrated in their ability. There are a number of potentially challenging goalies in the division.

On any given night, the Rangers can beat many of those teams. But they can also be beaten as well. We don't have a Detroit or an Ottawa to kick around in our division. It's going to be a battle.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

So Bennett has his issues too? Locker room cancer Pt 2?

Whats the distraction?

his teammates are jealous his stache