Roster Building Thread - Part VIII (2023-24 season)

[LaffyTaffy13]

Maroon would make Bonino look like Pavel Bure...guy can't skate at all

He plays winning hockey and actually produces for a 4th liner in playoffs. Id prefer hathaway but doubt philly would eat 50% for rest of 2023-2024 and all of 2024-2025

 

[NYR Viper]

all the Ottawa games I've watched he's been very noticeable in a good way. I am sure Ottawa will be selling...again.
Not sure if he fits what Laviolette wants? Does he play a good 200 foot game?

He’s an energy guy with good hands. He’s decent defensively but I think he leans offense. I’d be okay with a guy like that.

 

[B17 Apricots]

all the Ottawa games I've watched he's been very noticeable in a good way. I am sure Ottawa will be selling...again.
Not sure if he fits what Laviolette wants? Does he play a good 200 foot game?

He’s an energy guy with good hands. He’s decent defensively but I think he leans offense. I’d be okay with a guy like that.

He's versatile. Their go-to player on the penalty kill too. Would check a lot of boxes. I liked him a lot earlier on, that was before it seemed more and more likely we'll have ~ a million or so at the deadline. I still think he'd be a great add in the summer, I just don't think it's very likely we can afford that sort of hit this season. Drury would have to ship out Goodrow mid-season and for better or worse I don't really anticipate that

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

He’s an energy guy with good hands. He’s decent defensively but I think he leans offense. I’d be okay with a guy like that.

Joseph for three post season runs producing at .76 PPG is going to be pricey. He also has playoff experience.

Would you do a first for him straight up? I'm not saying he's worth it, I'm saying that's the potential price Ottawa would want.

Is Duclair cheaper? Tarasenko with retention?

I think the best best is to try and add speed and size. The Rangers have a potential in house answer with Edstrom. They can then look for center depth.

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

IMO this team's biggest needs right now are:

-An actual shooter who can beat goalies clean from the circle, who thinks shoot first (this is what Kakko was supposed to become and what Tarasenko was last year - and Vatrano a poor man' version of before - though Tarasenko's use wasn't optimized)
-A 3C or Chytil to return and actually be capable of staying healthy
-An upgrade at defenseman
-Some kind of depth move to free up cap (somehow trading Goodrow would be amazing) so that Vesey and Pitlick can stay in the lineup, but Goodrow and Bonino on the same offensive line is a guaranteed minute and a half pinned in their own end.

The team's start overall has been good but the same recurring threads pop up when they lose:
-Inability or unwillingness to attack the neutral zone with speed.
-Soft clearing attempts with forwards flying the zone and getting trapped.
-Defensemen either leading the rush or activating down low at stupid times and getting trapped. Usually one of Lindgren, Miller, or Schneider.
-Defensemen vacating the net front when their partner is also caught up high.

Lindgren has been atrocious this year and it seems to be starting to hurt Fox's game. I still hold a long term contract for him would be a massive mistake. He's 25 and already plays like he's 32. He can't protect himself from hits. He's far less physical than he was two years ago, and his puck movement, never his strong suit, has taken a big step backwards. If we go into the playoffs with him as a top pair D, we're in trouble.

 

[Daves a mess]

View attachment 789272

I so knew it too! You could just feel it lol

 

[Daves a mess]

IMO this team's biggest needs right now are:

-An actual shooter who can beat goalies clean from the circle, who thinks shoot first (this is what Kakko was supposed to become and what Tarasenko was last year - and Vatrano a poor man' version of before - though Tarasenko's use wasn't optimized)
-A 3C or Chytil to return and actually be capable of staying healthy
-An upgrade at defenseman
-Some kind of depth move to free up cap (somehow trading Goodrow would be amazing) so that Vesey and Pitlick can stay in the lineup, but Goodrow and Bonino on the same offensive line is a guaranteed minute and a half pinned in their own end.

The team's start overall has been good but the same recurring threads pop up when they lose:
-Inability or unwillingness to attack the neutral zone with speed.
-Soft clearing attempts with forwards flying the zone and getting trapped.
-Defensemen either leading the rush or activating down low at stupid times and getting trapped. Usually one of Lindgren, Miller, or Schneider.
-Defensemen vacating the net front when their partner is also caught up high.

Lindgren has been atrocious this year and it seems to be starting to hurt Fox's game. I still hold a long term contract for him would be a massive mistake. He's 25 and already plays like he's 32. He can't protect himself from hits. He's far less physical than he was two years ago, and his puck movement, never his strong suit, has taken a big step backwards. If we go into the playoffs with him as a top pair D, we're in trouble.

I going to watch every shift Chytil plays as a Ranger with a pillow wrapped around my head.

Every check he takes might be his last one in the NHL.

Plan accordingly Chris

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Everyone is still on the Lindgren hate train. He's going to get either a one year deal or like a modest 3-4 year deal. Chill.

 

[huerter]

Everyone is still on the Lindgren hate train. He's going to get either a one year deal or like a modest 3-4 year deal. Chill.

Not everyone. Donks.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Not everyone. Donks.

Yeah the hate for him is ridiculous. If he's the biggest problem then you're in good shape.

He's somehow using Omega Level Mutant Telepathy to make Adam Fox never shoot on the PP and always look for the Mika one timer.

He somehow had made Fox's further healing for an earlier in season injury worse.

He's somehow preventing the Rangers from crashing the net more.

 

[bhamill]

The regular season is a different game. This isn't a cup team as it is in my opinion. We have some pieces but we need more. Id love to be able to say I see a dominant group. They are playing well. Im proud of them but a good 30 regular season games is not the playoffs. We aren't even that far ahead of teams like the Flyers and Isles in the standings. They aren't cup teams either.

I hear you, but what team do you see that really outclasses us, playoffs included. They ALL have holes. No, we aren’t dominant, but no one is. That’s what I’m trying to point out. I’m not saying we couldn't use improving, I’m saying there’s no team that doesn’t. We are right up near the top and all the top teams are going to have cap issues trying to upgrade where needed.
Having two goalies that have a good chance of playing lights out hockey is an edge not Many teams have. Who is close in that regard? Boston?

 

[huerter]

Yeah the hate for him is ridiculous. If he's the biggest problem then you're in good shape.

He's somehow using Omega Level Mutant Telepathy to make Adam Fox never shoot on the PP and always look for the Mika one timer.

He somehow had made Fox's further healing for an earlier in season injury worse.

He's somehow preventing the Rangers from crashing the net more.

If you are trying to separate yourself from the donks, don't you dare talk about my PP1.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I hear you, but what team do you see that really outclasses us, playoffs included. They ALL have holes. No, we aren’t dominant, but no one is. That’s what I’m trying to point out. I’m not saying we couldn't use improving, I’m saying there’s no team that doesn’t. We are right up near the top and all the top teams are going to have cap issues trying to upgrade where needed.
Having two goalies that have a good chance of playing lights out hockey is an edge not Many teams have. Who is close in that regard? Boston?

The cap is leading to some parity so I do understand your point. That is another reason I'd like to go for it now. Too soon for me to judge how goalies will be playing come playoff time. Teams that could give us trouble in the playoffs (not in order):

Col
Bos
Tor
Veg
Tam
NJ
Fla
Dal
Edm

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

I hear you, but what team do you see that really outclasses us, playoffs included. They ALL have holes. No, we aren’t dominant, but no one is. That’s what I’m trying to point out. I’m not saying we couldn't use improving, I’m saying there’s no team that doesn’t. We are right up near the top and all the top teams are going to have cap issues trying to upgrade where needed.
Having two goalies that have a good chance of playing lights out hockey is an edge not Many teams have. Who is close in that regard? Boston?

We've been trying to ride goalies and the powerplay to a Stanley Cup for 20 years though. It doesn't work. When was the last time goalie stole a Cup? I seriously can't remember. Even strength ice dries up in the playoffs and PK's are much better, and we have two lines that rarely put the puck in the net and a D corps that struggles to move the puck up ice at times.

Yes, we're a "contender," but to think we could hang with the top teams in the league in 7 game series at this point is a stretch for four rounds. Sure, we can be competitive. We're in the mix. We might catch lightning in a bottle but probably not. But we're hardly a favorite, and we have significant holes. There are a number of teams we don't match up well against.

IMO offhand, Tampa, Toronto, Boston, New Jersey if they can find goaltending and Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, Vegas, and Edmonton would all give us fits in a series. That's too many teams.

And, to others, the decline in Lindgren's game is absolutely noticeable. He used to be very physical, and a punishing hitter. He's softened that up significantly in recent years. His skating and agility has declined. He joins the rush and goes D down the boards far more than he used to with no real benefit for it, which results in him being out of position more and causes Fox to have to play back when he does this when they're together. He used to be a lot stronger on the puck in his own end, and better at moving it. Yes, he's willing, and is the first guy to clear out the net when someone digs for a rebound, but he doesn't finish checks hard in the corner anymore. He doesn't win most of the puck battles in his own end anymore, it's closer to 50-50. He's reduced his playing weight but his mobility hasn't benefitted, though he's less physical and less of a threat/deterrent to throw a huge hit or just physically dominate an opponent along the wall for an easy takeaway like we'd see a few years back. He's gotten dummied several times in recent years with clean hits he clearly wasn't ready for, which doesn't bode well for his future health. I respect the guy like crazy, but in a cap league, his capabilities have to be looked at objectively. He's not a first line Dman, he's not worth a long term deal, and 2.5M - 3M is probably his actual value. A raise would be a mistake, as would anything longer than a 2-year deal.

 

[zlev]

Kane was racking up schmoints when we got him. I haven't done a libero on him this year but I can't imagine he's actually changed his game.

he had 3 points and was on the ice for 3 goals against at 5on5. so, no change.

 

[Savant]

Everyone is still on the Lindgren hate train. He's going to get either a one year deal or like a modest 3-4 year deal. Chill.

But that doesn’t mean that he should

 

[B17 Apricots]

IMO this team's biggest needs right now are:

-An actual shooter who can beat goalies clean from the circle, who thinks shoot first (this is what Kakko was supposed to become and what Tarasenko was last year - and Vatrano a poor man' version of before - though Tarasenko's use wasn't optimized)
-A 3C or Chytil to return and actually be capable of staying healthy
-An upgrade at defenseman
-Some kind of depth move to free up cap (somehow trading Goodrow would be amazing) so that Vesey and Pitlick can stay in the lineup, but Goodrow and Bonino on the same offensive line is a guaranteed minute and a half pinned in their own end.

The team's start overall has been good but the same recurring threads pop up when they lose:
-Inability or unwillingness to attack the neutral zone with speed.
-Soft clearing attempts with forwards flying the zone and getting trapped.
-Defensemen either leading the rush or activating down low at stupid times and getting trapped. Usually one of Lindgren, Miller, or Schneider.
-Defensemen vacating the net front when their partner is also caught up high.

Lindgren has been atrocious this year and it seems to be starting to hurt Fox's game. I still hold a long term contract for him would be a massive mistake. He's 25 and already plays like he's 32. He can't protect himself from hits. He's far less physical than he was two years ago, and his puck movement, never his strong suit, has taken a big step backwards. If we go into the playoffs with him as a top pair D, we're in trouble.

Agreed, theres definitely some cheap talented wingers we could afford but a bigger add would be one with a little more versatility that can play wing and center. I don't trust Chytil's durability at this point so we could really use a guy with some offensive ability that can step into 3C if need be. Bonino doesn't generate enough. Realistic targets that we could fit with our cap situation.

The Flames are out of a playoff spot, Dillon Dubé makes a lot of sense. Has some bite. Relegated to their 4th line after a solid break out year last season. Their 2nd most productive 5v5 player last year. Has some experience at center. 25 years old, pending RFA

Sabres look like they're gonna miss again. Similar situation for Peyton Krebs. 4th line. C/W. Kinda the odd man out, they have Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens as their top 2 centers. Mittelstadt has become a really solid player, they've used him at wing and 3C. They're already pretty solid on the wing. They still have a bunch of good center and winger prospects in their system. Where does Krebs fit in? He'll be 23 in a month, pending RFA.. once very highly regarded as a prospect. I don't think he carries that sort of value anymore.

Phil Kurashev in Chicago could be another option. He's doing well playing next to Bedard. Experience at center and wing. I don't know that they'd be willing to move him since he's only 24 and could be a piece for them going forward... I also thought that could be the case for Conor Garland in Arizona but look what happened there, so who knows.

We've been trying to ride goalies and the powerplay to a Stanley Cup for 20 years though. It doesn't work. When was the last time goalie stole a Cup? I seriously can't remember. Even strength ice dries up in the playoffs and PK's are much better, and we have two lines that rarely put the puck in the net and a D corps that struggles to move the puck up ice at times.

Yes, we're a "contender," but to think we could hang with the top teams in the league in 7 game series at this point is a stretch for four rounds. Sure, we can be competitive. We're in the mix. We might catch lightning in a bottle but probably not. But we're hardly a favorite, and we have significant holes. There are a number of teams we don't match up well against.

IMO offhand, Tampa, Toronto, Boston, New Jersey if they can find goaltending and Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, Vegas, and Edmonton would all give us fits in a series. That's too many teams.

And, to others, the decline in Lindgren's game is absolutely noticeable. He used to be very physical, and a punishing hitter. He's softened that up significantly in recent years. His skating and agility has declined. He joins the rush and goes D down the boards far more than he used to with no real benefit for it, which results in him being out of position more and causes Fox to have to play back when he does this when they're together. He used to be a lot stronger on the puck in his own end, and better at moving it. Yes, he's willing, and is the first guy to clear out the net when someone digs for a rebound, but he doesn't finish checks hard in the corner anymore. He doesn't win most of the puck battles in his own end anymore, it's closer to 50-50. He's reduced his playing weight but his mobility hasn't benefitted, though he's less physical and less of a threat/deterrent to throw a huge hit or just physically dominate an opponent along the wall for an easy takeaway like we'd see a few years back. He's gotten dummied several times in recent years with clean hits he clearly wasn't ready for, which doesn't bode well for his future health. I respect the guy like crazy, but in a cap league, his capabilities have to be looked at objectively. He's not a first line Dman, he's not worth a long term deal, and 2.5M - 3M is probably his actual value. A raise would be a mistake, as would anything longer than a 2-year deal.

I tend to agree with this also. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, he did get hurt very early in the year. He might not be playing fully 100%. We know how much that effected Trouba last year. But even so the numbers don't lie here. Look at this and last years hit totals compared to the years prior. It's not even close



This is the Lindgren we know and love. Shades of Marc Staal on that hit. Eerily similar to his hit on Ovi. You definitely have to wonder if the physicality has taken its toll already. Maybe to his body physically, maybe not, but even just in terms of play style and aggression he could be shying away from that stuff more and more to preserve himself. And unfortunately that makes him a less effective player.

 

[bhamill]

The cap is leading to some parity so I do understand your point. That is another reason I'd like to go for it now. Too soon for me to judge how goalies will be playing come playoff time. Teams that could give us trouble in the playoffs (not in order):

Col
Bos
Tor
Veg
Tam
NJ
Fla
Dal
Edm

NJ has shit D and goaltending. I feel like they are a tier down.
Regardless we could give any of those teams problems in the playoffs as well.
And we‘re more than a third of the way through the season, we KNOW we have two goalies capable of theft. I’m not saying it’s what we should solely rely on I’m saying it’s an advantage.

We've been trying to ride goalies and the powerplay to a Stanley Cup for 20 years though. It doesn't work. When was the last time goalie stole a Cup? I seriously can't remember. Even strength ice dries up in the playoffs and PK's are much better, and we have two lines that rarely put the puck in the net and a D corps that struggles to move the puck up ice at times.

Yes, we're a "contender," but to think we could hang with the top teams in the league in 7 game series at this point is a stretch for four rounds. Sure, we can be competitive. We're in the mix. We might catch lightning in a bottle but probably not. But we're hardly a favorite, and we have significant holes. There are a number of teams we don't match up well against.

IMO offhand, Tampa, Toronto, Boston, New Jersey if they can find goaltending and Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, Vegas, and Edmonton would all give us fits in a series. That's too many teams.

No teams have enough cap to address their weaknesses any more than we do. I’m not saying we should try to ride goaltending and PP, I’m saying goaltending, specifically TWO that are capable of stealing playoff games is a nice advantage.
All the things we are saying about this team needng luck we can say about any of the contenders. EVERY year. What did powerhouse Boston do in the playoffs last year? It’s a literal crapshoot.

And I’m not saying we shouldn’t try to improve, I’m saying the fact that we don’t have the means to easily upgrade does not doom us any more than anyone else. Plus we have two top nine forwards that COULD come back and contribute heavily, and guys like Othmann, Edstrom, etc who could contribute to playoff style hockey.
Not saying anything more than we aren’t too bad off even if we can’t make significant moves. Hahaha.

 

[Kendo]

IMO offhand, Tampa, Toronto, Boston, New Jersey if they can find goaltending and Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, Vegas, and Edmonton would all give us fits in a series. That's too many teams.

The team I'm most concerned about beating us in a 7-game series is the Rangers.

 

[SA16]

How many goalies are still outscoring Zibanejad at 5v5?

 

[NickyFotiu]

Middlestat is looking better in the last year.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Template for TDL
1. Depth D who ideally can play both sides like Dermott or Burroughs
2. Lindgren for Hanifan at 50% without giving up a 1st, Othmann, or Perrault - move on if not doable
3. Chytil contingency in the form of Dickinson or Henrique with retention
4. Novak from Preds if roster/cap allows

 

[Clark Kellogg]

So here are the assertions:

1. The Rangers get a better D (or better fit) than Lindgren
2. Because of the Rangers' cap situation the said better D should have AAV smaller than Lindgren's or the trading team will need to retain to satisfy this cap requirement which is also pretty costly

In order to reconcile this equation for a better D at low cost it will obviously will require a big add from the Rangers. Recent 1st round picks that are not on the roster? Do we want to lose Othmann or Perreault or a 1st round draft pick? I don't think anything on a smaller scale would excite the other team. From the existing roster but not in the line up? I doubt Chytil or Kakko are in play and once again it would be a pretty big overpayment. Losing Lindgren and Jones for one LD? Also doubtful.

The one possibility might actually be Cuylle. Discuss...

Anyone keep tabs on the Penguins?
Curious how that Dlckhe@d Marcus Pettersson is playing?
Has this year and next at 4million. On March 8th Pittsburgh should be safely out of playoff contention and Pettersson salary will be down to a hair over 1 mil.
Can’t see them taking Jones though since they already are committed to Karlsson and Letang.

 

[McRanger92]

Rangers need an upgrade in their top 4 D. Lindgren can’t be that guy if we want to win 4 rounds.

 

[Avery16]

Rangers need an upgrade in their top 4 D. Lindgren can’t be that guy if we want to win 4 rounds.