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

[Machinehead]

People's opinions of Bonino will change in the playoffs. And Goodrow. Assuming Chytil and Kakko are back at that time, Bonino will be slotted appropriately.

Even though we're not going to get two-time Cup winner, HBK-line Bonino, we're going to appreciate his shot-blocking ability when all the fancy metrics go out the window and it's literally a game of attrition being played shift by shift in the playoffs.

There's been a lot of guys I would like once the playoffs started and I never like them once the playoffs start. It hasn't happened once.

Nor have the fancy metrics ever gone out the window. Underlying numbers perform better in the playoffs. Why do you think I was the only person who had Florida beating Boston? You think I just made that up?

Regardless, I'm ok with Bonino having a spot on the team. I'm a "just play your 12 best forwards" kind of guy, always have been, but Bonino existing is not something I'm losing sleep over.

Bonino being given the trust to be first call and fill every hole that potentially pops up the rest of the year bothers me.

 

[Fitzy]

Frankly we could have bought out Goodrow this offseason and easily replaced him while using the spare cash to grab a 3rd line guy who could play center.

It’s gotta be up there with Shattenkirk and Redden at this point in terms of not getting what we paid for

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Because Laviolette follows old head-coaching tropes like everyone else. Bonino and Goodrow have their places on the "call sheet" irrespective of performance. There's a don't-ask/don't-tell pecking order. They have to go down before guys like Edstrom get a real chance.

You: “why does this guy have an axe to grind with Bonino/Goodrow”

Also you: “these guys will keep their jobs regardless of atrocious bench worthy play because of old head logic”

Frankly we could have bought out Goodrow this offseason and easily replaced him while using the spare cash to grab a 3rd line guy who could play center.

It’s gotta be up there with Shattenkirk and Redden at this point in terms of not getting what we paid for

Jon Cooper endorsing him is basically Peyton Manning gassing up Adam Gase

 

[Bruner4329]

Brodzinski and Pitlick would be the guys to go out once Kakko or Chytil are back or there's an upgrade somewhere. That seems obvious to me, even with the little kicks Brodzinski throws in. Perfect 13th/call-up guy, and he knows the role.

I do think Edstrom looked good, and I do love what Cuylle brings, but I do imagine Cuylle will look a bit off in the second half of the season as the grind gets to him. Having a 4th line of experienced vets and not a random assortment of kids is a big difference this year, and Bonino has been great on the PK.

It's all about getting Kakko and Chytil back(or some kind of trade), and getting Bonino back to 4C with Vesey and Goodrow. Losing Kakko and Chytil has hurt depth a bit.

As for defense, there needs to be more reliability. As good as the Rangers D looked to start the season, teams have caught on and can expose the LD cheating up. It can work in the regular season, but that would get destroyed in the playoffs.

They need a backup plan for Chytil. I am afraid at this stage that he is one more hit away from being out of the game. The concussions take their toll and once you get these many it does not take a big hit to get another. If he comes back fine but they need to start coming up with an alternative.

 

[will1066]

There's been a lot of guys I would like once the playoffs started and I never like them once the playoffs start. It hasn't happened once.

Nor have the fancy metrics ever gone out the window. Underlying numbers perform better in the playoffs. Why do you think I was the only person who had Florida beating Boston? You think I just made that up?

Regardless, I'm ok with Bonino having a spot on the team. I'm a "just play your 12 best forwards" kind of guy, always have been, but Bonino existing is not something I'm losing sleep over.

Bonino being given the trust to be first call and fill every hole that potentially pops up the rest of the year bothers me.

Boston was even with the Panthers in their series until Bergeron came back and somehow threw everything out of sync for them, but that's a debate for a different day.

Why doesn't Vince go ask Laviolette why Bonino is his utility guy and force Laviolette to answer the question? Because I don't know why.

Also, I think the concern with the top 6 producing consistently at 5 on 5 is a far greater one than the concern with Bonino. You said that we have only two lines going. Until recently, it was just one line that went.

You: “why does this guy have an axe to grind with Bonino/Goodrow”

Also you: “these guys will keep their jobs regardless of atrocious bench worthy play because of old head logic”


Jon Cooper endorsing him is basically Peyton Manning gassing up Adam Gase

Nothing I said was wrong. Kakko played like his head needed a shrink, but you attributed it all to playing with Bonino.

 

[Machinehead]

Frankly we could have bought out Goodrow this offseason and easily replaced him while using the spare cash to grab a 3rd line guy who could play center.

It’s gotta be up there with Shattenkirk and Redden at this point in terms of not getting what we paid for

And my answer to this is always the same - he's still on the team because they want him on the team. They didn't just f***ing forget.

After all of the not getting what we paid for, the Rangers still value him. And you know it's "but the playoffs!" and he won Cups and the whole stupid narrative.

The Rangers still have to have their toys. Not one toy - a whole line of toys. And with Goodrow, we've already gone past the Tanner Glass Meridian of tacitly acknowledging he sucks by using him a lot less, but here he still is, doing whatever it is the Rangers think he does while the same Rangers pretty much tell us they know he sucks. 25% reduction in ice time from two years ago.

But here he still is, waiting to do things and stuff in the important games. He's one of the toys now. It bothers me. Sorry, it does. I know we're 23-8-1 but it bothers me.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Larry is worried the Sabres are going to hire away Peca after the year

Would be a shame to lose him but what are you going to do?

 

[Machinehead]

Boston was even with the Panthers in their series until Bergeron came back and somehow threw everything out of sync for them, but that's a debate for a different day.

Why doesn't Vince go ask Laviolette why Bonino is his utility guy and force Laviolette to answer the question? Because I don't know why.

Also, I think the concern with the top 6 producing consistently at 5 on 5 is a far greater one than the concern with Bonino. You said that we have only two lines going. Until recently, it was just one line that went.

All roads lead back to blaming Zibanejad somehow.

If the top six was a legit top nine, it would take the pressure off of all three lines to produce and make it harder to match up.

We can do it. I'm not gonna sit here and say "oh well it was impossible" because we have a couple of injuries and there's a salary cap. That describes every team.

We need to get better. I think everyone knows that and there's a roll-the-dice element to that working out or not. That being said, part of getting better is going to be the Rangers finally not throwing the same old shit out there because it feels safe.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

And my answer to this is always the same - he's still on the team because they want him on the team. They didn't just f***ing forget.

After all of the not getting what we paid for, the Rangers still value him. And you know it's "but the playoffs!" and he won Cups and the whole stupid narrative.

The Rangers still have to have their toys. Not one toy - a whole line of toys. And with Goodrow, we've already gone past the Tanner Glass Meridian of tacitly acknowledging he sucks by using him a lot less, but here he still is, doing whatever it is the Rangers think he does while the same Rangers pretty much tell us they know he sucks. 25% reduction in ice time from two years ago.

But here he still is, waiting to do things and stuff in the important games. He's one of the toys now. It bothers me. Sorry, it does. I know we're 23-8-1 but it bothers me.

Just off the top of my head Goodrow has the worst differentials of any Ranger in both playoff runs. He might as well take the ice with a field hockey stick in April

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I’m curious what the plan is for Goodrow this summer.

He’s clearly ass at this point and the rest of the league probably has taken notice. Which means they probably would have to pay to get rid of him.

So I guess a buyout

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Nothing I said was wrong. Kakko played like his head needed a shrink, but you attributed it all to playing with Bonino.

I don’t think I ever was saying Kakko was playing really well. It was more “if we’re trying to get this guy going we should probably not play him with a center who we know is irredeemably stinky”

 

[hardnosed]

We lost 2 top 9 forwards. Any other team that loses 2 guys like that is going to end up with a crappy 3rd line. Think of it this way, if we had just one of those guys, we could have Will/Brod/KK or Will/Fil/Brod or even Vesey on 3 and Brod on 4 if Fil was in. The problem is that 2 guys are missing.

 

[Daves a mess]

The first season I ever watched. It was fun for a while.

I think they were 137th out of 30 in goals against haha

 

[Machinehead]

Nobody is expecting them to magically have a better lineup when they have injuries. It's how much they like Bonino. Edstrom was very good in the game he played and they couldn't wait to get Bonino back in.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they just left Bonino in the role he's in and he's playing top 9 minutes when we have an injury in the playoffs.

It's not that they've had unlucky circumstances that bothers people, it's that they're happy with it.

I’m curious what the plan is for Goodrow this summer.

He’s clearly ass at this point and the rest of the league probably has taken notice. Which means they probably would have to pay to get rid of him.

So I guess a buyout

Same thing here. There's no plan for Goodrow that couldn't have been done this past summer. They want him on the team. Wouldn't be surprised if he stays on the team.

It's disingenuous to say it's just because of injuries that the Rangers keep these players in the roles they're in.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Nobody is expecting them to magically have a better lineup when they have injuries. It's how much they like Bonino. Edstrom was very good in the game he played and they couldn't wait to get Bonino back in.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they just left Bonino in the role he's in and he's playing top 9 minutes when we have an injury in the playoffs.

It's not that they've had unlucky circumstances that bothers people, it's that they're happy with it.



Same thing here. There's no plan for Goodrow that couldn't have been done this past summer. They want him on the team. Wouldn't be surprised if he stays on the team.

It's disingenuous to say it's just because of injuries that the Rangers keep these players in the roles they're in.

It’s NYR fan stockholm syndrome. They really think there’s 0 chance there’s anything better available to replace these guys, even after watching multiple HFD call ups come up and outplay them

 

[hardnosed]

Nobody is expecting them to magically have a better lineup when they have injuries. It's how much they like Bonino. Edstrom was very good in the game he played and they couldn't wait to get Bonino back in.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they just left Bonino in the role he's in and he's playing top 9 minutes when we have an injury in the playoffs.

It's not that they've had unlucky circumstances that bothers people, it's that they're happy with it.



Same thing here. There's no plan for Goodrow that couldn't have been done this past summer. They want him on the team. Wouldn't be surprised if he stays on the team.

It's disingenuous to say it's just because of injuries that the Rangers keep these players in the roles they're in.

Yes, for better or worse, they are happy with Bonino. I'm sure they want him on the 4th line though not the 3rd. So they probably will bring a vet in at the deadline to guard against Fil going down again. But think of what that could mean. We get our 2 injured guys back. We bring in a vet for insurance by trading a draft pick. Who sits? We know Brod and Pitlick go for KK and Fil. Who sits for this insurance policy we traded for? Wheeler? From what we've seen, it won't be Bonino or Goodrow. If it's Vesey or Kakko or God forbid Will, some people's heads would explode. So maybe we should just ride out these injuries and not add anyone unless Fil is declared out for the season.

 

[JCProdigy]

Autocorrect strikes again, but I’m going to leave it for the laughs

I was like Patience? That stripper at Scores? She, most certainly, was not a virgin....nor a virtue.

 

[Machinehead]

Yes, for better or worse, they are happy with Bonino. I'm sure they want him on the 4th line though not the 3rd. So they probably will bring a vet in at the deadline to guard against Fil going down again. But think of what that could mean. We get our 2 injured guys back. We bring in a vet for insurance by trading a draft pick. Who sits? We know Brod and Pitlick go for KK and Fil. Who sits for this insurance policy we traded for? Wheeler? From what we've seen, it won't be Bonino or Goodrow. If it's Vesey or Kakko or God forbid Will, some people's heads would explode. So maybe we should just ride out these injuries and not add anyone unless Fil is declared out for the season.

In the scenario you described, it absolutely has to be Goodrow. Like, I know the Rangers, and everything I talked about but like, they can't not scratch Goodrow, right?

Kreider
Zibanejad
Wheeler
Panarin
Trocheck
Lafreniere
(Acquisition)
Chytil
Kakko
Cuylle
Bonino
Vesey
Goodrow

You can't look at those 13 names and tell me Goodrow survives. I think even the Rangers get this one right.

I do forsee them scratching somebody for no reason in a game 5 to get Goodrow in, but I think he sits most games.

 

[Machinehead]

Remember when we made acquisitions in 2022 and finally sat Rooney, but then we scratched Kakko in the elimination games because we absolutely had to get Rooney in for important business? I think they do that with Goodrow after the deadline if everyone is healthy.

 

[hardnosed]

In the scenario you described, it absolutely has to be Goodrow. Like, I know the Rangers, and everything I talked about but like, they can't not scratch Goodrow, right?

Kreider
Zibanejad
Wheeler
Panarin
Trocheck
Lafreniere
(Acquisition)
Chytil
Kakko
Cuylle
Bonino
Vesey
Goodrow

You can't look at those 13 names and tell me Goodrow survives. I think even the Rangers get this one right.

I do forsee them scratching somebody for no reason in a game 5 to get Goodrow in, but I think he sits most games.

Let's hope you are right. But that is my concern in going out and getting another forward now. Obviously, Fil's health will determine a lot.

 

[Charlie Conway]

Larry is worried the Sabres are going to hire away Peca after the year

Would be a shame to lose him but what are you going to do?

That would be unfortunate. From what they've been saying, he's been a massive part of the improvement in faceoffs, but it's not like those drills will go away with him, at least (hopefully).

Losing Knoblauch was an unfortunate thing for Hartford as well, but it at least suggests that Drury is looking at/keeping the right people if they're constantly being poached.

 

[leetch99]

If this team would stop the excess lazy stick checking, and letting people skate through the neutral zone into our zone like NAFTA they would have more "grit"

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone by the way!

LMAO....that is how you make your point without 20 posts . Team as a whole just needs to be a bit more not nice at times ....in and around the crease for starters . No more bum slapping and excuse me please looks after a whistle . It is frustrating watching it now when we all know...well except for a few....that it will not work in the playoffs no matter who is coaching this club .

 

[Machinehead]

You end up losing good assistants and there's really nothing you can do.

I'm sure the Rangers will make him a very good offer for an assistant if they really want to keep him, but at the end of the day, if he has an opportunity to be a head coach, the Rangers can't match that.

 

[leetch99]

Cuylle is exactly what people should mean when they suggest adding grit. He’s exactly the kind of player we should be trying to fill out the bottom six with. Exactly. Exactly.

YUP !!! Possibly add in Othmann -Sykora-Edstrom and even Rempe the odd game next season.....it could get fun . There likely will be many calling for MORE SKILL & then we can fire back with all the same things they dump on us about having enough toffness LOL . I hope we hang onto these guys at the deadline .

 

[effen]

Yeah when Chytil comes back. Until then patience is a virgin. It’s not like Bonino’s defensive presence is effecting the overall record.

I find it very interesting that Goodrow hasn't gotten a shot at 3C given his Swiss army knife status and his lack of being a reanimated corpse.