Roster Building Thread - Part XI (Off-season edition)

[McRanger92]

It's going to be hard to do with limited cap space.

The Panthers also traded a 100+ pt forward (their best player at the time) and their best defenseman at the time for Tkachuck.

Does Drury have the guts to make a move like that? Because there's no other way they're going to fit a Reinhart, Verheage, Bennett without moving out a massive cap hit to make space.

We all want that guy to be Trouba. But with a NMC it's not happening. They can't pull a Goodrow with Trouba.

Unless the Rangers are willing to do something drastic, nothing is going to change except making current roster players have larger cap hits, including the goaltender. Where's the cap space coming from to fit the kind of players you're asking for while also making your goaltender the highest paid goaltender in league history.

Trouba doesnt have an NMC, he has a 15 team no trade. dealing him is the obvious move if they can pull it off. Also Zito added Forsling/Montour/Bennett/Verhaege types off the scrap heap. I'm a Drury defender but its about time he did this instead of putting his faith in disappointing prospects and over the hill guys like Wheeler and Bonino.

 

[noncents]

I was not happy with Mika-CK vs Florida but its been a while since they had a real RW that could set up plays. They aren't stapled together but we only have so many top 6 LW and Center combinations and they have been better together than separate most seasons.

this is what i don't get. MZ and CK are being paid 14mm combined but need "a real RW to set up plays" like it's for granted that hey're not good enough to do the heavy lifting.

Kakko is being paid 2.4 but if i say "yeah he needs a C who can cycle and find open space" it's ridiculous.

two guys get every excuse, but it's the 24 year old making pennies' fault.


disclaimer: i'm all for trading kakko if it improves the current roster. trading him for futures doesn't do that, as he provides positive value against his current cap hit

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Trouba doesnt have an NMC, he has a 15 team no trade. dealing him is the obvious move if they can pull it off. Also Zito added Forsling/Montour/Bennett/Verhaege types off the scrap heap. I'm a Drury defender but its about time he did this instead of putting his faith in disappointing prospects and over the hill guys like Wheeler and Bonino.

I added more to my post before you responded. So I'll just add it here. I also agree with you.

There's hard decisions to make. This is a crucial franchise altering summer IMO.

And I am hard on Mika and Kreider, but to be fair to them they also never had a stable RW. So its hard to do everything 2v5 on their own.

Basically what I added.

 

[Vitto79]

literally anyone lol

Replacing him can’t be an excuse

lol ok but it needs to be an upgrade obviously
Lindgren has a lot of positives and if he’s traded it will be a descent haul

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

lol ok but it needs to be an upgrade obviously
Lindgren has a lot of positives and if he’s traded it will be a descent haul

He had a few but those strengths have fallen off to the point where they are weaknesses.

Even at his best, he shouldn't have been paired with Fox. The version of him that exists today is not something that would take much effort to upgrade.

 

[NickyFotiu]

this is what i don't get. MZ and CK are being paid 14mm combined but need "a real RW to set up plays" like it's for granted that hey're not good enough to do the heavy lifting.

Kakko is being paid 2.4 but if i say "yeah he needs a C who can cycle and find open space" it's ridiculous.

two guys get every excuse, but it's the 24 year old making pennies' fault.


disclaimer: i'm all for trading kakko if it improves the current roster. trading him for futures doesn't do that, as he provides positive value against his current cap hit

A RW is 33% of a top line. Salary doesn't make a player. How many top 8 teams are playing with KK or Ros caliber producer as their top RW?

KK played on that Mika line as well as with Bread in the past. If he was playing as a top six RW he would never have been moved down. Its hard to compare KK top top 6 players coming off last season so its almost an apples and oranges discussion. Im not happy with CK and Mika vs Florida but if you want to bring up KK he has been a guy that disappears in the playoffs to the point where he has been a healthy scratch by two different coaches.

In regard to a trade there may be a guy that Drury really likes in the draft and he may be able to use that $2.4 elsewhere. Or maybe KK and the team agree that he could use a trade to start over? Im not inside so I can only speculate.

 

[Vitto79]

He had a few but those strengths have fallen off to the point where they are weaknesses.

Even at his best, he shouldn't have been paired with Fox. The version of him that exists today is not something that would take much effort to upgrade.

I want Fehervary from the Caps
I think they are willing to make moves and they may unite the Lindgrens

That’s the type of deal I suspect or picks for Lindgren then flipping those picks

The ufa list stinks . I keep seeing Dillon but he’s a 3rd pair

Let Gus go and play Jones

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I want Fehervary from the Caps
I think they are willing to make moves and they may unite the Lindgrens

That’s the type of deal I suspect or picks for Lindgren then flipping those picks

The ufa list stinks . I keep seeing Dillon but he’s a 3rd pair

Let Gus go and play Jones

I think most of the discussion around Dillon is playing him on a 3rd pair. I'd take him if thats his role and he can soak the PK minutes that Lindgren got.

I'd love Fehervary but thats why Washington wouldn't move him. He's a very underrated defenseman but they don't really have any reason to move him.

At this point I really don't care what the return for Lindgren is. The most important thing is to not have him tied to and dragging down Fox and eating up dollars we're going to wish he had available for the next 4 or more years.

 

[McRanger92]

this is what i don't get. MZ and CK are being paid 14mm combined but need "a real RW to set up plays" like it's for granted that hey're not good enough to do the heavy lifting.

Kakko is being paid 2.4 but if i say "yeah he needs a C who can cycle and find open space" it's ridiculous.

two guys get every excuse, but it's the 24 year old making pennies' fault.


disclaimer: i'm all for trading kakko if it improves the current roster. trading him for futures doesn't do that, as he provides positive value against his current cap hit

The two guys who get paid get plenty of criticism. They are also going top be top 10 in every Rangers offensive category by the end of their careers, theyve earned their stature.. Kakko has done nothing for the Rangers aside from be drafted high.

Also just because they make money doesnt mean you can get away with putting crap on their wing and acting like it shouldnt be a problem. If anything its more of a reason to augment the investment.

 

[irishlaxburger2]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805426786257215975

I understand trying to replicate what others have done is an extremely inexact science, especially in the case of the Panthers, but this is interesting nonetheless.

The reality is we shouldn't feel beholden to underperforming defensemen like Trouba and Lindgren. As long as your scouts are good, you can find better replacements for considerably cheaper than they are (at least in aggregate).

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

The two guys who get paid get plenty of criticism. They are also going top be top 10 in every Rangers offensive category by the end of their careers, theyve earned their stature.. Kakko has done nothing for the Rangers aside from be drafted high.

Also just because they make money doesnt mean you can get away with putting crap on their wing and acting like it shouldnt be a problem. If anything its more of a reason to augment the investment.

I don't know, I think all the iterations of RW's that have been run next to them - ranging from supposed scrubs like Kakko to mid players like Roslovic and Vatrano to "star" players like Kane and Tarasenko lets us know that it isn't the RW that is the issue with the line.

Addressing RW for that duo is like addressing the team by adding grit and tuffness because Florida won. Ok Florida had a top line that ate their top line and they had grit and tuffness, but it's ignoring where the issues and deltas lie.

A RW needs to be added regardless of what they do so on that end yeah, it's a spot to upgrade (and if they're going the UFA route, Arvidsson over Kane every single day of the week) but it shouldn't be with the mindset that they need to find someone to work with Zibanejad and Kreider, those 2 should be split up.

Personally, I'd just flip the LW's on the top 2 lines and tell Z and Panarin to figure it out with who ever the RW is. It'd draw a ton of moaning and groaning but I wouldn't be opposed to using Z or Kreider on the "3rd" line either. They'll still get their minutes and I like creating mismatches.

 

[McRanger92]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805426786257215975

I understand trying to replicate what others has done is an extremely inexact science, especially in the case of the Panthers, but this is interesting nonetheless.

The reality is, we shouldn't feel beholden to underperforming defensemen like Trouba and Lindgren. As long as your scouts are good, you can find better replacements for considerably cheaper than they are (at least in aggregate).

Rangers shouldve signed Mikkola and traded Lindgren last summer tbh.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

You just need to find the next Forsling, Verhaeghe, Montour, and Reinhart before the blow up as players. Look at their cap hits and their value.

I'm not saying you cannot pay Igor, but it makes things tougher. Even 11M instead of 12-12.5 is massive.

Anything about what this team needs vanishes if what they have isn't adjusted. Overhauled defense is the main thing. I just hope Drury sees that same vision.

Yeah, crazy how people want to point to a goalie and their expensive salary as a reason for winning a Stanley Cup. Ignoring the previous four years at 10 million. Or the 4 years before that when he was making 7.4 million which was one of the highest in the league and only got out of the first round once.
With that logic I’m guessing if Colorado would’ve only raised Georgiev’s salary by 6.5 million they would have two more cups.
Posters cherry picking bits of information to fit their narrative.

 

[McRanger92]

I don't know, I think all the iterations of RW's that have been run next to them - ranging from supposed scrubs like Kakko to mid players like Roslovic and Vatrano to "star" players like Kane and Tarasenko lets us know that it isn't the RW that is the issue with the line.

Addressing RW for that duo is like addressing the team by adding grit and tuffness because Florida won. Ok Florida had a top line that ate their top line and they had grit and tuffness, but it's ignoring where the issues and deltas lie.

A RW needs to be added regardless of what they do so on that end yeah, it's a spot to upgrade (and if they're going the UFA route, Arvidsson over Kane every single day of the week) but it shouldn't be with the mindset that they need to find someone to work with Zibanejad and Kreider, those 2 should be split up.

Personally, I'd just flip the LW's on the top 2 lines and tell Z and Panarin to figure it out with who ever the RW is. It'd draw a ton of moaning and groaning but I wouldn't be opposed to using Z or Kreider on the "3rd" line either. They'll still get their minutes and I like creating mismatches.

I think they should be broken up 5v5 and probably will. Mika's play away from the puck fits with Panarin and Laf who are 2 guys who will always have the puck and can pass it. Ive always wanted to see more of Kreider with Trocheck. that's a center that will hopefully bring out more of Kreider's American intensity. Kreider isnt going to play as physical and in your face with a guy like Mika, so you need to entice it out of him imo.

they are both really good together on the PP and PK so they can still get their fix of each other lol.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Rangers shouldve signed Mikkola and traded Lindgren last summer tbh.

Mikkola is pretty ass too tbh. Easily the worst defender on that Florida team and that was a group that included Kulikov who is the quintessential what ever journeyman bottom pair/depth defenseman that gets traded at every deadline.

They should have cashed in on Lindgren 2 years ago though. That was a change that should have been made after the Tampa series, as valiant as Lindgren's efforts were during that run.

 

[irishlaxburger2]

While Mikkola isn't great, he proved to be a better bottom pairing defenseman than Jacob Trouba is this offseason. And that's not hyperbole.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

DFO reported this morning that Brett Pesce only wants to sign in the New York/New Jersey area.

 

[RempireStateBuilding]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805426786257215975

I understand trying to replicate what others have done is an extremely inexact science, especially in the case of the Panthers, but this is interesting nonetheless.

The reality is we shouldn't feel beholden to underperforming defensemen like Trouba and Lindgren. As long as your scouts are good, you can find better replacements for considerably cheaper than they are (at least in aggregate).

Therin lies the problem. I don't think the Rangers scouting staff is as good as it should/could be.

 

[bhamill]

You just need to find the next Forsling, Verhaeghe, Montour, and Reinhart before the blow up as players. Look at their cap hits and their value.

I'm not saying you cannot pay Igor, but it makes things tougher. Even 11M instead of 12-12.5 is massive.

Anything about what this team needs vanishes if what they have isn't adjusted. Overhauled defense is the main thing. I just hope Drury sees that same vision.

I mean you aren't wrong, If you are paying ANY player(s) a buttload of cash, it makes it harder to fill out the rest of your lineup. A goalie though plays 60 mins a game and maybe every min of your playoff run. IMO as long as that goalie shows up in form for the post season, it's money well spent.
To me, Igor (even if he had been at 12mil) was worth more than Pan and Zib combined (20mil). Paying a goalie, or any other player, a huge contract is fine... as long as they justify that contract when it counts: the post season. Pan was okay, IMO, but didn't play up to his 11.6mil. Zibs was very good for a round and a half. Then, not so much. A pretty poor value. That's the issue: big contracts to players who aren't post season guys. Fox was hurt, it happens. I'm not going to get on his case. That's why I'll be fine paying Laf a ton. Even at 22 he RAISED his game in the post season. If they want to offer him a 10mil for 8years contract, I'm here for it. He'll be more than worth it in the long run. I'm not saying he'd take it, he's got confidence now, he will bet on himself. Maybe he takes a four to six year deal, or who knows, maybe they'll lock him up for the 8...

 

[irishlaxburger2]

DFO reported this morning that Brett Pesce will only sign in the New York/New Jersey area.

All the chatter is around NJ, but I wonder if that changes if the Rangers move Trouba

 

[McRanger92]

DFO reported this morning that Brett Pesce will only sign in the New York/New Jersey area.

Rumor is the Devils. He's going to replace Marino. Not sure that's a needle mover for them.

 

[SA16]

A RW is 33% of a top line. Salary doesn't make a player. How many top 8 teams are playing with KK or Ros caliber producer as their top RW?

KK played on that Mika line as well as with Bread in the past. If he was playing as a top six RW he would never have been moved down. Its hard to compare KK top top 6 players coming off last season so its almost an apples and oranges discussion. Im not happy with CK and Mika vs Florida but if you want to bring up KK he has been a guy that disappears in the playoffs to the point where he has been a healthy scratch by two different coaches.

In regard to a trade there may be a guy that Drury really likes in the draft and he may be able to use that $2.4 elsewhere. Or maybe KK and the team agree that he could use a trade to start over? Im not inside so I can only speculate.

He's not their top RW. Lafreniere is. And the worst second line wing on all the teams to make the second round of the playoffs in their last game was:

Holloway
Rodrigues
Marchment
Teravainen
Frederic
Joshua
Parise

So I'd say most of them.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

DFO reported this morning that Brett Pesce only wants to sign in the New York/New Jersey area.

Makes sense since he grew up in Tarrytown. But yea hearing NJ. Which is fine, they will probably give him 7M which is pricy for a middle pair dman.

 

[I Eat Crow]

DFO reported this morning that Brett Pesce only wants to sign in the New York/New Jersey area.

He's going to Jersey. They have a need and the space to do it. They'll trade a forward to make it happen.

 

[EdJovanovski]

If we’re packaging Kakko to move up in the draft we should go all in on trying to land Iginla