Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XII

[Ola]

Trade Pionk for anything.

Cause kids can’t improve? He played 28 minutes last night...

I am wondering if we are showcasing him though? Think Gorton is working pretty closely with Quinn. Pionk is out in a position to shine on the PP that easily could have been used by Shatty to get his game going.

 

[RonaldNeptune]

I understand the desire to move Zib. I wouldn't do it, yet. I do believe he is a low end 1 C that if healthy can move up the ranks. My biggest problem is I do not think he is a "winner" and will ever become a real leader...I don't know this team has anyone that fits that bill.

Hayes seems to be putting forth great effort and is a lead by example guy, but we need someone to be vocal and essentially be an extension of Quinn. Step up before Quinn has set examples and sit people (which maybe getting a little out of hand already). I just do not like the make up of this team at all and I am concerned about the environment that the young guys will be developing in. I would even use buch as an example of someone coming up with a serious lack of player leadership, with the one certified star player being a bit emotional in a negative way at times.

I do think that guy(s) is somewhere in the organization. Between Howden, Lias, maybe Hajek. I also love the confidence I see in Kratsov's play. I am eager to see who is moved as we approach the deadline and hope that the younger guys can take the reins and change the culture of this team.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Cause kids can’t improve? He played 28 minutes last night...

I am wondering if we are showcasing him though? Think Gorton is working pretty closely with Quinn. Pionk is out in a position to shine on the PP that easily could have been used by Shatty to get his game going.

He can improve and he actually has the Tools to be good, but odds are he won't improve and his value (atleast to some GMs) should be really high right now. Do what we didn't do with Vesey and trade while his value is at it's highest.

 

[NYR Viper]

You know who needs a RD? Toronto

 

[RangerBoy]

Gorton should accept the first creditable offer he gets for Shattenkirk and cut his losses.

Gorton and his staff have so much work to do with this team. This is not a quick turnaround.

 

[I Eat Crow]

The Rangers went 3-6-1 in their 1st 10 game segment. They are on pace for 56 points. 57/58 points over 82 games. Keep it up.

And that was with a pretty weak schedule. Rangers haven't played the elite of the league yet outside of Washington.

Edit: and Nashviile

 

[RangerBoy]

I think we have looked at it, but their schedule was also relatively easy in the first 10-15 games of the season. It will get harder.

On top of that, the team as a whole has been very healthy.

Yep. The Rangers played 6 non-playoff teams from last season. They went 1-5. They beat the Panthers with their 3rd string goaltender. That’s their only regulation victory so far.

They don’t play Pittsburgh until January 2.

They don’t play the Devils until January 31.

Their schedule gets tough in late December and stays that way the rest of the season.

They have 20 games remaining after the trading deadline. Who knows what the team will look like at that time. A quarter of the season.

Even now you can look at the schedule and say the Rangets should beat that team but that team is not worse than the Rangers.

 

[NY Lito]

Going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Buckle up.

 

[RGY]

If chytil shyed out of corners this board would be killing him, absolutely no question. It's okay for nylander bc he's on another team and his stats look nice, but stats don't account for a player that bails out in the last two minutes of an elimination game that they are losing. Again, it's okay bc he's on another team and we are struggling.

Shiney new toy...

He is 21 years old with a ton of talent...how does that make him the shiny new toy? His game isnt polished yet and you are harping on things that can be addressed.

And quite honestly it is more ridiculous for someone to expect all three players on a line to go into corner and do the dirty work. Part of putting a line together is not just finding the right chemistry but also with players that bring different things to the table. Say he is out there with Andersson who has no problem going into corners and doing the dirty work to retrieve pucks, is it really a problem anymore?

Just stop, you sound ridiculous.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I said it before the season, and I’m going to repeat it now: I wouldn’t be surprised to see them suck through NYE and start playing better hockey in the second half of the season. It’s what Arizona did last year under Tocchet and now they’re starting to play really good hockey. They couldn’t buy a goal to start the year, but they looked great last night against Vancouver and are on a 2-game win streak. They’ve gotten better defensively too.

 

[DutchShamrock]

Nylander is 21 years old...i think we can maybe be understanding about the growing pains of going into corners and not shyinf away from the physical part of the game given his extreme talent level. Just an absurd way to look at the kid. Absurd

We've been reduced to a category. Addicted to shiny new toys. See, he's not actually good. We only like him because he's not ours. The numbers, the ability to exit the d zone, enter the offensive zone, win the shots battle, that's a mirage.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I said it before the season, and I’m going to repeat it now: I wouldn’t be surprised to see them suck through NYE and start playing better hockey in the second half of the season. It’s what Arizona did last year under Tocchet and now they’re starting to play really good hockey. They couldn’t buy a goal to start the year, but they looked great last night against Vancouver and are on a 2-game win streak. They’ve gotten better defensively too.

Arizona last year was more talented than this group is now.

I see them more like last years wings. Plenty of close games that end in losses.

Hopefully they have better lottery luck.

 

[SA16]

What is so amazing about Pionk having played 28 mins last night? They had 5D most of the game and one of the other RD got hurt. They also played a terrible game.

 

[Edge]

Gorton should accept the first creditable offer he gets for Shattenkirk and cut his losses.

Gorton and his staff have so much work to do with this team. This is not a quick turnaround.

I think it depends on what one views as quick.

I think for people thinking we'd be looking to making the playoffs in 2019-20, reality is starting to kick-in.

But I also think there's a ton of talent and potential in the system. But I don't think we fully understand the concept of just how young our prospects are at this point. We're not talking about 21 or 22 year olds, who would be considered young in their own right. We're talking teenagers and 20 year old prospects in many cases.

I think 2020-21 is when things could really start getting interesting and competitive.

But I think there's going to be another season like this in 2019-2020.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I think it depends on what one views as quick.

I think for people thinking we'd be looking to making the playoffs in 2019-20, reality is starting to kick-in.

But I also think there's a ton of talent and potential in the system. But I don't think we fully understand the concept of just how young our prospects are at this point. We're not talking about 21 or 22 year olds, who would be considered young in their own right. We're talking teenagers and 20 year old prospects in many cases.

I think 2020-21 is when things could really start getting interesting and competitive.

But I think there's going to be another season like this in 2019-2020.

Depends.

If they hit the jackpot in the lottery and sign Panarin/Karlsson, I think they’re right on the doorstep of the playoffs if not knocking the door down.

Part of me would love you to be right and see them go full oilers at the lottery and end up with the 1OA in 2019 and 2020

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

It's funny. I love Pionk, and think he has tremendous potential – I see what the coaches see in terms of ability to play the game, despite what the analytics say (which as I've posted elsewhere I simply don't believe are as valuable in hockey as they are in baseball, at least to this point in their development).

But I'd also trade him for the right price. It all comes down to which assets go out and which come back.

Maybe I've mellowed in my old age, but for me it all comes down to the old adage: I root for the name on the front of the sweater, not the name on the back.

 

[NikC]

Read in the post that coach Quinn is ripping them for lack of effort. .lol, this is a low talent team, and what looks like, low character as well.

Lundqvist can't be this teams best player anymore, he can't be keeping them in games.

Gorton should really try to orchestrate a move to move Henrik to a contender so he can salvage what's left of his career and maybe get a prospect.

Team needs at least 2 seasons of 1st OA picks. They need stud players.

Gorton needs to continue to flush out the remains from the past: Hayes, MZA, Shittenkirk, ... even Kreider, along with new useless players like spooner and namestnikov...

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

And that was with a pretty weak schedule. Rangers haven't played the elite of the league yet outside of Washington.

Edit: and Nashviile

And San Jose, who hasn’t played like it yet.

 

[NYR Viper]

To me, Shattenkirk seems like the guy to be moved on defense. And the team has a player in DeAngelo who brings very similar things making far less money and at an age where he could grow with the new core. Seems like a no-brainer.

 

[Edge]

Depends.

If they hit the jackpot in the lottery and sign Panarin/Karlsson, I think they’re right on the doorstep of the playoffs if not knocking the door down.

Part of me would love you to be right and see them go full oilers at the lottery and end up with the 1OA in 2019 and 2020

And that's an excellent point and something to consider.

Let's say, for ***** and giggles that the Rangers come away with Hughes. That's has a huge impact on the timeline. Same with Kakko or a handful of other guys. Then you add in maybe another two or three firsts, or prospects in deals, and now you have even more options moving forward.

But I also think a lot is tied into Zibanejad.

I'll go out on a limb and say he might be the most important player in how we proceed moving forward.

Let's for a moment say that he's healthy and able to keep up a 60-70 point pace. His age and contract is a HUGE benefit to our effort to move forward.

 

[East Coast Bias]

So far this looks like a bad team. Which I guess, is better than looking like an average team.

Aside of a handful of guys who can make plays, the forwards and dmen are overwhelmingly guys who just blend in. You need those guys, just not 85% of your starting lineup being those guys.

The tank is full speed ahead.

 

[I Eat Crow]

The Rangers would be the worst team in the league without Lundqvist. He will steal some games and allow the Rangers to not be worst in the league. Detroit looks like they're going to take that title and run with it.

Rangers will be a bottom five team all said and done though. They'll be worse after the trade deadline again after Hayes and Zuccarello (at least) are shipped out. Just need some luck with the ping pong balls for once.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Arizona last year was more talented than this group is now.

I see them more like last years wings. Plenty of close games that end in losses.

Hopefully they have better lottery luck.

I was referring more to the process by how their season evolved. Detroit was awful last year, especially since Blashill is a horrible coach. He’s been an awful coach since Babcock left. Tocchet had a brutal start that was magnified by key injuries and that 0-11 start or whatever it was. However, you saw them improve as the year went on, while Detroit just stayed bad.

 

[qwertyaas]

Roster just looks like a mess - understandable during a rebuild.

But they are at a point where they need a surefire 1C and a 1D. Still skeptical anyone in the system are those two.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I was referring more to the process by how their season evolved. Detroit was awful last year, especially since Blashill is a horrible coach. He’s been an awful coach since Babcock left. Tocchet had a brutal start that was magnified by key injuries and that 0-11 start or whatever it was. However, you saw them improve as the year went on, while Detroit just stayed bad.

They were, but they were also ahead of the Rangers in the standings right before the TDL (Yes we sucked too, but we weren't bottom 5 bad.)
It was afterwards where the wheels came off for them. I see something similar happening here.

They were seldom blown out last year and like this year's team (so far) stayed competitive in most of their games despite not being able to pick up wins. Arizona had a multitude of reasons for their slow start (injuries, basically having a torts to AV adjustment with the new system), neither of those things are really a factor here.