Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XIII (Nanaki edition)

[Kodiak]

Our defense sucks. Most of you say that daily. Yet we have the best GA/G in the league.

So:

1. How bad does everyone else's defense suck, or
2. It's all our goalie. Who many of the same people say we shouldn't sign.

So, is the answer to get a lesser goalie and trade for some of the defenders on other teams that give up more goals?

I understand the sentiment. Hockey involves lots of chances going back and forth, and this board in general needs something to complain about. But sometimes we need to dig a bit deeper to see if there is a real cause for concern, and in this case, there is.

The stats I'm going to highlight here are 5v5 Scoring Chances Against and High Danger Chances Against. Our SCA/60 is currently 31.28, which is 28th in the NHL behind only Pittsburgh, Anaheim, San Jose, and Montreal. Our HDCA/60 is 13.46, which is 29th behind only Pittsburgh, Anaheim, and Montreal.

Additionally, our expected GA/60 is 28th overall, while our actual GA/60 is 2nd. The only explanation (and it matches the eye test) is that Shesterkin is stealing points for this team on a nightly basis. This is not a case where we are being overly critical of mediocre defensemen. The numbers are showing that they are playing defense on the level of a non-playoff team.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

this guy would have traded panarin for saad, trading from a position of strength.


Perreault is the all time record holder for points scored in a season in USNTDP. More than Matthews. More than Hughes. More than Kane.

you want to trade from w position of strength? Trade cuylle. he's an awesome piece but you can find what he brings.

Who is “this guy”?
Me?

 

[NYR Viper]

Who is “this guy”?
Me?

 

[noncents]

What were we gonna say in there that we're not saying in here?

I get the negativity based on the team's play, but if we're going to be negative after a win, we can talk about how the roster sucks in the roster building thread.

i don't know what we were gonna say there that we aren't saying here, my guy. I wasn't able to watch the game and had asked specific questions about how the line changes looked. In here we're usually discussing more general issues. eat a snickers

Who is “this guy”?
Me?

yeah, you, the guy who has twice now hand-waved away the specific idea that Gabe Perreault is essentially untouchable with the same vague noncents about how HFNYR draftniks advocate a BPA strategy. that guy.

 

[Kodiak]

Just need somebody to confirm for me so I don't feel like I'm losing my mind.

Didn't we look as good as we have in years before Lindgren got back? We were dominating, right? I feel like that's already been forgotten.

As bad as Lindgren has played, he is a bit of a scapegoat. We were still giving up way too many chances early in the season. If we go back to Oct 21, the Rangers are sitting at 29th in the NHL in terms of SCA/60, HDCA/60, and xGA/60 at 5v5.

 

[will1066]

The only 8-2-1 team that makes me want to drink 15-year-old single-malt kerosene.

 

[Machinehead]

i don't know what we were gonna say there that we aren't saying here, my guy. I wasn't able to watch the game and had asked specific questions about how the line changes looked. In here we're usually discussing more general issues. eat a snickers

That was a very level-headed answer. You eat a snickers.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Lindgren is an easy target, I mean he's still in preseason shape so not sure what people would expect. My issue with him is that he can't,or the staff can't, ever let him return to the ice healthy. Like what is he doing out there with a bubble on while we have Jones and Mancini around? It's baffling, and he needs to stop because it's hurting the team and it's hurting his next paycheck.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I agree with you on Lindgren out Walker in but the organization seems lost when it comes to addressing the defense.
As I posted before what is the reason why Scanlin is playing RD in Hartford?
Traditionally it takes longer to develop d men. What’s the plan. It appears that other teams have started to lock up pending 25/26 UFA defensemen.
We have very little draft capital. I believe one of the few paths that remain is trading for a solid young LD. That’s going to cost assets.
If it happens to be anyone other then Cuylle
Lafreniere
Chytil
Edstrom
Then so be it.
Once again I’ve been told for so many years by people like yourself who follow the amateur circuit come draft time is to always take the BPA.
The reason that is given is then you can trade from strength to address a need.
The need is LD.
You yourself just recently posted that there are 9 better forwards in Hartford that are better than Matt Rempe (who at 22 has already played in over 30 NHL games) if this is true how many more Rangers prospects that haven’t turned pro are better?
To me that signals a great pool of forward depth.
If it takes a package of one of Othmann or Perrault and a d-man then so be it.


Not that Chicago would do it but you wouldn’t package Perrault for Vlasic?

With the exception of Lafreniere and Kakko, Perrault is probably the only forward that we have drafted that has superstar potential since I've been following this team (2000). Hell, maybe only SKATER. Trading him right now would be absolutely ridiculous.

Just need somebody to confirm for me so I don't feel like I'm losing my mind.

Didn't we look as good as we have in years before Lindgren got back? We were dominating, right? I feel like that's already been forgotten.

I will say one thing. I tend to think it's not entirely causation. I can't imagine Lindgren and the juggling of D pairs being solely responsible for the drop from juggernaut to doormat. But yes, Laviolette couldn't help himself with his #WARRIOR.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Lindgren is an easy target, I mean he's still in preseason shape so not sure what people would expect. My issue with him is that he can't,or the staff can't, ever let him return to the ice healthy. Like what is he doing out there with a bubble on while we have Jones and Mancini around? It's baffling, and he needs to stop because it's hurting the team and it's hurting his next paycheck.

The Rangers were playing too well. Laviolette can't have that. He's on par intellectually with random Facebook people complaining about how Miller and Fox aren't tough enough. He clearly cares more about that than winning.

 

[Ruggs225]

That was a very level-headed answer. You eat a snickers.

If Lindgren eats a snickers will he become better?

 

[Levitate]

Lindgren is an easy target, I mean he's still in preseason shape so not sure what people would expect. My issue with him is that he can't,or the staff can't, ever let him return to the ice healthy. Like what is he doing out there with a bubble on while we have Jones and Mancini around? It's baffling, and he needs to stop because it's hurting the team and it's hurting his next paycheck.

I mean yeah agree with all this. It's stupid, they don't need him out there, there's no reason to rush him back like they did and there's certainly no reason to put him back with Fox

As for the teams poor defense...again, it's barely 10 games in, I believe they'll find a way to tighten things up and get better, but they need to not be lackadaisical about it. IMO their biggest issue in giving up high percentage scoring chances is just miscommunication and players not reading/reacting well or covering the front of the net. That's stuff that can usually get sorted out with more time but you have to actually do it and not just talk about it.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I mean yeah agree with all this. It's stupid, they don't need him out there, there's no reason to rush him back like they did and there's certainly no reason to put him back with Fox

As for the teams poor defense...again, it's barely 10 games in, I believe they'll find a way to tighten things up and get better, but they need to not be lackadaisical about it. IMO their biggest issue in giving up high percentage scoring chances is just miscommunication and players not reading/reacting well or covering the front of the net. That's stuff that can usually get sorted out with more time but you have to actually do it and not just talk about it.

Other than Lindgren's game falling off a cliff we have 5 guys that played together last year. Why are there so many miscommunications? I also worry it's more than that and they just don't have the skill to break out of their zone cleanly and as a result get hemmed in. These guys remind me of the late AV teams but with better talent upfront, Adam Fox, and a more in his prime great goalie.

 

[Synergy27]

Man, missing out on Sean Walker is f***ing painful. Many here were clamoring for him, and maybe he didn’t want to be here, but he was the perfect player to slot into the top 4 (other than handedness).

What could have been had they been able to move Trouba and been smart enough to not resign the Bubble Warrior.

I’m having a hard time even identifying an LD that would make sense to reasonably trade for. Lauzon maybe? Jake Bean?

 

[kovazub94]

Igor driving his price up

Actually, it's the team that's driving his price up - this group is surely not NJD circa 1990's

 

[kovazub94]

Mancini is so much better than lindgren and he has potential to be a real player in this league. He’s big, skates well and can move the puck.

You put "potential(ly)" in a wrong place. Mancini can still count his total NHL games with his hands. It's a very good sign going forward when Trouba is gone. In this regard I don't even know why Lindgren needs to be mentioned with Mancini in the same sentence.

 

[majordomo]

The only 8-2-1 team that makes me want to drink 15-year-old single-malt kerosene.

Are you getting kickbacks for promoting this stuff?

 

[Clark Kellogg]

i don't know what we were gonna say there that we aren't saying here, my guy. I wasn't able to watch the game and had asked specific questions about how the line changes looked. In here we're usually discussing more general issues. eat a snickers


yeah, you, the guy who has twice now hand-waved away the specific idea that Gabe Perreault is essentially untouchable with the same vague noncents about how HFNYR draftniks advocate a BPA strategy. that guy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/rangers/

^^ hope this helps^^

Promised that I’d be more civil going forward.

 

[kovazub94]

Yup. Drury going to look really dumb by playing hardball and not giving him the 12M at the start of the season. He's having a Vezina season(though very early).

Again, players contract numbers don't switch or change with limited games performance - e.g. if Shesterkin started super cold this season - it wouldn't be a ground for Drury to take back his $11m offer. Both sides already know what Shesterkin brings performance-wise. The only question is how to value it.

In this regard the only new information were all recent goalie signings - there's not a single top tier goalie left to be signed if I'm not mistaken (and Shesterkin is better than all of them to begin with which makes the value discussion more difficult)

 

[noncents]

https://www.reddit.com/r/rangers/

^^ hope this helps^^

Promised that I’d be more civil going forward.

i know this is meant as an insult but i don't personally keep track of what different rangers online communities are reputed to believe. is it a prospect hugging accusation? you'll have to spell it out.

or, you could take note of the fact that other posters seem to agree with what i'm saying here, and engage with the debate.

i'll reiterate: why would you hold cuylle or edstrom, solid burgeoning NHL depth, as untouchable, but not perreault, whose production relative to his peers has been record breaking? what is your criteria for establishing untouchable status?

 

[Clark Kellogg]

 

[kovazub94]

For those of you who don't follow baseball, there was an article that came out recently about how the Dodgers approached the World Series against the Yankees. The strategy was, literally, just play baseball. Put the ball in play, run the bases hard, and let the Yankees self destruct because they are so bad fundamentally. This culminated in exactly that, plenty of unforced errors gave the Dodgers an easy and humiliating 5 game win.

Can't help but think that's a word for word perfect strategy against the Rangers. Just play hockey against them. They'll fall apart all by themselves.

Unlike the Yankees, however, this feels like a straight player issue at this point rather than coaching. I don't know how you proceed from here. It's so bad.

And all the series that Rangers won in the last few years support this? I guess only Tampa and FL could "just play hockey against them"...

 

[DialUp]

The only 8-2-1 team that makes me want to drink 15-year-old single-malt kerosene.

They could go undefeated the rest of the way and we will know for damned sure they won't be the favorites to win the Cup.

When was the last time a team goalied their way to the Cup, rather than solid fundamental team defense with a goalie supplement? Serious question I don't think any really stole a Cup. Gigure was close!

 

[NYR Viper]

Man, missing out on Sean Walker is f***ing painful. Many here were clamoring for him, and maybe he didn’t want to be here, but he was the perfect player to slot into the top 4 (other than handedness).

What could have been had they been able to move Trouba and been smart enough to not resign the Bubble Warrior.

I’m having a hard time even identifying an LD that would make sense to reasonably trade for. Lauzon maybe? Jake Bean?

If and when Buffalo struggles, Bowen Byram would be an intriguing pick up to me

 

[SnowblindNYR]

i know this is meant as an insult but i don't personally keep track of what different rangers online communities are reputed to believe. is it a prospect hugging accusation? you'll have to spell it out.

or, you could take note of the fact that other posters seem to agree with what i'm saying here, and engage with the debate.

i'll reiterate: why would you hold cuylle or edstrom, solid burgeoning NHL depth, as untouchable, but not perreault, whose production relative to his peers has been record breaking? what is your criteria for establishing untouchable status?

Probably #toffness or something.