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

  • HFBoards is well aware that today is election day in the US. We ask respectfully to focus on hockey and not politics.

SnowblindNYR

HFBoards Sponsor
Sponsor
Nov 16, 2011
54,732
34,036
Brooklyn, NY
Question, is this season more 2021-22 when the team started the season getting outplayed in every game but Igor stole them victories but they got better as the season went on or 2015-16 where they started the season getting outplayed with Hank stealing them victories and then fell off a damn cliff?

The 2015-16 parallel with the previous year us winning the PT is scary but also probably largely coincidental.
 

eco's bones

Registered User
Jul 21, 2005
26,778
13,708
Elmira NY
this is from last year?


For the record, I dont mind paying Igor his $$$ and yes he’s awesome to watch but he also masks a lot of deficiencies that are ultimately exposed in the playoffs - its been like this for over a decade. I want a legitimate contender.

The Rangers are a legit contender. More legit than any other team in their division. IMO they are top two with Florida in the East. The Panthers have more dependable firepower IMO than we do but winning the Cup last year also forced an exodus of some of their depth this year. Panthers don't have a lot of organizational depth.

For the Rangers---we can beat teams like Carolina in playoffs---we should be able to beat teams like the Devils. The Maple Leafs tend to beat themselves. The Bruins seem somewhat discombobulated this year. The Lightning are dangerous but on the downside. The Rangers have to figure out how to at least battle guys like Matthew Tkachuk and Barkov to a standstill or close to a draw. Zibanejad did not match Barkov....we had issues with the Panthers forecheck led by Tkachuk and Bennett. We lost but without great goaltending by Igor it would have been a slaughter---not one goal losses.

There is no particular formula for what makes a team a contender. You just need 4/5/6 great players at different positions along with good depth throughout. The likelihood of winning without very good goaltending though is not very great.
 

Machinehead

HFNYR MVP
Jan 21, 2011
147,834
126,425
NYC
It doesn't matter if you're in the top 2 if you can't compete with #1. We've demonstrated that we're not really close to Florida at all.
 

NYR Viper

Registered User
Sep 9, 2007
47,777
18,316
Jacksonville, FL
Here's a thought, Detroit is floundering (surprise!) and they signed Gustafsson to a 2 years x $2m contract. In terms of a bottom-pairing veteran d-man, the team could do far worse. Especially if Yzerbum is having buyers remorse and will send him away for nothing. I know he's not perfect but he was a net positive for the team last year and would be a nice, cheap insurance policy for next season as a veteran depth d-man.

Thoughts?
 

DialUp

Big Bauds
Sponsor
Feb 15, 2012
9,798
11,073
NYC
The Rangers are a legit contender. More legit than any other team in their division. IMO they are top two with Florida in the East. The Panthers have more dependable firepower IMO than we do but winning the Cup last year also forced an exodus of some of their depth this year. Panthers don't have a lot of organizational depth.

For the Rangers---we can beat teams like Carolina in playoffs---we should be able to beat teams like the Devils. The Maple Leafs tend to beat themselves. The Bruins seem somewhat discombobulated this year. The Lightning are dangerous but on the downside. The Rangers have to figure out how to at least battle guys like Matthew Tkachuk and Barkov to a standstill or close to a draw. Zibanejad did not match Barkov....we had issues with the Panthers forecheck led by Tkachuk and Bennett. We lost but without great goaltending by Igor it would have been a slaughter---not one goal losses.

There is no particular formula for what makes a team a contender. You just need 4/5/6 great players at different positions along with good depth throughout. The likelihood of winning without very good goaltending though is not very great.
This is 100% correct. Rangers have issues defending and playing fundamentally sound, but other teams have flaws too, and in some cases bigger. Florida plays so solid they are the new TBL basically. Not much you can do, since no other team in the East could do that either.
 

TominNC

Registered User
Jul 17, 2017
3,348
4,753
Charlotte, NC
It doesn't matter if you're in the top 2 if you can't compete with #1. We've demonstrated that we're not really close to Florida at all.
No guarantee we play Florida. Upsets happen all the time. Enjoy the ride. Unless that's not your thing.

And who knows, Bob could throw up a couple of stinkers next series and change it all. Every year is a different crapshoot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: deathb4disco

Machinehead

HFNYR MVP
Jan 21, 2011
147,834
126,425
NYC
Here's a thought, Detroit is floundering (surprise!) and they signed Gustafsson to a 2 years x $2m contract. In terms of a bottom-pairing veteran d-man, the team could do far worse. Especially if Yzerbum is having buyers remorse and will send him away for nothing. I know he's not perfect but he was a net positive for the team last year and would be a nice, cheap insurance policy for next season as a veteran depth d-man.

Thoughts?
This is one of those situations where I like the player, but I don't like the player enough to endure people complaining about him.
 

TGWL

HFBoards Sponsor
Sponsor
Jul 28, 2011
15,999
10,700
I think it's less about what player we're trying to bring back and simply addition buy subtraction here. I know the organization loves Lindgren. I know Fox and Lindgren are friends. But we should have moved on this summer. He shouldn't be on the top line and we shouldn't be paying that for a 3rd pair player that should be on rotation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CLW

McRanger92

Registered User
Jun 7, 2017
11,338
20,957
The usual suspects are going to whine and complain all year on our way to 50+ wins, but if we stay mostly healthy there are only 2 teams I think can beat us. Florida and Edmonton. If the Rangers add a top 4 defenseman and match the intensity of Florida in a head to head matchup, I like our chances.
 

NYR Viper

Registered User
Sep 9, 2007
47,777
18,316
Jacksonville, FL
This is one of those situations where I like the player, but I don't like the player enough to endure people complaining about him.

That's fair. I think he was a good bottom-pairing d-man and as I started looking around at options for next year within the price range the Rangers likely can afford, I was like, why not Gustaffson? Good with the puck. Not a shrinking violet. Has some warts but overall a net positive

The usual suspects are going to whine and complain all year on our way to 50+ wins, but if we stay mostly healthy there are only 2 teams I think can beat us. Florida and Edmonton. If the Rangers add a top 4 defenseman and match the intensity of Florida in a head to head matchup, I like our chances.

If the Rangers can continue to develop a 4th line with an identity, and I think Edstrom-Carrick-Vesey has the makings of that type of line, I think that will actually help quite a bit.
 

SA16

Sixstring
Aug 25, 2006
13,887
13,583
Long Island
Here's a thought, Detroit is floundering (surprise!) and they signed Gustafsson to a 2 years x $2m contract. In terms of a bottom-pairing veteran d-man, the team could do far worse. Especially if Yzerbum is having buyers remorse and will send him away for nothing. I know he's not perfect but he was a net positive for the team last year and would be a nice, cheap insurance policy for next season as a veteran depth d-man.

Thoughts?

Sure but I am not sure Detroit considers 5-5-1 and 2 points out of a playoff spot with 2 games in hand this early to be floundering and a sign to sell much more. He’s been a healthy scratch at times but they did just send maatta to Utah which was the last of their vet depth. That was kind of a odd trade but maybe he asked to be moved since he wasn’t playing all the time.
 

TGWL

HFBoards Sponsor
Sponsor
Jul 28, 2011
15,999
10,700
The usual suspects are going to whine and complain all year on our way to 50+ wins, but if we stay mostly healthy there are only 2 teams I think can beat us. Florida and Edmonton. If the Rangers add a top 4 defenseman and match the intensity of Florida in a head to head matchup, I like our chances.
Any team can beat us. NYR aren't exactly a shoe in to make noise when getting out worked all game. It's small sample but it's a trend that continues where we can't get out of the zone. All teams have flaws but I think we're jumping the gun a bit with thinking only a couple teams can give us a tough battle in the playoffs. I mean, we played the worst playoff team (ever?) last season and still didn't dominate. We're going to make it hard against us no matter who we play. It's just what we do.
 

noncents

Registered User
Feb 25, 2022
1,461
1,848
Here's a thought, Detroit is floundering (surprise!) and they signed Gustafsson to a 2 years x $2m contract. In terms of a bottom-pairing veteran d-man, the team could do far worse. Especially if Yzerbum is having buyers remorse and will send him away for nothing. I know he's not perfect but he was a net positive for the team last year and would be a nice, cheap insurance policy for next season as a veteran depth d-man.

Thoughts?
makes good enough sense to me.
 

McRanger92

Registered User
Jun 7, 2017
11,338
20,957
Any team can beat us. NYR aren't exactly a shoe in to make noise when getting out worked all game. It's small sample but it's a trend that continues where we can't get out of the zone. All teams have flaws but I think we're jumping the gun a bit with thinking only a couple teams can give us a tough battle in the playoffs. I mean, we played the worst playoff team (ever?) last season and still didn't dominate. We're going to make it hard against us no matter who we play. It's just what we do.

The Rangers getting "outworked" in a few games in late October/early November isnt moving me. We know what this team is, they've been a wagon for 3+ years. We're better on paper than the President's Trophy team last year. And using the Caps series last year as a gotcha is a bit rich imo. Did the Capitals have a lead at any point in the 4 games?

Its crazy to me how badly everyone wants to hate a very obviously stacked and good team. Best enjoy it now because big changes are coming and future success is not guaranteed (even if I'm optimistic about the future)
 

NYRKing

Registered User
Mar 12, 2008
1,423
1,171
What a difference that ‘3rd line’ will make if they can continue a similar pace. I really like the offense depth a lines, and it should be known we will have some really bad reg season games since the squad will coast to the playoffs.

I think the focus should be on best D available at the TDL. Wonder what the options are.
 
  • Like
Reactions: McRanger92

McRanger92

Registered User
Jun 7, 2017
11,338
20,957
What a difference that ‘3rd line’ will make if they can continue a similar pace. I really like the offense depth a lines, and it should be known we will have some really bad reg season games since the squad will coast to the playoffs.

I think the focus should be on best D available at the TDL. Wonder what the options are.

I dont think Vegas will trade him, but Brayden McNabb is a pending UFA and the Knights gave 14+ mil to Hannifin and Theodore over the past few months. Hague is also going to be an RFA this summer. Mcnabb has been on the Rangers radar for a while (just like Reilly Smith), he's big and he's definitely not a complete stiff from when I've watched him. Maybe there is a trade to be made because we have a lot of forwards at the pro level, and the Knights have lost a lot of depth with the trades theyve made. Just spitballing.
 

KirkAlbuquerque

#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
Mar 12, 2014
36,088
43,020
New York
The Rangers are a legit contender. More legit than any other team in their division. IMO they are top two with Florida in the East. The Panthers have more dependable firepower IMO than we do but winning the Cup last year also forced an exodus of some of their depth this year. Panthers don't have a lot of organizational depth.

For the Rangers---we can beat teams like Carolina in playoffs---we should be able to beat teams like the Devils. The Maple Leafs tend to beat themselves. The Bruins seem somewhat discombobulated this year. The Lightning are dangerous but on the downside. The Rangers have to figure out how to at least battle guys like Matthew Tkachuk and Barkov to a standstill or close to a draw. Zibanejad did not match Barkov....we had issues with the Panthers forecheck led by Tkachuk and Bennett. We lost but without great goaltending by Igor it would have been a slaughter---not one goal losses.

There is no particular formula for what makes a team a contender. You just need 4/5/6 great players at different positions along with good depth throughout. The likelihood of winning without very good goaltending though is not very great.
They are a contender for the Presidents Trophy and the Metro Division title, but not the Stanley cup.

The way they want to play is just not the way to win in the playoffs, I’m sorry.

And since the team didn’t change anything at all this summer, that won’t change either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: majordomo

DialUp

Big Bauds
Sponsor
Feb 15, 2012
9,798
11,073
NYC
The way they want to play is just not the way to win in the playoffs, I’m sorry.
The way they play is not the way to beat the VERY BEST playoff team (singular). But they sure can win in the playoffs. Would be very lucky and a change of behavior if they can win the Cup. The Devils series 2 years ago was the anomaly, not the two ECF visits.
 

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad