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

HockeyBasedNYC

Feeling it
Aug 2, 2005
20,138
12,224
Here
I like a lot of what Drury has done, but I hated the run it back one last time strategy and now this vet core which was never good enough to begin with has turned country club and tuned out the coaching staff.
I agree outside of a few moves (obviously Buch) - but i dont think he had much of a choice - and still doesnt. The way these contracts are handcuffing the team - we saw this coming for a few years.

He couldve been more aggressive in this past offseason to change the dynamic of the core. I mean he did try with Trouba and it was blocked, so they say. But I think everyone saw the dangerous in running it back one more time. I mean even Trocheck doesnt look like himself which is very surprising to me.

In one sense we should be happy that he didnt flip Kakko for Guentzal at the deadline, but it also made little sense that they scratched him (again) during the playoffs. They might as well should have went all in last season as it likely was this groups last chance at winning it all.
 

Atax

Registered User
Apr 7, 2011
5,384
6,493
Lets be real. If trading Goodrow really caused these multimillionaire athletes to quit on the team, then trade every single one of them.

I really dont think thats the case. I just think that they arent that good and time has caught up to them. We all knew the window was closed once we got destroyed by Florida.
 

Machinehead

HFNYR MVP
Jan 21, 2011
148,266
127,380
NYC
I just want to explore what this team might look if they pretty much get rid of the core. Caveat being, I'm keeping Panarin in this scenario. I just don't see contending offensive talent without him. Also, I don't care about the order of these lines at all except for 4th.

Panarin-Chytil-Lafreniere
Cuylle-XXXX-Kakko
Berard-Trocheck-Perreault
Whoever-Edstrom-Dontcare

XXXX-Fox
Jones-Schneider
XXXX-Mancini

Some of these holes have obvious candidates in the pipeline, but I'm trying not to include too many guys that I haven't seen in the NHL.

The forwards corps lacks oomph, offensively. That missing center needs to be good. Barring unforeseen circumstances, it's center by committee for awhile, unless they completely tear it down. It's a decent group, but a 1LD and a good top six center is a tall order.

I'm already seeing an inevitable glut of wings. If they keep Panarin, which I think they should, and you consider Kakko probably not irreplaceable, you have him, Othmann, Berard, and Sykora, and only have spots for two of them.

I think we need to decide what we're going with and see if we can't flip some of these wings for positions of need.
 

HockeyBasedNYC

Feeling it
Aug 2, 2005
20,138
12,224
Here
at this stage it’s obvious what Drury did during the summer to multiple members of the veteran core and leadership has reverberated and killed the vibe amongst them. The first few games was fine but they’ve hit a skid and it’s snowballed from there. The fact that none of them came out last night to speak (besides Bread) says a lot.

Idk what he does to fix it in season. What team is falling over themselves to take one of these guys.

Drury is going to have to thread the needle to find a deal that wants one of these shit contracts and also doesn’t totally screw the Rangers
We saw a few mental meltdowns like this from the same core group over stages of the last 3-5 seasons. 2 seasons ago it was the worst (before Trouba tossed his lid and that somehow lit a fire under them lol).

They are collectively a frail bunch, with frail leadership that they are content to live with.
At the same time they have the ability to go on a long term heater, but they cant rely on that pure skill alone anymore because its withering.

They are too introspective - but I agree - this time it feels a little different. Theres a gloom hanging over this club. Almost as if they know no matter what they do in the regular season it wont matter because theyll only be judged if they win it all or not.

And that was the danger in running it back. As soon as some doubt creeps in, things start to snowball when looking at the daunting summit needed to scale to succeed. And its only November.

The collective mindset of this group is demotivated by the challenge at this point, whereas in the past with a new coach things were fresh and daily challenges were attainable.

Pair all of this with the fact that many key players are experiencing a noticeable dip in motor functions drives home the fact that its very unlikely this group will get halfway up the mountain let alone to the top.

And I really dont know what kind of magical rabbit Drury can pull out of a hat to stop this. You dont want to sit and watch it burn, you need to do something, but you have to be careful you dont f*** it up even more. If they are going to make a move its gotta be with the future in mind, not just this season. Especially if they are dangling a player like Miller or are serious about sending Kreider packing.
 
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Oscar Lindberg

Registered User
Dec 14, 2015
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CA
Yeah I dont understand the people who think Drury has been riverboat gamblng with this team. We've made a 1st round pick in every draft he has been in charge. He's been very disciplined and patient regarding the young players. I agree that if you want to criticize him its been that he has been too patient. Credit to him for publicly calling out a 12-6-1 team because we all know that record is fugazi. I think he is actually one of the better GMs in the league and seems to genuinely care.
I would agree he’s absolutely not gambling, he’s been conservative for the most part. I also would say that some of his moves this past summer were absolutely a gamble and it’s blown up in his face.

It seems the leadership and core didn’t take kindly to his ruthless attempts to make changes and its killed the morale. I’m good with the Goodrow move but I’m not gonna sit and lie that Drury circumventing a well liked leader’s NTC wouldn’t sit badly with me if I was a leader on this team. Then you add in trying to kick your captain out the door, and get into a public squabble with him where you drag his family into the proceedings. And then you welcome him back into the room and expect it to be all gravy.

Obviously these players are entitled and it’s an issue, but I understand how the morale could easily go into the shitter with everything that’s happened.
 

bernmeister

Registered User
Jun 11, 2010
28,734
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Da Big Apple
upping POSSIBLE timetable to move Zib, Trouba, bread all wanna stay close

1. first priority is move Zib + if return there, bread
we can bury Trouba at 4RW = less skating demands til yrs end if nec
so that determines sequence

2. bread
would he waive to FL?

If yes Panarin retained 1.6+ x 2 + Vesey + Reuhedel for Ekblad +

If no, then Panarin close to max retained, say 5.16+, to 6m per x 2
with Othmann elc

to Jersey for
Silavey, Nemec and F cap dump [ask Palat, settle for Haula]


3. Zib
retain zib long term max 4.25 = 4.25 per x long term
to LI for
Pageau [shorter term] contract

and X ____________________________

just take the hit, if we listened to me earlier, yes, now we can't do anything about it

*****************************************

4 Trouba
remains to be seen
if bread to FL Isles need D help
but priority is move zib firt

------------------------
5, Lindgren

sorry warrior, it's time to go ..... yesterday

===================
The above does not take into account Shesty for a haul
go w/Garand, Quick, Domingue

and whether we sell on KAM or not, hold off for the moment, see how he does w/partners that can actually skate...


I was pleased to see Berard play well last night.
Again, only concern atm is his size
let's give him a shot for now

If we do nothing else
we add

Ekblad OR Nemec [and Silayev]
That leaves Fox, Schneid, Mancini, Ekblad/Nemic, KAM, Jones

that = short term solution to D while Fortescue + Emery marinate

lines? open to experiment, start w/
Kreider-Edstrom-Smith
LaF-Tro-Berard
Cuylle-Chytil/KK-KK/_________ stopgap, Gabe P here next yr
Carrick-Brodz-Rempe

The above does not include return on Shesty +, which is hoped to be Byfield

mic drop til later peeps
 

McRanger92

Registered User
Jun 7, 2017
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I would agree he’s absolutely not gambling, he’s been conservative for the most part. I also would say that some of his moves this past summer were absolutely a gamble and it’s blown up in his face.

It seems the leadership and core didn’t take kindly to his ruthless attempts to make changes and its killed the morale. I’m good with the Goodrow move but I’m not gonna sit and lie that Drury circumventing a well liked leader’s NTC wouldn’t sit badly with me if I was a leader on this team. Then you add in trying to kick your captain out the door, and get into a public squabble with him where you drag his family into the proceedings. And then you welcome him back into the room and expect it to be all gravy.

Obviously these players are entitled and it’s an issue, but I understand how the morale could easily go into the shitter with everything that’s happened.

Is this really what happened though? There was no circumvention on Trouba. He had 15 team NTC and Drury was working within the confines of that. And who knows where the leak of Trouba not wanting to leave his family came from? I respect that Trouba feels that way but if his contract says he can be traded, he can be traded. It's also not like every fan didnt know Trouba's wife is his priority. it's literally why he became a Ranger in the first placey. Trouba's play and contract did not warrant his position being safe on the roster. Full stop. Millionaire athletes get traded when they have young kids every day. It became personal because the players took it personal.
 

NYR Viper

Registered User
Sep 9, 2007
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Jacksonville, FL
If he didn't re-sign Lindgren, he would have signed some other plug to a multi-year deal.

I think this was their plan if they could find someone who would take a reasonable contract but this past years UFA crop of d-men was WAY overpaid. Lindgren as a 1-year commitment, even with his flaws, was a better investment than many of the options that signed, even assuming they wanted to come to NY.
 

Vitto79

Registered User
May 24, 2008
27,576
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Sarnia
Uncle Larry said the core doesn't get to fire another coach; in retrospect, they never should have been allowed to fire Gallant. Their performance in the Devils series was disgusting and now after a short bump with their new coach, they're right back in an even worse place.

It’s not that bad if they just go back to playing like last year but I’m for a trade of Trouba

Schneider should get minutes . Mancini can be a good 3rd pair or get a fill in cheap vet
 

KirkAlbuquerque

#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
Mar 12, 2014
36,581
43,766
New York
I think the writing is on the wall for this group that they just don't have it.

The vibe went sour 10/24 when they got pantsed by Florida again.

People are somehow pointing to the San Jose game but that's a meme because Goodrow was there or something. It was the Florida game.
And Florida isn’t even that good
 

IDvsEGO

Registered User
Oct 11, 2016
5,252
5,220
Uncle Larry said the core doesn't get to fire another coach; in retrospect, they never should have been allowed to fire Gallant. Their performance in the Devils series was disgusting and now after a short bump with their new coach, they're right back in an even worse place.
Gallant was a shit coach.
Laf’s lack of development and usage and Kakko’s lack of development and usage alone were firable offenses
 

Oscar Lindberg

Registered User
Dec 14, 2015
16,158
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CA
Almost as if they know no matter what they do in the regular season it wont matter because theyll only be judged if they win it all or not.

And that was the danger in running it back. As soon as some doubt creeps in, things start to snowball when looking at the daunting summit needed to scale to succeed. And its only November.

The collective mindset of this group is demotivated by the challenge at this point, whereas in the past with a new coach things were fresh and challenges were attainable.
I agree with this. And that’s probably close to what has happened

Trouba walking into training camp and saying publicly “yeah this is our last shot” set the tone and it’s gone down from there
 

McRanger92

Registered User
Jun 7, 2017
11,614
21,573
I agree with this. And that’s probably close to what has happened

Trouba walking into training camp and saying publicly “yeah this is our last shot” set the tone and it’s gone down from there

We've never had the right leadership at the top. Clutch goals have been scored over the years, but the intensity and mindset has always been lacking. Too much of a desire to save energy and rely on Igor and the PP to win games for them.
 

will1066

Registered User
Oct 12, 2008
48,443
67,757
I would agree he’s absolutely not gambling, he’s been conservative for the most part. I also would say that some of his moves this past summer were absolutely a gamble and it’s blown up in his face.

It seems the leadership and core didn’t take kindly to his ruthless attempts to make changes and its killed the morale. I’m good with the Goodrow move but I’m not gonna sit and lie that Drury circumventing a well liked leader’s NTC wouldn’t sit badly with me if I was a leader on this team. Then you add in trying to kick your captain out the door, and get into a public squabble with him where you drag his family into the proceedings. And then you welcome him back into the room and expect it to be all gravy.

Obviously these players are entitled and it’s an issue, but I understand how the morale could easily go into the shitter with everything that’s happened.

No one's walking away from this with clean underwear. Drury in year 1 played it conservative at the trade deadline. The following year, he went for it. Then he played it safer again last year and the team went the farthest. But this group is tired. It's had multiple long runs and winning the regular season last year was a curse in disguise, not a blessing, because how do you keep getting motivated with the regular season after that? No one recognizes back to back president's trophies.
 
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