Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XIV

[True Blue]

I’m not talking about top prospects or prospects. I’m talking Fogarty, Lindqvist, Holland, beleskey/Nieves (when healthly). Really anyone would be fine replacing his minutes.

So what more is someone like Holland or a Lindqvist for instance going to do?

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

He said "if we draft that franchise center" so his assumption is that Hughes will be better than Zibanejad at center.

(Jas doesn’t think Chytil’s a center)

 

[kovazub94]

(Jas doesn’t think Chytil’s a center)

Then Chytil goes to a wing and Zibanejad stays at center. What's the problem?

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Then Chytil goes to a wing and Zibanejad stays at center. What's the problem?

No problem, I'm just saying what he meant in the post you quoted

 

[Ghost of jas]

He said "if we draft that franchise center" so his assumption is that Hughes will be better than Zibanejad at center.

So, Zibanejad moves to 2nd line center.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Then Chytil goes to a wing and Zibanejad stays at center. What's the problem?

Which is what I’ve been saying.

 

[kovazub94]

No problem, I'm just saying what he meant in the post you quoted

This is all hypothetical. Will have to wait and see how Chytil develops but at this point Chytil being a center in a future is a realistic possibility even if you think it won't be the case.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

This is all hypothetical. Will have to wait and see how Chytil develops but at this point Chytil being a center in a future is a realistic possibility even if you think it won't be the case.

I definitely agree. I’m also very strongly on the side of him staying a center long term

 

[kovazub94]

The bigger point is that there will be more options with Zibanejad (as compared to Hayes) in case there will be two prospects who develop into better players.

 

[Ghost of jas]

This is all hypothetical. Will have to wait and see how Chytil develops but at this point Chytil being a center in a future is a realistic possibility even if you think it won't be the case.

My point is that you have a player who can play center and at a fairly high level, and moving him to the wing for a player who has yet to show he can even play the position, let alone at the level Zibanejad has already shown he can, is folly IMO.

 

[Kovalev27]

My point was if we draft a FRANCHISE center so a guy that by definition would be a better player than Zibanejad, I’d love to keep him and move him to wing where as a shooter I think he’d thrive with a guy like that feeding him

 

[Ghost of jas]

My point was if we draft a FRANCHISE center so a guy that by definition would be a better player than Zibanejad, I’d love to keep him and move him to wing where as a shooter I think he’d thrive with a guy feeding him

Or you can play him at 2C, considering he’s thriving at the position right now.

 

[kovazub94]

My point is that you have a player who can play center and at a fairly high level, and moving him to the wing for a player who has yet to show he can even play the position, let alone at the level Zibanejad has already shown he can, is folly IMO.

There could be multiple possibilities. Let's say Zibanejad is just a barely better than Chytil at center but much better as wing. Or Zibanejad develops unbelievable chemistry with this potential franchise center while Chytil and Kravtsov become a thing, etc etc.

 

[True Blue]

1. If ever? Nobody can predict the future but would you put your money on it (that none Chytil, Howden or Andersson will become better, or possibly even someone they will draft in 2019)?

I would say it is even money. I hate betting on possibilities of shiny new toys (much as I may like them and an certainly hopeful)

2. Not for a while? Very possibly it will happen within the next two seasons (after this one). Hayes wants an extension for 6-7 years.

Possibility that they go for 20-25 goals and 5o points? Again, let's hope so. The chances of all three of them hitting those numbers are not great. And we do not know for a fact what Hayes is looking for. The 6-7 years is pure conjecture.

 

[kovazub94]

I would say it is even money. I hate betting on possibilities of shiny new toys (much as I may like them and an certainly hopeful)

Possibility that they go for 20-25 goals and 5o points? Again, let's hope so. The chances of all three of them hitting those numbers are not great. And we do not know for a fact what Hayes is looking for. The 6-7 years is pure conjecture.

1. Well, management will have to make this call. Even money? I bet this is not how they think about it
2. 6-7 years is absolutely not a conjecture. Look around the NHL and what term 2C forwards in their mid-20s go for as UFAs.

 

[Edge]

I know there's a tendency to move Zibanejad to the wings because he's seen as a shooter, but I think we almost tend to forget about his other abilities at center --- including faceoffs.

I think his three year percentages with the Rangers are 52%, 50.8% and 51.8%.

 

[Thirty One]

So what more is someone like Holland or a Lindqvist for instance going to do?

Keep up with the play a moderate amount? Not fire wide open, unchecked chances slowly into the corner? Give whatever youngster is centering the 4th line an idea of what it's like to play at the NHL level with two linemates that can answer yes to the preceding two questions?

 

[kovazub94]

I know there's a tendency to move Zibanejad to the wings because he's seen as a shooter, but I think we almost tend to forget about his other abilities at center --- including faceoffs.

I think his three year percentages with the Rangers are 52%, 50.8% and 51.8%.

Not just face-offs but his play in the defensive zone is probably underappreciated. IMHO he's at least not worse than Hayes in this area and right there in the middle with other teams' 1Cs.

 

[Do you want ants]

So what more is someone like Holland or a Lindqvist for instance going to do?

Pretty much what Thirty One said. We know what McLeod brings. It doesn’t help this team in any capacity. Unless you want to tank and look bad while tanking. Then he’s excellent at that, and should see 20 minutes a night (if he can stay out of the penalty box enough).

 

[Lion Hound]

I know there's a tendency to move Zibanejad to the wings because he's seen as a shooter, but I think we almost tend to forget about his other abilities at center --- including faceoffs.

I think his three year percentages with the Rangers are 52%, 50.8% and 51.8%.

I can't understand why anyone would want to move the clubs best option for #1 C to the wing, regardless of where or who they draft next year.

 

[Edge]

I think we also forget how young Zibanejad still is.

We're talking about a guy who is one day older than Steve Fogarty and about 9 months older than Boo Nieves, guys who are still considered prospects --- to some degree or another.

 

[Bluto]

Kakko > Hughes I think.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I can't understand why anyone would want to move the clubs best option for #1 C to the wing, regardless of where or who they draft next year.

Especially for a player who has yet to show he can play the position at the NHL, let alone at the level Zibanejad is currently at.

 

[Bluto]

We have 3 great center prospects who I think will create the best center depth the rangers have ever had.
I dont think this team will be bad enough to draft hughes. If we are getting close to playoff time and the NYR are in the hunt they gotta play for playoffs. Lately the rookies have been coming together between ADA, Pionk, and Howden and Chytil has been playing very well despite the points not flowing his way yet. But the puck luck will change there. Lias might come in and do what mcdonagh did when he came up.
Playoffs experience for the rooks would be great for development. Shattenkirk will get better as the season progresses his injury is not an easy one to come back from.
This is a young team, and it looks like they are starting to gel a bit. If we make the playoffs and next year we come back with the same core plus Panarin and EK that's a cup contender. Add in Kravstov and suddenly this is potentially a very dangerous team.
On the d end the solutions are in the system already in Nils, Hajek, Miller, Rykov, Linsgren and Keane.
This is a deep farm.

 

[True Blue]

Pretty much what Thirty One said. We know what McLeod brings. It doesn’t help this team in any capacity. Unless you want to tank and look bad while tanking. Then he’s excellent at that, and should see 20 minutes a night (if he can stay out of the penalty box enough).

Let's not exaggerate here. He has hardly cost the Rangers any games and has made himself visible with what little ice time he does get. I believe that given what he is getting as far as ice time, it is better to have someone like him than an utter waste of space like Holland. But this is really splitting hairs as none those players would make any more of a difference. Of all those, it wold be nice to see Fogarty get a chance, but again so low minutes and not play at center? As for the rest, meh. Them playing would not result in one more goal for the Rangers scored or given up.