Speculation: Roster Building thread: Part XIX (Thanks, Sam)

[Savant]

Madness people would give this pick away because they are scared we will be worse. Won’t happen. And i could 2000% guarantee Drury would not give the pick up if it’s top 13, because what kind of message is he sending by saying “yea we will be worse next season so we’ll keep that pick”

That’s not why we will keep the pick. We will keep the pick because Drury wants to make the pick. If Drury is on the hot seat, he’s not saving the pick for the next GM

 

[Matt Rentfree]

We signed Jackson Dorrington to a 3-year ELC. Defense fixed.

 

[GAGLine]

We signed Jackson Dorrington to a 3-year ELC. Defense fixed.

Hopefully he can help out in Hartford. The defense down there isn't all that strong.

 

[TGWL]

I have a question -- when do they have to decide whether to keep or pass on the pick?

48 hours after the lotto/order is determined.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

If the Rangers end up with the 10th pick in the draft, they should give up the pick because some people are afraid Pittsburgh will have an unprotected first pick in 2026? Can the Rangers be this bad again next season? They aren't even that bad. Some of these players are not even trying at this point. They are enjoying the Rangers grift for as long as they can. Chris Kreider is just cashing the checks at this point. Mika Zibanejad plays these games with no pulse. He only gets excited when yelling at the officials. One of the Flames players sticked JT Miller in the groin and Mika went crazy. Simon Benoit hit Kreider hard into the boards and Mika lost his mind. Don't you dare touch my man. Get rid of the coach. Hire a better coach than Laviolette. Not Mike Sullivan please. Make major and significant changes in personnel. The Rangers aren't going to tank. The NHL is so mediocre. The Rangers goaltending is too good.

The only way to believe they will be better next season is the believe (i) the core players will be better (highly unlikely) (ii) improvements are coming from youth in the system (highly unlikely) or (iii) Chris Drury is going to identify and bring in good players (maybe but not guaranteed). Going from Laviolette to Sullivan or whoever isn't going to polish this turd of a roster.

Igor gets injured or goes through his usual few months of average play and it is not hard to see this team being bottom 10 again.

 

[Roo Returns]

The only way to believe they will be better next season is the believe (i) the core players will be better (highly unlikely) (ii) improvements are coming from youth in the system (highly unlikely) or (iii) Chris Drury is going to identify and bring in good players (maybe but not guaranteed). Going from Laviolette to Sullivan or whoever isn't going to polish this turd of a roster.

Igor gets injured or goes through his usual few months of average play and it is not hard to see this team being bottom 10 again.

Next year is the Olympics and a lot of these guys are going to want to represent their countires plus have more time off this summer to rest and train so I think it's likely they are better.

A few solid depth moves and money well spent and they can easily have a bounce back.

It would also help if Laba and Roobroeck can nail down some bottom six spots and add some energy to this group.

 

[Roo Returns]

We signed Jackson Dorrington to a 3-year ELC. Defense fixed.

Dorrington is a project and I don't see him ready until at earliest fall 2026. Based on talent alone, Fortescue has an upper hand. Both will be competing for a spot fall 2026 along with any prospects they bring in. Emery to turn pro at earliest is fall 2027.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Should we have a playoff race thread? We are 1 point back but MTL has 2 games in hand so I look at it like we are 3 points back with 11 games to go. Can we do it? Do the players want it?

Seems unlikely. Thing is MTL & the Isles aren't great either.

 

[Roo Returns]

Should we have a playoff race thread? We are 1 point back but MTL has 2 games in hand so I look at it like we are 3 points back with 11 games to go. Can we do it? Do the players want it?

They control their own destiny. They need to sweep this California swing or at worst get one point vs the Kings and go 2-0 against Anaheim and San Jose.

The two vs. the Lightning, Panthers, Hurricanes are the tough games. Devils and Islanders always tough but if the Rangers decide to forecheck they should be ok.

They really need to go like 8-3 to have a chance and hope Montreal has some problems with the Panthers and Blues.

 

[NickyFotiu]

They control their own destiny. They need to sweep this California swing or at worst get one point vs the Kings and go 2-0 against Anaheim and San Jose.

The two vs. the Lightning, Panthers, Hurricanes are the tough games. Devils and Islanders always tough but if the Rangers decide to forecheck they should be ok.

They really need to go like 8-3 to have a chance and hope Montreal has some problems with the Panthers and Blues.

The Islanders are also involved. Crazy how many swings this playoff race has taken. Since we are behind I can't 100% say we control our own destiny but I feel like your 8-3 guesstimate is a very fair one. We could need plus or minus 1 win so somewhere from 7-4 to 9-2 would be my guesstimate because no telling how well the Isles and Habs do with their games in hand.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Seems unlikely. Thing is MTL & the Isles aren't great either.

Probably just going to come down to who wants it more plus who gets better goaltending.

 

[kovazub94]

Definitely, and that goes back to my first point that the players we want may not be available. That is why patience is so important. If we can't find a good trade for Panarin, keep him and see where we are at the trade deadline. If we're firmly in a playoff spot, then I can't see us trading him. The players would riot. But if we're a bubble team again, or worse, that could be the time to move him, especially if we still own our 2026 1st rounder.

IMO these trades are more difficult to be on a “winning” side than otherwise. The notion that a team that gets the best player wins a trade is there for a reason since this is how these trades workout more often than not.

 

[Roo Returns]

The Islanders are also involved. Crazy how many swings this playoff race has taken. Since we are behind I can't 100% say we control our own destiny but I feel like your 8-3 guesstimate is a very fair one. We could need plus or minus 1 win so somewhere from 7-4 to 9-2 would be my guesstimate because no telling how well the Isles and Habs do with their games in hand.

Rangers have played the Islanders well this year. Without Barzal the Islanders don't seem to have as much juice vs. the Rangers.

 

[kovazub94]

Think about what Panarin would return as a rental at the deadline next year. That’s 1st + very good prospect + 2nd, likely. A full season of Panarin is going to cost at least that. There are going to be a slew of teams who would love to add Panarin, especially if that return could include a player with term who they are okay moving on from for cap purposes. That’s why I keep bringing up Fiala. He has term left and the Kings likely would be okay moving him for cap purposes.

The hindsight on the Gaborik trade is interesting because at the time, Brassard was an underperforming high pick with injury concerns. He rejuvenated his career in NY. John Moore was a somewhat struggling young LD and Dorsett was a truculent 4th liner on a not minuscule salary at the time ($1.6m if I recall, which would be like $2.6-2.8m now). Those weren’t high end pieces but they fit.

Fiala + Clarke + 1st ‘26 for Panarin + Jones


I think Chicago is the landing spot for Kreider. They have 2 1st’s this year. Not a deep draft. 1st ‘25 + 2nd ‘26 + player for Kreider

Panarin trade: are you still making it IF you KNOW that you can resign Panarin for 3 more years at $9.5m?

 

[Roo Returns]

So for roster this summer I think it's safe to say:

-Kaliyev is not qualified
-Parssinen is (although I think it's for the wrong reasons)
-Another middle six veteran winger is brought it
-If the Rangers sign a Gavrikov or Provorov or Grzelyk to a UFA deal, one of the current seven D is moved.

 

[kovazub94]

We signed Jackson Dorrington to a 3-year ELC. Defense fixed.

? I don’t get this type of post. It’s actually a good news, no? A prospect that came via trade (as a small piece) is joining Hartford within weeks of being acquired. He could make the same impression that Mancini did at exactly this time just a year ago.

And No one said that signing Dorrington would be the cure or that it meant FO hasn’t been trying to improve D otherwise since last offseason nor that it will continue to address it as early as this offseason.

 

[GAGLine]

IMO these trades are more difficult to be on a “winning” side than otherwise. The notion that a team that gets the best player wins a trade is there for a reason since this is how these trades workout more often than not.

Yet, I can point to a lot where the team that got the best player lost the trade. Most trades for rentals end up being that way.

That's not to suggest that it's easy to win a trade like that, but trading an older star for two or more young players/picks will often provide more value simply because you get more years out of them.

 

[Kendo]

Riding out the rest of the season:

10 - 8 - 13
Laf has been struggling a bit. Troch has been streaky. Miller helped spark Mika a bit, so hopefully he can help get Laf going again. If Laf can't keep up, swap him with Cools.

50 - 16 - 65
All effort line. Let them cook. Even if you swap 50 & 13.

20 - 93 - 78
Two 2nd lines. For however bad Mika has been, that's still a VERY dangerous 3rd line. Certainly better than running two 4th lines!

OR
20/50 - 16 - 93
50/20 - 22/71 - 65/78
If Mika stays on W, then only one of the kids is in the top 9, and Brodz comes in as 3C and it's more of an actual 3rd line. Maaaybe Parss. Option to move Kreider to the 4th and keep both kids on the 3rd.

71/78 - 29 - 73/22
Carrick is an absolute WARRIOR, but I don't want him at 3C. Like ever. Staple him to the 4th, in a good way. I like almost any combo of W's you can put with him, but optimally Edstrom would be one of 'em if/when healthy.


79 - 23
It worked, and worked well. It's frustrating that Lavi hasn't gone back to it. Key is better suited as the TWD to an offensive guy than he is trying to force offense with a DFD as a partner like Borgen, although they've been serviceable as a pair with Fox out. And Fox is better off with a TWD partner instead of Lindy/Soucy/Vaaks.

24-17
6/18 - 4
44
While the rest of the D corps is a little underwhelming, we have four 4/5D plus Jones with an undefined floor and ceiling. Even if Jones sits, we have a "meh" 2nd pair and an enviable 3rd pair.


Goaltending is set for this and next year, for better or worse. Love our guys in the NHL & AHL, but we should still go fishing in the later rounds of this upcoming draft since there's an age gap since drafting Boyko.


I like the direction the Wolf Pack is heading, even if they're currently barely a playoff bubble team. They're getting younger, and there are a lot of players to like. Laba might even be a menace! Not to mention Gabe's timeline. I want to keep Groulx somehow.

Just a little thin on the blue line. Dorrington and/or Larsson might factor in next season, while Fort and Emery need time. Need to draft another RD and add a RH plug in the meantime.

 

[Savant]

Panarin trade: are you still making it IF you KNOW that you can resign Panarin for 3 more years at $9.5m?

I think they have to trade Panarin either way. If they are imploding the roster because the want to get rid of the east west players, you philosophically (right or wrong) can’t bring Panarin back. Especially if Drury isn’t helm, the vision is to build around Captain JT Miller. Miller is already clearly the leader.

I’m not saying Miller is better than Panarin, I’m not saying this (or mostly anything else that was done this season) is what I would have done if I was in charge. But if you are building around Miller and want to change the locker room/playing style/general vibes; then , Panarin should not be brought back

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Montreal has 2 games in hand and is a point up. They have 75 points with 13 to go. Rangers have 74 with 11 to go.

If Montreal goes 7-5-1 in the 13 games, they’ll have 90 points. Rangers would need to go 8-3-0, or 7-2-2, to finish with 90 points and take the last spot via a tiebreaker. It’s a long shot at this point. And then you have the islanders also with 13 games to go and if that all happens, they’ll islanders would need 18 points in 13 games to pass MON and NYR.

 

[lakeshirts37]

It's something to consider but keep this in mind. If the Rangers keep the pick this year they won't have the option of trading their 1st rounder next year because it will already be gone. Keeping the pick this year at least guarantees that we will have at least one 1st round pick the next two years.

The other considerations are quality of this year's draft compared to next year's and placement this year compared to next year which are projections---if we do rebound and make the playoffs next year that pick will be later in the draft.

very confused with your first paragraph like its some great insight lol

 

[lakeshirts37]

I sure do not want to give the Pens any chance at McKenna , Give them the 25 pick and forget about it . With regards to what it actually might become....what difference does it make if it is this year or next for our team.....it takes Rangers 5-6 years to have them become 50 point guys anyways....I would say it also ...the 26 year pick will be traded as well at some point in a package for Tkachuk along with Laf and Perreault .

I agree I also like containing this dogshit year to 24-25. give them this years pick and lets move forward

 

[bernmeister]

Panarin trade: are you still making it IF you KNOW that you can resign Panarin for 3 more years at $9.5m?

yes
we can't afford that and the longer we wait to move him, the more his value goes down due to reduction in term of his contract

we made the same mistake being win now with Buch, stupidly self rented, and wound up w/bupkis for the next to nothing value his sliver of rfa remaining commanded

 

[eco's bones]

very confused with your first paragraph like its some great insight lol

very confused with your post here. I was responding to someone suggesting we decline this year's 1st round pick even if we could retain it lol.

 

[nsvoyageurs]

It's something to consider but keep this in mind. If the Rangers keep the pick this year they won't have the option of trading their 1st rounder next year because it will already be gone. Keeping the pick this year at least guarantees that we will have at least one 1st round pick the next two years.

The other considerations are quality of this year's draft compared to next year's and placement this year compared to next year which are projections---if we do rebound and make the playoffs next year that pick will be later in the draft.

It is worth considering, but I would still give up this year's pick. I'm not convinced next year's pick will be that much later than this year's pick, or at least significantly later. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe not.

If some of the vets (Zibenjad/Panarin/Kreider/KA Miller, etc.) are dealt this summer or before the 2026 Trade Deadline, the odds are they would acquire another 2026 pick.