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

Mac n Gs said:
Maybe I'm misreading the tone, but I'll ignore the snark in favor of having an honest discussion. I think you might need to go back and re-read what I wrote because nowhere did I say that the Rangers winning the President's Trophy last year was a bad thing. I was referring to comments that I made before Drury ever even hired Laviolette about what I thought would happen, and it unfolded similarly to what I predicted. It's very hard to ignore the parallels to what happened in Washington with Laviolette and what's happening here. I think the Capitals did a good job two years ago in hiring a good coach, one that I was interested in hiring, who has helped turn them around after 3 straight years of failures and unmet expectations. They weren't expected to be a playoff team last year, and he helped them overachieve in that regard. This year, Chris Patrick did an incredible job flipping Darcy Kuemper, Nick Jensen, and a few mid-round picks into Pierre-Luc Dubois, Logan Thompson, and Jakob Chychrun. It's not hindsight to say that those were great moves. We discussed that as they were happening in the summer. What I was saying regarding to this year for the Capitals is that they have had basically everything go there way, similar to the 2023 Kraken. Some of it probably isn't sustainable, but they've been playing very good hockey all year, and I think that roster has taken the right steps to have relatively sustained success. We can agree to disagree on returning the same team leading to a 2nd or 3rd spot in the division for some of the reasons I'll touch on below related to your roster turnover comment.

Related to the roster turnover, I think the 40% roster turnover thing is a bit misleading. It's true in absolute value, but the majority of that is marginal pieces from a value perspective and guys on expiring deals. I don't think we need to rehash the Goodrow and Trouba situations, but to me, those were player being significantly overpaid for the value they provided to the team. Goodrow is one of the worst NHL players all season in terms of on-ice impact. Trouba was a very overpaid 2nd pairing dman at best. Good PKer, but his game was deteriorating and he was becoming a detriment at 5v5. He's still having those same issues in Anaheim, and Drury did well to get rid of the cap hit full boat. So yes, he got rid of Goodrow for nothing and replaced him with Sam Carrick. That's been a good move, but it's still for your 4th line center. Moving the rentals just made sense with where we were in the standings and the lack of overall assets in the organization. Lindgren was also exhibiting significant declines in play and being played in a role way above his skill level. Vesey was in and out of the lineup and was a 4th liner. Reilly Smith was mainly a 3rd line guy here. These are not really significant pieces that are difficult to replace.

The types of moves I'm talking about and want to see this summer are related to the top-end of the lineup. We've had the same guys in key positions for 6+ years now across different contention windows, and they haven't been able to get it done. I'm not discrediting the playoff success, but they haven't won a Cup; I'm not saying I haven't enjoyed the wins either. Removing the sentimentality aside, these guys are getting older, still have term, and are likely reaching the end of being able to get good trade value for them. Drury already took one big swing with this making the JT Miller trade. I personally don't think that's the type of player we should've targeted for a Chytil, Mancini, and a 1st package. Good player, but he was turning 32 and still has 5 years left at $8M. Could a different version of that trade have been made for someone like a Dylan Cozens where it didn't include a first? Maybe you expand it into a bigger deal where you get Cozens and Peterka?

I just think it's time for larger scale changes. I don't mean eating around the edges and calling it a day. I don't think it's that inflammatory of a thought to suggest so, and it's consistent with stuff I've been saying since Gallant was here.
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Again, good stuff, and I agree with 90% of it. Definitely didn’t mean the snark. The part I disagree with, and I’m fully aware that I’m in the minority of probably 1 here, is that Goodrow and Trouba did not have to be moved this year. Let the Presidents cup team take another shot. Drury caused this mess by not only doing what he did, but also the way he did it. The core were probably questioning if they were good enough, then Drury pulls this garbage, then the rumors, Lav comes out saying he is in full support of what Drury did, and now the players are pissed at Drury and Lav. Anyway, all of this has been gone over before, but when I thought you said that all of us agree that changes needed to be made, I assumed you meant after last season, and I felt compelled to disagree. Goodrow and Trouba were THE leaders on the team. Goodrow had 6 goals in last years playoffs. Lindgren is our best players best friend. Trouba is better than Urho, De Hahn, Jones. We didn’t need the money we saved until next year. If we’re gonna make those changes, it could have waited until this summer. I know we weren’t gonna win the cup, but as a fan, it would have been nice to see some playoff hockey.
 
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RangerBoy said:
Good luck to the next Rangers head coach trying to get Artemi to play the proper way. Laviolette never punishes these guys for refusing the play north and south. He keeps rolling out the same players late in the game. First unit PP. Kreider was a scratch but he is the only one to sit. Some of that could be health related.
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Coach Killer
 
TheTakedown said:
This. He's absolutely so raw and flawed... People that claim he's a first pair player are mistaken. He *has the tools* to be a first pair player, but his hockey IQ is so piss poor that it eliminates almost any chance of him being more than an averag 2nd pair dman. I watch Key very consistently during games and he's an absolute idiot with the puck.
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Needed to follow this up. Go watch the 2nd goal that Anaheim scored tonight and you will all see how miller f***s himself
 
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Guyute said:
The forwards don’t play any D whatsoever. How does this happen time and time again? Coach needs to go immediately. Tomorrow.

Also this website still sucks
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People harp on the D for being untalented NPCs but they're 15 points ahead in the standings from where they are now if the forwards backcheck at an average level

Same thing all year. 75% effort in all facets. I think the D does ok all things considered.
 
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effen said:
People harp on the D for being untalented NPCs but they're 15 points ahead in the standings from where they are now if the forwards backcheck at an average level

Same thing all year. 75% effort in all facets. I think the D does ok all things considered.
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not soucy
 
Drury screwed this team. Goodrow although a rough season last year goal wise was a leader as played hard every shift. Trouba a leader who played hard and Drury messed with both over the summer which caused issues. Then shesterkin demanding to be highest paid player and Drury gave it to him and he is just not a top 10 goalie even. He might not even be top 15. Hasn’t been for 3 seasons now. His stats get worse every year. With his contract we are even in more trouble.
 
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Hockeyplayer99 said:
Then shesterkin demanding to be highest paid player and Drury gave it to him and he is just not a top 10 goalie even. He might not even be top 15. Hasn’t been for 3 seasons now. His stats get worse every year. With his contract we are even in more trouble.
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Highest Goals Expected Against in the league
3rd highest Goals Save Above Expected
Highest High Danger chances against in the league.

Goaltending isn't the issue. The team in front of him and the coach is.
 
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What kills me about this team is that the problems they’ve had for years were just never addressed. There was never guys on defense that would lock down other teams best forwards, and the forward group couldn’t establish a forecheck, and the team relied too much on special teams. It’s almost like Drury was too afraid to make a big move to fix the holes the team had, and when he finally does he takes a wrecking ball to the whole thing and creates a whole other mess.

The defense is just so putridly bad. I like Borden, I kinda like Vaak and Soucy. I don’t like all 3 playing on one team. Miller has taken an enormous step back. When he makes a mistake it’s a disaster. The middle of the ice is constantly open, and they can’t break out of their own zone.

The entire forward group is a mess. Everyone has taken a step back. There are guys I used to be a huge fan of that I can’t wait to be gone.

I also think hated the Laviolette hiring for the very reason we all see. He’s good for a season or two and then he’s back on the coaching carousel. He’s done an awful job this season.
 
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Drury needs to go ASAP... he's killed a year that should be in our cup window and did nothing to solve anything. Trading Kakko should never have happened and if it was between him and Drury they should have sent Drury packing. The coach and GM lost this team back in September. Stop this madness, get rid of them before they infect Othmann, Berard and Perrault.
 
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Hockeyplayer99 said:
Drury screwed this team. Goodrow although a rough season last year goal wise was a leader as played hard every shift. Trouba a leader who played hard and Drury messed with both over the summer which caused issues. Then shesterkin demanding to be highest paid player and Drury gave it to him and he is just not a top 10 goalie even. He might not even be top 15. Hasn’t been for 3 seasons now. His stats get worse every year. With his contract we are even in more trouble.
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I don’t think Laf’s contract sat to well with Trochek either.
 
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