Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XLI

[Leetch3]

The funny thing to me is all the people assuming Hank would be okay with playing backup. He has made it clear he believes he is a starter and has no desire to be a mentor. Buying him out would actually be the respectful thing if you don't share the same opinions. He is then in control of his career.
I would love to see him retire with the team, but some of you think he would be willing to do that as a backup and he seems like he wants to be the starter until he decides to retire. Player and team are not on the same page.

he also doesn't want to play for another team or retire so he's pretty much eliminated all his options.

 

[Fitzy]

Replacing Skeji is not a concern. Moving him for a first will go down as one of Gorton’s best trades.

It is a good trade, but it left us without an even mediocre 1LHD.

The stomping parrot has spoken

 

[dshea19]

I don’t think Hank requested he gets bought out lol...

I highly doubt he wants to be bought out. I would think he is fighting to be #1 again. He is a competitor and will fight to the last, which is what made him so successful in the past.
The issue is about what the Rangers believe is in their best interest. Regardless, I fully expect Hank to fight to the end, which is why I am not expecting him to just decide to be a backup.

 

[dshea19]

He made lots of comments about reassessing things, having conversations with the team, etc. I don't really know what his mindset is. He CLEARLY understands Shesterkin is no longer just the future, but the present.

If he actually requested to be bought out then of course you have to consider it. I'm not totally sure that's where he is, though.

I remember those comments. The tone seemed, to me, more along the lines of, "do I retire or go somewhere else."
I could be wrong about that, but he still doesn't come across like the guy who is willing to play second fiddle to someone else.

 

[Leetch3]

I don’t think Hank requested he gets bought out lol...

any idea who he's skating with?

 

[nyr2k2]

I highly doubt he wants to be bought out. I would think he is fighting to be #1 again. He is a competitor and will fight to the last, which is what made him so successful in the past.
The issue is about what the Rangers believe is in their best interest. Regardless, I fully expect Hank to fight to the end, which is why I am not expecting him to just decide to be a backup.

So say the Rangers trade Georgiev and go in with Shesterkin and Lundqvist. They have a conversation with Lundqvist and tell him he's the backup, and maybe he picks up a few extra starts if there's a compressed schedule.

What do you think he'd do?

 

[Leetch3]

So say the Rangers trade Georgiev and go in with Shesterkin and Lundqvist. They have a conversation with Lundqvist and tell him he's the backup, and maybe he picks up a few extra starts if there's a compressed schedule.

What do you think he'd do?

people also need to remember that being the backup doesn't mean he will play 15 games...this year in a shortened season with a 3 goalie system and barely playing the last 2+ months he still played 30 games. if georgiev is gone he'd likely be looking at 40ish games next year as a tandem and then beyond that 30ish games a year as a backup is still a decent number of games for a near 40 year old

 

[SA16]

If the Rangers tell Lundqvist he will be the backup and he doesn't want to do it he can just call up his fellow countryman Lias Andersson and ask for some tips on how to leave a team and head back home without telling anyone about it until it's done.

 

[NYR Viper]

I’d be really intrigued to see Reunanen next to Trouba. I think they’re styles would gel welll

 

[Leetch3]

If the Rangers tell Lundqvist he will be the backup and he doesn't want to do it he can just call up his fellow countryman Lias Andersson and ask for some tips on how to leave a team and head back home without telling anyone about it until it's done.

 

[dshea19]

So say the Rangers trade Georgiev and go in with Shesterkin and Lundqvist. They have a conversation with Lundqvist and tell him he's the backup, and maybe he picks up a few extra starts if there's a compressed schedule.

What do you think he'd do?

I don't think that is what he wants. He has a life outside of hockey, so I don't think he will settle for anything other than being #1. He can walk away and move on. I could absolutely be wrong, but it is consistent with his displayed personality. He is a leader and used to being the foundation. Personally, I think he wants to go out on his own terms.

Long-term, I also don't think Georgie sees himself as a backup either, but he is cheaper and they have more control. However, I also agree that he needs to be maximized for the best return.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

If Hajek can find the form he displayed at the end of the 18-19 season before the shoulder injury, he'd be ahead of them all, too.

Reunanen finished stronger than he started, but he still played 2 minutes per game less and saw a dip in production. Until his hot finish, it was a substantial dip in production. This past season was not as good as the season before that.

But anyway, my point is it's all "ifs". This is uncharted territory for the most part, given that we're approaching June and have no idea when the season will end, and no idea when camps will start. We have no idea who will come in looking ready and who will look steps behind. It's folly to project who is the most ready to assume a role for next year.

Under normal circumstances I'd probably agree with you, but these aren't normal circumstances.

Also Day sucks and shouldn't be in the discussion. LOL.

Reunanen picked it up late, and it earned him a call up for the national team, which is a positive sign in my book. Not a guarantee of course. But he will come into camp with confidence, and assuming we have a normal camp this year it's up for grabs.

Let's not mention Day anymore, agreed.

 

[NYR Viper]

Reunanen picked it up late, and it earned him a call up for the national team, which is a positive sign in my book. Not a guarantee of course. But he will come into camp with confidence, and assuming we have a normal camp this year it's up for grabs.

Let's not mention Day anymore, agreed.

To me, in an ideal world, we’d be seeing 2 of Reunanen/Hajek/Rykov on the starting roster next year. That may seem like a lot but many teams in the NHL have 2 rookie d-men to start seasons. Keep Smith around as the 7 and to give Quinn the ability to sit them as needed.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I’d wager a guess we’ll see one of Hajek/Rykov/Reunanen traded within the next 6-8 months

If you were forcing me to choose one I’d guess Rykov.

 

[UnSandvich]

I’d wager a guess we’ll see one of Hajek/Rykov/Reunanen traded within the next 6-8 months

If you were forcing me to choose one I’d guess Rykov.

Of those 3, I think it's Hajek. Biggest track record in NA, and had the most recent "standout" performance (WJCs a couple years ago).

I actually think Hajek could be the worst of those 3 as well

 

[Barnaby]

To me, it all depends on what Hank is thinking about in terms of his next contract. If he would be into staying on specifically as a backup and a mentor to Igor, and getting paid appropriately as such, say 2.5 x 2 or 3, then I feel like that is pretty close to an ideal.

So you want to extend a declining goalie for another 2-3 years beyond the upcoming year? Why don’t we see how the upcoming season plays out first. This is a young mans game. The last think we want to see is Hank flounder and be a liability. I think Hanks at the stage of 1 year contracts if he decides to keep playing.

“That’s a bold strategy Cotton...”.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Of those 3, I think it's Hajek. Biggest track record in NA, and had the most recent "standout" performance (WJCs a couple years ago).

I actually think Hajek could be the worst of those 3 as well

Disagree, I think he’s the least likely

Hajek was the centerpiece prospect of the McDonagh deal, think the team is going to give him every opportunity to work out

 

[Ola]

any idea who he's skating with?

I think it’s the usual suspects that skates in Gothenburg during the summer plus some NHL kids: the Klingbergs, Loui Eriksson, William Lagesson, Lias Andersson and Rasmus Dahlin.

 

[Barnaby]

We traded Leetch, lost Giacomin on waivers. I am sure buying out 1 year of Lundqvist's contract is going to be fine. It's not going to hurt his legacy. Then again, a lot of fans still cry over the Zuccarello trade, acting as if we traded away Ovechlin.

Let’s say hypothetically the difference between having Beezer back Richter up for another year or two would have meant failing to extend a Leetch or Zubov or keep you from adding another main cog to compete for a Cup. Would we really look back at that in hindsight as a wise move?

I get Hank > Beezer, but both are/were loved players

 

[Fitzy]

Assuming the NHL decides on a 24 team playoff format.

You offer Henrik the opportunity to start for the team in his final playoff run, with the assurance that he will retire at season's end if this is the case. Do you do it?

 

[smoneil]

I’m sorry but I cannot agree with this. No single player is greater than the team. Lundqvist just isn’t good enough anymore for what we’re paying him. Lundqvist knows this. It would be foolish arrogance to hurt the team’s future over him. This all is a math equation. We made it clear about our position to rebuild. If Lundqvist didn’t have a NMC and the Rangers were smart then they’d trade him even without his permission. This is all about making the team competitive and making the best moves to make that happen or keeping that the case.

Lundqvist was a legend for us, but he isn’t part of the longterm future. The team as a whole is greater than any individual player.

You missed my point if you thought I was saying that a player is greater than the team. The point was about maintaining a team culture. Too many people on this website think that building a team of real players is the same as building a team on a video game. They are real people in the actual NHL, who react to things like culture, respect, etc. Again--the flip side to the argument that "he's not worth the money, damn the sentiment and offload him" is that players who are worth MORE money than they get will expect to get it. Players in contract years will throttle back a bit on the effort in an attempt to avoid injury/risk their upcoming payday. We don't get to choose WHICH players get treated like a math equation and which players are supposed to do things "for the team."

Honestly, that's one of my only concerns right now about the folks running this team. It costs them nothing to communicate with the players, and they seem to prefer not to. Trading Zucc was the right move. Keeping him in the dark about that plan? Bush league. They seemed to have similar communication issues with Andersson and Kravtsov. Sitting Lundqvist for a month, when his numbers are nearly identical to Georgiev's? It looks like they were trying to force his hand. You don't win a Cup with a pack of mercenaries. And if you want something more than a pack of mercenaries, you have to care about more than math.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

any idea who he's skating with?

His brother I believe.

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

Honestly I was expecting way more "Henrik Drama" than we got over the course of the contract. But his level of play stayed pretty high and I don't think the three headed goalie monster was that much of a mess. The team generally fell out of contending pretty gracefully. Obviously we'll look at it different five years from now if the prospects don't work.

The rona gives them some cover with the fans if they really want to buy him out, since I don't think anyone is going to be super focused on roster moves. Trading George is the obvious way out but we don't know what's going on, maybe the handful of teams with actual bad goaltending situations don't like him.

 

[smoneil]

The funny thing to me is all the people assuming Hank would be okay with playing backup. He has made it clear he believes he is a starter and has no desire to be a mentor. Buying him out would actually be the respectful thing if you don't share the same opinions. He is then in control of his career.
I would love to see him retire with the team, but some of you think he would be willing to do that as a backup and he seems like he wants to be the starter until he decides to retire. Player and team are not on the same page.

Where have you seen him say ANYTHING about not wanting to be a mentor? They sat him for a full month (either to force his hand or to showcase Georgiev) and he didn't make a peep about it. I've never heard a player say anything negative about him as a teammate.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

I highly doubt he wants to be bought out. I would think he is fighting to be #1 again. He is a competitor and will fight to the last, which is what made him so successful in the past.
The issue is about what the Rangers believe is in their best interest. Regardless, I fully expect Hank to fight to the end, which is why I am not expecting him to just decide to be a backup.

I don’t believe Igor plays 60G next year, so Hank won’t be the typical backup. Maybe around 50G for Igor and 30ish for Hank.

Igor started 29G in 2018 + another 29G in 2017. His career high is 39 which he started in 2016. He started 37 between Hartford and NY last year.

I think there will be an opportunity for a decent amount of playing time for Hank next year.