Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XLIX

[kovazub94]

Who is this mystery back up D for DeAngelo?


LD should be priority #1, bar none. We have Lindgren who is solid, Smith who is basically replacement level and Staal who is bottom of the barrel bad. Even if there is depth at the position in the minors, it's going to take a lot of time before any of those guys are ready to contribute and effectively eat top 4 minutes. I think its possible we see K'Andre at some point next year, but hes likely going to be doing the bottom pair/limited PK duty for the foreseeable future. Even if hes better than expected sooner than later, I'd still want a quality veteran who can eat top pair minutes and PK effectively. I'm not interested in forcing a kid into that role, defense is way to difficult of a position to do that at this level and not everyone is Adam Fox.

I'm much, much, much more comfortable with Zibanejad-Strome-Chytil down the middle 1-2-3 than I am with Lindgren-Smith-Staal.

100%!

 

[Rangers394]

Lots of rumors of Montreal being interested for Ryder, Halak and a 2nd.

Originally i wouldn't trade Laf for anything but this deal is too good to pass up. Good shit

 

[Avery16]

I don’t agree with any of this post.

• 2C they can get away with Strome one more year
• Miller might be ready soon but unlikely for top pair, which is where the hole is. You can put him on 3rd pair but not sure how I feel about a Miller-DeAngelo pairing
• Don’t think Chytil is a center. Don’t think he even gets a shot there.
  
• Don’t see anyone in house that can make a good pairing with Trouba over a whole season.

ADA/Trouba
Lindgren/Fox
Miller/Smith in protected minutes.

Strome was one of the most invisible players in our brief postseason appearance. He was a reclamation project that over performed expectations this season, but cant be thought of as a serious answer for 2C. It waters down our scoring effectiveness. Panarin is doing all the puck possession for that line, and teams know it. You shut him down, the line is basically an impotent 4th line.

If Chytil isnt a center, then our need for C is even greater than I stated.

 

[duhmetreE]

For you maybe, but I've always held the opinion that center depth is overrated AF.

Let me rephrase it this way: We need a big minute eating D who actually limits scoring chances, doesn't murder transition and can kill penalties way more than we need another forward, center or wing.

Faceoff and PK specialists are guys who can be acquired for cheap and loaded up on your 4th line if those are things that worry you.

I guess it's a matter of would you rather go into the season with Strome at 2c and an Ekholm type addition on the blue line or an upgrade on Strome and Staal+Smith on defense?

Those are the things that I see as a glaring weakness.. as bad if not worse than LHD imo.


Strome can be a decent 2c if we had a strong 3c and 4c. In no world is Staal ok. Smith I can tolerate as a bottom pairing d-man.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Those are the things that I see as a glaring weakness.. as bad if not worse than LHD imo.


Strome can be a decent 2c if we had a strong 3c and 4c. In no world is Staal ok. Smith I can tolerate as a bottom pairing d-man.

They're easy fixes.

No joke you can solve that issue for probably 2.5-3 mill in free agency.

 

[UnSandvich]

Gonna keep pounding the Johan Larsson for 4C drum

 

[Adam Fox Time]

I'll make this an actual post.

In the Summer of 2022 when Zibanejad is a UFA, our #1 priority should be to sign Barkov right? Unless Zib is looking to take a lot less than Barkov is, Barkov seems to be a better player over his career with less around him. And he will be 26 going on 27 while Zib will be 29.

 

[Avery16]

Strome can be a decent 2c if we had a strong 3c and 4c.

If we had a strong 3C, they'd get a look at 2C over Strome.

 

[True Blue]

If we had a strong 3C, they'd get a look at 2C over Strome.

That quite a bit of conjecture. Just because that is your view of him, does not mean that the coaching staff sees it the same way. Frankly, with the way last year was going, I do not think it really mattered much who was the third line center. He was not playing with Panarin over Strome.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Gonna keep pounding the Johan Larsson for 4C drum

I'd look into him and Girgensons.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Gonna keep pounding the Johan Larsson for 4C drum

how about developing our own player for that role. Rangers did with Betts (via trade but not much of an NHL player, Brian Boyle, and Dom Moore) why not see if any of those Undrafted Free Agents that they signed can take that spot. why get vets for these types of roles. lets develop the next Dom Moore.

 

[DutchShamrock]

What are we giving Ottawa, who pays their GM in Bennigans coupons, to convince them to pay out that money?

Just a disclaimer that I'm not for this. The cost is $3m in real dollars spread over 2 years. The hit is $5.5m this year and a $1.5m next.

Ottawa has about $40m committed with about 14 spots to fill. If they are prioritizing cost cutting, they could theoretically grab contracts like this and artificially pay way under the floor.

That's the motive. But if that is their aim, they may as well keep Hank and use his full $8.5m hit. Plus they need a starter. Also the league will be all over this if he's bought out and signed here. They weren't happy with Orpik but this is beyond blatant. It won't fly.

And with that many spots to fill Ottawa can acquire good players with sweeteners just to help other teams with their cap.

 

[True Blue]

2C need is more pressing. ADA can play LD a season, Miller might be ready soon. Chytil looks less ready for 2C and if he were it just creates a hole at 3C unless we kept Strome and he can do something with wingers not named Panarin. There are better options out there for C, but we can answer LD in-house if need be.

I do not understand the dogma that DeAngelo can switch to the other side. Juniors is NOT the NHL. Playing it in a few very specific situations with Fox is NOT playing it full time and having to defend with a Trouba.

And we all knew that Miller was going to take a while to develop. There is nothing to indicate he will be ready for a regular NHL shift any time soon.

 

[True Blue]

I'm much, much, much more comfortable with Zibanejad-Strome-Chytil down the middle 1-2-3 than I am with Lindgren-Smith-Staal.

Agreed on all counts. If you want to think about what a priority should be, it is LD.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

if ottawa is amenable and hank wants to play in NYC and do the team a solid (he can just sign with them after the buy out) I think he would not have a problem waiving. The point is I wonder if options such as these are being explored. lot of ink has been spilled on trade or buy out hank, this is another way to approach.

I wonder if it would even be allowed under the CBA.

If it actually were and went down that way it wouldn't really matter. It would be a paper transaction basically like Messier's rights traded to the Sharks (pick yielded us Callahan i think) or like when Richter got chosen by Nashville in their expansion draft but didn't sign with them. Would be an interesting footnote. I doubt it's allowed though.

 

[Avery16]

That quite a bit of conjecture. Just because that is your view of him, does not mean that the coaching staff sees it the same way. Frankly, with the way last year was going, I do not think it really mattered much who was the third line center. He was not playing with Panarin over Strome.

Chytil is going to get a look at 2C and I dont even know that he is a strong 3C. So why wouldn't a strong 3C get a look at 2C over Strome? It stands to reason.

 

[Avery16]

I do not understand the dogma that DeAngelo can switch to the other side. Juniors is NOT the NHL. Playing it in a few very specific situations with Fox is NOT playing it full time and having to defend with a Trouba.

And we all knew that Miller was going to take a while to develop. There is nothing to indicate he will be ready for a regular NHL shift any time soon.

Its better than Smith on the top pair and its better than giving up assets for a temp fill-in, especially one that would almost certainly then require protection in the expansion draft and require us to expose Lindgren, further weakening the position.

 

[duhmetreE]

They're easy fixes.

No joke you can solve that issue for probably 2.5-3 mill in free agency.

I'd rather get a quality Center like Bonino. Middle6 centers are getting paid in FA.

4C's are not what we want in the middle6

 

[UnSandvich]

how about developing our own player for that role. Rangers did with Betts (via trade but not much of an NHL player, Brian Boyle, and Dom Moore) why not see if any of those Undrafted Free Agents that they signed can take that spot. why get vets for these types of roles. lets develop the next Dom Moore.

Because it's very much easier said than done. They've been trying to groom Brett Howden for that since they got him in the trade, and he still sucks.

EDIT: A guy like Larsson also allows us to insulate the younger guys a little by taking harder defensive matchups

 

[duhmetreE]

how about developing our own player for that role. Rangers did with Betts (via trade but not much of an NHL player, Brian Boyle, and Dom Moore) why not see if any of those Undrafted Free Agents that they signed can take that spot. why get vets for these types of roles. lets develop the next Dom Moore.

Howden will fill that role eventually IMO. It may just take some time ( at least a couple of years)

 

[Fitzy]

Yeah we were 5th in the league in goals scored and 8th from the bottom in goals against.

Pretty sure the defense is the problem area.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I'd rather get a quality Center like Bonino. Middle6 centers are getting paid in FA.

4C's are not what we want in the middle6

We wouldn't play them in the middle 6. They take their regular 4th line shifts and spot in for FO's when needed.

I doubt 4th line centers are going to be breaking the bank in UFA.

 

[Avery16]

Yeah we were 5th in the league in goals scored and 8th from the bottom in goals against.

Pretty sure the defense is the problem area.

Surprise! This team has more than one problem area.

 

[Avery16]

Howden will fill that role eventually IMO. It may just take some time ( at least a couple of years)

How do we know that Howden's son will play F, much less C?

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Hank wants his cake and eat it too. Hank wants to win the Cup with the Rangers and he sees how much talent is here. I’m guessing he’s thinking if he can just hang on he might win the Cup.

Remain with the Rangers, win a cup, get paid, continue to be a celebrity a.k.a he wants his cake and eat it too.

How about Hank offering to take a pay cut? Something has to give b/c he’s not nearly the player he once was, is old, is expensive and the Rangers have his replacement. He can still be a celebrity goalie in Ny.

I don’t believe a pay cut is asking too much considering he’s been awarded multiple endorsement deals in addition to the $100 million the Rangers have paid him.

He can't take a pay cut