Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XLIX

[True Blue]

If we acquired a 1LD, youre going to leave him exposed?

Because right now there is no room under the cap to acquire the type of player you are referring to, that is not a concern that I have.

Could be you are looking at another stop gap.

 

[Thirty One]

I wouldn't be opposed to trying DeAngelo on the left as he has played there before, but I would be really hesitant to pair him with Trouba. I think Trouba needs a more "safe" partner. Morrissey, who Trouba excelled with, is a great skater and really good moving the puck both by transporting it and passing it. But, he's also really reliable in his own end. He is more of a traditional two-way defenseman whereas DeAngelo is your more prototypical offensive defenseman. Trouba needs to be paired with someone that doesn't take a lot of risks and can be counted on to make smart plays, which allows Trouba to roam around a bit more, open up his physical game, and get involved up front.

The Skjei-Trouba pairing sucked because Brady is a moron who was always doing idiotic things both on and off the puck, and Trouba was too much of a gambler himself to cover for Skjei's mistakes (and Brady as incapable of covering for Trouba). To make the most of Trouba you need to find him another Morrissey. That is NOT DeAngelo. Even an Anton Stralman-type would be great next to Trouba.

I could see Brodin being the guy they want for that role.

 

[True Blue]

With regards to your points:
1. Disagree about Chytil, I think he's ready now (look how well he filled in on the 1st line with Zib out)
2. DeAngelo-Fox would likely be the 2nd pairing, with Lindgren-Trouba taking the heavy defensive matchups
3. Poster is likely saying that Lindgren will be exposed IF we trade for another LHD

We have a complete disagreement on this. Chytil looks like he is ready to get another shot at 3C. He looked NOTHING like a 2C in 2020.

Maybe I am wrong, but there is no chance you are seeing DeAngelo play on his off side with anyone. Not at ES or unless the coaching staff is desperate. While I think that his defense will improve, having him switch sides is a likely disaster. And certainly not a way to enter the season.

Regarding LD, I doubt that the team can afford a top LD. Not unless major money is moved around.

 

[True Blue]

Given that Quinn went into the playoffs with a Smith/Trouba top pairing, I am pretty sure he isnt averse to trying another hail mary like ADA/Trouba.

I am 100% he would be very averse to such a pairing. And rightfully so. DeAngelo on his off side, getting Trouba ES usage would be a disaster.

I'm sorry, this is not fantasy hockey. It is played in real life. It's not EA sports where you can just move players from position to position. There are some out of the box ideas and some are not really out of the box so much as just poor judgement.

 

[JimmyG89]

For defense, we don't even have 6 guys total that I would want out there, so outside of the internal promotions (Miller, Reunanen, Hajek, Robertson), they probably should dip into free agency and find a veteran defender, and I would argue they should pursue someone right handed. Someone that could slot on the 3rd pairing and be a solid 7th D. We already have a bunch of young guys vying for roster spots.

Doing this gives them a 4th RHD, since right now the 4th on the depth chart that is RH is Raddysh. He's a nice AHL player, but I don't think I'd want him suiting up in the NHL. It would also let them play DeAngelo on the left side if they want to in spurts, especially for those offensive situations, or even to shake things up and load up a top offensive pairing.

I'd like to go after VanReimsdyk if they can get him on a good deal. Would also be a decent fill in if someone does get hurt on the right side. Could also let them ease in one of the young guys if they crack the roster:

DeAngelo-Fox
Lindgren-Trouba
Hajek/Miller/Robertson/Reunanen-TVR

If the kids are fine, slot one with Fox and the other with DeAngelo. If they really can move out Smith AND Staal this offseason, the defense has a chance to take a huge jump on potential alone.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I'm pretty sure the Rangers would throw one of us out there with Trouba before they put Tony out there with him lol

 

[True Blue]

Not to mention the fact that I don't see how the coaches would have any desire to roll DeAngelo out on the top pair with Trouba given how much of a liability he is defensively.

Also fa fact that boggles my mind. Trouba shielded DeAngelo and Fox. Now, you want DeAngelo going against the opposition's top line players at ES? Yikes.

 

[nyr2k2]

I could see Brodin being the guy they want for that role.

Brodin would be good. Good skater, good in his own end, some ability to move the puck around. Seems like a good fit.

 

[Savant]

He saw over 100 minutes on LD this season (he and Fox crushed it as a pair) and played it a ton in Junior.

I’m not saying this is wrong but I have no recollection of this. Was referring to his ability to play with Trouba though.

 

[Avery16]

I am 100% he would be very averse to such a pairing. And rightfully so. DeAngelo on his off side, getting Trouba ES usage would be a disaster.

I'm sorry, this is not fantasy hockey. It is played in real life. It's not EA sports where you can just move players from position to position. There are some out of the box ideas and some are not really out of the box so much as just poor judgement.

So Leetch/Beukeboom was a EA pairing, in other words. Ok.

 

[kovazub94]

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.

1. Switching ADA to LD is a huge unknown - you're looking at it as a given.
2. Strome's performance in 3 games after the break (honestly as pretty much anyone on the roster) is akin to extrapolating results based on the first 3 games of regular season. (Buffalo - SC champ). If I were to project for 2020-21 is that Strome would continue to find ways to get puck to Panarin. Shutting him down? Yeah, how did this work workout in 2019-20? Again if you view it through 3 game sample size and no puck luck (#3 and #4 on the best saves on NHL network) there's nothing to discuss.
3. Chytil is center until proven otherwise. Was in this slot the whole season as a 20 year old. That should tell you something.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Brodin would be good. Good skater, good in his own end, some ability to move the puck around. Seems like a good fit.

Yeah I wonder what he would cost.

I've seen Wild fans on the trade boards here talk about him being like an extremely high end asset and thinking a return would be 1st, roster player and prospect - or he's untouchable.

I think he's the perfect type of LD to add to our overall unit, only issue would be cost and he's a UFA after next season.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

You can't fix every problem and until you know who retires

That’s reality talk. Fact is we’re not going to be able to fill every single problem in this offseason. That might mean another year of Strome at 2C and guys like Smith and/or Staal at LD.

I wouldn't be opposed to trying DeAngelo on the left as he has played there before, but I would be really hesitant to pair him with Trouba. I think Trouba needs a more "safe" partner. Morrissey, who Trouba excelled with, is a great skater and really good moving the puck both by transporting it and passing it. But, he's also really reliable in his own end. He is more of a traditional two-way defenseman whereas DeAngelo is your more prototypical offensive defenseman. Trouba needs to be paired with someone that doesn't take a lot of risks and can be counted on to make smart plays, which allows Trouba to roam around a bit more, open up his physical game, and get involved up front.

The Skjei-Trouba pairing sucked because Brady is a moron who was always doing idiotic things both on and off the puck, and Trouba was too much of a gambler himself to cover for Skjei's mistakes (and Brady as incapable of covering for Trouba). To make the most of Trouba you need to find him another Morrissey. That is NOT DeAngelo. Even an Anton Stralman-type would be great next to Trouba.

Totally agree about ADA-Trouba. Still think a guy like Fox would be a good option, assuming he can play on the left side.

Buyout Staal.

Fox-Trouba
Lindgren-ADA
Hajek-Smith

 

[Savant]

He played LD in juniors. We only traded Skjei a few months ago. There was no room for experimentation in the return-to-play, but I would be surprised if they don't look at it in training camp.

Playing LD in juniors doesn’t mean he can do it in the NHL. I read that as he hasn’t played LD in five years.

 

[True Blue]

So Leetch/Beukeboom was a EA pairing, in other words. Ok.

You are picking possibly the best Rangers duo in 50 years as your yard stick? Ok.

 

[Avery16]

1. Switching ADA to LD is a huge unknown - you're looking at it as a given.

I think it should be TRIED before going out and acquiring a 1LD that we would then likely have to protect in an expansion draft, exposing Lindgren.

 

[True Blue]

I’m not saying this is wrong but I have no recollection of this. Was referring to his ability to play with Trouba though.

They were used together, but in very specific situations. Mostly with a man up.

 

[Avery16]

You are picking possibly the best Rangers duo in 50 years as your yard stick? Ok.

You stated that a offensive defenseman and defensive defenseman cant be paired, that it is a fantasy pairing. It actually happens all the time. Theres zero reason to not try it with these two.

 

[Avery16]

Playing LD in juniors doesn’t mean he can do it in the NHL. I read that as he hasn’t played LD in five years.

Nothing is for certain, but there is zero reason to not try it, especially given his historic comfort at LD.

 

[Thirty One]

Yeah I wonder what he would cost.

I've seen Wild fans on the trade boards here talk about him being like an extremely high end asset and thinking a return would be 1st, roster player and prospect - or he's untouchable.

1st, Brendan Smith, Mikhail Pashnin. Done.

 

[Fitzy]

Get another good left D, and you can play he and Lindgren each 22-23 minutes a night, pushing Smith down to 12-13.

Lets Brendan play with more jump in his step and more physicality.

Since none of them will be involved in the powerplay, we can really stretch the ES minutes. Trouba is about our only defenseman regularly playing both special teams situations.

 

[True Blue]

I think it should be TRIED before going out and acquiring a 1LD that we would then likely have to protect in an expansion draft, exposing Lindgren.

I have no idea of where you are coming up with this. First of all Lindgren is not getting exposed. Second of all they cannot afford to pay a top LD right now, so that player is not coming here. Third of all, you may well be looking at a stop gap at LD. And lastly, you want to try DeAngelo with Trouba for a period in camp? Sure. But to enter camp with that as being written as law is foolish. Which is why you are probably going to see a stop gap for a year. Then things wash out in expansion draft and when contracts come of the books.

 

[nyr2k2]

I would sooner try Lindgren with Trouba than DeAngelo or Fox. I don't think Lindgren is a top pairing defender, but the game he plays is pretty well-suited to what Trouba does. I think Lindgren's best attribute is his ability to make the simple play, and he generally does a good job getting the puck out and up. He might be overexposed in that role, but I think based on tools and style, he's a better fit than anyone else.

(I'm not counting Fox. Fox can play with anyone.)

 

[DanielBrassard]

I wouldn't pair ADA and Trouba, but I think ADA-Fox would work. I'm sure the lack of size would bother some people but with Fox's smarts and abilities defensively I think they could be a dynamic pairing.

 

[True Blue]

You stated that a offensive defenseman and defensive defenseman cant be paired, that it is a fantasy pairing. It actually happens all the time. Theres zero reason to not try it with these two.

Oh, come on. Seriously? That is an example of sophistry. That is not at all what I said. I NEVER said an offensive defenseman and a defensive defenseman should not be paired. I said that a defensively deficient defenseman should not be moved on his off side and then thrust onto the ice against the opposition's top players.

Seriously, taking the Beuk Leetch flight of fancy is just beyond.