Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XLVI

[LiveLongandProspal]

Laf/Mika/???
Panarin/???/Kakko
Kreider/Chytil/???

Buch, Fast, Strome and Kravtsov, (who I will reiterate has shown very good chemistry with Chytil going back to their first camp together)...those are the likely options. Someone is getting dealt for an LD to play next to Trouba. My guess remains Buch.

I think so too. I think Buch and Georgiev are on the chopping block, and I could see them shopping both Strome and Deangelo around.

I think it's entirely possible and even realistic that Gorton turns those 3 or 4 players into a top-2 C and a first-pair LD (though perhaps not an elite level guy).

 

[Edge]

Does adding a W in Lafreniere make it easier to walk away from Fast?

I'd argue that it might actually make it slightly easier to keep him on a reasonable deal. Because you just added a LW with some major offensive upside, at a very digestable price. That's why teams love draft studs on their ELCs, because it buys them a little time and flexibility.

You gotta remember, in any given year, a decent portion of the roster is on a year-by-year basis. In other words, guys who may be around for one or two seasons, before moving on. So let's say you sign Strome to a one or two year deal, and Fast two a three year deal. Both of those contracts will be off the books before Lafreniere signs his next contract. That's noteworthy.

 

[NYRangers0723]

I understand we are all excited but can someone tell me why the hell people want to trade for Eichel or any other huge contract? We hit the jackpot, let's keep doing what we are doing and continue to add pieces to this team. Can't force any bad trades or sign any bad contracts, that will negate anything good that we do.

if a deal that makes sense comes along, of course you look into it but as for all these big names with big contracts, screw that. I'm keeping our guys until we have more things figured out and i will enjoy it very much. Keep building this core, it has the potential to be the best core in a very very long time for the NYR

.

You know how our fan bar is. They are usually extremely paranoid or look to every big name is trade/sign for lol

 

[Ghost of jas]

And while we mention the benefits of a talent like Lafreniere on an ELC, this is an example of where it can help because his addition doesn't automatically mean that we have to subtract Strome or Fast.

Yup, if Panarin can drag Strome to being a 70-point center, allowing the elite talent...Mika, Panarin, Lafreniere, Kakko...to be spread out, as well as allowing Kreider to slide next Chytil, and say, Kravtsov, you're deepening your lineup, as well as balancing it capwise, especially if you're no longer paying a premium price for the goalie.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Would love to get Max Domi for the 2C spot. Think he’d be a great fit with our wingers.

trying to think of other decent to good centers that could be available. Guys way below Barkov/Eichel etc. with Laf in the fold we can do fine with like a veteran ~40 point guy. As long as it’s an upgrade on Strome.

Isn't that what Strome is already? I suppose we can trade Strome's playmaking ability for a better defensive presence.

 

[Chalfdiggity3]

How would it be to have hayes as our number #2 center right now instead of having Krieder?

 

[Ghost of jas]

I think so too. I think Buch and Georgiev are on the chopping block, and I could see them shopping both Strome and Deangelo around.

I think it's entirely possible and even realistic that Gorton turns those 3 or 4 players into a top-2 C and a first-pair LD (though perhaps not an elite level guy).

I don't think you necessarily have to get any more "elite" talent, as much as complementary talent, such as the best partner for Trouba, for example.

 

[duhmetreE]

I think he's good, don't get me wrong. But when we start getting into trading Chytil, and Lundkvist, and then other pieces, I'm hopping out of the plane.

I get it... but we're going to have to finish the puzzle eventually.

We have a lot of forwards right now... unfortunately, none are that good at defense. I'm just searching for the right pieces. Cirelli fits the bill and is a long term solution.

I'm also for a player like Bonino who can fill the gap until a player like Howden or even Chytil can develop into that role. I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to Chytil. I do not think he will be a 2c ( hopefully I'm wrong, but its what I see ) I think he has the tools to develop into a great defensive center/work horse.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

How would it be to have hayes as our number #2 center right now instead of having Krieder?

I'd certainly be bitching less, but I think trading Hayes was the right move at the time, so I don't exactly regret that trade

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

I don't think you necessarily have to get any more "elite" talent, as much as complementary talent, such as the best partner for Trouba, for example.

So...Morissey?

 

[Trxjw]

I'd not only try to keep Fast but I'd look to bring in another PKing forward who isn't offensively inept. Still like Mark Jankowski there. Had a setback this year in some areas but was trending up before that. Can kill penalties and has speed and size to add to the bottom-six. Also has good enough hands to chip in offensively and possibly be a net-front option on the 2nd PP unit.

 

[Edge]

So...Morissey?

He would fit like a glove.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

I'd argue that it might actually make it slightly easier to keep him on a reasonable deal. Because you just added a LW with some major offensive upside, at a very digestable price. That's why teams love draft studs on their ELCs, because it buys them a little time and flexibility.

You gotta remember, in any given year, a decent portion of the roster is on a year-by-year basis. In other words, guys who may be around for one or two seasons, before moving on. So let's say you sign Strome to a one or two year deal, and Fast two a three year deal. Both of those contracts will be off the books before Lafreniere signs his next contract. That's noteworthy.

But then what would you do about the logjam on the wing?

Kreider
Panarin
Laf
Kakko
Kravtsov
Buchnevich
Gauthier
Possibly Chytil (if they like him more at W than C)
Fast (if we re-sign him like you said)
Lemieux

 

[La Sila]

What are you trying to accomplish with this deal?

Getting a top 10 1C on a beauty contract and a long term answer at LD for an unknown quantity at a position we have 18m locked into for the next decade.

How much crack did you smoke before coming up with this?

the same amount as the number of games Lafreniere has played against full-grown men.
and presumably the same amount as the number of times you've even heard Stillman's name before.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Getting a top 10 1C on a beauty contract and a long term answer at LD for an unknown quantity at a position we have 18m locked into for the next decade.

the same amount as the number of games Lafreniere has played against full-grown men.
and presumably the same amount as the number of times you've even heard Stillman's name before.

If you can't rely on/don't believe in Lafreniere becoming an elite player, then why not just trade every draft pick you get and never show up to a draft?

 

[Edge]

But then what would you do about the logjam on the wing?

Kreider
Panarin
Laf
Kakko
Kravtsov
Buchnevich
Gauthier
Possibly Chytil (if they like him more at W than C)
Fast (if we re-sign him like you said)
Lemieux

I don't see a log-jam right now

I see a very nice left side with Panarin, Kreider, Lafreniere and Lemieux.

On the right side I see Buch and Kakko and a bunch of question marks. Maybe Kravtsov. Maybe Gauthier. Maybe Fast. Maybe Chytil.

But right now, I think Chytil is going to get another look at center, especially with the depth on the left side.

There's no odd man out there.

You could run something like:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Strome-Gauthier
Lafreniere-Chytil-Buchnevich
Lemieux-Howden-Fast

Hopefully working Kravtsov in there at some point, move guys around as need be, etc. I don't really see a jam at the moment, and certainly nothing that we couldn't trade our way out of.

 

[Vitto79]

I don't see a log-jam right now

I see a very nice left side with Panarin, Kreider, Lafreniere and Lemieux.

On the right side I see Buch and Kakko and a bunch of question marks. Maybe Kravtsov. Maybe Gauthier. Maybe Fast. Maybe Chytil.

But right now, I think Chytil is going to get another look at center, especially with the depth on the left side.

There's no odd man out there.

You could run something like:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Strome-Gauthier
Lafreniere-Chytil-Buchnevich
Lemieux-Howden-Fast

Hopefully working Kravtsov in there at some point, move guys around as need be, etc. I don't really see a jam at the moment, and certainly nothing that we couldn't trade our way out of.

I don’t think Gorton wants to be like TO so we may see a creative deal for another C w Strome moving on ...Buchnevich makes sense too but not till Kakko breaks out

 

[La Sila]

If you can't rely on/don't believe in Lafreniere becoming an elite player, then why not just trade every draft pick you get and never show up to a draft?

Reductio ad absurdum - Wikipedia

We already have one of the best wingers in the league and another teenage stud on the RW. Plus we have Kreider's immovable contract in our top 6 while Kravstov and Chytil are young, attacking wingers whose trade value pales in comparison to their actual upside.

Our team couldn't possibly be more set on the wings or on RD. Move from a position of strength to a position of weakness (which for us is Center, the position that's hardest to land and most important to have).

This is exactly what the conversations were like two or three years ago when Leafs fans thought the idea of moving Marner was sacrilege. Now they've done a 180, but have way less cap flexibility. And if it only takes Laf two years to develop to a Marner (or Barkov) level forward, we'd all be ecstatic.

 

[Edge]

I don’t think Gorton wants to be like TO so we may see a creative deal for another C w Strome moving on ...Buchnevich makes sense too but not till Kakko breaks out

The challenge is we still don't totally know what we actually have on the right side, yet. Buch, for all his flaws, is pretty much the only known quantity from an solid offensive production standpoint.

Fast is an UFA, Kakko is a prospect finding his footing in the NHL, and Kravtsov is a prospect finding his footing in the AHL. Gauthier is a mystery bag right now.

Strome remains a trade option, but he also remains a short-term plug who could seriously solidify his free agent value with this group of left wings on a short-term contract.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Reductio ad absurdum - Wikipedia

We already have one of the best wingers in the league and another teenage stud on the RW. Plus we have Kreider's immovable contract in our top 6 while Kravstov and Chytil are young, attacking wingers whose trade value pales in comparison to their actual upside.

Our team couldn't possibly be more set on the wings or on RD. Move from a position of strength to a position of weakness.

This is exactly what the conversations were like two or three years ago when Leafs fans thought the idea of moving Marner was sacrilege. Now they've done a 180, but have way less cap flexibility. And if it only takes Laf two years to develop to a Marner level forward, we'd all be ecstatic.

I don't think it's crazy to think Lafreniere can be the best winger out of all the ones we have, and he'll be on an ELC for the next 3 seasons, that's worth so much more to this team than what you're trying to get out of it

 

[Ghost of jas]

I don't think it's crazy to think Lafreniere can be the best winger out of all the ones we have, and he'll be on an ELC for the next 3 seasons, that's worth so much more to this team than what you're trying to get out of it

Lafreniere is going to become the face of this franchise in a very short order.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Lafreniere is going to become the face of this franchise in a very short order.

He's got the potential to be the best player that's ever played for the Rangers, and he's got the drive to actually pull it off

 

[Ghost of jas]

He's got the potential to be the best player that's ever played for the Rangers, and he's got the drive to actually pull it off

That's the extra he brings, the competitive fire. This kid is going to be one of the top players in the league in a very short amount of time. And, having that on an ELC going into his initial contract is huge.

 

[Guyute]

Where is @RangerBoy?

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

That's the extra he brings, the competitive fire. This kid is going to be one of the top players in the league in a very short amount of time. And, having that on an ELC going into his initial contract is huge.

Yeah, I get people being worried about having like, all of our talent on the wings, but that doesn't mean you have to get rid of the top of the talent pool to fix things