Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XLVI

[La Sila]

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

I also don't think it's crazy to think Lafreniere can develop into a Panarin level winger.
I do think it's a little pipe dreamy to plan on him becoming a top 3 winger in the league by the end of his ELC.
And his ELC will mean absolutely nothing if it's wasted on a team that lacks a top notch 2C and a playoff level top 4 d-corps. Especially if by year 4 he's due 10m+ and we still haven't made a run yet.

As I said, if Lafreniere becomes a Barkov level player (top 20 forward in the league) we'd all be ecstatic. The likelihood of him exceeding that and exceeding it within 3 years is not a risk I'd rather take if we had the chance to move him for Barkov now.

 

[Ghost of jas]

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

Especially when we already have one of the top centers in the league. Our 2nd line center, was on pace to be a 70 point player. Was it because he played with a potential MVP candidate? Most certainly, but, isn't it funny how elite talent can do that when you find a complementary player?

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I also don't think it's crazy to think Lafreniere can develop into a Panarin level winger.
I do think it's a little pipe dreamy to plan on him becoming a top 3 winger in the league by the end of his ELC.
And his ELC will mean absolutely nothing if it's wasted on a team that lacks a top notch 2C and a playoff level top 4 d-corps. Especially if by year 4 he's due 10m+ and we still haven't made a run yet.

As I said, if Lafreniere becomes a Barkov level player (top 20 forward in the league) we'd all be ecstatic. The likelihood of him exceeding that and exceeding it within 3 years is not a risk I'd rather take if we had the chance to move him for Barkov now.

The Blackhawks won 2 cups with 2C's who were basically dead on the ice, Lafreniere is going to be 19 when the season starts, I think him becoming a top 20 player in the league by the end of his ELC isn't as far fetched as you're trying to make it seem

 

[Ghost of jas]

The Blackhawks won 2 cups with 2C's who were basically dead on the ice, Lafreniere is going to be 19 when the season starts, I think him becoming a top 20 player in the league by the end of his ELC isn't as far fetched as you're trying to make it seem

What was the stat I heard today..."Joined Sidney Crosby as the only two-time CHL Player of the Year winner." The Rangers are getting a special player here. You don't trade him because you have depth on the wing.

 

[bobbop]

Who are the teams in that bracket where they're kind of "win now" teams but they have shaky goaltending? Pittsburgh and Edmonton from the fake playoffs? Both bad trade partners though. Edmonton only has like 6 players so if they trade Nurse or RNH for a late first+Georgiev they're moving sideways, before you get into the salary stuff on our side.

Minnesota fired their goaltending coach and Guerin was pretty critical of their goaltending. They could be a player. Calgary’s goaltending was not bad this year. Chicago could be a player because of Crawford’s age and injury history. Both of those teams are candidates to pick Askarov. A lot of the teams that were not in the bubble are also lining up for goaltending. Once the situation with Henrik plays out, a Georgiev trade could be the next step.

 

[La Sila]

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

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.

I feel like you guys are completely overestimating Lafreniere. He doesn't have the generational tag applied to him. He seems to have similar hype as someone like Tavares...only on the wing.
The only top 3 picks over the past 10 years who became elite by the end of their ELCs have been Matthews and McDavid.
Hell it took 4 years before MacKinnon even established himself as a 1C. Eichel and Draisaitl's contracts were mocked when they were first signed...and these are the guys who ended up hitting it huge this decade.

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

I reject the notion that Lafreniere ranks higher than Panarin. And it's not like we can move Kreider. Meanwhile none of our other wings have nearly the trade value that Lafreniere does.

idk, i'm not trying to be hater, but i just don't see this lotto win as the arrival of the Rangers' savior.

 

[duhmetreE]

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

Who would have thought... the answer all along was Captain Lafreniere

 

[Edge]

Who would have thought... the answer all along was Captain Lafreniere

I did chuckle a little bit because one of my early reactions was, "Well, there's a very good chance we just found our next captain."

 

[duhmetreE]

I did chuckle a little bit because one of my early reactions was, "Well, there's a very good chance we just found our next captain."

He's the Jeff Bezos Lias Anderson

 

[Tawnos]

I feel like you guys are completely overestimating Lafreniere. He doesn't have the generational tag applied to him. He seems to have similar hype as someone like Tavares...only on the wing.
The only top 3 picks over the past 10 years who became elite by the end of their ELCs have been Matthews and McDavid.
Hell it took 4 years before MacKinnon even established himself as a 1C. Eichel and Draisaitl's contracts were mocked when they were first signed...and these are the guys who ended up hitting it huge this decade.

I reject the notion that Lafreniere ranks higher than Panarin. And it's not like we can move Kreider. Meanwhile none of our other wings have nearly the trade value that Lafreniere does.

idk, i'm not trying to be hater, but i just don't see this lotto win as the arrival of the Rangers' savior.

The thing about MacKinnon is that he was stuck with poisonous Duchene on his team. I don't think it's much of a coincidence that MacKinnon's breakout happened to be exactly when the team traded Duchene.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I feel like you guys are completely overestimating Lafreniere. He doesn't have the generational tag applied to him. He seems to have similar hype as someone like Tavares...only on the wing.
The only top 3 picks over the past 10 years who became elite by the end of their ELCs have been Matthews and McDavid.
Hell it took 4 years before MacKinnon even established himself as a 1C. Eichel and Draisaitl's contracts were mocked when they were first signed...and these are the guys who ended up hitting it huge this decade.

I reject the notion that Lafreniere ranks higher than Panarin. And it's not like we can move Kreider. Meanwhile none of our other wings have nearly the trade value that Lafreniere does.

idk, i'm not trying to be hater, but i just don't see this lotto win as the arrival of the Rangers' savior.

Ok, I’ll play your side of the coin. If he’s none of that, why would the panthers trade Barkov for him?

 

[La Sila]

Especially when we already have one of the top centers in the league. Our 2nd line center, was on pace to be a 70 point player. Was it because he played with a potential MVP candidate? Most certainly, but, isn't it funny how elite talent can do that when you find a complementary player?

We have ONE of the top centers in the league. Then a whole bunch of crap down the depth chart. I don't care if Panarin elevated Strome to a 70 point pace. That is the same argument Shero and Byslma used to staple Dupuis and Kunitz on Crosby's hip for the entirety of his prime.

The Blackhawks won 2 cups with 2C's who were basically dead on the ice, Lafreniere is going to be 19 when the season starts, I think him becoming a top 20 player in the league by the end of his ELC isn't as far fetched as you're trying to make it seem

The 2013 Blackhawks were probably the greatest roster ever assembled in the cap era.
The 2015 Blackhawks weren't quite as good, but I don't see what good it does to pretend like the Rangers are anywhere near their level just because they added Lafreniere.
And my point is that why wait for Lafreniere to (hopefully) become a top 20 forward within three years when we can trade him for a current top 20 forward at a position of greater need and greater importance.

What was the stat I heard today..."Joined Sidney Crosby as the only two-time CHL Player of the Year winner."

This wouldn't impress me even if his 2019 win wasn't against the single worst crop of CHL draft eligible prospects in history.

 

[La Sila]

Ok, I’ll play your side of the coin. If he’s none of that, why would the panthers trade Barkov for him?

In my opinion, they wouldn't do it 1 for 1. It would probably cost Lias Andersson and some other decent asset as well. That's why I expanded the hypothetical trade.
And, of course, my entire fantasy is premised on Barkov and/or Huberdeau telling management that they aren't committed to re-signing. Then the new GM being amenable to blowing it up and building around Ekblad, Laf, and whatever else high end futures they accrue.

 

[Rangers394]

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.

No thanks

 

[Rangers394]

Can we draft him now and then sign him to a life time contract with an absolutely no trade clause forever? That way i don't have to read about people wanting to trade him, jeez.

 

[La Sila]

Can we draft him now and then sign him to a life time contract with an absolutely no trade clause forever? That way i don't have to read about people wanting to trade him, jeez.

serious questions: what caliber are you assuming he's going to be? how soon do you expect him to hit that? and then what changes to the following bubble-tier roster do you propose that will make us Cup Contenders during his ELC?

Kreider - Zib - Buch
Panarin - Strome - Kakko
LaFreniere - Chytil - Fast
Barron - Howden - Gauthier

Lindgren - Trouba
Staal - Fox
xxxx - DeAngelo

Igor
Georgiev

Non-Roster Assets: Miller, Kravtsov, Andersson, CAR's 1st

 

[egelband]

Zadorov sucks, no thanks. Would much rather go bargain bin shopping in UFA to add some LHD. If we are trading for a LHD we should be going for a proven top-pairing D.

Totally agree re Zadorov. But I liked the Cirelli offer @Alluckks.

 

[egelband]

Agreed. Couldn't be happier that we get to draft Hadfield 2.0

I think @GoAwayStaal means Kelly Kisio. SUCH a battler.

 

[duhmetreE]

Any prime MacTrucks around?

tbh Hajek has shown glimpses where he looks like Mac... then he gets hurt

 

[NYRangers0723]

Any prime MacTrucks around?

tbh Hajek has shown glimpses where he looks like Mac... then he gets hurt

Hajek was the crown jewel of that Tampa trade at least in the eyes of the Rangers. He shows flashes but yes gets hurt immediately

 

[Rangers394]

serious questions: what caliber are you assuming he's going to be? how soon do you expect him to hit that? and then what changes to the following bubble-tier roster do you propose that will make us Cup Contenders during his ELC?

Kreider - Zib - Buch
Panarin - Strome - Kakko
LaFreniere - Chytil - Fast
Barron - Howden - Gauthier

Lindgren - Trouba
Staal - Fox
xxxx - DeAngelo

Igor
Georgiev

Non-Roster Assets: Miller, Kravtsov, Andersson, CAR's 1st

I'm not getting into it, it's a complete joke that anybody would ever think about trading the kid. Only this fanbase

 

[La Sila]

I'm not getting into it, it's a complete joke that anybody would ever think about trading the kid. Only this fanbase

good talk. glad we're just gonna blindly hoard wingers until we end up like Toronto but without a 2C.

 

[egelband]

IF ADA signed longish term...

Chytil, Lundkvist maaaybe + for Cirelli

yay or nay? Seems fair value

edit - f*** it, throw in Lias

Painful, but that’s probably fair. I’d expect Cirelli re-signed to a reasonable deal. Is that expected?

 

[Rangers394]

good talk. glad we're just gonna blindly hoard wingers until we end up like Toronto but without a 2C.

Your idea makes no sense. Why would i talk about it if it's just insane to even think about? Who are we fooling by doing trading him? If you think this team will become Toronto, then maybe you shouldn't root for them? You already know how it will turn out right so what's the point?

 

[egelband]

I may in the minority here, but I don't love Cirelli.

I like him, I'm not against trading for him. But he's not as primary of a target for me as he seems to be for others.

Please elaborate. I only see him when the Rangers play TB so I mainly go by what my esteemed colleagues here say. Everyone seems to be quite excited about him as a two-way 2C-3C which sounds like a good fit.