Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XLVI

[Irishguy42]

Zemgus Girgensons over Brian Boyle.

None of this matters if they don't change the way they play though. You can have the best defensive specialists in the world but if you continue to employ a passive system, you're toast.

You mean giving up your own blue line when the opposing team has the puck isn't a good coaching strategy?

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

By the way I’m liking our chance at that 2nd first rounder being in the top 24 with Carolina drawing Boston in the first round. I have to think Boston will be ready to go when the games matter. Too good a team.

could be 23 if realistically the isles or Columbus get thru round 1. Going to be a solid pick there. We have to go forward with both picks. Have to

If Chara continues to play...well, like his age, Svechnikov and Aho will eat him alive.

 

[Mikos87]

The lacking of a useful 4th line or role players throughout the line-up really hurt the team in the 'playoffs'. @Mikos87 nailed it above. They need to find, probably, 2 veteran players who relish that role of playing a hard-nosed game and shutting down the other teams best players. I've mentioned Brian Boyle before but it's that type of guy I'm talking about.

With that is going to come with pushing a player or two both up in the line-up or out of the line-up. The Rangers and Gorton have done an admirable job of adding quality young players like Gauthier, Howden, Lemieux, Kakko, Chytil and even Kravtsov. the issue with having those guys be in your bottom-6 is that practically none of them can be relied on for shut-down minutes. One or two of these guys will need to push their way up the line-up or there will need to be moves made.

Howden showed signs in the playoffs. I thought he was the Rangers most consistent and reliable forward. I am more than okay with 3 scoring lines, especially since Zibs can play a two way game like a Kopitar.

But you need that 2nd unit that can check- and if that's the 4th line, the Rangers are K'Andre Miller and a LHD away from their window opening.

If Howden is your 4th line LW- and you get two veterans a la Luke Glendening, or Brad Richardson on a one year deal- or trade for a guy like Austin Watson (not a fit for NYC- but a player in that mold), ie guys who know what the job is and how to do it.

 

[Kovalev27]

I like Howden for 4C.

 

[rangers1314]

By the way I’m liking our chance at that 2nd first rounder being in the top 24 with Carolina drawing Boston in the first round. I have to think Boston will be ready to go when the games matter. Too good a team.

could be 23 if realistically the isles or Columbus get thru round 1. Going to be a solid pick there. We have to go forward with both picks. Have to

I dont think they HAVE TO. If Guhle were to be on the board at ~23, that sounds like it would be solid value.

Also, for the prospect brains out there, any thoughts on Ryan O'Rourke/William Wallinder? These are the other 2 LHD I see as projected mid/late 1st rounders.

 

[SA16]

I like Howden for the Hartford 4C job.

 

[Trxjw]

Alex Semin was close to if not a PPG player for like 7 years. Didn't have a two-way game. Played 5v5 on a 2nd unit, and reaped off of a powerplay that featured elite playmakers and one of the world's best goal scorers.

It's a very very similar set-up to Nylander. If you disassociate the perceptions around Semin, and look at the situation and productivity. Nylander has been producing in the same role.

Sorry but there's no way to bring up Alex Semin without triggering thoughts of a supremely lazy malcontent who happened to be extremely skilled as well.

Semin was completely useless outside of the offensive zone. He was notorious for taking lazy penalties, not back checking, and blowing assignments all over the ice. Nylander is nowhere near that bad away from the puck and is phenomenal in transition. Does he benefit from playing behind the primary scorers? Of course, but that's the literal definition of secondary scoring and that is a major hole for this team.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Big defensemen who cover a lot of ground make a difference in the playoffs. Soft skilled defensemen who can't win board battles are not useful in playoff hockey.

At the same time, big defensemen who can't play the puck were worse. Yes Staal was putrid. But so was Smith. Same held true for a bunch of defensemen who were not good enough for the teams bounced in the playoffs.

imo, ideally for every offensive defenseman you pair with a defense one. Fox and Lindgren (Leetch and Beukeboom), etc.

Rangers need to rotate the Staal’s and Smiths outta here. They’re pretty worthless.

Assuming the Rangers win the draft tonight lol, i like the Holloway kid with #2 First Rounder on a line with a Lemieux and Barron. Too much youth for one line yet it’s that type of line which is a problem for opponents come playoff time.

I understand going BAP come draft day yet i do wonder what is more value. High skill, open ice players for the regular season or guys who can play in tight spaces come playoff time.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

God willing BPA at 11 is a center.

Remember how he wrote about Mittelstadt in 2017 and Wahlstrom in 2018, and Ranger fans on social media were screaming and kicking when the Rangers passed on them as if they were generational talents? Yeah, whoever Senile Larry picks in his random article before the draft, this fanbase will eat it up as gospel and throw a fit.

At the 2018 draft, a Rangers fan, after the Islanders picked Wahlstrom, walked out, went to the bathroom, broke a mirror, and was escorted off the premises, all because "Islanders got a future star because the Rangers are dumb enough to draft a player I never heard of". Fun times

 

[NYSPORTS]

If Chara continues to play...well, like his age, Svechnikov and Aho will eat him alive.

that Bruins team knows it’s for real now. I think they’re the type team you see a dramatic change in play. We’ll see.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

If Nashville blows it up could see Ekholm and Bonino as targets.

 

[howztheglass]

Let's get bat shit crazy on a Monday morning.

Nylander for ADA
Buch and Georgiev to Calgary for Hanifin and Dube more likely Mangiapane
Strome to Minn for Greenway and 2 round pick

Hank retires we sign Khudobin

Kreider-Zibs-Kaapo
Breadman-Chytil-Nylander
Greenway-Dube/Mangiapane-Goat
Lemmy-Howden-Fast/Kravtsov
PDG

Hanifin-Trouba
Lindgren-Fox
Hajek-Smith/Staal

Shesty
Khudobin

Everything changes if we win the lottery--we have a better chance of hell freezing over this afternoon.

Blow it up.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Wahlstrom in 2018, and Ranger fans on social media were screaming and kicking when the Rangers passed on them as if they were generational talents?

we’re all hoping Kravtsov develops while i was one questioning the passing on Wahlstrom. Leaving school very early, non-productive, etc makes me think the kid believed his own hype like many of us did.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Let's get bat shit crazy on a Monday morning.

Nylander for ADA

Blow it up.

that and those proposed changes will “blow” up the cap.

I think the Rangers need to build from within. Like for Like cap/age, etc i get yet with all these picks and prospects they shouldn’t need to go shopping for expensive players.

 

[Trxjw]

Nylander is elite at d zone exit and o zone entry. It would be an interesting swap because Wm could actually pick up the slack left by ADA.

I am a big Nylander fan, but I'm not sure if that trade is just moving the deck chairs. I guess it depends on the other moves to see how the team as a whole comes together. On one hand, the idea to move ADA is rooted in not paying him big money with the RD depth we have. But is it wise to swap in another $8m wing? But if you can make a separate move and fill another hole, maybe it makes a ton of sense.

I really don't see a viable path towards swapping ADA for Nylander. It's a thought worth discussing but in the end the Leafs really need another minute eater and Tony certainly isn't that. If there's a deal to be had I think it's something like Georgiev, a top prospect, maybe a pick, and the large amount of cap space freed up by off-loading Nylander that can be used to sign Pietrangelo. Similar to the way the Rangers saw value in offloading Stepan to sign Shattenkirk.

Additionally, if he's not a center in the eyes of the Rangers, that would drop the interest for me a little bit. I think he'd be a great fit in place of Buchnevich but depending on the price I might back off.

 

[NYR Viper]

Howden showed signs in the playoffs. I thought he was the Rangers most consistent and reliable forward. I am more than okay with 3 scoring lines, especially since Zibs can play a two way game like a Kopitar.

But you need that 2nd unit that can check- and if that's the 4th line, the Rangers are K'Andre Miller and a LHD away from their window opening.

If Howden is your 4th line LW- and you get two veterans a la Luke Glendening, or Brad Richardson on a one year deal- or trade for a guy like Austin Watson (not a fit for NYC- but a player in that mold), ie guys who know what the job is and how to do it.

Exactly, I'm okay with lines 1-3 being scoring lines, especially with Zibanejad showing he can handle 2-way duty. Lemieux I'm just not sure on. To me, ideally, he'd be on that 3rd line.

Something like:

Kreider-Zib-Buch
Panarin-Strome-Kakko
Lemieux-Chytil-Gauthier
Howden-_____-_____

The issue being, that 3rd line would get KILLED defensively. Also, no room for any other young forward unless it's a Gettinger-like player who can be that 2-way checking line winger. Which means Barron and Kravtsov aren't cracking that line-up.

Looking forward, without significant movement I just don't see how to properly build a forward group. Ideally, there would be a couple of these guys moved in a 2 or 3 for 1 deal to upgrade somewhere. But before all of that, Strome and Buch are the guys I'd be looking at being dangled for a LD.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

we’re all hoping Kravtsov develops while i was one questioning the passing on Wahlstrom. Leaving school very early, non-productive, etc makes me think the kid believed his own hype like many of us did.

I mean that's obvious

It's pretty clear he was subtly calling out the Rangers when he gave that post draft interview saying he'd make other teams regret not taking him

 

[NYSPORTS]

If Nashville blows it up could see Ekholm and Bonino as targets.

So then lose Zibby in a few years? We have a cap which is likely to be flat.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Toronto is in a similar spot as us where they have a really great player(s) that might be difficult to find a 1-1 trade for

I'll be curious to see how they figure it out

 

[NYSPORTS]

I mean that's obvious

It's pretty clear he was subtly calling out the Rangers when he gave that post draft interview saying he'd make other teams regret not taking him

So far, he reminds me of Brendl. Big shot and ?

Let’s hope Kravtsov develops b/c as of today neither are NHL players. Youth is on their side though.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Toronto is in a similar spot as us where they have a really great player(s) that might be difficult to find a 1-1 trade for

I'll be curious to see how they figure it out

they will have an interesting offseason. They’re another team i hope doesn’t win this lottery.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

If Nashville blows it up could see Ekholm and Bonino as targets.

I don't hate it.

If it falls apart for us, Bonino would be highly sought after at the TDL and if it doesn't hes a key piece.

Ekholm is really good but there are a lot of miles on those tires.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

So far, he reminds me of Brendl. Big shot and ?

Let’s hope Kravtsov develops b/c as of today neither are NHL players. Youth is on their side though.

Actually just kidding, it wasn't subtle at all. He literally said "The Rangers are going to regret not taking me"

Quite the confidence on this kid

 

[bl02]

I don't hate it.

If it falls apart for us, Bonino would be highly sought after at the TDL and if it doesn't hes a key piece.

Ekholm is really good but there are a lot of miles on those tires.

A lot of miles. He's over 30. I'll pass. I mean if we were very healthy cap wise and very close to winning a cup maybe

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

For the record not saying I necessarily want Ekholm and or Bonino but I fully expect them to try to add veteran depth to make this team a PO team next year. Those are the types of depth 2-way veterans I expect them to target. LD and C.

Shedding Staal and potentially Hank cap hits would open up space. Could get Nashville to retain. Ekholm signed through 2022 and Bonino thru 2021. Both free up before Zibanejad contract kicks in.

That’s the type of move I expect to go down this summer...err Fall.