Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XLVIII

[Rangerfan4life90]

He isn’t wrong. The long layoff from where they were in March really affected Panarin and Zibanejad. They just did not look like the same players. All the momentum gained from the season was lost. The wave of the high they were riding just died off. It was tough for them to get going. I hate making excuses but Panarin just wasnt sharp...he had some point blank looks that he was burying all year and didnt.

But hey losing 3 straight and being the worst team according to Roenick should indicate the Rangers were the most in need of the #1 pick...

Yup. The Rangers did not look like the same team pre-COVID. Don't necessarily want to make excuses as every team had to deal with that, but it definitely affected the Rangers the most it seems.

But in the end, it all worked out. Rangers got a bit of a small taste of the playoffs play in, and ended up winning the lottery.

 

[mas0764]

That would be very tempting. A lot more tempting than maybe some realize or think.

Put me on the spot, and I'd decline. I just think you can't be the guy who passes on Lefreniere.

Having said that, the number two spot this year is the complete opposite of last year.

When the Rangers picked second, it was the easiest slot in the draft. You took one of Hughes or Kakko.

This year, it's probably the hardest spot in the draft. Because you can make a very good argument that Stutzle is the second best player and the most likely to come close to what Lefreniere is capable of doing.

I will say this: I think I like Stutzle better than Byfield.

And I think if the offer was 3/5/Tkachuk, and I was so inclined to take the deal, I only take that deal if we do it after the second pick is made and Stutzle is still there.

 

[mas0764]

Im thinking long and hard about that offer, if and only if I know Kings are taking Stutzle though.

But at the end of the day, I think we all know after watching the JD interview, they are already in love with Laf. They are taking him.

"Lafrienere no matter what"

See, I'm the opposite.

I'm more inclined to do the deal if Stutzle is still there.

 

[maris]

I will say this: I think I like Stutzle better than Byfield.

And I think if the offer was 3/5/Tkachuk, and I was so inclined to take the deal, I only take that deal if we do it after the second pick is made and Stutzle is still there.

 

[maris]

can we afford Tkachuk? And the 5th pick doesn't stir me

 

[Rangers394]

See, I'm the opposite.

I'm more inclined to do the deal if Stutzle is still there.

If a guy like Lafreniere is available, you pick him all the time. Potential franchise players don't come along often.

 

[Leetch3]

Oh I'm with you. I'm just saying that if Sens offered 3,5,Tkachuk, 2021 unprotected first and we could get Byfield @3, that's the gigantic type of offer that it would take to make you say "Hmmmm." But like I said before, we know JD isn't letting this kid get away. He's gonna be a Ranger and that is awesome.

I think you also need to consider the salary cap in a deal like that...you would be potentially returning 4 elite assets. well you already have panarin, trouba and kreider signed. will need to give a big extension to mika and possibly ada if he is around. you hope that you need to give big raises to kakko, fox and shesterkin. are you really finding cap space to fit 4 more top guys? you would be fine for the ELC years but the only way you could keep all 4 assets long term is if some of them aren't as good as you hoped...

 

[Kravtsov420]

It makes me have to change roughly 3 times a day thinking about Kakko and Laf creating chemistry. I think that will exponentially increase their success as well, especially for Kakko.

 

[Edge]

I will say this: I think I like Stutzle better than Byfield.

And I think if the offer was 3/5/Tkachuk, and I was so inclined to take the deal, I only take that deal if we do it after the second pick is made and Stutzle is still there.

I think if the Rangers had their choice, and they had Ottawa's picks (seperate from all this trade banter), I think they'd prefer Stutzle and Sanderson with those picks. Or Stutzle and Holtz.

So the assumption that Byfield would be the Rangers preference, and a candidate for the top pick, has also struck me as possibly being off.

 

[mas0764]

If a guy like Lafreniere is available, you pick him all the time. Potential franchise players don't come along often.

Yeah I think I lean towards keeping him.

But Stutzle, Holtz and Tkachuk is just a massive haul.

Kreider - Zibanejad - Kakko
Panarin - Strome - Holtz
Tkachuk - Stutzle - Buchnevich
Lemieux - Howden - Fast

Where does Kravtsov and Barron even fit?

 

[duhmetreE]

Rangers were unprepared and out of shape compared to the rest. The Org/coaching staff deserve a decent amount of blame

 

[Heckler81]

Yeah I think I lean towards keeping him.

But Stutzle, Holtz and Tkachuk is just a massive haul.

Kreider - Zibanejad - Kakko
Panarin - Strome - Holtz
Tkachuk - Stutzle - Buchnevich
Lemieux - Howden - Fast

Where does Kravtsov and Barron even fit?

You don’t even have Chytil included.

 

[Polar Bear]

I think if the Rangers had their choice, and they had Ottawa's picks (seperate from all this trade banter), I think they'd prefer Stutzle and Sanderson with those picks. Or Stutzle and Holtz.

So the assumption that Byfield would be the Rangers preference, and a candidate for the top pick, has also struck me as possibly being off.

Interesting, I mean, it does make sense, since Bob has him two, and Bob also said some teams had Byfield as low as six on their board. Sort of irrelevant though, because unless we trade the pick, we just take Laf like any other team would.

 

[Edge]

can we afford Tkachuk? And the 5th pick doesn't stir me

Not something entirely lost in all this is contracts.

Lefreniere will be signed, at a capped amount, until the year 2023. He's under team control until, most likely, the year 2027.

In a salary-capped NHL world, that's a big deal. If you can production (be it 30 points/60 points/whatever) from an ELC contract for 1-3 years, that's a competitive advantage. It's an even bigger competitive advantage in a world where the cap is expected to remain flat for two years.

 

[n8]

Do you really think they'll pass on a guy with that size, height, and weight and a potential heir to Kopitar for a smallish winger?

1) definitely if they like him better
2) they have Vilardi and Turcotte in the pipe so they might not be too strong on Byfield in the needs department.

LAFs for Byfield and Perfetti (OTT) is pretty tempting though. But you can't exactly do that unless you know for sure LA is taking Stutzle
Would you trade a Kane/Kucherov-like player for both ROR and Aho?

 

[Zamboner]

Take Lefreniere , obviously.

Then make a bold decision about which (non-Kaako/Lefreniere) young guys are the future, and which are assets, and trade for a (young) #1 Center, so they can slot Mika to an overqualified #2. Rangers could make a Godfather offer to get someone that we're not even thinking is available.

I know, people LOVE prospects, but I'm of the opinion that you cash prospects like Kravtsov and Chytil in at their highest point (now) then wait for them to maybe develop into being great. It'd also (probably) cost one of Miller or Lundkvist too, but I'm talking for a stud, or else hold onto the prospects, obviously.

 

[broadwayblue]

Take Lefreniere , obviously.

Then make a bold decision about which (non-Kaako/Lefreniere) young guys are the future, and which are assets, and trade for a (young) #1 Center, so they can slot Mika to an overqualified #2. Rangers could make a Godfather offer to get someone that we're not even thinking is available.

I know, people LOVE prospects, but I'm of the opinion that you cash prospects like Kravtsov and Chytil in at their highest point (now) then wait for them to maybe develop into being great. It'd also (probably) cost one of Miller or Lundkvist too, but I'm talking for a stud, or else hold onto the prospects, obviously.

But are Kravtsov and Chytil at their highest value now?

 

[Zamboner]

But are Kravtsov and Chytil at their highest value now?

Chytil, no. But what if in a year, it's even lower?

 

[LeetchisGod]

It's really an amazing time to be a fan. We came so close with the last group but couldn't make it to the promised land. I'm even more optimistic we'll get there this time.

There are no guarantees, but we have elite talent this time. That would have made a difference in those games against the Kings.

 

[Rangers in 7]

Chytil, no. But what if in a year, it's even lower?

Buttt what if in another year it’s so much higher. I’d rather keep both at this point

we are not ready to contend next year anyway, we will be a fun, extremely young team but not a cup contender. Everyone slow down with trading all out young guys

 

[broadwayblue]

Chytil, no. But what if in a year, it's even lower?

Kid is all of what, 20 years old. I'm willing to take the risk it's not lower in a year.

 

[broadwayblue]

Buttt what if in another year it’s so much higher. I’d rather keep both at this point

we are not ready to contend next year anyway, we will be a fun, extremely young team but not a cup contender. Everyone slow down with trading all out young guys

Yeah, there's no rush. It's a process. I'm not opposed to dealing Kravtsov or Chytil in the right deal, but I'm not trying to move them.

 

[Zamboner]

Yeah, there's no rush. It's a process. I'm not opposed to dealing Kravtsov or Chytil in the right deal, but I'm not trying to move them.

Always for the right deal.

 

[Anthony5967]

Yeah I think I lean towards keeping him.

But Stutzle, Holtz and Tkachuk is just a massive haul.

Kreider - Zibanejad - Kakko
Panarin - Strome - Holtz
Tkachuk - Stutzle - Buchnevich
Lemieux - Howden - Fast

Where does Kravtsov and Barron even fit?

3, 5, and Tkachuk? Who is doing that? Ottawa certainly isn't. I'd never trade Tkachuk AND another top-5 pick.

 

[duhmetreE]

Shower Thought:

If we DIDN'T sign Panarin.... We wouldn't have the #1 pick.

Checkmate, Panarin deniers