Speculation: Roster Building Thread : Part XV (Light em up!)

McRanger92

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Jun 7, 2017
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I am not a fan of trying to reinvent the wheel.

If I am building a roster and trying to build a championship-caliber team, the first thing I probably do is spend a few weeks doing an in-depth analysis of the last 5 Cup winning teams.

I’d want to know the common strengths and weaknesses of those teams from personnel structure and style of play standpoints, which should start to paint a decent picture of what my roster needs more or less of.

If I did that, I have to imagine a glaring almost must-have would be a team needing to be built out from a strong 1C.

Now and into the future, this team does not have one.

I’d be looking at how to get my hands on a good, young 1C. This likely requires moving major pieces to get it done. With other teams reluctant to move 1Cs, I may need to take a hit on the trade and an initial step backward. I’d be okay with that as a strong 1C seems like a necessary foundational cornerstone to building a winning team.

Until the NYR can find a way to make that happen, all other moves, to me at least, feel like ineffective roster rearrangement bandaid fixes unless those moves are necessary preceding moves working toward the 1C objective.

Rangers need to get bigger and stronger on defense, first and foremost. That has been a big takeaway of mine among the recent Cup winners.

Florida had Forsling and Montour as puck movers, but Ekblad, Kulikov, Mikkola and OEL off the scrap heap. Not one guy under 6'1 and Montour plays much bigger.

Vegas had no D under 6'1 on their Cup team

Colorado had the best pair in hockey than a bunch of guys we all scoff at in their bottom 4 (Eric and Jack Johnson, Josh Manson and Byram). Girard is tiny and was hurt midway through the playoffs.

Tampa Bay didnt have a defenseman under 6 feet on either of their Cup teams.

We have Fox, Lindgren and Jones who are all pipsqueaks. Miller plays like one. Schneider is terrified to play physical because he has no backup. Unserious team until they start adding some guys who will make other teams pay a physical price in our zone and can manage to get hit and not immediately cough up the puck.

I agree on getting a young center. Trevor Zegras seems to be the most available. I would think Drury would have interest there.

What is the cap hit on that?

At a certain point it doesnt matter. The guys existence on the team is a detriment to winning.
 

TGWL

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What is the cap hit on that?
"More than you can afford, pal!"

Actual Cap Hit (Basically buyout-proof)



Screen Shot 2024-12-24 at 11.48.12 AM.png
Screen Shot 2024-12-24 at 11.48.42 AM.png


We save 666k a year. (Holy shit, is Mika the Devil?)
Then we pay 333k (Religion, again... guess this is our time to shine) for 5 years after his contract would have expired.
 
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Profet

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This is awful.I would stay far away from Miller.I don't want his problems anywhere near the youth of this team/orginization.We need to be shedding veterans,not adding ones who are head cases
I don't disagree with your assessment of miller.

But I also think that if Laf had Miller's attitude, he'd be a much better player.

That said, I don't think having Miller will necessarily change players to be more like him.
 

McRanger92

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Jun 7, 2017
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I don't disagree with your assessment of miller.

But I also think that if Laf had Miller's attitude, he'd be a much better player.

That said, I don't think having Miller will necessarily change players to be more like him.

We've seen the effect apathy from team leaders has had on Lafreniere and Fox specifically. Fox is a shell of himself from the hits he's taken and has the worst body language on the team. Lafreniere doesnt get PP time and spends more time trying to get even and stick up for himself and teammates than actually playing. I wish his run at Siegenthaler connected because he deserved it, but laf wouldve probably been suspended. Again, where is the leadership holding players accountable?

Imagine this:

Rangers draft Hagens.
Hagens refuses to sign as he grew up wearing fish stick pajamas.
Hagens becomes a UFA as an unsigned college player.

Rongo enough for you?

They aren't tanking so this isnt a scenario that is particularly troubling to me.
 

duhmetreE

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Hagens would be nice... a dynamic center... haven't had that since.... I have no clue.

I'd be just as happy with Schaefer

Martone sounds like a Tkachuk clone... that would be just as nice as well.

IMO, when it comes to winning a cup, players like Schaefer or Martone might be more beneficial
 
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KirkAlbuquerque

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Mar 12, 2014
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Hagens would be nice... a dynamic center... haven't had that since.... I have no clue.

I'd be just as happy with Schaefer

Martone sounds like a Tkachuk clone... that would be just as nice as well.

IMO, when it comes to winning a cup, players like Schaefer or Martone might be more beneficial
We’re gonna draft 12th and take Lias Kravtsovovich Jessiman, Goalie
 

FUZfan

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Mar 1, 2018
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Trading him. He’ll waive once Kreider is gone and pressure from fans, media and team increases imo

For what? No clue. I see Chicago as a possible destination. Maybe for Bertuzzi. Give them a center behind Bedard.

If Drury can finagle JTM type swap, great.
That's far better than the buyout scenario which is a disaster. But I think Meeka would love to be bought out. He sure is playing like it.
 

NickyFotiu

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Sep 29, 2011
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I love all of these Kreider to Dallas proposals but who the f*** wants Kreider this year? The dude looks cooked.

I am preparing myself to be very underwhelmed by whatever we get back in any trade.

CK has looked really bad for around the last 25 games but he did start the season with 6 goals in his first 9 games. I think GMs will look in to his health and not write him off over a small amount of games.
 
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McRanger92

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Garand lighting it up. Were going to regret this Igor contract. The goal should be to never sign a goalie to a third contract. A replacement should be waiting in the wings so cap space can be deployed elsewhere

Oh please. Garand has had a hot month in the AHL and we're anointing him the next coming? No wonder these prospects never reach our expectations. He'll be a cost effective backup when the time comes. If he ends u having a Cam talbot esque career we should all be thrilled.

CK has looked really bad for around the last 25 games but he did start the season with 6 goals in his first 9 games. I think GMs will look in to his health and not write him off over a small amount of games.

Team's that struggle on the powerplay will love to have him.
 
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NickyFotiu

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Rangers need to get bigger and stronger on defense, first and foremost. That has been a big takeaway of mine among the recent Cup winners.

Florida had Forsling and Montour as puck movers, but Ekblad, Kulikov, Mikkola and OEL off the scrap heap. Not one guy under 6'1 and Montour plays much bigger.

Florida's Dmen seemed so good compared to ours in last years playoffs. Kulikov is not a giant but he seemed so much tougher than our forwards. We were often 1 shot and out. They owned the front of the net.
 

duhmetreE

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Rangers need to get bigger and stronger on defense, first and foremost. That has been a big takeaway of mine among the recent Cup winners.

Florida had Forsling and Montour as puck movers, but Ekblad, Kulikov, Mikkola and OEL off the scrap heap. Not one guy under 6'1 and Montour plays much bigger.

Vegas had no D under 6'1 on their Cup team

Colorado had the best pair in hockey than a bunch of guys we all scoff at in their bottom 4 (Eric and Jack Johnson, Josh Manson and Byram). Girard is tiny and was hurt midway through the playoffs.

Tampa Bay didnt have a defenseman under 6 feet on either of their Cup teams.

We have Fox, Lindgren and Jones who are all pipsqueaks. Miller plays like one. Schneider is terrified to play physical because he has no backup. Unserious team until they start adding some guys who will make other teams pay a physical price in our zone and can manage to get hit and not immediately cough up the puck.

I agree on getting a young center. Trevor Zegras seems to be the most available. I would think Drury would have interest there.



At a certain point it doesnt matter. The guys existence on the team is a detriment to winning.
They need a nastiness on defense.

It's funny how defenseman leave here and then play with an attitude. IMO it's a big part mindset
 

McRanger92

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Jun 7, 2017
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They need a nastiness on defense.

It's funny how defenseman leave here and then play with an attitude. IMO it's a big part mindset

People thought Trouba brought that. They clearly never watched him play outside of the big hits. The Rangers don't bring any anger to the board or blue paint battles. Turn the other cheek mentality Kreider & Meeka learned from AV that trickles throuhgout the lineup. Now that their powerplay sucks the whole team is completely neutered.
 

Lion Hound

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Imagine this:

Rangers draft Hagens.
Hagens refuses to sign as he grew up wearing fish stick pajamas.
Hagens becomes a UFA as an unsigned college player.

Rongo enough for you?

One interesting piece about Hagens. The family wants him to finish school. All 4 yrs. The parents also negotiated full rides for the other siblings if James committed to play for BC. Smart move for them. $67K Annual Tuition.
 

Guyute

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Need to start over and build a good 5v5 team. Hopefully, Drury can accomplish this in the next few years while Igor is still in his prime.

I'm fine with sucking this year and next. Maybe we will win the lottery this year and draft one of Schaefer/Hagens/Martone. Sell Kreider, Zibanejad, Panarin, Miller, Lindgren, and Borgen. Load up on 2026 1st round picks and pray that we will win the McKenna sweepstakes.

McDavid is UFA after next season.

If any of these play out, we will be in great shape going forward.
 
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