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

[The Crypto Guy]

 

[kovazub94]

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all celebrating!!!

As always there’s seems to be small segment of the fan base to gets a reasonably good assessment of the situation what’s required going forward.

What has changed since the last summer after the team got to two ECF in three years? Trouba and Goodrow had to go for cap reasons. Kakko - because that relationship wasn’t going to last anyway. Lindgren is in the same boat and it’s still coming.

Yes it takes a bite out of the leadership (and we do see how these intangibles have an impact) but cap vs contribution on ice is priority #1. Kreider and Zibanejad are not working but there’s a clear path with only oe of them. Miller is on precipice of his value around the league turning down the same way we saw with Kakko.

Drury is halfway done for the retool ongoing. For those suggesting a complete rebuild are out of touch - definitely not happening and IMO not required either with pieces in place and coming up.

Who's playing center when the Rangers lift the Cup? Zib/Trocheck? At what age?

Yup. Trocheck, Chytil and Zib could work depending on who surrounds them (that’s not to say that would refuse an improvement to their this group). However on defense there’s a huge need for LD to play with Fox and Schneider. Bigger priority by far.

 

[McRanger92]

filip chytil for trent f***ing frederic. what an idiotic thing to think is a good idea

Chytil has 1 more point than Frederic this year and is made of glass. @ me next time. Merry Christmas

 

[noncents]

Chytil has 1 more point than Frederic this year and is made of glass. @ me next time. Merry Christmas

in 9 fewer games. on a team that is literally imploding.


If he has enough value to trade for Frederic, he has enough value to trade for a lot better of a player.


and the edit here is: if you think we need to ditch Chytil for Blais and a 2nd just because you're afraid of the next hit he takes - that's one thing. But don't tell me Chytil isn't 5x the player TF is.

 

[HellOnIce]

Yup. Trocheck, Chytil and Zib could work depending on who surrounds them (that’s not to say that would refuse an improvement to their this group). However on defense there’s a huge need for LD to play with Fox and Schneider. Bigger priority by far.

Zib and Vinny are going to be (at minimum) 33 and almost 33 the next time the Rangers make the playoffs, with about minimum 130 games worth of wear and tear plus olympics, etc..that's if they can retool and make it in next season (no guarantees). Not to mention Panarin is going to be almost 34.5+ in April 2026.

So you want to spend assets to surround a 1-2 center combo that's going to be long in tooth and Chytil who's a question mark with health, and really hasn't put points together to be considered a must have part of the core.

And to find 1-2 top Centers...you draft them and develop, there are no short cuts there.

With the LD retool strategy, you're at best, sort of aiming for a Bullseye of perfection to make the playoffs/be a contender against much younger cores OR you're plugging holes to make it a mediocre team or barely in the playoffs to keep you away from actual meaningful top draft picks.

 

[kovazub94]

Zib and Vinny are going to be (at minimum) 33 and almost 33 the next time the Rangers make the playoffs, with about minimum 130 games worth of wear and tear plus olympics, etc..that's if they can retool and make it in next season (no guarantees). Not to mention Panarin is going to be almost 34.5+ in April 2026.

So you want to spend assets to surround a 1-2 center combo that's going to be long in tooth and Chytil who's a question mark with health, and really hasn't put points together to be considered a must have part of the core.

And to find 1-2 top Centers...you draft them and develop, there are no short cuts there.

With the LD retool strategy, you're at best, sort of aiming for a Bullseye of perfection to make the playoffs/be a contender against much younger cores OR you're plugging holes to make it a mediocre team or barely in the playoffs to keep you away from actual meaningful top draft picks.

Now you’re moving posts - I didn’t say don’t draft centers. But whoever will be drafted in 2025 likely won’t help until 2029 so please stay in your lane. Moreso maybe sticking to your team is a better approach - you come with a question and given an answer. With all due respect everything beyond is just asking for a pushback.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Been asking this team to draft centers for years now, it's not likely happening. I mean if two players are similar take the center, centers are more likely to work at wing than wingers work at center.

 

[McRanger92]

For the last three seasons, it's all JT Miller. He is not changing the Rangers fortunes. JT will be 32 years old in March. He is signed until 2030 with an $8M cap hit. Where is the future with Miller? Keeping the mediocrity in place.

I would like to see the Rangers conduct a clear out. Get rid of basically everyone except for less than a handful of players. These players sabotaged their own season by being fixated about how the Rangers handled Goodrow and Trouba. It's time to go. Too many egos. Too many protection clauses. I think they realize that now but the Rangers have been hit by an avalanche and their season is spiraling down the mountain.

Fox worries me. His NMC kicks in July and the Rangers will be stuck with him for the next four seasons. People say he needs a reliable partner and they mention every fancy stat number in support of Fox. He needs a partner like Buekeboom. Really? If all of these numbers were available in the 1990's. Beukeboom would grade out as less than a replacement player. He wasn't a top D in Edmonton. He was a bottom pair D. #4 at best when Edmonton started clearing the decks. He wasn't a top pair D. He could barely skate. He would barely pass the puck. He had zero offensive game. He allowed Leetch to lead the rush and join the rush. Fox is not capable of that. He is good with the puck in the offensive zone. He is very good on the PP. Very smart. That's it. I just believe the Rangers need more from a $9.5M defenseman.

Fox needs a better D group around him like TB had. How are the Rangers acquiring all of those players? Fox's contract will be over by the time the Rangers find their Sergachev or Hedman or even Cernak. He should elevate the other D and not need three other D to help him out.

Fox is in the Zubov mold. We will live to regret trading him, like we did Zubov.

 

[kovazub94]

Been asking this team to draft centers for years now, it's not likely happening. I mean if two players are similar take the center, centers are more likely to work at wing than wingers work at center.

Take BPL - Pierreault wouldn’t be drafted if it was a Centers only hard line.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I think the Rangers should exercise their rights to McDavid. As an Oilers great center he is supposed to be a Ranger. Fox, Mika, CK, Lindy, and Kappo's old jerseys for McDavid seems like a fair deal. Offer McDavid a year of no NYC crime and free Katz pastrami

 

[LOFIN]

Been asking this team to draft centers for years now, it's not likely happening. I mean if two players are similar take the center, centers are more likely to work at wing than wingers work at center.

Yeah obviously, this is what everyone thinks. But teams should always draft BPA regardless of position. Canadiens drafted Kotkaniemi instead of Brady Tkachuk (or Quinn Hughes) because they really wanted a center. How did that go?

 

[Alluckks]

That podcast is annoying. Bissonette is annoying. He got beat up in a bar in Arizona. My initial reaction it's about time. Whitney is OK. Avery is a frequent guest. Avery is meeting with Dolan about becoming GM. Stupid stuff. Brooks socialized with Avery when he played for the Rangers. What was Larry thinking?

More than that. Brooks said Avery was one of the only Rangers he kept in touch with after they left and after their career was over (he said he wouldn't name the other one for their sake).

 

[JohnC]

They've been targeting this guy for years? Really?

Whoever keeps leaking this line to the media should really consider rethinking it. It’s the telltale phrase to know whether we 100% lost the trade.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Fox is in the Zubov mold. We will live to regret trading him, like we did Zubov.

Fox isn't getting traded.

 

[NikC]

Little check in before the Xmas festivities... agreed, the main boards are usually cancer. Learned to generally stay away from them years ago.

But yeah, Drury's trade resume is horrendous.



Leaving out the past trades, just focusing on the recent ones. I've made this sort of post a few times. But I'll keep hammering this point across... as mentioned in the above, over half the league was reportedly interested in Tuba. There are teams with really, really shallow RHD depth. You had the Tuba f***ery in the summer that put a bit of a halt on things. Drury wanted to get him out of here in the off-season. Something to remember, in the coming summer Tuba's NTC goes to a 12 team no trade list rather than the 15 from this past summer. More options. Many teams will have a ton of cap space this coming off-season. I do not believe Drury got full value on Tuba. Not because I think he's particularly good, most people here thinks he blows. But that's not what GMs think. They see the big, mean defender with leadership qualities and start to salivate. So people cheered Drury for getting his full 8 million off the table, whoop-de-do... teams spent their money in the summer. Most teams are up against the cap now. Teams wanted him when they had money available. He shoehorned himself into a deal with one of the only teams with cap space, just to get him out of here in some desperate looking move to turn the direction of the season. The timing of his deals are destroying the value.

Then the Kakko trade. Makes absolutely zero sense. The timing is insanely idiotic. Don't care if people don't like the player. I made a post in the morning of the day he was traded, many hours before there was even any rumors about a move. I didn't want to see some idiotic reactionary trade... and then thats what he did. Mentioned Montreal trading Lehkonen at the deadline a few years ago to Colorado for a 2nd + a real prospect. Tampa acquired Goodrow for a 1st. Hell, we got a late 2nd for Lias. Others have mentioned what some other disappointing high picks have returned in trades. I'm not too caught up in that aspect... but teams will pay up at the deadline for those sorts of 2way players. A 23 year old, RFA.... come on. And Will Borgen... really? They've been targeting this guy for years? Really? That tells you all you need to know. What was the thought process there. We're gonna ship this kid outta here and bring in this bottom pairing D on an expiring contract and the season will be saved.... why even make that trade at this point in the year.

These trades are reeking of desperation. The timing makes zero sense. He's tanking the value based on when he's making these moves. The season is shot, just let it play out. I think he could've gotten more for Tuba in the coming summer. Kakko should've been a deadline deal. If his track record wasn't so bad on trades maybe I'd let it slide... but he's gotten fleeced on too many deals. I'm almost scared for his next trades. He needs to get something for the expiring guys at the deadline. Borgen, Quick, Lindgren, etc... guys like Kreider, Vinny, etc should be in the summer. But watch him do something moronic and deal CK for peanuts just to get him out of here.... I'm just waiting for it at this point

You're on point here... the timing, and randomness of some of these moves just speaks to not having a plan in place, and giving little to no attention to whether or not they make sense.

Pretty disheartening situation for NYR fans if you ask me. Seems like only real effort Drury and management are making is to do these moves as badly as possible!

Cant develop talent, all this organization does is poach talent from other teams.

 

[eco's bones]

The Goodrow and Trouba trades were pure cap dumps and I don’t think Drury could have done better there. But the Igor extension and Kakko trade leave me questioning whether Drury is the right GM for a rebuild.

Yeah I thought moving both Goodrow and Trouba worked out best for us and he did a good job with those. I think if the Rangers hadn't collapsed they would have waited on Trouba and parted ways next summer. But the way things were going it was better to do it right then and get it over with.

The return on the Kakko trade was way underwhelming and I'm not even sure trading him was that necessary though a decision was going to have to be made on extending him long term pretty soon. His production never got close to what we hoped for but he was a good player otherwise. Him, Chytil and Cuylle were easily our best line until Filip got hurt.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Take BPL - Pierreault wouldn’t be drafted if it was a Centers only hard line.

The talent gap between perreault and the next few centers taken in that draft is insane.
Perreault is a top 10 prospect right now.

That was the right move.

EJ Emery was also the right pick. The next centers taken in the 24 draft are Lucas Pettersson and Julius Miettinen.
Again BPA, but it did help at a position of need.

 

[bernmeister]

Fox is in the Zubov mold. We will live to regret trading him, like we did Zubov.

Yeah, no
Has to be called out for bs
Zub was WAAYY BETTER athlete/skater, etc
so no

Fox isn't getting traded.

that would be a mistake, we should sell high while we can

 

[LokiDog]

I don’t really care anymore but considering there isn’t much else to do but pray for changes and continue watching this car crash happen, some names that come to mind for me - either because they’re often talked about in potential move rumors, or because I think they’d be good fits (in a non “McDavid would be a nice fit” way):

I’d definitely take a flyer on Cozens. Super young, capable at center, has already had a great season and the losing culture in Buffalo is contagious, but Cozens is generally a workhorse - look at Cozen’s character assessments from his draft. I have very little doubt Cozens will be next on the list of ex-Sabres centers to blossom elsewhere (Eichel, O’Reilly and even Mittlestadt).

Similarly, I’d take a shot on Byram. Injuries are the only concern for me there but his draft pedigree and ability, already has great experience as a Cup winner, plus the performance he put on in Colorado’s Cup run was genuinely excellent. I’d take the gamble, depending on price for sure.

I’ve long wanted to snag either Hartman or Foligno from Minnesota. Probably not available, but both have the exact character that I want reshaping the room.

I would have loved JJ Moser. Now that he was the centerpiece in a Sergachev trade I think it’s far less likely TB would move him, but I think he’s extremely underrated. Forsling-esque.

I’d love either Bichsel or Lindell out of Dallas for strong LHD as well. I’d take Provorov or Gavrikov as well. Always wanted Boone Jenner as the 3C and captain for this team.

I’d give a lung to get Fantili here. Edvinsson ditto.

I like Orlov. I’d love Svechnikov on this team.

I’d love Ehlers on this team. Adrian Kempe even more. Zetterlund. Eklund.

I’d love Alex Vlasic out of Chicago but he won’t be moved. Hoglander from Vancouver needs a fresh start but has a great motor.

Wish we’d been able to get Barbashev or Bennett before they went to their new teams and raised their values.

Those are the types of players I want to bring here.

 

[LOFIN]

Little check in before the Xmas festivities... agreed, the main boards are usually cancer. Learned to generally stay away from them years ago.

But yeah, Drury's trade resume is horrendous.



Leaving out the past trades, just focusing on the recent ones. I've made this sort of post a few times. But I'll keep hammering this point across... as mentioned in the above, over half the league was reportedly interested in Tuba. There are teams with really, really shallow RHD depth. You had the Tuba f***ery in the summer that put a bit of a halt on things. Drury wanted to get him out of here in the off-season. Something to remember, in the coming summer Tuba's NTC goes to a 12 team no trade list rather than the 15 from this past summer. More options. Many teams will have a ton of cap space this coming off-season. I do not believe Drury got full value on Tuba. Not because I think he's particularly good, most people here thinks he blows. But that's not what GMs think. They see the big, mean defender with leadership qualities and start to salivate. So people cheered Drury for getting his full 8 million off the table, whoop-de-do... teams spent their money in the summer. Most teams are up against the cap now. Teams wanted him when they had money available. He shoehorned himself into a deal with one of the only teams with cap space, just to get him out of here in some desperate looking move to turn the direction of the season. The timing of his deals are destroying the value.

Then the Kakko trade. Makes absolutely zero sense. The timing is insanely idiotic. Don't care if people don't like the player. I made a post in the morning of the day he was traded, many hours before there was even any rumors about a move. I didn't want to see some idiotic reactionary trade... and then thats what he did. Mentioned Montreal trading Lehkonen at the deadline a few years ago to Colorado for a 2nd + a real prospect. Tampa acquired Goodrow for a 1st. Hell, we got a late 2nd for Lias. Others have mentioned what some other disappointing high picks have returned in trades. I'm not too caught up in that aspect... but teams will pay up at the deadline for those sorts of 2way players. A 23 year old, RFA.... come on. And Will Borgen... really? They've been targeting this guy for years? Really? That tells you all you need to know. What was the thought process there. We're gonna ship this kid outta here and bring in this bottom pairing D on an expiring contract and the season will be saved.... why even make that trade at this point in the year.

These trades are reeking of desperation. The timing makes zero sense. He's tanking the value based on when he's making these moves. The season is shot, just let it play out. I think he could've gotten more for Tuba in the coming summer. Kakko should've been a deadline deal. If his track record wasn't so bad on trades maybe I'd let it slide... but he's gotten fleeced on too many deals. I'm almost scared for his next trades. He needs to get something for the expiring guys at the deadline. Borgen, Quick, Lindgren, etc... guys like Kreider, Vinny, etc should be in the summer. But watch him do something moronic and deal CK for peanuts just to get him out of here.... I'm just waiting for it at this point

Great post.

One thing I would like to know, I know it's far fetched... but did Drury purposfully take less on these deals because he wanted to ship these guys as far as possible? I know Goodrow was a waiver claim, and maybe only Anaheim was willing to take on full deal with Trouba waiving to go there... But then Kakko to Seattle for peanuts. No offence to Borgen, he's a #6 Dman and those are always available for dirt cheap.

 

[NikC]

Yeah I thought moving both Goodrow and Trouba worked out best for us and he did a good job with those. I think if the Rangers hadn't collapsed they would have waited on Trouba and parted ways next summer. But the way things were going it was better to do it right then and get it over with.

The return on the Kakko trade was way underwhelming and I'm not even sure trading him was that necessary though a decision was going to have to be made on extending him long term pretty soon. His production never got close to what we hoped for but he was a good player otherwise. Him, Chytil and Cuylle were easily our best line until Filip got hurt.

The guy is always hurt. Once he starts to assert himself and gets to areas of the ice that make him effective... he gets hammered... and is gone again, only to return to plays listless, floaty hockey ala CK.

Filip is done. his career is basically expiring before our eyes.

 

[eco's bones]

As an outsider you got it wrong - the priority for the Rangers is to rebuild defense, specifically the left side.

That's pretty much where I'm at.....fix the D and figure out who's going to play center. I think we have to jettison Mika somehow for one thing. Our right side on D with Fox and Schneider and Mancini (a player who should get better) is fine. As far as the left side Miller needs to find his game again......the other issue is his upcoming contract and if he's not reasonable on that I'd look to move him. Other than that we need two lefties we can depend on. I like Jones but I don't see him as a top 4 and I think we can upgrade on him anyway.

The Rangers need to figure out things in their own end first. We're not going to have a good offense without a good defense.

The guy is always hurt. Once he starts to assert himself and gets to areas of the ice that make him effective... he gets hammered... and is gone again, only to return to plays listless, floaty hockey ala CK.

Filip is done. his career is basically expiring before our eyes.

You're probably right. I don't think we'll get a lot moving him though because everyone knows.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

The guy is always hurt. Once he starts to assert himself and gets to areas of the ice that make him effective... he gets hammered... and is gone again, only to return to plays listless, floaty hockey ala CK.

Filip is done. his career is basically expiring before our eyes.

Look at him since he's been back from the Miller friendly hit. He's been playing like 2002-03 Lindros. He has 3 points since he came back.

He had 7 points in October.

Don't trade him for peanuts, but include him in a deal that makes sense. Not for a UFA Frederic unless a high pick is coming back (Boston has no second rounder this year as of now).

 

[NikC]

everyone should go back a page and read, re read what B17 Apricots pointed out from the Dreger article...

These moves that Drury has been making are decimating this franchise... the WAY in which he is doing things, is totally destroying their ability to recoup assets of value.

This Igor resigning is just beyond asinine at this time with this AHL level defense in front of him.

 

[LokiDog]

The family giving him the finger makes this like the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.