Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XV

[Amazing Kreiderman]

People keep saying lias looked good in preseason. Yes against minor leaguer and nhlers going half speed. Soon as the pace ramped up he was way out of his element. Happened last year too. He cannot play at this pace. Not yet at least. I don’t understand the hesitation to send him down. Plenty of guys drafted in that range are in the minors still. Send him down

If pre-season performance was enough for Chytil to be sent to Hartford, it should have been enough for Lias to be ahead of Howden.

 

[bobbop]

I can't see them spending $4.5 on his contract at 50%

$4.5MM cap but only $2.75 cash. Doable .

 

[aufheben]

What's the mystery here? He's a fringe NHL player. His only NHL caliber skill is his shot. At age 28, teams have given up on the idea that he can be more than that.

0.44 P/GP
50.7 CF%
45.8 S/O Pct.
48.6 FO%.

Seems plenty useful for a bottom-6 player. Maybe he just hasn’t looked good this season.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Lundqvist has started ten games this season. He has a save % of below 90% in half of those starts. .905 is his save % which good for 31st overall. His GAA is 3.54 which is 46th overall. 46 out of 50. Lundqvist has had his good moments. You look at his overall numbers and we know who should the odd man out of the Rangers goaltending situation. It would be a shame if the Rangers traded Georgiev because they didn't want to make a decision on Lundqvist. Henrik will be 38 in March and has one year remaining on his contract. He is not 30 years old with a 3-4 quality seasons remaining. I bring up 30 because he won the Vezina at 30 in 2012. If you a senior member of Rangers tank nation where you believe another top 5 pick in 2020 will serve the Rangers better down the road, you want Lundqvist to play a significant amount of games this season. Sending down Georgiev for Shesterkin sees the best goaltender on the Rangers right now in the AHL.

The Rangers trade Georgiev to play Shesterkin and then the Rangers will be looking for another goaltender in 21-22 to share the net with Shesterkin. The people in the media think Lundqvist will play forever. If you look at his numbers this season,Hank is on the back nine of his career. He will have his good moments this season like his back to back starts against Detroit and Carolina. I thought Sam Rosen was going to pass out in the Carolina game talking about Lundqvist.

The Connolly goal last night went right through him. The 2nd Dadonov goal. Lundqvist was late getting across. That is happening more and more.

Lundqvist should do everyone a favor and just retire this season. Take the wife and kids back to Sweden. He will be 38 years old. The Rangers are moving into a different detection.

Georgiev has a .906 sv%. This time last week Hank was at .922 and Georgiev was at .915. They both took a big dip because the team played like horseshit in the last week and bc of their split minutes their sample sizes are kind of small so their stats take wild swings still from single games. Both of them could be over .920 in two weeks.

It’s very convenient timing for this post bc I think last night was probably the first game all season that Hank looked particularly off all season so of course a bad game isn’t just a bad game it’s now further indictment that he needs to be taken out to the woodshed.

We get it, there’s a faction of this board that wants him gone bc he’s old and bc he’s not playing like a vezina candidate anymore behind what is a historically bad defense. It’s the same posters and let’s call it what it really is, you want to move on to the next generation of Rangers and you want the new kids to step into their roles so that’s what is really pushing your narrative. Let’s not let the fact that Georgiev has had a very similar season (some great games and some bad games) to
Lundqvist cloud the narrative. I still believe Hank is an above average goalie and behind even a competent defense he could be a difference maker still. The hyperbole that creeps in here with some of you acting like he’s a AHLer is ridiculous. Oh he has bad box car numbers? And so does the backup? Behind one of the worst teams in the league? Color me shocked.

In addition to Shesterkin, the Rangers have Huska and Wall coming and Lindbolm on the way. If they move Georgiev they’re most certainly not going to be looking for another goalie in a couple years, actually if Hank plays out his deal it will line up perfectly for Shesty to be the starter and one of those other 3 to slide into the backup role.

Idk I like Georgiev but aside from being young I really don’t see him as really forcing the issue and I’m not convinced he’s anything more than a backup at the NHL level. I could end up being wrong because I do like Georgiev and there are flashes but I’m just not convinced. I think Shesterkin is really the heir here and if we have to lose Georgiev because of it, I’m fine with that and maybe we can get a decent asset out of it.

 

[Avery16]

I say demote Lias and promote Nieves and Beleskey. One of them and Smith, McKegg can be 13F. Even if temporarily, get Andersson big minutes at C .

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I say demote Lias and promote Nieves and Beleskey. One of them and Smith, McKegg can be 13F. Even if temporarily, get Andersson big minutes at C .

I'd prefer they promoted someone with more of an eye for the net, maybe Gettinger. Adding more dump and chase penalty taking players isn't going to help.

 

[Avery16]

I’m not including Brodin to flip him (perhaps until next year’s deadline) I would want him to help stabilize a very young defense.

Counter proposal: Minnesota is at the bottom of the standings. Skjei with all his warts is a gift to the Wild, locked down at his cap hit. Brodin wouldn't be a bad add, but I don't think what he brings (plus Donato) is enough of a return for Skeji. We can do better. Hajek/Lindgren/Rykov will struggle next season, but so would Brodin/Hajek/Lindgren. Trouba will shore up the first pair, hopefully earn that salary.

What I would be interested in is Koivu, a pending UFA still doing alright. I don't see Minnesota as very motivated in retaining him. If we traded Skjei for Koivu, it would be basically salary neutral this year. Koivu is still a good middle-six C, would be a great mentor to Kakko. He gives us good insurance while Zibanejad is injured. His contract expires and perhaps he'd be interested in re-signing at a team-friendly cap hit to finish his career in NYC and mentor one of the future Finnish stars in the NHL, maybe staying on as a scout or in player development afterwards. What do we get for giving them Skjei for Koivu? Donato at 50% and a swap of their 2020 2nd for Dallas's 2020 3rd. I'll throw in Nieves or Letteri if they need a F body.

 

[Avery16]

I'd prefer they promoted someone with more of an eye for the net, maybe Gettinger. Adding more dump and chase penalty taking players isn't going to help.

I like Gettinger and would like to see him up again, but I don't think Quinn would give him any more TOI than he is Lias.

 

[haohmaru]

Haley being waived also tells me that Zibanejad is ready to play Wednesday. We'll see.

 

[NickyLongLegz]

I like Gettinger and would like to see him up again, but I don't think Quinn would give him any more TOI than he is Lias.

I think this just came true

 

[Irishguy42]

Haley being waived also tells me that Zibanejad is ready to play Wednesday. We'll see.

Would make sense, since Fil was brought up to replace him (tho not immediately).

Even with Lias going down, they brought Gettinger up.

So, I think Mika will ideally be back Wednesday.

 

[Vitto79]

I think this just came true

Yep Quinn essentially demoting the 2 that he benched ... oh well Lisa needs to get a lot of minutes

Hopefully he does what Chytil has

 

[Ola]

I'd settle for an NHL player from Lias at this point.

He should be in the AHL developing. But the kid is still developing. Right now he is on a line where he is expected to do everything by himself. There is no ‘play’. Lias is a smart player, passes the puck well. Thinks the game well. Some might say, look Smith is creating havoc Lias is barely doing that. But that tells me nothing. Lias played fairly well with Lemieux for example.

I also think Lias has played well defensively. I think he is doing a good job putting pressure on the puck etc.

Lias will certainly become a lot stronger and keep getting faster etc the coming years. We are doing a good job with the kids physically and pushing them in practice.

I am not that worried about the end product. I think we need to be a little patient with these kids. 1-2 years is nothing, gotta give it 5-6 years.

 

[Ola]

BTW, it hasn’t been talked about that much. But I think — many — of our kids really pushed themselves hard this off-season and have shown really strong progress.

I am mainly thinking about Fox, Hajak and Lindgren. I think all three took a big step during the summer. Lias is another one who improved his skating.

 

[Avery16]

Given all this, I think we can expect that Zib is back in the lineup, that one of Chytil and Strome will be 3C, and that Howden will be 4C.

 

[Michal]

Given all this, I think we can expect that Zib is back in the lineup, that one of Chytil and Strome will be 3C, and that Howden will be 4C.

So Howden's average ice time probably will decrease below 10 minutes. We will have the same problem with a young center again.

 

[SA16]

Howden's ice time decreasing below 10 minutes sounds good to me.

 

[Avery16]

So Howden's average ice time probably will decrease below 10 minutes. We will have the same problem with a young center again.

I see it as Quinn will give the 4th line more minutes. No line could realistically get as few minutes as Andersson was playing. Howden’s minutes will probably drop no more than a couple/GP, which is probably appropriate.

 

[bobbop]

Counter proposal: Minnesota is at the bottom of the standings. Skjei with all his warts is a gift to the Wild, locked down at his cap hit. Brodin wouldn't be a bad add, but I don't think what he brings (plus Donato) is enough of a return for Skeji. We can do better. Hajek/Lindgren/Rykov will struggle next season, but so would Brodin/Hajek/Lindgren. Trouba will shore up the first pair, hopefully earn that salary.

What I would be interested in is Koivu, a pending UFA still doing alright. I don't see Minnesota as very motivated in retaining him. If we traded Skjei for Koivu, it would be basically salary neutral this year. Koivu is still a good middle-six C, would be a great mentor to Kakko. He gives us good insurance while Zibanejad is injured. His contract expires and perhaps he'd be interested in re-signing at a team-friendly cap hit to finish his career in NYC and mentor one of the future Finnish stars in the NHL, maybe staying on as a scout or in player development afterwards. What do we get for giving them Skjei for Koivu? Donato at 50% and a swap of their 2020 2nd for Dallas's 2020 3rd. I'll throw in Nieves or Letteri if they need a F body.

Koivu has Lundqvist status in Minnesota. He will only go where he wants. A great player in his prime but pretty much washed up right now. He might go somewhere to try and win a Cup and sadly, that’s not New York right now.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I'd prefer they promoted someone with more of an eye for the net, maybe Gettinger. Adding more dump and chase penalty taking players isn't going to help.

Good for me for calling that lol. Gettinger with the call up

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Given all this, I think we can expect that Zib is back in the lineup, that one of Chytil and Strome will be 3C, and that Howden will be 4C.

For me Strome is still ahead of Chytil, and personally I'd leave him and Panarin together. Let Zibanajad see if he can make another top six line with Kreider and Kakko/Buchnevich, if they could, it could be a dangerous top 6 and with Chytil the 3rd c he would get more favorable matchups with Lemieux and Fast or Buchnevich
My preference is

Kreider Zibanajad Kakko
Panarin Strome Buchnevich/Fast
Lemieux Chytil Fast/Buchnevich
Howden Gettinger Smith

 

[Avery16]

Koivu has Lundqvist status in Minnesota. He will only go where he wants. A great player in his prime but pretty much washed up right now. He might go somewhere to try and win a Cup and sadly, that’s not New York right now.

Why would any player in Minnesota block a trade to NYC?

 

[Avery16]

For me Strome is still ahead of Chytil, and personally I'd leave him and Panarin together. Let Zibanajad see if he can make another top six line with Kreider and Kakko/Buchnevich, if they could, it could be a dangerous top 6 and with Chytil the 3rd c he would get more favorable matchups with Lemieux and Fast or Buchnevich
My preference is

Kreider Zibanajad Buchnevich
Panarin Strome Kakko
Lemieux Chytil Buchnevich
Howden Gettinger Fast

I don't think Buch can handle those minutes.

 

[Michal]

I see it as Quinn will give the 4th line more minutes. No line could realistically get as few minutes as Andersson was playing. Howden’s minutes will probably drop no more than a couple/GP, which is probably appropriate.

I hope you're right.

 

[Kovalev27]

If pre-season performance was enough for Chytil to be sent to Hartford, it should have been enough for Lias to be ahead of Howden.

Howden was the 3C last season more or less the whole year. More than reasonable to go into the year with him at 3C and Lias at 4C. And him getting the benefit of the doubt. It was one or the other. Both put up a few points in preseason.

what should have happened is lias should have continued his play and proven he deserved more mins. He didn’t. He was awful I know he’s your favorite player but he has done nothing at this level. And the coach has said as much. Not our decision.