Speculation: Roster Building Thread : Part XVI (Playoffs or Retool?)

i hope not. My thinking is that signing Borgen to a 2RD salary and deploying him in a 2RD role "justifies" trading Kakko
it's % based.

to me his a Mikkola, maybe a little more offense. Mikkola got 3%. Say Borgen gets 4% for shits and giggles. 4% of $92M is $3.68M. If the cap goes to 97 as there's some speculation out there, it's $3.88M.

We should be able to sign Borgen for $3.5-4M
 
I'd say $3.8 for Borgen on a three year deal.

I'd bring back Vak as well for two years. Go UFA route to replace Lindgren. Mancini can work his way into the rotation next season, and Fortescue should turn pro spring 2026.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Alluckks
I am obliged to be both honest and critical here as I am with everybody.
But you get props for extending props
:naughty::nod::thumbu:

that said,
my guess is Leonard is STILL too high a target to acquire
even w/caps wanting to run up Ovie's totals
I see you think Rat man makes a dif, but I don't see it
Short term it is light's out, but too much youth for age will def bite back in the ass -- hard -- w/o a corresponding reciprocal move

as to a Kreider - zib package + getting back Elias Pett, this is a no for multiple reasons, in no particular order:
1) ck is damaged good on and off
that may be the new future for him going forward or it may be temporary
the back is not as easy as other parts of anatomy to estimate here

this means his value is reduced and unless someone wants to overpay without assuming a good reason, it is smarter to hold him, even give a reduced role, and keep.

2) zib
I want him gone and I do not want him to win
he was selfish wigging out w'o good reason for 6 or so wks and I don't want him to think he controls things and dictates Kreider has to go if he does
eff that
zib can sit til hell freezes over and we can get by fine

regardless of the above
we think van does not want zib
zib does not want van
and van is not crazy about keeping miller

imo van does take zib IF IF IF he is max retained and an el cheapo special for scraps
PERIOD
otherwise, do not want
and again, zib has to approve, so while kudos for the effort, not seeing it

3) Elias Pett.
be wary. his knee is a ?
you are remembering him a year-ish ago
he is worth the risk esp since there is a dearth of pivot depth league wide, but we should not take it unless other circumstances made it worthwhile
if we got EP and could flip him + for dobson +, I would go there
but it's not clear NYI don't do that directly, either

4) don't want Rant or Marner esp at 14m
while 99% chance that McDavid stays at whatev league max is + extra 8th yr he gets, or even if he goes yr by yr to have more control, only thing we can do to entice him is to build best winning team. He did say somewhere he "just wants to win" going forward, or words to that effect.

The best way to win is NOT to go all in -- IT IS TO MAX THE WINDOW
this means rule is dealing vets for quality youth = cheaper = better roster mgmt

finally
5) I would sell high on Shesty + Fox
but best return on Igor is LA
Shesty + Tro + Jones + small add(s)
for
Byfield + Helenius + Clarke + Lauzon + pick
something like that

I'll agree with you it'd be more sustainable to go down the youth-path and let a rebuild take a couple of seasons, but there's no way Rangers will be allowed to do that. Even sacrificing 2025 may be a tall order and the only way to get approval to do so would be a plan for big game hunting. If anything, the issue with signing Rantanen and Eichel through UFA is that it'd be too good to be true. It's not like they're halfway through their 30's. We should see plenty of good years before the last ones will hurt.

We obviously wouldn't get Pettersson for Zibs + Kreider, we would get Pettersson for Igor. In order to do that trade, they need to find a 2C without burning assets. Zib doesn't want to go there, but the chance to stick together with Kreider could change his mind. Kreider is the compensation for taking on Mikas contract, along with getting rid of Demko who's 5M worthless capspace during what's meant to be the peak of their window. Ofc they would prefer to ship JTM instead of EP, but they can't do that unless they get a good enough player back or they will be short on firepower. They're also toast unless they fix their goaltending.

If need be we could retain on Kreider rather than Zibanejad as his contract has enough years to last through their intended window. After 26/27 Hughes will cost them a kings ransome to keep, Garlands bargain contract is already expired and the Miller contract will start aching. Enduring the last years of Zibanejads contract would be fine as they're going to have a few rough years regardless.

It's a gamble for sure, but what alternative do the Canucks have when the house is on fire and the team is too far from contending to motivate burning prospects? It's a hail mary that could turn into a genius move if Zibs & Kreider discover themselves again in a less pressured environment, or it's simply the final nail in the coffin of an already failed window.

LA has Kuemper who's playing the hockey of his life at an affordable contract for two more seasons, they have no need for Igor. I would also argue Byfield has just as bad injury record as EP.

And yes - Leonard may be untouchable, but the prospect of adding Panarin at the same time as solving the rational need of a 3C through Chytil could be too good to turn down. There are 32 teams in the league and it's not often you get the chance to be in pole position for a cup. Would love to see Leonard & Perrault stick together and tear up the AHL next year before stepping into the NHL by 26/27.
 
I'd say $3.8 for Borgen on a three year deal.

I'd bring back Vak as well for two years. Go UFA route to replace Lindgren. Mancini can work his way into the rotation next season, and Fortescue should turn pro spring 2026.
Gavrikov or Pettersson would be ideal for top pair with Fox

Also bringing back Borgen I think could open up moving K’andre for a similar high upside young forward. Schneider could go to LD on 2nd pair and Mancini then goes 3rd pair.
 
Panarin would never waive for Wash because of Ovis Putin ties.
The thought crossed my mind, but so did the fact he poodled about his comments last year. I assume he realized he may be in actual peril. Becoming friends with Ovie could be just what he needs 😅
 
I'll agree with you it'd be more sustainable to go down the youth-path and let a rebuild take a couple of seasons, but there's no way Rangers will be allowed to do that. Even sacrificing 2025 may be a tall order and the only way to get approval to do so would be a plan for big game hunting. If anything, the issue with signing Rantanen and Eichel through UFA is that it'd be too good to be true. It's not like they're halfway through their 30's. We should see plenty of good years before the last ones will hurt.

We obviously wouldn't get Pettersson for Zibs + Kreider, we would get Pettersson for Igor. In order to do that trade, they need to find a 2C without burning assets. Zib doesn't want to go there, but the chance to stick together with Kreider could change his mind. Kreider is the compensation for taking on Mikas contract, along with getting rid of Demko who's 5M worthless capspace during what's meant to be the peak of their window. Ofc they would prefer to ship JTM instead of EP, but they can't do that unless they get a good enough player back or they will be short on firepower. They're also toast unless they fix their goaltending.

If need be we could retain on Kreider rather than Zibanejad as his contract has enough years to last through their intended window. After 26/27 Hughes will cost them a kings ransome to keep, Garlands bargain contract is already expired and the Miller contract will start aching. Enduring the last years of Zibanejads contract would be fine as they're going to have a few rough years regardless.

It's a gamble for sure, but what alternative do the Canucks have when the house is on fire and the team is too far from contending to motivate burning prospects? It's a hail mary that could turn into a genius move if Zibs & Kreider discover themselves again in a less pressured environment, or it's simply the final nail in the coffin of an already failed window.

LA has Kuemper who's playing the hockey of his life at an affordable contract for two more seasons, they have no need for Igor. I would also argue Byfield has just as bad injury record as EP.

And yes - Leonard may be untouchable, but the prospect of adding Panarin at the same time as solving the rational need of a 3C through Chytil could be too good to turn down. There are 32 teams in the league and it's not often you get the chance to be in pole position for a cup. Would love to see Leonard & Perrault stick together and tear up the AHL next year before stepping into the NHL by 26/27.
bread is not nec keen on DC

I dispute Byfield as a signif injury risk
also there were coupla other good adds there not just by-guy

van does NOT have to do crazy risk move
they can try to manage risk to tolerable level

remain opposed as explained for adding Kreider to accommodate zib
and also in general to moving CK now -- I am open to later if totality of circumstances justifies, which it does not now

finally, bern calls em like he sees em
I would rather speak truth to power and say when dolan + drury are wrong, why, and why I was proven correct after the fact down the road than capitulate to their folly such as rentals, sacrificing youth for vets etc

the holy roman empire was neither holy nor roman and arguably not much of an empire
win now is a failed strategy that 99% of the time does not actually win now
 
Necas is good, but Rantanan is a helluva player. Great move for them.

I like Raantanen as well but he had the luxury of playing with MacKinnon, I think the trade including cap hits favour's Colorado. I bet from now till years end of Necas plays with MacKinnon there won't be much of a point difference
 
  • Like
Reactions: leetch99
Gavrikov or Pettersson would be ideal for top pair with Fox

Also bringing back Borgen I think could open up moving K’andre for a similar high upside young forward. Schneider could go to LD on 2nd pair and Mancini then goes 3rd pair.
Gavrikov if he is only expensive as he deserves, not ridiculous crazy expensive

deal fox now get Kleven ++++
 
So, top 4 next year of:

Miller-Fox
Schneider-Borgen

Jones will most likely be gone. We'll almost certainly re-sign Vaakanainen. Mancini will get time. Fortescue and Emery are still a ways out. We'll need to add a 6/7 dman. Maybe 2, since Ruhwedel will probably be gone as well.
 
Borden is a solid defenseman. I don’t care what people want to label him, it’s semantics. He’s effective, he’s physical and he’s in his prime. I like this deal

So, top 4 next year of:

Miller-Fox
Schneider-Borgen

Jones will most likely be gone. We'll almost certainly re-sign Vaakanainen. Mancini will get time. Fortescue and Emery are still a ways out. We'll need to add a 6/7 dman. Maybe 2, since Ruhwedel will probably be gone as well.

That’s an effective and likely cost controlled top-4. I like it
 
Borgen has excelled in his role here. He's been asked to assume shutdown minutes and is coming out of it nearly breakeven. Fox and Schneider have less lifting to do because he eats defensive zone draws.

This is literally what Trouba was supposed to do. Now Borgen is getting that role for half the cost and he's a better player.

I did bring up moving Schneider to the left and playing him with Fox. He's more that capable as a skater to do it, and his offensive instincts are pretty good.

And in a pinch he can move to the right side if there is an injury.
 

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad