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

[GoAwayPanarin]

common wisdom holds that a Cup contender needs 1C, 1D, and G. If we now have these, what are the ideal moves to serve that goal? Let's look to next season.

First things first: you need an LD for Fox. We've been over it ad nauseam. Upgrade Lindgren to someone who can skate it out, pass it out, and withstand some duress in his own zone. Maybe it's a UFA overpay. Maybe it's another hockey deal. It just has to happen.

Forwards are more interesting. If Lavi remains coach, Mika probably stays at RW. PL tends to stick to his first instinct, especially if there's a modicum of improvement or success.

But what serves the team best? Can Mika still handle pivot duties, as a 2C? Or if he finds success as RW1 does it make sense to keep him there on the wing?

The dirty secret for this year is how poor Trocheck has been. To be honest, he also might be better suited to the wing in the near future. Top 6 C, however, are not easy to find. All the moreso if Zib moves to wing full time.

The top9 wings are the tough part. Panarin, Lafreniere, Kreider, Cuylle, and then a bunch of kids. You hope to get something good from Berard, Othmann, maybe Perreault and Sykora. But a win-now team will need some more stability somewhere, whether it's on the wing or at C.

Ultimately, I believe they will need to move 1 higher value contract to make room for LD1, K'Andre, Cuylle, and a stabilizing vet C/W. I think it has to be Kreider. He just hasn't been good enough. Also, even putting protection clause aside, I think without Panarin they just don't have the firepower. He's the best passer and the best shot on the team. He produces.

Panarin Miller Zibanejad
Cuylle Trocheck Lafreniere
Edstrom _____ Berard
Vesey Carrick Rempe

_____ Fox
Miller Borgen
Vaak Schneider

1LD goes with out saying. Has been the teams biggest need since Fox became Fox. I'm game for an "anyone but Lindgren" approach right now but they need a long term solution there. Priority #1 by a long shot.

After that it becomes uh, a bit of a balancing act. I don't think it's a secret that Drury wants this team to become heavier and more capable of playing inside the dots. Thats all well and good and I think they have some interesting internal options for those spots but they also need to be supported by players who can get you the puck in those areas (and get the puck up ice to begin with.)

I don't think Kreider really serves us anymore. I think Zibanejad has to go just from a roster management stand point. The former can be replaced in house, the latter cannot unless Laba just comes out of nowhere and is able to win and hold down a spot but thats a lot to ask of a player coming out of college. A stop gap 3C seems like a likely need along with 1LD.

I think the team would also be better served moving on from Panarin. Freeing up the money is less important this year as the UFA market this summer kind of blows and he comes off the books when real difference makers become available but he's just a massive playoff underachiever. I DO think you need players like him though because as I said, even if guys like to play in traffic it doesn't really matter if the puck doesn't get there. I'd just rather have someone who can do that and is also willing to get to the inside themselves and/or feed and assist a cycle game instead of trying to shoot/pass the puck through 4 layers of defenders trying to make something happen when there clearly isn't anything there.

At the very least it's one more year beyond this one, but I don't really like the idea of essentially punting seasons waiting for guys to finish up their deals either.

 

[noncents]

I like Edstrom but he’s barely a 4th liner.

can you explain what you mean by this?

 

[noncents]

1LD goes with out saying. Has been the teams biggest need since Fox became Fox. I'm game for an "anyone but Lindgren" approach right now but they need a long term solution there. Priority #1 by a long shot.

After that it becomes uh, a bit of a balancing act. I don't think it's a secret that Drury wants this team to become heavier and more capable of playing inside the dots. Thats all well and good and I think they have some interesting internal options for those spots but they also need to be supported by players who can get you the puck in those areas (and get the puck up ice to begin with.)

I don't think Kreider really serves us anymore. I think Zibanejad has to go just from a roster management stand point. The former can be replaced in house, the latter cannot unless Laba just comes out of nowhere and is able to win and hold down a spot but thats a lot to ask of a player coming out of college. A stop gap 3C seems like a likely need along with 1LD.

I think the team would also be better served moving on from Panarin. Freeing up the money is less important this year as the UFA market this summer kind of blows and he comes off the books when real difference makers become available but he's just a massive playoff underachiever. I DO think you need players like him though because as I said, even if guys like to play in traffic it doesn't really matter if the puck doesn't get there. I'd just rather have someone who can do that and is also willing to get to the inside themselves and/or feed and assist a cycle game instead of trying to shoot/pass the puck through 4 layers of defenders trying to make something happen when there clearly isn't anything there.

At the very least it's one more year beyond this one, but I don't really like the idea of essentially punting seasons waiting for guys to finish up their deals either.

Okay - you're on team "blow it up" then. that's what moving 93, 10, 20, and 55 is. blowing up the team.

I don't see that as likely. With absolutely no C depth, Zibanejad is actually necessary from a roster management standpoint.

Panarin you simply don't replace. He's an elite producer. You can't money ball him.

Oh yeah - those two guys have nmc and complete control.

I just don't see it.

Now Lindgren and Kreider are natural fits to be moved/replaced. That's the surgery I see as both helpful and realistic.

 

[RGY]

5th for Bjugstad. Plug him on the 4th line. Provides size and physicality.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I could see Christian Dvorak if the price is so minimal it doesn't really matter

I will have some serious Radek Dvorak nostalgia if we trade for him.

 

[zlev]

I will have some serious Radek Dvorak nostalgia if we trade for him.

no you wont because Radek Dvorak was good and this Dvorak sucks

 

[SA16]

can you explain what you mean by this?

Presumably that a player with 9 points in 51 games, scoring at 1.16 pts/60, is not in line to move up in the lineup.

 

[McRanger]

1LD goes with out saying. Has been the teams biggest need since Fox became Fox. I'm game for an "anyone but Lindgren" approach right now but they need a long term solution there. Priority #1 by a long shot.

After that it becomes uh, a bit of a balancing act. I don't think it's a secret that Drury wants this team to become heavier and more capable of playing inside the dots. Thats all well and good and I think they have some interesting internal options for those spots but they also need to be supported by players who can get you the puck in those areas (and get the puck up ice to begin with.)

I don't think Kreider really serves us anymore. I think Zibanejad has to go just from a roster management stand point. The former can be replaced in house, the latter cannot unless Laba just comes out of nowhere and is able to win and hold down a spot but thats a lot to ask of a player coming out of college. A stop gap 3C seems like a likely need along with 1LD.

I think the team would also be better served moving on from Panarin. Freeing up the money is less important this year as the UFA market this summer kind of blows and he comes off the books when real difference makers become available but he's just a massive playoff underachiever. I DO think you need players like him though because as I said, even if guys like to play in traffic it doesn't really matter if the puck doesn't get there. I'd just rather have someone who can do that and is also willing to get to the inside themselves and/or feed and assist a cycle game instead of trying to shoot/pass the puck through 4 layers of defenders trying to make something happen when there clearly isn't anything there.

At the very least it's one more year beyond this one, but I don't really like the idea of essentially punting seasons waiting for guys to finish up their deals either.

I view getting Fox a partner the same way I would view getting a player like Crosby a winger. I don't know if we necessarily need a long term solution so much as what would probably end up being multiple competent short term solutions. I kind of like the idea of the organization not having only one guy in mind to play with Fox in case it stops working or his partner gets priced out. I also would like to see them stop trying to find Fox his Beukeboom and try a LD that can generate offense.

 

[TGWL]

Hey Folks, won’t be able to make a GDT today will be traveling. If you do one just ask you put some effort into it , thanks!

You scared everybody away from touching this.

 

[TGWL]

I wonder if he looks to move Garand this summer. What’s the upgrade of going from Quick or whoever they sign as a backup UFA to using Garand as your backup compared to what Garand returns in a trade?

Askarov returned a first round pick and David Edstrom who was a late first round pick. I don’t think Garand would get that much, but I would be looking at teams with multiple first round picks as options.

Calgary, Philly, Chicago, Columbus , Penguins (if we aren’t in top 13).

If we could get a first for Garand, he should have been moved, yesterday.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Okay - you're on team "blow it up" then. that's what moving 93, 10, 20, and 55 is. blowing up the team.

I don't see that as likely. With absolutely no C depth, Zibanejad is actually necessary from a roster management standpoint.

Panarin you simply don't replace. He's an elite producer. You can't money ball him.

Oh yeah - those two guys have nmc and complete control.

I just don't see it.

Now Lindgren and Kreider are natural fits to be moved/replaced. That's the surgery I see as both helpful and realistic.

It's not team blow it up as much as it is team move on from the key players of a core that couldn't get it done.

We have a head coach that is literally nuking the C depth by playing Zibanejad on the wing so it obviously isn't that big of an issue for him. Running Miller and Trocheck 1-2 really necessitates the need to move Zibanejad. You cannot have the guy 3rd in your rotation making 8.5.

Panarin was an elite producer. He certainly isn't one in the playoffs. You could probably get back a pretty good return for him IF he's willing to move on (the NMC shit is valid for him and Zibanejad, I don't think it's going to be a sticking point for Z especially if Kreider leaves) and either fill some of the holes that exist or use some of that return to grab a player to fill those holes. I don't support money balling it either, but you can do way better with his dollars.

 

[LaffyTaffy]

Cozens >>>>>>>>>> Zegras, and I like Zegras. Also think I would prefer a Dvorak or Bjugstad over a Frederic but maybe he just needs a change of scenery idk. Really think main focus should be LD anyway lol.

 

[lakeshirts37]

???

That's plenty of cap space to fill in a few roster spots. What are you trying to do going into next year?

2026 is the big UFA year. Panarin is expiring and the cap will balloon again.

By all means, get rid of bad contracts if you can, but there's no rush. 2025 is a dogshit UFA class.

what? its not even enough to find a dman for the top pair. this is all taken care of by trading Kreider but as it stands now we dont have “plenty of cap space” and saying otherwise is delusional

Miller
Mika
Trochek
Carrick

Are your centers for next year. We have plenty of wingers in the pipeline. Kreider will probably be gone. D, especially LD is priority.

Ok Mika back to center just creates a different hole. Likely 2RW or 3RW depending where Gabe slots. Is that cheaper than finding a 3C…maybe, maybe not. The point is if Kreider and/or Mika is not moved then there are holes to fill (most important and expensive being 1LD) with not a ton of cap to spend

 

[TheDirtyH]

Panarin probably has a few elite seasons still left in him, but he's clearly not a very motivated player. Last year, he had a ton of heat on him from the fans and the org, and he put up a huge season where he played the game differently. Now, as soon as the microscope went away, he's back to total nonchalance.

I think Zegras would be a great player to take a flier on if you move on from Panarin. There's been a real overcorrection on that kid. He's very talented and he's got some attitude. I see a lot of Brassard there. Cronin is a dope. David Quin parte deux. Which players are thriving under him? All the ducklings are stagnating or getting worse.

But, Idk how realistic it is to think Zibanejad or Panarin would waive their NMCs, let alone both of them.

 

[Siddi]

It's not team blow it up as much as it is team move on from the key players of a core that couldn't get it done.

We have a head coach that is literally nuking the C depth by playing Zibanejad on the wing so it obviously isn't that big of an issue for him. Running Miller and Trocheck 1-2 really necessitates the need to move Zibanejad. You cannot have the guy 3rd in your rotation making 8.5.

Panarin was an elite producer. He certainly isn't one in the playoffs. You could probably get back a pretty good return for him IF he's willing to move on (the NMC shit is valid for him and Zibanejad, I don't think it's going to be a sticking point for Z especially if Kreider leaves) and either fill some of the holes that exist or use some of that return to grab a player to fill those holes. I don't support money balling it either, but you can do way better with his dollars.

I dont think the plan is to keep playing Trocheck as the 2C. Him overachieving last season and now crashing down to frankly abysmal play this year which somehow went under the radar beacuse of everyone focusing on Mika. Trocheck already lost his spot on PP1 and when Lavi eventually puts Mika back on center it will be on the second line flanked by Cuylle and Smith.

Having your top 2 centers at 16 mil in caphit when the cap is projected to go up is not a bad thing.

 

[bernmeister]

If we could get a first for Gerand, he should have been moved, yesterday.

nope
that is more short term win now foolishness that bites you in the ass later [soon enuf]

what? its not even enough to find a dman for the top pair. this is all taken care of by trading Kreider but as it stands now we dont have “plenty of cap space” and saying otherwise is delusional

trading Kreider pretty much solves all. Really want to move on from Mika too but understand thatll be more difficult

Trading Kreider is not real b'c he is damaged goods atm, even if that is on/off damaged goods
that may change w/his back recovery but that IS what it is NOW

no other GM should pay = gamble on injured player

 

[RGY]

 

[TGWL]

nope
that is more short term win now foolishness that bites you in the ass later [soon enuf]


Trading Kreider is not real b'c he is damaged goods atm, even if that is on/off damaged goods
that may change w/his back recovery but that IS what it is NOW

no other GM should pay = gamble on injured player

Igor signed for 8 years. He's not going anywhere. If the play is for Garand to be a backup, then you take a 1st for him every day of the week. If Garand views himself as an eventual starter, he doesn't stay for a future backup role beyond 1-2 years. This is all moot because nobody is giving us a first for him.

 

[Siddi]

And just to clarify on my previous post I dont think Miller came here to be the leader for a bunch of kids. He came here because Drury thinks he is the piece that will elevate this core to take the final step. With Miller the Rangers have on paper a very deep center core, arguably the deepest if they all play up to their capabilities.

This team just need to find a partner for Fox and the window will stay open for at least a couple of more years.

 

[UnparalledPark]

can you explain what you mean by this?

I lik

can you explain what you mean by this?

Sure. He’s not that good. He’s big. He’s fast. He is a physical and willing forechecker but when he does, he rarely causes a turnover or errant pass, which seems to me should be the whole intent of forechecking. Now don’t get me wrong, on this team he is a top 5 forechecker, but that’s not saying too much. He also seems to be a willing defensive forward. Again on this team……He is on track for 8 goals for the season, which ain’t bad, and from his AHL stats, I admit he is probably capable of more. Would he be able to make the 4th line on any other contender in the NHL Maybe. But would he improve any of those teams? Granted, the Rangers don’t tend to deploy a typical defensive centric 3rd line like some teams, so I don’t see him being a fit on our 3rd line. I just don’t think we would miss a beat if Edstrom wasn’t on the team, and there are a lot of veteran 4th liners in the league who do a better job, though some of them don’t have Edstrom’s potential upside. I was probably too flippant with my remark, but I certainly don’t see him as a 3 rd liner at this point. In the future? Sure it’s possible.

 

[McRanger92]

New

I lik

Sure. He’s not that good. He’s big. He’s fast. He is a physical and willing forechecker but when he does, he rarely causes a turnover or errant pass, which seems to me should be the whole intent of forechecking. Now don’t get me wrong, on this team he is a top 5 forechecker, but that’s not saying too much. He also seems to be a willing defensive forward. Again on this team……He is on track for 8 goals for the season, which ain’t bad, and from his AHL stats, I admit he is probably capable of more. Would he be able to make the 4th line on any other contender in the NHL Maybe. But would he improve any of those teams? Granted, the Rangers don’t tend to deploy a typical defensive centric 3rd line like some teams, so I don’t see him being a fit on our 3rd line. I just don’t think we would miss a beat if Edstrom wasn’t on the team, and there are a lot of veteran 4th liners in the league who do a better job, though some of them don’t have Edstrom’s potential upside. I was probably too flippant with my remark, but I certainly don’t see him as a 3 rd liner at this point. In the future? Sure it’s possible.

Are we watching different players? I feel like Edstrom's size and reach is constantly breaking up plays on the forecheck. rempe too.

Buch and JT signing 8 year extensions their teams wanted out of immediately is something

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

your op and you are entitled to it
that said
you were wrong about Rempe and you are wrong about Brodz

and again, stop w/win now
go to play that develops youth

Brodz is youth? Guy is 31

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Igor signed for 8 years. He's not going anywhere. If the play is for Garand to be a backup, then you take a 1st for him every day of the week. If Garand views himself as an eventual starter, he doesn't stay for a future backup role beyond 1-2 years. This is all moot because nobody is giving us a first for him.

Why would someone give up a 1st for a goalie prospect that hasn't played in the NHL and was like 4th round pick or whatever he was?

 

[EdJovanovski]

Cozens >>>>>>>>>> Zegras, and I like Zegras. Also think I would prefer a Dvorak or Bjugstad over a Frederic but maybe he just needs a change of scenery idk. Really think main focus should be LD anyway lol.

No way, Cozens is even worse defensively than Zegras I think a lot of people assume Cozens is a different player than he is because of his size. Zegras has more skill, is better defensively, and has higher hockey IQ

 

[UnparalledPark]

New


Are we watching different players? I feel like Edstrom's size and reach is constantly breaking up plays on the forecheck. rempe too.



Buch and JT signing 8 year extensions their teams wanted out of immediately is something

You probably thought he did a great job last game against Boston. LOL