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

[RangerBoy]

I just heard the 32T podcast. EF believes there will be trade action over the 4 Nations break. He mentioned the players report to their teams on the 18th so maybe teams will wait until then. They would save cap space. He spoke to a player who will be a free agent this summer and that player thinks he will be traded during the break. He plays for a team who finished their schedule at home. He looked around the room after the game and asked is this it? EF discussed Jake Evans and the Montreal players so it's not them. San Jose? Luke Kunin? Pittsburgh finished in Philadelphia. Buffalo finished in Nashville. Maybe it's Nashville. Nyqvist?

 

[RangerBoy]

Drury could have traded for Gavrikov two years ago. The Rangers had the 2nd first round pick acquired from Dallas. Drury traded the pick for Tarasenko and Mikkola. Chychrun has been traded 2x in the last few years. The trade return wasn't for much the 2nd time. Nick Jensen and a 3rd round pick. I remember Aaron Portzline from The Athletic did mention the Rangers had some interest in Gavrikov two years ago. Boston too. Jeff Marek mentioned the Rangers has some interest in Chychrun when Arizona was looking to trade him and they wanted two first round picks or the equivalent of two first round picks in return. Ottawa traded one first round pick for Chychrun. Both players have been available in trades and Drury has concentrated his efforts on adding high profile forwards.

 

[RangerBoy]

The Athletic has updated their player cards. Will Cuylle. How much would it cost for 6 years instead of doing the two year bridge deal and going for more term later? Dom and Shayna have Cuylle's value at $3.6M.

 

[SA16]

The Athletic has updated their player cards. Will Cuylle. How much would it cost for 6 years instead of doing the two year bridge deal and going for more term later? Dom and Shayna have Cuylle's value at $3.6M.

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I would doubt many players in his position would be interested in a long term deal over a bridge deal given that the cap is expected to rise 20M over those two years. You'd probably have to pay him as if it's already almost the higher cap.

 

[NYR Viper]

I just heard the 32T podcast. EF believes there will be trade action over the 4 Nations break. He mentioned the players report to their teams on the 18th so maybe teams will wait until then. They would save cap space. He spoke to a player who will be a free agent this summer and that player thinks he will be traded during the break. He plays for a team who finished their schedule at home. He looked around the room after the game and asked is this it? EF discussed Jake Evans and the Montreal players so it's not them. San Jose? Luke Kunin? Pittsburgh finished in Philadelphia. Buffalo finished in Nashville. Maybe it's Nashville. Nyqvist?

There is some value for the team to acquire a player over this break too though. The player gets time to physically move and find a place to stay when the team has time. Getting a player situated has a value unto itself.

 

[UnparalledPark]

Yes. That class sucks.

Rantanen is going to get $14m to lead a team which he's never done. Has Panarin written all over it. Marner is a documented failure in the playoffs with plenty of evidence. Marchand is 92 years old. Ehlers and Chychrun are guys. None of them play center. I've combed over 2025 free agency as I do every year and I can't find a single piece I'm excited about.

I kinda like Ehlers because of his speed, and he’s got a good shot and can play RW. He’s also kinda fragile, not a great playoff performer, and will probably want 8 mil a year.

 

[Boris Zubov]

I kinda like Ehlers because of his speed, and he’s got a good shot and can play RW. He’s also kinda fragile, not a great playoff performer, and will probably want 8 mil a year.

Sounds like you just talked yourself out of it.

 

[UnparalledPark]

Yeah, UFA is always a risk to an extent, but you can't say that the level of impending buyer's remorse that's about to happen this summer happens in every single UFA class.

It's the "not a real star but I'm going to be paid like one" class.

2026 has some legit players in it. It's deeper, has more talent, and will have a bigger salary cap.

Unfortunately our latest “window” is quite small, so I imagine Drury won’t wait until after 2026 season to make his move.

 

[Machinehead]

Unfortunately our latest “window” is quite small, so I imagine Drury won’t wait until after 2026 season to make his move.

We're not in a window. We're 11th in the East.

 

[UnparalledPark]

Sounds like you just talked yourself out of it.

I think if I could get him for less than 8 with minimal trade protection I’d go for it.

We're not in a window. We're 11th in the East.

Acquiring J.T opened another window, at least in Drury’s mind.

 

[Boris Zubov]

I think if I could get him for less than 8 with minimal trade protection I’d go for it.

Although I like his speed, adding a soft winger with really bad playoff numbers should be be low on the list for Drury. He needs to shore up the D by finding a Lindgren replacement & then work on the 3C position. One thing this org has a surplus of is top 9 wings. I'd like to give the young guys a shot before adding guys in free agency.

 

[UnparalledPark]

agree gav is worth considering
whether or not we go a tad over is not as critical as term and, most importantly, per bern NO MORE FUGGIN NMCs GOING FORWARD [extensive ntcs where applicable are sufficient]

No on Chych or Prov

Why not Prov?

 

[SnowblindNYR]

We're not in a window. We're 11th in the East.

Where were the Caps last year around this time? Hell they ended in a place where you'd be killing them if they were the Rangers.

 

[UnparalledPark]

Although I like his speed, adding a soft winger with really bad playoff numbers should be be low on the list for Drury. He needs to shore up the D by finding a Lindgren replacement & then work on the 3C position. One thing this org has a surplus of is top 9 wings. I'd like to give the young guys a shot before adding guys in free agency.

Yeah, I strongly disagree about 3C. Nobody has the C depth we have for the next 3 to 5 year. Obviously I think our next coach will put Mika back at C. Start drafting Centers. 1LD is our biggest need, but so is speed. None of our young wingers have much speed, and most are LW.

 

[Machinehead]

Where were the Caps last year around this time? Hell they ended in a place where you'd be killing them if they were the Rangers.

The Caps are geriatric and they'll be buyers before losing in the first round. Not a position I wanna be in.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

The Caps are geriatric and they'll be buyers before losing in the first round. Not a position I wanna be in.

Ok, Panthers from two seasons ago. LOL Didn't they only make the playoffs that year because the Penguins pulled an all time choke job and lost to the Blackhawks?

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Where were the Caps last year around this time? Hell they ended in a place where you'd be killing them if they were the Rangers.

That's what we want? Sneak into the playoffs to get destroyed in the 1st round?

 

[Machinehead]

Ok, Panthers from two seasons ago. LOL Didn't they only make the playoffs that year because the Penguins pulled an all time choke job and lost to the Blackhawks?

The Panthers have been a top 7 xGF% team every year since 20-21.

There's nothing about the Rangers to indicate that they are or will be a contender any time soon. They were +1 at 5v5 last year.

 

[McRanger92]

Ok, Panthers from two seasons ago. LOL Didn't they only make the playoffs that year because the Penguins pulled an all time choke job and lost to the Blackhawks?

“Window” “rebuild” “retool”. These are all arbitrary terms. Make smart moves and improve the team. It’s not more complicated than that. Rangers are as in the mix for the playoffs and Cup as any team in the east. The only people denying that are using it as a defense mechanism to not get hurt by this team again. I get it tbh.

 

[NYR Viper]

AFP Projections

Anyone seen this yet? Gavrikov and Orlov seem reasonable based on projections

Gavrikov - 5 years @ $5.4m
Orlov - 3 @ $5m
Maata - 3 @ $3.1m
Kovacevix - 2 years @ $1.55m

They have K'Andre Miller @ 6 years and $5.3m cap hit. SIGN THAT DEAL NOW

 

[Boris Zubov]

Yeah, I strongly disagree about 3C. Nobody has the C depth we have for the next 3 to 5 year. Obviously I think our next coach will put Mika back at C. Start drafting Centers. 1LD is our biggest need, but so is speed. None of our young wingers have much speed, and most are LW.

I'm assuming Mika won't be here after this summer. If he is, I'm honestly not sure this team is serious about winning a cup.

I agree wholeheartedly that we need to start infusing speed up & down the lineup, however.

 

[Machinehead]

“Window” “rebuild” “retool”. These are all arbitrary terms. Make smart moves and improve the team. It’s not more complicated than that. Rangers are as in the mix for the playoffs and Cup as any team in the east. The only people denying that are using it as a defense mechanism to not get hurt by this team again.

I'm all for making smart moves without having to fit it into a paradigm. Trading our first was not a smart move.

 

[Do you want ants]

That's what we want? Sneak into the playoffs to get destroyed in the 1st round?

I want us to finish as high as possible so the pens don’t have our unprotected 1st next year. So count me in for the sneak in and get throttled round 1 option. If they go on a run even better.

 

[Machinehead]

I want us to finish as high as possible so the pens don’t have our unprotected 1st next year. So count me in for the sneak in and get throttled round 1 option. If they go on a run even better.

Could have just not traded the 1st.

 

[NYR Viper]

Could have just not traded the 1st.

In theory I agree with you but if the plan in the offseason was to trade that 1st anyways then make the deal as you can. I don't think teams are in love with this years draft.