Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XVI

[Oscar Lindberg]

I know Lemieux is not as good but he plays with snarl to his game and has skill to play the game as well. We need more of that.

Lemieux isn’t in the same stratosphere as them

But one of them would be nice.

Unfortunately the only way the team would be able to acquire one is if they drafted Brady or Matthew. They’re about as untouchable as it gets I’d imagine

 

[NYR Viper]

People underrate Lemieux’s offensive ability. That’s not to say he’s on Tkachuk level. But he’s more than a 4th liner. Probably more like a middle-6 support wi her who puts up 40-45 points. Maybe more in the right situation.

As an aside, Gorton should be looking for more players like Lemieux who have yet to establish themselves but have upside. Guys like Tkachuk would require 20% ownership of the Rangers to acquire.

I’d be more inclined to seeing the price on Nylander who would help cement the 2nd line moving forward. Then go find another guy or two like Lemieux to augment.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

The Flames will not trade Tkachuk, Monahan or Lindholm. There is probably a tiny chance they trade Gaudreau. Even if Gaudreau was available, the Rangers aren't in a position to offer up what the Flames would want.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

People underrate Lemieux’s offensive ability. That’s not to say he’s on Tkachuk level. But he’s more than a 4th liner. Probably more like a middle-6 support wi her who puts up 40-45 points.

What do you see about his game that suggests this? Cause I don’t see it at all

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Lemieux is a wonderful 3rd line winger and will be better when Zibanajad gets back as he will likely have Strome or Chytil instead of Howden to work with. Not that I'm dumping on Howden but those guys are upgrades.

 

[Rongomania]

We have the best G prospects in the league ...

Buch + Howdy + Huska/Wall

Kinda smells like a big rip off package for a superstar?

Throw 'em fast or Kreids too.

I dunno, I'd do filthy things to get a willy nylander or Matty Tkachuk onto this team.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Hajek has looked out of his depth of late after a good start to the year. Give him some time in Hartford.

Maybe, just maybe, put Brendan Smith back in his regular position for a bit to Hajek can re-calibrate in Hartford for a couple of weeks. Call up Lettieri, Fogarty or Nieves for spot duty.

 

[Rongomania]

Hajek has looked out of his depth of late after a good start to the year. Give him some time in Hartford.

Maybe, just maybe, put Brendan Smith back in his regular position for a bit to Hajek can re-calibrate in Hartford for a couple of weeks. Call up Lettieri, Fogarty or Nieves for spot duty.

RE: Hajek - totally agree, put him on a good squad down there that he can only bolster.

Additionally, can we petition Dolan to transfer Smiths remaining salary to Elon Musk to ship Smith to the moon?

 

[leetch99]

As bad as Smith might be....is he as bad as Kreider skating around unscathed and looking pretty ? Smith is trying....can you say the same on Kreider ? Teams don't even rough up Kreider much anymore...they know no point in waking him up and he is easier to play against in this mode .

 

[LaffyTaffy]

I just hope that with Skjei and Hajek sucking we dont make a panic move and trade for an LD. Leave it alone, fire Ruff and bring in a guy with some new ideas. I've seen people arguing that Skjei is having a Del Zotto like decline and it isnt Ruff related. You've got to understand that when the system sucks and the defense sucks, your confidence goes down and you play like shit altogether. I definitely think Brady can turn it around, but I doubt it happens with Ruff as the defensive coach.

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

What do you see about his game that suggests this? Cause I don’t see it at all

He's on pace for 30 points this year, averaging 13 mins a night. It's his first real, consistent, NHL season with a defined role. He's 23. Years still away from his prime.

Is it that hard to believe that with more experience and a minute or two more a night, he might become a 40-45 point player? That doesn't seem unlikely at all and if I was a betting man, barring injury, I would undoubtedly bet on him becoming that, over him having plateaued at this point.

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

I just hope that with Skjei and Hajek sucking we dont make a panic move and trade for an LD. Leave it alone, fire Ruff and bring in a guy with some new ideas. I've seen people arguing that Skjei is having a Del Zotto like decline and it isnt Ruff related. You've got to understand that when the system sucks and the defense sucks, your confidence goes down and you play like **** altogether. I definitely think Brady can turn it around, but I doubt it happens with Ruff as the defensive coach.

Ruff does need to go, but it's kind of absurd around here how Quinn gets faulted so little for the defensive lapses. Regardless of whether he is abdicating that area completely to Ruff, or not, he is still largely responsible for the disaster we see out there way to often.

As I mentioned last night, I'd much prefer these kids being brought up under a defensive-minded coach, rather then what is going on right now. Torts did wonders for Staal, Girardi, Stralman, etc and I fear that many of our guys will end up like Skjei with the tutelage they are receiving from this staff.

 

[NYR Viper]

What do you see about his game that suggests this? Cause I don’t see it at all

I’m looking at track record as well as current play.

He has very good speed, good size, good strength. He is very willing to get to the areas of the ice needed to score more points. Especially as the NHL continues to move towards more finesse-type smaller defensemen.

Like any young player he has his struggles but this is his first NHL season getting truly regular ice time.

 

[ArPanet]

Is Sampo Ranta a player of interest if Colorado was interested in obtaining Kreider? Announcer last night in Wisconsin - Minnesota game suggested at the start that Ranta looks like he may have levelled up this season. Wisconsin plays Minnesota again tonight on FoxSports North (Alternate).

 

[Shesterkybomb]

We have the best G prospects in the league ...

Buch + Howdy + Huska/Wall

Kinda smells like a big rip off package for a superstar?

Throw 'em fast or Kreids too.

I dunno, I'd do filthy things to get a willy nylander or Matty Tkachuk onto this team.

Where is the Matthew tkachuk talk coming from? We may as well trade for Cale Makar and Elias Peterson since they arent available either. Put the ps4 controller down.

 

[Avery16]

for anyone still thinking about bringing Babcock in:

 

[Ola]

Hajek has looked out of his depth of late after a good start to the year. Give him some time in Hartford.

Maybe, just maybe, put Brendan Smith back in his regular position for a bit to Hajek can re-calibrate in Hartford for a couple of weeks. Call up Lettieri, Fogarty or Nieves for spot duty.

Agreed, both him and Lindgren are a bit worn out. Would benefit from resting a game here and there. I’ve also wondered if it wouldn’t be a good time to give Smith a shot on defense.

 

[Rongomania]

Where is the Matthew tkachuk talk coming from? We may as well trade for Cale Makar and Elias Peterson since they arent available either. Put the ps4 controller down.

I don't play video games, I'm just a dreamer, man.

I dunno, Toronto and Calgary need to shake those teams up and no one is on the horizon to stop pucks for them. Gorts holds a lot of great prospects and players whom can help teams now too. Would love to see a bunch of our 'B' tier guys go for an 'A' tier guy. That's a part of what we've been stockpiling so much talent for, no?

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I don't play video games, I'm just a dreamer, man.

I dunno, Toronto and Calgary need to shake those teams up and no one is on the horizon to stop pucks for them. Gorts holds a lot of great prospects and players whom can help teams now too. Would love to see a bunch of our 'B' tier guys go for an 'A' tier guy. That's a part of what we've been stockpiling so much talent for, no?

Ya but the Tkachuk brothers arent available from either squad. We would have to massively overpay to get either one. The best player Calgary would have available would be possibly Gaudreau imo.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

He's on pace for 30 points this year, averaging 13 mins a night. It's his first real, consistent, NHL season with a defined role. He's 23. Years still away from his prime.

Is it that hard to believe that with more experience and a minute or two more a night, he might become a 40-45 point player

Yes I find it hard to believe. At this point his metrics point to him being a bottom 6 player, who I could see producing anywhere from 25-30 points

He’s on pace for about 30 points this season but I could see him coming in somewhere around 20 when it’s all said and done.

I’m looking at track record as well as current play.

He has very good speed, good size, good strength. He is very willing to get to the areas of the ice needed to score more points. Especially as the NHL continues to move towards more finesse-type smaller defensemen.

Like any young player he has his struggles but this is his first NHL season getting truly regular ice time.

That’s fair. I just don’t see the same upside in him.

If he turns into a consistent 3rd line player, who can score 15 goals and 15 assists, I think that’s an absolute win.

I’d be estatic with anything more but at this point I’m not seeing it.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Is Sampo Ranta a player of interest if Colorado was interested in obtaining Kreider? Announcer last night in Wisconsin - Minnesota game suggested at the start that Ranta looks like he may have levelled up this season. Wisconsin plays Minnesota again tonight on FoxSports North (Alternate).

I wanted to draft Ranta last year. I think he can be a solid middle 6 winger.

He’d be a fine prospect to go along with a 1st for Kreider

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

Yes I find it hard to believe. At this point his metrics point to him being a bottom 6 player, who I could see producing anywhere from 25-30 points

He’s on pace for about 30 points this season but I could see him coming in somewhere around 20 when it’s all said and done.

I mean, it's not unheard of for a player to plateau so early on in his career, but I just find that highly unlikely. Also, he has been stuck alongside Howden, who is a metrics nightmare, all season long, so I'm just going to give him a little pass on this one.

I think for the majority of his career he's going to be a 30-40 point player, with several seasons in his prime of 40-50. His prime begins in the next few years, so he should be a pretty valuable bottom line piece for the next several years.

 

[LokiDog]

I think Lemieux should be a middle six guy and occasionally slot up to the top line to give them a shot in the arm. The play doesn’t die on his stick even if he isn’t a high end talent and his energy is infectious. I have no problem with playing him 15+ minutes a night if he can bring that energy every shift.

 

[Rongomania]

Ya but the Tkachuk brothers arent available from either squad. We would have to massively overpay to get either one. The best player Calgary would have available would be possibly Gaudreau imo.

I just don't think we should be targeting straight wingers, Gaudreau is no longer a 'no brainer' move to me after he had a golden opportunity to shine in the PO's and looked like Mats Zuccarello instead. Totally shut down during the playoffs.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I just don't think we should be targeting straight wingers, Gaudreau is no longer a 'no brainer' move to me after he had a golden opportunity to shine in the PO's and looked like Mats Zuccarello instead. Totally shut down during the playoffs.

Eh, Gaudreau is still their best player and I don’t know if a completely one sided playoff round changes how good he is for me