Roster Building Thread : Part XVIII ( TDL is March 7th)

One of my former sources called me today (retired NHL executive) His message was pretty straightforward — several of the Rangers are fighting for their futures right now. If the team makes the playoffs, there will be changes but they may be measured. If the Rangers miss the playoffs the truck will be backed up. He thinks Laviolette and Drury are both on the edge and he suggested if the Rangers are eliminated, both may go before the end off the season.

I don't doubt the source or the rumour at all; but it's such a weird way of operating.
Fall into the playoffs and maybe win a game? Meh, ok, minor changes only
Miss by a few games? Scorched earth baby!

If ownership doesn't trust the guys they have, move them on; don't play 'near enough is good enough' or you are just doing the same thing next season
 
Very weird that hasn't been any kind of coaching shakeup this season so far. You would have thought with the drop-off fron last year, at least one assistant would be let go as a 'message'.
My sense is that Drury is not blaming the coaches yet. And after three or four regimes, I think pinning it on the players this time is fine. Players need to hold each other accountable first and foremost.
 
  • Like
Reactions: UnSandvich
One of my former sources called me today (retired NHL executive) His message was pretty straightforward — several of the Rangers are fighting for their futures right now. If the team makes the playoffs, there will be changes but they may be measured. If the Rangers miss the playoffs the truck will be backed up. He thinks Laviolette and Drury are both on the edge and he suggested if the Rangers are eliminated, both may go before the end off the season.
Neil Smith and John Muckler were fired in 2000 with two games remaining in their season. Torts was named interim coach and Maloney was the interim GM. In 20/20 hindsight, the Rangers should have kept them in their roles. Sather did more damage in his first 3-4 years which only exasperated the issues.
 
We still have one of the best goalies in the league. Regardless if he had an off season. Even with his bad season we are still a point away from the playoffs. And the forwards will certainly be better next year with the country club boys.
Without the country club boys, right? If so, I agree. Hoping Drury puts in work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bl02
Panarin has 73 pts in 67 games this year, why is everyone complaining about him?

Points aren't everything in this game...

As for sample size, the team is killing it since Fox came back. Absolutely on fire again today. Can say that they have been consistently awful all season whether fox is in or out of the lineup. Huge impacts he has...
Fox's mistake ended up being the GWG. Hardly any mention of it. If it was anybody, forgot about it. He misplays pucks. Blown defensive assignments. Nothing. You know people would have been all over Miller if it was his fault. However, Joe put the blame on Fox. When Fox was out, the PP struggled. People said the power play misses Fox. The PP struggled with Fox prior to the shoulder injury and is struggling with him.
 
  • Love
  • Like
Reactions: effen and leetch99
The best defense I can think for Drury is that any new GM we bring in is going to immediately have a couple years of "EHRMAGERD, I CAN SIGN ANY FREE AGENT!?!?!", and that's how we end up in this spot to start with.

The hope is that Drury has seen that ghost at this point, and can be more measured about the direction from here out.

Plus, he hasn't been THAT bad. I have a feeling like Drury's job is pretty tightly tied to Lavi's, and firing the coaching staff wasn't a realistic option for him this year. Which I'm glad about anyway; the players are the f***ing problem, not the guys that are begging them to be men.
 
This is the latest I've come up with:


Step 1: injury retire special deal w/Kreider, not a standard buyout
recover his cap


1. NYR-CHI
Shesty 11.5 x 8 + Berard 867,500 x 2 = cap hit 12,367,500
for
CHI 2025 + 2026 1sts, both unprotected, plus return NYR 2025 1st
Spencer Knight, 4.5 x 2 Cap hit = 4.5

Why Blackhawks:
a) 8 yrs primo elite G – a known commodity – will help make CHI closer to competitive faster, also keep Bedard happy
b) thought I saw somewhere there is a prob in that Bedard is way faster than other Fs and has to slow down. Berard may not have a long NHL career due to being undersized, but he should be a good 2-3 yr stopgap at min providing speed for Bedard

Why Rs
picks obv; think Garand has higher upside, but Allaire tutoring Knight may up his game and create a good trade chip
also, 8+m cap relief


2. NYR-LAK
Zib at half = 4.25 per x 5 + Schneider 2.2 x 1 ->rfa
for
Byfield 6.25 x 4, Dvorak 870k x 3 elc, Helenius 805,833 x 1 + LAK 2026 1st unprotected + LAK 2027 2nd

cap is ballpark =, slight savings to LA

Why LA:
supposedly hesitant to sell Spence or Clarke b’c concerns if Doughty falls off a cliff they’re effed, no reserves
hate to give up Schneider, but they pay top $ for him
Zib likely they are hoping for scoring W, but can be a depth pivot; max retain x 5 ups his value
They are on borrowed time w/Kopitar, so moving Byfield is a wince. But their immediate pivot depth can briefly support this.

Why Rs
Again picks, but also a potential 1C. Dvorak is a big LD first round prospect. Helenius looks good and is huge w/speed.


3. NYR-DAL
Panarin retained 5.6+ to 6m x 1 expiring + SEA 2025 3rd
for
Bichsel < 1 + DAL 2026 2nd + 2027 1st (unprotected) + rfa rights to Nils L.
Cap is roughly 5m savings to Rs

Why Stars
All in move w/high end W. Surrendering Bisch is a wince, but worth it at full retain. NY can take a cap dump if nec but DAL should be good w/cap increase, roster revamp, etc

Why Rs
good young D [lefty shot we think maybe he can play either side] + picks, move vets, recover cap


Assuming we keep jtm + trochek, main ? is keeping moving Fox while we can IF there is overpay – put on the side for now

extend Edstrom, Rempe, Cuylle + KAM longer term
take a shot at Peterka, Drew Helleson + Morgan Barron, but let’s not presume they are a get just yet

Wait until LaF gets chemistry + returns to a high value, then sell high + replace w/Gabe P

so looking like something like
Cuylle - Byfield - jtm
LaF - Tro - Carrick
Edstrom - Helenius - Rempe
Othmann/Parssinen - Brodz - Chmelar/best option

and again, Fox on the side...
KAM - Borgen
Bichsel - Soucy
Vaak - Jones/Nils L
quality prospects Dvorak/Fortescue/Emery marinating

G: Garand reinforced Quick + Domingue
Knight I expect dealt once enuf on the table

lots of cap space + picks to use/upgrade youth->even better youth

Special retire deal with Kreider? WTF is that? I think we need some detail on that.....keeping in mind we don't get to make up our own rules.

The Rangers don't have control over their 2025 first rounder or at least for now.

Benoit Allaire retired. Jeff Malcolm is the Rangers new goalie coach.

1) Drury doesn't make that deal and neither does Chicago's GM.

2) L.A. definitely does not do that. You're overrating a number of players here and underrating Byfield.

3) don't see this happening either.
 
One of my former sources called me today (retired NHL executive) His message was pretty straightforward — several of the Rangers are fighting for their futures right now. If the team makes the playoffs, there will be changes but they may be measured. If the Rangers miss the playoffs the truck will be backed up. He thinks Laviolette and Drury are both on the edge and he suggested if the Rangers are eliminated, both may go before the end off the season.

This season has been a disaster of epic proportions. I don't think it's going to be a complete clean out but I can see major major changes and I'm not sure too many players are going to be safe. My guess is Igor will be if only because of the massive deal he signed and probably not Quick either. Will Cuylle I would think is safe. Probably JT Miller. Anyone else on the main roster could move. I don't think Laviolette is coming back even if we do make the playoffs. My guess is Drury has less than a 50% chance of coming back. Laviolette will probably get a new job down the line. If Drury gets axed I think his days as an NHL GM will be over. He'll never get another.
 
I’d be thrilled if Dolan steps in to fire Drury so let’s ride

He’s a below average GM and I’d rather take my chances with the field at this point.

If Drury gets axed I think his days as an NHL GM will be over. He'll never get another.
I don’t like Drury but no chance this is correct. The opinion on him throughout the league is very different than Ranger fans. He’ll get a shot elsewhere no doubt
 
If this team drafts this upcoming draft (13 or better) no way can they trade or let go of Panarin unfortunately.
Having no first rounder in 26 and risk of letting the Penguins get a top 10 pick or worse!
They probably feel the same way about 93 ugh!

The team has to be competitive next year. That is exactly why I did not want the JT Miller trade because of the possibility this team would miss the playoffs this year and possibly be worse next year which is looking more and more likely. Teams around us getting better next year as well. Plus we keep playing our future guys like Berard and Othmann 4th line minutes and scratching them.
 
I just want Drury gone before we make any more trades or draft any players.
You're not wrong but do you trust whoever is making that decision to make the right hire/replace Drury?
With our luck the next guy thinks running it back with Kreider and 93 is gonna be a good idea.
 
The problem with every old rewashed coach we get is they only play one way and when they get to a team that isn't built to play that way they try and force it. A good coach comes in, looks at the players and makes a gameplan that gets the best out of the players instead of trying to turn skilled forwards into grinders. This team isn't built to play a man on man system, it never was and after the moves we made it's even less so. The team isn't made to play the 1-2-2 we've been trying the last little while either. This team needs to push the pace, it needs to provide back pressure when that fails, it needs an active f3 so the dmen can hold the line. We have players to do it, unfortunately the coach prefers vets over youth and when that happens you lose your legs and hunger for the puck.
There is absolutely no reason Othmann and Berard aren't staples in the top 9, especially when you consider the options currently playing there. Sykora could provide something as well in that regard. Having said all that, Panarin has succeeded even when the team fails.
While I mostly agree with this, the players do need to adjust to the coach to a degree as well. A coach can't allow players to dog it defensively. He can't abide players playing solely on the perimeter. There are things that players have to do, things that coaches have to ensure that they do, if the team wants to win.

That doesn't mean turning every player into a grinder. It means every player plays responsibly and does the hard work needed to win. If the player refuses to do those things, no matter who he is, he's got to go.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Galvatron
I get firing the coach. This team hasn’t played any defense all season. I don’t understand firing the GM right now. Then what? We’re supposed to get rid of Panarin, Zibanejad, and Kreider and somehow not be a lottery team in the McKenna draft?
 
One of my former sources called me today (retired NHL executive) His message was pretty straightforward — several of the Rangers are fighting for their futures right now. If the team makes the playoffs, there will be changes but they may be measured. If the Rangers miss the playoffs the truck will be backed up. He thinks Laviolette and Drury are both on the edge and he suggested if the Rangers are eliminated, both may go before the end off the season.
Which is why everyone should be praying we lose out.
 
I just want Drury gone before we make any more trades or draft any players.
I want him to stay for the retool. We kinda know he has zero f***s trading or getting rid of players, no matter who you are. If we get a new GM he may be stupid and try to work with the country club boys and cater to them, then we solve zero problems.
 
Comparing Sam gagner to Adam Fox sure seems like a legit way to go about it. If fox is as indispensable here as some claim then there should have been an implosion the likes when leetch drunkenly broke his ankle.

It's hilarious how the sample size gets dismissed to support fox and yet when quick comes in and plays some good games people use it as a reason to devalue Igor. Funny how the double standards continue based on who's being talked about.
I don't trust my memory but that team sure felt different with and without Brian that season.

I don't know if Fox should be looked at for this injured season alone though.
 
Be careful what you wish for in regards to firing Drury. There is a high likelihood the replacement is worst. It's going to be Holland or Chiarelli. I kinda like Brendan Shanahan if we're looking for a Rangers connection in a guy with executive level experience.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tiggles and Guyute
Be careful what you wish for in regards to firing Drury. There is a high likelihood the replacement is worst. It's going to be Holland or Chiarelli. I kinda like Brendan Shanahan if we're looking for a Rangers connection in a guy with executive level experience.
I’m not smart or motivated enough to run the numbers myself. But, we have like dozens of advanced stat metrics for players nowadays. Can’t the same be done for hockey executives? if I owned the team I’d hire a boat load of analysts to find out which scouts/assistant GMs/etc. were responsible for, or at least helped to achieve, above avg performance and outcomes of picks/trades/etc.
 
Be careful what you wish for in regards to firing Drury. There is a high likelihood the replacement is worst. It's going to be Holland or Chiarelli. I kinda like Brendan Shanahan if we're looking for a Rangers connection in a guy with executive level experience.
If Sather agrees to fire Drury, you're only going to end up with another Dolan/Sather lackey. Dolan is not going to hire someone he can't interfere with when the mood strikes.
 
adding hide avatars option

Ad

Ad