Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XX (WTF are we going to do this Off-Season edition)

[Tawnos]

A salary doesn't magically make you like working where you don't want to work.

The salary just guarantees that you show up, and probably even less so the bigger it gets, because a guy like Mika Zibanejad can afford to just quit and never work again if he wanted to.

I'm not attempting to re-litigate who was right or wrong in that situation, I'm just saying you can't write off every potential problem as "oh well, you were paid."

I don't want our players to be motivated by money. Not in this world where the talent is the 99th percentile of the 99th percentile, and preparation/focus are paramount.

That doesn't mean there's an environment where people are always happy, and sometimes they have to tough it out, but you can't hand-wave problems because the players are rich.

This is basically what I was getting at. I'd go as far as to say that salary has very little to do with culture and morale, except in places where the staff is chronically underpaid for the work being done. I'd be surprised if money was much of a motivating factor for any NHLers, in terms of the quality of their performance on the ice, with the exception of some players in contract years and players just starting out.

 

[kovazub94]

Most players dont get payed 11mil. And the ones that do get payed that kind of money dont see the same drop off in production that Panarin does come playoffs.

Panarin wasn't signed with expectation of producing 1.5 ppg each season. He clearly outperformed his contract over the regular season and using this as a context to discount his ppg production in playoffs is pretty weak (numbers manipulation) at best.

 

[kovazub94]

Matthews since 2019/20

45 points in 45 playoff games

Panarin since 2019/20

35 points in 46 games.

Hilarious that Matthews is getting murdered meanwhile people want to throw Panarin a parade because he didn't completely suck last year.

Noone is throwing Panarin a parade to begin (what you get is a pushback - there's a difference). Second, Rangers is not Panarin's team per se - yes, he's its most offensively talented player but there's a distinction, no? Third Leafs team has had a much stronger overall roster than the Rangers over that period of time that has time and time again gets sent home after 1st round, while the Rangers made it to ECF twice. Again, I hope you can see a distinction.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Noone is throwing Panarin a parade to begin (what you get is a pushback - there's a difference). Second, Rangers is not Panarin's team per se - yes, he's its most offensively talented player but there's a distinction, no? Third Leafs team has had a much stronger overall roster than the Rangers over that period of time that has time and time again gets sent home after 1st round, while the Rangers made it to ECF twice. Again, I hope you can see a distinction.

I don’t think the Leafs have had a stronger roster. Sexier names at forward for sure, but their d core is as average as it gets and they’ve been cycling thru garbage men at goaltender every year.

 

[Profet]

Give me a break. 8 million dollars a season can't get you to strap on you big boy pants every night? If the person cant be motivated by their contract, its even more of a reason for the Rangers to move on from the player. Management didnt do a thing for the player's in question to make it personal. Try winning the Cup. That's true job security.

8 million dollars/season certainly will motivate players.

The problem is AFTER you give them a guaranteed contract for 8 million/season.

See Laf

 

[McRanger92]

8 million dollars/season certainly will motivate players.

The problem is AFTER you give them a guaranteed contract for 8 million/season.

See Laf

Im sensing a pattern...

 

[Machinehead]

Im sensing a pattern...

 

[Machinehead]

Also, if we did sign Sam Bennett and you all had to watch him 90+ times (hopefully!) a year, you're gonna be like "that's it?"

And then people would say he's now part of the country club. This is because you should only spend big bucks on legit stars.

 

[McRanger92]

View attachment 1034475

You forgot to add the part where trading Goodrow and Trouba somehow made the team less motivated. Their words, not mine.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Also, if we did sign Sam Bennett and you all had to watch him 90+ times (hopefully!) a year, you're gonna be like "that's it?"

And then people would say he's now part of the country club. This is because you should only spend big bucks on legit stars.

I think the bigger thing you're missing is the burden of expectations that comes along with a fat ticket.

what he's done right now is very cool at his price point.

It's much less cool when you're pulling in almost 8 a year (or more.)

 

[Machinehead]

You forgot to add the part where trading Goodrow and Trouba somehow made the team less motivated. Their words, not mine.

As I've mentioned before, we're only really hearing this from Mika at this point, and he's looking for a reason he had a bad year.

Joe mentioned it also but I don't expect joe to get his mind around the team winning 55 games and then finishing 11th.

We have mostly material problems.

When it comes to locking a player in or giving them a bridge, we almost always choose the wrong one.

 

[Trxjw]

Cuylle has been described as Bennett without the headshots, which I agree with, except doing something illegal on every play and having somehow a blank rapsheet is part of Bennett's appeal.

And as much as I love a player with grit I think the lineup has plenty of it in its current state. Especially if Berard and Othmann can be regulars that contribute in the bottom six. If Laf can pull his head out of his ass, even better.

This team needs talent above everything else.

 

[NYR Viper]

I don't know how many more times I can say this but the last thing this team should be spending big UFA $$ on is a middle-6 forward.

You want to spend $$ on (2) top-4 d-men? I'm in. Want to add someone like Hampus Lindholm who would likely cost peanuts due to his contract? I could see that.

Sign Bennett? Why?

If this team competes, it's highly likely that Miller is the 2C and Trochek is a 3C. That makes Bennett what? A winger? 4C?

 

[McRanger92]

As I've mentioned before, we're only really hearing this from Mika at this point, and he's looking for a reason he had a bad year.

Joe mentioned it also but I don't expect joe to get his mind around the team winning 55 games and then finishing 11th.

We have mostly material problems.

When it comes to locking a player in or giving them a bridge, we almost always choose the wrong one.

A few guys mentioned those trades, as much as I like to pile on Mika. Believe Kreider and Kandre, maybe there were more but I was out of the country on breakup day. I don't disagree that there's a lack of talent but there's also off the ice excuse making as well. Both are problems.

 

[Machinehead]

And as much as I love a player with grit I think the lineup has plenty of it in its current state. Especially if Berard and Othmann can be regulars that contribute in the bottom six. If Laf can pull his head out of his ass, even better.

This team needs talent above everything else.

Right, when I ignore the old guard and look at the guys who will be here three years from today (probably), I see plenty of grit and clear identity. Cuylle, Othmann, Berard, Lafreniere, Sykora, Rempe, Edstrom, and I would still think Miller and Trocheck.

The problem becomes, especially as Trocheck declines, that you need about five top-six forwards here.

That's why when everyone goes on about getting rid of Kreider/Mika/Panarin, I'm waiting for "and..."

Maybe the answer is to just ride it out, get a coach who's good with the names mentioned above, hope we get lucky, and make a big signing or two. That's how we build the 2014 team.

 

[NYR Viper]

Right, when I ignore the old guard and look at the guys who will be here three years from today (probably), I see plenty of grit and clear identity. Cuylle, Othmann, Berard, Lafreniere, Sykora, Rempe, Edstrom, and I would still think Miller and Trocheck.

The problem becomes, especially as Trocheck declines, that you need about five top-six forwards here.

That's why when everyone goes on about getting rid of Kreider/Mika/Panarin, I'm waiting for "and..."

Maybe the answer is to just ride it out, get a coach who's good with the names mentioned above, hope we get lucky, and make a big signing or two. That's how we build the 2014 team.

I'm of the opinion that you clear the cap space, de3velop the young players and be patient for an opportunity to present itself. They do every year. You just have to be able to have the flexibility to do something.

 

[duhmetreE]

I don't know how many more times I can say this but the last thing this team should be spending big UFA $$ on is a middle-6 forward.

You want to spend $$ on (2) top-4 d-men? I'm in. Want to add someone like Hampus Lindholm who would likely cost peanuts due to his contract? I could see that.

Sign Bennett? Why?

If this team competes, it's highly likely that Miller is the 2C and Trochek is a 3C. That makes Bennett what? A winger? 4C?

Well, that’s the problem. We haven’t had a legit 1C since Messier. JTM could be that for a few years hopefully. Think about that. JTM is the best center we’ve had since Messier. ( unless I’m forgetting someone )

Either find a 1C, highly unlikely or find strong depth at center in the middle 6. Is Zibs moving to center? Is Zibs staying?

Hoping McDavid or Eichel hit UFA isn’t a proper plan.

 

[duhmetreE]

I still see potential with a deal with Buffalo

McLeod. Peterka. Byram? Tuch?

Adding McLeod and Peterka would revamp/refesh the entire top9 imo.

Schneider + ?? Kreider? Othmann? our 1st?

fixing our left side on defense is the biggest issue though.

 

[McRanger92]

I still see potential with a deal with Buffalo

McLeod. Peterka. Byram? Tuch?

Adding McLeod and Peterka would revamp/refesh the entire top9 imo.

Schneider + ?? Kreider? Othmann? our 1st?

fixing our left side on defense is the biggest issue though.

Im interested. A lot of people want Power but he looks like another Kandre to me. They arent trading Dahlin and we couldnt get him if they were but he's what we need.

 

[duhmetreE]

Im interested. A lot of people want Power but he looks like another Kandre to me. They arent trading Dahlin and we couldnt get him if they were but he's what we need.

I'd be all in on Power. He's 22. I can see the Hedman comparisons. Funny enough, Hedman showed that other level during his age 23 season.

 

[Tawnos]

I don't know how many more times I can say this but the last thing this team should be spending big UFA $$ on is a middle-6 forward.

You want to spend $$ on (2) top-4 d-men? I'm in. Want to add someone like Hampus Lindholm who would likely cost peanuts due to his contract? I could see that.

Sign Bennett? Why?

If this team competes, it's highly likely that Miller is the 2C and Trochek is a 3C. That makes Bennett what? A winger? 4C?

I don't think Zibanejad plays center anymore at 5v5 on this team. Miller is the 1C and Trocheck is the 2C. Fundamentally, though, this is my biggest problem with paying $7m+ to Bennett. I can be fine signing a 3C UFA to a $5m deal. It's a salary for a somewhat above average player in the $95m+ cap world. But that's kind of as high as I feel like I can go for the role.

Slim pickings among UFAs. Pretty much Pius Suter and Ryan Donato.

PS, we really are going to need to redefine what big UFA $$ means when the cap goes up to $110m in a few years. I still don't want Bennett at that price tag for that role, but a team right at the cap will be spending $5m on average for a 22-man roster. It's a different world.

 

[Trxjw]

Right, when I ignore the old guard and look at the guys who will be here three years from today (probably), I see plenty of grit and clear identity. Cuylle, Othmann, Berard, Lafreniere, Sykora, Rempe, Edstrom, and I would still think Miller and Trocheck.

The problem becomes, especially as Trocheck declines, that you need about five top-six forwards here.

That's why when everyone goes on about getting rid of Kreider/Mika/Panarin, I'm waiting for "and..."

Maybe the answer is to just ride it out, get a coach who's good with the names mentioned above, hope we get lucky, and make a big signing or two. That's how we build the 2014 team.

Yeah I certainly share that sentiment. I'm in the boat of clearing the room of the problem personalities and seeing what develops, but I have a hard time seeing Drury on board with an unprotected first rounder in our future.

 

[Machinehead]

I don't think Buffalo likes us very much. They took less for Eichel than we were offering because f*** us, that's why.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

I don't think Buffalo likes us very much. They took less for Eichel than we were offering because f*** us, that's why.

I still believe that Drury just straight up preferred Mika

 

[Siddi]

Well, that’s the problem. We haven’t had a legit 1C since Messier. JTM could be that for a few years hopefully. Think about that. JTM is the best center we’ve had since Messier. ( unless I’m forgetting someone )

This is revisionism at its finest.

Queue the Mikas agent, mother, wife comments.