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

[NYR Viper]

I don't know what Fiala not playing their style means. He's their leading scorer in the calendar year 2025 (46 games) and playing 19 minutes a game - more than Kopitar. He led the team in 5v5 TOI/game for the entire season. If the coach doesn't think he's a good fit then why does the coach play him so much?

Panarin had 55 even strength points this year. Fiala had 31.

He’s the type of guy who produced on the PP but not at 5v5 for his role and he isn’t a superb defensive player. That’s okay in a spot like NY where he’ll be looked at to be that type of player but in LA where he’s likely to get pushed off the PP as soon as next year, I’d think he doesn’t fit.

His first half of the year was abysmal

 

[bobbop]

Im not convinced Drury is going to making moves to save his job this summer. I think he has more job security than his detractors want to acknowledge. Seems like he and Dolan are in relative lockstep in terms of knowing they need to continue moving on from the old guard. Kreider will be gone. I think the odds of Panarin being gone have risen significantly in the past 48 hours. Mika want to stay but he may change his tune as his peers are moved out. Even so, I think he can meld fairly easily with the new culture they attempt to foster. Low maintenance guy who shouldnt be in a primary leadership[ role imo.

My big hope would be that they dont try to go for a retread like Mike Sullivan, who is a Laviolette clone. Hire a young coach from the AHL or college ranks who can implement a system and grow with the many young players we still have. Lean on Igor, Fox, JT, Trocheck, Cuylle and Lafreniere. There are pieces here. We arent starting from scratch. Take a step back in expectations next year to build some flexibility for the 2027 season. I still expect them to be very much in the mix for a playoff spot next season, even if we acknowledge going in that they arent a top tier contender. It's easier for me to see sunlight now that the horrors of this season are mercifully over.

Drury will definitely be in job preservation mode. It’s going to be hard enough to sell tickets this summer. There’s no way that he survives another miss next season. I can’t see him taking a chance on an unproven NHL level coach.

Once Kreider’s situation is resolved, Mika may be more amenable to a move.

 

[Machinehead]

Maybe it’s copium but the team just wasn’t buying in at a real early point in the season. Drury should have been cut throat. Country club does not do hard things. Laffy unfortunately joined the country club this season.

But like you said, that’s a part of being good. Effort is sort of important

My problem with the whole country club thing is that sometimes I feel we've convinced ourselves we have the only good team in the league that just doesn't try.

I don't hear it said about anybody else. Like, it's kind of a Rangers meme, tbh.

And I'm not saying this to discount effort, but if you're capable of playing right, you play right.

Granted, there's some ebb and flow. Players learn and adjust. There's some distance between your C game and your A game.

But how long has it been? How many coaches has it been? And even if we do tap into something, Florida took the best version of this group and still bent it up like a pretzel.

@chosen has been beating the drum for years, and he's right. It's personnel at the end of the day.

 

[Kendo]

My fantasy, very unrealistic, hence fantasy, would be for Kreider to finish his contract and retire here. Then move right in and kick Colton Orr, Tanner Glass, and Jed Ortmeyer out of player development.

Unpopular, but I agree. Unlikely, but not impossible.

If Panarin is moved, then it's even more plausible. Who knows with that whole thing though.

He's had a historic drop off, but I'd rather be stuck with him for only two seasons and hope for a rebound, than a Brock Boeser on regrettable term (for the sake of argument).

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

It’s Zib’s birthday today

 

[will1066]

It’s Zib’s birthday today

Mods pls ban

 

[Machinehead]

Mods pls ban

He's not wrong

 

[will1066]

What happened to DeHaan saying he was going to give us the inside scoop of all the crap once the season ended?

Paid settlement. No admission of wrongdoing in benching him 18 straight games

 

[SA16]

Panarin had 55 even strength points this year. Fiala had 31.

He’s the type of guy who produced on the PP but not at 5v5 for his role and he isn’t a superb defensive player. That’s okay in a spot like NY where he’ll be looked at to be that type of player but in LA where he’s likely to get pushed off the PP as soon as next year, I’d think he doesn’t fit.

His first half of the year was abysmal

Yes, but my question is what indicates to you he "doesn't play the style they like to play" when the fact that the coaches elected to make him their team leader in 5v5 toi/game would indicate otherwise. They may have made statements along those lines but their actions are contrary to anything that they've said like that.

It's also disingenuous to say he doesn't produce at 5v5. This year, yes, it was a down year. Prior to this year it was 1.94, 2.49, 3.07, 2.01, 2.63. He's historically an extremely strong 5v5 producer.

And why would he get pushed off the PP as soon as next year? He's the best PP player on the team and has led them in 5v4 scoring the last two years.

 

[Hockeyfan200]

Agree to disagree. What came out about Panarin is going to have little impact on his value. Panarin adds another dynamic that the Kings do not have. This all also based on if the Kings get knocked out in the 1st round.

Kings will just keep Fiala. He literally plays the most minutes out of everyone. Fiala is really good. To think Kings will still give up a good player and then add a 1st or top prospect for an older player doesn't compute. When accusations come out, it always has an impact on how players are seen even by organizations.

 

[Siddi]

He’s been trash for like 2+ seasons. And just because he went from an F - to a D+ as the season went on doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be shown the door ASAP, he’s a major component of the rotten core

Lets break this down.

For the sake of the argument I will read your 2+ statement as 3 seasons.

22/23 - 39 goals, 91 points
23/24 - 26 goals, 72 points
24/25 - 20 goals, 62 points (since jan 1st, 41 points in 46 games)

Nobody in their right mind would call his 22/23 season trash. I will give you 23/24 even though I see it more as a down season. That leaves us with the 1st half of 24/25 where he truly was trash and a second half where he was productive.

A more fair assessment would be to say he have had 2 dissapointing seasons including an awful 1st half this season.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Kings will just keep Fiala. He literally plays the most minutes out of everyone. Fiala is really good. To think Kings will still give up a good player and then add a 1st or top prospect for an older player doesn't compute. When accusations come out, it always has an impact on how players are seen even by organizations.

I’d rather just get Clarke Turcotte and a 1st and sign Gavrikov, then trade K’Andre for peterka

 

[kinghock]

I’d rather just get Clarke Turcotte and a 1st and sign Gavrikov, then trade K’Andre for peterka

You should be really delusional to believe that Kings will have any interest in Panarin.

He is soft, old, expensive and now have PR problem.

Also, Blake lost his appetite for big trades after PLD disaster.

P.S. LA almost done with contract extensions for Gavrikov and Kuzmenko.

 

[Kendo]

He doesn't try to really carry the puck anymore because he sucks at it.

I know he was good in 23-24, but if he could do it again, he would.

It's easy for us to say "just have good habits," but for good players it's repeatable.

This is what he is. It's been five seasons.

I judge the cusp of having a fully formed frontal cortex at 24/25 as more of "he is what he is."

I'm not saying "It's been five seasons" is disingenuous. Just that most players "flash" something at 22/23, and then "pop" a year or two later. Regardless of what age they started in the NHL. Laf really showed something last season and then turned back into a lump of clay.

This should be the most important off-season of his career, and my fear is that getting a pay day already will leave him less motivated. He "can" top 30G & 30A. We just paid him to do that consistently for a bunch of years even though he only "almost" did both once.

So I'm not even saying you're wrong. There's a real chance that for the next two seasons, he pulls the same "Almost 25G, almost 25A, not quite 50P" schtick.

I'm more comfortable saying a 25yo "is what he is" regardless of how many NHL seasons of service (or even draft position). Those guys that pop off at 27 for the first time always feel weird anyway.

Although, if you have the heart of Brodzinski, you can become more than your 25yo self at like 30! Just don't overpay those guys.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Lets break this down.

For the sake of the argument I will read your 2+ statement as 3 seasons.

22/23 - 39 goals, 91 points
23/24 - 26 goals, 72 points
24/25 - 20 goals, 62 points (since jan 1st, 41 points in 46 games)

Nobody in their right mind would call his 22/23 season trash. I will give you 23/24 even though I see it more as a down season. That leaves us with the 1st half of 24/25 where he truly was trash and a second half where he was productive.

A more fair assessment would be to say he have had 2 dissapointing seasons including an awful 1st half this season.

His numbers were good in 23 but the warning signs were there. He finished the season really weak, he was stuck on 39 for like 7 games and never looked like he was even trying to hit 40, was afraid to shoot. Then he was a ghost vs the Devils in the playoffs.


He’s not going to get back to the player he was. Im sure of it.

 

[Cmox]

He’s been trash for like 2+ seasons. And just because he went from an F - to a D+ as the season went on doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be shown the door ASAP, he’s a major component of the rotten core

From watching, I wanted him gone 2 seasons ago.

 

[Kendo]

But how long has it been? How many coaches has it been?

Tom Renney was a good coach. He was just never going to be a Cup winning coach.

Torts and AV were good coaches. Warts and all. Either "could've" done it.

Quinn was an outside the box hire, but was worse than a wish dot com Renney. Happens.

GG was a decent choice. Unironically similar to Ruff and sorta letting the team play pond hockey. Short shelf life.

Lavi would've gone down in history as a good choice for us if he soured in year 3 instead of year 2.

Knoblach is looking like a "better Renney" which stings.

I have no idea who I'd want as the next coach. I just don't want this defensive scheme. I'd give an "outside the box" hire a chance, but there unfortunately wouldn't be much leash.

 

[Machinehead]

Tom Renney was a good coach. He was just never going to be a Cup winning coach.

Torts and AV were good coaches. Warts and all. Either "could've" done it.

Quinn was an outside the box hire, but was worse than a wish dot com Renney. Happens.

GG was a decent choice. Unironically similar to Ruff and sorta letting the team play pond hockey. Short shelf life.

Lavi would've gone down in history as a good choice for us if he soured in year 3 instead of year 2.

Knoblach is looking like a "better Renney" which stings.

I have no idea who I'd want as the next coach. I just don't want this defensive scheme. I'd give an "outside the box" hire a chance, but there unfortunately wouldn't be much leash.

I don't know if there's a scheme that makes our forwards not ass at defense.

 

[Kendo]

I don't know if there's a scheme that makes our forwards not ass at defense.

I assure you, there is.

We have a bunch of guys that "try hard." Whether they're actually "good at D" or not.

A good Zone Scheme mitigates that, even if you have to say "A couple of guys are allowed to play jazz, but you're not," to most of the roster.

 

[RangersFan1994]

J.T. Miller ready for Rangers to ‘re-rack’ after disappointing season

In 32 games with the Rangers this season, J.T. Miller finished with 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points.

nypost.com

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Kreider too mtl for Anderson, who says no? It's not the deal I want but just trying to see what everyone thinks his value is

Larry Brooks

 

[Good Intentions]

Literally every offseason hypothetical here involves the acquisition of Gavrikov.

 

[surlysailor]

But how long has it been? How many coaches has it been? And even if we do tap into something, Florida took the best version of this group and still bent it up like a pretzel

This is my biggest gripe, from AV and through Lavy we never had a coach who adjusts. They all think their game plan is the best and refuses to make changes based on the players on the roster or the opponent. The players obv could not handle the man to man system in the d zone. Opposing players always found holes to get free. When Fl was crushing nyr in the playoffs, and if it wasn’t for Igor and a couple of lucky bounces they would’ve been out in 4, hell they wouldn’t have made it passed Carolina. This is why you need a coach who can actually formulate a plan and not be so stubborn to think their system works no matter what.

 

[savebyrichter94]

Larry Brooks


View attachment 1017459

 

[surlysailor]

Would stl be a fit for kreider? I still think ck has more value around the league than we think he has. He has a playoff player reputation, usually a minimum of a 50 pt guy and a lot noise around nyr this season. I would love nyr to be able to get a later 1st so they can give Pitt the first this year(unless they win the lottery). Stl has some interesting prospects like jecho, jiricek, lindstein, dvorsky plus some cap to send back like Joseph or leddy.