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

[TGWL]

After last night Zibs stats will still attract another team. I was surprised how many assists he ended up with in such a rough season.

I think fans need to have a very low expectation that Zibanejad will be moved. He's not going to make it easy.

 

[Cmox]

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.

Here's what Mika had to say regards to Kreider. He's in the denial phase:

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

DO NOT give away a chance to land McKenna.....I'm hoping everyone has watched the last two World class plays by McKenna .....AMAZING Player !!!! The race to the bottom will be hot and heavy next season .

if we get him he will suck anyway

 

[Clark Kellogg]

JUST MATH. No speculation based on what ifs. Who will be or not be on the roster come opening day. These are the facts of known values. The NHL allows teams to go 10% over during the offseason. That brings the temporary cap to 105.05M
At season start cap is fixed at 95.5M

Signed

Artemi Panarin 11.64
Igor Shesterkin 11.50
Adam Fox 9.50
Mika Zibanejad 8.50
JT Miller 8.00
Alexis Lafreniere 7.45
Chris Kreider 6.00
Vincent Trocheck 5.63
Carson Soucy 3.25
Will Borgen 4.10
Braden Schneider 2.20
Johathan Quick 1.55
Urho Vaakaninen 1.55
Sam Carrick 1.00
Jonny Brodzinski .79
Total 82.66M

8 Forwards
5 Defensemen
2 Goalies

Projected 25/26 Cap Space 95.5M
12.84 Available Cap Space to sign or replace:
RFA’s
Will Cuyle
Adam Edstrom
Matt Rempe
K’Andrea Miller
Juuso Parssinen
Zac Jones

AHL/NHL options
Gabe Perreault .942
Brett Berard .868
Brennan Othmann .863
Jaroslav Chmelar .868
Dylan Roobroeck .850

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Is this the Offseason of Offersheets?

There are few secrets in today’s NHL.
If we know something then 31 GM’s know it and so does the Player’s Agent.
If you’re Kyle Davidson and you are able to lock up Will Cuylle to play on Connor Bedard’s left for the next 7 seasons for 6M and all it costs is a first and third round pick you’d take that deal every day.
That’s just one team. There will be others who will be interested.
31 GM’s might also have interest in offering contracts to K’Andrea Miller, Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe.

Mika Zibanejad has a full NMC
JT Miller has a full NMC
Panarin has a full NMC
Chris Kreider has a 15 team NTC
On July 1st
Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox will have a full NMC
There’s a saying in the NHL about the comradery amongst GM’s “throwing an anchor instead of a life preserver" when another team is in financial trouble.

 

[Homelander]

WTF are we going to do this offseason?!

Hopefully fire Drury and Laviolette. That would be a nice start.

 

[Homelander]

If Sullivan is available there’s no world where he’s not the next coach

David Carle isn’t coming anywhere near this team so that is a pipe dream.

The more I read about Todd Nelson, the more I like

 

[Vitto79]

They need to recoup picks in next years draft so the very least move Soucy and Kreider for a 2nd , 3rd , 4th …. 2026

Then use the money on a LD if they can sign Provorov or Gavrikov

 

[Vitto79]

Hopefully fire Drury and Laviolette. That would be a nice start.

At the very least Drury to president only
New GM and coaching staff

 

[The Crypto Guy]

How has peter not been fired yet?!

 

[McRanger92]

Is this the Offseason of Offersheets?

There are few secrets in today’s NHL.
If we know something then 31 GM’s know it and so does the Player’s Agent.
If you’re Kyle Davidson and you are able to lock up Will Cuylle to play on Connor Bedard’s left for the next 7 seasons for 6M and all it costs is a first and third round pick you’d take that deal every day.
That’s just one team. There will be others who will be interested.
31 GM’s might also have interest in offering contracts to K’Andrea Miller, Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe.

Mika Zibanejad has a full NMC
JT Miller has a full NMC
Panarin has a 15 team NTC
Chris Kreider has a 15 team NTC
On July 1st
Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox will have a full NMC
There’s a saying in the NHL about the comradery amongst GM’s “throwing an anchor instead of a life preserver" when another team is in financial trouble.

Id match on Cuylle, rempe or Mr. Ed. Kandre id gladly take the picks.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Id match on Cuylle, rempe or Mr. Ed. Kandre id gladly take the picks.

For K’Andrea, Edstrom and Rempe they most likely only get a 2nd.

Here's a breakdown of the compensation based on AAV (estimated for the 2025-26 season):

• $11,452,295 AAV and above: 4 first-round picks in the next 5 drafts.
• $9,161,835 - $11,452,294 AAV: 2 first-round picks in the next 3 drafts, plus a second-round pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $6,871,375 - $9,161,834 AAV: A first-round pick in 2026, a second-round pick in 2026, and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $4,580,918 - $6,871,374 AAV: A first-round pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $2,410,000 - $4,580,917 AAV: A second-round pick in 2026.
• Under $2,410,000 AAV: A third-round pick in 2026.

 

[Homelander]

How has peter not been fired yet?!

The last two games saved his job. HUGE wins. And the Islanders win? We're clearly heading in the right direction. RUN IT BACK!

 

[tiggles]

For K’Andrea, Edstrom and Rempe they most likely only get a 2nd.

Here's a breakdown of the compensation based on AAV (estimated for the 2025-26 season):

• $11,452,295 AAV and above: 4 first-round picks in the next 5 drafts.
• $9,161,835 - $11,452,294 AAV: 2 first-round picks in the next 3 drafts, plus a second-round pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $6,871,375 - $9,161,834 AAV: A first-round pick in 2026, a second-round pick in 2026, and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $4,580,918 - $6,871,374 AAV: A first-round pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $2,410,000 - $4,580,917 AAV: A second-round pick in 2026.
• Under $2,410,000 AAV: A third-round pick in 2026.

No way K'Andre's offersheet would be less than $4.58 AAV.

 

[Fitzy]

For K’Andrea, Edstrom and Rempe they most likely only get a 2nd.

Here's a breakdown of the compensation based on AAV (estimated for the 2025-26 season):

• $11,452,295 AAV and above: 4 first-round picks in the next 5 drafts.
• $9,161,835 - $11,452,294 AAV: 2 first-round picks in the next 3 drafts, plus a second-round pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $6,871,375 - $9,161,834 AAV: A first-round pick in 2026, a second-round pick in 2026, and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $4,580,918 - $6,871,374 AAV: A first-round pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $2,410,000 - $4,580,917 AAV: A second-round pick in 2026.
• Under $2,410,000 AAV: A third-round pick in 2026.

Any Miller extension will probably be over 4.58 million, so 1+3 seems more likely.

Yes it was a bad year, but even if NYR bridged him, they're still looking at 4.7-5 base for the minutes he plays.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

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.

Have you seen his moves this year? He's 100% trying to save his job

 

[TGWL]

How has peter not been fired yet?!

Monday. Drury rigged his Easter egg family hunt and slipped a message for him to find.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

it's been a while since this team has finally drafted and developed a winger that can play in cuylle. the guy is progressing along real nicely. the stats don't lie, and he's usually noticeable on ice doing something meaningful. he's earned to be regularly on either the first or second line. his scoring lines this season prove this, and is certainly more deserved than laf.

i don't want to lose this guy for picks. let's hope no team tenders for over 4 mill or over.

 

[savebyrichter94]

Giddyup!

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Monday

Torts could he hired by someone else by then though /s

 

[TGWL]

Is this the Offseason of Offersheets?

There are few secrets in today’s NHL.
If we know something then 31 GM’s know it and so does the Player’s Agent.
If you’re Kyle Davidson and you are able to lock up Will Cuylle to play on Connor Bedard’s left for the next 7 seasons for 6M and all it costs is a first and third round pick you’d take that deal every day.
That’s just one team. There will be others who will be interested.
31 GM’s might also have interest in offering contracts to K’Andrea Miller, Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe.

As much as Cuylle has improved and tracking in the right direction, I'd imagine if the Hawks want to be a powerhouse, they will probably want something better glued to Bedard's wing for the next 7 years. Also, to get Cuylle for 7 years/6m (Total / 5 years), that's going to currently put the compensation in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd range, unless the compensation takes a big jump. Hawks are still pretty bad and unless they win the #1 lotto this year, that's pretty risky in a Gavin draft.



50% of Kreider's assist came in the last 3 weeks.

Gabe doesn't look ready for the NHL pace. And before you tell me it's because he's not playing with players who care, I'm going to stop you right there and say no, it's because he's not moving his feet and quick enough with his take off acceleration. We need a big off-season for him now that he knows what to expect.

Othmann looks like it physically hurts him to skate fast.

I can't see Zibanejad agreeing to go somewhere else unless next season goes so bad and he's in a depressed, pouting state of mind.

They have a lot to work on this off-season.

 

[McRanger92]

For K’Andrea, Edstrom and Rempe they most likely only get a 2nd.

Here's a breakdown of the compensation based on AAV (estimated for the 2025-26 season):

• $11,452,295 AAV and above: 4 first-round picks in the next 5 drafts.
• $9,161,835 - $11,452,294 AAV: 2 first-round picks in the next 3 drafts, plus a second-round pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $6,871,375 - $9,161,834 AAV: A first-round pick in 2026, a second-round pick in 2026, and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $4,580,918 - $6,871,374 AAV: A first-round pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2026.
• $2,410,000 - $4,580,917 AAV: A second-round pick in 2026.
• Under $2,410,000 AAV: A third-round pick in 2026.

KAM wont sign an offersheet for less than the 1st/3rd tier amount. He will likely be asking for 6-7 million on his next deal.

 

[McRanger92]

Have you seen his moves this year? He's 100% trying to save his job

Why because he traded for JT Miller?

 

[Siddi]

With Bill Cook for instance, people are going to look at his 366 points in 475 games and discount him (There's already someone who thinks Zibanejad is better than Frank Boucher bc Zibanejad had more points lmao). But they won't realize that was 4th in the league over that timeframe AND his NHL career started at age 30 and he played til 40.

Being 4th in a league with like 100 players compared to todays competition means jack shit.

 

[leetch99]

Is this the Offseason of Offersheets?

There are few secrets in today’s NHL.
If we know something then 31 GM’s know it and so does the Player’s Agent.
If you’re Kyle Davidson and you are able to lock up Will Cuylle to play on Connor Bedard’s left for the next 7 seasons for 6M and all it costs is a first and third round pick you’d take that deal every day.
That’s just one team. There will be others who will be interested.
31 GM’s might also have interest in offering contracts to K’Andrea Miller, Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe.

Mika Zibanejad has a full NMC
JT Miller has a full NMC
Panarin has a 15 team NTC
Chris Kreider has a 15 team NTC
On July 1st
Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox will have a full NMC
There’s a saying in the NHL about the comradery amongst GM’s “throwing an anchor instead of a life preserver" when another team is in financial trouble.

Geesh...when you look at that it sure makes next season look very hard . The Rangers have a lot of work to do. The OS factor is indeed a real concern ! If Panarin goes....I tend to think Kreider is back depending on his back or he just retires . Trocheck might be our 3rd line C next year and Mika plays 2nd line C . We need a RW Is Perreault ready to play on the opposite wing ? Much work for us this Summer.....hopefully Perreault-Othmann-Rempe-Edstrom-Berard -Lafreniere spend a lot of time in the weight room . If a few worked on their skating as well....that would not hurt either .