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

[Tawnos]

If we signed Bennett, I'd kinda just look at it like we got a good center who can do some stuff. That makes the team better. I think there are other good centers who can do some stuff that won't have the same type of bidding war.

Some will view him as a transformative player who add the elements we're missing, but to me, the Rangers aren't a different attitude away from winning the Cup. We need to get better at some things.

It's important to every team to have "glue" guys (and forgive the cliche) on the ice. Players who, by the nature of their play, inspire teammates to come along with them. Their impact goes beyond the scoresheet and analytics, but it's waaaay better when those players are capable of being good hockey players too. That was a problem, to me, with Goodrow, Trouba, and Lindgren. The first was just basically useless in the regular season at this point. Lindgren and Trouba were both being asked to do more than their abilities were allowing. The problem isn't so much that you shouldn't have anyone who is a glue guy, but not a really good player. You can have one or two, but the majority of the players who have that effect should also be good.

It's not just about gritty play, which is what people usually think of. Zuccarello was that type of player too. He wasn't gritty, but his tenacity brought players along with him. We've got Trocheck in that kind of role. JT Miller? Possibly, though I didn't see a whole lot of it since he came on. I know that's his reputation though. At least until he starts rubbing teammates the wrong way. Cuylle is emerging. I think Berard and Othmann have potential for it. Adding Bennett does give you another very capable player in this vein. Can a healthy Schneider help with this on the back end?

No disagreement that there are other areas to improve on too, but I think that area of the roster makeup needs some attention too. It could happen organically, as much as bringing in players for it.

 

[Machinehead]

It's important to every team to have "glue" guys (and forgive the cliche) on the ice. Players who, by the nature of their play, inspire teammates to come along with them. Their impact goes beyond the scoresheet and analytics, but it's waaaay better when those players are capable of being good hockey players too. That was a problem, to me, with Goodrow, Trouba, and Lindgren. The first was just basically useless in the regular season at this point. Lindgren and Trouba were both being asked to do more than their abilities were allowing. The problem isn't so much that you shouldn't have anyone who is a glue guy, but not a really good player. You can have one or two, but the majority of the players who have that effect should also be good.

It's not just about gritty play, which is what people usually think of. Zuccarello was that type of player too. He wasn't gritty, but his tenacity brought players along with him. We've got Trocheck in that kind of role. JT Miller? Possibly, though I didn't see a whole lot of it since he came on. I know that's his reputation though. At least until he starts rubbing teammates the wrong way. Cuylle is emerging. I think Berard and Othmann have potential for it. Adding Bennett does give you another very capable player in this vein. Can a healthy Schneider help with this on the back end?

No disagreement that there are other areas to improve on too, but I think that area of the roster makeup needs some attention too. It could happen organically, as much as bringing in players for it.

Buying this type of thing from somewhere else is how you typically end up with those guys you wish you weren't paying so much. Not that Bennett will ever be a bad player to that extent, at least I don't think, but it's almost never a good idea to seek out an element like that in unrestricted free agency.

I think the team has plenty of it. They need to play the young guys that have it and get rid of the caste system between skilled and complimentary forwards.

 

[Kendo]

Calling him a 3C is utterly ridiculous. Hes a 2C and one of the most impactful players on a cup team who plays at a 60 point pace in the playoffs

At 28yo, he broke the 50P barrier for the first time in his career. He's a perfect fit for his team, and the team is a perfect fit for him.

He's their 5th F, just ahead of Lundell. And I'd prefer Lundell. In theory, for just one season and no contracts or future considered, sure, I'd take Sam for just this season.

His whole career has been "Middle 6," but in a career year, he's barely above 6th on a very good team. Give him Trocheck's career numbers, and he's that one step up to a bona fide 2C. Track record matters, unless you want to say someone has transformed their game. For me, I need to see more than one season to show it's not a flash in the pan.

I didn't think that was the spiciest take. I dunno.

 

[bigdog16]

Gonna take at bare minimum 7 X $7.75 to get bennett here. And id do it. Drury wont though because imo hes going after eichel as 1C next offseason and then bumping jt to 2c and trocheck to 3c. Dynamite down the middle

Dynamite down the middle 4 years ago. In two seasons your looking at a 30 year old Eichel, 33 year old Miller and a 32 year old Trocheck

 

[McRanger92]

That attitude adjustment needs to come from multiple spots but I'd argue that if they just let their young players play and develop they'll have this. Othmann is a PIA to play against. Let him play.

Agreed. Rangers could use a veteran on defense who plays that way and is actually good as well. Don’t know that player is though. Maybe Seattle would move Vince Dunn. Drury has made his share of deals with the Kraken

 

[KennyWu]

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.

 

[Siddi]

I did some research just for the fun of it since some posters brought up Bennets playoff production.

From 19/20 to 23/24 if we look at the top 25 point producers in the playoffs, only 11 of them produced at PPG+. This is all skaters mind you.

Here is a list of those 11 players:

McDavid
Kucherov
Draisatl
MacKinnon
Rantanen
Makar
Point
Bouchard
Landeskog
Zibanejad

Now if we break it down even further to only centers during that same time period. Among the top 10 point producing centers only 5 produced at PPG+.

Here is a list of those 5 players:

McDavid
Draisatl
MacKinnon
Point
Zibanejad

Food for thought.

 

[TGWL]

Igor's the reverse.
"If I can just get to playoffs, I can earn my 11.5m"

 

[Tawnos]

Buying this type of thing from somewhere else is how you typically end up with those guys you wish you weren't paying so much. Not that Bennett will ever be a bad player to that extent, at least I don't think, but it's almost never a good idea to seek out an element like that in unrestricted free agency.

I think the team has plenty of it. They need to play the young guys that have it and get rid of the caste system between skilled and complimentary forwards.

How much the team has does depend on who some of these younger guys are handled... and in Othmann and Berard's cases, they need to establish themselves as NHLers to start off with.

I think the change that happens, where you wish you weren't paying a player so much, is more a perception of fans than it is a reality of teams. Once a guy is here and you get used to the glue impact the player has, it's almost like the focus shifts to other things and players disappoint because the glue is taken for granted.

Edit: Unless a player's game does actually devolve, which we saw with Goodrow.

 

[McRanger92]

Igor's the reverse.
"If I can just get to playoffs, I can earn my 11.5m"

Igor is still a top 5 goalie in the regular season at least.

 

[Machinehead]

I did some research just for the fun of it since some posters brought up Bennets playoff production.

From 19/20 to 23/24 if we look at the top 25 point producers in the playoffs, only 11 of them produced at PPG+. This is all skaters mind you.

Here is a list of those 11 players:

McDavid
Kucherov
Draisatl
MacKinnon
Rantanen
Makar
Point
Bouchard
Landeskog
Zibanejad

Now if we break it down even further to only centers during that same time period. Among the top 10 point producing centers only 5 produced at PPG+.

Here is a list of those 5 players:

McDavid
Draisatl
MacKinnon
Point
Zibanejad

Food for thought.

Zibanejad has definitely been productive in the playoffs and the way our powerplay ran in 2022 and like half of 2024 was historic.

I think people have an issue with what happens when our powerplay goes cold (Carolina after game 2) or they just stop bothering with the rules (most of the Florida series). So I looked at that.

Zibanejad ranks 61st in p/60 over the last three playoff runs and Kreider ranks 60th. It's not that great when you consider that by the time you get to the second round, you're mostly playing the rest of the top 60.

The first page is just filled with Oilers, Golden Knights, and Avalanche.

Some more food for thought: The Panthers don't have that many guys near the top of the list. Barkov is 52nd!

I think it's true that they're not good at 5v5. I think it's also true that there's less scrutiny on individual scorers when the team wins.

 

[Siddi]

Zibanejad has definitely been productive in the playoffs and the way our powerplay ran in 2022 and like half of 2024 was historic.

I think people have an issue with what happens when our powerplay goes cold (Carolina after game 2) or they just stop bothering with the rules (most of the Florida series). So I looked at that.

Zibanejad ranks 61st in p/60 over the last three playoff runs and Kreider ranks 60th. It's not that great when you consider that by the time you get to the second round, you're mostly playing the rest of the top 60.

The first page is just filled with Oilers, Golden Knights, and Avalanche.

Some more food for thought: The Panthers don't have that many guys near the top of the list. Barkov is 52nd!

I think it's true that they're not good at 5v5. I think it's also true that there's less scrutiny on individual scorers when the team wins.

Another interesting data point is that in the group of 11 PPG+ players, Zibanejad is the only player not having another horse as a teammate. Every other player on that list is accompanied by at least one other teammate.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Template time?

Cuylle JT Perrault
Pan Tro Laf
Othmann Mika Berard
Parsley Carrick Edstrom
Brodz (Rempe, etc)

Xxxxx Fox
Miller Borgen
Vaak/Soucy Schnieder

Trade CK for xxxxxx?

Ok big brains, get me a 1LD with about 3.5 mm in cap space. This assumes also that all kids make the team. We’d probably need another middle 6 c/w to hedge. We may have to move Panarin (Barbashev/Hague?), moving Soucy won’t cut it.

 

[TGWL]

I did some research just for the fun of it since some posters brought up Bennets playoff production.

From 19/20 to 23/24 if we look at the top 25 point producers in the playoffs, only 11 of them produced at PPG+. This is all skaters mind you.

Here is a list of those 11 players:

McDavid
Kucherov
Draisatl
MacKinnon
Rantanen
Makar
Point
Bouchard
Landeskog
Zibanejad

Now if we break it down even further to only centers during that same time period. Among the top 10 point producing centers only 5 produced at PPG+.

Here is a list of those 5 players:

McDavid
Draisatl
MacKinnon
Point
Zibanejad

Food for thought.

The praise Bennett gets for producing in the playoffs comes from him being that middle 6, depth guy that finds a way to step it up during big moments. You already expect your star players to do that.

19/20-23/24	GP	Points 5 on 5	Goals/60 5 on 5	Points/60 5 on 5	Points/82 EVP + 5 on 5
Sam Bennett	64	27	0.86	1.78	0.5
Mika Zibanejad	48	19	0.64	1.73	0.43

Powerplay TOI	Game Average	Total	PPP	PPP/60
Sam Bennett	2:27	156:47	13	4.98
Mika Zibanjead	3:33	163:00	20	7.36

Mika Zibanejad has played 16 less playoff games while having more powerplay minutes.

Obviously, with a healthy Zibanejad going, you take skill over a player like Sam Bennett.

 

[Siddi]

The praise Bennett gets for producing in the playoffs comes from him being that middle 6, depth guy that finds a way to step it up during big moments. You already expect your star players to do that.

19/20-23/24	GP	Points 5 on 5	Goals/60 5 on 5	Points/60 5 on 5	Points/82 EVP + 5 on 5
Sam Bennett	64	27	0.86	1.78	0.5
Mika Zibanejad	48	19	0.64	1.73	0.43

Powerplay TOI	Game Average	Total
Mika Zibanejad	2:27	156:47
Sam Bennett	3:33	163:00

Mika Zibanehad has played 16 less playoff games while having more powerplay minutes.

Obviously, with a healthy Zibanejad going, you take skill over a player like Sam Bennett.

I believe you have your powerplay minutes mixed up but I agree that you should take a healthy Zibanejad over Bennett.

 

[TGWL]

Template time?

Cuylle JT Perrault
Pan Tro Laf
Othmann Mika Berard
Parsley Carrick Edstrom
Brodz (Rempe, etc)

Xxxxx Fox
Miller Borgen
Vaak/Soucy Schnieder

Trade CK for xxxxxx?

Ok big brains, get me a 1LD with about 3.5 mm in cap space. This assumes also that all kids make the team. We’d probably need another middle 6 c/w to hedge. We may have to move Panarin (Barbashev/Hague?), moving Soucy won’t cut it.

I'd put Rempe in over Parsley. I see 0 reason to put Parsley with Carrick and Edstrom and expect something good to come from that. Maybe there's something there for Parssinen to unlock, but I don't think he'll find that on the 4th line.

Don't think tossing Gabe into a sink or swim first line role is going to be a good outcome here. It's too early for that and I think he needs more time before being given line 1 keys.

 

[TGWL]

I believe you have your powerplay minutes mixed up but I agree that you should take a healthy Zibanejad over Bennett.

Yeah, they're mixed on the second table. Under the table is correct that Zibanejad had more minutes, but the table is swapped for the names. I'll flip it.

 

[IDvsEGO]

The praise Bennett gets for producing in the playoffs comes from him being that middle 6, depth guy that finds a way to step it up during big moments. You already expect your star players to do that.

19/20-23/24	GP	Points 5 on 5	Goals/60 5 on 5	Points/60 5 on 5	Points/82 EVP + 5 on 5
Sam Bennett	64	27	0.86	1.78	0.5
Mika Zibanejad	48	19	0.64	1.73	0.43

Powerplay TOI	Game Average	Total
Mika Zibanejad	2:27	156:47
Sam Bennett	3:33	163:00

Mika Zibanehad has played 16 less playoff games while having more powerplay minutes.

Obviously, with a healthy Zibanejad going, you take skill over a player like Sam Bennett.

Mind showing pp points and not just minutes? And I think you flipped Mika and Bennett numbers

 

[TGWL]

Mind showing pp points and not just minutes? And I think you flipped Mika and Bennett numbers

Powerplay points
Sam Bennett - 13 p/60-4.98
Mika Zibanjead - 20 p/60 7.36

 

[IDvsEGO]

Powerplay points
Sam Bennett - 13 p/60-4.98
Mika Zibanjead - 20 p/60 7.36

Yeah that shows Mika is by far the better player

 

[Clark Kellogg]

 

[TGWL]

Yeah that shows Mika is by far the better player

It shows that Mika has been more important to the powerplay. Sam Bennett has the edge away from the powerplay. The powerplay also favored Zibanejad because it was setup to get that big shot, at least it was for a long time.

Sam Bennett has been good in the playoffs, especially for a player that doesn't scream top line talent when you think of him. But as I said before, when Mika is rolling, he's definitely more skilled, so you have to take him and hope the middle 6 can step up.

 

[Siddi]

This was making the rounds earlier but was dissmissed as BS by the peanut gallery because it didnt fit their narrative.

Joe clearly talks about Drury needing to adapt and change his ways in handling the players. He even mentioned communication being one of Sullys strong attributes.

 

[will1066]

Listening to this interview was a waste of time. Joe clearly has more to say, but he's taking the high road. More of the same BS about Goodrow & Tuba, which everyone is tired of hearing about.

But heurter wants Micheletti fired anyway. "Fire him. Not fit for TV," he says.

Oh wait...

 

[NYR Viper]

Template time?

Cuylle JT Perrault
Pan Tro Laf
Othmann Mika Berard
Parsley Carrick Edstrom
Brodz (Rempe, etc)

Xxxxx Fox
Miller Borgen
Vaak/Soucy Schnieder

Trade CK for xxxxxx?

Ok big brains, get me a 1LD with about 3.5 mm in cap space. This assumes also that all kids make the team. We’d probably need another middle 6 c/w to hedge. We may have to move Panarin (Barbashev/Hague?), moving Soucy won’t cut it.

Trades:

TO COL:
Chris Kreider + Carson Soucy

To NYR:
Ross Colton + COL 4th '25 + COL 4th '26 + COL 2nd '27


TO ANA:
Artemi Panarin

To NYR;
Trevor Zegras + Pavel Mintyukov + WPG 2nd '25 + ANA 3rd '25


To BOS:
Mika Zibanejad + Zan Jones

To NYR;
Hampus Lindholm + STL 2nd '25



Linup:

Cuylle-Miller-Lafreniere
Colton/Zegras-Trochek-Perrault
Othmann-Zegras/Colton-Berard
Edstrom-Carrick-Rempe
Parsinnen, Brodz

Lindholm-Fox
Miller-Borgen
Mintyukov-Schneider
Vaak

This lineup has $9m in cap space and ample picks. If someone like Peterka becomes available, I'd pursue someone like that for sure for futures. Maybe someone like Othmann or Berard are included in that type of deal