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

[zlev]

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

i like this. on top of all that i'd flip Zegras in a package with Schneider for Peterka and sign a RD to move Borgen down to the 3rd pair.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

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.

Zibby was god tier in that 2022 run. But hes not that player anymore, and the rest of that list still produces today in 2025 (except Landeskog)

 

[Tawnos]

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.

The line in there that resonated with how I've looked at the whole thing is when Joe says that "you have to get your employees to want to want to work." Like he said, organizational failure from top to bottom, including from the players. But I've probably written enough about this at this point

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Yeah that shows Mika is by far the better player

Nobody question's Mika's talent, when he was at his peak he was a powerful, fast sniper/playmaker combo.

Unfortunately he's kind of a headcase and his peak was way too short.

 

[Siddi]

Zibby was god tier in that 2022 run. But hes not that player anymore, and the rest of that list still produces today in 2025 (except Landeskog)

Mika would also be still producing if the team have made the playoffs. Just like he did last playoffs.

 

[Tawnos]

Nobody question's Mika's talent, when he was at his peak he was a powerful, fast sniper/playmaker combo.

Unfortunately he's kind of a headcase and his peak was way too short.

I wonder if short peaks are more typical than not when a player doesn't really break out until they're 25-26.

 

[Siddi]

The line in there that resonated with how I've looked at the whole thing is when Joe says that "you have to get your employees to want to want to work." Like he said, organizational failure from top to bottom, including from the players. But I've probably written enough about this at this point

Yeah, I feel like you and Mika have been vindicated in a way with this. Like I said, that is why the peanut gallery is dissmissing the video as BS.

 

[Tawnos]

Yeah, I feel like you and Mika have been vindicated in a way with this. Like I said, that is why the peanut gallery is dissmissing the video as BS.

Joe was definitely nibbling around the edges. I also thought it was interesting that he referred to Drury as a young GM and I think that's something we forget a lot about with him, because it seems like he's been around for a really long time. Plus, sports lifetimes are shorter than normal lifetimes. There's a ton to learn about how to manage employees. I don't manage anyone myself anymore, but when I did it was probably 5 years before I felt like I really hit my stride as a boss. I made plenty of mistakes along the way.

 

[Siddi]

Zibby was god tier in that 2022 run. But hes not that player anymore, and the rest of that list still produces today in 2025 (except Landeskog)

Point had only 2 points in the 5 games they played. Kucherov have not scored a goal for like 15 games or so.

 

[Machinehead]

Point had only 2 points in the 5 games they played. Kucherov have not scored a goal for like 15 games or so.

They've been playing the Panthers a lot which is a problem that we had also.

The game turns into rugby when they're involved.

 

[Siddi]

They've been playing the Panthers a lot which is a problem that we had also.

The game turns into rugby when they're involved.

Yeah, I mean goes to show that that is not only our players who struggle against the Panthers.

 

[Trxjw]

The time to add Bennett was five years ago when he was struggling in Calgary, clearly needed a fresh start, and would've been a good addition to what should've been a young, developing core.

Adding him now would be stupid for what he's going to get paid. Identity the next Bennett instead of overpaying this one.

 

[Machinehead]

The time to add Bennett was five years ago when he was struggling in Calgary, clearly needed a fresh start, and would've been a good addition to what should've been a young, developing core.

Adding him now would be stupid for what he's going to get paid. Identity the next Bennett instead of overpaying this one.

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.

 

[McRanger92]

The line in there that resonated with how I've looked at the whole thing is when Joe says that "you have to get your employees to want to want to work." Like he said, organizational failure from top to bottom, including from the players. But I've probably written enough about this at this point

Thats what the money is for!

 

[cheech70]

Any moves have to be predicated on Mika staying or going. If he stays then Bennet and I am going to throw in a new one. Marchand is someone who could help us. If Mika goes for a young C then no need for Bennet.

 

[Tawnos]

Thats what the money is for!

Unfortunately, that really isn't how humans operate.

 

[McRanger92]

Unfortunately, that really isn't how humans operate.

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.

 

[Tawnos]

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.

You can want it to be that way all you want, and be critical of the fact that it isn't. That doesn't change that it isn't.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Here we go again. Lets pay a 40-50 point player 8mil just for the vibes. Excellent idea.

We already have one of those guys.

 

[Soundgarden]

Nashville has multiple late 1sts. The core group they have there kinda demands a competitive roster now rather than in 2-3 years approach. Not saying that they are gonna push all their chips in but it seems highly unlikely that they move guys like Stamkos or Josi. Could one of those late 1sts be in play for Kreider in some sort of deal? Seems unlikely Nashville would find its way on to Kreider's limited no trade clause.

Kreider feels like he will certainly be the first domino to fall. Writing has been on the wall for a while. Recent articles kind of cement that. Easiest to move of the big names considering clauses.

After Kreider is gets a bit fuzzy. Exploring movement for guys like Panarin or Zib isn't really something you can shop, because it would be conditioned on them waiving for an agreed upon destination, and that typically isn't even sought until a trade is nearing the finishing touches. It also wouldn't be prudent to pour a majority of time into those baskets, but rather have the feelers out there and see what materializes.

Have to imagine the most active forefront that comes forth after the Kreider situation is handled is heavily exploring the market for a hockey trade involving one of K'andre or Schneider. Lafreniere's name could come up in there too.

Nashville fan here.

Josi is has had over 10 concussions! and might be finished soon and Stamkos is a power play specialist and 2nd/3rd liner at this point, this was the year that we pushed our chips in and...yeah it didn't go well.
Our 1sts shouldn't be available for 34 year olds, but with Trotz at the helm who knows. Miller or Lafreniere make a lot more sense for us.

 

[Tawnos]

Nashville fan here.

Josi is has had over 10 concussions! and might be finished soon and Stamkos is a power play specialist and 2nd/3rd liner at this point, this was the year that we pushed our chips in and...yeah it didn't go well.
Our 1sts shouldn't be available for 34 year olds, but with Trotz at the helm who knows. Miller or Lafreniere make a lot more sense for us.

We here as Rangers fans (provided being old enough) have a lot of experience with what happened in Nashville this year. It was basically what happened in NY from 1998-2004. Hope Trotz learns the lesson faster than Neil Smith (who never did) or Glen Sather (who only sort of did).

 

[Homelander]

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.

And we kept him...it'd be one thing if his transactions worked out, but for the most part, they haven't

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

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.

 

[Machinehead]

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.

 

[kovazub94]

FWIW regular season and playoffs are separate but without a good regular season (like happened this year) there's no playoffs at all. We can piss all over Panarin for his playoff numbers but if he's carried the team's offense throughout the regular season to get us into the playoffs that's kind of important whether you like it or not.

Most players do see some drop in production in playoffs......and it makes sense. There won't be any really weak competition to fatten up the stats. More than less it's the 16 best teams including the very best. The games are more intense and harder checking and the further a team goes their opponents get stronger.

The thing with someone like Sam Bennett who almost always has good playoffs is that kind of hockey is in his wheelhouse because he's a no apologies f***ing asshole. Would I want to pay him $8 mil for 7 years? Probably not but he's an alpha personality and to win it really helps to have somebody or 2/3 like that. Total don't give a f*** what it takes douchebags. You don't win Stanley Cups with nice teams.

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Bennett is a real good even strength player. The issue with him, with the type of contract he's going to get, is that you're paying a premium for attitude and intangibles. I think it's possible to find a player just as good without paying extra.

Also, he's another forward who doesn't play defense, which profiles with what we already have too much of.

Love this! These are good perspective and why we have back and forth on a value of a contract. Do we call it overpaying for intangibles if for instance a bennett gets $7x7 for his 55 reg season point if for this amount of money you could get 75 points or get a 55 point player for $5m AAV? On the other hand the extra is being paid for his playoff contribution which will fluctuate in terms of points because of a small scope size.

P.S. Its obvious that it is much cheaper to find and pay for these players via drafting than otherwise.