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

[Filip Chytil]

Are the Rangers intending to re-sign Cuylle before July 1 to pre-empt any possible offer sheets from other teams? How high or low do you think they’ll go beyond the AFP projections? — Torsten S.
Handling Cuylle’s contract sooner rather than later would probably be a wise play by general manager Chris Drury. As you said, that would give him protection over the offer-sheet possibility. AFP Analytics projects Cuylle to get a three-year, $3.43 million AAV deal. Cuylle does not have arbitration rights, so he does not have much leverage unless another team comes in with an offer sheet. That could allow the Rangers to snag him for a bit less than the AFP Analytics projection, especially if it’s a two-year bridge deal. But if Drury wants to get a long-term contract done with Cuylle, he’ll have to pony up significantly more than the $3.43 million a year. That might be tricky given New York’s tight cap situation.
If Drury doesn’t get a deal done with Cuylle before free agency, then uses up a good chunk of his cap space on signings and trade acquisitions, he could find himself in a hairy situation. A team could swoop in and offer Cuylle $4.67 million, just below the threshold that requires a first-round pick, which the Rangers would have a difficult time matching. That’s how the situation in Edmonton unfolded when it lost Broberg and Holloway.
Even if an offer sheet is unlikely — and league history says it is — the smartest play for New York is to get Cuylle signed before opening the possibility.

What kind of defensive and offensive systems does Mike Sullivan prefer to run? — Steven B.
For this question, I turned to colleague Josh Yohe, who covered Sullivan throughout his entire tenure in Pittsburgh.
“His system isn’t anything especially unique,” Yohe said. “He loves to activate defensemen, which was great when (Kris) Letang was good, not so much now that he isn’t. The big key to his system is having wingers who can skate. They were at their best when they had people like (Carl) Hagelin, (Bryan) Rust and (Conor) Sheary on three different lines. That forecheck pressure from wingers who can fly is everything to his system.”
Yohe added that it’s not a passive system and relies on heavy pressure and heavy puck pursuit. Forwards need to be able to rotate back and help defensively.
New York was not a strong forechecking team in 2024-25. Whether that was because of coaching or personnel will be worth monitoring this coming season.

 

[bleedblue94]

What is everyone's opinion of Trent Frederic? AFP has him projected to get a 2 year deal for ~$3.45m per season. Would he be an option to come in and be a Bennett-like pot-stirrer with some hopefully untapped offensive potential? His two previous years to this one had him at 40 points and 31 points in 13:45 and 11:55 average TOI in those years. He hits A LOT. Some people see him more as a wing but if he played with a more pass-first play driving winger, would his game blossom?

He prob is what he is. He's heavy and will trend to more of a playoff player as he moves along in his career. Can easily see him becoming the new Goodrow whipping boy here if he signed w nyr.

 

[Machinehead]

Could you show just last years numbers? I'm curious if it's trending up or down (like maybe 23 was God awful but 25 was better)?

5v5 was a little bit better.

He's consistently an awful penalty killer but I've seen PK metrics change on a dime.

 

[Machinehead]

You know how I say you need to have no bad players?

Well Aaron Ekblad f***ing sucks, holy shit.

I guess you can have one bad player.

 

[NYR Viper]

View attachment 1040496

5v5 was a little bit better.

He's consistently an awful penalty killer but I've seen PK metrics change on a dime.

This looks better (not great but better)

This kind of reinforces my thoughts that just because his puts up points, I'm not sure I would be ready to break the bank to acquire him. In saying that, I'm not tied to Schneider so adding Byram and moving Schneider, to me, could make some sense

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Is there any chance Tage Thompson is at "f*** you guys, you suck and I wanted to be traded" mode with the Sabres?

 

[NYR Viper]

LOL, a hard foreehcking team with Kreider, Zibanejad and Panarin. Yeah, that's going to work...

As an aside, he should LOVE Berard and Othmann. Those guys are high energy and like getting in on the forecheck.

 

[Donny 77]

I guess I'll post the chart?

View attachment 1040490

He is really bad defensively. Like, there's really no way around that.

His numbers away from Dahlin are bad, but granted, when he's not with Dahlin, he's playing for the Buffalo Sabres without Dahlin. On the other hand, the Rangers without Fox aren't much better than the Sabres without Dahlin so there's that.

Here's the thing: I don't always care that much about defense. Fox is good at defense. We really need a guy that can move the puck.

I don't hate Byram and I would kind of take the wait and see approach if we got him but there are valid criticisms, and yes, he's bad at defending.

If we're bringing in Byram its to play with Borgen or Schneider no Fox, IMO.

Which brings us right back to the beginning again of finding an above average Swiss Army Knife partner to free up Fox to play a bit more aggressively at 5v5.

I dont see Miller or Byram as the answer to that.

 

[NYR Viper]

If we're bringing in Byram its to play with Borgen or Schneider no Fox, IMO.

Which brings us right back to the beginning again of finding an above average Swiss Army Knife partner to free up Fox to play a bit more aggressively at 5v5.

I dont see Miller or Byram as the answer to that.

Miller-Fox crushed last year. They actually compliment eachother well

 

[NickyFotiu]

Borgen and Soucy are big but everyone hates them. Cant we just get good players? Kandre Miller is enormous. Bo Byram is 6'1 205. Thats not small. Youve said this and I agree but its a systems and coaching issue. Kulikov, Mikkola, even Forsling were nobodies until they got to Florida. OEL's career was on life support.

Why does "everyone" hate Borgen?

 

[Machinehead]

If we're bringing in Byram its to play with Borgen or Schneider no Fox, IMO.

Which brings us right back to the beginning again of finding an above average Swiss Army Knife partner to free up Fox to play a bit more aggressively at 5v5.

I dont see Miller or Byram as the answer to that.

I'm not interested in Fox playing more aggressively. He skates like a corpse.

His partner should be a puck-mover imo, especially one that can skate with the puck.

 

[Machinehead]

Alright folks, that's enough.

 

[MrAlmost]

I'd trade Schneider and Othmann for Byram. Miller-Fox and Byram-Borgen could work. I still like Jokiharu and Perbix as free agents on the right. I'd prefer Perbix I think. But either or really on the 3rd pair with Soucy.

 

[Guyute]

Schneider --> Vancouver
Hronek --> Buffalo
Byram --> NYR

 

[bl02]

I know most on here are not big Schneider fans but I am not trading a guy who has been reliable and hasn't missed any games for another guy with concussion issues. We just traded our best young player because of this and I am not willing to take a risk for another guy with concussion issues.

 

[bernmeister]

No on Byram. risk too high, cost too much

Something around bread at half with an add for bischel

The big risk reward move is LaF for Reinbacher.
Rein has had issues w/both knees, but Bobby Orr also had knee issues, and that was 5 or so decades ago, medicine has improved.

Rein gives size and speed. Options if schneid or Fox are sold high

Byram, God bless, no reason to think he's a dick, so no desire to wish ill on him.
He IS playing well. But knees up to a point can be repaired. Concussion is a whole dif level of damage.

Someone said Zib to ANA for Zeg +

Zib can be a fit and they may be willing to move Zeg now while he has mo term if the offer is good enuf. Don't see them paying top $ for this/next season Zib like he commanded way more 2 seasons ago.

Zib also a fit at half in LA. Yes, I said half, accept it.
I see Zib more open to Kings.

Schneider + Zib at half + Emery + Sykora
for
Byfield + Helenius

Berard to highest bidder CHI, desperate to add speedy W to make Bedard happy
like Berard + lesser picks 2025 for better picks 2025 and 2026

Shesty to highest bidder
Fox highest bidder
both assume overpayment is enuf

look into Kleven and Pinto from Sens

somethin like dat...

 

[McRanger92]

I know most on here are not big Schneider fans but I am not trading a guy who has been reliable and hasn't missed any games for another guy with concussion issues. We just traded our best young player because of this and I am not willing to take a risk for another guy with concussion issues.

Im a Schneider fan but hes a 3rd pair defenseman and plays the minutes of one. Is he capable of more? I think so. Are the rangers going to pay him over Borgen or on the left in the top 4 consistently? Doesn't look like it. Byram has missed 9 games over the past 2 seasons, played 82 this year at 22 minutes a night.

If we want to make changes to the team we actually have to be willing to make changes. Not pearl clutch every player on a roster that isnt good enough.

 

[tlk]

I know most on here are not big Schneider fans but I am not trading a guy who has been reliable and hasn't missed any games for another guy with concussion issues. We just traded our best young player because of this and I am not willing to take a risk for another guy with concussion issues.

I'll admit it freely, how's Chyt gonna fare the next season is of interest.

 

[TGWL]

What is everyone's opinion of Trent Frederic? AFP has him projected to get a 2 year deal for ~$3.45m per season. Would he be an option to come in and be a Bennett-like pot-stirrer with some hopefully untapped offensive potential? His two previous years to this one had him at 40 points and 31 points in 13:45 and 11:55 average TOI in those years. He hits A LOT. Some people see him more as a wing but if he played with a more pass-first play driving winger, would his game blossom?

I didn't like his game with Boston this year and I still don't like his game with Edmonton. Like, if you tell me this is just an off season, I'd take a shot on him. But he's not great in the middle, and I don't see the room on our 3rd line to make that signing right now. I wouldn't pay that for our 4th line.

 

[Tawnos]

Fox doesn't need a partner who will let him play more aggressively. He needs a partner that will do something more creative with the puck than put it towards the net. That was my biggest problem with Lindgren. Fox would get him the puck in an interesting position in the OZ and all Lindgren could think to do was shoot it. I know, this team needs more shots... but those were too often low % pointless ones. It was basically giving the puck back to the opponent.

It's part of the reason his numbers looked better with Miller. Because Miller would at least try to keep possession going.

 

[Machinehead]

Fox doesn't need a partner who will let him play more aggressively. He needs a partner that will do something more creative with the puck than put it towards the net. That was my biggest problem with Lindgren. Fox would get him the puck in an interesting position in the OZ and all Lindgren could think to do was shoot it. I know, this team needs more shots... but those were too often low % pointless ones. It was basically giving the puck back to the opponent.

It's part of the reason his numbers looked better with Miller. Because Miller would at least try to keep possession going.

*MichaelScottThankYou.gif*

 

[Tawnos]

*MichaelScottThankYou.gif*

You're welcome!

I do think Fox needs to play faster, though. I'm not talking about skating, but decision making. It's been an issue since the Devils series 2 years ago. That's different from him being more aggressive, and really has nothing to do with his partner.

 

[Machinehead]

You're welcome!

I do think Fox needs to play faster, though. I'm not talking about skating, but decision making. It's been an issue since the Devils series 2 years ago. That's different from him being more aggressive, and really has nothing to do with his partner.

I think you could say that about a lot of guys, and I've started beating the drum of "how many coaches can this core get?" but Fox is one guy that we know is capable of it.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

wait are people actually debating matthews/fox?

it isnt even close lol.

if toronto makes matthews somewhat available we should do everything in our power to trade for him. no one should be off limits

No thanks, he's a ghost in the playoffs, softest big player I've ever seen

 

[17futurecap]

Peca going to be assistant for Hawks.