Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XXI (Will these playoffs ever F'ing end?)

[I Eat Crow]

Robertson is a much better player than Brady Tkachuk

Not the point I'm making.

In a vacuum, this may be true. However, Robertson is redundant in this group as currently constructed. The Rangers don't need another slow forward.

Drury needs to address team speed this offseason.

Sullivan is going to implement a game plan like AV's when he first got here, just with a zone defense instead of man to man. One thing I liked about AV is that he made his teams play fast.

Take a look at old tape from the 2013-14 playoffs. No real burners on the team except for Hagelin, but good Lord, they played fast. Night and day watching those teams versus today's. Zone exits and transition were deadly. Lots of great close puck support with no floating at the red line and not too many stretch passes like the Renney and Torts teams relied on.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Marner? Stop building the same team.

You are allowed to build other players around a 90 point player you know. Marner isn't the same as Panarin, quicker, younger, can pk, play a point on the pp, better defensively.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Not the point I'm making.

In a vacuum, this may be true. However, Robertson is redundant in this group as currently constructed. The Rangers don't need another slow forward.

Drury needs to address team speed this offseason.

Sullivan is going to implement a game plan like AV's when he first got here, just with a zone defense instead of man to man. One thing I liked about AV is that he made his teams play fast.

Take a look at old tape from the 2013-14 playoffs. No real burners on the team except for Hagelin, but good Lord, they played fast. Night and day watching those teams versus today's. Zone exits and transition were deadly. Lots of great close puck support with no floating at the red line and not too many stretch passes like the Renney and Torts teams relied on.

I agree, normally it would be a no-brainer to be in favor of adding a talent such as Robertson, but I just don’t think I could stomach acquiring another slug. This team needs speed in the worst way.

 

[SA16]

Not the point I'm making.

In a vacuum, this may be true. However, Robertson is redundant in this group as currently constructed. The Rangers don't need another slow forward.

Drury needs to address team speed this offseason.

Sullivan is going to implement a game plan like AV's when he first got here, just with a zone defense instead of man to man. One thing I liked about AV is that he made his teams play fast.

Take a look at old tape from the 2013-14 playoffs. No real burners on the team except for Hagelin, but good Lord, they played fast. Night and day watching those teams versus today's. Zone exits and transition were deadly. Lots of great close puck support with no floating at the red line and not too many stretch passes like the Renney and Torts teams relied on.

Brady Tkachuk is also a slow forward though.

 

[LokiDog]

Brady Tkachuk is also a slow forward though.

But one is an actual tenacious, physical, north-south player who is difficult to play against and one is a soft, finesse player who is easy to neutralize. They’re not really comparable players. They would bring entirely different things to any team acquiring them, and this team certainly benefits more from a tenacious, straight forward player who doesn’t shrink when the checking gets tight.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I’m excited for Brady Tkachuk to get moved in a couple weeks so I can stop hearing about him

 

[LokiDog]

I’m not even weighing in on Brady to NY, but as the resident Dallas fan, trust me we don’t want Robo here. He’d fit a team like Florida or Tampa but here his production would drop and he will not be a difference maker when he’s one of your main threats.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Is there anyone quite like Fox in the NHL? Maybe I'm just drawing a blank right now but he is a bit of an enigma IMO. He doesn't really look the part unless you're really paying attention to him and looking at advanced stats. I just think it would be hard finding cup winners with guys like Fox because there aren't many guys like Fox.

I like Fox and it is kind of funny watching him toy with other players while moving in slow motion. However, I would like to see the Rangers upgrade their D with a bigger body who can move the puck. Maybe someone like what Trouba was supposed to be.

Without bashing Fox I do think we may need a guy that can play at a #1 level who has more speed and or more physicality to win the cup. Now if that person was a left D to pair with Fox that would be great. I'm more concerned about our own end of the ice than the other end. When I watch the speed and intensity of the playoffs I think we need that guy. Doesn't have to be the flashiest stat 82 game guy but the 16 game guy. If not then just get McDavid

 

[NickyFotiu]

Not the point I'm making.

In a vacuum, this may be true. However, Robertson is redundant in this group as currently constructed. The Rangers don't need another slow forward.

Drury needs to address team speed this offseason.

Sullivan is going to implement a game plan like AV's when he first got here, just with a zone defense instead of man to man. One thing I liked about AV is that he made his teams play fast.

Take a look at old tape from the 2013-14 playoffs. No real burners on the team except for Hagelin, but good Lord, they played fast. Night and day watching those teams versus today's. Zone exits and transition were deadly. Lots of great close puck support with no floating at the red line and not too many stretch passes like the Renney and Torts teams relied on.

Hags, Kreider, Marty, McD, Brassard, Pouliet, The Moores were all well above average speed imo. I agree with you that AV had them playing fast. I loved that team!

 

[pld459666]

I'm not one to be putting Panarins name out there because we need him but I could get on board moving him if we were signing Marner. Also, if Marner leaves Toronto they might be desperate for a Panarin type player or even Kreider, don't know what they'd have that I'd want, Knies would most definitely be a non starter for them, as would Matthews and Nylander. Maybe Morgan Rielly? Picks? Don't think they have much in their system. Getting a younger Panarin type and acquiring assets would help us a lot, plus it would help our left and right winger issues.

If I'm spending 13+, it better be on a better player than Marner.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I’m excited for Brady Tkachuk to get moved in a couple weeks so I can stop hearing about him

Robertson goes the other way?

 

[RangersFan1994]

If I'm spending 13+, it better be on a better player than Marner.

Replace one playoff disappointment with another. Drury cant be that stupid

 

[LokiDog]

Robertson goes the other way?

I’d be ecstatic to make that swap as a Dallas viewer. Should tell you what you need to know about Robo, in spite of his production. He has the personality that Zib has. He’s just not a guy who has that dog in him, forget about being a menace like Tkachuk. He just doesn’t have even a Trochek level of intensity.

 

[eco's bones]

The Rangers have really good depth. What they're going to need to do coming into next year is figure out who their top 6 are and install some kind of defensive system that doesn't always fall back to our goalies being faced with stealing game after after game.

I'm kind of expecting all of JT, Trocheck, Lafreniere and Cuylle all coming back and at least three of those guys in our top 6. Might not be able to move Zibanejad and might not move Panarin......so it could be pretty close to the same cast of characters. Perreault maybe?

Does better defensive structure barring too many significant injuries make this group a playoff team? My guess is yes but definitely not a contender and not being a contender while on the one hand would be improvement----on the other hand it's like spinning your wheels. I suppose there is the Igor factor in that like Henrik if he's on and in big games he can make the team seem better than it really is. Making playoffs next year might be enough for Drury though if only just in a stabilizing kind of way.

As far at the free agent market I don't think we're going to be much of a player and I don't see more than maybe a handful of guys really worth the kind of money and term they're going to get. A lot of these UFA's are older players and there's not a single player including Marner that we shouldn't be very leery about giving long term deals.

 

[80s Kid]

Without bashing Fox I do think we may need a guy that can play at a #1 level who has more speed and or more physicality to win the cup. Now if that person was a left D to pair with Fox that would be great. I'm more concerned about our own end of the ice than the other end. When I watch the speed and intensity of the playoffs I think we need that guy. Doesn't have to be the flashiest stat 82 game guy but the 16 game guy. If not then just get McDavid

Well...

Lol I'm half serious about this. I realize KAM can be very frustrating at times but he's still relatively young and I really think we need to see him in a different defensive system. I'm all for prioritizing upgrading the defense but I think some posters around here (not saying you) act like other defensive players around the league never make mistakes. I'm just of the mindset that there aren't many defensive players who are potentially available that are legitimately better than KAM. I'd prefer to sign KAM and try to add someone else but trying to move on from KAM for a better defenseman just seems like a waste IMO.

 

[effen]

They have the bones of a 100 point team as long as they don't quit for 25 games again.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Well...

View attachment 1045089

Lol I'm half serious about this. I realize KAM can be very frustrating at times but he's still relatively young and I really think we need to see him in a different defensive system. I'm all for prioritizing upgrading the defense but I think some posters around here (not saying you) act like other defensive players around the league never make mistakes. I'm just of the mindset that there aren't many defensive players who are potentially available that are legitimately better than KAM. I'd prefer to sign KAM and try to add someone else but trying to move on from KAM for a better defenseman just seems like a waste IMO.

I was a huge KAM guy before this season. If he can be that guy I would be thrilled but obviously he has had some really bad stretches. He definitely has the speed. He has size but doesn't use it much. I'm hopeful he will get there but he wasn't there this season.

 

[NickyFotiu]

 

[LaffyTaffy13]

Robertson is a much better player than Brady Tkachuk

If you like video games, sure. Brady is far more impactful

 

[LaffyTaffy13]

I agree, normally it would be a no-brainer to be in favor of adding a talent such as Robertson, but I just don’t think I could stomach acquiring another slug. This team needs speed in the worst way.

I also dont need any more lady bing types on this team. I want guys on this team who are crosseyed and cant spell cat

 

[MrAlmost]

KAM is physical. I dont get that argument. Only this past season on a floundering team did he not average his usual 2 hits per game. He is the type of guy you pair with your #1 and compliments him well. We still need a real #2. But you don't pair your number 1 and 2 together. They anchor your top 2 pairs and find 2 good guys to compliment them. Right now we have the makings of a good 1st unit, then a bunch of 4-7 guys. Maybe Borgen can compliment a true #2 LHD as that #4. Maybe Gavrikov. But he might not even make it to market. Anyone else would likely need to be a trade.

McDonagh is interesting but after they just resigned Gourde for a song they might not need to trade anybody and still have a real good team.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Yeah, in the regular season, but that doesn’t matter when the real season starts. We need 16-game players; guys who don't care that they're not earning paychecks and only want to win the Stanley Cup. Robertson has never been a point per game player with a much better supporting cast in Dallas. He could've gone out and showed up this year after Jim Nill showed their faith in them by acquiring Mikko Rantanen. Big, strong, Cup Winner, one of the best playoff performers to ever do it.

Brady Tkachuk showed up to be that this year. Over a point per game in his first playoffs ever. Captain. American so you know he has the chip on his shoulder like his brother. Drury needs to find those players. Skill and will. Not east-west fancy shmancy nonsense. Straight line hockey.

Robertson has two point per game+ seasons in his career thus far, he scored 79 points in 74 games in 2021-22 and 109 points in 82 games in 2022-23.

His other 3 seasons are each very close to a point per game, he had back to back 80 points in 82 games in each of 2024-24 and 2024-25. 45 points in 51 games as a rookie in 2020-21. He's over a ppg in his career 394 points in 374 games. His career averages out to 86 points per 82 games.

 

[NYRnine94]

Just what we need, another soft overpaid overrated slow skater in Robertson. Fits our team perfectly actually. We love soft players

 

[Kendo]

Well...

View attachment 1045089

Lol I'm half serious about this. I realize KAM can be very frustrating at times but he's still relatively young and I really think we need to see him in a different defensive system. I'm all for prioritizing upgrading the defense but I think some posters around here (not saying you) act like other defensive players around the league never make mistakes. I'm just of the mindset that there aren't many defensive players who are potentially available that are legitimately better than KAM. I'd prefer to sign KAM and try to add someone else but trying to move on from KAM for a better defenseman just seems like a waste IMO.

This is what I keep coming back to. They were an exemplary pair, despite their individual flaws.

One guy is all brains. Small, slow, soft, yet somehow elite.

The other makes dumb mistakes. Big, good stride, can hit, yet somehow pitched in trade proposals by NYR fans quite often. Yet he has palpable offense to his game.

They are such a good fit together, but Miller has been put with other big, decent skating, brain-farters with way less offensive upside. He's annoyingly similar to a similarly aged Trouba, without the insanity on the hit-o-meter.

Just don't pay Key $8m, and he's a keeper. I'm fully serious about this.

 

[Kendo]

If you like video games, sure. Brady is far more impactful

I don't often agree with you, so when I do, I enjoy it. =)