Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XXVI - Point Of No Return

[SA16]

I don’t get why people aren’t more annoyed and up in arms about the logjam of vets we have at the blueline.

Like wow, Smith is doing a great job of supporting Shattenkirk. WTF it’s 2019 and we are rebuilding. If we signed Kovalchuk would it be a good idea to bring in Spezza to feed him the puck? Get rid of these clowns.

There is a difference between trading Smith for legitimate futures and trading him for other cap dumps.

 

[Avery16]

St Louis was seen as many as a sleeper as a cup champ before the season started.

They started out rough and the goalie wasn't good, but this shouldn't really be surprising to anyone, they're a good team.

Their metrics are wayyyyy up both offensively and defensively since Berube took over (They fed the Rangers their lunch on New Years Eve and Hank stone walled them.) It's only started to manifest itself in wins lately though.

I'm more surprised by Chicago turning a corner - that was a team that looked like they had nothing left to play for and lo and behold, they're right in the playoff race. The top heavy nature of the West has a lot to do with that, but it's also entirely possible (if not probable) that the Rangers finish behind everyone in the west aside from Anaheim who looks like they couldn't even hack it in the A right now.

But post deadline, that may be us too.

They've been trying to force Allen into the role of a Stanley Cup calibre goalie and I think they have only recently realized that it won't work.

 

[Lion Hound]

Wouldn't be surprised if the Rangers make a move to add a scrapper. Lots of talk about McQuiad on the move. If he does, I bet the Rangers replace with another in a separate deal.

Quinn, Gorton, Ruff all proponents of that type of player.

I'm thinking Kassian.

 

[Avery16]

There is a difference between trading Smith for legitimate futures and trading him for other cap dumps.

I'll agree there's no reason to move heaven and earth to get rid of that contract, but in terms of futures you'd be lucky to get what we got for McLeod. If someone wants to take a shot on him, we should absolutely help that happen.

 

[Avery16]

Wouldn't be surprised if the Rangers make a move to add a scrapper. Lots of talk about McQuiad on the move. If he does, I bet the Rangers replace with another in a separate deal.

Quinn, Gorton, Ruff all proponents of that type of player.

I'm thinking Kassian.

 

[Avery16]

I'd rather see Lindgren on the third pair than Smith.

 

[Blue Blooded]

Smith is OK on the left side, but why hang on to him if he can be moved?

Since he has negative value we'll either have to take a bad contract in return, retain salary or package him with picks. Neither of which sounds better than just keeping him.

 

[Avery16]

Since he has negative value we'll either have to take a bad contract in return, retain salary or package him with picks. Neither of which sounds better than just keeping him.

what about a spooner for strome kind of fleecing

take straw and weave to gold

 

[Blue Blooded]

what about a spooner for strome kind of fleecing

take straw and weave to gold

We'd prbably be on the receiving end of the fleecing in that scenario since Smith is actually good and whomever we're getting isn't going to be.

I also disagree that the Spooner-Strome swap was such a big win as most make it out to be. Strome has been terrible.

 

[Ola]

Since he has negative value we'll either have to take a bad contract in return, retain salary or package him with picks. Neither of which sounds better than just keeping him.

As it is now we are pausing the rebuild. And it’s on pause for another 2.5 years. Isn’t it worth to give up picks to enable the rebuild of the defense?

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

what about a spooner for strome kind of fleecing

take straw and weave to gold

Well take straw and weave... slightly more quality straw.

 

[kovazub94]

I don’t get why people aren’t more annoyed and up in arms about the logjam of vets we have at the blueline.

Like wow, Smith is doing a great job of supporting Shattenkirk. WTF it’s 2019 and we are rebuilding. If we signed Kovalchuk would it be a good idea to bring in Spezza to feed him the puck? Get rid of these clowns.

And replacement them with who? There’s no one in the organization who’s ready to step up. Or do you think there’s a trading partner willing to take on overpriced and underperforming vets for a ready to step in cheap prospects? Got to have patience in these matters to not make even bigger messes.

 

[Blue Blooded]

As it is now we are pausing the rebuild. And it’s on pause for another 2.5 years. Isn’t it worth to give up picks to enable the rebuild of the defense?

Rather move Skjei for assets than give up assets to move Smith.

 

[NYR Viper]

Rather move Skjei for assets than give up assets to move Smith.

If Smith is so valuable, there should be teams lining up for his services.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

All the teams below the Rangers either got a point or are winning so far today, except the Devils.

 

[Ola]

If we keep Smith, Staal and Shatty; this is what will happen.

We will over the coming years collect a group of exciting kids up front and some defense that has potential to grow into steady NHLers. Then we will sign a couple of UFAs or probably more likely, pull off some trades for a bigger name or two by the time those horrible contracts are up. Hank will be replaced.

Then we will start to aim for a PO spot. But our blueline will be — far — from being ready, 3 guys on it just left so half of it will be new in NY. Everyone will be really impatient in around the team. The UFA/big names we traded for won’t be able to perform well infront of a crappy blueline. Our kids will be pressured hard, and won’t be able to perform on or infront a crappy blueline. The kid we have between the pipes will be hanged out to dry and will suck without support.

Everyone talks about how you need this and that to win a Cup. Haven’t all teams that have had a successful rebuild built a blueline that was a bit more mature than the group of forwards infront of it? We will start to build our blueline when the rebuild is over. Why? Because Gorton’s horrible mistakes might gain a 5th rounder in vale or whatever? What a joke.

 

[Ola]

If Smith is so valuable, there should be teams lining up for his services.

They haven’t discovered Corsi.

 

[DutchShamrock]

I don’t get why people aren’t more annoyed and up in arms about the logjam of vets we have at the blueline.

Like wow, Smith is doing a great job of supporting Shattenkirk. WTF it’s 2019 and we are rebuilding. If we signed Kovalchuk would it be a good idea to bring in Spezza to feed him the puck? Get rid of these clowns.

It's not American Idol or Survivor where we can vote guys on or off.

You yourself believe that most of them are useless and virtually untradeable. So why shake your fist at the sky and yell at the sun for setting? How are they going? Where is the interest? Rumors? We are rebuilding, why spend assets to remove players that are gone in 2 years?

I know it's a discussion but if people are going to get invested we need some reality. Maybe this summer when a bunch of teams have hard choices and RFAs asking for the world.

Right now? The good teams have little cap and are adding expiring contracts. Why diminish the return on our assets? The bad teams are shedding players and hording young assets.

 

[Lion Hound]

Yeah that's an option. Have him through next season. He's a gamer.

 

[LORDE]

Sadly there is NO ONE pushing Smith out ATM

Once that occurs we could discuss a buyout, but I don't see why. Just bury him in the AHL if you need to. His contract is gone in two years (like other unpopular players here). We aren't contending this year or next. Let the clock run out

 

[Blue Blooded]

If Smith is so valuable, there should be teams lining up for his services.

That's what I'm saying, his current trade value is likely in the toilet.

I'm not saying he's this great defenceman, but he is a lot better than his current trade value reflects.

 

[BBKers]

Dumping him at 50% is by far the best option unless we need more money retained in other planned deals (1 of 3 already used by Spooner who is done next year). Get a lousy pick back. Whatever. Maybe after the season though

Sadly there is NO ONE pushing Smith out ATM

Once that occurs we could discuss a buyout, but I don't see why. Just bury him in the AHL if you need to. His contract is gone in two years (like other unpopular players here). We aren't contending this year or next. Let the clock run out

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Staal and Smith have 2 years left after this season. There isnt a rush to get the kids into the lineup for next season.

Worst case if they need to make room or not have to worry about protected slots in the expansion draft, they can buy out one or both after next season. Hits wont be too bad.

Staal is $3.6MM in year 1 and a bit over $1MM in year 2.

Smith is $2.8MM in year one and $800K year 2.

 

[Avery16]

I thought lindgren looked fine.

 

[DutchShamrock]

Dumping him at 50% is by far the best option unless we need more money retained in other planned deals (1 of 3 already used by Spooner who is done next year). Get a lousy pick back. Whatever. Maybe after the season though

With Toronto probably losing Gardiner and only having Reilly as their only legit RHD, I'd be interested in a Horton for Smith swap. One year of a dead contract for 2 years of an overpriced RD. We might even get an add in this scenario.