Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XXVII – Fortnight, Not Fortnite

[Trxjw]

I dont think there is more to it. I think its that its been years of putting rosters together that they thought could win the cup. Their players are getting older. How many opportunities are they gona get? This is the 4th legitimate year of having a run at the cup...thats a damn lot to come away with nothing. The Rangers had two years. SJ had the one year, this year, and maybe you could consider one other in the last 5. There is pressure in Nashville to seal the deal. They are going to have to get past tough teams in the West and then likely beat TB. They need all the fire power they can get and capitalize before the window closes.

Tolvanen wont mean anything to them when he finally breaks in as an impact player in 2-3 years and a lot of their guys best years are behind them and/or moved on.

I can understand the "going for it" angle, but dealing arguably their 2nd best prospect for a rental center who isn't even the best rental center on the market? Seems like a stretch. Nashville needs a winger to boost their 2nd line, and if they're going for a rental by dangling a top prospect there are better options on the market than Hayes.

So like I said it'd have to be something more. Hayes and Zucc for a package with Tolvanen and a pick? Maybe. Kreider? Definitely. Stone, Duchene, or Panarin? Yep. Can't see it for just Hayes as a rental though. Not unless, like I mentioned before, they've really soured on Tolvanen.

 

[Sarge13]

Rangers @ Casino Night.

Funny how they are lined up, Zucc and Kreider next to the King. Hayes all the way in the back

Slats and Joe having a good time back there...

I spy ......

Gorton standing right next to Hayes, almost on top of him, bodyguard style lol.

Quinn and Drury laughing it up.

Georgi looking like the Russian Jim from "The Office".

D'Angelo making a dumb face.

Slats is still breathing.

 

[EpicDing]

Rangers @ Casino Night.

Funny how they are lined up, Zucc and Kreider next to the King. Hayes all the way in the back

Slats and Joe having a good time back there...

Funny how all the As plus the face of the franchise are in front. Or does that not fit the narrative?

 

[thethirdhockeyman91]

I spy ......

Gorton standing right next to Hayes, almost on top of him, bodyguard style lol.

Quinn and Drury laughing it up.

Georgi looking like the Russian Jim from "The Office".

D'Angelo making a dumb face.

Slats is still breathing.

From zuccs to staal, there’s a clear escalation of height than Fast ruins it. Lol

 

[DutchShamrock]

I can understand the "going for it" angle, but dealing arguably their 2nd best prospect for a rental center who isn't even the best rental center on the market? Seems like a stretch. Nashville needs a winger to boost their 2nd line, and if they're going for a rental by dangling a top prospect there are better options on the market than Hayes.

So like I said it'd have to be something more. Hayes and Zucc for a package with Tolvanen and a pick? Maybe. Kreider? Definitely. Stone, Duchene, or Panarin? Yep. Can't see it for just Hayes as a rental though. Not unless, like I mentioned before, they've really soured on Tolvanen.

FWIW, I have been getting the impression that Nashville isn't as high on him now as they were post-Olympics. Whether it's low enough for them to trade him for a rental, I do not know.

 

[bleedblue94]

Rangers @ Casino Night.

Funny how they are lined up, Zucc and Kreider next to the King. Hayes all the way in the back

Slats and Joe having a good time back there...

Did you expect to be zuc to be in the back row on a stool?

 

[LaffyTaffy]

I'm not sure I like the fact that Zucc's play hasn't warranted a 1st. Considering that the pick would likely be after 25th overall, I don't see why he wouldn't be worth that. Unless we get a Howden-level prospect I really dont get it, the guy has been dynamite for multiple seasons. His age? He's 31, easily has 4 years left in the tank, the fact that he's a UFA doesn't mean he isnt worth a 30th overall.

 

[bleedblue94]

What exactly is a howden level prospect? A mid 6 upside player? Not being a smart ass, but multiple people are throwing that around, and for about two months people have been complaining about stagnant play and limited upside on howden. So are we saying a mid 6 prospect justifies a 2nd instead of a 1st?

 

[Trxjw]

FWIW, I have been getting the impression that Nashville isn't as high on him now as they were post-Olympics. Whether it's low enough for them to trade him for a rental, I do not know.

It's certainly possible. So if they think he's trending down and don't think he's going to pan out, then maybe they give him up for a rental like Stone, Panarin, or Duchene. Hayes? It's still a stretch for me.

 

[Webster]

Did you expect to be zuc to be in the back row on a stool?

Yeah I expected him to sit on Gorton's shoulders, perhaps it will happen when the booze kicks in.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

What does Zucc’s age have to do with anything? He’s a rental, if he’s playing well it shouldn’t matter if he’s 25 or 45, they only need him to be around for a few months.

 

[bl02]

Bob Mckenzie says level of interest in Zucc is high but he would be surprised if he garnered a first rounder.

 

[bl02]

And Bob not so sure that Sens sign Duchene and Stone. Probably not great news for us. Hope he's wrong and the Sens find a way to keep these guys.

 

[I Eat Crow]

I still don't see how a contender wouldn't cough up a 1st for Zuccarello when Brian Boyle got a 2nd.

Zucc has 20 points in the last 14 games. He can plug into just about any team's top 6 and produce. I don't see how that's not worth a 1st.

If he gets a 2nd, a damn good prospect better also be included.

 

[Avery16]

Just saw that eeli tolvanen can be had for the right price....Kevin Hayes was mentioned as someone who could get him plus back

Source?

 

[Avery16]

I completely understand the logic behind trading a 31 year old Zucc and a 32 year old McQuaid on expiring contracts. The logic behind trading Hayes continues to escape me. We lived with several years of the growing pains of Kevin Hayes. He finally seems to be close to a refined product and a really solid 2 way player for us and he is only 26 years old. Why isn't our first priority to re-sign him to a 5 year deal. We'd get his 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 aged years out of him.

When you draft a player it is such a gamble. It is a relative unknown. So many things can go wrong in their development. You hope they turn into a Kevin Hayes. We know what we have in him, we aren't in any precarious cap situation and he seems to love being a Ranger. Why not re-sign him and make him part of this rebuild. Hayes and Mika signed for the next 4-5 years is a really nice foundation.

Hayes knows he can make a lot more on the open market with a middling team than he can with us. He slots as a good 2C, but not necessarily a cup winning 2C. He will make high-end 2C money, on somewhere between 5-7 years. Where would that leave us, if we signed Hayes? Unable to pay for a cup-winning 2C, and with a few years (likely in our window of competing for a cup) with the 2C equivalent of a Staal or what Nash was before traded. It’s the same as it was with Stepan, same with Brassard. We are guessing on what Hayes peak is and how long it will last. Not worth the money he knows he can get elsewhere, so we will try to minimize our losses.

 

[bobbop]

Why would a team in a bad cap spot, that needs to keep a bunch of the top 30 or top 50 or whatever it is players in the league together and give them some cheap friends, be interested in the Kevin Shattenkirk contract

There’s a lot of moving parts here. At 50% retained, Shattenkirk is pretty good value. Tampa has three defensemen on expiring contracts. Under the circumstances, I can’t imagine he wouldn’t go to a Cup contender.

This won’t surprise anyone...Tampa is looking to upgrade from Girardi as Hedman’s partner. Seen that in a couple of places. And with Callahan’s contract an anchor that needs to be moved next year, he’s a piece here (probably in a prearranged deal that would be consummated after the season) Thats OK with me.

Tampa has plenty of pieces I would be interested in filling out this deal.

 

[Barnaby]

I still don't see how a contender wouldn't cough up a 1st for Zuccarello when Brian Boyle got a 2nd.

Zucc has 20 points in the last 14 games. He can plug into just about any team's top 6 and produce. I don't see how that's not worth a 1st.

If he gets a 2nd, a damn good prospect better also be included.

Supply and demand. Higher end options are out there and only so many teams are willing to deal a first. Would you rather use a first for Zucc or Panarin? It's not impossible, but less likely than it would be most years.

 

[Ola]

That is bad news on Zucc from McKenzie.

Gorton has talked to McKenzie extensively in the past. McK has had our draft picks in advance and plenty of info on us.

Why is Gorts leaking that info to McKenzie then? To bring the expectations down. Could be that there are more sellers than buyers quite frankly.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Said it before but if all we are getting is a 2nd then they should be trying to sign Zuc to a 2 year deal. We could get a 2nd for any of Vesey, Namestnicov or Fast if we need it that bad.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Bob Mckenzie says level of interest in Zucc is high but he would be surprised if he garnered a first rounder.

We heard the same thing about Nash last year.

 

[egelband]

Just my opinion obviously, but if we're looking at returns of a 2nd rounder and a Howden/Hajek level prospect for Hayes, I'd just as soon re-sign the guy and call it a day.

Yep. I can see that happening if there isn’t a worthwhile offer. For either Zucc or Hayes.

 

[egelband]

I dont think there is more to it. I think its that its been years of putting rosters together that they thought could win the cup. Their players are getting older. How many opportunities are they gona get? This is the 4th legitimate year of having a run at the cup...thats a damn lot to come away with nothing. The Rangers had two years. SJ had the one year, this year, and maybe you could consider one other in the last 5. There is pressure in Nashville to seal the deal. They are going to have to get past tough teams in the West and then likely beat TB. They need all the fire power they can get and capitalize before the window closes.

Tolvanen wont mean anything to them when he finally breaks in as an impact player in 2-3 years and a lot of their guys best years are behind them and/or moved on.

Totally agree. And GMs in the real world value veterans much more than fans do. Of course there’s a time and a place for lottery tickets and prospects, like now with the Rangers. But many teams are in stages of development where a good veteran or two can put them over the top. Even if it’s boring. They need playoff performers.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

I still don't see how a contender wouldn't cough up a 1st for Zuccarello when Brian Boyle got a 2nd.

Zucc has 20 points in the last 14 games. He can plug into just about any team's top 6 and produce. I don't see how that's not worth a 1st.

If he gets a 2nd, a damn good prospect better also be included.

While I think Zucc is more valuable than Boyle, I don't think the gulf is quite as wide as you'd think.

Boyle is a great 4C that eats tough minutes and elevates his game in the playoffs. He's durable as well.

While I'm hopeful Zucc gets a late 1st, a 2nd and prospect is what I expect. Something at least on the level of the Grabner deal last season. The difference between Zucc and Boyle in that case would be a prospect, which sounds about right, depending on the prospect.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Ofcourse one of the worst run team in the league us holding up trades again this year. Last year it was Karlsson now its stone and Duschene.