Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XXX

[CLW]

I said last week - upgrade of Lundkqvist is needed …

However- watching him the last four games - he’s skating like Brett Hedican; scooping the puck skating it out. An invaluable talent not all D men possess.

it’ll be interesting

He'll be a player. Maybe the coaches know what they are doing.

 

[Savant]

Not sure why you feel the need to ram “the rebuild is over” down everyone’s throats. I don’t see anyone disputing that. I don’t see post after post wanting to trade Strome for a draft pick and a prospect.

The argument or at least my argument is that there is evidence locking up Strome doesn’t work - the stretch run last year when the ice shrank and so did his production.

The front office, Drury included, seemed to understand that and now are all giddy to lock the guy up because he is producing in open ice in the early part of the season.

The question is, can they actually be a legitimate contender relying on Zibanejad and Strome to play 40 min a night and take up $14M of cap space. They are two players whose current game, at least in my opinion, has questions both about being able to produce offense in tight conditions and how well they are able to defend. Handing out immovable contracts to both has the potential to nuke this window.

This is all fair, but again, the team obviously tried to improve this and was unable to. As the rebuild is over, no contending team is going to hit the reset button on at least one of their top six centers especially with no solution on the horizon.

Why get rid of Strome at this stage, knowing his relationship with Panarin, when you are unsure if you can improve that? Rangers are going with with what they know instead of the mystery box, and I am fine with that. Rangers struck lightning in a bottle with Strome and quite frankly it’s refreshing after all the years of overpaying centers in free agency to come here and underachieving. That is the alternative, and if they can get Strome at a good number, they probably should. It’s obvious that Chytil is not the answer.

 

[NYR Viper]

All players develop differently. I think if you ask someone like @Amazing Kreiderman about how Lundkvist developed in the SEL, he would tell you his game was simple over there in his first season, and as he got more comfortable the flashes started to come. By last season, he was one of the better players on his team. We are seeing a similar developmental curve in the NHL so far. Slightly overwhelmed while he gets comfortable. Starting to pick up his play but playing a simple game overall. Even last night I started to see him demanding the puck a bit in open space to use his shot. Give him time. If his developmental path mimics the SEL, it will take some time but we will start seeing more and more flashes of offensive acumen.

 

[Savant]

Rangers need a mid 6 center that can be a go to go for key faceoffs

These days Chytil drives play about as well as Igor and Buch drive cars

They should just put Travis Green on the staff. Ironically the Canucks (if memory serves) were always a strong faceoff team. If not Green maybe they can find the person on his staff that coached the faceoffs. As for a rental center, Eakin probably makes the most sense but who knows what is going on there.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

All players develop differently. I think if you ask someone like @Amazing Kreiderman about how Lundkvist developed in the SEL, he would tell you his game was simple over there in his first season, and as he got more comfortable the flashes started to come. By last season, he was one of the better players on his team. We are seeing a similar developmental curve in the NHL so far. Slightly overwhelmed while he gets comfortable. Starting to pick up his play but playing a simple game overall. Even last night I started to see him demanding the puck a bit in open space to use his shot. Give him time. If his developmental path mimics the SEL, it will take some time but we will start seeing more and more flashes of offensive acumen.

That's exactly it. I see a lot of similarities between 2017-18 Lundkvist in the SHL and 2021-22 Lundkvist in the NHL.

What's most important is that he's comfortable, and from conversations I've had with people close to him, and in the org, there's no concerns there. Did I hope for more production? Sure. Am I concerned about his game? Not in the slightest.

When you look at Kakko, we are seeing Liiga Kakko now. We're seeing the plays he makes. And Lundkvist and Kakko have that in common.

 

[rangersfansince08]

Don't the stars have like four goalies? Would love to replace georgiev with 1 of them.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Lundkvist for my money has been quietly coming along pretty well defensively and moving the puck over the last few weeks.

I wonder how much of fans' perception of him was misaligned expectations. @Amazing Kreiderman can correct me if I am misspeaking, but I was under the impression that his offensive production was much more as a "trigger man" than "PP QB". I feel like people saw his stats and highlights and measurables and started thinking he was a Fox/DeAngelo type of player. When he is really like a Stralman with a cannon of a shot...which he hasn't been set up to use a ton on PP 2 even relative to Trouba (going off memory).

IMO if he can play solid in his own end in 3rd pair minutes on a hopefully contender/playoff team for 82 games...that's a pretty good season.

 

[NYR Viper]

I don't see a path forward with Strome where Kreider and Trouba are here unless Kaako is bridged.

Blais - 4 years @ $2.5m
Strome - 7 years @ $5.25m
Kaako - 8 years @ $6.75m
Gauthier - 1 year @ $1m

Georgiev to Edmonton for a 3rd '22 + 4th '23
Nemeth to Detroit for a 4th '22 + 4th '23


That's this line-up:

Kreider-Zib-Kaako
Panarin-Strome-Hunt
Lafreniere-Chytil-Blais
Goodrow-Barron-Reaves
Gauthier

Miller-Fox
Lindgren-Lundkvist
Jones-Trouba
Tinordi

Shesty
$1m backup

That is ~$4.5m over the cap.

So even if they trade Chytil and replace his $2.3m with a $1m 4th line center, bumping Goodrow or Barron up, that's not enough.

If they bridge Kaako @ ~$3-4m per season than they COULD keep Kreider by moving Chytil.

The question really comes down to Kaako bridged or long term.

 

[SA16]

I don't see a path forward with Strome where Kreider and Trouba are here unless Kaako is bridged.

Blais - 4 years @ $2.5m
Strome - 7 years @ $5.25m
Kaako - 8 years @ $6.75m
Gauthier - 1 year @ $1m

Georgiev to Edmonton for a 3rd '22 + 4th '23
Nemeth to Detroit for a 4th '22 + 4th '23


That's this line-up:

Kreider-Zib-Kaako
Panarin-Strome-Hunt
Lafreniere-Chytil-Blais
Goodrow-Barron-Reaves
Gauthier

Miller-Fox
Lindgren-Lundkvist
Jones-Trouba
Tinordi

Shesty
$1m backup

That is ~$4.5m over the cap.

So even if they trade Chytil and replace his $2.3m with a $1m 4th line center, bumping Goodrow or Barron up, that's not enough.

If they bridge Kaako @ ~$3-4m per season than they COULD keep Kreider by moving Chytil.

The question really comes down to Kaako bridged or long term.

Kakko has not shown anywhere near enough to get 6.75M per year for 8 years as of now. That is an extremely risky deal. And how is Blais getting 4-10 coming off a 14 game season where he had 4 points?

 

[NYR Viper]

Kakko has not shown anywhere near enough to get 6.75M per year for 8 years as of now. That is an extremely risky deal. And how is Blais getting 4-10 coming off a 14 game season where he had 4 points?

I would give Blais 4 x $10m right now. I'd be more than happy to give him more term at that number too if he would take it. He's 1 year from UFA, so if you give him a 'show me' deal, he could just walk.

 

[Raspewtin]

Lundkvist for my money has been quietly coming along pretty well defensively and moving the puck over the last few weeks.

I wonder how much of fans' perception of him was misaligned expectations. @Amazing Kreiderman can correct me if I am misspeaking, but I was under the impression that his offensive production was much more as a "trigger man" than "PP QB". I feel like people saw his stats and highlights and measurables and started thinking he was a Fox/DeAngelo type of player. When he is really like a Stralman with a cannon of a shot...which he hasn't been set up to use a ton on PP 2 even relative to Trouba (going off memory).

IMO if he can play solid in his own end in 3rd pair minutes on a hopefully contender/playoff team for 82 games...that's a pretty good season.

Said it when he was in Sweden, he would have been perceived better as a prospect if he scored less. He unfairly got this reputation that he was a Fox type D from his points.

 

[SA16]

I would give Blais 4 x $10m right now. I'd be more than happy to give him more term at that number too if he would take it. He's 1 year from UFA, so if you give him a 'show me' deal, he could just walk.

I would rather a one year "show me" deal and risking him walking than signing him for 4+ years at 2.5M+. Nobody wants to give Strome 5.5M but we're going to play Goodrow+Blais 6M+ combined? Seems ridiculous.

 

[Fitzy]

If Kakko had been drafted 22nd overall instead of 2nd overall no one would be questioning that a bridge contract is the right move for both parties.

 

[SA16]

If Kakko had been drafted 22nd overall instead of 2nd overall no one would be questioning that a bridge contract is the right move for both parties.

Kakko had a 7 game stretch where he scored this year and suddenly now people want to give him an 8 year deal because Hughes got one. The risk on that is absolutely insane. What if he doesn't break out offensively? We're stuck with a good defensive player on a huge deal? It makes way more sense to bridge him for a couple of years and if he breaks out and we have to pay him 8M or more two years from now that's fine. This is not like an Elias Pettersson situation where he came in the league and dominated right away.

 

[MrAlmost]

4 years for Kakko is the best deal for both parties. Keeps the cap lower and he comes up for resign when Panarin's contract is up. At that point he will have become the type of player he will be going forward and we can make a long term decision then.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Kakko had a 7 game stretch where he scored this year and suddenly now people want to give him an 8 year deal because Hughes got one. The risk on that is absolutely insane. What if he doesn't break out offensively? We're stuck with a good defensive player on a huge deal? It makes way more sense to bridge him for a couple of years and if he breaks out and we have to pay him 8M or more two years from now that's fine. This is not like an Elias Pettersson situation where he came in the league and dominated right away.

Yup, nothing wrong with bridging Kakko. Then after 22-23 you can look to move Trouba when his NMC expires and Schneider is hopefully ready to assume that role.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Said it when he was in Sweden, he would have been perceived better as a prospect if he scored less. He unfairly got this reputation that he was a Fox type D from his points.

The hype got out of control because he set some records that would have never been within reach if the best Swedish defensemen stayed in the SHL as long as he did (during a covid season, no less.)

He still does some straight up goofy shit out there, but he's improved for sure. Gallant has handled him like a champ.

 

[NYR Viper]

I would rather a one year "show me" deal and risking him walking than signing him for 4+ years at 2.5M+. Nobody wants to give Strome 5.5M but we're going to play Goodrow+Blais 6M+ combined? Seems ridiculous.

I don't see an issue with Blais @ $2.5m on a medium term deal. The organization clearly likes him, they targeted him specifically. He's a middle-6 physical winger who they have already seen provides a spark and element the team likes. Also at that number, he's not an anchor and they have him locked in through his prime.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Lundkvist for my money has been quietly coming along pretty well defensively and moving the puck over the last few weeks.

I wonder how much of fans' perception of him was misaligned expectations. @Amazing Kreiderman can correct me if I am misspeaking, but I was under the impression that his offensive production was much more as a "trigger man" than "PP QB". I feel like people saw his stats and highlights and measurables and started thinking he was a Fox/DeAngelo type of player. When he is really like a Stralman with a cannon of a shot...which he hasn't been set up to use a ton on PP 2 even relative to Trouba (going off memory).

IMO if he can play solid in his own end in 3rd pair minutes on a hopefully contender/playoff team for 82 games...that's a pretty good season.

This video gives a good indication of what Lundkvist does well, how he grew over the years and what he needs to work on still. His goals on the PP have made the rounds but he's much more than that.

 

[Perratrooper]

Would Kaut+Maltsev+2023 third be enough for Krastov?

 

[Fitzy]

Would Kaut+Maltsev+2023 third be enough for Krastov?

IDK Vitali has a big appetite

 

[bhamill]

Would Kaut+Maltsev+2023 third be enough for Krastov?

I could be wrong, but I see the NYR looking to trade quantity/quality for quality/cap retention, not trade quality for quantity. They have a few spots they want upgrade WITH lower cap if possible I don't think they want MORE contracts and a third rounder.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Would Kaut+Maltsev+2023 third be enough for Krastov?

All Kravs deals go through @EdJovanovski

 

[Perratrooper]

All Kravs deals go through @EdJovanovski

Oh god

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Lundkvist has definitely been improving. Stralman with more offensive potential is a good projection and model for him. Has that bomb of a shot which will come in handy but I don't see him as an offensive defenseman, I see him as a true two way guy.