Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XXXI

[RGY]

There are worse options than giving James Neal a look. He is making the league minimum and has almost 300 goals in his career. He shoots the puck.

 

[McRanger92]

There are worse options than giving James Neal a look. He is making the league minimum and has almost 300 goals in his career. He shoots the puck.

Lots of playoff experience and played under Gallant in Vegas

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

There are worse options than giving James Neal a look. He is making the league minimum and has almost 300 goals in his career. He shoots the puck.

And wouldnt cost anything of value

we would still have all our assets for a run at Gourde

he also has a bit of snarl in his game

 

[huerter]

There are worse options than giving James Neal a look. He is making the league minimum and has almost 300 goals in his career. He shoots the puck.

Does he play small ball, ground and pound, and feed the ball into the post?

 

[RGY]

We never use our waiver claims. Use it on James Neal.

 

[bleedblue94]

he already proved that last year, just no one paid attention.

People paid attention, but last year he was a target to be replaced to help overhaul some diversity in the lineup. They couldn't get a suitable upgrade to him so they changed other parts instead. My point is that if he can be effective away from panarin than he can be your 3c if you use chytil and others to get a 2c for panarin.

 

[Savant]

So? Claim him, try it out. If it doesn't work, you send him down. It won't affect the cap at all.

I’d rather not waste the claim. There is no evidence that he has anything left in the tank. Keep flexibility. Don't think there is any upside and don’t think he’s an upgrade necessarily. Would rather give in house options those minutes especially considering guys like Barron can’t get on the ice as is

 

[QJL]

KZB

 

[bleedblue94]

Strome scored a goal and took a lazy penalty. He didn’t drive the offense today, that was the Kreider/Zib line.

He can still be an effective player. He isn't the player we want him to be, but that doesn't mean he is ineffective. He's just been cast in a role that he shouldn't be on this team, but he puts up points. He is to panarin what Erik Christiansen was at times to gaborik when the team had no better options. 1c Erik Christiansen, those were the days...

 

[bleedblue94]

Count me in on a flier for James Neal. We at least know he can shoot the puck

This team lacks speed and skating and you want to bring in Neal? This is on par with bringing in toffoli. These are guys that can't skate at a league average level that this point...

Did anyone notice gettinger trying to get around the rink today? When he was up before his skating wasn't great but it didn't look awful, today it looked awful, it stops out in a bad way. The league is getting faster and more fluid. You don't add below average skaters to a roster already lacking quality skaters

 

[RGY]

I’d rather not waste the claim. There is no evidence that he has anything left in the tank. Keep flexibility. Don't think there is any upside and don’t think he’s an upgrade necessarily. Would rather give in house options those minutes especially considering guys like Barron can’t get on the ice as is

Waste a claim? As if they ever use their claims. L.O.L.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

Has James Neal ever played RW? If not, pass

 

[bleedblue94]

And wouldnt cost anything of value

we would still have all our assets for a run at Gourde

he also has a bit of snarl in his game

Seattle is not trading gourde. They have literally identified him and tanev as the faces of the team and what they want their players to be like/play like. It would be like St Louis trading ror, or the devil's trading hischer. The guys that the organizations look at as examples for the rest of the teammates almost never get dealt unless their are contract issues or something else happening. There's a real chance gourde is wearing the c in Seattle next year if Giordano leaves

 

[brakeyawself]

I don’t think Drury rates Kupari because he could have gotten Kupari and a 1st for Buchnevich but took the Blais deal instead.

LA and NYR are not good partners because it doesn’t make much sense for LA to trade futures for futures. If they choose to cash in on their young centers it’ll be for an established player, probably all star level. D are easier to get than C and have less value. LA doesn’t have to make a move. They are positioned to take their time and unlike the Rangers weren’t mandated to rush their rebuild. LA does not need the Rangers help.

Needing help? You do realize teams make trades all the time that have nothing to do with needing immediate help right? That are purely player for player dependent.

"Cash in on their young centers" ? They have like 9 to "cash in on". And they can certainly use high caliber defensive depth in their organization. Both in the NHL and AHL. Which again we have an abundance of.

How do you know Drury could have traded Buch to LA for Kupari and a 1st? Specifically, where does that come from? Are you making some inference? Because that deal is 100 times better than Blais and a 2nd, and it's not even close. So if he actually passed up on an offer like that, then he really is clueless. Not to mention, Drury really didn't trade for any centers, what so ever. And his obsession with bringing in "grit" was discussed at length. Which seemed like all he was focused on. Which is the main reason he made the Buch trade to bring in Blais. I really do not think it was a one or the other scenario like you're making it out to be. And what winger did the Kings even end up bringing in? They brought in Danault at C....... which just added to that ridiculous depth.

Sure, sounds like you are upset about rushing our rebuild, as am I, but that doesn't mean squat in terms of what the Kings might or might not do. Just because they have time doesn't mean they wouldn't part with one of their young centers for another positional need, of which LD especially seems to be for them. And again, we have like 4 very good options. Robertson would become their 2nd best D prospect behind Clarke probably. Same for Jones. Tuo might be too little for Kupari. Miller, I doubt we will trade at this point. Schneider isn't going anywhere. Robertson seems the most likely candidate to get moved. But either way, I think you're making some heavy presumptions and creating some unrealistically narrow restrictions in regard to why and how trades are made in pro sports.

 

[mas0764]

Some teams have not yet learned that you can't both have a development/rebuilding year and a seriously competing year. That kind of balance at least is sometimes near impossible to find.

And yea, I get it, we've won some games and we are doing well. We have our eye on a playoff spot. But if competing for that playoff spot comes at the detriment of developing our biggest assets, it really might not be worthwhile. ESPECIALLY if you are a team that likely are not competing for a cup, but just a 1 or 2 series and done playoff exit. Which I still think is the most likely outcome of us making the playoffs this season.

I would much rather see all our young guys getting heavy playing time, instead of striving for an early playoff exit. And I still think that's kind of what we are doing. Laf, Kakko, Jones, Lundkvist should all be getting quality NHL minutes this season. Kravtsov should as well, except we know what happened there lol. But I have a bad feeling we are going to look back on this season and the surrounding few seasons and ask "what the F was the organization thinking?" Laf has already had enough trouble developing and becoming what he should become. If Drury and Gallant won't put him in the best possible situation to grow and perform, then, IMO, that's a huge knock against them and their tenure with the NYR. Like why is Hajek still ahead of Jones on the depth chart? Why isn't Jones being tried with Trouba and, when Lindgren is healthy, Miller being paired with Lundqvist? Or some combo.

Anyway, now that we have a good bottom 6 to build upon, we should be focusing on our top 6 and developing the players that we have earmarked for our future top 6.

We still need a future top 6 center or two and another young wing (or Kravtsov back).

 

[mas0764]

How we can't find a solid 2C/solid C prospect for this list is beyond bullshit.

Hajek/Nils/ZJ/Robertson/Krav are playing great hockey to boot.

1st/2nd this year in a (by all accounts) really strong draft.

Chytil still shouldn't be slept on either.

w t f

Shitty GM?

 

[McRanger92]

This team lacks speed and skating and you want to bring in Neal? This is on par with bringing in toffoli. These are guys that can't skate at a league average level that this point...

Did anyone notice gettinger trying to get around the rink today? When he was up before his skating wasn't great but it didn't look awful, today it looked awful, it stops out in a bad way. The league is getting faster and more fluid. You don't add below average skaters to a roster already lacking quality skaters

Didn’t mind Gettinger today but he seems like a guy who doesn’t use his size enough

 

[mas0764]

Needing help? You do realize teams make trades all the time that have nothing to do with needing immediate help right? That are purely player for player dependent.

"Cash in on their young centers" ? They have like 9 to "cash in on". And they can certainly use high caliber defensive depth in their organization. Both in the NHL and AHL. Which again we have an abundance of.

How do you know Drury could have traded Buch to LA for Kupari and a 1st? Specifically, where does that come from? Are you making some inference? Because that deal is 100 times better than Blais and a 2nd, and it's not even close. So if he actually passed up on an offer like that, then he really is clueless. Not to mention, Drury really didn't trade for any centers, what so ever. And his obsession with bringing in "grit" was discussed at length. Which seemed like all he was focused on. Which is the main reason he made the Buch trade to bring in Blais. I really do not think it was a one or the other scenario like you're making it out to be. And what winger did the Kings even end up bringing in? They brought in Danault at C....... which just added to that ridiculous depth.

Sure, sounds like you are upset about rushing our rebuild, as am I, but that doesn't mean squat in terms of what the Kings might or might not do. Just because they have time doesn't mean they wouldn't part with one of their young centers for another positional need, of which LD especially seems to be for them. And again, we have like 4 very good options. Robertson would become their 2nd best D prospect behind Clarke probably. Same for Jones. Tuo might be too little for Kupari. Miller, I doubt we will trade at this point. Schneider isn't going anywhere. Robertson seems the most likely candidate to get moved. But either way, I think you're making some heavy presumptions and creating some unrealistically narrow restrictions in regard to why and how trades are made in pro sports.

Edge reported that Buch for Kupari and a first was offered by LA.

And yes Drury is a moron for passing on that deal.

 

[brakeyawself]

We still need a future top 6 center or two and another young wing (or Kravtsov back).

Agreed.

Unfortunately, while I agree about the Kravtsov sentiment, I just don't think Drury and Gallant are likely to completely welcome him back. I think he's going to get moved. Drury and Gallant both seem pretty stubborn to me. And after learning everything regarding the situation, especially about Drury calling out Krav when Drury was an AGM, I am just not very optimistic Drury can get over himself enough to welcome him back. And it would take a gesture probably for Krav to come back happily without requesting a trade outright. I hope I am wrong on this. But that's how Ive read the situation thus far.

Othmann looks like a plausible success though, which is good. He can play both wings from what I know. And honesty, the way he's playing in the OHL, he could be up as early as next season.

Laf is still very disappointing. I don't even know what to say about him anymore.

And while Kakko looks great out there, he's still not producing. So I hope it's only a matter of time until he does start producing, but it's still worrying.

So yea, I think we will still need a wing either way. Don't think we re-sign Panarin in 2026.

Pajuniemi though might work out. Same with Berard. But not sure really what their ceilings will be, with a fair chance at top 6.

But yea, centers all day. Which is why I still think if Drury was a good GM, he will eventually trade one of our young D for a good equivalent young center. It's starting to seem obvious that despite having his moments, Chytil is probably a better option on the wing. So even adding a center theoretically helps us on the wing if Chytil decides to produce.

 

[brakeyawself]

Edge reported that Buch for Kupari and a first was offered by LA.

And yes Drury is a moron for passing on that deal.

I mean, it makes him look like SUCH a moron that I have a very difficult time believing it's true. I honestly don't think we should put too much stock into something like that. Because if it is true, that really is just another sign that Drury might not be cut out for this. I would say like 90% of his moves so far have been between questionable and decent. That's about it. Goodrow was a good pickup. And on top of other apparent botches, like with Kravtsov...... I don't know. I am not nearly as optimistic about this build as I was under the previous admin, which is saying a lot. But right now, I would take Gorton and JR back in a heartbeat. They're the ones that got the majority of these prospects anyway. But I am probably in the minority on that. I just really still don't trust our ownership to make the right administration level moves, throughout the organization from top to bottom. Which is really where I see the problems emanating from with this team.

 

[Savant]

Needing help? You do realize teams make trades all the time that have nothing to do with needing immediate help right? That are purely player for player dependent.

"Cash in on their young centers" ? They have like 9 to "cash in on". And they can certainly use high caliber defensive depth in their organization. Both in the NHL and AHL. Which again we have an abundance of.

How do you know Drury could have traded Buch to LA for Kupari and a 1st? Specifically, where does that come from? Are you making some inference? Because that deal is 100 times better than Blais and a 2nd, and it's not even close. So if he actually passed up on an offer like that, then he really is clueless. Not to mention, Drury really didn't trade for any centers, what so ever. And his obsession with bringing in "grit" was discussed at length. Which seemed like all he was focused on. Which is the main reason he made the Buch trade to bring in Blais. I really do not think it was a one or the other scenario like you're making it out to be. And what winger did the Kings even end up bringing in? They brought in Danault at C....... which just added to that ridiculous depth.

Sure, sounds like you are upset about rushing our rebuild, as am I, but that doesn't mean squat in terms of what the Kings might or might not do. Just because they have time doesn't mean they wouldn't part with one of their young centers for another positional need, of which LD especially seems to be for them. And again, we have like 4 very good options. Robertson would become their 2nd best D prospect behind Clarke probably. Same for Jones. Tuo might be too little for Kupari. Miller, I doubt we will trade at this point. Schneider isn't going anywhere. Robertson seems the most likely candidate to get moved. But either way, I think you're making some heavy presumptions and creating some unrealistically narrow restrictions in regard to why and how trades are made in pro sports.

Re: Kupari use the search button and see for yourself.

The Kings brought in Arvidsson as a winger and he has been very good for them.

Compared to centers, LD grow on trees and they have no rush. They can draft LD with their 1st round pick and improve their system without giving up one of their centers. Again, they aren’t in a rush. Also they have the best farm system in the NHL, they have cap space and they are in a big market. It would make no sense for them to do a prospect for prospect trade. It’s just common sense. When they make a deal it’ll be for a big ticket item.

 

[McRanger92]

We should be talking about potential deadline additions yet we’re still whining about the Buchnevich trade. Why?

 

[brakeyawself]

Re: Kupari use the search button and see for yourself.

The Kings brought in Arvidsson as a winger and he has been very good for them.

Compared to centers, LD grow on trees and they have no rush. They can draft LD with their 1st round pick and improve their system without giving up one of their centers. Again, they aren’t in a rush. Also they have the best farm system in the NHL, they have cap space and they are in a big market. It would make no sense for them to do a prospect for prospect trade. It’s just common sense. When they make a deal it’ll be for a big ticket item.

Ah yea, Arvidsenn.... eh. He's doing ok..... not so great in comparison to Buch. Relative, Arv is a pretty small buy.

You are just making up "common sense" rules that don't necessarily exist. There's 100 different ways, paths by which to run a team, and then 1,000 different options at nearly every step. Again, that's a pretty narrow presumption on your part. And it's largely based on a rumor, that if true makes Drury look like a giant failure, so I really don't know how much stock can be put into something like that.

But also, again, it's not like they have ONE chip, they have many. Which means they can do not just a"big ticket item", but that and more. SO restricting their options to that just doesn't seem at all reasonable.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

He can still be an effective player. He isn't the player we want him to be, but that doesn't mean he is ineffective. He's just been cast in a role that he shouldn't be on this team, but he puts up points. He is to panarin what Erik Christiansen was at times to gaborik when the team had no better options. 1c Erik Christiansen, those were the days...

Honestly, really insulting to Strome to make that comparison. Strome is a legit 2nd line center.

 

[brakeyawself]

Not saying anything can be done, but let’s say we could get two guys that really makes sense, at @50% retained, we would definitely be a top 3 contender for a couple of years. Like was watching LA, just 100% hypothetically, say we got Arvidsson and Dandenault, then we are at Tampa level for sure. Depth will be super important in the POs and this year in general.

Again, it’s probably not even remotely possible, but adding vs keep building for the future isn’t 100% binary. It depends on what we can add. I am very far from a believer in getting big name rentals at the deadline. But if Drury could add say Yanni Gourde and a winger like say Arvidsson @50% — ie not just some big names but players that from my POV 110% gives us what we need — it’s something else. That would put us as close to a cup as a team can get basically in the Cap era for the next 3-4 years.

For example:
Chytil, Zac Jones and a 1st in 22’ for Yanni Gourde @50%
Kravy and Robertson for Arvidsson @50%

Kreider-Ziba-Arvidsson
Panarin-Strome-Laf
Goodrow-Gourde-Kakko
Reeves-Rooney-Hunt

Isolated, those are not “good” trades. But if Drury could pull them off and — add — Gourde and Arvidsson to this team for like 4.6m per in cap space, we are a top contender for the coming 3 POs no doubt. That is a chance you should not pass up.

No way I see that team with Arv and Gourde as a top contender.

Plus, I am not really a big Arv fan. He's ok. I really hope we could bring more to the table than he though. And Gourde I mean, for 3rd liner. We have plenty of bottom 6 assets all ready. What we need is high end talent. And that becomes even more apparent when Laf and Kakko still haven't been producing. Depending on either of them as future high end producers at this point, in my view, is foolish. Neither has yet proven they are going to become what we need them to become, so there's not much to bank on honestly. We have 3 legit top 6 forwards right now, Kreider, Panarin, Zibby. Strome... is borderline and I'd rather he not return next year. Chytil..... has been disappointing. I think he needs to move to the wing to maximize his skillset. Which means we need a 2/3c. Strome would be ideal at 3c, but could live with him for this season at 2c. But looking forward, I really think we need an upgrade over him.