Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XXXII

[egelband]

Good to see Gorton is willing to be an adult and talk with the Rangers, hopefully Columbus would do the same. Gorton and JD should want to work with the Rangers on trades since I’m guessing they have some favorites from their time there, and would know our system better than other teams.

If I were Gorton, the guy I wouldn’t talk to is JD.

 

[Vitto79]

Get depth for this team please

don’t think you have to worry
They have sold for so long they will trade picks fir rentals at the very least

guys named make sense and shouldn’t cost a ton
Jarnkrok , Tierney , Lehkonen

Hertl and Pavelski would cost maybe too much cause that’s a 1st plus

 

[egelband]

Long term it will benefit the Franchise even though it is less entertaining each night, but get knock out early in maybe the hardest division in NHL at the moment is bad timing to reach playoffs instead focus on top talent.
My point is wait until Crosby & Malkin retire the big guns and then build for a future cup.

Sorry @Ori. I’ve never been more opposed to an opinion than this one. Pearl Harbor was a better call. We won’t and shouldn’t be selling at the deadline. It’s only a question of how all-in.

 

[Vitto79]

Is Dustin Brown ok still? is LA gonna move him as a ufa ?

At 50 off it’s a thought Avs should come cheaper than other rentals. he’s from NY

also Andrew Copp from Winnipeg ?
Stastny ?

 

[haohmaru]

And they don’t need to lock in Strome as their long term 2C; they need a young 2C who can eventually take over for Zibanejad as 1C once that salary is more palatable as a 2C center as it will be when the cap rises.

So does nearly every other team in the league. Finding a top 10 cost controlled center to "replace" Zibanejad is going to cost you an arm and a leg and Zibanejad's production will be hard to match.

The Rangers need to figure out their belief in the current core and whether or not it's built for the ultimate goal or, if it's not, move premium assets and set the organization back a couple of years.

Considering the contracts and term that were handed out to certain players, I'd think it's the former and I think it's pretty risky, in the age of Covid, to speculate and roster build best on future cap expectations. Who the hell knows what 2023-24 holds? There is no "normal" anymore.

 

[mas0764]

So does nearly every other team in the league. Finding a top 10 cost controlled center to "replace" Zibanejad is going to cost you an arm and a leg and Zibanejad's production will be hard to match.

They have defensive prospects, get an equal young center by trading multiple of those.

Instead of using them on ridiculous rentals.

And yes so does every team, to win the Cup you have to be better than every team. Get cracking on it.

I love how “it’s hard,” is an excuse by some to simply stop trying to build a contender. The reality is people are tired of it and have no patience and just want the playoffs again.

The Rangers need to figure out their belief in the current core and whether or not it's built for the ultimate goal or, if it's not, move premium assets and set the organization back a couple of years.

Their current core isn’t good enough. It lacks enough high end pieces. If they aren’t careful, neither core will be good enough.

They get caved in 5 on 5 and in the advanced stats. They are riding their goaltending from being about a top 10 team to being a top 5 team instead. It’s an illusion and Cups are not won that way, certainly not sustainable long term winners which is what we are supposed to be chasing.

 

[duhmetreE]

The Rangers cannot afford another top10 center.

Trading Kreider and Trouba is not a solution for it either.

You win from depth. Having 2 top 10 centers doesn't give you depth, it makes you Toronto.

We need a Cirelli-Gourde type Center(s). I've been repeating it ad-nauseum. Good/great 2way speed

 

[ZiGOODejad]

Of the core isn’t good enough to get it done now, who’s to say the core we have coming up can? I don’t know about anyone else but the two highly touted picks of are have been no where near what I thought they would be.

 

[ZiGOODejad]

The Rangers cannot afford another top10 center.

Trading Kreider and Trouba is not a solution for it either.

You win from depth. Having 2 top 10 centers doesn't give you depth, it makes you Toronto.

We need a Cirelli-Gourde type Center(s). I've been repeating it ad-nauseum. Good/great 2way speed

I would be all over trying to add Gourde to this team. Would certainly check some boxes off for our middle six

 

[Avery16]

Hertl comes only as a rental, or longer if FO made a decision to let Strome walk. This roster won’t have both Strome and Hertl next season.

Strome has improved a lot the last two seasons, but I’d still prefer Hertl. At this point, it comes down to what their next contract looks like, for me at least.

 

[RGY]

The Rangers cannot afford another top10 center.

Trading Kreider and Trouba is not a solution for it either.

You win from depth. Having 2 top 10 centers doesn't give you depth, it makes you Toronto.

We need a Cirelli-Gourde type Center(s). I've been repeating it ad-nauseum. Good/great 2way speed

I just dont see Seattle trading Gourde.

 

[Mac n Gs]

How’s his motor? Is he aggressive?

I think he's similar to someone like Othmann whose main skills are his ridiculous shot, playmaking ability, and skill to be really strong on and with the puck. His skating definitely needs some work, but it's been improving year-over-year and will be something that gets better simply as he gets stronger. Other than that, the kid simply scores at every level he's played, including 3 during this preseason where he looked pretty damn good for the Wild.

Again, not really sure what MIN would want for him, but I think he'd be a great fit to add to our young forward group.

 

[effen]

People can keep insisting on what the Rangers are gonna do; it doesn’t make what they are gonna do any less stupid.

What non-fantasy, non-magic-beans route should the Rangers do then? Keeping in mind in the real world Drury's predecessors got axed because they were building too slow, and in the real world winning and playoff revenue matter because owners like money.

 

[mas0764]

What non-fantasy, non-magic-beans route should the Rangers do then? Keeping in mind in the real world Drury's predecessors got axed because they were building too slow, and in the real world winning and playoff revenue matter because owners like money.

If the pressure is coming from above Drury to make the stupid moves, then that’s the problem. It’s no shock to anyone here that Dolan is a moron; if that’s the primary issue then he’s the one I’m speaking to. When I say “The Rangers are dumb to do X,” then feel free to insert Dolan’s name for the Rangers.

The real world things they should do and should have done are stop selling the future for the present until the future is sufficiently established.

Past examples include not trading Kreider for Robertson and a first, and trading Buch for bottom 6 grit instead of a future top 6 center and a first, which also had the trickle down effect of running off Kravtsov.

I don’t know what opportunities will present themselves in the future, suffice to say, they should not continue to trade future for present. They continue to whiff when they do that.

Opportunities come up to trade vets for impact young players, or to trade up in drafts. That should be their focus until they have two more young top 6 centers and another young top 6 winger in my opinion.

 

[effen]

If the pressure is coming from above Drury to make the stupid moves, then that’s the problem. It’s no shock to anyone here that Dolan is a moron; if that’s the primary issue then he’s the one I’m speaking to. When I say “The Rangers are dumb to do X,” then feel free to insert Dolan’s name for the Rangers.

The real world things they should do and should have done are stop selling the future for the present until the future is sufficiently established.

Past examples include not trading Kreider for Robertson and a first, and trading Buch for bottom 6 grit instead of a future top 6 center and a first, which also had the trickle down effect of running of Kravtsov.

I don’t know what opportunities will present themselves in the future, suffice to say, they should not continue to trade future for present. They continue to whiff when they do that.

I do not think there are many owners (read: actually zero) who would accept an argument to keep loading up for the future when the team currently has: the reigning Norris Trophy winner, a top 10 forward, a 1C they just gave 68 million dollars to, an awesome 25 year old goalie, a recent #1 overall and #2 overall pick, and more defense prospects than they know what to do with.

In particular you are agitating for a nearly impossible asset to acquire (young 2C on track to be a 1C, so on an ELC or a bridge LOL why would you trade that for D prospects) in good circumstances, which a flat cap world coming off a pandemic is not. Further complicating it is the Rangers cap sheet for the next few years which is already extremely tight.

The other problem with your stances is the perfect time to start buying doesn't exist, and even if it did, hockey is such that one good Fox injury makes years upon years of building a waste of time. It also makes the actual seasons people play leading up to that perfect time pointless to the guys actually doing the playing which is, uh, not good for morale.

 

[NYR Viper]

I REALLY like the idea of Lehkonen. If Drury could acquire him for something like Gauthier/Hajek + pick I'd be in on that. Pair him on the 3rd line with Goodrow and it's developing into an identity line. He plays either wing.

Also, for people saying we should be afraid of his QO, I would just sign him to a longer term deal. 3-4 years @ ~$2.5m

 

[Vitto79]

I REALLY like the idea of Lehkonen. If Drury could acquire him for something like Gauthier/Hajek + pick I'd be in on that. Pair him on the 3rd line with Goodrow and it's developing into an identity line. He plays either wing.

Also, for people saying we should be afraid of his QO, I would just sign him to a longer term deal. 3-4 years @ ~$2.5m

he can be traded if they needed to make Space next year too

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

Here's a thought to rustle some jimmies. Was last night a showcase for Schneider to the team that has the Rangers most coveted trade target?

 

[mas0764]

In particular you are agitating for a nearly impossible asset to acquire (young 2C on track to be a 1C, so on an ELC or a bridge LOL why would you trade that for D prospects) in good circumstances, which a flat cap world coming off a pandemic is not. Further complicating it is the Rangers cap sheet for the next few years which is already extremely tight.

It's not nearly impossible. The Rangers had it within their grasp twice in the past couple years, and other opportunities that probably were not far off. They had a Buch trade lined up for 8th overall (Zegras) that nearly got done, and then they had an actual offer for Buch for a young top 6 C type. Hell, they traded up for Braden Schneider in a draft where if they had traded up a little further they could have landed Lundell.

They just have not done what it takes to seal the deal.

It's not impossible. It's not even unlikely.

Hard, yes, impossible, no.

Other chances like that will present themselves.

The other problem with your stances is the perfect time to start buying doesn't exist, and even if it did, hockey is such that one good Fox injury makes years upon years of building a waste of time. It also makes the actual seasons people play leading up to that perfect time pointless to the guys actually doing the playing which is, uh, not good for morale.

There's never a perfect time to start buying because "buying," as is being advocated here by some, means overpaying for one year (not even one year - the tail end of a playoff run!) which is almost always losing value.

But there may be a time when such an overpay is an acceptable risk. Now, with the future core of the team in jeopardy, is not that time.

 

[mas0764]

Here's a thought to rustle some jimmies. Was last night a showcase for Schneider to the team that has the Rangers most coveted trade target?

Is the trade target a long term young center? Then I could dig it.

If he's being traded for Hertl, get the F out.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

Is the trade target a long term young center? Then I could dig it.

If he's being traded for Hertl, get the F out.

Clearly would have to include an extension if it was Hertl or at least one in principal. Agree, no way for a rental.

 

[NYR Viper]

The only way Hertl COULD fit is if Strome leaves (not an ideal scenario) or Kreider is traded (not ideal either).

I'll say this. I COULD see a scenario where the team as a whole thinks a lineup of:

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kaako
Panarin-Hertl-Strome
Barron-Goodrow-Blais
Hunt-Rooney/Barron-Reaves

Would make more sense then:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kaako
Panarin-Strome-Blais
Lafreniere-Goodrow-Barron
Hunt-Rooney-Reaves

If that were the scenario Drury was driving to, I could see it. Hertl would provide much needed 2-way play and a shooter mentality to that line. Push Strome to wing and he provides a 5th center if an injury occurs. This also allows Lafreniere top-6 time.

 

[AWall THE CLAW]

I mean, you can go back and forth on who it's gonna be, but the Rangers are obviously going to be making a rental. Gallant has coached deep playoff runs before and the guy is evaluating every night what piece he thinks he needs to put them over the top. 112 point pace - zero chance Gallant and the FO aren't already looking towards what type of player will help in the tournament. 2nd in GA/game and 20th in GF/game... so yes, they are obviously interested in a guy on a 40 goal pace (on a team that doesn't score very much) who might have already expressed a desire to play for you.

 

[MrAlmost]

Here's a thought to rustle some jimmies. Was last night a showcase for Schneider to the team that has the Rangers most coveted trade target?

Lets hope not, cause Hertl isnt what the team needs nor can he be kept. Also, even if you want to resign Hertl, it will end in failure since all signs point to him aging poorly from his numerous serious knee injuries.

 

[rangersfansince08]

I mean, you can go back and forth on who it's gonna be, but the Rangers are obviously going to be making a rental. Gallant has coached deep playoff runs before and the guy is evaluating every night what piece he thinks he needs to put them over the top. 112 point pace - zero chance Gallant and the FO aren't already looking towards what type of player will help in the tournament. 2nd in GA/game and 20th in GF/game... so yes, they are obviously interested in a guy on a 40 goal pace (on a team that doesn't score very much) who might have already expressed a desire to play for you.

did Hertl do that?