Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XXXIV

[Barnaby]

I could see them adding a Kessel and one other top sixer on an expiring deal. Maybe even Eric Staal. Makes sense. Surely the FO considers this a year to take a shot. Doubt they do anything crazy - or at least I hope they don’t - but they’re certainly not being conservative.

I wouldn’t mind Kessel on a line with Zib and Kreider then you look to add more of a two-way RW for the Panarin-Strome line. Someone like Pavelski would be ideal but the cost might be too high. I hate doing projected line ups but...

Kreider-Zib-Kessel
Panarin-Strome-Pavelski
Laff-Goodrow-Kakko

I’d roll with that into the playoffs.

 

[Fitzy]

Look I very much like what we’ve seen from Scheinder so far, but people need to pump their breaks a bit.

In terms of people saying we should trade Trouba immediately? Agreed.

Still, he's off to a solid start and he has definite "All situations defenseman" written all over him. Can be used on the PP and PK. In his prime you could see him logging the 2nd most minutes on the defense behind Fox one day.

 

[Boris Zubov]

I get it. For me, I prefer to be optimistic than right when it comes to sports. There’s nothing at stake with being wrong here. @Thirty One has taught me that.

@Thirty One taught me how to walk & chew gum at the same time. I'm extremely grateful.

 

[RGY]

Posters complaining about the team and its management have a place here, a thread on how the team is managed.

Nobody comes here for drama and complaints about individual posters. At least I hope no one does. It’s off-topic.

I have no problems with people having a gripe about the team. Having differing opinions. Disagreeing with management decisions. Etc. Whatever it is. That is fine. Come here to vent. Heck, I do it. And yes I do it about Chytil and Strome mostly. But it is how you go about it. Constantly telling people how to feel and quite frankly celebrating when the team does the littlest thing wrong, using it as a talking point as to why you are right gets worn out.

The team has 60 points. I think everyone here acknowledges this team has some shortcomings. Things haven’t been done perfectly. The Buch trade was bad. Lafreniere not getting enough top 6 minutes. Nemeth has turned into a pretty wasteful signing. The list goes on. But there are also a lot of positives. Do we not get to enjoy those positives?

 

[rangers1314]

In terms of people saying we should trade Trouba immediately? Agreed.

Still, he's off to a solid start and he has definite "All situations defenseman" written all over him. Can be used on the PP and PK. In his prime you could see him logging the 2nd most minutes on the defense behind Fox one day.

I think he’s got the chance to be a really nice 2nd pairing guy. Top Pk. Not sure about his offensive ceiling.

 

[Matz03]

This team is so far from actually competing for a cup, like 2-3 years before you can call them a contender, would be the typical Rangers thing to do is add rental at expense of prospects and high picks. This team is all special teams and elite goaltending right now. Young players need to continue to get reps, so exciting what we have with Schneider, Jones on D, and continued development from Miller. I hope Drury can find an under-the-radar type of move, getting a young player on a contract or a prospect swap for a position of need, we need to keep building up, not waste assets to be a pretender.

 

[Alluckks]

Crouse is less-snakebit Gauthier, but he's not good. 0 PPG in half a season. Do not target, no one would care if he wasn't a former 11th overall pick.

I didn't even know he was drafted that high and I didn't factor it in at all

 

[Synergy27]

This team is so far from actually competing for a cup, like 2-3 years before you can call them a contender, would be the typical Rangers thing to do is add rental at expense of prospects and high picks. This team is all special teams and elite goaltending right now. Young players need to continue to get reps, so exciting what we have with Schneider, Jones on D, and continued development from Miller. I hope Drury can find an under-the-radar type of move, getting a young player on a contract or a prospect swap for a position of need, we need to keep building up, not waste assets to be a pretender.

I don’t understand this mindset. Not that I think they are legit contenders now, but how are they better in 2-3 years? What’s the vision?

I assume this is based on a belief that all of Zib, Kreider, Panarin and Strome are playing at the same level they are now and then Laf, Kakko, and the young D are significantly improved? Of the first four names, the only one I see contributing similarly to how he is this season is Zib.

We’re going to need big steps from Kakko and Laf just to remain on par.

 

[NYR94]

This team is so far from actually competing for a cup, like 2-3 years before you can call them a contender, would be the typical Rangers thing to do is add rental at expense of prospects and high picks. This team is all special teams and elite goaltending right now. Young players need to continue to get reps, so exciting what we have with Schneider, Jones on D, and continued development from Miller. I hope Drury can find an under-the-radar type of move, getting a young player on a contract or a prospect swap for a position of need, we need to keep building up, not waste assets to be a pretender.

Yeah seems like a whole lot of smoke and mirrors with the special teams and Shesterkin covering up a lot of flaws.

 

[Alluckks]

Yeah I've never seen special teams or a top goalie matter in the playoffs lol

 

[Fitzy]

Tensions are high. We came up short trying to win a cup with Hank for 10+ years (Made the playoffs 10 of 11 years from 2006 to 2017) people actually want this era to end with the biggest prize.

So the nit-picking about the team isn't surprising- people want to try to minimize the number of flaws to up this teams chances to win it all.

 

[tomobson]

I don’t understand this mindset. Not that I think they are legit contenders now, but how are they better in 2-3 years? What’s the vision?

I assume this is based on a belief that all of Zib, Kreider, Panarin and Strome are playing at the same level they are now and then Laf, Kakko, and the young D are significantly improved? Of the first four names, the only one I see contributing similarly to how he is this season is Zib.

We’re going to need big steps from Kakko and Laf just to remain on par.

Panarin and Mika will still be good players and if Trouba or Kreider slow down too much then they are movable. One of Kakko or Laf has to breakout. When they do you have a Panarin/Mika combo top line. Those two would be good enough to still be dangerous against the playoff teams unlike Panarin/Strome. Kakko or Laf can run the second line with an actual center and that will be a huge improvement to the top six. A lot rides on Kakko or Laf. Nothing much will happen if neither of them meet exceptions.

 

[Ola]

I have to say that I am still dumbfounded by the — lack — of talk of moving Laf into center position.

There is really no question about his skill set (a) being problematic on the wing and (b) being a better fit at center, in the NHL.

Why isn’t this discussed more? Like let’s leave right and wrong aside. I am not saying that it’s black and white. But it’s certainly “grey” enough to be considered — and especially given our center issues going forward.

These are fact:
-Before he was drafted every other expert questioned if he wouldn’t be a better fit at center. For obvious reasons. If you think I am clueless, just google it.

-There are a ton of examples of players with the right skill set — like Laf — effortlessly and with great success moving from the wing to center.

Claude Giroux for example. We who followed PL Dubois before the draft know that he never played center in juniors. Kuznetsov wasn’t a center. Kempe never played center.

The classic examples. Our best center ever was a LW, in Messier who didn’t play center before 84’. Kirk Muller. Vinny Damphousse.

So ultimately I am not saying that it must be done. But I do think it’s a big mistake that it’s not discussed and analyzed more. Could honestly by franchise future altering if it would work out. Or, what am I missing??

 

[Ola]

And just to add to the consideration of moving Laf to center — if there is ONE winger in this league I could pick to put next to a young player adopting to the center position in this league, it’s Artemi Panarin. The same guy PLD had when he moved to center.

 

[wafflepadsave]

I'd also consider

Laffy Zibs Kakko
Panarin Strome Kreider
Lehkonen Goodrow Chytil

or even

Laffy Zibs Kakko
Panarin Strome Lehkonen
Kreider Goodrow Chytil

Kreider is not very creative 5v5, Laffy & Kakko might give each other that little extra chemistry they struggle to find with the BFF's. Laffy simply has to play big minutes in the top 6 and that's that.

However, looking at those lines it doesn't feel like a Gallant team, he will want more physicality.

Jones brings that much needed puck movement, but seeing him struggle down low you see why Gallant tried so hard to get Nils going.

Also (elsewhere in this thread) re: blaming the kids. Nothing would be more Rangers than Dolan & Sather shipping out the kids so they can go back to their comfort zone would it.

I think galant has tried all the combinations. He has too many puzzle pieces that don’t fit the puzzle. He needs some help from drury. Gonna be tough to get many pieces during the season. Going to be some really gut-wrenching decisions on the horizon.

 

[bbny]

Yeah I've never seen special teams or a top goalie matter in the playoffs lol

It’s hilarious. Weak special teams (pp specifically) is precisely why the Rangers of the 2010s lost in the playoffs on many occasions.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

It’s hilarious. Weak special teams (pp specifically) is precisely why the Rangers of the 2010s lost in the playoffs on many occasions.

Yeah sure that was part of it. The other part? Over-reliance on the goaltender to steal every game. Now where have I seen that…

 

[bleedblue94]

The team has been healthy and McKegg has been in the lineup over guys like Barron. Gallant is “loyal to his guys. He ain’t going anywhere. When Kakko comes back he’s still gonna be on the 4th line and you know that.

when the team was healthy mckegg was in the ahl with barron, he was just sent down a couple weeks ago when we were becoming even sort of healthy. you're just making things up now...

 

[bleedblue94]

I really miss this Kakko




that release on the 2nd goal.... why do we never see it.

I mean he did it on a borderline ahl goalie.

 

[Alluckks]

It’s hilarious. Weak special teams (pp specifically) is precisely why the Rangers of the 2010s lost in the playoffs on many occasions.

Being able to capitalize on the powerplay in the playoffs is so huge. Teams play such a tighter and grittier game in general in the playoffs. The only time you get a chance to really make any passing plays, aside from the seldom odd man break, is on the man advantage.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

when the team was healthy mckegg was in the ahl with barron, he was just sent down a couple weeks ago when we were becoming even sort of healthy. you're just making things up now...

Who is the person on this team that McKegg is holding a spot warm for?

 

[I Eat Crow]

I would say that most people probably agree that this is not the year to spend assets on rentals and a deep playoff push, despite the record.

However decisions loom about guys like Strome, Chytil, Gauthier, Lundkvist, Kravtsov, etc.

Not to mention growing discomfort with the lottery bros.

It may not be the season to go all in with rentals, but it may be a pretty good moment to look at a couple of HARD decisions and see if something like a KK, Strome, Lundkvist gets you a LONG TERM piece. Sadly, I’m void of ideas. The core up front is too far along age wise to wait for all of the kids to fill in the missing holes. And guys like Chytil and Kakko look less and less likely to be able to replicate the performance of guys like Zib and Kreider later when the forward and D cores are similar ages. The window has just opened. We have a few years to intelligently take a swing. This isn’t the year for all in rentals.

Aside from a big splash, guys like Crouse/Lehkonen could definitely stabilize the top nine and let us spread it around better.

This is pretty much where I'm at.

Drury needs to make the decision this summer if Lafreniere and Kakko are a part of the winning formula. If they're not, trade them while they still have value.

It's a very blunt and harsh assessment, but when you have a window where you still have Kreider, Panarin, Shesterkin, Fox, Trouba, and Zibanejad all in their primes and you've identified them as the core for the next contention window, you need to make moves to win before their play drops off to a point that they're not a part of the winning formula.

If Lafreniere and Kakko are not going to be contributing parts of that core, ship them out. The Rangers as a team can't wait another 3 or 4 years until they figure it out and become top 6 forwards. Kakko in particular still has the upside in my mind to be a Jere Lehtinen type of player that excels on defense and still puts up 50-60 points on a top line with the team's point producers. I'll go against the grain and say that I'm more willing to keep Kakko over Lafreniere long term because of this. Lafreniere simply has been a huge disappointment. If he's not going to show it by next year, he's gone. How many first overall picks that didn't bust turned it on in year 3 or 4? MacKinnon is the only one I can really think of at the moment. I'm not going to put lipstick on a pig here. I just don't see it with Lafreniere. He doesn't keep his feet moving enough to compensate for his lack of high end skill. His IQ is super high and because of it he thinks he can coast. He's the guy I'm dealing for a center.

If Vancouver calls up and offers an extended Horvat for Lafreniere, I really think long and hard about it. But for now, yes, moves like Lehkonen, Jarnkrok, and Crouse are the ones to make, preferably one of the first two that play RW. RFA or UFA at year's end but would extend here for another 3 or 4 years to be a 3rd line piece. There's going to be room for Cuylle, Othmann, and Berard still.

 

[DanielBrassard]

If we are trading Lafreniere for a center I hope it's not Bo Horvat, he's nothing special to be honest. Rather keep Strome.

 

[bleedblue94]

Who is the person on this team that McKegg is holding a spot warm for?

hangon, you said mckegg is in this lineup when the team is healthy. No hypotheticals here or spinning narratives.

1. Has mckegg been in the lineup once while this team has been healthy? No.

2. Was mckegg sent off the main roster when certain players got healthy? Yes.

Your statement is factually incorrect, in fact his ice time is also dropping from 12mins to 9mins and to just 6mins the last game.

 

[Alluckks]

I'm fine with spending assets to acquire a 3 year player, sending out guys like Chytil, Lundkvist, Kravstov, etc.

I'm fine with getting meh rentals by spending expendable assets like Hajek, lower tier prospects, maybe even someone like Gauthier, and mid round (4th+) picks

Getting to the playoffs and playing a competitive series to see what muster some players have could play a huge decision making role. Maybe we get there and win the first round and Strome has 7 points in 6 games and plays great. Maybe we lose in 7 games and he has 0 points. Maybe Miller shows he steps up and is a beast. It is not a certainty that conclusions or even anything definitive could be drawn, but more data points (especially crucial ones like playoff performance) is very good to have when coming to such important forks in the road for the future of the franchise.