Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XXXIV

[duhmetreE]

It doesn't make NO sense. There was some logic behind it. You may not have agreed with that logic, but you can at least acknowledge the thought process and understand how people came to that conclusion.

If people were suggesting we drop Kreider to the 3rd line to put Gauthier with Zib, you'd have a point. But people suggested it because they wanted Laf up there, a very recent 1st overall pick, and they believed it would result in a more balanced lineup. All year we've been trying to find a way to make the 3rd line more productive. Who's to say it wouldn't have been with Kreider on it? The Laf-Chytil-Gauthier line produced far below their expected goal totals. If Kreider were on that line and Laf bumped up, maybe they would have produced a lot more. Maybe Laf would have produced a lot more by now playing the whole year with Zib, at his natural LW spot.

We don't know and we'll never know. Regardless, no one is going to suggest that switch now, no matter how much they want to see Laf in the top 6. But at the time, before Kreider channeled his inner Ovi, the idea had merit.

There is no scenario where taking Kreider out of the top6 would have made sense. If they wanted to move him to RW, sure.

The whole argument was predicated on "Kreider only scores PPGs. He can still do that on the 3rd line" Negating everything else he does at even strength.

 

[rangersfansince08]

I get it and I agree, but paying someone $1.75MM to not be a regular player for a team that is going to be cap crunched next season doesn't make sense.

There is almost zero fighting in the playoffs so a deterrence really isn't needed then. Games are physical yes but teams don't want to risk taking too many penalties in the playoffs.

We could probably get Motte at that price. Mottes makes us better than Reaves.

 

[duhmetreE]

I get it and I agree, but paying someone $1.75MM to not be a regular player for a team that is going to be cap crunched next season doesn't make sense.

There is almost zero fighting in the playoffs so a deterrence really isn't needed then. Games are physical yes but teams don't want to risk taking too many penalties in the playoffs.

There doesn't need to be fighting.

Just look what Mayfield did to Kucherov. The cheapshots go up drastically without a scary deterrent

I'm not advocating keeping Reaves over Motte but if at all possible, early year Reaves playing with speed like Motte/Brodz/Rooney should be serviceable.

 

[haohmaru]

Apparently you don't got it. As explained to you, it's not the third line. It's simply a rebalancing of who plays with who to get the best results across the board.

This isn't NHL 2021 where you just slot in the highest rated guys on the first line.

I've played and watched hockey for decades. Stop with this condescending shit that I "don't get it".

Kreider, Zibanejad, Panarin, Kakko are in your top 6, should play the most minutes, and play both PK and PP. They should be part of your top six every night unless your third line is having a great night and they deserve more ice time.

OF COURSE there are 1/2/3/4 lines in hockey. Tell Chytil he's a "3rd liner" in name only and he'll tell you you're full of shit. Tell Reaves he's not really a 4th liner. This argument is semantics and bullshit.

Kreider should be in the top 6 of minutes played by a forward every freaking night. Period, end of story.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

There doesn't need to be fighting.

Just look what Mayfield did to Kucherov. The cheapshots go up drastically without a scary deterrent

I'm not advocating keeping Reaves over Motte but if at all possible, early year Reaves playing with speed like Motte/Brodz/Rooney should be serviceable.

Yeah in a perfect world I'd like to see a 4th line of Motte - Rooney - Reaves but on a cap crunched team not sure if that would work. We also have Hunt in the mix with Blais next season, along with potentially Kravstov.

Some tough decisions going to have to be made this summer.

Do you resign Rooney? Motte? Copp? Strome? If so where is the money coming from?
Who do you replace Georgiev with?
What type of contract does Kakko get?
Where does Blais fit in and what will his contract look like?
What do you do with Chytil?
What will the situation with Kravstov look like?
Is Copp at least the short term solution for 2C?
Will there be a taker out there for Nemeth?
What type of move do you make with the glut of NHL ready defensive prospects?

 

[duhmetreE]

@UAGoalieGuy

$1.9M left to get a backupgoalie and 7D.

A big move will have to take place in 2023-2024 though but $3.4M or so dead cap comes off

It's doable but it will take a lot of wiggling from here on out

We might be able to keep the squad together for 2 more seasons but if/when young players start taking off/need to get paid... it gets obviously harder

 

[Avery16]

It might be worth reminding that Reaves hasn’t been a fighter for us. He’s second *in the league* for hits. Plus, he’s good for chemistry. I’d take that over Motte if that’s the choice.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

It doesn't make NO sense. There was some logic behind it. You may not have agreed with that logic, but you can at least acknowledge the thought process and understand how people came to that conclusion.

If people were suggesting we drop Kreider to the 3rd line to put Gauthier with Zib, you'd have a point. But people suggested it because they wanted Laf up there, a very recent 1st overall pick, and they believed it would result in a more balanced lineup. All year we've been trying to find a way to make the 3rd line more productive. Who's to say it wouldn't have been with Kreider on it? The Laf-Chytil-Gauthier line produced far below their expected goal totals. If Kreider were on that line and Laf bumped up, maybe they would have produced a lot more. Maybe Laf would have produced a lot more by now playing the whole year with Zib, at his natural LW spot.

We don't know and we'll never know. Regardless, no one is going to suggest that switch now, no matter how much they want to see Laf in the top 6. But at the time, before Kreider channeled his inner Ovi, the idea had merit.

Wrong. There are still people suggesting that move right now which makes no sense. Scroll up a few posts.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Reaves stinks, I like him but he’s not worth that contract.

If they can move him in the summer they should, but they probably won’t so the point is moot

Attach a pick/prospect to Nemeth and some bottom feeder will take him, they’re not going to have to buy him out

 

[bbny]

Would be interested at getting Copp in the $4m range if we could trade for a young, cost controlled 2C. Then Copp is an expensive 3C but we have time while the kid is cheap before the cap goes up.

Copp is going to push $5M. Danault contract

 

[Vitto79]

Reaves stinks, I like him but he’s not worth that contract.

If they can move him in the summer they should, but they probably won’t so the point is moot

Attach a pick/prospect to Nemeth and some bottom feeder will take him, they’re not going to have to buy him out

Disagree in that I think the team feeds off him when he hits and in the room

Do I wish he was 1 million per year yes but regular season he’s just fine . We won’t be seeing him much in this years playoffs

 

[B17 Apricots]

Nemeths gotta go... but I'd definitely look to move Reaves and Blais too. Cap causalities unfortunately. Maybe recoup a couple mid round picks back for those 2. Blais maybe gets you a little more. Love what he brings but im not comfortable committing with the injury risks. Really want to retain the fowards we brought in. Copps a given, but I like Vatrano a lot, Motte if he's cheap too

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Reaves stinks, I like him but he’s not worth that contract.

If they can move him in the summer they should, but they probably won’t so the point is moot

Attach a pick/prospect to Nemeth and some bottom feeder will take him, they’re not going to have to buy him out

He still serves a purpose as an enforcer/deterrent. This year in general has been a lot different in what I have seen with how the star players are allowed more space and the pushback we have shown in general. Reaves has something to do with that. Tough guys like Wilson and Martin have been very quiet. It matters, and all it takes is 1 run at a star player to screw up a season.

 

[Go Rangers]

That was my point really. Kreider, besides having a great year, has been playing with Zibs for years and it is not even debatable that has been their best line. Why would you mess with that chemistry? It makes no sense and BTW there are still people suggesting Kreider should be moved to the 3rd line.

I’m thinking he needs to go to the 4th line, if doesn’t get to 50 goals by the end of the month!

 

[Fitzy]

@UAGoalieGuy

$1.9M left to get a backupgoalie and 7D.

A big move will have to take place in 2023-2024 though but $3.4M or so dead cap comes off

It's doable but it will take a lot of wiggling from here on out

We might be able to keep the squad together for 2 more seasons but if/when young players start taking off/need to get paid... it gets obviously harder

That's the point where either Kreider or Trouba get moved. Also the time the cap should start to rise again.

I also think Chytil goes in a package this offseason for a different center.

 

[Go Rangers]

Yeah in a perfect world I'd like to see a 4th line of Motte - Rooney - Reaves but on a cap crunched team not sure if that would work. We also have Hunt in the mix with Blais next season, along with potentially Kravstov.

Some tough decisions going to have to be made this summer.

Do you resign Rooney? Motte? Copp? Strome? If so where is the money coming from?
Who do you replace Georgiev with?
What type of contract does Kakko get?
Where does Blais fit in and what will his contract look like?
What do you do with Chytil?
What will the situation with Kravstov look like?
Is Copp at least the short term solution for 2C?
Will there be a taker out there for Nemeth?
What type of move do you make with the glut of NHL ready defensive prospects?

Unfortunately we’ll have to wait until July sometime before we get any answers.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

@UAGoalieGuy

$1.9M left to get a backupgoalie and 7D.

A big move will have to take place in 2023-2024 though but $3.4M or so dead cap comes off

It's doable but it will take a lot of wiggling from here on out

We might be able to keep the squad together for 2 more seasons but if/when young players start taking off/need to get paid... it gets obviously harder

What did you do to Nemeth?

Charlie Lindgren is the answer as the backup goalie. He's stuck as the 3G on the Blues.

Comes to NY for two years and gets to reunite with his brother.

7D can be some combo of Nils, Robertson, Hajek is he's still around or Tinordi doing the NYC to Hartford shuffle. They can make that work until the TDL and pick up a depth piece.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

There's a chance they also move on from Blais or Reaves this summer as part of a deal.

I like Reaves, I know a lot of people here think he's slow but he's been a major help most of this season. Big game player and helped cement the locker room. He's going to play in the playoffs. He's been there with Gallant and Kelly before.

 

[Avery16]

What did you do to Nemeth?

Charlie Lindgren is the answer as the backup goalie. He's stuck as the 3G on the Blues.

Comes to NY for two years and gets to reunite with his brother.

7D can be some combo of Nils, Robertson, Hajek is he's still around or Tinordi doing the NYC to Hartford shuffle. They can make that work until the TDL and pick up a depth piece.

Blues I think will try to move on from Binnington. He’s a hero for winning their only Cup, but his play and salary are preventing them from winning another. Husso is the starter now. It’s a business and Binnington knows this- he was in the same position vis a vis Jake Allen.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I’ve seen a lot of people say Reaves is critical to the teams culture (which idk it may or may not be true), but if the team culture and style falls apart if one 13th forward is gone, the team has bigger issues. If it was up to me I’d easily give Reaves money to Motte and not think twice

We won’t be seeing him much in this years playoffs

That’s the issue, you’re paying him almost 2 million a year and the coach probably doesn’t think he’s good enough to play when it matters most

 

[jerseyjinx94]

First order of business is to sign Kakko and then figure out who you can fit after that. You can't re-sign anyone and lock yourself into a situation where a team can offersheet Kakko for 1 year like Kotkaniemi.

 

[Savant]

What did you do to Nemeth?

Charlie Lindgren is the answer as the backup goalie. He's stuck as the 3G on the Blues.

Comes to NY for two years and gets to reunite with his brother.

7D can be some combo of Nils, Robertson, Hajek is he's still around or Tinordi doing the NYC to Hartford shuffle. They can make that work until the TDL and pick up a depth piece.

Blues I think will try to move on from Binnington. He’s a hero for winning their only Cup, but his play and salary are preventing them from winning another. Husso is the starter now. It’s a business and Binnington knows this- he was in the same position vis a vis Jake Allen.

I wouldn’t assume Ryan Lindgren is automatically here next season either

 

[Avery16]

I wouldn’t assume Ryan Lindgren is automatically here next season either

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Blues I think will try to move on from Binnington. He’s a hero for winning their only Cup, but his play and salary are preventing them from winning another. Husso is the starter now. It’s a business and Binnington knows this- he was in the same position vis a vis Jake Allen.

Totally but Charlie Lindgren is a UFA. He's older and the Blues have younger option plus Binnington is going to be tough to trade with that term.

He may get to July 13th (this year's July 1st) before the Blues figure out what to do with Binnington. Resigning Husso is their priority.

 

[Taluss]

I wouldn’t move Reaves.

Move Nemeth, don’t resign Strome. Sign Copp, hopefully it’s a fair deal. See how much space you have after that for Motte