Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XXXV

[CLW]

Any info whether Rangers will be practicing this week, or is it a complete off week?

I saw somewhere they have a few days off, then they will have 4 practices before the game on the 15th.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Any info whether Rangers will be practicing this week, or is it a complete off week?

After the Florida game Gallant said they would come back on the 11th and then have 3-4 practices before their game on the 15th.

 

[McRanger92]

After the Florida game Gallant said they would come back on the 11th and then have 3-4 practices before their game on the 15th.

Love the idea of a mini-Training Camp before the 35 game sprint to the finish. Would also be an ideal time to add a body to get them acclimated but it takes 2 to tango so I'm not getting my hopes up.

 

[bhamill]

Of course its my opinion, we're on an online message board, I didn't think i needed to clarify that. Similarly, saying they arent true contenders is your opinion and a completely arbitrary statement. The fact is that they are tied for 4th most points in the entire league at the All-star break. They seem like a contender to me.

Yes. Completely arbitrary. Both of us. I’d say though the belief that this will be a dangerous/true contender of a team in the playoffs, even with additions, is an outlier confined almost exclusively to NYR fan boards. And not near unanimous even here among us homers. Haha. still I’m not saying you aren’t entitled to that view. If we all had the same outlook what would we talk about? Be pretty boring. Haha.

 

[jay from jersey]

You can't play this version of Nemeth. He's a disaster.

Agreed. Don’t know what’s going on with nemeth in his personal life or what have you, but he’s gotten worse as the seasons went on.....
If Gallant isn’t going to run Jones-Schneider, then I would trade for a different vet D for 3rd pair.

I don’t think anyone here is comfortable/satisfied with Nemeth-Schneider, Gallant shouldn’t be either.

 

[McRanger92]

Yes. Completely arbitrary. Both of us. I’d say though the belief that this will be a dangerous/true contender of a team in the playoffs, even with additions, is an outlier confined almost exclusively to NYR fan boards. And not near unanimous even here among us homers. Haha. still I’m not saying you aren’t entitled to that view. If we all had the same outlook what would we talk about? Be pretty boring. Haha.

Yeah agreed. I just think we as fans have had moments of doubt all year but they have continued to prove us wrong, and that means something. If they can find a functional 3rd line the 5v5 numbers should normalize and with Igor and the PP theyve got as good a shot as anyone. If they are going to trade a Nils+Krav package it needs to be for a forward who can help be a part of the solution beyond this year.

 

[McRanger92]

Agreed. Don’t know what’s going on with nemeth in his personal life or what have you, but he’s gotten worse as the seasons went on.....
If Gallant isn’t going to run Jones-Schneider, then I would trade for a different vet D for 3rd pair.

I don’t think anyone here is comfortable/satisfied with Nemeth-Schneider, Gallant shouldn’t be either.

Nemeth has been a disaster but i think their hands are tied due to the contract. We all knew he wasnt an offensive guy but its struck me how soft hes been in front of the net and his positioning has been awful. Hopefully he sorts out this personal issue and can look better playing with someone like Schneider, who isn't as passive as Lundkvist has been.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Love the idea of a mini-Training Camp before the 35 game sprint to the finish. Would also be an ideal time to add a body to get them acclimated but it takes 2 to tango so I'm not getting my hopes up.

They will be buyers but Drury is pretty patient and is not desperate as the top 8 in the east are locked in. We probably won't make a move until close to TDL.

 

[Fitzy]

If there is a during-break move, my guess would be it has something to do with Nemeth.

If he can make his way back to the team during this break then I think we will stand pat. If this issue looks like it is going to continue, however, I could see a small move for a veteran bottom pairing defenseman.

 

[McRanger92]

They will be buyers but Drury is pretty patient and is not desperate as the top 8 in the east are locked in. We probably won't make a move until close to TDL.

If you have time, use it.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Colorado/Carolina/Florida are the 3 teams that i think will probably bet the house on the deadline and goal all-in. Rangers are a tier below that where they need to make a couple moves but wont hamstring themselves

Absolutely on those 3 - they are going for broke.

My guess on the Rangers is going to be Reilly Smith, a depth D and a bottom 6 forward. None of these should require the expenditure of major prospects or a first.

 

[jay from jersey]

Yeah agreed. I just think we as fans have had moments of doubt all year but they have continued to prove us wrong, and that means something. If they can find a functional 3rd line the 5v5 numbers should normalize and with Igor and the PP theyve got as good a shot as anyone. If they are going to trade a Nils+Krav package it needs to be for a forward who can help be a part of the solution beyond this year.

i think Dury would love to add a big dog like that at the deadline and use for this playoff run, next year and beyond and hopefully cut strome lose.
The big problem is the availability at the TDL of a player like that.
I really wish we could get a better read on the Larkin situation.
He’s not the type of guy that would publicly ask out for a trade, especially being named captain and being a hometown kid, but I can absolutely see him wanting to go to a contender and not want to resign and waste his prime years on a Stevie Y tampa-esque 3-4 year rebuild...
But unlike Eichel/PLD, it would be handled more classy/low-key...
I guess it all depends really. I’m sure Det wants him there for the long haul, but the ball will ultimately be in his court if he wants to resign there. That is a player you open up the asset vault for imo.
Hopefully that’s the type of trade Drury is looking for and Miller/Hertl/Giroux/Copp are plan B.

i can still see Scheifle as a dark horse candidate as a TDL acquisition....

 

[Fitzy]

If the Rangers trade for Smith at the deadline you risk the exact same sequence of events as the last Smith rental playing themselves out.

1) Smith shows up as a rental and plays really well
2) Rangers now consider him irreplaceable
3) Rangers sign Smith to a big contract despite having little cap space
4) Rangers have to buy out/ trade better players to make room
5) Smith regresses to mean

You really want to be known as the franchise that keeps having Smith problems?

 

[McRanger92]

If the Rangers trade for Smith at the deadline you risk the exact same sequence of events as the last Smith rental playing themselves out.

1) Smith shows up as a rental and plays really well
2) Rangers now consider him irreplaceable
3) Rangers sign Smith to a big contract despite having little cap space
4) Rangers have to buy out/ trade better players to make room
5) Smith regresses to mean

You really want to be known as the franchise that keeps having Smith problems?

Define "big" contract. He'll be 31 before the season ends and with a flat cap he has to know that no contender can afford to give him 5 mil on a long-term deal. Hopefully playing with Gallant again in NY would get them a discount. Wishful thinking but other contenders seem to get veteran guys to agree to contracts under market.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Giroux would be so Rangers. But isn’t he a LW?

 

[Lgrsean]

If they had the cap to sign him, I wouldn't be opposed to it (though I do think we need a more rugged "Dubinsky" type center on one of those middle six lines as well). I just don't see him skipping his first and possibly only chance at a big payday. People here are projecting him signing a contract for 1m more (or not even a million more) than what he makes now, and he has drastically out-performed his current contract. Ultimately, I think the Rangers will be closer to contender status in a year or two, and that they will have the cap space in a couple years to go out and get the center they need then.

so who do you think the rangers 2c should be next year? You’re ok w letting strome walk and not trading for someone like Miller?

 

[leetch99]

I believe Gallant mentioned they’d be back to practicing on Friday this week

I heard from a friend of a friend who plays cards with Gallant or did on a regular basis that he was taking a mini vacation of 7-10 days ? on PEI during the break. He could take Dolan's jet home and not worry about isolating . Not sure on the jet part LOL....or the 7-10 part...but that is the PEI talk on Gallant.

 

[McRanger92]

so who do you think the rangers 2c should be next year? You’re ok w letting strome walk and not trading for someone like Miller?

This is my question as well. The perfect player isn't just going to magically become available when its convenient for the Rangers. A decision on the 2C position needs to be made this summer at the latest, and Drury would be wise to get a jump on filling the position now when he can afford to.

 

[SA16]

The 2C next year should be Chytil.

 

[mas0764]

How did I know you were going to reply to my post? Its like the bat signal. Not once did I mention JT Miller (who at this point is criminally underrated by some here) but he's 28 year old all situations player who has scored at a higher rate over the past 3 years than Nash did the 3 years leading up to his trade to the Rangers (he was also 28). Its all semantics, but what "Eichel" type player is out there? The team cant really afford another big contract, so players like Miller are the in ballpark they need to play in

What "three year player," is out there as you alluded to?

It's just JT Miller, and he's a two year player. No thanks.

Nash was a better player than Miller and had a 7 year contract that we could easily afford. Also the team was in a much different situation at that time.

 

[mas0764]

Yeah agreed. I just think we as fans have had moments of doubt all year but they have continued to prove us wrong, and that means something. If they can find a functional 3rd line the 5v5 numbers should normalize and with Igor and the PP theyve got as good a shot as anyone. If they are going to trade a Nils+Krav package it needs to be for a forward who can help be a part of the solution beyond this year.

Are the 5v5 woes restricted to the third line? Not sure the 5v5 numbers look good in the top 6 either.

 

[Ratelleitlikeitis]

If the Rangers trade for Smith at the deadline you risk the exact same sequence of events as the last Smith rental playing themselves out.

1) Smith shows up as a rental and plays really well
2) Rangers now consider him irreplaceable
3) Rangers sign Smith to a big contract despite having little cap space
4) Rangers have to buy out/ trade better players to make room
5) Smith regresses to mean

You really want to be known as the franchise that keeps having Smith problems?

Didn't the Smiths sing "please please let me get what i want".

 

[Ola]

Buffalo easily won the deal. Vegas thinks they can win something with a 6'2" 1C? Good luck.

You beat me to it mentioning the size factor!

Honestly, if a team trades for a player like Eichel and then wins a Cup, nobody should eat more crow than I. Honestly, my best bet is that doing that is the last thing you should do if you want to win.

Vegas looks great right now and will add someone like Eichel to one of the best teams in the West already. I could have that meal served in the near future, but I am just giving my opinion.

 

[Thirty One]

I heard from a friend of a friend who plays cards with Gallant or did on a regular basis that he was taking a mini vacation of 7-10 days ? on PEI during the break. He could take Dolan's jet home and not worry about isolating . Not sure on the jet part LOL....or the 7-10 part...but that is the PEI talk on Gallant.

I picture Gallant to be a big "Go Fish" player. Confirm or deny?

 

[McRanger92]

What "three year player," is out there as you alluded to?

It's just JT Miller, and he's a two year player. No thanks.

Nash was a better player than Miller and had a 7 year contract that we could easily afford. Also the team was in a much different situation at that time.

I don't think theres a player available i could suggest that you would like. You tell me who you think the Rangers should be going after.