Speculation: Roster Building Thread V (2019/2020)

[Savant]

Bold prediction: Andersson outplays Howden and starts as our 3C.

I’ll do one better. I think Lias winds up as 2C and Chytil goes back to wing

 

[FIRE DRURY]

I’ll do one better. I think Lias winds up as 2C and Chytil goes back to wing

I'd be ok with that!

 

[haohmaru]

Have we tried Brendan Smith at center yet?

 

[RangerBoy]

Mitch Marner told his agent to get a contract done. The agent works for the player. The fans were turning on Marner and he wanted to just end it. Enough.

I remember reading a few months how everyone should not always blame Kurt Overhardt for Jacob Trouba's contract battles with Winnipeg. The agent works for the player. Trouba didn't want to be in Winnipeg. His future wife had no desire to live in Winnipeg. Trouba was stuck in Winnipeg until this summer being one year away from group III.

Pat Brisson is an experienced guy. You can't blame Brisson for Tony holding out. Brisson works for Tony.

Jeff and Elliotte also discuss if the Leafs can win with 50% of their cap invested in 4 forwards and how the Marner contract effects the other unsigned group II's.

Good podcast as usual.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

Have we tried Brendan Smith at center yet?

Kreider-Smith-Zbad

You might have discovered some form of secret synergy!

 

[BBKers]

Trade Tony D for Chara at 50%

M. Staal - Smith - Chara
Kreider - Bo First pairing

Synergy

 

[Matt Rentfree]

Trade Tony D for Chara at 50%

M. Staal - Smith - Chara
Kreider - Bo First pairing

Synergy

I think the cheap whiskey is starting to become a problem

 

[Shesterkybomb]

By years end our centers will be Zibanajad, Chytil, Anderson and Howden. That's my prediction. I honestly feel like Chytil reminds me of Zibanajad when he came to Ottawa, not so much the actual skill set but the rawness of his skillset. Andersson to me will be the biggest surprise to most(he really shouldnt be because of his past success), but I believe he will be night and day from last year.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

By years end our centers will be Zibanajad, Chytil, Anderson and Howden. That's my prediction. I honestly feel like Chytil reminds me of Zibanajad when he came to Ottawa, not so much the actual skill set but the rawness of his skillset. Andersson to me will be the biggest surprise to most(he really shouldnt be because of his past success), but I believe he will be night and day from last year.

Nieves over Howden? I don’t see it.

 

[Vinny]

I think the cheap whiskey is starting to become a problem

I wish i would get these warnings, i only post when drank.

 

[Savant]

Trade Tony D for Chara at 50%

M. Staal - Smith - Chara
Kreider - Bo First pairing

Synergy

It’s an old meme but it checks out

 

[Avery16]

Have we tried Brendan Smith at center yet?

so versatile

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

I’ll do one better. I think Lias winds up as 2C and Chytil goes back to wing

That's my prediction as well

 

[wafflepadsave]

Sorry guys. I was very drunk. On cheap whiskey. No excuse. Just an explanation.

Quality not quantity.

 

[wafflepadsave]

Anaheim needs an RHD. Just sayin...

Conference call?

 

[Bluto]

I think we should try Brendan Smith at Goalie and put Lundqvist at center. His twin brother is a center so naturally he's probably really good at it.

 

[Matt Rentfree]

I wish i would get these warnings, i only post when drank.

Clearly

 

[leetch99]

Maybe we should reach out for Scott Gomez....sign him and flip to Habs for a Dman .

 

[Ola]

I think it’s important to remember that the wheels in Toronto are spinning extremely fast, and totally out of control at times.

Just a few days ago, the general notion was that Marner had caused irreparable damage to his relationship to the TML and it’s fans. Then he signs and everything is forgotten.

We point fingers at their cap management, how can you win with 40m tied up on 4 guys? But Toronto plays in the same league as the 30 other NHL teams. There is a cap in place, the cap makes it impossible to build even and established top 4 teams. Look at Pittsburgh, two generational centers. Pittsburgh aren’t close to winning — most years.

My point is just this, just because a team doesn’t win the Cup it doesn’t mean it wasn’t built the right way. And the same can be said about not being top 4, it still doesn’t mean it wasn’t built the right way. There is no “right way”. You must be patient.

We will (hopefully) face the same dilemma in a few years.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Nieves over Howden? I don’t see it.

Where did I say Nieves?

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Where did I say Nieves?

Did you pull a ninja edit as I was quoting you? I could've sworn your original post had Nieves as the 4th C.

If not, never mind – carry on!

 

[RangersFan1994]

By the way. For all the talk about Rangers having a massive hole on 2C and that it'll be super weak and a weakness etc. the simple solution is to just have Kakko play 2C - that's if Chytil isn't ready for it.

Kravtsov has played center at the world championships last year so he has a little experience at it. I can see the Rangers trying him before Kakko at center

 

[Avery16]

Howden *just* turned 21 and was a .333 PPG player getting third line minutes in his rookie season. I would love to see Andersson leapfrog him, but I don't see that happening this season, and I don't see Andersson pushing Howden to 4C. I think best case scenario as far as this season with Andersson goes is that he can make it to the third line, and whichever between he and Howden play C, the other plays wing.

However, I think its more likely that if Kakko and Kravstov is up with the big club, Andersson is starting in Hartford, and will be there barring injuries until we can move one or more of Names/Fast/Kreider. Even then, Andersson will probably start on the 4th line.

 

[bobbop]

I’d like to think all of the young players will improve this year but to what extent, I have no idea. How that nets out will be interesting to see. Since many are in direct competition for playing time, that adds to the drama. Competition for jobs raises everyone’s levels. I see a real battle for jobs on the third and fourth line and the bottom defensive pair. That’s a good thing.

One guy I wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss is McKegg. I’m not sure he would clear waivers. There was competition to sign him this summer. He was signed for a reason.

 

[bobbop]

And I wouldn’t be surprised if Fast quietly signs an extension sometime this year.