Speculation: Roster Building Thread V (2021 Offseason) - Hold them horses, only 45 days left until the draft!

[LiveLongandProspal]

I hope everyone is watching how well Ryan Reeves is playing tonight.

Just sayin…

A Gallant fave

 

[NYRangers16]

The only problem is that you need to win before the skill needs to get paid their big money because it gets harder to fill out the roster.

We have a ton of depth built up. But I’d agree somewhat that the team needs to win a bit more so they get playoff experience. I’m ok standing pat. But if we want them to get that experience some moves are needed. We also gotta stop with these bridge contracts. They just add more questions later and force us to lose people far too early. Every team that has won a cup has had guys on value deals.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Reaves for one of the Rangers many mid-round picks this draft is a no-brainer

For Vegas.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

Barclay Goodrow > Ryan Reaves

 

[McRanger92]

Barclay Goodrow > Ryan Reaves

Why not both?

 

[Pidto Files]

Oh, I don't know about that - 200+ hits every year, 9 Richard trophies, better goal scorer, better power play goal scorer, 6' 3" 236, etc... It's hard to compare the two from such different eras but I'd take Ovie over Howe were I starting a team if they were the same age.

Hell, I might even take Messier over Howe. But, hard to make that determination given he played most before I was born and I'm pretty old @ 54 lol.

Even Gretzky said Gordie Howe was the greatest ever..‍‍

 

[Pidto Files]

What did Pee Wee Herman say now?

Saw it in the theater!!

 

[Inferno]

Individuals do not win championships, teams do. Toronto, Edmonton, with elite star players, fell flat on their faces this year because they didn't have a real team. In this flat cap world, why make the same mistake they have? Colorado, with their elite stars, are on the brink.

The very reason Buffalo are looking to move on from Eichel is precisely because he takes up too much oxygen compared to what he delivers for their TEAM.

And the last team that won the cup?
Stamkos, kucherov, point, hedman, mcd, vasilevsky...

St Louis you could maybe argue...but they still had tarasenko, parayko, and pietrangelo


Before that though Washington...some guy named ovechkin, backstrom...I really don't need to keep going here..

Before that it's basically Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boston, and the king's winning the last decades worth of cups. All loaded with stars except for maybe the bruins.

Common denominator is lotsa talent, playing versatile games, great goaltending, team defense and strong specialty teams


And a shitload of luck.



Teams don't win championships. Stars don't win championships. It's whose got the most talent up and down the lineup, who gets good goaltending, and who can defend.

 

[Inferno]

I have no problem with getting Eichel if he is indeed cheap

I don't think he's going to be nearly as expensive as ppl say. Not just because of his injury risk..but because comparable trades are always ripoffs.
Big dollar star players who are disgruntled aren't ever going to go for what they should..it just never happens.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

Any chance that Sakic fires Bednar in Colorado? Not that I'm so interested in Bednar, but you have to think that they would be a big threat to hire Gallant. I mean it's an extremely intriguing team. Most points in the NHL this season...

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Any chance that Sakic fires Bednar in Colorado? Not that I'm so interested in Bednar, but you have to think that they would be a big threat to hire Gallant. I mean it's an extremely intriguing team. Most points in the NHL this season...

no chance

 

[eco's bones]

Luck is a huge factor to winning a cup. Puck bounces, referee decisions, avoidance of injuries.

Other things help too—real front end talent that shows up, depth throughout the lineup, a goalie who goes on a run, good team defense.

……and you have to have players who grind.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Yeah, its really a no-brainer.

It is not about changing how we play as a team. But you must have balance on a roster -- and if there is a single division in this league you will get exposed for not having that, its the one we are in (which was obvious before the season started).

Trade Strome, slide Laf over to center, and add a couple of wingers (of which one is a 4th line heavy weight) and a 3rd pairing LD that can fight and we have taken a big step in the right direction.

Ironically some of the more recent picks like Cullye, Berrard, Vierleng, and Edstrom are this.

 

[Machinehead]

I miss Brian Boyle

 

[MysticLeviathan]

When do you think we name a head coach? I feel like we have to make a decision soon with the draft coming up. You want the new coach to be on the same page as the front office with decisions et al.

I like a lot of what we have. We need help down the middle and to solidify the left side of our defense. We also need some good bottom 6 players. The left side of our defense could be fixed via the farm and bottom 6 players aren't super difficult to find. It's our C situation that's frustrating and has been frustrating for a while now. I feel like we're really close, yet so far away. I hope a new coach and system can be the difference. We have a ton of incredible pieces. We just need them to click together.

 

[smoneil]

I hate to say it but I think any deal has to include Chytil. Plus one of the D prospects, and as I said before Buffalo has a bigger need at RD so Schneider/Nils, 15th overall obviously. I think we could see Geo thrown in there, he's still pretty damn young and while he struggled a bit last season should have value.

Chytil
Schneider/Lundkvist
Georgiev
1st

Perhaps another piece.

Lets just keep all of those pieces and pretend that Eichel is on our IR all year. Best of both worlds!

 

[smoneil]

I always find it amusing when people want no part of elite players because of...reasons.

He's too expensive...well no shit..he's elite.
He's got an injury concern. Well yeah..that's why he's cheap right now.

He's a 24year old franchise center signed for 5 years at a known number that can be had for pennies on the dollar. He's right handed which makes him an ideal for for a right handed left winger named panarin. He can pass or shoot and dominates possession.

Go. Get. Me. EICHEL

Not to be rude, but having been around here for a while, you always get overly excited for the problematic big name/highly drafted players. You did the same thing with Nash and mocked those of us who saw his problems as well (no real playoff experience, had a bad reputation in terms of work ethic, wasn't willing to go to the dirty areas of the ice, etc).

Eichel will be 25 in the first month of the season. He's missed at least 14 games in four of his six NHL seasons. His injuries seem to be getting progressively more serious as his career moves forward.

You dismiss his cap hit, but cap hits need to be contextualized. This team already has big contracts in Trouba, Panarin, and Kreider. They have big contracts on the way (within 1 to 2 seasons) for Zibanejad, Fox, and Buchnevich. Unless things go horribly wrong, we can expect to be paying bigger money to Kakko, Laf, and Shesterkin and moderate money to Kravtsov, Chytil, and Miller (on top of Lindgren). Where is this money coming from? You add an Eichel, it's going to cost in multiple ways. You ONLY seem concerned in initial acquisition cost (which, if Buffalo fans are even close, is absurdly high). But are you prepared to lose that package AND Zib or some of the young guns? Because that's what will happen. In a cap league, you can't have top dollar players at every single position. The lottery wins defined the structure of this team for us. We are going to be expensive at wing and D (due to depth and quality). That leaves enough cap for a top 1c, a good 2c, and bargains at 3/4c. This dream that we can ice two #1 centers without losing comparable pieces from elsewhere on the roster is absurd.

And on top of all of that, there's the fact that Eichel isn't particularly good on defense, isn't physical at all, has even more character red flags than Nash did, and adds ANOTHER center to the mix who has a bad faceoff percentage.

People want him because he's a big name. That's it. That name has convinced people of what they think he COULD be in a Rangers jersey (even though he's rarely actually been that in a Sabres jersey). Buyer beware.

Also to add--this team needs to be very careful with how much cap flexibility they maintain. The one team in the league that has shown that it isn't averse to weaponizing offer sheets is Montreal. You can bet your bupkis that the Canadiens have Laf's 1st RFA date circled on their calendar. I'd rather not lose Laf because we weren't able to match as a result of carrying the broken carcass of what used to be Jack Eichel on the salary cap.

So you can dismiss our "reasons" but I don't see you doing anything but hoping that they don't come to pass. The whole logic behind acquiring Eichel is that is might work if he (for the first time) stays healthy and the cap doubles. I prefer to team build in the real world.

 

[smoneil]

I think Cizikas is going to want good money. He plays heavy, but enduring game that has him miss games from time to time. How long will his body hold up for? We can’t risk ending up with a Callahan-esque contract. I like Cizikas as he is today but I worry about down the line.

I also think you need to come away with one of Goodrow/Coleman. I even prefer both depending on what salary you move out. Do I prefer both over a combo that would include Cizikas? I am not sure there.

Danault’s price worries me. I would prefer to try and pry Lindholm out of Calgary. I would also prefer a combo of Danault/Lindholm/Hertl/Lark. 2 from that group. Strome and Chytil out.

Lafreniere-Zib-Buch
Panarin-Hertl-Kakko
Kreider-Danault-Kravtsov
Goodrow-Cizikas-Blackwell
Gauthier

Agree on all of this other than the Hertl/Chytil swap (and we've hashed out our Chytil disagreement elsewhere).

Also, I wouldn't be shocked to see Cizikas give the Isles a discount. He came into this league under a HUGE storm cloud because of that lacrosse incident from when he was a kid. The Isles really rallied around him on that at every step. With that kind of thing serving as a distraction, it could have easily derailed his career, and I can see him having some serious loyalty over that.

 

[smoneil]

The key to getting "gritty, playoff tested" guys in the top 6 is Lafreniere & Kakko. As they mature, they will play that game more. The same goes for Chytil & Kravtsov. The reason I want Eichel is that this team needs to get there first, and spending big on stars (Mika/Panarin/Eichel) who can make this team a contender while the 19 & 20 years olds are on ELCs makes a lot of sense to me. Thats maximizing the present but not mortgaging the future to do it. Acquiring Eichel wouldnt preclude them from bringing in some veteran bangers (Goodrow, Reaves, etc.) for the bottom 6 either.

The caveat with all of this is if the Rangers dont feel comfortable with the neck injury, no deal. But having the elite talent of Panarin/Fox/Eichel/Mika/Laf/Kakko at the top of your lineup for the next 5 years is as good as anyone in the league. At the end of the day, talent still winds, and it always has.

Except Laf, Kakko, Chytil, Fox, and Kravtsov don't stay on ELCs for the next 5 years, and Zib doesn't stay on his bargain basement contract either. We aren't Tampa Bay. The league isn't going to let us go 17 million over the cap because we really really like our RFAs.

 

[smoneil]

Personally I'd keep the team we have, have a conversation with Getzlaf if he wants a 2 year cheap deal, sign Boyle and if you want a vet dman for depth, put Smith up front and away we go. However...im not comfortable resigning Zib to a long term deal, short term fine but with his concussion issues i think we will regret it, his style of play has already altered a bit because of them. They should be drafting centers in this draft and/or trading for a young center like Hayton( does Buch/Chytil and a pick get it done or Lavoie( could we get him for Buch?) Then get whoever it is some playing time this year and move on from Zib at some point.

Barret Hayton? Why in the blue hell would we be offering Buch or Chytil (to say nothing of adding to either one) for a player who was below .5 ppg in the AHL and a -18? Aside from his draft +1 year, he looks like more of a bust than Lias did. Lavoie is nothing special, either. This team's fans have the same problem Brooks has--y'all fall in love with any player in the world, but only as long as they aren't wearing a Rangers jersey. If Lavoie or Hayton is the best we can get for Buchnevich, then we should just re-sign him. If we don't have the projected cap for that (which will all depend on Buch's ask), then I'd sooner trade him for picks than prospects on the verge of bust status. Chytil shouldn't be moved at all. He's done everything right and has made massive progress the last three years. People forget that he's 21 because he's been here a couple of years, but if he had been in the AHL, dominating during that time, some of y'all would be offering the world for him in trade.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Ironically some of the more recent picks like Cullye, Berrard, Vierleng, and Edstrom are this.

And it makes a ton of sense to, in a rebuild, go for skill first in your draft. Those players tend to have a longer shelf-life so to speak than the grinders.

Drafting Cuylle and Berard 3 years after Chytil makes more sense than doing it the other way around.

 

[Ola]

Not to be rude, but having been around here for a while, you always get overly excited for the problematic big name/highly drafted players. You did the same thing with Nash and mocked those of us who saw his problems as well (no real playoff experience, had a bad reputation in terms of work ethic, wasn't willing to go to the dirty areas of the ice, etc).

Eichel will be 25 in the first month of the season. He's missed at least 14 games in four of his six NHL seasons. His injuries seem to be getting progressively more serious as his career moves forward.

You dismiss his cap hit, but cap hits need to be contextualized. This team already has big contracts in Trouba, Panarin, and Kreider. They have big contracts on the way (within 1 to 2 seasons) for Zibanejad, Fox, and Buchnevich. Unless things go horribly wrong, we can expect to be paying bigger money to Kakko, Laf, and Shesterkin and moderate money to Kravtsov, Chytil, and Miller (on top of Lindgren). Where is this money coming from? You add an Eichel, it's going to cost in multiple ways. You ONLY seem concerned in initial acquisition cost (which, if Buffalo fans are even close, is absurdly high). But are you prepared to lose that package AND Zib or some of the young guns? Because that's what will happen. In a cap league, you can't have top dollar players at every single position. The lottery wins defined the structure of this team for us. We are going to be expensive at wing and D (due to depth and quality). That leaves enough cap for a top 1c, a good 2c, and bargains at 3/4c. This dream that we can ice two #1 centers without losing comparable pieces from elsewhere on the roster is absurd.

And on top of all of that, there's the fact that Eichel isn't particularly good on defense, isn't physical at all, has even more character red flags than Nash did, and adds ANOTHER center to the mix who has a bad faceoff percentage.

People want him because he's a big name. That's it. That name has convinced people of what they think he COULD be in a Rangers jersey (even though he's rarely actually been that in a Sabres jersey). Buyer beware.

Also to add--this team needs to be very careful with how much cap flexibility they maintain. The one team in the league that has shown that it isn't averse to weaponizing offer sheets is Montreal. You can bet your bupkis that the Canadiens have Laf's 1st RFA date circled on their calendar. I'd rather not lose Laf because we weren't able to match as a result of carrying the broken carcass of what used to be Jack Eichel on the salary cap.

So you can dismiss our "reasons" but I don't see you doing anything but hoping that they don't come to pass. The whole logic behind acquiring Eichel is that is might work if he (for the first time) stays healthy and the cap doubles. I prefer to team build in the real world.

Montreal looked at their roster before this season and acknowledged a lot of areas that needed to be addressed. They rounded out that roster really well by adding Andersson, Toffoli, E Staal, Perry and Erik Gustafsson. I am not sure if they still are playing if they were prevented from making any one of those moves.

All teams have tough cap situations. By signing Panarin and Trouba -- alone -- our got a lot tougher. How many in this league are paying 19.5m or more for their two highest paid players? It is only EDM, Tor, Chi and us.

On top of this, we have not -- one single -- good long term contract on the books. There are like 28 teams in this league that could improve significantly if they had cap space. Going back 15-20 years the hard part was finding talent. Now the hard part is to creating room under your cap so that you can have room for available improvements.

When we look at a move, that is what must be considered. Does this move enable us to put a contender on the ice under the requirements of the cap?

 

[Rongomania]

Are we in the midst of a Rod the bod Hail Mary at the moment ??

 

[Kords]

I'm in on Eichel if he can be had for cheap. That means no VK/Nils/Schneider as well as the obvious untouchables.

One thing I will say about the lack of his 2 way game, that can be fixed. He has all the talent in the world. Maybe he could get away playing however he felt when he was a big fish in a small pond, but here he's just another fish in a vast sea. I also think he would take this opportunity and elevate his game even more given the chance.

I get the concerns and i'm with you all, but lets not get crazy about slamming the door to the idea. We would have one of the best top 6 combos in the league for a long long time.

 

[jay from jersey]

Ironically some of the more recent picks like Cullye, Berrard, Vierleng, and Edstrom are this.

I’m hoping 2 of 4 take the next step. We are going to need that cheap bottom 6 depth in the future. Berard and Vierling are smaller guys but play with the lindgren type moxy which makes Them seem bigger on the ice. Edstrom is huge. Would love if he can develop into a solid 4th line guy. Add Barron to the mix maybe Goodrow someone like that we’ll be in good shape