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

[rangers1314]

 

[IDvsEGO]

I know people over-value prospects on here, but Lundkvist has been one of our most anticipated prospects for years now, and we're using him as a throw in for a 37 year old who very likely might not out-produce a rookie Lundkvist?

Is the difference between Buchnevich and Lindholm really a first rounder AND one of the better players outside the NHL and a borderline cap dump?

I think a lot of it has to do with position and contract. Lindholm has 3 years left and is making less than buch while playing center.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

getting Lindholm would be fantastic, He's making the same as Strome is making now and for 3 more years. I highly doubt Flames even consider moving him

 

[Rongomania]

... So you're telling me there's a chance..

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I too would really like to see Chytil get an extended look with panarin for like a 25 game stretch or so.

They honestly should have tried that last year when Chytil was their best center early on.

 

[egelband]

IMO Trading for Eichel steers us to becoming Toronto 2.0. Please no.

We have no clue about Eichel's health or how he'd perform in the playoffs. Offensive firepower is the least of this teams problems. I can't wrap my head around commiting a lot of cap and assets to further improve it.

I don’t think Toronto’s big contracts are necessarily the worst thing in the world. I think their main issue is that they haven’t been smart about the rest of the lineup. Lots of young stars and they surround them with losers. How many of the vets they brought in have any real success to their names. They brought in a lot of guys who were top guys on bad teams. That’s just piling-on more losing (or, not winning, at least) culture.
I also think timing wise maybe Tavaras wasn’t the wisest add. But I think that’s manageable. The main Toronto problem in my opinion is what they did with the rest of the roster. They kind of mailed it in after signing the big guys.

 

[egelband]

Toronto has roughly 50% tied up in 4 players. That leaves, on average, $2.6ish M per player to fill out a 20 man roster. That's the problem. It's not easy finding good value players/contracts and or having kids step in.

Hypothetically speaking, IF Eichel was acquired, we'd be looking at around 40-45M in 5 players. It puts us in the same exact position as Toronto. For the reaming 15 players on the roster, we could only spend $2.66M per player. We have a lot of really good young talent. It'd work in the immediate but it becomes bad in a year or two.

I'd rather follow a Las Vegas model where that money is more evenly distributed. In essence, I do not want any other big ticket players/contracts. Barkov would be the one exception but he'd most likely be replacing Mika.

The margin for error is definitely wider with a more balanced roster. I totally agree. Also much more flexible. I’m just saying the Toronto model to me isn’t - in and of itself - crippling. It just is more risky and requires more care with building out the rest of the roster.

 

[CLW]

I don’t think Toronto’s big contracts are necessarily the worst thing in the world. I think their main issue is that they haven’t been smart about the rest of the lineup. Lots of young stars and they surround them with losers. How many of the vets they brought in have any real success to their names. They brought in a lot of guys who were top guys on bad teams. That’s just piling-on more losing (or, not winning, at least) culture.
I also think timing wise maybe Tavaras wasn’t the wisest add. But I think that’s manageable. The main Toronto problem in my opinion is what they did with the rest of the roster. They kind of mailed it in after signing the big guys.

They are also so top heavy one injury to a major player hurts that much more.

 

[jay from jersey]

I wouldn’t characterize Chytil as redundant at all.

He has a chance to be a puck lugging transition center, of which we have zero.

I agree that Strome and Zibanejad check the same boxes at even strength. It’s one of the reasons I think Strome is gone and on the odd chance that he isn’t gone, his future is at wing.

Id put it at eighty percent that Strome is gone this offseason, fifty fifty for Buchnevich.

Both if the Rangers trade for Eichel which I think would be a misstep

min with ya here broski. Chytil is a baby bull. Rangers really haven’t had a shoot first center like him. Now with him and Zibby we have 2 that play a little similar style. I’m really interested to see what Chytil could do with an elite set up guy like panarin on his line for a long term stretch

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

If Rangers dont find another center they like, then Chytil should be the 2nd line center next year to see what he can do playing in an expanded role with top players since Strome likely isn't going to be signed long term it doesn't make sense for him to be given a big role.. However if its playoffs of bust then he likely will be the one behind Zibanjead.

 

[leetch99]

Have you heard an update on Gallant? Is it all but done?

No new updates....the Sunday morning radio show that I posted the link for might be interesting though. The waiting is some hard LOL......I wish I knew more and could offer more but .....that is how it is !

 

[duhmetreE]

The margin for error is definitely wider with a more balanced roster. I totally agree. Also much more flexible. I’m just saying the Toronto model to me isn’t - in and of itself - crippling. It just is more risky and requires more care with building out the rest of the roster.

Each individual is a good-great player. Having some amalgamation of good-great players doesn't automatically make a good-great team. It's way more nuanced than 'just go get players with good xG and we win'

At the moment we are eerily similar imo. We have explosive regular season talent but I'm suspect on how it'd translate in the playoffs. We're not built for playoff hockey. Both teams are completely dependent on 'individual efforts'. IF Panarin and/or Zibs dont carry, we lose. IF Matthews or Marner dont carry, they lose.

We do have a lot more depth in the minors/on the way. JD in his limited time, made an emphasis on getting big boys, especially on the blue line ( Trouba, Robertson and Schneider ) and that is encouraging moving forward. Cuylle seems like a JD pick as well.. Still can't believe he went down with Gorton

Either way, it's a handicap. Sticking with Toronto, they have to trade Marner or Matthews to balance it out. Side note; wouldn't be surprised to see Matthews traded. Word is he is planning on leaving in a few years... Might as well get phenomenal value for him and balance the roster

tl;dr - no to eichel

 

[jay from jersey]

They honestly should have tried that last year when Chytil was their best center early on.

couldn't agree more. One of the many terrible missed opportunities by Diamond Dave Quinn and his merry men. Pre- injury Chytil looked like he had finally arrived.
When he came back his minutes went down with the dumb kid line and he didn’t get back to playing as well until the last 8 games or so. No doubt covid and wrist injury played a big part but that’s also a confidence killer.
These kids need to play a lot. I’m not sure who should be on a line with Panarin and Chytil. Kakko should be due to break out offensively, but I’m not sure who the best option would be. Kravtsov or Buch would both be solid choices at least until Buch is gone

 

[McRanger92]

A lot of talk on this board about how the Rangers are light years away from teams like TB/COL/LV, but you know how you bridge that gap? Trading for a cost controlled top 5-10 center in the league for 50 cents on the dollar. Going into the next 5 years with a core of Panarin/Eichel/Zibanejad/Fox/Igor/Lafreniere to build around is exactly what id want the team to do.

The Rangers have been accumulating assets and cap space for exactly this type of opportunity. Kakko doesnt hit UFA for 4 years, Laf/Miller for 5. Its the same idea as the NFL, you want to contend and take big swings when your QB is on his rookie deal. The same mindset should be in place for this team.

Trade for Eichel, sign a playoff tested bottom 6er & defenseman, hire a coach with a clue, its not rocket science. The Bruins & Caps look older and older with every game, this is the Islanders shot.

The Rangers window is here, time to walk through it.

 

[jay from jersey]

take youre not ready for

eichel is better defensively than zibanejad


calling blackwell a lunch pail guy is......interesting

Blackwell is not a lunch pail hard hat type player how ever you want to characterize it. He’s more of a skilled energy guy. Like a smaller less physical version on Benoit Pouliot. He can step in on top nine and give you some hustle and skill but he’s not the type of guy you permanently want there.
Lunch pail guys are players like Hyman, Crouse, older guys like Ryan Clowe, Adam Deadmarsh, Darren McCarty, raffi Torres etc guys of that ilk. Guys that do whatever it takes to win. They will cycle, block shots, hit, fight when needed. Come up with a clutch goal when needed, PK, etc
Blackwell does none of those things. He’s somewhat offensively gifted, and he hustles but he’s no burner. He doesn’t PK, not particularly great on the PP. he doesn’t do the little things like fast did. The stuff that doesn’t show up on the scoresheet. He’s also small and taken off the puck way too easily. I think he would be awful in playoff hockey as well. He had a great season and worked real hard, but his number we because Quinn mainly put him in a position to succeed instead of playing the kinds and developing them and gambling on them night in and night out, Dave took the safe route And went with the vet. Hell Rooney and Howden are more lunch pail guys then Blackwell. They just aren’t very good lunch pail guys.

 

[Vitto79]

Dvorak , Crouse may be good targets from AZ

 

[Machinehead]

The Rangers had good underlying numbers and more/as many points as some teams in the playoffs, but our division is low-key trash and we're probably not as close to competing out in the wild as some people think AS IT STANDS.

A good offseason can change that.

 

[Ola]

He’s a better all-around player than you probably give him credit for because of how bad Buffalo was as a team. Eichel is a better all-around player than Zibanejad and can absolutely take over a game just like Panarin can. But again, with the uncertainty of his health situation (I think he’ll probably end up being fine) and maneuvering we’d have to do to make it work, I can live with not pursuing him. Plus, I think the harder to play against quotient can be filled better by upgrading on Cs like Strome (keep Chytil), Howden, and Rooney.

Here’s an analytics breakdown of Eichel over the last 3 years. He was also playing really well this year despite having an unsustainably low shooting%:

It’s not unusual that top guys on worthless teams have OK underlying numbers. There are many factors that can impact this.

Can Eichel win a match up against Aho? Barzal? Jack Hughes when he enters his prime? Tampa’s top lines? Eichel is heavy on the skates and pretty lazy. Or look like it at least.

 

[jay from jersey]

Dvorak , Crouse may be good targets from AZ

I’d love to add both. Problem is, they won’t move Dvorak. Since Hayton was brought up too early and may never be ready Dvo is now their Defacto 1C with nothing really in the pipeline. I think it’s possible we can land Crouse but it would require overpayment. I have no problem with that, I’d love to see Crouse next to Barron this year on 4th line. I think he would be great for this team.

another guy we should look into that wouldn’t cost a lot is Adam Erne in Detroit. He’s going to be exposed in Exp draft and Stevie Y made It a point to grab him the first year over their in Det. He’s tough and I heard he’s a great locker room guy

 

[Levitate]

Can Eichel win a match up against Aho? Barzal? Jack Hughes when he enters his prime? Tampa’s top lines?

Yes

I'm not really an advocate for trading for Eichel because the injury scares me and it does create some cap issues but the guy is a top talent and extremely good. I wonder how good he could be if he'd gotten good coaching and support from a decent team...

Eichel as your 1C is 100% fantastic as long as you can fill out the rest of the roster and not put yourself in a situation where teams can just focus on shutting his line down

That's really pretty true for any NHL players though...look at McDavid in the playoffs. Team was able to just focus on shutting him down and the Oilers didn't have anything left, and McDavid is the no brainer best player in the league by far (well and he still had 4 points in 4 games but no help)

e: to fit Eichel I think you're definitely having to move Zibanejad or hope you can squeeze them both in this year and then let Zibanejad walk for nothing (not gonna be able to re-sign him and not gonna want to trade him if all goes well and your team is in the playoffs come trade deadline) and move Buchnevich and you still have the 2nd and 3rd line center issue to deal with. Do you hang onto Chytil if and nix a deal if Buffalo demands him to be part of the trade? Is Chytil really able to be a top six center or is it time to move him to wing?

Eichel upgrades a spot but doesn't solve all the issues

but again I think he absolutely is on par or better than the kind of guys you mentioned there

 

[leetch99]

The Rangers had good underlying numbers and more/as many points as some teams in the playoffs, but our division is low-key trash and we're probably not as close to competing out in the wild as some people think AS IT STANDS.

A good offseason can change that.

We will need more than one good off season...at lest 2 and maybe 3 before we reach Vegas/Colorado level . A new coach is a good start . Then we need to be patient and see what we actually have in some of these kids and how much cap are vets up for deals will require . Then we fill in a couple of blanks and then we remain patient while it all cooks some . The mix does not need to be perfect this season....but it has to start taking on a nice flavor .

 

[Machinehead]

We will need more than one good off season...at lest 2 and maybe 3 before we reach Vegas/Colorado level . A new coach is a good start . Then we need to be patient and see what we actually have in some of these kids and how much cap are vets up for deals will require . Then we fill in a couple of blanks and then we remain patient while it all cooks some . The mix does not need to be perfect this season....but it has to start taking on a nice flavor .

Not necessarily. Colorado being good last year was a huge surprise and Vegas was a contender as an expansion team.

 

[wafflepadsave]

My guess if it were to happen now and he ends up here. I never bought that the market for him was going to be as hot as some thought or Sabres fans hoped it would be. All this information coming out now really just confirms that (especially if they're going to try to move him by the draft, which is a month and a half away. Sounds like they just want this to be over.)

I would think that all of the teams that are potentially in on eichel, those calls are happening now.

 

[haohmaru]

Don't kid yourself, if Eichel really is available every GM in the league is placing a phone call to Buffalo. Some more serious than others, but they'd be negligent if they didn't.

 

[Levitate]

Don't kid yourself, if Eichel really is available every GM in the league is placing a phone call to Buffalo. Some more serious than others, but they'd be negligent if they didn't.

I think they're all interested but not all can afford him (his contract or the price to get him)