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

[Machinehead]

And no, I don't think there's any chance the Rangers compete for a Cup next summer but could see a scenario where they're a second round team (that's all Colorado is, literally).

Especially considering a lot of the same garbage is still going to be in our division. Washington and Pittsburgh are old and have no prospects. Philly has the worst coach in the league. We still get to play the AHL team in New Jersey a bunch of times.

 

[wafflepadsave]

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.

Enter exhibit A: the St. Louis blues. They checked all of those boxes.

 

[leetch99]

QUOTE="Machinehead, post: 178677553, member: 115807"]Not necessarily. Colorado being good last year was a huge surprise and Vegas was a contender as an expansion team.[/QUOTE]


Keep in mind we are breaking in teenagers soon to be our main cogs...the kids the Vegas club had ....had some seasoning and probably more AHL experience and 3rd & 4th line NHL exposure .

 

[CLW]

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

Those that can afford him the best, with the least cap contortions, are teams that are not much better than Buffalo which would make Eichel mope because he's "looking out for #1".

Unfortunately I do believe the Rangers interest is real. We know they tabled an offer before and with Sather back in the driver's seat it's a given that the Rangers are going for "bold" and "big names". Also that's what Dolan explicitly wanted so that fact cannot be discounted. Dolan basically said, without naming names, that he wants to go for Eichel.

 

[Machinehead]

A lot of the teams in the Metro have been starving themselves at the draft to compete. It's there for us to take in the next few years.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

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.

This is hyperbole. Unless they are calling to joke around there are very few teams in the league that can actually complete the trade so even if every team called that means nothing at the end of the day.

 

[ETTER DE]

I think LaF on Eichel’s left side for the next 5 years would be a nightmare for teams to game plan against. That’s one of my biggest motivations for wanting him. I think it would be far more dangerous then LaF and Zibby and it would force LaF to use his incredible shot more. Eichel is an excellent swing man.
On top of that. You can throw a line out that features Panarin on it right after those 2. That’s a shit ton of firepower. 2 elite line drivers.
The problem is the gamble. If he’s 100% healthy sure. Now I’m not so sure

If he has to have surgery, we can put him on LTIR and he will be there to the playoffs starts

 

[IDvsEGO]

If he has to have surgery, we can put him on LTIR and he will be there to the playoffs starts

From my understanding if it is surgery he’s out a full year. No playoffs.

 

[Fitzy]

I don’t believe in luck because physics is deterministic, but I think “luck” as a concept is useful to explain the die falling not exactly where we would expect on any given occasion, and so it serves as a shorthand for “irregular events we can’t predict”

 

[jay from jersey]

If he has to have surgery, we can put him on LTIR and he will be there to the playoffs starts

Kuch the Gooch special ehhh?

 

[smoneil]

Every team has to make hard decisions. The Rangers aren’t losing guys they’ve identified as core pieces because of the salary cap. If that causes some guys we like (Chytil, Kravtsov, Buch, Lundkvist) to get dealt somewhere along the line, so be it.

Lots of people talk about just "dealing away" contracts to keep our best players, but...the rest of the league doesn't have to help. TB found that out last fall, when they kept trying to push Johnson on other teams. They all said no. It finally got to the point where the season was about to start and in a logistical "miracle" they had an expensive player opt for an off-season surgery right before training camp (allowing them to use his cap to sign Cirelli, Sergachev, and Cernak). Particularly after Dolan's tweet to the league...we aren't going to be allowed to play such games. We don't have the cap space to add Eichel AND keep the best parts of the young core together. If Kakko and/or Laf end up busting? That might open up some space, but I don't want to bank on that for a perpetual injury risk like Eichel. Eichel is the epitome of "good on paper." He might have all the talent in the world, but when he regularly misses large chunks of seasons, his production is mostly projected, and that doesn't win games.

You have to plan the cap years in advance. We didn't do that when we signed Staal and Girardi to those extensions, and it cost us.

Trading for Eichel won't be "cheap." It will cost the trade package and then either Zibanejad/Strome/Buchnevich (all three) or several of our current high end ELCs who we won't be able to afford under the flat cap anymore because of how top-heavy we are. And all that for ~65 games of Eichel, who is currently recovering from the most serious of his litany of injuries and has not won anything at any level (I don't think he's even played in a final before).

No thank you.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

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.

Also Rangers won’t have to pay these kids right away, few of them will get bridge contracts. If Rangers are interested in Eichel (if) they obviously think they can work it cap wise.

 

[McRanger92]

Lots of people talk about just "dealing away" contracts to keep our best players, but...the rest of the league doesn't have to help. TB found that out last fall, when they kept trying to push Johnson on other teams. They all said no. It finally got to the point where the season was about to start and in a logistical "miracle" they had an expensive player opt for an off-season surgery right before training camp (allowing them to use his cap to sign Cirelli, Sergachev, and Cernak). Particularly after Dolan's tweet to the league...we aren't going to be allowed to play such games. We don't have the cap space to add Eichel AND keep the best parts of the young core together. If Kakko and/or Laf end up busting? That might open up some space, but I don't want to bank on that for a perpetual injury risk like Eichel. Eichel is the epitome of "good on paper." He might have all the talent in the world, but when he regularly misses large chunks of seasons, his production is mostly projected, and that doesn't win games.

You have to plan the cap years in advance. We didn't do that when we signed Staal and Girardi to those extensions, and it cost us.

Trading for Eichel won't be "cheap." It will cost the trade package and then either Zibanejad/Strome/Buchnevich (all three) or several of our current high end ELCs who we won't be able to afford under the flat cap anymore because of how top-heavy we are. And all that for ~65 games of Eichel, who is currently recovering from the most serious of his litany of injuries and has not won anything at any level (I don't think he's even played in a final before).

No thank you.

The injury is a legitimate concern no doubt. But if the Rangers are comfortable with it with the resources at their disposal, so am I.

As for the salary cap, I just think that the team is in the window now. The prospects are all here, we're not waiting for them to cook anymore. The organization (rightfully) wants to start winning. Cap space isnt going to cause the NY Rangers to lose anyone they consider a core player, thinking otherwise is an irrational fear.

Not sure how the Girardi & Staal contracts are relevant, if they signed Stralman & Yandle to the same contracts, the team wouldve been better off. Money wasnt the problem.

And anyone calling Eichel "not a winning player" is unfair. Him getting blamed for all the Sabres issues is the exact reason why he wants to leave. He cant do it himself (who can?) and the Rangers are extremely well equipped to support him with 3 other bonafide stars in Panarin/Fox/Mika

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I’m honestly good either way. If they get Eichel for a “reasonable” price and also if they pass on him but they need a better two way center then Strome to put with Zibanejad, and some physical players who can also play (two of them) with or without him minimum.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

The more I’ve been giving time to the Chis Johnston teaser he dropped on the Steve Dangle podcast about a big name going to the Leafs via trade (Johnston said the player was from an American team.) the more I believe it could be Eichel.
Eichel is at 10 for 5 years and Mitch Marner is at 10.9 for 4 years.
Toronto can pull a cap circumvention a la Tampa by putting Jack on IR while he recovers and then bring him in for the playoffs all while using the free space to keep guys like Hyman, etc…

 

[McRanger92]

The more I’ve been giving time to the Chis Johnston teaser he dropped on the Steve Dangle podcast about a big name going to the Leafs via trade (Johnston said the player was from an American team.) the more I believe it could be Eichel.
Eichel is at 10 for 5 years and Mitch Marner is at 10.9 for 4 years.
Toronto can pull a cap circumvention a la Tampa by putting Jack on IR while he recovers and then bring him in for the playoffs all while using the free space to keep guys like Hyman, etc…

Toronto dumping Marner to bring in yet another 10+ mil cap hit Center makes absolutely no sense to me.

Marner for Seth Jones seems too obvious not to happen

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

The more I’ve been giving time to the Chis Johnston teaser he dropped on the Steve Dangle podcast about a big name going to the Leafs via trade (Johnston said the player was from an American team.) the more I believe it could be Eichel.
Eichel is at 10 for 5 years and Mitch Marner is at 10.9 for 4 years.
Toronto can pull a cap circumvention a la Tampa by putting Jack on IR while he recovers and then bring him in for the playoffs all while using the free space to keep guys like Hyman, etc…

Why does Toronto want Eichel? They have Matthews and Tavares both at massive cap hits already. They’re gonna have 3 10m+ centers?

If they move Marner it should be for D help. Something around Seth Jones would make sense.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

The more I’ve been giving time to the Chis Johnston teaser he dropped on the Steve Dangle podcast about a big name going to the Leafs via trade (Johnston said the player was from an American team.) the more I believe it could be Eichel.
Eichel is at 10 for 5 years and Mitch Marner is at 10.9 for 4 years.
Toronto can pull a cap circumvention a la Tampa by putting Jack on IR while he recovers and then bring him in for the playoffs all while using the free space to keep guys like Hyman, etc…

With Matthews and Tavares at center already?

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

And no, I don't think there's any chance the Rangers compete for a Cup next summer but could see a scenario where they're a second round team (that's all Colorado is, literally).

Especially considering a lot of the same garbage is still going to be in our division. Washington and Pittsburgh are old and have no prospects. Philly has the worst coach in the league. We still get to play the AHL team in New Jersey a bunch of times.

The idea of improving to a 2nd round team sounds good to me while the kids continue to improve

 

[Inferno]

A team with 2 number 1 centers doesn't need a franchise center.

 

[NYRangers16]

Also Rangers won’t have to pay these kids right away, few of them will get bridge contracts. If Rangers are interested in Eichel (if) they obviously think they can work it cap wise.

And Bridge deals give us less value later when KK and LF need Eichel money.. So not only are you burning the trade package, but then you are burning a stud. Asset management 101.

 

[NYRangers16]

A team with 2 number 1 centers doesn't need a franchise center.

Unless you can’t keep them. Short term vision.

Are we a short term team right now? When did we last make the playoffs? CAR doesn’t count. Are we a cup contender? I don’t get how you can justify moving (at least) 3 ELCs for a 10m cap hit unless we were close. And that’s ignoring the cap implications. Those ELCs are our backfill to actually open up the cup run.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I'm still for my idea of seeing if SJ would move Hertl. costs way less in assets and cap then Eichel will. 43 points in 50 games last year on a bad Sharks team. He would put up even more points with Panarin, but thats me.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

And Bridge deals give us less value later when KK and LF need Eichel money.. So not only are you burning the trade package, but then you are burning a stud. Asset management 101.

I love both and I do absolutely believe both will be great players, but my God can we let them perform before we set 10M aside for them? lol

 

[egelband]

I think the Rangers are in good position assets-wise to make a godfather offer for the guy they really want. I think that’s what we’re going to see this summer. I’m not talking a McDavid level guy but a very good player who fills that leadership and grit role but with skill. Maybe someone like Ryan O’Reilly.