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

[Bruner4329]

I think if they want to make a playoff push next year it could be done without any major changes to the lineup. I would sign Buch to a 2-3 year deal in the neighborhood of 6 million per. I would bridge Chytil maybe around 2.5. Resign Howden and Gauthier for a bridge of around 1 million each. Shesty gets 5x5. Assuming the Kraken select Hajek in expansion that should leave a spot on the 4th line and a spot on defense that needs to be filled with over 10 million in cap space. I would sign Foligno and Gudbranson to 1 year deals and give them a good salary to do so seeing as we have the room in the cap to do it. They would bring toughness and some veteran presence in the bottom end of our lineup. The roster could look like this without having to trade away any futures before we get a good idea of what they are.

lafreniere - Zibanejad - Buchnevich
Panarin - Strome - Kakko
Kreider - Chytil - Kravstov
Foligno - Rooney - Blackwell
Howden - Gautier

Lindgren - Fox
Miller - Trouba
Jones - Gudbranson
Bitetto

Shesterkin
Georgiev

That should leave us with about 5 million in cap space give or take. It would also allow Lundkvist to start his season in Hartford. This would also leave us with plenty of cap space down the road to resign the current prospects we have when they’re due for raises.

So all you did was tweak the 4th line a bit to a team that got totally outplayed down the stretch by the top teams in the conference. You leave the top 3 centers as is and bring back AHL players like Howden. Seriously this lineup you have would not only miss the playoffs this year but do nothing towards taking the next needed step in a progression. Your wasting the year and money with this lineup. Do you really think that the Dolan fired his top guys with the intent of sticking with the same group that showed they can't compete with the top teams? Lets be realistic here.

 

[IDvsEGO]

So all you did was tweak the 4th line a bit to a team that got totally outplayed down the stretch by the top teams in the conference. You leave the top 3 centers as is and bring back AHL players like Howden. Seriously this lineup you have would not only miss the playoffs this year but do nothing towards taking the next needed step in a progression. Your wasting the year and money with this lineup. Do you really think that the Dolan fired his top guys with the intent of sticking with the same group that showed they can't compete with the top teams? Lets be realistic here.

a couple things to note.
In terms of strength of schedule, the east was an absolute nightmare of a division compared to the other three. No one expected the rangers to make the playoffs.
Going back to a more traditional schedule and playoff format will absolutely help the rangers.
If there’s 3 division and 2 wild card spots for the metro to take playoff spots then the rangers grab a playoff spot.

also there should be some significant addition by subtraction with just getting smith and Johnson off the roster.
Even small growth by the kids would be enough to make the playoffs.

 

[Gardner McKay]

You.re right. I gave Ovie way too much credit for hits that are borderline charges.

If you are going to make such a bold and frankly ridiculous statement that the vast majority of the hockey world would disagree with, the onus is on you to explain why your conclusion is correct.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Pittsburgh would likely retain in order to move the cap hit.

If he can stay healthy, Malkin still produces at a high rate. He’s won three Cups and Florida might see him as a leader who could get them one.

If Florida can’t keep Barkov, they’ll take what they can get to replace him. Not many players are motivated to go there.

There has been zero indication that Barkov doesn't want to stay in Florida. Only speculation because "it's Florida so of course they won't want to pay him and he won't want to stay there."

He's there captain and they're a competitive team. Until we hear actual rumblings that he wants out I'm assuming he's re-signing there.

 

[cwede]

There has been zero indication that Barkov doesn't want to stay in Florida. Only speculation because "it's Florida so of course they won't want to pay him and he won't want to stay there."
He's there captain and they're a competitive team. Until we hear actual rumblings that he wants out I'm assuming he's re-signing there.

there are interesting(distracting) rumors that coach Q wants to leave for Seattle
Something like that could change Barkov's position, but to-date, I also have seen no indications that he is hoping to move on

 

[TheBloodyNine]

There has been zero indication that Barkov doesn't want to stay in Florida. Only speculation because "it's Florida so of course they won't want to pay him and he won't want to stay there."

He's there captain and they're a competitive team. Until we hear actual rumblings that he wants out I'm assuming he's re-signing there.

They were a competitive team in a joke division. Let's see what transpires next year when that is no longer the case.

 

[a tribe cq]

If I have to see another person suggest we get Gudbranson I’m going to lose my lunch.

He’s terrible.

 

[bobbop]

Cheaper to buy him out

Depends. What are you offering me?

 

[EdJovanovski]

Buch got an elite head

 

[pld459666]

Depends. What are you offering me?

I believe the option was trading at 50%

Not sure i want Nolan Patrick at full nut and 50% of TDA

 

[haohmaru]

No one expected the rangers to make the playoffs. *****
.

***** Excepr Dolan

 

[bobbop]

I believe the option was trading at 50%

Not sure i want Nolan Patrick at full nut and 50% of TDA

Neither do I but I’d take a second or a useful player. The Flyers would never trade Patrick to the Rangers.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Buch got an elite head

He's got such a goofy looking walk there Haha

 

[pld459666]

Neither do I but I’d take a second or a useful player. The Flyers would never trade Patrick to the Rangers.

If teams passed on a free asset, I doubt they anyone is going to pay much of anything knowing they can probably snag him at less the 2mil per

Waste of an asset

 

[IDvsEGO]

***** Excepr Dolan

Im not even sure Dolan expected to make the playoffs, it might be the bad cap management, and bad signings like jack Johnson. Dolan may have been of mind that “hey if we didn’t have 16m of my money paying players who aren’t on the team, we could’ve made the playoffs”.

 

[Synergy27]

I’m still not buying the idea that our division was such a minefield this year. That doesn’t square with the idea that whoever wins the Islanders Boston series is going to get smoked by a “real” team.

The Rangers will be a better team next year, hopefully, because they’ll have a very good coach and their key young players will have some experience. Hopefully the fourth line is improved and brings some sort of identity, and the paper thinness of the blue line is addressed.

They’re not going to be regularly winning games against teams like Toronto, Montreal, Carolina and Florida is they bring the same game to the table next year.

 

[True Blue]

How do you know it’s Zegras or Lundell though?

By all that our insiders said. And what rankings were made know.

How do you know Trotz doesn’t get them into the playoffs? It’s likely Trotz makes this a playoff team. Future could be better or worse, it’s only different. Team is probably more aggressive as buyers, rather than selling but it could be success in a different way.

I do not know anything. But going with that him coaching one of the oldest, more experienced rosters to one of the youngest and least experienced would make a difference. I am also going with this place would freak out at his way of "developing prospects."

No brainer like taking Kakko and Lafreniere. Strome move was nice. Fox was only ever going to be a Ranger. Lindgren was a 2nd rounder buried in Boston’s depth chart that has benefited tremendously from his history with Fox that anyone could have identified. Gorton also doesn’t have a copyright on trading up in the draft. Come on.

So you would take away points for a Kakkp or Laf but not penalize him for drafting later? Makes total sense.

Lindgren may been a second rounder. But no one was looking for him. Including his own franchise.

Gorton may not have the copyright. But he does have a track record of success of when he does do it. Tell me another GM that has been as successful?

Dolan’s actions absolutely justify my take because it happened. Doesn’t matter if we think it’s stupid or not, it is reality.

Stupidity never justified reality.

The Rangers are not as strong off the ice.

Tell me 3 moves where Lam is better than Gorton. And then tell me what Gorton should have done differently.

 

[True Blue]

You seem to have failed to grasp the point being made about how Gretzky’s long career and eventual decline (by his standards) negatively impacted his PPG stats. He is arguing that Gretzky is indeed the best goal scorer, same as you. Quick to misunderstand and render judgement as usual I see.

That was tongue in cheek, my ever inquisitive friend.

 

[bobbop]

If teams passed on a free asset, I doubt they anyone is going to pay much of anything knowing they can probably snag him at less the 2mil per

Waste of an asset

He’s never been a free asset. Teams are now rethinking where they are. I would assume his agent has been out there beating the bushes. There are teams that may be willing to pay half and give up a lesser asset. For the Rangers, what is that lesser asset and is it worth $2.4MM?

 

[Savant]

By all that our insiders said. And what rankings were made know.

I do not know anything. But going with that him coaching one of the oldest, more experienced rosters to one of the youngest and least experienced would make a difference. I am also going with this place would freak out at his way of "developing prospects."

So you would take away points for a Kakkp or Laf but not penalize him for drafting later? Makes total sense.

Lindgren may been a second rounder. But no one was looking for him. Including his own franchise.

Gorton may not have the copyright. But he does have a track record of success of when he does do it. Tell me another GM that has been as successful?

Stupidity never justified reality.

Tell me 3 moves where Lam is better than Gorton. And then tell me what Gorton should have done differently.

• Zegras and Lundell would be great but we do not know if the Rangers would have been available if they had Trotz because Trotz likely gets them in the playoffs. No playoffs no lottery. Understand yet?
• …which is exactly what the Rangers are about to go with. Again. This is the reality - if they weren’t earnest with a rebuild the team would look different and with Trotz they would have better coaching.
  
• I’m not taking points away for Kakko and Lafreniere but I’m not giving any either. A monkey could have made those picks. Anyone who follows the NHL could have made those picks.
  
• GMs trade up all the time. Pick one. You can plenty examples of success (and probably a similar amount of unsuccessful deals too)
• There’s no use crying over spilled milk. What happened, happened. What happens next will be interesting, but it’s not a rebuild anymore.
  
• I mean look at Lam did with the Pageau and Palmieri trades. Solidified them as a playoff contender. I’d say those are winning moves for them given the context of the team. Gorton made major mistakes with the Stepan and McDonagh trades that were also appropriate for the context of that team.

 

[Bruner4329]

a couple things to note.
In terms of strength of schedule, the east was an absolute nightmare of a division compared to the other three. No one expected the rangers to make the playoffs.
Going back to a more traditional schedule and playoff format will absolutely help the rangers.
If there’s 3 division and 2 wild card spots for the metro to take playoff spots then the rangers grab a playoff spot.

also there should be some significant addition by subtraction with just getting smith and Johnson off the roster.
Even small growth by the kids would be enough to make the playoffs.

In addition to the teams in our division and Boston, we will also have to contend with Montreal, Tampa Bay, Florida, Carolina and Toronto. I don't see how you can possibly say you we will make the playoffs next year with the group you proposed. Add Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh and the Isles to that group and there are 9 teams right there that were better than us and made the playoffs this year. Just like your roster the numbers don't add up.

 

[a tribe cq]

Nolan Patrick is 100% someone I would kick the tires on if he's forcing his way out of Philly, especially if Gallant is the next coach. Laviolette is just not a coach for someone like Patrick to succeed under. Patrick also was shifted to RW a bunch towards the end, this could free up Buch as a package for something and run the right side of Kakko, Krav, Patrick, 4th line fodder. I think Patrick has all the talent to be a very productive NHL player, big body and is above average in the dot, which we are in dire need of.

Obviously this is cost permitting, but it's not a bad get if reasonably cheap and the cost diminishes if hes actually trying to get out.

I would love to figure out a way to get Reinhart out of Buffalo as opposed to Eichel, maybe with something along the lines of:

Pavel Buchnevich + Ryan Strome + Pick swap to offset
Reinhart + Tage Thompson + Pick swap to offset

Sign Nosek

Roll

Panarin - Zibanejad - Kakko
Lafreniere - Reinhart - Kravstov
Kreider - Chytil - Patrick/Thompson
Nosek - Blackwell - Patrick/Thompson

Ideally Thompson and Patrick aren't on the 4th line as they are optimally used in more offensive deployments...however Patick's faceoff skill could be crucial in the bottom 6, while seeing PP time in front of the net on the second unit.

Thing is, the above strengthens our depth and lineup. Brings a little size in Patrick (6'2), Thompson (6'5) Nosek (6'2) with all three of those players being able to be slotted in anywhere up and down the lineup. Thompson can play both wings as can Nosek, Patrick can play C and wing and is an above average FO guy. Reinhart is an absolute beauty of a player, with more high end skill than Strome, which isn't a knock on Strome. Laf throwing dimes to Reinhart is just dreamy.

Plausibility? It won't happen, but an interesting, fun thought to take advantage of these players wanting out of their teams.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

This is Eichel's destination, though not sure they'd be adding 2 top six guys while taking on 10 mill with most likely a prospect heavy offer on the way.

Also, for a team that has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to forward prospects, I'm having a tough time understanding their need to do this when Byfield will absolutely be a top 6 guy next year and so could others in their farm. But I guess that's what happens when you're players are publicly clamoring to compete ASAP.

Edit: just looked and they actually have a shit ton of space, but still they got a shit ton of impressive forward prospects as well.

 

[rangers1314]

Possible players for Buch?

Los Angeles Kings hoping to acquire two Top 6 forwards this off-season - TSN.ca

 

[pld459666]

He’s never been a free asset. Teams are now rethinking where they are. I would assume his agent has been out there beating the bushes. There are teams that may be willing to pay half and give up a lesser asset. For the Rangers, what is that lesser asset and is it worth $2.4MM?

He was waived.

Definition of free