Roster Building Thread V (2022-23): Cheese and WINE

[McRanger92]

Somewhere between Healthy Scratch and Wayne Gretzky.

For a 5th round pick thats a win!

 

[Machinehead]

I'm still a big believer in Berard and I think he has top six upside.

He's way more annoying than Motte. Motte has 82 career PIM's. Berard will do that in a year.

I wouldn't rule out him being a Bertuzzi (the worst one that plays now) or maybe a Callahan with more of a pest element.

 

[Greg02]

I really want a Rangers Maple leafs ECF.

So does everyone tbh

We could sign everyone then.

 

[Daves a mess]

Clark’s biggest fault and it followed him for years was falling In love with late risers. Flash in the pan guys that came out of nowhere. He always wanted to be the smartest guy in the room. Jessiman Mcilrath Andersson and Kravtsov all fell into that category. Brutal picks instead of the obvious ones sitting there.

Didn't help that the 2 times he probably should of gotten cute was in 2019 and 2020.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

They are a team heavily dependent on older players too. 7 game series getting ground down and pounded on is not going to be their friend.

Whoever they play in the first round is going to be playing desperate hockey trying just to get into the damn thing.

If its the Isles I could see them scratching and clawing their way to a 6 or 7 game series, and for the rest of the East thats all you want to see. If its Florida, with their firepower lately they could certainly be the type of team to come up with the upset

 

[Boris Zubov]

And law of averages says the Bruins are bound to hit a cold streak sooner or later. As you said, we've seen it before.

Ralph: I think 9 out of 10 bus drivers play pool.

Norton: I think the average is even higher than that!

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Somewhere between Healthy Scratch and Wayne Gretzky.

So between Russian Gretzky (Kravtsov) and actual Gretzky?

 

[gravey9]

For a 5th round pick thats a win!

I've watched a bunch of Providence's games the last 2 seasons and TBH, I don't necessarily have a great read on whether Berard will become a full time NHLer.

He's small, has good vision, decent hands, decent hockey IQ, decent skater and at least in college wasn't too afraid to take the puck directly to the net. He often does play feisty.

That said, for smaller player he's not nec a burner. But at least in college, I wouldn't call him slight. He can hold his own physically.

He's been leaned on to be an offensive, first line player this season and as a result, he's played a more finesse game. I originally fell in love with his game when he was a waterbug for Team USA. Just a smart player and the puck followed him on the forecheck.

He could be a guy who tops out as one of those really smart, smaller players who racks up points in the AHL. Or he could top out as a bottom 6 forward who wreaks havoc on the forecheck but he's going to have a play a bit more the way he played last season for that. And since he's not a speed demon and he's skilled but not necessarily blessed with elite NHL vision/skill, it'll be interesting to see how his game translates at the faster pace with bigger players.

I was higher on him last season, but I think he's got a legit shot at making it. We'll see.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

The one thing about this friggin schedule with the Rangers -

They are in a groove right now, playing pretty much every other day for a month straight.

Then you get to the last two weeks of the season and its 6 games over the last 18 days or so. Hoping that doesnt f*** them up.

But it does allow for some practice time, greater attention to special teams/details, and rest. Which is optimal if you had to make it up yourself.

Also no travel after the 8th when they get back from Columbus, so about a full week in their homes before the dance begins.

 

[haohmaru]

Fun Fact: Rangers have the 2nd most wins in the NHL since the Trouba helmet toss*

* please note that stats for things like this are not maintained and can't be quantified
* neither are stats about hellacious hits
* that result in PP's for the NYR time after time
* that also result in forwards for the opposing team changing their game

Fun Fact 2:

Trouba has been the Rangers best defenseman over the past 4-6 weeks

Fun Fact 3:

This is the kind of horse you need in the playoffs if you want to win a Cup. f*** the cap hit.

Fun Fact 4:

Best NYR captain since: ____________ ?

 

[Leonardo87]

Thought this was interesting...

 

[EdJovanovski]

Thought this was interesting...

Lmao @ the serious face Kane has with 3% then he goes up to 4% and smiles

 

[Avery16]

At risk to any chemistry formed over the last two games, I’d like to swap Zib and Chytil in the lineup. Give Chytil some finishers and give the kids a playmaker.

 

[MrAlmost]

Thought this was interesting...

How the f*** does anyone know how to read these things? The plot chart ones I have seen are the worst though.

 

[kovazub94]

I'm still a big believer in Berard and I think he has top six upside.

He's way more annoying than Motte. Motte has 82 career PIM's. Berard will do that in a year.

I wouldn't rule out him being a Bertuzzi (the worst one that plays now) or maybe a Callahan with more of a pest element.

You shouldn't rule out Callahan-level (also a late rounder himself) but expecting it is setting yourself for a disappointment as the odds are not in it favor. I'd be very happy with home-grown Motte sparkplug and (a bit more of) a pest.

 

[EdJovanovski]

I'm still a big believer in Berard and I think he has top six upside.

He's way more annoying than Motte. Motte has 82 career PIM's. Berard will do that in a year.

I wouldn't rule out him being a Bertuzzi (the worst one that plays now) or maybe a Callahan with more of a pest element.

He was the most impressive player to me in the previous WJC, was totally dominant and oozed confidence. This last one he was kinda underwhelming though. Great skater which is something we sorely lack

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Thought this was interesting...

I always appreciate the work that goes into these things, but there are players who just are outliers in every case.

Kane is an outlier. He can get done in 1 opportunity that other players need 6 or 7 to do and it's going to hurt his "analytics" but the end result is that he (or his line really) probably outscores the other.

Adam Herman is actually right here (I can't believe I just said that). JFresh is a slave to the numbers and thats too bad.

 

[Fitzy]

Fox is the face of the franchise for the next decade and I think they build accordingly around him.

The Hank era ended as the Fox era began.

 

[kovazub94]

I've watched a bunch of Providence's games the last 2 seasons and TBH, I don't necessarily have a great read on whether Berard will become a full time NHLer.

He's small, has good vision, decent hands, decent hockey IQ, decent skater and at least in college wasn't too afraid to take the puck directly to the net. He often does play feisty.

That said, for smaller player he's not nec a burner. But at least in college, I wouldn't call him slight. He can hold his own physically.

He's been leaned on to be an offensive, first line player this season and as a result, he's played a more finesse game. I originally fell in love with his game when he was a waterbug for Team USA. Just a smart player and the puck followed him on the forecheck.

He could be a guy who tops out as one of those really smart, smaller players who racks up points in the AHL. Or he could top out as a bottom 6 forward who wreaks havoc on the forecheck but he's going to have a play a bit more the way he played last season for that. And since he's not a speed demon and he's skilled but not necessarily blessed with elite NHL vision/skill, it'll be interesting to see how his game translates at the faster pace with bigger players.

I was higher on him last season, but I think he's got a legit shot at making it. We'll see.

I think his production in college needs to be put in context (same as what we should be doing when we see someone like Grubbe or Barbashev in CHL producing at ppg pace). This context to me starts with that there's little expectations of Berard becoming an offensive threat in the NHL. If this is your starting point then his college performance indicates that so far he's shown enough skills (IQ, soft hands, shot) that won't be a detriment to him becoming an NHLer. However his path still will be based on his motor, tenacity and pestiness (while Providence needed him for those other high-end skills).

 

[McRanger92]

I always appreciate the work that goes into these things, but there are players who just are outliers in every case.

Kane is an outlier. He can get done in 1 opportunity that other players need 6 or 7 to do and it's going to hurt his "analytics" but the end result is that he (or his line really) probably outscores the other.

Adam Herman is actually right here (I can't believe I just said that). JFresh is a slave to the numbers and thats too bad.

JFresh is also a completely biased Pens fan. Doesnt even try to hide it.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

JFresh is also a completely biased Pens fan. Doesnt even try to hide it.

Maybe, but his work isn't biased at all.

He's just misguided. He's allowed to be but people like him are the problem with analytics. The numbers themselves aren't problematic at all, its just data.

When you can't look beyond them to acknowledge that edge cases exist, thats a problem. But its his to have.

 

[bobbop]

That was absolutely nonsense then and it’s nonsense now.

Lindgren and Goodrow are the most replaceable players.

Again look right now what the team is doing without lindgren. They’re absolutely fine. They’re dominating. Love the kid but there’s a cap and you have to prioritize.

How do you define replaceable?

 

[haohmaru]

How do you define replaceable?

Every team in the NHL would make someone REPLACEABLE if they could get Lindgren on their team.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

How can Lafreniere become an impact player playing on the 3rd line? Are the Rangers playing Lafreniere over Panarin and Kreider? No. Chytil runs hot and cold. Both of these players are 3rd line players on the Rangers. The Rangers have Zibanejad and Trocheck at center. Drury gave Trocheck seven years last summer. Chytil is 2 years away from group III. Poor post my fat ass.

In the same sense, having those young kids in 3rd line roles should help keep the championship window open, if they are signed to lesser contracts, which they are/will be. This team is deep because of that.

But i do understand and partially agree with what you are saying. Lafreniere is blocked. Kakko is blocked as well, but its not exactly like these kids are lighting it up and forcing their way onto PP1 or first line minutes (where they've each had plenty of opportunities this season).

You see the cap list and yes, Trocheck is being paid to be the 2nd line center but you got him free agency and overpaid to bring him in on a premium, just like Goodrow, who look - is now where he should be, on the 4th.

According to his salary he should be playing higher than that but he isnt. Chytil could certainly drive Trocheck lower. Lafreniere could drive Kreider to the 3rd, by producing like a Stutzle level 10A and he wouldnt need the PP to show that. The Rangers wouldnt have a choice. You'd have a super team. This very well may happen in 2-3 seasons and be a real change of the guard.

Its a little bit of both going on. I get the arguments on both sides. They also traded Buch to provide room for Kakko, so that goes against your premise here. If Kakko was lighting it up they wouldnt have the need to bring in Kane and or Tank. But he isnt. And that isnt because he isnt getting 20 min a night.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I'd like to keep Lindgren please, thanks