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

[SA16]

I don't see the lack of skill or too many one-dimensional skill players. I see bad line combos also...

In theory:

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kane
Panarin-Chytil-Tarasenko
Kreider-Trochek-Kaako
Motte-Goodrow-Vesey

Out the LH RW Kane with the RH shooting center in Zibanejad and Lafreneire
Put the RH LW Panarin with Chytil and Tarasenko
3rd line is matchup line with Kaako as the distributor to two guys who retrieve pucks and get to the net

The issue comes up when the coaching staff tries to throw Tarasenko who is a RW on a line with a RH center who also likes to shoot in Zibanejad and when the try to force Kane and Panarin together who appear like they want to pass the puck into the net.

I would not say Zibanejad likes to shoot. He's been a below average volume shooter at 5v5 for 3 years in a row and almost the entirety of his career excluding 19-20, 13-14, and 17-18.

 

[duhmetreE]

Honestly, if they just distribute the lines better and inject 1 or 2 guys who play with a bit more edge, the team looks fine.

I keep running scenarios for next season and this fits:

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kane
Panarin-Chytil-
Kreider-Trochek-Kaako
Cuylle-Brodzinski-Vesey

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Mikkola-Schneider
Harpur

Shesty
Domingue

Go find a couple of vets looking to rebound on a short term deal to fill a role. Vesey could move up to that Panarin line and do fine there but I'd be looking at guys like Jesper Fast, Connor Brown, Patrick Hornqvist, Connor Sheary. Find someone who will cost a minimal amount and get (2) of them. Maybe even sign Lars Eller and push Trochek up to RW on that line to help cover on faceoffs.

At the end of the day, the teams biggest issue is scoring 5v5.

Getting big grinders doesn’t really fix that. Tanner Jeannot over Patrick Kane DOES NOT change a thing at 5v5.

Yeah, the line combos are terrible but the team needs a different approach and definitive structure to adhere to. Right now it feels like “do whatever you want”

 

[NYR Viper]

At the end of the day, the teams biggest issue is scoring 5v5.

Getting big grinders doesn’t really fix that.

Yeah, the line combos are terrible but the team needs a different approach and definitive structure to adhere to. Right now it feels like “do whatever you want”

No argument on the structure

 

[Bruner4329]

Kane-Zibs-Kreider this needs to happen.

 

[duhmetreE]

Everyone talking about no one works with Panarin... when was the last time we had a Zibs line work at even strength? ah yes,... the combo Gallant refuses to use, Kreider Zibs Kakko.

brain dead staff

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

6 out of the next 8 at home.

Time to get into a groove.

At the very least, if the forwards continue to dick around and the elusive chemistry is still unfound - lets see Igor solidify some consistent play and maybe even the PP units as well.

 

[MrAlmost]

I think the problem here is that Kreider and Trocheck objectively play well together, yet when left together for more than 2 games, Kreider starts to pout around.

 

[Raspewtin]

the 4th line was f***ing awesome last night and if that's a sign of things to come they might actually win us an extra game or two in the playoffs. big hits, going to the net, going for rebounds, they did it all.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Everyone talking about no one works with Panarin... when was the last time we had a Zibs line work at even strength? ah yes,... the combo Gallant refuses to use, Kreider Zibs Kakko.

brain dead staff

Its definitely time to break up the kid line again - even if it means they will return to it heading into the playoffs.

It seems to be a cyclical thing with those three. They are never clicking at the same exact time. One is always struggling or cold. At the moment its Kakko AND Chytil.

the 4th line was f***ing awesome last night and if that's a sign of things to come they might actually win us an extra game or two in the playoffs. big hits, going to the net, going for rebounds, they did it all.

Wish the other 8 followed suit

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I feel like we are headed into something like this - and it would be hilarious given the depth.

Breaking up the 4th line which has been their strongest to light a fire under a certain player or two. Although Vesey has been outstanding.

Kreider Mika Vesey
Panarin Trocheck Tarasenko
Laf Chytil Kane
Motte Goodrow Kakko

Some bullshit like that

 

[Vitto79]

Do you have to move one?

Hope not but the caps tight

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I like seeing him get more time but I'm not a fan of Chytil on the PP. He's often a second too slow on his decisions when moving the puck, he's very prone to his passes being in someone's skates and he's often unable to cleanly receive passes. The puck movement just doesn't feel as crisp and fast when he's out there.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

the 4th line was f***ing awesome last night and if that's a sign of things to come they might actually win us an extra game or two in the playoffs. big hits, going to the net, going for rebounds, they did it all.

It's a massive upgrade over last year's 4th line for most of the playoffs which had both of Rooney and Reaves on it.

 

[Machinehead]

Everyone talking about no one works with Panarin... when was the last time we had a Zibs line work at even strength? ah yes,... the combo Gallant refuses to use, Kreider Zibs Kakko.

brain dead staff

Pretty much all of them except the couple of combos Gallant uses LMAO

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

If Gallant is hell bent on keeping the kids together I want to see him at least try this:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kane
Panarin-Trocheck-Tarasenko
Lafreniere-Chytil-Kakko
Motte-Goodrow-Vesey

Although I did like the lines in the 3rd last night and Kreider-Trocheck look good together. Still, that Panarin-Trocheck-Tarasenko line was looking good before the Kane trade so I'd at least like to see him try Kane with Zibanejad and Kreider. Kane and Zibanejad I think could find offensive zone chemistry, part of the reason Kane and Panarin were so dynamic in their Chicago time together was Panarin had an itchy trigger finger back then, it was basically make some cross ice passes and get open for a one timer. I think in 2023 we have a better chance of Zibanejad filling that role with Kane than Panarin who is a different player now than he was in Chicago.

The positive though is that from his line juggling and media comments the past few games it is abundantly clear that Gallant is very aware of the lines in the top 6 not working so that's at least a positive. We just have to hope he lands on new combos that work.

The 3rd and 4th lines are solid as is right now if he's hell bent on the current top 6 players all being the top 6. Just need to land on the right combos.

 

[RangerBoy]

I understand your frustration, but it isn’t that dire. They need to figure out how to get Laf and Kakko in the top 6. Chytil ship has sailed, he’s a 3C here until Trocheck moves down.

Figure it how with Lafreniere?

 

[duhmetreE]

Pretty much all of them except the couple of combos Gallant uses LMAO

He looked good at the beginning of the year, analytically speakin, but the puck wasn't going in. With Kakko and Vesey no the Right Wing. Now it's been a struggle.

Either put Kakko back on the line or put Kane, an actual playmaker to feed our 2 best goal scorers.

---

I'm telling you. Gallant makes lines with defensive matchups on his mind. He will not put certain players ( kids ) with Zibs or Trocheck because those are his 'workhorses'.

He doesn't trust the kids.

 

[JimmyG89]

We got Kane and Tarasenko to sure up the RW spot, and Jimmy Vesey is the best fit for Panarin. The expected results were great and the actual results are great.

I'd love to go back to it, but clearly that won't happen and was never the plan.

So it's Kane (bad idea), Tarasenko (better idea) and Kakko (mixed results). Panarin-Trocheck-Kakko was seldom used, but was good. Trocheck and Kakko tend to make their lines better, regardless of their own performance on the scoresheet.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I would not say Zibanejad likes to shoot. He's been a below average volume shooter at 5v5 for 3 years in a row and almost the entirety of his career excluding 19-20, 13-14, and 17-18.

For real. And when he actually decided to start shooting, in the playoffs, he was a superstud monster.

I dont know wtf his problem is.

 

[tomobson]

I like seeing him get more time but I'm not a fan of Chytil on the PP. He's often a second too slow on his decisions when moving the puck, he's very prone to his passes being in someone's skates and he's often unable to cleanly receive passes. The puck movement just doesn't feel as crisp and fast when he's out there.

He seems pretty good in the bumper slot to me. He started a tictactoe play that Kreider completely fumbled. Him and Tarasenko are getting a little chemistry going on in that unit.

 

[Machinehead]

He looked good at the beginning of the year, analytically speakin, but the puck wasn't going in. With Kakko and Vesey no the Right Wing. Now it's been a struggle.

Either put Kakko back on the line or put Kane, an actual playmaker to feed our 2 best goal scorers.

---

I'm telling you. Gallant makes lines with defensive matchups on his mind. He will not put certain players ( kids ) with Zibs or Trocheck because those are his 'workhorses'.

He doesn't trust the kids.

It's stupid because the one thing Kakko consistently does well at the NHL level is defense.

 

[Fitzy]

I think you all are underestimating the length of time it takes to figure out the right lineup after making two major acquisitions.

IIRC Copp and Vatrano didn't exactly find their ideal linemates right out of the gate last year, and you're talking about two far less complicated players.

Some of the lines being used are shit, yeah. But that's what this next month and a half is all about. In an ideal world you have your 18 organized and good to go by game one. Bonus points if they're all healthy.

 

[DanielBrassard]

I would not say Zibanejad likes to shoot. He's been a below average volume shooter at 5v5 for 3 years in a row and almost the entirety of his career excluding 19-20, 13-14, and 17-18.

Its a problem to me when the guy who is your best shooter but also is not a good playmaker, especially off in-zone offense is not a volume shooter at 5v5.

 

[leetch99]

Yes lets take our 11.6 million dollar left wing and move him to 3rd line right wing.
Because that will absolutely generate production.
Is he currently bad to mediocre on defense? Absolutely. hes still producing on pace for a 90 point season.
Want to make it so that he's going to be bad defensively and on pace for a 60 point season, you make that change.
a 31 year old nhl player whos making 11 million isnt suddenly going to reinvent themselves as a player.

Laf zib kakko
Panarin Chytil Kane?
CK trocheck othmann
cuylle _____ Brodz

.....and your answer is placing a 35 year old bunged up winger with him for another season ? LMAO....OK . Actually I would be OK with him at 2nd line RW unless we can find a blind GM out there to trade with .

 

[DanielBrassard]

I like seeing him get more time but I'm not a fan of Chytil on the PP. He's often a second too slow on his decisions when moving the puck, he's very prone to his passes being in someone's skates and he's often unable to cleanly receive passes. The puck movement just doesn't feel as crisp and fast when he's out there.

Then again he did have that nice pass on his backhand to Zibanejad when Kreider whiffed on the open net. But the problem is with the way the Rangers run their PP he's not really a shooting threat which is what you want from him in the bumper. So it doesn't really fit.