Roster Building Thread VI (2022-23): Offseason edition

[Boris Zubov]

For every Vegas, there's an Edmonton or Toronto. We know where we would end up.

I also wouldn't call Hill a 5th string. His career numbers are relatively strong. He was a 3rd round pick, still only 27... but what I will say, if we do get another goalie, he needs to be big.

My point is more about not paying a goalie a significant % of your cap space when it's been proven that building from the goal out hasn't worked.

 

[Guyute]

I'd take Vancouver's 2023 1st, 2024 1st, and Hoglander for Laf otherwise no thanks

 

[I Eat Crow]

Jesper Fast to answer your question and that was a long time ago now.

Him and Buch. Only ones in 10 years. Woof.

 

[NYR Viper]

There are ways to change the dynamic of the team and become a team that is both better at retrieving pucks but also will play with more of a swagger that is needed. On top of that, they really should be looking at ways to find guys at lower value deals who may not need the puck but can make simple plays and maintain possession.

Nick Foligno
I've mentioned Nick Foligno a couple of times. He's coming off a pretty good season with Boston but he's 35 and only played an average of 62 games the last 2 years. He's a proven veteran who plays a hard nosed style and he's a former captain in Columbus. He's a 3rd/4th line winger at this point in his career.

Noel Acciari
Acciari is the type of buzz-saw the team needs more of. He's coming off a good year between St Louis and Toronto and plays mainly center, although he can also play wing. He has been routinely in the positive in terms of takeaways versus giveaways and is 31.

Josh Leivo
Levio has been an oddity for me for a while. He's 30 years old and a winger (plays both sides) and whenever he gets a chance to play in the NHL he is routinely even or better (last year WAY better) in terms of takeaways to giveaways and his possession numbers at 5v5 are always solid. To me, he screams out as a guy who a team could use to plug a hole and augment a more skilled set of linemates for almost the league minimum.

Patric Hornqvist
Here's a vet who barely played this year due to injury. He's coming off a large contract that paid him $5.3m on average. Hornqvist has always had a way of getting under the oppositions skin while also possessing some actual skill, particularly around the net. He's a 4th liner at this point but he has always been a good net front presence guy on a PP as well. I'd take a flier on Hornqvist if he would come at near league minimum for a year. I could see him having a Perry-like effect at his next destination if healthy. 4th line wing + PP2, pain in the ass.

Lars Eller
Eller is an interesting case. He's 34 and coming off a bad season for him where he finished in Colorado. He's a center for sure and good on faceoffs. He's low-key a physical, gritty player a we have all seen in his time from Washington. If he's willing to accept a low cap hit deal, he may be a really good addition as a teams 4C.

Garnet Hathaway
He's a PIA to play against and actually a good player overall. I'm guessing he gets overpaid but he's going to be a solid addition somewhere

Adam Erne
Erne is the type of guy who likes to play a physical brand of hockey but is NOT suited to a defensively operating 4th line. That has been his downfall along the way for a while. If a team is looking to give him a shot as a 3rd line augment to a more passive group of linemates, he may be a nice addition.

Niko Mikkola
I REALLY don't think Mikkola is going to get a massive contract elsewhere. The guy is actually a pretty good defensive d-man and is physical. We are seeing teams full of these larger guys who move the puck just okay do well. If his contract demands are reasonable, I'd re-sign him.


Honorable mentions
Tyler Motte
Jesper Fast

 

[bernmeister]

That is a brutal return for laf. Rhd the one position nyr don’t need. Only a 2nd round pick for a former 1st overall and a low round pick. If I’m nyr I’m not giving him up for less than ‘24 top 5-10 protected first, Owen beck, & something else. Barron is a nice player but one of the last things nyr need.I think van has more value, say 11th overall, and a pick of prospect from ratu, or peterson. Then a player like Podkolzin or Joshua, & garland @ 50% since he has no value around the league but van needs to move cap. Nyr can add to make the overall value work.

Disagree.
If you wait and let his #s grow on kid line w/mo mins, then return will also increase.
But if you want to move him NOW, the return will not be excessive lows being thrown out, and it will not be at premium.
The MON 2nd is a few behind a late 1st
Barron is a physical RD w/size who skates well enuf +.

We DO need another solid young RD since Trouba will not remain as RD, either being dealt, or if nec, forced to 4RW.

Our D youth is lefty -- Robertson, Scanlin are lefties.

IF IF IF Van coughed up 11OA + Raty, yeah, I agree that is a better offer, but that's not gonna happen and we shouldn't shoot for that.
Pod is nice, but moving LaF's rfa for Barron's elc->rfa helps w/cap short term
Pod is not a guarantee.
He is worth more than project lowball offer, but does not command top $.

LaF still has signif upside, but atm projects as Vickers type.
Can't try to get Jagr in his prime return

 

[UnSandvich]

There are ways to change the dynamic of the team and become a team that is both better at retrieving pucks but also will play with more of a swagger that is needed. On top of that, they really should be looking at ways to find guys at lower value deals who may not need the puck but can make simple plays and maintain possession.

Nick Foligno
I've mentioned Nick Foligno a couple of times. He's coming off a pretty good season with Boston but he's 35 and only played an average of 62 games the last 2 years. He's a proven veteran who plays a hard nosed style and he's a former captain in Columbus. He's a 3rd/4th line winger at this point in his career.

Noel Acciari
Acciari is the type of buzz-saw the team needs more of. He's coming off a good year between St Louis and Toronto and plays mainly center, although he can also play wing. He has been routinely in the positive in terms of takeaways versus giveaways and is 31.

Josh Leivo
Levio has been an oddity for me for a while. He's 30 years old and a winger (plays both sides) and whenever he gets a chance to play in the NHL he is routinely even or better (last year WAY better) in terms of takeaways to giveaways and his possession numbers at 5v5 are always solid. To me, he screams out as a guy who a team could use to plug a hole and augment a more skilled set of linemates for almost the league minimum.

Patric Hornqvist
Here's a vet who barely played this year due to injury. He's coming off a large contract that paid him $5.3m on average. Hornqvist has always had a way of getting under the oppositions skin while also possessing some actual skill, particularly around the net. He's a 4th liner at this point but he has always been a good net front presence guy on a PP as well. I'd take a flier on Hornqvist if he would come at near league minimum for a year. I could see him having a Perry-like effect at his next destination if healthy. 4th line wing + PP2, pain in the ass.

Lars Eller
Eller is an interesting case. He's 34 and coming off a bad season for him where he finished in Colorado. He's a center for sure and good on faceoffs. He's low-key a physical, gritty player a we have all seen in his time from Washington. If he's willing to accept a low cap hit deal, he may be a really good addition as a teams 4C.

Garnet Hathaway
He's a PIA to play against and actually a good player overall. I'm guessing he gets overpaid but he's going to be a solid addition somewhere

Adam Erne
Erne is the type of guy who likes to play a physical brand of hockey but is NOT suited to a defensively operating 4th line. That has been his downfall along the way for a while. If a team is looking to give him a shot as a 3rd line augment to a more passive group of linemates, he may be a nice addition.

Niko Mikkola
I REALLY don't think Mikkola is going to get a massive contract elsewhere. The guy is actually a pretty good defensive d-man and is physical. We are seeing teams full of these larger guys who move the puck just okay do well. If his contract demands are reasonable, I'd re-sign him.


Honorable mentions
Tyler Motte
Jesper Fast

yeah Leivo was a guy i wanted at the last TDL. Hathaway would be good, but short of trading panarin we won't have room for him, he's prob getting 2-3, maybe more

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

I'd take Vancouver's 2023 1st, 2024 1st, and Hoglander for Laf otherwise no thanks

No thank you. 11th overall pick even with the other assets not worth trading Laff for at this point.

 

[Shadowtron]

After watching Vegas waltz to a Cup with a 5th string goalie, keeping Shesty after his deal is up isn't a huge priority, IMO.

I concur. My only concern is there’s nothing in the pipeline behind him. If we had drafted Wallstedt instead of Othman I’d feel more comfortable with the future of our net. You’d probably have to go fishing for a goalie somewhere.

 

[duhmetreE]

My point is more about not paying a goalie a significant % of your cap space when it's been proven that building from the goal out hasn't worked.

I get that. Maybe I'm not giving Allaire enough credit but I'd feel we'd end up with a Playoff sieve. I'm all for drafting goalies every draft to have a revolving door once they become expensive, ( just not in the 2nd round from Sweden. ).

It hasn't worked because we're a terrible org imo. We got close. We didn't have the offensive horses in the Torts-AV era. Now we need more Jam and better defensive group. We never got the balanced approach and our top paid offensive players RARELY if EVER earn their salary in the Playoffs. That's been an issue for a long time.

 

[TominNC]

Regardless of family needs you seen it since when, if an LTIRed player (with the caveat that he'd be making very little) who is a legend to whatever teammates he will have, it's somehow a problem, well you've got much bigger problems... You could realistically sign a bottom six player who has more of an impact than he would offensively, and managed to reduce his minutes for a few months. I've seen that happen almost every year, with every winning team think since the 90s.

Family needs? What are you talking about? He's an injured old player. Stay away.

 

[surlysailor]

Disagree.
If you wait and let his #s grow on kid line w/mo mins, then return will also increase.
But if you want to move him NOW, the return will not be excessive lows being thrown out, and it will not be at premium.
The MON 2nd is a few behind a late 1st
Barron is a physical RD w/size who skates well enuf +.

We DO need another solid young RD since Trouba will not remain as RD, either being dealt, or if nec, forced to 4RW.

Our D youth is lefty -- Robertson, Scanlin are lefties.

IF IF IF Van coughed up 11OA + Raty, yeah, I agree that is a better offer, but that's not gonna happen and we shouldn't shoot for that.
Pod is nice, but moving LaF's rfa for Barron's elc->rfa helps w/cap short term
Pod is not a guarantee.
He is worth more than project lowball offer, but does not command top $.

LaF still has signif upside, but atm projects as Vickers type.
Can't try to get Jagr in his prime return

I know fans want to move Trouba but I don’t see any indication from nyr they want to. They just named him captain, he’s still playing top 4, and I think no matter his cap hit drury and whoever is the next coach will think “he plays the right way” no matter the cap hit. I also don’t think the cap hit matters to dru (tho it should) since the cap will be jumping up next off season. Not that I agree but I think drury would move a lot of other players before Trouba. Again not that I agree but I just don’t see any inclination from nyr.

 

[RangerBoy]

Frank mentioned Trent Frederic might not receive a qualifying offer from Boston.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Frank mentioned Trent Frederic might not receive a qualifying offer from Boston.

Been impressed pretty much every time I’ve seen him play

 

[RangersFan1994]

Frank mentioned Trent Frederic might not receive a qualifying offer from Boston.

If that is true, I am sure 30 other teams would have interest. Knowing the Rangers luck he will go to the Devils or Islanders. Rangers better be in on Frederic. Personally id trade for his rights

Been impressed pretty much every time I’ve seen him play

he better be on Drury’s list if that is true. tough skilled and physical. Not soft enough for this team lol

 

[Raspewtin]

Frank mentioned Trent Frederic might not receive a qualifying offer from Boston.

that's surprising. he went from absolutely useless to pretty good and he's tuff and all that

 

[duhmetreE]

Frank mentioned Trent Frederic might not receive a qualifying offer from Boston.

that'd be really dumb on their part and I'd be happy to take him off their hands.

Maybe they'll want Bertuzzi over him?

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

Family needs? What are you talking about? He's an injured old player. Stay away.

Shit, sorry, autocorreclt "how many." No. I think it's going to be pretty similar to St. Louis career ending wise... I will take of 50 point Hall of fame player at 1 million any day. If possible, of which there is a good chance.

 

[Synergy27]

Trent Frederic is a hateable SOB with a punchable face. Exactly the kind of player this team needs in the bottom 6. He and Cuylle can cause all kinds of havoc together.

 

[Leonardo87]

Seems like teams are ready for the SCF to be over , already making moves, and Vince expects the head coach news for the Rangers to be announced this week.

Maybe start the season earlier? So the SCF doesn’t go well into June?

 

[Trxjw]

Frederic taking a step forward this season probably priced him out of the B's plans given their cap crunch. They have like $5m in space and likely want to bring back their veteran players while still needing a backup goalie and to fill out their bottom six. They can't afford to spend $3m of that on Frederic.

 

[MrAlmost]

Frederic would be a great player to trade Goodrow out and use that money to sign him long term. I doubt we will get him. I see the Bruins trading Forbort or Reilly and resigning Clifton and Frederic. If Bergeron and Kreji come back it will be for league minimum.

 

[bernmeister]

I concur. My only concern is there’s nothing in the pipeline behind him. If we had drafted Wallstedt instead of Othman I’d feel more comfortable with the future of our net. You’d probably have to go fishing for a goalie somewhere.

sharpshooters are hit and miss.
I entertained Krav based on so called experts, but I wanted Dobson

 

[bernmeister]

I know fans want to move Trouba but I don’t see any indication from nyr they want to. They just named him captain, he’s still playing top 4, and I think no matter his cap hit drury and whoever is the next coach will think “he plays the right way” no matter the cap hit. I also don’t think the cap hit matters to dru (tho it should) since the cap will be jumping up next off season. Not that I agree but I think drury would move a lot of other players before Trouba. Again not that I agree but I just don’t see any inclination from nyr.

Trouba is prob here thru next season while his nmc is in full force.
Following that is ntc.
Mgmt may discuss that at that time and obv before that they have no reason to do so.

Door #2 is if they can move bread, ditching Trouba is less critical.

Bread not likely to wait to last min to approve trade, but when/where before is anybody's guess

 

[Shadowtron]

sharpshooters are hit and miss.
I entertained Krav based on so called experts, but I wanted Dobson

Same here. Was never big on Kravtsov. I wanted Wahlstrom or Dobson.

 

[bhamill]

I said he would almost undoubtedly get more than we could afford but I would still offer him the maximum that we could afford before I would even talk to another UFA. Maybe he wants to by in NYC. Maybe he wants to sign where his brother is. In all likelihood, it’s a 99.9% chance he says no way, but I’d still go after him first.

reasonable take.