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

[The Crypto Guy]

Mikkola’s weaknesses are what the Rangers are also very bad at. I’m not carrying a guy like that again next season. You’ve only got six D spots and five of them are already likely settled. They have to put a puck mover in that spot, and not waste the roster spot on a guy that doesn’t improve what the Rangers are bad at

Our weakness too is that we are weak in front of the net and not physical enough is our own zone, he helped out in that. Sure you can now put Jones in, to move the puck better, but then we get even weaker with the other things, including defensive play (until he proves he can play solid defense at the NHL level). 1.8 would be peanuts, but again, he's getting a raise and he's getting more than 1-2 years so it doesnt really matter, it's highly unlikely he will be with us anyway.

 

[duhmetreE]

we really do not have any more ammo to make a trade.

Kravtsov busting and traded for @EdJovanovski belly lint, really killed us
Gave up 1sts for rentals past 2 years ( by some miracle, re-signing Tank to a very friendly deal helps mitigate this )

Mikkola’s weaknesses are what the Rangers are also very bad at. I’m not carrying a guy like that again next season. You’ve only got six D spots and five of them are already likely settled. They have to put a puck mover in that spot, and not waste the roster spot on a guy that doesn’t improve what the Rangers are bad at

a competent system should help with puck movement. He wont be great at it but if he can be efficient in execution, it's all we'd need as 3LD. He can also skate.

 

[huerter]

It’s about who you play with. Chytil isn’t going to excel with guys like Goodrow/Vesey no matter what his potential is. Same with Lafraniere if he’s playing with guys like that. So sure ignore line numbering and change it to talent you play with.

I have a genius idea then…play them together.

 

[Savant]

Our weakness too is that we are weak in front of the net and not physical enough is our own zone, he helped out in that. Sure you can now put Jones in, to move the puck better, but then we get even weaker with the other things, including defensive play (until he proves he can play solid defense at the NHL level). 1.8 would be peanuts, but again, he's getting a raise and he's getting more than 1-2 years so it doesnt really matter, it's highly unlikely he will be with us anyway.

we really do not have any more ammo to make a trade.

Kravtsov busting and traded for @EdJovanovski belly lint, really killed us
Gave up 1sts for rentals past 2 years ( by some miracle, re-signing Tank to a very friendly deal helps mitigate this )


a competent system should help with puck movement. He wont be great at it but if he can be efficient in execution, it's all we'd need as 3LD. He can also skate.

The puck movement issue is the biggest issue on the team by far. It’s not a a chicken or the egg thing. All the numbers resounding show the Rangers do not have the right personnel for this. If the answer isn’t Jones, (there is no evidence he is the answer and there is no evidence they want to play him with Schneider), they need to look externally, and if they need to look externally they can’t use that roster spot on Mikkola. I think it’s more likely the current personnel improves net presence than they learn how to handle the puck better

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Maybe the puck movement issue is not necessarily the players not being able to move the puck, but our "system" and the positioning within that "system" that prevented good puck movement?

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Edmonton? You’re talking about a guy who’s spent his entire life in Chicago and now New York, is going to Edmonton?

For a few months to play with Mcdavid and Draisaitl to get his next contract, he could end up with a 80-100 point season just hanging around if his hip is back to normal.

His family and especially wife may veto it a la Mrs. Nylander, The temperatures are a literal issue for many.

Im not talking long term, just a few months after he recovers to get that money contract next year.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I thought mikkola was a nice throw in for the deal but he's not the guy for a cup run imo. We need an achor for our 3rd pair. I think Robertson becomes that but not ready yet. I hope we can find a solid d man to pair with Schneider, he sure has had a mixed bag of uselessness to play with since he got here, Johnson, Nemeth etc.

 

[IDvsEGO]

For a few months to play with Mcdavid and Draisaitl to get his next contract, he could end up with a 80-100 point season just hanging around if his hip is back to normal.


Im not talking long term, just a few months after he recovers to get that money contract next year.

so he's gonna spend at minimum 4 months separated from his wife and kids?

 

[NYR Viper]

If you can sign Mikkola for 1 or 2 years at $1.8M, do you?

Yes

 

[mas0764]

So what do we do about Chytil? He went from .328 PPG to almost double this season at .608. But again he like Laf is “blocked” by two centers who put up 91 and 66 points

Yes we can all say make Trocheck the 3C or whatever but will they do really do that?

Chytil has talent but like Laf how can we get him in the best spot to further develop it more?

Come up with three scoring lines and evenly balance them?

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

If you can sign Mikkola for 1 or 2 years at $1.8M, do you?

No.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Maybe the puck movement issue is not necessarily the players not being able to move the puck, but our "system" and the positioning within that "system" that prevented good puck movement?

I definitely think the personnel is at fault as much as the system was

 

[effen]

Of course you sign Mikkola to 2/3.6.

Injuries happen. They'll happen more if Lavi changes their style.

 

[bernmeister]

Believe it or not it takes at least one star to win a cup.. Vegas even had Eichel and while he didn’t put up crazy points they have been the exception of a team without at least one 80+ point guy or 40 goal scorer to win a cup.

The Rangers would have neither without Panarin.

perhaps
they would have whatever other production his 11+m would buy
whether or not that replacement/those replacements hit those numbers remain to be seen, although defense is also a consideration.

 

[bernmeister]

If you can sign Mikkola for 1 or 2 years at $1.8M, do you?

Prob there is 1.8 is above min that counts vs cap,
forgot exactly but if I remember salaries 1.2 or 1.3 max and below can be sent down and min cap hit.
not EXACTLY that but something like that

Thee other prob is we should be giving mins to Robertson + Scanlin

 

[NickyFotiu]

I thought mikkola was a nice throw in for the deal but he's not the guy for a cup run imo. We need an achor for our 3rd pair. I think Robertson becomes that but not ready yet. I hope we can find a solid d man to pair with Schneider, he sure has had a mixed bag of uselessness to play with since he got here, Johnson, Nemeth etc.

I would really think about Lindy as left D man on that 3rd pair. We need a better Dman on the first pair. Lindy has been Superman at times but his body can only take so much.

 

[Synergy27]

I would really think about Lindy as left D man on that 3rd pair. We need a better Dman on the first pair. Lindy has been Superman at times but his body can only take so much.

It’s Miller. He has the body type and playstyle required to eat minutes.

Miller-Fox
Jones-Trouba
Lindgren-Schneider

That’s a great top 6 and it’s easier to slot whoever into the third pair once Lindgren gets injured.

 

[IDvsEGO]

I definitely think the personnel is at fault as much as the system was

I think its far more lack of system than personnel.

Lanes arent open, its harder to find passing room, Players are standing still on the blue line, its easier for a pass to be picked off.

I wouldn't be surprised if our D exploded.

 

[Savant]

Maybe the puck movement issue is not necessarily the players not being able to move the puck, but our "system" and the positioning within that "system" that prevented good puck movement?

Neither the underlaying numbers nor the eye test backs that up. Everyone except Fox handles the puck like it’s a live grenade

 

[IDvsEGO]

I would really think about Lindy as left D man on that 3rd pair. We need a better Dman on the first pair. Lindy has been Superman at times but his body can only take so much.

Lindy on the 3rd pair would stabilize a ton but I dont see us having any real options to pair with fox.
Miller isn't physical enough, but he's got the passing to balance.
Jones would be a horrible pairing and robertson hasn't shown enough to take that spot.

If we somehow got hanafin for peanuts, that would be a perfect pairing, but I cant see calgary giving him up for say Jones + 3rd for 50%.

Neither the underlaying numbers nor the eye test backs that up. Everyone except Fox handles the puck like it’s a live grenade

Yes and No.
Miller took a step back in his puck handling this year, but he's capable of launching stretch passes, but I think the lack of movement in the neutral zone caused him to rush and fumble more than he should've, same with schneider. From a different sport perspective.

You basically told an NFL QB that he needed to hit 30 yard timing routes, but wouldn't know the route the player was taking while having a Linebacker in his face and coming from behind.
Not surprising that only fox handled that well.

 

[NickyFotiu]

It’s Miller. He has the body type and playstyle required to eat minutes.

Miller-Fox
Jones-Trouba
Lindgren-Schneider

That’s a great top 6 and it’s easier to slot whoever into the third pair once Lindgren gets injured.

I'd be willing to give it a shot but we would have to give it some games and see if its a good fit with Fox. No way to know without doing that first.

Lindy on the 3rd pair would stabilize a ton but I dont see us having any real options to pair with fox.
Miller isn't physical enough, but he's got the passing to balance.
Jones would be a horrible pairing and robertson hasn't shown enough to take that spot.

If we somehow got hanafin for peanuts, that would be a perfect pairing, but I cant see calgary giving him up for say Jones + 3rd for 50%.


Yes and No.
Miller took a step back in his puck handling this year, but he's capable of launching stretch passes, but I think the lack of movement in the neutral zone caused him to rush and fumble more than he should've, same with schneider. From a different sport perspective.

You basically told an NFL QB that he needed to hit 30 yard timing routes, but wouldn't know the route the player was taking while having a Linebacker in his face and coming from behind.
Not surprising that only fox handled that well.

I do not know who is the right solution for our first pair right D but I feel eventually Lindy will have to be moved down. I really respect the guy. He is all heart but he is more suited for 3rd pair.

 

[CommaSynapse]

Believe it or not it takes at least one star to win a cup.. Vegas even had Eichel and while he didn’t put up crazy points they have been the exception of a team without at least one 80+ point guy or 40 goal scorer to win a cup.

The Rangers would have neither without Panarin.

An ineffective Panarin makes negates the 1-2 punch of having Mika/Kreider on the first line and all the kids on the third. That's what killed us.

Well, a lot of things killed us in the playoffs, but that didn't help.

That depth was massive for Vegas, especially when it was firing on all-cylinders.

 

[nsvoyageurs]

I think one of the best examples is Chicago. They accepted the lumps and rebuilt, got two high picks, built around those picks (Kane and Toews) and amassed so much talent in the organization that even after winning a Cup they shipped guys out to create cap space so they can retain their young core and then won more Cups.

Not only did they commit fully to their two high picks, the elite winger (Hossa) they added externally was in SUPPORT of their high picks and young core. They didn't ditch building the right way just to cater to Hossa. They added Campbell to be a veteran presence for their young defensemen.

The Rangers did everything ass backwards. They decided to rebuild, awesome, but then after adding Panarin decided to make him the focal point instead of having him be a supplemental piece like Hawks did with Hossa. Then the Rangers proceeded to snuff out their young forwards their two high picks (Laf and Kakko) and instead placate Panarin.

The Rangers did everything literally the wrong way. Backwards of what's been proven to work and win Cups.

It's not too late now to reverse and try to fix and repair the issues and damage, by committing to Laf and Kakko, Fox, Shesterkin, Miller, Schneider, Jones, Othmann, etc. Make them the core. Make everyone else an expendable supplemental piece. If a pricy vet isn't getting the job done you cut bait with him add picks and prospects and continue stacking the system with talent.

It's mind boggling to me that this concept is so lost when every repeat Stanley Cup Champion has done exactly this.

Rangers never learn. They willingly sacrifice dominance and success with instant gratification, whatever feels good at the moment, drawing attention and making a splash. They aren't committed to excellence and winning.

I can't like this post enough. They tried to expedite the "rebuild" when they weren't ready to win and it led to dumb trades/signings. Trading for Trouba/signing Panarin would've made more sense if they were closer to being a Stanley Cup contender than they were at that time. Maybe getting/ winning the no. 1 and no. 2 picks in the draft may not have been the best thing to happen to this organization, especially since both those 2 picks weren't considered to be "generational" players (figures! LOL). Of course, if they had a clue how to develop a high end skill forwards, this might not be an issue, along with coaches who only played veterans in important roles, thus taking way pivotal development in the kids (I am not absolving blame for the kids for their slower than expected development; they need to take their share too).

You have a dumb/impatient owner who knows nothing about hockey running the franchise taking advice from someone whose better days, hockey wise, were eons ago. If the build were done the right way, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Kakko/Lafreniere really need to take the next steps; you can debate if Chytil is already there, he's closer than the other 2, but he still needs to take another step. Ideally, they all take big steps up and the team won't have to keep trading valuable assets away to fill holes the kids haven't yet filled.

 

[Avery16]

Carry Jones as 7D. Lindgren and Mikkola will each miss significant games due to injuries. Rest them and play Jones against less physical teams.

 

[IDvsEGO]

I can't like this post enough. They tried to expedite the "rebuild" when they weren't ready to win and it led to dumb trades/signings. Trading for Trouba/signing Panarin would've made more sense if they were closer to being a Stanley Cup contender than they were at that time. Maybe getting/ winning the no. 1 and no. 2 picks in the draft may not have been the best thing to happen to this organization, especially since both those 2 picks weren't considered to be "generational" players (figures! LOL). Of course, if they had a clue how to develop a high end skill forwards, this might not be an issue, along with coaches who only played veterans in important roles, thus taking way pivotal development in the kids (I am not absolving blame for the kids for their slower than expected development; they need to take their share too).

You have a dumb/impatient owner who knows nothing about hockey running the franchise taking advice from someone whose better days, hockey wise, were eons ago. If the build were done the right way, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Kakko/Lafreniere really need to take the next steps; you can debate if Chytil is already there, he's closer than the other 2, but he still needs to take another step. Ideally, they all take big steps up and the team won't have to keep trading valuable assets away to fill holes the kids haven't yet filled.

Trouba as a signing never bothered me.
You don't sign trouba I dont think fox develops the way that he did.
He was a high end D prospect, but trouba definitely helped shelter him initially, eating the tough minutes until he was absolutely dominant that second year.