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

[SA16]

Part of building an identity is instilling the same thing in Hartford so that when you call up players, they fit in with the style you want to play. You can see the style in Hartford post-deadline. Lockwood and Blidh are the depth guys they should be looking hard at re-signing. Both are suitable 4th line fill ins.

They're not depth guys. They are AHL players who are a severe detriment to the team if they are ever in the NHL lineup - especially Blidh.

 

[Machinehead]

I never want to see the Kid Line again as long as I live

What I posted is a microcosm of the problems they have together. Nobody is creating anything.

Kakko and Chytil were never playmakers. Lafreniere isn't the playmaker we thought he was. They have possession of the puck but there's no passing on that line other than cycling it again.

 

[Machinehead]

They're not depth guys. They are AHL players who are a severe detriment to the team if they are ever in the NHL lineup - especially Blidh.

So every 4th liner?

 

[NYR Viper]

Rangers could've said they were rebuilding, but a "rebuild" went out the door when they signed Panarin and Trouba, and reupped Krieder.

I rather bring up organization players (WC, BO, etc) than give any bottom 6 plug a multi year contract. At least for now and this teams situation.

Fast, Hathaway, etc are getting 2-3 year deals. I don't want to be locked into that.

Vesey was an exception because he identified that this is where he wanted to be and basically signed for the min.

There are going to be veterans who can be had for peanuts that would help this team and allow the Rangers not to rush Othmann or Cuylle. I think both need some/more time in the AHL.

Guys like Leivo, Erne, Watson

Then there are vest coming back from injuries or bad seasons like:
Connor Brown
Joonas Donskoi
Craig Smith
Lars Eller
Patric Hornqvist
Max Pacioretty


With the cap being stagnant, this is not the year to rush kids along. There will be very good value additions for vets on almost league minimum deals available, especially for a team like the Rangers.

 

[WojtekWolski86]

What I posted is a microcosm of the problems they have together. Nobody is creating anything.

Kakko and Chytil were never playmakers. Lafreniere isn't the playmaker we thought he was. They have possession of the puck but there's no passing on that line other than cycling it again.

2 of the 3 are fine together. Once Chytil stops shooting or goes cold than all 3 refuse to shoot. They need a Vatrano type as the 3rd wheel. Someone with foot speed and shoot first mentality.

 

[SRHRangers]

2-3 year deals are nothing. The Fast's and Hathaway's of the world are not getting significant raises in a flat cap situation. They are the kind of guys the Rangers need to incorporate into the lineup. Fast has been terrorizing the Devils all series. Watching Hathaway, all he does is hit guys hard on the forecheck, force turnovers and live around the blue paint. Neither guy is a top 6 player production-wise, but both would be a key cog on a line creating space with Panarin & Chytil. Cuylle and Othmann should be pieces next year on top of that



I never want to see the Kid Line again as long as I live

I was banging the drum at the deadline for Hathaway, but for a run.

I don't want to be signing that guys next contract. Maybe the Goodrow signing spooked me. And the fact that most in here for defending that signing (and the Buch trade).

I rather just have Brod and WC to fill in the blanks.

 

[NYR Viper]

They're not depth guys. They are AHL players who are a severe detriment to the team if they are ever in the NHL lineup - especially Blidh.

They're veterans who can fill a role for a short period of time and play the style of game the team is looking for

 

[Machinehead]

2 of the 3 are fine together. Once Chytil stops shooting or goes cold than all 3 refuse to shoot. They need a Vatrano type as the 3rd wheel. Someone with foot speed and shoot first mentality.

I think they need skill. Chytil is what he is and Kakko always played like a grinder. Elite grinder is/was always his ceiling.

I would go with Panarin-Chytil-Kakko and tell Panarin I'm chopping his head off if the line isn't good. Let the coach pick the lines because Panarin always picks shitty ones.

 

[McRanger92]

I was banging the drum at the deadline for Hathaway, but for a run.

I don't want to be signing that guys next contract. Maybe the Goodrow signing spooked me. And the fact that most in here for defending that signing (and the Buch trade).

I rather just have Brod and WC to fill in the blanks.

The Goodrow contract was for 6 years. 2/3 year deals at at lower number than 3.6 for Fast or Hathaway (or a similar unmentioned player) would help address a major need for us. Cuylle should be guaranteed a roster spot in training camp

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I think they need skill. Chytil is what he is and Kakko always played like a grinder. Elite grinder is/was always his ceiling.

I would go with Panarin-Chytil-Kakko and tell Panarin I'm chopping his head off if the line isn't good. Let the coach pick the lines because Panarin always picks shitty ones.

Kreider-Chytil-Kakko.

 

[Machinehead]

I'm trying to go through line combos in my head and I hate every combination that has Lafreniere in it.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I'm trying to go through line combos in my head and I hate every combination that has Lafreniere in it.

I feel this way about Panarin.

 

[Machinehead]

Kreider-Chytil-Kakko.

Caveman hockey.

Too many of our lines suck ass at creating quality looks.

Kreider would be the best passer on that line.

 

[McRanger92]

What I posted is a microcosm of the problems they have together. Nobody is creating anything.

Kakko and Chytil were never playmakers. Lafreniere isn't the playmaker we thought he was. They have possession of the puck but there's no passing on that line other than cycling it again.

I think it's a Team culture thing on top of this. It's not great for the young players that they only ever see sustained success with each other, while the veterans in the top 6 need to change the lines once a week just to feel something.

 

[Machinehead]

I feel this way about Panarin.

Removing Panarin objectively makes this team much worse at 5v5 offense and his main problem is the contract.

Removing Lafreniere possibly makes the team better at 5v5 offense.

 

[Machinehead]

I think it's a Team culture thing on top of this. It's not great for the young players that they only ever see sustained success with each other, while the veterans in the top 6 need to change the lines once a week just to feel something.

They need to settle on lines picked by the coach and tell the vets if you don't like it, smell your own farts, and if you don't play well with others, you sit.

 

[SRHRangers]

The Goodrow contract was for 6 years. 2/3 year deals at at lower number than 3.6 for Fast or Hathaway (or a similar unmentioned player) would help address a major need for us. Cuylle should be guaranteed a roster spot in training camp

It's like relief pitching in the MLB.

I want to farm and produce it. I do not want to have to pay it on the other end.

If a guy might be the missing piece of the puzzle, fine. Pull the trigger.

But, that is not this team currently.

Bring on the ELCs, let them see if they can stick and hope for the best.

 

[McRanger92]

They need to settle on lines picked by the coach and tell the vets if you don't like it, smell your own farts, and if you don't play well with others, you sit.

The only guy who has the power to say this is Drury. Which is why I think he hires Knobluach to be the organizational microphone.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Caveman hockey.

Too many of our lines suck ass at creating quality looks.

Kreider would be the best passer on that line.

I don't think it really matters.

You don't need to be super creative if you're eating teams down low. Want an easy way to open up the points with space for your D to the point that even Trouba would get shots on net with regularity? This is how to do it.

Not every quality look has to go through the royal road. Rebounds and deflections are quality looks too.

 

[McRanger92]

It's like relief pitching in the MLB.

I want to farm and produce it. I do not want to have to pay it on the other end.

If a guy might be the missing piece of the puzzle, fine. Pull the trigger.

But, that is not this team currently.

Bring on the ELCs, let them see if they can stick and hope for the best.

I agree on giving the youth as much opportunity as possible, but they should do both.

 

[Machinehead]

I always try to think, "ok this is what this guy does, and this is what he doesn't do, so these need to be his linemates."

What Lafreniere does is throw Tanner Glass hits and chew gum, and what he doesn't do is be good at hockey.

We need a guy who does everything to be his linemate.

Let's get Matthew Tkachuk.

 

[surlysailor]

I'm LOL'ing so much at the

LAF - Z - ???

Line combos

I hope you get what you're all clamoring for.

Maybe Vesey if not. They're the same... almost. Vesey is better.

Cause KZ did so much in the playoffs & reg season at 5v5. NYR got lucky in the games they won that the PP carried them. Laf more 5v5 points. If you're not going to be able to fit both Laf & KK on pp1 to try and get in a position to succeed, why not try giving them the best C to see if they can dominate 5v5. I think a very balanced lineup could be:
Laf-Z-KK
Panarin-Chytil-Zucker/Nyquist/Dadonov(if any are willing to take a 1 year deal that fits our cap in the hopes to get paid when the cap goes up)or get Garland at 50%
CK-Troch-Vesey
Cuylle with some combo of Brodz/Erner/Girgensons/Blueger/Kampf

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Removing Panarin objectively makes this team much worse at 5v5 offense and his main problem is the contract.

Removing Lafreniere possibly makes the team better at 5v5 offense.

That and he doesn't really fit anywhere. If he had shown any signs of being able to play with Zibanejad then maybe but that hasn't worked either.

I don't know that the bolded is necessarily true either. I could fit in 2-3 guys at his cap hit that would probably make this team better 5v5.

I always try to think, "ok this is what this guy does, and this is what he doesn't do, so these need to be his linemates."

What Lafreniere does is throw Tanner Glass hits and chew gum, and what he doesn't do is be good at hockey.

We need a guy who does everything to be his linemate.

Let's get Matthew Tkachuk.

Your 180 on Matt Tkachuk is one of my favorite storylines of this year.

 

[Cmox]

After I landed i told buch we miss him at MSG, he offered to pull my bag out, what a gent

Haha, all I can think about is this.

 

[Machinehead]

That and he doesn't really fit anywhere. If he had shown any signs of being able to play with Zibanejad then maybe but that hasn't worked either.

I don't know that the bolded is necessarily true either. I could fit in 2-3 guys at his cap hit that would probably make this team better 5v5.

11.6 doesn't go as far as it used to. I also don't see him going anywhere without retention.

Some of that is used on raises. The rest might get you one guy that comes close but probably doesn't replace Panarin's chance creation at 5v5, and a depth guy.

You do have a point about different types of chance creation. If we actually commit to being a cycle team, we could replace Panarin with a speedier, heavier player and get better overall.