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

[leetch99]

My point. kreider dropping down to 25 goals loses us 11 goals from last season, but also is still a respectable middle 6 player.
Laf scoring 35 would show he can actually be a top line player and that his development is still continuing.

Laf scoring 25 would be an improvement but not to the degree anyone is looking for at this point.

CK on line 3 might also stop the opposition from scoring 10-15 more goals if he can contain the main winger of our opponent .....and that has as much worth as his [10 ?] 5 0n 5 goals he might miss out on . Defense wins championships......our forwards can pick that part of their games up a notch and give Shesty and the D some relief .

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I wouldn’t mind a line of Kreider Trocheck Wheeler FWIW. I just don’t expect it to actually happen

 

[Avery16]

I wouldn’t mind a line of Kreider Trocheck Wheeler FWIW. I just don’t expect it to actually happen

I’d prefer Wheeler with Laf but there are potential benefits to having him on any of the top three lines.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

I wouldn’t mind a line of Kreider Trocheck Wheeler FWIW. I just don’t expect it to actually happen

That would be a great line actually and I would be very surprised if we don't see it at some point. Whether it sticks or not, who knows.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

My lines if were not playing politics with the vets.

Panarin Zibanejad Kakko
Laf Trochek Wheeler
Kreider Chytil Cullye/Vesey
Vesey/Cullye Goodrow Pitlick

I know Kreider is on the numerical 3rd line but who cares, each line earns their ice time and all players are now in a position to succeed. If we cant put Kreider there, then he's more than welcome to take a top 6 spot on the right side and Wheeler can move down to line "3".

 

[Alluckks]

Laf Zib Kakko
Panarin Chytil Wheeler
Kreider Trocheck Vesey
Cuylle Goodrow Boninio
Pitlick

 

[Clark Kellogg]

it would be a shrewd move.

No one is taking Goodrow at this point. Drury is stuck with his terrible contract. The hope is Goodrow is much, MUCH better under Lavi than he was with Gallant. His point production has been a miracle for how he's looked over the past 2 years.

He's here to defend and play in key moments late game. I've seen nothing from him in that regard. Maybe our system was that bad. He was a great defender and a key player in Tampa. Haven't seen that here yet

Tank could theoretically take a 1 year $1-2M deal if he really wants to stay here and keep Goodrow. We'd have 1.3M to in cap space with Pitlick on the 23 man roster or 2.1M to sign Tank if we only run 12 forwards. Highly doubt we go in with 12 forwards.

Laffy Zibs Wheeler
Panarin Chytil Tank
Kreider Trocheck Kakko
Goodrow Bonino Vesey
Pitlick/Brodz

Lindgren Fox
KAM Trouba
Gustafson Schneider
Jones

p.s. I want absolutely nothing to do with Kane.

You say say nobody is taking Goodrow now.
Maybe?
At this coming season TDL that might not be so.
Value is relative.

 

[bhamill]

I think why we didn’t have a 2nd or 4th should play into their grade for day 2.

Depends. If we are talking about how well we actually draft it’s irrelevant. If you‘re just grading what we walked away with from the draft then it’s also irrelevant, we drafted the players we drafted.
WHY we only had the picks we had only factors into how you grade the GMs overall performance. Trading and drafting are two different animals though you can certainly hamper your ability to draft talent through trades that send out picks. Bad AND good trades can do that.

 

[Machinehead]

They're just gonna keep rolling the same old kid line and Kreider-Zibanejad-whoever

 

[mas0764]

Am I wrong to distill this down to “suck until you draft at least MacKinnon and Makar”?

You basically need a MacKinnon and Makar and more. And you really need them when they are young and on the upside and you have a chance at extending them for what will ultimately be below their market value, like we have with Fox, who, even at $9.5m, is a bargain for the value he's providing.

Yes there are one-offs who do it without these types of players, but again, they are the teams that win 20% of the Cups competing against, well, maybe not 28 other teams, because there are a good number of teams who in a given era aren't truly competing, but let's say another 20 teams?

To crack into the elite 3-4 teams in a given era, that's what you need. If you can tell me how you get them without drafting them I'll all ears; let's have the Rangers do it now.

 

[Trxjw]

I'm...slightly interested in offering Puljujarvi a PTO

He's out 6-10+ months after having double hip surgery. No telling where he'll be after that.

I'd been saying for a while he could be a Jesper Fast redux with a bit of offensive upside but no sense in signing him until you know if he'll be back this season.

 

[Avery16]

They're just gonna keep rolling the same old kid line and Kreider-Zibanejad-whoever

If we’re doing that, what was the point of firing Gallant?

 

[Machinehead]

If we’re doing that, what was the point of firing Gallant?

There probably wasn't one.

 

[Machinehead]

I mean, at this point, the only use I had for another coach is that he gets more out of Lafreniere and Kakko because that's really the thing that needs to happen.

As far as line combos, Gallant was Quinn II. It's apparent to me that the organization likes the lines they have and that most coaches are just going to use those lines.

Hell, Kreider-Zibanejad-Whatever dates back to AV.

 

[Avery16]

I mean, at this point, the only use I had for another coach is that he gets more out of Lafreniere and Kakko because that's really the thing that needs to happen.

As far as line combos, Gallant was Quinn II. It's apparent to me that the organization likes the lines they have and that most coaches are just going to use those lines.

Hell, Kreider-Zibanejad-Whatever dates back to AV.

You’ve somehow managed to out-cynic me.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

They're just gonna keep rolling the same old kid line and Kreider-Zibanejad-whoever

I feel you might be partially right, Kreider and Zib may stay together but i wonder if the main reason Gallant was moved was player usage because there are reports that he and Drury never talked much after Christmas. If thats the case i could see a shift in attitude towards the kids and while i take Laviolette's press conference with a grain of salt and he's likely saying what we want to hear but he did say there were opportunities for everyone. I can't see another coach going down the same road and expecting different results. Imo the kids were primed to take the next step at the start of last year after their playoff performance but had their confidence kicked around by not getting those opportunities, thats just my opinion.

This seasons priority should be the kids, from the last game of playoffs til the end of next season that should be the priority, as I've said many times, this team isn't going anywhere without their 1OA and 2OA becoming pillars of this team.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Kreider Zib Kakko was actually their best line so I’m fine with that one

 

[Leonardo87]

Kreider Zib Kakko was actually their best line so I’m fine with that one

I'm more than fine with that line, I just don't think both Laf or Kakko should be up there with Mika, and actually prefer Kakko over Laf to be honest.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

A detailed look at what the NY Rangers are getting in veteran coach Peter Laviolette

Those who know him best helped describe how the new Blueshirts' coach will deal with his players and what kind of system he'll implement.

www.lohud.com

Once possession is lost, the center and right wing are responsible for pushing forward with an active forecheck that attempts to force the opponent in one direction. The left wing sits back in the neutral zone along one side of the ice, with the right defenseman positioned at the same level on the opposite wall. The left defenseman hangs back in the D zone as the last line of defense, while the goalie is encouraged to aggressively play any pucks that are flung behind the net.

Left-wing lock?

You usually need quick RWs who force the play. Kakko can, but he isn't very fast. Wheeler is slow as molasses. Goodrow is sludge too. Who else is on the right? Belzile?

Kreider, Panarin and Laf (also slow but a good forechecker) are probably better suited in that role.

Switch to a right-wing lock? ;p

I do like the aggressive approach however, even if its on the left-side because at least you have the LWs who could probably hold up the end of their bargain:

The idea is to pressure the opposition into mistakes or force them to play the puck along the wall. If they attempt the latter, there are two skaters (LW and RD) ready to pounce in the neutral zone. And if the puck gets past them, it should be an easy recovery for the lefty D or goalie.

"There’s a good chance you’re going to get a dump in on your own goaltender, be able to stop it and get going offensively again," Hartnell explained.

Once possession is regained, then it's all systems go.

And, if you can create more dump-ins, you have one of the best stickhandlers on the team in Igor fielding it and getting it the hell out.

Either way, this is why you could use more speed on this team. Pretty much every system requires it.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Kreider Zib Kakko was actually their best line so I’m fine with that one

2nd best. Our best line was actually Panarin-Trocheck-Vesey.

The issue with that line is if you give them enough time together, everyone will turn on Vesey because he isn't much of a finisher and he will beef his share of chances.

OTOH, If you look at the cup finalists, they both had an underwhelming option in their top 6 (Howden for Vegas, Cousins for FLA. Vesey is better than both.) If your other players are good enough, they can carry a sub optimal option and at least Vesey had dramatic positive impacts on the duo above.

Really, I like Kreider and Kakko as a duo with any of the centers. They'll do work.

OTOH, I don't really like the mix of the remaining bodies.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

I mean, at this point, the only use I had for another coach is that he gets more out of Lafreniere and Kakko because that's really the thing that needs to happen.

As far as line combos, Gallant was Quinn II. It's apparent to me that the organization likes the lines they have and that most coaches are just going to use those lines.

Hell, Kreider-Zibanejad-Whatever dates back to AV.

Kreider-Zibanejad is very creepily portrayed by MSG... they're SO desperate for emotionally appealing stories, hence the weird-ass Michelle Ginseng montage (whatever her name is)... and the ad they run with the emo greaseball who sings love songs about the Rangers.

 

[NYR Viper]

A detailed look at what the NY Rangers are getting in veteran coach Peter Laviolette

Those who know him best helped describe how the new Blueshirts' coach will deal with his players and what kind of system he'll implement.

www.lohud.com

Left-wing lock?

You usually need quick RWs who force the play. Kakko can, but he isn't very fast. Wheeler is slow as molasses. Goodrow is sludge too. Who else is on the right? Belzile?

Kreider, Panarin and Laf (also slow but a good forechecker) are probably better suited in that role.

Switch to a right-wing lock? ;p

I do like the aggressive approach however, even if its on the left-side because at least you have the LWs who could probably hold up the end of their bargain:


And, if you can create more dump-ins, you have one of the best stickhandlers on the team in Igor fielding it and getting it the hell out.

Either way, this is why you could use more speed on this team. Pretty much every system requires it.

This is interesting because, as you said, the team may want to vary what wing is used on the forecheck.

In theory:
Panarin-Zibanejad-Kaako
Kreider-Trochek-Vesey
Lafreniere-Chytil-Wheeler

All of this could be simplified if Panarin moves to RW and Vesey slides to LW.

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kaako
Kreider-Trochek-Panarin
Vesey-Chytil-Wheeler

4th line is easy, the wingers should push with Bonino hanging back. His take-away numbers are very good

The more interesting option is on defense where Fox, Miller and Trouba should be the guys playing that more aggressive style more than likely.

Lingren-Fox
Miller-Schneider?
Gustafsson-Trouba

 

[Machinehead]

Ideally, I would like to get faster, but we're far from living in an ideal world with this salary cap.

I think we can still play a very good brand of hockey if we bothered to adapt to the fact that we're a bit slow. @duhmetreE has touched on this many times, especially in regards to our breakouts.

Yes, we lack speed, but it's compounded sevenfold by the fact that we keep playing like we have speed.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

This is interesting because, as you said, the team may want to vary what wing is used on the forecheck.

In theory:
Panarin-Zibanejad-Kaako
Kreider-Trochek-Vesey
Lafreniere-Chytil-Wheeler

All of this could be simplified if Panarin moves to RW and Vesey slides to LW.

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kaako
Kreider-Trochek-Panarin
Vesey-Chytil-Wheeler

4th line is easy, the wingers should push with Bonino hanging back. His take-away numbers are very good

The more interesting option is on defense where Fox, Miller and Trouba should be the guys playing that more aggressive style more than likely.

Lingren-Fox
Miller-Schneider?
Gustafsson-Trouba

Yep, you gotta think he'll figure this out quickly. Or God Forbid he's informed of this by Drury and the scouting staff (Muse would pick this up on Day 1)

I don't see anyone switching wings to compliment the system, but having the right players forcing the play in the direction to the ones that can handle the assignment is the way to go.

Kakko is very good at stealing pucks and stopping transitions, even flat footed he has a knack for that. Kreider is not that guy. He gets burned. His speed is better at forcing plays deep on the forecheck. Laf doesnt have the edges or footspeed to react unless its in a straight line which is why he would be better utilized forcing plays to the other wing. Bread could probably do either, but i'd be worried about him getting trapped too far in the zone, although that may result in him getting more breakaways on the turnover/transition the other way.

The centers can all skate well so I don't see a problem going to either wing. Good point on D. Fox you definitely want pinching. Miller as well, although we've seen Schneider quietly have some success there. Trouba will be laying some poor bastard out regardless.

We are saying the same things.

If Lav intends to use this system it will be interesting to see if switches the concept to fit this roster

 

[LOFIN]

Ideally, I would like to get faster, but we're far from living in an ideal world with this salary cap.

I think we can still play a very good brand of hockey if we bothered to adapt to the fact that we're a bit slow. @duhmetreE has touched on this many times, especially in regards to our breakouts.

Yes, we lack speed, but it's compounded sevenfold by the fact that we keep playing like we have speed.

Here's a mind blowing fact for the fellas here: skating speed is overrated. You don't need to skate fast to play fast. The fastest teams in the league have plenty of players who are not that fast. But guess why they play fast? Because everyone knows where they need to be in a given time, thus they don't slow down. Right place at the right time, ability to make passes at speed. That's the key.

If you need fast skaters to become a fast team, you are doing it wrong. It's inefficient. You need to be on the move, instead of stop-start. Which is unfortunately how our team seems to do breakouts.