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

[The Gloaming]

K'Andre Miller regressed big time this year. What are we doing about that? He should be carrying a pairing with his skating ability and size. Instead, he still needs a babysitter, which Trouba is horrible at. That pair needs to be split and Miller either needs a new coach with some kind of transition scheme, or he needs to be traded.

 

[RangersFan]

I think the team needs to take a step back and really think about rounding out the roster with players they could mold, not big names (not that they could afford "names"). I've been shitting on the kids a lot but they have to seriously put all 3 in the top 6 permanently, let them grow even if we have doubts about their ceiling (Laf). Definitely explore trading Bread and Trouba above all. Also got to explore trades for pretty much everyone. All those NMC NTC really hamper a lot but not impossible to get out them. Igor, Fox, and the Busts, build around them. Window, schmindow, we're not winning with the current core. Regular season doesn't mean anything, we know this. Build a team you could truly mold with structure. Too many slow deliberate puck movers like Bread, Fox, Kane just does not work. You only need 1, Fox. Fast puck movement, North South play and aggresive forecheck, with key goaltending wins if you've been watching the playoffs. The letter 2.0, tear it down again, well partially.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I can tolerate some mistakes. His game has improved under Sutter ( or since leaving Colorado. )

Getting caved in and providiing nothing but a big open ice hit once in a while is what killed me with Trouba this season. He's quickly deteriorating.

I'd take Zadarov +4.3M in cap space over Trouba right now.

Ohhhhhh no it hasn't.

The dude is still bar none one of the dumbest players on the planet if not the dumbest. We can point to bad puck luck, OT games going poorly, shitty goaltending or what ever you want with the Flames last year (all of these are true) but he made so many dumb decisions when I watched the flames that ended up burning them long term.

None bigger than this one.



Peep the shot total, it got even more egregious as time went on and the B's won in OT (This was the game that cemented the Vezina for Ullmark IMO, they got absolutely shit stomped by Calgary and should have lost by 7) but it never gets to OT with out this moronic play by Z.

Maybe relative to cap hit, sure, but a replacement level player on our first line is a bigger problem than anybody wants to admit.

Well you can't just ignore the cap hit.

They should both be gone, but Panarin should be priority #1.

 

[Ori]

Howden was legitimately the worst player in the league as our 4th line C, and last night he was dangling Draisatl as Vegas' 2nd line LW.

If we trade Laf, he's going to go somewhere else and start putting up 90-100 points per year. It's the Ranger way.

I agree if we trade them we can as well do a full rebuild - Kreider is a playoffs performer he will get some nice draft picks etc.

 

[Machinehead]

K'Andre Miller regressed big time this year. What are we doing about that? He should be carrying a pairing with his skating ability and size. Instead, he still needs a babysitter, which Trouba is horrible at. That pair needs to be split and Miller either needs a new coach with some kind of transition scheme, or he needs to be traded.

"This guy keeps getting worse" seems to apply to every player we have except like, Kreider and Vesey.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I feel like people just make shit up with K'Andre.

Show me proof of this massive regression or STFU. Really just STFU because you won't be able to.

 

[duhmetreE]

Ohhhhhh no it hasn't.

The dude is still bar none one of the dumbest players on the planet if not the dumbest. We can point to bad puck luck, OT games going poorly, shitty goaltending or what ever you want with the Flames last year (all of these are true) but he made so many dumb decisions when I watched the flames that ended up burning them long term.

None bigger than this one.



Peep the shot total, it got even more egregious as time went on and the B's won in OT (This was the game that cemented the Vezina for Ullmark IMO, they got absolutely shit stomped by Calgary and should have lost by 7) but it never gets to OT with out this moronic play by Z.



Well you can't just ignore the cap hit.

They should both be gone, but Panarin should be priority #1.

I don't think that was that egregious. Taking out Dube obviously wasn't the plan.

I'd be happy if our defenders started standing up on the blueline. shit happens

 

[Machinehead]

I feel like people just make shit up with K'Andre.

Show me proof of this massive regression or STFU. Really just STFU because you won't be able to.

Well it wasn't really a regression because the pair sucked ass last year.

Micro analytics think the problem is Trouba.

I do think K'Andre got even worse at moving the puck which tracks with playing for the Rangers.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I don't think that was that egregious. Taking out Dube obviously wasn't the plan.

I'd be happy if our defenders started standing up on the blueline. shit happens

It's a horrible decision because he at least takes himself out of the play (the Dube thing is coincidental, but thats just how it goes with Z) and its the end of a PK that he would have been better served just dropping off and actually defending.

He's not a target regardless and thankfully. He sucks.

 

[McRanger92]

I feel like people just make shit up with K'Andre.

Show me proof of this massive regression or STFU. Really just STFU because you won't be able to.

He definitely did not look good after the spitting incident but people have goldfish brains if they think he regressed. He's obviously a core piece moving forward. I also liked his comments on breakup day. Called it pathetic and embarrassing that they weren't still playing. He's right.

 

[The Gloaming]

I feel like people just make shit up with K'Andre.

Show me proof of this massive regression or STFU. Really just STFU because you won't be able to.

He had a horrible round against Jersey. I had high hopes for him skating the puck up ice and instead he just got caved in. How much of that is on Trouba? Probably a lot. Miller did not improve this year at all. I don't understand where the hostility comes from? Are we only allowed to say Panarin sucks? Because we already established that.

If we want a Trouba replacement, just go sign Radko Gudas. Same caveman hockey and makes only 2.5 million this year. Trouba is basically replacement level now.

Actual, Gudas might be looking better in Florida right about now.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Well it wasn't really a regression because the pair sucked ass last year.

Micro analytics think the problem is Trouba.

I do think K'Andre got even worse at moving the puck which tracks with playing for the Rangers.

It was.

Look at Trouba's transition numbers from 2021-22, they were actually pretty good (and he handled the load on the pair.)

They tanked this year along with most of his game.

I don't think he handles the puck well in his own end either which is why I wish he'd just get the green light to skate it out because when he does that, he's good at it.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

How many years did it take us to get a player like Fox? And now after a bad series there are people saying to trade him.

Sacrilege! Fox is a NY sports treasure.

 

[bl02]

He had a horrible round against Jersey. I had high hopes for him skating the puck up ice and instead he just got caved in. How much of that is on Trouba? Probably a lot. Miller did not improve this year at all. I don't understand where the hostility comes from? Are we only allowed to say Panarin sucks? Because we already established that.

If we want a Trouba replacement, just go sign Radko Gudas. Same caveman hockey and makes only 2.5 million this year. Trouba is basically replacement level now.

Actual, Gudas might be looking better in Florida right about now.

Unfortunately we are stuck with Trouba. For the most part it seems like he has a hard time keeping up with play and for the same reason escaping an aggressive forward when he near or behind his own net (handling the puck then trying to skate with it). Giving this guy anything north of 6.5 million was an overpayment. Most of us knew it at the time.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

He had a horrible round against Jersey. I had high hopes for him skating the puck up ice and instead he just got caved in. How much of that is on Trouba? Probably a lot. Miller did not improve this year at all. I don't understand where the hostility comes from? Are we only allowed to say Panarin sucks? Because we already established that.

If we want a Trouba replacement, just go sign Radko Gudas. Same caveman hockey and makes only 2.5 million this year. Trouba is basically replacement level now.

Actual, Gudas might be looking better in Florida right about now.

Lol what?

He almost doubled his point total with out a massive jump in shooting percentage or PP usage. As far as tangible improvement goes, thats about as real as it gets.

If we want to say "Miller doesn't move the puck well and isn't great facilitaing transition" thats fair an accurate.

Saying that Miller "regressed" or that he's bad at pinching (not you, but others keep doing it with out understanding how pinching works and seem to ignore that the guy who actually really sucks at it and got burned a ton this year was Lindgren) are not fair or accurate.

 

[Machinehead]

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't even listen to offers on Miller unless it was something bat shit stupid and you could say that about literally anybody.

It's just another example, to me, of how young players (and players in general) seem to struggle with certain aspects of the game and/or are not given a plan to work around those aspects of the game.

Plus, I think we need to acknowledge that Miller-Trouba is a dog shit pair that's on the ice for goals against like Attila the Hun was on the battlefield for murder and pillaging. Stop sending them out there together. That's not even a criticism of Miller. Two good players can make a terrible pair.

 

[The Gloaming]

Lol what?

He almost doubled his point total with out a massive jump in shooting percentage or PP usage. As far as tangible improvement goes, thats about as real as it gets.

If we want to say "Miller doesn't move the puck well and isn't great facilitaing transition" thats fair an accurate.

Saying that Miller "regressed" or that he's bad at pinching (not you, but others keep doing it with out understanding how pinching works and seem to ignore that the guy who actually really sucks at it and got burned a ton this year was Lindgren) are not fair or accurate.

He maybe got better in the O zone, but yes, I am talking about his transition. He is not good at passing the puck up the ice. Even in the O zone, his passing leaves a lot to be desired.

The whole team sucked at pinching this year and I will blame the coaches for that because the forwards were never ready to fill in for them.

Total lack of puck support was evident in the lineup this year. So maybe every player just looked horrible because we had to system or coaching in place.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't even listen to offers on Miller unless it was something bat shit stupid and you could say that about literally anybody.

It's just another example, to me, of how young players (and players in general) seem to struggle with certain aspects of the game and/or are not given a plan to work around those aspects of the game.

Plus, I think we need to acknowledge that Miller-Trouba is a dog shit pair that's on the ice for goals against like Attila the Hun was on the battlefield for murder and pillaging. Stop sending them out there together. That's not even a criticism of Miller. Two good players can make a terrible pair.

I've long said that Miller-Fox should be a thing.

I like Lindgren quite a bit too but he's slowly getting into Staal/Girardi territory where his gaffes get ignored for the most part bc he plays hard and is tough. Now he's way better than either of those guys ever were but he had a dreadful 2021-22 season and caught like no heat for it.

Plus his no offense brand of hockey plays better lower in the lineup. I do however feel like his puck movement has been suppressed a bit by not only who he plays (why try at all when you have Fox to do it?) with but the way we play. I don't know what happened but he's another guy who took a big step backwards (along with Trouba) because he was, IIRC he was a low atttempt high success rate guy last year.

 

[NYR Viper]

If there's one glaring achilles heel in the roster @NYR Viper suggested (and again, not on you at all, awesome job working with what you have), it's right here:

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kaako
Kreider-Trochek-Brown/Garland
Panarin-Chytil-Garland/Brown
Motte-Eller/Acciari-Vesey

I anxiously await the player showing me anything to the contrary.

I don't disagree, although Lafreniere looked good for his short stint with Zibanejad and Kaako. I think that given some time, he can come along. I still saw a player who made good plays at times.

The lineup could easily be:

Kreider-Trochek-Garland
Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kaako
Panarin-Chytil-Brown
Motte-Eller/Acciari-Vesey

I really don't see a consistent #1 line out of the top-3. Just ride whoever is playing the best at that time or evenly distribute.

 

[Machinehead]

I've long said that Miller-Fox should be a thing.

I like Lindgren quite a bit too but he's slowly getting into Staal/Girardi territory where his gaffes get ignored for the most part bc he plays hard and is tough. Now he's way better than either of those guys ever were but he had a dreadful 2021-22 season and caught like no heat for it.

Plus his no offense brand of hockey plays better lower in the lineup. I do however feel like his puck movement has been suppressed a bit by not only who he plays (why try at all when you have Fox to do it?) with but the way we play. I don't know what happened but he's another guy who took a big step backwards (along with Trouba) because he was, IIRC he was a low atttempt high success rate guy last year.

Unrelated but you can't be GoAwayPanarin and have an avatar of a Panarin goal.

 

[Machinehead]

I don't disagree, although Lafreniere looked good for his short stint with Zibanejad and Kaako. I think that given some time, he can come along. I still saw a player who made good plays at times.

The lineup could easily be:

Kreider-Trochek-Garland
Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kaako
Panarin-Chytil-Brown
Motte-Eller/Acciari-Vesey

I really don't see a consistent #1 line out of the top-3. Just ride whoever is playing the best at that time or evenly distribute.

Definitely agree. Roll three lines and adjust in-game based on how things are going.

I would give Lafreniere an extended look on a consistent line with good minutes before I rush to move him, plus a potential coaching change factors in.

 

[NYR Viper]

Definitely agree. Roll three lines and adjust in-game based on how things are going.

I would give Lafreniere an extended look on a consistent line with good minutes before I rush to move him, plus a potential coaching change factors in.

I fully believe that while the forward lines are important, the more important item is the idea that offense needs to be generated from the point. Not only will it create chances and havoc around the net which should lend itself well to the forward group but it stretches the defense out towards the blue line which opens up that high slot area for guys like Zibanejad, Chytil and others to get open there.

It has to be a real threat though. It can't be Lindgren and Mikkola back there (although I like both players). It needs to be guys who can create chances with both shots on net, shots just wide on purpose or passes.

 

[EdJovanovski]

EdJovanovski's master plan

Hire Messier as coach
Trade Zibanejad & Schneider to Colorado for Byram & Nichushkin
Trade Lafreniere, 2024 4th to Montreal for 2023 1st (FLA) & 2023 2nd
Offersheet Zegras
Trade Goodrow, Vesey to Calgary for Zadorov
Trade Trouba to Detroit for 2023 3rd
Sign Kane & LTIR him until we need him
Sign UFAs Bertuzzi, Domi, Athanasiou & Hathaway

---

Kreider - Zegras - Kakko
Panarin - Trocheck - Nichushkin
Bertuzzi - Chytil - Kane
Athanasiou - Domi - Hathaway

Byram - Fox
Miller - Zadorov
Lindgren - Jones

Shesterkin
Halak

extra: Othmann

 

[bleedblue94]

I fully believe that while the forward lines are important, the more important item is the idea that offense needs to be generated from the point. Not only will it create chances and havoc around the net which should lend itself well to the forward group but it stretches the defense out towards the blue line which opens up that high slot area for guys like Zibanejad, Chytil and others to get open there.

It has to be a real threat though. It can't be Lindgren and Mikkola back there (although I like both players). It needs to be guys who can create chances with both shots on net, shots just wide on purpose or passes.

You cannot make offense from the point if the forwards refuse to go to the net. what did valley say, they had 7 rebound shots over 7 games!!! watch the game last night and the canes are all over the lanes and crashing the net, no view for the goalies. site lines for the goalies against us were so easy. there is no structure or commitment to anything within the forward group.

 

[surlysailor]

I feel like people just make shit up with K'Andre.

Show me proof of this massive regression or STFU. Really just STFU because you won't be able to.

Key was more than good this year. He seemed to have some issues after his suspension. I think he’ll just get better and all of the comments on him are just recency bias. Did he have a good playoffs? Not particularly outside of game but, he was pretty damn good last playoffs.