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

[DuneGoon84]

Our defense just couldn't move the puck out of our end quick enough. It's systemic mostly. We still lacked in speed for sure

 

[Daves a mess]

In the AHL hopefully. He’s not ready for 3rd line NHL duty yet.

Could be right, but hopefully a new coaching staff with eyes and hands on his training camp will know WAY more when talking absolutes than you or I.

 

[bernmeister]

Time for Lafreniere to play RW. Once these players get into the offensive zone, they don't stay on one side of the ice. This isn't floor hockey in grammar school the gym teacher doesn’t allow the kids to move around from their positions.

Staple Kakko to Zibanejad and Kreider. Mike and Chris brought out the best in Buchnevich. Their next project is Kaapo. Gallant had Kakko with them earlier last season(22-23) but he can't help himself by changing the lines every game.

Move Lafreniere to RW on a line with Panarin. Chytil is their center. Panarin had great success with Anisimov and Kane in Chicago. Give Chytil an opportunity to play with a better offensive player in Panarin who has his faults in the playoffs. Panarin is still a top 5-10 LW in the NHL. The Rangers need his production to make the playoffs. Hintz's career took off in Dallas with Robertson. Panarin will create opportunities for Lafreniere and Chytil. Panarin is still an elite playmaker. They need to finish them.

I would be happy with Kakko and Lafreniere becoming 30/40 players. 30 goals and 40 assists. Kakko had 18 goals last season. No PP games. 40 assists. Give him more opportunities in the top six and PP time. Lafreniere has flirted with the 20 goal mark throughput his career. Even in the 56 game Covid season. He had 12 goals which prorated to nearly 18 goals that season. It was 17.5 goals prorated over 82 games. Lafreniere is among the team leaders in goals at even strength the last 3 seasons. I think he is 3rd.

Trocheck plays with Othmann creating a hard edge and straight line "line".

This board has always had a weird fascination with smaller little wingers like Garland and Zuccarello. No thanks.

Agree w/some of this incl da bold
Howev, not with the general premise

1st line Kreid - Zib - Ott if ready, righty shot Brodz as stopgap if he is not
2nd line = kid line, getting a lot mo mins
now is not the time to experiment w/our Fs if/when/where we don't have to.
The unit undeniably plays well together. FTTB we will get signif mileage by turning them lose 2nd line + full half at min of PP

3rd line until we move bread
Cuylie - Tro - Panarin
replace bread w/Goodrow once Pan is moved

I don't care about max pt production from bread short term if instead by playing less mins 3rd line he is embarrassed enuf to waive [along with, like I said, he is def not extending here at all, let alone anywhere near 11+ he's now getting]

 

[bernmeister]

here is a thought, and I would appreciate you guys mulling it carefully for not only immediate benefit but long term consequences....

Panarin retained 2.6+ to 9m
something med-large added

to St. L for

Parayko retained 2.5 = 4m per cap hit
likely something lesser added if nec for balance

the red flags here are Para has more term
and is he aging well enuf ????????????????

thoughts...

 

[mti79]

With the limited cap space we're going to have, I don't see the rangers making a major acquisition. I think they find a way to move Goody to get some space back and will need to find a cheap veteran to back up Shesty. Read this article and wouldn't mind Jaro back on a discount, maybe Domingue so Garand can have the Hartford net or Alex Nedeljkovic if he'd be cheap, which I don't know would happen.

Rangers’ backup goalie options: Jaroslav Halak and six others

The Post’s Mollie Walker takes a look at the available backup goaltending options that make the most sense for the Rangers:

nypost.com

I would also look into bringing Fast back for a middle 6 role if economically feasible. I don't want Motte or Vesey anywhere but the 4th line.

20-93-24
10-16-13
Cuylle-72-Fast
Motte-Brodz-26

55-23
79-8
???-4

I don't think we can afford to bring back Kane, Tarasenko, Mikkola...

 

[Vitto79]

I like the Garland idea, this team is desperately missing some type of speed after Vatrano left and he'd fill that void + he has snarl. Is there actually any weight to Vancouver still eyeballing Lafreniere though?

because if that's the case I'm warming up to the idea of moving Laf+ to get that 11th & Garland in a package.
Laf and the 24th for the 11th + Garland? We move Goodrow out in a seperate deal to free up some small space to squeeze him in, could work.
I get it, Lafreniere isn't a guy you give up on....but that's when you're a true rebuilding or retooling team that has the luxury of patience so I'm sorry to those that hate hearing of Laf being dealt but the Rangers do NOT have 3-4 years to wait for Alexis to find his footing and they need role-players for the next couple years otherwise it'll be another "rebuild" situation by 2027 just like the previous era. You can't move the big time players on this roster so you're going to have to move a youngin if you wish to morph this team into anything greater than what they are right now. With Othmann coming into the fold I think he's going to actually do better in year 1 than Laf did year 1 and I don't think that's a hot take either, I have a lot of confidence in that kid and his style fits exactly what we're going to need more of compared to Laf. He could be our Bertuzzi type moving forward

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Trocheck-Garland
Othmann-Chytil-Vesey
Cuylle-Brodz-Motte

and with that 11th I'd hope for a guy like Yager.

Garland only works if bought out
Going to need a few cheap bottom 6

 

[RangerBoy]

Agreed with everything but rushing Othmann to the NHL.

IF Othmann shows that belongs in camp, he will make the team. He has always been very mature for his age. Othmann looked good in his limited preseason games last September.



Othmann made a nice pass to Miller.

Even if the Rangers send him to AHL, it won’t be long before he is playing in the NHL.

Wyatt Johnston played for Dallas this season as a 19 year old on a line with Jamie Benn.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

IF Othmann shows that belongs in camp, he will make the team. He has already been very mature for his age. Othmann looked good in his limited preseason games last September.



Othmann made a nice pass to Miller.

Even if the Rangers send him to AHL, it won’t be long before he is playing in the NHL.

Wyatt Johnston played for Dallas this season as a 19 year old on a line with Jamie Benn.

Maybe, but then is he going to play 9 minutes with no PP time? Is is worth it? Or is it better for him to get 20 minutes in the AHL for a season, or even half a season? Cuylle playing in the AHL was great for him this season, he was more physically ready than Othmann for sure and could have played on the 4th line but they let him continue to develop which he did.

 

[Machinehead]

Zucker would be a phenomenal add.

He's still an even strength machine that does everything well.

 

[LORDE]

No one is forcing you to watch them

Quite true. Been a fan for nearly 40 yrs now but you're right. Why should I waste my time w this org when it's been flawed & substandard for it's entire almost century, existence?

Nothing changes here. Always the smartest guys in the room right?

It's a good thing Toronto can't win either. Otherwise we'd EASILY be the saddest & most pathetic original 6 team.

 

[Kravtsov420]

IF Othmann shows that belongs in camp, he will make the team. He has always been very mature for his age. Othmann looked good in his limited preseason games last September.



Othmann made a nice pass to Miller.

Even if the Rangers send him to AHL, it won’t be long before he is playing in the NHL.

Wyatt Johnston played for Dallas this season as a 19 year old on a line with Jamie Benn.

Johnston was put in a position to succeed by being the opportunity to play with that line. Othmann has to URN it first until he demands a trade and then we can all turn on him because it couldn’t possibly be the organizations fault for having a philosophy stuck in 1978

 

[Machinehead]

I don't think we'll have to eat any of Goodrow's deal.

By no means is he an albatross. He's a fairly easy-to-move slight overpay who's still highly regarded as a things and stuff player around the league,

I could easily see a rebuilding team with some cap to blow wanting to bring him in to teach "the right way."

 

[Machinehead]

Johnston was put in a position to succeed by being the opportunity to play with that line. Othmann has to URN it first until he demands a trade and then we can all turn on him because it couldn’t possibly be the organizations fault for having a philosophy stuck in 1978

Not only that, but what I think is even more damaging, is that when you play with the stars, you defer to them.

On the Stars, if Johnston is open, Johnston makes the play. On the Rangers, if Kakko is open, he passes to Panarin doing nothing at the blueline. Subsequently, the big guns don't actually work to get open. Why would they?

Those are the type of habits I hope that a coach can come in here and address.

 

[duhmetreE]

I keep reading Othmann isn't ready for the NHL. why?

He's not guaranteed a spot but why can't he earn a top9 position? He looked good last camp, if he looks even better this camp what's holding him back?

If we hire a old retread, then yes, I'd rather have in learning and being coached in the AHL. If we go with Leach and/or Knoblauch, I'd like him here. ( if he shows he belongs )

 

[RangerBoy]

Mollie and Vince fail to realize the Rangers can give Halak a performance bonus deal. They keep saying the Rangers can't afford another $1.5M guaranteed. The Rangers could offer $1M guaranteed with $500,000 in bonuses(very achievable) with the bonuses rolling into the 24-25 cap which is expected to be $88M if the Rangers don't have space next season.

There are many potential cheap/reasonable bottom six options.

Tyler Motte
Noel Acciari
Nick Bjugstad
David Kampf
Garnet Hathaway
Ryan Donato
Tomas Nosek

Klim Kostin is arbitration eligible. Will Edmonton qualify him?

Sign three of those players. Trocheck, Vesey, Othmann and Cuylle are the other bottom six options.

Last summer, Drury signed Ryan Carpenter for $750,000. Bjugstad got $900,000. Acciari went for $1.25M. Dom from The Athletic's model has Acciari at $1.3M for next season.

Ivan Barbashev would be perfect for the Rangers but they can't afford him. $4M?

Find a taker for Barclay Goodrow. Trade him for a cheaper player if possible. Some teams could absorb the contract. Goodrow was traded for a first round pick at the deadline in 2020 when everyone thought TB was crazy. He was a key member of their best line. He was signed for another season at a very cheap number but was still a first round pick. If Goodrow was a rental, teams would be offering a 2nd and another asset or maybe a 1st in a normal cap world.

Try to add another defenseman better than Ben Harpur. Give Jones a 1 year deal for $800,000 one-way.

Try to build the best possible 13 forwards, 7 defenseman and 2 goalies team. Tinker at the trade deadline and not this annual new team renovation at the deadline.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

If we stay at 23 I hope we get a very good Dman or Center, don't think we need wingers and most centers can play wing.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

you can look up his analytics yourself, they're horrific.

Because second year players who just turned 21 can were called up a year before expected don't improve. Alrighty there Phil Esposito.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Maybe people remember better than me but I don’t remember anything from Othmann’s camp last year that screamed NHL ready frankly

This year could be different but I don’t think he was ready last year at all

 

[LokiDog]

Any speedsters like Vaerhaghe or Duclair available?

Domi maybe? Wood? Engvall? Gurianov?

Gurianov is an RFA I think and MTL will likely qualify him since it won’t cost much. Domi has probably priced himself out for us during Dallas’ run. Wood, Engvall are good targets. I wish we had a guy like Michael McLeod to anchor our 4th line. For a 12th pick he’s a bust, but he’s fast, physical, tenacious, strong, nearly 60% on face offs (above 60% this season) battles hard, uses his speed all over the ice and he has some skills that made him a first round pick, so he’ll occasionally make a nice play and chip in on the scoreboard. We’d end up paying 3.5M for this player when he’s 29 and hits UFA. Devils will get him re-signed as a 25 year old for 2.25M, get his remaining best years and cut him loose when he’s 30 and playing tough physical minutes has worn him down and he gets a reputation contract as a veteran somewhere. He’s a perfect 4C.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

If we stay at 23 I hope we get a very good Dman or Center, don't think we need wingers and most centers can play wing.

You take the best player available with the most speed, skill, etc. If somehow Michkov is still there, run to the podium and to the back before anyone realizes what happened.

The team of three years will not be the team of today.

 

[LokiDog]

Laffy turns into Sam Bennett +
Kakko turns into Mark Stone +
Panarin remembers he can move his legs
Zibs turns into that galloping workhorse
We fix our structure; move and support the puck like a NHL team should

Copium?

Total copium.

Laf turns into Bennett minus the motor.
KK turns into Mark Stone light, more likely. Maybe equal.
Panarin maybe picks up his game with a new coach, but he’s still turning 32 and not going to turn back the clock.
Zibanejad is a workhorse but he’s never not going to be streaky and inconsistent.
Team structure fix would go a looooong way.

I don’t think you’re so far off, but Laf will never have Bennett’s ability to get in on the forecheck with speed. He can become a similar player but without the speed and net driving, it’s tough to see him ever being a Bennett +. Kakko equaling Stone would be a massive win. Stone + is very unlikely. I’m hoping a new coach can get Panarin to play a bit more competitive hockey and be less of a coasting turnover machine. I think Zib is what he is. Which is good.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

You take the best player available with the most speed, skill, etc. If somehow Michkov is still there, run to the podium and to the back before anyone realizes what happened.

The team of three years will not be the team of today.

you take 20 scouts and each one will have a different "best" player available at 23.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

you take 20 scouts and each one will have a different "best" player available at 23.

If Michkov is there at 23 then it's obvious.

That's when Drury and Liles have to come in and actually, you know be competent and confident executives and use information:

-What does the data say?
-How hard is his shot?
-Projected strength/speed/durability?


and most importantly:

-Does his guy have it in between his ears or is he another Kravstov/Anderson/Kovacs/Sareela/etc.?

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

Agree w/some of this incl da bold
Howev, not with the general premise

1st line Kreid - Zib - Ott if ready, righty shot Brodz as stopgap if he is not
2nd line = kid line, getting a lot mo mins
now is not the time to experiment w/our Fs if/when/where we don't have to.
The unit undeniably plays well together. FTTB we will get signif mileage by turning them lose 2nd line + full half at min of PP

3rd line until we move bread
Cuylie - Tro - Panarin
replace bread w/Goodrow once Pan is moved

I don't care about max pt production from bread short term if instead by playing less mins 3rd line he is embarrassed enuf to waive [along with, like I said, he is def not extending here at all, let alone anywhere near 11+ he's now getting]

You are smoking crack if you think Panarin spends any significant time on the 3rd line.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

Mollie and Vince fail to realize the Rangers can give Halak a performance bonus deal. They keep saying the Rangers can't afford another $1.5M guaranteed. The Rangers could offer $1M guaranteed with $500,000 in bonuses(very achievable) with the bonuses rolling into the 24-25 cap which is expected to be $88M if the Rangers don't have space next season.

There are many potential cheap/reasonable bottom six options.

Tyler Motte
Noel Acciari
Nick Bjugstad
David Kampf
Garnet Hathaway
Ryan Donato
Tomas Nosek

Klim Kostin is arbitration eligible. Will Edmonton qualify him?

Sign three of those players. Trocheck, Vesey, Othmann and Cuylle are the other bottom six options.

Last summer, Drury signed Ryan Carpenter for $750,000. Bjugstad got $900,000. Acciari went for $1.25M. Dom from The Athletic's model has Acciari at $1.3M for next season.

Ivan Barbashev would be perfect for the Rangers but they can't afford him. $4M?

Find a taker for Barclay Goodrow. Trade him for a cheaper player if possible. Some teams could absorb the contract. Goodrow was traded for a first round pick at the deadline in 2020 when everyone thought TB was crazy. He was a key member of their best line. He was signed for another season at a very cheap number but was still a first round pick. If Goodrow was a rental, teams would be offering a 2nd and another asset or maybe a 1st in a normal cap world.

Try to add another defenseman better than Ben Harpur. Give Jones a 1 year deal for $800,000 one-way.

Try to build the best possible 13 forwards, 7 defenseman and 2 goalies team. Tinker at the tradeeadline and not this annual new team renovation at the deadline.

You're right about Goodrow and it that as well as other factors is why he is the least movable of the two or three guys that can being moved. If you're going to trade him you want Max value OR you're really desperate for a 3rd round pick because you just need prospects... Which really doesn't happen.

I realize the issue-- people aren't necessarily wanting to move but they feel we move him to re-sign guys. Because it's easier from a management perspective (and kind of makes sense in the immediate future of Ryan Lindgren) to trade Lindgren, and makes more sense of value-wise, I think they will take a look at that, but only if necessary... They want, at least we believe by all media indications-- to build a more balanced team; Goodrow provides exactly the type of balance they need. It is not a difference maker, but most of the guys, bottom-six, we are imagining (especially someone like Bjugstd) only make a negative difference. They lowball the shit out of Miller and Lafreniere (say $6.5 M total) and I really believe they will have to find five players more for under 1 million. And they will. Because they don't have. This off-season will be about taking the smallest step back possible, for most teams not just the Rangers.