Speculation: Roster Building Thread XI

[bobbop]

Not specifically with the Islanders, this is the reason DeAngelo wasn’t cut loose yet. The Rangers could always trade Bitetto to them and still have ADA to fulfill their expansion draft requirement. Someone else may end up in this position.

 

[NYRangers16]

And then we are in the perpetual rebuild. Youre hoping that Chytl can be that #2 center but problem is he hasnt shown he can handle the center duties. So all youre doing is kicking the can down the road in what hopes? For another reclamation project ie strome, which worked nicely but honestly sucks at everything hockey. We need a player that can fit this core team and its needs. Larkin is youre answer. Or we can HOPE that someone else shakes loose. Like whom? Malkin? does nothing for the future of this team to grow with Laf and kakko. Barkov is a dream... Weve had this discussion before. Magic beans. Lets trade for Krebs or Turcotte, who we arent even sure is a center. Yet can they even play in the NHL.

Hope and magic beans.

Larkin is 24yo, a top 25 center in the league, plays the way you want every night, is a leader, good on faceoofs, can play a 200 ft game.

But if Larkin cant be had, then im fine going youre route to take a breath, even though i think strome needs to go asap, and we need to find better centers than say bonino to play 2nd line center since chytl hasnt shown yet that he can play center

I do see a lot from Chytil, but agree with this approach. Hey, it’s what we’ve done the last few years. There was nobody ahead of Strome. I actually would love to see him be the RW on Panarin’s line. Less defensive responsibility. Or he would make a solid RW3 on a contender. It all depends on where his contract fits. But I suspect his contract status + defensive deficiencies will make him a roster casualty.

 

[SA16]

What makes you think they haven’t attempted to?

They may have attempted to but they won't at this point. Drury doesn't work on weekends.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Doubt it would come to this but what would the penalty be if the Islanders didn't add a expansion draft eligible defenseman?

 

[bl02]

So how much is everyone going to freak out when we do nothing by the roster freeze tomorrow?

fine with me.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Doubt it would come to this but what would the penalty be if the Islanders didn't add a expansion draft eligible defenseman?

I believe they'd be forced to expose one of their protected D.

 

[smoneil]

See, I find it truly troublesome that the PP1 ignored the coach and refused to come off the ice as instructed. It's selfish, disobedient, and emblematic of the me first attitude of the team. It looks like played to get the coach fired. Or Quinn couldn't manage the room and there was a mutiny. I don't like that the first unit screwed over their teammates which could have a direct impact on their future earnings, at least in theory.

Strome should have kept quiet but I'm not running him out of town without context. Was Quinn wrong and he stood up to something? Did he galvanize the room? Maybe panarin shouldn't be making roster decisions if he's getting paid nearly $12m a year. Or maybe we shouldn't be trying to assume things about the dynamics in the room. Seems like a reach for us way out of the loop.

I'm not trying to say a thing about the dynamics of the room. My comment was based entirely on what we saw. Quinn, who for all of his other faults deserves credit for seeing what this team needed to do to win games fairly early in the season, kept saying that the team needed to be more direct, more shoot-first, and play a more N/S game. Strome, on his own, opted to go to the media and essentially say "Yeah, what the coach keeps telling us to do? f*** that. I'm a star and I know better." Strome and Quinn can be all time besties in that room. They can hang out and cook smore's on weekends. It wouldn't matter. What Strome did with that comment was 100% disrespectful and--speaking as a coach--is the kind of attitude I would immediately seek to purge from the room. I get that not everyone is going to see it as that big of a deal, but again, as someone who has managed personalities on a team roster, that kind of behavior is a huge red flag to me.

 

[Adam Fox Time]

Doubt it would come to this but what would the penalty be if the Islanders didn't add a expansion draft eligible defenseman?

I wouldn't mind if Cashman was fired, but this team is playing much worse than it should be.

 

[Thirty One]

Doubt it would come to this but what would the penalty be if the Islanders didn't add a expansion draft eligible defenseman?

Everyone has to wear a number above 40.

 

[aufheben]

Again Detriot is asking for x and y. Its up to drury to make the decision on whether he is willing to give that up or not, and detriot is based on another deal to get better picks.

Are you losing youre mind? Thats how negotiations work. one starts high, one starts low and you meet in the middle somewhere or you dont make a deal.

Yea maybe we can talk them down from their asking price. If not then the MAIN part of the deal is already out there.

If I’m wrong, the trade will be a steal for me, and I’ll be happier than everyone else. If I’m right, I’ll be less upset than everyone else. #HowToRangerFan

#15OA + Kravtsov/Lundkvist would actually hurt pretty f***ing bad now that I think about it. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

 

[Barnaby]

It's not going to be hard for the Isles to trade a 6th round pick for a garbage defenseman who qualifies.

Or just sign a guy who meets the requirement whose looking at a 2 way deal to a league minimum guaranteed 1 way deal...

 

[Barnaby]

If the best player we're losing is Gauthier, then we're not losing a good player in any scenario.

He’ll cripple us for years just like the loss of Oscar Lindberg..

 

[Barnaby]

If exposed, I think Howden goes to Seattle over Gauthier. I know Howden drives most of us crazy and Gauthier has the intrigue of the unknown, but Howden plays center, kills penalties, and has a ton more NHL experience. Plus, as long as he’s been around, he’s still very young.

 

[Ola]

If I’m wrong, the trade will be a steal for me, and I’ll be happier than everyone else. If I’m right, I’ll be less upset than everyone else. #HowToRangerFan

#15OA + Kravtsov/Lundkvist would actually hurt pretty f***ing bad now that I think about it. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

I agree and good points!

I wonder what we would get in return for Strome, because I imagine he would be traded too as a consequence of getting Larkin?

I am fine with the deal as long as it does not include K’Andre Miller.

 

[Ola]

If exposed, I think Howden goes to Seattle over Gauthier. I know Howden drives most of us crazy and Gauthier has the intrigue of the unknown, but Howden plays center, kills penalties, and has a ton more NHL experience. Plus, as long as he’s been around, he’s still very young.

Yeah and I mean, to a pretty large extent our view of Howden is based on past showing. We have invested a ton in him. That investment of course pays of. Sure he hasn’t been there yet, but last season he was starting to play more OK hockey. He bought 100% in DQs hockey and it wasn’t effective in anyway, he is probably the one that stands to win the most if he can do the same with Gallant’s style. Ie include more brains into the equation. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Howden can turn into a pretty solid NHLer. Like guys with his physic age pretty well most of the time. He can easily have 10 years left in him.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Howden is overhated to a comical extent

 

[Chalfdiggity3]

If I’m wrong, the trade will be a steal for me, and I’ll be happier than everyone else. If I’m right, I’ll be less upset than everyone else. #HowToRangerFan

#15OA + Kravtsov/Lundkvist would actually hurt pretty f***ing bad now that I think about it. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Oh i agree its alot, i just believe he is the right player to go in on. Unless Barkov comes loose, there really is no1 else that works better. Then youre really playing with fire bc if not Barkov youre left with interesting choices but no1 really that can grow with this core. We can draft but again that will take 3+ years to see the end result and the end result could be nothing. I doubt Larkin is a finished product. The kid is 24 yo and already easily a top 25 center in the league(what we hope that player will be even if we traded for Krebs or Turcotte. )

Also as my guy @Ola just said, Strome would obviously be traded for picks and prospects to restock the cupboard since the center lineup would be Zibs, Larkin, Chytl... Thats sexy now and for our future.

 

[smoneil]

Oh i agree its alot, i just believe he is the right player to go in on. Unless Barkov comes loose, there really is no1 else that works better. Then youre really playing with fire bc if not Barkov youre left with interesting choices but no1 really that can grow with this core. We can draft but again that will take 3+ years to see the end result and the end result could be nothing. I doubt Larkin is a finished product. The kid is 24 yo and already easily a top 25 center in the league(what we hope that player will be even if we traded for Krebs or Turcotte. )

Also as my guy @Ola just said, Strome would obviously be traded for picks and prospects to restock the cupboard since the center lineup would be Zibs, Larkin, Chytl... Thats sexy now and for our future.

Agreed. The focus in the media has been on getting a second 1st line center, but that just doesn't make sense to me. If we can get a high end 2nd line center (ie: a guy who would BE a first liner on some teams in the league), then that would be the ideal. In terms of cost effectiveness, we'd need someone more of that pedigree because of how much $$ we have invested in the wings and on D. Also, with Panarin, no matter who centers that line, it will be a first line. If we ran Laf--Zib--Buch, Panarin--Chytil--Kakko, and Kreider--Larkin--Kravtsov and rotated them every night, that could be insanely good.

 

[Tob]

I remember the collective panic when Gorton was fired and Dolan was losing it and we all thought Drury would have no choice but to make absurd trades to appease Dolan. This is pretty swell.

 

[Ola]

So how much is everyone going to freak out when we do nothing by the roster freeze tomorrow?

Some moves are probably preceded by more or less an auction which usually puts you at the last minute.

But no matter how it’s sliced or diced, looking back at periods like this, the head count doesn’t produce a big number. 90% if all GMs are probably seriously pursuing something, but when everything is said and done maybe 30% will have reached a deal with someone.

 

[smoneil]

Was just reading an article on the Athletic about how the options for top 6 forwards are going to be slip in the expansion draft. I wonder if that might be an option for a deal around Strome or maybe Buch (though I'd prefer to keep the latter if the price is right). IE: once the protection lists are posted, we could tell Seattle who we're interested in, and see if they are willing to pick/swap that player(s) for Strome. Could be a good way to add some affordable sandpaper to the bottom six, or possibly add a guy like Gourde.

 

[egelband]

Are you talking about Jake Virtanen?

Boko Imama should be in there. His Leaving the bench to fight (LTBTF)/60 is the best in all first and 2nd tier leagues in hockey.

Imama is a given. We need him and he’s going to use his leverage to get traded to the Rangers. Worst kept secret in hockey. It’s just a matter of when, not if. Very similar to the Adam Fox situation, but obviously Imama is higher profile and more acclaimed/accomplished.

 

[egelband]

I would, TyJo is exactly the type of center someone like Kakko needs. That speed treat down center ice gives us another dimension.

Yeah. I recoiled at the mention of Tyler Johnson but then I thought a bit more about it. He’s a solid player and maybe an opponent ideal 3C as long as he’s getting paid like a 3C.

 

[egelband]

Sportsnet 590 The FAN
@FAN590
· 2h
"Where I believe Jack Eichel will succeed is a place where he doesn't have to be 'the guy'...to carry the entire load of a team."

I actually think this is true even though for 10M you SHOULD be able to and should be required to, but he wouldn't have to do that here with Panarin et al.. He would have to do that in ANA, LAK (at least for a while), in Minn he would have Kaprizov

Who said that?

 

[egelband]

His first full season, he put up 23 points in 75 games.
His sophomore season, he put up 23 points in 60 games.
Last season, he put up 22 points in 42 games.

It shows progression. That progression is more impressive when you consider that Quinn all but pulled him off the PP this year, and played him primarily with either young players or 4th liners (meaning that the scant minutes he DID get, were often in the form of a couple scattered shifts per period--hard to get in any kind of groove when your line is used just to give the top two lines a breather).

And it isn't just the points. Over those three seasons, Chytil's +/- went from -22 to -7 to +9, and his face off percentage improved from ~38.5% to almost 43% (and again, this is without getting the kinds of reps/experience that a young C would usually get. Chytil only took ~300 face offs this season. Top centers took 600-1100 face offs. Had Chytil been left to develop in the AHL, getting those reps, his fo% would likely be higher, as this is a stat that historically improves with age/experience).

Had we moved Strome last season, I think that Chytil would have broken out this year (with minutes, some veteran linemates, and a regular shift on the PP, I think he would have been on a 50+ point pace). If he gets those things this year, I'd project him near the Stepan line of 55-60 points this season, with still more room to grow.

I am seeing the numbers but what I see on the ice isn’t impressive. I know I’m probably wrong. But…I’m just not there with Filip. I see this next season as big. I hope Gallant gives him more icetime. But also wonder if maybe he gets traded. He’s a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. To me.