Speculation: Roster Building Thread XIII

[SRHRangers]

I haven’t wanted to stay away from a player more than Eichel since, I can’t say when. I was very-anti EK but I see way more stink and more danger in Eichel.

Since Lindros. I felt dirty when we acquired that clown.

 

[Jim Ramsay]

Blackwell>Eichel


Joking obviously, but I dont get why anyone is ready to get this guy so much. His neck didnt look good being aware in this highlight, wonder how it is now

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Eichel isn't the guy. We are too early in the process, he isn't the kind of hard nosed leader we are looking for, injuries nonwithstanding.

1-2 years from now we should be talking about making a move for the final piece. There will be other disgruntled star centers.

As long as they keep Zibanejad, because there's absolutely no guarantee another star center will break free in the next 3-5 years. It simply rarely ever happens

 

[IDvsEGO]

Margot Robbie frequents MSG.

There were alot of rumors about her and brass inside msg.

 

[McRanger92]

Funny feeling Drury is going to go all-in for Eichel & Coleman to win in Panarin’s 5 year window

 

[RGY]

Indifferent on Eichel at this point. I guess it all would depend in cost and his health.

For the 2C spot, I much prefer to target Larkin/Lindholm/Hertl/Horvat. Some of those may not be available.

I don’t like Dvorak as a 2C target. I like him as a 3C target. But it sounds like Goodrow is all but signed and at numbers that would indicate he will be the 3C, which I am fine with.

So with that in mind, I move to the 4C spot. I have no interest in having Rooney be the 4C. I prefer to upgrade that with a better player. There is a big range for me there. Bonino/Stepan/Getzlaf/Boyle/etc. I am not sure how much Nosek has played center, if at all.

I would love to flip Strome for assets. I like the Ottawa idea of multiple 2nds and Grieg. Get a young propsect back. Something along those lines. Clears out the cap space and keeps us covered for the future at the same time.

Buch in a package for the 2C or (more preferred) to a team like LAK for one of their young centers. Again with the future in mind, covering us if we have to move on from Zibanejad. I also like the idea of Buch to STL for 1st, Thomas, and Sanford. We probably have to add a draft pick on our side. But Buch’s stock has skyrocketed.

Package for the 2C from the list above being Chytil, Jones/Robertson, #16 OA. Maybe another piece. But that is a good foundational package.

Sign Coleman. Sign Suter.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

I met him. Long story.

You met Jeffrey Dahmer? Well, share! I guarantee you it's more interesting than Nick Deslauriers.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Funny feeling Drury is going to go all-in for Eichel & Coleman to win in Panarin’s 5 year window

It might not be Eichel, but they are absolutely going to try to win a cup with Panarin, You dont drop almost 12M otherwise

 

[haveandare]

I get where you’re coming from and have ample respect for all your posts and opinions on here. I just think that role and quality of linemates is being overlooked a bit. Strome looked like a 65 point player next to Panarin. In reality over the last two seasons Strome has put up 69 points at even strength and Danault has put up 66. The remaining difference is PP points, but Danault was only given 19 seconds per game while Strome got 3+. Danault still put up 53 and 47 points the previous two seasons, again with limited PP time and vastly inferior offensive talent to play with.

This leads me to believe that if he was given Strome’s usage he could very realistically out produce him. I don’t think that’s a stretch. Based on all the underlying numbers, I think an extra 3 minutes on the PP per game with guys like Panarin, Fox, Zib and Kreider obviously gives just about anyone competent an extra 10-20 points and I think that lining up next to Panarin in an offensive role would obviously boost even strength numbers that are already nearly identical to Strome’s.

If Strome had his production and was a “complete” player we’d be saying he was a perfect 2C. The problem is that he produces like a 2C but isn’t good defensively or on draws, doesn’t bring any physicality and isn’t tough to play against. Danault is all of those things, and I’m fairly certain he can at least match Strome’s production if given the same role. That would then make him an ideal 2C, and his ask is 5.5M which is significantly cheaper than a Strome extension would be, a Larkin would be, an Eichel would be, etc. It gives us way more flexibility with getting Zib re-signed or going after one of those more pricey centers to replace him, and while Chytil will be cheap for at least 2-3 more years, if Chytil eventually is able to run with the 2C spot, he wouldn’t be up to get paid like one until Danault was going into year 3-4 of his contract, at which point he’d be a great 3C or could be flipped, especially if he produced next to Panarin.

Just my (pretty strong lol) opinion on the matter. Always a fan of your posts. I just think when you look at 5v5 numbers, quality of lineups, usage and role, PP time, etc. it’s reasonable to conclude that Danault could replace Strome’s production while providing elite defensive play, make us tougher to play against, and be cheaper than most top six center options out there.

Yeah I get what you’re saying and definitely see and agree with the logic of it in a vacuum. I just worry that, particularly in the playoffs, Danault doesn’t have the game necessary to score at a 2C rate even with Panarin. Strome may not either for that matter - we don’t really know yet but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he had the same issue.

I feel like in the playoffs, the later rounds with better teams especially, your top line guys need to be able to either bully a skill matchup and produce dirty goals from it, or skill their way through a meticulous defensive matchup and break a trap with smart passing, high end puck skills, etc. Ideally a few of your top guys can do both, but to really succeed everyone in the top 6 needs to be pretty effective at one or the other. I’m not sure Danault has the ability to do either well enough to play top 6 on a winning team. I could easily see him as 3C on a cup winner, but his contract is going to be too rich for a 3C.

I could be wrong about this, just my feeling from watching him in the playoffs. I appreciate your posts as well!

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Indifferent on Eichel at this point. I guess it all would depend in cost and his health.

For the 2C spot, I much prefer to target Larkin/Lindholm/Hertl/Horvat. Some of those may not be available.

I don’t like Dvorak as a 2C target. I like him as a 3C target. But it sounds like Goodrow is all but signed and at numbers that would indicate he will be the 3C, which I am fine with.

So with that in mind, I move to the 4C spot. I have no interest in having Rooney be the 4C. I prefer to upgrade that with a better player. There is a big range for me there. Bonino/Stepan/Getzlaf/Boyle/etc. I am not sure how much Nosek has played center, if at all.

I would love to flip Strome for assets. I like the Ottawa idea of multiple 2nds and Grieg. Get a young propsect back. Something along those lines. Clears out the cap space and keeps us covered for the future at the same time.

Buch in a package for the 2C or (more preferred) to a team like LAK for one of their young centers. Again with the future in mind, covering us if we have to move on from Zibanejad. I also like the idea of Buch to STL for 1st, Thomas, and Sanford. We probably have to add a draft on our side. But Buch’s stock has skyrocketed.

Package for the 2C from the list above being Chytil, Jones/Robertson, #16 OA. Maybe another piece. But that is a good foundational package.

Sign Coleman. Sign Suter.

I would take any of those centers as the 2C.

As far as "available" I would put them like this.. Hertl ---> Larkin ---> Horvat ----> Lindholm

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

Margot Robbie frequents MSG.

So does Susan Sarandon and I'd imagine she's more amenable

 

[TheBloodyNine]

So with that in mind, I move to the 4C spot. I have no interest in having Rooney be the 4C. I prefer to upgrade that with a better player. There is a big range for me there. Bonino/Stepan/Getzlaf/Boyle/etc. I am not sure how much Nosek has played center, if at all.

I think the Rangers protecting him in the ED indicates that they do.

 

[RGY]

I would take any of those centers as the 2C.

As far as "available" I would put them like this.. Hertl ---> Larkin ---> Horvat ----> Lindholm

And I would rank them as

Larkin
Lindholm
Horvat
Hertl

 

[RGY]

I think the Rangers protecting him in the ED indicates that they do.

I think given his cost, they felt it was better to protect him as insurance in case they cannot find an upgrade in free agency or trade. I definitely do not think they are married to him as the 4C.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Rooney is so cheap that he can be the 4c if they can't find anyone else, or he can be the 13th F since he can play both center and wing.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

And I would rank them as

Larkin
Lindholm
Horvat
Hertl

I would put Lindholm ahead of Larkin because that contract is niice

 

[TheBloodyNine]

I think given his cost, they felt it was better to protect him as insurance in case they cannot find an upgrade in free agency or trade. I definitely do not think they are married to him as the 4C.

I wouldn't say married either but they obviously think more highly of him than Blackwell and I think it's because he has the ability to be the 4C.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

I wouldn't say married either but they obviously think more highly of him than Blackwell and I think it's because he has the ability to be the 4C.

Yeah i think they try to upgrade there but if not they're comfortable with rooney there

 

[brakeyawself]

Buffalo would have likely been worse if they had Aho or Barzal as they are worse players than Eichel.

Nah sorry. I can't agree. I understand why you might think that. But I think you are missing the bigger picture and more importantly, the non-statistical traits that a player like Aho brings. Something Barzal seems to have figured out this year. I actually think it would have been the opposite of what you say, regardless of how many points Eichel can get for himself. He's simply NOT on the McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby level. And unless a player is THAT talented, they better bring other qualities if they are your number 1C.

 

[Profet]

I met him. Long story.

I take it he didn't have you over for dinner?

 

[brakeyawself]

does he or does he not get benched by trotz for defensive lapses? Does trotz not call him out in the media even? If you say no you’re the one not watching the games my friend

this was not a knock on barzal it’s a point that these young star guys all need to continue to improve defensively.

Yes. But it only happened a few times this year compared to in years past. Barzal, this past season, has corrected many of his flaws in this regard. He actually seems to improve each and every year in different aspects of the game. But Barzal also brings a certain team oriented mindset that I am not sure Eichel brings. It's not just about getting called out by your coach for making a defensive mistake.

And what about Aho? Whom I also mentioned. You said Eichel is ABOVE him right?

 

[NYRangers16]

I take it he didn't have you over for dinner?

Lol if he’s still here and posting, I’d guess not. PS that has to be one hell of a story.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Barzal is one of the best transition forwards in the league.

Other than that, hes pretty overrated. Hes not very efficient when he gets into the OZ and skates himself out of plays and into bad positions more often than a top player should.

Barzal can't hold a healthy Eichel's jock.

 

[Tob]

Alright, I took @Thirty One s advice and I'm outside. Nothing better happen while I'm out here.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

I've been thinking about some of the Rangers trade rumors that have popped up over the last week or so and of the ones that have come from reputable sources, the one that has me scratching my head the most is Ottawas interest in Strome.

I get it last year when he had 2 years left, but now he's down to 1 and they would have to pay him. Unless their ownership has changed their mindset I don't see them opening the wallet for him. I also don't see why Strome would want to sign there unless he sees promise in their young core.

I guess it all comes down to the cost for Ottawa.