Speculation: Roster Building Thread XLVIII - “Into the Heartland”

[effen]

New York Rangers Defensemen:
*snip*

That's 15 D men. Granted that a few of them won't crack the squad (Crawley, Day, Keane, Lindgren) that's still 11 D men for 7 roster spots. Something has to give. In fact, I think two.

Claesson's not qualified afaik
Smith will probably slot up front.
Rykov/Tarmo need to adjust to North American rinks in Hartford

There's your 7, all smiles.
Most teams need 9-10D during the year, NYR got pretty fortunate injury wise last year. We good.

 

[charliemurphy]

Not advocating for it, but I wonder if Kreider might feel pressure to leave money on the table and extend. He certainly should realize that he’s gone by draft day if not, and not necessarily to a team he likes or a city he wants to live in. How much money would he have to leave on the table for Gorton to want to sign him and forego the futures he’d bring back in a trade?

I would have to assume its the combination of cost and length for Kreider in comparison to cost and length of Panarin in being that go-to top line winger. How much would he have to leave on the table? No idea but I don't think it comes close to the difference between the players.

 

[GregSirico]

Claesson's not qualified afaik
Smith will probably slot up front.
Rykov/Tarmo need to adjust to North American rinks in Hartford

There's your 7, all smiles.
Most teams need 9-10D during the year, NYR got pretty fortunate injury wise last year. We good.

I wouldn't be surprised if Rykov or Tarmo can crack a roster spot.

 

[GAGLine]

San Jose needs to clear space, so good move for them

Honestly, I wouldn't be against trying to get Labanc from them via offersheet

Won't happen. Our 2nd and 3rd round picks next year are tied up by the condition on the Fox deal. I suppose we could agree to just give Carolina the 2nd and use a 1st and 3rd for the off sheet, but I seriously doubt Gorton would do that. I don't think he has any scruples about twisting the screws on teams that are up against the cap, but I don't see him handing out offer sheets.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

One of my favorite things JG has done is take advantage of “draft pick arbitrage.”

It is a commonly stated that “draft picks are worth more at the draft and less at the TDL” which is completely illogical. IMO draft picks have become a bit over valued in the league today and this is from a big “acquire assets” fan. But that aside there is zero reason their value should fluctuate in a consistent pattern like this.

Acquiring picks at the deadline and flipping them for prospects and players near the draft makes a ton of sense from a value standpoint alone. That’s how you look back on an ROR trade a year later and go...huh?

 

[Avery16]

New York Rangers Defensemen:

Shattenkirk
Staal
Skjei
Smith
Fox
Trouba
Hajek
Deangelo
Claesson
Rykov
Reunanen
Lindgren
Keane
Crawley
Day

That's 15 D men. Granted that a few of them won't crack the squad (Crawley, Day, Keane, Lindgren) that's still 11 D men for 7 roster spots. Something has to give. In fact, I think two.

I don’t think it’s 11. Smith could start in Hartford, sit, or play F. Lindgren, Rykov and Hajek could very well start in Hartford.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

I wonder why Gorton would say he won’t start the season without an extension. Why that rule for Kreider, but not for other pending UFAs like Names, Vesey, Fast

More consequential. I'd say at least one of those 3 guys is going... Namestnikov would take a $1-2M cut to extend, he won't, they won't.

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

I still read him, and I’m often the one to post links to his articles on here. I know it can be worse. You don’t need sources to know we’d be in on Trouba. It seems like he has fewer sources than he used to.

I mean, he might have fewer sources than he used to, but all in all, we are pretty lucky to have a guy who is consistently on the beat like him. And also reliable. Look, I'm not a fan of Brooks personally. And there are things he says which I just laugh at. Moreover, he works for an absolute rag of a paper which adds little to no value to society.

Still, in this day and age - with journalism heading down the tubes - most teams don't have a guy like him. So I'm pleased just having anything relatively coherent and somewhat connected to the team to read on a regular basis.

 

[GAGLine]

Brooks also had the Trouba trade completely wrong. I really dont take much value in what he says.

Kreider could move on Friday. We shall see.

The problem with Brooks is that it's hard to separate the things he has heard from the things he is merely speculating on. It could be that he heard we were in on Trouba, but was only speculating about the cost/players involved.

 

[rangers1314]

Still, in this day and age - with journalism heading down the tubes - most teams don't have a guy like him. So I'm pleased just having anything relatively coherent and somewhat connected to the team to read on a regular basis.

Seriously. Have you taken a look at that knuckle draggers that cover the Flyers?

 

[gravey9]

With Trouba and Fox we can make a fairly good argument that the Rangers are just about done rebuilding the defense. They will likely turn their attention back to the center position. Assuming they get Kakko and not Hughes. The team has to sort out how they're bringing in one more top 6 C. Chytl MAY become that, but it doesn't seem like the team is convinced of that as of yet. And despite having 5 centers on the NHL team (Zib, Chytl, Andersson, Strome, Nieves), the organization is still very thin at C.

I think the team really has to try and get this piece in THIS draft. With the D and goaltending looking better, there's a strong likelihood the Rangers could be a bubble team this season. They could be picking in the teens next year. They might have Dallas' pick then as well. Point is, they might have to trade up to get a legit top 6 C in the next draft as much as this year. But right now they have better assets to do that -- Kreider with 1 year left, Buch who only wants a bridge deal, Vesey, Names + the 2nd round picks. I think the next big additive move that Gorton wants to make is drafting a top 6 center this week.

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

New York Rangers Defensemen:

Shattenkirk
Staal
Skjei
Smith
Fox
Trouba
Hajek
Deangelo
Claesson
Rykov
Reunanen
Lindgren
Keane
Crawley
Day

That's 15 D men. Granted that a few of them won't crack the squad (Crawley, Day, Keane, Lindgren) that's still 11 D men for 7 roster spots. Something has to give. In fact, I think two.

You're really exaggerating here. We can break them down into categories.

NHL players who have a possible future with the Rangers:
Trouba
ADA
Skjei

NHL players who have no future with the Rangers:
Staal
Smith
Shattenkirk
Claesson

Unproven players, with a chance to make the squad:
Fox
Hajek
Lindgren
Rykov
Reunanen (he might belong in the last category)

Next to no chance to make the squad next year - and some never:
Lundqvist
Day
Keane
Crawley

So we have 3 actual players who have a future with this team and we can assume will be prioritized.

We have 4 players who have no future with this team beyond their existent contracts (Claesson is nothing more than an extra) and will either be traded, sent down, bought out, or their contracts will expire.

We have arguably 5 players who are tweeners. It seems to me the biggest problem is with this category and people just automatically penciling in Hajek, Fox, Lindgren, etc. None of these guys are certain to make the squad. And none are certain to succeed over the course of an NHL season. Each of these players are promising, yet they are all works in progress and hardly surefire NHL ready. It is insane to talk about moving any of them for the sake of 'making room.' It is completely fine if some, if not all, spend their season developing.

The last category of guys shouldn't have even been on this list and was only put there to seemingly exaggerate the situation.

All in all, it is that second category in which we need to hopefully find trade partners for 1, 2, or 3 of those guys. Claesson can almost surely bring back a low round pick. Although I prefer we keep him as an extra. Shatty and Smith might be able to bring back something. And Smith can also be used on the wing again. Staal is trash, but who knows, maybe someone will offer something at the deadline if we retain.

 

[Vitto79]

seems like a game of musical chairs right now.....teams need to move out cap space........Trouba, Maata, Braun..........etc

Ideally Shattenkirk and/or Smith find a new home by the draft so the kids can come to camp and battle for the 1 LD spot.........Skjei and Staal are locks. Say Hajek wins that spot they could use a Claesson as a spare and then just call up one of Lindgren, Rykov, Reunanen from the AHL if an injury occurs.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

The problem with Brooks is that it's hard to separate the things he has heard from the things he is merely speculating on. It could be that he heard we were in on Trouba, but was only speculating about the cost/players involved.

The Rangers have been in on Trouba for four years now, though. It's not that big of a secret. I often wonder if the team doesn't just use him to float things around and throw other teams off. Like, write about tWinnipeg wanting Buch, Anderson, Pionk and #20 for Trouba to scare teams away.

 

[charliemurphy]

With Trouba and Fox we can make a fairly good argument that the Rangers are just about done rebuilding the defense. They will likely turn their attention back to the center position. Assuming they get Kakko and not Hughes. The team has to sort out how they're bringing in one more top 6 C. Chytl MAY become that, but it doesn't seem like the team is convinced of that as of yet. And despite having 5 centers on the NHL team (Zib, Chytl, Andersson, Strome, Nieves), the organization is still very thin at C.

I think the team really has to try and get this piece in THIS draft. With the D and goaltending looking better, there's a strong likelihood the Rangers could be a bubble team this season. They could be picking in the teens next year. They might have Dallas' pick then as well. Point is, they might have to trade up to get a legit top 6 C in the next draft as much as this year. But right now they have better assets to do that -- Kreider with 1 year left, Buch who only wants a bridge deal, Vesey, Names + the 2nd round picks. I think the next big additive move that Gorton wants to make is drafting a top 6 center this week.

Put everything on the table to get Zegras or Turcotte

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

Seriously. Have you taken a look at that knuckle draggers that cover the Flyers?

Exactly my point. The guy that broke the Hayes news that he was working on an extension (we'll see if it pans out) is literally working a bunch of side jobs to pay for his life, while he follows around their AHL/NHL teams.

I mean, we've lost basically all of our quality guys. Gross is gone. Zipay has and will always be garbage. Carp is seemingly carving out his own niche after being laid off. All in all, we're lucky to have one place that invests any sort of assets into covering a team like in the past.

 

[GAGLine]

New York Rangers Defensemen:

Shattenkirk
Staal
Skjei
Smith
Fox
Trouba
Hajek
Deangelo
Claesson
Rykov
Reunanen
Lindgren
Keane
Crawley
Day

That's 15 D men. Granted that a few of them won't crack the squad (Crawley, Day, Keane, Lindgren) that's still 11 D men for 7 roster spots. Something has to give. In fact, I think two.

Hartford needs dmen too.

There's a good chance that Rykov starts in the AHL. Fox could start in the AHL. Claesson may or may not get a QO and could end up in the AHL.

If we are going to move anyone though, it needs to be Shatty. Smith can be demoted or be an extra forward. Staal has the full NMC, so we're likely stuck with him. Shatty has limited trade protection, but also has the NMC so he can't be demoted.

Could they keep Shatty as the 7th dman? Maybe.

Skjei-Trouba
Staal-ADA
Hajek-Fox
Claesson-Shatty

Rykov-Keane
Lindgren-Bigras
Crawley-Raddysh
Reunanen-Day

Smith to the 4th line. If Claesson and Bigras don't get qualified, that opens up more room. We could also see some AHL deals.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

One of my favorite things JG has done is take advantage of “draft pick arbitrage.”

It is a commonly stated that “draft picks are worth more at the draft and less at the TDL” which is completely illogical. IMO draft picks have become a bit over valued in the league today and this is from a big “acquire assets” fan. But that aside there is zero reason their value should fluctuate in a consistent pattern like this.

Acquiring picks at the deadline and flipping them for prospects and players near the draft makes a ton of sense from a value standpoint alone. That’s how you look back on an ROR trade a year later and go...huh?

More to it, but by and large, that's true.

 

[GAGLine]

The Rangers have been in on Trouba for four years now, though. It's not that big of a secret. I often wonder if the team doesn't just use him to float things around and throw other teams off. Like, write about tWinnipeg wanting Buch, Anderson, Pionk and #20 for Trouba to scare teams away.

It could be, and if true, doesn't make Brooks any more reliable.

 

[SA16]

I can not buy that Shattenkirk and Staal wouldn't have trade value at 50% based on the defensemen trades we routinely see around the league.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

It could be, and if true, doesn't make Brooks any more reliable.

I don't think he's reliable at all, to be honest. But I get the feeling he is fed certain information from the team.

 

[GAGLine]

I wonder why Gorton would say he won’t start the season without an extension. Why that rule for Kreider, but not for other pending UFAs like Names, Vesey, Fast

I think it's just a case of Kreider being one of our best players and our biggest trade chips. If we were to trade Vesey at the deadline, it wouldn't have the same impact on the team as trading Kreider.

 

[bobbop]

How do we get a 2nd and a 3rd for Shattenkirk

Have Shattenkirk play better.

 

[DutchShamrock]

For the CBA experts, can we re-obtain Spooner and eliminate that retention slot? I seem to remember it being addressed at the deadline but can't remember the answer.

And Shattenkirk at 50% has value. The question is if he has more valuable as a placeholder while Fox gets time in Hartford. I know people around here think he is horrendous, but I saw someone say Vlasic is bad... so I guess I'll trust the experts.

 

[NYR Viper]

The market for guys like Smith and Shattenkirk actually couldn't be going any better up to this point. Philadelphia has acquired (2) guys who teams would have been after for sure in Niskanen and Braun. Karlsson re-signed. The Rangers traded for Trouba. Neither of Philly or Washington were going to trade with the Rangers. There will be teams looking for defensive help now that they have missed out on both of those guys.

This also screams that Philly was in hard on Trouba and Braun was their back-up plan. It would seem the Trouba trade may have been holding that one up at the very least, perhaps there are others.