Speculation: Roster Building Thread XXXVI: The End (The Apocalypse Is Now)

[Vitto79]

Strome at even 5 million x 2 yrs is fine . More years is risky ... I think they have an eye to the future like they stated so they will go 2 yrs max

Chytil can work his way up .

Kravtsov and Barron are the only 2 F options I’m thinking are up soon

Need to use both 1sts on Forwards

 

[FIRE DRURY]

Looking at what the Rangers have in their organization apart from Kakko, Chytil and Kravtsov I don't see anyone who has top 6 potential really. I guess someone like Barron might make it but right now I think even that's kind of a reach--that much more likely he'll be bottom 6 if he makes it too. Guys like Howden and Lemieux I don't see becoming top 6 forwards either.

Kravtsov seems to be slowly getting it since his return to Hartford. He's going to need at least another half year (best case scenario) if not more in Hartford. That said he is making plays and lately he's getting more shots on net. I think those are good signs. Offensive wingers need to get pucks to the net. IMO he'll need to get stronger--that's typical though of players his age.

Well, we do have Panarin, Zbad, Kreider, Buch, and even Strome right now.

Chytil, Kakko and Kravtsov. Chytil replaces Strome. Kravtsov replaces Buch.

I think a lot of people are sleeping on Henrikkson as well.

Our top-6 isn’t a glaring weakness imo.

 

[JimmyG89]

In his 3rd full pro season, if Chytil is far from -45 pt., he might always be. Kravtsov, no expectations. Kakko will put up 2nd line numbers.

I can absolutely see the Rangers keeping Strome on a 2 year deal. They aren’t going to commit to him past Mika’s ufa year. That insulates Chytil to an extent who at that point crazy enough will only be 22.

we don’t have a lot of options at center behind them at this point although I expect us to draft some this summer. But I absolutely can see Strome sign a two year bridge deal then cutting him loose when you have to pay Mika and promote Chytil


I’d like Chytil promoted now but it’s not gonna happen

I too would like Chytil to get that 2C spot, but his production is better than last season. 1 more point and he'll hit his mark from last season already with around 6 weeks to go.

The 3C role is perfect for him at the moment. He's not getting the PP time to be super productive as a 3C, but having him around 30-35 points this season would be fantastic.

As for Strome and his next deal, I'm not sure he takes a 2 year deal. Sure, could he fall off next season and not be able to cash in? Of course, but I think he'd want some more security in a 3, maybe 4 year deal. I'm not giving him that deal, so I think this one does go to arbitration and they work on a 1 year deal.

If Strome keeps it going, he could hit UFA as a big ticket center and get more. It'll be up to him if he does the team a favor and takes a 2 year deal, because getting to UFA quicker get a full market for him and being 27 and going to the market and 28 will turn those 6 year deals to 5 year deals.

 

[dshea19]

That seems a bit high to me. If this is the case though JG robbed the Candy Canes.

True, but we are talking about ceiling. Considering how good his hands and shot are, his skating and speed, and his size, along with his AHL growth every year, if everything comes together in his favor he may do it. He may well never do it and forever be a great 3rd line winger, which is still awesome.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Well, we do have Panarin, Zbad, Kreider, Buch, and even Strome right now.

Chytil, Kakko and Kravtsov. Chytil replaces Strome. Kravtsov replaces Buch.

I think a lot of people are sleeping on Henrikkson as well.

Our top-6 isn’t a glaring weakness imo.

It isn't, I think the bottom 6 forwards are a bigger issue, though there is even light at the end of the tunnel there.

I like Lemieux and Gauthier as players who can play there. Gettinger really deserves a long look as a 4th line player. PDG has looked good, but those guys are available every summer for league minimum if you look hard enough.

I will continue to champion the ever living f*** out of getting Marcus Foligno to play along side Gauthier and who ever centers the 3rd line. Lemieux and Gettinger with a strong 4C would be awesome.

Its too bad Lias had to be an ass. What we expected of him is EXACTLY what we could use right now.

 

[eco's bones]

Well, we do have Panarin, Zbad, Kreider, Buch, and even Strome right now.

Chytil, Kakko and Kravtsov. Chytil replaces Strome. Kravtsov replaces Buch.

I think a lot of people are sleeping on Henrikkson as well.

Our top-6 isn’t a glaring weakness imo.

I was just talking about the young guys. Panarin, Zibanejad and Kreider will be around for quite a while yet. I think Buch is improving too---so we should have two solid scoring lines for the next decade or so.

As far as Henriksson---he's a good prospect. I'm not sure how to project him yet--right now he's mostly a playmaker in a junior league. He's gotten some time in Allsvenskan and the SHL but really hasn't made his mark in those leagues yet. Probably next year. It's like Matthew Robertson running up numbers in the WHL--once he makes the jump to the AHL though I think he's going to be more a defense first guy and those numbers aren't going to be nearly as high---but that's just my hunch---we're going to see.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Any chance Barron makes the team next year if he turns pro?

Yes, I think so. His size and game both lend themselves to being effective in a bottom six role pretty early on.

Though if I had to lay odds, I'd say he starts in HFD and gets a call-up several months into the season, if/when he does join the squad.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

I hope they end up being more than this. I hope Chytil and Kravstov end up being 60 pt players and for Kakko to be an 80 pt player.

Ultimately, yeah, maybe more. Just next year, he can be expected to outproduce Buchnevich, or outperfom. At least eclipse. Chytil/Kravtsov, I agree.

 

[Tossed Medal]

He better seriously work on his skating And shot if he wants to even sniff 50 -60 points let alone PPG . He’s very very young but his weak muffin shot and lack of stamina and speed are hopefully only attributes of his age , because if he still shoots the puck the way he does and shows no explosiveness to his skating in 2 years I think we’ve been had .

 

[Avery16]

 

[bobbop]

Another young player leaning on Chris Kreider???

Yea the intangibles dont exist, no value there....

If Gauthier becomes a Kreider-lite...and we still have Kreider....wow

First of all, great post!

When people start making a big deal about leadership not mattering, it’s time to use the ol’ ignore button.

They will be gone soon anyway. It’s a residual benefit of the trade deadline having passed.

 

[duhmetreE]

First of all, great post!

When people start making a big deal about leadership not mattering, it’s time to use the ol’ ignore button.

They will be gone soon anyway. It’s a residual benefit of the trade deadline having passed.

I don't mind differing opinion, I actually enjoy it.

but I would venture a guess, most of those are very young. Have little to no real world job experience.

 

[bobbop]

I don't mind differing opinion, I actually enjoy it.

but I would venture a guess, most of those are very young. Have little to no real world job experience.

You are right.

I enjoy differences of opinion especially if they are educated. When they are clearly not, all they do is take up space in this thread.

Not everyone agrees with me and that is fine. I just want to dice with people who understand the game.

 

[Mikos87]

On Barron- You see the type of game Anders Lee plays for the Islanders? Think poor man's Anders, or a 3rd line version of Anders Lee.

Same type of game, but without the finish.

 

[RangersFan1994]

On Barron- You see the type of game Anders Lee plays for the Islanders? Think poor man's Anders, or a 3rd line version of Anders Lee.

Same type of game, but without the finish.

I dont like that comparison at all. I thought he was compared to Kreider. I hope he can skate. Lee worries me good player but doesnt skate well enough for my team.

 

[SA16]

Why do you need to skate fast? This isn't a video game. You can be slow and a good player and you can be fast and a bad player.

 

[Mikos87]

The more that I think about it, the better I feel about the Rangers long term prospects and window.

Early in the season we talked about the next three major transactiona periods, the trade deadline, draft and free agency. The moves that were made recently are setting up for a very nice crack at the window. Cap constraints and all. While next year may be an experiential year, the following year is where I expect the team to take a run, and not just one.

With the Skjeidy Brady trade, you open yourself to having an asset at the draft, which can serve as trade currency (a la the Trouba deal) or futures.
But more importantly you clear up the cap space.

That means that Tony D is gonna get paid.
That means that Strome is going to get paid.
That allows you to keep Kreider at a minimal opportunity cost, and not worry about replacing what he can bring for the next 4 years.
That means you open up a slot for the plethora of LHD in the system.
That also means you get rid of a soft, and unreliable player that you weren't going to win with.

Hell of a move. Brady in my books was on par with Vesey, Shattenkirk, Spooner, Gilmour type of guys. Guys who I did not like seeing in a Ranger jersey. Not because they were bad dudes or anything, but because they were consistently soft, and their consistent low compete outings did not represent the culture of an organization that I would root for.

My gripes on re-signing Kreider is term but you can worry about that 4 years from now.

I also liked the Keane for Gauthier trade. It's a trade from a position of strength to fill a hole, and gain depth up front. Which is a very good thing imo. Why? Because even with all of the deadspace next year, the forwards will be deep. The holes aren't glaring. They are there, especially with one more opening in the top 6, but Fast has filled in admirably in that slot.

But most intriguingly, it's going to set up a kid line up front next year with a lot of size, speed, skill, and another year of experience. If the defense can hold up, you continue to see fewer shots against, this team will take another step.

 

[Mikos87]

I dont like that comparison at all. I thought he was compared to Kreider. I hope he can skate. Lee worries me good player but doesnt skate well enough for my team.

Barron isn't a burner, he is not even in the Jason Chimera sphere of a skater.

 

[RGY]

I dont like that comparison at all. I thought he was compared to Kreider. I hope he can skate. Lee worries me good player but doesnt skate well enough for my team.

I dont think Barron was ever compared to Kreider.

 

[Ghost of jas]

The more that I think about it, the better I feel about the Rangers long term prospects and window.

Early in the season we talked about the next three major transactiona periods, the trade deadline, draft and free agency. The moves that were made recently are setting up for a very nice crack at the window. Cap constraints and all. While next year may be an experiential year, the following year is where I expect the team to take a run, and not just one.

With the Skjeidy Brady trade, you open yourself to having an asset at the draft, which can serve as trade currency (a la the Trouba deal) or futures.
But more importantly you clear up the cap space.

That means that Tony D is gonna get paid.
That means that Strome is going to get paid.
That allows you to keep Kreider at a minimal opportunity cost, and not worry about replacing what he can bring for the next 4 years.
That means you open up a slot for the plethora of LHD in the system.
That also means you get rid of a soft, and unreliable player that you weren't going to win with.

Hell of a move. Brady in my books was on par with Vesey, Shattenkirk, Spooner, Gilmour type of guys. Guys who I did not like seeing in a Ranger jersey. Not because they were bad dudes or anything, but because they were consistently soft, and their consistent low compete outings did not represent the culture of an organization that I would root for.

My gripes on re-signing Kreider is term but you can worry about that 4 years from now.

I also liked the Keane for Gauthier trade. It's a trade from a position of strength to fill a hole, and gain depth up front. Which is a very good thing imo. Why? Because even with all of the deadspace next year, the forwards will be deep. The holes aren't glaring. They are there, especially with one more opening in the top 6, but Fast has filled in admirably in that slot.

But most intriguingly, it's going to set up a kid line up front next year with a lot of size, speed, skill, and another year of experience. If the defense can hold up, you continue to see fewer shots against, this team will take another step.

Great post

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I dont like that comparison at all. I thought he was compared to Kreider. I hope he can skate. Lee worries me good player but doesnt skate well enough for my team.

Not comparable to either really. Has anyone actually watched him play?

 

[FIRE DRURY]

Great post

I personally couldn’t stomach all the negativity.

 

[nyrage]

I've only seen Kakko in the Worlds and the junior tournaments before this season so maybe someone like AK who has seen him play more often has more insight.

From what I've seen, Kakko scores the majority of his goals from driving to the net. He's never going to be a sniper like Laine. He certainly took advantage of the additional space from the bigger rinks. He was great at going from the outside of the ice to driving towards the net. He has the uncanny ability to use his body to shield defenders from taking the puck away from him and to lean & go around defenders. He also has pretty good vision to set up his teammates.

I think a big part of his problem is confidence and conditioning. He's playing against bigger and better players in the NHL. I'm sure he has always been the go-to goal scorer on all of his teams and not scoring early really dented his confidence. Plus he's not at home anymore and who knows what kind of support system he has now. He started the NHL at 18. Not an easy task.

He didn't have an issue playing against NHL players in the Worlds in a small sample size. His skating wasn't a problem either. He needs to adjust to the smaller rinks and bigger & better players. He needs to work on his strength, conditioning, and his shot.

I think he's starting to gain some confidence. I expect him to be a different player next year, but it's going to take time. Have some patience.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I dont think Kreider was ever compared to Kreider.

It’s very difficult to expect Kreider to reach the level that Kreider has reached.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

I'm happy with the moves the Rangers made but I'd be very interested to know what offers they left on the table in re-signing Kreider.