Speculation: Roster Building Thread XXXVII - 5 weeks until TDL

[SA16]

31-13-4, and 16-4-2 at home. And all people ever talk about in here is that this team can't win the cup.

No wonder older posters stay away.

I was looking at trends and there has never been a team to have their goalie knocked out prior to the shootout, return to the game in time for the shootout, and then win the cup. Sell.

 

[NYR Viper]

I was watching Hunt last night and man, he is really the perfect 4th liner. Swap him and McKegg and that 4th line will become more dangerous in general. That leaves 1 spot open on that 3rd line, assuming they want to upgrade on Gauthier. I've been saying this for over a month.

Panarin-Strome-Kaako
Kreider-Zibanejad-Lafreniere
Goodrow/Chytil-Goodrow/Chytil-_______
Hunt-Rooney-Reaves
McKegg

Use Gauthier + depth picks/prospects and upgrade that 3rd line. Lehkonen is literally the perfect fit there but someone like Jarnkrok would work well there too.

Does the team need to seriously consider upgrading the 2C spot? Sure. Is Strome a horrible option there? No. See what he wants on a long term deal to keep his cap hit down. Limit the trade protection. If he wants too much (beyond $5.25m) then let him walk and see what's available in the off-season. This team doesn't need to go out and make a big splash at this deadline to be a contender.

Also, finally seeing Jones-Schneider last night made my heart warm...

 

[Avery16]

From Seravalli:

Ice Breakers: Golden Knights expressed interest in Marc-Andre Fleury reunion

Per sources, the Golden Knights have also expressed interest in New York Rangers backup Alexandar Georgiev, who we previously reported let it be known that Georgiev feels he’s ready for a bigger opportunity elsewhere. There are likely others.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Don’t think this is fair to say (yet) because we haven’t seen the Rangers play the Penguins yet.

neither the Hurricanes nor the Rangers have played the Penguins yet

Yes, I think it's more than fair to say. Pittsburgh is a better team right now than the Rangers. They don't just rely on one guy to win.

 

[rangers1314]

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Always. You don't know the prospect.

Hasn't been at this level.

Or from everything I've read, the AHL either.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

are you somehow trying to say that watching henrik’s teams has lead you to believe a team with a goalie as their best player can’t win a playoff series? You remember your claim is that this rangers team can’t win a playoff series, right?

The point which sailed right over your head is that you seem to be ok with this team being a near exact facsimile of those teams, and those teams won exactly zero championships.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Eh, who knows what the Pens look like come the playoffs.. Crosby, Malkin, and Letang get injured on and off every few weeks.

Yeah, they get injured and then Evan Rodriguez turns into a top player in the league. There's always a next man up. Those guys have been injured on and off all season and they blew by us in the standings already.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

I did. And they went to a SCF and (2) ECFs. They were built on goaltending like every championship team needs. They had a stable top 4 on defense. I think this group could be even better. More potential on the back pair. Especially more than that 11-12 team.

There could only be 1 stanley cup winner. You are so negative and miserable its hard to enjoy this team when you are around. Like you are going to be happy if/when they are eliminated. And that my friend is really, really sad. And pathetic. For someone who considers themself a “fan” of a team. And no that doesn’t make you some “realist”, it just makes lonely.

How many championships won?

 

[TheBloodyNine]

I'm legitimately curious, if the sabers have won that cup against the stars would you be of the opinion that they didn't really win it because the dominator was just too good?

To the same end do you look at Edmonton And think that's a real powerhouse of a team and they're not really this bad because their goalies are just bad?

I'm not trying to rehash the argument, but I guess I just don't understand the thought process that a team with elite goaltending that's good isn't really good because they have to rely on their goalie. To me a goalie is a part of the team, and some teams have elite goaltending and others don't. That's all part of team construction. Maybe there's some PTSD in here because we saw for a decade an elite goalie try to drag a team around on his back, but I really don't believe that the team that we have here now is even comparable to what were essentially non-playoff teams that Henke would drag in for playoff runs

Did they win that cup? No, right? And that's my point.

When did Hasek win? When he played on the Red Wings who were good at EVERYTHING. Hasek might be the greatest goalie that ever lived and even he couldn't drag a sub-par team over the finish line.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Yeah, they get injured and then Evan Rodriguez turns into a top player in the league. There's always a next man up. Those guys have been injured on and off all season and they blew by us in the standings already.

While true, they also have the toughest SOS left of any team in the league.

They made up ground, but theres no guarantee that they'll hold it.

 

[JohnC]

My advice to you all is to stop arguing in circles with a poster that I strongly suspect is Kershaw.

Anyone who remembers him knows he basically never had anything good to say about this team and his big claim to fame as a poster here was boldly claiming David Clarkson was a better player than Ryan Callahan.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

While true, they also have the toughest SOS left of any team in the league.

They made up ground, but theres no guarantee that they'll hold it.

I'm done counting them out of anything - the second you do they go on a tear. Reports of their demise have been overstated for quite some time now. Let's see how the Rangers play them next week.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

My advice to you all is to stop arguing in circles with a poster that I strongly suspect is Kershaw.

Anyone who remembers him knows he basically never had anything good to say about this team and his big claim to fame as a poster here was boldly claiming David Clarkson was a better player than Ryan Callahan.

Yeah, that's not me but you can just be another swim fan of mine if you like. @ me next time coward.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I'm done counting them out of anything - the second you do they go on a tear. Reports of their demise have been overstated for quite some time now. Let's see how the Rangers play them next week.

They've been a great regular season team for a while, theres no denying that.

But I'm just not going to crown them kings of the division just yet.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

I’ll be the first to eat crow if it happens, but let’s pump the breaks. There’s no reason to believe any of these guys would be available.


Although I feel like you could steal Holloway out of EDM with the right offer (Georgiev?)

Guys become available all the time that you would never think would. No reason to rush into a short term fix that will have long term consequences. Georgiev isn't getting Holloway though.

 

[mas0764]

Hasn't been at this level.

He's a 21 year old kid who is playing on North American ice for the first time. He played 25 games "at this level."

How is it anyone is taking you seriously on this?

This is Ed Jovo level obsession with a point.

Nils is a defensive prospect first, with a good shot from the point for the power play.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Listening to the latest 32 thoughts they briefly discussed Patrick Kane and him wanting to know what the plan is for the Hawks moving forward, could there be a deal to be made?

Obviously the cap hit would be prohibitive but we know Panarin and Kane have insane chemistry, you put them together on that line with Strome and it’s basically set it and forget it

Is it worth it for Chicago to retain 50% if they get some prime young assets while also starting to move on from anything associated with the Beech incident as they attempt to rebuild their image?

Does Kane value being a Blackhawk for his entire career over another chance at a cup? And who better than Panarin to do it with?

On top of being a great player he also brings that veteran presence with championship pedigree

Just spitballing a bit

There's gonna be a deal for Kane, but that's next year. I don't think Chicago is ready to pack it in yet and and I don't think he's ready to do that either yet.

 

[mas0764]

I did. And they went to a SCF and (2) ECFs. They were built on goaltending like every championship team needs. They had a stable top 4 on defense. I think this group could be even better. More potential on the back pair. Especially more than that 11-12 team.

There could only be 1 stanley cup winner. You are so negative and miserable its hard to enjoy this team when you are around. Like you are going to be happy if/when they are eliminated. And that my friend is really, really sad. And pathetic. For someone who considers themself a “fan” of a team. And no that doesn’t make you some “realist”, it just makes lonely.

Speaking as someone who you'd probably say something similar about (and other posters have lobbed similar critiques at me), I don't think you understand the genesis of the complaints, at all.

We want the team to be good and we see the path to get there. If this is all the team was capable of, I'd accept it. They have the potential to be dynasty-like. I'm not saying they could win 3 or 4 Cups, but I see the potential for a team that could absolutely win more than one and be good/in the playoffs for the next 12-15 years.

It eats at my soul that they are wasting that opportunity.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

I'd do Guy Ritchie for Gregg McKegg.

Sign me up for this in a heart beat - When the hell is he making another Rock N Rolla?

 

[TheBPA]

Yeah, that's not me but you can just be another swim fan of mine if you like. @ me next time coward.

Don't think he was talking about you.....

But yeah we get it. The Rangers didn't win the cup during those playoff runs when half the d corps was injured. Or when Zucc got hit so hard in the puck with the head he literally couldn't speak for 3 months.

One team in 32 wins the cup every year. One. You need to be good and you need to be lucky.

The Rangers are good. Are they the best team in the league? No. Everyone knows that. Every team also has holes.

The Penguins haven't won a playoff series since 2018. The Hurricanes are good but not unbeatable. The Rangers will almost certainly only have to face, at most, one of Tampa, Florida and Toronto, assuming Washington / Boston don't end up a surprise winner.

I'll take my chances against all of those teams with Igor in net, gamebreakers all over the lineup, and with the additional piece or two that we will inevitably add before the deadline.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Speaking as someone who you'd probably say something similar about (and other posters have lobbed similar critiques at me), I don't think you understand the genesis of the complaints, at all.

We want the team to be good and we see the path to get there. If this is all the team was capable of, I'd accept it. They have the potential to be dynasty-like. I'm not saying they could win 3 or 4 Cups, but I see the potential for a team that could absolutely win more than one and be good/in the playoffs for the next 12-15 years.

It eats at my soul that they are wasting that opportunity.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Don't think he was talking about you.....

But yeah we get it. The Rangers didn't win the cup during those playoff runs when half the d corps was injured. Or when Zucc got hit so hard in the puck with the head he literally couldn't speak for 3 months.

One team in 32 wins the cup every year. One. You need to be good and you need to be lucky.

The Rangers are good. Are they the best team in the league? No. Everyone knows that. Every team also has holes.

The Penguins haven't won a playoff series since 2018. The Hurricanes are good but not unbeatable. The Rangers will almost certainly only have to face, at most, one of Tampa, Florida and Toronto, assuming Washington / Boston don't end up a surprise winner.

I'll take my chances against all of those teams with Igor in net, gamebreakers all over the lineup, and with the additional piece or two that we will inevitably add before the deadline.

Stop with the excuses. EVERY TEAM deals with injuries in the playoffs. There's not one team that wins that doesn't have guys kept together with duct tape at the end of it. Because that's the only way you can win.

 

[LaffyTaffy]

Anybody but Chiarot from Montreal, literally anybody

 

[Savant]

Yes, I think it's more than fair to say. Pittsburgh is a better team right now than the Rangers. They don't just rely on one guy to win.

Rangers have beaten better Penguin teams in the playoffs before. Need to see how they match up with each other. No idea how these teams match up with each other yet.