Speculation: Roster Building Thread XXXVIII - Dust in the wind…

[wafflepadsave]

I'll say this, if Chytil can continue to play as he has the last couple of games, then perhaps letting Strome walk and improving the wing depth becomes a better conversation.

I have routinely asked myself, 'is the issue with Chytil, or is it that they are no longer properly supporting him with good 2-way wingers to augment his game?'

I am beginning to think it's the latter.

I have both A & B.

 

[wafflepadsave]

While JT appears to be a good fit for the now, I'd wonder where it would fit this team beyond his contract.

I feel like for the amount you have to give up (including not resigning Strome and then being left with only Mika after next season) it may set this team back a bit. I'm not advocating re-signing Strome, I'm just looking at the whole picture down the road.

They need to find a way to bring another young center or two onto this club and that's what the trade assets should be used for. Does that player(s) exist - I dont know that either.

So Im coming to the conclusion that I dont know much of anything

You know we have been taught that you take the best player available and you can trade strengths for weaknesses later. None of the other 31 teams wanna do that. Makes me think we draft 7 centers this year.

 

[Vitto79]

Just saying Turcotte looks blocked on the LA depth chart

He’s the sexy prospect trade lol

 

[jay from jersey]

Is a 1st round pick or Nils Lundkvist more valuable to another club? How many teams want a 5-11 D? He is a right handed shooting D which increases his value. He is a small player, though. Lundkvist is available in a trade because Braden Schneider and Zach Jones have surpassed him on the depth chart. We have see other higher regarded smallish European D fail to make an impact in The NHL. Julius Honka. The Rangers wanted Honka in a Cam Talbot trade. Jim Nill said no. He should have said yes because Cam Talbot is a better than anything Nill has acquired in net for the Stars. Erik Brannstrom. Vegas traded him to Ottawa for Mark Stone. Vegas signed Stone to an extension. Brannstrom has not been very good in Ottawa. They want to trade him but nobody really wants to give up much for him. I saw the Ottawa-Caps game last Sunday. Brannstrom had a tough afternoon.

The Rangers and Habs are talking. Lundkvist goes to Montreal. Another team acquires Ben Chiarot in a trade for a 1st round pick. The Habs send that 1st round pick or the Calgary first round pick to the Rangers. The Rangers need another LHD(for more depth) if Patrick Nemeth is still having issues with Covid in four weeks. They can shop in bargain basement bin for another D.

Jeff Gorton puts Lundkvist into his lineup. The first round pick won't be part of the Montreal roster until 2-3-4 years down the road.

Chris Drury can use the pick and his 1st round pick to acquire a forward/center in the summer. Add Filip Chytil's $2.3M for cap reasons. That trade is tough to pull off at the trade deadline. Not impossible but summer seems better.

Agree we should deal nils.
But according to OTT fans Brannstrom has been good for them. Think you caught him on a bad day

 

[jay from jersey]

Brooks says Rangers targeting Halak and Greiss. Either would be a good improvement.

Alex Georgiev won't get out of Igor Shersterkin's Rangers shadow

larrys been lurking on HF again I see.....

 

[jay from jersey]

There's a fit in Montreal for Lundkvist, but I think getting a 1st back for him at this juncture is optimistic. Lundkvist is in one of those situations where he's not quite worth a 1st but would be more valuable to the Rangers in bringing in a bigger piece as part of a package or in a lateral move for another prospect.

Cole Caufield isn't as bad as he's looked this season. PDO below 95% this year. His numbers stink but he's been pretty unlucky too. He's a young player on a struggling team that had a good first playoff run. He and Lafreniere on a line with a strong two way center has the makings of a very strong 3rd line now or 2nd line in the not too distant future.

The Rangers never target pure scorers. Caufield is exactly that. Put him on the left circle on the 2nd PP unit and let him get his confidence back He's a cost controlled RW that would be huge for the team's cap picture in the next couple of years. Lundkvist for Caufield. Straight up.

Artturi Lehkonen is an RFA after this season. How expensive could he be on a three year deal for the Rangers? Mostly a defensively deployed player. He's a third line guy that will be out of contract this summer. Are Gorton's pets Hajek and Gauthier enough? Maybe throw in another marginal guy like Ragnarsson? Throw them the new GM's son Riley Hughes while we're at it. What are the Vegas odds of that happening? I want a piece of that action. If there's a single Rangers prospect that gets dealt to Montreal, it'll be Hughes. Montreal probably acquires another 1st that they do get for Chiarot (from Toronto perhaps?) to draft his brother too.

Save Chytil, Kravtsov, the 1st and 2nd rounders this year for acquiring that 2nd line center or sign Andrew Copp for nothing but money July 1st and keep the assets to shore up elsewhere next year. Give him what Strome would have gotten. Fits the current needs on the Rangers roster better and doesn't seem to be an issue in the locker room. Have Jacob Trouba call him and tell him about how great it is playing in New York and to be on a team on the upswing entering a window. Sell him on trying to go for a ring rather than back home to Michigan. Detroit is still at least 3 or 4 years away. The Rangers are built to win now and for the next three years. They'll need to retool once Panarin, Kreider, Trouba and Zibanejad start to decline. Igor and Fox should still be playing really good hockey. Sign Copp 5 years, $27.5 million. He fits, especially if Chytil is dealt.

Strome stinks. The Rangers should let him walk. He and Panarin have run their course. Goodrow or Barron is your 3rd line center next year. It's time to commit to the latter or trade him too. He's looked good in the game time he's gotten. I do think Barron is more valuable to the Rangers than he is in a trade. Bring Rooney back two more years.

Kreider-Zib-Kakko
Panarin-Copp-Blais/Othmann?
Lafreniere-Barron-Caufield
Blais/Rooney-Goodrow-Lehkonen/Cuylle?


Lindgren-Fox
Kandre-Trouba
Jones-Schneider


Igor

Nemeth bought out or LTIR'ed. Does he retire?

Chytil, Kravtsov, combo of prospects and picks is dealt for depth pieces. A backup goalie, a couple of competent bottom six pieces and 7th defenseman would still be needs, but that's a framework for the team moving forward.

That team is more balanced and suited for deep playoff runs and cuts the dead weight.

Absolutely agree that this is the route they should go in.
I doubt MtL wants to move Caufield at this time..., Barron needs to play. They have him on the taxi squad wasting away in favor of playing inferior players.
I think Drury swings a major deal in the summer for a strome replacement..
Next seasons team will likely take a step back in the standings, but it’s needed to take 2 steps FWD. I think we add Lehkonen at the TDL for this season and beyond.
I think LaF may turn some heads with the way he comes back from the offseason....

Kreider-Zibby-LaF
Panarin-Trade/UFA Copp)-kakko/Blais
Blais/Kakko-Goodrow-Lehkonen
Hunt-Barron-Reaves
Ex Gauthier? Gettinger/Ruesschoff

they add Greiss/Halak type back up.
And the hope is 1 of Berard/Othmann/Cuylle are knocking on the door in camp ...
The above line up has various guys that can slide up and down lines 2-4 if need be to cover injuries/chemistry/etc and still give you solid honest 2-way play shifts. It’s also got good size/better speed then what we currently have

if they’re not trying to move trouba next season, I’d leave our D alone.

 

[Tob]

almost 1 month away

 

[TheBloodyNine]

larrys been lurking on HF again I see.....

HF -> Larry -> HF

 

[Fitzy]

larrys been lurking on HF again I see.....

We are pretty much a free source of conjecture that he doesn’t actually have to formally cite

 

[Tob]

Pierre Dorion and Fitzgerald are the two GMs that are ramping up to get better fast after two relatively unremarkable seasons where they were supposed to look better and do better even if no one expects them to be playoff teams. The Rangers were the best team points wise to not make the playoffs. I think there could be a few mistakes over the next few months especially in Ottawa. I keep looking at our roster to find something we can send there but it doesn't look like we have a lot of middle 6 vets that NJD and OTT would be interested in to help take the next step which may be our problem on the ice too.

We have stars and a bunch of kids, still. We'd be a lot more consistent if we had one less Gauthier and a vet instead I bet. Nothing against Gauthier but he is just blah without the puck and okay with it. All of our vets are 4th liners. No real middle 6 vets aside from Goodrow which I'd reckon was something Drury figured. I think a Gauthier deal might be the first thing to drop. Get a 30 year old, mature, and finished product to replace Gauthier. Even if there's not a ton of defense or offense.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Pierre Dorion and Fitzgerald are the two GMs that are ramping up to get better fast after two relatively unremarkable seasons where they were supposed to look better and do better even if no one expects them to be playoff teams. The Rangers were the best team points wise to not make the playoffs. I think there could be a few mistakes over the next few months especially in Ottawa. I keep looking at our roster to find something we can send there but it doesn't look like we have a lot of middle 6 vets that NJD and OTT would be interested in to help take the next step which may be our problem on the ice too.

We have stars and a bunch of kids, still. We'd be a lot more consistent if we had one less Gauthier and a vet instead I bet. Nothing against Gauthier but he is just blah without the puck and okay with it. All of our vets are 4th liners. No real middle 6 vets aside from Goodrow which I'd reckon was something Drury figured. I think a Gauthier deal might be the first thing to drop. Get a 30 year old, mature, and finished product to replace Gauthier. Even if there's not a ton of defense or offense.

Agree with this, but apropos of (almost) nothing, I’d love to figure out a way to get Ridley Greig out of Ottawa. There’s your 3rd line center of the future.

 

[effen]

Just saying Turcotte looks blocked on the LA depth chart

He’s the sexy prospect trade lol

He's a lot more middle six guy who does lots of little things really well than big time top liner.

Dont get fooled by that draft status.

 

[Synergy27]

Adam Fox is 5' 11"

You throw this out there as some sort of trump card. Adam Fox also thinks the game on a level we perhaps have never seen before. That distinction can’t be understated.

I like Nils. I always tend to err on the side of keeping prospects. But we for sure overrate him here.

 

[duhmetreE]

He's a lot more middle six guy who does lots of little things really well than big time top liner.

Dont get fooled by that draft status.

That's what I'd want. I keep circling back to it but if he could develop into a Cirelli type, that'd be the perfect add.

we desperately need his skating

 

[Synergy27]

He's a lot more middle six guy who does lots of little things really well than big time top liner.

Dont get fooled by that draft status.

Which, frankly, is exactly what this team needs. We either need to deal Kakko/Laf for a similarly projected star C (and plan to allocate the $$$ accordingly) or deal for a complimentary C with a lower projection to stick between them (who will hopefully be cheaper to retain long term).

I doubt LAK agree with your evaluation of Turcotte though.

 

[duhmetreE]

We need to slowly replace players with speed.

Strome is the first one up. He needs to be replaced with a high energy good skating 2way center.

Hopefully Chytil can become what he hope he can but I still see him at RW. When he's skating he's extremely effective. That's the biggest point of his inconsistencies.

This is also why I do not want to move Kreider. He's nearly all our team speed.

Our bottom6 needs more speed. Mathieu Joseph is the perfect guy, assuming TB can't sign him. Evan Rodrigues will probably cost way too much after his season. But these are the types of targets..... not McKegg. Rooney has been a good trooper but he has done nothing for months now.

Greco was flying all over the place.... and he gone.

I don't get Drury's vision for the team. I think he lines up closer to Lou than top modern day GMs.

 

[jay from jersey]

Pierre Dorion and Fitzgerald are the two GMs that are ramping up to get better fast after two relatively unremarkable seasons where they were supposed to look better and do better even if no one expects them to be playoff teams. The Rangers were the best team points wise to not make the playoffs. I think there could be a few mistakes over the next few months especially in Ottawa. I keep looking at our roster to find something we can send there but it doesn't look like we have a lot of middle 6 vets that NJD and OTT would be interested in to help take the next step which may be our problem on the ice too.

We have stars and a bunch of kids, still. We'd be a lot more consistent if we had one less Gauthier and a vet instead I bet. Nothing against Gauthier but he is just blah without the puck and okay with it. All of our vets are 4th liners. No real middle 6 vets aside from Goodrow which I'd reckon was something Drury figured. I think a Gauthier deal might be the first thing to drop. Get a 30 year old, mature, and finished product to replace Gauthier. Even if there's not a ton of defense or offense.

That’s why Blais going down sucked extra... you need those Swiss Army knife players throughout the rigors of the season/playoffs.
I agree adding a Lehkonen/Brown type is essential by the TDL this season.
It also makes giving Barron less time even more puzzling...

 

[Cmox]

96?

Zendaya and Tom Holland Wear Matching Jerseys During New York Rangers Hockey Game in N.Y.C.

They obviously are kod’s and should be banned.

 

[rangers1314]

Nemeth paired with Schneider at practice

 

[Avery16]

Blais had a promising start here, but has never played more than 40 games any season and will be 26 before he suits up again.

He is approaching a Todd Harvey-level mythos, without coming close to his availability and output.

the first thing he should do next season is take Subban out for the remainder of that season.

 

[McSauer]

Gorton sat on his hands when players like Bennet & PLD were available last season. Both guys couldve really helped us. Too much patience was JG's downfall.

I just think how Quinn would still be here is Gorton/JD weren't canned, and it makes me think that, while rash, was the best move for the organization moving forward.

 

[I Eat Crow]

He's a lot more middle six guy who does lots of little things really well than big time top liner.

Dont get fooled by that draft status.

Doesn't this sound like what we need, though?

 

[McSauer]

Nemeth paired with Schneider at practice

Unconscionable

 

[bleedblue94]

Chytil plays like shit for half a season and people want him off the roster, he plays decent for two games and scores a garbage goal bc the goalie lost the rebound on a routine play and now he's our 2c going forward.

Never change...

 

[CLW]

We need to slowly replace players with speed.

Strome is the first one up. He needs to be replaced with a high energy good skating 2way center.

Hopefully Chytil can become what he hope he can but I still see him at RW. When he's skating he's extremely effective. That's the biggest point of his inconsistencies.

This is also why I do not want to move Kreider. He's nearly all our team speed.

Our bottom6 needs more speed. Mathieu Joseph is the perfect guy, assuming TB can't sign him. Evan Rodrigues will probably cost way too much after his season. But these are the types of targets..... not McKegg. Rooney has been a good trooper but he has done nothing for months now.

Greco was flying all over the place.... and he gone.

I don't get Drury's vision for the team. I think he lines up closer to Lou than top modern day GMs.

Seems clear to me he wants Bruins, or Penguins, style hockey. Only he doesn't have the players for it so it all becomes weird. I agree with you I just don't see a template being installed, the way Tampa built it's foundation for the last two cups. The Rangers are not doing themselves any favors by this win now playing sh*t hockey expediency > development.

Chytil needs to skate hard and go to the net, Florida/PLD style. If he can do that consistently with support he will break out. But for whatever reason the Rangers are allergic to that atm. If he can break out, like Tage Thompson is doing this year at 24, it will solve a lot of problems.

Trade for Gourde retained and Lehkonen. Goodrow-Gourde-Lehkonen is a cup caliber 3rd line. The top two lines are set with Chytil stepping in for Strome. This is essentially the "Panarin window" top-9. Maybe Goodrow drops to the 4th line and Othmann/Cuylle steps into the third but that's academic.

Something around Berard, Kravtsov + 1st for Gourde @50/3 years + maybe add something for Jarnkrok/Donskoi as a rental and upgrade over Gauthier. Expensive for the Rangers but, that would give the Kraken a future line of Berard-Beniers-Kravtsov + a 1st, and honestly Gourde good player that he is, is no 1C.