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

[Fitzy]

It's worth pointing out that with Fox playing 24-25 minutes a game and PP1 time, there isn't going to be 'room' for an equivalent star LD to play the same minutes, and they don't really need them to either.

Miller still makes gaffes but is really starting to turn the corner. There's not much remaining PP time to go around for the defensemen but Trouba, Miller, Schneider all seem like players who can chip in some offense at even strength.

True stay at home guys like Lindgren and Nemeth don't do anything fancy in the offensive. They either pass or shoot. Schneider and Miller have shown some willingness to lug the puck and make some more tricky plays in the offensive zone of late. You love to see it.

Big issue continues to be the transition game, though. Plenty of bad giveaways against Ottawa from the defense- and lots of scuffed pass receptions in the neutral zone. Fix it, or we're gonna be in serious trouble in a postseason series.

When was the last time the Rangers had multiple odd man rushes in a hockey game?? It's the transition game, stupid

 

[mas0764]

I agree with the general observations regarding the organization and team cohesion. But I'm expecting much more out of Drury than what we've seen so far. Too many whiffs already and not enough actual solutions. It's not enough to be play within a comfort zone now. Drury simply has to be better than a C level student, he has to be A+ sharp and find real solutions. I think Zito in Florida has set the standard for Drury with an impressive body of work within a short time frame.

I always thought Lundell was seen as an ideal type fit rather than realistic expectation.

Lundell was a proposed target wherein I don't think the value was off at all, it more depended on Florida's mood. If they were buyers in the market for a 26 year old first line RW with RFA rights to play with Barkov or Huberdeau - and Florida's weak spot is definitely wing talent - then Buch for Lundell was good value, even straight up. Some here were suggesting that Florida would have to add, which I rejected at the time... if it was necessary, straight up was just fine with me and I've been proven right on that. As we were eventually offered Kupari and a first, I don't think a pre-2021 Lundell is that far off that stock.

But the larger point is, if Florida wasn't in the mood to make that move there were probably other young center targets out there. I'll never believe otherwise given the evidence we have at this point.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

While there might be a trade the Rangers make where they take on a bad expiring contract, I think the other type of trade scenario is where they are part of a 3 team trade involving a talented rental player.

Team X trades Player A with 50% retention to the Rangers. Rangers retain 50% and trade to Team Y. Rangers receive assets for that retention piece.

 

[duhmetreE]

Big issue continues to be the transition game, though. Plenty of bad giveaways against Ottawa from the defense- and lots of scuffed pass receptions in the neutral zone. Fix it, or we're gonna be in serious trouble in a postseason series.

When was the last time the Rangers had multiple odd man rushes in a hockey game?? It's the transition game, stupid

It feels like we're the only ones in the league that bad. We can't make or receive passes cleanly. We can't transition. It's dumbfounding how professional hockey players can't do rudimentary things consistently. It's a battle

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

I finally found the most logical explanation for the Buchnevich trade:



Drury knew we were going to trade for Bozo this season. A fortune-teller told him it was written in the stars. Knowing what happened last time that Bozo and Buchnevich were teammates and knowing that there was an abundance of onion rings being sold in and around Madison Square Garden, Drury decided to trade Buchnevich.

But to where? And for whom? The aforementioned fortune-teller said that the Rangers should acquire someone with the initials "SB" to indicate that they were going to reach the Super Bowl. Drury then had a brain fart and confused the Stanley Cup Finals for the Super Bowl. But oh well, it happens.

So he looked for players with the initials "SB" and came upon Sammy Blais of the St. Louis Blues. So he called up Doug Armstrong and said, "Doug, I'll offer you Buchnevich for Blais. I know it doesn't make any sense, but don't ask any questions."

"But Chris", Doug asked. "I mean that is REALLY, REALLY one-sided. It actually makes zero sense. New York will absolutely roast you if you make such a trade. Can we at least send a shitty draft pick your way, too? Like a second."

"Oh, Doug. That is so kind of you! I'll remember that down the road when I trade you Igor Shesterkin for Dakota Joshua."



And that is how the trade happened.

 

[Avery16]

I’d go for Rakell. Zacha, Gavrikov and Halak.

Do what you can to move Georgiev and Nemeth. Time to walk on the Gauthier and Hajek experiments.

Kreider/Zib/Rakell
Panarin/Strome/Laf
Zacha/Chytil/Kakko
Goodrow/Rooney/Reaves

When Blais is back, Goodrow shifts to C. Strome signs team-friendly or walks in July.

KAM/Trouba
Lindgren/Fox
Gavrikov/Schneider

Igor
Halak

 

[duhmetreE]

My gut feeling says that Copp is a guy they target as long as the cost doesnt get out of control, and i believe their was rumored interest in the summer. Pending UFA, good size, responsible in all 3 zones, can play F or C. Sounds like a Gallant type player to me. Also doesnt hurt that he played at Michigan & Winnipeg with Trouba.

If we add Copp and Lehkhonen, I'd be ecstatic

 

[effen]

I agree with the general observations regarding the organization and team cohesion. But I'm expecting much more out of Drury than what we've seen so far. Too many whiffs already and not enough actual solutions. It's not enough to be play within a comfort zone now. Drury simply has to be better than a C level student, he has to be A+ sharp and find real solutions. I think Zito in Florida has set the standard for Drury with an impressive body of work within a short time frame.

I always thought Lundell was seen as an ideal type fit rather than realistic expectation.

The big knock on Drury has been too much toffness that can't actually play and his asset management has been suboptimal.

The first one is probably a "lets hope 1 or 2 of the 5 guys actually works" which is great in theory because all those guys are the least important ones on your roster, but with injuries has kneecapped the team into having like 8 legit everyday forwards right now. So that looks bad.

The other part is him paying 110 cents or 120 cents on the dollar for things or only getting 85 or 90 cents on the dollar the other way. This I suspect is on purpose and part of his pitch to Dolan -- I don't care about maximizing returns on edge cases and missing the forest from the trees, if I want my guy I get him within reason. That attitude is appealing to a guy like Dolan for a lot of reasons, and honestly, they have the war chest to make this a reasonable approach to take.

I suspect Blais + something was the best they could do for Buch in terms of a top 9 player RIGHT NOW which frankly they needed a lot more than an AHL guy, center or not.

 

[McRanger92]

Lundell was a proposed target wherein I don't think the value was off at all, it more depended on Florida's mood. If they were buyers in the market for a 26 year old first line RW with RFA rights to play with Barkov or Huberdeau - and Florida's weak spot is definitely wing talent - then Buch for Lundell was good value, even straight up. Some here were suggesting that Florida would have to add, which I rejected at the time... if it was necessary, straight up was just fine with me and I've been proven right on that. As we were eventually offered Kupari and a first, I don't think a pre-2021 Lundell is that far off that stock.

But the larger point is, if Florida wasn't in the mood to make that move there were probably other young center targets out there. I'll never believe otherwise given the evidence we have at this point.

Florida was in the market for a top line RW because they traded for Reinhart in an equally underwhelming return. At no point was Lundell realistic or on the table in a Buch trade. Revisionist history to include that in the trades you were "right" about.

 

[McRanger92]

If we add Copp and Lehkhonen, I'd be ecstatic

Yeah i want both. Makes the lineup so much deeper. I doubt youd have to use Lundkvist/1st round pick for either guy. Save those assets for the summer.

Kreider-Mika-Laf
Panarin-Strome-Kakko
Lehkonen-Copp-Chytil
Rooney-Goodrow-Reaves

 

[duhmetreE]

How much does a guy like Copp or PLD get? They are not 1st liners in production terms.

PLD obviously will cost a lot more but would Copp take a 4Mish deal? Stylistically I'd prefer him with Panarin than Strome

 

[McRanger92]

How much does a guy like Copp or PLD get? They are not 1st liners in production terms.

PLD obviously will cost a lot more but would Copp take a 4Mish deal? Stylistically I'd prefer him with Panarin than Strome

Id imagine Copp gets something in the range of what Sam Bennett got from Florida. 4 years/ 4.42 AAV

 

[Fitzy]

It feels like we're the only ones in the league that bad. We can't make or receive passes cleanly. We can't transition. It's dumbfounding how professional hockey players can't do rudimentary things consistently. It's a battle

Yeah. Admittedly receiving passes from behind you is not the easiest play in hockey. That said these guys are supposed to be the best of the best and they're just dropping the ball like a nervy NFL wide receiver. Everyone looks like they are worried they're about to get wrecked by Chris Pronger at the red line even when the game hasn't been overly physical.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Them targeting Copp, Lehkonen and Kulak would be nice as long as Gorton doesn’t put the screws on Drury.

Copp, Lehkonen and Goodrow would be a very good 3rd line.

 

[effen]

Florida was in the market for a top line RW because they traded for Reinhart in an equally underwhelming return. At no point was Lundell realistic or on the table in a Buch trade. Revisionist history to include that in the trades you were "right" about.

I'm with you, saying the Panthers best prospect is an equivalent value prop compared to the Kings 7th (?) best prospect with an ACL tear in his past and a 1st rounder with a murky timeline to actually be conveyed is a bit dicey.

Reinhart at the time was a roughly equivalent player to Buch and went for a 1st a year down the road and a random 7th round goalie. I don't see that value being too far off from Blais + 2nd.

 

[effen]

Id imagine Copp gets something in the range of what Sam Bennett got from Florida. 4 years/ 4.42 AAV

Copp will get a 6/30.

 

[McRanger92]

Copp will get a 6/30.

Seems to be in the range of outcomes. I do think there will be crowded market for centers this summer (good for us obviously) so im not sure a team will offer him that especially with the cap issues around the league

 

[effen]

Seems to be in the range of outcomes. I do think there will be crowded market for centers this summer (good for us obviously) so im not sure a team will offer him that especially with the cap issues around the league

That's the Pageau contract and he's a sturdier player for the role he occupies. Though he doesn't have a 26 goal season or any 40 point years. Yet.

 

[Vitto79]

Them targeting Copp, Lehkonen and Kulak would be nice as long as Gorton doesn’t put the screws on Drury.

Copp, Lehkonen and Goodrow would be a very good 3rd line.

even Copp and Stastny same deal

Kreider , Zib, Kakko
Panarin , Strome , Stastny
Laf, Copp, Goodrow
Hunt , Rooney , Reaves

may cost them Chytil plus high pick and/or Kravtsov etc

 

[RangerBoy]

its easy to say that now about Buchnevich. for sure he would be an own rental now but then gone for nothing. Do we really expect them to win the cup this year ?

I’d use the cap space on high salary UFAs that won’t cost a ton . Radulov maybe

they have to show the team they are gonna Atleast try in the playoffs

Now Drury is trying to acquire a player to replace Buchnevich. What will Radulov cost? He isn't 1/2 player right now at his stage of his career in comparison to Buchnevich.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Count me out on adding any (pricey) pieces to compete. Nemeth and Georgie out, that is the top priority at the TDL. Get what you can for them.

Keep Filip please! The hands are back, he has wheels and experience. Dude has 227 NHL games at 22yo. I missed last game, but the game before he made me believe in him again.
Great middle-6 C/W option.

I can't wait for the playoffs to determine who's a no-show and who's baller. Weed out the roster accordingly.
Most importantly Strome. If he's a no show... re-sign as cheap as possible and deal away next season.

 

[GAGLine]

The world where they are allocating $6.25m in cap space to a 3rd liner with 16 points in 43 games and playing him about 11 minutes a night.

If another team is willing to pay to get rid of Radulov, why the hell do we want him? He has 16 points in 43 games, but 6 of those points are on the PP, which he won't get here.

I'd rather pay something for a player who will actually help us.

 

[effen]

Radulov skates like he's 400 pounds. no one wants him

 

[McRanger92]

Count me out on adding any (pricey) pieces to compete. Nemeth and Georgie out, that is the top priority at the TDL. Get what you can for them.

Keep Filip please! The hands are back, he has wheels and experience. Dude has 227 NHL games at 22yo. I missed last game, but the game before he made me believe in him again.
Great middle-6 C/W option.

I can't wait for the playoffs to determine who's a no-show and who's baller. Weed out the roster accordingly.
Most importantly Strome. If he's a no show... re-sign as cheap as possible and deal away next season.

Chytil = soft. I hate to say it, but he needs to toughen up if hes going to take the next step to being a solid middle-6 player. Loses too many 1 on 1 battles, turns the puck over instead of getting it deep and is somehow always in pain on the bench. Hes been snakebit in the finishing department, but thats just shined a bigger light on the deficiencies of his game when he isnt scoring.

 

[Block More Shots]

I think using KAM as a trade chip now is a great idea. I've been impressed with his offense recently, but am not so sure about his defense yet. Hopefully other teams have taken notice of him recently and will value him highly.

I know there are rumors out there that Scheifele is available...would love to see us get him. Would have no problem moving KAM, Lundqvist, and Kravstov in some sort of deal involving him.