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

[haohmaru]

Changers around the edges. Possibly a large add (no subtraction of note) but definitely 1-2 smaller adds. No core players moving out.

Brooks is spot on. This is Gallant’s MO. See my posts about the value of a great culture in the locker room.

I'm on board with this as long as the "possibly large add" isn't some 6 week rental of a pending UFA and more of 3-4 year solution at whatever position they're upgrading.

The Strome saga is what makes a lot of this even more interesting. Curious what ends up happening there. Can't see a situation, or hope not to, where they end up keeping him, not signing him, and losing him for nothing. He's a guy that I either have wrapped up for a few years before the trading deadline or I move him for some assets and risk pissing off my boss.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Hunt-Rooney-Reaves has played together for 100 minutes with a 39.5 CF%, scoring 0 goals, and allowing 4. They've been horrible in their time together.

Any line with Reaves and Rooney on it have been a Pain In the Ass, but for Ranger fans, not the opposing teams.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Too bad we missed out on a player who can't do anything but score. Caufield only has 5 goals and 2 assists in his last 5 games and one period.

For a team that is 24th in GF/60 at 5v5 Caufield doesn't really do much for us.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Delete.

 

[Ratelleitlikeitis]

Vic Hatfield was a real player that could toss ‘em. A few others as well.

Orland Kurtenbach as others have mentioned previously as well. Ted Irvine as well I believe.

 

[mike14]

I don't want to be a mod (or maybe I secretly do?), but didn't we create a "Let's remember some guys" thread where we can all fondly reminisce about our favorite face-punchers and never-were prospects so that we can keep threads like this one on track with the current roster?

 

[Fitzy]

Rooney
Hunt
Reaves
McKegg

Is how those fellas stack up in terms of effectiveness as players.

Rooney should ideally be the 12th best forward out there, and Hunt the #13. But Reaves is always going to play so that's a non starter.

McKegg and Gauthier are the pieces to be replaced. Kakko coming back replaces one, A trade deadline forward like Lehkonen is another.

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kreider
Panarin-Strome-Lehkonen
Goodrow-Chytil-Kakko
Hunt-Rooney-Reaves

A healthy Kakko and Lehkonen is a huge upgrade over Gauthier and McKegg who simply are a big net negative on the roster. I'd take guys like Gettinger in here over them at this point.

 

[Mandar]

Vic Hatfield was a real player that could toss ‘em. A few others as well.

Teddy Irvine too….

 

[bobbop]

Orland Kurtenbach as others have mentioned previously as well. Ted Irvine as well I believe.

Orland Kurtenbach was the best fighter of his era. Not just the Rangers, the whole league. His 1-1 with Ted Harris in Montreal on a Saturday night was classic. Nobody messed with Big Kurt.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

It’s always the same advanced stat cult followers who don’t understand guys like Reaves being on this team. He’s a charismatic guy, he adds to the locker room chemistry and he brings swagger which was sorely needed. Most importantly he lets the top players know he’s got their backs if shit goes down. It allows them to play their game. Any coincidence the Rangers are where they are in the standings while they’re also one of the top hitting teams? It rubs off on guys which leads to team toughness. And that you can’t see on some stupid chart about expected goals for like there’s a 30% chance of rain today.

 

[DanielBrassard]

It’s always the same advanced stat cult followers who don’t understand guys like Reaves being on this team. He’s a charismatic guy, he adds to the locker room chemistry and he brings swagger which was sorely needed. Most importantly he lets the top players know he’s got their backs if shit goes down. It allows them to play their game. Any coincidence the Rangers are where they are in the standings while they’re also one of the top hitting teams? It rubs off on guys which leads to team toughness. And that you can’t see on some stupid chart about expected goals for like there’s a 30% chance of rain today.

If this is the case why is it that the Rangers are not able to outscore their opponents at 5v5? Forget about shot attempts and expected goals. Just plain old goals. They are literally 50/50 at 5v5 in Goals For %. Worse than the last 2 years under Quinn. The Rangers record is where it is because of 3 things. 1. Special Teams 2. Goaltending 3. Sequencing. All of which Ryan Reaves has zero impact on unless you are trying to imply that Shesterkin is playing at a level we haven't seen a goalie play at since probably Hasek because Ryan Reaves is a goofball in the locker room and throws some hits.

 

[SA16]

If this is the case why is it that the Rangers are not able to outscore their opponents at 5v5? Forget about shot attempts and expected goals. Just plain old goals. They are literally 50/50 at 5v5 in Goals For %. Worse than the last 2 years under Quinn.

Reaves is actually the x's and o's guy who is responsible for the success of their PP. You didn't know that? There's video of him with a clipboard drawing up the play and telling Kreider where to keep his stick to tip passes from Fox.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Reaves is actually the x's and o's guy who is responsible for the success of their PP. You didn't know that? There's video of him with a clipboard drawing up the play and telling Kreider where to keep his stick to tip passes from Fox.

Wow, I'm hearing about this for the first time.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

If this is the case why is it that the Rangers are not able to outscore their opponents at 5v5? Forget about shot attempts and expected goals. Just plain old goals. They are literally 50/50 at 5v5 in Goals For %. Worse than the last 2 years under Quinn. The Rangers record is where it is because of 3 things. 1. Special Teams 2. Goaltending 3. Sequencing. All of which Ryan Reaves has zero impact on unless you are trying to imply that Shesterkin is playing at a level we haven't seen a goalie play at since probably Hasek because Ryan Reaves is a goofball in the locker room and throws some hits.

Shesterkin was here last year, Fox won a Norris last year, power play was good last year, what changed? Not much roster turnover. A new coach, Goodrow, Reaves, a new culture, which Reaves is a big part of and doesn’t show up on a chart.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I like Reaves and his vibe but if he wasn’t Gallant’s boy he wouldn’t be playing much

it’s whatever honestly

I have more problems with McKegg, Gauthier, and Hunt

 

[MrAlmost]

The team seems a lot better defensively this year, and not just cause of our goaltender. We clearly have a stronger defense both in terms of skill and depth then we do at forward. Our trouble at 5v5 seem to be forward issues. We aren't giving up many chances, we just aren't generating that many in return so it looks bad. With the add of a few good depth players (I am an advocate of Lehk and Pacquette in from Montreal and Copp from Winnipeg), that could change dramatically. Laf and Kakko have been disappointing, but Laf has had some good games in a row now. Kakko, if not for those first 10 games, would have a more attractive stat line and he has improved every year. Though it has, of course, been small improvements, not a big leap.

This team will be a formidable playoff opponent. Their defense and goaltending are too good not to be. They are a hard group to get chances on. And even if you do, you have to get it by Igor which is hard. Also, doesn't 5v5 scoring go down in the playoffs every year? The Caps and Blues were both pretty poor 5v5 teams if memory serve. Especially the Caps. I specifically remember reading they were the worse "advanced stats" team in the playoffs the year they won.

Ya never know.

 

[DanielBrassard]

The team seems a lot better defensively this year, and not just cause of our goaltender. We clearly have a stronger defense both in terms of skill and depth then we do at forward. Our trouble at 5v5 seem to be forward issues. We aren't giving up many chances, we just aren't generating that many in return so it looks bad. With the add of a few good depth players (I am an advocate of Lehk and Pacquette in from Montreal and Copp from Winnipeg), that could change dramatically. Laf and Kakko have been disappointing, but Laf has had some good games in a row now. Kakko, if not for those first 10 games, would have a more attractive stat line and he has improved every year. Though it has, of course, been small improvements, not a big leap.

This team will be a formidable playoff opponent. Their defense and goaltending are too good not to be. They are a hard group to get chances on. And even if you do, you have to get it by Igor which is hard. Also, doesn't 5v5 scoring go down in the playoffs every year? The Caps and Blues were both pretty poor 5v5 teams if memory serve. Especially the Caps. I specifically remember reading they were the worse "advanced stats" team in the playoffs the year they won.

Ya never know.

The Rangers were 17th in xGA/60 last season, this season 25th.

 

[Larrys13]

Orland Kurtenbach as others have mentioned previously as well. Ted Irvine as well I believe.

Kurtenbach’s one punch knockout one of my favorite Ranger moments growing up.

 

[RangersFan1994]

It’s always the same advanced stat cult followers who don’t understand guys like Reaves being on this team. He’s a charismatic guy, he adds to the locker room chemistry and he brings swagger which was sorely needed. Most importantly he lets the top players know he’s got their backs if shit goes down. It allows them to play their game. Any coincidence the Rangers are where they are in the standings while they’re also one of the top hitting teams? It rubs off on guys which leads to team toughness. And that you can’t see on some stupid chart about expected goals for like there’s a 30% chance of rain today.

We need more grit in the top 6 in my opinion that has skill not Hunt or Gauthier types. Hopefully the powerplay is better in the playoffs although its been very good this season. Games are called tighter in the playoffs. Rangers can use an agitator that can move up and down the lineup that can cause the opposition to take penalties. Cedric Paquette would be a good choice but he is too injury prone. Maybe someone like Jarred McCann and Yanni Gourde

Rangers get Gourde, McCann, Donato
Krakken gets Lundkvist, Kravtsov, Chytil, Gauthier and 1st in 2022

 

[MyLoveIsBlue]

I remember this one well, I was there with my Dad.......

 

[MrAlmost]

The Rangers were 17th in xGA/60 last season, this season 25th.

But our actual goals against is 127 which is good for 4th. So in 6 less games then last season, the team has given up 30 less goals. So again, our offense is the real issue where we are 16th with 151 scored. With better depth at forward making our 5v5 game more formidable, that number should go up while not hurting the defense.

 

[Wtp99]

If this is the case why is it that the Rangers are not able to outscore their opponents at 5v5? Forget about shot attempts and expected goals. Just plain old goals. They are literally 50/50 at 5v5 in Goals For %. Worse than the last 2 years under Quinn. The Rangers record is where it is because of 3 things. 1. Special Teams 2. Goaltending 3. Sequencing. All of which Ryan Reaves has zero impact on unless you are trying to imply that Shesterkin is playing at a level we haven't seen a goalie play at since probably Hasek because Ryan Reaves is a goofball in the locker room and throws some hits.

Most likely because they don’t shoot enough. Just throw some pucks at the net. Get someone in front of the net a little bit more and the passing is not exactly tape to tape. Cycling is good when you get shots.

 

[Wtp99]

Kurtenbach’s one punch knockout one of my favorite Ranger moments growing up.

Sorry but I have to get this in
Eddie Johnston laying out Dave Langavin was a fabulous moment at the Garden

 

[Lgrsean]

7 of the Rangers 13 games before the trade deadline are against playoff teams, including games @ pit, min, tb, and car. What would the rangers need to do over this stretch for you to be comfortable with trading a 1st round pick+ for rentals to make a push for the cup this year?

Say the rangers beat every playoff team we play, would that be enough for fans who don’t currently think this team should make moves for this years playoff run?

 

[Lgrsean]

But our actual goals against is 127 which is good for 4th. So in 6 less games then last season, the team has given up 30 less goals. So again, our offense is the real issue where we are 16th with 151 scored. With better depth at forward making our 5v5 game more formidable, that number should go up while not hurting the defense.

it should actually help the defense. The increase in possession we would see would mean less time for the other team to possess the puck. Can’t score if you don’t have the puck.