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

[DanielBrassard]

I'd like Hoglander a lot. He's a player the Rangers really don't have, small, really quick and agile skater combined with the abilitity to dangle and attack opposing D's 1-on-1. His shot rate is slightly higher than it was last season but he's shooting 7% instead of 11%. His assist numbers have dropped but is that because of a lack of playmaking skills or bad luck? last year on-ice sh% was 9, this year it's 6.25%. I know we need centers but if you could swap Lundkvist for him I'd do it.

 

[Larrys13]

Thanks and a good list.

I just hope this is the thinking up top, but what will it take to pry a top center prospect from a team? You seldom see those moves made. I wonder which one of those teams really covet a Nils type player and what else in addition to him will it take to get a deal done.

Im scared that if something is pulled off for a center it will be for someone like Lavoie or Bourgault to dumbly appease Lafreniere. Too low of a value. Aim much higher

Rossi, Turcotte, McTavish. Even Perfetti would be better

Would Jackets give up Sillinger in a Kravtsov type deal?

 

[DanielBrassard]

Would Jackets give up Sillinger in a Kravtsov type deal?

Doubtful.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I'm not so sure Nils is any better defensively either. Only thing he might have on Jones is the shot.

I don't think he is either.

He 100000% has a better shot, but he hasn't shown the ability to get it off in NA. He shoots a bunch, but they're mostly muffins.

 

[Greg02]

I think our 3LW should be Chris Kreider.

Also Artemi Panarin. Double shift them.

 

[bobbop]

Would Jackets give up Sillinger in a Kravtsov type deal?

No chance

 

[McRanger92]

Kings - Byfield (unattainable), Turcotte, Kupari, Vilardi, Pinelli
Wild - Boldy, Rossi, Khusnutdinov
Ducks - Zegras (unattainable) (for now ), McTavish, Perrault
Canadiens - Jan Mysak
Hurricanes - Suzuki (unfortunately the Hurricanes probably don't want to help us and may not need a D like Nils either)
Stars - Wyatt Johnston, Mavrik Bourque, Ty Dellandrea
Jets - Perfetti, Lucious
Oilers - Holloway

As an example, I'd personally set sights on Johnston, Rossi, or Turcotte as a big fish, and then in a second deal, aim for Holloway, Khusnutdinov, or Mysak.

So many of these guys are complete wild cards and MAYBE 1 or 2 would even be available in a trade. The only 2 where it makes sense for the teams to trade the guys you mentioned are LA or EDM.

Turcotte i like but isnt there some question about injuries & whether or not he is even a center?

Vilardi/Kupari are more of the same for us. Neither is a better option than Chytil at this stage of the game.

Holloway is the one i think you could shake loose. Oilers need a starting goalie and we have an extra guy who has looked his best in an undisputed starting role. We also have prospects and picks that can sweeten the pot. Id be exploring this if i were Drury

 

[ZiGOODejad]

I think our 3LW should be Chris Kreider.

Also Artemi Panarin. Double shift them.

Leads the team in goals but should be on the third line.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I'd like Hoglander a lot. He's a player the Rangers really don't have, small, really quick and agile skater combined with the abilitity to dangle and attack opposing D's 1-on-1. His shot rate is slightly higher than it was last season but he's shooting 7% instead of 11%. His assist numbers have dropped but is that because of a lack of playmaking skills or bad luck? last year on-ice sh% was 9, this year it's 6.25%. I know we need centers but if you could swap Lundkvist for him I'd do it.

How much of that was due to his own drop in production?

 

[Vitto79]

Doubtful.

i think CLB is more interested in moving UFAs like Domi and they may give up on Roslovic

JD want Chytil?

 

[I Eat Crow]

Sign me up for Hoglander in the right deal. As @Amazing Kreiderman mentioned, he was high up on the Rangers' list his draft year. I definitely have that on good authority. Still lots of upside there. He'd be a real shot in the arm for this forward corps, but in my view, it'll be him OR Lehkonen. No need for both, IMO.

 

[mike14]

Leads the team in goals but should be on the third line.

Wait until you learn that we've been playing our leading scorer on the 2nd line for years... heads should roll I tells ya!

 

[Greg02]

Leads the team in goals but should be on the third line.

Did you stop reading after the first sentence, or did I completely fail to convey what I meant?

 

[McRanger92]

Just get 2 NHL caliber forwards for the 3rd line and Kakko back healthy and this team will make serious noise in the playoffs.

2022 2nd & 2023 3rd for Andrew Copp

Kravtsov & Gauthier/Hajek for Lehkonen

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

Use Lundkvist/Chytil/Premium Picks to add a center in the offseason. Pivot accordingly based on what happens with Strome. This team is in a great spot with the young talent and star players locked in for the foreseeable future. The roster as you see it will change very little over the next 5 or so years. Internal improvement of the young guys and adding players who fit specifics roles are the name of the game now. Just because its Year One of the window, doesn't mean they cant win.

 

[Lgrsean]

I meant win in the playoffs. Of course I agree that we're on pace for 113 points, but despite that I don't see this team as a threat to win in the playoffs - more than a round or two at most.

This team only scores on the power play. It's bottom 10 in 5v5 goals, and the whistles get swallowed in the playoffs.

They aren't winning 4 straight series's. They just aren't. They aren't gonna 2-1 their way to the Finals.



The team's prime drivers right now are Shesterkin, Fox, Panarin and Zibanejad, probably in that order; it is both enough to win in the regular season but not enough to win in the playoffs.

Panarin is going to be elite for a long time. Whether Zibanejad will or not, I dunno, but he better, and the team is betting he will, cause they just signed him for 8 years. Fox and Shesterkin speak for themselves. There is no worry about either of them with "windows."

I'm not worried about some window slamming shut, because it's not open yet. I'm more worried about having enough talent to force that window open, and that requires Laf and Kakko to get there and one more top center. On top of that to be a true contender we probably need a couple other hits - not to be stars but at least to become solid players who are plus-performers for their roles - guys like Chytil, Kravtsov, Othmann, etc.

Strome, Kreider and Trouba just aren't that important. They are nice pieces but Strome is one-dimensional and a liability at one end of the ice, this is the first year that Kreider hasn't pulled a disappearing act (give it time...) and actually got over 30 goals, and Trouba is way overrated and Schneider is going to be his metric-measurement equivalent in a year or two, if not his superior.

This team's window doesn't open until the 20 goal inconsistent Stromes and Kreiders (historically, not this year) are replaced by 30-40 goal superstars Laf and Kakko.

If that doesn't happen, you aren't getting a Cup winner.

On top of that you are gonna need centers, because center depth is important, even if it's not a Crosby type scoring center, you better get some young, well-rounded centers in here to grow with the team. If not, you aren't getting a Cup winner.

There's a lot to worry about. How we are going to replace the declining Kreider isn't really one of my concerns. He's not vital to a window, adding more star talent and center depth is the key to even opening the window. And we haven't done that yet.

It fits your plan to dismiss the leading goal scorer on a team on pace to set the rangers all time point mark. And it sounds like your plan relies on Laf and kakko becoming super star 30-40 goal scorers. What do you think the likelihood of that happening is? How many guys score more than 30 goals in a normal season?

 

[Ruggs225]

It fits your plan to dismiss the leading goal scorer on a team on pace to set the rangers all time point mark. And it sounds like your plan relies on Laf and kakko becoming super star 30-40 goal scorers. What do you think the likelihood of that happening is? How many guys score more than 30 goals in a normal season?

not to mention Trouba is our most important dman not name Fox. And in some instances is just as important as Foxy and is a huge lockerroom presence and leader.

so much wrong with that post.

 

[Lgrsean]

not to mention Trouba is our most important dman not name Fox. And in some instances is just as important as Foxy and is a huge lockerroom presence and leader.

so much wrong with that post.

right. It’s crazy how some rangers fans are so eager to dismiss our chances this year as one of the best teams in the league, in the best position to add because they have some vision of a team in 4 years everything works out perfectly and we become a “real contender.”

 

[LokiDog]

I'd like Hoglander a lot. He's a player the Rangers really don't have, small, really quick and agile skater combined with the abilitity to dangle and attack opposing D's 1-on-1. His shot rate is slightly higher than it was last season but he's shooting 7% instead of 11%. His assist numbers have dropped but is that because of a lack of playmaking skills or bad luck? last year on-ice sh% was 9, this year it's 6.25%. I know we need centers but if you could swap Lundkvist for him I'd do it.

Hoglander is sort of like a Jesper Fast with much higher caliber hands. He’s been my target from Vancouver since day 1. At WORST he could be a staple on a solid third line with Goodrow, but he could also be an affordable excellent fit with Panarin solving a lot of top six problems.

 

[mike14]

Hoglander is sort of like a Jesper Fast with much higher caliber hands. He’s been my target from Vancouver since day 1. At WORST he could be a staple on a solid third line with Goodrow, but he could also be an affordable excellent fit with Panarin solving a lot of top six problems.

I know nothing about Hoglander. Would you have him higher than Blais on depth charts?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I know nothing about Hoglander. Would you have him higher than Blais on depth charts?

Blais is a 4th liner. Höglander has middle-6 potential. So, yes.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Sign me up for Hoglander in the right deal. As @Amazing Kreiderman mentioned, he was high up on the Rangers' list his draft year. I definitely have that on good authority. Still lots of upside there. He'd be a real shot in the arm for this forward corps, but in my view, it'll be him OR Lehkonen. No need for both, IMO.

Didn’t someone suggest Hoglander for Kravtsov recently? Maybe it was @RangerBoy - glad he’s back to posting again.

That would be a good move for both teams I think, and maybe the Rangers can expand it to get Halak if they have a Georgiev trade lined up. Canucks get a good forward prospect that’s friends with Podkolzin and whatever add is necessary from the Rangers.

Loki described it well above this post - Hoglander adds a unique aspect that this forward group is solely lacking. It’s one reason why I’d do everything I can to try to get Nick Robertson out of Toronto. We need those shorter, stocky buzzsaw type skaters that can play at a high pace. I’m sick of watching Gauthier and McKegg with their collective IQ of 3 waste space every game.

 

[LokiDog]

I know nothing about Hoglander. Would you have him higher than Blais on depth charts?

Yeah. Blais is a bottom six guy who COULD compliment a scoring line but is ideally a third liner or a luxury 4th liner. Hoglander is solidly a middle six guy with legitimate second line potential. His floor is third liner with solid offense, but his ceiling is much higher. If he had more size he’d be highly coveted.

 

[MarkMessyay11]

right. It’s crazy how some rangers fans are so eager to dismiss our chances this year as one of the best teams in the league, in the best position to add because they have some vision of a team in 4 years everything works out perfectly and we become a “real contender.”

Nothing is ever guaranteed in this league, especially with how deep the talent pool is and the number of teams that are in contention. I’m not advocating that we throw everything plus the kitchen sink into going for it this year, but you gotta seize the opportunities when you have them.

Something else people fail to realize or acknowledge is the teams that win Cups usually have a track record of falling short in prior years. Playoff experience is almost as important as having the talent and depth on your roster to actually make a Cup run…this whole idea of stockpiling young talent and then miraculously transforming from a rebuild into a Cup winner is a pipe dream. Look at Edmonton and Toronto. Overflowing with talent and absolutely nothing to show for it.

This team needs that experience right now.

 

[McRanger92]

right. It’s crazy how some rangers fans are so eager to dismiss our chances this year as one of the best teams in the league, in the best position to add because they have some vision of a team in 4 years everything works out perfectly and we become a “real contender.”

Its the fallacy that, because things arent "perfect" this year the team should continue to rebuild in hopes that the situation becomes "perfect" in the future. Obviously theres no guarantee that happens.

The way i look at it is, we arent waiting for prospects anymore, every young player who will have a major impact on this window has already debuted. The team is also playing well and winning, but relying on a small group of elite stars to do it. Now is the time to sand down the edges of the roster and move out picks and prospects for NHL caliber depth to lengthen the roster.

You can always come up with a million reasons not to do something. Everyone is scared of Carolina but what if they lose in R1? You never know. I personally will be very happy with getting there and winning a round, but theres no reason they cant win it all with Igor playing this way. Cup teams win on the backs of their elite talent and the Rangers have that in spades.

 

[LokiDog]

Didn’t someone suggest Hoglander for Kravtsov recently? Maybe it was @RangerBoy - glad he’s back to posting again.

That would be a good move for both teams I think, and maybe the Rangers can expand it to get Halak if they have a Georgiev trade lined up. Canucks get a good forward prospect that’s friends with Podkolzin and whatever add is necessary from the Rangers.

Loki described it well above this post - Hoglander adds a unique aspect that this forward group is solely lacking. It’s one reason why I’d do everything I can to try to get Nick Robertson out of Toronto. We need those shorter, stocky buzzsaw type skaters that can play at a high pace. I’m sick of watching Gauthier and McKegg with their collective IQ of 3 waste space every game.

I proposed Krav for Hoglander on the main trade forums. He’s been my target for a while.