Speculation: Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XXIV

[cheech70]

Lindgren - Fox Norris (Chucks kid Brother)
KAM - Trouba
Tinordi - Nemeth

is what I would expect to see in game 1 at this point
Which should be a doozy
Maybe they even dress Geertson instead of KAM? Tinordi-Geertson as the 3rd pair. That would be nuts.... Even sit Lindgren and sign Chara for a game.
The ghost of Old Man McGrath in the locker room for the pregame peptalk...
Imagine icing Blais - Goodrow - Reeves -Tinordi - Geertson on the first faceoff (all being new NYR:ers)?!!! MEET THE NEW RANGERS - THE POWER RANGERS...
The buildup, media coverage and PR (which could go both ways but Jimmy Boy and Slather would love it) would be astounding. OLD TIME HOCKEY IS BACK!
BACK TO REALITY... Whovever is the #7 in that game will have a good shot at a regular slot on the 3rd pair thereafter (this could also be Bitetto)
But there is a LOT that can happen until opening night
Time will tell...

Salute

 

[Stasis]

I just don't want us playing too much into this Wilson thing. Having Reaves and Tinordi on the opening night roster vs. Washington makes us look silly if they're head-hunting imo. I'm glad we got tougher without losing too much of the skill we have up top but we should just play our game and not live in the past on this one. I don't mind having Reaves out there but I don't want him chasing Wilson or anyone else. Let's just play the way we want to that fits our roster and what Gallant is building. That play will be a lot more physical now naturally. Let that be the case. We won't let other teams walk all over us. If Washington want to do that, then we respond accordingly. Otherwise ignore them. They're just another team we want 2 points against and that's the focus. We can neither afford to be afraid of them nor of making a point to be needlessly aggressive towards them.

 

[bbny]

Lindgren - Fox Norris (Chucks kid Brother)
KAM - Trouba
Tinordi - Nemeth

is what I would expect to see in game 1 at this point
Which should be a doozy
Maybe they even dress Geertson instead of KAM? Tinordi-Geertson as the 3rd pair. That would be nuts.... Even sit Lindgren and sign Chara for a game.
The ghost of Old Man McGrath in the locker room for the pregame peptalk...
Imagine icing Blais - Goodrow - Reeves -Tinordi - Geertson on the first faceoff (all being new NYR:ers)?!!! MEET THE NEW RANGERS - THE POWER RANGERS...
The buildup, media coverage and PR (which could go both ways but Jimmy Boy and Slather would love it) would be astounding. OLD TIME HOCKEY IS BACK!
BACK TO REALITY... Whovever is the #7 in that game will have a good shot at a regular slot on the 3rd pair thereafter (this could also be Bitetto)
But there is a LOT that can happen until opening night
Time will tell...

No.

 

[EdJovanovski]

I just don't want us playing too much into this Wilson thing. Having Reaves and Tinordi on the opening night roster vs. Washington makes us look silly if they're head-hunting imo. I'm glad we got tougher without losing too much of the skill we have up top but we should just play our game and not live in the past on this one. I don't mind having Reaves out there but I don't want him chasing Wilson or anyone else. Let's just play the way we want to that fits our roster and what Gallant is building. That play will be a lot more physical now naturally. Let that be the case. We won't let other teams walk all over us. If Washington want to do that, then we respond accordingly. Otherwise ignore them. They're just another team we want 2 points against and that's the focus. We can neither afford to be afraid of them nor of making a point to be needlessly aggressive towards them.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

If he struggles, sure. But if he shows he's ready, he wouldn't be the first player to make the jump straight from a European league to the NHL without ever playing a game in the A. Off the top of my head:

Tobias Enström
Kim Johnsson
Marcus Ragnarsson
Daniel Tjärnqvist
Niclas Wallin
Kimmo Timonen
Marek Židlický
Alexander Romanov

And those are just some defensemen. I excluded top picks.

It never hurts a player to ease them in, I wish this organization would practice more restraint when it comes to going straight to the nhl. Imo everyone should pass through the AHL when they start, it never hurts and it honestly takes some pressure off players like Kakko and Lafreniere where they aren't expected to be an nhl player on opening night. If it was club policy that you started in the minors and worked your way up it wouldn't embarrass anyone either, and it gives players some time to adjust, especially European players who may have been playing in larger rinks.

 

[Tob]

Listening to the 31T podcast and Marek talking about easing young center prospects in by putting them on the wing is a nice idea. Too bad we didn't go that route with Lias and even Fil.

 

[Ola]

Fox Norris is the best nickname I’ve heard in a while!

 

[Ola]

Listening to the 31T podcast and Marek talking about easing young center prospects in by putting them on the wing is a nice idea. Too bad we didn't go that route with Lias and even Fil.

Nice that we have learned with Lafreniere!

 

[Barnaby]

But then there is the inverse where you think everyone sucks and guys who have played a position their entire career is better at another one with no evidence suggesting that this is even remotely true

Or the “grass is always greener” syndrome for people who wanted to shell out a 1st + + for a guy like Dvorak whom it’s very debatable whether he would even be an improvement over a Chytil or Strome at this point.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Does the SHL use the wider rinks? I can't think of it for sure off the top of my head.

Camp will tell us a lot, but I'd be curious to see how all of our young D do with decision-making when it comes to the speed of the NHL game.

SHL uses IIHF-regulation rinks. Same as the Czech rinks and the Russian and Finnish rinks when those guys listed still played in EU

It never hurts a player to ease them in, I wish this organization would practice more restraint when it comes to going straight to the nhl. Imo everyone should pass through the AHL when they start, it never hurts and it honestly takes some pressure off players like Kakko and Lafreniere where they aren't expected to be an nhl player on opening night. If it was club policy that you started in the minors and worked your way up it wouldn't embarrass anyone either, and it gives players some time to adjust, especially European players who may have been playing in larger rinks.

Re: European players. Their biggest challenge isn't so much the rink size (although it plays a part), but more the different style of hockey they need to get used to. Most of these EU kids have played in NHL-sized rinks before whether it's junior tournaments, training camp or playing in a league with smaller rinks (KHL).

I agree that AHL time doesn't hurt. And I think only 4 defensemen are guaranteed a starting spot on opening night: Lindgren, Fox, Trouba and Nemeth.

 

[RangerBoy]

Listening to the 31T podcast and Marek talking about easing young center prospects in by putting them on the wing is a nice idea. Too bad we didn't go that route with Lias and even Fil.

Carolina is playing/starting Kotkaniemi on the wing. Aho started at center and then played wing before making the full time switch to center.

The other alternative is the AHL. Send the player to the AHL and leave the player there for a full season. None of this we will bring him up by U.S. Thanksgiving or in January. The Habs sent Kotkaniemi to the AHL in his 2nd season. That was discussed in the podcast. The Habs were better off leaving Kotkaniemi in Finland for a year before bringing him to North America.

20/20 hindsight. The Rangers should have had Chytil, Andersson and Howden spend at least a full season in the AHL. No matter how bad the Rangers were, you guys are playing in the AHL to learn your craft. As Torts liked to say we sucked from head to toe. You guys are playing in Hartford. Rent an apartment. Enjoy your stay. Enjoy the Constitution State. Chytil is in his 5th season in North America and the Rangers aren't sure what they have in Chytil. Is the player a center or the player a winger?

Elliotte and Jeff discussed the Olympics. The NHL wants no part of the Olympics. Bettman hasn't been a big Olympic guy in a while. He was for it in 1998 but the league hasn't had much financial benefit from the Olympics. It seems the NHLPA leadership are not crazy about the Olympics in this current environment. Even some player agents don't believe the NHL players in the Olympics is such a good thing.

IF the NHL has to reschedule games, the players aren't going to the Olympics. This is going to be another long mind numbing season. If the NHL doesn't reach $4.8B in revenue, the cap is not increasing by $1M for next season.

All of these teams are using long-term IR.

It was a really good podcast as usual. Not one mention of the guy in Buffalo with the bad neck.

 

[eco's bones]

For a bit of context.

Chytil was drafted out of the Czech league and made the team out of training camp in AV’s last year with us as coach. After two games the Rangers decided he needed more seasoning and he wanted to go to the AHL. Personally sending him back to the Czech league wasn’t the best option. Liiga or the SHL would have been better if he were going back to Europe. He went to Hartford—played center all year—missed 15 or so games with an injury. He didn’t come back to the Rangers until after the deadline/purge. That handful of games he got then was not a big deal. The next season he was back in Hartford for the first month of the season and since then has been with the Rangers.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

For a bit of context.

Chytil was drafted out of the Czech league and made the team out of training camp in AV’s last year with us as coach. After two games the Rangers decided he needed more seasoning and he wanted to go to the AHL. Personally sending him back to the Czech league wasn’t the best option. Liiga or the SHL would have been better if he were going back to Europe. He went to Hartford—played center all year—missed 15 or so games with an injury. He didn’t come back to the Rangers until after the deadline/purge. That handful of games he got then was not a big deal. The next season he was back in Hartford for the first month of the season and since then has been with the Rangers.

This is also a valid point. Extraliga CZ is inferior to the AHL and not really up for debate. If a Czech kid can adjust there, go for it. But when you have kids playing in Liiga, SHL or KHL, I rather see them play there than to be sent to Hartford at age 18 or 19.

We were lucky with how well Chytil adjusted but it's by no means a given. I think this organization has made huge strides in terms of addressing weaknesses in how these kids are guided. I still think there's some ground to make up and the way Toronto does it is a good example. Their young players rave about the system in place, and the people they are surrounded with.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Listening to the 31T podcast and Marek talking about easing young center prospects in by putting them on the wing is a nice idea. Too bad we didn't go that route with Lias and even Fil.

We’re easing Kravtsov by putting him on the wing

 

[Fitzy]

We’re easing Kravtsov by putting him on the wing

Could see Kravstov becoming a poor mans Jeff Carter if he adjusted well to center ice.

 

[motopanekeku]

I just don't want us playing too much into this Wilson thing. Having Reaves and Tinordi on the opening night roster vs. Washington makes us look silly if they're head-hunting imo. I'm glad we got tougher without losing too much of the skill we have up top but we should just play our game and not live in the past on this one. I don't mind having Reaves out there but I don't want him chasing Wilson or anyone else. Let's just play the way we want to that fits our roster and what Gallant is building. That play will be a lot more physical now naturally. Let that be the case. We won't let other teams walk all over us. If Washington want to do that, then we respond accordingly. Otherwise ignore them. They're just another team we want 2 points against and that's the focus. We can neither afford to be afraid of them nor of making a point to be needlessly aggressive towards them.

I have no problem icing our heavies against Wash opening night if we out-hit them and win the freaking game.

 

[JohnC]

20/20 hindsight. The Rangers should have had Chytil, Andersson and Howden spend at least a full season in the AHL. No matter how bad the Rangers were, you guys are playing in the AHL to learn your craft. As Torts liked to say we sucked from head to toe. You guys are playing in Hartford. Rent an apartment. Enjoy your stay. Enjoy the Constitution State. Chytil is in his 5th season in North America and the Rangers aren't sure what they have in Chytil. Is the player a center or the player a winger?

I wouldn’t even call this hindsight. It was glaringly obvious from the get go.

The team was so unaccustomed to having young forward talent that it was like they had no idea how to properly develop young forward talent.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Does the SHL use the wider rinks? I can't think of it for sure off the top of my head.

Camp will tell us a lot, but I'd be curious to see how all of our young D do with decision-making when it comes to the speed of the NHL game.

they do.

Nils is going to have to deal with adjusting to pace and space. It’s a lot.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I wouldn’t even call this hindsight. It was glaringly obvious from the get go.

The team was so unaccustomed to having young forward talent that it was like they had no idea how to properly develop young forward talent.

Yeah, it's not like we didn't raise this at the time. The development of certain players really could (or should) have been done a lot better. Sticking a teenager in the AHL isn't a guarantee for success, especially if they have to deal with adjusting to a new environment, new culture, new customs etc.

 

[eco's bones]

This is also a valid point. Extraliga CZ is inferior to the AHL and not really up for debate. If a Czech kid can adjust there, go for it. But when you have kids playing in Liiga, SHL or KHL, I rather see them play there than to be sent to Hartford at age 18 or 19.

We were lucky with how well Chytil adjusted but it's by no means a given. I think this organization has made huge strides in terms of addressing weaknesses in how these kids are guided. I still think there's some ground to make up and the way Toronto does it is a good example. Their young players rave about the system in place, and the people they are surrounded with.

On the European leagues Chytil being 17 at the time could have gotten lost in Russia between the KHL, VHL or MHL and that’s a massive, massive territory—who knows where he might have ended up. I’d much prefer Liiga or the SHL if he returned to Europe at that point in time. Those two leagues fit better IMO as well with North American culture, values, economics—not meant as a critique of other cultures or economies but it is what it is if he’s going to be playing here for the Rangers.

His game has been a bit stymied in certain respects. His time in Hartford his game was more of a puck distribution style and he was getting regular power play time. There’s less of the distribution style in the NHL and very little power play time for him but the Panarin acquisition and our draft lottery luck has for sure factored into that. He’s big and strong. He needs to use his size more say in a Zibanejad kind of way.

 

[Vitto79]

Defense is very much a logjam. We'll have about 20 D in camp.

CapFriendly shows the Rangers with 9D on the roster.

As Lindgren/Fox and Miller/Trouba look like locks at this point (barring a decision to give KAM some AHL time), it leaves 2 spots for Nemeth, Jones, Hajek, Bitetto, and Tinordi. Plus there's Schneider, Robertson, Reunanen, Skinner, Lundkvist, and Geertsen who I assume will all be in camp.


I'm thinking it's something like this to start the season:
Lindgren - Fox
KAM - Trouba
Nemeth - Jones/Lundkvist
Tinordi

But if KAM is AHL-bound for a bit, that could get interesting.

It’s only a good thing. They will have 7 good D up and a solid 6 in the AHL

guys like Tinordi , Bitetto , Hajek are spares and if anyone gets hurt long term they call up a kid

Id say Miller is for sure on the team so it’s a battle between Lundkvist and Jones like you said

you start Robertson and Schneider as a top AHL pair

 

[RangersFan1994]

I have a feeling this is the year Chytil breaks out with the Rangers. he better not be included in an Eichel trade.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

Players rarely talk about the difficulty adjusting to our rink. I think we make it a bigger deal than what it actually is. The one thing they usually always point out is adjusting to the speed and pace of the game here.

 

[rangers1314]

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

On the European leagues Chytil being 17 at the time could have gotten lost in Russia between the KHL, VHL or MHL and that’s a massive, massive territory—who knows where he might have ended up. I’d much prefer Liiga or the SHL if he returned to Europe at that point in time. Those two leagues fit better IMO as well with North American culture, values, economics—not meant as a critique of other cultures or economies but it is what it is if he’s going to be playing here for the Rangers.

His game has been a bit stymied in certain respects. His time in Hartford his game was more of a puck distribution style and he was getting regular power play time. There’s less of the distribution style in the NHL and very little power play time for him but the Panarin acquisition and our draft lottery luck has for sure factored into that. He’s big and strong. He needs to use his size more say in a Zibanejad kind of way.

You do realize Chytil is Czech, right? And not Russian.