Speculation: Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XXIV

[Fitzy]

Miller has a higher upside than Robertson or Jones.

He's also not fully untouchable.

So you're both right, and both wrong.

Everybody wins and loses

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Miller probably has the highest ceiling of any player on the roster.

I don’t know how anyone can even argue that he has a lower ceiling than the other D. Probability of hitting said ceiling is one thing, but that doesn’t meant that the potential isn’t there.

 

[jay from jersey]

Have you realized Strome started taking less and less OZ penalties due to lazy skating? He is more focused and team-oriented now. I think he will improve even more honestly

he did get better as the season went on, but when the game gets tighter, more physical, and the competition stiffens and they take away the cross ice passes and make it harder to enter the offensive zone, strome is largely a non-factor.
Match-up wise, I don’t really trust him to shutdown or go head to head with most of the cream of the crops 2nd line centers. I’m not saying Strome is bad, and I think he’s resurrected his career a bit here, but his sample size away from panarin, production wise is a very small sample size. If more teams thought he was a bonafide 2C on a full year without Panarin, I’d expect there would have been a lot more trade interest when we were dangling him.
He is what he is at this point. A placeholder. A short term band aid that has over performed at times, but gets exposed when the games get tighter.
Not a shot at Strome, I just don’t think teams looking to go far in the playoffs and possibly win the cup are yearning to have Strome as their 2c. I think in a 7 game series against isles/Bos/Wsh/Pitt he would get abused.

 

[bl02]

Kravtsov is the best forward on our team sans Panarin so that ain’t happening!

Putting aside your hyperbole and love for Vitaly for a second Chytil is also better than Strome but it ain't happening either (being in the top 6). No worries as long as Kravy doesn't get placed on the 4th line like last year he will be playing with some decent talent and getting decent minutes.

 

[QJL]

My lines:

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Strome-Kravtsov
Kreider-Chytil-Goodrow
Blais-Rooney-Gauthier
Reaves/Hunt

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Nemeth-Lundkvist
Tinordi

Shesterkin
Georgiev

PP1:

Kreider (net front)
Panarin-Zibanejad-Lafreniere
Fox

PP2:

Kakko (behind the net)
Chytil-Strome-Kravtsov
Trouba/Miller

PK1:

Zibanejad-Kakko
Lindgren-Fox

PK2:

Rooney-Goodrow
Nemeth-Trouba

I agree with this almost completely. 5x5 is exact.

I probably save Zibanejad energy for the PP rather than using him on the PK, have Goodrow play center there, and throw Kreider or Blais on a wing.

I’m giving Lundkvist a look on PP2. Kid has an accurate rifle and makes quicker decisions than Miller/Trouba from what I’ve seen.

 

[EdJovanovski]

My lines:

Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Strome-Kravtsov
Kreider-Chytil-Goodrow
Blais-Rooney-Gauthier
Reaves/Hunt

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Nemeth-Lundkvist
Tinordi

Shesterkin
Georgiev

PP1:

Kreider (net front)
Panarin-Zibanejad-Lafreniere
Fox

PP2:

Kakko (behind the net)
Chytil-Strome-Kravtsov
Trouba/Miller

PK1:

Zibanejad-Kakko
Lindgren-Fox

PK2:

Rooney-Goodrow
Nemeth-Trouba

The mental image of our PP setting up right after the faceoff and Kakko just skating behind the net and standing there makes me lol

 

[jay from jersey]

I still think the Center situation plays out as follows:

Zibanejad signs for 8 years x 8.5 mil - We can debate the merits of this contract (it probably wont look good at the end, but deals like this seldom do) but i think its a necessity for Drury to get something done with Mika before free agency. It seems like both sides want to get it done too.

Strome is a good player but even signing him to a "discount" (5 years x 5mil) probably does more harm than good when it comes to Chytil and a lesser extent Barron. Chytil eventually needs to be given a path to top 6 minutes and I think there's hope Barron can become a defensively responsibly 3C long-term.

I would be in favor of self renting Strome though. His value to the team this year is higher than the return of a 2nd & a fringe prospect. Similar to the Fast situation at the deadline in 2019 when a 3rd was not worth losing a solid veteran.

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Cheers
It’s a big reason why I’m hoping Barron is up on the big club sooner rather then later. I think he would do well in a PK role with Goodrow too. Get that big body out there blocking shots and getting his stick in the passing lanes with his big reach.
Smart player, I think it’s a role he can adapt to quickly, especially with the right veterans as guidance. Him centering a 3rd line with Goodrow and kravtsov/kakko can be a damn good line.
Even kreider-Barron-Goodrow

 

[jay from jersey]

Miller probably has the highest ceiling of any player on the roster.

I don’t know how anyone can even argue that he has a lower ceiling than the other D. Probability of hitting said ceiling is one thing, but that doesn’t meant that the potential isn’t there.

I think Schneider is right there with him. Guys that big with incredible physical gifts that can skate etc are a rare bread. It’s going to depend how both their offense game tops out too

 

[jay from jersey]

Gone are the days of misfits on our bottom 6 like Desharnais, Carey, Glass, now we have grit and IQ on every line. Veteran leadership— Goodrow, Reaves, Blais (he’s gonna be loved here), shit even Hunt is under the radar— he’s solid all around.

This. People are gonna love what Hunt brings. I think they are also going to be surprised of how well he can play. He really has potential to be an above average 4th liner

 

[Fitzy]

I think Schneider is right there with him. Guys that big with incredible physical gifts that can skate etc are a rare bread. It’s going to depend how both their offense game tops out too

I see Miller’s absolute ceiling as Brent Burns or Dustin Byfuglien and Schneider’s absolute ceiling is Ryan Suter.

 

[Lays]

The mental image of our PP setting up right after the faceoff and Kakko just skating behind the net and standing there makes me lol

Kakko’s best work comes from down low. Not necessarily right behind the net, but to the right by the corner boards

 

[McRanger92]

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Cheers
It’s a big reason why I’m hoping Barron is up on the big club sooner rather then later. I think he would do well in a PK role with Goodrow too. Get that big body out there blocking shots and getting his stick in the passing lanes with his big reach.
Smart player, I think it’s a role he can adapt to quickly, especially with the right veterans as guidance. Him centering a 3rd line with Goodrow and kravtsov/kakko can be a damn good line.
Even kreider-Barron-Goodrow

I expect a big camp from Barron. Seems like a kid who doesn’t want to go back to Hartford

 

[Lays]

I agree with this almost completely. 5x5 is exact.

I probably save Zibanejad energy for the PP rather than using him on the PK, have Goodrow play center there, and throw Kreider or Blais on a wing.

I’m giving Lundkvist a look on PP2. Kid has an accurate rifle and makes quicker decisions than Miller/Trouba from what I’ve seen.

Zib has always played PK1, not sure what changes. He’s deadly there. Maybe in 2-3 years I’d agree, but right now you’d be doing a disservice by not having him on PK1. I wouldn’t mind Lundkvist on PP2 but let’s let him adjust first and give K’Andre that PP time to see what he can do as the sole PPQB instead of having both him and Trouba like they did last year. Imo K’Andre has 20 goal potential

 

[Lays]

I expect a big camp from Barron. Seems like a kid who doesn’t want to go back to Hartford

I hope he does and expect him to but I’d rather have him as Hartford’s 1C and grow down there with our other prospects rather than him playing 4C over Rooney (who’s very capable in that spot.) I’m worried if we do that he might end up like Howden or Lias who both never got the opportunity to grow their offensive game. I think next year when Strome is gone he will start 3C after a big year in the AHL and Richards takes 4C. No reason to rush Barron, let him dominate the AHL instead of stumping his development and forcing him to play a defensive role. He’s not overtaking anyone else in the top 9 no matter how good of a camp he has, the top 9 is basically set in stone.

 

[McRanger92]

He reminds me of vintage Staal with a smattering of pre-Rangers Wade Redden

Staal was the king of pokechecks early in his career

 

[UnSandvich]

On similar grossly unrealistic expectations by other team's fans to my last post,

Kaprizov for "Lafrenière, Chytil, a first and second in 2022. He doesn't want to play here that was clear when it took so long to get here. Now he wants out as fast as possible. Trade him."

 

[McRanger92]

I hope he does and expect him to but I’d rather have him as Hartford’s 1C and grow down there with our other prospects rather than him playing 4C over Rooney (who’s very capable in that spot.) I’m worried if we do that he might end up like Howden or Lias who both never got the opportunity to grow their offensive game. I think next year when Strome is gone he will start 3C after a big year in the AHL and Richards takes 4C. No reason to rush Barron, let him dominate the AHL instead of stumping his development and forcing him to play a defensive role. He’s not overtaking anyone else in the top 9 no matter how good of a camp he has, the top 9 is basically set in stone.

Totally agree, he’d be wasted on the 4th line. Top 9 minutes or Hartford

 

[jay from jersey]

He is 10th in the league in 5v4 assists the last two years yet we continually downplay his PP role like he's irrelevant. It's clearly not the case. People just have this notion that you need players on their off wings on the PP to have the one timer option. They also never wanted Strome there to begin with (neither did I) and refuse to change their opinion despite constant success out of the unit.

Also why do you keep putting a capital F in Laf?

strome does well on the PP, but it remains to be seen if one of our kids can have a similar impact in that position. Also, having a left handed shot there makes too much sense. Not only to shoot it off the pass, but they would be in a better shooting position in general on rebounds or whatever. It’s the same reason why most teams don’t run 2 right or 2 left handed D. It just makes things easier in general and shaves seconds off decision making and getting the puck off quicker.
I’m not saying strome is horrible, but Fox and Panarin make our PP go. Zibby is the trigger. Hard to believe a talented kid like Laf wouldn’t have a similar impact.
As far as LaF, they were all meant to be capitalized but iPhone just puts it In that way automatically now after the first mishap, so I jus role with it when I’m in a rush

 

[Boris Zubov]

My memory is slipping so I reviewed his stats /Verbeek and it actually looks like he was starting to decline which is likely why he was not resigned and he skipped for Dallas. We likely dodged a big bad contract for a change ....so...can't blame management on that one .

Verbeek was the perfect RW with Messier & Graves, but even the Rangers had some sort of internal payroll limit back then. Once Gretzky was signed, Verbeek wasn't in their plans.

Or, as mentioned previously in this thread, maybe it was his choice to go elsewhere. Regardless, declining play had no impact, IMO.

 

[egelband]

He is eligible for MVP

 

[SA16]

strome does well on the PP, but it remains to be seen if one of our kids can have a similar impact in that position. Also, having a left handed shot there makes too much sense. Not only to shoot it off the pass, but they would be in a better shooting position in general on rebounds or whatever. It’s the same reason why most teams don’t run 2 right or 2 left handed D. It just makes things easier in general and shaves seconds off decision making and getting the puck off quicker.
I’m not saying strome is horrible, but Fox and Panarin make our PP go. Zibby is the trigger. Hard to believe a talented kid like Laf wouldn’t have a similar impact.
As far as LaF, they were all meant to be capitalized but iPhone just puts it In that way automatically now after the first mishap, so I jus role with it when I’m in a rush

Yes, I understand. I never thought it made sense to play a RHS in Strome there. However what is undeniable is that it has worked. It's been one of the best units in the league. I'm willing to revise my original opinion (that playing a RHS there makes no sense) after seeing the execution and results that the unit has put up over the last two years. I think Lafreniere will get his shot there in time but I am certainly not going to start the season by breaking up one of the most effective units in the league just because of a theory.

Lol I know what you mean there. iPhone autocorrect is incredibly annoying with things like that. I literally can not type "HR" (for home run). It gets corrected to the word "he" every single time and drives me crazy.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

He reminds me of vintage Staal with a smattering of pre-Rangers Wade Redden

He reminds me of Willie Huber. I hope you’re right.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

2020/21 honors.
Braden Schneider named WHL's Defenseman of the Year.
Matthew Robertson is named the WHL’s Central Division Defenseman of the Year.
Nils Lundkvist has been named the winner of the Salming Trophy in 2020-21, which is given annually to the best Swedish-born defenseman in the SHL,
Adam Fox wins Norris Trophy as the best NHL defenseman.
Zac Jones NCAA All-Tournament team.
The Rangers blue line should be solid for the foreseeable future.

 

[NYR94]

Yeah, why was Verbeek let go? They were cheap on the absolute dumbest occasion.

Verbeek earned $1.7 million last season, his first full one with the Rangers. He came to the Rangers in a trade with Hartford in March 1995. Smith said he understood Verbeek would earn $3.1 million, $3.2 million and $3.3 million annually on a three-year contract with Dallas.
Smith said he had a chance to bid for Verbeek after the forward came to a tentative agreement with Dallas.
"They were very good; I was involved the whole time," Smith said, referring to Verbeek and his agent, Michael Gilles. "I just didn't have the ability, with the high number of high-salaried players we have, to give him that kind of increase."

HOCKEY;Rangers Lose Verbeek To Stars (Published 1996)
Later on in the article Neil Smith is quoted saying this regarding Gretzky, who at the time was still a free agent:

"I'm sure Mike will call or I will call him. I really don't anticipate any intense discussions."

 

[EdJovanovski]

 

[egelband]

He reminds me of vintage Staal with a smattering of pre-Rangers Wade Redden

Totally. And as such I want him focusing exclusively on clogging up the neutral zone and locking down the defensive zone. He should not be anywhere near a power play and his partner should always be the “puck carrier”.

I’m not saying he has no offensive upside. I actually thought Staal was quite a decent puck mover when he was fully healthy. But the defensive upside is so enticing.
Also I can see occasions where a funny bounce or something will spring him or an opportunity will be so yawning he has no choice but to go on the attack. So there will be chances for him to work on his offensive game. But broadly I want him focusing on playing defense.