Speculation: Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XXV

[Machinehead]

My problem with Mika is that I feel like they're paying him based on "well if he's healthy..." and he's never healthy and never going to be. It's part of the package.

 

[RangerBoy]

This is not true. The surgeon that was on the 31Thoughts podcast a while back has mentioned that he’s performed this surgery on hockey players at the high school level and college level successfully. We’ve discussed how it’s been performed on MMA fighters successfully as well.

I’m not saying that I want Eichel, but it’s not unheard of for this surgery to be performed on a hockey player. It just hasn’t been done on an NHL player yet. There have been similar surgeries, but not this one specifically. Idk why this is such an issue with the ADR surgery. If it fails, he has to get the fusion surgery anyways. If it’s successful, you have a shorter recovery window and get Eichel back with full a range of motion and neck function. The fusion permanently hampers that.

I heard the podcast again. The doctor did say the surgery was performed on hockey players. Elliotte Friedman asked him which players and he changed the topic to rugby players. Dr. Prusmack operated on Derek Wolfe's neck when Wolfe played for the Broncos. but that wasn't a disc replacement.

Derek Wolfe feels better than ever after neck surgery | 9news.com

It would nice to know which hockey players and which other professional athletes had the surgery. Besides MMA fighters and rugby players, which players who had a similar injury had the disc replacement? The spinal fusion is not a definite solution either. Eichel is in a tough spot. I wish him well but he is the Sabres problem.

Why Eichel Wants a Disc Replacement | Podcasts - Sportsnet.ca

 

[RGY]

I only give Mika Full NMC for years 1-5 if he agrees to an $8 AAV. And paying him over $9 for 8 years is too much. Cap will be flat for next 3 years

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

But isn't every player that way?

No, not every player has his concussion risk but you’re right in the sense that any player can get hurt.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

that is totally not true lol Richards used to be a great skater. he just declined like everyone does.

When I read posts like this from you, I can't help but think your username should be "Dispewtin"

 

[JimmyG89]

Minnesota won't have the cap space, Seattle is essentially a building team, Anaheim is a rebuilding team, Vegas has no cap space ever. Boston will most likely re-sign Bergeron and then have to pay out McAvoy. Florida will re-sign Barkov.

I think the other thing that's clear is that it is not just about money for Zib. Let's be realistic, he's not signing somewhere that isn't going to be a contender and isn't conducive to his lifestyle.

Minnesota will have ~15.3M in cap room. Fiala and Greenway as RFAs. They also have other movable deals.

Boston locking in those guys is understood, but they also have guys on 1 year deals that could be moved next offseason to make space. No Krejci to go with Bergeron is a big blow to their title chances.

Seattle is just like Vegas, they don't want to suck for long. Signing an established 1C to add to their talent pool is exactly what they are looking for.

We don't know where Barkov goes, he could very well be coming to NYC. Florida is in a contention window. Doubt they would strip it down at this point if they just lose Barkov.

Anaheim might be a stretch, but they have a ton of young players. They are interested in Eichel. Kings are making moves, do they want to continue being a lottery team or accelerate their process?

Didn't mention Dallas that will have a ton of space and only Klingberg to sign big. Gurianov is a RFA. Pavelski and Radulov are off the books.

Two teams here have no state income tax (Panthers and Stars) so they don't have to exactly go to 9M, just match his money based on being state tax free.

There will be plenty of suitors for Zibanejad and I'm sure he knows that.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Minnesota will have ~15.3M in cap room. Fiala and Greenway as RFAs. They also have other movable deals.

Boston locking in those guys is understood, but they also have guys on 1 year deals that could be moved next offseason to make space. No Krejci to go with Bergeron is a big blow to their title chances.

Seattle is just like Vegas, they don't want to suck for long. Signing an established 1C to add to their talent pool is exactly what they are looking for.

We don't know where Barkov goes, he could very well be coming to NYC. Florida is in a contention window. Doubt they would strip it down at this point if they just lose Barkov.

Anaheim might be a stretch, but they have a ton of young players. They are interested in Eichel. Kings are making moves, do they want to continue being a lottery team or accelerate their process?

Didn't mention Dallas that will have a ton of space and only Klingberg to sign big. Gurianov is a RFA. Pavelski and Radulov are off the books.

Two teams here have no state income tax (Panthers and Stars) so they don't have to exactly go to 9M, just match his money based on being state tax free.

There will be plenty of suitors for Zibanejad and I'm sure he knows that.

Minnesota has to contend with the 12 million and then 14 million of dead cap space they will incur over the next three years, re-signing Fiala won't be cheap. If Seattle doesn't want to suck for long then some of the choices they made in the expansion draft are REAL head scratchers, and adding Zib doesn't make them a contender anytime soon (and he knows that). Anaheim just publicly announced that they are rebuilding so they are not giving a 29 year old zib 9x8. Kings need another 9 million dollar center like we need a 9 million dollar right defenseman. Of those teams you mentioned, I'll give you Stars and Panthers, but the issue with those teams is that not one of them play their home games in NY and that is something that only the Rangers can offer to a guy who wants to live a certain lifestyle. The point I'm making here is that there really aren't that many teams that can go all in on that contract.

 

[RangerBoy]

Shane Wright is in Kingston.

Wright and Othmann Share Special Bond Ahead of Team Canada Experience

 

[Savant]

125 points in his last 113 games? Those are elite scoring stats in this day and age.

Sure but he also does not have Couturier’s Selke caliber defense. Points sell though. Similar durability concerns as well. Really don’t think Mika should be breaking 9 here

 

[JimmyG89]

Minnesota has to contend with the 12 million and then 14 million of dead cap space they will incur over the next three years, re-signing Fiala won't be cheap. If Seattle doesn't want to suck for long then some of the choices they made in the expansion draft are REAL head scratchers, and adding Zib doesn't make them a contender anytime soon (and he knows that). Anaheim just publicly announced that they are rebuilding so they are not giving a 29 year old zib 9x8. Kings need another 9 million dollar center like we need a 9 million dollar right defenseman. Of those teams you mentioned, I'll give you Stars and Panthers, but the issue with those teams is that not one of them play their home games in NY and that is something that only the Rangers can offer to a guy who wants to live a certain lifestyle. The point I'm making here is that there really aren't that many teams that can go all in on that contract.

His lifestyle? I'm sure Dallas and Sunrise, not to far from Miami, give him plenty of lifestyle opportunities he likes. I mentioned Anaheim because the Kings can apply a little pressure to them since they made their moves and their build is further along. Southern California is also an amazing place to live.

As for Boston, I don't think Craig Smith, Erik Haula, and John Moore (all expiring deals, totaling ~8M) would stop them from signing Zibanejad. Boston is also a pretty big city.

Seattle just signed a 29 year old goalie to a long deal that was one of the best in the league. Went and got one of the better wingers on the market. Seattle is a big market as well. There is a lot for someone like Zibanejad to like out there.

We're not talking about Calgary, Winnipeg, Arizona, Columbus, etc. where they are really smaller markets and don't offer much outside of the arena. These are legit teams in cities that attract free agents.

If Barkov signs before UFA begins, Mika is the #1 player out on the open market this summer. In his prime, plays center, and is one of the best goal scorers in the league. His market will not be limited and teams will make moves to add him onto their team if they need to.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Shane Wright is in Kingston.

Wright and Othmann Share Special Bond Ahead of Team Canada Experience

Shane Wright’s going to pull a Fox and force his way here
Drury is a genius

 

[nyr2k2]

I mean there are clearly some teams that would be able to and interested in pursuing Zibanejad based on what we know about the landscape now. Then there are always those teams that no one expected to be in on a guy, who end up just that. Teams that seemingly aren't a fit but decide they'd like to try to make it work. Legit 1C players don't often become free agents, so if that were to happen with Zibanejad there would certainly be a number of teams legitimately interested. He's not going to take a deal for less than $8M AAV, and it will probably require more. If it's not from us, it will be from someone else. We can debate that choice all day, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking there won't be a real market for him.

 

[SA16]

No, not every player has his concussion risk but you’re right in the sense that any player can get hurt.

He hasn't had one in 4 years encompassing 250 games. It's an overblown concern.

 

[duhmetreE]

On Mika... you either bite the bullet now and overpay him for a shorter contract OR you bite the bullet later and get a better deal but at a longer term.

Giving him both, is peak Rangers... but I should not be surprised, considering Goodrow got both.

 

[JCProdigy]

I think the big concern people have is that Zibanejad may very well age like Brad Richards, in which case we will only be getting what we paid for maybe 3-4 years of the 8 he is signed for.

The decision re: Ziba is fraught with high risk either way isn't it. Resign him and yep, the major risk is the above happening or durability issues rearing their ugly head. That drop off after age 32 season is real folks.

Don't sign him then I'm guessing he's traded. To who? For who? If nobody can afford to pay his $9mil ask then whose going to want to trade for him for one year and what would they give up? Are we going to be happy with the return? NYR punting on this season then?

Risk here is his replacement as a no 1 center. Can they find that in the next 2-4 years. Do they end up just like the last core which resulted in the Richards UFA contract as they couldn't find a trade for a no 1 center (or develop one).

I can see how Drury is in a tough spot.

 

[Alluckks]

Kreider has never come close to averaging 20+ minutes a night.

View attachment 466082

Perfect, my plan is working already

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Shane Wright’s going to pull a Fox and force his way here
Drury is a genius

If this happens he surely will be. Im actually quite impressed, even if it doesnt

 

[RangersFan1994]

Shane Wright’s going to pull a Fox and force his way here
Drury is a genius

I hope Shane Wright has that in him, to force himself here.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Shane Wright is in Kingston.

Wright and Othmann Share Special Bond Ahead of Team Canada Experience

Sounds like a BS rumour based on that relationship and nothing else.

I guess we are trading Evan Vierling to the Kings and Brett Berard to the Kraken because their best friends were drafted 2nd overall by those teams...

 

[haohmaru]

Sure but he also does not have Couturier’s Selke caliber defense. Points sell though. Similar durability concerns as well. Really don’t think Mika should be breaking 9 here

He will unless he gives the Rangers a break.

 

[haohmaru]

Name that someone

Im not going to get into hypotheticals. Let’s see what he signs for and where and then we can revisit.

 

[Kodiak]

I'm a believer in the 'two window' theory, one now and one when the guys that are currently 20-23 are in their prime in five years.

So the ability to keep Fox, Kakko, Laf, Chytil, and all the other young guns when they are the veterans will be key. We will have to bite the bullet and give up some assets to move Kreider, Zib, Trouba, etc when their time has come.

Yes, it's the idea that this team has two cores and two windows that necessitates some careful planning now. If you are a team looking to contend now, then you can sign your top players to 7-8 year contracts. You know that they won't live up to it in the last few years, but you tack those years on to get the AAV down for right now. When the contract goes south in 5 years, you are probably starting to tear down the team and rebuild anyway.

That is not this team. In 5 years, this team could have the most talented home-grown core we have ever seen in their primes. We will need the cap space if we want to contend when Lafreniere, Kakko, Chytil, Fox, etc. are between 25 and 30. Shaving $1m or so off of Zibanejad's AAV for the next few seasons will not help us nearly as much as it would to have his cap hit off the books in 5 years. I would sooner do $9.5m for 5 years than $8.5m for 7 or 8 years.

 

[jay from jersey]

The decision re: Ziba is fraught with high risk either way isn't it. Resign him and yep, the major risk is the above happening or durability issues rearing their ugly head. That drop off after age 32 season is real folks.

Don't sign him then I'm guessing he's traded. To who? For who? If nobody can afford to pay his $9mil ask then whose going to want to trade for him for one year and what would they give up? Are we going to be happy with the return? NYR punting on this season then?

Risk here is his replacement as a no 1 center. Can they find that in the next 2-4 years. Do they end up just like the last core which resulted in the Richards UFA contract as they couldn't find a trade for a no 1 center (or develop one).

I can see how Drury is in a tough spot.

the only other option is to move him + for Eichel in 3-way. That’s the only way your getting comparable talent.
But that would come with its own risks due to Eichel’s neck injury and Mika also has to waive his NMC.
It’s certainly the harder of the 2 options, opposed to just resigning him.
Mika outperformed his last deal. This is his retirement contract. He’s getting paid, whether it’s from NYR or someone else.
Getting Eichel here could be a move that pays off tremendously. You get a signed 1C from 26-30. Highly doubt his neck breaks down after 4 years.
However, Mika has played well in NY. So whether he gets 7 or 8 years, odds are your looking at a buyout/ trading major assets to get him and his cap hit off the team for his final 3 seasons
I’m sure cash wise, after 4-5 years 95-98% of the real dollars will be paid out.
If you pay Mika for 7-8, getting Trouba and Kreider off the team before the end of there deals is imperative.

 

[Lays]

Shane Wright is in Kingston.

Wright and Othmann Share Special Bond Ahead of Team Canada Experience

The sidekick strikes again. Can’t wait until we trade him at an inflated cost to whoever wins 1st overall next year. Would be 200 IQ by Drury

 

[Lays]

Sure but he also does not have Couturier’s Selke caliber defense. Points sell though. Similar durability concerns as well. Really don’t think Mika should be breaking 9 here

Couturier doesn’t have Mika’s goal scoring though and it’s not like Mika is bad defensively. He’s one of the most dangerous PKers in the league