Quoting: Sagecoll
No one has to be moved as far as wingers. The only players that really have to be moved for the development of other players are Strome, Trouba and Howden.
Strome blocks Chytil from getting into the top 6 for as long as he's here
Trouba blocks Fox or Deangelo from getting into the top 4 and Nils from getting into the lineup
Howden has a negative effect on pretty much anyone he's on a line with.
So you have a choice with Strome. Either you trade him for a 3C and a pick (Think young and cost controlled like Faksa, Jost, Kerfoot, Copp, etc etc), or you deal him for picks/prospects, and then try and bundle that and the 1st you should get for Trouba to get essentially your future Zibanejad replacement 1C, whether that's Cirelli or Nylander.
And here I thought we were agreeing lol!
Strome is just a stopgap, I agree. It would be nice if he took 3C money and kept Chytil's (or a more capable 2C who gets brought in) spot warm, but that ain't gonna happen.
I don't agree however, that he is holding up Chytil's development. He isn't ready to compete as a 2C, he'd be on the losing end of that the majority of the season, and it would hurt his growth overall. On faceoffs alone, he's even worse than Strome...by a significant amount! He'd have much more responsibility and no protection blanket being the 2C. His line would be pinned in on the regular, and that would really hurt the production of Panarin and the growth of Kakko! He just hasn't proven that he is a true NHL center...plain and simple. He absolutely deserves the chance to prove that...but at 2C the team would move backwards if he fails.
The following season? If he makes strides under protected minutes at 3C, then I am all for it! He should be used as 3C, the ENTIRE upcoming season...none of this LW flip flopping...let him audition for the job.
Strome's contract situation is the real issue, because the timeline doesn't match up with Chytil being ready for 2C. I am really not sure what can be done about it, like you said. You either deal him for a different safety blanket who would cost less...or round up some assets and go bigger.
That's what I was doing for Danault! lol
Fox is great, I love him..but he's not a 1RHD. His defensive game is never going to be
that good. He's slick. smart...has great instincts...sounds like a Fox! But he's not up to the physical requirement for a 1RHD. Trouba is where he belongs, and I really wish fans would just give him a moment to prove what he's worth, the guy just turned 26! He was the Rangers best defenseman during the qualifier...by a long shot!
DeAngelo...is the one that gets moved. Nils is a much more balanced player, and DeAngelo has less years of contract control than both Nils and Fox. He's also worse in his own end than Fox, and for all his offensive upside (which is significant and impressive!), the Rangers have plenty of that. Fox, Trouba and eventually Lundkvist will be more than enough to provide the necessary offense. Deangelo gets moved for something the teams needs to become a true contender.
Howden...I agree...is not the answer..even at 4C. Rangers should give him the shot going into this season and let him prove what he is...but I see that ending with him not being up to the task. As a 4LW, I wouldn't mind him...problem is there are guys on the team that can do that, and probably better. I don't however think he's blocking anyone...if say for example Morgan Barron proves to be a better answer, Howden is gonna start catching scratches.
I think I can guess that your ire over Howden is Quinn's maddening desire to stick with him. And I agree to an extent. But I think the reasoning is somewhat sound. They see the way he plays the game and hope that he can improve in the areas he is deficient. I just (like you), don't believe that his talent is enough to make that happen.
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