The biggest problem with the Rangers imo is that a lot of players do not have an actual role. For instance Brett Howden does not really do anything well. In order to be successful, we need every player and line to have a job that they can do well.
With the moves I made, the top 2 line would be traditional scoring lines., the third line would be a very physical 2 way line that will be very tough to play against, the fourth line will be a more oldschool fourth line, they will win faceoffs, finish checks, and outwork the opponent at all times.
With the Defense the outlines of the roles is less clear, the top 2 lines are designed to successfully shut down opposing teams top lines while also playing a role in the offensive zone. The third pair is incomplete. They sort of fit the bill for a third pairing. They may not win you games but they will not lose you games.
As a whole, I feel that everytime any combination of these forward lines and d pairings is on the ice, the rangers will always be able to either match or counter a teams strength. We have a physical line and a fast line. We have a 2 way line, multiple scoring lines, and a gritty line. I am confident that we can get the right matchups each game to set us up for success.
With Buch, I know he has been elite, but we will not be able to afford the contract he will be looking for this summer, and with the abundance of young high potential wingers he could be viewed as expendable.
I DID CONSIDER WHETHER TEAMS WOULD BE WILLING TO TRADE THE PLAYERS. I FOCUSSED ON THE TYPES OF PLAYERS THE RANGERS NEED.
Copp- an elite penalty killer and great 2 way center
Greenway- a very good, physical 2 way forward
Dunn- a top 4 2-way puck moving defenseman
This also sets us up well for the expansion draft.
Forwards:
Mika, kreider, panarin, Chytil, Copp, Greenway, and either gauthier or lemieux
Defense: (prob wont need to protect tda)
dunn, lindgren, trouba (fox exempt)
I did not consider whether teams would be willing to trade players, I more so focussed on the type of players the rangers need. In Greenway's case, the Rangers need a solid physical penalty killer who can also contribute on offense
Winnipeg doesn’t really have much motivation for that trade, I think they would like Howden but Strome fills no need for them. We wouldn’t trade our best player so far for Dunn, I would slot in a top-10 protected 2021 1st in that trade instead of Buch. Minnesota probably doesn’t have any reason to do that Greenway trade so we could just move Kreider down and put Buch back in the top 6. Just my thoughts
Minnesota isn't trading Greenway. That offer is absolutely a joke also. Greenway wasn't signed to 2 years extension, him leading wild in point, him with foligno & Joel Eriksson ek dominating like against Colorado last night for Greenway to get traded. Sorry, not happening
Minnesota isn't trading Greenway. That offer is absolutely a joke also. Greenway wasn't signed to 2 years extension, him leading wild in point, him with foligno & Joel Eriksson ek dominating like against Colorado last night for Greenway to get traded. Sorry, not happening
Read the description. I know that greenway will likely not get moved. My point in including him is that we need our third line to have a great 2 way player who brings serious physicality and intensity
Winnipeg doesn’t really have much motivation for that trade, I think they would like Howden but Strome fills no need for them. We wouldn’t trade our best player so far for Dunn, I would slot in a top-10 protected 2021 1st in that trade instead of Buch. Minnesota probably doesn’t have any reason to do that Greenway trade so we could just move Kreider down and put Buch back in the top 6. Just my thoughts
My thought on the strome deal was that they could use strome to replace roslovic, but not that I think about it they have dubois. Maybe we add in a third team who gives a second rounder to winnipeg and receives strome.
And with buch, I know he has been our best player this year but if you look to the future, he is not going to have a place in our top 6. Our wingers will be laf, bread, kakko, and kreider (i know buch might end up being better than kreider but kreider is being paid to be a top 6 guy, we also have kravtsov). We might as well capitalize on buch's value and send him somewhere that will pay him and use him as the top 6 forward he is.
" we need every player and line to have a job that they can do well" I kinda understand your point but professional hockey isn't exactly played that well. Players have to offensive and defensive on the same shift. Certainly every player have to average to good on a few aspects their game.
We reject the STL trade. At best Dunn's a number 4 while Buch can be a top line winger with the right center
I know the winnipeg trade is flawed, we would likely need a third party to send strome and the inclusion of a prospect. And with the dunn part. Vince dunn is a very good 2 way defenseman who would seriously help our defense. We would have 2 borderline shutdown lines. And I know buch's potential, but you have to look at the abundance of wingers we have who will likely be top 6 guys in the future. If we trade buch tomorrow, our top 6 will definitely become worse in the short term, but it will give kakko and laf the ice time they need to develop. Additionally, we would be so much more solid on the back end.
" we need every player and line to have a job that they can do well" I kinda understand your point but professional hockey isn't exactly played that well. Players have to offensive and defensive on the same shift. Certainly every player have to average to good on a few aspects their game.
I understand your point that everyone needs to do everything, but when you look at our lines they don't really make sense. Is our third line a physical line, is it a scoring line, is it a 2 way line. The answer to all these questions is no. So what do they actually do other than fill time. I am not looking to put together a line of all grinders or 2 way guys or playmakers, I am looking to create a line that will help us do something. If we can send our third line out and know they will shut down an opponents top line, or lay a couple big hits to change momentum, etc. we will be a much better team. Looking back at the team that made the cup, everytime players like Derrick dorsett, boyle, and dom moore were on the ice you new we would not be scored on. They would win every faceoff and be very composed and play very responsibly.