wow

Darren Dreger
@DarrenDreger
·
1m
The OHL is expected to officially shutdown its season today. The league came very close to returning a couple of weeks ago, but wasn’t granted government approval. Tough on all involved, especially the players. Hope is to start fresh next season.

So, that would make me the 4th option? Man, I feel like Chiefs before LImDa left!

I'd call Panarin and Trouba our big splashes. IMO, our roster as it sits today is about 92% optimal. We have the pieces in the organization to bring that percentage a little higher even. Regardless of what happens in the next 3 weeks, with another season under their belts this team is going to be too much for many teams to handle.
Why do we need to do anything that would be called a "big" move?
- Tonybere

It's just my opinion we have to win now while we have cheap contracts. Chytil is still raw, and Strome have exceeded any reasonable expectation when we acquired him, but in 21-22 I don't think that combo of 2C and 3C can win you the cup. In 3 years? Possibly. I just don't think with how contracts and the cap , that we can afford to wait that long.

If it wasn't for missed games by 2 of the 3, it's possible we could have finalist (or even winners) for Hart, Vezina, and Norris. 2 of those 3 guys will need lucrative extensions after next season with a #2 OV pick and a #1 overall pick and possible top dman on the left side the offseason after that.

Basically, I think if we don't win now, it could be tougher sooner than later to have the depth required to make a serious push.

Well tonight is really the season. Loose to the Islanders and I just don't see a path to a playoff spot. First true "have to win game" this season

wow

Darren Dreger
@DarrenDreger
·
1m
The OHL is expected to officially shutdown its season today. The league came very close to returning a couple of weeks ago, but wasn’t granted government approval. Tough on all involved, especially the players. Hope is to start fresh next season.
- jimbo83

It makes this draft really unpredictable. A lot of players going in the 3rd-5th rounds could really be 1st round players if they had a season this year to show it. Gonna be a huge draft for Rangers scouts.

I think this is where I'm sort of the third option. I just feel like now is the time to go all in. I would agree it's not for Getzlaf, but I really do think that we have to try to win. now. Whether we like it or not, guys are going to get paid. Our first order of business need to be locking up Fox and Shesty to long term deals as soon as we are allowed too. Mika is getting a big raise. If Kakko continues his upswing, he's getting a healthy raise. With cap concerns coming, it's not out of the question to think without majoring tinkering, we could quickly wind up in a Toronto like situation just due to the big contracts we would surely have to hand out.

The best thing right now about the Gorton rebuild, is that we have so many pieces in the pipeline that trading one or two to make a major splash is not going to destroy our pipeline. We want to be like Tampa where it seems like they always have the next superstar waiting in the wings, well that's a team that took major swings including a couple big trades with us.
- 2sticks1puck

Yep. Timing. When to pull the trigger for veterans. So you think now? I would argue evaluate through the next year since we have so many new guys possibly coming on board, especially on D. Then if that goes well, do exactly what you said.

It makes this draft really unpredictable. A lot of players going in the 3rd-5th rounds could really be 1st round players if they had a season this year to show it. Gonna be a huge draft for Rangers scouts.
- TPC

Yea. This is going to be an ALL over the place scouting nightmare. You won't know how to grade any of these picks. And there may be a lot of steals between rounds 3-5

Yep. Timing. When to pull the trigger for veterans. So you think now? I would argue evaluate through the next year since we have so many new guys possibly coming on board, especially on D. Then if that goes well, do exactly what you said.
- NYRCeph

This is how I would cast my vote. Give it another year, especially a full one. Make the appropriate changes after you've evaluated the complete picture in a normal season.

Yep. Timing. When to pull the trigger for veterans. So you think now? I would argue evaluate through the next year since we have so many new guys possibly coming on board, especially on D. Then if that goes well, do exactly what you said.
- NYRCeph

Who do we realistically have to evaluate though? We don't need to evaluate guys Like Fox, Miller, Buch, etc. All of the guys that would be anticipated to take a lion's share of the time on ice we would have information on.

Just as Jim and others have said the direction of the team changed when we got LAF. Well I'm saying the direction of the team changed again when Fox possibly wins the Norris. You possibly have a really young Norris winning piece needing a long term extension, that a major change.

I just feel if you have pieces that could win the Norris, Vezina, or Hart in a single year, it's not time to be patient anymore? You have the cheap contracts/depth and the ammunition to go get whatever you feel the need to put you over the top. That's when you build around around your outstanding core and finish the job. We need young pieces to supplement and then replace some guys when inevitably some pieces have to leave during the cap, we don't need to build per se anymore.

Yea. This is going to be an ALL over the place scouting nightmare. You won't know how to grade any of these picks. And there may be a lot of steals between rounds 3-5
- NYRCeph

Good draft to have multiple extra picks!

It's just my opinion we have to win now while we have cheap contracts. Chytil is still raw, and Strome have exceeded any reasonable expectation when we acquired him, but in 21-22 I don't think that combo of 2C and 3C can win you the cup. In 3 years? Possibly. I just don't think with how contracts and the cap , that we can afford to wait that long.

If it wasn't for missed games by 2 of the 3, it's possible we could have finalist (or even winners) for Hart, Vezina, and Norris. 2 of those 3 guys will need lucrative extensions after next season with a #2 OV pick and a #1 overall pick and possible top dman on the left side the offseason after that.

Basically, I think if we don't win now, it could be tougher sooner than later to have the depth required to make a serious push.
- 2sticks1puck

Believe me, I get the financial ramifications (I have been sorely disappointed as Toronto has not blown up the way I expected). That is simply the cost of being competitive in the cap era.
I feel like there are 2 important differences between us and most teams getting into contention.
1, we may not have enviable center depth, but they are surrounded on all sides by a stronger than usual supporting cast. I feel that this may make up for it.
2, while we lack playoff success on the roster, we have a large group of older players among our leadership group. Next season Kreider will be 30, Panarin 29, Mika 28, Strome and Trouba 27...
These are not wide-eyed novices.

Good draft to have multiple extra picks!
- TommyGTrain

one factor that should be emphasized more when using draft picks is that when a team uses a pick on a European or college player, they hold the rights to that player for a long time

when a team uses a draft pick on a player from one of the Canadian Junior leagues, if the team doesn't sign that player within 2 years after they draft him, they lose the rights to that player

that's why it's wiser to use those later picks on Europeans

So, that would make me the 4th option? Man, I feel like Chiefs before LImDa left!

I'd call Panarin and Trouba our big splashes. IMO, our roster as it sits today is about 92% optimal. We have the pieces in the organization to bring that percentage a little higher even. Regardless of what happens in the next 3 weeks, with another season under their belts this team is going to be too much for many teams to handle.
Why do we need to do anything that would be called a "big" move?
- Tonybere

Ugh I agree with you again, the team definitely has the fire power, just need time to gell and develop. The only thing I can see happening is trading some of our defense man for a center.

Believe me, I get the financial ramifications (I have been sorely disappointed as Toronto has not blown up the way I expected). That is simply the cost of being competitive in the cap era.
I feel like there are 2 important differences between us and most teams getting into contention.
1, we may not have enviable center depth, but they are surrounded on all sides by a stronger than usual supporting cast. I feel that this may make up for it.
2, while we lack playoff success on the roster, we have a large group of older players among our leadership group. Next season Kreider will be 30, Panarin 29, Mika 28, Strome and Trouba 27...
These are not wide-eyed novices.
- Tonybere

I feel like your 2nd point is also valid to both sides. We really don't know if/any of those guys or when their decline will begin. There's an argument to be made, you want to maximize your ability to win with those guys during their peak.

Maybe I believe too much in Barron. I just think it's a slam dunk to think about moving Chytil and getting another top flight center in here. In that scenario, Strome is the perfect piece for the team. He'd arguably the best 3c in the whole league who you could slot with panarin on the PP due to their good chemistry. You then let Strome walk after next season freeing up the space, and work Barron into that role, which I'd think he'd excel. The top flight center would also be some insurance in case Mika's concussion history ever catches up to him.

Traditionally rebuilds take years. Tearing it all down, accumulating assets and starting over. This never felt like a rebuild, atleast not like the one Detroit and teams similar to that are going through. We had a couple years where we lulled and werent particularly good but werent totally pathetic. Then boom, Panarin, Trouba, Fox... 2nd overall pick... 1st overall pick...
- aecliptic

Don't forget about Kravstov

I feel like your 2nd point is also valid to both sides. We really don't know if/any of those guys or when their decline will begin. There's an argument to be made, you want to maximize your ability to win with those guys during their peak.

Maybe I believe too much in Barron. I just think it's a slam dunk to think about moving Chytil and getting another top flight center in here. In that scenario, Strome is the perfect piece for the team. He'd arguably the best 3c in the whole league who you could slot with panarin on the PP due to their good chemistry. You then let Strome walk after next season freeing up the space, and work Barron into that role, which I'd think he'd excel. The top flight center would also be some insurance in case Mika's concussion history ever catches up to him.
- 2sticks1puck

I understand the frustration with Strome and don't want to discount that sentiment. I just want to remind everyone that he's currently 9th in the league in scoring for Cs. There's a LONG list of names below his that people would claim are better than he is. Not to mention, he's one half of one of the most dynamic lines in the league right now (Bread being the other half).

To that point, here's a list of teams with 1C/2Cs with more points than the Rangers: EDM and TOR. That's it.

It may not be superstar powered and Chytil might still be figuring it out, but the want for a better center definitely outweighs the need

It makes this draft really unpredictable. A lot of players going in the 3rd-5th rounds could really be 1st round players if they had a season this year to show it. Gonna be a huge draft for Rangers scouts.
- TPC

I dont think any player projected to go in the third to higher rounds are first rounders, but late first to second round picks could be all juggled up. The latter rounds are what they will always be, a crap shoot.

I understand the frustration with Strome and don't want to discount that sentiment. I just want to remind everyone that he's currently 9th in the league in scoring for Cs. There's a LONG list of names below his that people would claim are better than he is. Not to mention, he's one half of one of the most dynamic lines in the league right now (Bread being the other half).

To that point, here's a list of teams with 1C/2Cs with more points than the Rangers: EDM and TOR. That's it.

It may not be superstar powered and Chytil might still be figuring it out, but the want for a better center definitely outweighs the need
- Bean_Dip

Too much logic and fact here.

Ugh I agree with you again, the team definitely has the fire power, just need time to gell and develop. The only thing I can see happening is trading some of our defense man for a center.
- Brukie

It's the worst, isn't it?!?!

I understand the frustration with Strome and don't want to discount that sentiment. I just want to remind everyone that he's currently 9th in the league in scoring for Cs. There's a LONG list of names below his that people would claim are better than he is. Not to mention, he's one half of one of the most dynamic lines in the league right now (Bread being the other half).

To that point, here's a list of teams with 1C/2Cs with more points than the Rangers: EDM and TOR. That's it.

It may not be superstar powered and Chytil might still be figuring it out, but the want for a better center definitely outweighs the need
- Bean_Dip

Well said

I understand the frustration with Strome and don't want to discount that sentiment. I just want to remind everyone that he's currently 9th in the league in scoring for Cs. There's a LONG list of names below his that people would claim are better than he is. Not to mention, he's one half of one of the most dynamic lines in the league right now (Bread being the other half).

To that point, here's a list of teams with 1C/2Cs with more points than the Rangers: EDM and TOR. That's it.

It may not be superstar powered and Chytil might still be figuring it out, but the want for a better center definitely outweighs the need
- Bean_Dip

I perfectly get that sentiment. I do think you can win alot of games with the above and that in terms of the rest of the league, it's not one of the worst. I do think we are in a unique situation where you can make a major swing, and not destroy your roster or the youth movement. I also think in terms of a playoff series, you need that 2 way center who can win critical faceoffs. You get another stud and Strome as a 3c/PP kind of guy, I would put our top 9 at any position vs anyone in the league. I would agree that the need isn't gaping in a vacuum, I just think if there ever was a time to get some luxuries, it's now.

I perfectly get that sentiment. I do think you can win alot of games with the above and that in terms of the rest of the league, it's not one of the worst. I do think we are in a unique situation where you can make a major swing, and not destroy your roster or the youth movement. I also think in terms of a playoff series, you need that 2 way center who can win critical faceoffs. You get another stud and Strome as a 3c/PP kind of guy, I would put our top 9 at any position vs anyone in the league. I would agree that the need isn't gaping in a vacuum, I just think if there ever was a time to get some luxuries, it's now.
- 2sticks1puck

Yeah, the other aspect to those statements are that points aren't everything. Strome could be a better skater, faceoff guy, grit guy, etc.

You know one thing he probably couldn't be better at though? Dishing the puck to Artemi Panarin. Sorry Jimbo, had to get that one in there

It's the worst, isn't it?!?!
- Tonybere

Once this team turns the corner and starts to win, we will be agreeing more.

I dont think any player projected to go in the third to higher rounds are first rounders, but late first to second round picks could be all juggled up. The latter rounds are what they will always be, a crap shoot.
- Brukie

Maybe not but it would not surprise me at all if players drafted in that 3rd-5th range end up being better players then 1st or 2nd rounders this year more than ever

It's just my opinion we have to win now while we have cheap contracts. Chytil is still raw, and Strome have exceeded any reasonable expectation when we acquired him, but in 21-22 I don't think that combo of 2C and 3C can win you the cup. In 3 years? Possibly. I just don't think with how contracts and the cap , that we can afford to wait that long.

If it wasn't for missed games by 2 of the 3, it's possible we could have finalist (or even winners) for Hart, Vezina, and Norris. 2 of those 3 guys will need lucrative extensions after next season with a #2 OV pick and a #1 overall pick and possible top dman on the left side the offseason after that.

Basically, I think if we don't win now, it could be tougher sooner than later to have the depth required to make a serious push.
- 2sticks1puck

Some of this is projection ( don't cal me out TPC) but I cant remember any team in my years of watching hockey that havd a stronger COMPLETE blueline than this team

Fox- Lingred
Trouba- Miller
Schneider/Nils- Jones

I'm with Tony - I don't think we need a big move to win with this team.

My thought behind a veteran (Getzlaf type FA pick up) is that we get him for a year, costs us nothing. Then Id try to flip Chytil for another young stud center, like Kupari although Kupari is probably right about NHL early. Its a tricky timing thing of whens the right time and whos the right move.