Jan Levine: Back to the top-25 offseason questions, this time, focusing on Buchnevich Only a handful of open questions remain

I have found Buch to be thoroughly meh.
He has potential. He is improving. He definitely exceeded draft expectations. I don't love him, I don't hate him.
That being said, I would much rather see Kravstov made the priority for that role. And there is no way in hell I want a guy who leaves us wanting more and hasn't broken 50 points earning over $5M!!

I would not ink Buch to a 4.5-5.25m contract. Id rather take a 1st round pick.

Next year we need to resign:
1. Shesty (figure he will get somewhere in the realm of 5-6m depending on how he performs this year)
2. Lindgren (he will probably get about 2.5m)
3. Chytil (he will probably get around 3m)
... also Howden and Gauthier although I doubt they will get significant raises.

Then the following year its:
1. Zibanejad (9m? 10m?)
2. Kakko (we will see how he has improved this year but lets say 3.5-4m)
3. Fox (5m?)
4. DeAngelo (I think he will be traded)

This is what resigning Buch to that kind of contract will have a direct impact on. Also, I dont think hes a 5m winger. I think he piggy backs being on Zibanejad's line.

Also... for the pipedream situation in 2 years. Because Im gonna keep saying it until it happens...

**Barkov, blank check as a UFA

He’s too soft for top 6 minutes. Pushed off the puck too easily AT both ends, needs too much space to execute on a consistent basis. He tried to add some grit to his game, but it’s not in his DNA. There’s an abundance of talent upfront, he’s expendable, value will never be as high as it is now.

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I like Buch and would attempt to re-sign him to another 2 year deal if he would take it.

I believe him to be one of the young players that has responded positively to Quinn and I expect his game to continue to ascend and improve.

I would not ink Buch to a 4.5-5.25m contract. Id rather take a 1st round pick.

Next year we need to resign:
1. Shesty (figure he will get somewhere in the realm of 5-6m depending on how he performs this year)
2. Lindgren (he will probably get about 2.5m)
3. Chytil (he will probably get around 3m)
... also Howden and Gauthier although I doubt they will get significant raises.

Then the following year its:
1. Zibanejad (9m? 10m?)
2. Kakko (we will see how he has improved this year but lets say 3.5-4m)
3. Fox (5m?)
4. DeAngelo (I think he will be traded)

This is what resigning Buch to that kind of contract will have a direct impact on. Also, I dont think hes a 5m winger. I think he piggy backs being on Zibanejad's line.

Also... for the pipedream situation in 2 years. Because Im gonna keep saying it until it happens...

**Barkov, blank check as a UFA
- aecliptic

Won't he be a RFA? I don't see him getting quite that much.

Buch was invisible those 3 games in the bubble, but he was never playing better hockey in his career than he was at the pause, last 20 games, 10 goals and 12 assists.

He was absolutely terrible in December

14 games in December, 1 goal and 1 assist

if they invest big money long term in him, that kind of stuff needs to stop, and with all the money invested in Kreider, who also has been known to disappear, it still to me points towards it being wiser to trade Buch than to keep him long term

Won't he be a RFA? I don't see him getting quite that much.
- JRR1285

if the Rangers could get Shesterkin to sign an 8 year extension for between 5 and 6 million a year they'd be VERY wise to do so iMO

I betcha Tampa wishes they had done that with Vasilevskiy, now look how much money he's getting

if the Rangers could get Shesterkin to sign an 8 year extension for between 5 and 6 million a year they'd be VERY wise to do so iMO

I betcha Tampa wishes they had done that with Vasilevskiy, now look how much money he's getting
- jimbro83

I'm not gonna complain with that but would he even do it? I'm more arguing that they won't do a bridge/shorter term deal for that AAV.

Won't he be a RFA? I don't see him getting quite that much.
- JRR1285

Whats him being an RFA have to do with anything?

Hes already making 3.25m. Numbers usually trend up from there.

Whats him being an RFA have to do with anything?

Hes already making 3.25m. Numbers usually trend up from there.
- aecliptic

They tend to have less leverage.

Had no idea his AAV was that high. Did notice that the bulk of that is performance bonuses. Did he hit any last season? Having a hard time determining that.

Whats him being an RFA have to do with anything?

Hes already making 3.25m. Numbers usually trend up from there.
- aecliptic

I think you guys are mixing up Buchnevich and Shesterkin in your conversation

I think you guys are mixing up Buchnevich and Shesterkin in your conversation
- jimbro83

Youre right, I didnt see the bold on the Shesty numbers.

They tend to have less leverage.

Had no idea his AAV was that high. Did notice that the bulk of that is performance bonuses. Did he hit any last season? Having a hard time determining that.
- JRR1285

Let me back track because I thought you were talking about Buch initially.
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About Shesty, goaltenders like him, especially if he is as good as we think he will be, get paid. At best maybe, theres a 2 year bridge deal at like 4.5m

Let me back track because I thought you were talking about Buch initially.
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About Shesty, goaltenders like him, especially if he is as good as we think he will be, get paid. At best maybe, theres a 2 year bridge deal at like 4.5m
- aecliptic

Fair enough, sorry for the confusion. It was just a tiny bit of bolding on the Shesty part, easy to miss.

Let me back track because I thought you were talking about Buch initially.
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About Shesty, goaltenders like him, especially if he is as good as we think he will be, get paid. At best maybe, theres a 2 year bridge deal at like 4.5m
- aecliptic

I am all for an 8 year extension for Shesterkin, 5 million a year, I'd sign it now, I've seen enough

that contract would be biggest bargain in the league in a few years

I went into the draft wanting this kid, they really may have blew it

https://www.hockeydb.com/...s/pdisplay.php?pid=209489

I went into the draft wanting this kid, they really may have blew it

https://www.hockeydb.com/...s/pdisplay.php?pid=209489
- jimbro83

I didn't know Sinead O'Connor played hockey

I didn't know Sinead O'Connor played hockey
- Mtlca66

I went into the draft wanting this kid, they really may have blew it

https://www.hockeydb.com/...s/pdisplay.php?pid=209489
- jimbro83

I think the Rangers may have passed on him because of his size:

this draft was about getting bigger and meaner, especially with the early picks, Farrell didn't fit the bill.

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