Jan Levine: Early roster construction, Mock draft, Start of top-20+ offseason questions Fresh blog up

I say take a break from doing the mock draft. 4-6 picks a day would be chaos. I’ll start with question number 1,

If we’re bringing back one, I’d want it to be Copp over Strome but obviously price is a big part of that. I would probably prefer neither brought back and look for a younger center (*dach*) but that’s just me. I think Chytil has proven enough that he could be the 2C with better wingers. He had different wingers all season including games where he was playing with Hunt Gauthier etc. That wasn’t a fair assessment of him IMO.

-Do we trade with Vancouver, they have 3 number one centers. Miller, Horvat or Petterson

-I do not trade Kakko. Not yet anyway. I don’t think his value could be any lower. Keep him for 2 yrs, 2.5 million AVV. After those two years we should know what we have one way or another. His clock is ticking, it’s go time

- Nils, Jones or Robertson..we have to trade one, who’s your choice?

- my ideal backup goalie would be someone who has played in playoff games. That’s really my only criteria, and million dollar cost at the most

Just some summer topics

Jan, your offseason questions are pretty much all of mine. I look forward to reading your thoughts on each one. To "armchair GM," I would not resign any FAs (except maybe Motte) to make the top 9:
Kried-Zib-Bread
Laf-Chyt-Kak
Blais-Good-Kravtsov

Use the remaining cap to fill in 4th line or upgrade the 3rd. We need to trust the Kids. They proved this playoffs they can handle the pressure. Also, I am looking to the future contracts they would need to resign. As the kids grow, money will get tighter, and will have to move some out.

I say take a break from doing the mock draft. 4-6 picks a day would be chaos. I’ll start with question number 1,

If we’re bringing back one, I’d want it to be Copp over Strome but obviously price is a big part of that. I would probably prefer neither brought back and look for a younger center (*dach*) but that’s just me. I think Chytil has proven enough that he could be the 2C with better wingers. He had different wingers all season including games where he was playing with Hunt Gauthier etc. That wasn’t a fair assessment of him IMO.
- nyrangers9479

I’m fully aboard the Chytil train. More ice time where we only need a 3C imo. Copp over Strome but I like other options over Copp. Chytil could always move to wing which may be the way to go

Absolutely ridiculous they can challenge that long into it. They should have 30 seconds to challenge and that’s it.

Jon cooper has never seen a goal against he didn’t think about challenging. In this case it’s damn close and probably worth it. But every damn time it seems like

I’m fully aboard the Chytil train. More ice time where we only need a 3C imo. Copp over Strome but I like other options over Copp. Chytil could always move to wing which may be the way to go
- Slimtj100

If we really believe Chytil can handle the 2C (which I do) I think getting a young center in the 3C spot is the way to go. Let him take over the role Chytil had this year and see what happens. I don’t want to commit to a veteran long term. We need to add young center depth to the organization.

Jan ---

Far be it for me to tell you what to do with your time, but I don't think its realistic to do a draft this summer. My interest in this draft is dramatically lower than in previous 3 years due to the lack of a 1st round pick. Even if the Rangers somehow traded back into the 1st round, there simply isn't enough time for you to do your normal, exellent quality work. If there was ever a year to take off, this would be it!



My question to add:

Will Brennan Othmann and/or Will Cuylle be given a REAL chance to make the squad this summer or will the Rangers opt to not rush the youngsters? Both are on their ELCs and are listed as LW. If they do make the roster, then who gets moved out??

Regarding Copp, was just reading an article and during an interview he said wherever he plays next year he wants to be in a leadership position and prefers to play center. I don’t see him getting an “A” here and I don’t think he’s good enough to be the 2C and I think he’d be over paid to be the 3C.

Chuck is a gem

Chuck is a gem
- picklerick

My wife just said the same thing haha

We could sign Nick Paul for cheaper then Strome and Copp and probably get similar results

As a regular participant of the mock draft I’m cool with not doing one. You guys had a hell of a run and have one of the best bloggers around. Just focus on your rangers content Jan.

My one silly question but if you think about it not as silly as it may seem.

How much do you put into the no player making 10 million or more has ever played in the SCF. This is not the reason why I would consider it.

Would you ever consider trading Panarin? If so what would the haul be back? We would be dealing from a position of strength LW, would open the door for Laf to be the #2 LW. Who eventually we will need to pay if he has another growth season next year.

Like I said silly talk, but I'd do it for a guy like Larkin or another #1 center making less than 8 million.

My one silly question but if you think about it not as silly as it may seem.

How much do you put into the no player making 10 million or more has ever played in the SCF. This is not the reason why I would consider it.

Would you ever consider trading Panarin? If so what would the haul be back? We would be dealing from a position of strength LW, would open the door for Laf to be the #2 LW. Who eventually we will need to pay if he has another growth season next year.

Like I said silly talk, but I'd do it for a guy like Larkin or another #1 center making less than 8 million.
- bigrod79

I think when it comes to Panarin, we wouldn’t be where we are/got without him. With that being said, it would all depend on the return but I’d say the chances of him being traded are less than 1%.

I think when it comes to Panarin, we wouldn’t be where we are/got without him. With that being said, it would all depend on the return but I’d say the chances of him being traded are less than 1%.
- nyrangers9479

I agree with this for this year. But if Laf takes the next step next year and then Othmann, Berard and Cuylle keep progressing the way they are I can see it the year after. We will have to make room on the left side.

I agree with this for this year. But if Laf takes the next step next year and then Othmann, Berard and Cuylle keep progressing the way they are I can see it the year after. We will have to make room on the left side.
- bigrod79

I’m not against it at some point, I just think we’re not there yet.

3

This is a very simple not much happening off season. But it’s not bad🤷🏻‍♂️

You guys should have fun with it, I just kind of found this arm chair thing fun to do.

Kills time

3

This is a very simple not much happening off season. But it’s not bad🤷🏻‍♂️

You guys should have fun with it, I just kind of found this arm chair thing fun to do.

Kills time
- Slimtj100

Paul isn’t a center …….

Paul isn’t a center …….
- nyrangers9479

He’s playing where Point is. Point is out again

You just watched him torch us

Doesn’t have to be him, but a 3C. He doesn’t need to be flashy. I feel like Copp is going to get to much for us unfortunately.

He’s playing where Point is. Point is out again

You just watched him torch us

Doesn’t have to be him, but a 3C. He doesn’t need to be flashy. I feel like Copp is going to get to much for us unfortunately.
- Slimtj100

He might be filling in, but he’s not a center. I don’t think Copp is a good fit for how much he’s going to want. He’s a very good 3rd liner that’s going to get 2nd line money that we can’t afford. I got u on the Chytil train, now get on the Dach train with me.

I don’t even think they will qualify Georgiev, they will just let him become UFA

My one silly question but if you think about it not as silly as it may seem.

How much do you put into the no player making 10 million or more has ever played in the SCF. This is not the reason why I would consider it.

Would you ever consider trading Panarin? If so what would the haul be back? We would be dealing from a position of strength LW, would open the door for Laf to be the #2 LW. Who eventually we will need to pay if he has another growth season next year.

Like I said silly talk, but I'd do it for a guy like Larkin or another #1 center making less than 8 million.
- bigrod79

I understand it’s just silly talk, but I just don’t participate in trade talk with guys who have NMCs it’s just a waste of time

My one silly question but if you think about it not as silly as it may seem.

How much do you put into the no player making 10 million or more has ever played in the SCF. This is not the reason why I would consider it.

Would you ever consider trading Panarin? If so what would the haul be back? We would be dealing from a position of strength LW, would open the door for Laf to be the #2 LW. Who eventually we will need to pay if he has another growth season next year.

Like I said silly talk, but I'd do it for a guy like Larkin or another #1 center making less than 8 million.
- bigrod79

I put zero stock in this fact. We all know how hard it is to reach the Cup final and how it takes a deep, complete roster to do it. Setting aside this fact, it's only been 7 years since the first >$10M contract was signed. Not exactly a precedent setting amount of data. And, if you remove Toews, Kane and Doughty from the equation since no one expected them to return to the finals after the recent runs their teams had, it's only been 4 seasons.