Jan Levine: Laf to RW? Top pair d-man? Prorated entry bonuses. Plane of the blue line. All this and more....

I think Smith may end up being Troubas partner if Miller is not yet ready. Why? We are going to need his physical presence on the blue line when we play the likes of Boston, Philthy and the Islanders.

Our division is going to be VERY physical. While I don't expect Jack Johnson to be in the regular top 6 pairings, he will definitely get playing time against the larger, physical teams. He has proven to be a reliable crease clearer and we are going to need that in a shortened, condensed season.

Kreider - Zib - Buch
Panarin- Strome - Kakko
LaFranchise - Chytil - Gautier
Lemieux - Rooney - Howden

Lindgren - Fox
Smith - Trouba
Hajek - D'Angelo

Nice, big, young lineup to start the season.

There is no way LaFreniere switches wing as a rookie --- Brooks just being silly.

Offside rule change WAS long overdue, glad to see they finally got around to changing it.

Laf to RW...as in Red Wings!

Laf to RW...as in Red Wings!
- HenryHockey

Maybe in an alternate universe

Laf to LA for Byfield and Iafallo.

Who is this "Lafreniere" guy? Is he any good? Maybe he can play defense next to Trouba too.

Jan, you are going to think I'm crazy. With the league wide cap crunch, I'm not totally convinced that Hoffman is out of our price range. Similar to baseball, I think there are going to be a number of guys this free agency period and next that will have to take their medicine and sign contracts for pennies on the dollar comparable to their worth. Without taking to account RFAs teams need to resign, half the league almost is right up against the cap or over it. Most of the league is already within 1-2 million of it. Where honestly could Hoffman sign?

I'm not sure of Hoffman's fit on this group, he is a talented player for sure, but I'm not sure if I want the drama with his other half in this org. Granted none of that is his fault, but still we are trying to build a strong culture here and that could be an unwanted distraction. That being said, I think if you want Hoffman, it's possible we could get him.

Jan, you are going to think I'm crazy. With the league wide cap crunch, I'm not totally convinced that Hoffman is out of our price range. Similar to baseball, I think there are going to be a number of guys this free agency period and next that will have to take their medicine and sign contracts for pennies on the dollar comparable to their worth. Without taking to account RFAs teams need to resign, half the league almost is right up against the cap or over it. Most of the league is already within 1-2 million of it. Where honestly could Hoffman sign?

I'm not sure of Hoffman's fit on this group, he is a talented player for sure, but I'm not sure if I want the drama with his other half in this org. Granted none of that is his fault, but still we are trying to build a strong culture here and that could be an unwanted distraction. That being said, I think if you want Hoffman, it's possible we could get him.
- 2sticks1puck

Columbus has cap room, Nashville as well. Same with LA, NJ, Ott and Get. He won't get less than Granlund, which is why I think he may be out of New York's price range.

Columbus has cap room, Nashville as well. Same with LA, NJ, Ott and Get. He won't get less than Granlund, which is why I think he may be out of New York's price range.
- airjan23

Our relative cap range is a bit higher than on the surface though. We currently have 14 forwards and 7 defensmen counting against our cap at the moment. One of those D is Smith who can also fill in at forward in as needed. Signing someone like Hoffman in theory means we could send 1, maybe even 2 of our forwards to the taxi squad (Rooney, Blackwell, etc) meaning that we could have close to between 4.5-5 mil of relative cap room for a contract.

I'm not saying we should sign him, I'm just not solid on it's impossible. Out of the teams you listed, he isn't going back to Ottawa, I don't think he's going to NJ. I have no idea what his wants are for signing, but in terms of opportunity and chance to be on a decent team, other than Columbus, I'm not sure anyone in that list is preferable to us.

Our relative cap range is a bit higher than on the surface though. We currently have 14 forwards and 7 defensmen counting against our cap at the moment. One of those D is Smith who can also fill in at forward in as needed. Signing someone like Hoffman in theory means we could send 1, maybe even 2 of our forwards to the taxi squad (Rooney, Blackwell, etc) meaning that we could have close to between 4.5-5 mil of relative cap room for a contract.

I'm not saying we should sign him, I'm just not solid on it's impossible. Out of the teams you listed, he isn't going back to Ottawa, I don't think he's going to NJ. I have no idea what his wants are for signing, but in terms of opportunity and chance to be on a decent team, other than Columbus, I'm not sure anyone in that list is preferable to us.
- 2sticks1puck

I look at this as a situation as, just because we can, doesn't mean we should. I fall in the camp that we should allow the kids to play and fall into the roles on the team where they should be. Hoffman may be a good player that can add something to the Ranger's lineup, however, I'd rather us focus on D development and depth or bottom 6 depth if some of our bottom 6 prospects don't pan out well. Leaving cap space for this during the season may be prudent.

I look at this as a situation as, just because we can, doesn't mean we should. I fall in the camp that we should allow the kids to play and fall into the roles on the team where they should be. Hoffman may be a good player that can add something to the Ranger's lineup, however, I'd rather us focus on D development and depth or bottom 6 depth if some of our bottom 6 prospects don't pan out well. Leaving cap space for this during the season may be prudent.
- NYRCeph

Just for the record, I'm not advocating we sign Hoffman. I was just pointing out if that was something that we wanted, I think it isn't totally impossible.

The guy that I want that I could see getting crunched in terms of contract is Carl Soderberg. No way is he getting anything remotely close to his last contract IMO. Valuble bottom 6 guy and dare I say, a better version of Jesper Fast. If there was injuries in your top 6, he could fill pretty solidly. You have to be careful since he's a 35+ player now, but something along the lines of 2 yrs with a 2.5 AAV I would be more than comfortable with until we get guys like Kravstov over and acclimated. Also wouldn't be a total waste if someone like the Gaut actually elevated himself over Soderberg and pushed Carl to the 4th line.

Our relative cap range is a bit higher than on the surface though. We currently have 14 forwards and 7 defensmen counting against our cap at the moment. One of those D is Smith who can also fill in at forward in as needed. Signing someone like Hoffman in theory means we could send 1, maybe even 2 of our forwards to the taxi squad (Rooney, Blackwell, etc) meaning that we could have close to between 4.5-5 mil of relative cap room for a contract.

I'm not saying we should sign him, I'm just not solid on it's impossible. Out of the teams you listed, he isn't going back to Ottawa, I don't think he's going to NJ. I have no idea what his wants are for signing, but in terms of opportunity and chance to be on a decent team, other than Columbus, I'm not sure anyone in that list is preferable to us.
- 2sticks1puck

Right now we are having issues fitting LAF into our top 6. I don't see them spending money to add another top 6 winger right now, especially if Kratsov could come over at the end of the season.

Right now we are having issues fitting LAF into our top 6. I don't see them spending money to add another top 6 winger right now, especially if Kratsov could come over at the end of the season.
- TPC

We as fans should see there is nothing wrong if LAF doesn't start in the top 6. Bringing him along somewhat slower than expected isn't a terrible thing, and most teams that are good can roll 3 really good lines. He will be in our top 6 soon enough, don't force it.

We as fans should see there is nothing wrong if LAF doesn't start in the top 6. Bringing him along somewhat slower than expected isn't a terrible thing, and most teams that are good can roll 3 really good lines. He will be in our top 6 soon enough, don't force it.
- 2sticks1puck

But that's my point. We can't even fit him there. So don't see them spending big money to add another top winger to try and squeeze in there.

I doubt the league or the other teams will let teams (actually i think its only the Rangers) create cap space from a pro-ration quirk. They will pro-rate the other side

But that's my point. We can't even fit him there. So don't see them spending big money to add another top winger to try and squeeze in there.
- TPC

I don't disagree with you. My main point above was to Jan's point that Hoffman would be out of the price range. I would 10/10 take signing Hoffman though if it prevented the cockamamie idea of moving LAF to RW. In theory Laf's ascension to the top 6 should only be how well he's progressing and whether we are ready to slide CK down to 3LW.

Signing Hoffman as somebody that could block VK when he comes over is a legitimate argument.

I doubt the league or the other teams will let teams (actually i think its only the Rangers) create cap space from a pro-ration quirk. They will pro-rate the other side
- DJ_Barrett

If the proration is part of the agreement, why wouldn't they? This isn't the Rangers exploiting a loophole or anything to that nature, it's just some weird set of events that happened to just benefit them.

I don't disagree with you. My main point above was to Jan's point that Hoffman would be out of the price range. I would 10/10 take signing Hoffman though if it prevented the cockamamie idea of moving LAF to RW. In theory Laf's ascension to the top 6 should only be how well he's progressing and whether we are ready to slide CK down to 3LW.

Signing Hoffman as somebody that could block VK when he comes over is a legitimate argument.
- 2sticks1puck

Gotcha, yea his price could be fit if they wanted to

I actually really really like Hoffman, I just wish he didnt play the very last position we need to fill in the universe

I actually really really like Hoffman, I just wish he didnt play the very last position we need to fill in the universe
- jimbro83

He plays both sides right? At least I thought he did. My whole convo was centered around the idea he could slide as a RW

He plays both sides right? At least I thought he did. My whole convo was centered around the idea he could slide as a RW
- 2sticks1puck

yeah definitely, I just think we have too many wingers no matter which side they play

I think if you really want to talk about adding one of these veterans still unsigned Brassard makes much more sense

yeah definitely, I just think we have too many wingers no matter which side they play

I think if you really want to talk about adding one of these veterans still unsigned Brassard makes much more sense
- jimbro83

I pushed for Soderberg above, Brass wouldn't be terrible either. The fact he could slot into center if needed is a huge plus, maybe put him on Chytil's line and have him take defensive draws.

Crap Jim, now I want this to happen

Our relative cap range is a bit higher than on the surface though. We currently have 14 forwards and 7 defensmen counting against our cap at the moment. One of those D is Smith who can also fill in at forward in as needed. Signing someone like Hoffman in theory means we could send 1, maybe even 2 of our forwards to the taxi squad (Rooney, Blackwell, etc) meaning that we could have close to between 4.5-5 mil of relative cap room for a contract.

I'm not saying we should sign him, I'm just not solid on it's impossible. Out of the teams you listed, he isn't going back to Ottawa, I don't think he's going to NJ. I have no idea what his wants are for signing, but in terms of opportunity and chance to be on a decent team, other than Columbus, I'm not sure anyone in that list is preferable to us.
- 2sticks1puck

Hoffman will be best served at this point by simply waiting until season starts and a major star gets seriously hurt. If a top winger is injured and goes on LTIR, then a team could afford to pay him the big $$. I doubt Hoffman will sign with the Rangers or any other team for the league minimum...

Eric Haula at 1 year 1.75 million is great value for a solid depth center

Eric Haula at 1 year 1.75 million is great value for a solid depth center
- TPC

Not terrible, no.

Guy sure moves around a lot though.