Speculation: Roster Building Thread: Part XIV

[Kaapo di tutti capi]

It would be a steal if we traded Andersson for Puljujarvi.

For Edmonton. Puljujarvi is corn studded ****

 

[Rongomania]

Since Oct. 20th:

10 GP
+1
11 points

Tony D. Crushing.

 

[n8]

For Edmonton. Puljujarvi is corn studded ****

he does have 20 points in 18 LIGA games. I don't know how to interpret that though but Taylor Hall left EDM and became an MVP but i guess Hall also actually put up points in EDM.

What I really want to post however is when have the Rangers ever been good on faceoffs? It's been ages. Like was Bobby Holik our last face off specialist? At that was before they instituted the faceoff hash marks and stricter rules. This team would probably win 10% more of their games if we had someone who could win faceoffs like Jonathan Toews of Patrice Bergeron.

 

[SA16]

The argument that Lias hasn’t been good nor shown anything to be moved up is nonsense since Howden has been far worse. Again.

 

[kovazub94]

Agree with the top, disagree with the bottom.

I don't think Panarin-Strome-Fast is something that should comprise most of the year.

Panarin-Strome-Kakko
Kreider-Zibanejed-Buchnevich
Lemieux-Chytil-Fast
Smith-Howden-McKegg

Lol, you just did what you disagreed with @ZuccsFluffierFluffer ’s post, the only difference you saddled Chytil with two offensively challenged wingers.

I agree with @Kovalev27 , Strome is trying hard but can barely keep up against opponents top centers defensively and Fast will be wasting most of offensive opportunities.

 

[darko]

It would be a steal if we traded Andersson for Puljujarvi.

Based on what? Pulju's NHL resume is pretty mediocre and that's being generous.

 

[SA16]

Based on what? Pulju's NHL resume is pretty mediocre and that's being generous.

As opposed to Lias strong NHL resume?

 

[kovazub94]

...Another possibility is that Lias is just straight up not as good as this board thinks, myself included.

Occam’s razor

 

[kovazub94]

The argument that Lias hasn’t been good nor shown anything to be moved up is nonsense since Howden has been far worse. Again.

Nobody knows how good Lias is. And nobody will until he’s given a fair chance.

As a rebuilding team, shouldn’t we provide our prospects with a realistic opportunity? This is the perfect time to play your young talent and see what you’ve got.

Playing under 10m a night with mediocre wingers doesn’t seem to me like he’s being given an equal opportunity. Regardless of what you think of Andersson, that’s not a successful environment for a young player that needs confidence and experience to grow as a player.

I didn’t want Lias when we selected him. I always saw him as a player with limited offensive upside — but I loved every other aspect of his game. At pick #7, I prefer we go big. Gamble. We didn’t. Oh well. Work with what you have.

Lias will never be the driver on his line. He’s a complimentary player. Put the kid in a role that he’s excelled in rather than the nonsense role being he’s asked to “Stand out” in.

And tryng to stand out in 3-4 shifts a period with talentless hacks shouldn’t be expected. You get no rhythm as a player. It’s like, playing in goal 2-3 games a month.

Howden has had some miserable games this year. Why wasn’t he relegated? Why hasn’t Lias been given an opportunity in Howden’s bigger role when Howden has played like horse****?

If management feels Lias needs to work on certain parts of his game, then send the kid to ****ing Hartford where he can work on that playing 17-20 minutes a night instead of seeing a little over 5 min of ES time in a game that went into OT like tonight’s.

Every game I closely follow Andersson and Howden when they are on the ice trying to put mental marks against ANY kind of positive play (win a freaking 50/50 board battle, make an accurate forward pass to keep the play going) during their respective shifts. Lias gets virtually none. It’s actually sad to see Smith or McKegg going to places where Andersson should be going if he could. Lias need to show at least some consistent bare minimum of positive contribution to give his supporters some basis to argue for him.

I really HOPE that going to Hartford would get him back on track to at least not be a liability on a 4th (!!!!) line.

 

[darko]

As opposed to Lias strong NHL resume?

Just as mediocre if not worse. Can't see how this would be a steal.

 

[SA16]

Every game I closely follow Andersson and Howden when they are on the ice trying to put mental marks against ANY kind of positive play (win a freaking 50/50 board battle, make a forward pass to keep the play going) during their respective shifts. Lias gets virtually none. It’s actually sad to see Smith or McKegg going to places where Andersson should be going if he could. Lias need to show at least some consistent bare minimum of positive contribution to give his supporters some basis to argue for him.

I really HOPE that going to Hartford would get him back on track to at least not be a liability on a 4th (!!!!) line.

It's more an argument against Howden than for Lias. Lias hasn't been good either. But I've seen a year of Howden getting 15 mins/game and now one of him getting 16 mins/game and being mostly exclusively terrible.

 

[RGY]

I still want to know what Lias is supposed to do playing with the anchor that is Brendan Smith and the carousel between Haley and McKegg on his other side. They all have hands of stone. Two of them are just slow and behind the play constantly so they can never possess the puck to get it to Lias. If Lias gets them the puck they lose it skating up the ice or panic with it and take some awful shot that leads to a possession change.

To say Lias hasn’t been good is mind boggling. He sure as hell hasn’t been bad. He doesn’t even get the minutes on the ice to be bad, and that’s with him killing penalties. That’s how shafted he gets with EV time. Why does Howden continue to be force fed minutes? Does he have naked pictures of DQ?? He was awful yesterday. He has been crap. Constantly turns pucks over, especially in his own end. He is the center so he is one of the 3 down low working to get the puck back from the opposition and when he does get the puck he chips it towards the blueline, off the boards or to space, as if he is praying his winger is there. But no instead it goes right back to the opposition. He has been terrible. Absolutely terrible.

But for some reason DQ wont switch Howden with Lias. At least if Lias fails in the 3rd line checking role, which he is very much suited for and playing with a linemate with Lemieux, then we would at least know its on him.

 

[Good Intentions]

I still want to know what Lias is supposed to do playing with the anchor that is Brendan Smith and the carousel between Haley and McKegg on his other side. They all have hands of stone. Two of them are just slow and behind the play constantly so they can never possess the puck to get it to Lias. If Lias gets them the puck they lose it skating up the ice or panic with it and take some awful shot that leads to a possession change.

To say Lias hasn’t been good is mind boggling. He sure as hell hasn’t been bad. He doesn’t even get the minutes on the ice to be bad, and that’s with him killing penalties. That’s how shafted he gets with EV time. Why does Howden continue to be force fed minutes? Does he have naked pictures of DQ?? He was awful yesterday. He has been crap. Constantly turns pucks over, especially in his own end. He is the center so he is one of the 3 down low working to get the puck back from the opposition and when he does get the puck he chips it towards the blueline, off the boards or to space, as if he is praying his winger is there. But no instead it goes right back to the opposition. He has been terrible. Absolutely terrible.

But for some reason DQ wont switch Howden with Lias. At least if Lias fails in the 3rd line checking role, which he is very much suited for and playing with a linemate with Lemieux, then we would at least know its on him.

While I agree Lias - Lemieux (w Fast) is a sensible third line (and certainly a better situation for Lias) Quinn is simply saying ... he doesn’t deserve that look, and that tells me a lot.

I’m not looking for Lias to put up points with McKegg and Smith, but I’m also not on board with the excuses for him. I don’t see any notion of an NHL regular.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

What credit does Ruff deserve?

It's the same with AV.

Them: "AV sucks at developing players!"
Me: "Kreider, Zuccarello, Brassard, Fast, Skjei, Miller, Hayes all improved under AV"
Them: "Yeah, but that was in spite of AV being the coach. He sucks!!!"

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

The argument that Lias hasn’t been good nor shown anything to be moved up is nonsense since Howden has been far worse. Again.

Instead of looking at who deserves to be "moved up" we could look at it from a different POV. Who deserves to be moved down? Howden certainly fits that bill.

 

[kovazub94]

It's more an argument against Howden than for Lias. Lias hasn't been good either. But I've seen a year of Howden getting 15 mins/game and now one of him getting 16 mins/game and being mostly exclusively terrible.

Nope, not true at all. Howden gets his share of positive plays in my count to at least earn another opportunity. As compared to Lias’s stalling and being back to perform at his worst levels from last season, Howden has been showing forward progression compared to last year. I would have no problem if the organization feels he should center the 4th line if the center depth is set Zibanejad - Chytil - Strome and Andersson is to go to Hartford, but Howden is an NHLer and it’s only the start of his second pro season. I don’t understand how some of you can’t see how big the gap between Howden and Andersson has grown.

 

[kovazub94]

Instead of looking at who deserves to be "moved up" we could look at it from a different POV. Who deserves to be moved down? Howden certainly fits that bill.

See below or is it above?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

See below or is it above?

Not that it really matters. Lias deserved a shot out of camp, and never got it. If he didn't get it then, he's certainly not getting it now.

 

[Kovalev27]

Chytil can improve in Hartford, but Andersson can't?

I certainly would be willing to try if they don’t plan on trading him

 

[kovazub94]

Not that it really matters. Lias deserved a shot out of camp, and never got it. If he didn't get it then, he's certainly not getting it now.

Certainly agree with you here, but I’m guessing there was something in practices that we didn’t see (if your recall Quinn’s comment on this subject back then).

 

[RGY]

While I agree Lias - Lemieux (w Fast) is a sensible third line (and certainly a better situation for Lias) Quinn is simply saying ... he doesn’t deserve that look, and that tells me a lot.

I’m not looking for Lias to put up points with McKegg and Smith, but I’m also not on board with the excuses for him. I don’t see any notion of an NHL regular.

What are the “excuses” though? Because him not getting any ice time is a fact. Him not getting ice time with legitimate NHL forwards is a fact. Smith isn’t a forward, don’t care how serviceable he has been. McKegg is a fringe forward. Haley, surprised he has lasted this long getting any NHL minutes. These are the facts.

Hockey is not a one man sport. There are a very select few that can carry the play and do it all by themselves. Its fast paced, and every shift there is so much going on all over the ice that linemates depend on each other to allow the whole line to have a successful shift. Lias does not have dependable linemates. He had a good camp and his reward was getting stuck with bums. Howden had a suspect camp and his reward has been Top 9 minutes all year long. And during that time he has gotten worse while playing with more competent wingers. Last year Lias got some ice time with Lemieux and they looked good together. What is the harm in giving that a look again? Howden doesn’t deserve the role he is in.

Calling facts excuses is downright lazy and naive, wanting to take the easy way out in an argument by trying to pass it off as truth. It isn’t. Its bull*** is what it is.

 

[Richard Banger]

Just as mediocre if not worse. Can't see how this would be a steal.

Because we'd be trading for a player that has a much higher boom potential. Pul is a much more talented player.

 

[Mike in Houston]

I don't even think an injury to Howden moves Lias to 3C.

 

[darko]

Because we'd be trading for a player that has a much higher boom potential. Pul is a much more talented player.

Higher bust potential too.

 

[Kovalev27]

The part that isn’t accurate is that Lias is being saddled with inferior players or guys that (and yes I just read this) are too slow for him?

. I’m sorry but both smith and McKegg are better players than Lias right now. Both have their moments. And frankly both can skate circles around him. Smith has been very solid as a 4th liner. He has generated chances and other than that bonehead play yesterday he’s been good defensively. McKegg in limited action gets in uses his speed to disrupt he’s been good.

the obvious piece here is that if Lias was the best player on his line we’d know about it. The coaches and front office do not want to bury their 7th overall pick just because. To be honest I think he’s only here due to his draft status.

be the best player on your line and earn ice time. Quinn isn’t dancing around this. He said it yesterday lias needs to earn more mins.