Should we try Kakko, Laf, or Kravtsov at center?

Unknownbutfamous1

Registered User
Oct 1, 2017
14
7
We have a need at center. Lets think outside of the box

When I think of a good center, I think of someone that:

1. Is good positionally in the defensive zone.
2. Is good at winning board battles
3. Has a long reach/is good with his stick
4. Good on faceoffs - Can be learned
5. Is a good puck distributor

Laf - I think that he has 1,2, and 5. 4 remains to be seen. Coaches never played him at center in junior for some reason they think he was not a center. I trust them.

Kakko - I think he has 1, 2, and 3. 4 remains to be seen and I think hes more of a shooter than a puck distributor. I think more consideration has to be given to European prospects since young kids dont play as much and aren't trusted to play important positions and minutes by Euro coaches. He is dominant in puck possession and is very good at getting the puck back. He has a very good take away to turnover ratio. He's got a big body and long reach.

Kravtsov - I think he has 3, and 5. 4 remains to be seen. Russian coaches (even more than other Euro coaches) tend to not trust their younger players as much as the vets so I think this needs to be kept in mind. He's a good puck distributor. Hes got size and a long reach. I think hes decently defensively.
 
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Zynbanejad

To Blais or Not To Blais
Jul 7, 2010
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Na we should trade for Jack Drury (half kidding, just found out how good this kid is)
 

nyr2k2

Can't Beat Him
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NEW YORK RANGERS PROSPECT INFORMATION
$ PLAYER SIGNED TO NHL CONTRACT
C
TEAM CAPTAIN - A ALTERNATE CAPTAIN
PLAYER CURRENTLY INJURED/UNABLE TO PLAY

:rangers


NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR PROSPECTS -- OHL, QMJHL, USHL, WHL, Others
#
Player
Pos.
Sh.
DOB
Ht.
Wt.
GPGAP+/-PIM
SOG
Team/League
Acquired
9 Grubbe, Jayden CC R 01/12/2003 6'3" 200 Red Deer Rebels/WHL Drafted R3 #65 2021
78 Othmann, Brennan C $LW L 01/05/2003 6'0" 178Flint Firebirds/OHL Drafted R1 #16 2021

#
Player
Pos.
Glv.
DOB
Ht.
Wt.
GP
W
L
OTL
GAA
SV%
SO
Team/League
Acquired
31 Boyko, Talyn G L 10/16/2002 6'8" 200Kelowna Rockets/WHLDrafted R4 #112 2021



UNITED STATES COLLEGE PROSPECTS -- NCAA
#
Player
Pos.
Sh.
Yr.
DOB
Ht.
Wt.
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
SOG
Team/Conference
Acquired
21 Berard, Brett LWL So.09/09/2002 5'9" 165Providence Friars/HEA Drafted R5 #134 2020
Chmelař, JaroslavRW R Fr. 07/20/2003 6'4"196Providence Friars/HEADrafted R5 #144 2021
9Ciccolini, EricFR Jr.01/14/20016'0"170Michigan Wolverines/B10Drafted R7 #205 2019
19Hughes, Riley AW RJr.06/27/20006'2"195Northeastern Huskies/HEADrafted R7 #216 2018
4Kempf, HankDLFr.04/15/20026'2"190Cornell Big Red/ECACDrafted R7 #208 2021
Kjellberg, SimonD L Jr.02/17/2000 6'3"190Northern Michigan Wildcats/CCHADrafted R6 #163 2018
Lamb, BrodyRW R Fr. 08/30/2003 6'0"165Minnesota Golden Gophers/B10Drafted R4 #104 2021

#
Player
Pos.
Glv.
Yr.
DOB
Ht.
Wt.
GP
W
L
OTL
T
GAA
SV%
SO
Team/Conference
Acquired
1Ollas, HugoGLFr.04/24/20026'8"253Merrimack Warriors/HEADrafted R7 #197 2020



INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS -- KHL, Liiga, SHL, Others
#
Player
Pos.
Sh.
DOB
Ht.
Wt.
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
SOG
Team/League
Acquired
10Aaltonen, LeeviWL 01/24/2001 5'9" 168KooKoo/LiigaDrafted R5 #130 2019
20Tärnström, OliverC/LWL 08/30/2002 6'1" 163Rögle BK/SHLDrafted R3 #92 2020
58Väisänen, Kalle LW R 01/28/2003 6'4" 181HC TPS/LiigaDrafted R4 #106 2021

#
Player
Pos.
Glv.
DOB
Ht.
Wt.
GP
W
L
OTL
GAA
SV%
SO
Team/League
Acquired



NORTH AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL PROSPECTS -- AHL, ECHL, NHL
#
Player
Pos.
Sh.
DOB
Ht.
Wt.
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
SOG
Team/League
Acquired
Cuylle, Will $LW L 02/05/2002 6'4" 210Drafted R2 #60 2020
Edström, Adam $FL 10/12/2000 6'6" 207Drafted R6 #161 2019
Elmer, Jake $RW R 12/31/1998 6'1"184Signed as UDFA 2019
Henriksson, Karl $C/LWL 02/05/2001 5'9" 176Drafted R2 #58 2019
Jones, Zac $D L 10/18/2000 5'10" 175Drafted R3 #68 2019
Khodorenko, Patrick $ C L 10/13/1998 6'0" 200Signed as UDFA 2020
Korczak, Ryder $C R 09/23/2002 5'11" 173Drafted R3 #75 2021
Kravtsov, Vitali $RW L 12/23/1999 6'3"193Drafted R1 #9 2018
Lundkvist, Nils $ D R 07/27/2000 5'11"187Drafted R1 #28 2018
Pajuniemi, Lauri $RW R 09/12/1999 6'0"196Drafted R5 #132 2018
Rempe, Matthew $CL06/29/20026'9"240Drafted R6 #165 2020
Richards, Justin $C R 03/17/1998 5'11" 190Signed as UDFA 2020
Robertson, Matthew $D L 03/09/2001 6'4" 201Drafted R2 #49 2019
Rueschhoff, Austin $ C/RWR 09/07/1997 6'7" 230Signed as UDFA 2020
Rydahl, Gustav $C/LWL09/11/19946'3"209Signed as UDFA 2022
Scanlin, Brandon $DL06/02/19996'4"213Signed as UDFA 2022
Schneider, Braden $DR09/20/2001 6'2"202Drafted R1 #19 2020
Skinner, Hunter $D/RWR 04/29/2001 6'2" 187Drafted R4 #112 2019
Trivigno, Bobby $LWL01/19/19995'8"163Signed as UDFA 2022

#
Player
Pos.
Glv.
DOB
Ht.
Wt.
GP
W
L
OTL
GAA
SV%
SO
Team/League
Acquired
Garand, Dylan $ G L 06/07/20026'1"181Drafted R4 #103 2020
Lindbom, Olof $G L 07/23/2000 6'2" 183Drafted R2 #39 2018
Wall, Tyler $ GL01/14/19986'3"214Drafted R6 #174 2016


What Makes a Prospect?
A player will be considered a prospect until he meets the following criteria:
  • If a prospect is a skater (forward, defenseman) and has played in 65 NHL games or more before the completion of the season of his 24th birthday; or, if a goaltender has played in 45 NHL games before the completion of the season of his 24th birthday, that player will be considered graduated to the NHL. Conversely, if a player completes the season of his 24th birthday without passing those milestones, then that player will no longer be considered a prospect, regardless of the player’s status with his NHL club.
  • An NCAA player who signs his first contract at or above the age of 22 has three years to meet the above criteria (65/45), while those NCAA players that turn pro under the age of 22 will be subjected to the criteria above.
  • European players who sign their first NHL contract at or above the age of 22 have three seasons from the time they sign that contract to meet the above criteria. Those European players below the age of 22 that have signed a NHL contract will be subjected to the criteria in section one.
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    NOTE: These are general guidelines and should be followed the majority of the time but certain players may still be listed as prospects if circumstances warrant.
 
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RangerBlues

Registered User
Apr 27, 2004
4,647
738
BRONX NYC
I have noticed that they let Lafrenière take faceoffs. They might be pushing him in that direction. Chytil may be better at wing. But he can also do faceoffs well.
 

bernmeister

Registered User
Jun 11, 2010
27,572
3,657
Da Big Apple
We have a need at center. Lets think outside of the box

When I think of a good center, I think of someone that:

1. Is good positionally in the defensive zone.
2. Is good at winning board battles
3. Has a long reach/is good with his stick
4. Good on faceoffs - Can be learned
5. Is a good puck distributor

Laf - I think that he has 1,2, and 5. 4 remains to be seen. Coaches never played him at center in junior for some reason they think he was not a center. I trust them.

Kakko - I think he has 1, 2, and 3. 4 remains to be seen and I think hes more of a shooter than a puck distributor. I think more consideration has to be given to European prospects since young kids dont play as much and aren't trusted to play important positions and minutes by Euro coaches. He is dominant in puck possession and is very good at getting the puck back. He has a very good take away to turnover ratio. He's got a big body and long reach.

Kravtsov - I think he has 3, and 5. 4 remains to be seen. Russian coaches (even more than other Euro coaches) tend to not trust their younger players as much as the vets so I think this needs to be kept in mind. He's a good puck distributor. Hes got size and a long reach. I think hes decently defensively.
great post OP


We secretly switched Quinn's usual center with Vitali Kravtsov. Can he tell the difference?
Did they also switch his coffee w/Taster's Choice?
 
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bernmeister

Registered User
Jun 11, 2010
27,572
3,657
Da Big Apple
Kravtsov

he has the vision, passing skills, skating and sufficient shooting.

One formula for a successful line is:
driver of play - facilitator - finisher/scorer

that works with
Kakko - Krav - Panarin

Other combos may work, but I guarantee that one does.

That is yr first line gets most mins
then
emerging Chytil 2nd line
LaF - Chytil - Gauthier

trade Buch + Strome for futures

Kreider - Zib/Baron/Blackwell for C and RW

free comp for 4th line
 
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Rempe73

RIP King of Pop
Mar 26, 2018
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Kakko - I think he has 1, 2, and 3. 4 remains to be seen and I think hes more of a shooter than a puck distributor.
He’s more of a scorer, not shooter. I would say he’s about as good of a distributor as he is a scorer too though. He doesn’t have a great shot (not required for a center imo), but he still has the hands and vision to be a dual threat. However, he’s at his best along the boards, so I think he’s staying at RW.
 
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True Blue

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Feb 27, 2002
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This board is just never going to come to grips that the chances of the Rangers moving one of the young wings to center is very, very low.
 

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