Brooks Rangers' Aren't Doing Themselves Any Favors by Limiting Filip Chytil

[Phil]

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I get the concept of competing interests, that this team’s and this coach’s mission is to make the playoffs and not act as a development program even as the kids require room to grow. But playing the young guys can at times satisfy both agendas. This is one of those instances.

 

Giving Chytil — who went to the net to poke home the 3-3 tying goal at 13:35 of the third period in Tuesday’s exhilarating 4-3 shootout victory at the Garden over the Wild — more ice time and more responsibility fulfills both agendas. It makes the Rangers better today and allows for the prospect of much better tomorrows.

 

Chytil got 16:43 of ice in this one, opening between Lafreniere and Jimmy Vesey, then skating on units that on different shifts included Kakko or Barclay Goodrow after the Blueshirts lost Chris Kreider to an upper-body injury midway through the third period. He had jump. He made plays.

 

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Two-hundred-forty-seventh out of 400 for the Rangers’ brightest young star up front who, by the way, is a pending restricted free agent due for a hefty increase over his current AAV of $2.3 million and is only two seasons away from unrestricted free agency.

 

It is difficult to imagine the 23-year-old, 21st-overall selection of the 2017 entry draft signing on long term if stuck in a third-line role in which he gets scant power-play time.

 

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It is impossible to endorse an approach under which the Rangers may never find out what Chytil can do before it becomes too late. The Blueshirts are 12-2-2 over their last 16 games, so Gallant is likely loath to switch things up, but this is the exactly the time to elevate Chytil into a second-line spot with Panarin on his left. If there are worries about the defensive side of the puck, Goodrow or Vesey can play the right side while Trocheck and Vitali Kravtsov shift down to skate with Lafreniere.

 

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[Pete]

I'm kind of torn on this one. They might have to trade him at the draft because they hitched their wagon to Trocheck who, while is as-advertised, just doesn't quite fit with Panarin and they didn't pay him almost 6M to center the 3rd line.

 

The reality is that FC, KK, VK and ALF will never see PP time under this coach. There are a number of other coaching failures that we don't need to cover here, but if that was remedied it would solve cascading problems.

 

It really is a sticky wicket with no easy answer. Trocheck looks more unnecessary every day, except for faceoffs. (and before anyone tries to come in hot with some Strome bullshit, I'd say the same thing if they signed Strome....Too many people for too few positions and not enough ice time.)

 

I understand wanting to go all-in last year, but my god would we be in better shape if GG wasn't pulling his bullshit and the kids got PP time, knew what we had, and never traded for Copp. We'd have picks, Barron as a 3C, wouldn't have signed Tro, etc.

[Cash or Czech]

They obviously didn't believe he was 'the guy' when they invested $14mil in Zibanejad and Trocheck for the next 7 to 8 years. 

 

I'd be curious if @Drew a Penalty had matchup data to see if Fil is doing well because he's getting favorable matchups on the third line?

 

I agree with the notion that if Kreider is hurt, it's time to move Chytil to the 2nd line with Panarin and Kravtsov. Move Lafreniere with Zibanejad and Kakko, then let the third line grind it out with Goodrow-Trocheck-Vesey.

[Phil]

Yeah, my fear here is that the decision to sign Trocheck doomed Chytil before the ink even dried. It's seven years. I can understand the org not really believing in Chytil, and his breakout probably couldn't have been timed more poorly, but you can't control what you can't control.

 

And they're now firmly in shit or get off the pot territory. He's so close to free agency he can smell it. You have to offer him a long-term deal, or you basically walk him right to UFA.

[Pete]

32 minutes ago, Phil said:

Yeah, my fear here is that the decision to sign Trocheck doomed Chytil before the ink even dried. It's seven years. I can understand the org not really believing in Chytil, and his breakout probably couldn't have been timed more poorly, but you can't control what you can't control.

 

And they're now firmly in shit or get off the pot territory. He's so close to free agency he can smell it. You have to offer him a long-term deal, or you basically walk him right to UFA.

GG is such a huge part of this problem. And frankly I'm sure the vets love to play for him but the kids hate it and I wouldn't be shocked if they tried to get out ASAP while he's coaching.

[BrooksBurner]

Even if they give Chytil 4.5-5M per, the Rangers are at like 18.5-19M for centers in their top 9. That’s not that much for the position. Tampa, for example, has spent 23M and closer to 25 after Cirelli’s raise kicks in.

 

I think Trocheck moving to 3C (or traded) at some point in his contract was part of the plan. 5.6M is nothing when the cap rises. That’ll be good 3C money rather than low end 2C money very soon. Chytil has presented himself as the possible successor, and has probably fast tracked Trocheck’s move to 3C, but there’s a place for both on this roster long term. The reality is the Rangers probably felt comfortable at 7 years for Tro because he plays the kind of game that translates well to a 3rd line role as he declines.

 

If the Rangers need money for wiggle room in the interim until the cap goes up, I think Goodrow gets traded. He’s served his purpose. Chytil is far more valuable short and long term, and it’s not really even close. Also, I’ve said it before, but they should be trying to find a cheaper version of Goodrow before they are Goodrow. To some degree, even though he doesn’t offer the C flex, Jimmy Vesey has been more impressive than Goodrow at being “Goodrow” this year. $800K.

[BrooksBurner]

Also the article made me rock hard. Did that go without saying?

[SaveByRichter35]

All season I have been mostly neutral on Gallant.  No preference whether kept or fired.  This thread has pretty much pushed me to the fire side of the aisle.  If he is not willing to play the kids to the point that the organization knows what it has in them by the time decisions on them need to be made then it is time to get rid of him and find a coach who can win and also play the kids before it is too late and they become stars elsewhere.

Edited January 11, 2023 by SaveByRichter35

[SaveByRichter35]

6 minutes ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

All season I have been mostly neutral on Gallant.  No preference whether kept or fired.  This thread has pretty much pushed me to the fire side of the aisle.  If he is not willing to play the kids to the point that the organization knows what it has in them by the time decisions on them need to be made then it is time to get rid of him and find a coach who can win and also play the kids before it is too late and they become stars elsewhere.

I say this with the preface that I am in the middle of catching up on the Laf Critcal Point thread and have yet to start the Keeping Chytil thread.  

[Valriera]

1 hour ago, rmc51 said:

Even if they give Chytil 4.5-5M per, the Rangers are at like 18.5-19M for centers in their top 9. That’s not that much for the position. Tampa, for example, has spent 23M and closer to 25 after Cirelli’s raise kicks in.

 

I think Trocheck moving to 3C (or traded) at some point in his contract was part of the plan. 5.6M is nothing when the cap rises. That’ll be good 3C money rather than low end 2C money very soon. Chytil has presented himself as the possible successor, and has probably fast tracked Trocheck’s move to 3C, but there’s a place for both on this roster long term. The reality is the Rangers probably felt comfortable at 7 years for Tro because he plays the kind of game that translates well to a 3rd line role as he declines.

 

If the Rangers need money for wiggle room in the interim until the cap goes up, I think Goodrow gets traded. He’s served his purpose. Chytil is far more valuable short and long term, and it’s not really even close. Also, I’ve said it before, but they should be trying to find a cheaper version of Goodrow before they are Goodrow. To some degree, even though he doesn’t offer the C flex, Jimmy Vesey has been more impressive than Goodrow at being “Goodrow” this year. $800K.

Correct - I don't see this as a real issue here even if we lock Chytil up for 5. We'd have to make a trade somewhere else but basically no matter what we do this offseason is going to involve a trade be it Chytil or otherwise. 

 

The issue I see is the coach which we've all been over a million times.

 

Good point about Vesey too, I think you're right that he's done a great job filling that role for cheap money and we'll benefit from him for another couple years. 

Edited January 11, 2023 by Valriera

[josh]

1 hour ago, rmc51 said:

Even if they give Chytil 4.5-5M per, the Rangers are at like 18.5-19M for centers in their top 9. That’s not that much for the position. Tampa, for example, has spent 23M and closer to 25 after Cirelli’s raise kicks in.

 

I think Trocheck moving to 3C (or traded) at some point in his contract was part of the plan. 5.6M is nothing when the cap rises. That’ll be good 3C money rather than low end 2C money very soon. Chytil has presented himself as the possible successor, and has probably fast tracked Trocheck’s move to 3C, but there’s a place for both on this roster long term. The reality is the Rangers probably felt comfortable at 7 years for Tro because he plays the kind of game that translates well to a 3rd line role as he declines.

 

If the Rangers need money for wiggle room in the interim until the cap goes up, I think Goodrow gets traded. He’s served his purpose. Chytil is far more valuable short and long term, and it’s not really even close. Also, I’ve said it before, but they should be trying to find a cheaper version of Goodrow before they are Goodrow. To some degree, even though he doesn’t offer the C flex, Jimmy Vesey has been more impressive than Goodrow at being “Goodrow” this year. $800K.

no. He's not good defensively.

 

 

 

 

[Albatrosss]

Just now, josh said:

no. He's not good defensively.

 

 

 

 

He's not good as a checker maybe?  but good as an offensive point-getter.  Nothing wrong in having 3 scoring centers.  

[LindG1000]

3 hours ago, Phil said:

Yeah, my fear here is that the decision to sign Trocheck doomed Chytil before the ink even dried. It's seven years. I can understand the org not really believing in Chytil, and his breakout probably couldn't have been timed more poorly, but you can't control what you can't control.

 

And they're now firmly in shit or get off the pot territory. He's so close to free agency he can smell it. You have to offer him a long-term deal, or you basically walk him right to UFA.

I hear you, but I'll take an alternate approach here: Chytil being this close to FA could be a blessing in disguise.

 

The mechanics of a deal like 3 years, 17 million can work very well for the team and for Chytil. That's about the same as Trocheck's cap hit, and it does set him up as a 26-year-old UFA in a year where we'd be shedding two massive contracts (Trouba, Panarin - assuming neither's been dealt already) alongside him coming due again.  That's not to mention that you'd be at a point where Kreider is tradeable, Goodrow is very tradeable (if he's still around), and Trocheck becomes shockingly tradeable (he's due 11.5m over the final three years of his deal after July 1, 2026, and his buyout hit after 2026-27 is very manageable).

 

And obviously, if Chytil's less a breakout star and more a steady-eddy mid-sixer, you're not overcomitted. 

 

 

[BrooksBurner]

1 hour ago, josh said:

no. He's not good defensively.

 

 

 

 

Before he got here I was under the impression his defensive game was top notch. I think it’s been just average here. He’s made mistakes, couple times loafing around I’ve noticed, but there’s more characteristics than being a stalwart defensively that make a good 3rd line center. His overall approach offensively is prototypical 3rd line. Forechecks, gets pucks deep, gets pucks towards the net, simple north/south game, throws his body around, plays with an edge, wins faceoffs. He hits a lot of checkboxes.

[BrooksBurner]

21 minutes ago, LindG1000 said:

I hear you, but I'll take an alternate approach here: Chytil being this close to FA could be a blessing in disguise.

 

The mechanics of a deal like 3 years, 17 million can work very well for the team and for Chytil. That's about the same as Trocheck's cap hit, and it does set him up as a 26-year-old UFA in a year where we'd be shedding two massive contracts (Trouba, Panarin - assuming neither's been dealt already) alongside him coming due again.  That's not to mention that you'd be at a point where Kreider is tradeable, Goodrow is very tradeable (if he's still around), and Trocheck becomes shockingly tradeable (he's due 11.5m over the final three years of his deal after July 1, 2026, and his buyout hit after 2026-27 is very manageable).

 

And obviously, if Chytil's less a breakout star and more a steady-eddy mid-sixer, you're not overcomitted. 

 

 

This is it IMO. I think it takes a bit less money too. Cirelli’s bridge contract, maybe. 4.8 x 3