GDT: #10 - 02/07/2013 | New York Islanders @ New York Rangers | 7:00 PM - MSG

[Killem Dafoe]

I laughed so hard at Miller's first NHL shot. He put so much concentration and effort into it that it sent him flying. I remember thinking "this is what we need."

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Hell, I'm a converted Boyle defender, but if J.T. comes in and puts BB in the unemployment line, there will be no complaints from me.

 

[nevesis]

http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/rangerrants/

Healthy scratch Boyle: “I’ve got to be betterâ€

Brian Boyle, who has one assist and is a minus-3 in nine games, plus was benched for about a 14-minute stretch in the third period of Tuesday’s 3-1 loss at New Jersey, will be a healthy scratch tonight against the Islanders.

And after a hard conditioning skate along with fellow healthy scratch, defenseman Stu Bickel, Boyle reflected upon what has led to tonight’s benching.

And what he needs to do to rejoin the lineup. Boyle played in all 82 games in each of the past two seasons and just the second time he’s been a healthy scratch since joining the Rangers for the 2009-10 season.

“I’m just not playing well enough, making mistakes,†Boyle said. “Everybody makes mistakes but I’m not contributing enough or playing to where I can play to. It’s not for a lack of effort but there’s no moral victories when you’re 4-5 and I need to have a lot more of an impact.

“I work hard as I can each day, I’ve always done that,†Boyle added. “Whether it’s a focus thing or an edge or a combination of a few things, in the games I just need to be harder and have more of an attitude and get back to playing a little bit more desperate. After the New Jersey game that night, there was a lot of reflection in trying to find what it was that made me effective. I need to figure it out and get back to it. There was a couple of mental errors in New Jersey. It hasn’t been there, the whole body of work this year hasn’t been there. There’s been up and downs. I don’t know what it is. It’s not reactive, there’s a little too much thinking and not enough confidence. Just things that can affect my whole game negatively and I need to figure out a way to get back to playing well because I know I can and I have. I’ve gone through spurts where I’ve played well, then played crappy and come out of it. I think they want me to do well and they’re going to coach me to do well and I need to prove to them that I can.â€

Boyle being a healthy scratch is a manifestation of what coach John Tortorella spoke about yesterday and after the the loss to the Devils, that he does not have time in this shortened season to wait around for his players to find their games. Plus, Boyle, as you’ve read above, essentially echoed Tortorella’s description of tentative play on his part.

Boyle could be the first in a line of players who are healthy scratches.

I asked Boyle if he thought it was a motivational tool by Tortorella or just a function of Tortorella needing to have the players on the ice who are playing the best.

“It’s probably both,†Boyle said. “He’s going to put the guys out there he thinks can help him win the game. I think he wants me to do better, I think he wants me to play better, I think he knows I can play better, just like I do. It may be a little bit of both. The way I look at it, he’s talked to me, he’s coached me in different strategies and ways t try and get me going and this is just another way to do it. I know I’ve got to be better. It stinks but it is what it is.â€

 

[Punxrocknyc19*]

I think he's overrated in both instances

Overrated in what he brings to the team.

Overrated in what some fans think he's worth on the market

agreed..... Boyle also slows down the forcheck whenever he is on the ice.... very slow for the NY Rangers style that Torts wants.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

I think he's overrated in both instances

Overrated in what he brings to the team.

Overrated in what some fans think he's worth on the market

He will bring back a 3rd, 2nd at the most on the market. That's not worth what we value him as. He's an awesome 4th line center and honestly that's where he should be playing. Put Halpern on the wing, bench Asham. Boyle and Powe round it out. Asham can't do **** but fight.

 

[Rangers ftw]

Without Asham or Bickel in the lineup who would fight? Brian Boyle?

Asham is in the lineup for a reason...you know this. I expect more from your posts.

Noone would fight hopefully, as it is as boring as it gets.

 

[Panfork]

I actually believe this will send Boyle flying out the gate next time he plays. The guy isn't a star, but he's a solid hockey player; just needs a little fire lit under his ass once in a while. If that gets him going, then I'm all for it.

 

[Levitate]

I understand completely. It's just that its amazing how quick everyone is to assume the movement of Boyle because some 19 year old kid had one good game. Should he build upon this consistently, then Boyle will see his last days in Manhattan.

Very true. Boyle has just been not that good so far this year, it's been a bit frustrating. At least last year, even with his lack of scoring, he seemed to be generating more with his forechecking and board work. This year he really hasn't been very good at that.

The line is very fine. Management would not think twice about giving Miller a full time spot over Boyle if he's lighting the lamp.

Some people just have it. Miller has the talent and the mental makeup. He's a tough kid, and natural hockey player. Much more so than Kreider who will need some seasoning mentally, to get to the top of his game.

I am super excited to see more of J.T. Miller, and have been for a while.

I'd certainly be happy if Miller could stick in the lineup as a solid 3rd line C right now, but it also wouldn't surprise me at all if he played a good couple of games and then struggled some.

 

[Tawnos]

Boyles best game of the season came the day we signed Arnott. The fact that he immediately went back to the way he was before when Arnott failed the physical had to be disheartening to Tortorella. It's a good way of showing that Boyle has become complacent.

Despite the fact that I think he's playing over his ability on the 3rd line, I do not want to see Boyle traded. He's an important part of our team off the ice. Hopefully this lights a fire under him and he comes back with an edge to his game on Sunday.

 

[EpicDing]

Can we please call Kreider-Miller-Callahan Team America?

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Asham ****ing blows. I'd rather have Boyle in over him.

 

[pld459666]

He will bring back a 3rd, 2nd at the most on the market. That's not worth what we value him as. He's an awesome 4th line center and honestly that's where he should be playing. Put Halpern on the wing, bench Asham. Boyle and Powe round it out. Asham can't do **** but fight.

I would be shocked at a 2nd.

I'd be happy with a 3rd.

Agree with his position on the team. He's a 4th line center.

Asham brings an element to the game that Boyle cannot and while that may be a dying part of the game, it's not dead yet.

 

[pld459666]

Noone would fight hopefully, as it is as boring as it gets.

you're right.

It would allow them to leave he likes of Boulton, Martin and Carkner to run us all night.

I'm excited for that.

 

[Ail]

Rookie plays strong first career NHL game.

Organization immediately begins feverish shopping of reliable 3C.

He's more of a reliable 4C than a 3 if he is only good on special teams and defensive plays. A reliable 3C has to score occasionally or facilitate it.

If Halpern can do all of the 4C duties and Miller sticks, then I would trade Boyle and keep Halpern. Again, this is just speculation and it's more like Boyle needs a kick in the ass than to be replaced, but it could be an option down the road.

 

[WeWillWinTonight]

Asham ****ing blows. I'd rather have Boyle in over him.

He's tough and can throw down if need be. Who else going to do that in this lineup other than Bickel

 

[16 To Stanley*]

I would be shocked at a 2nd.

I'd be happy with a 3rd.

Agree with his position on the team. He's a 4th line center.

Asham brings an element to the game that Boyle cannot and while that may be a dying part of the game, it's not dead yet.

Our penalty killing has been atrocious. We bring in Powe to help out with that (seeing as we lost prust and feds last year). Nash has been very meh as a penalty killer and asham sure as hell can't kill penalties.

I don't see the logic behind bringing a guy in to basically kill penalties then benching one that is arguably our best at it (sans cally).

I'd rather have boyle in for his pk than asham in for his fighting. If this is a one game thing, i get it, but i truly don't see anything wrong with Boyle's effort level.

If this is more than a one game thing, i have a serious issue with it. As for the trade value, he'd bring a second if sather could work magic, i'd be as shocked as you though. Third would be more likely and i'd be upset at a 4th.

 

[Thirty One]

you're right.

It would allow them to leave he likes of Boulton, Martin and Carkner to run us all night.

I'm excited for that.

The likes of Boulton, Martin and Carkner on the ice all night?

Sign me up!

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

We're not magically going to get run more with Asham not in the lineup. They didn't stop Kreider from getting nailed by Orpik. Rupp couldn't stop Sauer from getting nailed by Dion. I'm sick of these useless enforcers wasting roster spots. Asham needs to start playing like a decent 4th liner in other aspects of the game before I stop throwing up everytime I see him.

 

[pld459666]

Our penalty killing has been atrocious. We bring in Powe to help out with that (seeing as we lost prust and feds last year). Nash has been very meh as a penalty killer and asham sure as hell can't kill penalties.

I don't see the logic behind bringing a guy in to basically kill penalties then benching one that is arguably our best at it (sans cally).

I'd rather have boyle in for his pk than asham in for his fighting. If this is a one game thing, i get it, but i truly don't see anything wrong with Boyle's effort level.

If this is more than a one game thing, i have a serious issue with it. As for the trade value, he'd bring a second if sather could work magic, i'd be as shocked as you though. Third would be more likely and i'd be upset at a 4th.

Boyle has been a big part of that atrocious PK you speak of.

Lets keep that guy around.



Sitting for a game is not going to hurt him. Could be the wake up call he needs.

Flip side is that giving his minutes to someone else may open the possibility of someone coming in and doing a great job.

Don't really see the downside.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

We're not magically going to get run more with Asham not in the lineup. They didn't stop Kreider from getting nailed by Orpik. Rupp couldn't stop Sauer from getting nailed by Dion. I'm sick of these useless enforcers wasting roster spots. Asham needs to start playing like a decent 4th liner in other aspects of the game before I stop throwing up everytime I see him.

I don't think he's the worst, but to bench boyle over him is ridiculous, again, hopefully it's for only one game. I'm fine with a one game benching to kick someone's butt.

I agree with you though, i'm so sick of these useless enforcers who do nothing. It's honestly a waste of a roster spot. Especially taking out boyle. While boyle can't fight, he throws bigger hits than asham and i would argue stands up for his teammates more than him.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Its scenarios like this where I really do miss Dubi and Prust. Asham and Stu are ****ing useless outside of throwing down.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

Boyle has been a big part of that atrocious PK you speak of.

Lets keep that guy around.



Sitting for a game is not going to hurt him. Could be the wake up call he needs.

Flip side is that giving his minutes to someone else may open the possibility of someone coming in and doing a great job.

Don't really see the downside.

You're right, he has. But should we judge 9 games over how he has played through an entire season? On top of that, he doesn't have his pk partner in prust and didn't have any sort of training camp to learn the system with his new partner.

 

[Ail]

We're not magically going to get run more with Asham not in the lineup. They didn't stop Kreider from getting nailed by Orpik. Rupp couldn't stop Sauer from getting nailed by Dion. I'm sick of these useless enforcers wasting roster spots. Asham needs to start playing like a decent 4th liner in other aspects of the game before I stop throwing up everytime I see him.

Agreed. Every enforcer signed in the past 4 seasons has been useless.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Yeah, I sincerely miss Prust. Its a shame for us MTL gave him the contract they did.

 

[haveandare]

We're not magically going to get run more with Asham not in the lineup. They didn't stop Kreider from getting nailed by Orpik. Rupp couldn't stop Sauer from getting nailed by Dion. I'm sick of these useless enforcers wasting roster spots. Asham needs to start playing like a decent 4th liner in other aspects of the game before I stop throwing up everytime I see him.

I agree whole heartedly. Having those guys on the ice does less than nothing. Asham isn't too much of a liability in his defense, but he doesn't add anything either. At leas Boyle is a solid PKer and a smart defensive player when he's on his game. Asham, even on his game, does what?