- I gave grades on this report card based on their line roles 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th line duties, and the thought process with our D prospects and their roles for New York Rangers in 2018-19 season.
A = best grade letter.
F = Worst grade letter.
Forwards
Mika - A A record season, but was carried hard by Zucc rally before the TDL in 2019 - so I don`t expect him to follow up unless they can find an elite passer, but we need to win the lottery in 2019 draft if that is going to happen.
Kreider - C+ I always expect more after all these years, but somehow he manage to dig himself a hole - hopefully he is moved this summer window based on age reasoning - one of our few players left with value based on our rebuild direction into 2020 season.
Pavel Buchnevich - B One of the few players who improved after TDL.
Howden - D I expected a lot more from Howden, but he was injured and hopefully he can get on the team next training camp, but it won`t be easy especially not if we hit couple times in the 2019 draft.
Namestnikov - C+ One of the few players who improved after TDL.
Lemieux - C+ A positive and impactful signing - I expected much less by this player.
Strome - C+ And that`s one of the reasons that the Oilers GM was fired - and I felt he did well and scored our last OT goal of the season.
Fast - D+ I believe he struggled with injury this season, and he is kind of overrated by New York fanbase in some aspects especially when Quinn using him in a top 6 role he should stay far far away.
Vesey - C- A record season, but maybe overrated by the fanbase so you end up expecting more of such a skilled player, but end up being nothing special at all. I speculate he might be moved in this summer window with Kreider.
Lias - D He need to work hard this summer to be on this 2019-2020 Rangers team next season. But maybe he saw too little TOI, or not ideal to invest 1st picks into 4th line energy duty type of roles. And that`s something coach Quinn need to be evaluated on as well end of this season - I wish Lias was invested differently going into next season to have a chance to be successful.
Chytil - C A typical grade C evaluation - he had flashes and a great start, but it`s a long season in NHL and he was injured. Maybe we expected too much of this player. Quinn gave him a better role and chance of success compare to Lias with more TOI.
Boo Nieves - C He did well in his role and I believe he can improve for sure.
Brickley - D+ Did okey in his role for an unknown player - so you can`t expect too much in NHL.
Smith - C- At least he played NHL hockey, but I can see him getting moved in this summer window.
Vinni Lettieri - C+ After his last NHL callup he was very noticeable - I believe he will be valuable for us already next season - one of the few positives!
Defense
Tony Yes DeAngelo - A a certain keep to build on in our future D core.
Brady Skjei - C A typical grade C performance: I expected to see more Brady - you just signed a 5 mil + $ long term contract, and can`t take half a season off and did some horrific mistakes seldom seen earlier in your career with Ryan Mc. our old captain. But I still believe in you in our future D core - so you need to work really hard this summer to improve your overall defensive decision making and skillset.
Marc Staal - C+ A veteran present, did what Staal can best with defensive stick skills - he deserve more credits than he get sometimes.
Pionk - D+ Well decent offensive skills and passing, but lack size and defensive IQ to be succesful in NHL. I can see him be moved this summer window.
Claesson - C I did not expect much, but he did okey so C. I doubt he will be part of our the future D core.
Shattenkirk C A good veteran player - he is stronger defensive than I thought, but he need more offense from him to get into B score evaluation.
Libor Hájek C+ I can see him part of our future D core with 1 goal out of 5 games, but it`s still too early for him this season with a lot of potential going into next season!
Goalies
Henrik - C- He might be our backup goalie next season based on age reasons - so he is probably not happy with his own performance, but our D core with Pionk is not an ideal situation for any goalies in NHL.
Georgiev - B+ He suprised us all with a very strong season so he should sleep well and be happy with his season.
X Rangers Playoffs performers in 2018-19
Kevin Hayes - A- He had a great season while he was a Rangers - a really skilled center with excellent hockey IQ with us and he was all value and moved to Jets at TDL. So good luck in playoffs and will be missed for sure.
Mats Zuccarello - B- His worst season with Rangers and struggled early with same line as Vesey that did not help his case to finish plays. He struggled with transfer rumors until it happen at TDL after his long Rangers career, and he has 3 pts. in less than 2 games for Dallas. So good luck for Dallas Stars and we will be watching this elite passer, and a wildcard player for Dallas if he is 100% healthy which I doubt after this broken arm injury about 5 weeks ago.
Coaching Staff & GM
Lindy Ruff - D+ I expect him to coach maybe Buffalo unless AV want to be part of NHL and coaching a team next season. I`m not too happy with Lindy current coaching role which is part of our defense structure.
David Quinn B He surprised me positive coming from Boston Uni, but I felt he did some mistakes in NHL with the Lias prospect. And hopefully either Quinn look at it differently next season, or Lias is more likely going to improve over the summer to get an important role on that 3rd line!
Jeff Gorton B- Did what was expected with current Franchise direction which is rebuild - and he signed us couple of impact signings in Strome and Lemieux. But he has not replaced Zucc or Hayes yet unless he resign them this summer. And such players will be hard to find similar quality in the next 2019 draft unless we win the lottery.
A = best grade letter.
F = Worst grade letter.
Forwards
Mika - A A record season, but was carried hard by Zucc rally before the TDL in 2019 - so I don`t expect him to follow up unless they can find an elite passer, but we need to win the lottery in 2019 draft if that is going to happen.
Kreider - C+ I always expect more after all these years, but somehow he manage to dig himself a hole - hopefully he is moved this summer window based on age reasoning - one of our few players left with value based on our rebuild direction into 2020 season.
Pavel Buchnevich - B One of the few players who improved after TDL.
Howden - D I expected a lot more from Howden, but he was injured and hopefully he can get on the team next training camp, but it won`t be easy especially not if we hit couple times in the 2019 draft.
Namestnikov - C+ One of the few players who improved after TDL.
Lemieux - C+ A positive and impactful signing - I expected much less by this player.
Strome - C+ And that`s one of the reasons that the Oilers GM was fired - and I felt he did well and scored our last OT goal of the season.
Fast - D+ I believe he struggled with injury this season, and he is kind of overrated by New York fanbase in some aspects especially when Quinn using him in a top 6 role he should stay far far away.
Vesey - C- A record season, but maybe overrated by the fanbase so you end up expecting more of such a skilled player, but end up being nothing special at all. I speculate he might be moved in this summer window with Kreider.
Lias - D He need to work hard this summer to be on this 2019-2020 Rangers team next season. But maybe he saw too little TOI, or not ideal to invest 1st picks into 4th line energy duty type of roles. And that`s something coach Quinn need to be evaluated on as well end of this season - I wish Lias was invested differently going into next season to have a chance to be successful.
Chytil - C A typical grade C evaluation - he had flashes and a great start, but it`s a long season in NHL and he was injured. Maybe we expected too much of this player. Quinn gave him a better role and chance of success compare to Lias with more TOI.
Boo Nieves - C He did well in his role and I believe he can improve for sure.
Brickley - D+ Did okey in his role for an unknown player - so you can`t expect too much in NHL.
Smith - C- At least he played NHL hockey, but I can see him getting moved in this summer window.
Vinni Lettieri - C+ After his last NHL callup he was very noticeable - I believe he will be valuable for us already next season - one of the few positives!
Defense
Tony Yes DeAngelo - A a certain keep to build on in our future D core.
Brady Skjei - C A typical grade C performance: I expected to see more Brady - you just signed a 5 mil + $ long term contract, and can`t take half a season off and did some horrific mistakes seldom seen earlier in your career with Ryan Mc. our old captain. But I still believe in you in our future D core - so you need to work really hard this summer to improve your overall defensive decision making and skillset.
Marc Staal - C+ A veteran present, did what Staal can best with defensive stick skills - he deserve more credits than he get sometimes.
Pionk - D+ Well decent offensive skills and passing, but lack size and defensive IQ to be succesful in NHL. I can see him be moved this summer window.
Claesson - C I did not expect much, but he did okey so C. I doubt he will be part of our the future D core.
Shattenkirk C A good veteran player - he is stronger defensive than I thought, but he need more offense from him to get into B score evaluation.
Libor Hájek C+ I can see him part of our future D core with 1 goal out of 5 games, but it`s still too early for him this season with a lot of potential going into next season!
Goalies
Henrik - C- He might be our backup goalie next season based on age reasons - so he is probably not happy with his own performance, but our D core with Pionk is not an ideal situation for any goalies in NHL.
Georgiev - B+ He suprised us all with a very strong season so he should sleep well and be happy with his season.
X Rangers Playoffs performers in 2018-19
Kevin Hayes - A- He had a great season while he was a Rangers - a really skilled center with excellent hockey IQ with us and he was all value and moved to Jets at TDL. So good luck in playoffs and will be missed for sure.
Mats Zuccarello - B- His worst season with Rangers and struggled early with same line as Vesey that did not help his case to finish plays. He struggled with transfer rumors until it happen at TDL after his long Rangers career, and he has 3 pts. in less than 2 games for Dallas. So good luck for Dallas Stars and we will be watching this elite passer, and a wildcard player for Dallas if he is 100% healthy which I doubt after this broken arm injury about 5 weeks ago.
Coaching Staff & GM
Lindy Ruff - D+ I expect him to coach maybe Buffalo unless AV want to be part of NHL and coaching a team next season. I`m not too happy with Lindy current coaching role which is part of our defense structure.
David Quinn B He surprised me positive coming from Boston Uni, but I felt he did some mistakes in NHL with the Lias prospect. And hopefully either Quinn look at it differently next season, or Lias is more likely going to improve over the summer to get an important role on that 3rd line!
Jeff Gorton B- Did what was expected with current Franchise direction which is rebuild - and he signed us couple of impact signings in Strome and Lemieux. But he has not replaced Zucc or Hayes yet unless he resign them this summer. And such players will be hard to find similar quality in the next 2019 draft unless we win the lottery.
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