Injury Report: 2013-2014 Injury News/Discussion (11/9: Nash skates, Pyatt concussed)

[Ail]

This may sound absolutely nuts, but at this point, it might be smarter to put Del Zotto on wing temporarily. We have a decent top six who more or less can play good sound hockey (I think that the first couple of games were an aberration.) He obviously has some skill and can play offensive hockey. It worked with Burns in San Jose. Why not give it a shot?

Probably because MDZ is not Burns, not even close.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

I think obviously this sucks ass. This team can overcome. Optimistic? yes. Not crazy. They have to buckle up and hunker down. Play like last night, really...

EDIT I think DZ on wing would be either really cool, or really...REALLY bad

 

[Doctor King Schultz]

I always fear the silent injury, it can strike at any time.

 

[smoneil]

I think obviously this sucks ass. This team can overcome. Optimistic? yes. Not crazy. They have to buckle up and hunker down. Play like last night, really...

EDIT I think DZ on wing would be either really cool, or really...REALLY bad

I think it would be a short-sighted move. He needs consistency. In four years, he's had half a dozen partners and been bounced back and forth between the left and right side. They need to put him somewhere and let him get something going. If the team needs scoring wingers, they have their top two prospects in the AHL that they can call up. I'd rather see Fast get a look there first, though. He's had some moments lately where he seems like he's starting to put it together. If that doesn't work, I'd like to see Kristo (I like Kreider, but I think he needs more time. Kristo is also a natural RW).

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Are you ****ing kidding me?

This sucks.

So frustrating. Just when the team was showing some life. Cally is too important to this team to simply shake it off and say oh well hell be back soon.

He's was catalyst for all of those extended shifts last night resulting in goals. Great. 13-14 really ****ing sucks right now.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

I think it would be a short-sighted move. He needs consistency. In four years, he's had half a dozen partners and been bounced back and forth between the left and right side. They need to put him somewhere and let him get something going. If the team needs scoring wingers, they have their top two prospects in the AHL that they can call up. I'd rather see Fast get a look there first, though. He's had some moments lately where he seems like he's starting to put it together. If that doesn't work, I'd like to see Kristo (I like Kreider, but I think he needs more time. Kristo is also a natural RW).

Good points and I'd agree with you. I want our guys consistent. I just haven't been blown away by some AHL guys. Kristo is someone I like though.

 

[Hire Sather]

Maybe Del Zotto wouldn't miss the net every single time shooting from the wing instead of the point.

 

[RGY]

Any vets still unsigned that we can get on the cheap to fill in?

 

[Fataldogg]

Oh, and as I posted this on the main forum, prepare for the Torts system to come back into place with these injuries.

We can't score goals as it is. We looked like the team last year against the Capitals. With 3 of our top-6 out, we don't have a choice.

Be prepared for defense, defense, defense. We couldn't play a run and gun offense with our full line up healthy, we certainly can't do it now.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

Oh, and as I posted this on the main forum, prepare for the Torts system to come back into place with these injuries.

We can't score goals as it is. We looked like the team last year against the Capitals. With 3 of our top-6 out, we don't have a choice.

Be prepared for defense, defense, defense. We couldn't play a run and gun offense with our full line up healthy, we certainly can't do it now.

I never expected run and gun. I'm sure no one who pays attention competently did, either.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I never expected run and gun. I'm sure no one who pays attention competently did, either.

I don't think anyone wanted true run and gun. What we (or at least I) wanted was competent transition out of the defensive zone, a defensive philosophy a little more advanced than "everyone throw themselves in front of the goal" and permission to use the center of the ice. (And hey - actually shoot from a liiiiiiiittle better angle than parallel with the goal line!)

 

[DoTheBlue]

Sniff ...... sniff sniff
Ahhh the sweet smell of adversity.
That line up is looking a thin these days but the next two are still winnable.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

That's fair. I think most of us wanted better transition and a better strategy than *always* bouncing in via board. I think we're getting it, but 3 of our most important guys missing may very well see us playing more of "Torts" hockey, which I'm fine with given the circumstances.

 

[aufheben]

Del Zotto can't hit the net and let's mistakes snowball; I think him on the W would be a disaster. Up-ice passes are by far his best attribute; what's he gonna do, skate around in circles?

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

Del Zotto can't hit the net and let's mistakes snowball; I think him on the W would be a disaster. Up-ice passes are by far his best attribute; what's he gonna do, skate around in circles?

Pass it from our own zone, skate hard to the blueline, and receive his own pass.

 

[aufheben]

Pass it from our own zone, skate hard to the blueline, and receive his own pass.

And then shoot wide and get caught even further up ice than normally. Might as well keep him on defense.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

And then shoot wide and get caught even further up ice than normally. Might as well keep him on defense.

I hope he settles his stuff out, real fast

 

[Anthony Mauro]

Maybe Del Zotto wouldn't miss the net every single time shooting from the wing instead of the point.

Ha it's the perfect angle

 

[BBKers]

Any vets still unsigned that we can get on the cheap to fill in?

Vinny Prospal
Led the Blue Jackets in scoring last year
Very tan fella
Leader
Easy decision IMO

 

[Glennsoe]

I still say that Nash was "injured" in the "fight" he had some games ago..

To me it looked like Nash squinted his eyes and shook his head a little after the fight heard around the world..

So he could've gotten a pre concussion there, if that's possible..

 

[Blue Blooded]

This definitely sucks, having your top 3 wingers out will cripple most teams.

But the sky is falling a bit too much around here. We played a fantastic game against Washington, but people seem to attribute that solely to Callahan, which obviously wasn't the case.

You do know that he was also playing in those blowout losses to the Sharks and Ducks right?

Judging from some of the comments it seems like Lundqvist and half the defence spontaneously combusted.

Oh, and as I posted this on the main forum, prepare for the Torts system to come back into place with these injuries.

We can't score goals as it is. We looked like the team last year against the Capitals. With 3 of our top-6 out, we don't have a choice.

Be prepared for defense, defense, defense. We couldn't play a run and gun offense with our full line up healthy, we certainly can't do it now.

We ran the Caps out of their own building through two periods and then shut them down completely in the third, not allowing a shot in the final 9 minutes of the game.

The 12-13 Rangers were a decent possession team, but the earlier incarnations of the Torts Rangers never outplayed teams like we just did with the Caps. And that was without 2/3 of our top line.

McDonagh-Girardi shut the Caps top line down like it was nothing, and Staal-Strålman dominated possession 5v5 to the same extent most teams do on the PP. As long as the defence keeps up that level of play we should still be able to win a lot of games.

I just hope the Caps game wasn't a one-off, because I've never seen the Rangers play so badly as they did in the losses against the Sharks and Ducks, but I also haven't seen many games where the Rangers have been as good as they were against the Caps.

 

[Blue Blooded]

Re: Del Zotto on the wing.

I think it is an interesting idea. Most of his 5v5 points come when he plays like a forward on the counterattack, carrying the puck into the offensive zone and shoots/sets someone up. MDZ does IMO have more of a forward-skillset than a defenceman-skillset, so a transition might work out well.

Winger is probably the least complex position to play, so I don't think he would be totally lost. Though Burns was a forward as a junior, so he wasn't completely new to the position.

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

Damn this hurts us. I think their best option now is to move Stepan up to the first line wing.

Richards - Brassard - Stepan
Kreider - Miller - Zuccarello
Pyatt - Boyle - Fast
Haley - Moore - Dorsett

2nd line is bad defensively, but get them offensive zone starts and see if the kids are ready to do something on this level. Pouliot won't do anything on the fourth line, så get Haley a look there. (or Powe as I see he's been recalled)

 

[I Eat Crow]

^

That is a lottery team picking in the top 5. I don't care how well the defense or Hank plays.

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

^

That is a lottery team picking in the top 5. I don't care how well the defense or Hank plays.

Good thing we have Hagelin, Callahan and hopefully Nash coming back soon.
I think it's the best team they can muster with those guys out, provided the kids can contribute.