Pre-Game Talk: 2013-2014 Rangers pre-season discussion

[BBKers]

well they are only going to carry 3 spares. Falk and Bickel are the 7/8 Dmen. Asham and Powe are going down eventually or traded or waived to another team. They may stay for a bit with Cally/Hagelin out

Yes, correct. This is before the roster movement we will shortly see. Might be nothing, might be a blockbuster...

 

[Tawnos]

would add more size and scoring over Powe and Pyatt... id gladly take a chance on O'Brien... former 1st round pick in 2007... i hope NYR management try to put in a claim....

Pyatt has outscored O'Brien, in PPG, both of the last two years. Powe, not so much. That said, I'd take Powe's PK ability on the roster before I'd take O'Brien's 6 points. Size, that's another story.

 

[NYR Viper]

Defensive prospect Tomas Kundratek cleared waivers and has reported to the Hershey Bears. Kundratek, 23, appeared in 25 games for the Capitals last year but with an abundance of defensemen wasn’t able to earn his way on to the roster at the start of the new season. Oates wants to see Kundratek work on focusing on the details of his game while in Hershey.
“What I talked to him about was, his skating is one of his best attributes,” Oates said. “When he goes down there [to the AHL] he gets a little cocky with his skating and tries to do too much thinking he’s invincible and you put yourself out of position. Down there is still a good league and he’s got to work on position play and staying within the boundaries of the system.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capitals-insider/wp/2013/09/26/brooks-laich-misses-practice-joel-ward-ill/

Kundratek still battling the same things he was in Juniors. He plays too much like Phaneuf running around. Great tools though.

 

[Blue Blooded]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capitals-insider/wp/2013/09/26/brooks-laich-misses-practice-joel-ward-ill/

Kundratek still battling the same things he was in Juniors. He plays too much like Phaneuf running around. Great tools though.

Sounds like Jack Johnson, hopefully Kundratek is a bit more humble and coachable than Jack is. Or why am I wishing success on a Caps player? Hopefully he'll remain a headcase like Johnson.

 

[Punxrocknyc19*]

Sounds like Jack Johnson, hopefully Kundratek is a bit more humble and coachable than Jack is. Or why am I wishing success on a Caps player? Hopefully he'll remain a headcase like Johnson.

at least he made it to the NHL... its a shame that Bouchard decided to go to europe. i guess some players dont wanna stick it in the minors and get a better chance of getting called up...

 

[NYR Viper]

at least he made it to the NHL... its a shame that Bouchard decided to go to europe. i guess some players dont wanna stick it in the minors and get a better chance of getting called up...

He would never have had a chance. He was awful.

 

[Tawnos]

Sounds like Jack Johnson, hopefully Kundratek is a bit more humble and coachable than Jack is. Or why am I wishing success on a Caps player? Hopefully he'll remain a headcase like Johnson.

You mean the guy who is the number 1 D and captain of his team?

 

[Blue Blooded]

You mean the guy who is the number 1 D and captain of his team?

Yes, that guy. Johnson shouldn't be used as a #1 D, just as Phaneuf shouldn't. They get constantly hemmed in their own end.

Here we have a Columbus blogger making a pretty compelling case for Johnson being the worst defenceman on the team, bar Dalton Prout.

 

[Ola]

Jack Johnson is maybe not a role model for young players, he has always rubbed me the wrong way somewhat.

But he isn't CBJ worst D, he is their best player. He is an extremely talented player.

I don't know what it is with people calling a teams best player/D the worst D of the the team. You hear like once or twice per year.

 

[Blue Blooded]

Jack Johnson is maybe not a role model for young players, he has always rubbed me the wrong way somewhat.

But he isn't CBJ worst D, he is their best player. He is an extremely talented player.

I don't know what it is with people calling a teams best player/D the worst D of the the team. You hear like once or twice per year.

Johnson is insanely talented, no question about that. He just isn't an effective defenceman. If I was his coach I'd try to convert him into a forward á la Brent Burns.

Columbus' best player at this point is Bobrovsky and it isn't even remotely close. He was the only thing standing between them and a bottom-3 finish last year.

 

[RGY]

Johnson is insanely talented, no question about that. He just isn't an effective defenceman. If I was his coach I'd try to convert him into a forward á la Brent Burns.

Columbus' best player at this point is Bobrovsky and it isn't even remotely close. He was the only thing standing between them and a bottom-3 finish last year.

Ummm, what???? You are just picking at straws here. First Johnson is a problem, then he is talented enough to be converted to a forward at this stage in his career??? You do know Brent Burns was a forward when he was younger, right? I have not read anywhere, ever, that Jack Johnson was originally a forward and converted to a defenseman, like Burns did. It is just not that simple. Johnson is not an elite "defenseman" but he definitely is playing the right position and would be a bonus on any team's blueline.

Just because you say things, doesn't make them to be true.

 

[Blue Blooded]

Ummm, what???? You are just picking at straws here. First Johnson is a problem, then he is talented enough to be converted to a forward at this stage in his career??? You do know Brent Burns was a forward when he was younger, right? I have not read anywhere, ever, that Jack Johnson was originally a forward and converted to a defenseman, like Burns did. It is just not that simple. Johnson is not an elite "defenseman" but he definitely is playing the right position and would be a bonus on any team's blueline.

Just because you say things, doesn't make them to be true.

Jack Johnson has all the tools, but he can't play defence effectively. That's why I'd try him at forward, makes him less of a liability.

I've read several articles where his past coaches call him uncoachable. Because he as such a star in college, he'd just go out and do the thinks that worked there when he was head and shoulders above the rest. But that doesn't work at the NHL level where the level of talent is higher.

It can hardly be a coincidence that every NHL team Johnson has played for has performed better with him on the bench than on the ice.

Here we have Dean Lombardi talking about our dear Jack:

“Jack was a thoroughbred out there,” Lombardi explained. “But he was all over the place. He was awful as a hockey player. As an athlete, you’re going, wow! Look at the way he skates, shoots, he can pass. But he had no idea where he was going.”

“At times, he was playing forward at Michigan,” Lombardi elaborated. “You had no idea what position he was playing. But he had always been the star and he always got his numbers. Then he turns pro and for the first time, we’re telling him ‘whoa, just make the first pass and learn to play in your own end.’ How about making a read in your own end about the right guy to pick up? He was awful.”

Indeed, the miscues and blown coverages, especially in the defensive zone, were glaring—Johnson was a defensive liability.

“It was a big risk for us to trade for him,” said Lombardi. “There was all that hype and stuff because he’s just like a thoroughbred. It’s like looking at a horse and saying wow! But then he gets on the track and he has no clue how to run the race. He might even run in the wrong direction. That was Jack. [He was] really raw.”
Like many young players loaded with talent and skill, Johnson could not believe it when criticism came his way.

“Here again, you’ve got a kid who’s got to change his game and he can change a game, going end-to-end, getting you out of your own end,” Lombardi noted. “It was like, ‘you’re not good enough at that not to do these other things that you’ve never done.’ Now try and convince him of that after [he has] been told how great [he is throughout his] life, [he has] played in the US Development Program, [he was] at Michigan, everything [was] great, great, great. Now [he is] in the pros and it’s ‘what do you mean? I’m Jack Johnson.’”

“Jack Johnson, three years ago, was all highlight film stuff,” said Lombardi. “But the trouble is, the highlight film stuff was only once every three games. In between, it was all fire drills. [He just had to] simplify [his game]. No highlights. The highlights will come back once you start to simplify.”

And a few articles describing his value. Getting rid of him was just as valuable as getting Carter, making the trade a double positive for the Kings.

 

[bernmeister]

Had higher hopes for Haley. I think he deserves a real shot finally. Would rather him up here than Pyatt, in all honesty.

Like the shape of the 9 D remaining. Hope Allen can beat out one of Bickel or Falk for the final spot in the top 8. Though, it might be more wise to have him playing every day in the AHL, and Bickel up here since he can spot in at wing also

Thing is, an injury to a D (god forbid) and I put in Allen before Falk and Bickel anyway at the rate they've all played.

You got my vote. I'm not sure we can squeeze in Haley, who deserves to be here. But definitely him over Pyatt.

 

[bernmeister]

They let him stay on this roster for a reason. The Rangers kept him to see if there was any gas left in the tank and it would be a total waste to keep him in the press box.

For the Rangers, barring injury, it makes total sense. He's basically signed to a 1 year deal. If he plays like he did in 11-12, he will get a deal from somebody else, which would at least be decent. If he does suck, which could legitimately happen, then they will keep him for probably 25 games and then demote him to Hartford to get $925,000 back. THEN, and only then would I not let him play hockey I order to keep him from injury.

I won't quibble with you on the timing.

We agree if he does suck at present --- and I think this will become more obvious going forward --- then we need to demote him.

You want to be sure, wait 25 games, employ the strategy specified. I'm not fighting that.

But roster spots are valuable in a team like ours in a competitive division.

If all things are not equal, I give your suggestion more consideration.
If all other things are equal, sending him down sooner than later is better for the big club in terms of roster mgmt.

They let him stay on this roster for a reason. The Rangers kept him to see if there was any gas left in the tank and it would be a total waste to keep him in the press box.

This was still a stupid gamble.

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

If all other things are equal, sending him down sooner than later is better for the big club in terms of roster mgmt.

You can ramble on all you want about sending Richards to the AHL sooner or later, but the reality is he ain't going to Hartford: he's got a NMC in his contract. He's on the roster for the year. Get used to it.

 

[Tawnos]

You can ramble on all you want about sending Richards to the AHL sooner or later, but the reality is he ain't going to Hartford: he's got a NMC in his contract. He's on the roster for the year. Get used to it.

And you know what? The fact of the matter is that I'd rather have him on the team than have gone after one of the mediocre higher priced of the free agents that were available in the offseason. He's a better option, even at a shell of his former self, than any of them, really. I'm pretty sure that was a big part of the decision not to buy him out. He could end up being the best "acquisition" we could have made.

I wouldn't have risked the injury possibility, but the logic is definitely there.

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

And you know what? The fact of the matter is that I'd rather have him on the team than have gone after one of the mediocre higher priced of the free agents that were available in the offseason. He's a better option, even at a shell of his former self, than any of them, really. I'm pretty sure that was a big part of the decision not to buy him out. He could end up being the best "acquisition" we could have made.

I wouldn't have risked the injury possibility, but the logic is definitely there.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything out of Richards to suggest he's shaken out of his "slump". Until he starts playing like he was brought it in to play, it's a disaster. This is not a player who can contribute when he's not scoring. Furthermore, he's a complete mercenary--regardless of what he does, he's gone after the season. I hope he's professional about it, because it can't be a great feeling.

 

[lucky13]

Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything out of Richards to suggest he's shaken out of his "slump". Until he starts playing like he was brought it in to play, it's a disaster. This is not a player who can contribute when he's not scoring. Furthermore, he's a complete mercenary--regardless of what he does, he's gone after the season. I hope he's professional about it, because it can't be a great feeling.

idk...it might not really bother him at all...i mean if he gets bought out...that means he gets paid not to play for the rangers....and another team will also be paying him a decent salary to play for them.... he might look at it as a chance to go on a run with NY then he gets to pick where he wants to live again

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

idk...it might not really bother him at all...i mean if he gets bought out...that means he gets paid not to play for the rangers....and another team will also be paying him a decent salary to play for them.... he might look at it as a chance to go on a run with NY then he gets to pick where he wants to live again

Richards is set for life, regardless of how he plays. He better have enough pride to suck it up and get his head out of his tush and start playing like he's paid to do.

 

[eco's bones]

Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything out of Richards to suggest he's shaken out of his "slump". Until he starts playing like he was brought it in to play, it's a disaster. This is not a player who can contribute when he's not scoring. Furthermore, he's a complete mercenary--regardless of what he does, he's gone after the season. I hope he's professional about it, because it can't be a great feeling.

Agree completely. He should have been bought out. The argument that his staying means we're not wasting the cap space on someone else is a straw man argument. There's no way of knowing what we might have done with the cap space. Not using it and having the space would be a potential + in itself for making potentially necessary moves later on this year.

 

[Kwayry]

Powe is a goner.
AV has a dilemma, Pyatt or Hrivik, interesting to see which one he picks.

 

[Tawnos]

Agree completely. He should have been bought out. The argument that his staying means we're not wasting the cap space on someone else is a straw man argument. There's no way of knowing what we might have done with the cap space. Not using it and having the space would be a potential + in itself for making potentially necessary moves later on this year.

It's not about not knowing what we would have done. It's about knowing that none of the options were any better than Richards.

 

[Vitto79]

Cally cleared for contact, steps back. Sucking less would be nice

 

[Clown Fiesta]

Cally cleared for contact, steps back. Sucking less would be nice

Need Cally on the ice, we always play like ******* without him.

 

[Ola]

So what lines are we looking at for opening night? (I haven't seen last nights game)

Seems like Asham, Powe, Kreider, Pyatt, Fast and Miller are battling it out for 2 spots...