Toggle sidebar

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

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Status
Not open for further replies.
In this game I would like to have seen:

Pouliet - Brassard - Zuc
Hrivik - Lindberg - Kristo
Kreider - Miller - Fast
Boyle - Moore - Dorsett

Would have been fun to watch.

And has McI been sent to Hartford? Didn't play last night nor is he playing tonight.
 
Levitate said:
Like that Kreider is paired with someone different than Richards and Nash here. Miller is a guy who likes to have the puck and make plays and is a tenacious player. I think that suits a guy like Kreider much better, helps keep his energy up.
Click to expand...

Personally, I was hoping they would try him with Brassard and Frodo. I think being on a line with some creative passers would really benefit him.
 
So far, Kristo and Fast have made much better cases for a wing spot than Kreider.
 
NYR Viper said:
I honestly think Hrivik has looked VERY good.
Click to expand...

The nice thing about Hrivik as opposed to Kristo, is that Hrivik could play a bottom 6 role. Kristo is purely an offensive player. We already have several of those including Zuccarello and Brassard. They're using Fast for PK duties as well so he has a versatility edge.
 
Regarding Kreider, can someone who has watched him more at lower levels explain why he averaged around 1.5 PIM per game in BC and then in Hartford. What I'm wondering, specifically, is if he's much more physically engaged at those levels. He took 3 penalties in 23 games in the NHL last year. It's a significant enough difference to wonder what's up.
 
Fitzy said:
The nice thing about Hrivik as opposed to Kristo, is that Hrivik could play a bottom 6 role. Kristo is purely an offensive player. We already have several of those including Zuccarello and Brassard. They're using Fast for PK duties as well so he has a versatility edge.
Click to expand...

This is going to be part of Kristo's development, I think. He's going to have to learn to not just be a pure offensive player if he wants a shot at the NHL. Of the 4 players, he seems the most likely to start in Hartford.

Of course, we're all forgetting about Miller right now too.
 
Tawnos said:
Regarding Kreider, can someone who has watched him more at lower levels explain why he averaged around 1.5 PIM per game in BC and then in Hartford. What I'm wondering, specifically, is if he's much more physically engaged at those levels. He took 3 penalties in 23 games in the NHL last year. It's a significant enough difference to wonder what's up.
Click to expand...

He isn't engaging for some reason. I think he is deferring too much.

Fitzy said:
The nice thing about Hrivik as opposed to Kristo, is that Hrivik could play a bottom 6 role. Kristo is purely an offensive player. We already have several of those including Zuccarello and Brassard. They're using Fast for PK duties as well so he has a versatility edge.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I think Hrivik makes this team. He is a big, strong kid who looks to make plays and understands board play. I think he makes the team. Fast I think is the other kid who makes it. Plays both wings, is great on the PP, can PK. His defensive awareness is just more polished than Kristo's is right now.
 
Tawnos said:
Regarding Kreider, can someone who has watched him more at lower levels explain why he averaged around 1.5 PIM per game in BC and then in Hartford. What I'm wondering, specifically, is if he's much more physically engaged at those levels. He took 3 penalties in 23 games in the NHL last year. It's a significant enough difference to wonder what's up.
Click to expand...

I wrote this back in June. Don't know how much truth there is too it, but it's the only thing I can come up with:

Kreider has taken a lot of penalties at lower levels. His last year of college, he took 36 minors in 44 games. Of the 36 penalties, 4 were for hitting after the whistle, 4 for boarding, 3 for roughing and 1 for hitting from behind. Another 11 were for tripping (5 in one game lol). How many of those were called because he bumped a smaller player and the player fell down?

I think he's a little gun-shy, so to speak, and playing for Torts probably didn't help in that regard. But I think his hitting will pick up more as he gets more comfortable.
Click to expand...

I think we've just got to give him time and see what happens. He may end up being more Gaborik (style-wise) than Lucic. He's done some good things, but yes, I'd like to see him be more physical and carry the puck more.
 
GAGLine said:
I wrote this back in June. Don't know how much truth there is too it, but it's the only thing I can come up with:



I think we've just got to give him time and see what happens. He may end up being more Gaborik (style-wise) than Lucic. He's done some good things, but yes, I'd like to see him be more physical and carry the puck more.
Click to expand...

Okay, pretty much what I thought. There are a lot of players around who, while not physical forces per se, need to be physically engaged in order to be offensively engaged. Kreider might be one of them.
 
The lack of engagement and involvement on Kreider's part goes far beyond his linemates at this point. He has had an array of linemates since he entered the league and putting forth a consistent compete level has been a problem for him.

It's up to him to take more initiative out there. Players like Hrivik are already distinguishing themselves regardless of linemates.

I think Kreider may take longer to develop than some of our other forwards. Players in the power forward mold often need more time to become effective. But I think the organization and the fanbase expect big things from him right now when a more patient approach may be necessary.
 
Hopefully Allen or Johnson can show some flashes of being a competent #7 for this team. After Bickel and Falk's trainwreck of an audition last night, it shouldn't be too hard.
 
Fitzy said:
So far, Kristo and Fast have made much better cases for a wing spot than Kreider.
Click to expand...

Can't argue with that. Ironically he looked much better once he was demoted, but there's no excuse for him not to be more engaged. I'd throw Hrivik in there as well. He's looked very good, and he has the defensive competence that might give him and edge over Kristo.
 
Alien Valuating said:
Hopefully Allen or Johnson can show some flashes of being a competent #7 for this team. After Bickel and Falk's trainwreck of an audition last night, it shouldn't be too hard.
Click to expand...

I think Allen was great in the game he played, but I'd be disappointed if the team kept him as a spare defender. He needs to see top-4 minutes in Hartford.
 
Alien Valuating said:
Hopefully Allen or Johnson can show some flashes of being a competent #7 for this team. After Bickel and Falk's trainwreck of an audition last night, it shouldn't be too hard.
Click to expand...

I don't think, even if Allen plays lights out, he would be considered for the #7 spot. More likely to play a ton in the AHL and then get called up.
 
Trxjw said:
I think Allen was great in the game he played, but I'd be disappointed if the team kept him as a spare defender. He needs to see top-4 minutes in Hartford.
Click to expand...

Exactly. 25 NHL games over a full season isn't going to help him. 70 games in the AHL will.
 
BrooklynRangersFan said:
Watch it through to the end - as he finishes the stick check he catches Hrivik's left skate and that's what sent him flying. He definitely should have had a penalty shot IMO.
Click to expand...

Even if that was the case, the trip, if there was one, wasn't what negated the scoring opportunity, which is the standard for awarding a penalty shot. Maybe a penalty should have been called, but the breakup of the play was legal.
 
Blue Blooded said:
I thought it looked like a shoulder check to the back of him, which as far as I know is a legal play.
Click to expand...

I seem to remember years ago Girardi getting called for a penalty (and penalty shot) on Malkin, I think, because he pushed Malkin in the hip from behind while chasing down a breakaway. Never could figure that one out...
 
NYR Viper said:
I don't think, even if Allen plays lights out, he would be considered for the #7 spot. More likely to play a ton in the AHL and then get called up.
Click to expand...

Agreed that would be best for his development. I guess I meant "#7" as in the first guy who would get a crack at the lineup in the case of an injury. If we are keeping Bickel and Falk in the press box I'm okay with that, but should someone in the top 6 go down with an injury for even just a few weeks they are not the guys I want picking up the minutes. Coming into the season I thought Falk would be that guy, but right now it's up for grabs.
 
Alien Valuating said:
Agreed that would be best for his development. I guess I meant "#7" as in the first guy who would get a crack at the lineup in the case of an injury. If we are keeping Bickel and Falk in the press box I'm okay with that, but should someone in the top 6 go down with an injury for even just a few weeks they are not the guys I want picking up the minutes. Coming into the season I thought Falk would be that guy, but right now it's up for grabs.
Click to expand...

Personally, I think Falk would look fine out there with a competent defensive partner.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom