Pre-Game Talk: 2013-2014 Training Camp/Preseason Discussion Thread Part 2

[RangerBoy]

The AHL camp usually starts in late September. The Rangers don't play until next Monday after the two games tonight and tomorrow. Some of the players taken to Banff will need to return to CT for Pack camp. The Rangers skate Wednesday,Friday,Saturday and Sunday in Banff. Thurdsay is off day and the charity golf tournament. The Rangers leave for Calgary after the Flyers game. They will bus to Banff. Sather owns most of Banff. That was the old joke. JD used to kid Sather about that. Its probably true. Sather bought up all of the land a long time ago and now its worth a fortune.

 

[RangerBoy]

From: @AGrossRecord
Sent: Sep 16, 2013 11:50a

Asked for his philosophy on carrying an enforcer, AV says "You've got to be able to play."

sent via TweetDeck
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/AGrossRecord/status/379633425579122688

 

[NYR Viper]

New York Rangers ‏@NYRangers 2m
Alain Vigneault states that @StuBickel is healthy enough to play tonight against Devils "I like what we've seen so far from him"

Another Bickel fan. I would be okay keeping Falk and Bickel as the #7/8 as Bickel can play forward.

 

[NYR Viper]

Andrew Gross ‏@AGrossRecord 2m
Speaking casually, Lundqvist says he's noticed improvement in G Cam Talbot's patience and quickness.

Hank noticing Talbot's development

Andrew Gross ‏@AGrossRecord 2m
Both Lundqvist and Talbot playing about 10 pounds lighter than a couple of seasons ago.

Andrew Gross ‏@AGrossRecord 1m
Lundqvist adds that Talbot's technique and positioning in net and how he holds glove reminds Hank of how he plays.

I like the way that sounds

 

[eco's bones]

Eventhough he is healthy and looked good in the 1st scrimmage, McIlrath should still spend the year in the AHL.
He will be fighting grown men in the NHL, don't believe his body is ready for that yet.
Lindberg looks good, but with Stepan (When he is signed), Brad, Brass and Boyle at C, it's tough to see him crack the lineup out of camp. When Brad is bought out over the summer, he will be ready to take over. Or else someone has to be pushed to the wing, who?

Regarding players who can throw them--the AHL very arguably is a tougher league than the NHL.

McIlrath's first fight in his first game last year--after months of knee rehab was against Bridgeport's Brett Gallant. Gallant is not huge but you're not going to find very many players tougher than him anywhere. He's like a bigger version of Micheal Haley or Cam Janssen. Gallant hardly ever loses to anyone and he doesn't dodge anyone either. The fight itself was pretty much a draw which is pretty good for a guy just coming back from a major injury.

 

[Championship*]

Nobody should be concerning themselves with any Rangers centric "blog". They are all written like amateurs, are essentially just compilations of things you can get from legitimate sources and twitter, and have no actual inside sources. The Kevin Delury blog is one of the worst offenders of the latter. Said Bobby Ryan was going to be a ranger and that the lockout was going to end (when he said it). Both wrong. Scotty Hockey, Adam Rotter, ect. They are all useless. They make our beat reporters look like they are actually working.

 

[Player big P]

Nobody should be concerning themselves with any Rangers centric "blog". They are all written like amateurs, are essentially just compilations of things you can get from legitimate sources and twitter, and have no actual inside sources. The Kevin Delury blog is one of the worst offenders of the latter. Said Bobby Ryan was going to be a ranger and that the lockout was going to end (when he said it). Both wrong. Scotty Hockey, Adam Rotter, ect. They are all useless. They make our beat reporters look like they are actually working.

Yeah I just had no idea whether or not these guys were reputable in any way. I guess not.

Not sure why they seem to be under the impression that someone who doesn't think this sort of thing is funny "has no sense of humor."

 

[Thirty One]

Anyone with a blog should be put down.

 

[Kwayry]

Regarding players who can throw them--the AHL very arguably is a tougher league than the NHL.

McIlrath's first fight in his first game last year--after months of knee rehab was against Bridgeport's Brett Gallant. Gallant is not huge but you're not going to find very many players tougher than him anywhere. He's like a bigger version of Micheal Haley or Cam Janssen. Gallant hardly ever loses to anyone and he doesn't dodge anyone either. The fight itself was pretty much a draw which is pretty good for a guy just coming back from a major injury.

McIlrath will be fighting men in the AHL as well. In fact, in many cases he'll be fighting those heavyweights who aren't good enough for the NHL, but are kept in the AHL just in case an NHL team needs to call them up to pummel someone. If Dylan goes back to the AHL, it's because he's not quite up to par defensively yet and he's not ready for top-4 minutes in the NHL. However, if the reports from camp are any indication, he's much closer to the NHL than many people thought.

All fair points, but I still believe the better fighters are in the NHL and they will be gunning for the fresh meat. Pummeling the 10th overall will be a nice notch on your belt, don't believe he is ready for that. Don't want to see this.

 

[Blue Blooded]

Anyone with a blog should be put down.

Especially that Unlimited dude, and whashisface Martinique! Those guys SUCK!

 

[Thirty One]

Especially that Unlimited dude, and whashisface Martinique! Those guys SUCK!

I mean seriously, Unlimited? Did you get a six-year old to name your blog?

Though I do enjoy Martinique's semi-annual blog entries...

 

[Bardof425*]

Eventhough he is healthy and looked good in the 1st scrimmage, McIlrath should still spend the year in the AHL.
He will be fighting grown men in the NHL, don't believe his body is ready for that yet.
Lindberg looks good, but with Stepan (When he is signed), Brad, Brass and Boyle at C, it's tough to see him crack the lineup out of camp. When Brad is bought out over the summer, he will be ready to take over. Or else someone has to be pushed to the wing, who?

It's even tougher for Lindberg than you presented as you didn't mention Dominic Moore who based on AV's comments is the 4th line center as of now. But the kid can really play and he appears ready. Pre-season games will tell us what we need to know. If he's an upgrade over any of the incumbents or Moore he will play.

 

[BroadwayBlues]

My Centers:

Stepan
Richards
Brassard
Lindberg

Boyle to wing.

I know it sounds like AV likes Moore. Which leads me back to what I said before, the Moore signing killed Lindberg from making the team. There is no room IF IF, AV likes Moore. It's why I wasn't happy with the Moore signing.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

It's not just about fighting people in the NHL that makes McIlrath valuable.

Of our defensemen, 0/6 regularly clear the crease for Hank. Last year they regressed even more with this and took it as far as to not stick up for Hank whenever he was barreled over. Recently, i.e the last several years, players of opposing teams are targeting hank on drives to the net to try and disrupt his game. You can't have 6 passive defensemen unwilling to clear the crease or stick up for the goalie.

I don't think McIlrath is quite ready but I don't think a full season is how far he is either. Midway through the season maybe? Problem is he also has to oust Falk now too. I don't see McIlrath being able to beat out an incumbent and oust another younger guy (Falk) who has more NHL experience and is also willing to drop the gloves unless injuries pile up. While we may need him and while he may prove to be ready before the season is up, we might actually not get to see him until next year... unfortunately.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

My Centers:

Stepan
Richards
Brassard
Lindberg

Boyle to wing.

I know it sounds like AV likes Moore. Which leads me back to what I said before, the Moore signing killed Lindberg from making the team. There is no room IF IF, AV likes Moore. It's why I wasn't happy with the Moore signing.

Stepan
Richards/Brassard
Lindberg
Moore

Lindberg isn't 4th line material. Richards or Brass will have to move to wing on their line.

 

[eco's bones]

All fair points, but I still believe the better fighters are in the NHL and they will be gunning for the fresh meat. Pummeling the 10th overall will be a nice notch on your belt, don't believe he is ready for that. Don't want to see this.

The best fighter out there right now might be Steve MacIntyre who will probably be an AHL'er mostly again this year.

 

[Thirty One]

Clearing the crease and clogging the shooting lanes can't be done simultaneously. That's why we've seen such a decline in crease-clearing in the NHL.

Ulfie promises to bring it back, but we'll see.

 

[Boom Boom Geoffrion*]

It's even tougher for Lindberg than you presented as you didn't mention Dominic Moore who based on AV's comments is the 4th line center as of now. But the kid can really play and he appears ready. Pre-season games will tell us what we need to know. If he's an upgrade over any of the incumbents or Moore he will play.

Were you a bard in ffxi?

 

[NYR2007]

i think a center is going to be dealt. We have too many and not enough $ to sign our top one

 

[haveandare]

Dylan absolutely should be lighting his teammates up.

Sorry, but guys like that need to show the coaching staff what he has to offer.

He's trying to make the team. He's competing with other players for a spot on the roster. You don't want him NOT playing his game just because he could potentially be teammates with these guys.

If the hit is clean and there's no danger of a head shot, then Dylan should absolutely be destroying guys in camp.

If I were AV, I would have a real problem knowing guys are going easy on each other in camp.

screw that none-sense.

I liken my teammates to my brothers. I will beat the ever living crap out of them, but don't you dare let me witness someone else trying it. That's not going to fly.

I would be upset if there were no fights amongst teammates in camp.

To me, that reads as guys are coasting not really fighting for their spots.

Complacency should have no place on the Rangers roster and if Dylan rocking someone because they had their head down because "it's just practice" then they deserve getting destroyed.

I don't know. I like the sound of this in theory, but I'm sure I'd sing a different tune if Mac pummeled say, Nash and caused a real injury. Whether he "deserved it" or not wouldn't really enter into the equation, Mac would have handicapped the team in a HUGE way, but he'd show that he's not complacent. Not really worth it.

 

[Thirty One]

Were you a bard in ffxi?

Real life Bard. Business is slow. If you know anyone looking to hire a Bard for a Birthday party or Intervention....

 

[E-Train]

Regarding players who can throw them--the AHL very arguably is a tougher league than the NHL.

McIlrath's first fight in his first game last year--after months of knee rehab was against Bridgeport's Brett Gallant. Gallant is not huge but you're not going to find very many players tougher than him anywhere. He's like a bigger version of Micheal Haley or Cam Janssen. Gallant hardly ever loses to anyone and he doesn't dodge anyone either. The fight itself was pretty much a draw which is pretty good for a guy just coming back from a major injury.

McIlrath can absolutely handle heavys in the NHL. He did fine in that scrap with Gallant and really well against many noted goons of the AHL. That kid on Ottawa is not in the same league as McI. He's way ahead of where McLaren was at age 21.

He should spend 30 or so games in HFD and then come up like McD did at 21. If there's injuries than maybe sooner. He can definitely handle the physicality, it a matter of deal with the speed of the game in the NHL.

 

[E-Train]

The best fighter out there right now might be Steve MacIntyre who will probably be an AHL'er mostly again this year.

Without a doubt.

 

[Raspewtin]

McIlrath has done very well fisticuffs wise in the AHL, with more bigger and stronger enforcers. No reason to think he wont do well in the NHL.

 

[Championship*]

Saw Stepan's stuff in a locker during that interview that just went up on Blueshirts united - Get this done soon guys, need this kid.