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

[Raspewtin]

Obviously not going forward but Elias has produced more the past 3 years and he is still a much better player than Stepan is right now.
Btw, if you want to look more at "going forward", I would add Huberdeau to my list as well. His upside is way above Stepan's and no, I don't hate Stepan!

Reaaaally?

Like it or not, Couture is a much better player than Stepan will ever be!
Just to piss you off further, here is a list of center I would take over Stepan right now and going forward:

you didn't seem to feel that way in the OP. And you know what 10 years ago I'd have taken DiPietro over Lundqvist. That's what potential ultimately is, a guessing game. So all this upside **** is ultimately useless for the time being, you can only take "upside" over proven play so many times.

 

[Thirty One]

They are centers by trade; Pavelski has played a lot of wing as has Skinner. Btw, don't be too surprised if Stepan ends up on the wing one day soon if he doesn't make a quantum leap in his faceoff %.

Skinner's played very little center at the NHL level.

How does one define "center by trade", especially if they're not playing center?

Obviously not going forward but Elias has produced more the past 3 years

You really have a love-hate relationship with statistics, don't you?

Btw, if you want to look more at "going forward", I would add Huberdeau to my list as well.

Also not a center.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Maybe we can talk about training camp?

Will Stepan and the Rangers come to an agreement or what?

He will be signed by tuesday; take it to the bank. However, if he isn't, you have my permission to vent.

 

[Boruto]

I miss Kershaw....

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Reaaaally?



you didn't seem to feel that way in the OP. And you know what 10 years ago I'd have taken DiPietro over Lundqvist. That's what potential ultimately is, a guessing game. So all this upside **** is ultimately useless for the time being, you can only take "upside" over proven play so many times.

Top goalies have historically been drafted in later rounds. Rinne was the last pick in the draft(not sure of the year)

 

[Player big P]

Just to piss you off further, here is a list of center I would take over Stepan right now and going forward

Obviously not going forward

Get it together guy

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Skinner's played very little center at the NHL level.

How does one define "center by trade", especially if they're not playing center?


You really have a love-hate relationship with statistics, don't you?


Also not a center.

My son who works for ESPN and who assisted me with this list says Huberdeau is a center. Better check out your program card.

 

[Raspewtin]

Top goalies have historically been drafted in later rounds. Rinne was the last pick in the draft(not sure of the year)

Doesn't matter. The potential argument still applies. Datsyuk was drafted in the 6th round, but Patrik Stefan was drafted 1st overall. Who would you rather have?

 

[Kakko]

Get it together guy

should I point out that Elias doesn't even play center

 

[Doctyl]

Like it or not, Couture is a much better player than Stepan will ever be!
Just to piss you off further, here is a list of center I would take over Stepan right now and going forward:

Crosby
Malkin
Bergeron
Krejci
Giroux
LeCavalier
Plekanec
Datsyuk
Zetterberg
E Staal
J Staal
J Skinner
Spezza
Elias
Backstrom
Tavares
Stamkos
Sedin
Kessler
M Koivu
Thornton
Pavelski
Couture
Kopitar
J Carter
Backes
Toews
Getzlaf
Duchene
ROR
Benn
Sequin

Stepan rates just outside the top 25 at the center position.

oh boy this is rich. first off you said going forward. koivu lecav and thornton? really? you would rather have one of them to carry this franchise in the future? if we had signed lecav instead of step i bet you would be calling for sather's crucifixion. ROR, Benn, Seguin, Skinner, Plekanec and Backes LOL. you really think these guys will be better or are already better than stepan? when considering stepan has only played 2 and a 1/2 seasons and already has put up 140 points. lets look at their first 3 seasons.

Backes-108
Benn-160
Seguin-121 (also played 2 1/2 seasons)
ROR-107
Skinner-131 (2 1/2)
Plekanec-145
Couture-128

so the only ones who outscored step were benn and plekanec while playing an extra half of a season. stepan was on pace for 75 points this year. if you take that into consideration, he would have 171 points. the two who have played equal numbers of games are significantly worse defensively and have been outproduced offensively. also if we want to talk about numbers, Stepan outscored all of these players except Stamkos, Crosby, E. Staal, Datsyuk, Getzlaf, Toews, Giroux, Zetterberg, Backstrom and Tavares. Stepan also tied Henrik Sedin. Stepan was also better defensively than about 5 of these guys.

 

[Thirty One]

My son who works for ESPN and who assisted me with this list says Huberdeau is a center. Better check out your program card.

Because ESPN is always my go-to source for hockey...

Huberdeau played wing exclusively last season. I'd be shocked if he's ever a center in the NHL.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

He will be signed by tuesday; take it to the bank. However, if he isn't, you have my permission to vent.

I agree, and i think once Stepan sees Lindberg at Center he will want to get back on the ice before Oscar takes his job, lol.

Lowers his demands and takes 2 at 3.275

 

[Boruto]

My son who works for ESPN and who assisted me with this list says Huberdeau is a center. Better check out your program card.

Is your son Barry Melrose?

 

[PavelBure9]

My son who works for ESPN and who assisted me with this list says Huberdeau is a center. Better check out your program card.

Well, see there's your problem. ESPN and hockey........I'll let you think about that for a second...

 

[Kakko]

My son who works for ESPN and who assisted me with this list says Huberdeau is a center. Better check out your program card.

Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers, born on June 4th, 1993 (just to make sure we're on the same page)

That Jonathan Hubderdeau took 33 face-offs last year. And lost 2/3 of them

 

[Drewbackatu*]

should I point out that Elias doesn't even play center

A number of these players(Pavelski, Skinner, Elias, Huberdeau, etc) are listed playing 2 positions, one of them being center.

 

[JohnC]

Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers, born on June 4th, 1993 (just to make sure we're on the same page)

That Jonathan Hubderdeau took 33 face-offs last year. And lost 2/3 of them

Don't be surprised to see him get moved to wing later in his career if he doesn't improve that %

 

[Clown Fiesta]

Is your son Barry Melrose?

Gold.

 

[JohnC]

I miss Kershaw....

Me too

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Well, see there's your problem. ESPN and hockey........I'll let you think about that for a second...

He only covers hockey games and has done stats for years there; he has forgotten more about hockey than you'll ever know!

 

[Clown Fiesta]

Center by trade? You mean they grew up playing center because that's where most young stars play at lower levels and then move to wing in the NHL?

 

[Doctyl]

A number of these players(Pavelski, Skinner, Elias, Huberdeau, etc) are listed playing 2 positions, one of them being center.

do you consider kreider a center?

 

[Stasis]

Can there be a separate thread for delusion and confusion?

There are a handful of posters in HFNYR who just ruin *** everything all the time.

Plx stop answering them =/

 

[JohnC]

he has forgotten more about hockey than you'll ever know!

He forgot that Huberdeau doesn't play center. Where's my job at ESPN?

 

[Drewbackatu*]

oh boy this is rich. first off you said going forward. koivu lecav and thornton? really? you would rather have one of them to carry this franchise in the future? if we had signed lecav instead of step i bet you would be calling for sather's crucifixion. ROR, Benn, Seguin, Skinner, Plekanec and Backes LOL. you really think these guys will be better or are already better than stepan? when considering stepan has only played 2 and a 1/2 seasons and already has put up 140 points. lets look at their first 3 seasons.

Backes-108
Benn-160
Seguin-121 (also played 2 1/2 seasons)
ROR-107
Skinner-131 (2 1/2)
Plekanec-145
Couture-128

so the only ones who outscored step were benn and plekanec while playing an extra half of a season. stepan was on pace for 75 points this year. if you take that into consideration, he would have 171 points. the two who have played equal numbers of games are significantly worse defensively and have been outproduced offensively. also if we want to talk about numbers, Stepan outscored all of these players except Stamkos, Crosby, E. Staal, Datsyuk, Getzlaf, Toews, Giroux, Zetterberg, Backstrom and Tavares. Stepan also tied Henrik Sedin. Stepan was also better defensively than about 5 of these guys.

Still and all, all of those centers are better right now than Stepan. My son (who is a bigger Ranger's fan than all of us) expressed his opinion to me that he feels Stepan is just outside the top 25 centers in the game. He also feels that Stepan's career would be better served playing on the wing because of his limitations strengthwise and in the faceoff circle.