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

[Fitzy]

Third line is a tough call.

Richards-Lindberg-Fast/Kristo if you are forcing me into making a decision, I think with Richards slowing down he might be better suited on the wing. Only concern is possession and board play.

Having an aging career center taking forechecking duties is not a winning strategy, in my mind.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

I am under the assumption that Pyatt will make the team. If that is the case, he will be on the 3rd line. At least until Callahan and Hagelin make their way back.

Let's assume (2) of the following make the team:
Miller
Kreider
Lindberg
Fast
Hrivik

Which isn't a stretch at all, really.

Now let's look at the competent NHL players in camp:
Richards
Brassard
Stepan*
Nash
Callahan **
Hagelin **
Pyatt
Boyle
Dorsett
Moore
Pouliot
Asham
Powe
MZA
Haley - I really think he is a NHL 4th liner at this point

That is 14-15 NHL veterans already. Granted Callahan and Hagelin are hurt for the first month but assuming, say for arguments sake, Kreider and Lindberg make the team. That is 16-17 NHL quality forwards. That also doesn't count players like Mashinter or the other young players who don't make the team right away as quality
depth".

One has to assume that the Rangers will waive a couple of these guys and they will be picked up, no? If Powe is waived, will no team pick him up as a cheap depth forward? Asham? Pyatt?

That's a safe bet, I am doubtful Fast or Kristo push Pyatt out, but they could and if one does then you may as well waive him because our 4th line is pretty set IMO.

Kreider starts on the top line with Richards filling in if/when he struggles. At least that's what you would assume, but they may not even move Richards to wing, in which case Lindberg/Fast/Kristo all start in HFD.

 

[NYR Viper]

Jim Cerny: Peter: the expectation is that McIlrath would start season in Hartford since he only played half a season due to injury a year ago...Falk and Johnson, maybe with Bickel in the mix, fighting for 7th spot...Keep an eye on Conor Allen, he has had a real good camp and will be one to watch in Hartford

Jim mentions Allen. If he is saying something that means people within the organization like him.

 

[eco's bones]

If Allen or McIlrath can't make the top 6--they'll play in Hartford. It's better for them to get the ice time. Don't see Syvret or Johnson making it either. Syvret is 28 years old with almost 500 AHL games--he's a career minor leaguer--smallish, slick with the puck--a defenseman equivalent to Newbury. There's holes in his overall game. Johnson's 30 years old and an NHL/AHL tweener. Both good for insurance--if there's an opening they have some experience. Then there's Bickel.

See the defense this way:

Rangers-McDonagh, Staal, Girardi, Del Zotto, Stralman, Moore and Falk.

Wolfpack--McIlrath, Allen (impressed), Johnson, Syvret, Bickel, Brendon Nash and one of Hughes, Noreau, Marcou and Dodero and I'd bet on Hughes as he's still with the Rangers. Nash (brother of Riley Nash) actually played a couple games with Carolina two or three seasons back.

Goal--Lundqvist and Biron. Biron is going to have to fall on his face or the Rangers trade him for Talbot to make it. I will point out that I think Talbot has been one of our most underestimated prospects in recent polls. He would be an acceptable NHL backup IMO.

Forward is a lot trickier to figure out. If it were me Richards would have taken a hike in the buyout period and Powe and Pyatt would both be going down or traded. Not sure AV is as anti-Pyatt as I am and Richards for better or worse is going to be a Ranger this year. The other thing that factors into this is the Callahan/Hagelin injuries and how soon they'll be back and Stepan's holdout. Stepan holding out might just be an opportunity for Lindberg to make it--or Miller but I'd bet on Oscar. He's older and seems to be more rounded. Fast also looks he could step right in and do a pretty decent Hagelin impression. Honestly it's only one game but last night I started thinking that Fast might just turn out to be a better player than Hagelin. But anyway there's too many ifs right now--it's not as cut and dried as the defense or goalie positions seem to be.

 

[caley]

The Rangers have been doing some ghost cuts. Skapsi is another who is no longer at camp, but wasn't announced as cut at any time.

Spelling went back to Denmark. His team's season starts on Friday.

Graves was with us in Traverse City. Haven't heard from him at camp. Neither Burke nor Stevenson appear to have actually attended.

EDIT: I went back through some reports. I don't see any of those three listed in any of the camp groups. If they were here, they're certainly not any longer.

Awesome. Thanks both. I saw a roster for the Rangers that had Burke, Stevenson, Graves, Spelling, Skapski and Peter Trainor. I knew Skapski was re-assigned as his WHL team had tweeted a photo of him at practice. I also knew Trainor wasn't in camp because he was taking line rushes in Buffalo's camp. The others were a mystery to me, though.

 

[Ail]

I'm hooked and it's only been two preseason games. Daddy needs more hockey.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

Having an aging career center taking forechecking duties is not a winning strategy, in my mind.

He doesn't have to be the first guy in, I mean it's either that or having an aging career center struggling to get back.

Not entirely sure why it just clicked that Banff isn't that far away, I totally could have drove up and stalked them.

Pretty sure I played up there when I was younger, think the Banff goalie was throwing up in the crease and they still beat us like 13-1.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

I'm hooked and it's only been two preseason games. Daddy needs more hockey.

I lol'ed at how creepy that was.

 

[Punxrocknyc19*]

any chance Mashinter gets a look as the 13th forward due to he has size and can fight?? he can play a little but sadly he is a bit slow...

 

[Ail]

I lol'ed at how creepy that was.

This is a no loling zone. Serious only!

 

[Punxrocknyc19*]

I lol'ed at how creepy that was.

 

[RangerBoy]

The Rangers worked on the PP today

The focus of power play work as directed by assistant Scott Arniel was quick puck movement the length of the ice, outnumbering the opposition in puck battles, and getting bodies to the front of the net.

To that latter end, Chris Kreider, on a unit with Brad Richards and Rick Nash, went to the front in mimicking the role Ryan Kesler played in Vancouver when on the power play with Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

“The front is a good place to be but it’s not an easy place to be,†Vigneault said. “You take a lot of abuse and you get hit by shots that don’t get through.

“It takes a willingness. If he ever gets comfortable doing that, that’s so tough on the opposition’s goaltender and helps you offensively five-on-five and your power play so much.â€

http://nypost.com/2013/09/18/vigneault-not-thinking-about-holdout-stepan/

 

[Inferno]

If it was up to me, this would be our lineup with everyone healthy.

Kreider - Richards - Nash
Hagelin - Stepan - Callahan
Pouliot - Brassard - MZA
Dorsett - Moore - Boyle

I'd go to war with that group.

 

[Emptyvoid]

If it was up to me, this would be our lineup with everyone healthy.

Kreider - Richards - Nash
Hagelin - Stepan - Callahan
Pouliot - Brassard - MZA
Dorsett - Moore - Boyle

I'd go to war with that group.

That's a very solid and balanced forwards group. I like how each line has a designated role and the players compliment each other's styles.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

If it was up to me, this would be our lineup with everyone healthy.

Kreider - Richards - Nash
Hagelin - Stepan - Callahan
Pouliot - Brassard - MZA
Dorsett - Moore - Boyle

I'd go to war with that group.

I worry about putting Richards as our #1 center and man. I didn't realize how weak our wingers are. Good depth but no top end talent at wing. Center, D, and goaltending is more important though.

 

[Raspewtin]

If it was up to me, this would be our lineup with everyone healthy.

Kreider - Richards - Nash
Hagelin - Stepan - Callahan
Pouliot - Brassard - MZA
Dorsett - Moore - Boyle

I'd go to war with that group.

think I'd switch Stepan and Richards. Just cause Stepan and Nash are freaking dynamite together and that line would be an absolute disaster defensively.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

If it was up to me, this would be our lineup with everyone healthy.

Kreider - Richards - Nash
Hagelin - Stepan - Callahan
Pouliot - Brassard - MZA
Dorsett - Moore - Boyle

I'd go to war with that group.

I don't like Nash and Richards together - and don't you have Boyle and Dorsett on the wrong sides? How about:

Hagelin-Stepan-Nash
Kreider-Richards-Callahan
Pouliot-Brassard-MZA
Boyle-Moore-Dorsett

Might also be interesting to swap Callahan and MZA.

Good lord, when healthy they have a surfeit of NHL players. That lineup leaves Asham, Powe and Pyatt all riding the pine in addition to Haley, who I think would be good to keep as the extra forward for rough and tumble games. And that's without any of Lindberg, Kristo, Fast or Hrivik all of whom I think are ready or close to it.

Very, very interesting. I do wonder if there won't be a trade (there will DEFINITELY be some waivers action) coming up.

 

[BBKers]

I prefer:

Brassard - Stepan - Nash
Kreider - Richards - Callahan
Hagelin - Lindberg - MZA
Pouliot - Boyle - Dorsett

Moore, MASH/Haley as spares

 

[Crease]

The Rangers are spending the next few days in Banff. Sather has ties with Banff going way way back. He first came to Banff as a lifeguard. After becoming an NHL big shot, he lived in the historic Painter Residence. He's done a lot for the community over the years. He started a summer Hockey School. Built Tatanga Ridge. Owned Storm Mountain Lodge and Silver City nightclub. He loves it there. And they love him there. I hear its gorgeous. If you're into mountains and fresh air.

 

[Matt4776]

I would do:

Kreider-Stepan-Nash
Hagelin-Richards-Callahan
Pouliot-Brassard-MZA
Boyle-Moore-Dorsett

Stepan has chemistry with both Nash and Kreider, and makes that line not a defensive train wreck. Meanwhile, Richards has done all his best work with grinders and speedy wingers (see Loui Eriksson) and the second line would be competent defensively as well.

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

I would do:

Kreider-Stepan-Nash
Hagelin-Richards-Callahan
Pouliot-Brassard-MZA
Boyle-Moore-Dorsett

Stepan has chemistry with both Nash and Kreider, and makes that line not a defensive train wreck. Meanwhile, Richards has done all his best work with grinders and speedy wingers (see Loui Eriksson) and the second line would be competent defensively as well.

I support these lines.

With Hags and Cally out,

Kreider-Stepan-Nash
Pouliot-Richards-MZA
Pyatt-Brassard-Fast
Boyle-Moore-Dorsett

Maybe swap MZA and Fast to get some more speed on that 2nd line.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

any chance Mashinter gets a look as the 13th forward due to he has size and can fight?? he can play a little but sadly he is a bit slow...

He is so bad.

We have a plethora of bottom six forwards.

Boyle
Moore
Pouliot
Pyatt
Asham
Powe
Dorsett
Brassard or Richards
Haley
Zucc or Hagelin

I don't see how he bumps even one of those guys out of a spot, let alone 4 of them. And this doesn't even haev our prospects listed, Miller, Kristo, Fast, Lindberg, ETc.

 

[Levitate]

The Rangers are spending the next few days in Banff. Sather has ties with Banff going way way back. He first came to Banff as a lifeguard. After becoming an NHL big shot, he lived in the historic Painter Residence. He's done a lot for the community over the years. He started a summer Hockey School. Built Tatanga Ridge. Owned Storm Mountain Lodge and Silver City nightclub. He loves it there. And they love him there. I hear its gorgeous. If you're into mountains and fresh air.

I've been through it and yes it's amazing country. Probably kind of touristy and catering to the rich folks but hey

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

With Callahan and Hagelin out our roster looks a lot different to me. Huge elements lost.

 

[NYR Viper]

With Callahan and Hagelin out our roster looks a lot different to me. Huge elements lost.

Without Callahan, the line-up is lacking a physical element.

It will be interesting to see who goes on waivers in the coming days. To me, Asham and Powe should be sent down without hesitation. Haley can do Asham's role for less money and is a younger, hungrier alternative.