Pre-Game Talk: 2014 Training Camp (Starts 9/18)

[Beacon]

I don't think anyone from group C will be anywhere near a preseason game. I'm sure they'll be sent to juniors/wolfpack camp on Sunday.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing St. Croix in one preseason game. He's probably a bust, but just too much offense to be given up on at 21.

 

[kovazub94]

So it is AV first plan to start with:
Kreids-Step-MSL
Nash/Zucc-Brass-Nash/Zucc
Hagelin-Miller/Lombardi-Malone
Xxx-Moore-Stempniak

It's also somewhat interesting the Klein and Moore are in different groups. AV wants the competition going all over! We will see Zamorsky with Moore and Allen with Klein I recon.

Ola, I noted the same on the previous page. What doesn't make sense to me is that McIlrath is not in the same group with Moore to "mirror" Allen / Klein in group B. I don't know how to interpret it.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I wonder if Malone passed the physical and medical tests, I keep reading that he's really out of shape. But maybe that's just BS.

Where are you hearing that from?

Since he worked out all summer with Stepan and McD, I'd think they would've told Sather if he was out of shape (considering reports came out that they reported back to the team on him).

 

[kovazub94]

Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing St. Croix in one preseason game. He's probably a bust, but just too much offense to be given up on at 21.

If MSC impresses by being a stand out in his group - he will get his chance. However it's more important for him to have a good year in the A.

 

[Charlie Conway]

I like this lineup


Kreider--Stepan--Nash
Hagelin--Miller--St.Louis
********--Brassard--Zuccarello
********--Moore--Stempniak

All speculation on my part, but 'ere goes:

Your lineup is what I expect, though I see the argument of putting Nash with Brass and Zuccs. That would likely mean putting Zuccs on the LW since Nash seems more effective on the right, but why change what isn't broken, right?

I just see that being Malone on the 3rd line, Glass 4th line, Lombardi as the extra, and Lombardi and Glass can alternate depending upon the game.

That's all provided that Malone is in good shape and ready to play, which it sounds like he is.

I've liked Haggerty since we signed him, but I don't see him cracking the lineup just yet. Fast as well. Depth is a good problem to have.

I feel like Lindberg will be taking over 4C duties next year, perhaps with Fast as his wing.

 

[Beacon]

If you think there's a log jam now, give it 4-5 months.

- Hayes and Lindberg will likely be ready at center. (I'm assuming Miller makes it immediately.)

- Fast, maybe Haggerty (need to see him more), maybe Bourque, maybe Hrivik will be ready on the wing.

- Allen and maybe McIlrath will be ready on defense.


That's a hell of a lot of NHLers. I wouldn't mind packaging Dominic with Stemp to get an upgrade in the top-9. A team looking to add depth would be interested in adding two good players. Potentially add Klein to the package if McIlrath is ready because I really think having his size and power would be very helpful in the playoffs.

 

[RGY]

If you think there's a log jam now, give it 4-5 months.

- Hayes and Lindberg will likely be ready at center. (I'm assuming Miller makes it immediately.)

- Fast, maybe Haggerty (need to see him more), maybe Bourque, maybe Hrivik will be ready on the wing.

- Allen and maybe McIlrath will be ready on defense.


That's a hell of a lot of NHLers. I wouldn't mind packaging Dominic with Stemp to get an upgrade in the top-9. A team looking to add depth would be interested in adding two good players. Potentially add Klein to the package if McIlrath is ready because I really think having his size and power would be very helpful in the playoffs.

Did i miss something? Because last time i checked we went to the SCF and imo improved our roster for this year. Not quite sure why were dealing the role players that most teams look for to make a deep playoff run when we are that team. :

I know this is HF and the posters here love the youngins but i want my team to win hockey games. I could give two ***** if the young guys are NHL ready, they can stay in the AHL and wait their turn. Not moving crucial pieces of a contender just so we can infuse more youth. In fact thats more pieces to move to improve the team at the deadline.

With all due respect to Beacon

 

[Raspewtin]

Did i miss something? Because last time i checked we went to the SCF and imo improved our roster for this year. Not quite sure why were dealing the role players that most teams look for to make a deep playoff run when we are that team. :

I know this is HF and the posters here love the youngins but i want my team to win hockey games. I could give two ***** if the young guys are NHL ready, they can stay in the AHL and wait their turn. Not moving crucial pieces of a contender just so we can infuse more youth. In fact thats more pieces to move to improve the team at the deadline.

With all due respect to Beacon

Well we wouldn't be infusing young players if they're worse than the options we already have. We'd be infusing them if they're at, above, or at least very close to the level of their replacement. Doubt this team would play kids, just to play kids.

 

[Ail]

Some news tomorrow I am sure. I am getting excited now!

 

[eco's bones]

Not sure that St. Croix is going to make the Wolfpack even so putting him in a preseason game at this point seems premature.

If as AV suggests the Rangers are going to probably have 13 forwards---Nash, St. Louis, Stepan, Zuccarello, Kreider, Brassard, Hagelin, Stempniak, Moore, Glass, Miller, Malone, Lombardi just as a for instance of the final 13--that leaves Hartford with:

1. Hayes
2. Lindberg
3. Fast
4. Haggerty
5. Mueller
6. C. Bourque
7. R. Bourque
8. Kristo
9. Hrivik
10. Tarnasky
11. Potulny
12. McCarthy
13. Saponari
14. St. Croix
15. Yogan
16. Kantor
17. O'Donnell
18. Vaive
19. Nicholls

Barring a bunch of injuries to the Rangers and Wolfpack the Wolfpack are going to be stacked and while St. Croix will certainly have a good shot at making Hartford--IMO it's in no way guaranteed and there's at least 10 forwards ahead of him in the pecking order. St. Croix is really going to have to impress.

This bodes well for our AHL team though. We have good prospects--we have good veteran leadership. It's a major step forward from the team that started last year and defense and goaltending are as well.

 

[AHB*]

I wonder if Malone passed the physical and medical tests, I keep reading that he's really out of shape. But maybe that's just BS.

You can't post something liek this without backing it up. Also, everything I've read has been that he started training basically while the Rangers were still playing.

This is a quote from Mac after he was signed.

Defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who trained with Malone and other players in Edina, Minnesota, in July and August, said he believed that the former Penguin is "a guy who can really help us . . . he was really working hard. Just seeing him, his work ethic and his willingness, to want to prove to himself, most importantly, and others; there was a lot of motivation inside to get another opportunity somewhere. I just like the fact that he's been in the league for awhile, he's experienced, a big guy, very well-respected among the players and an easy guy to talk to. I'm very excited he was able to work something out here.''

 

[Beacon]

Did i miss something? Because last time i checked we went to the SCF and imo improved our roster for this year. Not quite sure why were dealing the role players that most teams look for to make a deep playoff run when we are that team. :

I know this is HF and the posters here love the youngins but i want my team to win hockey games. I could give two ***** if the young guys are NHL ready, they can stay in the AHL and wait their turn. Not moving crucial pieces of a contender just so we can infuse more youth. In fact thats more pieces to move to improve the team at the deadline.

With all due respect to Beacon

I think you did miss my point. I should've been more clear.

I don't mean dump some combination of Klein, Stemp, Lombardi, Dominic, JoMo, etc. I mean that if we could take 2 of them and trade them for 1 veteran. For instance, Stemp and Dominic for a veteran winger who would be an upgrade over Stemp in the top-9, while we allow either Hayes or Lindberg to take over the role of our 4C from Dominic.

To answer the next concern as to why we'd play a rookie on the 4th line, if Hayes/Lindberg has been playing on Hartford's top-6 for 4.5 months from early October to late February, it's not a big deal if he plays 5 weeks on the fourth line in the NHL and then gains NHL playoff experience. I don't think it would hold the kid back. If anything, he'd be that much more ready for the following season.

 

[Beacon]

the former Penguin is "a guy who can really help us"

I agree with this. The whole summer I cited our lack of size as a major problem. If Malone could prove to be a third liner, it would be huge for us. Even if he were a good 4th liner, it would mean a significant upgrade to the team profile.

 

[Ola]

I see what you're saying, Ola and I'm sure that is what AV is looking at.

The only problem I have with this lineup is that Brass and Zucc with Nash is a waste. Two premier setup guys who perform better when they have the puck paired with a power forward who likes to dominate it by himself. Unless Nash is going to consider seriously revamping his game at, what, 29? it makes no sense. They need a grip-it-and-rip-it guy who just waits for them to set him up.

Really liking the idea someone else put forward of something like this:

Kreider-Stepan-MSL
Hagelin-Miller-Nash
Zucc/Haggerty-Brass-Zucc/Haggerty
xxx-Moore-xxx

You make some really good pts and I like that lineup. Zucc could potentially work as a LW if he gets more of a free role -- and that opens up opertunities at other places.

I like the line you have Nash on to, and I agree with you re Nash with play-makers.

With that said, Nash is not going to remain the player he is now X number of years from now. He also have played his best hockey ever with very good centers (for team Canada). I mean, Nash has never really played with an elite center in the NHL (who is the best he played with Step ? Vyborny ? Prospal ? BR ? I am not sure if I am ready to thrown in the towel re getting him into an environment where the sum is greater than the parts. Maybe Brass and Zucc can push him?

 

[darko]

Did i miss something? Because last time i checked we went to the SCF and imo improved our roster for this year. Not quite sure why were dealing the role players that most teams look for to make a deep playoff run when we are that team. :

I know this is HF and the posters here love the youngins but i want my team to win hockey games. I could give two ***** if the young guys are NHL ready, they can stay in the AHL and wait their turn. Not moving crucial pieces of a contender just so we can infuse more youth. In fact thats more pieces to move to improve the team at the deadline.

With all due respect to Beacon

We sure did. After the SCF few people on here said that we may have a hard time repeating because we'll lose some depth which was they key to get us to SCF. We are more deeper this year IMO.

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

We sure did. After the SCF few people on here said that we may have a hard time repeating because we'll lose some depth which was they key to get us to SCF. We are more deeper this year IMO.

We are and we aren't. Take our center depth:

Last year : Stepan - Richards - Brassard - Moore - Boyle - Miller

This year: Stepan - Brassard - Miller - Moore - Lombardi - Hayes

If Miller and/or Hayes take the steps we're hoping for, it's great, but if we end up with Stepan-Brassard-Lombardi-Moore down the middle, it's not great.

Defensively it's pretty similar, and on the wing, you could probably argue both ways.

I'm optimistic, but I don't see a big difference in quality or depth if you compare last year's team to this one.

 

[Idlerlee]

Out of curiosity why are we set on the Kreider - Step - Msl line ? Isn't MSL the perfect guy to RW the third line and carry Miller

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

Out of curiosity why are we set on the Kreider - Step - Msl line ? Isn't MSL the perfect guy to RW the third line and carry Miller

A lot of people are going with MSL on Miller's wing, and I don't think MSL will have to -carry- Miller. The most likely line combos are probably.
Kreider - Stepan - Nash
Hagelin - Miller - MSL
Stempniak - Brassard - Zuccarello
Lombo - Moore - Glass/Malone

 

[5 4 Fighting]

so excited for some news finally! It's upon us fellas!! Been an agonizing summer.

 

[Ail]

We sure did. After the SCF few people on here said that we may have a hard time repeating because we'll lose some depth which was they key to get us to SCF. We are more deeper this year IMO.

The reason they'll have a hard time repeating is because it's just difficult to do no matter how good your team is. There is more luck and chance affecting these things than most people are willing to admit. The odds are always going to be in favor of the best teams, but as so often is touted here, anything can happen.

 

[FultonReed]

oh god. it's here. oh god. oh god. Group A hits the ice in < 25 minutes.

 

[silverfish]

I've never wished away a weekend before, but seeing as the Rangers play Monday night... I mean... ugh

 

[Levitate]

At least it's no longer training camp Tortorella where they just skate for the first day or two

 

[nevesis]

Hockey is back. What a glorious day.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

At least it's no longer training camp Tortorella where they just skate for the first day or two

I was a Torts guy, but I just love the way AV thinks every situation through, thoroughly. There were things that Torts did, even in camp that helped build the foundation for the success this team has had - but I totally agree. Theres a fine line between readying your players and burning them out to start a season.

I would think that 95% of the NHL players out there have done sufficient training over the summer (lockout year not included) to come into camp in shape and I dont think a rigorous skating test needs to weed out those who haven't. I think it becomes pretty apparent quickly for an NHL coaching staff who's prepared correctly and who hasnt.

In todays game its more about managing rest correctly and keeping the extras in top shape to fill a void if need be.