News Article: 2017 Training Camp & Pre-Season Discussion

[Revel]

Like others, I'm perplexed by Andrew Desjardins sticking around. I can understand the Rangers taking a little pity on him because of the suspension, and offering him a chance to show what he can do in practice...but it's worse than that. We are down to 14 forwards (I'm not counting Fogarty...he has to be injured and just sticking around for the experience and rehab), but Fast is injured. That makes Des the #13 at this point. What are we planning on doing...calling someone back up if Des sucks in practice? Why didn't we just keep Vinni or Boo up to compete with him?

It seems to me that Desjardins has just been handed the #13 spot...and may be AV's new "Glass". I'm really disappointed.

Someone tell me I'm wrong.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Andersson didn't show enough, and going back to the SHL will be best for his development. He needs rep after rep focused on playmaking.

Glad ADA made it. Staal/Holden were givens in my book, they just were.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Also, glad Carey made it. Deserves it.

 

[n8]

My best read on Desjardins is that AV wants the youngsters to get more ice time in HFD. Use Desjardins who has NHL experience as a stop gap 13th player to ride the pine - a stop gap until Fast returns. BUUUUUT this is also AV we are talking about. Are we able to sign Desjardins to like a 10 game contract like how they do with emergency players?

 

[DanielBrassard]

I don't know how DeAngelo doesn't make the starting lineup, he impressed in PS, he's RH, he's obviously got much more of a future than Holden or Staal, what a waste it would be for him to be the 7th D.

 

[CasusBelli]

The powerplay could be very exciting this year ...
20 - 13 - 36
93 - 22

I like Hayes' size and experience at center. This arrangement gives us some excellent shots from the point (even if both shooters are RH). CK would work the boards and crash the net. MZA would run the show (though I fear having him and #22 on the same unit might be analogous to having too many cooks in the kitchen).

10 - 72 - 61
ADA - 89

The Butcher can obviously pass and has a great shot; would love to see him on the point with Tony. That'd allow the big fellas to play along the boards and, once the guys on the blue line release, crash the net.

Alternative first-unit arrangements:
20 - 10 - 61
22 - 89

20 - 13 - 89
22 - 36

20 - 13- 36
93 - 22

 

[Gardner McKay]

I don't know how DeAngelo doesn't make the starting lineup, he impressed in PS, he's RH, he's obviously got much more of a future than Holden or Staal, what a waste it would be for him to be the 7th D.

I think he is 100% to start.

You are going to have

McDonagh - Smith
Skjei - Shattenkirk
Staal - DeAngelo

And before anyone bitches about Staal, Rome wasn't built in a day and neither can a complete revamp of the defense. It is leaps and bounds better than what we had.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Like others, I'm perplexed by Andrew Desjardins sticking around. I can understand the Rangers taking a little pity on him because of the suspension, and offering him a chance to show what he can do in practice...but it's worse than that. We are down to 14 forwards (I'm not counting Fogarty...he has to be injured and just sticking around for the experience and rehab), but Fast is injured. That makes Des the #13 at this point. What are we planning on doing...calling someone back up if Des sucks in practice? Why didn't we just keep Vinni or Boo up to compete with him?

It seems to me that Desjardins has just been handed the #13 spot...and may be AV's new "Glass". I'm really disappointed.

Someone tell me I'm wrong.

Now way for us to say for sure at this point but I would not make any assumptions for a few reasons.

1. It is not just the coach making these personal decisions. I believe there are easily 3-5 voices giving input.

2. AV's old Glass spent 71 out of 82 games in the minors last season.

3. Just because a player in on the roster today does not mean the team even plans to have that player 3 weeks from today. We will need to wait to see how everything shakes out including waivers and trades.

 

[Kovalev27]

Everything done here is spot on except for having desjardins still here. That I don’t understand.

Carey is in temporary until Fast is back that’s not a big deal.

Staal DeAngelo I’m happy with realistically staal was always going to get a top 6 spot.

Andersson to Europe absolutely right move and gorton is spot on don’t even think about Rangers for a while cause the kid is not close

And absolutely love what they’re doing with Chytil. Put him with two great veterans to bring the best out in him. This is a sly move. Protecting him defensively in the process. I think this kid has it all really. Total steal.

Vesey On the 4th line is odd but I’ve been saying all week Grabner has earned a top 9 role.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Now way for us to say for sure at this point but I would not make any assumptions for a few reasons.

1. It is not just the coach making these personal decisions. I believe there are easily 3-5 voices giving input.

2. AV's old Glass spent 71 out of 82 games in the minors last season.

3. Just because a player in on the roster today does not mean the team even plans to have that player 3 weeks from today. We will need to wait to see how everything shakes out including waivers and trades.

Wait and see how things shake out?? That is no fun! That means I can't complain about things that may never happen!!!

FWIW, I agree 100% with what you said.

 

[Revel]

Wait and see how things shake out?? That is no fun! That means I can't complain about things that may never happen!!!

FWIW, I agree 100% with what you said.

Of course we have to wait to see how things shake out. Until then, we're not allowed to post our concerns? We're not allowed to talk about hockey? The fact is, at this point in time, Desjardins is 13th in the pecking order. It's concerning to those of us who did not like Desjardin's camp...and to those of us who are familiar with AV's history.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Of course we have to wait to see how things shake out. Until then, we're not allowed to post our concerns? We're not allowed to talk about hockey? The fact is, at this point in time, Desjardins is 13th in the pecking order. It's concerning to those of us who did not like Desjardin's camp...and to those of us who are familiar with AV's history.

Oh no. You are. I'm just messing around and pointing out how fast people do a 180. After the Girardi buy out and signing Smith and Shattenkirk, some posters were ready to declare us a top 5 d core. Now, because Staal is still on the roster, they make it seem like all hope is lost. We all knew Staal would likely be on the roster from day 1. People were complaining about how Staal and Holden were locks to be the bottom pairing and now? Looks like DeAngelo will get a serious shot. I'm just saying that until we see the opening night line up we shouldn't get too worried.

Desjardins is a bit of a... erm... shock for sure. Still, worse things have happened to this team under AV and we have succeeded. If one of our biggest issues is Desjardins playing, we will be just fine this year.

 

[n8]

Holden-ADA > Staal-ADA, no?

 

[Krams]

Holden-ADA > Staal-ADA, no?

Any other D in the organization-ADA > Staal-ADA

 

[Revel]

Oh no. You are. I'm just messing around and pointing out how fast people do a 180. After the Girardi buy out and signing Smith and Shattenkirk, some posters were ready to declare us a top 5 d core. Now, because Staal is still on the roster, they make it seem like all hope is lost. We all knew Staal would likely be on the roster from day 1. People were complaining about how Staal and Holden were locks to be the bottom pairing and now? Looks like DeAngelo will get a serious shot. I'm just saying that until we see the opening night line up we shouldn't get too worried.

Desjardins is a bit of a... erm... shock for sure. Still, worse things have happened to this team under AV and we have succeeded. If one of our biggest issues is Desjardins playing, we will be just fine this year.

OK, cool. For the record, I'm not one of those guys.

 

[Gardner McKay]

OK, cool. For the record, I'm not one of those guys.

I know

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I think he is 100% to start.

You are going to have

McDonagh - Smith
Skjei - Shattenkirk
Staal - DeAngelo

And before anyone bitches about Staal, Rome wasn't built in a day and neither can a complete revamp of the defense. It is leaps and bounds better than what we had.

But, everyone SHOULD bitch about Staal...

Even if him making the starting roster was more or less a foregone conclusion, he isn't worthy of a regular spot and will lose this team games.

This isn't really a case of "we can't move him because no one wants him", its really as simple of just not playing him. If last season were the first one where he was subpar you can make the argument that he deserves a bit of a leash but he chewed through the whole damn thing last year.

 

[Gardner McKay]

But, everyone SHOULD bitch about Staal...

Even if him making the starting roster was more or less a foregone conclusion, he isn't worthy of a regular spot and will lose this team games.

This isn't really a case of "we can't move him because no one wants him", its really as simple of just not playing him. If last season were the first one where he was subpar you can make the argument that he deserves a bit of a leash but he chewed through the whole damn thing last year.

Who plays over him? Everyone wants Holden traded because that 3rd round pick is going to make a huge difference for our organization...

Pionk has never played in the NHL, let alone the left side and Bereglazov is clearly not ready. What other options do we have until Beargloves gets used to the NHL ice?

 

[Hire Sather]

There will be people who want to stack the entire roster with as many rookies as possible.

ADA and Chytil deserve to make the big club. For now, that's all I'm asking for. Others will get their chance when needed. Patience.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Who plays over him? Everyone wants Holden traded because that 3rd round pick is going to make a huge difference for our organization...

Pionk has never played in the NHL, let alone the left side and Bereglazov is clearly not ready. What other options do we have until Beargloves gets used to the NHL ice?

Based off of who is here now? Holden, rather easily.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Based off of who is here now? Holden, rather easily.

Again. The board wants Holden traded and if I recall correctly, you stated at one point he should be traded before the start of the season. I'm just trying to understand here...

We should trade Holden to get an asset or keep him because he is better than Staal? I think this is why depth is so important and not every available extra player should be traded for picks. You need depth. When you don't have depth, you have no other options than Marc Staal.

Either way, Staal is going to play and if he is on third pairing getting 12 minutes a night, meh.

 

[Fugazy]

Any other D in the organization-ADA > Staal-ADA

Pretty much.

 

[Machinehead]

Kampfer makes the team. AV's toy Desjardins still around. Hayes back with Miller.

This coach will never learn. The roster changes but the games stay the same.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Again. The board wants Holden traded and if I recall correctly, you stated at one point he should be traded before the start of the season. I'm just trying to understand here...

We should trade Holden to get an asset or keep him because he is better than Staal? I think this is why depth is so important and not every available extra player should be traded for picks. You need depth. When you don't have depth, you have no other options than Marc Staal.

Either way, Staal is going to play and if he is on third pairing getting 12 minutes a night, meh.

If Holden is going to be kept around as just a spare, yeah, he should be moved while he still has some value and other teams are trying to fill out their rosters.

That doesn't mean that he isn't better than Staal or that he shouldn't be playing over him. There were a hand full of options at camp who out performed Staal. I didn't expect any of them to actually beat him out for a spot, but thats the reality of the situation.

If this team is trying to win, Staal shouldn't even be in the equation. I get that there is some tact to slowly reducing his minutes and then eventually sitting him more often than not as the season progresses, but we don't have a coach who is likely to do that and even if he were, playing him will have probably cost this team a few valuable points in the standings, even at 12 minutes a night (and I bet he plays more.)

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

Think the Holden trade as a default made a lot more sense when we all had Bereglazov penciled in for a spot.