Post-Game Talk: 3/22: Devils @ Rangers at Prudential Square Garden

[Infinitum Vitae*]

you're right ! it isn't over.....there are 10 games left and Washington is only 3 points back. Luckily the BJs lost today but they are only 4 points back with a game in hand. If we fall out of a metro playoff spot and into the wild card Toronto is only 2 points behind us and Detroit 3 points but with 2 games in hand. Hopefully Minnesota takes care of them tonight in Detroit considering they lost the 1st of the home and home last night. Nothing is set in stone yet.

I was talking about the devils

 

[Petey Pucks]

I was talking about the devils

then that explains a lot....thought you were sarcastically making fun of all the doom and gloomers here

 

[Kokoschka]

in the end i'm hoping we can get the number 2 in the metro and have home ice against philly. I think that is realistic. Philly has 2 games in hand so we would definitely need to beat them Wednesday and beating coyotes before would certainly help. I think for us to have a chance at # 2 we would need to go 7 - 2 - 1 in the last 10 and hope philly drops off a bit

looking at our home record, I'd rather not .

 

[Petey Pucks]

looking at our home record, I'd rather not .

lol trust me the thought definitely crossed my mind before but I think in the playoffs we will be different on home ice...MSG energy helps in the playoffs big time

 

[eco's bones]

Once St. Louis gets his goal, he's going to absolutely go off after he gets it. Should be right in time for the playoffs. Can't wait. He's a ticking time bomb getting ready to carry his team through the playoffs.

If I'm Stralman I'm starting to sweat. I'd like to see mistake free hockey from Diaz for a couple more games this year before he's anointed Moore's replacement, but he looked pretty good out there. Steady, smart, quick. Perfect AV defenseman.

I like angry Nash. Can we see him for the rest of the year?

FWIW both Stralman and Diaz are both unrestricted free agents this coming summer. Moore is quite a bit younger than both and is just coming off his ELC. His won't be an expensive cap hit. Don't think he's going anywhere.

 

[I Eat Crow]

FWIW both Stralman and Diaz are both unrestricted free agents this coming summer. Moore is quite a bit younger than both and is just coming off his ELC. His won't be an expensive cap hit. Don't think he's going anywhere.

I actually agree. I think Moore still has a bit more upside than he has shown so far. I was speaking in terms of Diaz replacing Moore now.

If Stralman wants 3.5 million but Diaz will sign for 1-1.5 million, adios Stralman. I'm perfectly ok with Girardi, Klein, and Diaz on the right side with McIlrath waiting in the wings.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

Can Diaz play the right side?

 

[chosen]

ehh...I would put Leetch, Park, Zubov, Greschner, and even Howell, no doubt before McDonagh if we are talking last 50 years. Howell won the Norris in 67 before Bobby Orr blasted up the standard of the offensive dman. At the moment McDonagh is playing well but he still has a lot to prove over the course of a career.

Leetch and Park, yes.

Zubov is arguable.

Greschner, no. Excellent offense. Ordinary defense.

No opinion on Howell, but calling him arguable is fair.

Despite all the accolades, I think McDonagh is underrated.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Can Diaz play the right side?

I would think so, since he's right-handed.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Leetch and Park, yes.

Zubov is arguable.

Greschner, no. Excellent offense. Ordinary defense.

No opinion on Howell, but calling him arguable is fair.

Despite all the accolades, I think McDonagh is underrated.

Same.

He truly is one of the best players in the league, and he still has so much room to grow and improve.

 

[Petey Pucks]

Leetch and Park, yes.

Zubov is arguable.

Greschner, no. Excellent offense. Ordinary defense.

No opinion on Howell, but calling him arguable is fair.

Despite all the accolades, I think McDonagh is underrated.

you do realize that greschner, zubov, howell had good long consistent careers as defencemen which is why at the moment I put them before Mcdonagh...as I said before until Mcdonagh proves year in and out he can do what he's doing now and gets better the jury is still out on him.

this is ryan's 4th season so we shouldn't jump the gun just yet

look at how everyone felt about Del Zotto in the beginning minus his off sophomore season...yes his D before he left was suspect but when he started here everyone was so sure about him being Norris material. in 292 game with the Rangers he had 26 goals 95 assists for 121 pts

Mcdonagh in 241 games here has 24 goals 75 assists for 99 pts...last season they had pretty much the same points in same games

Mcdonagh has been more consistent on the defensive side when comparing the two but as I said before the sample size to judge him at the moment is small when compared to other proven players

Same.

He truly is one of the best players in the league, and he still has so much room to grow and improve.

exactly...let's wait and see what unfolds as the years pass

 

[SnowblindNYR]

you do realize that greschner, zubov, howell had good long consistent careers as defencemen which is why at the moment I put them before Mcdonagh...as I said before until Mcdonagh proves year in and out he can do what he's doing now and gets better the jury is still out on him.

this is ryan's 4th season so we shouldn't jump the gun just yet

look at how everyone felt about Del Zotto in the beginning minus his off sophomore season...yes his D before he left was suspect but when he started here everyone was so sure about him being Norris material. in 292 game with the Rangers he had 26 goals 95 assists for 121 pts

Mcdonagh in 241 games here has 24 goals 75 assists for 99 pts...last season they had pretty much the same points in same games

Mcdonagh has been more consistent on the defensive side when comparing the two but as I said before the sample size to judge him at the moment is small when compared to other proven players



exactly...let's wait and see what unfolds as the years pass

Using Del Zotto as an example of why not to be too happy about McDonagh is so flawed. Other than the fact that McDonagh is better at EVERY single aspect of hockey on the physical end, what he has between the ears is the reason I don't see the same implosion.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Also the reason Del Zotto's numbers may be more impressive is because idiot Torts never played McDonagh on the PP.

 

[Petey Pucks]

Using Del Zotto as an example of why not to be too happy about McDonagh is so flawed. Other than the fact that McDonagh is better at EVERY single aspect of hockey on the physical end, what he has between the ears is the reason I don't see the same implosion.

I was just using him as an example of why people shouldn't jump the gun when players are young and they haven't put lot of miles into their careers just yet

I also used Del Zotto because in the beginning there was a lot of talk about him being Norris material and that changed soon later.

I also said Del Zotto was suspect in the D department and McDonagh wasn't

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

I was just using him as an example of why people shouldn't jump the gun when players are young and they haven't put lot of miles into their careers just yet

I also used Del Zotto because in the beginning there was a lot of talk about him being Norris material and that changed soon later.

I also said Del Zotto was suspect in the D department and McDonagh wasn't

I think people knew MDZ's defensive game was weak, but were hoping he'd eventually improve on that end. Right now, it seems like he's even lost his offensive ability.

McD had a beast defensive game from day 1, and now he's adding some offense to his game. Great player.

 

[Petey Pucks]

Also the reason Del Zotto's numbers may be more impressive is because idiot Torts never played McDonagh on the PP.

this is true

 

[Petey Pucks]

I think people knew MDZ's defensive game was weak, but were hoping he'd eventually improve on that end. Right now, it seems like he's even lost his offensive ability.

McD had a beast defensive game from day 1, and now he's adding some offense to his game. Great player.

and like everyone else I'm hoping he remains consistent and only gets getter but I'm just being cautious about him is all

 

[Leetch3]

Can Diaz play the right side?

he only plays the right side

 

[aemoreira1981]

Sean Hartnett ‏@HartnettHockey 12m
A trusted source observed #NJDevils head coach Pete DeBoer referring to #NYR goalie Henrik Lundqvist: "8 million goalie... my ass."

that was from earlier this year, fyi

wahhh deboer wahhhhhh

I'll tell you why that is funny...that Stanley Cup Finals run is the only time DeBoer has ever made the playoffs.

 

[chosen]

you do realize that greschner, zubov, howell had good long consistent careers as defencemen which is why at the moment I put them before Mcdonagh...as I said before until Mcdonagh proves year in and out he can do what he's doing now and gets better the jury is still out on him.

this is ryan's 4th season so we shouldn't jump the gun just yet

look at how everyone felt about Del Zotto in the beginning minus his off sophomore season...yes his D before he left was suspect but when he started here everyone was so sure about him being Norris material. in 292 game with the Rangers he had 26 goals 95 assists for 121 pts

Mcdonagh in 241 games here has 24 goals 75 assists for 99 pts...last season they had pretty much the same points in same games

Mcdonagh has been more consistent on the defensive side when comparing the two but as I said before the sample size to judge him at the moment is small when compared to other proven players



exactly...let's wait and see what unfolds as the years pass

I am not arguing who will last longer, only who is better. Bobby Orr had a short career. He was pretty good. Bill Walton was one of the best ever despite a shortened career. Bo Jackson. There are lots of them.

Right now, McDonagh's is arguably the third best Rangers D I have ever seen. He is almost impossible to beat in any situation and he is a very good offensive D.

Del Zotto was an awful D who looked like he might become a good offensive D. No comparison to McDonagh.

 

[TheTakedown]

I'll tell you why that is funny...that Stanley Cup Finals run is the only time DeBoer has ever made the playoffs.

and let's be realistic... Marty and Jagr, combined for 83 years old, is the reason that this devils team isn't in the basement with Buffalo and Florida...

Let that sink in... two 40+ year old players, plus Michael Ryder (at age 33, not young) and Ryane "Concussion" Clowe (age 31) are carrying this sappy devils team...

Clowe will end up with another concussion, + Marty and Jagr are retiring this year... This poor team will end up riding the coattails of Adam "overtime goals" Henrique and Michael Ryder.

It's about time Lou slept in his bed that he's made.

FWIW both Stralman and Diaz are both unrestricted free agents this coming summer. Moore is quite a bit younger than both and is just coming off his ELC. His won't be an expensive cap hit. Don't think he's going anywhere.

It's a complete toss up in regards to which one of these 3 becomes part of this team going forward. I like all of them, and all of them are solid players. Stralman has really impressed me this year, Klein has been incredible defensively, Moore is growing into a McDonough-Lite, and Diaz looks like he can be integral to the PP going forward.

Will be interesting to see what the lineup is going forward. This isn't the worst problem to have

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

he only plays the right side

Oh, I wasn't sure cause I believe he was paired with Klein.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Oh, I wasn't sure cause I believe he was paired with Klein.

Klein volunteered to play the left and did so.

 

[Petey Pucks]

I am not arguing who will last longer, only who is better. Bobby Orr had a short career. He was pretty good. Bill Walton was one of the best ever despite a shortened career. Bo Jackson. There are lots of them.

Right now, McDonagh's is arguably the third best Rangers D I have ever seen. He is almost impossible to beat in any situation and he is a very good offensive D.

Del Zotto was an awful D who looked like he might become a good offensive D. No comparison to McDonagh.

What? He was just "pretty" good? Orr was a phenomenal player at both ends of the ice. If we was caught on the rush, which didn't happen often, he was usually fast enough to get back and cover the play. You can't compare players like Bobby Orr who set the standard as the Offensive D man to Ryan McDonagh based on the fact he had a short career while McDonagh is a newly good player at the moment. Plus Bobby Orr really didn't have a short career in retrospect, he still played 9 full incredible seasons plus parts of another three for 12 total. His career was shortened , but by no means short, especially for the physical time period. Bobby Orr scored 270 goals/ 645 assists for 915 points in 657 games and won numerous rewards and set numerous records while winning 2 Stanley Cups. Until McDonagh even achieves a quarter of this comparing them really holds no water. In pretty much 9 seasons Orr was able to achieve was he did

Bo Jackson was one of the best athletes to ever walk this earth and is the ONLY ATHLETE to ever be named an all star in 2 major American sports ( Football Baseball ). Bo was so good he knew he could put off an earlier MLB career with the Yankees to attend College. In High School Bo was a 2 time state champ in the Decathlon and probably could have pursued a career in track and field given how good he was in college ( he qualified twice for NCAA nationals in the 100 meter dash in his fresh and soph year).. Bo Jackson was an enigma as an athlete....there is NO comparison between him and McDonagh. If we are talking about just in terms as an athlete and not sport, well the point remains....McDonagh doesn't hold a candle

I won't even touch Bill Walton....

Again I pretty much said Del Zotto's defense lacked when compared to McDonagh in many ways...again I only drew the comparison only to illustrate that at one time Del Zotto was considered future Norris material and was receiving much accolade here in his first few seasons then look what happened there. Though it's very possible Del Zotto may have a career renaissance elsewhere. I'm still waiting to see what happens with him.

McDonagh is young and yes right now he is good but not great. He is just outside the top 10 at the moment and this is just his 4th season and it appears he is coming into his own and is getting better so we all hope it stays that way, but things can change so let's wait and see what happens after another 2-3 seasons... he still has a lot to prove and a lot to win both team wise and individually before we can start comparing him to other greats in the same and other sports

P.S.... I wasn't arguing who will last longer when compared to ( Zubov. Greschner, Howell)...my argument was they proved to be good consistent players over much longer periods of time when compared to McDonagh's 4 seasons or 241 games

 

[TheTakedown]

Klein volunteered to play the left and did so.

Cause Klein is a monster