Benoit Pouliot Megathread

[Fitzy]

You have chosen to pick only the areas of weakness in recent NYR history.

Our weakest LW was Straka? Alright, but on the right side we've had Jagr, Gaborik, Nash, and St. Louis.

No top PMD? No, but for defensive defensemen we've had Staal, Girardi, and McDonagh.

An overly negative cherry-picking job is no less silly than an overly positive one.

Lundqvist is a mediocre player?

We've found that the hf definition of a #1 center isn't anything genuine, it's whatever the **** they want it to be, so long as it doesnt describe any of ours at the present time.

 

[pld459666]

You have chosen to pick only the areas of weakness in recent NYR history.

Our weakest LW was Straka? Alright, but on the right side we've had Jagr, Gaborik, Nash, and St. Louis.

No top PMD? No, but for defensive defensemen we've had Staal, Girardi, and McDonagh.

An overly negative cherry-picking job is no less silly than an overly positive one.

Lundqvist is a mediocre player?

We've found that the hf definition of a #1 center isn't anything genuine, it's whatever the **** they want it to be, so long as it doesnt describe any of ours at the present time.

I have chosen the areas of weakness that have plagued the team for years and not addressed.

We have had Gabby on the RW and in two of the three seasons he was here, he was worth every penny.

Jagr was basically given to us. We gave up Anson Carter and got Jagr and 45% of his salary paid for 4 years. Washington PAID US TO TAKE HIM. Granted, it worked out ni our favor, but lets not gloss over what Jagr was for three years in Washington. A whiny petulent child.

Nash has been a bust and it's still to early to judge MSL, but the early returns? Less than stellar.

Yes, hwe have had some very solid defensive defenceman. And what pray tell have they done for us other than get us to the level of mediocre?

Lundqvist was not a singing. He was a draft pick from the previous regime that 30 teams passed over 6 times. He is the epitome of a lucky pick.

To me, a 1st line center is a center that can be a presence every game. Someone that is dangerous each time they step on the ice. Production wise? I'd want my 1st line center to be in the 70-80 point range and failing that, I'd want that 1st line center to enhance the wingers he plays with.

This franchise and the dolts that run it do not care about putting a winner on the ice. There's no amount of convincing me that we have had these issues year in and year out and year in and year out they do not get addressed.

Lack or a top 6 LW? Go out and get Nash who made it clear early on that he perferred RW. So instead of addressing the LW Position, they shift Gabby to that position, a position he had never played prior and we expected success?

Moving on, with the LW position still not addressed, we have three solid RW'ers. So what do we do? Address an area of weakness from a position of strength? NOPE. We acquire Marty St. Louis.

How do you reconcile that?

I addressed areas of weakness that have been a thorn in the Rangers side for years with out being corrected.

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

Only my opinion, but i feel the last true #1 center we had was Nylander. Stepan could become a #1 if he dedicated himself to improving what's holding him back from taking the next step.

His conditioning.
His strength.
His skating.

If he can improve those areas, the rest will take care of itself, because he has the smarts and skill.

When Zuccarello first stepped into the NHL, he wasn't a very good skater, he wasn't strong enough. He drastically improved his weaknesses and now he's an effective player.

 

[True Blue]

Only on the Rangers can a 30 point scorer get signed, come in and score 30 points and be considered to have surpassed expectations.

This fan base is so accepting of mediocrity it's staggering.

Soooo true

We have a mediocre team that signs mediocre players and when they play mediocre hockey they have surpassed expectations?

Really?

Do not want to hijack this thread, but your assessment is right on.

 

[McDonagh27]

I find it absolutely hilarious to claim that Rick Nash has been a total bust since becoming a Ranger. How can he be a bust if he is basically producing at the same clip as he's always done? I think people expect players to somehow always play to their reputation instead of looking at the facts. On top of that, the guy has had concussion issues to deal with among other nagging injuries. He could even finish with 30 goals this year!

 

[trilobyte]

Only my opinion, but i feel the last true #1 center we had was Nylander. Stepan could become a #1 if he dedicated himself to improving what's holding him back from taking the next step.

His conditioning.
His strength.
His skating.

If he can improve those areas, the rest will take care of itself, because he has the smarts and skill.

When Zuccarello first stepped into the NHL, he wasn't a very good skater, he wasn't strong enough. He drastically improved his weaknesses and now he's an effective player.

I like Stepan, have always seen the potential and the talent that he has right now, and believe he will play a integral role, but not as a 1C.
Nylander was a blaze of speed, quickness and reaction. His success was also a product of his linemates, but let's face it, that guy was tops. I'm not going into a discussion of the various linemates Stepan might or might not excel with. I see Derek as a very good second centreman.

 

[Machinehead]

Look he's not perfect and his production is inconsistent. But let's think back to what we asked of this guy in the summer.

We wanted him to give us in the 12-15 goal range, don't play soft, compete every night, don't be a liability. And I think he's downright nailed it.

He's produced decently and competed. That's what we wanted. A player who meets expectations deserves another contract. I'd very much like to bring him back.

I like his demeanor. I expected him to be a floater, just because his stats don't match his pure talent, but he's more into it than I expected. I think it's just not as easy as it seems to apply talent to results for some guys. That doesn't mean he doesn't care.

 

[ChrisKreider20]

I like Stepan, have always seen the potential and the talent that he has right now, and believe he will play a integral role, but not as a 1C.
Nylander was a blaze of speed, quickness and reaction. His success was also a product of his linemates, but let's face it, that guy was tops. I'm not going into a discussion of the various linemates Stepan might or might not excel with. I see Derek as a very good second centreman.

Nylander was fast? My memory must be completely off lol.
One thing that I know he wasn't fast at was penalty shots. You could literally buy a kitten, raise it, watch it get old and bury it in the time it took Nylander to take a penalty shot.

 

[trilobyte]

Look he's not perfect and his production is inconsistent. But let's think back to what we asked of this guy in the summer.

We wanted him to give us in the 12-15 goal range, don't play soft, compete every night, don't be a liability. And I think he's downright nailed it.

He's produced decently and competed. That's what we wanted. A player who meets expectations deserves another contract. I'd very much like to bring him back.

I like his demeanor. I expected him to be a floater, just because his stats don't match his pure talent, but he's more into it than I expected. I think it's just not as easy as it seems to apply talent to results for some guys. That doesn't mean he doesn't care.

Very well said about Pouliot. Something tells me has found his spot. He does it well. What's not to like? (nothing at all).
Bring Pouliot back.

 

[The Lunatic Fridge]

Ohhh boy i remember all those "Pouliot is an enigma" posts

 

[Ail]

Eating crow on him big time. I wanted him and Pyatt gone in the worst way during the first two months. I'm glad they only got rid of the latter. He's definitely been a good addition. Fills his role well.

 

[jskramer83]

I like Stepan, have always seen the potential and the talent that he has right now, and believe he will play a integral role, but not as a 1C.
Nylander was a blaze of speed, quickness and reaction. His success was also a product of his linemates, but let's face it, that guy was tops. I'm not going into a discussion of the various linemates Stepan might or might not excel with. I see Derek as a very good second centreman.

I think Stepan has all the natural talent to be a #1 C. What he seems to lack is leadership ability, which sadly cannot be taught and will hold him back. He just doesn't seem like that player who wants the pressure of putting a team on his back

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Ohhh boy i remember all those "Pouliot is an enigma" posts

You don't think he still is?

 

[True Blue]

You don't think he still is?

Was going to ask the same question. Someone with his size and speed should be more than a dime a dozen player. Which is not to say that he has been bad for the Rangers, but his play is hardly a "bring back at all costs". He is who he is. And that is replaceable.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Was going to ask the same question. Someone with his size and speed should be more than a dime a dozen player. Which is not to say that he has been bad for the Rangers, but his play is hardly a "bring back at all costs". He is who he is. And that is replaceable.

Size, speed and skill. The guy was a #4 overall pick.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Need to bring him back. He's exactly the type of player we need MORE of; players with skill AND size (that actually use it). He hits to hurt, and I'd argue that with a little more ice time he'd hit 20 goals over 82. He averages around 13 min a night for us and is on pace for 31 points/82. He cleaned up the bad penalties out of his game and he's an extremely effective player now. Callahan being gone is an even bigger reason to bring him back as a net front guy on the PP

 

[Vickers8]

I'd take this. Motivated Pouliot is a very solid player.

Big, fast, skilled...our only consistent body checker, stands his ground in the crease

 

[Thirty One]

I don't find anything enigmatic about Pouliot. He is what he is and has been in recent. If you're expecting something different, that's on you.

With his skill-set, he likely could be a better player, but that doesn't mean he isn't an effective player on a bargain contract.

 

[SlapshotTheMovie]

sorry to take a shot at you here.

Only on the Rangers can a 30 point scorer get signed, come in and score 30 points and be considered to have surpassed expectations.

This fan base is so accepting of mediocrity it's staggering.

Clueless owner, has been for a GM, Coaching carousel over the last 6 seasons.

Failed attempt after failed attempt at both going for it AND rebuilding.

A return of the retirement community that Merc. after Merc. has come in and exploited for the hockey world to witness.

It's ****ing sad to be a fan of this team.

Imagine this.

We have needed a #1 center since Messier first left for Vancouver. Nylander had a nice run with Jagr, but he's no #1 center.

Our best LW in the last 15 years was Marty Straka.

We have not had a competent Puck Moving Defenceman since Leetch

We have missed the mark when it came to overall team physicality. We had the 11-12 season and that was interesting. But even that team took a physical pounding. I'm not taking about the knuckle draggers, I'm talkign about a team that can push the pace physically.

We have a mediocre team that signs mediocre players and when they play mediocre hockey they have surpassed expectations?

Really?

gooooodddddddaaaaaaammmmmmmm

Would you like some cheese with that whine?


If you expect perfection you are going to have a bad time. First line centers dont grow on trees. They are developed. Stepan is a right on the verge of being a legit 1st line center. He defensively is better then most in the NHL and his offense is coming. You expect elite 1st line centers you are kidding yourself. There is less elite players in the league then teams. On center? even less.

Year after year sports writers have the rangers making the play offs and if hank gets a chance can go deep. Fans on the other hand over react and throw hissy fits like this one. Over react less please.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

I think Stepan has all the natural talent to be a #1 C. What he seems to lack is leadership ability, which sadly cannot be taught and will hold him back. He just doesn't seem like that player who wants the pressure of putting a team on his back

Stepan was the C on the best US WJC team of the past decade.

This stuff has nothing to do with Pouliot, can we keep this thread on topic? Every thread turns into complaining about not having size or about how much our players suck in general.

 

[CHGoalie27]

I think zero to hero on the compliment for Zucc and Brassard. I think he'll come in handy in April.

I think of the post when we got blown out and Pouliot scored after all the BS and someone said "Pouliot would score that goal". I died reading that, and to think he went from that Rozsival status to being a joy to watch...

 

[Ex Officer Friendly]

A whiny petulent child.

Really? No ones jumping on this? But that does sound familiar.


Anyway while Lundqvist could be a lucky pick there were still 6 and for some 7 other opportunities for teams to take him... Most of the draft is pretty luck based anyway. Dan Blackburn was set to be the king of NY and he got hurt... Don't forget the Hugh Jessiman...

Alex Daigle was a bust every team gets lucky sometimes.

If you said before the lockout that the Rangers would start to make the playoffs again/ play good hockey again I probably would have laughed at you.

But as for poopoo I like his game, solid contributor to the bottom 6 I would resign him and keep him around... On one year deals to ensure he keeps trying

 

[aufheben]

Is expecting more than one Cup in like 70 years really asking for "perfection"? I love the playoffs, it's my favorite time of year, but watching teams stumble in every year only to be knocked out early, and subsequently wasting one more year of one of the greatest players in this teams nearly 90 year history, gets old.

But yeah, Pouliot is aight. He's been a useful signing.

 

[OverTheCap]

Is expecting more than one Cup in like 70 years really asking for "perfection"?

To add to that, is expecting an elite first line center or an elite puck-moving defenseman in the last 15 years asking for perfection? We haven't had either, and the opportunity was there to grab at least one of them.

 

[Ex Officer Friendly]

Is expecting more than one Cup in like 70 years really asking for "perfection"? I love the playoffs, it's my favorite time of year, but watching teams stumble in every year only to be knocked out early, and subsequently wasting one more year of one of the greatest players in this teams nearly 90 year history, gets old.

No it's not but through the early 2000's the playoffs are basically a miracle... It's something that they need to build on look at teams like the oilers and flames. Would you rather see playoff hockey or be on a constant state of rebuilding.