Player Discussion Brett Howden

[Lion Hound]

Poor Howden has been hijacked to a Lindgren/Fox thread.

Not to be the Debbie Downer here, however. While excited about the possiblities of these two playing, it's highly unlike the NYR org to play to Rookies on the same line, let alone a two rookie defense pairing.

 

[n8]

 

[iamitter]

I'd like to see Howden put up 35 next year and assert himself as that 3C who can do it all. He's well on his way to becoming an energy, give it all 3C who can put up 45 in their prime.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Howden doesn't have much future here unless he really improves his physical and defensive game. Right now he seems like not offensive enough to be a good 2nd liner and not defensive enough to be a good 3rd liner.

 

[mrmovies779]

Howden doesn't have much future here unless he really improves his physical and defensive game. Right now he seems like not offensive enough to be a good 2nd liner and not defensive enough to be a good 3rd liner.

So in other words...you've never seen him play

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

So in other words...you've never seen him play

Or maybe you have never seen him play?

"It was on the defensive end where Howden struggled the most, with a team worst – and second worst in the entire NHL – 3.35 xGA/60. He was 11th in xGF/60 at 2.30, and that should probably get better, the kid is talented. But it’s that defensive play that really dragged him down." "He can contribute offensively, but boy does his defensive game need a ton of work."

2019 Rangers Player Report Card: Brett Howden - Blue Seat Blogs

 

[mrmovies779]

Or maybe you have never seen him play?

"It was on the defensive end where Howden struggled the most, with a team worst – and second worst in the entire NHL – 3.35 xGA/60. He was 11th in xGF/60 at 2.30, and that should probably get better, the kid is talented. But it’s that defensive play that really dragged him down." "He can contribute offensively, but boy does his defensive game need a ton of work."

2019 Rangers Player Report Card: Brett Howden - Blue Seat Blogs

A rookie struggles?Shocking!He will be fine.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

A rookie struggles?Shocking!He will be fine.

but you just said that I haven't watched him play? And why are Howden's rookie struggles forgiven or shrugged of, but Pionk's are not?

 

[Harbour Dog]

Howden doesn't have much future here unless he really improves his physical and defensive game. Right now he seems like not offensive enough to be a good 2nd liner and not defensive enough to be a good 3rd liner.

A rookie needs to "really improve" to have an NHL future.

Next at 11: H2O proven to be wet.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

The AHL is where he should have spent most if not all of the season. There was lots for him to learn there.

not just learn, but also play a ton of minutes and smoothly transition, instead of hitting a wall and hurting his confidence.

 

[Edge]

Howden will be fine as he adjusts and develops.

The question will be exactly what it was a year ago — his ceiling.

 

[mike14]

Next at 11: H2O proven to be wet.

Tell me more about this proof.....
UCSB Science Line

 

[Tawnos]

Id say Lindgren is a terrific depth piece to have. Injuries happen, you need guys to step in who won't hurt you.

Or, you know... they don’t. Last year was mostly injury free on D, IMO to the detriment of the team.

 

[Inferno]

Or, you know... they don’t. Last year was mostly injury free on D, IMO to the detriment of the team.

They happened....guys just played thru them stupidly...like pionk.

 

[eco's bones]

Howden doesn't have much future here unless he really improves his physical and defensive game. Right now he seems like not offensive enough to be a good 2nd liner and not defensive enough to be a good 3rd liner.

Most players coming out of the CHL don't skip past a season or two (or three) in the AHL you know. If he had stayed with the Tampa organization that drafted him he would have almost certainly spent the entire year in Syracuse. There are improvements for sure that Brett needs to make but some of them will (should) come naturally as he gets bigger, stronger and more experienced which is a way of saying that he's not a fully developed player so you shouldn't look at him like he is. He's a work in progress and it still might take two-three years before we really have a realistic idea about how good he can be.

Personally I see him eventually becoming a really good 3C. I think he'll have the capability of 40-45 point seasons--he'll kill penalties and be very very good on faceoffs. He's got more weight to put on and he needs to get stronger. Those things will help him--he'll need to be more physical. All that is within reach. He's not going to be a star but he should become a very good player. For a tail end of the first round player that's a pretty good outcome.

 

[eco's bones]

They happened....guys just played thru them stupidly...like pionk.

Like Fast....like Kreider this year. Like Shattenkirk and Kreider in 17-18. Like Henrik does some times and we find out later. I get that you don't like Pionk but it becomes an agenda when you single him out for stuff that others around him are doing too. We also don't know what other pressures they're getting from the coaching staff for instance...and it's not unusual for a player to think--'if I don't play I might lose my job to.......'

 

[OrlandK]

but you just said that I haven't watched him play? And why are Howden's rookie struggles forgiven or shrugged of, but Pionk's are not?

Possibly because Howden has a skill set that indicates he may develop into a good NHL player and Pionk does not.

ps - Howden is 3 years younger.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Howden’s biggest weakness to me is his conditioning. If he’s going to play that taxing style, he needs to be able to manage the coinciding fatigue. A summer with Prentiss should get him on the right track.

 

[McRanger]

Like Fast....like Kreider this year. Like Shattenkirk and Kreider in 17-18. Like Henrik does some times and we find out later. I get that you don't like Pionk but it becomes an agenda when you single him out for stuff that others around him are doing too. We also don't know what other pressures they're getting from the coaching staff for instance...and it's not unusual for a player to think--'if I don't play I might lose my job to.......'

I dont see how saying that Pionk playing through injury, which is essentially giving him an excuse for being a horrible defenseman, is part of any "agenda".

That's probably the nicest true thing someone has said about Pionk on the board since November.

 

[McRanger]

Howden looked great early and awful later which is pretty common for a player with his age and profile. I can't say I am too concerned about him.

 

[True Blue]

A lot of people don't really count a try-out as actually playing in the AHL

Shhh.....don't use logic please. It is far easier that way.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Or maybe you have never seen him play?

"It was on the defensive end where Howden struggled the most, with a team worst – and second worst in the entire NHL – 3.35 xGA/60. He was 11th in xGF/60 at 2.30, and that should probably get better, the kid is talented. But it’s that defensive play that really dragged him down." "He can contribute offensively, but boy does his defensive game need a ton of work."

2019 Rangers Player Report Card: Brett Howden - Blue Seat Blogs

What exactly are his biggest flaws on D?

 

[Tawnos]

They happened....guys just played thru them stupidly...like pionk.

When we speak of injuries and the depth we need them for, I assume we're talking about the kind that can't be played through.

 

[McRanger]

When we speak of injuries and the depth we need them for, I assume we're talking about the kind that can't be played through.

True, but when your teams a disaster why play through any injuries?

 

[Inferno]

Like Fast....like Kreider this year. Like Shattenkirk and Kreider in 17-18. Like Henrik does some times and we find out later. I get that you don't like Pionk but it becomes an agenda when you single him out for stuff that others around him are doing too. We also don't know what other pressures they're getting from the coaching staff for instance...and it's not unusual for a player to think--'if I don't play I might lose my job to.......'

weird... I constantly say I think pionks fine as a 3rd pair defenseman.


I just mentioned him because he's a defenseman who played thru an injury that we knew of.

There's no agenda here..I actually like pionk as a 3rdpair d. My issues aren't with him..it's with the usage the coaches are giving him

You must have pionk confused with vesey for me.

Vesey is trash.