Post-Game Talk: Bruins @ Rangers -- 9/28/21

[Slurpeelover27]

Judging by last night’s game and the two against the junior Flyers I’d put both Schneider and Jones ahead of Nils right now.

Jones consistently has pushed the play in all three games he’s played. There is nothing at all tentative about his game. The big question for me is how well is he going to defend. I have that same question about Lundkvist and he seems a bit less engaged.

Someone said here last night that Schneider needed to grow more into his body which I thought was pretty strange considering he’s a lot bigger and stronger than either Jones or Lundkvist. Someone else compared him to a young Girardi which wasn’t bad but Schneider looks to me like he’s going to be a bit more physical. I was thinking actually how Noah Dobson made the jump in his D+2 and again Schneider takes the body more. Yeah he could go to Hartford but of the three he’ll probably sort out his defending faster. As for growing more into his body as he ages there will probably be more of that but he’s physically ready right now.

I get that Jones and Schneider have been showing very well so far, but I think the judgement on Nils is way too harsh. He just came over to North America and is adjusting to many new things (bigger ice, language, new players, new systems etc.). Jones and Schneider have played their entire lives not having to deal with most of these things. Last nights game was against 2? regular NHL players and the Islanders rostered a pretty good team the other day. Let's see how Nils is looking during the last preseason game before we begin to jump to any conclusions. Nils has the greatest upside IMO and is ready too. It would be interesting to look back at posts about Fox when he was in first year as a pro during the preseason. Did anyone ever believe he would EVER contend for a Norris trophy during his entire career let alone win it? Still not quite the same though as Lundkvist has big adjustments to make. Dmen also take longer to adjust.

 

[TheDirtyH]

This is true.

But based off of what we've seen so far, Schenider looks way more ready to step into this league than Nils does. Nils will get 2-3 more games to settle in and win a spot, but as of right now there is no way that anyone who is being objective can say that he's the most deserving of a 5-6 spot on this team with a straight face. He's been out played by Schneider and heavily out played by Jones.

I thought the only defenseman who played better than Nils in his preseason game was Fox. The forwards and goalies played like garbage. He was, in a 5-0 loss, an even player.

Jones and Schneider played very well against lesser competition. I didn't think Schneider looked better than Nils in the development games against the Flyers.

IDK, it's just your opinion. You've also been telling us all through the summer about your doubts about Lundkvist about as much as Jovo lets us know his thoughts about Trouba. Objective would be taking the hands off declaring anything since these players are hardly being evaluated exclusively on what they do or don't do in preseason games. Being completely honest, I think Nils looks more ready to step into the NHL immediately--maybe not more than Jones, but differently. JMHO.

 

[DudMan28]

Jones and Schneider looked great, but I'm ready to pencil them into the lineup after one preseason game. I'm also not ready to put Nils in Hartford for the same reason. The Bruins lineup last night was a lot worse than the Isles lineup on Sunday.

This is the best part about having so many kids - training camp battles. Make them earn a spot. All three of them need to bring it each chance they get.

 

[Slurpeelover27]

I thought the only defenseman who played better than Nils in his preseason game was Fox. The forwards and goalies played like garbage. He was, in a 5-0 loss, an even player.

Jones and Schneider played very well against lesser competition. I didn't think Schneider looked better than Nils in the development games against the Flyers.

IDK, it's just your opinion. You've also been telling us all through the summer about your doubts about Lundkvist about as much as Jovo lets us know his thoughts about Trouba. Objective would be taking the hands off declaring anything since these players are hardly being evaluated exclusively on what they do or don't do in preseason games. Being completely honest, I think Nils looks more ready to step into the NHL immediately--maybe not more than Jones, but differently. JMHO.

Rick Carpinello from the Athletic also agrees with what you have said in his article after the Islander game. He gave the 3 stars to Fox, Hunt and Lundkvist.

 

[Raspewtin]

I didn't really think Nils was a trainwreck or anything, just took him a period or two to get going. his forwards gave him no options on breakouts multiple times.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I didn't really think Nils was a trainwreck or anything, just took him a period or two to get going. his forwards gave him no options on breakouts multiple times.

Maybe, but thats not even where I think he looked underwhelming. Most of his reads up ice were off. He looked like he was afraid to make a mistake. Most of the prospects games were the same.


It doesn't mean that he's a bust or won't make the team, but he isn't (or shouldn't be) the shoe in that some people thought he was.

 

[romba]

Our guys looked good but we played a terrible terrible squad. It’s good the young guys could keep up with the pace but I’d like to see how they fair against a mostly NHL squad before gushing

 

[LoveGoons]

Before we Go the traditional Ranger fan route and over rate or prospects, let’s see them against some real NHL tested talent.

 

[LoveGoons]

In addition Miller is still making the same mistakes he did last year against AHL talent. Very disappointing, I hope the new coach gives him some Toughlove.

 

[haveandare]

Definitely withholding strong opinions on the last d spots until everyone plays better competition, but the one thing Nils really has going for him is his potential to be an effective shooting threat and goal scorer. As stacked as the d pipeline is, there’s nobody like that

 

[Brother Mouzone]

Clarence Boddicker: Jones! I work for Zac Jones!

Props to @Loki Dog 74 for posting nothing but Patrick Bateman gifs all night

 

[TheDirtyH]

Maybe, but thats not even where I think he looked underwhelming. Most of his reads up ice were off. He looked like he was afraid to make a mistake. Most of the prospects games were the same.


It doesn't mean that he's a bust or won't make the team, but he isn't (or shouldn't be) the shoe in that some people thought he was.

I think that’s the part that’s up for debate. Nils has achieved a lot and proven himself over a longer track record than Schneider and Jones. That’s a big part of what makes it his spot to lose. I thought Nils reads were good. I thought he put himself where he needed to be throughout the game and in all three zones. He showed enough foot speed, a great shot, and considerable strength and stick positioning—tools that looked NHL level to my eyes.

In the end, he’s a defenseman. Playing it safe and being unnoticeable—in a 0-5 blowout moreover—can be a positive. To my mind, it is a positive. Jones and Schneider took more chances but they would’ve likely paid for some of them more dearly against better competition.

I won’t be shocked or upset if Nils makes the team over them. As I said, it’s also about having a longer track record outside the NHL that puts him at the front of the pack. If he does nothing to lose his spot, then I think the reality is he’ll keep it.

 

[Rempe73]

Oh shit I forgot how expensive Nemeth is.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Even if Nils starts in Hartford, I don’t think it’ll be long before he forces an NHL promotion. Let him have the time to adjust his decision-making pace, and you’ll see why he’s such a highly-touted defensive prospect.

Plus, I think there’s added benefit to letting Jones go buckwild in a sheltered role with Nemeth sitting there to cover him. If he can continually attack with pace and manage that PP2QB spot, he’s going to make our depth scoring that much more dangerous. That’s a big thing that we’ve missed the last two years.

 

[LokiDog]

@will1066 to @Brother Mouzone

 

[Brother Mouzone]

@will1066 to @Brother Mouzone
View attachment 467068

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Before we Go the traditional Ranger fan route and over rate or prospects, let’s see
them against some real NHL tested talent.

This the route of all fans of every team ever.

 

[bernmeister]

You really believe the Kings would deal Zegras for Strome and Jones?

Losing Hajek for nothing is probably the best return you could hope for.

Please note I specified two ++s after Jones

It's not a given.
And Z commands Duck desire to grow a 1C

but that said, while it is nowhere near a given, if Jones is the real deal AND enuf is added in, ANA should consider it a discussion

And if not, I got no prob with some variation of Zib + Jones for Berniers +

 

[bernmeister]

Definitely withholding strong opinions on the last d spots until everyone plays better competition, but the one thing Nils really has going for him is his potential to be an effective shooting threat and goal scorer. As stacked as the d pipeline is, there’s nobody like that

bold is the objective bottom line

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I thought the only defenseman who played better than Nils in his preseason game was Fox. The forwards and goalies played like garbage. He was, in a 5-0 loss, an even player.

Jones and Schneider played very well against lesser competition. I didn't think Schneider looked better than Nils in the development games against the Flyers.

IDK, it's just your opinion. You've also been telling us all through the summer about your doubts about Lundkvist about as much as Jovo lets us know his thoughts about Trouba. Objective would be taking the hands off declaring anything since these players are hardly being evaluated exclusively on what they do or don't do in preseason games. Being completely honest, I think Nils looks more ready to step into the NHL immediately--maybe not more than Jones, but differently. JMHO.

Most of the posters have biases for and against certain players and no matter what they do on the ice it's not going to change their opinion. You do the same thing.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Most of the posters have biases for and against certain players and no matter what they do on the ice it's not going to change their opinion. You do the same thing.

moi??

 

[Slurpeelover27]

I think that’s the part that’s up for debate. Nils has achieved a lot and proven himself over a longer track record than Schneider and Jones. That’s a big part of what makes it his spot to lose. I thought Nils reads were good. I thought he put himself where he needed to be throughout the game and in all three zones. He showed enough foot speed, a great shot, and considerable strength and stick positioning—tools that looked NHL level to my eyes.

In the end, he’s a defenseman. Playing it safe and being unnoticeable—in a 0-5 blowout moreover—can be a positive. To my mind, it is a positive. Jones and Schneider took more chances but they would’ve likely paid for some of them more dearly against better competition.

I won’t be shocked or upset if Nils makes the team over them. As I said, it’s also about having a longer track record outside the NHL that puts him at the front of the pack. If he does nothing to lose his spot, then I think the reality is he’ll keep it.

Huge agreement about the track record part. I think for the first little while if I were Lundkvist I would be focusing on trying to show that I could play defense first. Pretty obvious that he has excellent offensive upside. That has been proven. All he needs to show is he can play steady d and the offense is sure to come likely sooner than later.

 

[2014nyr]

Agree on all counts. It is frightening.

And you left out Pajuniemi, who also looked really good.

1000%. i've been extremely high on him coming outta development camp - prior to that was skeptical he had any nhl future. only didn't mention because didn't feel like he had a ton of opportunity. certainly showed off the rifle on the pp in the 3rd - but where i've really been sold on him is his skating is very good. he's quick / fast enough to be able to create offense. in some ways he's getting a raw deal in main camp with gallant coming in new and wanting to get extended looks at what he has in mind to start - not seeing some mixing and matching where a pajuniemi might get a game with panarin or mika / laf just to have a look. i get it from gg perspective - he's got limited amount of time to get familiar with his presumed roster and wants to get those guys time locking into his expectations etc....but certainly meant no slight to pajuniemi. in the end starting in hfd playing big mins and continuing to adj to na ice should have him well prepared and i absolutely expect to see him get some time this year if not force the orgs hand find a spot for him.

 

[Raspewtin]

pajuniemi was lowkey good last night. he started off slow (literally) but picked it up as the game went on. I think he plays a little slow right now (not necessarily skating wise) but it's a longish enough camp and there will be other chances.

 

[Machinehead]

This probably makes sense but I’d like him to get PP time as well.

It'll come. He's getting huge and has great hands. He'll get more and more time as the net man as Kreider ages.