Derek Stepan

[SupersonicMonkey*]

If you're comparing Del Zotto as a defenseman to Eberle as a goal scorer, you're completely lost!
Eberle just signed a contract worth 6 mil per season; don't waste your time going near that comparison!

The Rangers are paying far less for one of the budding offensive defensemen in the league, who plays 20+ minutes per night.

Stepan has 25 less career points then this 6+ mil per season player. Stepan: 2.463 (rounded up) cap hit.

Del Zotto + Stepan = approx 5 million cap hit.

 

[3rdlineglory]

Look, believe it or not, I really like Stepan. It's just that I don't see him as a legit #2 center because his skillset is very limited.

The thing is he is already a legit #2 center, possibly could be a #1 center someday or at least a fringe #1 center.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Stepan, Del Zotto, Staal, Callahan, Dubinsky, Anisimov, Lauri Korpikoski, Hagelin, Sauer, Kreider ring any bells?

Ok, let's see. Staal was taken high in the 1st round of the 2005 draft while Letang(3rd round) and Yandle(4th round) were picked in the same draft and are both better than Staal.
Callahan? No complaints there!
Korpikoski? Oh that's right, our genius gm traded him for Enver Lisin who lasted 1 season!
Sauer? Love him but unfortunately I don't think we'll be seeing him anymore!
Del Zotto? A very good pick but we definitely could have used Eberle more considering our lousy scoring situation!
Stepan? No complaints with him being picked in the 2nd rd.
Anisimov? I really liked him but his upside was and is limited
Hagelin? I love him but I think his goal scoring last year was a fluke.

Look, I admit we have drafted better since 2007 but we had no where to go but up considering all the disasters we've had with the draft in the past.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

The thing is he is already a legit #2 center, possibly could be a #1 center someday or at least a fringe #1 center.

If Derek Stepan ever ends up as our #1 center, we are in big trouble!!

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Ok, let's see. Staal was taken high in the 1st round of the 2005 draft while Letang(3rd round) and Yandle(4th round) were picked in the same draft and are both better than Staal.

Yeah, because it's so realistic to expect an NHL team to see into the future and draft players rated significantly lower than where the team is picking. It's not even like Letang and Yandle are objectively better than Staal. I'll say that I would not even consider Yandle for Staal, although he's a pretty solid player.

I honestly don't know why I even bother, you seem to complain about everything, even good picks like Staal and DZ.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

If Derek Stepan ever ends up as our #1 center, we are in big trouble!!

Or it could be looked as Stepan taking a big step and be quite a good thing.

Also, I don't know much about Yandle being better than Staal. I think I'd keep Marc.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

I'd take ROR over Stepan but not Henrique.

Henrique is a much better all around player than Stepan is. Stop kidding yourself!

 

[ImIdaho]

I honestly don't know why I even bother, you seem to complain about everything, even good picks like Staal and DZ.

Are they like Pronger or Lidstrom?

No. They suck.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Lundqvist (00)
Callahan (04)
Dubinsky (04)
Staal (05)
Sauer (05)
Anisimov (06)
Hagelin (07)
Del Zotto (08)
Stepan (08)
Kreider (09)

That's just players that have been notable NHLers. You do realize most teams haven't had drafting success like this in the past 20 years, right? I don't think you do, because apparently, you live in a fantasy world where every pick has to be perfect.

I live in a fantasy world? We have been notoriously bad at drafting in our history and that's a fact. Some teams just draft better than others. The Flyers and Red Wings for instance have always done well at drafting in their history. We know it's not an exact science but we would have done better job drafting blindfolded in the 2003 and 2006 drafts and in many of the drafts during the 1990's.

 

[3rdlineglory]

I live in a fantasy world? We have been notoriously bad at drafting in our history and that's a fact. Some teams just draft better than others. The Flyers and Red Wings for instance have always done well at drafting in their history. We know it's not an exact science but we would have done better job drafting blindfolded in the 2003 and 2006 drafts and in many of the drafts during the 1990's.

Cause who needs regular sight when you have hindsight?

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Yeah, because it's so realistic to expect an NHL team to see into the future and draft players rated significantly lower than where the team is picking. It's not even like Letang and Yandle are objectively better than Staal. I'll say that I would not even consider Yandle for Staal, although he's a pretty solid player.

I honestly don't know why I even bother, you seem to complain about everything, even good picks like Staal and DZ.

That's just it, they are good picks but not close to being great picks! Is it just that we are unlucky at picking players? History says that we have been lousy at it more times than not!

How does a team like the Red Wings continue to find gems late in the draft over the years? They picked Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Franzen all after the 3rd round. Dallas got Benn at #129 in 07; Boston got Lucic(2nd round) and Marchand(3rd round) in the 06 draft. So what is the answer?

 

[Kershaw]

Agree 100%. They are both way better away from the puck, much better forecheckers, more physical, better defensively, better skaters, better goal scorers and much better on faceoffs!

Yup all facts.

Steps still has the higher offensive upside and is the most offensively gifted out of the three.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

That's just it, they are good picks but not close to being great picks! Is it just that we are unlucky at picking players? History says that we have been lousy at it more times than not!

How does a team like the Red Wings continue to find gems late in the draft over the years? They picked Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Franzen all after the 3rd round. Dallas got Benn at #129 in 07; Boston got Lucic(2nd round) and Marchand(3rd round) in the 06 draft. So what is the answer?

The Rangers picked a franchise goaltender in the 7th round.

This seems to get overlooked for whatever reason.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Or it could be looked as Stepan taking a big step and be quite a good thing.

Also, I don't know much about Yandle being better than Staal. I think I'd keep Marc.

6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other. I'm fine with Staal; I just brought up the drafting of Yandle(#102 in the same draft) to make a point!

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Yup all facts.

Steps still has the higher offensive upside and is the most offensively gifted out of the three.

I don't think so as it relates to Henrique who is a legit #2 center and will end up playing with more productive players so he will put up more points in the long run than Stepan will. Needless to say, he is also a much better goal scorer!

 

[Kershaw]

I don't think so as it relates to Henrique who is a legit #2 center and will end up playing with more productive players so he will put up more points in the long run than Stepan will. Needless to say, he is also a much better goal scorer!

Stepan's been a plain point producer at every level of hockey. A top one too. Henrique and ROR haven't done the same.

 

[Maaxse]

There is 30 teams drafting hundreds of players, there is always going to be better and worse picks than the Ranger's. What we have at the moment, just for goaltending and the blueline, is mouth watering to most teams. Can we move on?

 

[Drewbackatu*]

The Rangers picked a franchise goaltender in the 7th round.

This seems to get overlooked for whatever reason.

Obviously, Lundqvist is a once in a lifetime type of pick that late in the draft but that seems to be a common occurrence with goaltenders for some reason(finding gems that is late in the draft)

 

[Drewbackatu*]

There is 30 teams drafting hundreds of players, there is always going to be better and worse picks than the Ranger's. What we have at the moment, just for goaltending and the blueline, is mouth watering to most teams. Can we move on?

Ok; I'm ready to move on as well! Have a good nite!

 

[Boruto]

thought this is the Stepan Thread and not the Change our draft strategy thread.

Step needs to honestly just aisfhaiwefhasdklf

There's just something missing from his game.

 

[Callagraves]

thought this is the Stepan Thread and not the Change our draft strategy thread.

Step needs to honestly just aisfhaiwefhasdklf

There's just something missing from his game.

It's Impact. He will never have the ability to take over a game, or really take over a shift, but he still needs to find a way to impact the game outside of his assists.

Once a game, nearly every game, D-Step makes a beautiful takeaway. His vision for IQ for interrupting a breakout is terrific. the problem is how rarely it becomes anything. A weak shot on goal or a forced pass, and it's an opportunity wasted.

Contrast with Hags. Well, on his better days. He doesn't usually show up on the score sheet. He's got a decent wrister, and par for the course passing, but he's not an offensive force as it stands. But he impacts the game, especially the forecheck.

This is why I'm still confident in Stepan. Forecheck, balls out play,puck battles (HUGE for this team) can be improved, worked on, and don't always develop early. His vision and creativity? That's something I don't think they can just give to a player.

But he has to complete his game. He can't simply be the set-up guy if he can't CREATE offense. it's his 3rd season. he's shown moderate improvement in his second, but once again seemed to be a non factor in the playoffs. Stepan CAN be a legit 2C, and maybe a 1C if he can round out his skill set. It's a big IF though.

And for the record, I think Ryan O'Reilly is better than Step, but not Adam Henrique. He might be in the future, but not right now.

 

[Boruto]

It's Impact. He will never have the ability to take over a game, or really take over a shift, but he still needs to find a way to impact the game outside of his assists.

Once a game, nearly every game, D-Step makes a beautiful takeaway. His vision for IQ for interrupting a breakout is terrific. the problem is how rarely it becomes anything. A weak shot on goal or a forced pass, and it's an opportunity wasted.

Contrast with Hags. Well, on his better days. He doesn't usually show up on the score sheet. He's got a decent wrister, and par for the course passing, but he's not an offensive force as it stands. But he impacts the game, especially the forecheck.

This is why I'm still confident in Stepan. Forecheck, balls out play,puck battles (HUGE for this team) can be improved, worked on, and don't always develop early. His vision and creativity? That's something I don't think they can just give to a player.

But he has to complete his game. He can't simply be the set-up guy if he can't CREATE offense. it's his 3rd season. he's shown moderate improvement in his second, but once again seemed to be a non factor in the playoffs. Stepan CAN be a legit 2C, and maybe a 1C if he can round out his skill set. It's a big IF though.

And for the record, I think Ryan O'Reilly is better than Step, but not Adam Henrique. He might be in the future, but not right now.

ROR is definitely better than Step. Step is... lacking weapons. Everyone has their way of scoring goals whether it's the shot they take or the spot they situate themselves in. Step just... doesn't have either. Never at the right place at the right time and cannot finish. Give Gabby or Kreider those chances, they would put quite a few away.

 

[Kokoschka]

Yeah, because it's so realistic to expect an NHL team to see into the future and draft players rated significantly lower than where the team is picking. It's not even like Letang and Yandle are objectively better than Staal. I'll say that I would not even consider Yandle for Staal, although he's a pretty solid player.

I honestly don't know why I even bother, you seem to complain about everything, even good picks like Staal and DZ.

Face it. If we're not playing terribly, something other than that has got to be terrible about our organization.

 

[Rangers ftw]

Face it. If we're not playing terribly, something other than that has got to be terrible about our organization.

This is what happen since the "Fire Sather"-thread died....

And for Stepan, He needs to be stronger with the puck, he sure got the skills, but in order to take the next step and face the toughest d-men in the league, he must improve.

 

[TC82]

This is what happen since the "Fire Sather"-thread died....

And for Stepan, He needs to be stronger with the puck, he sure got the skills, but in order to take the next step and face the toughest d-men in the league, he must improve.

Well the curious thing is that he commented before the camp that he has been working on getting more upper body strength. But that might have come at the cost of other assets, because he played in Finland during the lockout and he looked really slow. Granted, I saw only 5 or 6 games from him + these NHL games now, but still.