Derek Stepan

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Okay, Wojtek, we will. We'll hug him too. Right where it counts.

You better hang on to those things for dear life cause by the looks of it you and 31 might be the only ones left

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

You better hang on to those things for dear life cause by the looks of it you and 31 might be the only ones left

Nope.

These people aren't posting because they know it's pointless and that they may as well be arguing with a brick wall.

 

[Zil]

Miller was more physical tonight than Stepan has ever been.

While Stepan could do to play a little more physical, it's ridiculous to compare Stepan's game to Miller's. If Stepan ever gets it together he's a poor man's Adam Oates. If Miller hits his ceiling he's Mike Richards or Ryan Kesler. They're completely different types of players.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

You're 100% correct. Stepan is so freakin overrated around these parts it is laughable. We have a 2C that can't skate, can't check, can't win a faceoff, can't shot the puck and who gets knocked off the puck by a stiff wind!

Glad I'm not (almost) the only one in here that's willing to take an unbiased approach to one of our home grown players. All seriousness, I don't think it's a matter of Step necessarily playing poorly. I just don't think he's being used in the right way. Why does a player with no hands, no speed and no shot deserve to be on the PP let alone the 2nd line? Is Torts kidding me with Step on the right point on the PP? Either we seriously have no options or Torts is on drugs. Stepan right now would be a highly effective 3C and he hasn't shown anything in a LONG while stretching back to almost a year ago to prove otherwise. The reason we haven't seen it is because Torts has 0 options to try there unless Miller sticks but I expect nothing out of that kid at 19. Hence: get me J Jokinen or Antropov on the cheap

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Nope.

These people aren't posting because they know it's pointless and that they may as well be arguing with a brick wall.

I'm glad you speak for all the non-posters. They should have a voice

I'm sorry they feel that way. One unfortunate (great IMO ) thing about me that people always notice is that once I believe in something it's impossible to get me to change my mind unless there's a really good argument. I just don't see a good argument here for Steps being on the 2nd line when there are presumably cheap options out there to make our team much deeper and give Stepan more time to develop

 

[Holocene]

Nope.

These people aren't posting because they know it's pointless and that they may as well be arguing with a brick wall.

Yeah, it's not worth arguing over. Good to laugh at though!

 

[Samuel Culper III]

I'm glad you speak for all the non-posters. They should have a voice

I'm sorry they feel that way. One unfortunate (great IMO ) thing about me that people always notice is that once I believe in something it's impossible to get me to change my mind unless there's a really good argument. I just don't see a good argument here for Steps being on the 2nd line when there are presumably cheap options out there to make our team much deeper and give Stepan more time to develop

The only unfortunate thing about you is that you don't go away. No one is asking you to change your mind. Just let it go.................................

 

[Callagraves]

Nope.

These people aren't posting because they know it's pointless and that they may as well be arguing with a brick wall.

What Zenith said.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

While Stepan could do to play a little more physical, it's ridiculous to compare Stepan's game to Miller's. If Stepan ever gets it together he's a poor man's Adam Oates. If Miller hits his ceiling he's Mike Richards or Ryan Kesler. They're completely different types of players.

Are you kidding me? Please don't insult everyone here by comparing Derek Stepan to Adam Oates.

Stepan can't skate, shoot, and is ridiculously timid. Last year in the playoffs he was totally overwhelmed.

So far this year he's been an ineffectual little nothing.

Adam Oates..... yeah...ok.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Are you kidding me? Please don't insult everyone here by comparing Derek Stepan to Adam Oates.

Stepan can't skate, shoot, and is ridiculously timid. Last year in the playoffs he was totally overwhelmed.

So far this year he's been an ineffectual little nothing.

Adam Oates..... yeah...ok.

Comparing Stepan's ceiling to a poor man's Adam Oates is a lot more sane than calling a 22 year old kid with about 40 goals and 100 NHL points someone who "can't skate, shoot, and is timid"

 

[Thirty One]

You better hang on to those things for dear life cause by the looks of it you and 31 might be the only ones left

That's pretty bold saying that, since your getting 15% of the vote in the poll you created.

Maybe others don't have the patience for conducting logicless, evidence-devoid debates that I do?

 

[Thirty One]

Stepan can't skate, shoot, and is ridiculously timid. Last year in the playoffs he was totally overwhelmed.

Because Adam Oates was known for his skating, shot and aggressiveness?

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

Both Stepan and Gaborik played their best hockey last year when they were togther.

Put them back together.

And give them Pyatt to work the boards down low to create space.

 

[Fitzy]

Comparing Stepan's ceiling to a poor man's Adam Oates is a lot more sane than calling a 22 year old kid with about 40 goals and 100 NHL points someone who "can't skate, shoot, and is timid"

I don't think either is particularily sane, but there you have it.

Stepan reminds me of a younger Steve Rucchin, or a Paul Stastny. Rucchin of course had the advantage in physicality.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I don't think either is particularily sane, but there you have it.

Stepan reminds me of a younger Steve Rucchin, or a Paul Stastny. Rucchin of course had the advantage in physicality.

A poor man's Oates has a broad interpretation. You can be VERY poor.

The other description seems to imply Stepan isnt even an NHL capable player.

Sure, its hyperbole to compare Stepan to one of the greatest playmakers of all-time in any way, but still.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Both Stepan and Gaborik played their best hockey last year when they were togther.

Put them back together.

And give them Pyatt to work the boards down low to create space.

At the very least it's time to break up the G-R-N line. They don't produce consistently or enough to take away the balance and depth of the other lines.

 

[Thirty One]

A poor man's Oates has a broad interpretation. You can be VERY poor.

Exactly. I consider myself the poor man's Dan Girardi.

 

[Trxjw]

At the very least it's time to break up the G-R-N line. They don't produce consistently or enough to take away the balance and depth of the other lines.

GRN? That stands for Giving me Real Nightmares, right?

Definitely time for that experiment to end.

 

[Trxjw]

Exactly. I consider myself the poor man's Dan Girardi.

More like bankrupt man's Dan Girardi.


....oooooohhhhh.

 

[Vickers8]

Both Stepan and Gaborik played their best hockey last year when they were togther.Put them back together.

And give them Pyatt to work the boards down low to create space.

I agree but I put Cally on that line

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

Comparing Stepan's ceiling to a poor man's Adam Oates is a lot more sane than calling a 22 year old kid with about 40 goals and 100 NHL points someone who "can't skate, shoot, and is timid"

Yeah, not even close.

You look at the stat sheet, dude, I'll watch the games.

He's been a joke since like last March. Stepan isn't good enough to make anything happen unless he's playing with a superstar to give the puck to. ie: Gabs.

If you don't think he's been terrible, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

At the very least it's time to break up the G-R-N line. They don't produce consistently or enough to take away the balance and depth of the other lines.

Absolutely!!!

I think that line has played its last game.

GNR: Goals Not Recorded

 

[Holocene]

I agree but I put Cally on that line

I think to get the best out of Stepan we have to not have Callahan playing with him lol. Callahan plays well with Richards and Boyle and Stepan has shown chemistry with Kreider, who looks to be okay now that he's healed. All this is for naught though as Torts will continue to just shove random players out together on the ice as the season progresses.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Yeah, not even close.

You look at the stat sheet, dude, I'll watch the games.

He's been a joke since like last March. Stepan isn't good enough to make anything happen unless he's playing with a superstar to give the puck to. ie: Gabs.

If you don't think he's been terrible, I don't know what to tell you.

I started this thread, so that should give you some sort of inclination regarding how I think Stepan needs to play better. But whining about how he cant do the necessary things an NHL player needs to do, and wanting to get rid of him? Thats extreme. Since last March? Oh, you mean the 30 or so games the Rangers have played since then? Too much venom and whining towards a 22 year old player.

Anyway, it seems like we have a lot of experts around here that need to have their eyes checked.

 

[Joe11]

The NY media created and continues to maintain a false narrative that Stefan is a gifted player with potential to be a star. Most of the fans accepted this as fact.
Now thats hes in his 3rd season, some who have watched him, realize that in reality his upside is that of a decent 3rd line player when he gives a full out effort.

If anyone maintains he has been anything but brutal since the playoffs and the start of this season, I question your objectivity. If you agree with this observation, but still think he can be an above average player, then we can agree to disagree