Fitzy's Annual Preseason Poll- Biggest Rookie Impact?

[Fitzy]

So we've been pretty bad with our best rookie predictions for a few years running now.

In 16-17 the vote was close between Vesey and Buchnevich, but Skjei was clearly the best performer.
In 17-18 we didn't really have any impactful rookies except for Pionk. I don't remember who won that poll. I think it might have been Bereglazov
In 18-19 you all voted Chytil, though best season would almost certainly be taken by Georgiev.
Last year most of you picked Kakko, though the clear correct answer was Fox, who I will take credit for voting for

I think this year we may actually have a pretty close vote, but we will see.

Click to read more...

 

[Thirty One]

There's obviously two runaways here, but I think there's some notable snubs on this list.

 

[Fitzy]

There's obviously two runaways here, but I think there's some notable snubs on this list.

I mean I'll add em but I dont think they'll get any votes.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Shesty AINEC. Never bet on a rookie fwd on the Rangers

 

[ElLeetch]

Igor, just by nature of the position.

As for the forwards, while i do think they will do well, we aren't the Oilers who had to play McD 20mins a night as a rookie because the rest of the team was void of talent.

Unlike most other 1st overalls experiences, this isn't an empty roster.

 

[Fitzy]

I ended up voting for Shesty. He's 24 freaking years of age and an almost certain frontrunner for the Calder trophy if he stays healthy. Like Henrik was when he joined us, he's been playing pro at the highest level as a star for many years.

 

[BKGooner]

Awesome to see legitimate options and a few dark horses, especially when you see the voting from the last few years. Went Shesty, just get him a bubble wrap suit for late night snack runs to Brighton Beach with Buch. Amazing time to be a Ranger fan and be able to say another player's name over the first 1st overall pick in franchise history.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Awesome to see legitimate options and a few dark horses, especially when you see the voting from the last few years. Went Shesty, just get him a bubble wrap suit for late night snack runs to Brighton Beach with Buch. Amazing time to be a Ranger fan and be able to say another player's name over the first 1st overall pick in franchise history.

*In the open draft era

 

[LokiDog]

I think Laf could have one of the better rookie seasons of recent high end D+1 but you have to go with Shesterkin via nature of the position. He’s going to impact every game he plays in - some negatively, but mostly positively you’d imagine. Laf may have a really strong rookie year but I don’t know if you’ll be able to say he impacted games as regularly as the new starting G.

 

[EdJovanovski]

I'll go with Laf, he's just a different breed

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Shesty AINEC. Never bet on a rookie fwd on the Rangers

This is the dumbest reasoning for not picking Laf

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

This is the dumbest reasoning for not picking Laf

Shesty is also fully developed, Laf is coming straight from Juniors , Shesty will be the starter, Laf will probably start in the bottom 6... if Laf manages to still outshine Shesty then that’s great news (or terrible news lol)

 

[The Crypto Guy]

I feel like Laf has the better shot winning the Calder, so I went with him.

 

[nyr2k2]

What Shesterkin did last year was play Vezina-caliber goal over a small sample. If he does that all year, which I think he can, that will be more significant than 50 points from Lafreniere.

 

[Thirty One]

I think this is Berezgalov's year.

 

[Machinehead]

Kinda torn here. Shestyorkin is probably the better player right now but I'm skeptical of the impact of individual goalies in general.

 

[Fitzy]

Kinda torn here. Shestyorkin is probably the better player right now but I'm skeptical of the impact of individual goalies in general.

I think it's a complicated impact to measure if you're trying to do a 'WAR' assessment.

First because its tough to evaluate differences in shot quality, and there are significant variations of that average depending on defensive play around the league. It's part of the reason why KHL goalie save percentages are all so high.

Second because its not just about the difference in goals against between a .920 and .910 goalie, its WHEN they let in the goals. Georgiev's .910 as a 'hiccup harry' is a lot better than a steady Eddie .910 (Stealing from hockeyrodent.com article from 2006)

 

[Machinehead]

I think it's a complicated impact to measure if you're trying to do a 'WAR' assessment.

First because its tough to evaluate differences in shot quality, and there are significant variations of that average depending on defensive play around the league. It's part of the reason why KHL goalie save percentages are all so high.

Second because its not just about the difference in goals against between a .920 and .910 goalie, its WHEN they let in the goals. Georgiev's .910 as a 'hiccup harry' is a lot better than a steady Eddie .910 (Stealing from hockeyrodent.com article from 2006)

This is very true!

You can have two goalies with similar stats but I'd rather have the guy who gives up 7 when we were getting shut out anyway than the guy who gives up softies tied in the third period.

Is this real and repeatable? Can't say for sure, but going by the eye-test, it's definitely something I've noticed.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

This is very true!

You can have two goalies with similar stats but I'd rather have the guy who gives up 7 when we were getting shut out anyway than the guy who gives up softies tied in the third period.

Is this real and repeatable? Can't say for sure, but going by the eye-test, it's definitely something I've noticed.

Agreed. At the same time, that goes for scoring as well. A player can have 15 goals but if a bunch of those are game-winners in the final minutes, while the guy hitting 25 mostly pots them when you're up 2-3 goals already, it's an interesting debate on who is more valuable.

Not a huge fan of how the game-winning goal stat is used because there are a bunch of game-winning goals that I don't really consider a GWG. If your team is up 4-0 and Lafreniere scored goals 1, 3 and 4, while Chytil scores goal no 4 but the opponent scores a late goal when the game is basically already over, Chytil gets the GWG because of some meaningless goal in the dying seconds

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

What Shesterkin did last year was play Vezina-caliber goal over a small sample. If he does that all year, which I think he can, that will be more significant than 50 points from Lafreniere.

50 in 56 ain't too bad

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

50 in 56 ain't too bad

I was thinking the same thing. That's 73 points pro-rated to 82 GP

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Going Laf.

I think he steps in a tears it up off the bat. Shesty won’t get the reps to be as valuable

 

[SA16]

Difference between lafreniere and whoever would be in the lineup if he wasn’t here should be greater than shesterkin and georgiev. Could also see shesterkin getting less games than expected due to a potentially compressed schedule with extra back to backs.

 

[romba]

Shesty is also fully developed, Laf is coming straight from Juniors , Shesty will be the starter, Laf will probably start in the bottom 6... if Laf manages to still outshine Shesty then that’s great news (or terrible news lol)

....annnnnnndddd it’s a rookie forward on the Rangers

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

27 years since we had a drafted 60 point forward on the team. And it's not going to change this season with only 56 games