Forward depth issues outside of the 1st line?
- Thread starter hpNYR
- Start date
0ddManRush
Registered User
I absolutely agree. To get back on track, stacking the top line may be necessary, but in the long run, they need to be split up in order to balance out the roster.
I also believe that the Rangers had anticipated a strong presence of Kreider when they traded away both Dubinsky and Anisimov, but that hasn't quite been there.
I also believe that the Rangers had anticipated a strong presence of Kreider when they traded away both Dubinsky and Anisimov, but that hasn't quite been there.
- Jul 16, 2005
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Where have you been? Everyone is concerned about our forward depth.
It's not really that surprising. The Rangers forward depth was a strength but a 2-for-1 trade and the lack of development from Kreider, Hagelin and Stepan are hurting them a bit right now. If those three guys were playing at a high level, we wouldn't be noticing it, but they aren't.
The good news is 2nd/3rd line forward types is still an organizational strength and there are a ton of them in the system.
It's not really that surprising. The Rangers forward depth was a strength but a 2-for-1 trade and the lack of development from Kreider, Hagelin and Stepan are hurting them a bit right now. If those three guys were playing at a high level, we wouldn't be noticing it, but they aren't.
The good news is 2nd/3rd line forward types is still an organizational strength and there are a ton of them in the system.
Ail
Based and Rangerspilled.
Not as worried as others seem to be.
That first line will make up for the times the 2-4 are just plain having a bad game, and vice versa. That first line is the kind you can actually rely on to win games alone. I didn't have that kind of confidence in just the Richards/Gaborik tandem.
People are still rusty and finding their stride. By game 24 I bet the depth issue will be much less a concern than it seems to be now.
That first line will make up for the times the 2-4 are just plain having a bad game, and vice versa. That first line is the kind you can actually rely on to win games alone. I didn't have that kind of confidence in just the Richards/Gaborik tandem.
People are still rusty and finding their stride. By game 24 I bet the depth issue will be much less a concern than it seems to be now.
What gave you the idea that this team has depth problems up front?
The fact they went into the season without a spare forward? The fact that 1 injury and 1 ineffective player leads to Stu Bickel and Kris Newbury in the starting lineup?
Yea, its an issue.
The fact they went into the season without a spare forward? The fact that 1 injury and 1 ineffective player leads to Stu Bickel and Kris Newbury in the starting lineup?
Yea, its an issue.
Ail
Based and Rangerspilled.
The 6th/7th d-man issue is the biggest by far. The plug on the 4th line isn't that bad. They see such limited ice time, as long as it is not a complete pylon, whatever.
I think we have some pretty decent depth... barring injuries of course.
Gabby
Richie
Nash
Hags
Cally
Steps
Boyle
Pyatt is hardly chopped liver for a top 8.
You loose Dubi, Arty, Pruster and Feds and that's a lot to lose, but I'm still pretty confident. Hank and the back line....heck the whole darn team are still very rusty. Again barring major injury, I think we're gonna be fine.
Gabby
Richie
Nash
Hags
Cally
Steps
Boyle
Pyatt is hardly chopped liver for a top 8.
You loose Dubi, Arty, Pruster and Feds and that's a lot to lose, but I'm still pretty confident. Hank and the back line....heck the whole darn team are still very rusty. Again barring major injury, I think we're gonna be fine.
I thought it was, but its really not. If Stepan, Callahan, Hagelin, and or Kreider cant consistently deliver secondary scoring, thats going to be a much bigger problem.
Its a 48 game season. Torts is going to ride the top 4 defensemen no matter what.
Ail
Based and Rangerspilled.
That's a good point. I guess going forward it may be, however.
Agreed though, it only becomes an issue if they all stop contributing for a long period of time. I am not convinced yet that's going to be the case. Fingers crossed.
Yeah, our bottom 6 is weak especially if Kreider continues to struggle.
I think Miller or Hrivik eventually get called up or we make a trade at the deadline to improve our third line.
I think Miller or Hrivik eventually get called up or we make a trade at the deadline to improve our third line.
Thirty One
Safe is safe.
- Dec 28, 2003
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According to CapGeek, we'll have $14,092,707 in cap space at the deadline if we hang tight. Don't know how many teams will be sellers at that point, though. Hoping for a bigger deadline than last years though. 2 forwards and a d-man is the dream.
SingnBluesOnBroadway
Retired
I think they'll have to break up the Gaborik-Richards-Nash line at some point. Probably against lesser teams.
Yeah split them up for depth reasons.
Nash-Stepan-Gaborik
Hagelin-Richards-Pyatt
Newbury-Boyle-Callahan
Rupp-Halpern-Asham
Nash-Stepan-Gaborik
Hagelin-Richards-Pyatt
Newbury-Boyle-Callahan
Rupp-Halpern-Asham
Beacon
Embrace the tank
- May 28, 2007
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I've been concerned since the summer, but people thought I was just "hatin' on the Rangers".
Thirty One
Safe is safe.
- Dec 28, 2003
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I think it would be wiser to take either Nash or Gaborik off the line than Richards.
First line has 3 studs obviously
2nd line is just fine with Hagelin, Stepan, Callahan. If they want to split it up and move Gabby or Nash to 2nd line sure
3rd line with Kreider not performing well is weaker for sure and they will need a depth F. Boyle and Pyatt are fine
4th line is fine with Rupp, Halpern , Asham but playing them on the 3rd line is rough
take your pick out of Newbury ,Segal, Haley, Ferriero,etc
too bad Miller is too young and not ready yet. Hrvik had a concussion so he is not in the mix right now. Thomas and Bourque need time in AHL,etc
So yea need a depth winger for the 3rd line sometime
2nd line is just fine with Hagelin, Stepan, Callahan. If they want to split it up and move Gabby or Nash to 2nd line sure
3rd line with Kreider not performing well is weaker for sure and they will need a depth F. Boyle and Pyatt are fine
4th line is fine with Rupp, Halpern , Asham but playing them on the 3rd line is rough
take your pick out of Newbury ,Segal, Haley, Ferriero,etc
too bad Miller is too young and not ready yet. Hrvik had a concussion so he is not in the mix right now. Thomas and Bourque need time in AHL,etc
So yea need a depth winger for the 3rd line sometime
3rdlineglory
Korsi Kevin
I'm not too concerned with the forward depth. Honestly, it's the defensive depth that worries me more. I fear our top 4 will be gassed again. Really wish Torts had more faith in Stralman and Eminger.
darko
Registered User
- Feb 16, 2009
- 70,272
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Agree.
Stepan and Gaborik showed chemistry last season. Keep the top line in tact but if we had to split I'd have Nash with Richards and Gaborik with Stepan.
SingnBluesOnBroadway
Retired
Rangerboy030
Registered User
- Apr 21, 2012
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I've had this in the back of my mind for a while, but I don't think trading for Nash was a smart move as far as the makeup of our roster is concerned.
While the move was really good purely from an asset value standpoint, the impact of losing both Anisimov and Dubinsky means that we were relying heavily on Kreider to be playing the way he did during his playoff run. If he faltered (as he has), our depth instantly becomes suspect, especially on the LW. Losing those 2 also made our lineup very inflexible through the bottom 6.
Nash will be a good player for us, he's the real deal. Purely from a asset value perspective, we won that trade.
But this lineup:
Hagelin - Richards - Gaborik
Dubinsky - Anisimov - Callahan
Kreider - Stepan - Pyatt
Rupp/Asham - Halpern - Boyle
Is superior to what we have now in my opinion.
While the move was really good purely from an asset value standpoint, the impact of losing both Anisimov and Dubinsky means that we were relying heavily on Kreider to be playing the way he did during his playoff run. If he faltered (as he has), our depth instantly becomes suspect, especially on the LW. Losing those 2 also made our lineup very inflexible through the bottom 6.
Nash will be a good player for us, he's the real deal. Purely from a asset value perspective, we won that trade.
But this lineup:
Hagelin - Richards - Gaborik
Dubinsky - Anisimov - Callahan
Kreider - Stepan - Pyatt
Rupp/Asham - Halpern - Boyle
Is superior to what we have now in my opinion.
Paulie Walnutz
Make HF Great Again
- Oct 1, 2008
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I am concerned, Boyle is not a 3rd line center, if you can't see that I don't know what to tell you. Stepan, IMO, has reached his ceiling. His skating isn't great, he's lousy at face offs, he gets knocked off the puck. When you have Pyatt getting 2nd line minutes, and Rupp getting 3rd line minutes, you have a depth problem.
3rdlineglory
Korsi Kevin
While I get your point, it's a lot harder to find legit top-line talent than 2nd/3rd liners whether it be FA/trade/draft.
Rangerboy030
Registered User
- Apr 21, 2012
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The thing is though that we weren't exactly starved for 1st line talent, with Richards and Gaborik already on the team. What killed us in the playoffs was primarily a lack of depth scoring in the bottom 6.
Stars provide the fuel for playoff success, but lineup depth is the engine that wins the championship. With the Nash trade, we've got 4 big barrels full of high octane fuel with Nash, Richards, Gaborik and Lundqvist, but now we've only got a Toyota Camry engine to put it in.
UAGoalieGuy
Registered User
This. Stralman, Bickel, and Eminger have not been good when they have been utilized, which has not been frequently.
What? Stralman has been fine.
The problem is Tortorella's refusal to play anyone other than his personal favorites.
The problem is Tortorella's refusal to play anyone other than his personal favorites.
