They may have been very good in the playoffs because there was another line ahead of them, or between them, that preformed OK, but also took some attention away from defenses. Without that buffer, it's a different story. MSL needs a centerman. Without that, overall production during the season dips considerably and this team doesn't get to see how good the tandem of Stepan and Brass would be in the playoffs.
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They may have been very good in the playoffs because there was another line ahead of them, or between them, that preformed OK, but also took some attention away from defenses. Without that buffer, it's a different story. MSL needs a centerman. Without that, overall production during the season dips considerably and this team doesn't get to see how good the tandem of Stepan and Brass would be in the playoffs.
Blue Blooded
Most people rejected his message
This is from 2013-14. Brassard a lot better defensively, but Richards made that up and more offensively. Both were below avg. point scorers 5v5 though.
Miamipuck
Al Swearengen
Yes, look who he was matched against in the finals, Kopitar, most definitely an elite player. Kopitar incidentally only had 2 assists in 5 games in the series. Yet LA won because they had Carter, who was playing better than I have ever seen him. Stepan didn't have that luxury.
Putting players, especially young players, in a position to succeed is key. Stepan had that with Richards in front of him. He no longer has that, but now has experience and can take that role, but he needs someone behind him, and if that's Brassard, then he needs someone behind him. As you say, down the middle may kill the Rangers this season.
Good point Fletch.
I see a lot of people wanting Miller, Lindberg, Fast, Kristo (whoever else) step up and take a roster spot, but I keep coming back to the "in a position to succeed argument." Does anyone really know what these players are at the NHL level?
that's the rub. You want a kid to compete, but if he's not NHL-ready, especially ready to be a second line centerman, can you rely on him to be in that role. If they're good, they'll get their shot. I don't think anyone of them has jumped out screaming ready for a 15 minute-a-night role in the NHL. Well, at least I haven't heard as much.
HFsNumber1Heel
FKA Roo Returns...Still A Contrarian Apparently
This season reminds me slightly of 2010-11 in that no one knew what to expect from that team and guys like the Pack Line, Staal, Girardi, and Stepan pretty much carried the team all year.
If that's the way they're gonna go fine but there will be growing pains. I'm fine with Miller/Fast/Lindberg.
They still need more size. Winnik is out there. He'd help.
If that's the way they're gonna go fine but there will be growing pains. I'm fine with Miller/Fast/Lindberg.
They still need more size. Winnik is out there. He'd help.
I'd say Miller is the closest, but AV had some awfully harsh words for him at the end of the season.
Fast didn't look completely out of place, but he was a passenger and didnt make much of a positive impact either.
Raspewtin
Stay at home defenseman hater
- May 30, 2013
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What killed the Rangers was their 2C (Richards) playing like trash, and the Kings' 2C (Carter) playing like a god.
Remember Kopitar had two points. Two. As did Stepan.
What killed the RANGERS against the KINGS was that Kreider couldn't score on three breakaways and Nash couldn't hit a open net. But yeah it's a lack of a #1 center 
:
:which is why it's tough to leave open a "2C" slot for him (for those looking for a spot to be left open for a kid). I don't know how they fill that gap, or if they even fill it. The dynamic changes if Stepan is the #1 and Brassard is the #2. Their numbers may change also (more Brassard's than Stepan's, provided Nash plays a full season and Kreider improves on last season's play). And then...with whom does MSL play? What a dilly of a pickle!
Miamipuck
Al Swearengen
We could see something like
Nash-Stepan-MSL
Kreider-Brass-Zucc
Hags-Miller-Fast/???
Glass-Moore-Carcillo/???
Your main PKers stay in bottom six, put hags and fast who both play sound defensively with Miller and make Kreider the replacement for Poo
Edit: We can also always tweak that fourth line
Nash-Stepan-MSL
Kreider-Brass-Zucc
Hags-Miller-Fast/???
Glass-Moore-Carcillo/???
Your main PKers stay in bottom six, put hags and fast who both play sound defensively with Miller and make Kreider the replacement for Poo
Edit: We can also always tweak that fourth line
Raspewtin
Stay at home defenseman hater
- May 30, 2013
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If Kopitar is an elite center, the definition of elite must change by the minute.
Miamipuck
Al Swearengen
BlueshirtBlitz
Foolish Samurai
Please tell me how Kopitar isn't elite. I'll wait.
When people on HF think Jason Spezza is better than Anze Kopitar and Patrice Bergeron (not you, specifically, but there are definitely people who do) then there's a problem.
Inferno
Registered User
kopitar is most definitely an elite center...hes just not a generational talent offensively. its his entire game.
Raspewtin
Stay at home defenseman hater
- May 30, 2013
- 44,301
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I don't think any of those players are elite.
I think there are like 10-15 elite players in the league.
Case in point, the definition of elite changes every day.
Stralman needs to remember what got him the $22.5M
https://twitter.com/drosennhl/status/486581065851887616
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/stralman-says-lightning-close-to-complete/2187611
Stralman had the freedom with the Rangers.
https://twitter.com/drosennhl/status/486581065851887616
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/stralman-says-lightning-close-to-complete/2187611
Stralman had the freedom with the Rangers.
JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK
Twenty f*ckin years
- Oct 8, 2010
- 80,071
- 17,712
I Eat Crow
Fear The Mullet
- Jul 9, 2007
- 19,975
- 13,635
I've stayed away from here for the past few days, mostly since there's only nonsense being spewed around here.
Joe Thornton? GTFO of here. We'll be the 2012-2013 team all over again. We'll end up gutting our depth for a good top 6, but not much else after that. The Rangers have been successful the past few years because they have depth. We're not a Joe Thornton away from a Cup, especially if it comes at the expense of what's being proposed around here. Balance is what wins championships.
Mike Ribiero? Puke. If Phoenix, a team desperate for offense, bought him out, you know there's HUGE issues there. Run, not walk away.
Dany Heatley? Pass. Legs are shot.
The most viable plan for this season is to sign a guy like Setoguchi that can add a right handed shot to our 2nd PP unit and let the kids fight it out for the 3rd line center spot, and pray. It wouldn't be totally inconceivable to see Lindberg on this team next year. Underrated offense, great on faceoffs.
Hagelin-Stepan-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-MSL
Zuccarello-Miller/Lindberg-Setoguchi
Fast-Moore-Glass
Carcillo
McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Boyle
Moore-Klein
Lundqvist
Talbot
Go to war. Trade Staal at the deadline if he Callahan's himself and wants too much money and term.
Joe Thornton? GTFO of here. We'll be the 2012-2013 team all over again. We'll end up gutting our depth for a good top 6, but not much else after that. The Rangers have been successful the past few years because they have depth. We're not a Joe Thornton away from a Cup, especially if it comes at the expense of what's being proposed around here. Balance is what wins championships.
Mike Ribiero? Puke. If Phoenix, a team desperate for offense, bought him out, you know there's HUGE issues there. Run, not walk away.
Dany Heatley? Pass. Legs are shot.
The most viable plan for this season is to sign a guy like Setoguchi that can add a right handed shot to our 2nd PP unit and let the kids fight it out for the 3rd line center spot, and pray. It wouldn't be totally inconceivable to see Lindberg on this team next year. Underrated offense, great on faceoffs.
Hagelin-Stepan-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-MSL
Zuccarello-Miller/Lindberg-Setoguchi
Fast-Moore-Glass
Carcillo
McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Boyle
Moore-Klein
Lundqvist
Talbot
Go to war. Trade Staal at the deadline if he Callahan's himself and wants too much money and term.
JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK
Twenty f*ckin years
- Oct 8, 2010
- 80,071
- 17,712
I Eat Crow
Fear The Mullet
- Jul 9, 2007
- 19,975
- 13,635
Winnipeg was a mess last season. Guy scored 20 goals or over or was on pace for it every season he's been in this league except for last. He's a good guy to take a flyer on a la Pouliot last year. Worst case is that Fast, Kristo, and Haggerty all beat him out for a spot.
JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK
Twenty f*ckin years
- Oct 8, 2010
- 80,071
- 17,712
They were a mediocre team with horrific goaltending. If they had competent goaltending, they would have been fine. They're far from a "mess", they're not the Oilers. Setoguchi will score around 15-20 goals, but he'll be garbage in every other facet of the game he could possibly be bad in.
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