Recalled/Assigned: Lias to Hartford, Gettinger called up

[Hunter Gathers]

But Lias played with some fire in the preseason and like the first few games of the regular season. That clearly didn't help him much. Maybe he realizes he isn't gonna get a fair shake here, and I can't say I blame him. People aren't robots.

He had a nice pre-season but then reverted to that of a wet fart almost the minute the season started.

Let him pout in Hartford if the bold is accurate.

 

[JHS]

Except Lias looked GOOD in preseason and like the first few games of the regular season, and Quinn still buried him.

If Lias gets sent down, then Howden needs to go with him. But for some reason, Howden seems to be Quinn's pet. It seems like he has no issue force-feeding Howden minutes

Howden is a much better player than Lias. Howden can win faceoffs, keep up with the rush, is defensively responsible and is able to be trusted with some responsibility. We also don't know what's going on behind the scenes. My hunch is Howden is working very hard during practice and seems to be earning his time because it seems like Quinn rewards those types( think about Buch and his comments about him at the start of this season about his practice work ethic as evidence.) Lias is not a useful player right now-- he does nothing well. When a coach has to make a decision about who to put on the ice, the decision is simple- "can I trust this player? Can I expect a certain outcome with this person on the ice?" If the answer is more often than not "yes" to both those questions, your number gets called If not, you ride the bench.

 

[NYR Viper]

He had a nice pre-season but then reverted to that of a wet fart almost the minute the season started.

Let him pout in Hartford if the bold is accurate.

It's more likely that he is probably a very good AHL Player right now and just needs to work on a few thins to get over the proverbial NHL hump. Nothing wrong with that. He is still very young.

The fact that he looked so good in the pre-season should be taken as a positive.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Howden is a much better player than Lias. Howden can win faceoffs, keep up with the rush, is defensively responsible and is able to be trusted with some responsibility. We also don't know what's going on behind the scenes. My hunch is Howden is working very hard during practice and seems to be earning his time because it seems like Quinn rewards those types( think about Buch and his comments about him at the start of this season about his practice work ethic as evidence.) Lias is not a useful player right now-- he does nothing well. When a coach has to make a decision about who to put on the ice, the decision is simple- "can I trust this player? Can I expect a certain outcome with this person on the ice?" If the answer is more often than not "yes" to both those questions, your number gets called If not, you ride the bench.

Howden is defensively responsible? That definitely doesn't pass the eye test. Howden makes significantly more bad plays in the defensive zone than Lias.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

They should get him some games on wing in Hartford, but I'm sure that won't happen

 

[LeetchisGod]

One thing to remember about Gordie Clark...the Rangers have traded for a number of young players recently drafted by other teams (Hajak, Howden, Rykov, Fox, Lindgren, Lemieux) and the Rangers scouting of these players at the junior level played a large part in their acquisition.

None of those guys have proven a thing yet.

 

[Captain Monglobster]

None of those guys have proven a thing yet.

I think Fox has proven plenty and the others are all taking strides in the right direction.

 

[NYR Viper]

None of those guys have proven a thing yet.

I mean Hajek, Fox, Lindgren and Howden are all in the NHL already and are all 21 or younger.

 

[LORDE]

Hoping he takes the bull by the horns here. Not expecting a Chytil type of scoring onslaught but show something.
I don’t wanna write him off yet... but we’re getting there sadly.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

It's more likely that he is probably a very good AHL Player right now and just needs to work on a few thins to get over the proverbial NHL hump. Nothing wrong with that. He is still very young.

The fact that he looked so good in the pre-season should be taken as a positive.

Hey, your fingers to God's ears. It would be a pretty bad speed bump if Lias busts.

He reminds me so much of Jacob Josefson, however. I get those vibes every time I watch him.

 

[Leetch3]

One thing to remember about Gordie Clark...the Rangers have traded for a number of young players recently drafted by other teams (Hajak, Howden, Rykov, Fox, Lindgren, Lemieux) and the Rangers scouting of these players at the junior level played a large part in their acquisition.

we don't credit people for the positives, they are only responsible for the negatives. you have been here long enough to know this.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Does Gordie deserve to be fired if Lias busts? No probably not, because that's just how these things go.

At this point, I can only see Gordie leaving because he is retiring and they will have Bobrov *hopefully* take over

 

[Edge]

Oh FFS.

 

[NYR Viper]

Hey, your fingers to God's ears. It would be a pretty bad speed bump if Lias busts.

He reminds me so much of Jacob Josefson, however. I get those vibes every time I watch him.

I still see a guy who should be playing wing, working in the small tight areas in the corners and finding his way to the soft areas around the opposing teams net. Watching him at other levels that's always been where he has been able to succeed. His skating just isn't up to par yet to play center at the NHL level. That's not a knock, just that I see this as a square peg, round hole, for now. That's not to say 2 years from now he couldn't slide back over. His IQ is very high for the defensive side of the game.

 

[LeetchisGod]

I mean Hajek, Fox, Lindgren and Howden are all in the NHL already and are all 21 or younger.

Fox is the only one of that group with difference making upside. It's not like he was some diamond in the rough that other NHL teams were unaware of. We got him because he wanted to be play for his hometown team, not because Gordie Clark is some genius.

 

[NYR Viper]

Fox is the only one of that group with difference making upside. It's not like he was some diamond in the rough that other NHL teams were unaware of. We got him because he wanted to be play for his hometown team, not because Gordie Clark is some genius.

Why are we capping any of their upsides? And if their all in the NHL, is that not still the ultimate goal when evaluating talent?

 

[Richard Banger]

Oh FFS.

Just run. Run very far away. And don't look back.

 

[GAGLine]

A lot of people really underestimate the value of confidence. Unfortunately, that's not something Quinn can give Lias simply by giving him more minutes and/or better linemates. It's something Lias needs to earn for himself. Having success at the AHL level can do that and hopefully, when he comes back, it will carry over into his play at the NHL level.

I see Lias as an NHL player right now, but one that is playing to avoid mistakes rather than to make things happen. He needs to find his swagger again.

 

[LeetchisGod]

we don't credit people for the positives, they are only responsible for the negatives. you have been here long enough to know this.

Being responsible for drafting one of the biggest busts in franchise history is a pretty big negative. Lias looks like he could be heading down the same road. Not to mention wasting 2nd rounders on crappy goalies. This franchise isn't in any position to be pissing away draft picks.

 

[JHS]

Howden is defensively responsible? That definitely doesn't pass the eye test. Howden makes significantly more bad plays in the defensive zone than Lias.

Not sure I agree. Howden is able to get the puck and make a first step in the defensive zone which makes him more useful than Lias who, when able to get the puck, is so slow to react and has no foot speed, that his options are just to flip the puck out or try and force a pass to someone else on the ice. Howden is not God's gift to defense--that's for sure-- but comparing him to Lias, I'd definitely say I'd rather have Howden out there than Lias in a tight spot.

 

[nyr2k2]

All of those are waiver eligible which means the organization may lose them when they send them back down. Gettinger is waiver exempt. I am not sure how much this affects their decision but it's something to keep in mind

Definitely a valid point. I wouldn't imagine any of them would be claimed, given that none of them are NHL players and everyone has a bunch of guys like them. But, you never know.

 

[Deleted member 23124]

Is it me, or does a lot of the discussion about Lias remind anyone of the Malholtra situation?

 

[nyr2k2]

I think they see a role for Timmy Gets. If they can shape him to be a Brian Boyle type, minus the face-offs, that's a very good player. I don't know much about Timmy other than following him a bit his last season in the OHL. But he can cover some ground. His wheels are better than Boyle's before the Barbara Underhill training. That's a good tool set for his size.

If he's willing to bang and drop the gloves, then Timmy's got a shot at getting a longer NHL look.

He's a decent skater. Probably below-average for the NHL, but not to the degree where we can't play. He's pretty physical, doesn't go out of his way to level guys, but he's huge and knows it, so he'll level a guy when the opportunity is there. He's not really a fighter. IIRC he's only fought a handful of times since we drafted him. He can transport the puck okay because he's big and strong and has good reach. Not a lot of vision. Hands are average. Shot is okay--it's heavy but not exactly accurate. He does play all 200-feet, though, and is responsible.

My hope was that he could be a third line wing, but I think at this point the ceiling is realistically limited to fourth line. He can be really good there, though, which is a win for us.

 

[East Coast Bias]

Is it me, or does a lot of the discussion about Lias remind anyone of the Malholtra situation?

i wasn't around here then, but if Lias turns into a player like that it's totally fine.

I think some people are too hung up on the 7th OA tag. Yes it'd be ideal if that guy was a top 6 player.

But this team desperately needs a Malholtra type player. And if you can get a good matchup C who can play around the net, win faceoffs, and PK well that's great news.

If Lias turns into that guy, I won't be disappointed.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Howden is a much better player than Lias. Howden can win faceoffs, keep up with the rush, is defensively responsible and is able to be trusted with some responsibility. We also don't know what's going on behind the scenes. My hunch is Howden is working very hard during practice and seems to be earning his time because it seems like Quinn rewards those types( think about Buch and his comments about him at the start of this season about his practice work ethic as evidence.) Lias is not a useful player right now-- he does nothing well. When a coach has to make a decision about who to put on the ice, the decision is simple- "can I trust this player? Can I expect a certain outcome with this person on the ice?" If the answer is more often than not "yes" to both those questions, your number gets called If not, you ride the bench.

I don't think one of them is any better than the other overall, but what exactly is with this myth that Howden is good defensively?

He looks and seems like he should be good defensively, but he's not. I think by the metrics he's one of the worst defensive players in the entire league and by the eye test he makes countless poor decisions in the D zone, is always out of position and always seems to win battles or make smooth zone exits. I'm sorry, I'm not done with Howden I have time for him him but he stinks defensively. From the eye test, Howden is the one guy who seems to always seems to be out of position, always seems to fail to take away a lane and also seems to really struggle clearing the puck when the opportunity is there - both of which are why he's an abysmal penalty killer. Moreso the positioning.

Howden would be better served getting no PK time and sheltered minutes from DQ. As of now he's being fed 3c defensive minutes and tons of PK time and he is completely floundering in that role. He works hard and maybe he can be that guy in the future but last season and now this season DQ has been using him like he's already that guy and he has failed to improve one iota, if anything he's regressed. He looks worse this season than he did last year at this time. Maybe slide Fast down to his RW to give him a defensively responsible linemate.

Honestly, the only thing I can definitively say he has over Lias is that he's bigger than him. And he's a better skater sure but his horrible positioning seems to neutralize that so it's basically even. Who cares if you're a better skater if you're never in the right spot and not using your superior skating effectively? Other than that they've both been pretty much nothings.