Marian Gaborik

[BlueshirtBlitz]

I understand your point but I really think that "elite" is a stretch for any of our defensemen. Both Staal and McD are very good but they're not going to end up in the Chara, Weber, Karlsson, Doughty, Pietrangelo, Suter, Letang, Keith category anytime soon if at all.

As far as Del Zotto is concerned, he should never have been picked by us with Eberle and Carlson still on the board back in 2008.

McDonagh can absolutely end up in that group, and Staal's sudden offensive game this season makes it possible for him as well.

And as far as DZ is concerned, i'm absolutely fine with the team picking him where they did. Carlson isn't significantly better than him and in regards to Eberle you can't be a psychic and realize how great he's gonna be.

 

[iamitter]

I was never that enthralled with Eberle.

His notoriously soft minutes and insane shooting percentage were never sustainable. As far as I'm concerned, he had his career year last season.

 

[wolfgaze]

McDonagh is one of the best dmen on this team in the last 50 years. He is already in their top 10. The guy is an unbelievable talent and really young. Not elite? How many dmen would you take even-up for him? Bet it's not many.

Staal hasn't been quite the same since the injury, but he will probably be elite again.

No doubt the talent is there but I feel that McDonagh looked a lot better last season than he does this season. I don't want to say he's taken a step back but he's definitely not playing to his full potential this season.

 

[wolfgaze]

I thought Gaborik was somewhat better in today's game... I missed portions of the 3rd period though. Saw him dump a puck in in the 1st and use his speed to retrieve it rather than try and make an ineffective move on a defenseman.... Also created a couple scoring chances (albeit low quality) by skating around the goal and then getting the puck on net & in the crease area... Not a great game by any stretch but an improvement over his prior performances.

 

[abev]

I thought Gaborik was somewhat better in today's game... I missed portions of the 3rd period though. Saw him dump a puck in in the 1st and use his speed to retrieve it rather than try and make an ineffective move on a defenseman.... Also created a couple scoring chances (albeit low quality) by skating around the goal and then getting the puck on net & in the crease area... Not a great game by any stretch but an improvement over his prior performances.

The only game Gaborik is better in is the game he scores. There is no such thing as 'somewhat better' when you are a 40 goal scorer making $7mil.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

McDonagh can absolutely end up in that group, and Staal's sudden offensive game this season makes it possible for him as well.

And as far as DZ is concerned, i'm absolutely fine with the team picking him where they did. Carlson isn't significantly better than him and in regards to Eberle you can't be a psychic and realize how great he's gonna be.

Everybody knew that Eberle was a gifted goal scorer and there is no way he should have been left on the board when we picked in that draft.

 

[chosen]

No doubt the talent is there but I feel that McDonagh looked a lot better last season than he does this season. I don't want to say he's taken a step back but he's definitely not playing to his full potential this season.

I think he is the same player as last year, the difference being those he is playing with being far worse than last year.

Barring injury, I expect him to be the 3rd best Rangers dman of the last 50 years. Am I setting the bar high? Yup. But I really believe he is a fabulous talent and while he will never be a great offensive dman, he could end up a pretty good one.

For those old enough to remember, I can see him ending up a Kevin Lowe type player, with more offense.

 

[NY Lito]

You don't pay someone 7.5 mil and have him play on his off-wing. Completely asinine.

Completely asinine that an "elite" winger looks absolutely lost and useless just because he's on his off-wing. You think Hossa, Kovalchuk, Perry, or Nash would look as bad as Gaborik has if they were on their off-wing? Not a chance.

And sorry, but being on your off-wing does not explain terrible forechecking and not getting involved at all. That's just a lack of effort and is inexcusable.

 

[NY Lito]

The only game Gaborik is better in is the game he scores. There is no such thing as 'somewhat better' when you are a 40 goal scorer making $7mil.

You are correct sir.

Even Gaborik's defenders say this: You don't notice him and then he scores. Well, he's certainly not scoring. But he is still noticeable...noticeably bad.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Completely asinine that an "elite" winger looks absolutely lost and useless just because he's on his off-wing. You think Hossa, Kovalchuk, Perry, or Nash would look as bad as Gaborik has if they were on their off-wing? Not a chance.

And sorry, but being on your off-wing does not explain terrible forechecking and not getting involved at all. That's just a lack of effort and is inexcusable.

Bravo! Here here!! The truth shall set some of these excuse making fans/posters free!!
Gaborik is a lazy bum!

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Bravo! Here here!! The truth shall set some of these excuse making fans/posters free!!
Gaborik is a lazy bum!

Nobody makes me hate agreeing with them more than you lol. This post is so melodramatic though that I have to think you were just going for comedy in which case haha good job. Fact: All Europeans are lazy in hockey ALL~!!!!!!!!

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Completely asinine that an "elite" winger looks absolutely lost and useless just because he's on his off-wing. You think Hossa, Kovalchuk, Perry, or Nash would look as bad as Gaborik has if they were on their off-wing? Not a chance.

And sorry, but being on your off-wing does not explain terrible forechecking and not getting involved at all. That's just a lack of effort and is inexcusable.

Gaborik's 4th year here and still people don't understand his skill set, but hey you're not alone neither does Torts

 

[NY Lito]

Gaborik's 4th year here and still people don't understand his skill set, but hey you're not alone neither does Torts

Enlighten me to what his current skill set is. If you say a laser wrist shot and speed to burn you're stuck in 2009.

 

[Fitzy]

Enlighten me to what his current skill set is. If you say a laser wrist shot and speed to burn you're stuck in 2009.

He showed good wheels against Boston in overtime. I think he's a half step slower but he isn't playing poacher like he used to, and that has hurt him more than anything.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Nobody makes me hate agreeing with them more than you lol. This post is so melodramatic though that I have to think you were just going for comedy in which case haha good job. Fact: All Europeans are lazy in hockey ALL~!!!!!!!!

I do have that tendency to "stir the pot", don't I? Comes from my 50+ years of frustration at the ineptitude of the management no matter who has been in charge. Now to Mr. Gaborik; all we heard about was his dynamic speed and elite finishing abilities and for the most part, he has delivered the goods in his initial three years here.

The problem I have with him (some of which is not that uncommon with eastern european players) is the following:

-he's lost more than a step of his vaunted speed
-he doesn't bust it all the time
-he looks almost disengaged and disinterested at times on the ice.
-he plays too much on the perimeter
-his compete level leaves a lot to be desired
-his shot doesn't look as lethal as it's been in the past.

I really believe that we (and he) would be better served trading him sooner rather than later because it looks like the time has come for both parties to move on!

Just my opinion though; kind of feel the same way about Mr. Richards with his lousy drop passes to nobody!

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

I do have that tendency to "stir the pot", don't I? Comes from my 50+ years of frustration at the ineptitude of the management no matter who has been in charge. Now to Mr. Gaborik; all we heard about was his dynamic speed and elite finishing abilities and for the most part, he has delivered the goods in his initial three years here.

The problem I have with him (some of which is not that uncommon with eastern european players) is the following:

-he's lost more than a step of his vaunted speed
-he doesn't bust it all the time
-he looks almost disengaged and disinterested at times on the ice.
-he plays too much on the perimeter
-his compete level leaves a lot to be desired
-his shot doesn't look as lethal as it's been in the past.

I really believe that we (and he) would be better served trading him sooner rather than later because it looks like the time has come for both parties to move on!

Just my opinion though; kind of feel the same way about Mr. Richards with his lousy drop passes to nobody!

People wanted him traded in the second half of his first year here when he got hurt and kind of plateau'd. People wanted him gone at points his 2nd year here. and I'm sure even last year. I didn't think he had lost anything until this year. I;'ve onlyu been a hardcore sports guy for about 16 years but I kinda already realized from playign sports myself and trying to scout and decide who teams should scout/sign/how to coach. It's freakin hard to be THE team. You kinda have to get lucky and find yourself with a team that comes together at the right time. You do your best to set that up I think the Rangers have done that the last 4 years or so which makes me...content if not happy. PArt of keeping the team competing is knowing when to cut bait. I think it's time with Mr. gabs

 

[abev]

He showed good wheels against Boston in overtime. I think he's a half step slower but he isn't playing poacher like he used to, and that has hurt him more than anything.

If you are trying to find good things to say about Gaborik, it might be helpful to pick a game more recent than 8 weeks ago.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

He's having a **** season. But its stupid to trade him based off of 25 games! We don't HAVE to trade him to field a better team next year. I'd rather give the top 3 more than 25 games or even 48 to see what they can do

 

[Fitzy]

If you are trying to find good things to say about Gaborik, it might be helpful to pick a game more recent than 8 weeks ago.

See, I don't have an agenda. I don't try to make things or players look better or worse than they are. I call them as I see them.

My greater point with my previous post was that, if we're arguing Gaborik has lost all his speed, then we're arguing that he lost it all int he last 8 weeks.

 

[NYR Sting]

McDonagh can absolutely end up in that group, and Staal's sudden offensive game this season makes it possible for him as well.

And as far as DZ is concerned, i'm absolutely fine with the team picking him where they did. Carlson isn't significantly better than him and in regards to Eberle you can't be a psychic and realize how great he's gonna be.

That's debatable.

 

[satrabyk]

If leading the team with 7 goals (38 goal pace in 82 game season) and 3 game winners (tied for 2nd in the league) is an off year, ill take it.

And I thought he played pretty well last game.

He relies on being "forgotten" about to be effective. Thats his game. Should we sticky this?

If everyone just understands that basic fact about him, 90% of the flak goes away.

Yes a large part of his game is sneaking through defenders and finding scoring areas. However the best players can do more than that so the question becomes is he a top player. Hes def not on the level of guys that put up points and arent afraid to engage and create space. He does well in blowouts because the game is wide open but when it gets tough he does very little, he avoids contact etc. Understanding what he does and doesent do, does not make it right. I think with a guy like Gaborik he needs a center who skilled but also can hold off defenders. Richards is more of a problem to me because he is very weak in the corner and with body contact and isnt as talented at scoring. He simply has good passing and skating but that doesent cut it.

 

[mrhockey193195]

No doubt the talent is there but I feel that McDonagh looked a lot better last season than he does this season. I don't want to say he's taken a step back but he's definitely not playing to his full potential this season.

Agreed. McDonagh last season was the best Ranger defensemen I've seen in my lifetime not named Brian Leetch (I was too young to see Park, or even Greschner). That may not be saying much, but take it for what it's worth.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Part II is up.