ponzu4u
Registered User
- Feb 27, 2013
- 525
- 269
Having now watched a few preseason games, and reading the PGT after (aside from following these boards for years), it becomes pretty clear that certain posters have fairly evident personal investments in several players that help them "see" things that might not really be the case.
In terms of the guys close to/fighting for a roster spot:
Kreider: As a Ranger fan, of course I have incredibly high hopes for the kid, but count me in as officially starting to worry. People saying he played "very well" in the second and third periods? Only if by "very well" you meant not as terrible as he played in the first. The two penalties he took in the first were boneheaded, and cost the team. Then, as he seems to do every time I watch him, he presses way too hard the rest of the game and tries to do things all by himself. He simply doesn't use his teammates very well, and his one move seems to be to try and straight line, bullrush up the ice past the defenders. But for all the talk of his speed, I've yet to see him consistently use it to distinguish himself from the average level players he's playing with. He gave up the puck and killed at least 3 rushes up the ice over the second and third periods, and I'm not particularly sure what people think he actually did well to compensate for that during those periods? On Miller's goal, Kreider actually gets in his way, and there were several other times where he kind of just floats in the offensive zone. I wish I saw more from him, but at this point, I'm getting a sinking feeling that the Kreider experiment might end with him being traded for another team's similarly struggling prospect. There's simply no way this kid is ready for 1st or even second line duties in the NHL at this point.
Allen: Granted he played with Staal, who was probably the best player on the ice, but Allen was impressive. He's big, he's fast, I saw him actually clear guys out from the net front a couple times, and he seems to have some definite offensive potential. He should play top pair in Hartford this year, and could potentially be a solid call-up should we get hit with injuries on D.
Hrvik: Thought he played a pretty solid game, but the truth is there's nothing that screams "This guy should be in the NHL!" about this player. He was probably the best of the Hrvik - Lindberg - Kristo line, but really didn't do anything special, and that line looked pretty scary at times in their own zone. At this point he could probably make an adequate fill in on the Rangers' third line but I just don't see him bringing that much to the varsity squad. He reminds me a lot of a less offensively talented Wolski.
Lindberg: Pretty unnoticeable for the most part. Didn't do anything badly, but didn't stand out. I'd expect him to spend the year in Hartford, unless something clicks once he gets used to the NA rink size and he goes off in the AHL.
Kristo: I like his game, but think he needs at least a season in the A. People are saying his d was bad, but his backchecking turned the puck over at least 2-3 times for the Rangers, not to mention he laid a couple of solid hits and looked pretty strong on the boards. I actually think he has a better chance than Hrvik of being able to play above the 3rd line on an NHL club. I like that he's got a little fire.
Miller: I have a feeling Miller will stick, at least until the Stepan situation gets resolved. He seems to be defensively responsible enough to handle 4th line, maybe 3rd line minutes, as well as being able to pot some goals. But unless he really impresses, when Stepan comes back, there's just not a center spot for him with the big club this year. I have a feeling Miller is going to be a big part of this team's future, hopefully as a very solid, 2-way, 2nd line center. That was a nice looking goal, but I'm not 100% sure he meant for it to work out like it did.
Haley: I don't know why, but I find myself wanting this kid to stick. I think he played pretty well, but again, nothing that really stood out. Obviously it's a huge plus that he can PK, but at even strength his line never really did anything despite having 2 legit NHLers. He can fight and he's got some speed, but he doesn't seem to have any offensive skills. I think it's either him or Asham as our 4th line pugilist/spare forward. (yes I know neither of them should be fighting heavyweights, oh well, we're not icing an HW this year). But I don't really see the point in keeping both.
Hughes: AHL. Maybe can develop into a #6 D at the NHL level but it's going to take at least a year.
Johnson: AHL. Too slow, and there's simply and obviously better D options for the Rangers.
And that's my 2 cents after last night's game. Been a real longtime lurker, thanks for all the reading material over the last I don't know how many years!
In terms of the guys close to/fighting for a roster spot:
Kreider: As a Ranger fan, of course I have incredibly high hopes for the kid, but count me in as officially starting to worry. People saying he played "very well" in the second and third periods? Only if by "very well" you meant not as terrible as he played in the first. The two penalties he took in the first were boneheaded, and cost the team. Then, as he seems to do every time I watch him, he presses way too hard the rest of the game and tries to do things all by himself. He simply doesn't use his teammates very well, and his one move seems to be to try and straight line, bullrush up the ice past the defenders. But for all the talk of his speed, I've yet to see him consistently use it to distinguish himself from the average level players he's playing with. He gave up the puck and killed at least 3 rushes up the ice over the second and third periods, and I'm not particularly sure what people think he actually did well to compensate for that during those periods? On Miller's goal, Kreider actually gets in his way, and there were several other times where he kind of just floats in the offensive zone. I wish I saw more from him, but at this point, I'm getting a sinking feeling that the Kreider experiment might end with him being traded for another team's similarly struggling prospect. There's simply no way this kid is ready for 1st or even second line duties in the NHL at this point.
Allen: Granted he played with Staal, who was probably the best player on the ice, but Allen was impressive. He's big, he's fast, I saw him actually clear guys out from the net front a couple times, and he seems to have some definite offensive potential. He should play top pair in Hartford this year, and could potentially be a solid call-up should we get hit with injuries on D.
Hrvik: Thought he played a pretty solid game, but the truth is there's nothing that screams "This guy should be in the NHL!" about this player. He was probably the best of the Hrvik - Lindberg - Kristo line, but really didn't do anything special, and that line looked pretty scary at times in their own zone. At this point he could probably make an adequate fill in on the Rangers' third line but I just don't see him bringing that much to the varsity squad. He reminds me a lot of a less offensively talented Wolski.
Lindberg: Pretty unnoticeable for the most part. Didn't do anything badly, but didn't stand out. I'd expect him to spend the year in Hartford, unless something clicks once he gets used to the NA rink size and he goes off in the AHL.
Kristo: I like his game, but think he needs at least a season in the A. People are saying his d was bad, but his backchecking turned the puck over at least 2-3 times for the Rangers, not to mention he laid a couple of solid hits and looked pretty strong on the boards. I actually think he has a better chance than Hrvik of being able to play above the 3rd line on an NHL club. I like that he's got a little fire.
Miller: I have a feeling Miller will stick, at least until the Stepan situation gets resolved. He seems to be defensively responsible enough to handle 4th line, maybe 3rd line minutes, as well as being able to pot some goals. But unless he really impresses, when Stepan comes back, there's just not a center spot for him with the big club this year. I have a feeling Miller is going to be a big part of this team's future, hopefully as a very solid, 2-way, 2nd line center. That was a nice looking goal, but I'm not 100% sure he meant for it to work out like it did.
Haley: I don't know why, but I find myself wanting this kid to stick. I think he played pretty well, but again, nothing that really stood out. Obviously it's a huge plus that he can PK, but at even strength his line never really did anything despite having 2 legit NHLers. He can fight and he's got some speed, but he doesn't seem to have any offensive skills. I think it's either him or Asham as our 4th line pugilist/spare forward. (yes I know neither of them should be fighting heavyweights, oh well, we're not icing an HW this year). But I don't really see the point in keeping both.
Hughes: AHL. Maybe can develop into a #6 D at the NHL level but it's going to take at least a year.
Johnson: AHL. Too slow, and there's simply and obviously better D options for the Rangers.
And that's my 2 cents after last night's game. Been a real longtime lurker, thanks for all the reading material over the last I don't know how many years!
