Post-Game Talk: PS #1 - 09/18/17 | islanders @ RANGERS | 7:00 PM - MSG

[Stasis]

It's one preseason game. Often we see core vets being rusty/uninterested. We see PTO guys playing their ***** off.

And we see which rookies MAY fit in and which probably won't, but this can't be based on a single game obviously.

To me, watching about half of the game, Pionk and Graves can be regulars if they keep it up. The potential is there. Different styles of play but both can fit our roster if we're moving Staal and Holden especially. Graves is McIlrath size with more skill, mobility, better shot but less toughness/grit. Just seems to already have more poise. We'll see. Pionk was impressive but should be with the Pack for a year anyway.

DeAngelo, so far, as shown that he's ready and what we need. Having him AND Shattenkirk with McD and a maturing Skjei will really change the dynamic. Let's see how they partner up. Lots of potential pairs as the season progresses. I'd rather not have a guy like DeAngelo with Staal or Holden. May be better with Skjei or Smith if we can separate them, which I think we now can. And DeAngelo can learn from Shatty.

This has the potential to be very fun. But you have to believe that if all of these young D are doing well Gorton is certainly looking at which one he might move for a C down the road...

 

[offdacrossbar]

deangelo showing what he can do for this team

skates with his head on a swivel. soft hands and the ability to make that tape to tape pass. good skater who enters the zone with speed and knows when to push it and when to stay home.

so much staal and girardi last season and honestly, mcdonough too. all these guys carry the puck like it has ebola. we had the market cornered on defenseman who just dont look comfortable carrying the puck with speed. our breakout will be so much more efficient this year.

deangelo is just more offensively talented compared to anyone else on this defense other than shatty or maybe skjei. his skills stood out in a good way.

 

[hi]

Staal makes mistakes every game and provides 0 offense.

Pionk/DeAngelo will make mistakes every game but provide > 0 offense.

It's not a difficult decision.

 

[Matz03]

The D changes will make this an even quicker team, the questions is can Sam keep up? He's kind of messing up the games for me

 

[FJB]

Staal makes mistakes every game and provides 0 offense.

Pionk/DeAngelo will make mistakes every game but provide > 0 offense.

It's not a difficult decision.

Seriously lol

I've been saying for a decade that they can afford to get some better offense from the defense (and sacrificing some defense) since you have Hank in goal.

 

[Griffinbw]

I could get used to this

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I like Pionk, but I just don't think he's yet NHL ready defensively or physically, and you could see this even before this game, it was evident at Traverse City. The guy is really small, I don't think he's even close to his listed height. If we are throwing any of these guys into the NHL to start the season, and I don't think any of them will be, but if they are, I think a guy like DeAngelo who already has a number of NHL games or Graves who has a few years in pro hockey is more ready for the rigors of the NHL right now than Pionk who I think would struggle initially to hold up physically and defensively. I'd order it DeAngelo, Graves, Pionk of those three, and when you consider there's also Bereglazov, they all might be pushed back a spot.

 

[Revel]

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Thoughts, ranked in order of good to bad:


Impressed me:
PIONK - was arguably the player of the game BEFORE the goal. Thought he was great on D, great moving the puck, beautiful move at the end. Didn't notice any flaws.

GRAVES - thought he was the second best D on the team, behind Pionk, ahead of DeAngelo. Showed all the tools, including hits and clearing the crease. Bomb from the point, a couple of great passes included one that was rink-long to spark a breakaway.

DeANGELO - lots of good, especially on offense, where he is definitely mobile, and not afraid to join the play - but also showed the hotheadedness that can get him in trouble, got a little too cute with the puck on the point at one point, and his size was a liability a couple of times (including once when he got smoked). Still, on balance, I was impressed.

ANDERSSON – exactly as advertised: nothing that blew me away, but heady, smart, strong, and a deceptive shot.

MCDONAGH – not expecting a ton from a vet in a game where both teams were icing split squads, but looked his usual solid self.


Okay/up-and-down:
MILLER - good stuff on faceoffs, clearly focusing on his responsibilities as a center, which is what we want. Some moments on the PP.

NASH - typical Nash-type game. For the player he is now, such scrambly play doesn't suit his game.

FONTAINE - made some mistakes, but showed speed and mostly was in the right place at the right time. Not afraid to shoot. I see why the brass likes him.

PAVELEC - gave up the one disallowed goal on the rush, but other than that looked mostly solid. Thought he overpursued the puck a couple of times, but mostly was in the right place, and square to the shooter.

CAREY - only one of the invites/AHL vets who had any good moments. Liked him on the PP. Should be a solid player in in the AHL.

BUCHENVICH - some good possession and passes, but could have been more involved.

GRABNER - typical Grabner game.

NIEVES - made some mistakes, flubbed a couple of passes, still too hesitant to shoot. But also started a bunch of rushes, and used his size and speed well on the forecheck. A couple of nice plays on D to break up the Isles' play.

LETTERI - had him in the last category for the first two periods - trying to do too much, running around, took a bunch of penalties. Much better in the third. Showed good speed and a good shot.

KAMPFER - fine game for an 8th D.

HOLDEN - not horrific. Also, not good to be last on the list of D for the game...

HALVERSON - hard to tell since he didn't get much action. Thought he looked awkward a bunch, but can't put him in the last category just on aesthetics when he didn't give up a goal.


Expected to be cut:
DESJARDINS - dime a dozen energy type. Didn't see anything that makes me think he will challenge for a spot. Would easily take one of the young speedsters like Nieves or Fontaine over him.

FARNHAM - tried to do his agitating thing. Didn't see much in the way of hockey skills.

SCHNEIDER - looked flat out overmatched.

[/collapse]

A really nice read, BRF. Thank You.

I agree mostly, with only a few exceptions...but nothing major.

I definitely agree that Pionk was the player of the game...even w/o the OT goal. Better than ADA tonight, though ADA had good moments.

McD I would put in the neutral category. I think he was just going through the motions and did nothing to really impress. Not bothered by it. He's simply finding his rhythm and getting in to game shape. We all know what a Beast he will be this year...especially w/o the Blue-Eyed Terminator at his side.

I also thought Carey had a really solid game...and would put him in my "Impressed" category. He's the kind of guy I'd have no problem calling up in case of injury. He looked cool and confident out there...even a little dangerous offensively.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

It's so funny. I think more than any other player, people had their minds made up about DeAngelo before they even dropped the puck. I admit, I was one of the ones who was turned off when we first acquired him, but I've tried to make myself be as objective as possible, rather than try to justify my original position.

He played well, admittedly, and showed some exciting flash - but also some of the stuff we were warned about, namely hotdogging, hotheadedness and his size be an issue on D. Based off one game, he looked like a legitimate prospect, and someone I'd rather have than any of our 4-7 defenders last year... but I also thought Pionk and Graves were better.

Of course, this is all off one game, so take that for what it's worth.

 

[Ori]

Yes for sure and some good insights and thoughts @Stasis. And I`m actually excited to see the progression of this camp. It can`t be easy to be AV when he have so many options on our defense after the first pre-season game with solid performances on our defense by ELC guys.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I could get used to this

Machinehead just pitched a tent.

 

[Ghost of jas]

It's so funny. I think more than any other player, people had their minds made up about DeAngelo before they even dropped the puck. I admit, I was one of the ones who was turned off when we first acquired him, but I've tried to make myself be as objective as possible, rather than try to justify my original position.

He played well, admittedly, and showed some exciting flash - but also some of the stuff we were warned about, namely hotdogging, hotheadedness and his size be an issue on D. Based off one game, he looked like a legitimate prospect, and someone I'd rather have than any of our 4-7 defenders last year... but I also thought Pionk and Graves were better.

Of course, this is all off one game, so take that for what it's worth.

Sorry, BRF, I saw none of what you're ascribing to ADA. I thought he was the most effective Dman with the puck. And, to me, Graves was non-descript. Pionk was very good, but he had a few moments where he was shaky defensively, though he did recover nicely in many instances. I have no bias to either player. ADA looks ready to be one of the top six Dmen on opening night. Pionk looks very promising, but it would not hurt him to start the season in Hartford.

 

[Matt Rentfree]

I'm assuming against the Debbies we'll see Shatty, Skjei, Smith, Staal, Day, Gilmour?

 

[Ghost of jas]

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A really nice read, BRF. Thank You.

I agree mostly, with only a few exceptions...but nothing major.

I definitely agree that Pionk was the player of the game...even w/o the OT goal. Better than ADA tonight, though ADA had good moments.

McD I would put in the neutral category. I think he was just going through the motions and did nothing to really impress. Not bothered by it. He's simply finding his rhythm and getting in to game shape. We all know what a Beast he will be this year...especially w/o the Blue-Eyed Terminator at his side.

I also thought Carey had a really solid game...and would put him in my "Impressed" category. He's the kind of guy I'd have no problem calling up in case of injury. He looked cool and confident out there...even a little dangerous offensively.

I thought Carey was solid. Lettieri really impressed me, although he took a few too many penalties.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I really like DeAngelo. Pionk looks promising too but he could probably use a few months in the AHL of seasoning. That goal was very nice though, gotta love that. Both of them are smooth skating and good passers. I think Deangelo is a better skater and he has NHL experience so he seemed more comfortable with the pace. Pionk was a little less consistent although very encouraging. He's gonna be a player.

Although who knows, with all the PPs and PKs it's hard to tell too much about anyone.

Was it just me or does Buch look stronger and faster? It could be because it's preseason but it was noticeable to me. Hopefully it's bc of all the progress he made this summer.

 

[Tawnos]

Sorry, BRF, I saw none of what you're ascribing to ADA. I thought he was the most effective Dman with the puck. And, to me, Graves was non-descript. Pionk was very good, but he had a few moments where he was shaky defensively, though he did recover nicely in many instances. I have no bias to either player. ADA looks ready to be one of the top six Dmen on opening night. Pionk looks very promising, but it would not hurt him to start the season in Hartford.

You missed the time where ADA stickhandled at the blueline and almost caused a breakaway against? Or the time he chased a guy to the opposing bench over a little shove?

Hotdogging and hotheadedness.

I think his positives will outweigh all of that, but we shouldn't have blinders on about it.

 

[SA16]

I don't have a problem with plays like that (the first one). Not trying to stickhandle and makes plays is what turns you into Girardi blindly throwing pucks down the ice.

 

[Tawnos]

Personally, I think Graves looks NHL ready.

 

[QJL]

I'm assuming against the Debbies we'll see Shatty, Skjei, Smith, Staal, Day, Gilmour?

I think Bereglazov will be in the lineup. I could actually see them go 7 D.

 

[Tawnos]

I don't have a problem with plays like that (the first one). Not trying to stickhandle and makes plays is what turns you into Girardi blindly throwing pucks down the ice.

Good NHL D don't try that play. It's not about "not trying to stickhandle." It's about knowing when it's appropriate and it's pretty much never appropriate in that situation.

It's part of learning for him, so I don't have any criticism over it.

 

[Ghost of jas]

You missed the time where ADA stickhandled at the blueline and almost caused a breakaway against? Or the time he chased a guy to the opposing bench over a little shove?

Hotdogging and hotheadedness.

I think his positives will outweigh all of that, but we shouldn't have blinders on about it.

Actually, no, I didn't see the penalty ADA took, (I will admit being distracted at the time). But, even with a stick handle at the line, I saw Pionk more in trouble defensively than I saw ADA. Which, from what I saw, only means that, to me, ADA looks more ready than Pionk. There's no blinders. I said both players were the best two players for the Rangers on the night. I saw ADA as the slightly better player.

 

[Revel]

I thought Carey was solid. Lettieri really impressed me, although he took a few too many penalties.

I'd have to re-watch the game to rejuvenate my memory on how Vinny played...but from what I remember, he was noticeable. Has that Zuuc build to him, and seems to work just as hard. If memory serves...I think his shots were pretty heavy.

 

[ThirdEye]

Was it just me or does Buch look stronger and faster? It could be because it's preseason but it was noticeable to me. Hopefully it's bc of all the progress he made this summer.

He definitely looks a little meatier in the pic in this article that was posted about a month ago:

https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-summer-catch-up-pavel-buchnevich/c-290637566

He looked borderline anorexic in the pics I saw of him before last year's camp

 

[Krams]

The opening night lineup is obvious after this one

 

[Ghost of jas]

I'd have to re-watch the game to rejuvenate my memory on how Vinny played...but from what I remember, he was noticeable. Has that Zuuc build to him, and seems to work just as hard. If memory serves...I think his shots were pretty heavy.

It was nice seeing big time shots from Lettieri, Pionk and ADA.