Prospect Info: Rangers Prospect Thread (Player Stats/Info in Post #1; Updated 9.1.19)

[Joey Bones]

I'm all for adding another guy that can throw down. They have to be able to play, though. Because even if you only play them a handful of minutes each night, you're really handicapping yourself during those minutes if you sign some chud that can't actually contribute anything else. I don't know why one esteemed poster chose to bring this up in the prospect thread, but whatever.

Agreed....

 

[Joey Bones]

I think when Andersson gets comfortable at the NHL level he'll bring just the physical and mental edge some posters think this team lacks.

He led the SuperElit (J20 league) in both points and PIM as a 17 year old. In juniors he often averaged 2 PIM/GP while leading his teams in points.

He's just got to get accustomed to the league he's in, but also needs work on his conditioning/skating. Some people tend to forget that it took Scheifele about 3 years before becoming who he is now....

 

[ohbaby]

Nieves is a realistic option for us as a 4th line player. The good about him is he's big and strong and a really, really good skater. The not so hot about him is his lack of creative offensive ability and one of his main problems there is his predictability. He'll make--sometimes force passes when he should shoot and his playmaking isn't very good to begin with.

As a 4th line checking player though there is a role for him. One of the things he'll have to do is to become a mainstay on the penalty kill--not just be okay but be really good at it. His size, speed and strength are good assets for him in that role. The Rangers used him a bit on the penalty kill last year and (eye test) he wasn't great but he wasn't awful.

Not convinced he'll make the Rangers this year but if he doesn't he's a pretty good AHL player. On the trade market we might get a 5th back for him if we need to move him. He's what I'd call a tweener right now.

I believe he's had multiple concussions. Not making him attractive to other clubs. Could be valuable as a depth guy for us. Does have speed and size until his next crushing hit.

 

[ohbaby]

Having players with some toughness is great, as long as it comes with skill. Don't sacrifice skill for toughness.

Agreed. But this year, it will be more important than ever that we have guys who will drop the gloves at the drop of a hat. Like Lemieux and Trouba. We need to protect our future. Kakko will have a big target on his back. Maybe even Fox and Kravtsov too. Lemieux is going to be very valuable to us. Plus he has some skill. Trouba also is not afraid to stick up for his teammates. Not a great fighter but tough as nails.

 

[ohbaby]

Gorton needs to get the scouts out in force to find the next Probert. Heck find the next Klima too and let them play with Henrikkson in a few years. Totally off topic - did anyone ever play Strat-o Matic hockey?

Boy you go way back. I don't remember if I played hockey, but I definitely played baseball.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Agreed. But this year, it will be more important than ever that we have guys who will drop the gloves at the drop of a hat. Like Lemieux and Trouba. We need to protect our future. Kakko will have a big target on his back. Maybe even Fox and Kravtsov too. Lemieux is going to be very valuable to us. Plus he has some skill. Trouba also is not afraid to stick up for his teammates. Not a great fighter but tough as nails.

Strome can also throw them too



Ryan Strome vs Travis Konecny Nov 23, 2018

Ryan Strome vs Torey Krug Feb 7, 2015

Ryan Strome vs. Jussi Jokinen on 01/13/2017

 

[NYSPORTS]

Agreed. But this year, it will be more important than ever that we have guys who will drop the gloves at the drop of a hat. Like Lemieux and Trouba. We need to protect our future. Kakko will have a big target on his back. Maybe even Fox and Kravtsov too. Lemieux is going to be very valuable to us. Plus he has some skill. Trouba also is not afraid to stick up for his teammates. Not a great fighter but tough as nails.

Agreed b/c these kids are so young and the future.

 

[nyr2k2]

In the 08-09 season, there were .58 fights per game.

Ten years later, 18-19, there were .18 fights per game.

It's on its way out. As much as I enjoy it, it's all but dead. Employing a guy whose lone job is to fight at this point is a waste of a roster spot. Even guys like Lemieux are a dying breed since fighting has been similarly de-emphasized in most every developmental league.

 

[eco's bones]

Marchand is no goon. He's had 9 career NHL fights. Chara fights once in a while. He really doesn't go looking for it. The Bruins need him on the ice--not in the penalty box.

Things aren't the way they were. There are still some tough guys around but the only way they really stick is if they show they can play--fit into some kind of other role. To me Reaves is the toughest guy in the league right now......but he only has to fight maybe 5/6 times a year---same with Wilson who has a better set of skills than Reaves though overrated by Caps fans in that department. Really I think 30 years ago Wilson would be getting his ass kicked pretty regular.

There were guys back in the 80's/90's who fought 30 times or more a year--and there use to be marathon like fights that would go on two/three minutes. Some of those guys are all f***ed up now. Probert died in his 40's. He had CTE. That's not a question--it's a fact. Mike Peluso has grand mal seizures regularly. He is a broken man. Boogaard had CTE. He's dead too. Wade Belak, Rick Rypien, Todd Ewen all suicides and I think I'm missing at least one or two others. Matt Johnson is wandering around homeless in the Los Angeles area. There's other shit like Purinton breaking into houses or Andre Roy ending up in prison--Chris Nilan and Kevin Stevens drug issues and basically all the above is the tip of the iceberg--there are literally hundreds of former NHL players who have major issues related to physical play/fighting from the 60's/70's/80's/90's/and 00's and the NHL denying it has anything to do with their playing hockey. There is just too much tragedy and that's pretty much why the game has changed......and I have to admit that I'm kind of nostalgic for the 80's and 90's too. I like tough hockey. I loved Domi, Kocur and Langdon.....but things couldn't continue on like that.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Why the extreme? 1979? Well, last I checked this is hockey and not figure skating. Oh, it’s soooo finesse I read. Really? Tell that to Brad Marchand or Tom Wilson. Watch Chara take the body. There are plenty of players capable of going goon in this league while it doesn’t have to be 1979, 1994, 2008, etc.

Rangers have only Lemieux (and maybe DeAngelo with right hand). The lineup is flooded with kids closer in age to Senior Prom than 26 year old men. Do we really want to see any of these kids get multiple cheap shots with a Marc Staal floating in with no urgency and delivering a gentle push? Fans would go nuts and Lemieux can’t shoulder all the weight IMO.

Several have said that you should not give up quality just to add grit. You're mentioning Marchand and Wilson who are the exact opposite of a goon. They add more than just the physical edge. Why is this so hard to understand?


Goon: Bickel, Haley, Glass, Sestito
Not a goon: Marchand, Wilson, Lucic (Boston days)

 

[nyr2k2]

Marchand is no goon. He's had 9 career NHL fights. Chara fights once in a while. He really doesn't go looking for it. The Bruins need him on the ice--not in the penalty box.

Things aren't the way they were. There are still some tough guys around but the only way they really stick is if they show they can play--fit into some kind of other role. To me Reaves is the toughest guy in the league right now......but he only has to fight maybe 5/6 times a year---same with Wilson who has a better set of skills than Reaves though overrated by Caps fans in that department. Really I think 30 years ago Wilson would be getting his ass kicked pretty regular.

There were guys back in the 80's/90's who fought 30 times or more a year--and there use to be marathon like fights that would go on two/three minutes. Some of those guys are all ****ed up now. Probert died in his 40's. He had CTE. That's not a question--it's a fact. Mike Peluso has grand mal seizures regularly. He is a broken man. Boogaard had CTE. He's dead too. Wade Belak, Rick Rypien, Todd Ewen all suicides and I think I'm missing at least one or two others. Matt Johnson is wandering around homeless in the Los Angeles area. There's other **** like Purinton breaking into houses or Andre Roy ending up in prison--Chris Nilan and Kevin Stevens drug issues and basically all the above is tip of the iceberg--there are literally hundreds of former NHL players who have major issues related to physical play/fighting from the 60's/70's/80's/90's/and 00's and the NHL denying it has anything to do with their playing hockey. There is just too much tragedy and that's pretty much why the game has changed......and I have to admit that I'm kind of nostalgic for the 80's and 90's too. I like tough hockey. I loved Domi, Kocur and Langdon.....but things couldn't continue on like that.

Awesome post. Even leagues like the LNAH that used to be based around fighting--4.5+ per game--are recognizing the serious effects of this type play, and are cutting dramatically. They went as far as to eliminate a roster spot, ostensibly so teams would carry one fewer goon. Fighting there has dropped precipitously, and it used to be considered the toughest league in the world. Like the Latin American prisons of hockey.

 

[nyr2k2]

Several have said that you should not give up quality just to add grit. You're mentioning Marchand and Wilson who are the exact opposite of a goon. They add more than just the physical edge. Why is this so hard to understand?


Goon: Bickel, Haley, Glass, Sestito
Not a goon: Marchand, Wilson, Lucic (Boston days)

Carcillo and Prust. I liked them both. They could take a shift and also drop the gloves. Neither was a heavyweight, though. I think true heavyweights are all but gone.

 

[eco's bones]

Awesome post. Even leagues like the LNAH that used to be based around fighting--4.5+ per game--are recognizing the serious effects of this type play, and are cutting dramatically. They went as far as to eliminate a roster spot, ostensibly so teams would carry one fewer goon. Fighting there has dropped precipitously, and it used to be considered the toughest league in the world. Like the Latin American prisons of hockey.

I've watched videos on the LNAH--that is one nasty league to play in.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Several have said that you should not give up quality just to add grit. You're mentioning Marchand and Wilson who are the exact opposite of a goon. They add more than just the physical edge. Why is this so hard to understand?


Goon: Bickel, Haley, Glass, Sestito
Not a goon: Marchand, Wilson, Lucic (Boston days)

“There are plenty of players capable of going goon in this league while it doesn’t have to be 1979, 1994, 2008, etc. “

Why is my quote so easy to dismiss? A Milan Lucic can go goon at any moment.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

“There are plenty of players capable of going goon in this league while it doesn’t have to be 1979, 1994, 2008, etc. “

Why is my quote so easy to dismiss? A Milan Lucic can go goon at any moment.

Milan Lucic sucks

 

[Raspewtin]

“There are plenty of players capable of going goon in this league while it doesn’t have to be 1979, 1994, 2008, etc. “

Why is my quote so easy to dismiss? A Milan Lucic can go goon at any moment.

because the implication is you should waste a roster spot to have a goon ready to fight basically 9 players in the league who may or may not commit assault on one of our players

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

because the implication is you should waste a roster spot to have a goon ready to fight basically 9 players in the league who may or may not commit assault on one of our players

This whole thing feels like a parent being afraid of the monster under their kids bed

 

[Miamipuck]

I honestly don't know how someone can watch a modern NHL game and come to the following conclusion:

The Rangers need a goon.

There's hardly room to waste a roster spot on a guy that can skate (Boo), let alone a Glass or McLeod.

When the Rangers were contending in 2015 giving Glass a spot was seizure inducing. He received a spot over 5 players that were demonstrably better. Who knows what difference that would have made.

If you can't play the game there should be no spot in the NHL for you, period. I love a good fight but recognize that time has come and gone. That type of player is from a different era.

My God Lucic is brutal, he can't move any longer.

 

[True Blue]

Carcillo and Prust. I liked them both. They could take a shift and also drop the gloves. Neither was a heavyweight, though. I think true heavyweights are all but gone.

I would take a player like that in a Harvey heartbeat for the Rangers 4th line.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I would take a player like that in a Harvey heartbeat for the Rangers 4th line.

The Rangers have the rights to one of those right now

 

[RangersFan1994]

The Rangers have the rights to one of those right now

trade for Lawson Crouse or look for that type in a Namestikov or Kreider trade

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

trade for Lawson Crouse or look for that type in a Namestikov or Kreider trade

Meh, I don’t know if that’s really necessary

 

[nyr2k2]

I don't know if Crouse is worth what Arizona would probably want for him. I think his overall game is mediocre, but he's still young enough to develop into a 20-20 guy with a great physical game. I don't think Arizona would want to give him up for mediocrity like Namestnikov. Kreider? Sure, but then again I don't think Crouse is valuable enough to us to be the centerpiece of that deal. Crouse is probably more valuable to Arizona than he is to someone else in a trade.

Anyway, if we move Kreider, we need to target a C. Or a higher-end wing with a first where we can grab a C.

 

[RangersFan1994]

I don't know if Crouse is worth what Arizona would probably want for him. I think his overall game is mediocre, but he's still young enough to develop into a 20-20 guy with a great physical game. I don't think Arizona would want to give him up for mediocrity like Namestnikov. Kreider? Sure, but then again I don't think Crouse is valuable enough to us to be the centerpiece of that deal. Crouse is probably more valuable to Arizona than he is to someone else in a trade.

Anyway, if we move Kreider, we need to target a C. Or a higher-end wing with a first where we can grab a C.

say Gudas or Wilson take a run at Kakko or Kravtsov in preseason. i don't see how adding a tough physical top 9 forward is an issue for this team. those types can take Namestikov's roster spot.

 

[nyr2k2]

say Gudas or Wilson take a run at Kakko or Kravtsov in preseason. i don't see how adding a tough physical top 9 forward is an issue for this team. those types can take Namestikov's roster spot.

If Gudas or Wilson take a run a Kakko, then they have taken a run at Kakko. Damage done. Having a gorilla sitting on the bench (because he won't be out with Kakko) won't deter that. But, I'm not really interested in getting into the whole "deterrence" debate.

As to your statement in bold--I don't see how it's an issue, either. Did you ignore the entirety of the post you quoted? I said I don't think Namestnikov gets you Crouse and if you move Kreider I don't think Crouse is worth being an integral component of that deal.

If we could actually acquire Crouse for Namestnikov? Sign me up. I'd love to add another physical presence. That deal won't happen, though. Again--Crouse is probably worth more to Arizona than he is in a trade.