Confirmed with Link: Rangers Sign Free Agent D Neal Pionk

[Thirty One]

Hopefully Gorton has noticed Shattenkirk stinking up the joint in DC. He also -13 for his career in the playoffs. As Bray Wyatt would say, "Run".

Brian Leetch was a -17 in the playoffs outside of the 1994 run.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

you couldn't resign the player you bought out though. Rangers absolutely would have taken Brad at $2M/year, and Brad probably would have stuck it out here if he was allowed to.

Yes but I like that there is still some form of accountability to avoid GMs counting on compliance buyouts

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Brian Leetch was a -17 in the playoffs outside of the 1994 run.

Alex Ovechkin ended -35 one season when he scored 50 goals. It's a flawed stat and I would never use it to judge a player

 

[Fugazy]

Alex Ovechkin ended -35 one season when he scored 50 goals. It's a flawed stat and I would never use it to judge a player

Especially when it's a stat dependent on other player performance. Very flawed stat.

 

[McD37]

I can see a more offensive version of Sauer here. Fan favorite potential, IMO, and will be mean in playoff hockey.

One thing is for sure... Hartford will look better.

#FireGernander #HireFilipPesan

It is too soon to claim this Pesan is staying at least for another year in Liberec, will be coaching Czech U20 national team this year in Buffalo. He is great coach but still there were not many Euro coaches who got such a job in North America. I mean, he can definitely get a chance sometimes and probably has what it takes to be successful. But right now I would say it is a bit of a stretch to say he will be Hartford coach or part of Rangers coaching staff. So far he is "just" good person to have in the organisation.

 

[nyr2k2]

I saw a decent bit of Pionk. I don't think he's as good defensively as Sauer was at a similar age. Pionk is also a better skater than Sauer.

 

[Savant]

Shattenkirk has not been good. Period.

 

[eco's bones]

Brian Leetch was a -17 in the playoffs outside of the 1994 run.

Shattenkirk is not nearly as good as Brian Leetch was though. Leetch was Erik Karlsson good. Shattenkirk's not John Carlson good.

 

[eco's bones]

I like this signing, but I doubt this guy starts in the NHL next season. I don't even think Graves who has had two successful AHL seasons is likely to start next season in the NHL. Bereglazov will, he's already a fixture with Russia's National Team. He's not coming to NA to play in the minors.

But definitely good to sign a guy who we can send to Hartford, let him develop, and then call up a right shot offensive defenseman when need be. We are building some good depth on defense.

I'm more inclined to let it play out in training camp rather than make pronouncements months in advance. Seriously though I suspect Bereglazov will make next year's team. It's just that I think that Pionk has a legitimate to make the team too. Just because he hasn't played in the KHL doesn't mean he sucks.

 

[RangerBoy]

Neal Pionk was passed over in his draft year due to his small size—5’11â€, 170-lbs on the most generous of measurements—but is turning heads with his strong play at the University of Minnesota-Duluth as a sophomore. After scoring 17 points in an up-and-down rookie season, Pionk has 24 points in 30 games and is showing that he may be able to compete at the next level after all. Craig Custance of ESPN reports that as many as 20 teams have expressed interest in the Bulldog, including the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, who can sign college free agents in March like any other team (provided their final expansion payment goes through without a hitch).

Pionk attended the Washington Capitals development camp in 2015 before heading to school. It will be interesting to see if Washington will be back in the mix to sign him when his season ends. The right-handed defenseman likely has so many suitors because not only does he possess the puck-moving skill that usually accompanies the smaller defenseman at this level, but also has a slight nasty streak that leads him to physically challenge opposing forwards as well. Some might liken his play to Connor Carrick of the Toronto Maple Leafs (and previously those same Washington Capitals), who doesn’t let his height dictate the type of game he plays.

While this year’s crop of NCAA free agents doesn’t have a huge name leading the way, players like Pionk can still be valuable assets to any team. Look for Vegas to go hard after several of them as it tries to add depth to a system that will have very little of it to start. The Minnesota native is already 21 (and will turn 22 in July), meaning he’ll have to adapt quickly to the increased difficulty of the AHL and beyond, but if that many teams are interested, he’ll likely have a fighting chance.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2017/02/teams-interested-college.html

He also attended the Hawks development camp.

 

[LeetchisGod]

Brian Leetch was a -17 in the playoffs outside of the 1994 run.

Shattenkirk isn't fit to hold Leetch's jockstrap.

 

[Tawnos]

I don't like this signing

 

[Irishguy42]

I don't like this signing

Why?

 

[Tawnos]

Why?

Idk. Everyone seems to. I felt like we needed a different viewpoint.

 

[Irishguy42]

Idk. Everyone seems to. I felt like we needed a different viewpoint.

That's fair enough.

 

[Fugazy]

Idk. Everyone seems to. I felt like we needed a different viewpoint.

I respect the approach

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Idk. Everyone seems to. I felt like we needed a different viewpoint.

You sound like a hipster

 

[Tawnos]

You sound like a hipster

I'm not but I've never quite understood what's wrong with it.

Anyway. Nothing wrong with this. Zero expectations though.

 

[LeetchisGod]

Matt Gilroy 2.0, because Rangers.

 

[Irishguy42]

Matt Gilroy 2.0, because Rangers.

Thought Vesey was Gilroy 2.0.

 

[nyr2k2]

Matt Gilroy 2.0, because Rangers.

Understand your point, but he's more physical and has a better shot than Gilly.

 

[LeetchisGod]

Understand your point, but he's more physical and has a better shot than Gilly.

I was kind of kidding. This franchise is just getting to me at the moment.

 

[New York RKY]

More free prospects!

Some of them need to turn into something good, we signed like 27 of them in the last 2 months

 

[Fugazy]

More free prospects!

Some of them need to turn into something good, we signed like 27 of them in the last 2 months

Who needs draft picks when you can just sign everybody?

 

[haohmaru]

Idk. Everyone seems to. I felt like we needed a different viewpoint.

Tawnos, keeping HF on its toes since 2004.