Confirmed with Link: Rangers Sign Lee Stempniak (1 year, 900K)

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

This is a myth. The Kings beat us because they have a phenomenal team. Henrik's play masked the fact that we got significantly outplayed in at least three out of five games. Anyone who improves the overall quality of the forward core is a good addition, regardless of style.

Agree. The Kings one for many reasons, the biggest of which being that they were an incredibly deep team who executed almost perfectly.

Don't knee-jerk to follow last year's champions, even when you're the team that lost to them. You never win trying to be a different team.

The two aren't mutually exclusive. The Kings' size is part of what makes them so good. Take a look at their roster - there is not one single slightly-built player on the entire squad from 1-18.

Fraser and Williams weigh the least at 191 pounds (while each standing 6'1" tall).
Richards and Voynov are the shortest at 5'11" (while each weighing 199 pounds).
Every other skater on the team is taller and/or heavier than those guys.

Almost every game in the finals followed the same script: the Rangers come out flying, the Kings take over in the 2nd and the Rangers then spend the rest of the game battling to keep their heads above water. Size and strength played a large role in that. Now, it doesn't work if you don't also have skill, true, but that's part of what makes them so good - they have both.

 

[DarthSather99]

Stempniak is closer to Fedotenko than Pouliot.

A couple interesting notes...

He was the #2 forward in Calgary when it came to TOI/game last season.

He played both PK and PP minutes in Calgary. Likely he'll just be a PK guy here unless there is an injury.

As a matter of fact, he's always been a PP and PK guy for Calgary, which might be an indication of why they're so bad. Lucky for us, he's an above average 3rd liner and shouldn't be asked to do much more than that here.

Didn't he also play on the same Dartmouth team as Hugh Jessiman? and drafted the same year ..

 

[Fitzy]

Didn't he also play on the same Dartmouth team as Hugh Jessiman? and drafted the same year ..

He played with Jessiman and Glass in his time with the Big Green. He's also an economist.

I will say that Jessiman was, by far, the more imposing player at the time. You didn't prep to play Stempniak, specifically. You prepped to play Huge Specimen.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

The two aren't mutually exclusive. The Kings' size is part of what makes them so good. Take a look at their roster - there is not one single slightly-built player on the entire squad from 1-18.

Fraser and Williams weigh the least at 191 pounds (while each standing 6'1" tall).
Richards and Voynov are the shortest at 5'11" (while each weighing 199 pounds).
Every other skater on the team is taller and/or heavier than those guys.

Almost every game in the finals followed the same script: the Rangers come out flying, the Kings take over in the 2nd and the Rangers then spend the rest of the game battling to keep their heads above water. Size and strength played a large role in that. Now, it doesn't work if you don't also have skill, true, but that's part of what makes them so good - they have both.

We lost to the Kings because they scored 3 OT/Double OT goals and we didn't. It wasn't because of the size factor

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

We lost to the Kings because they scored 3 OT/Double OT goals and we didn't. It wasn't because of the size factor

This.. we just need people who can put the puck In the net

 

[KingWantsCup]

Brilliant replacement for Pouliot.

 

[Hire Sather]

We lost to the Kings because they scored 3 OT/Double OT goals and we didn't. It wasn't because of the size factor

We also got outplayed in the game that we did win. Goes both ways.

 

[haveandare]

The two aren't mutually exclusive. The Kings' size is part of what makes them so good. Take a look at their roster - there is not one single slightly-built player on the entire squad from 1-18.

Fraser and Williams weigh the least at 191 pounds (while each standing 6'1" tall).
Richards and Voynov are the shortest at 5'11" (while each weighing 199 pounds).
Every other skater on the team is taller and/or heavier than those guys.

Almost every game in the finals followed the same script: the Rangers come out flying, the Kings take over in the 2nd and the Rangers then spend the rest of the game battling to keep their heads above water. Size and strength played a large role in that. Now, it doesn't work if you don't also have skill, true, but that's part of what makes them so good - they have both.

I truly think so-so coaching played a bigger role in how the games played out than size did. AV never even tried to adjust to the King's game that gave the Rangers horrible beatings in 3rd after 3rd after 3rd.

I'm not denying that the Kings are big, I'm arguing with the idea that they're big and they won, therefore we have to be big to win, and any team has to be big to win. The "what it takes to win" narrative changes every year based on who won last year. I want the Rangers to be one of the teams that dictates those terms, not one of the followers that tries and fails to recreate someone else's team.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

We lost to the Kings because they scored 3 OT/Double OT goals and we didn't. It wasn't because of the size factor

This.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

I honestly don't know how people can say the heavy factor didn't play into the finals.

The scored more than a few goals off rebounds / lost battles in front. In the 3rds and OTs, when they ramped up their game, they dominated the puck, in part by their ability to control key real estate and win battles in the corners.

Just off the top of my head...game 5: Williams goal. Gets 3 whacks at a rebound in the crease. Gabby goal...Rangers have 3 chances to clear. Kings dominate the walls, force the puck in. Gabby puts in a rebound, as Stralman tries to go stick on stick and lets Gabby maneuver behind him. Rangers 2 goals...pretty tic tac toe passing on the PP (Kreider) and Boyle on the rush. They can score on the rush, they can score moving the puck.

The 2 goals they Kings scored, the Rangers scored 10 of all season. A goal is a goal, but the GREAT teams can score in diverse ways, so that over the course of a season or a series they can sustain success no matter how the opposition defends or what kind of personel they are playing against.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Stempniak for 900k.

That's insane.

Each signing makes me dislike Glass even more.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

I truly think so-so coaching played a bigger role in how the games played out than size did. AV never even tried to adjust to the King's game that gave the Rangers horrible beatings in 3rd after 3rd after 3rd.

I'm not denying that the Kings are big, I'm arguing with the idea that they're big and they won, therefore we have to be big to win, and any team has to be big to win. The "what it takes to win" narrative changes every year based on who won last year. I want the Rangers to be one of the teams that dictates those terms, not one of the followers that tries and fails to recreate someone else's team.

Some element of "heaviness" (ability to win battles & score ugly goals) has been a consistent theme of SC Champions for my entire lifetime, and then some.

Even the teams people like to quote as bucking this trend had SOME element of it - Franzen, Holmstrom, Bertuzzi, Grind Line in Detroit and Bickell, Bolland, Ladd, Brouwer in Chicago.

 

[LGRDunDunDunDunDa]

I would say I am Satisfied with this roster now but not Happy.
Would still love to trade Staal+ for a 2nd Line Center but with Lombardi signing I guess thats off the table until the Trade deadline.

 

[TheTakedown]

Basically they'll see how Staal plays then determine his worth...

I personally think that should be wrapped up before the end of the year. Can't see Staal's stock changing in that short of a stint...

Unfortunately, with Skjei sticking in College, and Allen/McIlrath being another season away from actually contending for a low-tier Defense position, we don't have much to bargain against.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

Stempniak for 900k.

That's insane.

Each signing makes me dislike Glass even more.

Pretty obvious that Glass was an AV signing.

 

[Zil]

Signing Stempniak does ensure that Duclair's dark horse run at a roster spot is over before it starts. He could absolutely destroy training camp and still get sent back because there's no way to balance the lines with him on the roster. Without a defensive skill set, there's nowhere for him to really force his way in. It's a byproduct of Stepan being our only offensively talented center with a two-way game. Duclair with either Brassard or Miller would be too risky and Duclair with Moore would be a silly waste. Step will clearly man a line between two of Kreider, St. Louis, Zuccarello, and Nash. So Duclair will definitely head back to the Q. He's almost definitely not ready anyway, but it's interesting to consider.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I honestly don't know how people can say the heavy factor didn't play into the finals.

The scored more than a few goals off rebounds / lost battles in front. In the 3rds and OTs, when they ramped up their game, they dominated the puck, in part by their ability to control key real estate and win battles in the corners.

Just off the top of my head...game 5: Williams goal. Gets 3 whacks at a rebound in the crease. Gabby goal...Rangers have 3 chances to clear. Kings dominate the walls, force the puck in. Gabby puts in a rebound, as Stralman tries to go stick on stick and lets Gabby maneuver behind him. Rangers 2 goals...pretty tic tac toe passing on the PP (Kreider) and Boyle on the rush. They can score on the rush, they can score moving the puck.

The 2 goals they Kings scored, the Rangers scored 10 of all season. A goal is a goal, but the GREAT teams can score in diverse ways, so that over the course of a season or a series they can sustain success no matter how the opposition defends or what kind of personel they are playing against.

Some element of "heaviness" (ability to win battles & score ugly goals) has been a consistent theme of SC Champions for my entire lifetime, and then some.

Even the teams people like to quote as bucking this trend had SOME element of it - Franzen, Holmstrom, Bertuzzi, Grind Line in Detroit and Bickell, Bolland, Ladd, Brouwer in Chicago.

Exactly. I don't know how people could have watched that series without seeing that the Rangers were hanging on for dear life at the end of every game.

 

[Pizza]

This.

It's amazing. No matter how many times something is put in front of peoples faces....they just refuse to see it.

The Kings beat the Rangers for a number of reasons. For sure they just flat ran the Rangers down. Coming back time after time because they could throw big body after big body at our crease.

There is a segment of our fan base that is....I'm not sure how to characterize it...offended by big guys maybe? I don't know. Can't make sense of it. Never have.

You can't teach size the same way you can't teach speed or skill. This is still hockey. A sport where people run into each other at pretty high rates of speed. I mean would anyone argue with having three Kreider's in the line up opening night? Some of our fans certainly would.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

Some element of "heaviness" (ability to win battles & score ugly goals) has been a consistent theme of SC Champions for my entire lifetime, and then some.

Even the teams people like to quote as bucking this trend had SOME element of it - Franzen, Holmstrom, Bertuzzi, Grind Line in Detroit and Bickell, Bolland, Ladd, Brouwer in Chicago.

But with all that heaviness as you say, it still took the Kings to score 2 double OT goals and one Single OT goal to beat us. In all three of those OT games we had numerous chances to win. The bottom line is the Kings capitalized and we didn't.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

It's amazing. No matter how many times something is put in front of peoples faces....they just refuse to see it.

The Kings beat the Rangers for a number of reasons. For sure they just flat ran the Rangers down. Coming back time after time because they could throw big body after big body at our crease.

There is a segment of our fan base that is....I'm not sure how to characterize it...offended by big guys maybe? I don't know. Can't make sense of it. Never have.

You can't teach size the same way you can't teach speed or skill. This is still hockey. A sport where people run into each other at pretty high rates of speed. I mean would anyone argue with having three Kreider's in the line up opening night? Some of our fans certainly would.

You can't hit something you can't catch, it works both ways. You don't get games to OT and Double OT if you are being physical beat down

 

[NYRCSKA*]

This is a win now team. I'm not opposed to trading the farm for a cup now. We are still a solid center away IMO. And Nash's disappearing acts don't help either.

 

[StepansLabyrinth]

This is a win now team. I'm not opposed to trading the farm for a cup now. We are still a solid center away IMO. And Nash's disappearing acts don't help either.

I think we're close now but I wouldn't classify us as "win now". We still have McDonagh, Kreider, Stepan, 5+ years of Hank, etc. I'd usually reserve "win now" teams as teams that need to win now because they can't in the future.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

He played with Jessiman and Glass in his time with the Big Green. He's also an economist.

I will say that Jessiman was, by far, the more imposing player at the time. You didn't prep to play Stempniak, specifically. You prepped to play Huge Specimen.

Economist, pashaw. Tanner's major was gym class and look who got the better contract

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

I think we're close now but I wouldn't classify us as "win now". We still have McDonagh, Kreider, Stepan, 5+ years of Hank, etc. I'd usually reserve "win now" teams as teams that need to win now because they can't in the future.

We're the big friggin apple. Every year should be a win now year in everything. Everything.

 

[Zuccarello Awesome*]

We lost to the Kings because they scored 3 OT/Double OT goals and we didn't. It wasn't because of the size factor

You're both right.

We lost because they scored in OT and we didn't.

We also lost because their size and depth wore us down during games.

We also lost because The Kings are a great team.



My point is that there is no one way to have success and win in the NHL.

There are big teams that might contend this year (Boston, LA, CBJ)

There are fast, skilled teams that might contend as well (Pittsburgh, NYR, DAL, SJ)

The ideal team would have a healthy balance of both. LA is one of those teams.

The Rangers were a few posts, and a missed call away from winning the Cup without the size, so there's definitely more than one way to skin a penguin.