Confirmed with Link: Rangers Sign Micheal Haley (1 Year, Two-Way, $700K/$275K)

[Raspewtin]

I also like to sign players in response to fictitious scenarios

 

[Thirty One]

I like it, I cant really understand what's to hate here, we have a ton of Softish skilled players who need someone to answer the bell for them. 4th line minutes over Nieves isnt bothering me at all. We are surrounded by heavy teams. Teams like the Islanders would love nothing more than to come in here and put a beating on our players, if it were up to me I'd keep Lindgren for the same reason but I agree with the staff Hajek is a better player. My guess is Haley only plays when we are playing that type of team and in addition Haley is a good pro who can help the kids mature. Win win.

The Islanders took more runs at Ranger players during Saturday's game with Haley in the lineup than I'd seen in any game through the "who will defend us" era.

 

[NYR Viper]

The Islanders took more runs at Ranger players during Saturday's game with Haley in the lineup than I'd seen in any game through the "who will defend us" era.

That Islanders team is sneaky dirty honestly. Even their top players take runs

 

[nyr2k2]

What does Rieder do for us? I mean, you can question the effectiveness of Haley, but he's at least a different type of player than the others we have on the roster. He can fill a role that someone like Rieder could not.

Probably not anything. I wasn't actually suggesting we should have signed him; it was just a recently-signed deal for comparison.

 

[Raspewtin]

That Islanders team is sneaky dirty honestly. Even their top players take runs

and what will Haley do to address or remedy this?

 

[Trxjw]

and what will Haley do to address or remedy this?

Participate in the fights with people like Martin so players who are important to the future of this organization don't feel like they have to get punched in the face instead.

 

[Raspewtin]

Participate in the fights with people like Martin so players who are important to the future of this organization don't feel like they have to get punched in the face instead.

Why would they feel like they have to get punched in the face?

 

[nyr2k2]

.....personally I'd rather have Haley dealing with the likes of Tom Wilson and Ross Johnston than DeAngelo or Lemieux.

I'm all for Haley serving as our designated punching bag. But Wilson is going to do what he does regardless of who we ice. Our top guys are no more safe or protected by having Haley around. And honestly I hope Haley is not out there when Tom Wilson is; if that's a regular match up we'll be giving up a lot of goals.

 

[eco's bones]

I also like to sign players in response to fictitious scenarios

Better prepared than not. To look at the US Military who have worked out all kinds of just in case scenarios. They plan for all kinds of events (including domestic) even if most of them will never happen. It's part of what they do. Anyway we can't script the future--that doesn't mean we can't prepare at all.

And by the way I don't mind Haley spending lots of time in Hartford or only playing here and there with the Rangers. I don't see him at all as an every day player. That said I don't see McKegg or Smith as every day players either.

 

[EpicDing]

Why would they feel like they have to get punched in the face?

Because they're human beings and want to avenge dirty hits and shit talking? We don't need Tony or Lias or even Lemieux doing that shit. Let them play hockey and let Haley worry about the Matt Martins of the world.

 

[Raspewtin]

Brendan Lemieux was one of 10 players last year who had 6 fighting majors, the most for any individual in the NHL.

The top 50 of fighting majors are made up of primarily NHL regulars. Obvious goons include Micheal Haley, Cody McLeod, Zack Smith, and Ryan Reaves. I don't see this big line-up of dirty killing machines we need Micheal Haley to stand up to. Even players known for ability to fight like Matt Martin, Wayne Simmonds, and Ryan Reaves are fighting extremely rarely, with all of them having three FMs.

Because they're human beings and want to avenge dirty hits and **** talking? We don't need Tony or Lias or even Lemieux doing that ****. Let them play hockey and let Haley worry about the Matt Martins of the world.

There's nothing to worry about. Most players that "rack up" fighting majors are NHL regulars.

 

[Trxjw]

Why would they feel like they have to get punched in the face?

Because "answering the bell" is something that is deeply ingrained in North American hockey culture and until fighting is wiped out teams will favor fighters fighting each other instead of fighting skill players.

 

[eco's bones]

I'm all for Haley serving as our designated punching bag. But Wilson is going to do what he does regardless of who we ice. Our top guys are no more safe or protected by having Haley around. And honestly I hope Haley is not out there when Tom Wilson is; if that's a regular match up we'll be giving up a lot of goals.

First off Haley is a good scrapper. He's not really big but he's a lot stronger than DeAngelo. Tony knows how to fight but Tony has to land punches and keep away from clinching because he's not that strong and he doesn't have a lot of reach--so he has major disadvantages against guys like Johnston, Wilson, Reaves, Simmonds. Haley's got well over 200 fights in his career---Tony's probably around 20. Let Haley do the shit job---because that's what it is. But to get back to Wilson playing like Wilson--Haley has no problem targeting a Backstrom or a Kuznetsov. If that's how Wilson wants to play--that kind of quid pro quo will go into effect--Haley will piss on the fight code if necessary or at least he has been that way in the past.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

The Islanders took more runs at Ranger players during Saturday's game with Haley in the lineup than I'd seen in any game through the "who will defend us" era.

So what would your solution be?

 

[Shesterkybomb]

and what will Haley do to address or remedy this?

He would be someone who would fight so guys like Kreider and DeAngelo dont have to.

 

[Thirty One]

Matt Martin had three fighting majors last season: Mark Borowiecki, Zdeno Chara and Cody McLeod. Not overly concerned about Adam Fox thinking he needs to throw down with him.

 

[Raspewtin]

Because "answering the bell" is something that is highly prominent in North American hockey culture and until fighting is wiped out teams will favor fighters fighting each other instead of fighting skill players.

Fighting as is ritualized for "retribution" and such is really, really quickly on its way out. Very few players are known for fighting anymore and the enforcer, whatever was left of it, is a completely dead concept. There are still tough guys but sans literally Tom Wilson alone there are no truly fearful players in hockey anymore. I don't doubt that Ranger players will get into scraps but they're probably much more likely to be fights between regular players than a mismatch between a regular player and some worthless goon.

(and honestly Wilson is a pretty shitty fighter. he'd get KO'd pretty routinely in 1992)

 

[Rongomania]

Tony cleaned Okposo's clock but Okposo doesn't know how to fight and you could see that in the way he lunged at him. Wilson knows how to fight very well. He's big and strong as **** besides.

Tony knows how to fight but both Johnston (Matt Martin for that matter) and Wilson are way bigger than he is and I don't want to see him biting off more than he can chew. ...and I want him on the ice and not in the penalty box with some hammerhead. He went after Wilson once last year though it didn't end up in a fight but Tony's got a volatile temper--he gets pissed and he wants a piece. Having Haley around for certain games anyway might keep him away from some of these situations.

As well I don't want Brendan Lemieux getting into a Brandon Prust kind of role. I don't mind him fighting now and again but he's got better upside than Prust ever had and he's also got a bit of his Dad in him in that he's good at stirring the pot--stirring the pot is not necessarily about fighting all the time--it's getting your opponents off their game.

Agreed, I was kind of on the 'Haley fence' but you make great points as always man. Definitely an OK season to have Haley around. Even harder to play against on those type of nights for sure now.

 

[EpicDing]

Brendan Lemieux was one of 10 players last year who had 6 fighting majors, the most for any individual in the NHL.

The top 50 of fighting majors are made up of primarily NHL regulars. Obvious goons include Micheal Haley, Cody McLeod, Zack Smith, and Ryan Reaves. I don't see this big line-up of dirty killing machines we need Micheal Haley to stand up to. Even players known for ability to fight like Matt Martin, Wayne Simmonds, and Ryan Reaves are fighting extremely rarely, with all of them having three FMs.


There's nothing to worry about. Most players that "rack up" fighting majors are NHL regulars.

That doesn't mean you want them doing it lmao. I'd rather Lemieux be on the ice, not fighting and in the box and potentially injuring himself.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Anyone that doesnt understand what a guy like Haley does for a team obviously hasnt played in a competitive league. His presence makes everyone play bigger, theres no stats for that, it just is. As long as he isnt a complete drain on a line, which he isnt, having him to fight so others can play their game more comfortably has value.

 

[Rongomania]

Fighting as is ritualized for "retribution" and such is really, really quickly on its way out. Very few players are known for fighting anymore and the enforcer, whatever was left of it, is a completely dead concept. There are still tough guys but sans literally Tom Wilson alone there are no truly fearful players in hockey anymore. I don't doubt that Ranger players will get into scraps but they're probably much more likely to be fights between regular players than a mismatch between a regular player and some worthless goon.

(and honestly Wilson is a pretty ****ty fighter. he'd get KO'd pretty routinely in 1992)

I still think Tony would put up a great fight against him and who knows, Tony's quick and can def take a punch.

 

[Thirty One]

So what would your solution be?

To the problem of another team playing physical with your team? There is no solution to that. Physical teams will play physical no matter who you throw in your lineup.

 

[chosen]

The utterly underwhelming pre-season by Chytil opened the door for players like Haley finding a roster spot.

 

[Raspewtin]

That doesn't mean you want them doing it lmao. I'd rather Lemieux be on the ice, not fighting and in the box and potentially injuring himself.

1. Lemieux is quite well known for fighting and being irritating so this is wishful thinkings.

2. You'd rather repress that part of his game and bring in a useless pair of skates to do it instead?

3. Part of my whole point was that no player had more than 6 fights. The whole idea that the team will get into a fight at all, let alone with a brutal scrapper, every year gets less and less likely.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

To the problem of another team playing physical with your team? There is no solution to that. Physical teams will play physical no matter who you throw in your lineup.

So roll over and take it.....got it.