Remember that time Derek Stepan was good?

[Gardner McKay]

Stepan is bearing the brunt of this when it is Sather's fault.

He cannot help that he is a very good 2c tossed into the 1c.

No one would have issues ( well at least most wouldn't) if Stepan was playing like. 2c. If anything he has been playing like a 3c. That's where the issues come in.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

i dont think hes been awful...I think he's been mediocre. there's a difference.

before the columbus game, Rick Nash was AWFUL....Stepan has just sorta been a filler player this year.

which sucks since hes basically our best forward.

Brassard has bee really really good the past few weeks.

he's not even our 4th best forward

Nash
Kreider
Richards

Bigfoot/Abominable Snowman

Stepan

 

[Gardner McKay]

Ouch brother



I definitely get what you're saying; Glen is just as much to blame as Stepan for not properly constructing the roster and force feeding Stepan into a slot he shouldn't be in.

But I'm not so sure sticking Stepan between Nash and Kreider is setting him up to fail; I'd argue it's setting him up to succeed and he just looks like straight garbage

I don't always agree with you. But when i do, it's because of a spot on post like this.

 

[EEDAWGZ]

All this Stepan hate , he'll come around

 

[Ola]

No one would have issues ( well at least most wouldn't) if Stepan was playing like. 2c. If anything he has been playing like a 3c. That's where the issues come in.

Anze Kopitar played 20 straight games last season without scoring a goal.

Jonathan Towes started the PO's last season with 0+3 in 9 games, 1+8 in 20 games.

Alex Ovechking scored 1 -- ONE -- power play goal on home ice in 10/11, he only missed 3 games all year.

There are numerous examples of stretches like that when players are cold in hockey. The reason for that is simple, hockey is a team game. Nobody can do anything by themselves. Didn't Giroux score like 1 goal his first 19-20 games this year too? He didn't top 7-8 pts during that stretch either, I remember threads on the main-board.

I would label very few players as 70 or 80 pts players. And while the number is bigger, the same thinking applies for 50-60 pts players too. Put just about any player in a half-crappy environment and just about anything can happen to that players production. Especially when looking at short stints of play.

My point is just this, the line of Kreider-Stepan-Nash as a unit is not accomplishing anything that would enable any of that lines members to be scoring on a regular basis. They are not good on the forecheck. They are not good in the transition game. They are not good defensively. They are not good on the circle. None of players on that line is finding a way to on a regular basis help any of the other players in a meaningful way.

Stepan is what he is, a very capable hockey player and centericemen. Good with the puck. Good shot. Good passer. Not quite a goto playmaker, but he can make plays happen. Thinks the game real well. There is some kind of myth that he is a superb defensive player that I never will understand, but he is solid defensively.

 

[FOD]

So about Stepan… he's not very good at hockey.

Still tied for 2nd for points on the team (with everyones favorite Zucc). Second in shots behind Richards and pretty good defensively.

 

[FOD]

This board just needs someone to complain about non-stop.

First, Hank sucks. Then Hank starts playing well. Oh no! Who can we all rally around being disgusted with?

Then, Nash sucks. Awesome. Uh oh, Nash is improving. Oh the humanity! We might have to speak in positive terms about the Rangers!

Oh good, now Stepan sucks. I'm sure, unlike every other player who is elected scapegoat of the week/month/year, he'll never get better, and every poster who ever said he sucked is right objectively and finally.

It's the same cycle over and over and over and over.

Step can play better, but he's not nearly as bad as most posts here make him out to be. Until very, very recently, almost everyone was playing on a team that had nothing going for them outside of Zucc and Kreider.

There is always the fans favorite whipping boy Del Zotto.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Anze Kopitar played 20 straight games last season without scoring a goal.

Jonathan Towes started the PO's last season with 0+3 in 9 games, 1+8 in 20 games.

Alex Ovechking scored 1 -- ONE -- power play goal on home ice in 10/11, he only missed 3 games all year.

There are numerous examples of stretches like that when players are cold in hockey. The reason for that is simple, hockey is a team game. Nobody can do anything by themselves. Didn't Giroux score like 1 goal his first 19-20 games this year too? He didn't top 7-8 pts during that stretch either, I remember threads on the main-board.

I would label very few players as 70 or 80 pts players. And while the number is bigger, the same thinking applies for 50-60 pts players too. Put just about any player in a half-crappy environment and just about anything can happen to that players production. Especially when looking at short stints of play.

My point is just this, the line of Kreider-Stepan-Nash as a unit is not accomplishing anything that would enable any of that lines members to be scoring on a regular basis. They are not good on the forecheck. They are not good in the transition game. They are not good defensively. They are not good on the circle. None of players on that line is finding a way to on a regular basis help any of the other players in a meaningful way.

Stepan is what he is, a very capable hockey player and centericemen. Good with the puck. Good shot. Good passer. Not quite a goto playmaker, but he can make plays happen. Thinks the game real well. There is some kind of myth that he is a superb defensive player that I never will understand, but he is solid defensively.

Ola I think you misunderstood my post. I know players go through cold stretches. That's probably all this is for for Stepan. It doesn't change the fact that he has played like hot garbage.

 

[RGY]

Ola I think you misunderstood my post. I know players go through cold stretches. That's probably all this is for for Stepan. It doesn't change the fact that he has played like hot garbage.

I think a lot of fans are absolutely frustrated by Stepan's play. We all understand it. But what frustrates us more is when you read idiotic, reactionary posts that start tossing Stepan into trade proposals because he is slumping. He is 23 years old, not 34. He hasn't been some enigma since he came into the league. No, instead he has improved every year. He has his whole career in front of him, and yet he is a throw-in to a Girardi for Buff trade. Big Buff who is an absolutely atrocious defensive player and yet his main position is defense.

 

[chosen]

If Sather is responsible for anything it's his half of the contract dispute.

Otherwise Sather isn't the one making Stepan whiff on shots or make bad passes or get out-muscled/out-skated on most plays. His issues would be problematic no matter what line he played.

Stepan looks like a different player than the guy who played on the top line and led the team in scoring last year.

He looks like Richards did after the lockout. Like he has no legs under him.

Stepan will be fine when all is said and done. He will never be great, but is that his fault?

If Sather had done a better job, Stepan would be a very good number 2.

 

[offdacrossbar]

stepan is a very solid 2. hes actually a very talented player when you keep in mind a few things.

hes not a great skater and he isnt blessed with much quickness. 2 things that arent so good for a high end centerman.

hes somewhat plodding and mechanical at times but hes also very smart, defensively responsible, has very good on ice awareness and can be very creative with his passing and setups every few games or so. playing with kreider seems logical as those 2 have had some magical games of late.

step wont win you games on his own and he wont dazzle you with his dangles. hes a blue collar centerman who on many nights looks like a real solid playmaker with some sniping ability.

then hell lay an egg and look slow and unproductive for an entire game.

if he had better wheels, he would be an extremely dangerous player.

 

[bishop12]

Wow the hate is flowing. Surprised people didn't bump the thread created last year before he turned it on.

He's had a rough start...it didn't help that he missed camp and it doesn't help that he doesn't hustle (so when he's bad, he looks lazy), but come on here. This guy from day 1 back in 2010-2011 has progressed every season. Period.

I expect him to have a much better second half - esp on the heels of the Olmypics - and I expect another 'Derek Stepan appreciation thread'

The guy is play maker - who can read the play make smart simple plays. He'll never wow you with CK speed ofr Nash's moves, but he's always inthe right place at the right time.

De ja vu all over again here.

PS - I am not fooling myself, I know he's been dog **** this season. but it will turn around. teh guy has too much character.

 

[haveandare]

There are a few posters in here claiming that Stepan has been scapegoated... my post was directed towards them.

Someone replied to my post saying Step was a scapegoat for this season, but I don't think he's been scapegoated. He's not playing as well as he can and should. I just think it's silly that there's always one player being bashed around here. Someone who was being bashed starts to look good, and all of a sudden there's a new thread for someone else. Also, it's particularly silly that it's been Stepan at some point in pretty much ever year, even last year.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Richards scored 2 games ago.

Stastny will be playing ahead of Stepan on team USA if his injury is no big deal.

And RNH and Johansen are clear cut better players than Stepan right now. ROR is as well but it's closer

He may be the most over rated player in the league and is making 6 million per year.

 

[Gardner McKay]

I think a lot of fans are absolutely frustrated by Stepan's play. We all understand it. But what frustrates us more is when you read idiotic, reactionary posts that start tossing Stepan into trade proposals because he is slumping. He is 23 years old, not 34. He hasn't been some enigma since he came into the league. No, instead he has improved every year. He has his whole career in front of him, and yet he is a throw-in to a Girardi for Buff trade. Big Buff who is an absolutely atrocious defensive player and yet his main position is defense.

I know who are referring to and I think its lunacy as well. I don't think we should trade him or use him to trade for Buff. If Stepan could play like a 2C, I don't think as many of us would have an issue. I sure as heck wouldn't.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

PS - I am not fooling myself, I know he's been dog **** this season. but it will turn around.

Agreed. I don't think he's a 1c at all but he has the ability and talents to play on a 1st line if needed. It's needed here and even though he isn't putting up the numbers yet he should do his job do some degree of acceptance soon. That said wow it's been forever since we had a true 1c. We had Erik Christensen as a 1c at one point. It's been bad. BR didn't play at that level long enough even though his first year here he was about there. Stepan was playing at that level for about 30 games last year. But even EC did it for a good 10 games.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Someone replied to my post saying Step was a scapegoat for this season, but I don't think he's been scapegoated. He's not playing as well as he can and should. I just think it's silly that there's always one player being bashed around here. Someone who was being bashed starts to look good, and all of a sudden there's a new thread for someone else. Also, it's particularly silly that it's been Stepan at some point in pretty much ever year, even last year.

You are referring to me and I agree, he is not playing as well as he should. That is what happens when a player becomes a scapegoat. People want to blame him. Hence this thread.

 

[bishop12]

Players just aren't allowed to have slumps or off years, are they? Everyone was ****-talking Nash and Hank because they were having putrid seasons, and now that they're playing better everyone can focus more on Stepan's down year.

Nearly PPG last year, barely over .5 PPG this year. He had progressed when it comes to points every year since his rookie year until this one. He'll pick up his game; there's no reason to believe that last year was his peak year at 22. He is going to be a solid player for us for a long time.

If Steps goes on a mini hot streak like 4 games his PPG will jump an dhe'll be a 60 pt guy. It's only half way.

 

[McRanger]

Stepan will be fine when all is said and done. He will never be great, but is that his fault?

If Sather had done a better job, Stepan would be a very good number 2.

I won't argue the first point.

I don't really see what the second point has to do with Stepan's struggles. He's not being played out of position. He's not playing in a role that is not suited for him. Do you think there are unfair expectations put on him? Because he's not even playing in a role he is unfamiliar with. He played with Nash as the teams #1 center last year. Just like he often played on the top line with Gaborik.

I just don't see the "set up to fail" argument. Usually its the other way around, an offensive player logging minutes on the 3rd or 4th line. Not sure I've ever seen it this way.

In my eyes it doesn't come down to production. Stepan's put up decent points. But he does not look like the same player. Often the only time he is noticeable on the ice is when he does something bad. He's whiffed on shots, missed empty nets, tried terrible passes and randomly fallen down more times this year than the rest of his NHL and NCAA career combined.

I don't think he was physically ready for the season after the contract dispute and I think it will affect him the whole season. He should be fine next year. Just in time for a new contract.

 

[bishop12]

People love throwing around "He's not a 1c centre" - then I'd say 50% of the league doesn't have a #1C. There just isn't eough Getzlafs in the league for 30 teams. Maybe there's just too many teams, or maybe we need to redefine what a #1C is.

 

[OverTheCap]

Someone replied to my post saying Step was a scapegoat for this season, but I don't think he's been scapegoated. He's not playing as well as he can and should. I just think it's silly that there's always one player being bashed around here. Someone who was being bashed starts to look good, and all of a sudden there's a new thread for someone else. Also, it's particularly silly that it's been Stepan at some point in pretty much ever year, even last year.

That's generally the nature of any sort of fandom though. If a player is struggling or playing below expectations, it's going to be discussed by the fans and usually the media as well. Then once/if he turns it around, the complaints generally go away (for the most part). Stepan has gone through bouts of inconsistency in each season, as has Del Zotto, Richards, Dubinsky, etc., which is part of the reason why these types of threads tend to repeatedly pop up about these players.

 

[wolfgaze]

It's going to be a rough season next year if Stepan and Brassard are our 1st and 2nd line centers.... And I can't envision any scenario where this isn't the case.... I really don't want to see the organization overpay any free agents like Stastny

 

[Callagraves]

A player has a break out season, followed by a lack luster one?! That NEVER happens!

 

[bishop12]

There are enough to go around, the problem is that there are teams in the league that have more than 1. #1C hoarders I tell you!

SJS- Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, Couture, Hertl
PIT- Crosby, Malkin
COL- Stastny, Duchene
BOS- Krejci, Bergeron
LAK- Kopitar, Richards

Hertl, Stastny, Krejci, Richarsd? Is this a joke?

 

[SlingshotVv]

It's going to be a rough season next year if Stepan and Brassard are our 1st and 2nd line centers.... And I can't envision any scenario where this isn't the case.... I really don't want to see the organization overpay any free agents like Stastny

Assuming Stastny and Marleau are both looking at nice pay checks, there really isn't anyone to step into a top 6 and be clear cut better than Stepan or Brassard. Sather is going to have to address this situation through trade, otherwise both Stepan and Brassard have to make a development jump going into next year.

If Stepan rebounds from his slump, and Brassard plays consistently like he is now and did to close out last season, then Nash, Kreider, Zuccarello, could make it work with a really strong addition to the top 6. Maybe Kristo is ready to be on a Zucc, Brassard, Kristo second line. Smurfs for sure, but following Kreider and Nash could make it less of a big deal.