Im glad you support Fox. I like when our fans support our players. Im not bashing Fox. I just want to see him put the same effort on defense that he does on offense. In a perfect world Fox, Laf and KK would all attend a power skating bootcamp for a month or two so they can be at their best next season.
Sure, and it's fine to say he's underwhelmed but half these posts are saying he's a bust and he's not a player. Meanwhile a guy most would love to have on our team now didn't break 40 points until he was 25. I just think it's foolish to give up on a 21 years old and high draft pick. Unless a team absolutely blows you away with an offer or you get a similar cost controlled asset that fits a need like a C. Geekie, Tomasino etc... Has Laf, KK been disappointing? Sure, but just like everyone was sick of Chytil before he had a good season (and we're back to wanting him gone?) I just think it's all reactionary from a horrible playoffs, when the whole team besides Shesty was brutal. We all wanted a Hughes, Petterson, Tchachuk out of them, but unfortunately that's not who they are. They've been perfectly fine on the 3rd line, they're cheaper than most other 3rd line options, and I think they still have room to grow. I might be wrong and most will prob say I am but one bad playoffs after a pretty great one last season doesn't mean they won't be good, and shouldn't be shipped off for a late 1st in a draft that will have good players but IMO has a drop off in the 20 range.
Motte is fine, but not a player I am ever playing a premium on to keep. If I need a Motte type I am renting it at the deadline. The issue is the Rangers can’t develop their own 4th liners; but maybe Knoblauch has something cooking at Hartford
Idk we had Gauthier who was the same player except he blew scoring chances so everyone hated him. Somehow getting more chances is bad.
No doubt I am with you, but I am looking at the roster building for the POs and the addition of these players. When the NJDs were top 5 in the league in goals and we were like top 12 or so, not much difference between the two high 280s low 270s and it just didn't justify the want for more scoring. We knew we were playing the NJDs and you bring in two older players that cannot favorably make a difference. I really like Tarasenko's acquisition but at the same time you bring in 2/3rds of an additional top 6 line and where are you supposed to put the original top 6? and not mess with the kid line. It was ill conceived and redundant and without adding character you created a lineup and chemistry problem.
Yeah this is kind of where I stand on that too. Gauthier basically was just a worse version of Motte. I don’t know if I agree that 4th liners have to PK, but I need them offering some other kind of value and I need hockey IQ. Didn’t think Gauthier had either of those in spades. Cannot have guys that kill you when they are out there
Not everyone hated him. I thought he should've been given a shot on lines 2 & 3 when the team was sleep walking in late November, early December. He was drawing a penalty a game, plus his speed & energy were noticeable almost every shift he took the ice. And he was such an easy kid to root for. I hated giving him up in the Motte deal.
He should have PK'd. That was never tried and it's very odd to not try that with a forward with his speed.
Yeah, I still had hope he could have been like a Hagelin/Pouliot type for us in the right system.
Never understood this, he should've been an ideal PKer. If NYR could teach Buch, CK to be pkers why not teach the kid positioning. He had a lot of desirable attributes to be a good pker. He had speed, size and strength. Positioning was the one thing he could be taught but never was given a shot.
I love Mika and I like Vinny, I don't care about reg season as much as others, and I felt the entire time we needed Mika, X, Vinny and hope chytil was ready to be the X. He wasn't, Vinny was asked to do more than he should be (and did well overall) but for this team to do what it wants to do Vinny should not be the 2c come playoff time. This isn't just about point totals. He plays too many minutes a game and after a stretch he starts to make so many metal mistakes it negates the good he does.
Chytil is not a natural finisher. In fact none of the three of the kids is at this point. All have average or below average shots.
Well, to be honest, if we ignore his draft position, a D+3 21 year old getting practically no PP time playing with two other young players also still finding their games, getting 15:15 per game who scored at a .48PPG clip, has showed flashes of highlight reel skill, and was second among forwards with 141 hits, certainly DOES have value to the team. The issue as I see it is his current value/level of play in relation to his draft position. If he had been picked 29OA we'd all be pretty thrilled with him. Well most of us. Hahahaha. Instead, most of us, myself included, are disappointed. He's still a valuable player, just not 1OA valuable. But also he would certainly not be the first high pick to blossom outside of his D+1-3 if he can manage to do so. We will see. One way or the other.
