Speculation: Roster Building Thread VII (2019/2020)

[GoAwayPanarin]

I’d rather see Howden get a shot than Strome.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I’d rather see Howden get a shot than Strome.

I would play Fogarty ahead of Strome

 

[Shesterkybomb]

It was a fleecing.

There shouldn't be a surprise that Pionk is putting up points. I don't think anyone doubted his offensive talent. Also, I think Pionk is getting top minutes by default, not because he is their best option. When you give a guy as offensively talented as Pionk that many minutes, he is going to put up points. The question becomes is how bad is he sacrificing defensive play in order to put up those numbers.

Based on his track record here, I'm guessing there is still a ton left to be desired on the defensive side of hockey.

Not accurate at all, he has been good in both ends with Winnipeg.

 

[offdacrossbar]

howden isnt anything close to a top 6 centerman. strome, so far, hasnt shown enough but atleast he's got the experience and pedigree playing there and the offensive ability to play with more talented wingers.

again, strome has done pretty well there so far keeping up and creating chances plus that line is -1 total 5v5 so its not like they are getting lit up. they are holding their own defensively- much of that attributed to ryan strome knowing whats up in the middle defensively btw, but are failing miserably mostly due to #20 and his poor start.

bottom line is chris kreider had been absolute trash so far and hes the vet guy on that line that should be driving the play. hes does squat. kappo kakko is 18 yrs old. CK needs to find his way.

its up to kreider to play better and all this 2C chatter goes silent.

chytil is where he should be learning to center a top line and play 200 ft hockey. chad isnt the answer at the 2C. not even close. and howden was plain awful most of last season- i mean legit bad. so far, whats he shown ?

the real story is the inability of one #76 to play against top lines. thats the problem so far that jumps out at me. i mean Q had 77 and 18 matched against connor and leon. and hajek playing top pair 5v5 mins.

brady skjei isnt a top pair LD. we have a huge hole there and no ryan strome to try to plug it.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Has Strome worked in that spot? It doesn't appear so, but then again Kreider has been a dog too. Howden will fail too if Kreider doesnt get it together. I like the move, give him some time with good players and see how he does

 

[hi]

Can we change didgomezscore.com to didrangersplay.com

 

[Shesterkybomb]

howden isnt anything close to a top 6 centerman. strome, so far, hasnt shown enough but atleast he's got the experience and pedigree playing there and the offensive ability to play with more talented wingers.

again, strome has done pretty well there so far keeping up and creating chances plus that line is -1 total 5v5 so its not like they are getting lit up. they are holding their own defensively- much of tact attributed to ryan strome btw, but are failing miserably mostly due to 20 and his poor start.

bottom line is chris kreider had been absolute trash so far and hes the vet guy on that line that should be driving the play. hes does squat. kappa kakko is 18 yrs old. CK needs to find his way.

its up to kreider to play better and all this 2C chatter goes silent.

chytil is where he should be learning to center a top line and play 200 ft hockey. chad isnt the answer at the 2C. not even close. and howden was plain awful most of last season- i mean legit bad. so far, whats he shown ?

the real story is the inability of one #76 to play against top lines. thats the problem so far that jumps out at me.

brady skjei isnt a top pair LD. we have a huge hole there and no ryan strome to try to plug it.

Skjei was said to have been an offensive dman because of his skating, he isn't. He needs to learn to be a shut down guy and be of value in that way, he needs to compete harder and stay in his own area of the ice. All that can be done because he does have the tools.

 

[offdacrossbar]

I would play Fogarty ahead of Strome

good god.

i mean, no words.

 

[Leetch3]

in all seriousness though on pionk...good for him. I hope he has success. he had his struggles and people were probably too hard on him as a rookie. but seems like a good kid so I hope he has success...but I still make that traded 10 out of 9 times.

 

[SA16]

Is Pionk really offensively talented? He's a good skater. That's about it. He was last on the entire defense last year in 5v5 points among regulars. Less than Staal. Less than Smith. He scores at the same rate 5v5 as Deryk Engelland, Christian Jaros, Mark Pysyk, and Erik Gudbrandson.

He had 3 primary points at 5v5 all year which among dmen who played 800+ mins was good for 4th worst in the entire league.

And it's not exactly like he lit up the AHL either. He had 1 goal and 16 assists in his 48 games there. He's never been a big offensive player in his pro career (yet).

 

[Gardner McKay]

Not accurate at all, he has been good in both ends with Winnipeg.

Pionk just magically transformed into a good all around defenseman? I don't buy it.

 

[Tawnos]

Don't really like the idea of forcing Howden into the 2c role this early. I know that the 2nd line is struggling but it's only been 3 games. Howden got destroyed last season in all zones. Let him build some confidence and experience in the bottom six for more than 3 games please.

And here is the difference between a team trying to compete and a team trying to develop young talent.

Howden isn't being forced into the 2C role. He's being given an opportunity to show if he can handle the role and possibly even excel in it. There's a big difference between those two.

 

[Tawnos]

Pionk just magically transformed into a good all around defenseman? I don't buy it.

You don't buy that a young player can improve?

 

[NernieBichols]

But howden has the shown he got the wheels and pace to at least make a defensive breakup, get the puck to Kreider or into the zone on a dump and chase and has shown he has the offensive zone ability to cycle and retrieve pucks and get loose pucks in front of that net.

His strengths right now might make him a competent running mate at center for kakko/Kreider.

That’s why they are trying this

 

[Raspewtin]

It's a "transitional year" so I don't really care but if there was ever a player that has not earned a look higher up in the lineup, it's Brett Howden.

 

[Tawnos]

It's a "transitional year" so I don't really care but if there was ever a player that has not earned a look higher up in the lineup, it's Brett Howden.

If he's been working hard on the ice and in practice, and is doing what the coaches ask him to do, he's earned the opportunity.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Trouba is infinitely better than Pionk, this trade was a win for the Rangers by far. Pionk has stretches where he plays amazing and then tops off.

I'll believe he can keep it up when I see it.

 

[Raspewtin]

If he's been working hard on the ice and in practice, and is doing what the coaches ask him to do, he's earned the opportunity.

I don't even see "working hard" to be honest. I see someone late to every forecheck and wholly uninvolved on both sides of the puck. For all this talk of his speed, hustle and defensive aptitude I've seen basically none of that since like October of last year.

Not even diving into his on-ice stats which have been simply horrible since last year.

 

[Ghost of jas]

in all seriousness though on pionk...good for him. I hope he has success. he had his struggles and people were probably too hard on him as a rookie. but seems like a good kid so I hope he has success...but I still make that traded 10 out of 9 times.

1). Trouba is the superior player to Pionk

2). The Rangers have DeAngelo, Fox and Lundkvist, all players I would consider superior to Pionk.

3). It’s a good thing that the Gorton made a good deal with Winnipeg, since it means other GMs see him as a willing and honest trade partner.

 

[LORDE]

It’s almost as if we had a gaping hole at center and two on left defense and folks knew that here, but they miss hockey and the NYR front office had a fairly monster off season (not addressing those particular issues mind u) and they’re upset the team isn’t a finished product.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

Same guy who said Kovalchuk was NY bound

 

[Gardner McKay]

You don't buy that a young player can improve?

Where did I say that? When have I ever said that?

 

[Tawnos]

Where did I say that? When have I ever said that?

That is absolutely the implication of the post I quoted when you're talking about a 3rd year player.

 

[Kocur Dill]

Winnipeg is very happy with Pionk.

And Hienola as well. For the record, I have posted previously I liked Pionks potential. I see a young and yet to be realized, Matthew Schneider type player.

 

[Kocur Dill]

Are you kidding? Howden is such a gamer. That’s why Quinn sticks with him

What are you pinpointing or zeroing in or more like harping on with howden, that you miss what he actually is.

I don’t know if your one of them. But so many fans with chytil colored glasses man. Chytils shown he has no instincts or natural makeup of an NHL center. He sees the center position so poorly. It’s amazing. The kid has been completely lost in 140 feet of the rink.

Leave him down there until your able to just watch a Hartford game and say (not only
Is he skating hard, and dominating skill wise in the A), but that you see him anticipating plays before they happen, you see him gravitating to the right spots in the neutral and D zone that allow him to break up a play or take the puck and then either calmly carry the puck or make a quality lead pass that shifts the rink.

That’s what we’re waiting on with chytil. For him to get so used to the center position that he can anticipate and be ahead of the play instead of 2-3 steps behind it.

I'm fully on board with Chytil being in the AHL till he dominates that league. I think he has the tools to be a center, but to throw him into that at the NHL level was wishful thinking. I have no problem with him being a wing either, but you are right, don't bounce him all over either, by position or league. Let him and Kravtsov simmer in the A for a bit and get their Alpha Dog on. We need them both to be Alpha players, not support scoring. Then bring them up when either player forces the team to sit another roster player because it's obvious they are better players and would be egregious to leave them down there.