Player Discussion Ryan McDonagh

[Filthy Dangles]

Leetch became half the player he once was. Messier was a zombie his second stint. Jagr saw back-to-back declines in production. Drury practically died. Callahan became useless and left. Now suddenly McDonagh is Wade Redden.

We need to stop having captains.

Only Ovi, Crosby and Joe Thornton had more points than mid-30's Jagr during the span of Jagr's captaincy. I really don't know what else one could have asked for from Jagr.

Let's give Ryan more than a game before we start with Redden comparisons.

 

[aufheben]

this board already holds McDonagh to a ridiculous standard

To be fair, Ryan set that standard himself. He was legitimately the ~13th best defenseman in the world at one point.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

It's clear G has become an anchor for McD, but there seems to be something off. It's almost like AV's style has taken him away from his natural strenghts. It's like he's trying to be too offensive-minded, trying to get the puck, but by doing that loses his assignment and creates an opening. I think he needs to step back a little and focus more on the defensive side of his game. He's capable of being a very good 2 way d-man, unlike Girardi and Staal, but he's not focusing enough on the defense imo.

 

[Machinehead]

Regardless of Girardi, McDonagh is not what he was in 13-14. I don't think he ever will be.

Which is fine. A solid #2 or a low-end #1 at 4.7 million is fine.

We need to get him a partner first of all, and re-sign Yandle so McDonagh doesn't have to carry the corps.

 

[Levitate]

Regardless of Girardi, McDonagh is not what he was in 13-14. I don't think he ever will be.

Which is fine. A solid #2 or a low-end #1 at 4.7 million is fine.

We need to get him a partner first of all, and re-sign Yandle so McDonagh doesn't have to carry the corps.

Maybe not but he looks a lot better to start this season in a lot of ways than he did last year...he's not trying to do too much or be everywhere on the ice. Going back to simplifying his game and building on that might result in him being much better later in the year

He turns the puck over sometimes in the defensive zone because he expects his teammates to be thinking the game the same way as him when he makes some plays to move the puck. Plays that would work out fantastically if his teammates knew he was going to make them. It's simultaneously a sign of his ability and a sign of his needing to recognize and read his teammates better

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Regardless of Girardi, McDonagh is not what he was in 13-14. I don't think he ever will be.

Which is fine. A solid #2 or a low-end #1 at 4.7 million is fine.

We need to get him a partner first of all, and re-sign Yandle so McDonagh doesn't have to carry the corps.

How do you know he'll never be what he was in 13-14? I'm still holding on hope. I don't think that year was a fluke.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Regardless of Girardi, McDonagh is not what he was in 13-14. I don't think he ever will be.

Which is fine. A solid #2 or a low-end #1 at 4.7 million is fine.

We need to get him a partner first of all, and re-sign Yandle so McDonagh doesn't have to carry the corps.

So McDonagh == Girardi. Okay...

You want that cake while you eat it too?

brb scouting 6 Bobby Orrs for the Ranger's dcorps so HFNYR can be almost halfway complacent with the defense core.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Since everyone seems down on McDonagh. Is he still our best D-man? Or is it Yandle?

 

[TheTakedown]

Since everyone seems down on McDonagh. Is he still our best D-man? Or is it Yandle?

Yandle and McDonagh are close when they are both on their game...

 

[DanielBrassard]

It's McDonagh for me. He's just too good all-around

 

[TheDirtyH]

McDonagh hasn't been healthy since the season you all say he was elite, he also was made a captain in that time.

 

[Machinehead]

13-14 McDonagh is better than Yandle but I'm tired of waiting for 13-14 McDonagh to come back.

 

[GordonGecko]

wrong thread

 

[ZiGOODejad]

Any year Mac Truck is better then Yandle.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

can't embed because of custom URL to cut to specific clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07o3INmEUI8&feature=youtu.be&t=3m16s

What game was this and where is this Ryan McDonagh? And, any other rushes up the ice you can recall that rival this one?

 

[Machinehead]

What I wouldn't give for one analyst, one announcer, one beat writer to say we need more from McDonagh. One person, just one, ask AV about it. I'm tired of having my intelligence insulted.

They line up around the block to jump down Nash's throat. Not even Hank is off limits. A year and change of this crap from McDonagh and not one word.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

What I wouldn't give for one analyst, one announcer, one beat writer to say we need more from McDonagh. One person, just one, ask AV about it. I'm tired of having my intelligence insulted.

They line up around the block to jump down Nash's throat. Not even Hank is off limits. A year and change of this crap from McDonagh and not one word.

Nash and Hank are easier targets, especially for casual fans to understand.

 

[haveandare]

Hoping he'll be able to play better with Klein on his side next game.

 

[NYRKING30]

Can we give him and some other players time? Its pretty hard to judge to players after 5 games. You get a handle on things around games 15-20. With that being said, he does need to dramatically improve his game.

 

[Machinehead]

Nash and Hank are easier targets, especially for casual fans to understand.

That's a fair point, especially when you consider that the average schmo doesn't really get defense.

Forwards and goalies are easy because we have goals and sv%.

Understanding D requires watching every game and being able to interpret the stats available which aren't as cut and dry as how many points a guy had. That's common on HF but HF is NOT the common fan.

 

[mike14]

Only Ovi, Crosby and Joe Thornton had more points than mid-30's Jagr during the span of Jagr's captaincy. I really don't know what else one could have asked for from Jagr.

Let's give Ryan more than a game before we start with Redden comparisons.

Jagr was 14th in points for the 2 seasons he was captain (same pts as Briere but more games played). Unless I have misunderstood your post

 

[Overcast]

Can we give him and some other players time? Its pretty hard to judge to players after 5 games. You get a handle on things around games 15-20. With that being said, he does need to dramatically improve his game.

To be fair, it's been about 80 someodd games for McDonagh's slide. He wasn't anything special last season either. Ever since he got the C.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I know he sucked last year but may I remind you guys McDonagh kind of sucked early in 13-14. I know he was learning a new system, but still. I think he was a slow starter previously.

 

[JohnC]

I know he sucked last year but may I remind you guys McDonagh kind of sucked early in 13-14. I know he was learning a new system, but still. I think he was a slow starter previously.

There's also been the two shoulder injuries

We had Gaborik, Cally and Hags all miss time with shoulder surgery recovery within the past 2-3 years. I definitely don't feel like McD's rippin them like he was in 13-14 and I wonder if the shoulder's a lingering issue on top of the foot surgery

 

[11017872]

was this guy playing good hockey before being named as captain?