Softest team in the NHL

[Josh3217]

Of course I'm a fan of this team! And people seemingly ignore my posts on McDonagh, Girardi, Stepan, Boyle, Lundqvist, Stralman, MDZ, etc. I have a preference of players that I like and am not quite a fan of, as most posters here are.

You don't think Nash is an elite goal scorer?

 

[NYR Viper]

Getzlaf and Perry are far from the tough guys this thread is asking for. They are elite, skilled players that engage aggressively in the offensive zone. In terms of skill level, where the heck can the Rangers find players of that ilk? Toughness aside, they are extremely talented hockey players, more so than any player on the Rangers roster. That's exactly the point I'm trying to send across, the Rangers struggled because of lack of talent and skill level, not because of grittiness and toughness.

Betuzzi never won the cup. Marchand/Horton are on par of the toughness that Callahan has, but are much more talented players skill wise, hockey sense wise and naturally gifted mitts and scoring touch. Lucic is the guy here you can mention, but he struggled immensely in that cup winning postseason and as usual, was carried by the superior David Krejci.

I have not asked for a goon yet. Why is it some franchises can seem to find guys that play this style regularly?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I have not asked for a goon yet. Why is it some franchises can seem to find guys that play this style regularly?

Because some franchises are actually focused and disciplined with their team building approach.

 

[NYR Viper]

Because some franchises are actually focused and disciplined with their team building approach.

Well that I will not argue with.

I don't feel like I am asking for too much. I am not asking for a goon who can't play. I am asking for guys who play a bit more on the edge and are the aggressors rather than the opposite. Guys who can wear a team down over a 7 game series.

 

[Kershaw]

I have not asked for a goon yet. Why is it some franchises can seem to find guys that play this style regularly?

And that's exactly the point I'm going towards. It's time to can Clark, Gorton and Sather and start fresh.

 

[Josh3217]

Yeah, I think most people believe that the ones who want more toughness want goons who cant play. That is not it, atleast for me anyways, I want more guys for the bottom six that are legitimate grinders, tough to play against, physical and mean. Example one- Derek Dorsett

Other guys like- Matt Beleskey, Gregory Campbell, Shawn Thornton, Marcus Foligno, Steve Ott, etc..

 

[Kershaw]

You don't think Nash is an elite goal scorer?

he is an elite goal scorer, but far from a superstar player. He is in the same category as Sharp and Hossa. Henrik Lundqvist is the only superstar on the Rangers roster.

 

[NYR Viper]

And that's exactly the point I'm going towards. It's time to can Clark, Gorton and Sather and start fresh.

I think it has gotten better with Gorton and Clark around. They were doing a good job and the system seems stocked again to push another wave of players through to the NHL very soon. But practically none of them bring the "mean" apart from Noreau, Graves and McIlrath.

 

[Josh3217]

I'd say get rid of Sathed, and let Gorton do the work.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I have not asked for a goon yet. Why is it some franchises can seem to find guys that play this style regularly?

Because some franchises are actually focused and disciplined with their team building approach.

I was given a hard time when I suggested that this was the year to look for those types role players and I was told time and again that you go for the boom or bust pick. I was told that bottom six players are a dime a dozen.

 

[Kershaw]

Well that I will not argue with.

I don't feel like I am asking for too much. I am not asking for a goon who can't play. I am asking for guys who play a bit more on the edge and are the aggressors rather than the opposite. Guys who can wear a team down over a 7 game series.

we had dubinsky, prust, mitchell, fedotenko but Sather traded them or let them walk.

 

[Kershaw]

I agree with you both, toughness and grit is a necessity in today's league, but I'm saying that there are even bigger, more dire needs in the team's lack of top end talent that should be addressed before depth players.

 

[NYR Viper]

I agree with you both, toughness and grit is a necessity in today's league, but I'm saying that there are even bigger, more dire needs in the team's lack of top end talent that should be addressed before depth players.

As seen (2) years ago, a team with grit and heart can go very far. Adding that top talent takes time and, for a team like the Rangers, often means packaging multiple pieces for (1). They need to replace some of that grit.

I am going to call it now. Dorsett is going to get hurt early this season because he is going to be challenged by everyone on every team as he is the only guy who can fight on this whole team. It's sad, because he is an effective player.

 

[NYR Viper]

I was given a hard time when I suggested that this was the year to look for those types role players and I was told time and again that you go for the boom or bust pick. I was told that bottom six players are a dime a dozen.

I was ready to come away with some of those kids in this years draft as well. I like the Duchnevich and Duclair picks. I like Graves. Tambellini I am a bit 'meh' on but we will see.

 

[Pizza]

Everyone wants an equivalent. Not going to happen.

What I would have liked to have seen was, somehow, to address the bottom-6 with some guys who could potentially drop the gloves a bit more than say Pyatt or Powe. I like Pouliot and Moore. They are upgrades. I just wish they could find a couple more players who could play the game 10-12 minutes a night AND drop the gloves when called upon to do so. Gregory Campbell, Eric Nystrom, Matt Hendricks, Dwight King, Kyle Clifford, Marcus Foligno, Chad Larose, Juston Abdelkader, Zack Kassian, Brandon Prust, Derek Dorsett, Nick Foligno, Brandon Dubinsky, Wayne Simmonds, Scott Harntnell, Brayden Schenn.

I am not talking about goons. I am talking about guys willing to change the momentum with a fight or sticking up for a teammate. They aren't THAT rare

Agreed. This is not unreasonable.

Lucic is not the only guy that can do some of the things he does. Not very many players are any where near as good at it. He's very special.

IMO, The Rangers need to find a few more players that can physically impose their will on other players while playing at least a competent two way game. That is critical in a tough play off series. These players are rare but they can be had.

Coyle, Foligno, Matthias, et. al.. Pale imitations of Lucic perhaps, but they are out there.

 

[Kershaw]

As seen (2) years ago, a team with grit and heart can go very far. Adding that top talent takes time and, for a team like the Rangers, often means packaging multiple pieces for (1). They need to replace some of that grit.

I am going to call it now. Dorsett is going to get hurt early this season because he is going to be challenged by everyone on every team as he is the only guy who can fight on this whole team. It's sad, because he is an effective player.

prust led league in fighting majors with a staggering 20 majors and was a pipsqueak compared to those bigger guys. The next two leading fighters on that Rangers roster of 2011-12 were Mike Rupp and Stu Bickel with 13 and 12 majors respectively. Do we really want those type of players back in the lineup? For me, please god no for the sake of my eyes.

 

[NYR Viper]

Agreed. This is not unreasonable.

Lucic is not the only guy that can do some of the things he does. Not very many players are any where near as good at it. He's very special.

IMO, The Rangers need to find a few more players that can physically impose their will on other players while playing at least a competent two way game. That is critical in a tough play off series. These players are rare but they can be had.

Coyle, Foligno, Matthias, et. al.. Pale imitations of Lucic perhaps, but they are out there.

Exactly. It's like saying the team needs scoring, but only Malkin or Ovechkin will do. There are other players out there who aren't as good, but won't cost as much either.

 

[Josh3217]

As of next season if our 3rd and 4th lines look like:

Pouliot Richards MZA
Boyle Moore Dorsett

They will get bullied so easily, teams with tougher bottom six's will be all over them. I am for not resigning MZA and trading for a 3rd or 4th line winger who can play tough but still play.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I was given a hard time when I suggested that this was the year to look for those types role players and I was told time and again that you go for the boom or bust pick. I was told that bottom six players are a dime a dozen.

Yea I see that a lot.

Amazing how the Rangers can't find them.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I was ready to come away with some of those kids in this years draft as well. I like the Duchnevich and Duclair picks. I like Graves. Tambellini I am a bit 'meh' on but we will see.

My reasoning also had to with the need to come away with something from this draft that could help at the NHL level — even if the ceiling and upside is lower. Character means something. And when you don't have a first or second round pick, fill in gaps.

 

[NYR Viper]

prust led league in fighting majors with a staggering 20 majors and was a pipsqueak compared to those bigger guys. The next two leading fighters on that Rangers roster of 2011-12 were Mike Rupp and Stu Bickel with 13 and 12 majors respectively. Do we really want those type of players back in the lineup? For me, please god no for the sake of my eyes.

I'd take Prust right now at his current contract. He is exactly what I would want in a player in that role. Kyle Clifford is another one. Shawn Matthias in Florida. Dwight King in LA.

I don't want Stu Bickel or Mike Rupp. I just want guys who can intimidate a bit and cause some pain on opposing defenses.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Yea I see that a lot.

Amazing how the Rangers can't find them.

And when they try to, they wind up overpaying because they chase UFAs who are on the downside of their career.

 

[NYR Viper]

My reasoning also had to with the need to come away with something from this draft that could help at the NHL level — even if the ceiling and upside is lower. Character means something. And when you don't have a first or second round pick, fill in gaps.

Agreed. I said the same thing. Even if they came out of this draft with (2) effective 4th liners, I would have been pretty happy considering where they were picking. Not the time to go boom-or-bust.

 

[Kershaw]

I'd take Prust right now at his current contract. He is exactly what I would want in a player in that role. Kyle Clifford is another one. Shawn Matthias in Florida. Dwight King in LA.

I don't want Stu Bickel or Mike Rupp. I just want guys who can intimidate a bit and cause some pain on opposing defenses.

Okay but I thought Dorsett filled in for Prust's role? Per the words of Jeff Gorton IIRC. He can handle the other teams like Prust did.

 

[NYR Viper]

Okay but I thought Dorsett filled in for Prust's role? Per the words of Jeff Gorton IIRC. He can handle the other teams like Prust did.

And I wouldn't want just Prust on the team either. I said the same thing then. I want a few players like that who can play the game and bring some edge. Not looking for goons.