This is a Bad Hockey Team: Part 2

[Drewbackatu*]

I agree that the Nash trade alone isn't what the sole cause for our lack of depth - I thought our depth last year wasn't great, and it's gotten worse due in part to FA departures as well as the trade.

Nash and Kreider were supposed to replace Anisimov and Dubi in theory, but they were never really direct replacements for either of those players. Anisimov and Dubi had were versatile players who had the ability to play both wing and center, and they also played a solid two-way game. Our center depth took a hit without them and there's no one to replace Stepan when he struggles. As you mentioned, we also lost some of our identity as well.

I think we are on the same page here. The roster as constructed is flawed and I never thought I'd miss the likes of EC or Mitchell but they'd be an improvement over our non-existent spare forward and 4th liners right now. Kinda surprised that Sather isn't taking more heat for not addressing obvious issues such as a 4th line that is even slower and less effective than it was last year and the lack of a 6th defenseman.

When push comes to shove, this is all on Sather, no ifs, ands or buts about it.
He always seems to get a free pass from the owner and some blind posters around here who open up "Sather Appreciation threads" every now and then.
Face facts, Sather should have been fired 8 years ago.

Over the last few years, we let Parenteau walk away because he wasn't "defensively responsible?"(Lol), and most people thought "Oh, he's playing with Tavares so that's why he put up 20+ goals and 60+ points last year." Meanwhile, he alreadty has 5 goals this year.
Korpikowski??? Sather traded him for Enver Lisin who was freakin terrible and lasted one season in the league.
Mitchell? Right about him as well; let's throw away 6+ mil on useless players like Derek Boogard, Mike Rupp, and so on.
Let's also sign a washed up Aaron Asham!
Our indentity as a hard working, tough forechecking team has been compromised completely with the loss of guys like Prust, Dubinsky, Anisimov, Fedotenko and even Mitchell.
I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't have done the deal for Nash but sending Stepan instead of Dubinsky probably would have been the better choice in hindsight.
I'm also not suggesting that we should have ponied up 10 mil for a player like Prust who basically scores only 5-8 goals but his loss is killing the identity that this team worked so hard to achieve last year.

I really believe that we would be better off in the long run not making the playoffs this year instead of crawling in and getting bounced out in the 1st round because it would only mask the big problems that the team and organization as a whole have going forward.

 

[94now]

We could've had a win had we generated any sustained pressure and created quality scoring chances in the 2 periods we were down 1-0 .

You sound like we had no opponenet. Sustained pressure is a sign of dominance. It cannot come just because someone wants it. This team has no depth, hence a very little chance to be dominant

 

[KingWantsCup]

Cold Hard Truth: This Team Wasn't Built for Offense

Adding Nash gave us a nice top line, but that didn't change the fact that our other three lines can't score. Leaning on Nash and Gaborik every night to win us games is not reasonable. Let's break it down. Through 7 games played this is how our first line is performing compared to all other forwards and our defense respectively in terms of goals scored.

Line 1: Nash - Richards - Gaborik = 8 goals (1.14 goals a game)

ALL other forwards = 5 goals. FIVE. (0.71 goals a game) By two guys. 3 for Pyatt and 2 Callahan.

All D-men: 3 goals in 7 games (0.43 goals a game) our defense is built off defensively strong D-men so this is no surprise.

The proof is in the pudding. We have a tremendous offensive production drop off between our first line and all other lines. This is completely unacceptable given that we have a low scoring defense that can't pick up the slack when secondary scoring doesn't show up, which has been often so far. Blame the fact that this team was built to block shots over score goals.

 

[Carl Hagelins Flow]

If guys like Hagelin and Step can get going, and maybe Boyle potting a few more we will see a lot more offense. I really think Torts needs to break up the first line though... maybe keep Richards and Gaborik together with Boyle on the LW. Then put Nash with Hagelin and Stepan on the 2nd line. Nash can really hold onto the puck well and can add size to compliment Hagelin's speed. Nash also knows how to dish the puck well to create more scoring chances.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

I think the easy solution is to break the top line up and hope that playing with better talent allows our secondary scorers to boost their production. Seems straight-forward to me.

Obviously we don't have a Crosby or Malkin, but look at the Pens top-6. Their best players make their linemates better, and by spreading the wealth they also make other teams pick and choose who they shut down.

Hagelin-Richards-Gabby: Worked well last year. Hagelin does dirty work. Richards for puck possession. Gabby gets back to RW and gets our best center.

Pyatt-Stepan-Nash (Nash-Stepan-Callahan when healthy): Nash did it all in Columbus. Now he gets to face 2nd pair Ds and doesn't feel obligated to look for Gabby/Richards every time he gets the puck. Pyatt to do dirty work, net front presence.

Frankly I have zero idea why the plan has been to ice GNR at the same time.

 

[Bardof425*]

Boyle is an excellent 4th line center and a great PKer. Many teams would love to have him.

Please do what you can to arrange the deal. He is not an excellent anything on the rink. When he is winning draws he is a good PKer. His long reach is an asset. However, everything else he does on the ice leaves a lot to be desired, like skating, carrying the puck, protecting the puck, passing the puck, shooting the puck, etc.

He is a good 4th line center, a weak 3rd line center and if we could trade him and his contract I would it any day of the week. For a big guy he get intimidated, he is a lousy fighter and he gets knocked off his feet with relative ease.

His intangible appear to be good. For instance, this coach likes that he's from Boston. But that's not enough to elevate him to "great 3rd line center" like I hear some people say on here.

 

[Bardof425*]

For such a "scrap", I think Boyle has looked pretty damn good this year.

Uh, no. He sucks pretty much every night. As do most of this team. So, on a relative basis he is not standing out as much in a negative way.

 

[broadwayblue]

I really believe that we would be better off in the long run not making the playoffs this year instead of crawling in and getting bounced out in the 1st round because it would only mask the big problems that the team and organization as a whole have going forward.

I'm not even sure how to respond to this. Our team is nearly complete and we have a couple year window as currently constructed to go for the cup. Yet you want the team to miss the party? And you are aware we have no first round pick this year, yes? So you want that pick to be as high as possible? You realize we are 7 games into a season with basically no camp and a lot of new faces? Yet you've given up on the team? Have a little faith and a little patience for crying out loud.

 

[BBKers]

Kinda funny What if stuff

THE EX RANGERS (and one that could´ve been) in 2013...

[table="head;width=4800]Pos|Name|GP|G|A|Pts|+/-|PIM|TOI| left NYR|Reason
FW |Vladimir Tarasenko| 7| 5| 4| 9| +6| 8| 15:09| 2010| Marty McFly hmmm
FW |PA Parenteau | 7| 5| 2| 7| +7| 4| 17:22| 2010| UFA walked
FW |Jaromir Jagr | 6| 2| 3| 5| +1| 4| 16:37| 2008| UFA walked
FW |John Malkin Mitchell | 7| 4| 1| 5| +5| 4| 15:50| 2012| UFA walked
D |Fedor Tyutin | 8| 1| 4| 5| -6| 6| 21:46| 2008| Trade for Zherdev (who walked)
FW |Lauri Korpikoski| 7| 3| 1| 4| -2| 2| 17:28| 2009| Trade for Lisin (who walked)
FW |Alex Kovalev | 7| 2| 2| 4| -1| 2| 17:18| 2004| Trade for 2nd rounder (Bruce Graham = bust)
FW |Brandon Dubinsky| 8| 0| 3| 3| -4| 15| 18:54| 2012| Trade for Nash
FW |Artem Anisimov | 8| 2| 1| 3| -3| 8| 17:09| 2012| Trade for Nash
FW |Vinny Prospal | 8| 2| 1| 3| -6| 2| 16:45| 2011| UFA walked
FW |Brandon Prust | 6| 1| 1| 2| +3| 41| 12:36| 2012| UFA walked
FW |Ruslan Fedotenko| 7| 1| 1| 2| +0| 2| 12:03| 2012| UFA walked
D |Wade Redden | 3| 2| 0| 2| +0| 2| 18:38| 2013| Buyout
FW |Wojtek Wolski | 7| 1| 1| 2| -3| 4| 14:51| 2012| Trade for 3rd rounder in 2013
D |Michal Rozsival| 3| 0| 2| 2| +2| 0| 14:33| 2011| Trade for Wolski
FW |Scott Gomez | 4| 0| 1| 1| +1| 2| 14:39| 2009| Trade McD
FW |Roman Horak | 2| 0| 1| 1| +0| 2| 14:44| 2011 | Trade for Erixon (=>Nash)
FW |JAM | 1| 0| 0| 0| +0| 0| 12:50| 2012| UFA walked
D |Tim Erixon | 1| 0| 0| 0| -1| 4| 18:10| 2012| Trade for Nash
D |Bobby Sanguinetti| 4| 0| 0| 0| -2| 0| 14:31| 2010| Trade for 2nd rounder (=>Nash)
D |Tomas Kundratek| 6| 0| 0| 0| -3| 2| 12:18| 2012| Trade for Bouchard (walked)[/table]

Wanna add anyone (like Oli Jokinen or John Scott)???

 

[Ryan McDonut]

after we traded for nash i got yelled at for saying we would have no one in our bottom six that could score 10 goals (full season.) well i guess brian boyle can.

i mean hopefully we'll look better better when cally and kreider come back. who knows maybe torts will give kreider more than 4 minutes a game

 

[NikC]

after we traded for nash i got yelled at for saying we would have no one in our bottom six that could score 10 goals (full season.) well i guess brian boyle can.

i mean hopefully we'll look better better when cally and kreider come back. who knows maybe torts will give kreider more than 4 minutes a game

if you look at the players we lost/gained its practically a wash.

Krieder has to actually play before we cast a vote on him...

 

[Nyrvana]

I don't like this argument because the Rangers themselves are suppose to be a top team.
Doesn't bode well when you're a contender having trouble against teams you will need to get by come playoffs.

I'd rather it happen now, than later in the season.

 

[Machinehead]

THE EX RANGERS (and one that could´ve been) in 2013...

[table="head;width=4800]Pos|Name|GP|G|A|Pts|+/-|PIM|TOI| left NYR|Reason
FW |Vladimir Tarasenko| 7| 5| 4| 9| +6| 8| 15:09| 2010| Marty McFly hmmm
FW |PA Parenteau | 7| 5| 2| 7| +7| 4| 17:22| 2010| UFA walked
FW |Jaromir Jagr | 6| 2| 3| 5| +1| 4| 16:37| 2008| UFA walked
FW |John Malkin Mitchell | 7| 4| 1| 5| +5| 4| 15:50| 2012| UFA walked
D |Fedor Tyutin | 8| 1| 4| 5| -6| 6| 21:46| 2008| Trade Zherdev (who walked)
FW |Lauri Korpikoski| 7| 3| 1| 4| -2| 2| 17:28| 2009| Trade Lisin (who walked)
FW |Alex Kovalev | 7| 2| 2| 4| -1| 2| 17:18| 2004| Trade 2nd rounder (Bruce Graham = bust)
FW |Brandon Dubinsky| 8| 0| 3| 3| -4| 15| 18:54| 2012| Trade Nash
FW |Artem Anisimov | 8| 2| 1| 3| -3| 8| 17:09| 2012| Trade Nash
FW |Vinny Prospal | 8| 2| 1| 3| -6| 2| 16:45| 2011| UFA walked
FW |Brandon Prust | 6| 1| 1| 2| +3| 41| 12:36| 2012| UFA walked
FW |Ruslan Fedotenko| 7| 1| 1| 2| +0| 2| 12:03| 2012| UFA walked
D |Wade Redden | 3| 2| 0| 2| +0| 2| 18:38| 2013| Buyout
FW |Wojtek Wolski | 7| 1| 1| 2| -3| 4| 14:51| 2012| Trade 3rd rounder in 2013
FW |Scott Gomez | 4| 0| 1| 1| +1| 2| 14:39| 2009| Trade McD
FW |Roman Horak | 2| 0| 1| 1| +0| 2| 14:44| 2011 | Trade Erixon (=>Nash)
FW |JAM | 1| 0| 0| 0| +0| 0| 12:50| 2012| UFA walked
D |Tim Erixon | 1| 0| 0| 0| -1| 4| 18:10| 2012| Trade Nash
D |Bobby Sanguinetti| 4| 0| 0| 0| -2| 0| 14:31| 2010| Trade 2nd rounder (=>Nash)
D |Tomas Kundratek| 6| 0| 0| 0| -3| 2| 12:18| 2012| Trade Bouchard (walked)[/table]

Wanna add anyone (like Oli Jokinen or John Scott)???

It's sucks!!!

 

[*Bob Richards*]

No Rozy on that list?

 

[alkurtz]

Hindsight is always infallible. Moves that seem the right move at the time with time end up eroding a team's vision. It's only when you look back that you say "why did we do that? What were we thinking?" "Where did it go wrong?"

I'm certainly not giving up on the season although the warning signs are everywhere. This team could still be very dangerous come playoff time.

But is seems to me that somewhere along the line we went from rebuilding with youth, establishing a core, surrounding them with some good talent, to "going for it." Nothing wrong with that, you can rebuild forever and never get to make that final push to the top. Can be seen in all sports.

Two years ago we got bounced out in the first round but our young core was improving and there was hope for more on the way. It was felt that if we just had the elite #1 center, we could take that next step. We signed BR, a move I was totally in favor of.

But that signing was always a risk. He was on the wrong side of 30, had suffered a serious concussion and the contract was long term and large. How has it worked out? Well we got to the Conference Finals last year but it was evident to any who looked at it objectively, the BR had lost a step, seemed to be absent in many games, and as productive as he was, just was not the player he once was. Anyone could look at it and see a further deterioration in the future.

Then the mantra became, if we just had one more high powered forward to help our power play and score (and take advantage of BR's last real productive years), we could take that final step. I've always been a RN fan, was absolutely for trading for him, but was always concerned that we would have to pay a steep price. As a long, and I mean long, time Ranger fan, I will never forget giving up oodles from our 79 Cup final team to get Barry Beck, "the proverbial last piece of the puzzle." Nothing against Beck, he was a fine player but we never recovered from all the pieces we gave away to get him. We didn't give up as many players for RN as he did for Beck, but we did give up 2 key, versatile, home grown, and productive players.

Suddenly our young core doesn't look as deep as it did. Some, like Stepan,are not progressing but that's normal: not all of your young players will live up to expectations. Suddenly our pipeline of young talent doesn't look so deep: full of second and third liners (maybe): Miller, Jean, Fast, Thomas et al. Alarms bells are ringing over Kreider's lack of AHL production. I buy all the theories about why he wasn't more productive but the fact is, he should have been.

I hope I'm wrong: nothing like a few good games to turn things around but we are a slow team without forward depth. We are a low-key, non-emotional team. None of our top players are overly emotional. We are not a physical team.

The big picture is, like many other teams in other sports, we are always chasing that one illusive piece to get us over the top. Along the way, something may have been lost that is only to be seen when you step back after failure and examine the big picture. But, to argue from the other side, you can't just build with youth as good as your core is. You have to go for it, take the gambles and try to win it all. Opportunities in a 30 team league with a draft and salary cap don't come along often.

We've gambled on Richards and Nash. This may not work and we may slide back for a few years (or get on a roll like LA and win a Cup). Who knows?

Last night was one of the most pitiful games I've seen for a long time and I've been a Ranger fan since the late 1950s (!), so I've seem a lot of pitiful games. I'm just frustrated and upset with this team now and I am questioning everything...my right as a fan.

Maybe it will take the games next week with the Isles and Devs to ramp up our intensity level. And they are part of the problem too. The Devs endlessly lose players but keep winning. The Isles young core seems to be coming together. Possibly falling behind our rivals is truly upsetting.

Anyway...that's my rambling rant for today. Hopefully we beat the Lightning tomorrow and the world will look better.

 

[BBKers]

No Rozy on that list?

Added

 

[Samuel Culper III]

Hindsight is always infallible. Moves that seem the right move at the time with time end up eroding a team's vision. It's only when you look back that you say "why did we do that? What were we thinking?" "Where did it go wrong?"

I'm certainly not giving up on the season although the warning signs are everywhere. This team could still be very dangerous come playoff time.

But is seems to me that somewhere along the line we went from rebuilding with youth, establishing a core, surrounding them with some good talent, to "going for it." Nothing wrong with that, you can rebuild forever and never get to make that final push to the top. Can be seen in all sports.

Two years ago we got bounced out in the first round but our young core was improving and there was hope for more on the way. It was felt that if we just had the elite #1 center, we could take that next step. We signed BR, a move I was totally in favor of.

But that signing was always a risk. He was on the wrong side of 30, had suffered a serious concussion and the contract was long term and large. How has it worked out? Well we got to the Conference Finals last year but it was evident to any who looked at it objectively, the BR had lost a step, seemed to be absent in many games, and as productive as he was, just was not the player he once was. Anyone could look at it and see a further deterioration in the future.

Then the mantra became, if we just had one more high powered forward to help our power play and score (and take advantage of BR's last real productive years), we could take that final step. I've always been a RN fan, was absolutely for trading for him, but was always concerned that we would have to pay a steep price. As a long, and I mean long, time Ranger fan, I will never forget giving up oodles from our 79 Cup final team to get Barry Beck, "the proverbial last piece of the puzzle." Nothing against Beck, he was a fine player but we never recovered from all the pieces we gave away to get him. We didn't give up as many players for RN as he did for Beck, but we did give up 2 key, versatile, home grown, and productive players.

Suddenly our young core doesn't look as deep as it did. Some, like Stepan,are not progressing but that's normal: not all of your young players will live up to expectations. Suddenly our pipeline of young talent doesn't look so deep: full of second and third liners (maybe): Miller, Jean, Fast, Thomas et al. Alarms bells are ringing over Kreider's lack of AHL production. I buy all the theories about why he wasn't more productive but the fact is, he should have been.

I hope I'm wrong: nothing like a few good games to turn things around but we are a slow team without forward depth. We are a low-key, non-emotional team. None of our top players are overly emotional. We are not a physical team.

The big picture is, like many other teams in other sports, we are always chasing that one illusive piece to get us over the top. Along the way, something may have been lost that is only to be seen when you step back after failure and examine the big picture. But, to argue from the other side, you can't just build with youth as good as your core is. You have to go for it, take the gambles and try to win it all. Opportunities in a 30 team league with a draft and salary cap don't come along often.

We've gambled on Richards and Nash. This may not work and we may slide back for a few years (or get on a roll like LA and win a Cup). Who knows?

Last night was one of the most pitiful games I've seen for a long time and I've been a Ranger fan since the late 1950s (!), so I've seem a lot of pitiful games. I'm just frustrated and upset with this team now and I am questioning everything...my right as a fan.

Maybe it will take the games next week with the Isles and Devs to ramp up our intensity level. And they are part of the problem too. The Devs endlessly lose players but keep winning. The Isles young core seems to be coming together. Possibly falling behind our rivals is truly upsetting.

Anyway...that's my rambling rant for today. Hopefully we beat the Lightning tomorrow and the world will look better.

This is a great post and 1000% accurate. Can't be said enough. Every word. One thing that stood out to me, not necessarily as the most important concept in your post but something I whole heartedly agree with is the lack of emotion and fire on this roster. Rupp and Asham will fight, but they barely play and are not high intensity guys; fighting does not equal emotion and fire. Who were the two fieriest guys on the roster the last couple of years? Dubinsky and Prust. Losing players like that always has a deeper impact than just what they bring to the scoresheet. They were obviously well liked teammates as well, so you take away those fiery guys who brought the intensity themselves and you're also losing the guys who infected the rest of the room with that intensity from time to time. What remains? A lack of identity and passion that's showing for now. It can be found again; it just takes one or two guys to step up and bring it first, but right now it's an obvious void. The team has no personality right now.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8894077/managing-ice-time-top-players-key-season

hahah

Polar opposite of what Torts is doing. lol

 

[NikC]

many are reading way too much into a season after a long layoff, no camp, no preseason, some turnover and new acquisitions, along with condescend pre season with Coach that refuses to roll 4 lines/3D pairings.

you can't ignore the above. every team has different dynamics and imo this squad is suffering because of the above. The only thing unacceptable at this hour is the constant failing PP...

 

[BBKers]

This is a great post and 1000% accurate. Can't be said enough. Every word. One thing that stood out to me, not necessarily as the most important concept in your post but something I whole heartedly agree with is the lack of emotion and fire on this roster. Rupp and Asham will fight, but they barely play and are not high intensity guys; fighting does not equal emotion and fire. Who were the two fieriest guys on the roster the last couple of years? Dubinsky and Prust. Losing players like that always has a deeper impact than just what they bring to the scoresheet. They were obviously well liked teammates as well, so you take away those fiery guys who brought the intensity themselves and you're also losing the guys who infected the rest of the room with that intensity from time to time. What remains? A lack of identity and passion that's showing for now. It can be found again; it just takes one or two guys to step up and bring it first, but right now it's an obvious void. The team has no personality right now.

The next Sean Avery. The new Brandon Prust. Who would be this diamond in the rough guy we could pry for cheap from some unknowing GM that could bring that spark and light up the Garden? We need someone like this, a new injection. Not a 30 goalscorer, but a little, pesky guy that gets the team and thefansto rise to the occasion. Not a goon, but a scrappy, fast, gritty guy that can pot 15 iin a full season and still get in the other teams faces. We lack this kind of player altogether now (Asham/Haley?), but we sure have gotten accostomed having to one. We gave up minor scraps for both Avery and Prust, go get em Glen! This is the kind of player we need now, in addition to a #6 defender playing 10 minutes plus and another depth guy scoring a few. Trim some fat now...

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Hindsight is always infallible. Moves that seem the right move at the time with time end up eroding a team's vision. It's only when you look back that you say "why did we do that? What were we thinking?" "Where did it go wrong?"

I'm certainly not giving up on the season although the warning signs are everywhere. This team could still be very dangerous come playoff time.

But is seems to me that somewhere along the line we went from rebuilding with youth, establishing a core, surrounding them with some good talent, to "going for it." Nothing wrong with that, you can rebuild forever and never get to make that final push to the top. Can be seen in all sports.

Two years ago we got bounced out in the first round but our young core was improving and there was hope for more on the way. It was felt that if we just had the elite #1 center, we could take that next step. We signed BR, a move I was totally in favor of.

But that signing was always a risk. He was on the wrong side of 30, had suffered a serious concussion and the contract was long term and large. How has it worked out? Well we got to the Conference Finals last year but it was evident to any who looked at it objectively, the BR had lost a step, seemed to be absent in many games, and as productive as he was, just was not the player he once was. Anyone could look at it and see a further deterioration in the future.

Then the mantra became, if we just had one more high powered forward to help our power play and score (and take advantage of BR's last real productive years), we could take that final step. I've always been a RN fan, was absolutely for trading for him, but was always concerned that we would have to pay a steep price. As a long, and I mean long, time Ranger fan, I will never forget giving up oodles from our 79 Cup final team to get Barry Beck, "the proverbial last piece of the puzzle." Nothing against Beck, he was a fine player but we never recovered from all the pieces we gave away to get him. We didn't give up as many players for RN as he did for Beck, but we did give up 2 key, versatile, home grown, and productive players.

Suddenly our young core doesn't look as deep as it did. Some, like Stepan,are not progressing but that's normal: not all of your young players will live up to expectations. Suddenly our pipeline of young talent doesn't look so deep: full of second and third liners (maybe): Miller, Jean, Fast, Thomas et al. Alarms bells are ringing over Kreider's lack of AHL production. I buy all the theories about why he wasn't more productive but the fact is, he should have been.

I hope I'm wrong: nothing like a few good games to turn things around but we are a slow team without forward depth. We are a low-key, non-emotional team. None of our top players are overly emotional. We are not a physical team.

The big picture is, like many other teams in other sports, we are always chasing that one illusive piece to get us over the top. Along the way, something may have been lost that is only to be seen when you step back after failure and examine the big picture. But, to argue from the other side, you can't just build with youth as good as your core is. You have to go for it, take the gambles and try to win it all. Opportunities in a 30 team league with a draft and salary cap don't come along often.

We've gambled on Richards and Nash. This may not work and we may slide back for a few years (or get on a roll like LA and win a Cup). Who knows?

Last night was one of the most pitiful games I've seen for a long time and I've been a Ranger fan since the late 1950s (!), so I've seem a lot of pitiful games. I'm just frustrated and upset with this team now and I am questioning everything...my right as a fan.

Maybe it will take the games next week with the Isles and Devs to ramp up our intensity level. And they are part of the problem too. The Devs endlessly lose players but keep winning. The Isles young core seems to be coming together. Possibly falling behind our rivals is truly upsetting.

Anyway...that's my rambling rant for today. Hopefully we beat the Lightning tomorrow and the world will look better.

Yeah this is a great post.

Rangers sure lost a lot of emotion with Dubinsky, Feds and especially Prust going. The line of Boyle, Prust and Feds was a bottom line last year - I'd happily take that forecheck to 2nd line minutes right now.

A guy like Steven freaking Gionta, seemingly a career minor leaguer has found a niche with his line and they are providing the Devils with depth, working wonders on the wall every night. Sometimes the right combinations work and the Rangers had that last season. Each line seemed to have its own identity within the greater identity and structure of the team.

 

[NikC]

i lobbied for Ott if the offseason. again you have to spend some $$ but if you want guys that play with balls, that's what you have to do.

 

[The Gloaming]

Oh come on with this nonsense of Torts overplaying his players. LA is playing Doughty for almost half the game. He's currently at 29 minutes. Kovy plays for 27 minutes a game, including staying out there for entire power plays. Weber and Suter each over 27 minutes with their respective teams. Girardi is averaging just under 25 minutes. McD at around 24. That's low for them. Only three forwards are at or above the 20 minute mark: Cally, Richards, Nash. Staal and DZ are around the 23 minute mark.

When you've got 4 defenseman that can handle these minutes, it's no wonder that Stralman gets 13 minutes. However, we obviously got a problem with 6th defenseman averaging 8 minutes a game. Asham is playing under 5 minutes. Don't know why we couldn't have signed someone better. Rupp is a waste at 6 minutes.

 

[ImIdaho]

Oh come on with this nonsense of Torts overplaying his players. LA is playing Doughty for almost half the game. He's currently at 29 minutes. Kovy plays for 27 minutes a game, including staying out there for entire power plays. Weber and Suter each over 27 minutes with their respective teams. Girardi is averaging just under 25 minutes. McD at around 24. That's low for them. Only three forwards are at or above the 20 minute mark: Cally, Richards, Nash. Staal and DZ are around the 23 minute mark.

When you've got 4 defenseman that can handle these minutes, it's no wonder that Stralman gets 13 minutes. However, we obviously got a problem with 6th defenseman averaging 8 minutes a game. Asham is playing under 5 minutes. Don't know why we couldn't have signed someone better. Rupp is a waste at 6 minutes.

They showed a graphic yesterday and the Rangers have the most players (9, I believe) who have averaged at least 20 minutes.

 

[The Gloaming]

They showed a graphic yesterday and the Rangers have the most players (9, I believe) who have averaged at least 20 minutes.

I remember that. But minutes for your top guys isn't really out of the norm. Now, losing PK'ers like Feds, Artie, Duby, and Prust means that your top 6 will have to work more. IMO, that is the reason for this. Nash is on the first PK unit now with Cally out.
However, no one is averaging over 25 minutes a game so far, even though Girardi is pretty close.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20132NYRSASALL&sort=avgTOIPerGame&viewName=summary