This is a Bad Hockey Team: Part 2

[Trxjw]

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.

Ott wasn't a free agent. Unless you had a spare Derek Roy laying around, you had no chance.

 

[ImIdaho]

Ott wasn't a free agent. Unless you had a spare Derek Roy laying around, you had no chance.

We have a Stepan.

 

[broadwayblue]

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...

Yup, if we're still taking TMM penalties every other night when we're 1/3 of the way through the season I'll be concerned. Obviously the PP is a huge problem, but I'm willing to give the team at least 15 games to gel before I start to get antsy.

 

[Samuel Culper III]

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...

Give Haley a try. Asham it is not. Maybe Jean in a season or two. Or we can scout heavily and try to grab a guy on the cheap and develop into a Prust by having him work with Torts. Guys like Andrew Shaw (wouldn't be cheap) are what we're talking about. Philip Lane in the phoenix system. Jared Knight in the Boston system. Guys who are fast and love to hit. Not guys like Asham who would hit everyone... if they could catch up to them. I don't know who could actually make the evolution from a nobody into a Prust because obviously, not everyone can, but there are several of young guys in the AHL/bottom lines/press boxes with the attributes; high motor, decent foot speed, love to hit, more than 'zero' offensive skill.

 

[BBKers]

Give Haley a try. Asham it is not. Maybe Jean in a season or two. Or we can scout heavily and try to grab a guy on the cheap and develop into a Prust by having him work with Torts. Guys like Andrew Shaw (wouldn't be cheap) are what we're talking about. Philip Lane in the phoenix system. Jared Knight in the Boston system. Guys who are fast and love to hit. Not guys like Asham who would hit everyone... if they could catch up to them. I don't know who could actually make the evolution from a nobody into a Prust because obviously, not everyone can, but there are several of young guys in the AHL/bottom lines/press boxes with the attributes; high motor, decent foot speed, love to hit, more than 'zero' offensive skill.

I meant that I believe that the NYR brass thought that Asham was in their vision an adequete replacement for Prust (who basically took over from Avery). He was not, but the names you mentioned (and a few more) are what I meant as being this injection. Diamonds in the rough - that can become what we are looking for for a reasonable bounty.

 

[Callagraves]

Theoretically

Nash Richards Gaborik
Kreider Stepan Cally
Hags Boyle Pyatt
Rupp Halpern Asham (really who gives a crap, Torts isn't going to play this line)

should be enough. That could be a DAMN fine top 9.

If people play up to their expectations, that is. Hags, Kreider, Stepan are all, well, uncertain factors right now.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Theoretically

Nash Richards Gaborik
Kreider Stepan Cally
Hags Boyle Pyatt
Rupp Halpern Asham (really who gives a crap, Torts isn't going to play this line)

should be enough. That could be a DAMN fine top 9.

If people play up to their expectations, that is. Hags, Kreider, Stepan are all, well, uncertain factors right now.

How do you even pin expectations on Kreider? It was nice he scored 5 goals in the playoffs, but his entire game outside of the offensive zone was still very raw. Hagelin hasnt scored a goal in 35 NHL games. Maybe the expectations for him should start to change.

 

[bubba5]

How do you even pin expectations on Kreider? It was nice he scored 5 goals in the playoffs, but his entire game outside of the offensive zone was still very raw. Hagelin hasnt scored a goal in 35 NHL games. Maybe the expectations for him should start to change.

I agree. And really agree that Hags has been invisable for a long time now and not just this first 7 games. Maybe it's time he go to Hartford for a while.

 

[RangerBoy]

Richards-Nash. Stepan-Gaborik. Boyle-Callahan. Ryan will still see 1st unit minutes on the PP and PK. Callahan has zero chemistry with Stepan. The Rangers want to keep Nash on the right side. Callahan will make Boyle a better player. Chicago has Saad playing with Toews and Kane. Kreider and Saad are the same player. Same build. Saad had a milllion scoring chances last night. He will pop a few and then he will be on his way. The 3 wingers around them are Kreider,Hagelin and Pyatt. The bottom 3 is a combination of Asham,Rupp,Halperin and Ferreiro. 13 forwards. Slats got Avery for Jason Ward,MA Cliche and Jan Marek which became a 3rd when Marek didn't sign w/LA. Prust and Joker for Kotalik and Higgins. You know Slats and Gorton are looking to improve the roster.

 

[Graves94]

Richards-Nash. Stepan-Gaborik. Boyle-Callahan. Ryan will still see 1st unit minutes on the PP and PK. Callahan has zero chemistry with Stepan. The Rangers want to keep Nash on the right side. Callahan will make Boyle a better player. Chicago has Saad playing with Toews and Kane. Kreider and Saad are the same player. Same build. Saad had a milllion scoring chances last night. He will pop a few and then he will be on his way. The 3 wingers around them are Kreider,Hagelin and Pyatt. The bottom 3 is a combination of Asham,Rupp,Halperin and Ferreiro. 13 forwards. Slats got Avery for Jason Ward,MA Cliche and Jan Marek which became a 3rd when Marek didn't sign w/LA. Prust and Joker for Kotalik and Higgins. You know Slats and Gorton are looking to improve the roster.

RB, I agree 100% with everything you mention above.

The question I have is, what exactly are they looking to improve? I think we are lacking a #6 D-man (if you consider Stralman as the #5), who can eat at least 10mins a game, another top 9 forward, but most importanty we need to improve the PP. If we don't get someone who can shoot from he point (like Streit/Markov/Garrison- just examples),our PP will continue to fail. I think the #6 Dman and top 9 forward could be had at the trade deadline, but my top priority would be the "shooter" on the PP.

 

[Jabroni]

RB, I agree 100% with everything you mention above.

The question I have is, what exactly are they looking to improve? I think we are lacking a #6 D-man (if you consider Stralman as the #5), who can eat at least 10mins a game, another top 9 forward, but most importanty we need to improve the PP. If we don't get someone who can shoot from he point (like Streit/Markov/Garrison- just examples),our PP will continue to fail. I think the #6 Dman and top 9 forward could be had at the trade deadline, but my top priority would be the "shooter" on the PP.

If we get a shooter, it'll give everyone a little more incentive to actually shoot the puck instead of pass it off.

We need someone to rip one-timers from the point.

 

[Dorado*]

Should have taken a flier on Semin

 

[Dorado*]

Was had for a one year deal Semin . could use him right about now given the line up of Ham handed plugs Torts is trucking out there beyond the big 2 ( Brad don't even count he is brutal )

 

[Jabroni]

Was had for a one year deal Semin . could use him right about now given the line up of Ham handed plugs Torts is trucking out there beyond the big 2 ( Brad don't even count he is brutal )

He would've been in Torts's doghouse quicker than Zherdev.

 

[Dorado*]

There in lies the problem and as unmotivated as they can be at times Semin and Zherdev both score . Torts kind of guys unfortunately can't help this aweful PP . A guy who can shoot the puck can . So far Nash as beastly as he is another logo hunter in a long line of logo hunters . Gaby is not a sniper in the purest one shot off the pass mode . The NYR have no one who can flat out shoot .

 

[Jabroni]

There in lies the problem and as unmotivated as they can be at times Semin and Zherdev both score . Torts kind of guys unfortunately can't help this aweful PP . A guy who can shoot the puck can . So far Nash as beastly as he is another logo hunter in a long line of logo hunters . Gaby is not a sniper in the purest one shot off the pass mode . The NYR have no one who can flat out shoot .

Nash CAN flat out shoot, but he's been firing logo missiles as of late.

 

[Dorado*]

Well it doesn't take a genius to put a left handed shot in the right point and Nash on te right side and at least attempt to one time snipe em like Some one who can flat out shoot . God knows NYR D Men have pop guns from the point

 

[ImIdaho]

Well it doesn't take a genius to put a left handed shot in the right point and Nash on te right side and at least attempt to one time snipe em like Some one who can flat out shoot . God knows NYR D Men have pop guns from the point

I think they can unleash a nice slap shot, but the problem is this team is scared to even attempt a one timer.

They have to corral it, let the opposing D get in position, wait a sec or two, and then they UNLEASH one lethargic wrister.

 

[The Gloaming]

I saw DZ-Girardi as the D pairing on a PP. what irked me was that they weren't on their off-sides. How are you supposed to one-time shots if your playing on your own side?

Oh wait, one-timers are banned on our PP.

 

[RangerBoy]

LA called up Dwight King and Brandon Nolan around this time last February. They formed the 4th line for LA along with Colin Fraser. The Rangers acquired Brandon Mashinster from SJ. Can he fill the King and Nolan role for the Rangers? LA's 3d line was Stoll,Lewis and Richardson. Gagne was out with a concussion and he returned later in the playoffs. Clifford suffered a concussion in the VAN series. Top 6 of Kopitar,Brown,Richards,Carter,Williams and Penner. Their D was Doughty. 3 vets in Mitchell,Greene and Scuderi. Martinez who had 110-120 NHL games played entering the playoffs. Voynov was the other D. First year pro. The Rangers need another D. Torts is going to play McDonagh and Staal a ton of the left side. They will play 45-50 minutes combined. They need a 10-12 minute guy. Someone who Torts can trust. Preferably a lefty. Torts will cut down to 4-5 D and 9 forwards. A top of Richards-Nash,Stepan-Gaborik and Boyle-Callahan. Hagelin,Pyatt and Kreider to round out the top 9. The Rangers need one of their guys to be Brown who scored so many key goals. John Druce streak. Everything goes in the net. Halpern anchors the 4th line. He sees time on the PK. Takes key draws. Do they look to add another player who can play in the top 9? Sather signed Arnott who failed his physical. So the Rangers could be looking in that area.

 

[NYR Viper]

I like the Rangers depth with a healthy and Kreider and Callahan are good to go in their top-9. They need a 12th forward who can stir things up and keep up with the play. Asham and Halpern are solid 4th liners who can pay more if needed. I would love it if Ferreiro or Mashinter could stick in as that 12th forward. Need speed and forechecking ability on that 4th line.

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

I like the Rangers depth with a healthy and Kreider and Callahan are good to go in their top-9. They need a 12th forward who can stir things up and keep up with the play. Asham and Halpern are solid 4th liners who can pay more if needed. I would love it if Ferreiro or Mashinter could stick in as that 12th forward. Need speed and forechecking ability on that 4th line.

Halpern has been pretty good, but Asham really hasn't done anything outside of losing fights. Then again he hasn't really cost the team goals against so in that sense I guess he has been solid enough.

I just expected a bit more from the guy when it comes to offensive ability, considering how he looked the last couple of seasons in pitt.

 

[NYR Viper]

Halpern has been pretty good, but Asham really hasn't done anything outside of losing fights. Then again he hasn't really cost the team goals against so in that sense I guess he has been solid enough.

I just expected a bit more from the guy when it comes to offensive ability, considering how he looked the last couple of seasons in pitt.

He looked good (2) nights ago in TB. He gets in on the forecheck, cycles the puck and goes hard to the net. He has a cannon of a slapshot too when he has the time to get it off. He is more than just a tough-guy. The ore I see him, the more I like him on the 4th line.

Halpern has really been a HUGE surprise for me. I knew he was good on face-offs and a decent defensive center but the guy has very quick feet and is a very good skater. On top of that he is physical when he needs to be and fits in perfectly on the PK.

I know Mitchell is off to a hot start in Colorado but I would take Halpern over Mitchell from what I have seen so far.

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

He looked good (2) nights ago in TB. He gets in on the forecheck, cycles the puck and goes hard to the net. He has a cannon of a slapshot too when he has the time to get it off. He is more than just a tough-guy. The ore I see him, the more I like him on the 4th line.

Halpern has really been a HUGE surprise for me. I knew he was good on face-offs and a decent defensive center but the guy has very quick feet and is a very good skater. On top of that he is physical when he needs to be and fits in perfectly on the PK.

I know Mitchell is off to a hot start in Colorado but I would take Halpern over Mitchell from what I have seen so far.

I know he's more than a tough guy. That is why I expected more of him. Whereas I thought Halpern was excellent vs TB, I wasn't overly impressed with Asham. I might have to watch it again now.

Like I don't spend enough time watching hockey as it is. Thanks alot NYRB

 

[NYR Viper]

I know he's more than a tough guy. That is why I expected more of him. Whereas I thought Halpern was excellent vs TB, I wasn't overly impressed with Asham. I might have to watch it again now.

Like I don't spend enough time watching hockey as it is. Thanks alot NYRB

Here to help!

In hindsight, the player who I think would be a perfect fit for that 4th line is Dale Weise.......