Speculation: Trade Rumors/Speculation Part X: Sather Falls Asleep on the Phone

[E-Train]

Konopka is not a legit heavyweight. Konopka is about Prust's size and weight. About Prust tough but if I remember right they have met before and Prust won easily. Prust is also a lot better hockey player. Konopka is a guy who was a pretty good AHL'er about on the level of Newbury. He was able to find a niche in the NHL because he fought a lot more than Newbury and as a face-off specialist. Konopka's tougher than Dorsett but again not as good of a player.

It wouldn't break my heart if the Rangers grabbed Zenon but I'm not sure how he'd fit into our lineup or at all----he's just not a real heavy.

Good assessment.

 

[Mikos87]

The funny thing is that you think getting Konopka would be some kind of deterrent.

Perhaps he's the sort of guy to deliver a blow to Kunitz if it were to happen. That's a top line player for PITs, what's he doing elbowing the Rangers $60M dollar goaltender?

I suggest we recuse ourselves before this becomes another arguement over toughness.

Or someone bump up the team toughness thread and take it over there.

 

[StepansLabyrinth]

Konopka offers literally nothing that D. Moore doesn't already besides a willingness to fight and goon it up (which Dorsett does fine). I don't want someone like him on this team.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

Remember when we played Konopka when he was a Senator in the post season? They literally only used him for FO's and then he went straight for the bench. Is that what this team really needs? Really?

 

[Lion Hound]

Just because it's been a few games since the last Ranger took a headshot (Lundqvist from Kunitz), doesn't mean that need isn't still there.

I'm certainly on the side of the fence that see's the need in a tougher squad. For that reason, a Kenopka is OK in my book. Truthfully, ANYTHING is better then the squad the team puts out night after night. With that said, he'll never be a deterrent. He's just a guy that at this point would be more of a gamer finishing out his career.

If the Rangers are looking for an enforcer I would say McGrattan out of Calgary however Brian Burke Running the show there now McGratts is likely staying put. Other options strictly as enforcer...Kassian(Ott) Peluso(WPG)

 

[Trxjw]

I've never understood this fanbase's fascination with Konopka. A middle-weight goon who can't skate, but happens to be good in the dot; is that really what we need?

 

[ecemleafs]

i cant believe some scrub thats waiver wire material has generated so much discussion in this thread.

 

[Kakko]

We just dumped Pyatt and people want to replace him with a guy that has as many career goals as Pyatt has scored in a single season?

 

[Synergy27]

I've never understood this fanbase's fascination with Konopka. A middle-weight goon who can't skate, but happens to be good in the dot; is that really what we need?

His prowess in the dot had a significant impact in several games against this team. People remember that and then also realize that he's pretty tough and away we go.

 

[eco's bones]

Just because it's been a few games since the last Ranger took a headshot (Lundqvist from Kunitz), doesn't mean that need isn't still there.

I think it might be just as likely that Konopka deliver the headshot--he's perfectly capable and not that I'm necessarily against the idea. Proactive sometimes is better than reactive. There's the things that happen to your team and the things that happen to other teams--they might objectively be the same but that's perspective for you--as a fan of only one of the teams they don't have to be.

 

[Orr Nightmare]

Konokpa is an old man in a young mans sport. Pass.

 

[Mikos87]

I think it might be just as likely that Konopka deliver the headshot--he's perfectly capable and not that I'm necessarily against the idea. Proactive sometimes is better than reactive. There's the things that happen to your team and the things that happen to other teams--they might objectively be the same but that's perspective for you--as a fan of only one of the teams they don't have to be.

And having a guy that willing an able to take a run at the other team after they run the Rangers is fine in my books. Some perspectives, being what they are, would suggest that it is a necessity.

Status Quo is mediocrity and I'm of the belief that this is a waiver pick up that is a value add. The level of play both Moore and Boyle have shown makes me okay with having one of them, and the added elements that a Konopka can bring.

Fact of the matter is I'd move both Moore and Boyle, and move Pouliot on 4th line wing with Konopka and have Pouliot eat up 4th line competition and play a power play role. If Pouliot regresses, then a 4th liner is easy to replace.

Hags and Cally with Miller and collect futures for the 2 UFA 4th line centers.

Zucc and Cally taken on added PK responsibility. For skating teams that won't challenge physically call up Lindberg and give him some minutes.

Asset management.

 

[aufheben]

Remember when we played Konopka when he was a Senator in the post season? They literally only used him for FO's and then he went straight for the bench. Is that what this team really needs? Really?

Nope. We need Top 6 centers that can win face-offs. But Konopka was so ******* annoying to play against.

 

[lJuicel]

We just dumped Pyatt and people want to replace him with a guy that has as many career goals as Pyatt has scored in a single season?

THIS. We just rid ourselves of a useless player for free, why on earth are we rushing to fill that healthy scratch void with Konopa-Troopa ?
If we have to choose between scratching Moore or Konopka for every game, why not just save ourselves the headache ?

 

[bmoak]

Ugh. Visceral dislike for Konopka, who has never been a quick skater and has declined at 33 years old. He's also not a deterrent, as he's the kind of player you need a deterrent against, as runs and cheap shots at skill players are a specialty. The Rangers don't need a bottom-six faceoff guy with Boyle and Moore; they need Stepan, Brassard, and Miller to get better.

I've hated Konpka since his AHL days for the stuff he used to pull against Binghamton and Hartford. He speared Chris Holt in the throat in a playoff game knowing that Holt was the Pack's 3rd-string goalies and the next goalie in line was a college try-out player who hadn't played a minute of pro hockey.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I honestly think that hockey will have a credibility issue as long as it employs players that can't play a lick only for fighting.

 

[Raspewtin]

I honestly think that hockey will have a credibility issue as long as it employs players that can't play a lick only for fighting.

The headshotting and rampant concussion issues are much more of a detriment to hockey's credibility than enforcers, in my opinion.

 

[Petey Pucks]

The headshotting and rampant concussion issues are much more of a detriment to hockey's credibility than enforcers, in my opinion.

agreed....it's certainly no coincidence that as fighting in the nhl has gone down that dirty players are being held less accountable and the headshots/cheapshots and concussions are going up

Hockey had it's most credibility in the early to mid 90's when fighting and big goons in the NHL were much more abundant and dirty players were accountable

in the 92 -93 nhl season I think a record 21 players reached the 100-point plateau and 14 players reached the 50-goal plateau

 

[The Gloaming]

agreed....it's certainly no coincidence that as fighting in the nhl has gone down and dirty players are being held less accountable that the headshots/cheapshots and concussions are going up

Hockey had it's most credibility in the early to mid 90's when fighting and goons in the NHL were much more abundant

Diagnosis of concussions is going up. Back then, it was called "getting your bell rung." You played through it, as doctors back then didn't know what they know now about concussions and how dangerous they can be.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Kenopka would've been a good pick up two years go under a Torts team. Too slow and unskilled for this Rangers team.

Kevin Allen nailed it when he said too many GM's are not making trades because they won't admit defeat with their poorly assembled rosters. Screams Glen Sather.

 

[Kocur Dill]

Ugh. Visceral dislike for Konopka, who has never been a quick skater and has declined at 33 years old. He's also not a deterrent, as he's the kind of player you need a deterrent against, as runs and cheap shots at skill players are a specialty. The Rangers don't need a bottom-six faceoff guy with Boyle and Moore; they need Stepan, Brassard, and Miller to get better.

I've hated Konpka since his AHL days for the stuff he used to pull against Binghamton and Hartford. He speared Chris Holt in the throat in a playoff game knowing that Holt was the Pack's 3rd-string goalies and the next goalie in line was a college try-out player who hadn't played a minute of pro hockey.

Sounds like a pretty intelligent player to me. Someone that does their homework on the other team before a game.

The pragmatic view of this is, the NHL is a game of professional mercenaries, some with different skills than others, not Bantam hockey where everyone is friends after the game.

IDC what any player says when the mic is in their face. If you want to compete on the highest stage, you do what ever it takes to win, and you exploit weakness, even if it's an injury or taking out a "high profile" player on a team with no depth.

 

[Petey Pucks]

Diagnosis of concussions is going up. Back then, it was called "getting your bell rung." You played through it, as doctors back then didn't know what they know now about concussions and how dangerous they can be.

that's true to an extent....many of those players who got their bells rung were still able to continue through it and the season(although docs today wouldn't let them)........players back then who really got their bells rung hard still weren't able to come back and play through it and it's obvious that is exactly what's happening much more today

doctors are more cautious and knowledgeable today and when a players gets a minor concussion they take every precaution today where as 20 years ago they didn't know much about it and players played through minor concussions.... but even still the level of serious concussions has gone up considerably none the less when compared to 20 years ago

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Sounds like a pretty intelligent player to me. Someone that does their homework on the other team before a game.

The pragmatic view of this is, the NHL is a game of professional mercenaries, some with different skills than others, not Bantam hockey where everyone is friends after the game.

IDC what any player says when the mic is in their face. If you want to compete on the highest stage, you do what ever it takes to win, and you exploit weakness, even if it's an injury or taking out a "high profile" player on a team with no depth.

Spearing a goalie in the throat is intelligent?

The ****?

 

[Cassano]

even if it's an injury or taking out a "high profile" player on a team with no depth.

With all due respect, this mindset is quite simply barbaric and preposterous to even suggest.

 

[Kocur Dill]

I'm not saying McSorley someone, but if an unfortunate accident happened to occur on an unnessesarily hard check, well, then, isht happens.

You don't get a free pass in the NHL because you have a boo boo, especially if you're your teams "hope & savior"