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Speculation: Trade Rumors/Speculation Thread Part VI: Do Anything

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alkurtz said:
I love Stepan and all he brings to the table, but no matter how you slice it, he is not a legit #1 center.

His skating is just average and that is what keeps him from being a top line center. As he gets to his late twenties (a few years off yet), this will become a bigger issue.

The other problem I have with him as a legit #1 is that he doesn't have something that I define as "presence." Can't really put it into words what I mean, but IMO it keeps him from being that top line player.

Again, I love the guy, want him on our team, and appreciate all he is and all he has done. But, sorry, he is not a #1 type center for a team hoping to compete for the cup.

Been a hockey fan for over 50 years and if there is one truth that I have learned it is that a team is only as strong as it's centers.

One of our biggest problems is at center. Stepan (as above), Richards (as the season goes along his play will deteriorate: he needs to be bought out), Brassard (classic underachiever, now we know why he wore out his welcome with CBJ), Boyle (appreciate him as a top #4 center but when asked to perform as a #3, does not have the offensive tools to do so), Moore (again, a top #4, but has lost the skills he had that made him a #3.

What do we have in the pipeline? Miller (seems more comfortable as a wing, but even if we push him to center and he grows into the position, seems like a #2 at best), Lindberg (a #3 at best, likely a #4).

Sather has tried for years to address our weakness at center through UFAs: witness Drury, Gomez, Richards: none have worked out.

We've developed some good #2s (Stephan, Dubinsky, Anisimov) but used two to trade for an elite winger.

Don't know where we go with this, it is an ongoing problem. But until we come up with a high end, legit #1, we will never seriously contend for the cup, a disturbing thought.

Let's appreciate Stepan for what he is, what he has accomplished, and what he means for this team. But lets look at him realistically.
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Perfect, perfect post you beautiful man you. I agree to a T with everything you said here, and it's exactly what I've been trying to say for a long time now
 
If we had two players like Stepan at center, we'd be fine. It's basically what Boston has with Bergeron/Krejci. I'd say Stepan is a pretty similar player to Bergeron, we just need someone to compliment him.
 
BrianBoyle said:
If we had two players like Stepan at center, we'd be fine. It's basically what Boston has with Bergeron/Krejci. I'd say Stepan is a pretty similar player to Bergeron, we just need someone to compliment him.
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I agree with this.

Instead, we have Brassard and Richards to compliment Stepan, who are both inconsistent offensively and horrible defensively. Richards will be gone soon enough, but it's going to be a problem next year if we have to rely on Brassard as a 2C. Hopefully Miller will become a top 6 center, but that's probably going to take some time.
 
Personally I would be pretty damn happy with a Martin + Pulock return for MDZ.

But I am super high on Ryan Pulock. As, I'm sure, are the Islanders.
 
BrianBoyle said:
If we had two players like Stepan at center, we'd be fine. It's basically what Boston has with Bergeron/Krejci. I'd say Stepan is a pretty similar player to Bergeron, we just need someone to compliment him.
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In order to even think of Stepan as being an equal to either of those two Bruins....he would need Bossy or Hull on his wing to make up the difference...he is not close . A lot of people sure overrate Stepan on this forum . Don't get me wrong...I like the kid...but there is just no way he is close to being an equal to either Bruin...especially Bergeron who would be the 2nd coming of Chr**t if he played here LOL considering how we appreciate Callahan .
 
One of our D's that we are dangling for trade is going to have to bring back a #5 or #6 defenseman and at the least a #2 center... Bottom line. We'll end up overpaying for a #1 Center, and we'll be in this hole.../

HOnestly, Can't blame Glen for that... As much as youy want to, most of these solid centers get locked up for extensions before their contracts are up, and the ones that do go to free agency are really mercenaries. So for this particular position, it seems the best options are to either develop your own, or trade for one...

GLen wins trades, so lets see what brews this offseason. We have a coach who promotes more offense than our prior coach, so it's possible we'll finally find someone that fits this system
 
Leetch66 said:
In order to even think of Stepan as being an equal to either of those two Bruins....he would need Bossy or Hull on his wing to make up the difference...he is not close . A lot of people sure overrate Stepan on this forum . Don't get me wrong...I like the kid...but there is just no way he is close to being an equal to either Bruin...especially Bergeron who would be the 2nd coming of Chr**t if he played here LOL considering how we appreciate Callahan .
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Stepan still has room to grow. I'm not the only person to compare the two, either - when Stepan played in the World Championships for US a year or two ago, the head coach of that team said Stepan reminded him of Bergeron. Saying he would need a player like Hull or Bossy on his wing to make up the difference is ridiculous hyperbole. Bergeron, as of right now, isn't even scoring at a 40pt pace.
 
Leetch66 said:
In order to even think of Stepan as being an equal to either of those two Bruins....he would need Bossy or Hull on his wing to make up the difference...he is not close . A lot of people sure overrate Stepan on this forum . Don't get me wrong...I like the kid...but there is just no way he is close to being an equal to either Bruin...especially Bergeron who would be the 2nd coming of Chr**t if he played here LOL considering how we appreciate Callahan .
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Agreed. Stepan IMO is not that close to either player. Maybe one day those two are his ceiling but at the moment both are better than Step
 
krejci has 21 points
stepan has 19
bergeron has 13

stepan who apparently has been terrible, is top 40 in centers (according to nhl.com i swear half of these playeds dont even play center) and is only 7 points away from the top 10.
 
Leafs assistant coach Scott Gordon coached both Stepan and Bergeron. He compared Stepan to Bergeron. Gordon coached Stepan at the 2011 WC and Bergeron in 04-05 at Providence during lockout #2.

Derek Stepan, Rangers. Team USA coach Scott Gordon identified Stepan as one of the players he was most impressed with after the tournament was finished, comparing him to Boston’s Patrice Bergeron. “I didn’t realize how good Derek Stepan was,†Gordon told Sporting News. “He was pretty impressive not just from a point standpoint but his hockey intelligence. He’s the whole package.†Stepan had seven points in seven games for Team USA.
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http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/sto...yers-who-can-build-on-strong-world-tournament

AV uses Stepan to take every face-off in the right wing circle. From the goaltender's right. Stepan is a right-handed shot who can draw the puck into the corner.

The Rangers need another guy like Stepan.
 
Dactyl said:
i wish we had bergeron. he would be crucified by our fans for his production.
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To be fair, he is returning from a friggin' punctured lung. Still, though, Stepan is not far behind him, especially if he can recapture the way he was playing last year, which I believe he will do if kept with Nash and Kreider for a decent period of time.
 
aufheben said:
Jesus, he said Stepan plays similar to Bergeron, not that he is him.
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Just like I can say that McD plays a similar style to Ryan Suter.

People with low reading comprehension will jump all over me and say that I said that McD = Suter.

Same thing with this. I absolutely agree on the Stepan-Bergeron comparison.
 
The Avs wanted more than Del Zotto.

I believe that this week the Avalanche and the New York Rangers went down the road to see what a deal would look like. They talked about Ryan O’Reilly and one of Colorado’s defensemen for a package that I believe would have included Michael Del Zotto, a player that the Avalanche really like. As Colorado started asking for more and more the Rangers pulled back and said ‘no.’ So that is off right now.

Glenn Healy says that the Avs are looking for a “Kings Ransom,†two players, a prospect and a high draft pick. He adds that they aren’t going to get that and instead teams may start putting offer sheets out to him.
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http://snyrangersblog.com/znhl-play...avs-wanted-from-the-rangers-for-ryan-oreilly/

Following the end of the regular season, Elliotte Friedman wrote at CBC, that when the Rangers were engaging the Colorado Avalanche in trade talks about Ryan O’Reilly, the Avs asked for Derek Stepan.

Friedman said that with the regular season that he had, it’s understandable why the Avs wanted Stepan. Friedman adds “Stepan took a major leap this year.â€
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http://snyrangersblog.com/znhl-play...d-derek-stepan-during-the-ryan-oreilly-talks/

According to Bruce Garrioch in the Ottawa Sun, the Colorado Avalanche were seeking a player, a top prospect and a first round pick for RFA Ryan O’Reilly.

Garrioch says that for the Rangers, Colorado was asking for Michael Del Zotto, Chris Kreider and a first round pick.
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http://snyrangersblog.com/znhl-play...avs-wanted-from-the-rangers-for-ryan-oreilly/

It wasn't Del Zotto for ROR.
 
WojtekGoalski said:
Perfect, perfect post you beautiful man you. I agree to a T with everything you said here, and it's exactly what I've been trying to say for a long time now
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Yea, 25 teams need a ''true #1 center.'' The Malkin's, Crosby's, Stamkos, of the league are top 3 picks. The Rangers do not pick in the top 3. Furthermore, teams do not trade #1 centers in their 20's. I don't know what you guys are expecting, but a team like the Rangers in this market/salary cap will never bottom out to that extent. The downside of a team that will always spend to the cap limit as that they will never get a top 3 pick. What is a #1 center? Is it an elite player or a guy who is in the top 30 scoring at his position? The Rangers won't find a former, but if they can find another of the latter to pair with a guy like Stepan then that is a legitimate possibility. You can complain all you want, but an elite center is either going to come here way overpaid for way too long at 32 years old, or the Rangers will have to deal half the team with multiple 1st round picks…
 
Rangers - Isles had discussions for DZ.

Would anyone do DZ for Clutterbuck?
 
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