Pre-Game Talk: Training Camp '13 (Starts Sunday 1/13)

[Osminator]

Gilroy and Kreider are up in NY and practicing (check the stickied Connecticut Whale thread)

 

[nyr2k2]

Gilroy and Kreider are up in NY and practicing (check the stickied Connecticut Whale thread)

Seems like a given at this point that Gilroy gets an NHL deal.

 

[NYR Viper]

Seems like a given at this point that Gilroy gets an NHL deal.

I think so as well. I think they see both he and Bickel as F/D's if need be.

 

[broadwayblue]

I hope Gilroy spends 48 games in a new luxury suite.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I hope Gilroy spends 48 games in a new luxury suite.

Lol, the green room regular.

Im with you, i honestly think i have a harder shot than him and thats not saying much.

 

[E-Train]

Would prefer Bickel and Eminger rotating the 3rd pair RD spot. Keep Gilroy in CT as injury insurance.

 

[Cliffy1814]

I hope Gilroy spends 48 games in a new luxury suite.

He is a -16 for the Whale. The next worst on the team is -7.
I am not a big plus minus guy, but that probably tells us that he is pretty much the same player we say a few years ago.

I prefer Eminger in lineup on a regular basis.

 

[BBKers]

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN
#NYR Preview of this year's first line? Richards centering Nash and Gaborik today

Just warming up

 

[Boom Boom Geoffrion*]

He scored 16 goals ES last season, all while being centered by Brad Richards for the majority of the season. Is he of top 6 quality? Absolutely. He's a a decent top 6 winger at ES.

Your last point only adds to mine though. His best quality is his defensive play. I want him shutting down the other team's best forwards, all while adding a scoring punch.

A third line of Pyatt-Boyle-Callahan would provide a very nice mix of grit, scoring ability, and shut-down ability. Kreider, despite being a worse player than Callahan at this stage of his career, needs a good playmaker to be at all effective, and I would not want him playing 3rd line shutdown minutes to begin with. In addition, he showed chemistry with Stepan. Also, as an aspiring power forward, there is no one better to learn from than Rick Nash.

Hags clicked extremely well with Gabby and Richards, and can do so while spreading the wealth at other lines.

Hagelin-Richards-Gabby
Kreider/Nash-Stepan-Nash/Kreider
Pyatt-Boyle-Callahan
Rupp-Halpren-Asham

Kreider played RW at BC, and Torts could decide he wants Nash on the LW since Stepan is a right-handed shot. They are interchangeable on that line, imo.

Cally will still get his time where he is best- on the PP and the PK, and in a shutdown role. 3rd line minutes would also allow him to preserve his body- he isn't getting any younger- and the style of game he plays makes him deteriorate all the faster.

Most recently he has 3 PPG's over the past 4 seasons.[/QUOTE]

My only issue with this is the amount of ice-time our 3rd line will get. You want Callahan's line as a shutdown line. That means every time our opposition plays their top line, we have Pyatt-Boyle-Callahan on the ice. This isn't a line that'll possess the puck much. They'll be dumping, and chasing. I'd rather have a more aggressive approach in our line-up. Nothings better than seeing the oppositions 1st line chasing the puck, trying to retrieve it as time is winding down.

I really, really want to see what Nash-Richards-Gaborik looks like as a trio. I'm all for spreading the love, but I also want to see a line that can dominate the opposition.

Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan as our second line. A line that you can put out in any situation, against anyone. A line that has two aggressive, balls-to-the-wall wingers with a playmaker in the middle.

Kreider-Boyle-Pyatt as our third. A power-forward line. A line that can smash the opposition. I think Hagelin is our long-term LW option here, but for next season I think this is a role where Kreider can learn the game, and provide an element in our bottom-6. I think Boyle's a great mentor too. He's a boston kid. I think he can help Kreider during those crucial early days in his career.

4th line is going to consist of Halpern in the middle. Rupp is going to show everyone he's one of the best 4th liners in the league. Too many people are writing him off after last season. That wasn't the usual Rupp. He was injured. He's a damn good player who can do more than just drop the gloves and take stupid penalties. Asham i'm not crazy about. He'll serve his purpose well, but I've never been a huge fan. I still think this is going to be a great 4th line.

Nash-Richards-Gaborik
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan
Kreider-Boyle-Pyatt
Rupp-Halpern-Asham

Flip Nash and Hagelin if the chemistry isn't right. But there's no question about it, I have a lot of interest in seeing what that trio is capable of. Size, skill, finesse. A top-line that's going to be an absolute nightmare to defend against. I see a second line with three 20G scorers who can defend as well. a third line with size, and some scoring. And a 4th line that can do more than drop the gloves.

 

[Boom Boom Geoffrion*]

Just warming up

I love it. I think we have the depth to take this risk. I'm indecisive as far as the line-up I want to see, and how to best utilize our 40G scorers. But I can't hide the fact that I'd love to see this trio in action.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I love it. I think we have the depth to take this risk. I'm indecisive as far as the line-up I want to see, and how to best utilize our 40G scorers. But I can't hide the fact that I'd love to see this trio in action.

I hate the idea of Gaborik and Nash on the same line. Spread out the scoring. Let each player be the dominant player on their respective lines. I don't want Gaborik and Nash worrying about stepping on each other's toes and deferring to the other. Besides, playing them together makes the Rangers a lot easier to defend.

 

[Vitto79]

Just warming up

1st PP Unit, yes please. As for lines split Gabby and Nash up at even strength. Stepan seemsto have more chemistry with Gabs so Richards can go with Nash.

btw Kreider starting with Boyle and Pyatt is not a bad idea. That's a big line that may use their size to their advantage. We believe Kreider can scoreand from what I have seen Pyatt usually scores in bunches. They could chip in with a few goals.

 

[Boom Boom Geoffrion*]

I hate the idea of Gaborik and Nash on the same line. Spread out the scoring. Let each player be the dominant player on their respective lines. I don't want Gaborik and Nash worrying about stepping on each other's toes and deferring to the other. Besides, playing them together makes the Rangers a lot easier to defend.

I think a second line of Hagelin/Kreider - Stepan - Callahan can provide that 1-2 punch for us. Gaborik isn't a dominant player in the sense that he needs the puck to be successful, or needs to score. He's a terrific playmaker as well. I think Nash/Gaborik will open up a lot of ice for eachother as well.

1st PP Unit, yes please. As for lines split Gabby and Nash up at even strength. Stepan seemsto have more chemistry with Gabs so Richards can go with Nash.

I think Richards showed he and Gaborik can be a great combination early, and late in the season. Torts broke them up too quickly imo.

 

[nyr2k2]

btw Kreider starting with Boyle and Pyatt is not a bad idea. That's a big line that may use their size to their advantage. We believe Kreider can scoreand from what I have seen Pyatt usually scores in bunches. They could chip in with a few goals.

For Kreider to thrive offensively he's going to need someone to get him the puck. Both Boyle and Pyatt dish the puck like they're blindfolded. It could be an effective forechecking line, but I don't think that's what the team wants/needs out of Kreider.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I think a second line of Hagelin/Kreider - Stepan - Callahan can provide that 1-2 punch for us. Gaborik isn't a dominant player in the sense that he needs the puck to be successful, or needs to score. He's a terrific playmaker as well. I think Nash/Gaborik will open up a lot of ice for eachother as well.

It's not just a question of offense — it's balancing the lines, as well. We saw what Hagelin-Richards-Gaborik did together. That's because each had a role, knew it and did it. Break up Nash and Gaborik and you have two lines that, at least on paper, have that same balance. Again, put Nash and Gaborik on separate lines creates match up problems for opposing teams. Which line do you match your checking line against?

Why have a 1-2 punch when you can have a 1a-1b punch?

 

[beastly115]

I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't love to see the big 3 together on a line. I'd like to see what happens.

 

[beastly115]

For Kreider to thrive offensively he's going to need someone to get him the puck. Both Boyle and Pyatt dish the puck like they're blindfolded. It could be an effective forechecking line, but I don't think that's what the team wants/needs out of Kreider.

Kreider needs skilled players to make himself effective. He doesn't carry a line on his own and he doesn't create opportunities. Put him in the bottom six and he's useless. Just my opinion.

 

[nyr2k2]

Kreider needs skilled players to make himself effective. He doesn't carry a line on his own and he doesn't create opportunities. Put him in the bottom six and he's useless. Just my opinion.

I don't think he'd be useless. He's still big and strong enough to be an effective forechecker. He'd still need time to learn the defensive side of the game, but he could still have some value. It's just not the value we need out of him.

 

[Samuel Culper III]

It's not just a question of offense — it's balancing the lines, as well. We saw what Hagelin-Richards-Gaborik did together. That's because each had a role, knew it and did it. Break up Nash and Gaborik and you have two lines that, at least on paper, have that same balance. Again, put Nash and Gaborik on separate lines creates match up problems for opposing teams. Which line do you match your checking line against?

Why have a 1-2 punch when you can have a 1a-1b punch?

Moreover, not only did Hagelin, Richards, Gaborik work very well together with their defined roles, but I see Callahan as being very similar to Hagelin, Stepan as being a similar player to Richards, albeit not as far along in his development (obviously) and Nash, while not a similar player to Gabby, is that dynamic offensive superstar to finish the line. You have a quick, aggressive, grind it out, space creater on one wing, a cerebral, intuitive playmaker in the middle and an offensively dynamic goal machine on the other wing. I think having:

Hagelin - Richards - Gaborik
Nash - Stepan - Callahan

or

Nash - Richards - Callahan
Hagelin - Stepan - Gaborik

are our best bets. Very balanced, very strong lines. If Hagelin can maintain or improve on his play from last year it's a seriously good 1-2 punch.

EDIT: The only problem with all of this is that I see Kreider as being wasted in a bottom six role that he's not really suited for while either Hagelin or Callahan, although deserving and beyond capable of playing on the top two lines, are far more versatile and would do much better on a shutdown/forecheck line. It will be interesting to see how it shakes down.

 

[Leetch3]

I hate the idea of Gaborik and Nash on the same line. Spread out the scoring. Let each player be the dominant player on their respective lines. I don't want Gaborik and Nash worrying about stepping on each other's toes and deferring to the other. Besides, playing them together makes the Rangers a lot easier to defend.

also gets one of them a more favorable matchup...when we play (for example) boston, the bruins can only match up chara against 1 of them if they are on separate lines

 

[Nyrvana]

Brooks Tweet:

Marek Hrivik not skating with Rangers, sustained concussion last game with AHL Whale.


Hopefully, it's not a bad one.

 

[Boom Boom Geoffrion*]

It's not just a question of offense — it's balancing the lines, as well. We saw what Hagelin-Richards-Gaborik did together. That's because each had a role, knew it and did it. Break up Nash and Gaborik and you have two lines that, at least on paper, have that same balance. Again, put Nash and Gaborik on separate lines creates match up problems for opposing teams. Which line do you match your checking line against?

Why have a 1-2 punch when you can have a 1a-1b punch?

As the opposition, I think having to defend against a line that has Nash on one side and Gaborik on the other is going to create problems. You put one superstar on a line and you can single him out. I think it's a lot harder when you have 2 of them on the ice at the same time, especially with a center like Richards in the middle.

I *think* i'd rather have a knockout punch, followed by a second punch than a balanced 1-2 punch. I'm sure Torts will exhaust all options a billion times though.

 

[McSauer]

It's not just a question of offense — it's balancing the lines, as well. We saw what Hagelin-Richards-Gaborik did together. That's because each had a role, knew it and did it. Break up Nash and Gaborik and you have two lines that, at least on paper, have that same balance. Again, put Nash and Gaborik on separate lines creates match up problems for opposing teams. Which line do you match your checking line against?

Why have a 1-2 punch when you can have a 1a-1b punch?

EXACTLY. This shouldn't even be an option unless on the PP or down late in the game...spread the wealth, make it harder for teams to match up against us...

 

[Trxjw]

No idea what this organization sees in Gilroy.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

also gets one of them a more favorable matchup...when we play (for example) boston, the bruins can only match up chara against 1 of them if they are on separate lines

Exactly.