Traverse City Prospect Tournament 2018

[Inferno]

Not going to lie, defense and goaltending were my two biggest concerns coming into this tournament and I feel that last night did little to alleviate those concerns.

I know there’s been talk about this team being stacked, and I guess I’ve always been hesitant to agree with that opinion.

When I look at this tournament roster, I see about half of our top prospects missing. I see arguably the best center depth of any of the teams competing, but I don’t see the depth on the wings and defense. If anything, I see more unknowns on this roster.

Yep...said basically the same thing...looks like a good roster...not a great roster.

 

[eco's bones]

Rangers prospects took 5 penalties. Dallas prospects scored 5 power play goals. There's the game. I pointed out last night that a penalty kill is as important as a power play.

Not that impressed with Nell. Keep in mind that Keane and Gross are both very young and this is their first experience--what you're looking at here is if they improve as the tournament continues. Day's an impressive skater but this is also his third go around and he takes a lot of unnecessary chances. His best chance is to take a defense first approach. IMO-- he won't be a 0 but he's never going to be a big offensive producer if he makes it to the NHL. Hajek is the defender who looked the best last night.

I liked Howden, Andersson, Meskinen, Lindqvist. Fontaine was good too. Chytil trying to force things a little much. Ronning okay. Stukel did well. Gettinger--kind of meh.

 

[Kovalev27]

Watching the goals from nyr twitter that lias to stuckel 5th goal was a gorgeous feed.

 

[Mac n Gs]

They were better at ES, so I’ll happily take that improvement. The PK can be fixed and worked on with practice.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Gettinger was horrendous.

 

[eco's bones]

Gettinger was horrendous.

I don't know if he was horrendous. He just doesn't look all that different from last year--same place, same time. Some players though are slow starters. He might be one of them. I think there's a possibility though with both him and Day that they split time between Hartford and Maine this year.

 

[Joey Bones]

where did you watch game? Thanks

FOX Sports live games and streaming video

You'd have to put in your TV provider in order to watch. Just the username and password. It's free

 

[NYR713]

Not going to lie, defense and goaltending were my two biggest concerns coming into this tournament and I feel that last night did little to alleviate those concerns.

I know there’s been talk about this team being stacked, and I guess I’ve always been hesitant to agree with that opinion.

When I look at this tournament roster, I see about half of our top prospects missing. I see arguably the best center depth of any of the teams competing, but I don’t see the depth on the wings and defense. If anything, I see more unknowns on this roster.

The idea that the team is stacked has been over-blown on these boards. There is a group of guys on the team that we need to see can play hockey at a high enough level to compete for spots on the big club and if they do that, fans should be happy. Like you said... defense and goaltending were big question marks coming in and for good reason. The 2 goalies are plugs, neither even a top-3 prospect at that position and one isn't even a prospect. Hajek is the only d-man to be upset about if he doesn't perform well (which wasn't the case at all, since I think he was best player on the ice for NYR) when there is really only the bottom pairing up for grabs and 2-3 guys with NHL experience + Hajek fighting for those two spots. There was nothing "stacked" about this defense. Maybe if they were rolling out Hajek-Lundqvist, Miller-Keane, Lindgren-Crawley, and they played as bad as last night's crew, you get worried.

Offensively its about Chytil, Andersson, Howden, Meskanen and Lindqvist. NYR big club may not have any superstar caliber guys, but they do have plenty of depth already which means you're looking at... maybe 2 of those guys MAX making the squad. All of them performed well and got on the score sheet and Howden, specifically, looked like the best F on the ice for NYR all game. After that, any good forward performances you might get are gravy on top... that's it. Stukel opened some eyes and made us all google who he was... gravy. Fontaine continues to show he can be a solid bottom-6 option in the future... gravy.

I just can't be upset about it at all. 2 days of practice and, really, a meaningless tournament so losing the game just does nothing to me. Seeing the specific guys that I want to see play well... all good. Just the fact that Hajek and Howden were the two best players for the team out there last night has to tickle your willy a little bit, after trading McD and Miller. Namestnikov re-signed to solid contract, Hajek, Howden, Nils Lundqvist and still something to come looks a lot better when H&H show that they are at least competent prospects with legit potential.

 

[NYR713]

FOX Sports live games and streaming video

You'd have to put in your TV provider in order to watch. Just the username and password. It's free

www.foxsportsgo.com too. you don't even have to have a TV provider for the TC tourney games. I read that it was the case then I tested it on a browser where I wasn't logged in to my provider and the feeds still worked.

Edit... sorry Joey Bones. Didn't realize your link was the same one...haha. I thought it was the regular Fox page or something. But the rest of the info still good

 

[Kakko]

Penalty killing isn't normally this bad in Juniors and college, is it?

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Penalty killing isn't normally this bad in Juniors and college, is it?

No but when you're playing with people you havent played with before and haven't practiced it it's going to look this bad.

Plus Nell sucks.

 

[NYR713]

One thing I mentioned during the game and haven't brought up since is Crawley's play. I didn't see too much of him last season, only caught a few games. His defensive game is pretty solid. He was physical, seemed to skate well enough to keep up with forwards and his gap and positioning looked pretty good all game, to me. Once in the O zone, he also looked OK. But, he seems like he panics a bit with the puck on his stick in the D zone and doesn't go for carrying the puck much through the neutral zone. Granted, Hajek was being played like a point guard and did a lot of the puck carrying through D and Neutral zones any time he was on the ice.

Crawley's game looks pretty simple and he's someone that could end up pulling a bottom pairing in the NHL one day if he can get some confidence with the puck on his stick.

 

[Ail]

People are allowed to give whatever ridiculous reaction they want. You won't hear me question their right to do so.

It's a prospect tournament before training camp. These guys have played with each other a teaspoon worth. When the Rangers won this tournament, it was fun, it was exciting. It wasn't very meaningful though. I get it, it's been a long summer, but some perspective is nice.

Prospect apologist, you discust me. Just going to let these bozos coast through their NYR career collecting paychecks? This is the dark ages all over again.

I'm done.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Lindqvist has a euro assignment clause, I wonder if he uses it if he doesn’t make the team

Hopefully not

Meskanen doesn’t have one according to cap friendly

 

[tradenashnow]

I don't like the fact at all that they have Smith and Staal on this team to start the season. If they are truly going to rebuild, then they need to make room for at least 1 lefty defenseman prospect to make the team. Smith there was little they could do because he was such a lazy tool last year. He needs to play his way back to value. Staal had a god year. I'm disappointed they didn't get him to agree to a deal and move him with half retained. He would be a good mentor but there are no spots for lefty defenseman on the team. Ultimately, I hope both Staal and Smith go at the deadline. I mean, it's not a total disaster if Hajek and Lindgren get a half of year this season in the AHL. However, it's not rebuilding if you keep playing guys like Smith and Staal.

I would like to see Howden get a year of AHL experience unless they plan on breaking him in on the 4th line. It would be a shame to not play him at center because he's got the potential to be a beast on draws. Fontaine is a top faceoff guy as well.

Start off a 4th line of Nieves-Fontaine-Howden. Then perhaps deal Hayes which it seems they are going to do at some point. Go with Zibanejad-Chytil-Howden-Fontaine down the middle.

 

[tbassler]

The replays are also available at FOX Sports live games and streaming video. There is a "REPLAYS" button near the top. I already watched the first period again.

 

[Kovalev27]

Rangers are going to have to find room for Brett Howden. He’s extremely underrated. I’d have him start as 4C with Andersson moved to wing. But since gorton decided to keep the whole garbage team from last year there won’t be much room. Probably will have to start in Hartford till the deadline

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Rangers are going to have to find room for Brett Howden. He’s extremely underrated. I’d have him start as 4C with Andersson moved to wing. But since gorton decided to keep the whole garbage team from last year there won’t be much room. Probably will have to start in Hartford till the deadline

It doesn't make any sense at all for him to play on the 4th line. There is no rush for him to jump to the NHL and he should start the year in the AHL getting top 6 minutes and continue to develop there. Barring of course he doesn't blow it out of the water at training camp and out perform Chytil and Andersson but I don't see that happening.

 

[Kovalev27]

I don’t trust Hartford to develop anyone right now. I rather him with the big club.

And when you prove you’re good enough to play in the show you should play in the show. Fourth liners aren’t just goons anymore. Cirelli played on the 4C spot for Tampa didn’t hurt him.

You watch Howden will impress

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Someone be a hero and record the game vs Wild. I recorded the Dallas game and can exchange or provide it tomorrow when I get back home.

 

[NYR Viper]

I don't like the fact at all that they have Smith and Staal on this team to start the season. If they are truly going to rebuild, then they need to make room for at least 1 lefty defenseman prospect to make the team. Smith there was little they could do because he was such a lazy tool last year. He needs to play his way back to value. Staal had a god year. I'm disappointed they didn't get him to agree to a deal and move him with half retained. He would be a good mentor but there are no spots for lefty defenseman on the team. Ultimately, I hope both Staal and Smith go at the deadline. I mean, it's not a total disaster if Hajek and Lindgren get a half of year this season in the AHL. However, it's not rebuilding if you keep playing guys like Smith and Staal.

I would like to see Howden get a year of AHL experience unless they plan on breaking him in on the 4th line. It would be a shame to not play him at center because he's got the potential to be a beast on draws. Fontaine is a top faceoff guy as well.

Start off a 4th line of Nieves-Fontaine-Howden. Then perhaps deal Hayes which it seems they are going to do at some point. Go with Zibanejad-Chytil-Howden-Fontaine down the middle.

There will be injuries. Let Staal and Smith start the season in the NHL (assuming they play well in camp) and best case scenario is one of the kids forces the Rangers to trade one of them after they have built up their value and shortened what’s left on their contracts

 

[Thirty One]

Penalty killing isn't normally this bad in Juniors and college, is it?

No, but junior and college teams have full training camps and regular practices to work on such things.

 

[Kovalev27]

Apparently Day and Gross will sit tonight for a few FA’s they want to get a look at.

No other changes

 

[Mac n Gs]

Rangers are going to have to find room for Brett Howden. He’s extremely underrated. I’d have him start as 4C with Andersson moved to wing. But since gorton decided to keep the whole garbage team from last year there won’t be much room. Probably will have to start in Hartford till the deadline

Before anyone jumps down your throat, I'll back you up as being one of the few people that were really happy with returning Hajek and Howden in the McDonagh deal.

I wouldn't start either Lias or Howden at 4C. It seems like a waste to put them in a position where the won't succeed, so they should be getting top minutes in Hartford. I see one open spot as the 3C right now, and I'd guess that Chytil is probably first in line. Spooner and Namestnikov are both W IMO, although I remember you disagreeing with me on that issue.

I think Lias will probably end up as a W too in the long run, but I disagree with your take on his skating yesterday. He was a hound on the puck and was moving great with it. The whole team got gassed later in the game, so I'd expect that they're all a bit rusty right now. I'd guess we see something similar tonight too with most of the same guys playing in the back-to-back.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

The idea that the team is stacked has been over-blown on these boards. There is a group of guys on the team that we need to see can play hockey at a high enough level to compete for spots on the big club and if they do that, fans should be happy. Like you said... defense and goaltending were big question marks coming in and for good reason. The 2 goalies are plugs, neither even a top-3 prospect at that position and one isn't even a prospect. Hajek is the only d-man to be upset about if he doesn't perform well (which wasn't the case at all, since I think he was best player on the ice for NYR) when there is really only the bottom pairing up for grabs and 2-3 guys with NHL experience + Hajek fighting for those two spots. There was nothing "stacked" about this defense. Maybe if they were rolling out Hajek-Lundqvist, Miller-Keane, Lindgren-Crawley, and they played as bad as last night's crew, you get worried.

Offensively its about Chytil, Andersson, Howden, Meskanen and Lindqvist. NYR big club may not have any superstar caliber guys, but they do have plenty of depth already which means you're looking at... maybe 2 of those guys MAX making the squad. All of them performed well and got on the score sheet and Howden, specifically, looked like the best F on the ice for NYR all game. After that, any good forward performances you might get are gravy on top... that's it. Stukel opened some eyes and made us all google who he was... gravy. Fontaine continues to show he can be a solid bottom-6 option in the future... gravy.

I just can't be upset about it at all. 2 days of practice and, really, a meaningless tournament so losing the game just does nothing to me. Seeing the specific guys that I want to see play well... all good. Just the fact that Hajek and Howden were the two best players for the team out there last night has to tickle your willy a little bit, after trading McD and Miller. Namestnikov re-signed to solid contract, Hajek, Howden, Nils Lundqvist and still something to come looks a lot better when H&H show that they are at least competent prospects with legit potential.

This is pretty much the post of the year and read by anyone who is still upset about last night's game. Best review of the game.