Who do Ranger fans feel their top D-man is?

[Henkka]

Staal is the Rangers best defenceman. He's back to his top level defence and he's finally adding offence to his game.

Love McD, but Staal is still better.

So is it more like McDonagh-Girardi are better together and very effective as a pair, but Staal is the best individual?

 

[Kokoschka]

Staal/McDonagh

Girardi
Stralman/Del Zotto

This season IMO.

 

[Vickers8]

Girardi
Staal/ McD
MDZ

Girardi is just to consistent all season long for me to say otherwise

I agree except I would put Strals ahead of Delzotto

 

[Kreider Typical]

staal easily this season, but mcdonagh has a higher ceiling once he develops because of the skating

 

[Bardof425*]

McDonagh. Staal has played well but he is still making his share of mistakes which are being ignored for some reason.

 

[Blueshirt Special]

With this defensive corp, if we start putting the puck in the net, WE ARE TROUBLE for anyone in the league.

 

[SlapshotTheMovie]

Honestly when McD is shadowing a player they might as well put them on the bench. For that alone I would suggest him. Girardi is, as pointed out, great in every situation and trusted in every situation. Hard to put someone above him but with Ryans play in the triple overtime win over the capitals last year its hard to not have a soft spot for him.

 

[Dangleberry]

McDonald's

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Staal
McDonagh
Girardi

in that order.

Staal had a tough go after the concussion, but hes rounding back into form as a top shutdown guy. I like McDonagh a whole lot, but I think hes creeping into overrated status around here.

 

[Trxjw]

Staal for sure. Great stick work and mobility, and one of the most dominant defenders in the corners I've ever seen. Easily our best puck rushing defensemen as well.

McDonagh has the tools to be a legitimate #1, but he's been up and down this season. I don't know who he has to convince to get a look on the PP either. Great one-timer and he has the footwork to get himself into shooting positions that other defenders cannot.

I think Girardi and McDonagh are in a tie at the moment. Bigger upside vs consistency and experience.

 

[pld459666]

So is it more like McDonagh-Girardi are better together and very effective as a pair, but Staal is the best individual?

Not sure I would go that far.

Girardi has proven to be able to play and mesh well with both players.

Staal had his All-Star season while playing with Danny so one can make the argument that they work as well together as McD and Girardi.

I would put them in the following order

Staal
McDonagh
Girardi
Del Zotto

 

[we want cup]

Staal for sure. Great stick work and mobility, and one of the most dominant defenders in the corners I've ever seen. Easily our best puck rushing defensemen as well.

McDonagh has the tools to be a legitimate #1, but he's been up and down this season. I don't know who he has to convince to get a look on the PP either. Great one-timer and he has the footwork to get himself into shooting positions that other defenders cannot.

I think Girardi and McDonagh are in a tie at the moment. Bigger upside vs consistency and experience.

Agreed all around.

Let's say time is winding down, game 7 of the Cup Finals, and we have a one goal lead. One defensive play wins it all. I want Staal on the ice. McD isn't too far behind, though.

 

[Original Blue]

Have to go Staal though as others have said Girardi and McDonagh right now could be a great #1 on some other teams and MDZ is very close and considering at his age will likely be one in a very short time. Girardi in my opinion could be #1 over Staal right now, but I gave the edge to Staal because the "A" he wears. I figure if the team has reason that Staal deserves it then they know what they are talking about. The best part for me though is that they are all still improving.

Right Now:

1. Staal
2. Girardi
3. McDonagh
4. MDZ

In the future here's how I rank it:

1. MDZ- Has shown greatest offensive prowess and definitely has made big strides to improve his defensive awareness at such a young age. If he gets a little more comfortable carrying the puck through the neutral zone and improving at the rate he has then he has the highest ceiling and I think could be up there as one of best OFD in the game.

2. Staal - Greatest current all-around game and good leadership qualities. Also is jumping into offense more and putting himself in a position to be more of a threat on the rush up. Best defensive understanding of the young 3 and is able to cover up mistakes made by others because of his positioning and intuition.

3. McDonagh - Speed and size that is impeccable. Still learning some positioning, but is learning extremely fast and is able to make up often for his own and others' mistakes. Needs to improve his ability to jump into offense to be in running for #1 overall on team, but already is a legitimate high-end #2 because of his physical attributes.

4. Girardi - Simply because of his age he'll fall back on depth chart as he gets older. Right now is a warrior and as others have said contributes so much in so many areas. Defensively will likely be either #1 or #2 on team until his legs won't allow him to play anymore. When he does use his slapshot it's usually low and accurate and one of our most physical defenseman. He may be 4, but he could easily be one of the most important simply because of his experience and determination.

I know this response is completely self-loving, but damn our Top-4 has an impeccable future for years to come. To think, it's unlikely, but if we had a bottom pairing consisting of Sauer and McIlrath that would easily be the most dominating defensive core in the game for a long time to come. Not to mention we have a certain Vezina winner backing everyone up just in case... Gotta give props to both Sather and Clark for putting this group together though as much as some may hate to admit it.

 

[Blue Blooded]

Currently IMO:

McDonagh/Girardi
Staal
Strålman
Del Zotto

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Blows my mind that so many Rangers fans think Girardi is anything but a distant 3rd to Staal and McDonagh. I love the guy. All heart. He's like a throwback D-man that skates well. Love him. However, defensively he's not close to Staal and McD. I still take McD. Someone said that McD actually has more turnovers than Staal, but Staal's turnovers are such killers.

 

[Fitzy]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20122ALLSASALL&sort=avgTOIPerGame&viewName=timeOnIce

This is why. If he isn't our number 1 defenseman, he sure is getting played like one.

 

[we want cup]

Staal is logging more minutes than McD so far this season:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20132NYRSASALL&sort=avgTOIPerGame&viewName=timeOnIce

 

[AlternateSideParking]

I think Girardi and McDonagh are a step ahead of Staal in terms of consistency, McDonagh is the one with the most talent/tools, while Girardi is the most reliable.

1) Mac
2) Girardi
3) Staal
4) MDZ
5) Stralman

 

[haohmaru]

Danny G is the heart and soul of our defense. I'm not saying he's the best D player we have, but he's the guy that holds it all together and the one that's most missed when he's not in there. Hope he spends his entire career as a NYR.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

McDonagh needs to be unbridled. That bottom pair is a fiasco and needs fixing so balance out the pairs, lessen the workload and allow guys like McDonagh to control al three zones with his speed and instincts.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

McDonagh.

Still feel Staal is overrated, he's a very good D-man none the less and I'm glad we have all three plus MDZ and Stralman who is becoming one of our better d-men.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Michel Bergeron was a disaster as a coach, but his legacy with the organization was telling Brian Leetch to do whatever the hell he wanted to do whenever he wanted to do it.

It's not being selfish (which Leetch never was).

It's identifying special talents, let them experiencing teething problems and develop into the superstar they should.

At some point, McDonagh needs to be playing top PP minutes.

 

[Samuel Culper III]

I think when McDonagh is firing on all cylinders it's him.

Agreed. But while I don't think Girardi is the best defensively or offensively, I feel he's actually the rock and leader back there. Very important player, even when he has a rough game or is turning the puck over. He's the Callahan of the D-core, IMO.

Edit: actually I loved reading almost every post in here. We're truly blessed to have all these guys and each argument had me agreeing. Overall, I think McD is a monster but can I really say he's better than Staal, or vice versa? Good problem to have. Love our top three D.

 

[zuckera1]

McDonagh.

Generally plays a near flawless game - he had a couple of egregious mistakes against Buffalo, but otherwise, he's the best defender on the team this year. Staal has been awesome and looks to be back to his pre-concussion form, but he's still a little too inconsistent on a game-by-game basis. Sometimes looks like he's controlling the ice, other times he's fumbling the puck like a grenade. With McDonagh, I usually know what I'm getting. Solid 25 minute defensive effort and a great first pass on nearly every transition play. Still think he needs time on the PP, especially over Girardi.

1) McDonagh
2) Girardi
3) Staal
4) MDZ

McDonagh and Girardi are consistent, Staal makes good plays but is also prone to bone-headed plays as well. To me that's the difference

 

[zuckera1]

McDonagh.

Still feel Staal is overrated, he's a very good D-man none the less and I'm glad we have all three plus MDZ and Stralman who is becoming one of our better d-men.

Agreed