pld459666
Registered User
that's just silly.
Stastny is no Hagelin or Kreider but he is just as fast as Brassard.
It's not a strong point for either player, but lets not paint Stastny as some terrible skater.
It's not accurate, at all.
Speculation: Who Will the Rangers Target At the Center Position this Summer?
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that's just silly.
Stastny is no Hagelin or Kreider but he is just as fast as Brassard.
It's not a strong point for either player, but lets not paint Stastny as some terrible skater.
It's not accurate, at all.
Fitzy
Very Stable Genius
- Jan 29, 2009
- 36,365
- 24,169
Not interested in Stastny being the next-in-line of 1B center signings for 1A money that we regret in 2 years.
Paying guys like Gomez, Drury, Stastny, and Richards the cash that other teams have guys like Crosby, Thornton and Datsyuuk signed for is one of the perpetual problems this organization has.
Paying guys like Gomez, Drury, Stastny, and Richards the cash that other teams have guys like Crosby, Thornton and Datsyuuk signed for is one of the perpetual problems this organization has.
Tawnos
A guy with a bass
Brassard isn't faster than Richards, either. (unless you're talking about 2012-13 Richards, who was out of shape due a failure to keep up with training during the lockout)
pld459666
Registered User
Well, when you are not lucky enough to draft a Datsyuk in the later rounds or are not bad enough to draft a Crosby or a Thornton 1st overall, there has to be a middle point in trying to acquire the talent needed to fill positions.
The system is pretty shallow so trading from that pool is not realistic.
The team has finally reached a level of depth that moving 3 assets for that #1 center that had taken a discount (ie Sidney AND Thornton) is not realistic and if something did happen, we'd be back to 2012-13 where team depth was an issue.
I get that the history of most UFA's have not performed as we would have liked. I also get that the expectations heaped on some of those players were generally un-realistic when looking at how they produced on average before signing in NY.
I also see an organization that does not do it's homework often enough before making those commitments otherwise Redden and Kaspar would not have been signed.
We're not trading for RO'R, Kadri, Thornton or Spezza (we have nothing we want to part with that the opposing teams would want).
And while they are both bottom third in terms of #1 centers, Stastny and Stepan ARE #1 centers in this league. We could do alot worse.
pld459666
Registered User
I'm talking about the Richards who's legs are completely shot, a significant reason for the buyout.
He could not keep up with the play, he could not catch up to the play, when your wingers have to wait for you constantly you are allowing opposing forwards the time needed to control the gaps rendering you useless.
Richards was as bad as Boyle this year.
Fitzy
Very Stable Genius
- Jan 29, 2009
- 36,365
- 24,169
I like him but "Taking over via sheer will" is not something I associate with his game.
Its like saying Eric Christensen plays with an edge.
Tawnos
A guy with a bass
There was no part of the buyout that had to do with Richards play on the ice or even his production on the scoresheet.
And you're allowing the last 4 weeks to override your memory of the whole season.
pld459666
Registered User
Not at all.
The fading started WAY before the playoffs did. Because you choose to ignore it, doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Going into the Olympic break, Richards was producing the best he had been while in a NYR uniform. Coming out of the Olympic Break, it looked like his legs were shot.
01/01/14 to the break, he played in 18 games posting 15 points and a +3 rating.
Post break pre playoffs? - 9 points in 23 gamesand a -3 rating.
All the while getting over three and a half minutes of PP run.
Ail
Based and Rangerspilled.
Tawnos
A guy with a bass
Oh, I wasn't saying his production didn't drop. I just don't equate it with his skating getting worse. The legs were really the last thing to go with him, IMO.
Either way, I'm not really sure why we want another center with skating as a question mark. Stastny is about to be 29. The likelihood is that his already average or less skating will become worse within the next 3 years. I don't want to be worrying about that again.
Ail
Based and Rangerspilled.
Because he is a young, game breaking center/wing? MacKinnon will probably be the best of those 3, but so what? They all fill the need similarly and are all not coming to NY.
We've seen it way too much in the past few years. The Rangers need to learn from past moves and not hand out these long-term deals to players who will inevitably decline in the second or third year of the deal.
pld459666
Registered User
I don't envision Stastny's skating to be an issue for him until he's pushing 33-34 at which point we are 5 years into a deal.
Assuming the game continues to grow, that contract would be tradeable with 2 years left
None of the options available to us look all that enticing.
1 - Stay the course. Play Stepan, Brassard, Miller and Moore down the middle. I don't trust Miller enough in that spot at this time.
2 - Trade assets for late 20 to early 30 year old players eliminating org. depth making it easier to defend us.
3 - Sign a 1st line center, bottom 3rd in terms of top line centers, but a top line guy nonetheless.
Stay the course is the most attractive option if you are looking to save money. But not one if you are looking to get back to and WIN the Stanley Cup.
but we agree to disagree.
Tawnos
A guy with a bass
It's not a risk I'm willing to take with Stastny.
On 1, personally I think the odds are pretty low that, with 2 centers on the cusp of the NHL, we would not see an effective rookie in the 3C spot next year if it were left open. I'm not against bringing in a stopgap (mentioned Brodziak in the other thread, Goc has been brought up in this thread) just in case, but at some point you have to do this kind of thing.
pld459666
Registered User
I don't believe that Brodziak or Goc has any impact on this teams chances of getting into the playoffs or the ability to make a similar run.
Within reason, the goal should always be to get and be better than you were the previous season.
Tawnos
A guy with a bass
Within reason, it can't be done with this team in their current cap situation. At this point, it's not about being better than last year. It's about making the right choices for the roster under the circumstances and within the constraints.
"Stay the course" is the most attractive option because it keeps some flexibility and allows the Rangers to use that flexibility as the season progresses, where they can get a better idea of where they really need help.
The other options? They involve blowing up portions of a Stanley Cup final team for forwards that may or may not work. Too much risk.
Unfortunately, around here anyways, that seems to involve tunnel vision and acquiring a center by any means necessary.
While often downplaying the abilities/contributions of players currently on the roster.
StepansLabyrinth
Rational Police
- Jul 2, 2009
- 1,845
- 1
Is it possible to sign David Legwand to a 1 year deal? The free agent class is much better next year and Legwand would be a pretty great 3C. Stepan-Brassard-Legwand-Moore isn't god-tier or anything but it's solid as all hell and doesn't handcuff our future like Statsny might.
One thing to note as a difference in Stastny and Richards was their disparity in playoff games at time of UFA. Richards was older when he signed UFA with NYR correct? Also, Stastny, although been in the league for a while doesn't have near the mileage Richards had when signed in NYR. He's probably a **** ton hungrier too having never been on a winner before.
pld459666
Registered User
I hope that's not directed at me.
I have defended Brassard as a legit #2 center.
I think that Miller could be the quintessential #3 center, but I'm not sure that he's there just yet.
There are guys on this team that I do not look at as core pieces. Pouliot and Boyle happen to be two of them.
I think that Miller could do on Zuccs and Brass LW that Poo did.
As for Stastny, 6.75 per for 6 years is a deal i give him gladly. I'm not sure, based on what I heard the other night, that Colorado is going to be giving out contracts to the current guys for more that what Matty D makes.
So while Paul may want to stay, he's got to take a pay cut to do it.
OR
He can look at the Rangers situation of just barely losing in the Finals offering him that contract and see that there are opportunities to play with some very good teams outside of Colorado.
Blue Seat Spartan
Permanent Vacation
Things to consider with the Rangers center situation:
Since the Rangers' window for challenging for the Stanley Cup is RIGHT NOW as evidenced by their 2 ECF appearances and a Final appearance in the past three seasons, they have to do everything in their power to ice a team that can contend, and having a No. 1 Center is a necessity. We could wait for 2015's promising free agent crop, but that would waste a year of Hank's prime just to get an elite center for an expected deep playoff run.
We may have to overpay, but Paul Stastny is the prudent choice at this moment for this Rangers team. Assuming we keep Brassard's line together - and they've proven to be effective as a 2nd line trio, I would be okay with this:
Kreider-(Stastny)-Nash
Pouliot-Brassard-Zuccarello
Hagelin-Stepan-St. Louis
Carcillo-Moore-Dorsett
Miller-Lindberg-Fast
Derek Stepan's shown some flashes, but he doesn't have the wheels to be a consistently true No. 1 center. You can shuffle him up or down the middle six as he's versatile enough to be used either as secondary scoring or as a checking center to shadow the likes of Crosby, Datsyuk, Bergeron when necessary. Also, this allows Miller, Lindberg, and Fast to stay game-ready in HFD and step up to the big club when injuries arise.
Paul Stastny is the best of a mediocre 2014 free agent group, and one who could fit in well with AV's system of play. He can serve as the defensive conscience for Kreider and Nash with the way the Rangers run a 1-2-2 forecheck under Vigneault and is not a liability in the defensive end with the Rangers playing a overload/man-on-man hybrid. Also, it's important to maintain chemistry amongst the forward trios that the Rangers have, which was the key to their Stanley Cup Final appearance.
- Strengths - speed on the flanks (Kreider, Hagelin,); scoring ability (Zuccarello, St. Louis); depth on the wings
- Weaknesses - lack of a competent No. 1 center who excels at faceoffs, defensive support, etc.
Since the Rangers' window for challenging for the Stanley Cup is RIGHT NOW as evidenced by their 2 ECF appearances and a Final appearance in the past three seasons, they have to do everything in their power to ice a team that can contend, and having a No. 1 Center is a necessity. We could wait for 2015's promising free agent crop, but that would waste a year of Hank's prime just to get an elite center for an expected deep playoff run.
We may have to overpay, but Paul Stastny is the prudent choice at this moment for this Rangers team. Assuming we keep Brassard's line together - and they've proven to be effective as a 2nd line trio, I would be okay with this:
Kreider-(Stastny)-Nash
Pouliot-Brassard-Zuccarello
Hagelin-Stepan-St. Louis
Carcillo-Moore-Dorsett
Miller-Lindberg-Fast
Derek Stepan's shown some flashes, but he doesn't have the wheels to be a consistently true No. 1 center. You can shuffle him up or down the middle six as he's versatile enough to be used either as secondary scoring or as a checking center to shadow the likes of Crosby, Datsyuk, Bergeron when necessary. Also, this allows Miller, Lindberg, and Fast to stay game-ready in HFD and step up to the big club when injuries arise.
Paul Stastny is the best of a mediocre 2014 free agent group, and one who could fit in well with AV's system of play. He can serve as the defensive conscience for Kreider and Nash with the way the Rangers run a 1-2-2 forecheck under Vigneault and is not a liability in the defensive end with the Rangers playing a overload/man-on-man hybrid. Also, it's important to maintain chemistry amongst the forward trios that the Rangers have, which was the key to their Stanley Cup Final appearance.
KingWantsCup
#FightLikeHell
Stastny is Richards 2.0 and it's so obvious. Unfortunately despite that, all things considered, he is still probably our best option overall. Sather doesn't care about term. Lundqvist's prime will be closing within a few years. Sather won't be around to clean up the mess anyway.
