Rangers Analysis: When Dubinsky Returns.....
by NYRBlogger on Dec 14, 2009 7:00 AM EST
in Rangers Analysis
51 comments
Who will get the boot out of the lineup? Well, considering that forward Aaron Voros has been a consistent scratch, I would assume that one of Enver Lisin, Brian Boyle or Erik Christensen will start to watch from the sky box. Do not get me wrong, each of these individuals have been playing fairly well, surprisingly, but when push comes to shove, Tortorella will most likely not scratch Brashear or Anisimov. I feel as if Christensen has not gotten the look he deserves, only receiving 6:01 of ice-time against the Sabres, leaving Boyle as the healthy scratch for the time being.
Having multiple healthy scratches a night would be a bit ridiculous, so I think it is about time GM Glen Sather rids himself of Aaron Voros--waivers would be the best way to go. There is no need for Voros and his $1 million salary to chew up cap space if he is not even contributing to the team in anyway other than staying out on the ice after everyone else has left for the showers in practice. Voros is useless at this point and that is final. It is time he is waived or in some way, removed.
After watching Drury have yet another tough game Saturday night, I would pick Dubinsky to center the second line and move Drury down to the third. Dubinsky centering Sean Avery and Ryan Callahan is an energy line and I think that it definitely could account for some goals. As we saw on his powerplay goal on Saturday, Callahan is a player that needs to be set-up for his goals, and by that I mean he is not really capable of creating his own chances, but rather an individual who can bury pucks when a linemate feeds him. Both Sean Avery and Brandon Dubinsky can pass, so I think Callahan would benefit from that as well.
All three of these players hit, all three of these players skate, and all three of these players have heart. I truly believe that they can be a combination that, if given the opportunity, that has the ability to become a key part of the secondary scoring, which is lacking from the Rangers' game right now. This would leave Drury on a line with Artem Anisimov and either Ales Kotalik or Enver Lisin. Kotalik has been horrid as of late, so my personal choice would be Lisin. John Tortorella seems to dismiss the fact that Anisimov and Lisin were gelling in the beginning of the season, with both of them being Russian. The two forwards have not played with eachother since the beginning of October.
Dubinsky has only played in eighteen games this season before breaking his hand in Calgary on November 7th. However, the Anchorage, Alaska native is somehow eighth on the team in scoring with just ten points. He started off hot, but leading up to the injury, cooled off. Thus far in his career, Brandon has been an inconsistent streaky player, which John Tortorella pretty much swore he would change. During his time in the linuep this season, I cannot really say that I have seen much of a difference besides the fact that he has been shooting a bit more.
Monday's tilt with the Atlanta Thrashers seems to be the game that Dubinsky will return, but there has been no confirmation just yet. If this is true, the below layout is how I think the Blueshirts' offensive lineup should look against the surging Thrashers.
Higgins - Prospal - Gaborik
Avery - Dubinsky - Callahan
Drury - Anisimov - Lisin
Brashear - Christensen - Kotalik
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Moving Drury off center?
I don’t think that will happen, especially with Double A still struggling on face-offs. Plus I am not sure Drury can play left wing and chew his mouthpiece at the same time
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 14, 2009 8:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
If AA and Drury are on the same line
Drury can still take the faceoffs.
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by RangerSmurf on Dec 14, 2009 8:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Drury started on Gomez’s wing last season, it wasn’t really effective but it’s worth trying again.
by KingHenrik on Dec 14, 2009 10:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Patrick Kane chews his mouthpiece and is still a corner stone in Chicago
by Dougee on Dec 14, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree that dub, avery, and call would be a good fast line. Drury looked like he was dropped on another planet playing the point in the third period. Although I couldn’t bare watching kotalik let someone skate by him (again) …
by NYR9320 on Dec 14, 2009 8:39 AM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
I don't think.........
that Dubinsky is really going to help on any level. The team as a whole has begun a downward spiral that would take re-shuffling the entire team, which we all know can’t/won’t happen. Drury will never be the same player he once was, Dubinsky will always be a streaky player that you hope gets REAL HOT come playoff time (if we make it). The bottom line is we’re stuck with this team and its staff for years to come unless something drastic happens.
by ReverseLife on Dec 14, 2009 8:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I disagree, I think he will help in a few areas. One, he is one of the few players on this team willing to dig in the corners and get dirty, so to speak. Two, just having another true center on the roster will allow a few players to go back to their normal roles and positions.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 14, 2009 9:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Dubi will definitely help in many areas, but I am a little concerned about his hand though. I thought I read somewhere that it is still painful and in a cast. How do you play with that????
by MattPwrcf1 on Dec 14, 2009 10:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
On the downward spiral
The last six games have been against teams that average ~42 pts this season, and they’ve played one goal games in the last 4.
Now it doesn’t explain the losses to Florida, Atlanta and Tampa before it but they were in the middle of a brutal part of the schedule that now lightens up immensely.
In fact, the Rangers don’t play a team with more than 31 points for the rest of the year. They now have a chance here to get going. And if they don’t, well then feel free to crucify them.
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by RangerSmurf on Dec 14, 2009 9:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I like those lineups…
AA and Lisin are apparently good friends off the ice, and should have chemistry given their backgrounds. I really want to see them together again.
by goodieNY on Dec 14, 2009 9:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Throw in the towel!!!
Ok boys and girls sit right down and let me tell you a story….As we all know the rangers are very cap heavy 1.6 mil. Over to be exact. With the likes of some very evil players that suck up all the money but don’t produce there fair share. Big bad Wade Redden, Michael Rosival, and Chris Drury to name a few but the biggest problem is the length of time they have left as Rangers, Well one day the leader of the Ranger Empire had to make a choice continue losing with these players or find a way to trade them so he did the only thing he could, he began to pair the Bad players with his good players for the overall good of the team. You see no team in there right mind would take these players alone so the Rangers emperor would have to put players like Ryan Callahan, Matt Gilroy, and even Marc Stahl in the trades to finally rid his team of the Bad Evil players that have not helped the team and continue to eat up valuable cap space .Once this is done the team will be able to move forward and hopefully learned it’s lesson on long term contracts.
Get ready Ranger fans for the ugly time has come, but there’s always next year!
by Pauly D on Dec 14, 2009 11:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Pauly,
Trading Staal, Callahan and Gilroy (let’s just throw in Dubinsky Del Zotto and Gaborik while we are at it) to get rid of big contracts will, yes, relieve us from our cap burden. But then we will be left with nothing but players that we are all so sick of already.
Redden has been fine thus far. Rozsival and Drury have not. Why not relieve out cap burden (by the way what does 1.6 mil over mean? We are not over the cap or else we couldn’t field a team) by sending Rozsival down to the AHL. That gives us 5 million extra dollars in space (and since we are close to 1.5 mil UNDER the cap) we would have more money to use or maybe even not use.
Trading away youth is probably the worst thing to do right now. I would rather suck and get better players in the draft then trade away the future which is incidentally oh so bright.
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by Joe Fortunato on Dec 14, 2009 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Joe,
You didn’t like my story? Sorry to say it Joe but as the story goes the only way to get rid of the cap space problems would be combined good players with our evil players cause we all know, on one will take just a drury from us! Glen will be forced to sweeten the pot….and if you go to NHLSCAP the rangers are 1.6 over the cap….
by Pauly D on Dec 14, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Pauly
A) You can’t be over the cap and still field a team. It is a hard cap, there is nothing more to say.
Drury has a full no movement clause (did you not read my story on Drury a few days ago?) He can’t even be sent down to the AHL without giving his approval. He is literally going no where.
Redden? Even with Dubinsky, Staal or Del Zotto NO ONE will take him at 6.5 for another 4 years. And even if they do who really wins?
Let’s save cap and ruin our future so that we can make it to the playoffs and get ousted in the first round again? No thanks buddy
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by Joe Fortunato on Dec 14, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I do so love it when you guys get to pissin
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 14, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Rozi will be gone by the edn of the season. A playoff team with a need for a veteran D will take him
by MattPwrcf1 on Dec 14, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Joe
To be Frank with ya..You get so worked up anytime I post anything..I’m beginning to think you don’t want me to post on the site..I threw A FUCKING STORY AT YA!!Relax !
the Bottom line Joe was glen will be forced to sweeten any deals he makes IE>>>when he traded Prucha,Dawes and Kalin(can’t spell his name)the trade was to get rid of Kalin some how….Sorry about the HARD CAP bottom line is the Rangers are CAP HEAVY AND CANT MAKE DEALS WITH EASE…Last, I won’t ever post again because Joe hates when I do…
by Pauly D on Dec 14, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
thats not the case
I sent you an e-mail, check it out
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by Joe Fortunato on Dec 14, 2009 12:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
and can we cut this "Evils players" thing
Players can’t be faulted for signing overpriced contracts.
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by Joe Fortunato on Dec 14, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Actually
I’m pretty sure Michal Rozsival took the E out of his first name just so we couldn’t make “You can’t spell Michael Rozsival without Evil” jokes.
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by RangerSmurf on Dec 14, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
how about Glen “Evil” Sather ? lol
by MattPwrcf1 on Dec 14, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wade Evil?
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by Joe Fortunato on Dec 14, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
unfortunately
… as ugly as this sounds, there is a great chance of this type of thing happening.
I’d hate it as much as Joe – its the wrong strategy… but since when has management stuck to the best strategy?
There is a lot of pressure to fix some of these mistakes, and Sather will see trades as a way to do that… and Pauly is right, the only way teams make these trades is if we package in good young players.
I think at least one trade like this is on the horizon – like a Redden and Dubinsky package for something.
Again, its the wrong strategy, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
by j-red on Dec 14, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
good analysis. that line, with duby, avery & cally – it might work well. it worked very with jags on it sans-callahan during avery’s first run with the blueshirts. torts will probably end up with dubi on the first line alongside prospal and gaborik though. vinny can play center well but he’s been better on the wing with dubi at center. keep that energy line thought going tough…its good….oh, and… aaron voros still plays hockey?
by #17ToTheRafters on Dec 14, 2009 11:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah that’s a rehash of the Larry Brooks story from last week
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 14, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
athough anyone realize that we didnt
sign Zherdev because of his lack of hear. Signed Kotalik and then are looking for Muller who is also consitered to “take games off.”
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by Joe Fortunato on Dec 14, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Kotalik was known to be useless at even strength
He’s effectively the NHL’s version of a kicker, he’s brought on to produce points on special teams and otherwise should stay the hell off the field. The fact Tortorella kept trotting him out there on the 2nd and 3rd line’s was his fault, and the fact we paid 3m for a specialist is Sather’s.
Mueller would be nice though even if he does take nights off, if we can get him cheap. He’s shooting a Higgins-esque 2.4% so far. I don’t think Mueller for Sanguinetti is cheap though…if we’re going to dangle Bobby it should be for something less sketchy and more gooder.
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by RangerSmurf on Dec 14, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And now for something completely different:
Lines with Dubinsky being reported as:
Higgins Dubinsky Gaborik
Prospal Drury Callahan
Avery Anisimov Kotalik
Brashear Boyle Lisin
and D-pairs as
Staal Rozsival
Del Zotto Girardi
Redden Heikkinen
by dbmaven on Dec 14, 2009 12:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Why oh why is Kotalik on the third line….
by goodieNY on Dec 14, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
no no why is he breaking up gabby and prospal? this makes no sense whatsoever. this is being reported where?
by #17ToTheRafters on Dec 14, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’s not like Gaborik will be less productive without Prospal, I’d switch Higgins and Avery and Lisin and Kotalik though.
by KingHenrik on Dec 14, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Reported by AGrossRecord (Andrew Gross)
by dbmaven on Dec 14, 2009 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
freaking torts
Why in the freaking world would he put Kotalik on the third line when he has Lisin on the 4th?/???? put Lisin back with Anisimov!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this man makes me SICK.
by CrazyRangerFan on Dec 14, 2009 12:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
i guess i will throw this out there since i dont see it suggested much if at all. i understand the desire to always keep prospal and gaborik together because they have played pretty well together. the problem is if we are getting nothing from anyone else then maybe we need to see if prospal can get someone else going and with dubi back maybe this could be the time to do it. gaborik is talented enough where he producing most of his stuff without great feeds and also sets up others, so let a playmaker like prospal work with guys who cant create there own.
Higgins-Dubi-Gaborik
Avery-Prospal-Cally
Anisimov-Drury-Lisin (drury takes faceoffs, but really plays wing)
Boyle-Christensen-Kotalik
by mleetch352 on Dec 14, 2009 1:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
+1
This is what it should look like. Callahan needs a passer on his line to be truly effective, and Prospal’s the best one we have (well, outside of Gaborik)
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by RangerSmurf on Dec 14, 2009 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
canes’ waive aaron ward..any chance the blue shirts send down voros, boyle, etc. and try to grab him at half price? thoughts?
by inHANKweTruST on Dec 14, 2009 1:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
hmmm not a bad idea, but can we use him as a 7th dman? I think he is more of a 4th or 5th, right? Playing Ilka as a 7th wouldnt make much sense if we picked up Ward
by MattPwrcf1 on Dec 14, 2009 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
was he
any good when we had him?
Rangers FTW!
by BleedsRangerBlue on Dec 14, 2009 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If I remember correctly, he sucked and we got rid of him after less than one season. Back then he was supposed to be a top 5 dman for us, but he struggled with Carolina this year and they let him go. So maybe now he is more suited to a 7th dman role? hmm maybe we could use this guy….
by MattPwrcf1 on Dec 14, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
how can one not stuggle in carolina right now though….
by #17ToTheRafters on Dec 14, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
talking about struggling…We are # 27 in the league standings….ouch!!!
by MattPwrcf1 on Dec 14, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
knowing torsts, what really matters is not how he sets up the lines when dubi returns, but how he sets them up for the following game. here are my ideal lines to start the night with (assuming #17 plays):
Prospal-Dubi-Gaborik
Avery-Drury-Cally
Higgins-Anisimov-Kotalik
Brashear-Christensen-Lisin
Anisimov is currently a 2nd line center more than drury is, but i like that line more with the captain on it.
by #17ToTheRafters on Dec 14, 2009 1:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Neither Cally or Avery can score on their own, and it’s not like Drury will be setting them up. This is what the lines should be (credit to mleetch):
Higgins-Dubi-Gaborik
Avery-Prospal-Cally
Anisimov-Drury-Lisin (drury takes faceoffs, but really plays wing)
Boyle-Christensen-Kotalik
by goodieNY on Dec 14, 2009 2:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
we have an excess of centers. AA is struggling on face off but has a great amount of talent. so why not put him on 1st line wing? makes sense to me.
anisimov prospal gaborik
higgins dubinsky callahan
avery drury lisin
boyle christensen kotalik
that just honestly makes sense to me. why we dont go with it is beyond me
also, is anyone else in favor or putting mdz with staal? i think theyd play together nicely
staal mdz
redden girardi
hikk rozi (wish it were gilroy)
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
by Moshe52792 on Dec 14, 2009 2:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
moshe we tried that. AA is inexperienced and 1 dimensional. He’s a defensive liability and as we’ve seen before hes lazy. HOPEFULLY he gets better with time, but theres one thing you can’t teach and thats effort.
by Dougee on Dec 14, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
idk i thought he played really well on the first line.
my opinion i guess but i think hes def. our best option. but if not him than def. dubinsky over higgins
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
by Moshe52792 on Dec 14, 2009 5:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
he did get a look on the first line, but he really didn’t see enough time up there to get a good perspective. He does have a lot to learn, but I like how he played before we decided to drop his playing time. He needs to keep his head up and become more consistent, but hopefully that will come with time.
by Rangerguy on Dec 14, 2009 5:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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