Rangers Sign Matt Gilroy
by Reg Dunlop on Apr 17, 2009 6:42 PM EDT
21 comments
Link to the TSN story is here.
Link to his statisics is here.
I privately called this during the Frozen Four. I thought either the Rangers or the Islanders would make a play for a the "local boy". I didn't think it would take this long though.
Gilroy was a walk-on at BU and developed into an excellent college player. But his strength was as an attacking defenseman and his stardom this year was in many ways related to how well he fit into a Terriers system that thrives on activating the defense.
This signing raises a few questions.
1. How well will Gilroy's skills translate to the NHL?
2. What does this mean for an already crowded blue line? Especially for Paul Mara.
3. How wise is it for a team so tight to the cap to guarantee a 2/$3million to an undrafted free agent?
4. With so many of the Rangers top prospects being D, is this a smart use of money?
I like Gilroy. He impressed me tremendously this season. But I wonder how much this is a move driven by his "story" versus a wise organizational decision for the Rangers.
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I posted the same thing a minute after you so I’ll just move my question here.
I am a little confused; why is a college player 24 years old, and does that inform why he is a de facto free agent and not a draftee?
by XLII on Apr 17, 2009 5:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
PG years and Juniors
If you look at the freshmen on a lot of college rosters a good percentage of them are not 18. When kids go to Prep School, most of them repeat a year. So when they graduate they are at least 19. At the same time a lot of players play at least a year of high level Juniors before going to college. It often helps some players who were not highly recruited get more looks. Some players expend their Junior eligibility and don’t go in as “freshmen” until they are 21. A few years back Michel Leveille graduated from U Maine at the age of 26.
In Gilroy’s case he was not recruited to BU and was not a prospect at all. In fact he was encouraged by Jack Parker not to go to BU. He walked on, made the team, and developed. Hopefully, for his and the Rangers sake, that development will continue.
by Reg Dunlop on Apr 17, 2009 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This might be number one on my “thing I wish I’d known when I was younger” list. I showed up at college at 18 at 5’10-11’’, 160 soaking wet and was greeted by 20 and 21 year old incoming freshman who were my height but had twenty more pounds of muscle on them.
by David M. Getz on Apr 17, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good Sign
First of all, I like this move.
Secondly, he wasn’t drafted (that’s why he’s a F.A) and probably did two-three years after his high school career, that is why he’s 24.
As long as he can get up for the physical part of the NHL, he’ll be fine.
by Rob Luker on Apr 17, 2009 5:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice job Reg
Puck Daddy did a one on one with him last week, I wonder how he feels about the Rangers now.
Puck Daddy interview with Matt Gilroy
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 17, 2009 6:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Our pool of defenseman...
on their way are very good. Best young pool of defensive talent in the league? idk…
I like gilroy too. Whether or not it was for a steep price is to be decided. I think he plays tremendously, and deserved the respect he has. Lets hope he can bring that talent up to the NHL and prove his worth.
And, one off topic comment…. I post on Japers’ rink, with my thoughts, agreeing and disagreeing with the fans’s posts, respectfully, say Im not trying to start anything, just wondering your opinions on my thoughts….. (reply’s to my post were immature) and I get BANNED? wow… no fans of one team can talk with fans of other teams. jeez. (and now I can express my feelings).. what a joke.
by rmc235 on Apr 17, 2009 7:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
C’mon. You know that’s not how it went down. Plenty of Rangers fans are members of our community and bring a lot to the table without being antagonistic.
But feel free to recreate history and go crying back to your mommy blog.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Apr 17, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoever wants to look at my post, its on their game one recap… all the way towards the bottom. I express my thoughts, respectfully in my opinion, and say im not trying to start anything. And the replies to my post aren’t mature in the slightest.
wow.. look how mature you are. If i was being antagonistic, I would’ve left the “not trying to start anything, just wondering your thoughts on my thoughts” comment out of it. Can a fan talk to other teams fans’? I guess not.
wow.. look how mature you are. If i was being antagonistic, I would’ve left the “not trying to start anything, just wondering your thoughts on my thoughts” comment out of it. Can a fan talk to other teams fans’? I guess not.“go back crying to your mommy blog”. I only have 6 comments on this blog, just started browsing. Would you like to inform everyone how it went down then?
wow.. look how mature you are. If i was being antagonistic, I would’ve left the “not trying to start anything, just wondering your thoughts on my thoughts” comment out of it. Can a fan talk to other teams fans’? I guess not.“go back crying to your mommy blog”. I only have 6 comments on this blog, just started browsing. Would you like to inform everyone how it went down then?I really wasn’t going to talk about this incident anymore, because I dropped it from my mind. If someone replied, I would talk to them, but I didn’t think, a person who probably banned me from that blog, would track me down and rub the banning in my face. good job… really.
by rmc235 on Apr 17, 2009 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I respect this blog far too much to continue this conversation here (and apologize for engaging in it in the first place), but if you’d like to email me (my info’s on the site), I’d be happy to talk about this and re-admit you if you’re interested.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Apr 17, 2009 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Classy as always JP. Kick some ass, take some names and make em come back cryin to you for absolution. Boo ya!
>and I was called a troll by those Cap fans and I didn’t come back cryin!
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Apr 17, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, only one Cap fan called you a troll (and I defended you!), and she admitted that it was just so she could use that awesome picture.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Apr 17, 2009 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
crying? really? I should just leave these blogs all together…. my god. (man, Im probably antagonizing…wtf)
by rmc235 on Apr 17, 2009 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On points 3 and 4, I wouldn’t think it’s too much of a problem: the Rangers have plenty of money and if Gilroy’s contract is more than he’s worth, he can he sent to Hartford where it won’t be an issue.
by David M. Getz on Apr 17, 2009 7:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Cap space
The Rangers are up against it right now. They have the albatross contracts of Redden, Drury, Gomez, and Naslund. I’m not totally sure of all the players but I think Zherdev and Mara are FA’s. Nobody knows where the cap is going yet so it is a risk to commit that money for an unproven player.
by Reg Dunlop on Apr 17, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not much of a risk at all as Mara and Morris are likely to move on, as are at least one of Antropov, Betts, Orr and Sjostrom. This kid looked damned good in the NCAA and if he can adjust to the speed of the NHL – which everyone says he is capable of doing – he will be an adequate replacement for Morris this fall at a much cheaper price.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Apr 17, 2009 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I personally
wanted this kid from the get go. Watching my own college team, the mighty Quinnipiac Bobcats, i can tell you that this kid is MILES ahead of everyone else on the ice. This is a really really good move, he was highly sought after. Way to go Rangers!
http://rangerreporter.wordpress.com/ - My Ranger Blog
by Joe Fortunato on Apr 17, 2009 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He will still need to prove himself to be considered more above others who have already demonstrated they are ready for the next level.
Is it even fair to consider Gilroy above our other young defensemen?
by rmc235 on Apr 17, 2009 9:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I go away for two hours………
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 17, 2009 9:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is it me
or does it seem like the Rangers are trying to find the next Brian Leetch. Someone that can quarterback the blueline and be a possible leader for the team. I think its a good signing but jesus. How many defensman do the Rangers need to sign and not give them a shot at the NHL? We’ll see what happens with his future, personally I think he’s gonna be trade for some over paid aging player within the next 2-3 years.
by AveryGod on Apr 18, 2009 12:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
To answer your questions
Lots of teams are trying to find the next Brian Leetch
The Rangers need to sign 43 defensemen and not give them a shot in the NHL, I looked it up
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 18, 2009 7:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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