Rangers Analysis: When Drury Returns Who Goes?

I agree with your points, EC is definitely the odd man out once our forwards are healthy, and White is gone as soon as either are back. The projected lines look pretty good, especially if Drury can win face-offs with his recovered hand, and Prospal still has the spring in his step to keep up with Gaborik:

Dubinsky – Anisimov – Callahan
Frolov – Prospal – Gaborik
Avery – Boyle – Prust
Christensen – Drury – Fedetenko

Staal – Sauer
Rozsival – Girardi
MDZ – Eminger

Defense is in shambles with so many LD… I sense a trade in the midst…

I am thinking EC goes, but on the other hand it might not be such a bad idea to send Stepan down for a dozen games or so. Stepan is having a typical rookie season, but there are moments when he shows that he will be a very good offensive player (talking about his awesome passing ability). He has not scored in almost 20 games and when you re not scoring you’re usually losing confidence. At this point in his young career he needs to be scoring goals and developing and I think he needs a few games in the AHL. I m pretty sure that if he is sent down, he will play awesome down there, score a lot and get his confidence back and then he can be called up to the big club and continue his development. Any thoughts?

EC should go. EC and Stepan have the same amount of points thus far. Stepan is 20 years old and has great vision and passing skills. As he gets more used to the NHL speed his play making is only going to get better. As John says in the article he hasn’t looked out of place at all. EC has a very solid +/- but to me the choice is clear. Sending a kid with massive play making potential to the AHL would be a mistake.

White is obviously the first to go regardless IMO. Again, It seems to me Torts isn’t using his players properly. He gives guys like Fedotenko and EC such long leashes although the later he may be tightening the reigns. While he has guys like Avery & Stepan are playing limited minutes. He also contradicts himself from the beginning of the season where he said if Stepan made the team, he wanted him to play and get minutes. I could see Stepan going down for a stint because EC is capable of playing wing but I understand the point of Gernander & the AHL in general regressing him.

I know Drury HAS to come back. But he shouldn’t (barring injury). The team is playing differently than it has in the “Drury era.” It has taken on the personality of its young leaders (notably Callihan and Dubi). Even the penalty kill has been real good the last few games without him. (Do you put him back with Callihan on the PK instead of Dubinsky? I don’t.)

I know he’s coming back. Sit Boogaard except against the Flyers or others where his talent might be needed. Let Drury play the wing.

The situation has been ‘handled internally’ but it seems fair to guess that his actions didn’t bode too well in the locker room.

Pure speculation. Many in the locker room could be thinking the same exact thing as EC. Many in the locker room may hate Avery. Many in the locker room may think EC did the right thing. Most likely, many could give two shits about the whole situation and it’s already forgotten.

Just b/c the fans think something, doesn’t mean the players do. I would hazard a guess that the correlation b/w what fans think and players think, on any issue, is close to zero.

I feel Stepan shows his offensive capabilities whenever he’s on the ice, the only problem is he is too slow, speed or reaction wise, to pull anything off. I feel he will have a decent rookie season when all is set and done, but over the off-season if he can get stronger and faster he will become an offensive force. just my two cents on Stepan, I hope he stays with the big club the whole year.

Stepan needs to be kept up here. I think Boyle is the center that changed things here he really stepped his game up. EC should be left out and Prospal Drury Boyle AA Stepan are our centers.

You guys would know better. Is there a possibility EC, Gilroy, White or someone else can be trade bait shortly? And if so who would we want/need that we can fit under the cap?

EC and Stepan have the same amount of points thus far.

But Stepan has all of his points in one blowout game. Christensen has huge goals against Chicago and Pittsburgh at key points in the game. He seems more of a “come up big at any time” kind of player (I refuse to say ‘clutch’ because he’s not there yet. We haven’t seen any of that from Stepan yet. I’m sure we will eventually, and I love the kid, but I don’t know if I’d really take him over EC at this particular point in time.

It’s most obvious that Drury falls into Christensen’s spot, Stepan like it was said is the future, and currently occupies 3rd line minutes, but has been pushed into the 1st line role consistently over the last couple weeks as christensen was pretty much a non factor until gaborik reappeared… Christensen will be replaced by stepan on the top line, and drury will take steps 3rd line spot… Stepan proved he can play with frolov and gaborik, and contribute, if his pass in boston the other night is any sign, he belongs playing with top talent, and i think that will jumpstart him…

Christensen will turn into todd white… and give rests when rests are needed, and or playing when boogaard is not needed… I see gilroy and christensen being moved together at some point… maybe not for much, but it will make much needed room…

I don’t think it’s time yet to worry about prospal, because coming off a knee surgery, there is no certainty what shap he will be in…

EC on the fourth

Open and shut case, Watson

The guy who determines all of the corresponding moves is Stepan I believe and wrote this morning. if he proves he can play up top other guys get axed if he doesnt the Rangers might make the easy move and send him down. He is the key.