Rangers Analysis: Ideas For The Future
by Joe Fortunato on Mar 20, 2010 5:00 AM EDT
in Rangers Analysis
78 comments
The season is over.
That's not an angry statement, or a bias one. It's not a judgment call or even a guess. Even if the Rangers manage to scrape their way into the playoffs, the year is done. When you look at the big picture-which would be winning the Stanley Cup-you realize that there is no chance for success. Not with this team, they don't have the life.
There is a famous quote in the movie The Replacements. During the final game of the regular season where the Washington Senitals were playing Dallas to make the playoffs, Washington is down 17-0 going into the half. Walking off the field the coach, played by Gean Hackman, is asked what he thinks his team needs to get back into the game. His response is simply "heart." When asked to elaborate he says: "heart, miles and miles of heart."
The Rangers don't have that heart, and no changes they make this year are going to fix that problem. I don't care what lines John Tortorella feeds you, I don't care what the players say. "Talk is cheap," "actions speak louder than words," take your pick of the corny cliché phrase you want to use; but regardless of which one you choose they are all true. The Rangers have been talking all year ... with their mouths. When they bring their talk to the ice we get results like the one against St. Louis, listless efforts that result in a loss.
This isn't a post asking for John Tortorella's head. This isn't a post asking for Glen Sather's head. We have outlined those issues, you know the problems, and you don't need me to remind you. (How many times have I said that this year?)
Here is what I will outline for you, and what it is, is a basic idea of how to make this season worth something.
Join me after the jump for more.
1) Sit either Wade Redden or Michal Rozsival for Bobby Sanguinetti. Use these next 10 games as a way to gauge weather or not Sanguinetti should be trade bait during the off-season, or if he has a realistic chance at making the team. Then swap Redden and Rozsival at the number 5 spot, playing each after every other game. Use these games to gauge which one to keep and which one to let go, since I don't think they will realistically drop both.
2) Call up Evgeny Grachev and give him a spot on the roster. Potential moves here would be sitting Olli Jokinen, he isn't coming back next year so who cares how upset he is. The Rangers can use these 10 games to see how big of a contender he is going to be next year. (By the way stop getting down on him, this kid is going to be a superstar, just give him time.)
3) Give Artem Anisimov 17-20 minutes a game. Drop Chris Drury and Erik Christensen's ice time. Anisimov's development is way more important than Drury's and, call it a hunch, but I don't think Christensen is coming back next year.
4) Let Henrik Lundqvist get his 30 wins and then start seriously considering giving him serious rest, if the team keeps losing. He deserved better, but not allowing him to get 30 wins on the season would be a disgrace.
5) Give Brandon Prust serious minutes. This kid seems to show flashes of brilliance, let's see what he is made out of.
6) Start putting games in the hands of Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky. Give them serious minutes and put them on the ice in pressure cooker situations. The only way they will learn is if they play there.
7) Dump whatever space they can in order to prepare for the off-season. Go hard after enforcing defenseman, and some secondary scoring. Use guys like Dan Girardi (who I happen to love) as trade bait for team like Chicago who need to unload some space.
Can the Rangers still make the playoffs? Of course they can. Is it likely? No, at least not the way they have been playing.
Thoughts?
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If Henrik doesn’t get 30 wins this season indeed it will be a a disgrace. I’ve always been on the this season ain’t over boat, but as the season winds down and the games become more serious you get to really gauge this teams true colors, I like the ideas of playing time for younger guys, but I don’t see this team doing anything of the sort as long as they aren’t mathematically eliminated.
I haven’t seen much of Sangs this year, and what I have heard hasn’t been that good for the most part. On and optimistic point of view it usually does take time for defenseman to adapt to professional level of play, he’s 22 now and I would give him 1 more season in the minors if anything to improve his game.
I’m also hoping Grachev has some sort of beast session during this off season and MDZ’S it for the Rangers next season. Tkachuk usually comes to mind when I think about this kid, I don’t know why but I’m not complaining it’s been awhile since I’ve thought of a Ranger forward prospect with that kind of potential.
Good points, Joe
Every time I watch this team it gets more and more frustrating. I know everyone says Drury has ‘intangibles’ but he simply is not a leader. I would rather they cleaned house (as best they can – keeping Gaborik and the King), bring up the kids that are ready, and sign grinders. We might not win alot until the kids develop but we would be difficult to play against. That’s the St.Louis model JD is using. Let the kids learn how to win together. Free agency should be used to find the missing pieces not build a team.
Yup..........St.Louis is an incredibily young team that oh btw has the BEST road record
in the league. And you can see that this team will be very good in the near future. JD knows how to do it like Shero and Mcphee………….why cant our dumb as a box of rocks GM know it too?
by giantsNYrangers on Mar 20, 2010 7:39 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree Joe.......
Anyway you slice it this season is over! With or w/o the playoffs its time to look to next yr….(boy am I tired of saying that.) Although as John Mjr pointed out is true that the Rangers are not mathematically eliminated from contention, they might as well should be. I am not the rah rah type of Ranger fan living with dillusions that just get in and you never know. This team DEF lacks heart by the ton. And I use the term “team” very, very loosely. A team is a bunch of guys who pull in the same direction all the time and fights for one another and this bunch of underachievers does neither. Case in point, how many times does Hank have to get run over b4 ANYBODY does anything about it? But im not gonna get into all of that. That horse has been beat to death. I agree Joe that we should use these remaining games to find out what we have or do not have in the minors. And Grachev will become a beast but I feel we should dump Sangs………get the most we can for him. It’s not like we dont have a log jam on defensive propects and he is still considered a defensive liability. For god sakes we NEED a stay at home, crease clearing, rock on the blue line…….i dont know but I could go on and on but I gotta get ready for work…………but I totally agree…….bring up the kids!
by giantsNYrangers on Mar 20, 2010 7:34 AM EDT reply actions
I agree with what you said about Anisimov and Grachev, Joe. They should definitely get some third line ice time at the very least, but unfortunately there is a coach and a general manager standing in the way of that.
Personally, I just can’t see either of them giving up on the season just yet, even though most of us fans already have.
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by Nick Montemagno on Mar 20, 2010 8:09 AM EDT reply actions
I agree with all of those except EG. I would leave him down in hartford and let him play in the playoffs down there.
Only there doesnt look like there will be any playoffs for the Wolfpack
by giantsNYrangers on Mar 20, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions
i didnt realize they ahd that bad a collapse but he still isnt ready for the nhl yet and with the season he has had in hartford im sure confidence has taken some hit so no need to bring him up here to struggling with this team’s wasted year. guys like sangs, sauer, potter, byers are a different story though cause might as well see what we got in them for this level.
Yes, shockingly Hartford’s recent and rapid descent coincided with the arrival of Donald Brashear. Who would’ve guessed? Actually in their “defense” they’ve lost a ton of one-goal games lately. Just felt like taking a jab at Mr. “do they want a guy that can play and fight.”
1-2-3 and a -5 in 15 games. Still tearin’ it up. Oh how I miss Brashear.
by AZRangerFan on Mar 20, 2010 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
I had high hopes at the beginning of the season.
Disappointments: 1) Torts not strategizing against other teams strengths – also, this team plays below its ability – not good coaching. 2) poor passing choices and awful shooting not on net (including Dubi & Callahan) – too many quality chances wasted – other teans put more of these shots in the net; 3) constant line changing too far into the season, 4) physical one game, not the next – what the hell?
Other teams let some of our guys go for a reson – did we think they would all succeed here?
Briing up the rookies – lets see what we have. I am hoping no playoffs will cost Dolan millions and he might make some serious management changes.
A good draft, a better balanced team – maybe a good year next season.
Ideas for the Future
Joe, I just happen to post a similar train of thought on Thursday on another blog. It’s time for this organization to see what we really have on the farm. We aren’t going to go anywherew with the likes of Redden, Rozival , Drury and Jokinen, so use the kids from here on out. However that’s fore thought and as we know the rRngers are also lacking in the area as well.
Agree with most of the Post
The story is that Grachev isn’t ready. If true, I’d rather give him another year to “mature.” A bad experience now could do more harm than good. I think we all assume he’s not the next Pavel Brendl but let’s make sure he’s not rushed unnecessarily.
by It may HAVE to Last a Lifetime on Mar 20, 2010 10:40 AM EDT reply actions
hmm
Strange that you think there isn’t much difference between Rosy and Redden. Rosy is by far the better player. No need to compare them down the stretch.
Arte has been struggling down the stretch. Extra minutes are not going to help. It will only make matters worse.
Cally has been put in all the pressure cooker situations. I think its time to put someone else on the PP like Avery and prust. Cally has shown he has the passing and shooting skills of a third line forward.
Let grachev continue to develop in the minors. Give him another year.
Dump redden completely. Roszival i can deal with, but Redden i simply can not.
Let redden, jokinen and lisin go, bring up byers, and resign prust and auld for the same salary. Keep voros as an extra forward.
Then resign staal for 3 mil (3 years), and girardi for 2 mil (2 years) and make a FA splash by bringing in volchenkov for 4.5 mil (we need him badly).
Then have an open competition on defense to see who earns the last 2 spots. most likely mdz and gilroy/sangs. For intensive purposed ill say gilroy wins. That leaves us with 7.815 mil.
Id resign prospal for 2.25 mil. Reaslitically hes going to command atleast that much. I wouldnt go over that to get him, but he is very important to our team. I would sign a veteran dman for 1 mil also. We lacked that this year. That leaves us with 4.566 mil. Than id either resign EC or bring up stepan to be our 3rd line center. Lets say that leaves us with 3.3 mil
prospal gaborikanisimov dubinsky callahan
avery christensen/stepan drury
byers boyle prust
voros
staal girardi (those two are great together)
volchenkov mdz
roszival gilroy/sangs
vet. dman
henrik
auld
So 3.3 mil to maybe bring someone in to play as a top 6 forward. Theres Frolov, who has 46 pts in 68 games. Theres Matthew Lombardi, who has 46 pts in 67 games, and theres Ponikoravsky, who has 45 pts in 68 games. It would be great if we could bring in a 50pt+ player for 3-4 mil.
That team would do us well for 1 season, while we wait for drury and rozi’s contracts to finish off. what do you think?
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Prospal might come cheaper than you think
He was bought out my Tampa so he was given 14 million to do NOTHING. Plus he loves NY so he might take a big discount say 1.5 mil
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by Joe Fortunato on Mar 20, 2010 11:26 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
if it’s 1 year then im ok with it, but as much as we want to compete and contend next year is bringing vinny back good long term if he is taking spots from young guys. the caveat is right now we dont have that many young guys who might be ready to play here next year, but definitely a few year after.
i like this strategy a lot
but i would save the 1 mil on the 7th d-man and add it to the 3.3 mil left over for the top-6 forward and make a run at plekanec for 4-4.25 mil a year. stick him on the first line and we’d look pretty good
by BronxBeliever on Mar 20, 2010 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I dont know if the season is over. Take the schedule one game at a time, don’t worry about the last one, focus on the next one. Boston is up next. The Rangers win, and they are one point behind. The Rangers have been losing, but have been recieving gifts from other teams losing also.
So, I guess I would follow it up by saying since I dont think the season is over, I dont think anybody should be rested. Dont bring anybody up, because the experience in these last few games means nothing if the Rangers are going to play for nothing. It doesn’t help anyone’s development. Being the last few games, there is no point. Don’t start giving propsects chances if you couldn’t do it earlier in the season.
Plus, you make the playoffs, your record doesn’t matter. Anything can happen.
"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
- Sam Rosen
"Marian Gaborik.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
-Sam Rosen
Even if we make the playoffs
this team doesn’t have the heart to do any damage. I would rather have a better draft pick honestly. Picks 1-10 are crazy deep
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by Joe Fortunato on Mar 20, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
AGREED!
who wants to play the caps or the pens in the first rd anyway (i know the rangers don’t!)? i’d take my chances with jersey though depending on possible eighth or seventh seed.
give me Seguin….kid is nasty, has (caps) backstrom like ice sense and can shoot the puck, not quite as naturally as Hall though. this would require the rangers finishing in bottom five to have a realistic shot in the lottery.
by suddendeath on Mar 20, 2010 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
playoffs
Is anyone else debating on purchasing their playoff tickets? Oddly enough…the due date for 1st payment is march 24. I think we’ll know by then if its worth sending $$$ in. Boston game will help me decide for sure
by jrjankowski8 on Mar 20, 2010 12:45 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
1) I like the idea of calling up Bobby Sangs, but I think it’s pretty obvious who had of Rozi or Redden needs to go. Redden is a puck moving defense-man who doesn’t create any offense, has a higher Cap hit than Rozi and is softer in the defensive zone.
2) I do not like the idea of calling up Grachev, he’s struggling in the AHL and he’s very young; no sense hurting his confidence by rushing him up to quickly, let him develop like Anisimov did.
3) Anisimov should be the second line center, I absolutely agree. Christensen has made some nice plays this year but it does not really matter to me if we bring him back. I kind of like the idea of him being resigned so that we don’t have the 5th straight offseason of completely turning over the roster, but obviously changes need to be made.
4) I don’t think Lundqvist needs rest, maybe if we’re out of it completely I’d like to recall Chad Johnson and maybe give him a couple games. If we rest Hank though we would likely steal less games and get a higher draft pick so that would be smart.
5) I like Prust and I think Torts should play the 4th line more (I’d like to see Lisin dressed every game also) but I don’t think Prust should be getting more than 4th line minutes.
6) I think Callahan and Dubinsky are the only players on the team getting adequate playing time. Maybe scale back Prospal’s minutes, put him with Anisimov to let Artie play with a competent winger. I’d like to see Dubinsky playing with Gaborik from here on out though.
7) I think (hope) the Rangers will get rid of Redden via waivers. I want to trade Girardi, especially it Torts is gonna be around, plus we have to make room for Sanguinetti/Mcdonagh in the future and we need to resign Staal. I’d like to maybe take a look at Pavol Demitra, I think we can get him for under 3 mil seeing as he’s old and coming off an injury plagued season, similar to Tanguay this past offseason (of course that hasn’t exactly worked out). A crease clearing defense-man is also a necessity.
Good read Joe.
well if we beat boston were what? 1 point back and they have a game in hand. thats catchable.
but if we loose were 5 points back and they have a game in hand. thats not catchable.
if we loose sunday i really wouldnt mind us tanking. get hank is 30th win, and loose from there on out.
if other teams around us do bad we can easily fall to 3rd/4th and get el nino :)
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
tomorrows game is definitely the key because a loss should finish them but a win and the false hope will continue.
atl 71
nyr 71 (8th)
clb 69
tb 68
nyi 68
fla 67
car 66
carolina up 1-0 on pitt in 2nd.
games later tonight
nyi lak
clb @nas
montor (tor has 62 and 2 games vs us so a big stretch but maybe they could catch us since they have also won 6 of 8)
buf@fla
phi@atl
was@tb
sorry forgot for some reason it doesnt like at signs i guess.
nyi at kings
clb at nash
mon at tor
rest look legible to me
so were 3 points out of the 3th overall pick?
and 9 points out of the 2nd overall pick.
TANK TANK TANK TANK
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
it's a lottery so it doesn't matter
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by Joe Fortunato on Mar 20, 2010 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions
It really does, you can’t lose more than one spot b/c of the lottery. So 3rd in the standings means you pick no worse than 4th.
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by George E. Ays on Mar 20, 2010 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions
It's a shame......
Some good ideas from you Joe. The shame being that all season long this organization with its team and coach couldn’t find a way to fix a PP, find some chemistry with ANY lines, formulate any kind of system that would work with the talent level, or at least be competitive. Not to mention an absentee GM who restricts any and all media access, an owner who could care less, years of subpar scouting and drafting AND the numerous bad contract signings. What you propose they do now is wishful thinking on yours and all of ours part. Personally, I like the idea of seeing what you got in the system with this little time left in the season. Do a little experimenting, line some things up for next season. The thing is, you would only do this if you’re guaranteed some continuity between the next season. The way I’m seeing it, if the majority of guys are gonna be gone as has been the case these past few seasons, what’s the point of experimenting with Gilroy on wing, or bringing Grachev and Sangs up if the player personnel is gonna change by next season. Chances are Torts will be gone too. Now we’re talking a NEW coach and style of play along with 6 or 7 different players. Would the Rangers even LEARN anything from any of this? I’m convinced people are asleep at the switch with this organization….lol
We do? Since when? Jessiman? Did you know one of the amateur scouts is none other than Sather’s son, Shanon Sather? Ah yes, hockey is INDEED different here…lol
lundqvist staal mcdonagh sangs mdz anisimov grachev dubinsky callahan stepan kreider borque werek potter byers etc
seems like pretty good drafting to me
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
lol....
I’d like to know what you think REALLY good drafting is as opposed to pretty good drafting. Dubinsky and Callahan the only prospects from 04 to play in the NHL on a consistent basis. A draft that included Korpikoski Montoya AND Byers…who by the way absolutely SUCKS and will be a career AHL’er. Prior to that was Jessiman’s draft year….with good old Ivan Baranka, Corey Potter, Nigel Dawes, and Jan Marek just tio name a few. Potter is just now getting a sniff at the NHL level. Staal was a decent pickup from 05, only Sauer from that year has gotten a game or two at the NHL level. Kreider, Borque, Werek, and Stepan have proved nothing at the NHL level so you can’t say they are good drafts yet. Grachev hasnt proved anything either. McDonagh was not drafted, he was acquired from Montreal in the Higgins trade. Hasn’t proved anything either. Now for Lundquist….a GIFT. A 205th round pick, 7th round of the 2000 draft. Here’s a link for all the Rangers drafting for the past ten years. Let me know what you think of their drafting and scouting when you’re done…lol http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr00007089.html
Place blame where it belongs
Yes Jmaz you look at a bunch of numbers and think that is how you prove your point. From 2000-2004 the drafts were run by Don Maloney, want to trash the Ranger draft record in those years point the finger at him as he is the one who wanted Montoya and Jessiman.
2005 got Staal and if Sauer was not hurt then it would have been a help
2006 is Anisimov who you must think has no future and Sanguinetti who has only been a pro for 2 full seasons.
2007 nobody can blame the Rangers for Cherepanov’s death unless you think Sather is at fault for that but Carl Hagelin who is currently leading Michigan to the NCAAs is going to be a strong 2 way player when he finishes school
2008 has Del Zotto who has 1 year as a pro, Grachev who is barely 20, Derek Stepan who is being developed at the same school that has sent 65 players to the NHL (and toss in McDonagh who was 2nd team ALL WCHA), Tomas Kundratek who is a solid defensive defender.
You look at numbers I go look at them play, Gordie Clark, and the Ranger scouting staff have slowly turned things around. It is not going to happen overnight and yes they wasted 5 years under Sather but the prospects coming are talented, they will become NHL players and if given the chance fix things.
What you do here is prove what the Dolans claim all along that Ranger fans lack patience and the willingness to let the prospects develop.
by theprospectpark on Mar 22, 2010 5:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I place blame on a number of things...
Not just the draft. I’m well aware being a Ranger fan for 20+ years what the ineptitude of this organization is from top to bottom. I wasn’t looking at a bunch of numbers when I made my argument about whether the drafting and scouting has been poor with this organization. I didn’t trash any individual Ranger scout. I didn however draw attention to the fact that the son of the GM has a job as an amateur scout, which I thought was kind of funny. As far as Maloney and any of the other scouts, it’s the GM who has the final say in the trading up or down and who they are going to target and take. Input or no input the ultimate decision lies with the GM. Now of course mistakes will be made and guys turn out to be busts. Now you’re bringing up guys like Stepan, Kreder, Kundratek, McDonagh, Bourque who haven’t played a game at the NHL level. A 2-year pro in Sanguinetti who can’t seem to stick with the big club. Where did I say anything about Cherepanov? Did I blame someone for his collapse on the bench due to a heart condition he’s had since birth? And happy friggen woopety doo that you go watch these PROSPECTS play. What does that mean exactly?? DZ was thrown to the wolves, was clearly not ready. Staal for all his defensive skill has regressed this year all under the pressure of trying to make him into a 2-way d-man. I KNOW this franchise doesn’t know how to develop players, but give me a break….they’ve been pissing away 1st round picks and picking career AHL’ers as long as I can remember. Pavel Brendl, remember THAT debacle, trading picks to move up to pick that scrub. Lee Farlardeu? Where’s that guy playing? Filip Novak? Oh yeah, I’m just looking at numbers…lol How long are you supposed to give for prospects to develop? Whatever became of all these Ranger first round picks that lit it up in the ECHL, AHL, NCAA etc? I’m sorry if I offended you ProspectPark.
Joe,
You’re too damn logical! Heresy! Stop it, stop it, spot it! You’re ideas might cause the foundation of this organization to spontaneously combust. It goes against the annals of everything this organization (especially the current regime) stands for. I say sign Redden to a 5 yr backloaded extension, rehire Muckler, and trade Dubi, Cali, Grachev and Anisimov for Vinny L and a 3rd round pick.
that should be our first"quick release"
Renney was better!!!!!!! Safe is Death.............LOLOLOLOLLOL....Fire Tortsy
I give absolutely no credence to this article whatsoever...
because Joe called something from the movie The Replacements famous. Nothing from that movie is famous. Except its awfulness.
C'mon!!
That movie is almost the definition of a good-bad movie. You know, it’s so bad that it’s entertaining in it’s badness?
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Mar 20, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
are you kidding
how can you not love the Replacements
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by Joe Fortunato on Mar 20, 2010 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Hahahahaha.. I read the title of your post and got pissed… but you’re a funny dude having read the whole thing
by ToddWilliams on Mar 20, 2010 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions
2 Smart
i agree with with eveything Joe says,there is just one problem.It all makes WAYYYY to much sense for this organization,so none of it will happen.Here is another idea for next year.get a NATURAL WINGER AND A D-MAN who hits people.i heard somebody say we are lucky we haven’t lost many man games due to injury,well i say its impossible to get hurt if you don’t like to hit or get hit!
Renney was better!!!!!!! Safe is Death.............LOLOLOLOLLOL....Fire Tortsy
Grachev
isn’t ready. Give the kid at least another year. It won’t do him any good, especially when Torts will give him 5 minutes at most.
I’d like to see Byers up and getting some more time as well as Weise.
Heikkinen would also be a worthy call up. If he doesnt feel like he is being given a fair shot at the NHL he may bolt for Europe.
Much like they didn't sell off parts at the deadline
There’s just no chance the team will give up now even when all the signs that we’re terrible are there. This write up, while excellent, is an exercise in futility.
We’re stuck hoping for roster and playing time changes happening at training camp next year, and likely not sooner.
I’m with the group here saying Grachev needs to stay down even if we could implement everything written though. Also, while i like Prust, giving him “serious minutes” seems a bit crazy, unless you see him becoming Avery II, which I suppose is possible, but I don’t think he has the same offensive talent.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
I agree with everything
except cutting down Christensens ice time. He has played his ass off and been one of our top 3 or 4 forwards since he got here, based on opportunity. I like him for this team next year, he is one of the few guys we have who is good close to the net and has a good shot, which he enjoys taking. He is relatively young and should come cheaply, so I’d like the bring him back, I don’t want to get rid of 50 percent of the players on our team who shoot the puck.
"Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring; besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. It's more democratic."
- CRASH DAVIS
GM
All the i wonderful ideas you have are useless until the brain dead amn managing all off this and I dont mean idiot child with the guitar, I mean he with the big cigar and no playoffs to light up for. He isnt capable of putting a series of moves together wiith a plan, its all hit and miss and mostly miss. Bring back Smith or Mess at least lets have a GM that will be alive for our next championship
IAMSURPRISED :)
@Joe Fortunato: u should be a gm
the only problem is that i see christiensen as a valuable piece…consider maybe a 2nd line center
Henrik "Mr Softy" Lundqvist
I don’t know what games you people are watching but Mr Softy Lundqvist is god awful there isn’t a game that he doesn’t give up a soft goal if we had Ryan Miller we would be in first place just look at bufalo they have a bunch of nobody’s and look at them give them Lundqvist and they are in last place….
Interesting
Times Pulled:
Miller 4
Henrik 4
Games with 4+ GAA
Miller 8
Henrik 9
Games with 3+ goal support
Miller 34
Henrik 29
And of course:
Career SV%
Miller .914
Henrik .917
Miller’s had an outstanding year no doubt, but to say he’s the sole reason they’re in first is a bit crazy. Buffalo’s team is also better than us, even if you don’t know who their “bunch of nobodies” are.
The D is much better than ours, their offense is more balanced than ours (they have 6 guys with at least 1.8 p/60 @ ES, the Rangers have 3)
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Mar 21, 2010 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Staal
Anybody else tired of waiting for this guy to become a stud 2 way defenseman? Del Zotto is playing a lot better than Staal, can play on the power play and lately has started hitting people. When was the last time that Staal knocked somebody down? Before Staal loses all his trade value; this off season might be the last time we have to get great value for him. Rozsival hasn’t been terrible. Keep him; won’t get much for him anyway. Redden’s contract won’t allow him to be dealt. Have no love for Gilroy either. Even Girardi is just an average NHL defenseman. In total, our defense stinks.
um i don’t think you comprehend how good marc staal really is. He isn’t a 2 way defenseman and the reason hes been off a little this season is because we tried to force him to be. Hes in his early 20’s and a stud in the defensive zone. Blame Torterella for his mistakes this year not Staal
I guess I expected Staal to be a Pronger type – an intimidating, physical defenseman. He doesn’t hit anybody. Nobody’s afraid to go to his side of the ice like they were when Stevens was on the ice. I know I’m comparing him to some pretty outstanding guys but that’s who the Rangers led us to believe he was going to develop into and I just don’t see it happening.
how can you say mdz is better than staal? the kid is like -20 on the year. seriously mike?
staals advanced statistics show him as a top 10 defensive dman in the league. hes not supposed to be an offensive defensemen.
notice how whenever we put a dman with staal we says hes doing well? last year when girardi was with him we loved girardi. now that hes playing with mdz we say hes average..
when rozi played with mara last year we hated him. now that hes playing with staal we can handle it cause his mistakes are covered up by staal.
next time you watch a rangers game watch him. count how many takeaways you have. count how many times he knocks people down behind the net and takes the puck. count how many times he makes mistakes. youll be pleasantly suprised about how good and steady he is.. whens the last time you blamed staal for a goal? compare that to mdz. i can blame mdz for a goal almost every game or 2. i blame staal abnout once a month.
actually watch the games and the players, instead of just looking for BIG HITS.. and most of stevens hits would be illegal in todays nhl. and you say no ones afraid to go to his side when hes on the ice, yet notice this.. NO ONE ever goes to his side. they know hell take the puck away. see if anyone challenges his next time hes on the ice. they all go to the boards and dump it in when hes on the ice.
and being upset with a player in his early 20’s because hes not as good as pronger is just silly. staal has never been an intimidating defensemen. hes a smart when who never makes mistakes. big difference.
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Crazy
MDZ is a slow decision maker with seemingly no knowledge of anything resembling defensive positioning. He’s in the bottom of the league in quality of competition, yet he’s easily the Rangers biggest minus, the team allow a full half goal more when he’s on the ice than anyone else at ES.
Oh, but he’s good on the PP, so it’s ok. Except he has 8 points and 0 goals in his last 41 games, in part because teams started challenging him and he’s just not fast enough to make the right decisions yet.
So, yes he has the ability to put up points, but oh yeah, he only has 6 more points than Staal, and Staal gets close to zero PP time.
Hey, can you name the Rangers defenseman who is in the top 25 in points per 60 min @ ES? Yeah, it’s Staal.
But to answer your question directly, no, I’m not tired of waiting for Staal to become a 2-way defenseman. He’s one of the best 1-way defenseman in the league, and any points he puts up is gravy.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Mar 21, 2010 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Rangers were touting Staal as a future Norris contender. All I’m saying is that he doesn’t look like he will ever be that good. He’s a good positional defenseman. I guess I was taken in by the hype.
He’s 23. I know as fans we all want everyone to immediately be a superstar, but you gotta relax a little bit.
Lidstrom didn’t win his first Norris til he was 31.
Leetch was 34.
Pronger was 26 in his only one.
Bourque was 27 for his 1st.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Mar 21, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Excellent Posting!
I dug. A lot of valid points and suggestions. Especially ones that I’d like to see. The sad sad truth is you know none of those things will happen. My honest assessment in the off season is that they might get rid of either Redden or Rozy but not both as you have said. Girardi might be heading out (here’s hoping.) But I also think their gonna get rid of Prust since his contract is up, they might shop Avery around to see if anyone will take him and the rest of the off season is just going to be a debacle. I love this team, I really do. I can’t wait till my son/daughter is born so I can shove this team and game down their throats. But the sad reality is that this team is NOT going to make the playoffs, managment is going to continue making poor decisions, Torts will never get a grip on this team and they’ll have a bloated salary for another 3 years. But I’m hoping for the best. Again though, excellent post.
Where's The Coaching?
Some of you guys need to do your home work! The problem with bringing up Hartford D Men is that they are all too small! Most should be forwards.Rangers are contemplating Gilroy as a forward for next year. The reason that the Rangers are losing is that they are Overcoached and Disrespected By an Old Time Philosophy.Torts changes lines like my wife changes diapers.His players have no continuity with their lines which is why they’re always out of sink.Example:Remember the win streak before the olympics?Why,Because Gaborik was out and they rolled 3 lines all the time.North South and Continuity.The Rangers need a Big Man in front of Henrik to clear the crease.Wonder why The Devil Marty was so successful?He saw the puck!Bring Nick Fotiu in to coach this team and see where they end next year!Also,let Messier be the GM.Anyone who has ever played professional sports knows that without a ‘Group’ effort and Team Spirit there’s losing right behind!
Ughhh...you had me till Messier....
Puuuuulease, I’ll be the first to tout Messier’s leadership intangibles and skill as a player, but a GM at this stage he is not. Player Messier and personal agenda Cold FX Messier are two different people. Just because he is Messier doesn’t mean he will be able to understand the intricacies of a salary cap, or be able to evaluate player development etc. I suppose he can make his father the new coach, Richter can be the goaltending coach, Graves can be the assistant. Hell let’s bring back Jeff Beukeboom to replace Schoenfeld. It will be like old times…unless of course you want Iron Mike 6 teams Keenan..lol
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| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Jersey
|
82 | 48 | 27 | 7 | 103 |
|
Pittsburgh
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82 | 47 | 28 | 7 | 101 |
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Philadelphia
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New York Rangers
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82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 87 |
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New York Islanders
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82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 |
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