New York Rangers Analysis: How The 2011-2012 Season Will Play Out
by Brandon C. on Oct 6, 2011 1:00 PM EDT
in New York Rangers Analysis
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PrintWhen I think of the 2011-2012 Rangers season, I think of a mystery book I haven't read yet. The team could be destined to shock the world, or they could be destined to shock us all and struggle. I spent a while mulling the possibilities, and came up with my final ideas. I asked you for your predictions (make them!), now here are mine.
-Brad Richards will play 70+ games, have a usual Brad Richards season, yet fans will still call him a bust. It's simple, fans are looking for Richards to score much more than he will, and fans are looking for instant magic. I see Richards having to deal with the harsh reality that Rangers fans aren't the most patient bunch. Richards will finish with great stats, but fans won't care.
-Wotjek Wolski will play for all four lines at some point this season. John Tortorella will scratch the potential star, due to lack of production. Wolski will pick up his play right when the Rangers need him to, at the end of the season.
-Michael Del Zotto will not be sent down this season, but Tim Erixon will be. Del Zotto made the team outright, while Erixon needed an injury to Marc Staal to make it. Tortorella wanted Erixon to get some time in the minors, and when Bell excells, and Staal returns, Erixon will be demoted.
-Brendan Bell will play, and play well. Think this years Michael Sauer, Bell made the team after not being expected to do so, and now he has a chance to prove he belongs. Bell will seize it and force Eminger out of his spot.
-By November, the Rangers will promote Stepan to a top two line. Brandon Dubinsky will play well on the first line, though, so Stepan won't take that spot.
-Mats Zuccarello will prove he belongs in the NHL, and not be demoted all year. Eric Christensen will do the exact opposite.
-Marc Staal will play in <60 games this season, and Dan Girardi will be counted on to carry the load.
Follow me after the jump for predictions about standings and the playoffs
-The Rangers will finish as the fourth seed, and finally win a first round playoff series.
-The Rangers will lose to eventual Eastern Conference Champions Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the playoffs. Matt Gilroy will laugh.
-Henrik Lundqvist will win the Vezina.
-John Tortorella will make some hilarious comment, but Joe Michiletti's stupidity will overshadow it.
Thoughts?
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"By November, the Rangers will promote Stepan to a top two line."
They better not…
Well said on Richards.
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if the top line is clicking on all cylinders
and dubi and artie are having career years it can look like this
dubi-richards-gabby
stepan-arty-callahan
wolski/borque/hagelin/boyle/zucc
feds-rupp-prust
The Gilroy thing had me crying. Hilarious
by -19-AgainstAll on Oct 6, 2011 1:19 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
with all this jazz about D I kind of wish we still had him around
by -19-AgainstAll on Oct 6, 2011 1:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Who ends with more points, gabby or Richards?
by teknics on Oct 6, 2011 1:24 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
My guess is Richards 82, Gaborik 72
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Writer/Editor for Pinstripe Alley, Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
I’m saying if he goes on ANY kind of cold streak he will be criticized to no end.
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Writer/Editor for Pinstripe Alley, Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
Even though it goes against my season predictions
I’d say Richards. A little easier to rack up assists than score goals. You figure Richards playing the point on the PP will probably get assists on goals that Gaborik doesn’t score.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Oct 6, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I still think Dubi will eventually be repaired with Callahan and Anisimov. Stepan and Zuccarello will share the top-line spot. Wolski will wear out his welcome.
I agree Lundqvist will finally win a Vezina. Even with losing Staal, Lundqvist will stand on his head all season.
Erixon will outplay Del Zotto. Del Zotto still reeks of immaturity and needs more seasoning. Torts will lose patience quickly and Erixon will make calmer and safer plays.
Rangers will be a 5th or 6th seed. Yes, they will win a round against the Pens.
Staal will play <30 games. Something more is going on then we know. Girardi will play 35 mins/night and will need to play his best hockey of his career.
35 min/game is ridiculous and practically impossible. Only the top 13 players in the league played even 25+min/game and with the highest being Duncan Keith at 26:53. Even asking him to give us 30 min/game is pretty unheard of. Best we can ask for is 25 min/game from him (which is essentially what he gave us last year), 22-23 from McD, 20-22 from Sauer, and then give the last 50 or so to MDZ, Erixon, and Eminger/Bell/Bickel.
it was in jest. seriously, he will need to play his best hockey.
by truebluesince75 on Oct 6, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh I know he’s needs to step up but maybe this is his chance to prove he can be a top defenseman in the NHL and worth a spot on the roster even when the youngsters start stepping up. Or at the very least it can be a great way to boost his trade value if the front office still doesn’t see him in the long term plans.
Defense Suddenly an Issue
With the absence of Marc Staal in the lineup, the Rangers’ D looks awfully thin and suspect. Only Girardi, McDonough and Sauer look solid. MDZ and Erixson should be in Hartford for further seasoning. Eminger is a journeyman who was originally resigned to be the seventh defenseman and to fill in for the starters. God knows what we have in Bell, Bickel and Woywitka. They probably all belong in the AHL. We have several highly rated prospects in the minors who do not seem to be ready to move up to the Rangers. It appears to me that the Rangers will struggle to make the playoffs with such an inexperienced and talentless group of defensemen. Maybe it’s time to make a trade. Adding waiver wire players like Woywitka does not seem to be the answer.
Yeah, its thin
Any team would be in pretty dangerous territory if they lost their top D-man…how would Nashville look if this happened to Weber? And they’re not talentless, they’re just young. At this time last year, we were all touting Del Zotto and didn’t expect much (if anything) from Sauer and McDonough…look how that turned out. All this being said, I think it’d be good to pick up someone like Mara.
Wouldn’t exactly call them talentless. Inexperienced, yes. Everyone is calling for a trade, but for whom? Who are we going to get that is available? Every team has their roster set by now. Unless we WAY over pay, there is no better solution. Our youngsters can and will step up.
PRUSTOSTERONE!!!
I am gonna F-n kill Giroux!
by nathansfamous on Oct 7, 2011 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
My sentiments exactly ....
…….It might be time to take one of our highly touted forward prospects and a draft pick or two and try to land us a prime aged top-four defenseman.
Losing Staal for what is turning out to be a significant amount of time is a real blow to our chances.
Behind Girardi, Sauer, and McDonough, I’m feeling really nervous. Eminger is mediocre and tends to lose his assignments…MDZ scares the crap out of me every time he touches the puck, and he isn’t that great of a skater, nor is he particularly strong. Bell may surprise us all and be steady…..and Erixon well, lets pray that his seasoning against quality players in the SEL pays off. Lets hope he can adjust quickly to the small rink and NHL caliber opponents.
I’m nervous. I’m not approaching the cliff edge just yet, but I’m lying on the bed with a bottle of Jack Daniels listening to Pearl Jam’s ‘Black’ on repeat.
Trading for D now would ruin my dream
of trading for parise at some point this season. Just imagine that top line. Parise’s scoring and defense. Richards passing and Gabby’s shot. Lethal. Lou would never let it happen though.
agreed
No way in H-E-double hockey sticks does Lou ever make that trade. I remember hearing the amounts of trades between the 3 local teams over the years has been miniscule, but I dont have the data to back that up.
But getting him sure would be sweet. Where does the money come from? Best chance is that the Devils are still in contention and they keep him for one last run with Marty and he becomes a FA.
by truebluesince75 on Oct 6, 2011 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Devils would never trade Parise to the Rangers….
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Writer/Editor for Pinstripe Alley, Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
This. Especially after making him the big “C”. Just a dream.
PRUSTOSTERONE!!!
I am gonna F-n kill Giroux!
by nathansfamous on Oct 7, 2011 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Trading for defenseman in their prime???
Are you guys insane? Have we not gone this in the youth movement and development of our players? Staal gets injured and will most likely be back within 2 months, which isn’t that long if you think about it. If we get out of the Staal-less time around .500 then we will be fine.
But what is the point of trading for a defenseman right now? We don’t have much cap room, and we have McDonagh, Sauer, Erixon, MDZ, and McIlrath who should all be quality NHL defenseman once they hit their prime. Sure right now it doesn’t help us much, but out of those 5 guys, you know AT LEAST 3 are going to become quality NHL players. Plus, once we get out of this whole Staal post concussion thing, we will be fine. Although this is one of the toughest blows of the line-up, we’ll make it through. We did it last year when Dubi, Cally ,Gabby, and a lot of other role players all at one time were hurt.
If anything we will become a better team after this, who knows? Maybe this a huge part in McDonagh’s development? Maybe this guy shuts down top lines almost as well as Staal? Because that’s what he’s projected to be and has shown us now. With his 2nd training camp, about half a season, little bit of playoff, and some games against euro pro teams, I’m sure McDonagh will take this challenge and do more good with it than we think.
Proudly suffering as a Ranger fan.
by Tripodi on Oct 6, 2011 3:05 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
PRUSTOSTERONE!!!
I am gonna F-n kill Giroux!
by nathansfamous on Oct 7, 2011 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
agree completely
Not to mention I think everyone is still underestimating our offense. These guys played tought forecheck last year and took it to teams who didn’t have the chemistry yet. They scored often and early. It wasn’t till after the first month or so that the offense started to struggle. If we can do the same(better w richards) as that this year it will easily carry the team untill stall gets back
I’m not worried
by nhl21 on Oct 7, 2011 11:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think this is Tortorella’s year to step up.
If he can get the Rangers through a difficult period of young defense, Staal’s absence and a host of new forwards, the Rangers will retain Torts beyond 2012.
I think the key for the Rangers this year is to take a step forward, and that means not only playoffs, but a series win.
They have enough in place to compete for at least that. We can all expect major improvements on the forward lines and the defense is so young and exciting.
I am really looking forward to this season.
Twitter - @peterman7
I thought they gave him an extension at the end of last year?
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Oct 6, 2011 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
but seriously, Brandon
if Wolski struggles early, he won’t get the chance to play towards the end of the season. Also, forget about numbers, if the top line produces and the powerplay doesn’t look like recess at an elementary school, Richards will be embraced.
As long as
Richards produces on the PP he will be worshipped like a god.
by Section 336 on Oct 6, 2011 4:14 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Do you think Erixon was beat out by MDZ? I heard Erixon had a good camp and MDZ didn’t really do anything spectacular. I chaulk it up to not having much room and wanting him to get more experience than being beaten out.
Absolute Worst Ranger Fan!!!!!!....yet incredibly realistic and usually correct.
I think if they had an equal chance of making it Erixon would have, but MDZ didn’t do enough bad things to not make it.
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Writer/Editor for Pinstripe Alley, Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
MDZ made an impact on the scoreboard, which goes a long way on this team.
We also saw a bit of the old MDZ. Erixon didn’t play bad, but he wasn’t impressive for the most part.
#12 Carl Hagelin
by The Blue Seats on Oct 6, 2011 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
By old MDZ, i meant turnover on the breakout pass MDZ.
#12 Carl Hagelin
by The Blue Seats on Oct 6, 2011 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
As preseason went along, MDZ steadily improved, which is exactly what we are looking for. Anyways, it was preseason, which is not the best gauge for players. Not many played well in the last game against Zug.
Saying that, there were a few plays where Erixon was caught completely flat footed. A play against Kovi comes to mind where it looked like Kovi went around him like he was a traffic cone. Other than that, they were ok. There was one game with a few shifts that it looked like they were going after Erixon. He was doubl teamed in our own end(corner), and was getting banged up, but he kept his cool and made the right play. I thought that a good test of his readiness.
PRUSTOSTERONE!!!
I am gonna F-n kill Giroux!
by nathansfamous on Oct 7, 2011 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Agree with almost everything but strongly disagree with one thing
-Brendan Bell will play, and play well. Think this years Michael Sauer, Bell made the team after not being expected to do so, and now he has a chance to prove he belongs. Bell will seize it and force Eminger out of his spot.
Very different players, not to mention Bell is four years older than Mikey Sauer. I think Bell is has a chance to be Mr. 7th D-man though that race got more complicated with the addition of Samuel “Allspark” Witwicky.
I just don’t see great things coming from Bell, I am not trying to say he doesn’t have some chance of making an impact, I suppose I just want to lower expectations for him. Really I am just playing devil’s advocate.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
Digger - Here's devils advocate
Reality check – Gabby’s coming off his worst year ever, BR has yet to play a game in blue in MSG. Not only do we really have no idea what kind of chemistry those two will have, but we really don’t have any idea who will consistently play wing on our TOP LINE.
In an effort to solve the above problem, Torts has broken up our most consistent line, spinning them into a chemistry developmewnt unknown.
Our third line center looks great, but he’s a sophmore – hopefully there will be no jinx, but his one definate linemate was demoted last season and has yet to play a full NHL season.
Our fourth line could be the same three (BB, fedex, Prust), but will most likely be broken up to make room for Rupp, so let the chemistry development continue.
The D has SO much potential, but as has been pointed out, is VERY young. With Staal’s injury, get ready for no real “shutdown” pair, and the potential for lots of MDZ turnovers.
On a positive note, our goalie situation remains solid.
So, either all this chemistry falls into place, Staal recovers, the kids develop on pace, and the sophmores stay true to form – finish 5th or 6th,
or
the revolving door at wing continues on three (4?) lines, and the yound D experiences the (no shame) expected growing pains while Staal recovers – bubble team (8th)
I’ve said it before, I’ll have expectations NEXT season, but this doesn’t mean I’m not rooting for success. I just pray that Slats doesn’t wake up from his youth movement path and dump the farm on some overpaid, used-to-be, top four Redden.
"There are some people who, if they don't already know, you can't tell 'em." - Yogi
I don’t have the stats to prove it, but at some point when all came back from injury, and Torts kept the lines consistent, we did worse than when he was switching the lines up. What does this mean, absolutely nothing.
What I did see, when MDZ made some poor plays, and Torts was taking a teaching moment, MDZ looked like he took it seriously.
Hope your last statement is true, because, who is available to trade for that will make an impact, where we don’t have to significantly over pay? Now, if Staal is long term injured, sorry, but that will have to wait towards the trade deadline / off season.
PRUSTOSTERONE!!!
I am gonna F-n kill Giroux!
by nathansfamous on Oct 7, 2011 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Rangers
will be 1-6 after seven games (only beating oilers in OT). They’ll level at 500% after trashing philly at MSG in game 20. From then on it’s cruise controll towards 4th spot. MDZ on everyones lips come may…
"He went up with his arms and really played it out, and I told him to stand up," - Henrik Lundqvist on Crosby's diving.
by NYR North pole fan base on Oct 6, 2011 10:21 PM EDT reply actions
I like the prediction..
It would be great to see us make it to the ECF’s and I’d much rather bow out to Tampa rather than Philly or some other team I cannot absolutely stomach.. Being a realistic fan although it would be great if they shocked the world and won the cup but I don’t think they are their just yet.. As for richards this patient ranger fan will not give him a hard time.. And just to let u guys know I’ve been blowing this Staal situation outta proportion a bit and been freaking myself out like the seasons over before it even started.. Am I the only one??
by ImMike88 on Oct 6, 2011 10:46 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions
If everyone stays healthy, and the chemistry evolves, there is only one reason why they can’t be.(Defense) The problem is, almost every team has improved this off season. Like everyone else here, we all think the D-line, especially w/o Staal, will be our Achille’s heal.
PRUSTOSTERONE!!!
I am gonna F-n kill Giroux!
by nathansfamous on Oct 7, 2011 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions
it is not true that every team has improved… devils did nothing, pens not much too. islanders seem better but they played in a different league for years. boston, montreal, ottawa, carolina, tampa bay stayed more or less the same. florida looks different, but i think they got weaker (loss of vokoun). so the only ones that have improved are toronto (maybe, depends on the development of the young players) buffalo and washington (obvious with vokoun). and philly looks very different now. i think they are a better team now, but you never know. and the powerhorses in the west did’t change much. redwings, ducks, sharks, hawkes stayed quite the same. and canucks got worse (loosing ehrhoff)
My original post, I listed every team and what was added, then erased it because it was too long, and put almost every team. I did not say every team. A team does not need to add or subtract from a roster to get better. Pens got Malkin back from injury. Stamkos i going to be on fire for Tampa. Montreal added a little size up front. Anyways, I don’t care what other teams did. We improved, and that is all I care about.
PRUSTOSTERONE!!!
I am gonna F-n kill Giroux!
by nathansfamous on Oct 7, 2011 7:49 AM EDT up reply actions
+1
PRUSTOSTERONE!!!
I am gonna F-n kill Giroux!
by nathansfamous on Oct 7, 2011 7:49 AM EDT up reply actions
My predictions
Wolski is in the dog house before Thanksgiving
Schoenfeld is forced back into a coaching role
Staal comes back before Christmas, and gets a second concussion before the all-star break.
Rangers finish 4th in the Atlantic Division
The offense continues to struggle
Torts creates a goaltending controversy
MZA and Richards show the best chemistry by seasons end.
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