Rangers Analysis: Which Duo Is More Crucial to Success of Rangers?
by Nick Montemagno on Jul 27, 2011 5:00 AM EDT
in New York Rangers Analysis
Email
PrintBrandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan were the duo that made the Rangers offense go last season, and presumably will be so in 2011-12 as well. Granted they have two all-stars in Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards to give them some support now, but even so, "Duballahan" will remain the vital organ of this hockey team's offense. Neither Dubinsky nor Callahan are elite talents like Gabby and Richie, but combined they form an elite talent and I think both of them are aware of this.
Dubi hit the nail on the head when talking about his chemistry with linemate Ryan Callahan to Newsday last week:
"We know each other; If I dump the puck in he's going to go get it, if he dumps the puck in, he knows I'm gonna go get it. There's no question of where the other guy's going to be. We're battling together, I don't think either of us is one of the elite talents in the league, I hope he doesn't get mad at me that I said that, but if we work hard, the talent we have comes out."
Callahan won't get mad at Dubinsky for saying that because Cally himself has previously stated the exact same thing in the past. I think part of what makes Dubinsky and Callahan so effective is their honesty, which was displayed in the statement above. They don't make excuses, they don't stretch the truth and they most certainly are not about themselves. They don't overvalue themselves either, and both have made that clear.
Continue reading after the jump....
We're not looking at a Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin or a Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby combo here. Dubinsky and Callahan are far from the skill level of any of those four players. On the ice, though, Dubi and Cally work harder than those four combined. They battle in the corners, they kill penalties and sacrifice their bodies more often than any of them. In this way they make up for the average skill with an extra boost in the effort department, and together they bring the effectiveness of a Crosby or Malkin to the lineup.
You can argue that the chemistry between Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik will be more crucial to the Rangers success this season than that of Dubinsky and Callahan, but I still don't believe the consistency between the two pairings will be the same. Dubinsky and Callahan bring the same effort to every single game. There is no arguing that because it's 100-percent true. Gaborik, on the other hand, has some nights where he is completely invisible and you forget that he is even on the team. That is never the case with Duballahan. Sure, they have their off nights here and there, but they are still banging bodies and working their rears off nonetheless.
As I always do with intense debates such as this one, I will leave it up to the readers. In the poll below, let us know which combo you think is more important to the Rangers success this season... (note: I am fully aware that both will contribute to the success of the team, but just play along and vote for who you think will be of more importance.)
63 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Dubi and Cally get you to the playoffs, Richards and Gaborik give you a chance to win the cup.
by Gabby the Gutless Sniper on Jul 27, 2011 5:19 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
“together they bring the effectiveness of a Crosby or Malkin to the lineup” they just don’t bring the effectiveness of a Crosby AND Malkin to the lineup.
These 2 are part of a blue-collar, grinding, 2nd line and don’t deserve to be compared to 1st line talent. As far as 2nd lines go, I’ll take them any night of the NHL season…
“Like”
Best Rangers day: May 27, 1994
Worst Rangers day: April 10, 1984
by Stepan the Ice! on Jul 27, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
what about Boyle and Prust...?
by Ranger McJersey on Jul 27, 2011 5:45 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Very good third liners
"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick
by RangerFanInChicago on Jul 27, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Gaborik and Richards
The question maybe can be interpreted in different ways, but the way I see it, it’s Gabby and Ritchie.
You know what Dubi and Cally do. You know they’re going to do it every game. There is rarely an exception.
Gaborik and Richards will determine what the Rangers do this year. If they are one of the best duos in the league, this team has cup promise. If they are mediocre (for their talents) we’ll see a playoff birth with maybe 1 series win.
If they stink, we won’t be much different from last year.
The team hinges on them.
by SeanI on Jul 27, 2011 7:07 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
This is exactly how I interpreted this question
We all know what Dubinsky and Callahan are capable of, and that they are both very effective players. They will play in any situation on the ice, probably be good for 50-60 goals, and lead this team on and off the ice.
On the other hand, coming of a sub-par season, and sans being handed a very lucrative contract, everyone is HOPING for Richards and Gaborik to put up huge numbers.
That being said, I do have a good amount of confidence that Richards and Gaborik can “click,” or at the very least produce big numbers. So I think some duos might be more important than either of of those. Such as Stepan and whoever he gets paired with (maybe Boyle, or Thomas, or MZA). The Rangers are going to need depth at scoring if they expect to make it deep in the playoffs, and third line production could be crucial. Also, if our third defensive pairing is Eminger with Erixon or Del Zotto, or some combination of the three, I’d say the success of that pairing will be pretty critical to our success.
by callahanisgod on Jul 27, 2011 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I gotta say Gabs and Richards
Dubi and Callahan are very important, but I think I’d take their play as givens. What they do is repeatable, all of the defensive mindedness they provide as forwards, I think that doesn’t really go in slumps.
Gaborik and Richards are supposed to light the lamp and that’s something that the Rangers haven’t had consistently the past few years.
The real answer is both tho. These 4 are our primary and secondary scorers.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
Don’t count out Anismov. I think by next season, we will be talking about the pack line as a whole rather than just “duballihan.” If those guys develop as they should, we may be talking about two first lines in 2012.
I think this is a good point
While “duos” are important, one of the most frequently asked questions Rangers fans have been asking this offseason is about our line pairings. While with Tortorella at the helm our pairings are anyone’s guess, and it’s more than likely lines will be juggled more than once this season, I think it will be important for Tortorella to quickly find line combinations that gel.
I’ve said in the past that there is no reason break up the Pack line. Whoever plays LW with Richards and Gaborik is only holding that spot TEMPORARILY. Chris Kreider will be with the club next season, and will be on the top line. So there’s no reason to set the development of the Pack line back a year, as Kreider will be with the club soon enough.
So I think the real question is who plays on the LW with the top line (Avery, Boyle, Wolski, MZA or Feds) and who plays with Stepan. Also, how are we going to get Boyle the necessary minutes to produce.
That is all.
by callahanisgod on Jul 27, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
No guarantees
About Kreider.
And besides that, putting him on a line that will surely draw the other teams best defense and shutdown lines is not the best way to break him into the NHL either.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Jul 27, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
This guy is a stud
Obviously there are no guarantees, but I’ve seen this guy play, and IMO he’s a bona fide NHL talent. I really think he can not only make the team, but make an impact on the top line.
And for argument’s sake, although he did not play there consistently, Stepan got time with Gaborik last season on or pseudo top line. And as many people have eluded to, if the Pack line continues to mature, teams will be forced to decide who to play their top defensive pairings against, as we will have two “top lines.”
by callahanisgod on Jul 27, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the dynamics
Of last year’s top line or whatever line you want to call Gaborik’s, will be much different than a line with Richards and Gaborik. I don’t know what the sample size if of Stepan playing with Gaborik and whether there’s any meaningful conclusions you can draw from that.
I suppose that Richards and Gaborik would draw such considerable defensive attention that the LW could find themselves with more space, but I’d be surprised if they let such a vital role go to a rookie. Then again nobody thought that Dubi would have been centering Jagr in his rookie year so who knows.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Jul 27, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
My point was more to show that the organization isn’t opposed to putting a rookie in that role. Obviously it’s a lot of pressure for a first year player, not only to play in that scenario, but also to be thrust into a key role on a team that is supposed to be in the midst of its window to “win a cup.”
But I still think it’s Kreider’s job come next season.
by callahanisgod on Jul 27, 2011 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
It could
Very well be a role that Kreider can fill. Lots of variables though. What if Dubinsky gets the top LW role and does well there? What if they move Stepan to the wing if he shows no progress at faceoffs? I’m excited for the kid as anyone, but I’d also like to see him have a breakout year at BC before anointing him as a top 6, let alone top line player in a completely different league.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Jul 27, 2011 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Kreider is a LW. Lots of speed, very strong on the puck, and lots of speed. Can’t really stress his skating ability, it’s one of his biggest pluses, but also, he is a very skilled player and possesses good puck skills which he combines with the speed to make him very dangerous.
I believe Thomas is a RW, and I personally think Thomas has a shot to make the opening game roster, or at the very least see time with the club this year.
by callahanisgod on Jul 27, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks
Yeah, I’ve become familiar with the strengths of those guys, I just always forget which wing they play on. Given the hype of those guys, a Kreider-stepan-thomas line does sound tantalizing for the future.
Hopefully by 2012 we will be above playing a rookie on the top line, but I can see promoting dubi to the top line and sliding Kreider in at LW on the second line. Hopefully by then, Anisimov will be able to support a rookie on his left and he and Callahan can set Kreider up for a nice rookie season.
IF
and its a big IF Chris Kreider makes the team in 2012 there is no way he starts on the top line right away
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
by Kevin Power on Jul 27, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Seeing that you are a proponent of developing our guys in the minors as long as possible, who do you see making the Rangers first; Thomas or Kreider?
Thomas…given the fact that he’ll be at training camp this year at the traverse city tournament so he’ll get a long look and maybe a chance on the NHL roster this year. He also has more professional experience playing in the OHL
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
by Kevin Power on Jul 27, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
i believe the correct pronunciation is...
Callinskimov….at least thats my fav that has been mentioned on the site.
In Prust we Trust
"It's just pain."
This team has balls.
by Master Ov Brutality on Jul 27, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Dubinsky - Richards - Gaborik
I have a better feeling about that than anything else.
Blueshirt Banter - Muddling in Mediocrity - Fantasy Hockey Scouts
US Soccer/Red Sox Supporter
I was all about this at first
But the more I think about it, if we can find a different LW that clicks with richards and gabby, it will give us a great first line and one of the better second lines in hockey. Obvioulsy, if feds/avery/wolski/whoever don’t work, we may need to plug dubi in to get our first line going, but I’m not sure if that should be the first course of action.
by Town on Jul 27, 2011 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Better duo
Lundqvist and Biron; goaltending will carry the rangers just as it has the past few years since the jagr era ended. hopefully biron stays healthy and can give lundqvist a rest down the stretch; cuz torts will actually trust him to do that, he did not trust johnson
by brodeur hearts avery on Jul 27, 2011 9:17 AM EDT reply actions
We can probably count on
Goaltending more than any other part of this team.
They need scoring though. Particularly in the playoffs. They’ve averaged under 2 goals per game in their last 2 playoff series.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Jul 27, 2011 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s not a duo the king loves to play as much as he can and plays better when he look at the beginning of last season compared to the end
by Ranger McJersey on Jul 27, 2011 11:08 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
should've added that to the poll
biron would be a starting goalie if he was on any team in the southeast. he takes pressure off of lundqvist because he knows he has a reliable back up, and encourages him to play his best for the same reason. Hopefully no broken collar bones in practice this season
+1
on no more broken collar bones in practice…Step needs to shoot low for now on!
In Prust we Trust
"It's just pain."
This team has balls.
by Master Ov Brutality on Jul 27, 2011 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Biron is not better than Cam Ward or Thomas Vokoun. No way. I guess he would be the starting guy for Florida, Tampa, and Winnipeg. Could be.
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Top 10 goalie easy. Maybe top 5. He and Vokoun have’t gotten the attention due to the SE, but they are both awesome.
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Ehh, not top-5. Vokoun, Hiller, Luongo, Lundqvist, and Thomas have put up better numbers for years.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Jul 28, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
i think Biron will be fine this year….not too often you have a freak accident in practice like he did last year…probably will wear extra padding if its something he’s worried about now.
In Prust we Trust
"It's just pain."
This team has balls.
by Master Ov Brutality on Jul 27, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
c'mon, dude
Average talent? Guys with average talent that work their rears off are third/fourther liners. “Duballahan” may not be elite, but their talent is far from average.
Well…On an NHL-average team NHL-average talents are 2nd and 3rd liners. The ones who “work their rears off” are on the 2nd line.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Jul 28, 2011 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions
So wait
If I dump who is going to reach in the toilet and grab it?? I need a wing man, immediately!!
I'd go with Gaborik and Richards
just because I think Dubinsky is going to be the LW on that line while callahan plays with AA and Step
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
I think what is special about Dubinsky and Callahan are the intangibles.They each have one of the best all around games in the league. Richards and Gaborik will score us some amazing goals I hope. But it will come down to Callahan and Dubi(anisimov too) if we get far in the playoffs, heart is always the key ingredient to Stanley cup.
by louielounz1 on Jul 27, 2011 11:48 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
The success is clearly more important for Richards and Gaborik, since they have no previous chemistry together. When Duballahan is on the ice they look in tune with each other the entire time, so I would say their success is almost a given. If Richards and Gaborik dont click we’re in for a lot of …well…Gaborik Hatin’.
Dubi - Cally
one can only wonder if the rangers had callahan against washington…
Shoot the puck Barry!!!
"THIS SEASON"
If the poll mentioned the general future of the rangers, then I would say duballahan immediately. But as for this season, if richards and gaborik click, the rangers will be unstoppable
Gaby and Richards
Your premier scorers have to put the puck in the net,that’s all they are capable of doing.Cally and Dubie on the other hand are asked to do so much more,there primary goal isn’t just to score goals.
"So Say Goodnight To The Bad Guy"..............Antonio Montana 1983
by Stroker Ace on Jul 27, 2011 2:28 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Richards and Gaborik for only this reason:
What the Rangers were sorely missing last year was power play goals and consistent scoring….cushions in games instead of scratching and clawing to get games to overtime. Richards and Gaborik are the ones who, if they click, will provide buckets of offense while Dubi and Cally – while also providing offense – will give you that iron man effort out there each and every shift they play.
If Richards and Gaborik and mystery left wing click, and Duballanov gets better, we are going to be able to contend for tops in the East. (assuming the D and the G stay healthy and dominate).
I know we talk about balance in the lineup..
But does anyone se Torts riding 3 lines really hard, and barely playing the 4th?
Dubinsky Richards Gaborik
Stepan Anisimov Callahan
Feds Boyle Prust
Rupp/Avery/Wolski/MZA/Christensen.
Not saying it’ll happen, just that its a possibility. Especially at the end of close games. Torts it going to ride the guys he trusts.
Now, personally I’m looking forward to the start of the 2013-2014 season, when our lineup is..
Dubinsky Richards Gaborik
Stepan Anisimov Callahan
Kreider Miller Thomas
Rupp Boyle Prust
that teams wins. :)
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
I don’t think the 2013-14 lineup you have is better than the one the Rangers can currently put out.
Yes, Thomas scored 50 goals in his second season in the OHL. So did Callahan. And Callahan only became a real offensive threat in his 4th full season with the Rangers. I’m not sold on Kreider, and I’m kinda hoping the Rangers sell high on him before he ever hits the NHL. And Miller hasn’t proven anything at any level yet to warrant a third line pivot spot over Boyle.
Hopefully Stepan dramatically increases his face-off skills, and the Rangers can keep him in the third line pivot spot. I actually would like to see Hagelin at one of the wings on the third or fourth line. And I think Zuccarello has a spot on this team.
It’ll be interesting to see how this all unfolds.
Well, with the lines they weren’t meant to be in any specific order. When I look at that team, I see 3 amazing lines, with the last one having kids full of potential. I’m just looking at building the team cap wise. By that time, AA and Step will be making more. Sauer and McD will be making more, etc. To me, its a team that doesn’t have any garbage pieces. Everyone would be earning their contract, and we wouldn’t have anyone that doesn’t fit with the team.
For every $7 mil player we have, you need a $1 mil player as well. Those young kids would be cheap and could impress, who knows? Especially when playing on a line that would almost always go up against 3rd pair defensemen.
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
It could work if you keep Step at center. This is what I’d envision
Dubinsky- Richards- Gaborik
Zuccarello- Anisimov- Callahan
Hagelin- Stepan- Right winger X
Rupp- Boyle- Prust
I imagine Fasth and Thomas will be jockeying for that final spot.
Similar, I just figure guys like Miller, Kreider, and Thomas will be on the club in two years. If not, there are plenty of other kids. Hagelin, MZA, Weise that will be pretty sooner but probably have a lower ceiling.
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Just a little hyperbole perhaps?
On the ice, though, Dubi and Cally work harder than those four combined.
I'm gonna go a little off the grain
and say Anisimov-Callahan will be the dynamic duo this season. These two (if Cally can stay healthy) have the potential to be a combined 60 (30 goals each)-70-130 this season. They found each other on ice very well last season, like the Callahan “behind the back pass” in Pittsburgh Anisimov scored on. They play very well together, and I see them as a dangerous duo for this season.
"The winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is Number Eight, Brandon Prust!"--Ofc. Colin McDonald, NYPD, April 7, 2011
+1. Agreed. I think Wolski or MZA would fit on their LW as well, allowing Dubi to play on the 1st line and Step to still have Wolski/MZA on one side and Rupp/Feds on the other.
It also allows us to keep Boyle-Prust together, with Feds/Rupp on LW.
Dubi – BRich – Gabs
WW – AA – Cally
Feds/Rupp – Step – MZA
Feds/Rupp – Boyle – Prust
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Probably the most balance lineup. Having the grit that Dubinsky and Callahan provide on either line allows Richards and Gaborik to do their elite scoring thing, and Wolski to (hopefully) be the scorer that he can be.
My only concern is that taking Dubinsky off the Pack line leaves Anisimov exposed. I don’t think he’s comfortable as the second line pivot (not quite yet, but 2012-13 I think he really hits it) and having Dubinsky and Callahan lets him makes mistakes and get some of the timidity out of his game.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Blueshirt Banter
Related FanShots on Blueshirt Banter
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Rangers Schedule
Next 5 Games
New Jersey
|
Sun 05/27 | TBA |
Last 5 Games
|
@
New Jersey
|
Fri 05/25 | OT - L 2 - 3 |
|
New Jersey
|
Wed 05/23 | L 3 - 5 |
|
@
New Jersey
|
Mon 05/21 | L 1 - 4 |
|
@
New Jersey
|
Sat 05/19 | W 3 - 0 |
|
New Jersey
|
Wed 05/16 | L 2 - 3 |
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Why the Devils and the Kings are evidence the Capitals shouldn’t trade Alex Ovechkin
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
- Friday’s Three Stars: Devils head to Final; Brodeur, Kovalchuk the difference in Game 6
- Devils eliminate Rangers in Game 6, ending fear of the past, setting course for the future
