What Happens When Sauer or McD Don't Make Camp?
by The Shiv on Aug 9, 2011 2:00 PM EDT
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PrintAn obvious hypothetical, but its definitely something to consider. Everyone assumes that Sauer and McD are all locks going into the season, but lets look at a potential hypothetical. Lets say, Pavel Valentenko and Tim Erixon come to camp guns blazing and leave no choice to John Tortorella but to keep Valentenko and Erixon in the lineup. If we had to cut one of the players, either Mike Sauer or Ryan McD, which player do we pick? Do we just healthy scratch either until one of the rookies shows potential? Do we scratch Eminger? Join me after the jump for my opinions.
I honestly think that even with the possibility of Valentenko, McIlrath, or Erixon making camp, I think that the best shot of making the team is Erixon and Del Zotto. Obviously its a highly debated subject, but i think Sauer and McD will stay in the lineup, regardless of how well Valentenko or Kundratek do in camp because those two guys have a year of NHL experience under their belt. Essentially, it's their spot to lose, and I seriously doubt they will come into camp without being in the best shape of their life. Please, I want to hear your thoughts about what will happen to them if Sauer or McD don't do well in camp and have to be scratched.
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I know its hypothetical, but its close to an impossibility that a NHL defenseman (that plays a defense first style) goes from playing up to 20 minutes a game in his rookie year to not even making the team. The only thing V-tanks brings that McD and Sauer don’t is a fantastic shot so he would have to be phenomenal defensively to beat them out, especially so when you consider V-Tank has been criticized for his speed (Or at least its been questioned) and McD is like Pavel Bure in that regard.
Valtank has a very hard shot
Which is very different from a “fantastic shot.” A fantastic shot would have scored more than 5 goals against AHL goalies last season.
McDonagh was arguably our best defenseman, relative to competition, for the last 20-30 games last season. The pair was clearly the best, again relative to the competition they were playing. I’d put the chances of either missing the roster at considerably less than 1%, and almost all of that slim chance is Sauer.
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Both will make the team.
If for some reason two defensemen play great in camp, Eminger won’t see any time. Down the road there is a small small chance some of the kids pass McD and Sauer, but I highly doubt it.
"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!!!
+ a gabillion
Absolute Worst Ranger Fan!!!!!!....yet incredibly realistic and usually correct.
Just because you didn’t come right out and say it. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t there.-"But I'll accuse you anyway"-JRed
Definitely a strong possibility.
I still can’t believe trading Gomez essentially got us McD and 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!!!
and freed up cap for Gabby
Absolute Worst Ranger Fan!!!!!!....yet incredibly realistic and usually correct.
That too!
"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!!!
Has anyone taken a look at who was available when the Rangers signed Gomez -or in the year after? I know it worked out really well for us, but what if we had taken that cap space – at that time – and gone another route.
Let me know how that works out for you . . .
by SimpleManiac on Aug 14, 2011 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions
McD fooled me, because I [admittedly] thought he wasn’t the right acquistion in the Gomez trade, and after watching him in the NCAA finals. I was wrong…very, very wrong! And glad I am!
He surprises me at how adept to the offensive zone he is. McD is a poised defensive defenseman, who can outplay most everyone he plays against. But I was thoroughly impressed by his play on offense. He didn’t light up the scoreboard, but his instincts were sound, his movement was bang-on, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he sees power-play time this year.
"The winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is Number Eight, Brandon Prust!"--Ofc. Colin McDonald, NYPD, April 7, 2011
"Charlie Harper died in a 'Meat' explosion." Rose, of Two and a Half Men, September 19, 2011
"I'm a doctor, not a barber, Jim." Dr. McCoy to Captain Kirk
The right acquisition in the Gomez trade was cap space… everything else was a bonus!
by Hoggo on Aug 10, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1000000
You’re soooo right!
"The winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is Number Eight, Brandon Prust!"--Ofc. Colin McDonald, NYPD, April 7, 2011
"Charlie Harper died in a 'Meat' explosion." Rose, of Two and a Half Men, September 19, 2011
"I'm a doctor, not a barber, Jim." Dr. McCoy to Captain Kirk
Sorry, I got excited…lol.
"The winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is Number Eight, Brandon Prust!"--Ofc. Colin McDonald, NYPD, April 7, 2011
"Charlie Harper died in a 'Meat' explosion." Rose, of Two and a Half Men, September 19, 2011
"I'm a doctor, not a barber, Jim." Dr. McCoy to Captain Kirk
On Erixon
Am I the only one who isn’t totally sold on him yet? I’ve read a bit about him but it’s basically all second-hand scouting reports in block quotes. I think people really ought to wait until camp starts to make judgments about his place on the team. When the Rangers traded for him, scouts said he “probably” would have been a top 10 pick in the 2011 draft had he re-entered. Plenty of players that get picked in the top 10 aren’t ready to play right away.
It’s also worth noting that the Rangers brought over Mats Zuccarello last year, who was a highly touted SEL prospect much like Erixon, and had him spend most of the year in Hartford to adjust to the North American game. That’s definitely a distinct possibility for Erixon.
Plus, his scouting reports say that he’s essentially a solid skating and solid decision-making d-man who has a little bit of offense to his game. To me, that reads like a bit of a poor man’s Ryan McDonagh, or a Mike Sauer with less nastiness which we all know the Rangers brass loves. If Del Zotto can play decent defense but bring back his stellar offensive play, he has way more to offer to the line-up than Erixon does.
Again, I’m excited about where this team could end up going and we should wait until camp to make judgments about who should fit where. I may be too jaded by years of Rangers fandom to get too hopeful about prospects coming up big, but then again things have been changing post-lockout. Someone should start a countdown at the top of this site that’s just a counter down to the season opener.
by jm187l on Aug 10, 2011 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I've heard different of Erixon
I’ve heard he has a very high hockey IQ, his hockey sense and smarts are very good, which is super important as a defenseman. His decision making is spot on as well. He’s a NHL caliber skater, and he can mix some offense into his game, not like an offensive defenseman or something, but he could very well see PP time with the 2nd unit. The Rangers are also very high on him, but still these are all things I’ve heard, but I do believe this is how well he is right now and I believe he’s going to make the team.
Proudly suffering as a Ranger fan.
"C'mon, vagina is my 3rd favorite hole." -Drama
I don’t think we have to worry about two guys who have never played in the NHL playing so out of their mind in camp that they surpass our #3 and 4 defenseman from last year, but hypothetically it sounds like a great problem to have. Thanks for telling us to join you after the jump otherwise I would’ve just been staring those 3 stars wondering what your opinions were.
JUMP!
"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!!!
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