Defensive Depth A Key For The New York Rangers
by Brandon C. on Jan 28, 2012 9:00 AM EST
in New York Rangers Analysis
Email
Print
When you think of the New York Rangers greats, Brian Leetch is certainly among the first names to come to mind. While I won't compare Dan Girardi to Leetch, Girardi and his fellow defensemen have brought new prestige to being a New York Rangers d-man.
With Marc Staal having return from injury, the Rangers have one of, if not the best defenses in hockey. Michael Del Zotto is having a breakout season, while Ryan McDonagh is making the Canadiens regret trading him increasingly each day,
Meanwhile, the likes of Anton Stralman and Stu Bickel have filled in for the loss of Michael Sauer fantastically, and when Sauer returns, along with Steve Eminger, the Rangers will have one of the best problems a team can have: too much defense.
In the minors, the Rangers have Tim Erixon and Pavel Valentenko waiting in the wings. Dylan McIllrath is a huge prospect for the Rangers at defense as well, so not only does the current look bright, but the future does as well.
19 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
If we have a healthy lineup next year if Girardi, McD, Staal, MDZ, Sauer, And Erixon, all more seasoned from a playoff run, we will have an embarrassment of riches at D and be the envy of most teams.
Not to take away from these guys at all but the Rangers system makes it easy to slot people in and play well. Plus Hartford running the same system for the D helps the transition. So what you have is a solid system in place and guys like Bickle come in and do ok. In another system he might be hung out to dry. Ours allows average D to come in and play above average, good D play great and so on.
I’m not saying it is an illusion just that the way we play support out D very well (plus Henrik doesn’t hurt). We get more bang for the buck with our guys on the backend.
Aucune clause de Mouvement
by Blueshirt in Paris on Jan 28, 2012 9:26 AM EST reply actions
Were building a system like the Red Wings where ideally we can just plug people in and it becomes a well oiled machine. I see what your saying and its definitely true, its what good teams do.
by CrazyRangerFan on Jan 28, 2012 11:51 AM EST up reply actions
Absolutely.
"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!!!
is it just me or is this the longest allstar break…I miss watching them
by Prustyballs94 on Jan 28, 2012 10:21 AM EST via Android app reply actions
Know exactly watch you mean. Its because they’re winning, if we were fighting for the 8 spot in the conference I think I would have welcomed this break
by Zuppa Di Pesce on Jan 28, 2012 10:41 AM EST up reply actions
Just wanted to say
Fuck you Montreal.
That is all
R.I.P Derek
Rangers FTW!
by BleedsRangerBlue on Jan 28, 2012 10:40 AM EST via mobile reply actions
The depth is huge.
Erixon is the one to watch, in terms of either being the next one to crack the lineup, or be the next big trade chip. His base salary is $1.75m over the next three seasons, so obviously [this season] a player or two will no longer be on the big club to make room for him.
Valentenko…I just don’t know. Some flashes of good, but then ‘stonehedge’. I’m not sure if he’s ready. If he’s called upon, can he make the jump? I’m just not sure.
I do think some thing on the trade market is getting hot again…Ryan Suter. I know this is a ‘dead horse’ topic, but so often these things run hot and cold; I just think this trade possibility has more legs than say the Rangers going after Brad Richards last year. I tend to think something may be in the works within the shadows, because so far, Staal hasn’t been himself yet (which fortunately hasn’t come back to haunt the Rangers). But, if this time off allows him to do anything, it allows him time to get more treatment, more practice, and time to reflect on what might be missing.
LGR!
"Fart like a man! It's hockey!"
Staal is going to take a while to get to 100%
He was out for so long, it is really hard to make up for a 9 month layoff – both physically, and as far as defensive timing and awareness. Hopefully he will be 100% in 4-6 weeks and in that same time hopefully Sauer will be close to making a return.
Staalsy isn’t ever going to be 100% this season, next he will regain his form but its just too hard to regain that level of excellence while being out so long and trying to regain it in the heat of a season.
by CrazyRangerFan on Jan 28, 2012 5:20 PM EST up reply actions
I'm with this
Don’t think he will be his complete former self until next years training camp. That’s when he will get all of his timing, strength, stamina, and rhythm back. At least IMO.
"Just reload my weapon, you know?" - Artem Anisimov
"We are going to come to Philadelphia, and we are going to win." - Mr.Sather
"I'm not a screamer or yeller. If I would try to scream and yell at people, it's not what I'd naturally do. So if I tried to do that, it would be awkward, I think." - Eli Manning
leetch vs current defensemen
guys as a 45 or so year hockey fan of the Rangers i can safely say the following. No one on the current team as good as they are or as well as they are playing can remotely compare to Leetch. I followed him from when he first came up and through his entire career. I will never forgive Sather for trading him as it was a disrespect to the entire Ranger organization. If he were on our current team the way they are playing the cup would be a lock. The guy was one of the best defensemen of all time. People remember him for his offensive prowess, but he was never given the proper credit for how good a defensive player he was.
He is without a doubt the best player the Rangers have ever had.
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
- Who are the Non-Smythe candidates for the Devils, Kings?
- End is near for Rick Nash, Blue Jackets as trade discussions set to resume
- 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
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Driven DeBoer delivers Devils back to NHL's elite
- Driven DeBoer, fired by Panthers, delivers Devils back to the land of elite in just one year
- Bruins acquire son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque
- Bruins add a Bourque: Chris Bourque, son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, acquired from Capitals
- Shinnimin named CHL's Player of the Year
