Rangers offseason thread

[Metrags]

I know I know finally an off season Rangers thread that isnt talking of overpriced free agents or shipping off the youth.

Rags just re-upped Anisimov and Sauer. Sauer for 2.5 and Anis for 3.75, both over two years.

The Rangers D-corps now looks like Staal, Girardi, Sauer, McDonagh as locks for the top 2 lines. And we have McIlrath, Erixon, DelZotto, Valentenko, and Kundratek to round out the bottom. The Rangers might just have one of the nastiest defensive lineups in the game. I dont care what Sather has done in his past, this core is just plain stupid crazy.

I was hoping we would get Eminger back, Im not so sure that will happen at this point.

The kids are pretty much too good to let 'spoil' in the AHL. Any chance we get rid of one for more support on the offensive end?
Any thoughts on what might transpire here?

 

[Orca Pod]

I guess it's how you look at it. I look at the names at what you consider your top 4 D-men, and the only thing I can muster is 'meh.' Then, I look at what rounds out the bottom, and I think "wow, the Rangers in trouble.' Hell, I vaguely remember seeing a couple of those names, but I've never 'heard' of a couple of them to any degree.

They could work out fine. Hopefully it does. All in the way you look at it.

 

[Metrags]

Which is what makes them the league's best kept secret :beer:

Ill fill in what other fans may have missed:


Staal is already one of the premier shut down defensemen in the game. Only reason he isnt a Norris candidate already is he isnt expected to score. Though he has been handling the puck much more often, and has gone end to end much more in the last year. The Rangers style of play does not compliment an offensive dman regardless.

Girardi led the league in blocked shots last year (by a wide margin).

Sauer was a rookie last year, and was just plain dominant in his own end. His +20 was tops on an offensively inept team, and 4th best among rookies.

Even more impressive than Sauer's +20 in a full year is McDonagh's +16 in only 40 games. He is still very young so I cannot give him too much praise, then again, he is still very young and has all the potential in the world. Another shutdown dman when most teams struggle to have just one.

McIlrath has not played for the Rags yet, but lets just say the kid is 6'5" and is a fan favorite in the making. His nickname is 'the undertaker'. Think Chara but with fighting ability. He is only 19, so we wont see him for a while. Another shutdown dman.....

Valentenko has yet to play with the big club, but is one of the best defensive dmen in the system (NHL or AHL level). He is compared to a European Daneyko, which is never a bad thing. Another 6 foot 200+lb shutdown dman.....

Erixon, unable to sign in Calgary, was a guaranteed top 10 pick had he not signed on with the rags. Considering he was originally drafted 2 years ago, he is the most NHL ready of their prospects. He is the most well-rounded of the Rags defenders, and has a tremendous vision of the ice (that is actually his biggest asset). I have heard him compared to a more defensive version of Lidstrom. Did I mention he is 6'3" 200 as well?

DelZotto is the 'odd man out'. As he is the only true offensive style dman in the system. He needs to prove himself in his own end before getting my full vote of confidence. With the list in front of him, we can afford to wait.


The average ago of the Rangers dmen lineup is 23, and that includes old man river Wade Redden for good measure.... I officially feel old now. :beer:

 

[SkyFire47]

i was thinking Eminger would be re-signed on the cheap as a 6th or 7th dman. at the right price and for what he did last year, it certainly couldn't hurt.

also hoping DZ re-finds whatever it is that he lost. we know he's already capable of playing at the NHL level and having Richards and Gabby threatening up front and DZ coming in from the back sounds like a lot of potential pucks in the net.

 

[Metrags]

I thought Eminger fit in very nicely with the team, which is a huge understatement at the risk of making him sound like an all star dman. :| He played 10 times better than i expected, and was as reliable as anyone on the roster.

His league and team experience alone is certainly something worth having around.

 

[achittka]

Hi, I don't usually reply to these threads, but sometimes I don't understand how even a homer fan can have a certain view on something.

I just scoured all 30 NHL rosters for defencemen.

Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Florida, New Jersey, and maybe St Louis. And maybe Columbus too.

Those are the teams in the NHL right now with a worse defence than the Rangers. (Unfortuntely, fans of those teams: you may love your team's defence, but it doesn't scare me at all.)

I would take any other team's defence over that of the Rangers. This "just plain stupid crazy" defence of the Rangers has a shot blocker, and a pair of guys with a combined little over 100 games under their belt in Sauer and McDonagh. They also have Marc Staal. Props on having Staal.

That is what Sather is planning on rounding out with Del Zotto who seems lost in the NHL after his initial spurt, Redden who's as likely as Jeff Finger to be back on the NHL club, and a slough of true rookies?

Straight up: that's a defensive corps I would not be the least bit worried about if I were an oppositional coach. No offensive upside, nobody to run the PP (likely a forward will have to do this, unless Del Zotto figures himself out), no veteran leader (unless Redden sticks - and even then, it would be Redden). The only thing on the backend that I'd be game planning for is Henrik.

It's a corps built on potential. Potential to be terrific. Potential to flop. I don't find it the least bit intimidating.

I respect your opinion as a Rangers fan, but think it would be very difficult to find a fan outside of NY who sees the Rangers defensive corps the least bit threatening.

Also, I found this line about McIlrath funny:

Think Chara but with fighting ability.

Please see Chara vs anybody on Youtube. (I'll highlight McCabe - hey maybe the Rangers want to bring him back!?)

 

[Metrags]

Think of this thread as a learning experience for you kid. I didnt call it the best kept secret in the game for nothing:beer:

Sauer and McDonagh have played under 100 games therefore they are bad. I just smile.

I have no problem with the secret staying put, I just thought a discussion might ensue from people who at least knew the names I listed. And didnt have to 'stat check' the individual players.

So apparently from that list I rattled off, you know Redden (who I did not even mention) and Staal. Props on knowing Staal?

edit: I dont have to youtube anything on Chara, I watch every single Bruins game and have for the last 6 years.... so about that.

 

[achittka]

Sauer and McDonagh have played under 100 games therefore they are bad.

I'm not sure why you wrote this. It seems your post was a reply to my post and there isn't one place I said that. I know who they both are, and I believe I mentioned they had potential (and a combined little over 100 games in the NHL). Potential to be terrific. Potential to flop.
For the record, I also know Girardi, Del Zotto, McIlraith and Erixon. Valentenko and Kundratek: nope. I don't know them. I bet they've got a lot of potential.

Like I said, I don't find the Rangers' defence the least bit threatening, and don't know why any coach would be at all worried about playing against them. If they come out and light things up (or shut things down), sustain it for bunch of time, (and it's not just Henrik making them look good) I'll be the first to sprinkle a lil salt on my crow, but I really don't see it. There are two proven guys in there.

I have no problem with the secret staying put, I just thought a discussion might ensue from people who at least knew the names I listed. And didnt have to 'stat check' the individual players.

I didn't have to stat check anybody, I just double-checked to make sure I knew what I was talking about before posting. I then made a point to mention that I did my homework. I then showed my work, rather than just my answer. The same thing a teacher would look for on a school assignment. Us 'kids' learn quickly what a teacher wants to see when taking a position. Then again, us teachers know what we look for too. haha
I also didn't even bother with statistics in my double-checking, just name-based rosters, since I've watched enough hockey over the last few years to have a pretty good idea what most guys are about. Besides, stats don't tell the whole story on a player. I think we can agree on that. From some of the posts I read in various forums, some people post things without double checking their facts - or they just make them up - and obviously have no idea what they're talking about (a generalization: this comment is actually not directed at you in any way).

So apparently from that list I rattled off, you know Redden (who I did not even mention) and Staal.

You mentioned Redden in your average age of 23. You made a Redden joke, I made a Redden joke.

An analogy about potential (or a unit based on potential):
It's kind of like a firecracker. There's the chance of something amazing falling out -- including even maybe a ring! It's just as easy for the thing to misfire, and you have to rip the whole thing apart to get anything out of it.

 

[achittka]

By firecracker, I think I actually meant Christmas cracker. I think that's what they're called, with the paper crown and the little prize inside.

 

[Metrags]

Rangers resign Brian Boyle, 3 years @ 1.7 per

He is worth the price, but it is a tad high for a fourth line center. I think we will be seeing much more of BB, especially if he keeps increasing his goal totals (21 last year).

We know he can use his body offensively and defensively, I just wish he would throw it around a bit more. Imagine BB with Callahan's grit?

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/boyle_oks_pact_with_rangers_8RXTIfh1ddI45wHvNrxFYL

 

[DredJAw]

Think of this thread as a learning experience for you kid. I didnt call it the best kept secret in the game for nothing:beer:

Sauer and McDonagh have played under 100 games therefore they are bad. I just smile.

I have no problem with the secret staying put, I just thought a discussion might ensue from people who at least knew the names I listed. And didnt have to 'stat check' the individual players.

So apparently from that list I rattled off, you know Redden (who I did not even mention) and Staal. Props on knowing Staal?

edit: I dont have to youtube anything on Chara, I watch every single Bruins game and have for the last 6 years.... so about that.

I'm just going to add that, although I DO in fact like Sauer and McDonagh and think they will be very steady defenceman, you have to worry about the potential sophmore slump. You of all people should know that considering it reaked havoc on MDZ last season.

 

[DredJAw]

Rangers resign Brian Boyle, 3 years @ 1.7 per

He is worth the price, but it is a tad high for a fourth line center. I think we will be seeing much more of BB, especially if he keeps increasing his goal totals (21 last year).

We know he can use his body offensively and defensively, I just wish he would throw it around a bit more. Imagine BB with Callahan's grit?

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/boyle_oks_pact_with_rangers_8RXTIfh1ddI45wHvNrxFYL

I think it would be dang next to impossible for any 4th line center to improve on a 21 goal season.

Remember this, they now have Brad Richards... meaning less 'quality ice' time at the center position for BB. Meaning... likely less goals.

I do like the dude however. He's real solid, was a nice surprise, and he's huge and can play but I wouldn't expect him to improve on last years totals.

 

[Metrags]

I'm just going to add that, although I DO in fact like Sauer and McDonagh and think they will be very steady defenceman, you have to worry about the potential sophmore slump. You of all people should know that considering it reaked havoc on MDZ last season.

Normally yes, however both Sauer and McD are defense first. Whereas MDZ is almost strictly offense. None of the Rags D are potential producers, they all play the same style of physical shut down hockey.

Difficult to slump when you are all D in the first place, though I suppose the chance is there. MDZ on the other hand definetly hit a slump, because once he could not produce he became useless. He is currently in the AHL trying to remodel his play.

As for Boyle, he drops down in the depth charts, but Torts is notorious for his extensive use of his shutdown players (Boyle, Prust, Cally, etc). I could see BB making up for lost time by getting time on the PP or as some other sort of power forward. Personally I would not be against a Boyle, Richards, Gabby line (at least for the preseason to see how it works). The Rags desperately need a true power forward (they thought they had one in Voros), especially considering the style of play they implement.

 

[jagrnyr68]

D definitely looks a little weak, but hopefully Del Zotto brings some more this year. considering it was Sauer and McDonagh's first year, i like where they're headed. potential might not be through the roof but they're solid players

 

[norstrom]

I think nest years team look more well build at this point!

For my self I realy love that they signed a great Swedish players Tim Erixon, soon of the best defense forward in the game Jan Erixon hope all fans remember him!

I am realy looking forward to next season and perhaps they will let a great player from my hometeam also get a role in the team Jesper Fasth a great offensive player!

 

[M35Richter]

Our top 4 D are solid. I think we need to resign Eminger as our 5th D as he played solid last year and was possibly our most physical player back there. That would make me feel more comfortable playing one of the kids in the 6th spot....Erixon,McIlrath,DZ.

Lets not also forget that up front there may be one or two kids making the team this year...Kreider specifically. Played extremely well in the WJC and with a full year in the system last year hopefully he can make the team and add a bit more skill and scoring touch to the lineup.

 

[Metrags]

Lets not also forget that up front there may be one or two kids making the team this year...Kreider specifically. Played extremely well in the WJC and with a full year in the system last year hopefully he can make the team and add a bit more skill and scoring touch to the lineup.

If the youngsters before him are any indication (cally, Dubs, Stepan, Zucs) I dont think Kreider will have any problem whatsoever joining the system. Especially considering he is the most highly touted offensively of the group.

Blame Sather or blame Torts, but this team has an incredible identity. For the first time in my life, I am actually excited to see the team play because of the young talent they churn out. They all have a long way to go, but the hardest part of young team is playing as a unit, and that seems to be the first thing these kids master under this management.

 

[wiseguy917]

People look at our defense and don't see any "sexy" names so they assume that they aren't any good..I believe the term used was "not scared"....Somewhere Somehow a good defenseman in the NHL changed from being a shutdown Dman to a Dman who gets points. People can call us homers all they want but the fact is they don't watch the Rangers play day in and day out so they don't know what we have. The Rangers have the youngest D in the league and the team ranked in the top 5 in total defense last year. Again, the youngest defense in the league ranked in the top 5 in the NHL in total defense....If that doesn't say something to you then maybe you should start following a different sport.

 

[Brave]

People look at our defense and don't see any "sexy" names so they assume that they aren't any good..I believe the term used was "not scared"....Somewhere Somehow a good defenseman in the NHL changed from being a shutdown Dman to a Dman who gets points. People can call us homers all they want but the fact is they don't watch the Rangers play day in and day out so they don't know what we have. The Rangers have the youngest D in the league and the team ranked in the top 5 in total defense last year. Again, the youngest defense in the league ranked in the top 5 in the NHL in total defense....If that doesn't say something to you then maybe you should start following a different sport.

The defense is good, I will agree with that. Sauer might be the most underated of the underated. The problem is that their efforts are overshadowed by the lack of scoring by the guys who were supposed to score goals. If Richards and crew start scoring goals, and the 2-1 losses start turning into 3-2 wins, people will start to notice the defense.

 

[lumm0x]

I think people are underrating the Rangers defense due to the lack of an good offensive element to it like you said. The best offensive guy is likely Del Zotto and he has been so inconsistent he can't hold down a spot. They have some very solid young defenders who, along with probably a top 3 netminder make that defense statistically a top 5 unit. But as said, the lack of offensive support and goal production skew the win/loss ratio to a mediocre standing. Grabbing Richards and re-upping your core young forwards is a big step towards making this a playoff franchise again.