We continue our selection of the perfect Rangers team with the second line. Last week, the voting kicked off by picking the first line center, right and left winger for two teams. The results are below and I will track who was selected for each as well as the voting when full lines were proposed.
In line with the first blog, below you will find a list of possible second line centers as well as left and right wingers for 1988 to present. I have listed the names alphabetically and then posted the poll for each spot. Once the overall team is selected, I then will list all the roster proposals you posted in the prior blog comments along with mine. It be interesting to see how the general consensus compares to each of our selections.
In the poll, I have listed lines for selection to compare to the individual options, as it might also be intriguing to see how the ‘made’ up trios compare to some actual lines utilized by the Blueshirts. In addition, some overlap exists between those already proposed as possible first line options to players listed below for second line based on the names and their role on the team. Therefore, a handful of names you see below were also presented as first line options and I have noted where that is the case.
First line selections based on the vote:
First team:
Adam Graves-Mark Messier-Jaromir Jagr
Second team:
Alexei Kovalev-Wayne Gretzky-Mike Gartner
Lines combinations:
Graves-Messier-Kovalev
Straka-Nylander-Jagr
A few reminders :
1) Cut off for eligibility is to be 170 games or two-plus seasons as a Ranger, but have used some leeway in a several instances. Once you get past the first liners, a substantive number of players that are options for the second and to a certain extent third line skated in far less than 170 games, so I am using 110 games as the cut off point.
2) Selection should be based on their production and role in New York, not output while with other teams
3) If you feel I have missed any names, please let me know and I will add those to the poll. This is especially so for the first liners who readers feel are truly second liners and belong on the list for voting.
4) In the case of Tomas Sandstrom, he almost equally bridges 71-87 and 88-present and therefore is listed here and will be listed for 71-87
Centers:
Kelly Kisio, Petr Nedved, Derek Stepan, Darren Turcotte and Doug Weight
Left wing:
Brandon Dubinsky, Ulf Dahlen, Tony Granato, Jan Hlavac, Steve Larmer, John Ogrodnick and Martin Rucinsky
Right wing:
Ryan Callahan, Radek Dvorak, Theo Fleury, John MacLean, Brian Mullen, Tomas Sandstrom and Mike York
Line combinations to vote on:
Dubinsky-Stepan-Callahan (the Young Americans)
Hlavak-Nedved-Dvorak (Czechmates)
Fleury-Lindros-York (FLY line)
With all the RFAs signed, I am not expecting much traction elsewhere. Maybe we see a minor-league signing or player offered a PTO and a long-shot of a trade, but I am not expecting much until maybe the middle to latter part of August. Until then, open to blog ideas. We can play with line combinations - early hint, Kevin Hayes will not be on my fourth line - or focus elsewhere. Let me know what you are thinking and would want to see.