I am fine with giving Miller a chance, but I am pretty sure that when you see him for 3-5 games up with the big club you will be quickly disabused of the notion that he's ready. It is not as if he has dominated the AHL.
But, let's for argument sake say that their is a 50/50 shot that Miller would be ready if called upon. Do we really want to entrust the depth of this team, and perhaps its prospects to this season, on the hopes that a 20 year old kid that has placed approximately 30 games of AHL hockey is ready? And not to mention, he is only one guy. Even if he's ready, they still need more depth. Is anybody other than Miller (or the retreads like Newbury that we have already seen), ready to make the jump? - Pete V
This Euro Hrvik(sp?) has been putting up decent numbers down there.
I would rather see about some kids in the system before they start making trades. They need a piece or two, on the bottom six, not a complete revamp.
I can live with Asham in the lineup, to be honest, Rupp and Bickel need to get familiar with the luxury box.
With the skank they are rolling out there in the bottom six right now, they need guys that can play. Connolly would have the added plus of guarding of providing insurance against a Richards or Stepan injury.
At this point of the season, the options for the Rangers aren't really plentiful. You either hit the remaining free agent market like the Flyers did last night with Knuble, or you trade for a guy that has fallen out of favor and needs a change of scenery. Unless, of course, we want to continue to see Mike Rupp play on the third line, and Taylor Pyatt (who has played great), play on the second. Rupp on the thid line and Pyatt on the second is not a recipe for long term success. - Pete V
When you're right, you're right. I really am so confused. I couldn't imagine that fater 4 games this team would look so out of wack. I also couldn't imagine that Tayor Pyatt would be our most consistent player.
Wanna know what I do? Give the kids a chance to succeed here and spread out the guys playing well and try and spark something in Stepan, Hags, and Kreider.
When you're right, you're right. I really am so confused. I couldn't imagine that fater 4 games this team would look so out of wack. I also couldn't imagine that Tayor Pyatt would be our most consistent player. - tomburton99
And guys, I am only interested in short-term stop gap guys for this team. I don't want to block guys like Miller from making this team next year, because I think that he will.
And on Miller, I am afraid that it is coming off that I don't like him. I like the kid alot, but I caught a few Plymouth Whaler games last year, and thought that he was a really good player, but also one that needed a year or two before making the NHL. What is best for that kid is playing the year in Hartford, developing, and making the team next year. That is not to say that if he starts ripping it up down there, he couldn't get a late season call up, but now is just too soon, IMO. Hell, Chris Kreider is two years older than Miller, and Torts still isn't comfortable with him.
But, Miller really reminds me of Brandon Dubinsky, which I am saying as a good thing.
i feel like Staal has been playing a much more physical game, maybe im the only one but i kind of like the edge he's been showing. - steponmytoe
No i see it to. He's not only bumping guys to the boards but then finishing them off as well. I don't think the D is a problem here at all. We can't sustain a forecheck and offense to keep the other team out of our end. Too much time in our zone.
On the brightside of things guys, if Stepan, Hagelin, and to a lesser extent McDonagh, continue to play like this, it should make figuring out next year's cap issues alot easier.
On the brightside of things guys, if Stepan, Hagelin, and to a lesser extent McDonagh, continue to play like this, it should make figuring out next year's cap issues alot easier. - Pete V
Stepan will find his game. I am not worried about him as it is a total team issue right now.
Stepan will find his game. I am not worried about him as it is a total team issue right now. - mrhattrick27
I'm not really too worried about him either, I was just making the last comment in jest. But, Stepan does seem to be developing the characteristics, at least in my eyes, as a streaky player. Great at times, and sub-standard at others.
Stepan will find his game. I am not worried about him as it is a total team issue right now. - mrhattrick27
That makes one of us, Stepan looks like a player that is too timid to shoot. Not liking his overall game at all. Yes he is a talented passer but he is not a well rounded offensive player in the least.
That makes one of us, Stepan looks like a player that is too timid to shoot. Not liking his overall game at all. Yes he is a talented passer but he is not a well rounded offensive player in the least. - MidnightMarauder
Last night the whole team seemed to be making the extra pass. Just after the 5 on 3 ended, Nash made to to MDZ at the point. DZ didn't have a shooting lane. DZ made a pass to a WIDE open Pyatt. Pyatt didn't even pick his head to look for the shot, he just tried to pass back to Nash.
I'm not really too worried about him either, I was just making the last comment in jest. But, Stepan does seem to be developing the characteristics, at least in my eyes, as a streaky player. Great at times, and sub-standard at others. - Pete V
Stepan's hockey sense is spot on, but his ability to reach the next level could be stunted by his lack of speed. Not a good thing in today's NHL. especially at center.
Stepan's hockey sense is spot on, but his ability to reach the next level could be stunted by his lack of speed. Not a good thing in today's NHL. especially at center. - OLDSCHOOL#6
He's 22 and putting up 50 points. I really think he will end up being real good. The team as a whole doesn't look great. Once it comes together he will make us all look really silly.
Stepan's hockey sense is spot on, but his ability to reach the next level could be stunted by his lack of speed. Not a good thing in today's NHL. especially at center. - OLDSCHOOL#6
Flyers made a smart move in picking up Knuble, something the Rangers should have done. Still dont know why we havent called Arnott. As I said Ferriero will be good for us on the bottom 6, but we still need a couple more.
I said it last year, Ill start it up again this year, we need to trade Boyle. Hes 6'7 playing like hes 5'7, hell Hagelin has bigger balls and is tougher on his skates than Boyle. Hes big, hes soft and his faceoffs are no where near what they were last year. I wish we had traded him for Ott.
Flyers made a smart move in picking up Knuble, something the Rangers should have done. Still dont know why we havent called Arnott. As I said Ferriero will be good for us on the bottom 6, but we still need a couple more.
I said it last year, Ill start it up again this year, we need to trade Boyle. Hes 6'7 playing like hes 5'7, hell Hagelin has bigger balls and is tougher on his skates than Boyle. Hes big, hes soft and his faceoffs are no where near what they were last year. I wish we had traded him for Ott. - aecliptic
It took Buffalo giving up their first line center to acquire Ott. Right now Boyle couldn't fetch them nothing but a draft pick, if that.
He's 22 and putting up 50 points. I really think he will end up being real good. The team as a whole doesn't look great. Once it comes together he will make us all look really silly. - mrhattrick27
I hope you are right about that. It's just that, for at least this season, there is no cushion if he has a flat season. Unless there is a trade on the horizon, Stepan is locked at the second line center spot.
It took Buffalo giving up their first line center to acquire Ott. Right now Boyle couldn't fetch them nothing but a draft pick, if that. - MidnightMarauder
Granted, but after he came back from injury he was not the same and played horrendous.
And yes, its a huge reach, but god does it grind my gears to see Boyle out there. Hes a huge fan favorite, but it hurts my eyes to see him play.
It took Buffalo giving up their first line center to acquire Ott. Right now Boyle couldn't fetch them nothing but a draft pick, if that. - MidnightMarauder
Boyle is good enough for what we need in the bottom 6...so is Pyatt. Our problems are exactly where we thought they were before the season but its more problematic than we thought. The 4th line sucks and we may have been bankign too much on Kreider beign able to step in right away. On top of that everyone, yes everyone, isn't playing up to snuff. The group needs to get better and we need a 3rd line forward in here.
Boyle is good enough for what we need in the bottom 6...so is Pyatt. Our problems are exactly where we thought they were before the season but its more problematic than we thought. The 4th line sucks and we may have been bankign too much on Kreider beign able to step in right away. On top of that everyone, yes everyone, isn't playing up to snuff. The group needs to get better and we need a 3rd line forward in here. - mrhattrick27
