Of course hes tradeable but he would only get moved for another young budding star.

A year ago, I had him included in a deal for Bobby Ryan... would I still do it? If it happened, I wouldnt hate it. I want to ride it out a bit, see what happens... but I think the system Torts runs isnt conducive to a player like Kreider. Kreider on a team that plays a more open style would probably break out like crazy.
- aecliptic

A team like the Oilers?

Of course hes tradeable but he would only get moved for another young budding star.

A year ago, I had him included in a deal for Bobby Ryan... would I still do it? If it happened, I wouldnt hate it. I want to ride it out a bit, see what happens... but I think the system Torts runs isnt conducive to a player like Kreider. Kreider on a team that plays a more open style would probably break out like crazy.
- aecliptic

LOL my fellow oiler fan beat me to the punch. We were talking about his value and how we feel he'd thrive in our system where as paajarvi who is a good defensive player may be a good player in your system.

Would paajarvi and a second asset like a 2nd rounder get New York thinking? I think we can all agree kreiders ceiling is higher than paajarvi. Thoughts?

A team like the Oilers?
- MaximumBone

It would be for one of those #1 picks you guys have or Eberle. However, I think... at this point... I might have Stepan slightly above Kreider as far as who Id trade. I dont know if its the lack of practice and an offseason but he's looked even slower than he normally did, he was never fast, but he looks like a cone out there.

It would be for one of those #1 picks you guys have or Eberle. However, I think... at this point... I might have Stepan slightly above Kreider as far as who Id trade. I dont know if its the lack of practice and an offseason but he's looked even slower than he normally did, he was never fast, but he looks like a cone out there.
- aecliptic

Not fast? I was hearing last year that he was as fast as Hagelin if not faster. Why the sudden change? Or are you talking about Stepan?

LOL my fellow oiler fan beat me to the punch. We were talking about his value and how we feel he'd thrive in our system where as paajarvi who is a good defensive player may be a good player in your system.

Would paajarvi and a second asset like a 2nd rounder get New York thinking? I think we can all agree kreiders ceiling is higher than paajarvi. Thoughts?
- ystoil

Not a chance Rangers trade for Paajarvi. You dont trade a guy with 30 goal potential for an inconsistent defensive forward.

Not fast? I was hearing last year that he was as fast as Hagelin if not faster. Why the sudden change? Or are you talking about Stepan?
- MaximumBone

Im talking about Stepan.

It would be for one of those #1 picks you guys have or Eberle. However, I think... at this point... I might have Stepan slightly above Kreider as far as who Id trade. I dont know if its the lack of practice and an offseason but he's looked even slower than he normally did, he was never fast, but he looks like a cone out there.
- aecliptic

Rangers would have to throw in significant other assets if that's the case.

Rangers would have to throw in significant other assets if that's the case.
- ystoil

Apparently you dont know Glen Sather very well.

Im talking about Stepan.
- aecliptic

Phew! I was concerned for a second But that makes sense. Stepan and Gagner are oddly similar players in many respects, and as such I can relate to how you feel.

Apparently you dont know Glen Sather very well.
- aecliptic

Oh we know him ALL too well But I can't see that the Rags could expect one of our #1's for Kreider at this stage. That is, of course, why you said you'd rather hold onto him until he breaks through I imagine. You shouldn't go trading away a guy with that combination of size and speed for cannon fodder (I don't mean PRV). How's Kreider's physical game? Being out west, I don't get to watch many Rags games unfortunately.

I wouldn't put anything past Slats. I'd bet there are a bunch of guys who could come in here and fill that role. And chances are we won't even know it until we see the guy doing it. That's the way these things go sometimes.
- gkmkiller

The Nash trade wasn't the straw that broke the camel's back. The fact this team overachieved and thought they were one player away, from winning it all, perhaps could have been the downfall. Mentality, not the player that was acquired, was what could have caused this utter dysfunction to translate on the ice, thus far, this season.

Having said that, there is talent here, it's just not gelling at all.

Sather and Co. have to recognize which players they can move forward with and which don't fit.

The Nash trade wasn't the straw that broke the camel's back. The fact this team overachieved and thought they were one player away, from winning it all, perhaps could have been the downfall. Mentality, not the player that was acquired, was what could have caused this utter dysfunction to translate on the ice, thus far, this season.

Having said that, there is talent here, it's just not gelling at all.

Sather and Co. have to recognize which players they can move forward with and which don't fit.
- MidnightMarauder

Its the coaches job to make it work. Theres a ton of talent on this team, question is, do they still believe in Tort's system.

Callahan might be the thread that holds it together, but Tortorella has to be the tailor that weaves the thread... and right now, one sleeve is shorter than the other.

Not a good couple of days for NY area teams regarding injuries, for any baseball/ Yankees fans, was watching the Yankees spring training game and Granderson got hit on the forearm with a pitch, fractured forearm out 10 weeks!

Its the coaches job to make it work. Theres a ton of talent on this team, question is, do they still believe in Tort's system.

Callahan might be the thread that holds it together, but Tortorella has to be the tailor that weaves the thread... and right now, one sleeve is shorter than the other.
- aecliptic

Agreed that the coaches aren't getting it done but when your supposed better players are having substandard seasons, it's hard to put it all on the coaches.

Hank has been good but not great, Richards has been invisible, Gaborik inconsistent and the stalwart defense has fallen off.

Top that off with the injury bug and you get, what is shaping up to be, a serious letdown of a season.

Agreed that the coaches aren't getting it done but when your supposed better players are having substandard seasons, it's hard to put it all on the coaches.

Hank has been good but not great, Richards has been invisible, Gaborik inconsistent and the stalwart defense has fallen off.

Top that off with the injury bug and you get, what is shaping up to be, a serious letdown of a season.
- MidnightMarauder

Except the Torts system has not really produced high scoring players outside of Gaborik. Hes the only guy who has eclipsed the 70 point mark (twice) since Torts took over... and only one other guy has eclipsed the 60 point mark, Richards. So after 4 years of being one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, do we still blame it on the players?

Except the Torts system has not really produced high scoring players outside of Gaborik. Hes the only guy who has eclipsed the 70 point mark (twice) since Torts took over... and only one other guy has eclipsed the 60 point mark, Richards. So after 4 years of being one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, do we still blame it on the players?
- aecliptic

Here's the trick part of that question though: Who, besides Richards, Gaborik and Nash (of course in his first year under Torts), has ever scored at least 60 points in the NHL under any coach? By my count the answer would be zero. With no previous track record to base an guess on it's hard to determine whether it's the Torts system or the players.

Keep in mind though that Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis, Dan Boyle, Richards and Cory Stillman, all had at least one season with 60+ points while Torts was coach.

Sure, Torts preaches defense first and creating offense from playing good defense but to say he is solely why players don't score isn't necessarily the case.

Except the Torts system has not really produced high scoring players outside of Gaborik. Hes the only guy who has eclipsed the 70 point mark (twice) since Torts took over... and only one other guy has eclipsed the 60 point mark, Richards. So after 4 years of being one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, do we still blame it on the players?
- aecliptic

Which is weird because when torts coached Tampa he was known to produce an aggressive offensive system that sometimes had lapses in their own zone

new blog up

apologies for the delay in getting a blog up, Jewish Holiday and family stuff the past day. I am about to go through all the comments and work on getting a blog up later this afternoon.
- airjan23

Jan, I spoke with the guys. We've decided that we're going to give you a pass on this one, and not hold you accountable for leaving us blowing in the wind. Cranny, MM, and some of the other guys were really working you over on the boards, but I stood up for you. I know deep down you are a Devil's fan, and I wasn't about to let these clowns bash you, for observing your holiday.

Not sure if anyone already saw this but Girardi's foot is not broken. X-rays came back negative.

Not sure if anyone already saw this but Girardi's foot is not broken. X-rays came back negative.
- MidnightMarauder

Good news at last...

[quote=Rags2Riches]Lol why do you
Write like that
It is not a
(frank)ing poetry


Sorry, guess I forgot to remove
Half of my brain before
Posting on a hockey blog