Good morning, boneheads!
Just a few random observations on something that may not be in Carp’s review.
Yes, I am concerned about Zibanejad. The “neck” is anatomically very close to the “head”. And with his history of concussions, it’s a bit worrisome. But for people who are saying that he can’t stay healthy, take a look at some other players in NY over the last 3 years since he arrived. I guess Kreider and Fast, for instance, can’t stay in the lineup either. Very similar amount of games played. But, boy, they miss him.
There will be some decisions to make for tonight’s game. I think Hank plays again. If Quinn wants to put Lindgren right back in, I hope it’s not at the expense of Hajek. He made a mistake and his pinch led to the goal against. But to me, this is an indication of him getting more comfortable, not the other way around. He should play tonight. If anything, his D partner’s game really leveled off lately. And no, Trouba isn’t sitting.
Speaking of Trouba. This Winnipeg trade is getting better and better. Up to this point Lemieux has shown to be very valuable to this team, and he is settling into his role very well. They haven’t had someone with qualities similar to his dad’s in NY in ages, and I think he is staring to show that he is capable to produce on the offensive side too.
Smith ( and you will have to close your eyes on his contract to really appreciate this ) has been one of the best 4th line wingers they’ve had for some time. That he is also capable to slide down and play PK is a bonus.
I hope you guys are following Igor Shesterkin and what he is doing in Hartford. Wow!
Click here to read Carp’s game review.
Also, since I am a big wine guy, I find this article interesting too. For the record, I tried some of the wines from Gretzky Estates. Let me put it this way. Wayne was much better at hockey than he is at producing wines 🙂
Go Time at 6:30 pm.
183 responses to “Rangers-5, Red Wings-1”
Kreider had ONE season in which he missed significant time. The season of that pesky blood clot. Zibanejad has had multiple seasons of significant missed time.
Availability is a very important part of the game.
Pepe had a nice game…but bottom line Hank was much better than Howard last night
Kreider- 75, 58, 79. Fast- 68, 71, 66. Zibanejad- 56, 72, 82. One year with that pesky broken leg.
As far as the healthy scratches from last night go, I was more bothered by Andersson being scratched, than Lindgren being scratched. I have no problem with bringing along a young Dman slowly. If Lindgren gets 50/60 games this year, that would be great. Andersson was out of the lineup that had three guys in it he should have been playing instead of. I’m not bothered by the 8/10 minutes a night, but don’t scratch him for those three on last nights 4th line.
I was trying to figure out what it was with Trouba skating that looked off until it hit me last night. He is a very good straight skater, even with a puck. But his backwards skating is below average. And his pivoting is average. Gotta work on that.
IMO, the preference of wine over beer by hockey players is true across the board for millennials in general. I don’t believe the wine preference is unique to hockey players. It’s a millennial thing, not just a hockey thing.
52 games missed, playing on the perimeter. 39 games not on the perimeter. One guy missed 52 games with a hockey related injury. One guy missed 15 games with a hockey related injury.
8 to 10 minutes a night playing with Smith and the Keg/Haley isn’t a great way to improve the face off and offensive abilities of Anderson, which he will need to do in order to establish any meaningful value. I’d rather see him play all the time in hartford if this is the plan for the foreseeable future.
Let’s see if Lindgren can actually get that many games, but it will mean others will have to sit and he gets to stay in even after a loss where he has an off night, let alone a good game like this time around.
Uninspired lineup decisions by Tom Ren…I mean Quinn abound!
And before James goes all Angry James on me. my point is some guys tend to get hurt more than others. Unfortunately Zibanejad looks to be one of those guys. It’s very difficult for a team when one of your best players is unavailable for long stretches. Tonight will be 5 straight. They need him on the ice.
In the 28 years I’ve been watching and following hockey I have never once- not once- heard a player get criticized by their fan base for ‘not being able to stay healthy’ unless it was a guy like Jeoffrey Lupul who was literally falling apart from head to toe most of his career.
Guys like Lindros and Roenick suffered concussion after concussion after concussion and were called warriors. Mike Richter battled knee and groin issues for most of his career and fans say he bled blue and gave it his all.
Now in 2019 Zibanejad who at 25 has a well known history of concussions is out trying to get himself right during a season that isn’t about contending or making any real noise and it’s one more thing to get on this guy/this team about. I think it’s a pathetic grasp at strings
And no BDL, that isn’t directed at you personally or meant to be disrespectful. There are plenty more people with far less knowledge of hockey that seem to think this is an acceptable knock on this kid.
I think it sometimes feels like the overall fan base of this team is a g-damn embarrassment and most of the time these outrageous remarks and criticisms that get 99.9% of Rangers fans mocked, laughed at and ignored by writers, talk show hosts and analysts.
Don’t insult Renney with a Quinn comp. I was not a Renney fan, but he was a much better coach than Quinn is.
based on what BdL?!
Too late I beat you to it. Like I said- I just think it’s a very closed off and simple minded way to view a player in his situation.
Even Nash who made 9 million bucks couldn’t score very often and seemed to miss every 5th game with a groin or hamstring injury didn’t get that kind of treatment.
BDL, you are now trying to bend it into a different direction. Bend it any way you want, the numbers do not lie. Not more prone than some other guys. Not to mention, he had two prior seasons in Ottawa with 80 and 81 games respectively. I am more concerned about his concussion history than this imaginary predisposition to injury in general.
It’s not meant to be a knock James. As you have angrily stated more than once, it’s not his fault he gets injured. It doesn’t make him soft, or anything like that. He’s just a guy who tends to get hurt more than the norm. If he were the 3/4th line center, it would not be a as big a deal. He is the first line center, and arguably the second best forward on the team. It hurts more when he’s out.
Based on 3 straight 40 win seasons, and 3 playoff appearances.
@Pete: No idea what his linemates have to do with Lisa’s abilities on the dot? He either wins it or not but that is all on him, no?
@Ilb: So you are saying Trouba needs some time with Peggy Flemming and Dick Button? Or Tonya Harding?
@Admiral: Beer-> wine ==> pansification of America!
Oy vey James or Ilb can you moderate please. I think it doesn’t like my arrows
My Crystal ball sees a Lias for Puljujärvi trade on the horizon, a Swede for a Finn! 😎
No, Beezle, it was the first name 🙂
AA- do I look like a millennial to you? 🙂
I guess we just see it differently. To me a guy who gets hurt often is a guy who suffers knee issues then groin issues and back issues and shoulder issues or “UBI” “LBI” every few weeks or multiple times a season.
Zibanejad has a concussion history.
And I know I said this before but I’ll say it again- the flip side of the coin is he comes back too soon and doesn’t play well and then everyone gets on his case for not playing as well as they need him to. It’s dumb IMO
I think I’ll go out again tonight maybe they can winn again lol!
Before they try to trade for Puljujärvi and move young assets, why don’t they try Beverly on the wing? Can skate, bring offense and bang a little. Potential solution for lack of right handed wingers and opens up defensive spot for young guys here or on the way
bobbyo
I agree, I already made that suggestion a few weeks ago. I think it would be a great move. But right now the really need RHD and he fits the bill. Besides if he should ever learn how to improve defensively look out! Having said all that, they will never do it. The Minx has spoken!
Pete, not sure if/when he will improve defensively …thats the problem
Isn’t puljujarvi young too?
I personally don’t think deangelo is a keeper, I’d rather see the rangers get a more two way d man to go with trouba and fox.
Its usually a good thing swapping Swede for Finn but in this case, jury still out.
A few things from last night….
Love national broadcasts instead of the local screws dishing out local kool-aid. Edzo calling it like it is before the game started.
Didn’t mind the Hajek pinch, trouba didn’t do a great job from there (obviously), and the centre, chytil (I think), was the biggest culprit of all. But I don’t mind that either because that’s one of the two zones he’s still learning how to play.
not a keeper on defense Wick but why not see what he can do on wing at current cap hit before moving young assets to get someone like Puljujarvi who right now is a big question mark
Europansie!
Lindros was a “warrior”. The way he played gave him that moniker. I do think Zibanejad is a bit injury prone and I wouldn’t classify him as a warrior, but he’s not at lupul level falling apart.
I think Chytil was expecting, reasonably, for Trouba to hold up play rather than dive in and ruin everything. Next time, I’d expect him to bust it and not assume anything.
Moving Strome, Kreider, D’Angelo, and Fast this year will bring more back than the return last season.
not clear if they move all but valid point jeff
Wick agree on Lindros. But you know first hand about concussions and the after effect. I personally just don’t think that having concussion issues is being “injury prone” on any level.
This is side tracking the debate I wanted to start today. I was thinking that it may not be the worst idea to put DeAngelo at forward in order to keep Lindgren in the lineup. He or Staal would have the play the right side but considering Tony’s lack of defensive capabilities and his level of smarts around the offensive side of the puck what could it hurt?
missed your post there, Bobby. EXACTLY my point.
And let’s be real- Even if they pulled the trigger on a Puljujarvi trade he’d be a bottom 6 forward just as Andersson is with Fast and Smith staying in their current roles of moving up and down.
I would not trade Strome or DeAngelo. Kreider only if cannot be signed for a reasonable contract. Would move Fast, and Hank and Staal if possible.
I’m somewhat annoyed with the way Lias is being handled. I cannot understand why he is not given the same opportunity as Howden.
Also it was rather disconcerting the way last place Detroit pinned the Rangers in their own zone repeatedly and for long stretches.
Mika has played in 491 games since being drafted. Of those forwards drafted in 2011:
Landeskog leads the Swedes with 508, #2 is Mika, #3 is Rakell with 399, #4 Rask 369 and #5 Karlsson 363.
Only two Canuks have played more games: Couturier 515 and RNH 494. Huberdeau has 481.
Only one Yankee has played more: Brandon Saad 542. Next up is…. JT Miller at 450 and Matt Nieto 417.
Sorry, no Ukranians!
Overall, Mika has played the 5th most games of his draft class. If you wish to be pickier, he is #7 in total TOI and #7 in shifts per game.
Zibanejad’s first 6 full NHL seasons GP:
69, 80, 81, 56, 72, 82.
Mark Messier’s first 6 full NHL seasons GP:
75, 72, 78,77,73,55
I guess Mess was injury prone and didn’t give his team availability either.
Rich there has to be something that the coaching staff is seeing that the boneheads are not. Let’s not forget they have the benefit of watching the whole ice during the game, not just what MSG shows us.
James, Puljujarvi has to date shown no reason to be anything more than a bottom six, if that. Is he a late bloomer? Maybe. But why do the NYR need to take that punt?
Trader Jeff at this point I’m not moving Heatmaps unless the offer really wows me. He’s still young, looks to be coming into his own and plays in the dirty areas. Revisit in February.
Agree on your point rich on the way Detroit pinned them in zone…. Alot of that is caused by the Dmen continuing to back up instead of standing up at the blueline with the forwards applying consistent back check…they were doing that well in Pred game and Lindren in particular has been good at that
James,
Definitely a good comparison. They play exactly the same type game.
Change Leafs to Rangers, Nylander to Kreider or Strome, and Babcock to Quinn and you’ve got the tin foil head brigade Ranger version.
https://i.ibb.co/jGYBPq5/trade.jpg
Now on to a new topic.
Ryan Strome, is he a keeper, or do they cash in on him playing this well?
BDL, as mentioned above, I’m not wanting to move Heatmaps unless the offer is too good to be refused.
And those darn 50 goal, 100 pt seasons messier had in that stretch are eerily similar to Zibanejad.
Just a great comp James, a great comp.
Kerp Strome
I though Howden was Heat Maps, and Strome was Unsustainable?
James
Ok, I’ll change injury prone to he “seems” to have the misfortune of getting injuries in less abrasive ways.
I’d say his style of play should preclude him from getting the type of injuries he does.
Dare I say it, he seems to be opie the victim V2.0
OHHHH I see now..So if you score more then you can miss games and it doesn’t matter if you’re available. Learn something new every day. What do you know- I can comprehend afterall! ; )
Bdl
I think you’re correct, re unsustainable.
James
I didn’t say anything about scoring
My bad, you were responding to bdl, sorry
Ilb —I’ve never met you in person, so I can’t answer…:
But ask your residents which they prefer: beer or wine! 😉
Actually, I think RR2 has used heatmaps for both of them!
Yeah but Opie suffered a lot of different issues though his years here. Zika has missed time because of concussions. His first year he broke his leg when he got tossed into the boards. You can’t will your way into not breaking a bone. That to me is no different than Hank’s neck injury or Kreider’s blood clot or even Zucc taking a puck to the head. That happened and fans gushed about how they would have gone further in the post season had they had him and OMG he almost died and some shed tears! LOL
If Zibanejad took a slapper to the noggin on that same play people would be like “well he shouldn’t have been standing there”
Not making an excuse for the guy but I think some people (not just BDL) are always looking for an excuse to criticize him instead of just being glad that they have a first line center that can score points.
Sell High, Buy Low or something like that.
Strome: Born again or Bread Man feeds many
Kreider: Too pricey or needed vet
D’Angelo: Break out year or one way wonder
Fast: First line Fast or bottom six hustler.
And Wick this is just for the sake of conversation. We all have our opinions obviously. That’s why I’m making it clear these are just my own thoughts.
There just seems to be a blatant double standard sometimes
James
Fair point. I used the word “seems” for a reason. Personal opinion only, he just gets injured oddly to me.
Either way, I don’t think I’ve been personally critical of him nor have I been running him out of town.
I also think the team is doing fine without him so I don’t think he should be rushed back.
I tried to take a look at the whole age/getting younger thing. It is complicated by the fact that about 1/8th of those playing each season are undrafted. The table/image below tries to present in the least complicated (really) way the distribution of players for each season WHO WERE DRAFTED by their relative draft year and played at least 6 games (arbitrary cut).
Note that the current season is ‘incomplete’ as only 609 have played vs an expected 800. Of that shortfall, roughly 30-50 will be undrafted.
This is the ‘raw’ data which is also interesting. 2011 was a good draft year.
Oh I know. Others have though. And that’s not to try to be a wise ass to BDL. He’s not the only one. I’m only going off of what I’ve seen/can remember. The leg thing could have happened to anyone in that position and I don’t recall too many of the concussions but the last one two seasons ago and this one were from big hits- not love taps.
I wouldn’t disagree if it were merely a passing comment about needing to keep his head up or needing to be more aware out there at times to protect himself from a big hit. This is more about some people taking every opportunity they can find or invent to discredit him.
And I can’t figure out why. He scores, he skates, he shoots, he hits, he can win faceoffs, he’s on a cap friendly deal and he’s growing into a role as a leader on this team. I guess that’s not enough.
Personally I think he’s way ahead of Stepan on most levels. And 10x the player Brassard is/was. But I readily admit that I don’t like Brassard as a player. It’d be easier if some people just said “I don’t like Zibanejad” and left it at that instead of inventing new ways to kill the dude.
I just think he needs to keep his head up and be “ice aware”
“Speaking of Trouba. This Winnipeg trade is getting better and better. Up to this point Lemieux has shown to be very valuable to this team, and he is settling into his role very well.”
That moment when you mention Troobuh trade being good and NOT mention Troobuh… lol
Only 7 more years.
Wicky, it was as much Chytil’s fault as it was Buchnevich’s. Both were too deep in the zone ( Chytil behind the net ), both didn’t pay attention to Hajek pinching.
Out of a possible 540 games in his Rangers career, Derek Stepan missed 25 games. He missed 14 one season, and 10 another. Plus one game where he was held out of the last game of the season. He did not miss a single game in his first 4 seasons as a Ranger.
Out of a possible 260 games in his Ranger career, Mika Zibanejad has missed 41 games.
Right on target again James.
TRAID ZIKABEJAN FOR STEPAN!
trouba and his contract aren’t that high a concern to me at this moment when it comes to the rangers defense. Ideally over time he has a steadier partner (whether that’s Hajek as he improves or someone else) and Trouba himself is still learning to be a top pair guy, playing a ton of minutes. That wasn’t what he was regularly asked to do in WPG, and we weren’t acquiring a no doubt first pair defenseman, it was and still is the hope he will grow into that role over time. If some people thought we were trading for a prime Drew Doughty then there isn’t anything Trouba can do on that front.
Beezle, faceoffs was more about getting more minutes, but unless every draw is won or lost clean then your wingers play an important role.
BDL, having a rejuvenated Jagr (and his Czech mates) and a rising Hank helped Renney a lot. I don’t think he was an awful coach, but towards the end he fell into the trap of overplaying guys similar to Fast. Don’t miss him one bit
We may never have gotten Kravtsov or Kaako if we didn’t trade Stepan (and Raanta), but not looking like a great return for us at the moment and won’t be in my opinion unless Lias turns into more than an ok 3rd liner (or Tony D learns to play D, but don’t see him here longterm)
?
We finally get rid of Namestoolong and we’re looking to bring in a guy whose Namesevenlonger?
Actually I am right on target, BDL. See, what I said was that he’s 2x the player IMO. Not that he’s played more games. And try to keep in mind I actually liked Step. I just have the capability of being objective.
Step’s first 3 seasons produced 73 goals and 140 points while winning 42% of his faceoffs and hardly ever throwing his body around.
Zibanejad has produced 71 goals and 158 in his first 3 seasons and won 51% of his faceoffs. He also isn’t afraid to throw his body around.
Stepan would have had more if it weren’t for the lockout season and Zibanejad would have more if it weren’t for the broken leg (yes I know a real tough guy center can will his bones not to break. It’s a weak point on my part.)
Now I know your next reply will be that those numbers do not literally equate to 2x the production so I will remind you that it’s a figure of speech and I wasn’t literally saying he’s produced 2x as much. Merely that he has more to offer as a 1C….in. my. opinion.
And that’s really what this is about isn’t it? People who loved Stepan can’t get over the trade to AZ and by default they don’t like Andersson and /or they don’t like Zibanejad who is his “replacement”….
Step overcame slowness and baldness, not a simple feat.
. If some people thought we were trading for a prime Drew Doughty then there isn’t anything Trouba can do on that front.
^Right, Pete. And ultimately that’s why we have a modern day fan base that consists partially of “I love the team but hate all the players”. A lot of fans covet guys around the league and want carbon copies of them in Rangers blue. If our best players aren’t exactly like the people some fans wish were on this team they aren’t good enough regardless of how hard they play how much they may produce or how good of teammates they are on and off the ice.
He also mouthed off to Larry Brooks which only a couple of others have dared to do, Coos.
Speaking of which did Dan Boyle retire yet? Or does he still feel he has a lot to offer to a team?
Lemieux is here because they traded Hayes…Not because they traded for Trouba. Why do we keep making that connection? lol
Man, we have blown through a plethora of expensive Dmen, have we not?
Beezle
It’s pretty interesting stuff especially when you dig deeper and look at contract status and age of players. Considering that along with is the guy a superstar or a good player and it’s telling.
It definitely sheds light on the logic and the trends the deeper you go.
Trouba is hardly a Beukeboom, but at least he puts up something of a fight in front.
Step also mouthed off to Hank.
Re Zib – the leg thing was a freak accident. The rest, agree with Wicky, has to keep his head up more, though that might be an even better target for Boston players. But the risk is always going to be greater when a player is willing to dig out pucks along the boards and not just do fly bys. Not say that was Step but don’t recall him being the most physical one out there.
Hank: “Let’s play a little D, okay?”
Step: “You have the balls to question MY D?”
Ilb
Re your 11:59. 100% correct you geriatric millennial.
Wicky it will be interesting to see how many of the 2017 class play this year. At the moment it looks not so good compared to prior four draft classes.
Just for the record, I never said I want to see Puljujärvi in Ranger blue. I said I can see a Lias for Puljujärvi trade happening.
Pull your own jujarvi, not mine.
FESS UP, ELI ; )
If Eli is not out to dinner, he’s out to lunch. So to speak. 🙂
Chicago Police Commissioner resigns to spend more time with drinking.
I thought the Jets deals were essentially two deals that resulted in Lemieux and Trouba here, Hayes and Pionk here. Regardless, so far so good. And while Lemieux is an utter prick on the ice, with some useful skill, he’s our prick, haven’t had that for a while.
You are really comparing Zibanejad Ranger career to Stepan? And coming out with Zibanejad was better? Wow! Just Wow!
I meant essentially one deal. No got English today skills.
LOL I’m bored with this conversation. Let’s sum it up once and for all. I like Zibanejad. You don’t. I know it. So do you. Moving on.
I’ll say this for Stepan- he had a better rookie season than Kakko will probably wind up having from a production standpoint.
Why can you say prick here and not .ick?
Zibby is uber valuable. Let’s face it.
What have I done to receive such abuse? By the way what’s for lunch?
Agree wholeheartedly, Norm.
Zibane is nowhere near Stepan. One day, maybe, but certainly not yet.
LOL, Eli.
Minx just wants to see Puljujärvi in Ranger white.
Beezle
Actually I want to see Carp sink to copying and pasting his name! 😎
I’d take Zbad over step any day.
Wine is divine but liquor is quicker
What impressed me most about Stepan was the way he’d slow down as he was about to “check” an opponent. Slowly gliding in to lightly brush up against the “checkee”. Like a soft breeze on a warm summer day….
Hank deserves to be snapped at by his teammates every once and a while!
Honest question, will Lias ever have as good a season offensively for the Rangers as Stepan’s rookie season? Will Howden?
BDL – Step career peak pts 57 (NYR) peak goals 22 (NYR) peak assists 42 (ARI). Zib 30/44/74 all with NYR. 0.235 vs 0.278 goals/game, 0.668 vs 0.640 pts/game.
Step also played on better teams (though they do overlap one season). 1.177 pts/game for Steps, 1.103 for Mikas. That includes time in Arizona and Ottawa.
Beezle
Yeah, from the 2016 season start I felt like you could see a real turn in the sprinkling in of young guys for a handful of games here and there on teams.
I think the real tell tale for the league is the following season and expansion and the turnover on teams from opening night of the 2017-18 season to this year, 13 teams with 10 or less players on on their respective teams from the start of that season to this year. Another 8 teams (including the rangers) with only 11 or 12 guys left from then to now.
So 21 of 31 teams with a dozen or less players, crazy to think about.
I find it interesting that the devils and islanders are in the group of 10 with more than a dozen returners and not having a ton of success.
I think Montreal has done one of the better turnover jobs while staying relatively competitive, not to the Boston level but good.
The kings are another one of those teams that is an interesting case due to contract length and dollars.
Can’t get handcuffed like that with older non superstar players, good on gorton for seeing this.
I’d take Zibanejad over step any day.
E3 beer before liquor, never sicker!
Little has a perforated ear drum…oh man that sucks.
Liquor before beer, in the clear.
was never a matter of Mika over step tho Wick, they chose Mika over Brass-good decision clearly. Will hope Chytil develops into a good 1B/2C as that is what Step always was here, it’s just we never had the better center above him. Don’t get me wrong we likely cut bait on Step at the right time, it’s just the return im still skeptical about
Norm,
Zibanejad is a 30 goal scorer. He’s a 70 point scorer. He’s a better faceoff man. As much as him being our 1C pains some people those are facts. Love Step. Always will. At the end of the day he’s a very good 2-way center who was part of a core group here that couldn’t get it done. That’s not to say Zibanejad will. Just facts..
Norm wanders within his usual dream world.
Little has to do a better job there of not letting his ear drum perforate. The team depends on him. (S)
If Stepan had Mika’s offensive abilities he would be making Panarin’s money. Could even afford Panarin’s hair. 🙂
The discussion was not Zibanejad and Stepan right now. It was Zibanejad Rangers career compared to Stepan Rangers career. And it’s not close. Stepan was better.
Stepan was the matchup center. Scored 50pts a season and was a plus 109 for his ranger career.
Kidding aside, Little seems like a good dude and is a solid player. I hope he’s going to be ok long term.
Actually, the original conversation was simply Zibanejad being guilty of allowing a concussion to cause him to miss time..
Honestly, BDL my fingers are tired. Just come over for Thanksgiving and we can hash this out while we digest by the fire pit on the patio.
Pete
Umm, my 1:50 was in response to the ongoing convo, not in any way shape or form saying they were traded for each other.
Also, if you go back and look at the trade and aftermath you’ll see two things
Ottawa didn’t want stepan’s contract (and he’s a righty) and they also wanted a lefty centre (since Mika was a righty).
Short term, fairly equitable trade player wise (2nd rounder was a steal).
Long term, steal for the rangers since stepan wasn’t long for the team anyhow and brassard was older.
Zibanejad has not been the matchup center until this year. He managed to be minus 26 in that time playing against 2nd and 3rd lines. In his time as a ranger, Stepan, and then Hayes handled the matchup duties.
Matchup, not faceoff.
Zbad > Stepan
didn’t say you said that but you did say you would take Mika over Step any day and my point was we had both so it was never an either or situation. all good
Yes, good.
To the context of the convo, people were discussing which they favoured, I put my two cents in for Zibanejad.
Context
Stepan was flirting with being number 1 center, but never came close. Zibanejad in his short stay in NY has proven he is a number 1 center. Stepan’s Rangers career is over. Zibanejad is 26.
Big fan of Stepan here, for the record.
Those guys going bald sure stick together;)
Stepan’s mom > Zbad’s mom
On CNBC now- headline of James Dolan getting pressured to sell Knicks & Rangers. If only!
Not so sure about the Step never came close part ILB. In his prime he could have been a fine, if not elite, #1 center if he had better goal scoring wingers
And as far as Mika, he has shown he is capable of being a #1 in the regular season. Now he needs to do so again and again and then do so in the playoffs. And i am a Mika fan, but just think we need to see him replicate last years success this season and going forward
I was reading about that, Headzo. Silver Lakes something rather? Big shot investors from out West looking for Dolan to share his candy…good luck
Stepan’s hands as well as his foot speed were the only things keeping him from being elite. He never had a goal scorer quality shot as much as he has hockey sense.
If you’re 40 years old or younger and root for this team, he scored one of the most memorable and significant goals of our lifetimes. I won’t speak ill of him.
With that said, I think Zibanejad will be the more successful Ranger in the end.
Yeah, I thought it was Ranger careers we were talking about. Zibane’s peak obviously better, one big year.
This reminds me of the Waterboy…
“Stepan sucks…Zibanejad is better”
“Zibanejaaaaaad”
“Zibaaaaaaaaaanejaaaaaaaaad”
“STEPAN SUCKS! HE REALLY REALLY SUCKS! STEPAN SUCKS! HE REALLY REALLY SUUUUUUCKS”
Mika > Step
remember regarding the Step deal we also got back cap space (for both Steps and Raantas contracts moving out – in Raantas case what he would sign for) so it wasn’t just Tony D and the 7th pick for Step and Raanta.
Baldie skated in sand. How soon some of us forget.
Liquor in the front
Poker in the rear
Norm,
We were talking about Ranger careers, at least I was. James tends change the argument when it’s not going his way.
Trouba has been subpar for quite a few games now. The stats support this.
Stepan was valuable and could have been a top center if surrounded by more talent. His trading kicked off this rebuild.
We got onto careers AFTER we started addressing your theory of Zibanejad not being “available” due to a concussion.
Not to mention you totally ignored my Thanksgiving invite which just plain old hurts James.
…I was going to have the wife bake those crescent rolls things too…
Where does your wife stand on sweet potato pie? Mashed potatoes or baked? How am supposed to make a decision on thanksgiving without knowing this stuff!? And do you have any idea how much my son eats? I doubt you have ever seen anything like it on thanksgiving.
The rangers weren’t specifically looking for deangelo, he was the add in.
The 7th wasn’t on the table until raanta was involved.
Lol my mother in law is Irish so always mashed. And it’s not Thanksgiving without sweet potato everything!
They were talking about that on the NHL morning show today, Wick. They were talking about how Tony D was a throw in. After praising the AZ goalie tandem of course.
lmmfao, what a jackwagon.
James
That was not referring to you btw
James
Yep, he wasn’t even a blip on the rangers radar.
the cap space we immediately used on Shatty and will be using at least in part for the life of Step‘s deal! 🙂
Boy, isn’t that the truth.
Lineup for tonight, anyone?
sure
Jackwagon 😃
Wtf, damn moderation
Several minority owners of the Knicks and Rangers are launching a proxy war seeking to force the Dolan family to sell….James Dolan, in response, feels sorry for himself as a “trust fund” baby. He wrote: “You know, I own a basketball team. For most people that would be a dream. For a trust fund kid, it’s a living hell. Always some as*hole telling me to sell.” Poor thing.
https://nypost.com/2019/11/06/james-dolan-urged-to-sell-stakes-in-knicks-and-rangers-by-investor/
Zib year 1: 37 pts, 56 games -> 54 pt pace
Zib year 2: 27 goals (more than Step has ever scored), 47 pts, 72 games
Zib year 3: 30 goals 74 pts in 82 games
I’m just not seeing the ‘Steps NYR career was much better’ especially when you consider that Step was on a rising, peaking team and Zib has been on a declining, “R”ing team. No hate on Step, he played smart hockey and was an important part of those cup run teams.
Dolan should sell the Bricks and keep the Rangers. Simply because he couldn’t care less about hockey and leaves the team alone. Doubt a new owner would be so hands off.
OK, big excitement, I have completed my 2016-17 season-to-present-day numbers for the league. Hey, where’s everyone going?
I have half a mind.
Damn “Post Comment” button. I have half a mind not to publish these numbers of mine, you ungrateful wretches.
Ilb,
Lias back in. Don’t know for who. The D has somebody banged up, so game time decision on that.
Thanks, BDL
Simple STATS do not work when comparing Stepan and Zibanejad. Stepan played, and handled all the important center roles, whereas Zibanejad has been asked to just score.
Beezle said it. Careful what you ask for. Dolan doesn’t know hockey and doesn’t pretend to. Let hockey people run the team. Dolan Doesn’t know basketball, but pretends he does. His amateur nose is all over the Knicks. Imagine someone who takes over and doesn’t know hockey, but pretends they do? Or worse, makes the Rangers a floor team like Ottawa?
Where is SN?
Ilb can’t you email him?
I think I have to put in my will that my executor come to this site to let you all know I’m either incapacitated or dead so you don’t have to wonder where da heck I went.
That way if I’m not around and you haven’t heard any bad news you don’t have to worry. You can just assume I don’t like you at that moment and I’m taking a hiatus.
OK, since you are absolutely clamoring for it, here they are, a snapshot comparison of rosters from 2016-17, the number of players who played an NHL game for a team who are still playing for that team now. They are hot, these numbers of mine–Blues # just adjusted for Fabbri trade. Marincin waived, Cehlarik recalled… This thing will require some maintenance.
5 Blackhawks
7 Sens/Canes/Coyotes/Canadiens
8 Rangers/ Leafs
9 Flyers/Avs/Sabres/Canucks
10 Flames/Stars/Oilers/Devils/Panthers
11 Red Wings/Ducks/Lightning/Penguins/Wild/Kings/Blues/Knights*
12 Capitals
13 Jets
14 Bruins/Islanders/Sharks
15 Preds/Blue Jackets
I will enjoy updating this from time to time as transactions occur–and of course as Rangers bleed away–to see how things stack up.
*Vegas is estimated based on its opening day the next season.
Pete
yes they wasted a lot of cap space on the Shatty signing. Should have just kept G and let G’s contract run out. Then could have then bought out Staal this summer. So freeing up some cap space from the Stepan deal was smart. What they did with it was not.
Cregg
SN posts on twitter as strangernation. @nyr_blueshirt
Thanks Pete. I don’t have twitter but good to know he’s out there
Also…now I know what SN stands for. So score!!!
I don’t want Dolan selling at all. Unless the new owners drop the ticket prices, we couldn’t really ask for more right now
All the twitters…lmao, love that movie
NEW POST
Norm so your mean is 10.3, median is 10 and your mode is 11. Would be interesting to know the average team age before and after