This is exhausting. Let's just agree that Staal doesn't deserve a big contract and we'll all be friends again.
I couldn't agree with you more! It was like when the playoffs started, he discovered that there was the structure on the ice called "The Net"
Not nearly as important as scoring goals. This coming from someone mocking the shooting percentage statistic. You know what, you are right! It makes NO DIFFERENCE if a high percentage of your shots actually enters the net. God help us all.
I'd still prefer getting him signed to 6 years at 33 million. Thats what Girardi got, and Staal shouldn't get any more than that. If we get rid of Staal, we have some big question marks on defense. Who's going to play on the second pair with Boyle next season? I think that it will eventually be Skjei, but he won't be ready for those minutes next season. That leaves a big hole on that second pair if Staal gets traded. Thats why if you trade Staal, you must get someone who can fill in on that second pair for at least the next year or two.
I agree. Girardi's not as bad offensively as people say. He makes some very smart plays in the offensive zone and his shot isn't bad. Staal's offensive game never really developed.
That Girardi contract absolutely sucked ass. I am making no excuses for that. But the fact that Girardi made out like Jessie James doesn't mean that Staal should get a Windfall. I hear what you are saying, but I have a hard time accepting that this team has a bigger void at defense than center.
I'm still not liking these lines. I don't think Glass should even be in the lineup, and Zuccarrello doesn't play well with either of the other two smaller wingers. I also don't really like the idea of Moore playing on the third line. He should get accustomed to playing with the players that he's most likely to be playing with for the whole season. If needed, he can always take Mueller's spot late in the game, but right now he should be start off games on the 4th line. Right now I like these four line combinations Kreider-Hayes-Nash Duclair-Brassard-Zuccarello Hagelin-Mueller-St. Louis Malone-Moore-Stempniak When Stepan comes back, he goes to the top line to play with Kreider and Nash. Hayes bumps down to the third line to play with Hagelin and St. Louis, and Mueller comes out of the lineup.
Easy to say the contract sucks when you have no replacement. If you wanted to keep Girardi, he wasn't staying for any less. If you preferred Stralman to Girardi, he's making 1.1 million less per season and has a contract for one less year. My take is that the Rangers made the right decision on Girardi's contract. The Rangers made it to the finals with the same group of centers, minus Richards. Do you think the Rangers would have made it to the finals if Staal was injured, which would force John Moore to play on the second pair last season with Stralman and Diaz would play on the third pair?
The number one criticism of this team last year is that they did not score enough goals. Here are the goal totals for our centers last year: Richards - 20 Brassard - 18 Stepan - 17 (First Line Center?!?!) Boyle - 6 D Moore - 3 JT Miller - 3 To me, that is a much bigger issue than our defense.
Joe Thornton, Henrik Sedin, Ryan Getzlaf, Claude Giroux, Nick Backstrom? I'm not saying Stepan's as good as any of these players, but you be a pass first center and be a #1C in the NHL. In fact, there are probably more pass first #1C's in the NHL than shoot first #1C's.
Bergeron is not the best center in the NHL, and he's not even close. Crosby or Toews. I'll take Crosby.
Using his stick and athleticism? Yes. Other than that, not at all. I think Girardi's clearly an all around better player. If I was to give each a number on a scale of 1-10 on NHL d-man, Girardi would get an 8 and Staal a 6.5 or a 7. McDonagh would probably be a 9 or 9.5. Players like Keith or Weber get a 10.
So now we are going to excuse Stepan's poor shooting by labeling hime a "Pass first" player? You realize that Stepan took 199 shots last year, (20th among centers), ranking higher than every player you listed above, with the exception of Giroux (223 shots) who I would argue is not a "Pass First Player"?
I agree its a problem, but the problem could be masked if Nash, St. Louis and Kreider pick up the goal scoring slack. On the other hand, without Staal or at least someone who can play #2LHD well, there is no way to fix the defensive problem unless McDonagh plays 35 minutes per game.
It's hard to argue on this because it is so subjective. Girardi does turn over the puck WAY more than Staal does, I'm sorry.
Come on, that's a silly argument. By your logic, we could also have masked the problem if McDonough and Girardi scored like Shea Weber and Brent Burns. The center position is the most prolific scoring position in the sport.
Stepan is a pass first center. Its his natural instinct to pass up a shot to someone else who might have a better look on net. Look at his stats all the way from college hockey, international hockey and with the Rangers. With the exception of one or two seasons, he's always had a lot more assists than goals. Giroux has over 2x as many assists than goals in the NHL. He's definitely a pass first center.
