Line Combos: Defense Pairings

[doncherrysgrill]

do not want Staal or McDonagh switching sides.

McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Stralman
Del Zotto-Eminger

Each pairing gives you balance. McD is a two-way guy and Girardi is sound in his own end. Staal is maybe the best shut down D-man in the game when he's healthy and Stralman is a puck mover. DZ moves the puck, Eminger is a stay-at-home guy. A 3rd pairing of Del Zotto-Gilroy scares the HELL out of me. I wish there wasn't such a log jam on the wings, I'd really like to see Gilroy on the 4th line in place of Asham...

 

[adam94]

McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Stralman
Del Zotto-Eminger

Barring stellar play from Eminger, I think we'll see Gilroy make some appearances on the third line whether we like it or not, though I sincerely hope Bickel gets the call before him.

 

[TUQ]

My 2 cents: I'm looking forward to watching Staal play with Stralman this season. I strongly believe Stralman will actualy settle down and grow as a player with us this season. I also believe that sometime this season the Staal-Stralman pair will become our first pair on defence. Ok now shoot me

 

[Kreider Typical]

My 2 cents: I'm looking forward to watching Staal play with Stralman this season. I strongly believe Stralman will actualy settle down and grow as a player with us this season. I also believe that sometime this season the Staal-Stralman pair will become our first pair on defence. Ok now shoot me

i think they'll be good, but not that good haha. stralsy doesn't have the same hockey iq as girardi imo and staal can't compete with mcdonagh if he stays on the right track.

 

[Machinehead]

I can't believe we're going into this season competing for a Cup with Matt Gilroy in the lineup. How does this happen?

 

[Thirty One]

People have a very rigid idea of how a Stanley Cup winning team is composed.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

People have a very rigid idea of how a Stanley Cup winning team is composed.

Nonsense.

Every team thats ever won a cup has a perfect roster down to the last man

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

I can't believe we're going into this season competing for a Cup with Matt Gilroy in the lineup. How does this happen?

And I can't believe Bickel and Eminger are still on the team.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I actually think it is a very good, very smart thing that we have 3 different options for the 6th D, all of whom have experience with this system and this coach. It would be a good idea in any season, but especially in this shortened version with virtually no training camp to speak of.

 

[rocketxav9]

i'd like to see Marc Staal back with Dan Girardi

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Can someone explain to me why Stralman is treated like a scrub? Read the main boards and our problems are not #6 D-man, but bottom pairing. Even McKenzie lumps him into the Bickel, Eminger category. He was actually really good during the playoffs. Better than MDZ in the Devils series for example.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

i'd like to see Marc Staal back with Dan Girardi

Why break up one of the best D pairings in the league last year?

 

[Hire Sather]

Stralman was really good last year, played well enough to be a top 4 never mind a 5-6.

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

The reason why Strålman gets no respect around the league is that he has not been consistant enough in his career. Until he can string several solid seasons together, there will always be questions.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

I want Gilroy and Bickel nowhere near the top 6. They are both GARBAGE defensively.

I can echo the sentiments a few posts above me...

how the hell are these clowns on the team, and we're considered Cup favorites? Not with those 3 jokes...

You're telling me McIlrath isn't ready to at least compete for a spot?? He's better than Bickel and Gilroy right now, defensively.

 

[Zil]

I want Gilroy and Bickel nowhere near the top 6. They are both GARBAGE defensively.

I can echo the sentiments a few posts above me...

how the hell are these clowns on the team, and we're considered Cup favorites? Not with those 3 jokes...

You're telling me McIlrath isn't ready to at least compete for a spot?? He's better than Bickel and Gilroy right now, defensively.

Eminger should be the number six defenseman. He was playing very well last year prior to his injury. McIlrath is nowhere near ready. He just his pro career a week or two ago and is very raw. I wouldn't be surprised if he needed two seasons in Hartford.

 

[CHGoalie27]

Girardi-McD
Stralman-Staal
Bickel-MDZ

 

[YoungD4]

Why break up one of the best D pairings in the league last year?

because the best D pairing the year before was staal and giradi

 

[SnowblindNYR]

because the best D pairing the year before was staal and giradi

Um, the Rangers were a lot better last year than 2 years ago. Why are you using 2 years ago?

 

[Zil]

because the best D pairing the year before was staal and giradi

So? Staal-Girardi wasn't any better than McDonagh-Girardi currently is. Staal works fine with Stralman. There's no reason to mess with a good thing there.

 

[The Gloaming]

So we've established that Girardi can play with either McD or Staal and be a great pairing?

Anyways, I'd like:

McD-Girardi
Staal-Stralman
DZ-Eminger

Was hoping for a better #6 than Eminger though.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Personally, I didn't think Bickel was that bad during the season. He got exposed in the playoffs, I agree.

 

[offdacrossbar]

gilroy is a nightmare defensively and shoots the puck like a female. awful.

eminger gets a lot of flack here but he skates pretty well and is a better defenseman than bickel.

stralman is a no brainer. he played top minutes last season and looked the part.


girardi mcd

staal stral

mdz eminger


you go to war with this

and yes...... i have returned

 

[Tawnos]

So? Staal-Girardi wasn't any better than McDonagh-Girardi currently is. Staal works fine with Stralman. There's no reason to mess with a good thing there.

Staal might work fine with Stralman. McDonagh might work better. Given that we know that McD-Girardi isn't better than Staal-Girardi, why not determine this by who works better with Stralman?

We don't really know.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Staal might work fine with Stralman. McDonagh might work better. Given that we know that McD-Girardi isn't better than Staal-Girardi, why not determine this by who works better with Stralman?

We don't really know.

I'm not sure McD-Girardi isn't better than Staal-Girardi.