Player Discussion Neal Pionk

[Ola]

BRF- Yeah good point, if you want to fill a spot it’s often very good to bring in more then one ticket so to speak.

Maloney/Renney has some ups and downs as GMs, but they were very outspoken about the need of getting a top goalie which they deemed was a key to make the team respectable again. We can say that we “lucked” out on Hank. But it’s not the entire truth. We drafted Blackburn and Montoya with top 10 picks. We stock piled guys like Jason Labarbarera and other top AHL goalies. Labbe. We drafted Hank, but also Johan Asplunf and Johan Holmqvist and a bunch of other goalies. After going at it for like what 5 years we had a top 3 goalie of his generation on our hand.

And I think this is how you gotta approach building a team in this league. You need to acknowledge what you want, from line 1 to the 3rd pairing, but also handiness for PP and PK and so forth. Then just work and work and work towards filling the key positions with the right qualities while also being able to have depth in an organization.

 

[JimmyG89]

This kid reminds me of Ryan Ellis A LOT

He doesn't have the shot that Ellis has, but very few do.

Can definitely see him as a #4 on defense for a while. Could he become more? Of course, but I think at this point, projecting him more than a 2nd pairing guy is generous. He's getting the top pairing minutes now, but if things are handled right he probably slots into the 2nd pairing.

 

[TheTakedown]

Have been beating the drum for this kid since pre-season. LOVE his game.

I can see folks (@offdacrossbar and others) saying he's looking like a solid 3rd pair RHD, but here's thing: he already IS that player – and he's not yet done with his first pro season. If he keeps trending up, you've got a kid who could develop into a top 4, PPQB type.

Furthermore, I know people don't want to hear this, but this is also why you double up on prospects. I personally have always thought ADA was overrated, and that people have a soft spot for him because of the 2x per game razzle-dazzle in the offensive zone and (regardless of politics) his feistiness, which causes them to overlook his deficiencies in the other two zones and the careless risks he takes.

Now, maybe I'll be wrong and we'll have two players who fit the profile I've described, above – in which case hey, great! But my personal opinion is that he'll wind up a Marc-André Bergeron. Meanwhile, as @Ola points out, Pionk just "gets it" and I think will stick as our own version of Torey Krug. But it's only by signing them both that you can luck into the latter and let the former go on to his journeyman career around the league. It's why I have no problem with acquiring all of Lindgren, Hájek, and Rykov in the deals this past TDL, despite already having Skjei and Gilmour in the organization.

Love the Bold line you wrote. We've spent the last 5-6 years putting our eggs in one basket (Buchnevich on Forward, Skjei on Defense) and it's bred this sort of mentality that everyone will just develop and it'll be fine, but it is nothing but a good thing to have 2 or more of a prospect, even if its the same thing, because that prospect still carries value as a moveable asset.

Regardless, we're hitting on both ADA and Pionk thus far

 

[Levitate]

Love the Bold line you wrote. We've spent the last 5-6 years putting our eggs in one basket (Buchnevich on Forward, Skjei on Defense) and it's bred this sort of mentality that everyone will just develop and it'll be fine, but it is nothing but a good thing to have 2 or more of a prospect, even if its the same thing, because that prospect still carries value as a moveable asset.

Regardless, we're hitting on both ADA and Pionk thus far

Unfortunately Skjei has struggled this year IMO

A fresh season to get his head on straight will hopefully help and let him find HIS game instead of trying to play like McDonagh

 

[tomobson]

Unfortunately Skjei has struggled this year IMO

A fresh season to get his head on straight will hopefully help and let him find HIS game instead of trying to play like McDonagh

A new system should help as well. Skjei and all defenders will benefit from that change.

 

[Gardner McKay]

3/4 of million listens on my Pod all time. 375,ooo on my YT. Ryan Ellis seriously ? 17 Games evals for Stionk are in I guess. He will go down as one of the great finds of the 2017-18 season in which the Ranger didn't make the playoffs and gave up 40 shots nightly. I enjoy the back and forth though it just reinforces the fact some of you have no place under the critical thinking hangar. Some of you are great here at HF the others who are thin skinned pedestrian fans who just cant accept an opposing viewpoint or a quip on a players name. Some of you vastly overate Stionk and get annoyed that I call him Stionk. How juvenile.

I am not sure you are able to comprehend the irony of the bold but give it a shot. Don't worry if it takes you the entire off-season to figure it out. Not like this team is going anywhere or we have anything else to discuss.

 

[The Mouth]

I am not sure you are able to comprehend the irony of the bold but give it a shot. Don't worry if it takes you the entire off-season to figure it out. Not like this team is going anywhere or we have anything else to discuss.

You truly dont know how this game is played.

 

[Ori]

It`s a similar reasoning that we did not won the cup in 2014 @The Mouth - therefor all need to go conclusion or upset since we did not win it in 2014 season. Pionk did well compare to Skjei who is drafted and he has top 4 talent, but if u look back at the last game, Skjei was -2 for a while, and while Pionk had 3 assist in the same game. And Pionk a had a better game compare to Skjei in that particular game. But it`s also based on Skjei need to defend against Crosby and elite talents this whole org. lack hence we need to go the draft and tank route, because we need to draft elite talents to compete in NHL.

But don`t dislike Zucc or Pionk, because they are not drafted or high drafted - maybe he is not a good player like Fast too who is high drafted prospect and doing well. I believe to dislike players based on that reasoning is just wrong. However Pionk did well the time he has played here and so did Zucc even though he is undrafted, because there are talents outside of the draft system.

But personally I prefer defenders with size and highly skilled - so I`ve sometimes a similar mindset based on other reasons like DeAngelo, but I don`t dislike the player based on his size differences, but I just don`t think he fit with us in NYR franchise since we have kevin Shattenkirk who is a similar type of player and PP specialist. Because I notice when we let in 50 SOG or 40 SOG in too many games this season - we lack defenders who are good to defend and clear in front of our goalie and has size and strength related to physicality. And I base my reason on that DeAngelo is a great player and prospect for what he brings, but in my opinion not an ideal fit here with our current roster and D core.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I love how pointing out how ridiculous the use of "Stionk" is, is now considered juvenile... Oh, the irony

 

[Hire Sather]

Does not surprise me that The Mouth was the one to coin 'Stionk'

Not one bit.

 

[Hire Sather]

You truly dont know how this game is played.

Yeah yeah toughness and fights blah blah blah

 

[TheTakedown]

Unfortunately Skjei has struggled this year IMO

A fresh season to get his head on straight will hopefully help and let him find HIS game instead of trying to play like McDonagh

Well yes he's having a down sophomore slump, but outside of that he is an NHL player

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

How many of Pionk's assists have been secondary? They seem to mostly be secondary assists. I think he's a 20-30 point guy in the NHL. I wouldn't expect significant offense, but I think he can score enough, and defend well enough, as well as being decent in the transition game.

He's decent all-around, I don't think he's great at anything, but a 4/5D right-shot D would be useful for this team.

 

[Gardner McKay]

You truly dont know how this game is played.

Move the goalposts all you want but I'm still waiting for an answer to my original post.

 

[Ori]

Maybe I`m wrong too who knows about DeAngelo, but I hope he can at least prove me wrong and be a huge assets for us in the future.

 

[eco's bones]

How many of Pionk's assists have been secondary? They seem to mostly be secondary assists. I think he's a 20-30 point guy in the NHL. I wouldn't expect significant offense, but I think he can score enough, and defend well enough, as well as being decent in the transition game.

He's decent all-around, I don't think he's great at anything, but a 4/5D right-shot D would be useful for this team.

It really depends on how much Pionk improves from where he is now. We've got only a small sample size but he does a lot of things well that I value anyway. I like defensemen who defend well---to me that's their first job and he competes well in the defensive end of the ice---though he's not big and it's going to have to be more guile than brawn with him. He moves the puck well out of his zone--reminds me a bit of Stralman in that regard---it's like he always knows what his options are and he can make the quick pass. So he can move the puck and I expect he'll get better. Offensive production comes after that. He seems to have a good shot but not a great shot. Secondary assists if nothing else shows an ability to move the puck in offensive situations.

I like him better than DeAngelo if only because he defends a lot better IMO. DeAngelo maybe has an edge in attitude and I think Tony's a little tougher but if I had to choose between the two right now it wouldn't be hard at all--it would be Pionk.

 

[nyr2k2]

You truly dont know how this game is played.

Non sequitur post is non sequitur. This is weak even by Skip's standards!

 

[Igright]

He's getting such self-assuredness. Just recall what he did in the defensive zone right before the game winning goal vs. Pittsburgh. Moving with the puck, he fooled an opponent three times. It was rather risky but Pionk did it.

 

[YoSoyLalo]

To get the discussion away from the use of "Stionk".

I like his upside.

I'm not prepared to say he's a future fixture on this defense, but I see the ability to make plays and get shots through. He needs to improve defensively, but that's to be expected for a 22 year old first year pro. He's an excellent skater, and very good with his stick, so I'm sure with proper coaching he can develop a stronger defensive game. I'm excited to see how he can perform under a different coach in a different system.

 

[haveandare]

He's looking more and more like an NHL player who wouldn't be out of place on the bottom 4 of a good team. That's great.

 

[Machinehead]

You truly dont know how this game is played.

You disagree with the analytics people, and you disagree with the eye-test people, and you disagree with everyone in between.

Please enlighten us as to what could be left as far as "how the game is played."

 

[Machinehead]

To get the discussion away from the use of "Stionk".

I like his upside.

I'm not prepared to say he's a future fixture on this defense, but I see the ability to make plays and get shots through. He needs to improve defensively, but that's to be expected for a 22 year old first year pro. He's an excellent skater, and very good with his stick, so I'm sure with proper coaching he can develop a stronger defensive game. I'm excited to see how he can perform under a different coach in a different system.

Very fair assessment.

 

[Gravey22]

Pionk is blossoming into a steady defenseman. He is decent all around, good in his own zone, skates well, sees the play well, passes well, good decisions, good shot, not big but not small and stand his ground. The potential problem moving forward is the Dman prospects from deadline are similar although faster and larger. For me I prefer my defenseman to defend the join the play. Lindgren / Pionk would seem like a stout defense however no offense but who cares.

 

[Ori]

It`s a hard time while waiting on Lias Andersson call up - no doubts about that.

But one thing which is essential - it`s not the fan base fault that the Franchise is inept drafting elite talents - or used most of their picks, because Glen Sather aimed for the cup years ago!

And since we have no elite talents until Chytil or Lias proved me wrong - I`m happy to cheer for Pionk!

 

[YoSoyLalo]

I'm telling you guys it's the ESPN model. He sees those guys spew literal **** and antagonize and he tries to emulate it. It's a horrid but successful model. And by making this thread about him he has probably intrigued a few people into checking out his program. Mission accomplished for the big boy.

We'd all be better served by ignoring it.

Please don't refer to stink mouth as a big boy, he has not earned that label.