Confirmed with Link: Rangers Sign Free Agent D Neal Pionk

[eco's bones]

Of the problems that Wisniewski had--he wasn't reliable defensively, he wasn't disciplined--note the 5 or 6 suspensions he had during his not all that long NHL career and he became injury prone--at least 4 or 5 concussions and maybe more--plus a lot of other stuff. A lot of the above can be found listed on his TSN profile page.

Personally I hope Pionk turns out better in all those things.

 

[RangerBoy]

wrong thread.

 

[RangerBoy]

Poor man's Justin Faulk.

 

[Trxjw]

Of the problems that Wisniewski had--he wasn't reliable defensively, he wasn't disciplined--note the 5 or 6 suspensions he had during his not all that long NHL career and he became injury prone--at least 4 or 5 concussions and maybe more--plus a lot of other stuff. A lot of the above can be found listed on his TSN profile page.

Personally I hope Pionk turns out better in all those things.

Yeah I'm strictly comparing styles here, and like I said, while Pionk has an edge it isn't nearly to the level of Wis'.

Pionk has some things to learn in terms of D in his own end, but his skating allows him to be a very capable defender on the rush.

 

[NYR Viper]

Harvard stud is a little much. No? If the Rangers are counting on Kerfoot as an answer to their hole at center,it will be a very long season.

It really depends on how they project him. AV and Gorton have already deemed this season may be a bit of a transition. Any center will be insulated with this group of wingers.

 

[RangerBoy]

It really depends on how they project him. AV and Gorton have already deemed this season may be a bit of a transition. Any center will be insulated with this group of wingers.

I put that in the wrong thread. Pionk could be a poor man's Justin Faulk. Same school.

 

[eco's bones]

To me Pionk might be more comparable to a Torey Krug---now Krug has his share of defensive lapses and I suspect Pionk will too. Both are smart and a bit undersized defensemen with very good hockey IQ--very good offense from the blueline kind of games. There is a bit of an edge with both of them--though not as much as Wisniewski but Wisniewski never seemed to learn from certain mistakes. It's one of the reasons he moved around so much.

 

[Irishguy42]

Pionk is better than Butcher

 

[Mikos87]

What's this guy's ceiling? Any NHL comparables?

Direct comp would be Brandon Montour.

Not as strong or as athletic as a Faulk.

Pionkys a slick passer and light footed skater.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

So that's what we're calling him,"Pionky?" I was hoping for Nealy-P or Granpapi Peabody...

I remember Wisniewski's ******* motion. Classic...

Why in the hell are people pigeonholing a college 1st line C as an AHLer when he's not even pro yet?

 

[nyr2k2]

I don't think Pionk needs a nick. His last name already sounds like one.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

We're definitely back in contention with our first really good offensive D in 13-14 years... other teams will regularly $hat upon (ridiculous that they'd censor out the archaic past-tense of that, but ok)... Pionk's point shot better be good with a name like that is all I know.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Am I the only one who is looking forward to hearing Sam say (unironically), "Pionk! Off the post and in!" and then having Joe break out laughing?

 

[Irishguy42]

Am I the only one who is looking forward to hearing Sam say (unironically), "Pionk! Off the post and in!" and then having Joe break out laughing?

And then Joe will explain how that his name sounds almost like "Ping"

I can hear it now.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

And it'll become almost a script every time he scores next season. "And those at 'P's, not "please" from the crowd."

 

[Mac n Gs]

I'd say poor man's Letang over Faulk since Faulk doesn't have an edge to his game. Kid can skate and crank shots though, so let's hope he keeps developing at the rate he's been these past two years.

 

[Ola]

What's this guy's ceiling? Any NHL comparables?

I've seen very little of him, but I think Dumba might be a fair ceiling comparision for him.

Good smart player overall. But a little rock em sock em type too from what I understand.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

Since we're dropping mad names, I'd say he compares to Paul Coffey only much better, maybe Leetch or Lidstrom... poor man's god...

 

[Levitate]

Since we're dropping mad names, I'd say he compares to Paul Coffey only much better, maybe Leetch or Lidstrom... poor man's god...

Bobby Orr but better

 

[cwede]

Since we're dropping mad names, I'd say he compares to Paul Coffey only much better, maybe Leetch or Lidstrom... poor man's god...

i still suspect Stralman, and that would suit me fine,
as long as he doesn't wait to find his full game with his 3rd and 4th team ...

 

[CasusBelli]

And then Joe will explain how that his name sounds almost like "Ping"

I can hear it now.

"Those aren't posts, Joe! They're Pionks!"

 

[Thirty One]

"Those aren't posts, Joe! They're Pionks!"

Sam never hears the puck hitting the post.

 

[BobMarleyNYR]

Stralman's path is very unique... had it not for Slats, he likely would be in the SEL for good. And, while originally billed as an offensive D, it turned out to not be a natural asset of his, people here have me thinking that he's 40 pts. or bust...

 

[eco's bones]

Stralman's path is very unique... had it not for Slats, he likely would be in the SEL for good. And, while originally billed as an offensive D, it turned out to not be a natural asset of his, people here have me thinking that he's 40 pts. or bust...

More like Tortorella who gave him a lot of tough love but Stralman responded to that in the best way possible.

 

[darko]

Bobby Orr but better

Significantly better.