Confirmed with Link: Rangers Sign Free Agent D Neal Pionk

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Any indication if he's staying in college another year or is he finished?

Pionk to Leave UMD To Pursue a Professional Hockey Career

http://www.wdio.com/sports/umd-bulldogs-neal-pionk-/4456836/

 

[Gospel of Prospal]

McDonagh-Smith
Skjei---Shattenkirk
Graves---Pionk
Russian guy/Kampfer


Let's roll

 

[Ghost of jas]

Any indication if he's staying in college another year or is he finished?

I could be wrong but usually signing a pro contract means your college career is over.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

Our D can go from absolute garbage to scary good in this offseason

 

[JimmyG89]

So GMJG has added Pedrie, Beer Glass, possibly Simek, now Pionk and is reportedly in on Borgmann...that is some fine work in rebuilding this D.

Even if most of these guys can't crack our roster, which Bereglazov and Pionk might, they would be good to spend some time in the AHL.

Bereglazov probably makes the team because of his KHL out clause, but having these guys in the AHL is so much better than what was recently. Pedrie, Pionk, Simek (if signed), Graves, Paliotta, possibly Day, Zboro as an AHL defense would be nice. Would make watching Hartford worth while for the defense.

 

[Thirty One]

Any indication if he's staying in college another year or is he finished?

Signing a pro contract means he's finished. It's not like Canadian juniors.

 

[Thirty One]

I'm just trying to be optimistic here 31! I need to believe we're not gonna start next season with the 3 mouseketeers.

Well, if it helps, I think he knows!

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

McDonagh-Smith
Skjei---Shattenkirk
Graves---Pionk
Russian guy/Kampfer


Let's roll

Sounds like that Russian guy will be playing.

It's nice to have a RHD with skating ability in the system though.

 

[Miller Time NYR]

Great signing and right handed

 

[East Coast Bias]

Great signing. He's probably taken over Clendending's locker by now.

 

[TheTakedown]

****, this is insane...

our D depth is getting better by the day!

 

[Fugazy]

A nice list of new acquisitions:

Bereglazov
Plionk
Pedrie
Lettieri
Tkachyov (training camp invite)

Tkachyov would be the icing on the cake for that crop of players.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Rumours were Chicago and another team. Apparently we were the other team

LAK were the favorites last i saw, with Chicago and another West team mentioned... Haven't read NYR mentioned at all before this

 

[Ghost of jas]

Question for those who would know these things...is this the equivalent of getting a Ghost-level talent. I'm not comparing him to Ghost in actual skillset, just the level of talent.

 

[Zil]

Question for those who would know these things...is this the equivalent of getting a Ghost-level talent. I'm not comparing him to Ghost in actual skillset, just the level of talent.

4. Neal Pionk, Defenseman, Minnesota Duluth

In his sophomore season, the Duluth-area native has developed into the top defenseman for the Bulldogs, who have spent much of the season as one of the top teams in the country.

Pionk is a very good two-way defenseman thanks to his excellent skating ability and agility. He moves the puck up the ice reliably thanks to an ability to spin his way out of traffic and is an excellent outlet passer. His quickness also gives him the confidence to hold the line in the offensive zone, rather than giving up ice to give himself more cushion defensively.

He’s just an okay defender one-on-one against the rush, but has an above average amount of toughness and physicality for a guy that will classify as a smaller defenseman at the next level.

http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/201...2016-2017-aston-reese-brickley-pionk-kelleher

Sign me up for that.

 

[Gardner McKay]

AV has already benched him

Sad but true.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Sounds like he has all of the necessary qualities for the way the game is currently played on the backend.

 

[nevesis]

Gorton isn't stupid, but AV certainly is.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Tkachyov would be the icing on the cake for that crop of players.

Day-dreaming about next season is even more fun now:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Vesey-Stepan-Zuccarello
Tkachyov-Hayes-Miller
Fast-Lindberg-Grabner

McDonagh-Bereglazov
Skjei-Smith
Holden-Pionk

Lundqvist
FA goalie

 

[Thirty One]

Gorton isn't stupid, but AV certainly is.

Why did our smart GM extend our dumb coach for $4.125 million, then?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Sounds like he has all of the necessary qualities for the way the game is currently played on the backend.

A right-handed Skjei

 

[Fugazy]

Day-dreaming about next season is even more fun now:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Vesey-Stepan-Zuccarello
Tkachyov-Hayes-Miller
Fast-Lindberg-Grabner

McDonagh-Bereglazov
Skjei-Smith
Holden-Pionk

Lundqvist
FA goalie

I think it's a fairly low likelihood that BOTH Staal and Girardi aren't on next year's roster.

 

[Thirty One]

A right-handed Skjei

I was going to say that scouting report sounded like Smith. Either way, he's playing half as much as Holden in the 3rd.

 

[Zil]

Given our dearth of talent on the right side and Bereglazov's KHL out-clause, we already have something looking pretty excellent if Smith re-signs.

McDonagh-Smith
Skjei-XXXXXX
Bereglazov-Pionk

I'd pencil in Clendo next to Skjei, but AV gonna AV. Graves might push for a spot too. With Day, Pedrie, and Zboro (and hopefully Brännström ) in the system, that's quite the turnaround.

Just gotta take out the trash. Staal, G, Holden, Klein, and Kampfer get lost.

 

[Mandar]

Day-dreaming about next season is even more fun now:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Vesey-Stepan-Zuccarello
Tkachyov-Hayes-Miller
Fast-Lindberg-Grabner

McDonagh-Bereglazov
Skjei-Smith
Holden-Pionk

Lundqvist
FA goalie

who did we get for Nash?