Forward depth issues outside of the 1st line?

Apr 10, 2012
2,664
128
i'd do:
hagelin/richards/gaborik - gaborik needs richards to steal attention. stepan's shot won't worry people enough
pyatt/stepan/nash - pyatt's been one of our best forwards, nash can create on his own
XX/boyle/callahan - REALLY need a possession guy like dubinsky was for this to be an effective shutdown group
rupp/halpern/asham - halpern taking important draws to get his minutes above the tough guys.

but halpern really needs to start being put in there for important draws. he's too good of a faceoff guy to waste.

whenever kreider is back i'd want him with richards and gaborik and hagelin on the 3rd




depth wasn't an issue going into the season if hagelin and kreider were top notch--
would've been:

gaborik
nash
richards
stepan
kreider
hagelin
callahan
pyatt
boyle
halpern
asham
rupp

our roster O is fine, our depth issues are on defense. the only thing i really think we need is a puck possession winger.
 

Paulie Walnutz

Make HF Great Again
Oct 1, 2008
10,472
7,477
I'm also concerned with our organizational depth, outside out McIlrath and Miller, nobody in CT is an NHLer.
 

TC82

Registered User
Aug 27, 2012
421
35
Yeah, Stralman has been ok. Not great, but also not terrible. And Eminger has played what, 9 minutes total?

The problem with the forward depth is that we were all counting on Hagelin not having a sophomore slump and that Kreider could become somewhat of an impact player. Well not that Hagelin is dangerously close to a sophomore slump and Kreider is on his way to Hartford, we're rowing on dangerous waters here. I like Pyatt and all, but the Rangers can't ask him to step up and score 20 goals and be a go-to guy. So unless something gives (like Stepan waking up from his winter sleep), Glen might have to look at getting some reinforcements to the top-6. But who will be available? Not many goal scorers, I guess.
 

NYR Viper

Registered User
Sep 9, 2007
46,906
16,622
Jacksonville, FL
Yeah, this is going to be an issue this season without a doubt. Especially if Kreider is sent down and Hagelin continues to struggle.

Pyatt has been a good addition. Boyle looks lost offensively. Rupp is okay for a 4th liner, Halpern is decent. They need another actual forward who can eat some minutes.
 

BBKers

Registered User
Jan 9, 2006
11,103
7,439
Bialystok, Poland
Our 2 best forwards so far have been Nash & Pyatt imo (replacing Dubinsky & fedotenko). Halpern is no worse than Mitchell IMO. Asham has only played one game - so Brandon Prusts eventual replacement has not been there. That is a problem - yes indeed. The only downgrade I see so far is Kreider taking Anisimovs spot. This has been quite negative - so far.
So basically our replacements are two plus - two minus and one equal. It is instead the other 7 forwards that were here last year that have not at all played up to reasonable expectations. Look tired, slow, disinterested and well off on the timing. Not the same intensity as last year. This means Richards, Callahan, Hagelin, Rupp especially but also Stepan, Gaborik & Boyle. These guys have played well under par to given capacity so far. All of them! There is the real problem. Cally needs to step up as the captain now and lead the way. Richards has been pretty bad, and if you get into what he is getting paid, well you get the point...
The power play has been a disgrace. Dump and chase on PP should rendition in an immediate benching. The gap between fwd & d has been either too big or too small. Not finding the right formula here. Yet. Use Stralman more here, last year he was not bad at all when given a bigger PP role. I would also really consider trying to sign The Hobbit asap and get him over here (yeah, yeah bring it on). Last year (a pretty small sample size but nonetheless statistically proven) The Rangers were at 24% conversion on PP (would have been #1) when Zuccarello "ran it" and without him they were at 15% conversion (#27 in the league). Pretty telling if you ask me.
Replace Kreider with a new signing asap and let him develop at his pace in CT (Shoney??). Maybe 6 weeks from now he finds his game and can be brought back to tear it up.
No more Bickel, Segal or Newbury as NYR fwds please. Rupp - Halpern - Asham on the 4th line might suffice. They have really not played together, but putting Rupp on the 3rd line is also madness. Our top 9 should be a mix of Gaborik, Richards, Nash, Cally, Stepan, Pyatt, Boyle, Hagelin and a newcomer replacing Kreider. Bottom 3 a mix of Rupp, Asham, Halpern and a new pure PP specialist (Zuccarello) to be inserted when on the PP. Halpern and Rupp alternate on center depending on who we are playing...
As for who the new guy we should get up front taking Kreiders spot - sure it is being worked on. Sykora?? Arnott?? D Moore?? Blake?? Langkow?? Rolston?? Morrisson?? Dvorak??? Most of these guys might have given there best shot though - and seem to be washed up. A trade??? Not sure we have/wanna give up the assets we need to right now to do that. Hrivik?? Maybe worth a shot...
 

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