Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) / Maine Mariners (ECHL) 2018-19: Part IX

[nyr2k2]

I have to believe that part of the reason for leaving Ronning where he is, is to get his confidence back up.

I do agree that this is part of it. However, I also think the team may want to build up their own confidence in Ronning.

Like when Chytil earlier in the year wasn't playing a whole lot (in terms of minutes), Quinn kept saying he needed to find ways to get him more TOI. They knew they had an NHL-caliber player on their hands and needed to make an effort to get him more action. Ronning, they also said they need to get him playing, but it wasn't by way of trying to adjust the AHL lineup to get him more minutes and opportunities, it was just demoting him to the ECHL. Obviously, Chytil and Ronning are in vastly different tiers of prospect, but still.

I think that if the organization really felt that Ronning was ready for the AHL, then they'd try to work him into the mix. As I said, there are a few guys that are clearly not in the long term plans that are playing ahead of him. If they really wanted him getting AHL minutes, they'd make it happen. I believe they're just not sold he's ready yet. Playing in the ECHL isn't great, but it's not a death sentence. Hopefully he can work his way up and make some noise in the second half.

 

[Levitate]

Pretty much agree. McLeod does get a lot of hits in his avg. 7 minutes of ice time. He's pretty much a one trick pony though. Seriously Tanner Glass was a better skater, a better fighter and you could throw him out on the penalty kill now and again. McLeod just does the fighting (and not very well), the hitting and he crashes nets pretty well.

Nieves is a great skater with size and very good stick skills but almost 0 creative sense. IMO he has a future as a 4th line center if he can stay away from the head injuries. I think he's capable of 15-20 points a year, checking assignments and a penalty kill role.

My problem with Nieves is even being a good skater with decent stick skills (not sure I'd call them "very good" but not a point worth arguing) his very limited offensive instincts make it that much harder for his line to sustain any offensive pressure and IMO with the current NHL if you can't sustain offensive pressure, even if you're not scoring, then that's a big problem even for 4th liners. Because otherwise you're spending all your time defending and that's an issue.

 

[eco's bones]

My problem with Nieves is even being a good skater with decent stick skills (not sure I'd call them "very good" but not a point worth arguing) his very limited offensive instincts make it that much harder for his line to sustain any offensive pressure and IMO with the current NHL if you can't sustain offensive pressure, even if you're not scoring, then that's a big problem even for 4th liners. Because otherwise you're spending all your time defending and that's an issue.

The Rangers have had an issue with bottom line production.

Nieves offense was underwhelming even in college. His hockey IQ when it comes to offense is not very good. I've seen him hesitate often deciding what to do and you don't have time for that at the NHL level. He also doesn't shoot the puck on goal nearly enough when he does get chances. He tends to pass, pass, pass. He's too easily readable.

If he ever makes it I basically see him as a 4th line checker and he 'might' (operative word) have made this year's team if he hadn't gotten injured right off the bat. Now he's got others in front of him. Some players never seem to get the timing right and he might be one of them. It wouldn't surprise me if the Rangers move on from him this year to be honest.

 

[Levitate]

Yeah the Rangers 4th line this year seems more of an "incubator" line at the moment rather than one they are expecting much out of. I'd be more concerned if this team was expected to contend or go places.

I think it boils down to that even if Nieves made the Rangers as a 4th liner, he's the kind of player you're kind of always looking to replace with someone better.

 

[kovazub94]

Yeah the Rangers 4th line this year seems more of an "incubator" line at the moment rather than one they are expecting much out of. I'd be more concerned if this team was expected to contend or go places.

I think it boils down to that even if Nieves made the Rangers as a 4th liner, he's the kind of player you're kind of always looking to replace with someone better.

Depends for me. I see your point if he's 4C but if he's 4W - I don't think we would be looking to replace.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Yeah the Rangers 4th line this year seems more of an "incubator" line at the moment rather than one they are expecting much out of. I'd be more concerned if this team was expected to contend or go places.

I think it boils down to that even if Nieves made the Rangers as a 4th liner, he's the kind of player you're kind of always looking to replace with someone better.

Exactly. Based on a limited viewing window so far, of course, but Strome looks like a guy who can be a solid 3rd/4th liner on a winning team. Nieves, who showed some flashes earlier in his career, but is now getting up there for a prospect and has had lots of setbacks, is now more grist for the ever-turning bottom-6 mill on a non-contender, IMO.

 

[Irishguy42]

 

[Matz03]

Nieves is better than Fogarty, he’s a much better 4th line wing or c option vs. Fogarty, Gettinger, Lettieri, or McLeaod. He has disruptive speed and can pk. Gettinger needs to marinate in the Ahl and as a 4th liner isn’t really useful not playing pp or pk.

 

[Irishguy42]

Wolf Pack with a 5-3 win over Checkers tonight. Four straight wins.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Ty Ronning has a goal for Maine through 1 period.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Finished the game with a goal and 5 SOG, he's over PPG and over 5 SOG/GP in for Maine, time for a promotion and give him actual TOI in Hartford.

 

[Roo Returns]

Gropp was assigned to Maine today. That's pretty much it for him.

 

[E-Train]

Gropp was assigned to Maine today. That's pretty much it for him.

The Rick Kozak path to oblivion.

 

[nyr2k2]

Gropp was assigned to Maine today. That's pretty much it for him.

Oh boy. Yeah, unless he's just down there for a couple games, that's gonna pretty much be it for him in our organization.

 

[cwede]

Gropp was assigned to Maine today. That's pretty much it for him.

eh, maybe not, with NYR off all week,
Lettieri, Gettinger, Beleskey back in HFD,
maybe they just don't expect to dress him wednesday ...

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Not surprised the slightest about Gropp. Always knew he was going to bust pretty hard. Only had 2 goals and 5 points in 19 games in the AHL this season.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Shocking that Gropp was sent to Maine

Shocked

Not that shocked

He had bust city written all over him

 

[eco's bones]

As far as Gropp--he's made disappointing progress. I would think that the Rangers are hoping he starts producing in the ECHL--gets some confidence and comes back to Hartford and starts playing better. I think that's kind of the same idea with Ronning--though Ty wasn't a 2nd round pick. Gropp's still got another year after this.

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

I know he's not a huge upside guy, though he looked good in the offensive zone in weird disorganized preseason games, but how many defensemen are ahead of Crawley for a callup? Glen Rock over everything.

 

[Roo Returns]

The thing with Gropp is, it's classic Jaime Lundmark syndrome to me. The guy is not skilled enough and doesn't have enough IQ to be a top 6er, and not enough grit to be a bottom 6er or specialist.

He was more Michael Ryder than Jamie Benn. It was a bad pick and that trade was a huge huge L. However, it was before Greely and Bobrov came in and brought some new scouts like Steve Konowalchuk, so yelling about it is redundant because the scouting has been addressed and modified the last few years.

To me he's done here. Too many people in the organization like Gettinger who has been a pro for three months, Meskkanen, and even a borderline AAAA player like Lettieri have passed him on the depth chart.

Guys like him and Boo who were drafted over three years ago, there time in the Rangers organization is over.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

The thing with Gropp is, it's classic Jaime Lundmark syndrome to me. The guy is not skilled enough and doesn't have enough IQ to be a top 6er, and not enough grit to be a bottom 6er or specialist.

He was more Michael Ryder than Jamie Benn. It was a bad pick and that trade was a huge huge L. However, it was before Greely and Bobrov came in and brought some new scouts like Steve Konowalchuk, so yelling about it is redundant because the scouting has been addressed and modified the last few years.

To me he's done here. Too many people in the organization like Gettinger who has been a pro for three months, Meskkanen, and even a borderline AAAA player like Lettieri have passed him on the depth chart.

Guys like him and Boo who were drafted over three years ago, there time in the Rangers organization is over.

The pick may have been bad but you can't really complain about the Hagelin trade, aside from Sather putting us in a position where we could not re-sign him.

- 3rd line winger
- RFA
- On a team without cap space

That limits his value

 

[Vitto79]

The pick may have been bad but you can't really complain about the Hagelin trade, aside from Sather putting us in a position where we could not re-sign him.

- 3rd line winger
- RFA
- On a team without cap space

That limits his value

Hagelin was obviously not worth the money but he also was worth more than that deal

Should of been a straight up 2nd

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Hagelin was obviously not worth the money but he also was worth more than that deal

Should of been a straight up 2nd

Why would he be worth a 2nd rounder? Again, the Rangers had no leverage at all.

 

[Vitto79]

Why would he be worth a 2nd rounder? Again, the Rangers had no leverage at all.

I guess so cause the deal was crap

As for now Hagelin as a rental is a mid round pick . He’s fast so a good 4th liners on a depth team

 

[Edge]

I think Gropp and Andersson represent why the Rangers, and most teams in general, avoid saying too much about prospects or kids they just draft.

It's too easy for people to grasp on to those words and raise expectations.

In Andersson's case, no matter that the kid does, that comment about being closer to the NHL is always lurking.

In Gropp's case, how much the Rangers liked him was always lurking, even when the reality was that he was a mid-second round pick.

That's why we get generic statements like, "We liked him a lot and think he could be a good player for the organization," or "Our guys were excited to get him in that spot and we can't wait to see what he does."