Post-Game Talk: PS#4 - Rangers @ Devils

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Can I get a rundown on McIlrath's game last night?

Perhaps his best game of the PS. Positionally sound. Broke up quite a few plays, blocked quite a few shots. Calm and collected collecting the puck and breaking out in the D zone. And then, as an added bonus, was *this* close to connecting with a gorgeous move on a shorthanded 2-on-1 during the OT demonstration. Really, really encouraging.

 

[FultonReed]

If the 4th line is gonna have both Dom and Stoll, Dom should be the center

Moore>Stoll

I like Dom in the role that Boyle played while he was here. can jump on and win a faceoff on the 3rd line if needed be.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Perhaps his best game of the PS. Positionally sound. Broke up quite a few plays, blocked quite a few shots. Calm and collected collecting the puck and breaking out in the D zone. And then, as an added bonus, was *this* close to connecting with a gorgeous move on a shorthanded 2-on-1 during the OT demonstration. Really, really encouraging.

And then came AVs praise: "I thought he was better in the 2nd and 3rd than the 1st".

Smh.

 

[JohnC]

I like Dom in the role that Boyle played while he was here. can jump on and win a faceoff on the 3rd line if needed be.

Okay but when it comes to taking a regular shift together, Moore is still a better 4th line C than Stoll

 

[FultonReed]

Okay but when it comes to taking a regular shift together, Moore is still a better 4th line C than Stoll

I can completely agree with you on that, but if you had to choose between Dom taking that faceoff on the 3rd or Stoll, you take Dom

 

[GAGLine]

And then came AVs praise: "I thought he was better in the 2nd and 3rd than the 1st".

Smh.

I don't have a problem with that. I think the whole team was better in the 2nd and 3rd than the first.

 

[FLYLine27*]

It's crazy that Etem v Glass is a legitimate debate. Etem has been flat out awful all preseason.

It's crazy someone is actually thinking there is a debate whether glass should have a spot in the lineup.

 

[Fitzy]

AV said he like Diaz on the PP. He didn't bring up the rest of his game with good reason. I could score those goals with the passes Miller and Stepan gave him. Is Diaz playing on the PP on this team? The Rangers need their 7th D to be more than a PP "specialist".

Especially with Boyle, Yandle, and McDonagh in the fold.

On a NYR team where Rozsival was our top offensive threat? He'd be good to have. NYR have no special need for him now. If they can move him for a mid-to-low pick at this point it would be good.

 

[JohnC]

I can completely agree with you on that, but if you had to choose between Dom taking that faceoff on the 3rd or Stoll, you take Dom

Agreed

 

[NYR713]

I can completely agree with you on that, but if you had to choose between Dom taking that faceoff on the 3rd or Stoll, you take Dom

The nice thing about that duo is one is a right handed draw and the other is left handed. I agree to have Dom at C, which also allows Stoll to be more aggressive on the forecheck as a winger. But, depending on which side of the ice the draw is taking place, either can take the important draw.

 

[Ex Officer Friendly]

And then came AVs praise: "I thought he was better in the 2nd and 3rd than the 1st".

Smh.

its not like he said he was bad in the 1st

 

[Levitate]

Perhaps his best game of the PS. Positionally sound. Broke up quite a few plays, blocked quite a few shots. Calm and collected collecting the puck and breaking out in the D zone. And then, as an added bonus, was *this* close to connecting with a gorgeous move on a shorthanded 2-on-1 during the OT demonstration. Really, really encouraging.

I don't wanna get too far into praising McIlrath like he was the best player out there or something but he basically played like you'd want someone in his position and with his abilities to play and looked pretty comfortable and solid.

 

[Pizza]

its not like he said he was bad in the 1st

I feel that as regards McI, AV will be a bit spare in his praise. That's probably just me.

Anyway, he made it through another round of cuts. Deservedly so.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Does anyone have a replay of McIlrath's play in OT last night?

 

[Wolfy*]

He looks out of shape if you ask me. Slow.

True, Hayes is not in shape, he failed to do his homework.

I understand his conditioning tests were not that good, he probably has to play every pre-season game because of this.

But he stays, so they'll have to find a way to get him back in shape.

 

[Levitate]

True, Hayes is not in shape, he failed to do his homework.

I understand his conditioning tests were not that good, he probably has to play every pre-season game because of this.

But he stays, so they'll have to find a way to get him back in shape.

He'll have to play pretty bad in regular season games for them to bench him or send him down...47 points last year gives you a lot of leeway. But they will if he does'nt pick it up...shifting teammates probably doesn't help him but still

The impressive thing about his OT chance was that he did just straight up outskate some Devils players from his own zone all the way down the ice.

 

[Ola]

True, Hayes is not in shape, he failed to do his homework.

I understand his conditioning tests were not that good, he probably has to play every pre-season game because of this.

But he stays, so they'll have to find a way to get him back in shape.

How do you understand that?

 

[Ola]

And then came AVs praise: "I thought he was better in the 2nd and 3rd than the 1st".

Smh.

I've said this before, if AV were just fighting a few in media and fans liking McIlrath he wouldn't be worry. But I think serious parts of management is calling for the organization to do the right thing here long term.

There is no doubt AV is talking down McIlrath. Just listen to everything he says, it's always from a very negative perspective. McI has played real well for a rookie D, to say anything else is absurd really. He should get a lot of praise. Instead it's "he was better in 2-3 than 1", "he TRIED to do other things with the puck than just blindly throw it away", "hey stop asking about McI look at Bodie" and so forth and so forth. If Calle A played like this and could go to HFD, anyone think anyone would say anything else than wow he has been great, so solid and poised etc.

 

[Open Mind]

For the record, I'm not trying to argue about it . I stated an opinion and got crucified for it. I was Simply defending my opinion. I want Dylan to succeed, but I refuse to blindly hype someone to fulfill some desire/need to justify his pick. I thought he has played ok in the games he has played this preseason and played well tonight, but for me, and again, it is MY OPINION, Diaz's ability to put up points puts him SLIGHTLY ahead of MC and by no means am I advocating trading MC. As stated above we have way to much invested.

Who is asking you to blindly hype him or justify the pick? Can you name even one person here who's doing that? It was a bad pick. But we can't change it, so you move on and look at what's there now. And the guy's made nice strides and could be a solid player going forward.

Personally, if I'm looking at any one thing that's impressed me, it's his demeanor right now. Where he was picked, and the time it took to develop, puts an awful lot of weight on a young kid. Right now, he looks like he's settled down, is just playing his game and he's showing some poise, which is good to see because he's still only 23.

As far as Diaz's ability to put up points, he's 29, has scored 8 total goals in his career, and averages 10 assists per season. Let's not confuse him with Ray Bourque

 

[Levitate]

I've said this before, if AV were just fighting a few in media and fans liking McIlrath he wouldn't be worry. But I think serious parts of management is calling for the organization to do the right thing here long term.

There is no doubt AV is talking down McIlrath. Just listen to everything he says, it's always from a very negative perspective. McI has played real well for a rookie D, to say anything else is absurd really. He should get a lot of praise. Instead it's "he was better in 2-3 than 1", "he TRIED to do other things with the puck than just blindly throw it away", "hey stop asking about McI look at Bodie" and so forth and so forth. If Calle A played like this and could go to HFD, anyone think anyone would say anything else than wow he has been great, so solid and poised etc.

I think AV isn't a huge fan of McIlrath (though he loves Girardi and Klein who are definitely not puck moving D and all that) but at the same time I think he's talking down a bit as a motivational thing. If you say "yeah he was great! loved it, played so well" it's conceivable you take away some motivation for the player. Someone like McIlrath can't think "alright, coach basically just said I'm in, I can take it easy now". He's gotta keep pushing and playing like every day is his last regardless of what his coach says.

 

[CupWindow]

Girardi and Staal caused every goal against tonight. They're regulars.

What a shame to see a Rangers fan criticize two guys who have helped us advance in the stanley cup playoffs year after year by shutting down Crosby and Ovkechkin, over a preseason game.

What a damn shame.

 

[Miamipuck]

Girardi and Staal were so awesome last night not because they were good, they were horrible but because they have been so so so so so awesome in the past.

 

[CupWindow]

We need to think long term though.

We need to think about one season and one season only. This season. Whichever defenseman gives us the better chance of winning the Cup this season should be the one who stays.

 

[CupWindow]

Girardi and Staal were so awesome last night not because they were good, they were horrible but because they have been so so so so so awesome in the past.

I'm not concerned about Girardi and Staal. Neither are the coaches.

They'll do their jobs come October 7th.

 

[CupWindow]

Lindberg is good at hockey

Stalberg is good at hockey

Girardi isn't good at hockey

Make sure you boo him when he lifts the cup in front of you on MSG ice