efense

[panzerporter]

No D among this group, this last stretch of games has been an exceptionally brutal demonstration of how not to play defense. Things taught to you as a youngster first lacing up the skates are lost on this group like staying at home not chasing pucks into the corner, making the smart high percentage pass that your teammates are expecting or clearing the zone with the puck if nobody's open and most importantly staying on your skates and taking the body instead of flopping to the ice.

I didn't want the Rangers to sign Shattenkirk but when they did figured if he contributed offensively his defensive shortcomings could be overcome by partnering him with a stay at home specialist. Wow was that an incorrect assumption, he's totally incompetent. A turnover machine especially in his own zone who won't do what the Rangers signed him to do - shoot the effin puck.

Staal is what he is, a guy who'd be scraping to stay in the league on someone's 3rd pairing if his last name wasn't Staal. Smith has been slightly better than Staal which says little.

Skjei has been disappointing as well, just needs to stop thinking so much and play hockey. McDonough had the same problem.

Pionk has some offensive skill but is an absolute zero defensively, Quinn needs to drop the hammer on him.

DeAngelo has been surprisingly good, he's small but has been the Rangers best dman. Gorton made a good deal getting him for Stepan.

 

[kreidertime]

That is good because the team needs to lose every game the rest of the season. Skjei has been fine since being put with McQuaid. Staal, Pionk, Smith and Shattenkirk must all go. Either by trade or buyout. End of story. Next year I expect a defense of

Skjei-Lundkvist
Hajek-DeAngelo
Lindgren/Rykov-McQuaid


I pay the money and bring McQuaid back. He was a great influence on Skjei and you can use him to develop Lindgren, Rykov and Hajek. Absolutely zero reason to keep Shattenkirk, Staal, Smith or Pionk here next season. None.

The vets have checked out now so don't expect good hockey.

 

[panzerporter]

I agree about McQuaid and would give him Smith's contract to resign him, the Rangers need a physical RD. Hajek looked encouraging and Miller put up ridiculous numbers for Wisconsin. Gorton needs to finish clearing the dead weight. The worst thing about the defensive vets is they teach nothing to the younger players besides bad habits and softness.

 

[Ranger71]

I think Smith will be bought out, and Shattenkirk/Staal will be on the block into next season. Lundkvist/Miller are still pretty young and at least another 2y away. Next year they may very well sign a McQuaid type to go with Skjei, Hajek, DA, Lindgren/Rykov and Pionk, who they may want to see more of before dumping. Claesson will still be around too.

 

[kreidertime]

Lundkvist is not 2 years away. He's NHL ready now. Easily. He's ridiculously smart and has been playing big minutes against men. Same as Rykov. Miller is probably 2 years away. Pionk is a project. He would be worth the investment if the system wasn't absurdly deep on defense. However, to me he's trade bait. I would use him and Fast to move up a few spots in the draft if they needed to.

 

[panzerporter]

I wouldn't give up on Pionk either unless he had to be used to move Staal. You can't teach the offensive skills he has, his end to end goal early in the season was Leetch-like. I think his primary problem is with McQuaid gone there's no veteran presence to teach defense. I agree Skjei played much better with McQuaid.

 

[Ranger71]

The team really isn't going anywhere next year anyway so they should keep Pionk and see if his defense develops to catch up some with his offense. DA is still a bit of a crapshoot with whatever off-ice stuff he gets benched for. Claesson is a solid spare RFA type for the next 2-3y too until the kids all arrive. The key is moving out the 3S men in the next year, maybe getting a 2nd/solid prospect for Shatt.

 

[kreidertime]

Pionk is physically weak trying to defend players. His defensive hockey IQ is non existent most of the time. So, unless he comes back 15-20 pounds of muscle heavier, I don't have much hope for him long term. He has been atrocious defensively for months now.