When they win and there isn't much to bitch about

[dumpstralmannow]

Struds is not here. Only the same tools making up erroneous crap about MDZ.

 

[Ranger71]

Stop it you. He's sucked most of the year. But then again to fair alot of the defense looked horrible up until about 4 games ago. Dump, you yourself said they should look to move him for a forward so I think deep down you know he's not going to be all that great going forward. He's one player they can actually get some value back who won't kill them by losing him, with Moore and maybe Allen in the fold now. They need one more big forward with experience up front. You can't solely rely on Kreider or hot/cold Pouliot to do it alone.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

You can't dispute that Staal and Girardi have been a lot worse because they have. The only reason I feel he will be moved for a forward is because a ton of teams want him. Teams don't want Girardi unless its a sign and trade. The team isn't moving Moore or McDonagh and the league knows it. I don't think the rest of the league is willing to roll the dice on Staal yet with his vision still being a potential issue. I absolutely don't think that he can't be great going forward. He's 23. Not 27 in his prime. I believe that the team is very confident in Skjei, Allen and McIlrath going forward. I don't think they are confident in Nash now. So, it's really a matter of who the league wants that might be available. They want MDZ rather than Girardi or Staal.

 

[Ranger71]

I'm not so sure most teams wouldn't rather have Staal than DZ, who's erratic to say the least. Staal is an above average dman with shutdown abilities, DZ gets pushed around alot and has a weak shot which cuts his value in half. I agree nobody would deal for UFA Girardi who has alot of miles on him, unless its for another expiring contract. I always thought Girardi was overrated by alot of Ranger fans, he is what he is, a hard working lunchpail type with minimal offense.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

You have to remember that if Staal wasn't playing in NY, he probably would want to play with his brothers when his contract ended. I think he loves NY. I also think if you secretly asked both the other Staal brothers right now, they would want to leave Carolina in a second if they could. So, that probably would decrease the interest in Staal. If he wasn't in NY, I do think he would join his brothers as a UFA. I've said it many times. People compare MDZ to McDonagh who makes everybody look bad when he plays like he has been lately. MDZ is going to make some high risk plays. On a team with our top 4, he stands out when he makes a mistake. On another team like Philly, NJ or Edmonton one turnover a game would make him look like an All-Star compared to the other clowns they use.

 

[Ranger71]

I see McDonagh as a much more well-rounded player, on a different level than DZ, as evidenced by his lock status on the USA team. He's much more sound defensively and I believe his offense still hasn't hit its highest level. He does some really boneheaded things once in awhile too but I wouldn't trade him for anyone unless it was Toews, Stamkos, Kane caliber player.

 

[Stepupstepan]

I like that AV is developing McD into two way d-men. Torts always had them focus solely on D.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

I honestly thought thus team was due for a bad season. AV proved torts was an idiot trying to win every game 2-1

 

[puck2]

MDZ will be lucky to return a 2nd rounder. Good kid, but a complete train wreck as a d-man. does not take a hit to make a play, will shy away from any scrum, will never jump in for a teammate. you don't go to war with a player like him in the playoffs.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

You are beyond lost Puck. It's almost as if you haven't been paying attention to every team asking for MDZ the past 2 years in trades. Wake up dude.

 

[mrmel29]

I think hands down our best 2 d-men are McD and even though starting slowly and still working his way back staal. Everyone else including girardi are more complimentary type players. We have guys ready down below on D now so if slats can swing deal for del z for more offense sounds like even though early a couple of teams are already panicking and might be time to pull the trigger. Even though edmonton seems to be the team getting talked about the most the guy I would like to see us pry loose is kesler.

 

[cagedlion]

Who is......... 'ready down below on D'?.........to help the Rangers......

 

[Ranger71]

Who is......... 'ready down below on D'?.........to help the Rangers......

EYYYYYYEEESSS..there he is.

 

[mrmel29]

EYYYYYYEEESSS..there he is.

LOL

 

[puck2]

hey dump, I was a huge MDZ fan when he came up his first year. he does have talent. however after watching him closely, I realized it's not his talent I question, but his heart and demeanor. This guy will never take a hit to make a play. He never jumps into a scrum or goes to a teammates defense. I do not believe he has it in his DNA to play that type of game. So unless he starts putting up 50-70 pts to justify his being on the roster, he would be addition by subtraction as far as the team goes. If some GM is willing to give high value back, well we better jump at it. I maintain the best thing that could happen to MDZ is that someone challenges him and he is forced to take care of himself. When he survives a tussle he just might become a better hockey player.

 

[jamsim67]

MDZ will be lucky to return a 2nd rounder. Good kid, but a complete train wreck as a d-man. does not take a hit to make a play, will shy away from any scrum, will never jump in for a teammate. you don't go to war with a player like him in the playoffs.

Puck, if MDZ were the type of player you describe, he'd be lucky to be playing in Czechoslovakia right now ...

 

[dumpstralmannow]

Exactly jams. These people are lost. Teams want this guy for a reason. He also doesn't shy away from hits. That's a bunch of crap made up by tools in our fan base. I've seen him get hammered many times. He got hammered last game to make a play in his own zone.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

Del Zotto really isnt that bad....

He steps up when he needs to physically, he just isnt a fighter.

I gained alot of respect for him when threw a shoulder into Neil's jaw after he cheap-shotted Boyle in the Playoffs.

 

[Disturbed]

Shaky Win but will take it. Team is scoring goals. I know Florida stinks but this was a game we have all seen the Rangers lose in previous years.

Keep it going vs the Devils on Tues

 

[Ranger71]

Kreider's lucky that didn't hurt them. It's great to stand up for a teammate but that was just dumb. Live and learn I guess.

 

[jamsim67]

Florida didn't play like they stink tonight. They never quit ...

That being said, I hate all Florida teams.

 

[panzerporter]

I think Kreider caught Upshall by surprise with his strength, not like CK left his feet or anything, also thought the same thing about the charging call. I'll take a retaliation penalty like that any day when it involves protecting last year's top scorer, too many teams take liberties and the Rangers picked CK up with a solid PK. Could only imagine the level of whining if that had been MDZ being thrown to the ice on Florida's third goal instead of Girardi. Another good win gets Lundy back to .500 and there are now 2 solid scoring lines.

 

[Ranger71]

It's more about the time and situation of the game that made it a dumb penalty. Upshall could've been seriously hurt too. I didn't think Stepan needed to be defended there, he was battling the same way. Kreider needs to use better judgement there.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

Yea that was a pretty dangerous hit. CK is lucky he didn't hurt him, his back hit the half board awkwardly...

Better answer the bell next time they play. Upshall will remember that

 

[theProdigy223]

Love Kreider showing some fire and trying to protect his guys, but he has to be real careful when he has someone along the boards like that. The way the back of his head hit the boards was exactly how Sauer's career ended.

 

[jamsim67]

I don't think he expected to knock him down, think he just caught him at a bad angle. I think he was just trying to send a message that if he did not stop with the foolishness, that he would have to answer to him. Yeah Kreider was lucky, but as a team, they need to do a lot more of that. How many times was Gaborik knocked around, without anybody standing up for him? You protect your scorers.

 

[Disturbed]

I don't think he expected to knock him down, think he caught him at a bad angle. Think he was just trying to let him know that if he did not stop with the foolishness, that he would be answering all of Stepan's call's. Yeah Kreider was lucky, but as a team, they need to do a lot of that. How many times was Gaborik knocked around, without anybody standing up for him? You protect your scorers.

ABSOLUTELY

It wasnt that long ago that punks like Carcillo were fighting Gaborik and this team did nothing. I dont have a problem with Kreider doing what he did. Yeah it gave them a PP in a 1 goal game but the message sent is better long term. Especially from a young player who has size and we need to play with an edge

 

[jamsim67]

ABSOLUTELY

It wasnt that long ago that punks like Carcillo were fighting Gaborik and this team did nothing. I dont have a problem with Kreider doing what he did. Yeah it gave them a PP in a 1 goal game but the message sent is better long term. Especially from a young player who has size and we need to play with an edge

It used to piss me off when people would talk about Gaborik not being able to score. Never mind that he was the teams only true scorer, and would get knocked around for the 3 periods because of it. I don't remember anybody stepping up to watch his back. And the team suffered because of it. That is one issue that should have been addressed in the lockeroom by Tort's. Gaborik was constantly being left out to dry, and somebody, anybody should have had his back.

 

[mrmel29]

It used to piss me off when people would talk about Gaborik not being able to score. Never mind that he was the teams only true scorer, and would get knocked around for the 3 periods because of it. I don't remember anybody stepping up to watch his back. And the team suffered because of it. That is one issue that should have been addressed in the lockeroom by Tort's. Gaborik was constantly being left out to dry, and somebody, anybody should have had his back.

Jam man right on. Anyone torts had a hard on for he looked the other way when they got cheap shotted(gaborik all the time and kreider early last season). Kreider will probably do it differently next time but I had no problem with him taking that penalty in his mind protecting an important teammate thats already been targeted a few times this season with no response. And I'll bet every one on the ice killing that penalty understood the circumstances and were ok with it also.

 

[jamsim67]

I wasn't real happy that he took the penalty, because I don't think his intention was to take a penalty. I think he just wanted to get in Upshall's face, and let him know that Garbage like that will know longer be tolerated at the Garden ...