Blog parameters:
Each person covered will be given a rating. Factoring into that rating will of course be his performance but another input is going to be performance versus expectation coming into the season. Much of the background I likely covered in my tear down blogs, so don't expect massive chapter and verse but possibly some quick hitting information if not already covered in those blogs. In addition, to create some parameters, a player will have had to play 20 games to get a grade. Anything less means there isn't a representative sample for which to make a decision, so Brady Skjei and Marek Hrivik, to name two, will not get grades.
Here is where it gets really funky and interactive. I want you the reader to comment on the blog as to the rating. But not just hey I think you are right on or you are crazy but to provide your own rating and rationale for it. So if you agree with what I wrote, great, say that. But if the belief is the rating should be higher or lower, then you have to provide the rationale accordingly. Plus and minus grades are allowed to enable a broader opinion. Before the next blog, we will see if the blog comments consensus rating mirrors mine.
In addition, to shake it up, I will jump around a bit, so not all the players of the same rating are listed in a row, same with positions. So in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, you never know what you're going to get.
As requested, to get the ball rolling on possible line combinations, moving forward, as i give a grade, I will note on which line that player could slide in during 2016-17.
Covered in this blog:
Marc Staal
This is what I wrote on Part II of my Rangers tear down and post-mortem blogs.
Marc Staal, like much of the defense, regressed again this year. That regression started last season and continued in full force this year. Whether it's due to the eye injury he had or knee injury he played through last playoff that set back his offseason training, Staal like a shell of the player that was signed to a six-year extension averaging $5.7 million per. At the time, most of his thought Staal has regained his early form, compensating for the loss of peripheral vision with better use of his stick and body positioning. But as we saw, the speed to recover wasn't there and in tight, possibility due to the loss of vision, he failed to pick up and play the puck, resulting in open shots. For all the talk of buying out or moving Dan Girardi, that spotlight should be turned on Staal, who still has five years left on his deal. I could see Staal moved with a forward asset to clear up cap space.
Overall Grade:
C-.
I debated long and hard about the grade. The C- may be a bit harsh but seeing how poorly Staal played and comparing it to what I gave Girardi, I felt Staal was a slight tick better than G. Not that this is saying he played well, but slightly better than G.
Staal has a no-move clause this coming season and a limited no-trade the final four seasons of the six-year contract he signed. For all the talk of buying him or Girardi out, I think we all kind of knew that was highly unlikely, which was proven to be true. To say this is a critical year for Staal is probably putting it mildly. Further regression will make that contract look way worse than it even does now. Even slight improvement and Staal might be able to be moved - if the Rangers desire that - or be viewed once again as a solid second pairing defensemen.
Staal struggled both in space and tight quarters. In space, Staal used to use his stick to break up passes and block shots. But last year, whether due to injury or regression, he was no longer able to prevent getting beaten wide or recover if that happened, over relying on that long stick to prevent attacks. In tight, possibly due to the eye injury, he fails to find the puck and gets either outworked or just beaten to the puck. Before the injuries, it looked like Staal might finally be developing offensively. Since then, that growth has halted and regression occurred.
The hope or possibly misplaced belief is that Staal will revert close to his prior solid form due to not having to recover from an injury this offseason. He finally gets a chance to train normally and not deal with an ailment of some sort. We will find out very early if that is the case. If true, then the Staal from before the extension should be on display. If not, well you can fill in the rest.
Possible Line Placement:
Staal likely will open the season on the second pairing. Last year, he played alongside Kevin Klein or Dan Boyle. This year, his pair mate may well depend on who skates on the first pairing. If Klein skates with Ryan McDonagh, then you could see Brady Skjei with Staal. If it's G or Skjei with McD, then Klein likely will be with Staal.
Players covered in prior blogs,
My grade,
Consensus Grade
Jesper Fast B/B
Dominic Moore C-/C-
Ryan McDonagh - C+/C+
Derek Stepan C+/B-
Eric Staal D/D
Antti Raanta B+/B+
Kevin Hayes D/D
Viktor Stalberg C+/B-
Chris Kreider C+/C
Mats Zuccarello B+/B+
Kevin Klein C+/C+
Tanner Glass C/D
Rick Nash C-/C
Assistant Coaches C/C
Dan Girardi D+/C or C-
Derick Brassard, B/ B+
To date:
I have now covered 12 F, 4D, 1G, leaving J.T. Miller, Oscar Lindberg, Dan Boyle (not posting a grade for him as somewhat pointless) Dylan McIlrath, Henrik Lundqvist and Alain Vigneault.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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