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:
Oscar Lindberg
This is what I wrote on Part Iv of my Rangers tear down and post-mortem blogs.
Lindberg was the surprise offensive star the first month of the season, helping to carry the attack. He returned back to normal, finishing the year with 13 goals. Lindberg ended up a healthy scratch down the stretch when Staal was brought on board but did see some time during the playoffs. Lindberg has one year left at 650k and then will be a RFA. To me, I still think he can be fine on the third line, either with Hayes or even if Hayes is moved. If not, he could move back to center and fill Dominic Moore's role with a bit more offense thrown in. Hopefully he gets the chance and implements whatever he learned this year to remain active.
Overall Grade:
B-.
Lindberg, who won the Lars-Erik Sjoberg award as New York's top rookie in training camp, scored the Rangers first goal of the season and was the flavor of the month to start the year. His responsibility and playing time ebbed and flowed throughout the year. But he became the designated press box visitor once the Rangers acquired Eric Staal at the trade deadline. Staal was moved to third line wing from center, relegating Lindberg to serving as a healthy scratch. As Carp noted, Lindberg was scratched for 11 of the last 13 games, playing two relatively meaningless games the final week of the season, then was scratched for the first three playoff games before replacing his scratched former linemate, Kevin Hayes
Carp posted some excellent stats on Lindberg. "He came into the league with a rep as a solid two-way forward, one who could defend, one who would certainly finish a check (a sturdy 6-1, 196 pounds, he finished with 132 hits, sixth among the Rangers, despite being scratched so often late in the season). And while you know what I think about plus/minus ratings, he was plus in 59 of his 68 games and sixth on the team in even-strength goals (12). He won 48.4 percent of his faceoffs, even though he spent most of his time on the wing."
Lindberg will miss at least the first month and possibly more following successful simultaneous bilateral hip labral repair surgery on May 6. The operation is to sideline him six months, but it's unclear if he will be ready t go when the six months end or if that's when he can resume activity. If the latter, expect him to be out to December.
Possible Line Placement:
B
As noted above, Lindberg would seem to be a perfect third or fourth line player. Lindberg can play center, his original position, or wing, where he saw time last year. With Kevin Hayes and Pavel Buchnevich likely two-thirds of the third line, Lindberg, when he returns, or Michael Grabner may get the first shot at third line right wing. Jesper Fast wouldn't be a bad fit there, though, he is likely to land on the fourth line with Josh Jooris and either Nathan Gerbe, Nicklas Jensen or Marek Hrivik. If Jimmy Vesey does sign with New York, he will play on the second - moving J.T. Miller to the third - or third line himself. When Lindberg comes back, if Grabner has settled in well, he might stay on the third line, moving Lindberg to center or play wing on the fourth line.
For comparison purposes, here is Lindberg vs. Viktor Stalberg last year:
Players covered in prior blogs,
My grade,
Consensus Grade
Marc Staal C-/C-
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, Dan Boyle (not posting a grade for him as somewhat pointless) Dylan McIlrath, Henrik Lundqvist and Alain Vigneault.
Vesey Watch:
As we wait for Vesey to officially become a free agent, the latest bit of information came out yesterday.
While it's very possible this is 100% accurate, as we have seen before, the situation seems to change daily, Chicago has been rumored for a while, as I
wrote earlier in the week while New Jersey has also been prominently mentioned before. Adding Vesey to Chicago might make Marian Hossa expendable. New Jersey added Taylor Hall and should have Pavel Zacha in their top-nine as well, as bringing on board Vesey would further uplift what was a struggling offense.
Settle in, should be an interesting few days.#veseywatch
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