I don't like being in the echo chamber. The place wouldn't be fun if that was the case. Having said that, you're still a marshmallow, Marauder. - Pete V
I got laughed at for saying Stepan is going to be our #1 center in a few years but he's really making a strong case for himself. Best things for me are, he makes his teammates better when they play with him. And he always seems to be getting the primary assists that directly lead to goals. Might just be my favorite player right now - mrhattrick27
That kid is a budding star. What do you guys think? Steven McDonald award? You can give it Cally every year, this kid does it on both ends of the ice. Maybe if Torts loads up again , he uses Stepan as the center and not Richards! Everything the kid has touched has turned to gold.
Location: "I got mouths to feed", NY Joined: 08.14.2008
Apr 2 @ 8:28 AM ET
I got laughed at for saying Stepan is going to be our #1 center in a few years but he's really making a strong case for himself. Best things for me are, he makes his teammates better when they play with him. And he always seems to be getting the primary assists that directly lead to goals. Might just be my favorite player right now - mrhattrick27
Step just has such a great attitude, impossible not to like the kid. And he is our homegrown #1 Center, how about that?
I wouldn't trade Boyle. Sounds silly to say, I know. But...
Who would replace him:
On defensive faceoffs?
On the PK (who other than Cally blocks as many shots)?
Boyle also leads the team in hits.
Where his scoring in enigmatic (who on the Rangers' isn't), he has become a major force as a defensive forward. With his size, I wish he was a tad more physical, but he seems to be gaining confidence in this part of his game and is making more heavy hits lately.
Unless Sather adds Boyle to the deal with Gaborik to San Jose for Clowe and (the other) Boyle, I'd keep him. - mames11
Step just has such a great attitude, impossible not to like the kid. And he is our homegrown #1 Center, how about that? - B2B76
To me this whole year is screwy. At the beginning of the year if you'd say don't worry. Nash looks great and adjusts fine, Stepan is playing like a #1, hags is a clearly top 6 player, and DZ looks real good. I'd think we'd be in first as most players that had question marks have played really well. It's the "sure things" that cause issues. Richards is Gomez. That's all I see
Step just has such a great attitude, impossible not to like the kid. And he is our homegrown #1 Center, how about that? - B2B76
I was one of the maniacs criticizing Stepan, earlier in the season. He has been their undisputed best player and, it almost goes without saying, their most improved. Glad to see a true blue Ranger turn into a legitimate top line player.
Why is that so? Here are a few of the hundreds of reasons:
1) Kreider's development delayed here.
2) Gaborik playing out of position on LW for the first 30 games until put back on RW.
3) Nash only equal in goals with Stepan as another one posted here who was in shock. (Nash missed 4 games from that Lukic hit; while Stepan has played them all).
4) Nash put on the penalty kill with only 3 minutes left a few games ago with the game result already in hand. (Trade for a top 5 NHL scorer to get injured blocking a shot on the PK.
5) "We stress play away from the puck, and don't teach offense here" system.
If they allowed their goal producers to play for what they are best at doing, we would have at least 8-12 more points at this time.
I posted this stat after the MTL. loss that Jan acknowledged on Easter Sunday:
We have given up 8 empty net goals, &lost 4 O.T./S.O. games. That's why we are short that amount of points by not scoring just 1 goal in each of those 12 losses.
We also have the lowest goals scored average in the NHL (even after this win); but are "about" 4th in the lowest goals against average (2.24 Sunday; & now slightly lower after this win; excluding the 8 empty net goals against us). You also need more offense in your game plan to win. All defense only doesn't put pucks in the net.
Are those enough reasons? I have plenty more, but it would take me until next season to completely list them here; and they don't include Sean Avery's twitter after that loss to MTL. on Saturday. - RangerSaver
Yes we do have an accord. I never said that Torts doesn't deserve part of the blame for whats happened just like I don't think he deserves all of the credit last season.
Should a coah teach special teams of course, he should. Does he deserve part of the blame, yes and for the PK as much as the PPl. So again, I am not absolving Tortorella here. What he means by he doesn't coach offense is that once they get in the zone, he allows their instincts to take over. He has always said he provides them with concepts, getting the puck to certain areas, getting the puck to the net from the points, wall play, etc. I think what people are talking about in here is basically they want the Rangers to play pond hockey which is a very dangerous way to play b/c what will invariably happen is you get countered with odd mans and that is something the Rangers don't want to have happen. I happen to think when you hear the word system people think its about attacking. When in fact its almost always about the way you defend.
I have a soccer background and the concepts are very similar, in soccer you never hear coaches giving specific instructions while in the attcking third. You give players a framework then you let their talents takeover, but when we teach defending, we teach systems and we adjust systems to the way our opponents play. In hockey you hear 1-2-2 or Left Wing lock, or neutral zone trap in the old days, those are systems predicated on defense. I don't recall coaches naming systems after the way they attack. Look at Pitt last season and what a lack of defensive organization did to them, the nlook at what Jersey did to Philly.
In the Rangers case they are getting chances, they are not finishing, to me thats a lack of execution on the players parts. Gabby had a sequence last night in which he skated through two d-men, takes a shot, gets his own rebound and Pavlec still made the save. In baseball terms he is hittng the ball hard but right at people. Keeping with the baseball comparison, when a slugger is in a slump, how much do you think his hitting coach really does? He is a pro, thats my point. I think most coaches in the NHL let their talent play instinctively. When you have two of your 3 most gifted players not executing it looks bad.
I don't know if this satisfies you or not but thats my take. He does deserve some blame, I don't think he should be fired when clearly the team has become more top heavy. - Blueshirts4ever
I very much appreciate hearing your guys point of view. It makes me reconsider my own. I think the bottomline is that this is our team for the rest of the year. Torts isn't going anywhere, and neither are most of these players, so regardless of the fun little academic debates we have on here, we aren't going get to see whether another coach would get better results out of this team. Nobody will be able to prove themselves right, and who really cares anyway? I have no interest in being right. I have no interest and doing the I told you so thing. My only interest is in the Rangers winning.
So, let's go Rangers!
And plus, we have other things to talk about with the trade deadline. - Pete V
Step just has such a great attitude, impossible not to like the kid. And he is our homegrown #1 Center, how about that? - B2B76
Yes no doubt. Hot mom too. Hot sister
I think miller and Kreider should really follow him around, almost like a new puppy does. Like go everywhere with him, to the mall, to cruise the ave, to mcds, etc. You get my drift. He seems more mature then both of them by a country mile. Kreider seems cocky and I like that, but sometimes he may need a kick in the arse
But Stepan certainly does warm the ranger fan soul
I was one of the maniacs criticizing Stepan, earlier in the season. He has been their undisputed best player and, it almost goes without saying, their most improved. Glad to see a true blue Ranger turn into a legitimate top line player. - MidnightMarauder
It's certainly has clicked in for Stepan, here's hoping he takes the next step. No pun intended.
Nash-Steps-Cally...flavor of the week I hope they keep it going! - Blueshirts4ever
Nash and step really seem to be clicking. Not sure if it matters who the other winger is. Because hagelin was great there too recently. Perhaps try gaborik.
No one can admit they were down on Step at the start but he's risen to the next level, this is the level that Dubi could never get too, if Step can add a little muscle he'll be a superstar
No one can admit they were down on Step at the start but he's risen to the next level, this is the level that Dubi could never get too, if Step can add a little muscle he'll be a superstar - cranford93
I have never been down on Derek Stepan, but I always thought he was a very solid second line center. I didn't think he could be this good, plain and simple. His play is going to create some problems for the Rangers this off-season, because he is going to have the ability to get paid. All he needs is one team to throw him a $5 million offer sheet, and the Rangers have a problem.
No one can admit they were down on Step at the start but he's risen to the next level, this is the level that Dubi could never get too, if Step can add a little muscle he'll be a superstar - cranford93
Jk.
