Anyone, Flyers/Isles/Devils fans included, who doesn't think Lundqvist is a top-3 goalie is blinded by hate. To me, it's between him and Quick for #1, Rinne's a distant 3rd, and then there's the rest...

...and then there's Bryzgalov.
- jmatchett383

I didn't think Bryz was worth that contract he got but also didn't think in a million years that situation would turn into what it did in Philly. I don't even think he had a training camp invite from anyone this year(could be wrong), crazy.

What makes you so sure Stepan will become a sure thing ppg player year after year? JT has proved he can and will continue to be better every year. Step not so much. JT has elite hands that very few have or will ever have. He also has this crazy win at all cost and be the best in the world attitude that cant be taught.
- mighty13duck

Step not so much how? Both players have virtually the same growth rate in stats. Tavares is 1 year farther in his career than Stepan. Besides your eyes saying wow look at JT go! What other factors actually tell you Tavares is growing more than Stepan?

What makes you so sure Stepan will become a sure thing ppg player year after year? JT has proved he can and will continue to be better every year. Step not so much. JT has elite hands that very few have or will ever have. He also has this crazy win at all cost and be the best in the world attitude that cant be taught.
- mighty13duck

i'm a little skeptical that stepan will repeat his stellar performance last year, which is why i was in full support of the bridge deal. but stepan has showed he can be at least a 60 point player for the duration of his career and there is a chance that he can repeat his performance if not improve it since that's the trend he's shown his career so far.

Actually, his career path if following Toews' very closely. Almost identically, if not better.
- jmatchett383

agreed they are so much alike its scary. Whats scarier is JT has more offensive upside

Step not so much how? Both players have virtually the same growth rate in stats. Tavares is 1 year farther in his career than Stepan. Besides your eyes saying wow look at JT go! What other factors actually tell you Tavares is growing more than Stepan?
- xcheckmajor

tavares's linemates were matt moulson and brad boyes

I believe the knock on that scrub Giroux is "let's see him do it again."
- jmatchett383

What? I said Rask. Never said anything about Giroux.

Step not so much how? Both players have virtually the same growth rate in stats. Tavares is 1 year farther in his career than Stepan. Besides your eyes saying wow look at JT go! What other factors actually tell you Tavares is growing more than Stepan?
- xcheckmajor

please just stop you acting like a complete homer. More so than Maloney

tavares's linemates were matt moulson and brad boyes
- rangerdanger94

Moulson can put the puck in the net but that's about it. Boyes was possibly the worst linemate JT had yet.

Step not so much how? Both players have virtually the same growth rate in stats. Tavares is 1 year farther in his career than Stepan. Besides your eyes saying wow look at JT go! What other factors actually tell you Tavares is growing more than Stepan?
- xcheckmajor

It's that crazy crazy win at all cost and be the best in the world attitude that resulted in the Isles beating the Pens a whole two times in the first round!

It's that crazy crazy win at all cost and be the best in the world attitude that resulted in the Isles beating the Pens a whole two times in the first round!
- Giotact

what happened to your other account?

What? I said Rask. Never said anything about Giroux.
- blacksheep1

That's my point. Everyone gripe with Giroux was "let's see him do it again"...even though he kinda had. But I digress. My point with Rask was that I wanna see him do it again before I put him in the top 3.

Taking goal scoring away, I'll take Tavares' leadership skills. But that's just me.
- jmatchett383

I don't agree That's just me. JT is an elite talent no doubt. Leadership wise IMO is a wash.

It has more to do with goaltending and the defense, not JT's play. He can't single handedly keep other teams from scoring or cover 3 players simultaneously. He's not that good.

Most Ranger players have better +/- than Isles players b/c Hank's lower GAA.
JT was also always on the ice when Isles down one- goal with the goalie pulled.
- jmo16

I understand Tavares number, but during the regular season, Nabby was a pretty good goalie. Stepan finished 5th in the league in +/- last year. Does some of that relate to the goaltender, of course, but nobody else on the Rangers was even close to that number. Some of that number also relates to the fact that Stepan is an excellent defensive player to go along with his numbers.

Here is what I am trying to say. JT deserved all the accolades he got last year. He was a Hart Finalist, and Stepans' numbers weren't materially different. I am just making the case that Stepan, amongst fans and not necessarily NHL intellegencia is a vastly underrated player.

That's it. No more. No less.

what happened to your other account?
- mighty13duck

Holy crap I didn't even know I still had this one. Signed on by acident.

I don't agree That's just me. JT is an elite talent no doubt. Leadership wise IMO is a wash.
- DONMURDOCH14

Fair enough. I just see Tavares as a future Toews. To me, you can't even begin to measure him (Toews) in stats.

What makes you so sure Stepan will become a sure thing ppg player year after year? JT has proved he can and will continue to be better every year. Step not so much. JT has elite hands that very few have or will ever have. He also has this crazy win at all cost and be the best in the world attitude that cant be taught.
- mighty13duck

You can't accuse people of acting like a total homer, if you act like one yourself. That statement is just stupid, and unsupported.

Holy crap I didn't even know I still had this one. Signed on by acident.
- Giotact

You really are an idiot!

I understand Tavares number, but during the regular season, Nabby was a pretty good goalie. Stepan finished 5th in the league in +/- last year. Does some of that relate to the goaltender, of course, but nobody else on the Rangers was even close to that number. Some of that number also relates to the fact that Stepan is an excellent defensive player to go along with his numbers.

Here is what I am trying to say. JT deserved all the accolades he got last year. He was a Hart Finalist, and Stepans' numbers weren't materially different. I am just making the case that Stepan, amongst fans and not necessarily NHL intellegencia is a vastly underrated player.

That's it. No more. No less.
- Pete V

I can't say he is/isn't underrated because I don't see him mentioned much...which could be because he's underrated.

To me, it's a big season for him, to see if he is going to continue to grow (which he should), stagnates, or regresses. Will be interesting to see.

please just stop you acting like a complete homer. More so than Maloney
- mighty13duck

No actually, I'm acting like someone who is clearly using fact and numbers as his main train of thought. Homer would be all of the people labeling Tavares as if he is a 120pt. player like Crosby or a 60 goal scorer like Stamkos all based on the fact he has great skill sets that might possibly have him do that one day.

Actually, his career path if following Toews' very closely. Almost identically, if not better.
- jmatchett383

Tavares isnt close to the all around game Toews has

Tavares has worked very had to be where he is at, and their playing styles are similar

But toews has been a champion on every level he has ever played at and every aspect of his game is top tier

Tavares is getting there, but he is 23 and hasnt gotten anywhere, Toews had his first cup at 22

You can't accuse people of acting like a total homer, if you act like one yourself. That statement is just stupid, and unsupported.
- Pete V

You beat me to it ,Pete.....

Tavares isnt close to the all around game Toews has

Tavares has worked very had to be where he is at, and their playing styles are similar

But toews has been a champion on every level he has ever played at and every aspect of his game is top tier

Tavares is getting there, but he is 23 and hasnt gotten anywhere, Toews had his first cup at 22
- FourFeathers773

How old was Stevie Y when he got his first cup? Not taking anything away from "captain serious" but do you see that team around him? Not too shabby.

Tavares isnt close to the all around game Toews has

Tavares has worked very had to be where he is at, and their playing styles are similar

But toews has been a champion on every level he has ever played at and every aspect of his game is top tier

Tavares is getting there, but he is 23 and hasnt gotten anywhere, Toews had his first cup at 22
- FourFeathers773

Toews also came onto a much, MUCH better team.
Tavares just had that same kinda feel when I watch him or see him interviews. Really mature, very classy for his age. Great talent, and 2-way ability (I don't get why people think Tavares is bad defensively). Like I said, he's not there yet, but I think he will be.

I understand Tavares number, but during the regular season, Nabby was a pretty good goalie. Stepan finished 5th in the league in +/- last year. Does some of that relate to the goaltender, of course, but nobody else on the Rangers was even close to that number. Some of that number also relates to the fact that Stepan is an excellent defensive player to go along with his numbers.

Here is what I am trying to say. JT deserved all the accolades he got last year. He was a Hart Finalist, and Stepans' numbers weren't materially different. I am just making the case that Stepan, amongst fans and not necessarily NHL intellegencia is a vastly underrated player.

That's it. No more. No less.
- Pete V

I think he's definitely underrated as well. If you look at the statistics, at this stage of Step's career he compares favorably to Duchene and Giroux when they got their "bridge" contracts. Now am I saying he is as explosive as those guys, certainly not but I think people look at Stepan and think 2nd rd pick, 2nd line guy but in the future I think he'll be a great player consistently each and every year and be the 1st line guy for the Rangers for a long time.

I think he's definitely underrated as well. If you look at the statistics, at this stage of Step's career he compares favorably to Duchene and Giroux when they got their "bridge" contracts. Now am I saying he is as explosive as those guys, certainly not but I think people look at Stepan and think 2nd rd pick, 2nd line guy but in the future I think he'll be a great player consistently each and every year and be the 1st line guy for the Rangers for a long time.
- pcjr307

He definitely could be. He's a very good player. The only thing I will say in defense of Giroux is that, when he got his bridge contract, he was playing on the 3rd line with Aaron Asham and a rookie JvR. I know Stepan isn't getting first line minutes either, but I DO think he's better than Duchesne.