Listen if you don't think Rick Nash isn't an elite player in this league then you don't know the game of hockey. The guy is so dangerous with the puck and one of the very few players that can beat multiple players with the puck. The guy has silky smooth hands and his shot is right up there with the best. The guy was in hockey hell playing in Columbus and we are going to judge Rick Nash over a shortened season last year. Give me a (frank)ing break. Listen I am not saying he is on the level of Crosby, Toews, Kane, Malkin, Tavares, OV, and even Giroux when it comes to all around game but when it comes to Offensive talent very few are on Rick Nash's level.
- adwolf130

Again, nothing against his goal-scoring prowess, but tell me, why does he routinely NOT put up more than 60 points? Why is he INVISIBLE when he is not scoring? Why is his career high only a mere 79 points? Why isn't he sniping more and creating more for himself than the offensive outputs you see year-in and year-out? I'm not trying to say Nash is not a good player or All-Star, but his numbers and one-way play DO NOT qualify him into elite status? The ONLY thing Rick Nash does well is score goals, that's IT.

Of course he moves and skates well. I never said he didn't. He's arguably the best skating big-man in the league... I'm just saying I personally don't think he is franchise material... I'd rather have a guy on my team who does more and gives more to the team concept than Rick Nash.
- Flyers_V88

i understand. nash isn't like toews where he's gonna hustle his heart out backchecking and play defense like a selke winner, but he is a winger so he gets to cheat a little. nash obviously isn't the best defensive forward in the game, but offensively, he is an elite player. under your logic, malkin isn't an elite player either.

luckily, the rangers have a ton of 2-way forwards like stepan, callahan, hagelin, etc. so nash can cheat a little and do what he does best.

In his overall game? There is LITERALLY no question about it? Are you THAT MUCH of a homer that you can't see it? The ONLY thing Rick Nash does better than Ladd is score goals.... That's it. Ladd is a better two-way player, Ladd is more physical, Ladd blocks more shots, and Ladd even had more points on a much poopter team this past season...


My point is overall game here. Rick Nash is obviously a good player and I'm not saying he isn't. But he is NOT franchise material, and I can't even think of anything that would qualify him as franchise material...
- Flyers_V88

Rick Nash is .98 ppg player in international competitions, Andrew Ladd has yet to register a point in a mens international competition.

Ladd doesnt have the ceiling that Nash has offensively, but Ladd is a better player over 200 ft of ice.

better defensively, better leader, more physical

not to mention Ladd has two cups on two different teams and now is captain on a third different team and is hitting his stride offensively
- FourFeathers773

EXACTLY. Thank you.

In his overall game? There is LITERALLY no question about it? Are you THAT MUCH of a homer that you can't see it? The ONLY thing Rick Nash does better than Ladd is score goals.... That's it. Ladd is a better two-way player, Ladd is more physical, Ladd blocks more shots, and Ladd even had more points on a much poopter team this past season...


My point is overall game here. Rick Nash is obviously a good player and I'm not saying he isn't. But he is NOT franchise material, and I can't even think of anything that would qualify him as franchise material...
- Flyers_V88

Dude you're talking out of your ass. It has nothing to do with being biased or not. If you watch Rick Nash and Andrew Ladd play idc what you say Ladd isn't on Rick Nash's level, not even close. BTW Rick Nash's 2 way game last season was much better then anyone expected. The guy played the PK, blocked shots and was constant on the back check. Don't give me Andrew Ladd had more points last season bullshyt. Any true hockey fan knows that Rick Nash is an elite forward in this league.

Wait, how is it beneficial to be the only star on your team?
- TheMessiah94

This thread is quickly approaching danger territory.

Again, nothing against his goal-scoring prowess, but tell me, why does he routinely NOT put up more than 60 points? Why is he INVISIBLE when he is not scoring? Why is his career high only a mere 79 points? Why isn't he sniping more and creating more for himself than the offensive outputs you see year-in and year-out? I'm not trying to say Nash is not a good player or All-Star, but his numbers and one-way play DO NOT qualify him into elite status? The ONLY thing Rick Nash does well is score goals, that's IT.
- Flyers_V88

nash is not invisible when he is not scoring, that is where you are wrong. and the reason his point totals aren't higher is because for the majority of his career, whenever he would find his teammate with a new pass, it was RJ umberger or a 19 year old derrick brassard and not a guy like hossa or malkin or eberle who can finish off a pass.

Ladd doesnt have the ceiling that Nash has offensively, but Ladd is a better player over 200 ft of ice.

better defensively, better leader, more physical

not to mention Ladd has two cups on two different teams and now is captain on a third different team and is hitting his stride offensively
- FourFeathers773

Andrew Ladd had combined 11 points in 36 games of those two cup runs. Not like he won the conn symthe. Plus if were talking about international competitons than Ladd still need to register a point.

Dude you're talking out of your ass. It has nothing to do with being biased or not. If you watch Rick Nash and Andrew Ladd play idc what you say Ladd isn't on Rick Nash's level, not even close. BTW Rick Nash's 2 way game last season was much better then anyone expected. The guy played the PK, blocked shots and was constant on the back check. Don't give me Andrew Ladd had more points last season bullshyt. Any true hockey fan knows that Rick Nash is an elite forward in this league.
- adwolf130

The numbers say otherwise.

EXACTLY. Thank you.
- Flyers_V88

ladd is a great player but he is a tier or 2 below rick nash in terms of talent.

everybody would love a guy like ladd on their team (we kinda have one in callahan, maybe better) but you need to remember that a hockey team ices 19 players a game. it's not necessary to have 12 forwards that are all andrew ladds. its good to have a mix of a rick nash, a ryan callahan, a derek stepan, etc.

The numbers say otherwise.
- Flyers_V88

nope Ladd is .58 player, Nash is .82. Ladd has ZERO points in in mens caandain international competitions. Nash, is .98 player. So tell more about numbers.

The numbers say otherwise.
- Flyers_V88

Dude what are you saying?

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=62622

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=55239

i'd love to see andrew ladd do this

‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 12m
Following up on multiple NY media reports, confirming Derek Stepan is "close" to 2 yr deal with Rangers. Hearing < $3.25M AAV but > $3M.

People do not get sarcasm. Rangerdanger you may want to post an update how your blog is an hyperbole
- mighty13duck

I don't quite think it's ALL completely inaccurate. I wouldn't say they finish 30th but they're starting the season off missing 3 players to injury and Stepan with an abbreviated training camp(assuming he signs). They could be struggling for a playoff spot come April. Detroit in the conference. Philly will be better than last year, Isles will improve. And don't count out the Devils. Best goalie duo in the league. It's gonna be tight for probably the bottom 2 spots.

i'd love to see andrew ladd do this

- rangerdanger94

That was simply amazing. Some of the best hands for a big man. I don't get why we are comparing Andrew Ladd to Nash? I honestly have seen Ladd play so many times this past season for Winnipeg and you can't even draw parallels IMO.

i'd love to see andrew ladd do this

- rangerdanger94

That's not very impressive

i understand. nash isn't like toews where he's gonna hustle his heart out backchecking and play defense like a selke winner, but he is a winger so he gets to cheat a little. nash obviously isn't the best defensive forward in the game, but offensively, he is an elite player. under your logic, malkin isn't an elite player either.

luckily, the rangers have a ton of 2-way forwards like stepan, callahan, hagelin, etc. so nash can cheat a little and do what he does best.
- rangerdanger94

Right now, you have NONE of those players.

I don't quite think it's ALL completely inaccurate. I wouldn't say they finish 30th but they're starting the season off missing 3 players to injury and Stepan with an abbreviated training camp(assuming he signs). They could be struggling for a playoff spot come April. Detroit in the conference. Philly will be better than last year, Isles will improve. And don't count out the Devils. Best goalie duo in the league. It's gonna be tight for probably the bottom 2 spots.
- jmo16

I agree with some points because he compiled points from other fan bases to make his post. Its sarcasm because he doesn't agree with it. People are attacking the blogger when he thinks complete otherwise of what he said.

That was simply amazing. Some of the best hands for a big man. I don't get why we are comparing Andrew Ladd to Nash? I honestly have seen Ladd play so many times this past season for Winnipeg and you can't even draw parallels IMO.
- adwolf130

yea i mean is andrew ladd better defensively than rick nash? yes, he is. but is he a better player or more talented? hell no. rick nash is on par with guys like patty kane, malkin, tavares, etc. and ladd is 1 or 2 tiers below.

by the logic shown from the flyers fan, he believes that a guy like brandon dubinsky is a better franchise player than rick nash.

Right now, you have NONE of those players.
- jmo16

haha that's true. hopefully we'll have stepan and cally is a little ahead of schedule so he might only miss 2-3 games.

Taylor Hall, James Neal, Dany Heatly (pre-last season), and I'd even argue Andrew Ladd is a better overall player to have...
- Flyers_V88

Taylor Hall...now? Listen, Hall could very well be a premiere scorer in this league and for a long time but to date he has shown nothing to suggest he is better than Nash...nothing.

Right now, you have NONE of those players.
- jmo16

‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun 1m
Told the Stepan deal is done with Rangers...

Now we have at least one. Good night. Talk when Nabby's save percentage isn't .897

Pierre Lebrun on twitter..."Told the Stepan deal is done with Rangers..."

yea i mean is andrew ladd better defensively than rick nash? yes, he is. but is he a better player or more talented? hell no. rick nash is on par with guys like patty kane, malkin, tavares, etc. and ladd is 1 or 2 tiers below.

by the logic shown from the flyers fan, he believes that a guy like brandon dubinsky is a better franchise player than rick nash.
- rangerdanger94

no hes not. Hank is