Stempniak is not a 4th liner IMO. He'd be better as a 3rd liner with occasional stints on the top 2 lines if an injury occurs.

the Hockey News put together a fictional Vegas expansion team where we'd lose Kevin Klein:

http://www.thehockeynews....s-vegas-roster-look-like/
- jimbro83

I know its fictional, but man would I hate to lose Klein. Not the flashiest guy, but wow did our defense balance out and start playing really well after that trade was made.

I was wondering about that too. If he plays more games and plays really well I wonder if he could be used too get another piece for this team in a trade. Don't know if we have any other goalie prospects coming up in the system though.
- mdw7413

well the team just used a 2nd round pick on Halverson, so he better develop into a good prospect and not be the next Antoine Lafleur

well the team just used a 2nd round pick on Halverson, so he better develop into a good prospect and not be the next Antoine Lafleur
- jimbro83

I like the potential of both goalies the Rangers picked in this year's draft.

I know its fictional, but man would I hate to lose Klein. Not the flashiest guy, but wow did our defense balance out and start playing really well after that trade was made.
- mdw7413

It's all an assumption but the Rangers defense should be fine; especially if Skjei and Allen keep trending upward.

well the team just used a 2nd round pick on Halverson, so he better develop into a good prospect and not be the next Antoine Lafleur
- jimbro83

He never got out of the Q right? I think they just loved his size. Waste of a 2nd rounder.

Stempniak is not a 4th liner IMO. He'd be better as a 3rd liner with occasional stints on the top 2 lines if an injury occurs.
- Barnaby36

He's on the 4th line thanks to our depth

Stempniak is not a 4th liner IMO. He'd be better as a 3rd liner with occasional stints on the top 2 lines if an injury occurs.
- Barnaby36

If Hayes and Miller make the team, out of camp, Stempniak has nowhere to go except the fourth line.

It's all an assumption but the Rangers defense should be fine; especially if Skjei and Allen keep trending upward.
- MidnightMarauder

Yeah, I have a feeling Allen might be with the club this year at some point. And Pete got me all excited about Skjei. Defense is probably the one area where we should be stable for the next couple years. Its the forward prospects I'm more worried about. Seems a lot of them are great scoring "prospects" and don't make the transition to the NHL so easily. Other than Stepan, Hags and Kreider we haven't seen too many great prospects turn into good NHLers.

He's on the 4th line thanks to our depth
- rangerdanger94

I meant his skillset is not of a 4th liner. He's perfect for a 3rd line spot.

The Penguins is a better team than the Rags right now.

I meant his skillset is not of a 4th liner. He's perfect for a 3rd line spot.

The Penguins is a better team than the Rags right now.
- Barnaby36

Says the Penguin fan.

Yeah, I have a feeling Allen might be with the club this year at some point. And Pete got me all excited about Skjei. Defense is probably the one area where we should be stable for the next couple years. Its the forward prospects I'm more worried about. Seems a lot of them are great scoring "prospects" and don't make the transition to the NHL so easily. Other than Stepan, Hags and Kreider we haven't seen too many great prospects turn into good NHLers.
- mdw7413

Callahan turned out to be a good pro and so did Dubinsky but I get your point. The Rangers have some promising forwards, in the system, that look like they are at least another season or two away from being impact players.

Skjei is going to be a good one. With McDonagh here Skjei will transition to the pro game a lot easier. There won't be a need to a top pairing left side defender so the kid will be able to adjust and groom the right way, without being rushed.

I meant his skillset is not of a 4th liner. He's perfect for a 3rd line spot.

The Penguins is a better team than the Rags right now.
- Barnaby36

You have the best 2 forwards with Crosby and Malkin but the rangers have better offensive depth, defense, and goaltending. Probably better coaching too.

anyone else (frank) w/ the new NHL demo yesterday?

I meant his skillset is not of a 4th liner. He's perfect for a 3rd line spot.

The Penguins is a better team than the Rags right now.
- Barnaby36

You left St. Louis out of your lineups...

You left St. Louis out of your lineups...
- cuethenoise

MSL is st louis?

was this sarcasm?

Callahan turned out to be a good pro and so did Dubinsky but I get your point. The Rangers have some promising forwards, in the system, that look like they are at least another season or two away from being impact players.

Skjei is going to be a good one. With McDonagh here Skjei will transition to the pro game a lot easier. There won't be a need to a top pairing left side defender so the kid will be able to adjust and groom the right way, without being rushed.
- MidnightMarauder

Very true about Callahan & Dubi. We have done really well with role players, I should have been more clear when I meant a forward prospect who turns into a legitimate top scorer. I think Kreider if he puts all his tools together and possibly get him off the Nash line so he doesn't defer to Nash could be that player. Also think Hags is going to have a great year this year.

You have the best 2 forwards with Crosby and Malkin but the rangers have better offensive depth, defense, and goaltending. Probably better coaching too.
- rangerdanger94

We'll see

He never got out of the Q right? I think they just loved his size. Waste of a 2nd rounder.
- mdw7413

Reminiscent of Lee Falardeau

Reminiscent of Lee Falardeau
- HankdaTank

Had to google that person, had no idea who it was. Don't remember that draft pick at all.

Very true about Callahan & Dubi. We have done really well with role players, I should have been more clear when I meant a forward prospect who turns into a legitimate top scorer. I think Kreider if he puts all his tools together and possibly get him off the Nash line so he doesn't defer to Nash could be that player. Also think Hags is going to have a great year this year.
- mdw7413

Kreider is definitely the one as far as potential top line drafted forwards.

Cherepanov looked like a can't miss top line winger too, an absolute shame. Overall the Rangers don't draft top end skilled forwards too well but Duclair and Buchnevich could be potential draft steals.

Reminiscent of Lee Falardeau
- HankdaTank

21 picks later the Hawks took Duncan Keith

21 picks later the Hawks took Duncan Keith


- jimbro83

2003 is the draft that haunts my dreams.

We all know the first round debacle but how about that second round? One pick before Ivan Baranka was chosen by the Rangers, Predators select Shea Weber. If the Rangers would have kept their other second round pick they could have chosen Weber or some other guy named Patrice Bergeron.

Just an absolutely disgraceful job by Sather and his staff.

Kreider is definitely the one as far as potential top line drafted forwards.

Cherepanov looked like a can't miss top line winger too, an absolute shame. Overall the Rangers don't draft top end skilled forwards too well but Duclair and Buchnevich could be potential draft steals.
- MidnightMarauder

Yeah Duclair has insane skill, just don't know if he will physically be able to handle the NHL. From what I have gathered from people who have watched him in the Q, he seems a little soft. But that can be worked on and changed very easily. As far as Buchnevich I honestly know nothing about him.