Lafontaine is a difference than a Duclair ,hes got talent but he aint no prodigy and with a vet team like ours ...i dont like the message to team ... vets treat pre season alot diff than a rook .... this is not on a level play field ,i applaud & want to see him but not at the expense of a preparing pro who knows what is the deal
we can us e the 9-10 games any time not just at the start of season...
- Dundee13

What message? Best players play? I am not getting your logic in why you think it's a bad thing for a kid to make the team because he is earning it.

Lines are getting switched up, because Stepan is hurt, Pouliot, Boyle and Dorsett/Carcillo are gone.

Isnt that the point of a blog, to discuss who would fit best in the holes that were created by players not here anymore?

And as for your point about letting the vets play, they werent here last year, so how can you make the assumption they will gel better than any of our rookies?

And if you only want veterans playing, whats the point of a farm team and drafting, if your point is they never played a pro game, and shouldn't be given a chance.
- mdw7413

it has more to do with where this team is a @ with the players we got to replace
the ones who moved ... top teams use 1 maybe 2 after a top year...1 ofense 1 defense ..JT is our rook ,he's proven ,challenged ,ready to attack
Duclair will get hurt at best ,JR to Pro ..only the phenoms try it or teams exploiting talent for tkt sales MSG aint hurtin in sale s so why do it ???

I think any good organization needs to create a competetive environment, and that necessarily means allowing young players to compete for roster spots. You may at the end of the day be right, that the Rangers are better off going with the vets, and guys like Duclair and Haggarty need more seasoning. But, I also think that you can't make the arbitrary decision to cut them based solely on the fact that they haven't proved it at the NHL level. If that's the case, why even invite them to camp. If a young player shines in pre-season, and significantly outplays a veteran, they deserve the chance to make the team, and that decision should be based exclusively (for a contending team like the Rangers) on which player gives you the better chance to win.

Now, I realize who gives you the better chance to win is a debateable point, but if a guy is lighting it up in camp, he shouldn't be cut solely because he hasn't proven it yet in a NHL game.

By the way, welcome.
- Pete V

dosnt cost much to be nice & polite ..thanks for the hello ..back atcha

it has more to do with where this team is a @ with the players we got to replace
the ones who moved ... top teams use 1 maybe 2 after a top year...1 ofense 1 defense ..JT is our rook ,he's proven ,challenged ,ready to attack
Duclair will get hurt at best ,JR to Pro ..only the phenoms try it or teams exploiting talent for tkt sales MSG aint hurtin in sale s so why do it ???
- Dundee13

so you don't think it would be a huge benefit for Anthony Duclair to be around a french canadian hockey icon like Martin St. Louis for a full year?

it has more to do with where this team is a @ with the players we got to replace
the ones who moved ... top teams use 1 maybe 2 after a top year...1 ofense 1 defense ..JT is our rook ,he's proven ,challenged ,ready to attack
Duclair will get hurt at best ,JR to Pro ..only the phenoms try it or teams exploiting talent for tkt sales MSG aint hurtin in sale s so why do it ???
- Dundee13

Are you not watching any of the preseason games and just trolling right now?

Serious question.

it has more to do with where this team is a @ with the players we got to replace
the ones who moved ... top teams use 1 maybe 2 after a top year...1 ofense 1 defense ..JT is our rook ,he's proven ,challenged ,ready to attack
Duclair will get hurt at best ,JR to Pro ..only the phenoms try it or teams exploiting talent for tkt sales MSG aint hurtin in sale s so why do it ???
- Dundee13

So far through training camp and preseason he looks like one of the top 20 players in the organization

Lafontaine is a difference than a Duclair ,hes got talent but he aint no prodigy and with a vet team like ours ...i dont like the message to team ... vets treat pre season alot diff than a rook .... this is not on a level play field ,i applaud & want to see him but not at the expense of a preparing pro who knows what is the deal
we can us e the 9-10 games any time not just at the start of season...
- Dundee13

The thing is that we CAN'T use the 9-10 games with Duclair at any time. Because Duclair is under the age of 20, he cannot play in the AHL. If we cut him, he cannot come back at all until NEXT training camp.

so you don't think it would be a huge benefit for Anthony Duclair to be around a french canadian hockey icon like Martin St. Louis for a full year?
- jimbro83

There is literally no downside to Duclair starting the season here.

He looks overwhelmed, back to junior, but if not they have a dynamic offensive player learning from some really good veterans all season long.

The thing is that we CAN'T use the 9-10 games with Duclair at any time. Because Duclair is under the age of 20, he cannot play in the AHL. If we cut him, he cannot come back at all until NEXT training camp.
- rangerdanger94

I didn't even read his whole post, I missed that one

so you don't think it would be a huge benefit for Anthony Duclair to be around a french canadian hockey icon like Martin St. Louis for a full year?
- jimbro83

theres inspiration & prespiration , he need s both games & counsel
not gonna the time & game

theres inspiration & prespiration , he need s both games & counsel
not gonna the time & game
- Dundee13

dude, I can't even understand what you are talking about

theres inspiration & prespiration , he need s both games & counsel
not gonna the time & game
- Dundee13

If he makes the team he is playing. He is not going to be the healthy scratch and sit in the press box.

So far through training camp and preseason he looks like one of the top 20 players in the organization
- TPC

Without question, he looks like a top 6 forward RIGHT NOW. Is he going to experience growing pains? Of course, but like Jimmy & others have said, what benefit at this point is it for a kid with this skill to play against 18/19 yr old again in Junior? Let the kid play for the RAN-GUHS!

it has more to do with where this team is a @ with the players we got to replace
the ones who moved ... top teams use 1 maybe 2 after a top year...1 ofense 1 defense ..JT is our rook ,he's proven ,challenged ,ready to attack
Duclair will get hurt at best ,JR to Pro ..only the phenoms try it or teams exploiting talent for tkt sales MSG aint hurtin in sale s so why do it ???
- Dundee13

Ok, while I respect your opinion, I totally disagree. There is no downside to having Duclair start here, because he has been one of the best players in camp, and can be sent down if he struggles. So what is the problem with this scenario?

Your scenario is you're not even going to give the kid a chance. You might be right and he stinks, but why not give him a few games to see where he matches up against pro's? There really is no downside.

Does Malone make this team?

dude, I can't even understand what you are talking about
- jimbro83

I think Jocko Dundee's been drinking too many martini's down at the Club 25...

I think Jocko Dundee's been drinking too many martini's down at the Club 25...

- B2B76

Without question, he looks like a top 6 forward RIGHT NOW. Is he going to experience growing pains? Of course, but like Jimmy & others have said, what benefit at this point is it for a kid with this skill to play against 18/19 yr old again in Junior? Let the kid play for the RAN-GUHS!
- B2B76

Does Malone make this team?
- Doogs

I really don't know, his looked good early and his injury derailed him at a time when young players were playing great

Does Malone make this team?
- Doogs

I don't think so, he had a shot but him getting injured & missing preseason games really is hurting him...along with the kids playing so well .

- jimbro83

I was trying to get the image of him "with his dork in his hand", couldn't find it.

I really don't know, his looked good early and his injury derailed him at a time when young players were playing great
- jimbro83

What you said

On a another note, I think another upside of the Rangers having so many young players playing well in camp is that it greatly increases the potential of some sort of trade later in the year that could help the Rangers compete for the Stanley Cup. You need assets to make those type of deals, and I think the Rangers' asset based looks alot better now than it was perceived to be a year ago -- i.e., I think our farm ranking of virtually last in the league might need to be revisited.

does that mean no comprende senor
- Dundee13

That's correct. I hate grammar police, and hate being one, but take a second to read what you write before you hit send and see whether the sentence makes any sense. Take a page out of Herm Edwards's book. I would like to take your opinions seriously because I love talking hockey, but can't, sorry.

Sure Duclair could use some seasoning, but he only has two places to go, the Rangers or the Q. Hartford is not an option. I would prefer to see him get a chance than watch average older players try to keep up with Hags and Miller. If he is bad, which I highly doubt, send him down.

Here's my take on the JT Miller situation:

Kid goes all out this off season to come to camp in great shape and has his A-Game on the ice. He has a great opening camp and gets his praises.

Then comes the Stepan injury. Miller steps it up and shows he can take things head-on for a game. Media and fans then pencil the kid in as the #2 center and JT's immaturity kicks back in (as it did last season) and he slacks off thinking he has the job in hand.

Little does he know there is a difference in penciled in, inked in, and written in stone when it comes to earning roster spots.

Sadly, in my opinion and views all these years of watching hockey (or any sport, for that matter), is that most players mature best not when playing in the minors or bigs, but it often comes after they are traded for the first time.

Just throwing that out there...because you get what I mean here and what I think will happen soon...