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...
- mames11

Is this because he had one bad turnover in the Flyers game that led to a goal? I say give the kid a chance before we ship him off

MSL spent time at center in today's practice.

Mats Zuccarello, Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider, Dan Boyle and Ryan McDonagh

Rick Nash, Anthony Duclair, Marty St. Louis, Lee Stempniak and Dan Girardi



Here were the 2 of the powerplay units from practice today. Interesting

Is this because he had one bad turnover in the Flyers game that led to a goal? I say give the kid a chance before we ship him off
- TPC

Totally agree. Let him play. The kid was a ppg player when he was in Hartford and had a really good camp. I am pretty sure I have seen Stepan/Nash/Krieder/MSL/Girardi/Hagelin/Moore all make bad passes (to name a few) like that before, it happens.

Mats Zuccarello, Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider, Dan Boyle and Ryan McDonagh

Rick Nash, Anthony Duclair, Marty St. Louis, Lee Stempniak and Dan Girardi



Here were the 2 of the powerplay units from practice today. Interesting
- TPC

Stempniak on the point? Didn't know he has played the PP point in his career.

Mats Zuccarello, Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider, Dan Boyle and Ryan McDonagh

Rick Nash, Anthony Duclair, Marty St. Louis, Lee Stempniak and Dan Girardi



Here were the 2 of the powerplay units from practice today. Interesting
- TPC

Giving the Duke a shot, why not, kid can score.

Don't love Girardi on PP.... rather have Moore out there.

Is this because he had one bad turnover in the Flyers game that led to a goal? I say give the kid a chance before we ship him off
- TPC

I agree. I am just throwing it out there from what is being said these days about him.

Giving the Duke a shot, why not, kid can score.

Don't love Girardi on PP.... rather have Moore out there.
- tbreinold

As long as Richards is not on the point to concede breakaways.

To be fair, G has a hard shot and can sneak the puck through traffic.

MSL spent time at center in today's practice.
- rangerdanger94

Great team player. Really looking forward to seeing Marty for a full year as a Ranger. I think he still has a lot left in the tank & has good years beyond this one.

Stempniak on the point? Didn't know he has played the PP point in his career.
- Pete V

Was thinking the same thing. Rather have Staal on the point or J Moore

Was thinking the same thing. Rather have Staal on the point or J Moore
- mdw7413

two defensemen on the pp?

I'd like to see mueller with a chance at the point... seems to have good vision and moves the puck well.

two defensemen on the pp?

I'd like to see mueller with a chance at the point... seems to have good vision and moves the puck well.
- envyonthecoast

Yeah, call me crazy, I like the old days of not using 4 forwards. haha

two defensemen on the pp?

I'd like to see mueller with a chance at the point... seems to have good vision and moves the puck well.
- envyonthecoast

Well the first unit is McDonagh and Dan Boyle

Well the first unit is McDonagh and Dan Boyle
- TPC

very true...

Was thinking the same thing. Rather have Staal on the point or J Moore
- mdw7413

Staal never gets shots on net from the point, it's either blocked or he tries the never successful hard shot off the boards

As long as Richards is not on the point to concede breakaways.

To be fair, G has a hard shot and can sneak the puck through traffic.
- MyBoyStepan

Absolutely correct here. Girardi has a very underrated shot. He sometimes make the goofs that make one wince when on the PP, but can get his shots through when he shoots. I don't mind him on the PP at all as long as there is another D-man on the other point.

I know I don't post here very often anymore, but I skim through the posts when I can find some time. so here's my 2 cents Re: Anthony Duclair...

it's a tough situation, and one that requires a bit of finesse. But a situation Im happy to be in. Plenty of players have come into the league hot and have fallen off only to have thier growth stunted because he wasn't ready, whether physically or mentally, for a full NHL season, (ie. healthy scratches or diminished playing time). It seems that Duclair is ready to make the jump to the pros and it's unfortunate that age/rules restricts him from being able to play in the AHL, because I really believe a season with the pack could do him some good.

I believe that they'll be playing him as much as possible and in every possible situation from here on out and he'll be on the opening day roster. The first 9 games is where Duclair will show his salt and they'll decide to keep him or send him back to juniors.

It's the turn of the tides here. Rangers are thinking...do we keep the stud rookies and teenagers? Whereas the Devils are thinking about cutting Kaberle's and Feds'. NJ is a carbon-copy of the mid-to-late 90's Rangers. Hope they have another great season paying "Russell" Clowe $5+M again

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

Serious question..Is your first language English?

Serious question..Is your first language English?
- MeanestOfTimes

It sucks to piggyback on an insult but you are not the first person to question this.

It's the turn of the tides here. Rangers are thinking...do we keep the stud rookies and teenagers? Whereas the Devils are thinking about cutting Kaberle's and Feds'. NJ is a carbon-copy of the mid-to-late 90's Rangers. Hope they have another great season paying "Russell" Clowe $5+M again
- mames11

The Rangers have done a better job of managing their organization ever since Gorton became a big time player in the player management department.

It's not a coincidence this team has a currently competitive pro team and an apparent pipeline of more than a few prospects that are not too far from making a serious impact here.

of course I would be thrilled if McDonagh is named captain, but that little clip the other night after JT Miller effed up, and then they showed Marty St. Louis in deep conversation with him at the bench, in addition to how well Marty is with the media, I think I am in favor of Marty being named captain, McDonagh getting one of the A's with the understanding McD takes over as captain until Marty leaves or retires.

Not saying I don't want McD captain at all, but I think the best choice is Marty, not sure how everyone else feels

of course I would be thrilled if McDonagh is named captain, but that little clip the other night after JT Miller effed up, and then they showed Marty St. Louis in deep conversation with him at the bench, in addition to how well Marty is with the media, I think I am in favor of Marty being named captain, McDonagh getting one of the A's with the understanding McD takes over as captain until Marty leaves or retires.

Not saying I don't want McD captain at all, but I think the best choice is Marty, not sure how everyone else feels
- jimbro83

I would be completely ok with MSL getting the captaincy. He is a natural leader and the whole team gravitates to him.

The team, to a man, would have went through a wall for him last spring. That says so much considering he was only there for barely two months when the team stormed back against Pittsburgh.

of course I would be thrilled if McDonagh is named captain, but that little clip the other night after JT Miller effed up, and then they showed Marty St. Louis in deep conversation with him at the bench, in addition to how well Marty is with the media, I think I am in favor of Marty being named captain, McDonagh getting one of the A's with the understanding McD takes over as captain until Marty leaves or retires.

Not saying I don't want McD captain at all, but I think the best choice is Marty, not sure how everyone else feels
- jimbro83

There was also a clip in duclair's first game where marty joked around with duclair to loosen him up while duclair was visually anxious on the bench.

The only issue I see with marty getting the c and mcdonagh getting an a is that one of girardi or staal would be stripped of their a.

There was also a clip in duclair's first game where marty joked around with duclair to loosen him up while duclair was visually anxious on the bench.

The only issue I see with marty getting the c and mcdonagh getting an a is that one of girardi or staal would be stripped of their a.
- rangerdanger94

While I'm not against MSL as captain, you bring up a good point. Maybe Marty could be the co-captain without the letter. Kind of like we all know Richards was that type of guy when he was here.