Jan Levine: Possible Special Teams Combinations for the Rangers Goal is to get power play more effective while retaining solid play on penalty kill

''The strategy of dropping the puck back and having Brad Richards rush it up the ice was an epic fail.''



...Couldn't have said it any better...

Jan Levine: Possible Special Teams Combinations for the Rangers
Goal is to get power play more effective while retaining solid play on penalty kill
- airjan23

The first line power play combination seems pretty academic to me:

Stepan at the half wall(setup man), Kreider in front or around the net, St. Louis in the high slot area with the points manned by Boyle and McDonagh.

The second unit is not so simple though. Does McDonagh play the full two minutes? Does Boyle? I think it's unlikely either do and they go with Staal and Girardi on the back end. As far as the forward combinations go, I think I would like to see Zuccarello on the half wall, with Nash playing the power forward role and Brassard setup in the same role St. Louis has on the first unit.

There are a lot of forward combinations to be had on the shorthanded situations.

Dom Moore, Hagelin, Nash, Stempniak, Lombardi, Glass, Zuccarello & Kreider can all be used on the penalty kill.

You guys are going to miss Boyle on the pk. Although I admit I only saw playoff games with him playing short handed. He was huge for you guys in that role. And although I do like Boyle. I think it has as much to do with size and REACH ability as anything else. He covered a lot of ice with that reach.
A lot like the Hawks with your pp. With the weapons that you have your left shaking your head as to how they can possibly be that lousy on the pp.

You guys are going to miss Boyle on the pk. Although I admit I only saw playoff games with him playing short handed. He was huge for you guys in that role. And although I do like Boyle. I think it has as much to do with size and REACH ability as anything else. He covered a lot of ice with that reach.
A lot like the Hawks with your pp. With the weapons that you have your left shaking your head as to how they can possibly be that lousy on the pp.
- camfor

Couldn't agree with you more. I wanted Boyle back mainly for his penalty killing skills and ability to win draws. he opted to go to Tampa, so the challenge now is to see who can effectively fill his role. Lots of possibilities, as I noted in the blog.

You guys are going to miss Boyle on the pk. Although I admit I only saw playoff games with him playing short handed. He was huge for you guys in that role. And although I do like Boyle. I think it has as much to do with size and REACH ability as anything else. He covered a lot of ice with that reach.
A lot like the Hawks with your pp. With the weapons that you have your left shaking your head as to how they can possibly be that lousy on the pp.
- camfor

That's an agreeable assessment, his reach and size was an attribute to the PK but we do have some very reliable killers, I think Stempniak should play with Moore

Couldn't agree with you more. I wanted Boyle back mainly for his penalty killing skills and ability to win draws. he opted to go to Tampa, so the challenge now is to see who can effectively fill his role. Lots of possibilities, as I noted in the blog.
- airjan23

Salary cap era! Vets will have to be let go, And youth will have to allowed to try and fill those voids. Or lower priced vets. Teams have to fight the urge to use their top six in these role's. As it allows them some rest, and nobody really wants to see your super stars laying out to block a slap shot in November.

That's an agreeable assessment, his reach and size was an attribute to the PK but we do have some very reliable killers, I think Stempniak should play with Moore
- KreiderBomb

Two guys that will probably do well in that role. But neither are Brian Boyle!

Two guys that will probably do well in that role. But neither are Brian Boyle!
- camfor

True, neither are 6'7" like Boyle, but since the offseason where he trained with Barbara Underhill his foot speed has been severely lacking. He relied on his size, nd on the PK generally made it work for him.

Guys like Lombardi nd Moore have the speed to make up for the reach nd also create a shorthanded threat, which Boyle lacked, nd we know atleast Moore is willing to give up the body. Hopefully we can find another guy willing to sacrifice himself to benefit our PK.

Edit: Meant to include Stepniak in that

Two guys that will probably do well in that role. But neither are Brian Boyle!
- camfor

Well, we do have "Towering Hayes" under contract. Much faster than Brian, too.

I still think the Rangers will have a great PK. Yes Boyle was great on the PK, but lets not go overboard, he wasn't the sole reason. Callahan was great on the PK when he was here, so was Dubi and I believe Arty was also. When we lost those guys our PK was still good, different players stepped up. I don't think there will be any drop off on the PK this year at all.

I still think the Rangers will have a great PK. Yes Boyle was great on the PK, but lets not go overboard, he wasn't the sole reason. Callahan was great on the PK when he was here, so was Dubi and I believe Arty was also. When we lost those guys our PK was still good, different players stepped up. I don't think there will be any drop off on the PK this year at all.
- mdw7413

As long as the Rangers have Hank in goal, the PK will always be good

As long as the Rangers have Hank in goal, the PK will always be good
- TPC

Thanks for saying in 1 sentence what I tried to say in a paragraph Matt. Im going back to bed.

You think you're soooo cool with Kevin Hayes and what not.

You think you're soooo cool with Kevin Hayes and what not.
- Streit2ThePoint

What not is good, no doubt!

Thanks for saying in 1 sentence what I tried to say in a paragraph Matt. Im going back to bed.
- mdw7413

Thanks for saying in 1 sentence what I tried to say in a paragraph Matt. Im going back to bed.
- mdw7413

Thanks for saying in 1 sentence what I tried to say in a paragraph Matt. Im going back to bed.
- mdw7413

Thanks for saying in 1 sentence what I tried to say in a paragraph Matt. Im going back to bed.
- mdw7413

Thanks for saying in 1 sentence what I tried to say in a paragraph Matt. Im going back to bed.
- mdw7413

Thanks for saying in 1 sentence what I tried to say in a paragraph Matt. Im going back to bed.
- mdw7413

Buzz: The Rangers have spoken with Ryan Malone
August 25th, 2014 4:05 pm

UFA Ryan Malone has reportedly spoken with the Rangers. (Star Tribune, via Jefferson and Michael)

Malone “looked good” while skating in Minnesota at the Octagon Hockey Camp and could get a training camp tryout. (Star Tribune, via Jefferson and Michael)

The Ranges have reportedly done “extensive homework” on Malone and have spoken with him about a potential training camp tryout or two-way deal. It isn’t known if the Rangers talks with Malone occurred before the team signed Kevin Hayes. (Inside Pittsburgh Sports, via Jefferson)

Malone was arrested in April for a DUI and possession of cocaine. (PHT)

The situation was reportedly a “wake up call” for Malone and he is “said to be in excellent shape” while training for the season. (Inside Pittsburgh Sports, via Jefferson)

Malone had the final year of his contract bought out by Tampa Bay using a compliance buyout. (Cap Geek)

Malone, 34, has 23 points in 81 games over the last two years. In the previous five seasons he had between 38 and 51 points.

He has previously played with Dominic Moore (Pitt and TB), Marty St. Louis and Michael Kostka.

In 2000, Glen Sather said “as a general philosophy I believe people deserve a second chance.” (NY Post)

Buzz: The Rangers have spoken with Ryan Malone
August 25th, 2014 4:05 pm

UFA Ryan Malone has reportedly spoken with the Rangers. (Star Tribune, via Jefferson and Michael)

Malone “looked good” while skating in Minnesota at the Octagon Hockey Camp and could get a training camp tryout. (Star Tribune, via Jefferson and Michael)

The Ranges have reportedly done “extensive homework” on Malone and have spoken with him about a potential training camp tryout or two-way deal. It isn’t known if the Rangers talks with Malone occurred before the team signed Kevin Hayes. (Inside Pittsburgh Sports, via Jefferson)

Malone was arrested in April for a DUI and possession of cocaine. (PHT)

The situation was reportedly a “wake up call” for Malone and he is “said to be in excellent shape” while training for the season. (Inside Pittsburgh Sports, via Jefferson)

Malone had the final year of his contract bought out by Tampa Bay using a compliance buyout. (Cap Geek)

Malone, 34, has 23 points in 81 games over the last two years. In the previous five seasons he had between 38 and 51 points.

He has previously played with Dominic Moore (Pitt and TB), Marty St. Louis and Michael Kostka.

In 2000, Glen Sather said “as a general philosophy I believe people deserve a second chance.” (NY Post)
- jimbro83

I mentioned a few threads back that I can see Slats throwing him a flyer. Theo credits Slats as someone who helped him out in his darkest times and always checks up on him. I take him on a 2 way contract for league minimum but it concerns me that J Moore has yet to be signed. I really doubt they've given up on him but I just don't see the space to add anyone else

I mentioned a few threads back that I can see Slats throwing him a flyer. Theo credits Slats as someone who helped him out in his darkest times and always checks up on him. I take him on a 2 way contract for league minimum but it concerns me that J Moore has yet to be signed. I really doubt they've given up on him but I just don't see the space to add anyone else
- MeltingPlastic

Also it doesn't help that Malone is a winger. And realistically would probably be behind Hayes and Fast on depth chart because he's slow.

I mentioned a few threads back that I can see Slats throwing him a flyer. Theo credits Slats as someone who helped him out in his darkest times and always checks up on him. I take him on a 2 way contract for league minimum but it concerns me that J Moore has yet to be signed. I really doubt they've given up on him but I just don't see the space to add anyone else
- MeltingPlastic

in my opinion, they checked in with Malone before the Hayes signing happened. Now that they have Hayes, I'd be very surprised if Malone even got an invite to camp. You never know though.