Jan Levine: Blueline deployment and player usage areas to watch this season for Rangers AV/Ruff need to get this right

Great blog Jan

Good blog. AV and team need to learn from their mistakes. The roster is less and less Torts. They own this and I think we all want to see them succeed. So unless Gorton was critical in the AV signing then he should be on the hot seat.

I think Holden could have decent trade value and we should do whatever we can to get rid of Staal. If we're successful in both, we should look into Franson. Big body and can skate well for his size.
McD-Franson
Skjei-Shattenkirk
Smith-Deangelo
That looks like a solid defense to me, and keeps Shattenkirk off the top pair.

I think Holden could have decent trade value and we should do whatever we can to get rid of Staal. If we're successful in both, we should look into Franson. Big body and can skate well for his size.
McD-Franson
Skjei-Shattenkirk
Smith-Deangelo
That looks like a solid defense to me, and keeps Shattenkirk off the top pair.
- nyrangers9479

You should try to give him an offer he can't refuse

[email][email protected][/email]

Great blog as usual again, Jan. I agree with you for the most part, but also question some words here, whether your own, &/or thoughts by others.
1) I agree that poor player management cost them one game vs. Montreal, & was thee reason for the 6 game series loss to Ottawa, especially with those two late, 3rd period blown leads resulting in OT losses. Otherwise, the Rangers would have won that series in just 5 games instead.
2) The first two back line units have improved with McDonagh & Shatty, as well as from the season's start, Smith & a full season's experienced, Skjei as unit two. Like you here, I have said since their elimination that Shatty's offensive game would reduce McDonagh's need to always lead the offense in deep, allowing him to concentrate more defensively, & improve that downfall of his game for the past two seasons. In playing some less "stressful type" minutes, McDonagh would also be fresher down the tight Metro. Div. stretch, & for a possible long postseason run.
3) The current 3rd projected unit of Staal & Holden is worrisome, (or be it Staal & Deangelo, or whatever other combo, exclusive of anyone in the top four). Staal is now a 3rd pairing d'man at best, while Holden can be used on the 2nd unit if needed. Nor should a whole 39 NHL games played, Deangelo be paired on the 1st unit with McDonagh. Even worse, including dollar value wise, is having Shatty playing on the 3rd pairing, solely for reasons of having one top puck mover on each unit. The Rangers did not pay Shatty $6.65M annually to be specifically a 3rd unit pairing.
With defensive prospects also waiting for their possible chance, a trade(s) from our defensive depth must be Gorton's next task, to add both a gritty forward, plus an experienced center to replace some of Stepan's lost contributions. I had also questioned the signing of Pavelec, whose game has suffered in recent seasons due to lower body injuries. Even Benoit Allaire cannot prevent his proneness to injury 100%, which in turn may not result in what he has done in the past here with Chad Johnson, Talbot, & Raanta as backups. If Pavelec is not 100% healthy, it could be the backup goalie position that will determine the Rangers outcome after 82 games, unless Pavelec surprises us all, or if Gorton has an alternative for that as well should it be necessary.

I think Holden could have decent trade value and we should do whatever we can to get rid of Staal. If we're successful in both, we should look into Franson. Big body and can skate well for his size.
McD-Franson
Skjei-Shattenkirk
Smith-Deangelo
That looks like a solid defense to me, and keeps Shattenkirk off the top pair.
- nyrangers9479

I agree that they have to do whatever possible to move Staal, and that Holden has good trade value. Possibly Toronto may be interested in Holden, even though they signed Hainsey due to losing Hunwick also as a free agent.
However, playing Shatty with Skjei may put the onus on Skjei to perform what McDonagh is better suited to concentrate greater on right now defensive wise, with Shatty leading the charge offensively instead. It can also reduce Skjei's offensive potential overall, in playing with an offensive d'man in Shatty, who is a first unit minutes player. In addition, the Rangers paid Shatty $6.65M annually to specifically first be a 1st unit d'man partner with McDonagh, and nothing less.

Slava Malamud‏ @SlavaMalamud 7m7 minutes ago

Grigorenko finally signs with CSKA. Unlike draft buddy Yakupov, he knows quite well his NHL career is over, so he just took the money. #Avs




ok, enough about this guy

I think Holden could have decent trade value and we should do whatever we can to get rid of Staal. If we're successful in both, we should look into Franson. Big body and can skate well for his size.
McD-Franson
Skjei-Shattenkirk
Smith-Deangelo
That looks like a solid defense to me, and keeps Shattenkirk off the top pair.
- nyrangers9479

now you have Brendan Smith on the 3rd pair but you have Cody Franson on the top pair?

please dude just stop

STOP IT

Nice blog jan

now you have Brendan Smith on the 3rd pair but you have Cody Franson on the top pair?

please dude just stop

STOP IT
- jimbro83

Franson is an 87 in NHL 17 and Smith is only an 83 bro

Franson is an 87 in NHL 17 and Smith is only an 83 bro
- rangerdanger94

no way

DO IT!!

Great overview of an overstocked D waiting for the BIG deal of getting a center
way to many top 6 along with top prospects ..
I sense way too quiet on NYR front which usually means a deals is pending
SHey...as much as he is is as much as he will get....
with a Mac & Kirk top tandem gotta figure Shey will not be a #3-4 d man much more..
Shey for Duchene ? whats it gonna take AV's
anyone NOT do a deal like this with a draft pick and prospect to round the edges

Great overview of an overstocked D waiting for the BIG deal of getting a center
way to many top 6 along with top prospects ..
I sense way too quiet on NYR front which usually means a deals is pending
SHey...as much as he is is as much as he will get....
with a Mac & Kirk top tandem gotta figure Shey will not be a #3-4 d man much more..
Shey for Duchene ? whats it gonna take AV's
anyone NOT do a deal like this with a draft pick and prospect to round the edges
- Dundee13

We should trade DeAngelo and a 1st for Brassard

Thanks Jan.
I hope bringing Lindy Ruff in will have an impact on AV's boneheaded D usage late in games. Having been a NHL coach might give him a little more credence in suggesting who AV puts on the ice.

We should trade DeAngelo and a 1st for Brassard
- rangerdanger94

Git er done.

Hartford Whalers @WhalerWatch

Per Gerry Cantlon, New York Rangers are asking for a state subsidy of over $3 million to keep AHL Wolf Pack in Hartford for 2 more seasons.

nice blog.

here is my Dcore:
McD-Shatty
Skjei-Smith
Holden-ADA

Unlike others i personally do not think our D prospects are as "deep". outside of Day and if you count ADA as a prospect, we dont have many guys that are going to play in the NHL. most of the College FA signings are AHL guys. they usually are, otherwise they would have been drafted. Hearing what Gorton and Clark had to say about ADA i am under the impression that he is making the lineup this year. I have no idea if they are going to move Holden, buyout Staal, or do something else but I can say that if i had to choose between the 2 i would rather keep Holden. a 30+ point Dman at only $1.6M per is pretty good.

We all seemed to think Klein retiring was a foregone conclusion, sucks now we may be stuck with him (or in a buyout scenario) still.

nice blog.

here is my Dcore:
McD-Shatty
Skjei-Smith
Holden-ADA

Unlike others i personally do not think our D prospects are as "deep". outside of Day and if you count ADA as a prospect, we dont have many guys that are going to play in the NHL. most of the College FA signings are AHL guys. they usually are, otherwise they would have been drafted. Hearing what Gorton and Clark had to say about ADA i am under the impression that he is making the lineup this year. I have no idea if they are going to move Holden, buyout Staal, or do something else but I can say that if i had to choose between the 2 i would rather keep Holden. a 30+ point Dman at only $1.6M per is pretty good.
- richardson30

It took me several minutes to finally figure out that ADA was DeAngelo...I'm not a smart man.

We all seemed to think Klein retiring was a foregone conclusion, sucks now we may be stuck with him (or in a buyout scenario) still.
- B2B76

Im sure Klein would rather be bought out and make another $2 million than retire and walk away from his guaranteed contract

Git er done.
- Fenrir

we got depth at D and are bare at center..
cant tell me team sold off Step with out a plan to fill it with better or potentailly better up the middle play ..which is where you need talent ...
saying
Hayes ...#3 who faded in P O's
Z bad .... #2 with injury season and no reason to say he will move into # 1 slot
by attrition only will tow the line ..adding J T just makes it guillable enuff for us
the dream fan base who buys that crap... If were an NHL G m i aint giving away
top center with out getting back top market value... hey you can tell the fans anything and they buy it or create it... reality is there is a deal coming for a center
we have the depth in all areas to make that happen ....
Cant wait to see who is wearing the blue sweater when the smoke clears..
getting close to my 7/15 date of completion to have things in place ...

Hartford Whalers @WhalerWatch

Per Gerry Cantlon, New York Rangers are asking for a state subsidy of over $3 million to keep AHL Wolf Pack in Hartford for 2 more seasons.
- rangerdanger94

less (frank)s I could not give

It took me several minutes to finally figure out that ADA was DeAngelo...I'm not a smart man.
- B2B76

I don't care if you're a dumb-ass, B. I like you

Im sure Klein would rather be bought out and make another $2 million than retire and walk away from his guaranteed contract
- rangerdanger94

Of course, someone (his agent) got in his ear when that sh!t went public & said "r u crazy brother?!"