We continue and complete our selection of the perfect Rangers team, at least the forwards, for 1988-present with the fourth line. Two weeks ago, the voting kicked off by picking the first line center, right and left winger for two teams followed up by the second and third teams. The results are below and I will track who was selected for each as well as the voting when full lines were proposed.
In line with the first three blogs, below you will find a list of possible fourth line centers as well as left and right wingers for 1988 to present. I have listed the names alphabetically and then posted the poll for each spot. Once the overall team is selected, I then will list all the roster proposals you posted in the prior blog comments along with mine. It be interesting to see how the general consensus compares to each of our selections.
In the poll, I have listed lines for selection to compare to the individual options, as it might also be intriguing to see how the ‘made’ up trios compare to some actual lines utilized by the Blueshirts. In addition, some overlap exists between those already proposed as possible first line options to players listed below for second line based on the names and their role on the team. Therefore, a handful of names you see below were also presented as first line options and I have noted where that is the case.
First, second and third line selections based on the vote:
First team:
Adam Graves-Mark Messier-Jaromir Jagr
Tony Granato-Petr Nedved-Theo Fleury
Esa Tikkanen-Sergei Nemchinov-Sean Avery
(I am keeping Avery in, based on his early play in New York. Following his departure and return, his play tailed off dramatically. I am open to thoughts here as debated replacing Avery with Michael Grabner, who is on the second team below and sliding Niklas Sundstrom, who I think was far better player into the second team. Let me know your thoughts as this may be a change I make)
Second team:
Alexei Kovalev-Wayne Gretzky-Mike Gartner
Brandon Dubinsky-Doug Weight-Tomas Sandstrom
Carl Hagelin-Derick Brassard-Michael Grabner
(Michael Grabner just beat out Niklas Sundstrom for the second team, third line, right wing spot).
Line combinations:
Graves-Messier-Kovalev
Fleury-Lindros-York (FLY line)
Tikkanen-Nemchinov-Matteau
Straka-Nylander-Jagr
Dubinsky-Stepan-Callahan (the Young Americans)
Zuccarello-Brassard-Pouliot
(No contests for either the first or second, third line spots)
A few reminders :
1) Cut off for eligibility is to be 170 games or two-plus seasons as a Ranger, but have used some leeway in a several instances. Once you get past the first liners, a substantive number of players that are options for the second and to a certain extent third line skated in far less than 170 games, so I am using 110 games as the cut off point. This number was slightly modified for line combinations.
2) Selection should be based on their production and role in New York, not output while with other teams
3) If you feel I have missed any names, please let me know and I will add those to the poll. This is especially so for the first liners who readers feel are truly second liners and belong on the list for voting.
4) In the case of Tomas Sandstrom, he almost equally bridges 71-87 and 88-present and therefore was listed here as a second liner and will be listed for 71-87
Centers:
Blair Betts, Brian Boyle, Mark Janssens and Dominic Moore
Left wing:
Bill Berg, Ryan Hollweg, Kris King, Darren Langdon and Brandon Prust
Right wing:
Jesper Fast, Joe Kocur, Jed Ortmeyer, Brandon Prust and Troy Mallette
Line combinations to vote on:
Gilbert-MacTavish-Kocur
Hollweg-Moore-Ortmeyer
Hollweg-Betts-Orr
Dorsett-Boyle-Carcillo
Dorsett-Moore-Boyle
With all the RFAs signed, I am not expecting much traction elsewhere. Maybe we see a minor-league signing or player offered a PTO and a long-shot of a trade, but I am not expecting much until maybe the latter part of the month or early September. Until then, open to blog ideas. We can play with line combinations - early hint, Kevin Hayes will not be on my fourth line - or focus elsewhere. Let me know what you are thinking and would want to see.
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