Think I saw that on the'Hub
- Fenrir

They have everything!

2sticks, your concern is definitely well-founded.
But, I wonder if this f'ed up season might not be the perfect time to give him a baptism by fire? Give him the chance (for a while) to get in there and take 15-20 draws a night 3-4 times a week and we will find out whether he is going to cut it or not.
- Tonybere

Sorry, I'm in the middle of my year end review (went better than expected).

As for MDW, we've given Chytil multiple shots at 2C and he's kinda fell flat. I think I'm at the stage now where he's a really young kid and has potential, but he kind of has to prove it to. We should have a real talented third line, there's no reason that if he were to break out, he could not show it there.

As for Tony that I quoted, the messed up season may be worse. We hope Zib isn't out too long, but that's alot of games we have this year against Crosby, Coots, Bergeron, and even Eichel. There's very little games against a team with top center talent. You simply can't afford to get your lunch owned on the first line due to a learning experiment. Chytil may very well be much improved and still look bad due to the level of players he's matched up against.

I checked out the site Brooks got his stats from.
I am by no means downplaying the importance of faceoffs, or saying that we shouldn't be concerned with our lack of prowess in that regard.
However, a 50% showing on faceoffs puts you in the middle of the league (as opposed to our 30th). For us to get to that measure would take another 1.9 faceoff wins per game. That is hardly in the realm of impossible.
Let's hope that they are putting a focus on it in training and give our guys a chance to improve. We don't need to rebuild the roster to center around this issue.
- Tonybere

You had to look it up to find out that 50% would put him in the middle of the league?

You had to look it up to find out that 50% would put him in the middle of the league?
- picklerick

Maybe there are faceoff loser points too, just like OT losses.

Sorry, I'm in the middle of my year end review (went better than expected).

As for MDW, we've given Chytil multiple shots at 2C and he's kinda fell flat. I think I'm at the stage now where he's a really young kid and has potential, but he kind of has to prove it to. We should have a real talented third line, there's no reason that if he were to break out, he could not show it there.

As for Tony that I quoted, the messed up season may be worse. We hope Zib isn't out too long, but that's alot of games we have this year against Crosby, Coots, Bergeron, and even Eichel. There's very little games against a team with top center talent. You simply can't afford to get your lunch owned on the first line due to a learning experiment. Chytil may very well be much improved and still look bad due to the level of players he's matched up against.
- 2sticks1puck

Meh, a couple games at 2 c is not really giving him a shot. Just turned 21, give him a legitimate shot and lets see what we have. Well he had changing wingers last year without much skill on the 3rd line.

"If" he has Gauthier and Lafreniere as wingers this year, yeah he better produce.

And this scenario is just about Zib's replacement if he can't go. No way I want Howden anywhere near the top 2 lines.

Sorry, I'm in the middle of my year end review (went better than expected).
- 2sticks1puck

Has to be worlds better than Tony's his current production level is about the same as Chytil's FO numbers.

Meh, a couple games at 2 c is not really giving him a shot. Just turned 21, give him a legitimate shot and lets see what we have. Well he had changing wingers last year without much skill on the 3rd line.

"If" he has Gauthier and Lafreniere as wingers this year, yeah he better produce.

And this scenario is just about Zib's replacement if he can't go. No way I want Howden anywhere near the top 2 lines.
- mdw7413

Then who would you put on the top lines?

Meh, a couple games at 2 c is not really giving him a shot. Just turned 21, give him a legitimate shot and lets see what we have. Well he had changing wingers last year without much skill on the 3rd line.

"If" he has Gauthier and Lafreniere as wingers this year, yeah he better produce.

And this scenario is just about Zib's replacement if he can't go. No way I want Howden anywhere near the top 2 lines.
- mdw7413

I'd say our 3rd line might be better in terms of overall than any of his shots on the 2nd. CK isn't nearly as good as AP obviously, but in terms of weapons RW will be much better offensively than Fast

Then who would you put on the top lines?
- Fenrir

Huh?

I'm going by what the lines are that Quinn was starting with

Kreider/Zib/Buch
Panarin/Strome/Kakko
Gauthier/Chytil/Lafreniere

I'd say our 3rd line might be better in terms of overall than any of his shots on the 2nd. CK isn't nearly as good as AP obviously, but in terms of weapons RW will be much better offensively than Fast
- 2sticks1puck

My whole issue with Chytil is we need to see what he has to make a decsion on what to do with him. He has shown he has some serious skill. If he never gets a chance in the top 6 how do you ever find out? I do like that 3rd line though, if Quinn keeps it like that.

Again this is only if Zib can't go. Your only other choice would be Howden. I have seen nothing from Howden that shows he should be in the top 6. He is a solid defensive center who would be a good in a checking role.

Boston was captain less for about 5 days, named Bergeron captain lol

Rangers going on year 4

My whole issue with Chytil is we need to see what he has to make a decsion on what to do with him. He has shown he has some serious skill. If he never gets a chance in the top 6 how do you ever find out? I do like that 3rd line though, if Quinn keeps it like that.

Again this is only if Zib can't go. Your only other choice would be Howden. I have seen nothing from Howden that shows he should be in the top 6. He is a solid defensive center who would be a good in a checking role.
- mdw7413

You could use Barron there too

Boston was captain less for about 5 days, named Bergeron captain lol

Rangers going on year 4
- TPC

We don't have Bergeron, but ya, its to the point that it is silly now.

My whole issue with Chytil is we need to see what he has to make a decsion on what to do with him. He has shown he has some serious skill. If he never gets a chance in the top 6 how do you ever find out? I do like that 3rd line though, if Quinn keeps it like that.

Again this is only if Zib can't go. Your only other choice would be Howden. I have seen nothing from Howden that shows he should be in the top 6. He is a solid defensive center who would be a good in a checking role.
- mdw7413

That's the important part of having a deep team. I use Zucc and Brassard as prime example of people who were on the 3rd line on some deep teams and showed the ability to break out and eventually move up the lineup. I'm not going to dispute our bottom 6 was a disaster for a couple seasons that really did Chytil and to some extent Lias a disservice.

The second thing is something i'd worry about. You are right, I would put Chytil in that spot over Howden, but that doesn't make it any more desirable. I wish we would have given a Stinky type player at least a PTO so if Zib was out awhile there's a potential to play that guy and not be a black hole.

You could use Barron there too
- tbreinold

In the top 6? That might be asking a lot

That's the important part of having a deep team. I use Zucc and Brassard as prime example of people who were on the 3rd line on some deep teams and showed the ability to break out and eventually move up the lineup. I'm not going to dispute our bottom 6 was a disaster for a couple seasons that really did Chytil and to some extent Lias a disservice.

The second thing is something i'd worry about. You are right, I would put Chytil in that spot over Howden, but that doesn't make it any more desirable. I wish we would have given a Stinky type player at least a PTO so if Zib was out awhile there's a potential to play that guy and not be a black hole.
- 2sticks1puck

Got to find out sooner or later with Chytil. No point in keeping him if he can't make it in the top 6.

My perfect scenario is Chytil has a set 3rd line this year, can show some serious skill , move up to the 2nd line and have Howden and Barron for the bottom 6.

F Strome

Has to be worlds better than Tony's his current production level is about the same as Chytil's FO numbers.
- Fenrir

Well played!

You had to look it up to find out that 50% would put him in the middle of the league?
- picklerick

No, I did not, thank you.
I looked at the stats to see how far up the league standings 50% would take us. You seem to think that it would be a given 50% is the median, but it is simply a coincidence.
My point was that while our faceoff prowess is certainly sub-par, in reality we are only 2 faceoff wins per game away from not being on the losing end, statistically. That is not an insurmountable goal.

My whole issue with Chytil is we need to see what he has to make a decsion on what to do with him. He has shown he has some serious skill. If he never gets a chance in the top 6 how do you ever find out? I do like that 3rd line though, if Quinn keeps it like that.

Again this is only if Zib can't go. Your only other choice would be Howden. I have seen nothing from Howden that shows he should be in the top 6. He is a solid defensive center who would be a good in a checking role.
- mdw7413

Totally agree, Howden should be nowhere near the first line.

My whole issue with Chytil is we need to see what he has to make a decsion on what to do with him. He has shown he has some serious skill. If he never gets a chance in the top 6 how do you ever find out? I do like that 3rd line though, if Quinn keeps it like that.

Again this is only if Zib can't go. Your only other choice would be Howden. I have seen nothing from Howden that shows he should be in the top 6. He is a solid defensive center who would be a good in a checking role.
- mdw7413

That was what I meant.
Ideally Chytil moves up to 2C and Howden to 3C. That leaves Barron as 4C for now.

Well played!
- Tonybere

Sorry, I'm in the middle of my year end review (went better than expected).

As for MDW, we've given Chytil multiple shots at 2C and he's kinda fell flat. I think I'm at the stage now where he's a really young kid and has potential, but he kind of has to prove it to. We should have a real talented third line, there's no reason that if he were to break out, he could not show it there.

As for Tony that I quoted, the messed up season may be worse. We hope Zib isn't out too long, but that's alot of games we have this year against Crosby, Coots, Bergeron, and even Eichel. There's very little games against a team with top center talent. You simply can't afford to get your lunch owned on the first line due to a learning experiment. Chytil may very well be much improved and still look bad due to the level of players he's matched up against.
- 2sticks1puck

It seems to me that the difference in our perspectives is that I am not looking to use divisional standings as a measuring stick for whether or not our season is a success.
We have 25 fewer games, against stiffer competition, than usual. Expecting that we are going to move up to the top of the division this season my be setting yourself up for disappointment.
If we finish 5th in the division, but see significant progress from the majority of Chytil, LAF, Howden, Gaut, Lindgren, etc. and no regression from Fox, Shesty, Georgie, Strome, etc. I will be a happy Rangers fan.
If we manage to really gel and see better results than that, I will have to have my smile surgically removed!

They have everything!
- mdw7413

It was definitely on JRR's favorite site.

It was definitely on JRR's favorite site.
- Fenrir

JRR's favorite site is awful and gives me nightmares

It seems to me that the difference in our perspectives is that I am not looking to use divisional standings as a measuring stick for whether or not our season is a success.
We have 25 fewer games, against stiffer competition, than usual. Expecting that we are going to move up to the top of the division this season my be setting yourself up for disappointment.
If we finish 5th in the division, but see significant progress from the majority of Chytil, LAF, Howden, Gaut, Lindgren, etc. and no regression from Fox, Shesty, Georgie, Strome, etc. I will be a happy Rangers fan.
If we manage to really gel and see better results than that, I will have to have my smile surgically removed!
- Tonybere

I think we are in agreement with overall expectations. My point was you can't set people up to fail as physce is just gigantic in sports. I do agree that you can't keep the training wheels on Chytil forever. However, just throwing him against elite competition just for the sake of doing so doesn't seem productive or a fair representation of how one improved. He could be twice the player and still get smoked by Crosby in a head to head matchup. How would you evaluate his progression? Now if your plan is maybe use him as Zib's PP1 time, then that's a seperate argument that you might be able to sell me on.