yave1964 Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 My take on the 2013-14 New York Rangers Alain Vigneault is one hell of a coach. Start there. Fired by the Canucks, snatched up by the Rangers (The two teams essentially traded coaches)Vigneault is an creative coach who will get the best of his club. Rick Nash is a complete package in all situations who took this team as his own last season and has established himself as one of the more rugged players in the game. Slats was so happy with the play of Rick that he went out and traded for half the other Blue Jackets hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. This is a team that has made bold move offseason after offseason, overspending on Redden, Richards, Gaborik, trading for Nash, this last offseason Benoit Pouliot was the biggest acquisition other than Vigneault, allowing the team to gel from all of chaos of this past season. Let me make it clear, I like this club. Top six forwards include the budding star Stepan, Nash, Richards who is overpaid but not as bad as the press is making him out to be, and Callahan, Brassard and Hagelin make a nice second line, Derek Dorsett is a fighter who also can bury the puck on occasion, Mats Zuccarrello came back to North America and contributed ad Kreider, a good prospect got his feet wet. Top nine are solid, and the fourth line is made upof veteran players who know their role. The defense is overrated and average, Girardi is solid, underrated if anyone in New York can be considered to be, Del Zotto and Mcdonagh are thought too highly of but not bad, Staal cannot stay healthy and really is not as good as the press makes him out to be, star effect from playing in New York and from his brothers, Everyone else here is just bodies. This team is defined by its goalie, Henrik Lundquist is as good as most any in the game but like so many players here is overrated from the big apple effect. He is outstanding however, he can win games that the team has no reason to win, but until he starts doing it in the post season he IMHO cannot possibly be ranked among the truly great of the great. There are many pieces on this team, it is like a poorly fitted jigsaw puzzle, but Vigneault is the right coach to try to put them together. The playoffs are a lock, I would have to list them as a longshot for the cup but not out of the question, if they come together as a team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hf101 Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 The defense is overrated and average, Girardi is solid, underrated if anyone in New York can be considered to be, Del Zotto and Mcdonagh are thought too highly of but not bad, Staal cannot stay healthy and really is not as good as the press makes him out to be, star effect from playing in New York and from his brothers, Everyone else here is just bodies.I don't think you are giving Staal enough credit. The Rangers are a different team when playing with a healthy Staal. Your not going to see him light up the scoreboard but he makes the smart plays, whether it be the outlet pass to a teammate or the play behind the scenes preventing the opposition from getting a good shot off. He's a smart d-man who makes few mistakes.Reports are that Marc Staal is healthy and ready to play. I think this team will be one of the Metro division leaders next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NRH Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Marc should just find a way to get to Carolina and bring Eric along too, this isn't the first time I've seen NYR fans that don't like him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yave1964 Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Ranger fans act like Staal is the second coming of Leetch, he is not even close. A solid unspectacular d-man, I think if he played in a small or medium market nobody would know him. Yeah, he is a defensemans defenseman, he is solid and responsible in his own zone but Girardi IMHO is betteron his own team. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalnut3133 Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 It will certainly be interesting to see how the Rangers do this season...firstly: Vigneault = grace under fire.....secondly: King Henrik...I still have faith in him & believe he's top-notch...I'd take him over Lu any day & not just cuz of all the drama in 'Nuckland either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammer2 Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Is it just me, or does anyone else think of the Ozark Mountain Rangers when reading this thread title? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yave1964 Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Is it just me, or does anyone else think of the Ozark Mountain Rangers when reading this thread title? I like that one better, lol. Do you have any idea how hard it is to come up with a title for all thirty of these team write ups? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalnut3133 Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 I actually like your title, yave. Makes me think of a cartoon show or something (which is fitting as Alain is fresh off the 'Nucks! lol). And you're doing a great job with the titles, btw ....Definitely no easy task! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammer2 Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 I like that one better, lol. Do you have any idea how hard it is to come up with a title for all thirty of these team write ups? Yeah, I noticed it was getting to be a challenge....lol. You've hung in there like a trooper doing all these teams, very nice work!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.