Just wow. This kid gets better and better. Now he has added O to his game. 4 game point scoring streak. Like 11 points in 12 games. 3 more points tonight. This kid is a total stud, a top 5-7 dman in the whole NHL, and best part is he is getting better and better every game. What a stud...a TRUE # 1 DMAN ALL THE WAY.
Was that last line primarily for me?lol He is for sure, I guess I just wish they had a real stud offensive dman as a #2.
Oh without a doubt. I don't doubt his ceiling or that he's a top pair guy, I guess it's just a matter of the offensive end really completing him. He's a 1 now though I'd agree.
What are you watching sc? The kid gets chances on O every game. He is going to score 15 goals and close to 50 points, and that is after a slow start on O. He will score 15 and 50 for sure next season. Open your eyes bro...he is an offensive weapon now, and he will only get better. Not a shot at you, but you need to see what McDonagh is man...a total stud on D, and a clear offensive weapon now as well. McD and Girardi is a great pair, a top level pair in the NHL. Girardi is a rock as well, just solid and steady game after game. We are lucky to have those two guys...very lucky. That Girardi contract was a great one.
McDonagh is a superstar now on defense. His offensive game has taken off. Hoping we have another guy like that in Skjei who has the same offensive skills but Minnesota just doesn't use them.
Yes Dump you have been guilty of overhyping our youth but you nailed McDonough. He is special and at 24 is indeed a star now with more head room to improve
That trade could go down as the best Ranger trade ever. And if McDonagh really goes nuts, one of the best trades ever in the NHL. My lord what a stud...
Everybody knew McDonogh would be a very good dman, but let's all calm down with the HOF plaques just yet. It's great that we have him around for a long time to lead the defense and probably the captain.
Who said HOF? I haven't seen that mentioned once. That was a great trade. One of our best ever IMO. You are funny sc. You hate our D. Staal, McD, Girardi...all whatever...LOL. You spent the first 3/4 of the season ripping apart Girardi....
I don't hate them at all, but I do think alot were guilty of overhyping them as a unit. I've always been a big McD fan and love his game. I do see errors and breakdowns at times, but the whole team is guilty of falling asleep around the net. My main sticking point has always been they really needed that puck mover and pp help which DZ failed to become, but McD has some of those qualities. If they had a Keith, Doughty, Yandle type which are hard to find, the defense would be the best in the league.
I hear you. But I do think you way under value McD's O now. Again, he will go 15 and close to 50 in a season where he started slowly on O. If he comes into next season fully developed on O like he has been the past few weeks, the sky is the limit. It is the nature of a fan to over hype their prospects/players, but I think you go the other way sometimes, especially on McD. You under value how good he is. That was clear when you said we don't have a # 1 dman on the team. The reality is to me McD is a top 7 dman in the whole NHL, and worst case top 10. And Girardi is a strong # 2 dman. And Staal is a # 2/3 dman. Those top 3 dmen of ours are top shelf. Add a legit # 4 to pair with Staal, and watchout.
Agreed, he's definately a top 10 dman, and I always thought of him a top pair guy, but just wasn't sure how his offense would develop. He's had a great year in that regard so it looks like the whole package is there now. He's still pretty young with room to grow which is exciting. Staal I never had a problem with though I think he could add more offense, and Girardi I get on but I do understand his value and what he means. I really liked the additions of Klein/Diaz. Skjei "should" be very good and we'll see with McIlrath though I have my doubts there.
We agree on a lot of what you said. The only comment I will make is you can be a very good top 3 dman and not have a lot of O in your game. Staal falls into that category, and Girardi does as well. I will put our 1-3 dmen up against most teams in the NHL and feel good about it. I would say that our 1-3 is top 5 or so in the NHL. If we can get a Klein solid on the 3rd pair, have a McIlrath, or Diaz, or Skjei down the road combine with Klein on the 3rd pair, that leaves the # 4 spot as the hole to play with Staal. Our D is real close. We add that solid 2nd pair guy with Staal and we are in great shape.
Right, and McDonogh is so well rounded that even if he's just above-avg offensively he's still one of the best in the league. I know Staal/Girardi aren't offensive by nature but I just think Staal in particular should be adding a little more in terms of pts based on what we saw his first few years. But I'm not down on him at all. If they could ever add a real stud end-to-end guy who can really excel on the pp that corps would be the best in the league. McDonogh certainly has some of that. Throw Skjei into the mix in another 2 years and it will be even better, he's got some McDonogh-esque qualities. I really like this kid McKeown who's in this draft as a possibility, but I think I'd look to grab a big forward like Virtanen.
71, Staal was better as is mcdonagh when he was/is paired with someone like girardi. Also, his concussions haven't helped. When with strahlman has to cover up too much for him imo. Would like to see him paired with klein instead until someone like Skjei gets up here
I agree with that. I would have Klein with Staal and Stralman on the 3rd pair if it were my decision. I think Klein is a much more steady dman than Stralman.
That's defensively, offensively he should be chiping in at least 10-15 more points/yr with his ability. It's not a huge deal but he has tailed off some there.
71, you are not as offensive minded as you can be when you have a bad defender like strahlman you have to always be back covering for.
