Pillow-fighters is an obvious exaggeration on my part. I also do not think they are all soft at all. But what I do think is that out of the 6, not a single one of them has a game built around playing the body and that is a missing element on this team. It's not THE missing element obviously, but that doesnt mean it shouldnt be addressed.
I don't disagree fully, but I also believe G takes the body well. And I would say if you want to add that guy, get rid of Boyle and sign a vet for less money that fits that mold. Have Mac here IF HE CAN SKATE and let him learn as a pro. And if he is up to it, make him the 6th dman as the season moves on. Dealing Yandle is ridiculous. That cap hit is a STEAL for us, and gives us a huge edge when putting the team together next season. To deal that would be moronic.
Chuck relax. I feel like there is a hole on defense in terms of physical play, and it should be addressed. Nowhere am I, or anyone else I can see, saying that defense is THE problem and we should focus ALL of our attention there. There are a few tweaks this team needs. A couple up front and a couple on the back end. We all know this team didnt score. We all know we need a right shot in the top 6. That doesnt mean we shouldnt look to add a missing element to our blueline as well.
Let's face it, they drafted a PROJECT with the 12th overall pick. Maybe he and Fotiu can have a celebrity sparring match between periods. And for Struds bring back Rudy Poeschek. Love Clark but that was almost a Jessiman type blunder. Maybe as bad.
To me I wouldn't touch our top 5 on D...AT ALL. If you want to tinker on D a little get Boyle out and mix and match. I would not simply hand the job to Mac though and take that chance. You need to have a solid vet paired with him in the # 6 hole if that is the route you choose.
He said that it went from being really bad to being better quickly and that as of now the one thing that bothers him the most is talking. (TV2) He said that he is not 100% yet but as the blood went off of his brain he felt better and could speak more. He said that he couldn’t talk when he returned to the locker room after being hit and realized when he got to the hospital that it was much more serious. (TV2) He said that he expects to play in his charity All-Star game on June 19th. (TV2) He will be able to train again with weights in a few weeks. (TV2) Comments from Zucc...
I'm not touching the top 5 either. McD-G-Staal-Klein-Yandle are locked in for me. Boyle is not a bad player but with his contract and Yandle here he is expendable if we can get out of the contract. Where I disagree is that I think McIlrath should have the first crack at the 6th dman, and give him a month to learn the NHL game. I say that assuming we will have a contingency plan in place for a 6th RD if it doesnt work. I just look at Orpik, and how Nash wilted like dried out flower when he was hit over and over, and wish we had a dman who could do the same to the opponent's guys.
If anyone is going to win the job and knock Boyle out it's Skjei, who's far more ready and able than McIlrath. Graves in the OHL is probably more ready.
71, if Skjei comes in it will be Yandle going out. AV is all about the L-R balance for better or for worse. The only possibility there is to move McD to the right and play him with Staal. But I dont think we want to move around our best dman to accomodate a rookie 6th dman. Not yet at least.
That's the issue Prod. You need to decide that in the offseason. You need to have that plan in place. If you don't and Mac struggles what happens? You aren't getting someone one month into the season to fill that role. You need to bring a vet in to be the main 6th dman, but also know you want to give Mac some games. And if Mac takes off make him the guy. You cannot go into the season without that vet dman on the roster ready to be the 6th dman with Mac.
Right, I assume they would have a Hunwick type on the roster to fill in, and then find the longer-term solution later in the year a la Yandle this year. Where I differ is I dont want to just "give Mac some games" because he wont get better that way. Assuming he earns it in camp, I want him to be the guy to start the year.
so lets get rid of Boyle who wasn't as bad as everyone made him out to be and instead put in McIlrath ..lets lose more offense for a traffic cone only because the kid can fight...so he fights...and he sits in the box and allow Girardi, Staal Yandel and McD have to log more minutes
I personally don't think I would put that type of faith in Mac, and I bet the Rangers don't either. I want a legit vet in here on day 1 to be that guy and let Mac learn from him and the other dmen while practicing with the team and playing in games when needed. That's just my opinion.
Al, nobody on here mentioned fighting. I dont want him to fight, I want him to play physical yet responsible defense. The Boyle decision, in my opinion, is strictly salary cap related. I dont think we need both Yandle and Boyle. Yandle is the better player with a better contract. Boyle's money can be used elsewhere.
By the way Al, way to hijack this entire break-up day thread with your little McIlrath dig on the first page
Funny Al.... I said from the start, stay or go I don't care that much with regards to Boyle. If it can save us 1 or 2 mill and we can replace him with another decent vet for less, I am cool with that. If not I am cool with Boyle staying as well.
I'm cool with Boyle staying as well. But we all keep saying we need a big winger who can score in the dirty areas. Guys like that aren't free. Subbing out Boyle for McIlrath is a way to save a couple mil and get us that guy. It's just an idea.
Not happening 71 as boyle rd and skjei is ld and not compatible. Its big mac for boyle and when skjei comes up he's replacing either yandle or staal
I am amazed that staal played through a fractured ankle which explains the awkwardness we saw with him and mcd 4 games with a broken foot. I've had both and can't imagine how either guy was able to do this. And chuck, yandle would not be moved for a big d-man as that would be big mac for boyle. Imo he would be moved not only to make room for skjei but also because of his great contract (for one year) he could bring us back the big winger with fire that this team desperately needs. And after watching him yandle to me is far from irreplaceable.
