Just for Prod. I was not a big fan of this move either from day one. Giving a relic a 2 year contract at over 4 million to help the PP was not bright. Turns out, he's sucked on the PP. Guy doesn't have a freakin assist yet. As usual, Sather continues to give players no trade or no move clauses like a dumbass. In 10 games Boyle has 2 G and 0 A. Disgrace. Let's say Hayes can actually play center if he learns how to take a faceoff. Team is set down the middle with Stepan, Brassard and Hayes. Lindberg might take the 4th center spot. Though, he's not getting any younger and I think he will be a trade piece because they like D. Moore for at least another year. I would suspect the Rangers will try to add another second round pick at some point this season. Giving them three second round picks. I would think they will possibly draft 3 defenseman with those 3 picks, possibly 2 of the puck moving variety. Figure, after 4 years, Girardi is on his way out. Staal will be gone if they don't move him this year. Klein probably gone in 4 years. Only guys left will be McDonagh, Skjei and what I think, will be Walcott and Graves taking spots. AV hates McIlrath. A second wave of defenseman probably has to be put into motion in this years draft.
Last year they drafted 2 talented goalies which was a huge organization need. I really like the Russian kid they drafted. Even more than Halverson and he's having a good year in what is now the highest scoring junior league in the OHL. There are plenty of young forwards on the team so spots are limited. Defense seems to be the direction of the next draft. McIlrath was supposed to have a big future on this team. AV sure doesn't believe that. So, Graves developing as that physical, 6'4, stay at home defenseman is really important now.
This one I agree with you on. I was thinking the same thing last night about Boyle. Now I won't just say he sucks, but clearly he needs to get better, and he has me concerned that at this stage of his career he might not get better. He has not played well. Seems like on the PP he is making dumb decision after dumb decision. Cindy undressed him last night on one move, which is not a huge knock because Cindy is great, but it has been happening too much to Boyle. He has struggled and hopefully for the teams sake he can improve despite the wear on his tires.
I thought Mark Fayne would have been the better signing over the summer based on how the defense is structured. He'd be our biggest dman, doesnt add much O but more physical than Stralman, and a right shot. That way if Staal leaves, which is looking more and more likely, we wouldnt have the smallest D in the NHL. Not sure how he's doing over in Edmonton but he signed for 3.6 million and is their only regular roster player who isnt a minus. Not easy to do on that squad so good for him. And as for Dan Boyle, well, at least he's only signed for 2 years. He's lost right now.
He looks his age out there to be honest with you. Of course if they knew the season Klein would be having up to this point perhaps the more physical defensemen route would've been the better idea.
I think Boyle will get better after being out so long, he just needs to get into a rhythm with the pp and look to shoot more.
Seems like yet another failed PP fix by Sather. I was saying after his fourth game that he sucks. He might be worse PP quarterback than richards at this point. Give Klein a shot on PP at least for a few games over Girardi. Still not sure why AV is using Girardi on PP to begin with.
Lundqvist was very subtle but I thought he was taking a shot at Boyle by saying Klein has the best shot on the team and he almost always gets it thru and it is on net. You didn't have to take it that way but I thought praising the offensive ability of Klein was a little jab at Boyle's failure to make the PP work.
Typical 'Patchwork Sather'. Call it anything you want. Obtaining a past prime athlete to cover typical team deficiencies (poor PP & adequate depth)......and he stinks in Ranger RW&B. And so goes this year's Ranger saga.
Klein has better subtle instincts than any defenseman on the team. Not near the talent a McDonagh but he makes up for it. Part of the problem i think with getting shots through is they don't move the puck quick enough to the point.
I don't think Boyle has lost anything, more that he's missed time and still getting used to playing with this undersized group. Not many Pavelskis, Coutures and Thorntons around these parts.
It's not just Boyle that is playing poorly as we all know. But he was brought here to lead the PP ( I hate the term 'quarterback' ) and yeah he's been out for the majority of the season, but he has been totally ineffective. Plenty of time to turn things around but with the other offensive d-men on the team doing nothing, getting so little from Boyle hurts that much more. McD showing nothing, Moore showing nothing. At least Klein is finding ways to score, already has at least 2 GWG.
Boyle passes up too many opportunities to shoot the puck on the PP and will instead make a crappy pass. The guy was signed to shoot the f'n puck, no need to worry about being selfish, know your role.
