6'3 wing, 192. Swift skater and a great shot. LW. Soft hands with a quick release. Looks like they really liked him.
Ryan Gropp has good size at 6’3″ and is willing to use it to protect the puck and to battle in and around the net. Gropp is pure a sniper with the soft hands to finish plays in close, and an excellent wrist shot and release to score from further out. Many may see the size and think of Gropp as a potential power forward in the making and he does love to drive the net. There are times he can dominate the game physically getting in quickly on the forcecheck and punishing defencemen, but there are other times where he appears disintrested in going to the tough areas. He needs to get out of the habit of staying on the perimeter and relying solely on his powerful shot and release to do the work, as this will not happen at higher levels. He has the vision to make plays off the wing, and some solid passing skills, but he does prefer to shoot if given the choice. Gropp could do better in battles for loose pucks along the boards, and in establishing position in front of the net if he can add more lower body strength. This would also improve his cycle game. Ryan Gropp has very good speed and great acceleration that allow him to keep up with Barzal as the two form an excellent combination on the rush. He has the agility and the solid stickhandling to make plays with the puck at high speed and get around defenders. Again an area where improved lower body strength would really help is in giving Gropp more balance and allowing him to be stronger on the puck. Ryan Gropp’s defensive game is hit and miss. He shows good positiioning and he reads the play well. He cuts down passing lanes with an active stick, and is willing to get his body into good shot blocking positions. However he would be well advised to play a more physical and agressive game in his own end of the ice. If he were to get his big frameinvolved in more battles for loose pucks and plays along the boards, he could vastly improve his game. Again Gropp is a big body player, who just seems to leave one wanting more from his game. Gropp has the potential to be a top 6 winger, but there are some big questions about his intensity level and consistency. If he can get those under control, he has the skill to be a real steal at the NHL draft. At his best, Gropp’s game can resemble Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens, but this is a stylistic comparison and not one based on talent level.
Adam Herman ?@AdamHerman_BSB 2m2 minutes ago Gordie Clark said that Ryan Gropp was the sixth-highest ranked forward on #NYR's list. As in, including the 1st-round. Adam Herman ?@AdamHerman_BSB 43s43 seconds ago Clark said NYR were afraid of teams catching on to their love of Gropp, so trading up, among other things, was the safe move to get him. High praise from Clark. IMO, that means there is a good chance this kid becomes a real good player. Clark doesn't kiss prospects asses very often.
It's amazing how our moron fans listen to other scouts who suck at their jobs and can't produce any talent unless it's a top 10 pick. Rangers have probably developed more young talent the last 8 years without tanking than any team in hockey. They developed 3 rookies last year on a team with over 100 points. That's why I'm against pissing away all these draft picks. The scouting staff is so good that they find players consistently when they have draft picks. If Clark says he had Gropp rated 6th overall, I believe him. Not the other, incompetent scouts around the league who suck at what they do. They also have an incredible knack for finding and developing undrafted talent. That has saved them pissing away picks. Zucc and Girardi are prime examples. However, eventually, if you throw away pick after pick, you end up screwing yourself.
It's the price to try and win a cup Dump. It didn't work but they tried to improve a really good team. Ask LA and Chicago who have 5 cups the past 6 years and were all very active at the trade deadline of it was worth it. LA certainly wouldn't have their cups without the moves. Not going to bash the FO for trying to improve the team with the window where it is.
Problem is Sather's price to go for it now is way too high. Chicago gave up a 1st which I wouldn't have for Vermette. Sather gave up a 1st, 2nd and Duclair for Yandle. LA got Gaborik. Sather gave up 2 first rounders and Callahan for and old guy.
The St Louis trade didnt work out but honestly nobody thought MLS would fall off the cliff so fast. Yes he was an older player but he kept himself in top shape and there was no sign of decline at all. Historically he was also a great playoff guy. It was worth the risk and didn't work out. I dont care about trading Callahan, rather get rid of him then pay him 7m a year. No doubt the 1st rounders for MLS hurt though Kings traded Johnson and a 1st for Carter and won a cup They also traded 2 2nds for Regyr.....and won a cup I would trade a 1st for Vermette if it won our 2nd cup in 75 years
Regehr had nothing to do with that cup. He was hurt all year and didn't play one playoff game. Carter was a huge reason they won 2 cups. He was also 24 when they dealt for him. Vermette did not have a lot to do with Chicago winning the cup. I don't wanna here about a couple of lucky GWG's. He sucked almost the entire playoffs. He was getting 4th line ice time. The same guys as always won Chicago another cup. I would trade a 1st for Vermette if he was a major reason we won a cup. Not a dumbass getting 10 minutes of icetime who had a couple of goals bounce in off his head. Matteau played major minutes for this team when we won a cup. So did Noonan. They were not being used as a 4th liner like Vermette was.
I wouldnt be so quick to say that the St. Louis deal was a total failure. Without him, we do not get to the cup finals two years ago. I dont think anybody would disagree there. And that run allowed a lot of our guys to get a taste of that and see what it takes to win. Getting to the cup finals has the potential to change the course of an organization. All the core guys here have gained valuable experience in finals hockey. How many times have we heard "experience counts" when talking about playoff hockey. If we do win it this year, I think the St. Louis trade will have played a role , even though he wont be on the team.
We need to move past MSL and Vermette... They are moot points.. July 1st is around the corner and if this team is going to contend next year they better sign a quality, top 6 FA
They have absolutely no money to sign a quality FA. Best they can hope for is to trade Yandle, get back two productive NHL players that don't make much and maybe a pick.
Yea they have to have room.... Cap went up a little, Saved Money on Hagelins deal, Talbot, MSL, Sheppard, Hunwick (who should not be brought back)... Fast and Miller should get 800k each and nothing more than that.. Stepan should take 5.7 for a longer term deal..
I hope Fast and Hagelin go for that cheap but I don't see it. Both their agents know the Rangers are going to count on them. Fast was great in the playoffs. I think both are looking at 1.2. I can surely live with that.
They do not have room unless Glass and Klein are traded. And you will not get JT Miller and Jesper Fast below 1m, on their second deals, no way. 800k would represent a pay cut for JT. 1.25 for JT and 1.1 for Fast, if we're lucky.
Before the Raanta trade we had $58.1 on the books, leaving $13.3M to sign backup G, Stepan, Etem, Miller, Fast, add another F or two and a seventh D. Raanta on for 7ook...12.6 left. Stepan gets 6...6.6 left. JT Miller, Jesper Fast and Etem combine for about 3.5...3.1 left. We need a 12th forward on the roster (we only have 11 after Hags MSL and Shepphard)...say Lindberg at 800k....2.3 left. 7th dman? whoever at 700k...that leaves 1.6 million. Who are we signing for 1.6 million to play in the top 6, let alone top 9? We can get a Derek Dorsett for that in today's free agency. That's about it. MAYBE Chris Stewart on a reclamation 1 year deal. Klein needs to go.
