If you can't see that, I have no idea what you are looking at. We have 5 players at the AHL level in Miller, McIlrath, Kristo, Lindberg and Fast who AV apparently doesn't think can play with his style. The team has no 3rd or 4th line. It doesn't look like they have money to sign Staal. Something needs to be done. I have to say, Hank is starting to show some age. He gets beat through the five hole a lot now.
I get that AV wants speed on defense but he apparently correlates small stature with speed but McDonough is the biggest guy in the lineup and hands down the best skater. Our defensive lineup without McDonough averages 198.5 pounds and has 4G/19A collectively in 18 games. Contrast that with Montreal 7G/28A, Tampa 9G/29A and Pitt 7G/29A, already a significant difference that is only likely to widen. I don't see the advantage AV sees and the defense's size limitations are apparent when the opponent forechecks aggressively, this group has major issues clearing the puck. I do think the numbers will obviously improve when McD returns and Boyle definitely has offensive ability but Hank is going to constantly have to look through screens and watch guys like Ryan Callahan throw dmen aside to chip in easy goals. I think J. Moore and Hunwick should be replaced by Allen/McIlrath and then rotated when McDonough returns. I really think Staal could be packaged with prospects to bolster the defense.
The Rangers are in a good position to make a couple of deals to improve the team. The hit homeruns drafting Duclair, Buchnevich and then signing Hayes. So, the other prospects that are close to NHL ready will be attractive to teams who are rebuilding or need a change like this team does. The third center spot is a disaster a the moment.
I agree the lack of size on the back end is a problem. It's one of the reasons the Kings wore us down and I thought it made McIlrath a safe bet to make the team. I still want him here but doesn't look like that's happening. Panzer I thought you were wrong about Mac being biggest but you're right. I could have sworn Staal was 215 plus. I know he used to be before his eye injury. He also used to be much more physical before all that happened to him. He used to knock Ovechkin on his ass every time they played. Not sure if he still has that in him anymore, I want to say he does but he hasn't shown it. Either way, trading Staal poses problems unless we get a top 4 left D back. If we don't, AV is either going to pair Boyle and Klein together and create possibly the smaller top 4 pair in the league, or move up good old John Moore to keep the L-R balance. Both of those possibilities are not ideal.
I do not have answers as to why this team is having problems. All I can say is that these players are just going through the motions; no contact; no cohesion; no scoring. Hard to watch their lack of desire. Yeah. Changes need to happen. What changes? Only Sather and AV know.....I hope.
Without going through every NHL roster I have to assume the Rangers have the smallest defense in the NHL especially with McDonough out. I was down on Klein before the season started but he's been surprisingly solid, I was for trading him but he has given a good bang for the buck cap wise. I would think Staal will at the least want Girardi money next year which is understandable on his part but in reality he's barely worth Klein money. I don't think Staal brings that much to the table anymore and it's highly unlikely that he is going to drastically improve and with prospects galore (some of which AV will never give a look) Glen should make a deal with Staal. I think Conor Allen or Dylan McIlrath should get worked into the mix. I would even go so far to say I think Allen is better overall than J. Moore and at 6'1" and 210 an upgrade physically. AV seems to have no use for McIlrath and doesn't even want to give him an opportunity. Some seem to think all he's going to do is drop gloves and fight but at 6'5" 230 opponents will have to keep track where and when he's on the ice, even without throwing the body he's a deterrent. You can't ignore someone his size. Many have posted that his skating is an issue and it may be true that McIlrath doesn't skate as well as other Rangers dmen but he's 30-40 pounds heavier and probably has a foot plus longer reach on most.
Mcilreith should be getting a shot sometime this year but AV married to the left right shot in setting up his d. So mac has girardi, boyle and klein who I thought would be the one moved for mac but he has played well so far ahead of him. The kid is 22 so no way do the rangers give up on him unless their overwhelmed by some teams offer. I think for at least this season the kid can stay at hartford playing major minutes and getting better until needed up here. We do have some decent nhl ready players down below so I think its only a matter of time before slats rips some team off for a center or something else that we need.
