Quote:
Originally Posted by xxxZENxxx
Here is a entertaining story:
Chapter 1:
Gaborik played in Minny for several years in a defensive-oriented system... and without a true #1 center. He hits free agency and decides that he wants to find new opportunities. The Rangers come to him and say... we have a more wide open offense that will ensure you were scoring opportunities. They also promise to find him a #1 center as soon as one becomes available. In his first year, Gaborik scores a bounty of goals (with some help from Prospal) as Ranger fans see how talented he really is. Gaborik thinks... "maybe I don't need a true #1 center". The fans love Gaborik, despite not making the playoffs.
Chapter 2:
Due to not making the playoffs, Torts goes back to the drawing board. At the beginning of the 2010-2011 season, the coach decides that our best chance to win (due to the lack of talent on the roster) is to play a more defensive-oriented system. Prospal is nowhere to be found because a knee injury. Gaborik goes on to struggle offensively and thinks... "maybe I do need a #1 center". Fans hate Gaborik, despite making the playoffs.
Chapter 3:
The morning after being ousted from the playoffs, Gaborik wakes up in a sweat thinking: "Am I back in Minnesota?" Defensive hell, no center... oh my!
Chapter 4:
At practice... the day before opening night of the 2011-2012 season, Torts comes to Gaborik and some guy named Richards and tells them that their line will be given more offensive leeway in terms of the system. Gaborik scores 2 goals that night... both assisted by Richards  . Gaborik and Richards go on to score points galore and fans rejoice. |
sounds about right, except the downfall didn't happen at the beginning of this season, but almost directly after the Torts, Schoeny, Slats meeting last season. Not even a full blown defensive system was installed yet…. just a strict adherence to 3rd man high in the offensive zone, and demanding wingers stay in front of his d-man in the defensive zone. All of a sudden we started blocking more shots per game, and our offense withered.
Gabby didn't have a 1c in Minny, but he was also younger, and his body was just in the process of wracking up injuries. His game requires explosiveness in his skating, not just to launch himself on a breakaway, but to quickly sidestep a defender to get a shot on net. All season long we watched him get his shots blocked, and not by d-man down low. He was getting blocked by the player right in front of him. Not only that BUT, the reason his shot was so deadly was those little lateral movements and quick release that took the goalie off his mark, and didn't allow him to fully reset his angle. Also his only true "break-away, room creator" the old throw the puck around the defender one way, sweep around the other and meet up with the puck on the other side didn't work A SINGLE TIME this season. I hope to god that there's some nagging injury that's still being covered up due to his wanting to play in the WC. because otherwise he doesn't offer much to the NYR at all, and although Richards could definitely get some more goals out of him, it just wouldn't be worth the investment.