Christopher Higgins - Brandon Dubinsky - Marian Gaborik
Sean Avery - Chris Drury - Ryan Callahan
Ales Kotalik - Artem Anisimov - Enver Lisin
Dane Byers - Brian Boyle - Donald Brashear
TBD - TBD
TBD - TBD
TBD - TBD
Top 5 Defensemen (in no order):
Wade Redden
Michal Rozsival
Marc Staal
Dan Girardi
Matt Gilroy
The results of the poll showed 5 clear candidates for the top 5 defensemen on this year's squad. The 6th defenseman, however, had some controversy as the jackass OP (myself) forgot to add a name.
Therefore, to determine our 6th defenseman and achieve some sort of consistency, I will list the 5 defensemen vying for the 6th spot, and we will vote to fill that spot.
Once this has been determined, we will begin to poll for defensive pairings.
You need to look at this situation from two angles. There are two things our defense is missing: a PP QB and toughness. It's a lot easier to believe that a guy like Sauer can fill the second need, and fill it with some success, as a rookie, than it is that a Del Zotto or Sanguinetti can fill the first one successfully as a rookie.
Plus, Gilroy is supposed to be a capable offensive defenseman, too.
Ive never seen Gilroy or Heiny play and i dont how how the other prospects have developed. I'll reserve judgement and wait until i see some preseason games before i fill out my pairings.
Plus, we dont know if they can all fit under the cap, and if the Rangers are going to sign another defensman (I think they will).
To be honest, the love for Gilroy is quite astounding given that hes never set foot on NHL ice in any capacity. I dont care how old he is or what contract he has.
Ive never seen Gilroy or Heiny play and i dont how how the other prospects have developed. I'll reserve judgement and wait until i see some preseason games before i fill out my pairings.
Plus, we dont know if they can all fit under the cap, and if the Rangers are going to sign another defensman (I think they will).
To be honest, the love for Gilroy is quite astounding given that hes never set foot on NHL ice in any capacity. I dont care how old he is or what contract he has.
I don't think it's "love" for Gilroy. I think a lot of people--myself included--feel that he was signed to play in the NHL right away, regardless of how we feel about him. We've heard how Torts liked him and asked for him, how the Rangers fought hard for him, etc... To me, all signs point toward him having a spot on the defense. That's why I was voting for him; not because I love his game (I don't know that much about him still), but because I just feel like he's an inevitability at this point.
For this poll, I went with Sangs. It's kind of a gut feeling at this point. I do feel that people are way, way too harsh on him when it comes to slamming his defensive ability, and I also think it's ridiculous to project MDZ over him at this point. I think Sauer is the most NHL-ready, and he'd definitely be my number two pick. Again, it's just a gut feeling that gives the edge to Sangs for me.
What do people really know on Heikkinen? It seems like we're relying on literally a handful of reports on the guy, and yet some people think he's on our D right away?
That, invariably, if he is ever good enough to hold a spot on this roster, he will be referred to as "Heineken" for the complete duration of his tenure.
That, invariably, if he is ever good enough to hold a spot on this roster, he will be referred to as "Heineken" for the complete duration of his tenure.
I don't think it's "love" for Gilroy. I think a lot of people--myself included--feel that he was signed to play in the NHL right away, regardless of how we feel about him. We've heard how Torts liked him and asked for him, how the Rangers fought hard for him, etc... To me, all signs point toward him having a spot on the defense. That's why I was voting for him; not because I love his game (I don't know that much about him still), but because I just feel like he's an inevitability at this point.
For this poll, I went with Sangs. It's kind of a gut feeling at this point. I do feel that people are way, way too harsh on him when it comes to slamming his defensive ability, and I also think it's ridiculous to project MDZ over him at this point. I think Sauer is the most NHL-ready, and he'd definitely be my number two pick. Again, it's just a gut feeling that gives the edge to Sangs for me.
What do people really know on Heikkinen? It seems like we're relying on literally a handful of reports on the guy, and yet some people think he's on our D right away?
Fair enough, and i understand thats probably the best way to look at Gilroy's situation... But im not going to pencil him in on that alone. The guy could completely fall apart at this level, we just dont know yet.
Out of curiosity - Does anyone know the last time someone was signed out of D1 college to go on to play a full NHL season on defense the very next year?
Fair enough, and i understand thats probably the best way to look at Gilroy's situation... But im not going to pencil him in on that alone. The guy could completely fall apart at this level, we just dont know yet.
Out of curiosity - Does anyone know the last time someone was signed out of D1 college to go on to play a full NHL season on defense the very next year?
Actually, Jack Hillen of the Islanders is one. He finished his college season, signed, and then played in two games for the Fishies in '08. He then started with the Isles the next year I think, and then split time between the AHL and NHL last season. It's definitely not a "full season" like you said though, so maybe not.
Actually, Jack Hillen of the Islanders is one. He finished his college season, signed, and then played in two games for the Fishies in '08. He then started with the Isles the next year I think, and then split time between the AHL and NHL last season. It's definitely not a "full season" like you said though, so maybe not.
Right, I was referring to last season as the "full season." 2008 couldn't have been a full season since the NHL season ended, obviously. It'd be like if Gilroy played in 2 games for us last year after signing.
Slightly different circumstances but still pretty similar, I think.
In my opinion Corey Potter is a little underrated around here - not overly so but a lot of people are just lumping him in to the "eternal AHL fodder" pile. I think he looked pretty good in his brief call up last season and think he could certainly be a bottom pair Dman at the NHL level so I voted for him.
Don't really know enough about Heikkinen to judge, either.
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"Here we can see the agression of american people. They love fighting and guns. when they wont win they try to kill us all." -HalfOfFame
Do any of you that are voting Heikkanen and pumping up Heikkanen know anything about him?
My reasons for supporting him are simple age, experience playing among men, he has been very productive in a quality league last few years (about .7 ppg), not a softy, and the Rangers were very impressed with him in prospect camp.
I think when you know that the Rangers will be playing at least 2 'Rookies' this year his other experience make him a logical choice.
Do any of you that are voting Heikkanen and pumping up Heikkanen know anything about him?
I didn't vote for him and don't know the people who did, but... the Rangers have liked to have 3 righthanders and 3 lefthanders on D since the lockout. Don't know if that was an organizational thing or a Rennye thing. If it was organizational, then you assume it's going to happen this year. Which means... if you've taken Gilroy (a rightie) as your 5th Dman, your only options on the list for the 6th Dman are MDZ (who I voted for) and Heikkinen - because Sangs, Sauer and Potter are all righties.
I'm gonna be honest, I really don't know who to vote for since I haven't really seen any of them. I' gonna go Potter though because in the limited time I've seen him, he seems to play a solid all around game which is good for a number 6 Dman.
