Isn't Stepan there? Maybe he can knock some sense into him!
Only hitch is that Stepan will be playing for Hartford and it sounds like McDonagh only wants to sign if he'll be playing in the NHL this season.... I.E. Wisconsin or Rangers.... Granted we know he has to earn it but it doesn't sound like he would be happy playing in Hartford knowing he could have opted to go back to WI...
Tortorella has already been quoted as saying that Grachev, Stepan, and Weise will be given long looks at training camp. Stepan might not play in the AHL as first assumed by many, including me.
My question is this, what does he expect another organization to do differently? If he doesn't sign with us I have no idea WTF he's looking for....
To me it's either one of two things, neither of which are good:
1. He's not confident in his place on the depth chart.
2. He just simply doesn't want to play in NY.
I'm personally tired of this nonsense. This kid is showing zero passion for the team, and in doing so his passion for the game itself is coming into question. It's honestly past the point of no return for me. Ship him out.
Torts has mentioned Weise more than a few times in his interviews lately. I guess he found out that Weise is a bigger stronger version of Ryan Callahan. I think a 4th line of Prust-Boyle-Weise can be very good next year.
I don't get the hate on McDonagh. It just sounds like he's trying to make a decision, and isn't sure. I don't blame him for being cautious and thinking things through and deciding what he really wants to do when there's no need to rush.
My question is this, what does he expect another organization to do differently? If he doesn't sign with us I have no idea WTF he's looking for....
Honestly, everything this guy has said just screams to me that he absolutely loves college, which I have no problems with.
From a professional standpoint, I think he knows he's ready and that the best move for his development is probably to turn pro now. But it just seems like he's very, very attached to Wisconsin and his hockey team back there, and the idea of getting a college degree.
Can't blame him for that, and honestly I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often with college players.
With as little information as we have, I'm not going to extrapolate and assume that he has motivation issues or does not have the dedication to play in the NHL at a competitive level.
I laughed at the quote about him being traded by montreal he summed it up "You're just a piece of meat to them." Sounds like he reads these threads about him.
why shouldn't he want the Rangers to prove they "worthy"?
wouldn't you in his situation?
Would I? absolutely not. To be given a chance to play in the NHL is an honor, and to have a team all but getting down on their knees and begging you to sign is and even bigger honor. Doesn't matter what team it is. Who is he, Eric Lindros?
Would I? absolutely not. To be given a chance to play in the NHL is an honor, and to have a team all but getting down on their knees and begging you to sign is and even bigger honor. Doesn't matter what team it is. Who is he, Eric Lindros?
those of us not blown away by the of the honor of the situation will recognize that in 14 months he would have an opportunity to choose between any NHL organization, many of them better than this one. he would be a fool to blindly sign with the Rangers.
My guess is that around this time last year Montreal was selling him a similar story, how he'd get a shot in camp and he's a big part of their team going forward. I can't blame him for being a little bit skeptical, but at the end of the day I'm pretty sure a deal will get done.
I don't get the hate on McDonagh. It just sounds like he's trying to make a decision, and isn't sure. I don't blame him for being cautious and thinking things through and deciding what he really wants to do when there's no need to rush.
I agree.
And physically, he may be ready, but it seems like mentally he is not. No need to force him into signing prematurely. If his heart is set in Wisconsin for next season, so be it. It will give him another season to mature.
To me it's either one of two things, neither of which are good:
1. He's not confident in his place on the depth chart.
2. He just simply doesn't want to play in NY.
I'm personally tired of this nonsense. This kid is showing zero passion for the team, and in doing so his passion for the game itself is coming into question. It's honestly past the point of no return for me. Ship him out.
This is how I took it too.
He knows we're stacked on D and wants to ensure he has a spot on the team.
Well, we traded Sangs. If that's not good enough for him, then he can piss off.
edit: hah, like 30 seconds after he mentions how Pashnin follows him around because he doesn't speak any English, you see Pashnin lurking in the background
edit: hah, like 30 seconds after he mentions how Pashnin follows him around because he doesn't speak any English, you see Pashnin lurking in the background
edit: hah, like 30 seconds after he mentions how Pashnin follows him around because he doesn't speak any English, you see Pashnin lurking in the background
Wow, Grachev's english is impeccable, he almost sounds like he doesn't have much of an accent anymore too
He knows we're stacked on D and wants to ensure he has a spot on the team.
We're really not stacked on D though.... Sanguinetti was traded and was a long shot to ever make this team given the current pieces... Potter/Sauer appear to be marginal NHL prospects.... Sauer more likely could be a 5/6 guy.... Gilroy is a questionable NHL defenseman who was not good enough his rookie year to even stay in our line-up, and he's 26.... Really, when it comes down to it, even without the Sanguinetti trade, McDonagh was going to be 2nd in our depth chart behind MDZ....
When you look at our veteran players:
Redden - team is looking to rid themselves of him and his contract
Rozsival - team will likely look to trade him and the remaining time on his contract for a more cost effective option
From a roster perspective there's nothing standing in his way from making the team...
Was saying the same thing to myself, his English is amazing after just 2 years in NA.
He knew enough when he was drafted to answer questions on his own. Makes sense that it's gotten much better in two years. I think it was mentioned in one of the beat writers blogs that he actually helped Anisimov with translating at one of these camps
