They both shoot left, so I assume its one or the other for starting night.
Sauer will be fighting for his spot with Gilroy.
But I digress... I think McDonagh is NHL ready, i think the coaches think he is NHL ready, and I think by the end of the year he could be playing top 4 with Rozy very successfully.
The only way Valentenko makes it over him is if he wins Tortorella over with grit and his "mean" style, while being solid in his own end.
With Eminger shooting right, It would seem one of the two would have to make it.
I'd like both to make the team, but I think only one of them will get the 5/6 spot while Semenov or Gilroy gets the last spot. Maybe Valentenko gets the #7 spot?
I'd like both to make the team, but I think only one of them will get the 5/6 spot while Semenov or Gilroy gets the last spot. Maybe Valentenko gets the #7 spot?
I think Ryan McD makes it and Sauer makes it over Gilroy.
Then next year, Valentenko is one the rookies we take on. Hopefully if Sauers awesome performance in camp and last game isn't just a flash in the pan he can take on 2nd pairing minutes?
Staal-Girardi
MDZ-Sauer
McD-Valentenko
as our d line-up next year? What do you guys think?
I think it will be Eminger, McDonagh, and Semenov for the last 3 spots with Eminger being waived if Gilroy or Tank play well in Hartford. Does Gilroy have to clear waivers to go down?
I think it will be Eminger, McDonagh, and Semenov for the last 3 spots with Eminger being waived if Gilroy or Tank play well in Hartford. Does Gilroy have to clear waivers to go down?
no he can go up and down, Rather have a more physical defensive Dman. Gilroy is more of an offensive threat and plays like a Forward. Let him gain some confidence in Hartford
I think McDonagh and one of Valentenko/Sauer make the team this season. IMO, Gilroy will be moved by the end of training camp to a team who has had an injury and is looking for a young defenseman with some upside for a pick or a prospect.
Although it would be pretty ironic to see a top-pairing of Redden-Gilroy in Hartford/Connecticut
McD will make the team in my opinion. He looked solid the other night I thought - I'm not sure where some of these other reports are coming from. He got beat by plain out foot speed but only by Parise and Kovy, two of the fastest skaters in the game. Aside from that he looked confident and really, really, strong. He was tossing some of those guys around out there.
I think Tank brings what Torts wants the most, that is a nasty player with a good point shot. We need both of those things badly. If he plays well I'd expect him to make the team as well.
I'm looking forward to seeing Valentenko play tonight. Some people feel he needs some time at Hartford. It's pretty much McDonagh's job to lose.
I'm hoping that Sauer wins the job on the right side. Having a bottom pair of McDonagh-Sauer the rangers will have a much more physical bottom pair than last year with Redden and Gilroy. Both were soft and not good offensively or defensively. I think Semenov or Eminger will be the 7th defenseman.
Both players looks to be the same.. good size, steady players... This team really has some good depth with players like Valentenko and McD
I really am not sure of the reasons why the Canadians basically threw in McD in that trade for Gomez. From what I can see from McD, he looks to be an NHL player.. Perhaps a Girardi type player in time. Maybe McD was sleeping with Gainey's daiughter or something... Who knows.. lol
I think Ryan McD makes it and Sauer makes it over Gilroy.
Then next year, Valentenko is one the rookies we take on. Hopefully if Sauers awesome performance in camp and last game isn't just a flash in the pan he can take on 2nd pairing minutes?
Staal-Girardi
MDZ-Sauer
McD-Valentenko
as our d line-up next year? What do you guys think?
almost all home grown guys (exception of mcd thru trade obviously) <3 i dont think weve seen this since....well i cant recall
I really didn't see much of Valentenko. Hopefully I can get a good read on him tonight. I saw by watching McDonagh that he has loads of potential, but he seemed pretty nervous out there which is understandable. Not quite sure how to word this but you could tell he was a rookie out there.
