He was great defensively tonight, as was most of the team. Made a couple of nervous passes, but that's nitpicking for a guy in his 4th game. If he keeps it up for the rest of the season, they won't miss Rozsival much. You can bet your ass Sauer will be fine.
This was one of those games where I missed bits and pieces of it, and was making dinner during a lot of it so I wasn't watching really carefully, but McDonagh definitely seemed to have a strong game. Stopping guys one on one, stepping up when it was needed, making a few good passes, etc. He's building some confidence and looking strong.
Hope he keeps it up. Not really sure what the Rangers are going to do with their defense...so many young guys who deserve roster spots and not enough space! I still think they might send him down and bring Del Zotto back up in his place, but that might depend on how Gilroy does QBing the PP
Loved him in the 2007. He was a player I had hoped would be available for the Rangers when the drafted. (Of course, I was thrilled at the time when Cherepanov fell into our laps.) Completely stunned when Montreal made him available in the Gomez deal. I think the interesting dilemma becomes, who do the Rangers keep this upcoming off-season, Gilroy or Eminger? Both are UFAs, but, IMO, there will only be room for one, as you'd have a balance of three LHers, (Staal, McDonagh, MDZ), and three RHers, (Girardi, Sauer, and one of the aforementioned duo.) Ideally, I'd like to see Gilroy continue to improve his trade value, and perhaps move him by the deadline for a vet D-man down the stretch.
he had a great play during the canuck game when he tied up the mans body and then kicked the puck to his teammate, i was amazed how smart of a play it was
I like this guy a lot. Very, very good skater. Good offensive instincts, and his intelligence is through the roof. I'm highly impressed with how well he has played in his first NHL action. It's like all these solid dmen are coming out of nowhere. Sauer, Eminger, McDonagh.
he had a great play during the canuck game when he tied up the mans body and then kicked the puck to his teammate, i was amazed how smart of a play it was
Yep, and he did it without taking a penalty. Astoundingly smart play.
This was one of those games where I missed bits and pieces of it, and was making dinner during a lot of it so I wasn't watching really carefully, but McDonagh definitely seemed to have a strong game. Stopping guys one on one, stepping up when it was needed, making a few good passes, etc. He's building some confidence and looking strong.
Hope he keeps it up. Not really sure what the Rangers are going to do with their defense...so many young guys who deserve roster spots and not enough space! I still think they might send him down and bring Del Zotto back up in his place, but that might depend on how Gilroy does QBing the PP
Del Zotto coming back depends on whether he will get his confidence back soon enough in the AHL. I haven't seen any of his play down there, but considering his level of confidence before he was sent down, I think it might take some time for him to come back.
If McDonagh continues this play and if Del Zotto is brought back, I'd probably sit Gilroy to have that balance of 3 lefties and 3 righties on defense.
seriously, the thing with mcd is his stride. he has a fluid, powerful skating stride. as with anything hockey, the better the skater, the better the potential player. this kid can flat out skate. i like him and i really like this young defense.
if ftank or kundratek can step in and add some snarl, we should be set on the blueline.
I cannot wait to see this kid play on the Rangers. I'll be home Saturday night, so hopefully I can catch the Habs game.
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"Of course giving Sather cap space is like giving teenagers whiskey and car keys." - SBOB "Watching Sather build a team is like watching a blind man with no fingers trying to put together an elaborate puzzle." - Shadowtron
Sestito still on the make a wish tour. - rholt168
seriously, the thing with mcd is his stride. he has a fluid, powerful skating stride. as with anything hockey, the better the skater, the better the potential player. this kid can flat out skate. i like him and i really like this young defense.
if ftank or kundratek can step in and add some snarl, we should be set on the blueline.
Very impressed with how quickly hes assimilated himself to the NHL game.
We all saw some very good tools in camp, and imo he actually could have made the team then (if the Rangers really needed to take him on), but the management did the right thing sending him down to learn the professional game speed.
His footspeed, balance and recovery is very impressive - and i think he'll have the ability to add some offense in the future a la Girardi with that quick snapper he can get on net from the point.
Back when we made the Gomez trade I remember saying that in a few years the rangers could have one of, if not the best defense in the nhl
Glad to see its progressing in the right direction
It's awesome to see a position of weakness turn into a position of strength
It's even better when half of the group or more is home grown...I've said for years that you can potentially by your offense but to be successful you have to raise your d
After a shaky first game, this kid really settled in. Looks to me like he belongs out there. In fact it looks to me like the whole defense top to bottom belongs out there.
With MDZ in CT still this is actually a great problem to have!
Loved him in the 2007. He was a player I had hoped would be available for the Rangers when the drafted. (Of course, I was thrilled at the time when Cherepanov fell into our laps.) Completely stunned when Montreal made him available in the Gomez deal. I think the interesting dilemma becomes, who do the Rangers keep this upcoming off-season, Gilroy or Eminger? Both are UFAs, but, IMO, there will only be room for one, as you'd have a balance of three LHers, (Staal, McDonagh, MDZ), and three RHers, (Girardi, Sauer, and one of the aforementioned duo.) Ideally, I'd like to see Gilroy continue to improve his trade value, and perhaps move him by the deadline for a vet D-man down the stretch.
Gilroy will be RFA. We could probably keep both Gilroy and Eminger, but one will be a health scratch each night, barring injuries, but that's a good problem to have.
Kundratek can spend another year in Hartford refining his game. He's been good from all reports, but he's still very young. There's time to get him into the lineup. Vtank, I don't know. There may just not be a spot for him. And then there's Pashnin, who is supposed to come over next year. He could spend a year in the AHL.
I think someone will get traded or let go from the group of Gilroy, Eminger, Vtank and Pashnin. Maybe two of them. Of those, only Gilroy is a PMD. It's crazy how much depth we have on defense, and how young they are.
Very impressed with how quickly hes assimilated himself to the NHL game.
We all saw some very good tools in camp, and imo he actually could have made the team then (if the Rangers really needed to take him on), but the management did the right thing sending him down to learn the professional game speed.
His footspeed, balance and recovery is very impressive - and i think he'll have the ability to add some offense in the future a la Girardi with that quick snapper he can get on net from the point.
That is the beauty of our depth...no need to rush any guy...Vtank and Kund can stay in Hartford along with MDZ...let them grow and understand the position more fundamentaly and then you call them up when needed.
Gilroy will be RFA. We could probably keep both Gilroy and Eminger, but one will be a health scratch each night, barring injuries, but that's a good problem to have.
Kundratek can spend another year in Hartford refining his game. He's been good from all reports, but he's still very young. There's time to get him into the lineup. Vtank, I don't know. There may just not be a spot for him. And then there's Pashnin, who is supposed to come over next year. He could spend a year in the AHL.
I think someone will get traded or let go from the group of Gilroy, Eminger, Vtank and Pashnin. Maybe two of them. Of those, only Gilroy is a PMD. It's crazy how much depth we have on defense, and how young they are.
Gilroy will be RFA. We could probably keep both Gilroy and Eminger, but one will be a health scratch each night, barring injuries, but that's a good problem to have.
Kundratek can spend another year in Hartford refining his game. He's been good from all reports, but he's still very young. There's time to get him into the lineup. Vtank, I don't know. There may just not be a spot for him. And then there's Pashnin, who is supposed to come over next year. He could spend a year in the AHL.
I think someone will get traded or let go from the group of Gilroy, Eminger, Vtank and Pashnin. Maybe two of them. Of those, only Gilroy is a PMD. It's crazy how much depth we have on defense, and how young they are.
