Since most people assume we'll be going into camp with 5/6 spots penciled in (staal, girardi, mcD, Sauer, Erixon), there has been a lot talk about bringing in a vet to fillout that 3rd pairing who won't break the bank. I think Vandermeer would be a nice fit. Thoughts?
Rangers 6-8 defensemen should be: MDZ, Vally and Kundratek. If all of them fail to show themselves competent to be a #6 defenseman, then the Rangers can get someone on the waiver draft or trade for a #6D for a midround pick.
But I feel pretty confident that one of them can prove himself a competent #6D. In fact, I think that all of them are ready for either part-time or full-time NHL duty.
Lemme think ab- NO! Tough and incredibly slow. With our depth of NHL ready prospects, I would prefer we let them play and actually increase their value as assets than let some old slow guy play. If things are really bad, we can sign him mid-way through the season. Or if things are really bad, we can always call up Redden
i rather bring a vet for the 7th spot, and hopefully MDZ returns to his freshman year level of play
Staal - Girardi
MCD - Sauer
MZD - Erixon
Going into the year with that defense is asking for trouble.
2nd year defensemen scare the hell out of me. I have high hopes for Erixon but not without some semblance of a veteran presence. Del Zotto scares the hell out of me.
Redden's salary would count against the cap, which is why he was with the Whale last year.
It's now or never for Valentenko. He'd have to be waived to be sent down, so he's either going to make the team as the 6th or 7th d-man, or they'll try to trade him.
Eminger would be perfect as the extra d-man, unless either Erixon or MDZ isn't ready to contribute on the powerplay. If not, then Sather may look to add a McCabe type for powerplay duty.
Redden's salary would count against the cap, which is why he was with the Whale last year.
It's now or never for Valentenko. He'd have to be waived to be sent down, so he's either going to make the team as the 6th or 7th d-man, or they'll try to trade him.
Eminger would be perfect as the extra d-man, unless either Erixon or MDZ isn't ready to contribute on the powerplay. If not, then Sather may look to add a McCabe type for powerplay duty.
I think Vally is a safe bet to be our #7 defenseman. But if he fails to make it as our #7, we won't trade him anywhere because it will be a sign that he's just not good enough to play in the NHL, so why would anyone give up even a 7th round pick for him?
We have a lot of defensemen long-term, but not a lot coming into this year. We have a solid top-4. Then Erixon should easily lock up a #5 slot.
But spots 6 and 7 are wide open. Even if he plays on par with Kundratek, so long as his play is acceptable, he will be the one to take the #7 spot because 'tek doesn't have to go through waivers to get sent down.
The only way Vally does not make the Rangers this year is if he outright sucks. And if he sucks so much that he can't even be a #7, then forget about him as a player at any point in the future.
The guy will be 24 years old by the start of the season. If a 24 year old can't crack even the part-time spot on a team lacking (in the short-term) blueliner depth, then he's just not a player. I would assume that he'll just turn out and go back to the KHL for the rest of his career at this point. Nobody will give us anything for him and nobody would claim him off waivers.
I think Vally is a safe bet to be our #7 defenseman. But if he fails to make it as our #7, we won't trade him anywhere because it will be a sign that he's just not good enough to play in the NHL, so why would anyone give up even a 7th round pick for him?
other teams have scouts + less blue line depth. I'm sure some of them would love to have Valentenko over say... Sheldon Souray.
I think Vally is a safe bet to be our #7 defenseman. But if he fails to make it as our #7, we won't trade him anywhere because it will be a sign that he's just not good enough to play in the NHL, so why would anyone give up even a 7th round pick for him?
We have great prospect depth on the back end, and other organizations know this. No one would expect him to beat out Staal, McDonagh, Sauer and Girardi, and it would hardly be the end of the world if he were beaten out by Tim Erixon and Michael Del Zotto--two first round picks with plenty of upside. If he failed to make the team, it wouldn't necessarily be a poor reflection on him. What if he has a very good camp, but two other players have great camps?
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We have a lot of defensemen long-term, but not a lot coming into this year. We have a solid top-4. Then Erixon should easily lock up a #5 slot.
But spots 6 and 7 are wide open. Even if he plays on par with Kundratek, so long as his play is acceptable, he will be the one to take the #7 spot because 'tek doesn't have to go through waivers to get sent down.
The only way Vally does not make the Rangers this year is if he outright sucks. And if he sucks so much that he can't even be a #7, then forget about him as a player at any point in the future.
What about Del Zotto? I certainly think he's in the running for a spot in the top six...
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The guy will be 24 years old by the start of the season. If a 24 year old can't crack even the part-time spot on a team lacking (in the short-term) blueliner depth, then he's just not a player. I would assume that he'll just turn out and go back to the KHL for the rest of his career at this point. Nobody will give us anything for him and nobody would claim him off waivers.
He's a prospect competing against other prospects. Again, if he has a solid camp but other guys have great camps, it's not the end of the world for him. I'm sure you could acquire the highly-coveted "future considerations" for him, if nothing else.
I'd wager that the Rangers prefer having a veteran somewhere in the 5/6/7 spots on defense. Even if it's just Steve Eminger again. I don't see them going with Valentenko as the seventh.
If no one has interest in him, though, I think it's due to your last point--the flight risk.
I think Vally is a safe bet to be our #7 defenseman. But if he fails to make it as our #7, we won't trade him anywhere because it will be a sign that he's just not good enough to play in the NHL, so why would anyone give up even a 7th round pick for him?
It would be bad for the kid if the Rangers sit him most nights as a #7 defenseman. You want someone that young playing most nights, not sitting.
It would be bad for the kid if the Rangers sit him most nights as a #7 defenseman. You want someone that young playing most nights, not sitting.
I think what will happen is a repeat of what we saw with Sauer last season. V-tank and (enter cheap vet here) will start the season as 6/7. Tank would have to clear waivers in order to go back to the pack, and he'd probably get picked by someone, so he will start the season on the big club and have a chance to play himself into that 6th spot....just like Sauer did with Eminger.
