"I used to pray for good things . I used to ask the Hockey Gods for puck luck for the NYR .
Now all I want is Torts the smug stupid goatee clown to be fired , . I hate Torts . Please hockey gods make him get fired. Please Sean punch him in face" -- Dorado
this forum last season was CRAZY on del zotto. ready to trade him for nothing, completely down on him. it's hilarious how quick opinions change. i could tell del zotto had this sort of talent in him but i'd be lying through my teeth if i thought he'd be at this level in the 11-12 season.
But I have to admit that I was on the trade MDZ boat last year.
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"Trust me I'm an expert, I watched 13 rangers games on NHL center Ice this year through streaming." -Starburst
"I don't even understand what the point of all this arguing is. Are you guys hoping that the other side is going to have an epiphany and go 'Oh, OH! You're right, we ARE going to lose this series!'" -Crease
this forum last season was CRAZY on del zotto. ready to trade him for nothing, completely down on him. it's hilarious how quick opinions change. i could tell del zotto had this sort of talent in him but i'd be lying through my teeth if i thought he'd be at this level in the 11-12 season.
I was still a big advocate of his last season. Young defenseman have problems. I said over and over again during the offseason that I expected him to come back and have a solid season for us this year. I had no idea though that he would be this good.
You know, I still think i'd rather have Fowler than McIlrath. I honestly don't think McIlrath will be anything more than a 3rd pairing d-man. But that's for a different discussion.
You know, I still think i'd rather have Fowler than McIlrath. I honestly don't think McIlrath will be anything more than a 3rd pairing d-man. But that's for a different discussion.
You look at our defensive depth and we're really not going to have room for another offensive d-man in the top 4 with the way Del Zotto has elevated his game.... When Erixon's ready for the NHL he's going to be a 3rd pairing guy for the foreseeable future. Luckily Erixon plays an all around game and should be a contributor even with limited minutes in a 3rd pairing role (also an asset on the PP obviously).
one of his best games to date. both offensively and defensively he was brilliant for 60 mins. bravo job well done
Everyone is impressed with what he did in the OT or maybe with his two assists, but what impressed me most was one defensive play that nobody remembers probably, but he pick-pocketed the forward he was defending against, and I thought to myself, "wow, this McDonagh kid is making great defense look easy," only to realize that it was MDZ.
He's really becoming a terrific defensive player. If earlier in the season you could see that his defense is the result of practice and careful thinking, right now it seems like it just comes to him naturally. I'm sure he still thinks hard to make the play, but it doesn't look it anymore.
The kid is quickly turning into a #1-quality defenseman.
Everyone is impressed with what he did in the OT or maybe with his two assists, but what impressed me most was one defensive play that nobody remembers probably, but he pick-pocketed the forward he was defending against, and I thought to myself, "wow, this McDonagh kid is making great defense look easy," only to realize that it was MDZ.
He's really becoming a terrific defensive player. If earlier in the season you could see that his defense is the result of practice and careful thinking, right now it seems like it just comes to him naturally. I'm sure he still thinks hard to make the play, but it doesn't look it anymore.
The kid is quickly turning into a #1-quality defenseman.
Hes really calm with the puck in the defensive zone too.
I was still a big advocate of his last season. Young defenseman have problems. I said over and over again during the offseason that I expected him to come back and have a solid season for us this year. I had no idea though that he would be this good.
Same here. He's now what we HOPED he would be in about 5 years. Anyone who would've predicted this kind of a season for MDZ would have been run out of this forum and straight to a mental institution. He's exceeded expectations times 100.
But I have to admit that I was on the trade MDZ boat last year.
You weren't the only one...I can tell you that.
As for Tim Erixon, I think that MDZ's huge rebound may have ticketed Erixon to another organization in terms of making it in the NHL. Five spots are accounted for when Mike Sauer returns, and an argument can be made that Stralman has the 6th spot locked up. Someone may end up being trade bait, because the Rangers need a more physical and punishing D-man.
