Leddy is 190 pounds. He needs to add weight. Skjei is a big boy. 205 pounds as a 18 year old. Bouwmeester type of player. Big player. Excellent skater. Bouwmeester put up better numbers in FLA than in CAL. Not very physical. Great skater. Good defensively. Not a great offensive player.
Leddy is 190 pounds. He needs to add weight. Skjei is a big boy. 205 pounds as a 18 year old. Bouwmeester type of player. Big player. Excellent skater. Bouwmeester put up better numbers in FLA than in CAL. Not very physical. Great skater. Good defensively. Not a great offensive player.
You had me cheering, then ya lost me when you mentioned Bouwmeester. Thats sad to me.
IMO, and I know its early, I doubt this kid ever plays for us. Trade bait. Someone has to go eventually, lots of projected top 4 Dmen on the club, farm and system. Hashtag we need forwards
Leddy is 190 pounds. He needs to add weight. Skjei is a big boy. 205 pounds as a 18 year old. Bouwmeester type of player. Big player. Excellent skater. Bouwmeester put up better numbers in FLA than in CAL. Not very physical. Great skater. Good defensively. Not a great offensive player.
Bouwmeester, could skate with a carton of eggs and not break them. One of the more frustrating players I ever watched. He had more natural athletic ability in his big toe than most have in their entire body.
He was looked as a leader on Florida and I used to watch the bench and he would just sit in the corner by himself. I got seats right next to the bench. It looked like he was just going through the motions half of the time. I know some people are not vocal but he was different, like he didn't give a cr@p.
In a sense he was a bigtime waste of talent, he should be a top 5 dman in the league easy. Honestly it just looked like he had no heart.
Just my observations over the years he played down here.
Bouwmeester, could skate with a carton of eggs and not break them. One of the more frustrating players I ever watched. He had more natural athletic ability in his big toe than most have in their entire body.
He was looked as a leader on Florida and I used to watch the bench and he would just sit in the corner by himself. I got seats right next to the bench. It looked like he was just going through the motions half of the time. I know some people are not vocal but he was different, like he didn't give a cr@p.
In a sense he was a bigtime waste of talent, he should be a top 5 dman in the league easy. Honestly it just looked like he had no heart.
Just my observations over the years he played down here.
His skating always reminds me of Niedermayer. Effortless. Just doesn't have nearly the same levels of smarts or effort. If he had worked harder earlier in his career on learning to use the ice and get the puck to the right places, he could have been great.
Not to mention his lack of physicality is also a problem. I'm not saying he needs to throe bone-crushers or anything, but a man with his size and quickness should be much more effective at stopping forwards along the boards.
Skjei, meanwhile, was the most impressive player on the ice Wednesday, along with forward Oscar Lindberg, who scored twice off rebounds and will spend next season in Sweden. Goalie Scott Stajcer also looked sharp while flashing a quick glove hand.
Skjei on several occasions played a level above the competition: He squashed a forecheck behind his own net, settled his side and made a smart pass to begin a rush … He weaved around two forwards on the defensive sideboards and dished the puck out of the zone … He made a steady, swift move around a forward in the offensive zone and pushed forward to create a chance … He used his body to effectively fend off the opposition.
Of course, it’s only one day, but Rangers director of player personnel Gordie Clark spoke glowingly of Skjei and of the U.S. development program where he honed his skills. Mark Messier, the Captain, was on hand and commented on Skjei’s impressive composure.
Afterwards, Skjei was asked if there were an NHL defenseman he emulates:
“I’d say the most similar would be Ryan McDonagh,” Skjei said. “We’re both left-handed shots and skate well. That’s a guy I hope to play like one day.”
And think about that – McDonagh, the first-pair defenseman Skjei looks up to, is only 23 years old.
Sounds like he had a good couple of days of skating which is always good for a kid like that. I hope he just continues to develop and fill out. It sounds like the Rangers got a kid who can help the team in the future as McDonagh and Staal are really the only d-men who can even slightly carry the puck up the ice with any sort of efficiency.
So much for you guys getting rid of all the Norwegians. Minnesota-born and with that last name I give it about three weeks before some Norwegian tabloid journalist digs up some great great grandfather that left some godforsaken west coast valley in 1855, and makes it a big deal --> cue journalist on every press conference being on Torts' ass about a roster spot...
Jim Cerny: Zucc: plain and simple, Rangers chose best available player, in their opinion...no matter who you drafted this year with 28th overall selection, that player--forward or defenseman---is not helping you at the NHL level for another 3 years or so...but for argument's sake that best available player could also become a trade bait to fill that hole at forward you discussed before he could even reach the NHL...or Brady Skjei's presence within the organization---even as he developes at U of Minnesota---could make it more possible for Glen to trade a d-man further up the food chain to get a forward beacuse team knows Skjei's on the way...you have to look at bigger picture when you draft
And 2013 will be the year of Jones and MacKinnon. The son of former NBA pro Popeye Jones, Seth is a monster blueliner who excels at every aspect of the game and already measures in at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. Raised in Texas and Colorado, Jones has played the past two seasons with the U.S. national team development program, where he was constantly at the forefront of his team’s success. This year, he formed an excellent pairing with New York Rangers first-rounder Brady Skjei, who went 28th overall in Pittsburgh.
“He’s a great skating defenseman, moves the puck really well,” Jones said. “His reads are really good, he makes the game easy. We had a deal where if he jumped into a play I would stay back. There was never any mix-ups with that, just great chemistry.”
I love that the Rangers are building around great skaters. Kreider, McDonagh, Hagelin, Stepan, Skjei, and Nieves. In today's NHL you don't stand a chance without an ability to skate.
Also, love that we our drafting Americans. This could be because I am American., but I also feel that Americans are more willing to follow behind Torts' theory of a shot blocking system. I'm not sure how much of a shot blocker Skjei is, but I'm hoping that over the next couple years we can transition out of a shot blocking team to a possessive team.
If gong forward NYR " system "'is to collapse down and block shots I don't see them getting to the promised land .
I'll take this style of hockey for a playoff run but for a full season unless NYR have so much depth subjecting the skill players and puck movers they have to the 6 goalie defense will once again take it's toll .
LAK one it with depth up the middle , scoring on all four lines, elite goaltending and a stud off D man dominating on both sides of the puck .
Do you really want to see CK become a puck shield or do you wanna see him race through all three zones with speed and finish .
NYR need speed on all four lines and balanced scoring . If they get that they can allow Henke to stop the puck
I love that the Rangers are building around great skaters. Kreider, McDonagh, Hagelin, Stepan, Skjei, and Nieves. In today's NHL you don't stand a chance without an ability to skate.
Also, love that we our drafting Americans. This could be because I am American., but I also feel that Americans are more willing to follow behind Torts' theory of a shot blocking system. I'm not sure how much of a shot blocker Skjei is, but I'm hoping that over the next couple years we can transition out of a shot blocking team to a possessive team.
I agree with your sentiments, but Stepan is nowhere close to being a great skater. His lack of mobility has a lot to do with his inability to produce consistently.
I agree with your sentiments, but Stepan is nowhere close to being a great skater. His lack of mobility has a lot to do with his inability to produce consistently.
51 points in his 2nd season at the ripe old age of 21, isn't consistent? He can certainly stand to improve his skating but what were you expecting in his 2nd season? 70 points?
Stepan isn't a superstar player.
Edit: Only 3 players his age or younger were in the top 30: Tavares, Karlsson and Seguin. We can all agree he isn't in that class. Then from 60 down it was Ryan O'Reilly, Landeskog, RNH and Taylor Hall. In the top 90 that's 7 players that out produced Stepan at his age or younger. The only guy that wasn't a top 10 pick was O'Reilly, who was a 2nd round pick as well. Stepan is just fine in the development process.
51 points in his 2nd season at the ripe old age of 21, isn't consistent? He can improve his skating but what were you expecting in his 2nd season? 70 points?
Stepan isn't a superstar player.
consisntently doesn't mean he can score 40 points to start the season then slowly produce 10 more... he was on pace for 80 points at one point, wasn't he? (and i'm pretty sure like 246 after his first nhl game ... if he was consistent he would score what he was on pace to score be it 50 or 246.
that said i think stepan gets more bashing than he should. kid's gonna be a stud. he was on pace for that 80 playing with gaborik and i believe hagelin. his playoff performance was abysmal, but he's a 21 year old kid (22 now maybe?). we have nothing to worry about... he's def not the skater we had hoped, but anybody can improve that if boyle did.
consisntently doesn't mean he can score 40 points to start the season then slowly produce 10 more... he was on pace for 80 points at one point, wasn't he? (and i'm pretty sure like 246 after his first nhl game ... if he was consistent he would score what he was on pace to score be it 50 or 246.
that said i think stepan gets more bashing than he should. kid's gonna be a stud. he was on pace for that 80 playing with gaborik and i believe hagelin. his playoff performance was abysmal, but he's a 21 year old kid (22 now maybe?). we have nothing to worry about... he's def not the skater we had hoped, but anybody can improve that if boyle did.
Gotcha, scoring for non super stars, in the NHL has to be a straight line process to be considered consistent.
You had me cheering, then ya lost me when you mentioned Bouwmeester. Thats sad to me.
IMO, and I know its early, I doubt this kid ever plays for us. Trade bait. Someone has to go eventually, lots of projected top 4 Dmen on the club, farm and system. Hashtag we need forwards
Eh, could be. He won't be ready for at least 3 years in all likelihood and who knows by then what might happen. Injuries, trades, busts, etc.
Also, Bouwmeester is a very good defenseman at several things, but has big holes in his game making that $6+ mill cap hit pretty ugly. He'd be considered pretty good if he wasn't so hyped in his draft and if he wasn't paid such a ridiculous contract
Eh, could be. He won't be ready for at least 3 years in all likelihood and who knows by then what might happen. Injuries, trades, busts, etc.
Also, Bouwmeester is a very good defenseman at several things, but has big holes in his game making that $6+ mill cap hit pretty ugly. He'd be considered pretty good if he wasn't so hyped in his draft and if he wasn't paid such a ridiculous contract
I think guys who skate like this tend to standout so much more at that age that some tend to look past everything else. Maybe this kid is the exception and he matures into something more. Not thrilled he's going to Minny but he has real passion for that team and I'm sure he'll be a leader and a top player there.
Gotcha, scoring for non super stars, in the NHL has to be a straight line process to be considered consistent.
The whole definition of consistency is being able to do something at a steady pace. If he scores 50 points in 10 games and goes on and score 0 for another 70, he's not consistent. I don't bash Stepan or anything, I like him. It's a pretty much well known fact that the sophomore year is hard and a big problem for young players is consistency. I'm sure he'll be fine down the line.
The whole definition of consistency is being able to do something at a steady pace. If he scores 50 points in 10 games and goes on and score 0 for another 70, he's not consistent. I don't bash Stepan or anything, I like him. It's a pretty much well known fact that the sophomore year is hard and a big problem for young players is consistency. I'm sure he'll be fine down the line.
Gee thanks, didn't realize that. However, I just watched a different player than you during the year because during the regular season he looked fine to me.
How about this, his game log is pretty consistent. Here in 10 game stretches the amount of games he had a point or more. This is a ridiculous exersize as it is just point totaling but shows he was fairly consistent.
Gee thanks, didn't realize that. However, I just watched a different player than you during the year because during the regular season he looked fine to me.
How about this, his game log is pretty consistent. Here in 10 game stretches the amount of games he had a point or more. This is a ridiculous exersize as it is just point totaling but shows he was fairly consistent.
For those who know more about Brady than I do, how would he compare to say, someone like John Moore, drafted by Columbus a few years ago.
I think the expectation at the time he was drafted was that Moore was going to be a bit more offensive oriented. I don't think Skjei is really seen as having a higher offensive ceiling (or at least he shouldn't be seen that way).
Skjei also figures to be significantly bigger than Moore is at this stage in his development. Probably in the 220-230 range, to go along with his 6'3/6'4 frame.
Skjei is a two-way defenseman who's biggest strength is going to be his ability to read and react. His skating may lead some people to place unfair expectations on him, but if they appreciate him for what he is capable of, playing sound defense, they will not be disappointed.
... if he was consistent he would score what he was on pace to score be it 50 or 246. 
