I think the reason people slot Lindberg as a fourth liner is because the other three spots seem to be taken with Richards, Stepan, and Boyle. No way Torts starts taking away ice time from Boyle unless Lindberg lights it up in preseason next year. A lot can change of course.
He's going to get his ice time even if he is only playing fourth line with PKing and important Defensive zone draws. I know he could always start in the AHL but he'll be 22 a few weeks into the season so there's a very good shot he's ready for 8-11 minutes a night.
Skeji seems like a great pick. The real thing I'm curious about especially after what Leslie said is how high did Gordie/Gorton really rank him? I know the Rangers were very high on Vasilevsky.
i would say long term he is behind richards, stepan and miller
Miller has already been moved to the wing. That's where he'll likely continue to play.
time will tell on that. i just know gordie clark has said he sees him as being a center. maybe he stays at wing, maybe they are just trying to make the jump to the ahl at 19 easier
but either way the point remains, penciling lindberg in on the 4th line becomes less of an 'insult' if you factor in the centers that are penciled in ahead of him.
I think the reason people slot Lindberg as a fourth liner is because the other three spots seem to be taken with Richards, Stepan, and Boyle. No way Torts starts taking away ice time from Boyle unless Lindberg lights it up in preseason next year. A lot can change of course.
He's going to get his ice time even if he is only playing fourth line with PKing and important Defensive zone draws. I know he could always start in the AHL but he'll be 22 a few weeks into the season so there's a very good shot he's ready for 8-11 minutes a night.
Skeji seems like a great pick. The real thing I'm curious about especially after what Leslie said is how high did Gordie/Gorton really rank him? I know the Rangers were very high on Vasilevsky.
Hagelin was 22 as well. I would not be surprised if they send Lindberg down to get used to the rink size and then bring him up half-way through the year like they did with Hagelin.
time will tell on that. i just know gordie clark has said he sees him as being a center. maybe he stays at wing, maybe they are just trying to make the jump to the ahl at 19 easier
but either way the point remains, penciling lindberg in on the 4th line becomes less of an 'insult' if you factor in the centers that are penciled in ahead of him.
It's not just calling him a 4th liner, it's that people were backing it up by just looking at his stats in a men's pro league from when he was 19-20 years old. I really think he is underrated.
Players who know the defensive side of the puck and are good at certain aspects of the game (PK, FO's) normally find there way into more and more ice time which helps them develop.
time will tell on that. i just know gordie clark has said he sees him as being a center. maybe he stays at wing, maybe they are just trying to make the jump to the ahl at 19 easier
but either way the point remains, penciling lindberg in on the 4th line becomes less of an 'insult' if you factor in the centers that are penciled in ahead of him.
Well he spent most of his time last season at wing as well, IIRC. He may get moved back to center at some point down the road, but I think he's a LW for the foreseeable future.
Your point about Lindberg is well taken though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYR Boyler87
It's not just calling him a 4th liner, it's that people were backing it up by just looking at his stats in a men's pro league from when he was 19-20 years old. I really think he is underrated.
Players who know the defensive side of the puck and are good at certain aspects of the game (PK, FO's) normally find there way into more and more ice time which helps them develop.
I hope his offense continues to develop. I've never been particularly high on Lindberg, but I'd love to be wrong. Early returns from this season seem to indicate I am.
I was much higher on Hagelin than most, because I watched him a lot and could see that he had "it." Just understood the game and would succeed in whatever role was asked of him. Hopefully Lindberg "gets it" as well.
It's not just calling him a 4th liner, it's that people were backing it up by just looking at his stats in a men's pro league from when he was 19-20 years old. I really think he is underrated.
Players who know the defensive side of the puck and are good at certain aspects of the game (PK, FO's) normally find there way into more and more ice time which helps them develop.
I think the label got attached more in the context of his trade to the Rangers for Grachev. At that time Grachev was fast falling to the "bust" status as the Rangers prospect so when in return the Rangers acquired Lindberg - it was natural to look for perceived deficiencies in his game or development. So based on his stats and maybe some commentaries from "experts" that deficiency was identified as a lack of offensive upside.
BTW did Grachev go back to Russia for the lock-out or AHL?
I think the label got attached more in the context of his trade to the Rangers for Grachev. At that time Grachev was fast falling to the "bust" status as the Rangers prospect so when in return the Rangers acquired Lindberg - it was natural to look for perceived deficiencies in his game or development. So based on his stats and maybe some commentaries from "experts" that deficiency was identified as a lack of offensive upside.
BTW did Grachev go back to Russia for the lock-out or AHL?
The Rangers got Lindberg for Ethan Werek.
They got a 3rd round pick (Fogarty) for Grachev.
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"Here we can see the agression of american people. They love fighting and guns. when they wont win they try to kill us all." -HalfOfFame
You're exactly right, however my point remains the same - the perception was influenced by the trade for "damaged" goods.
The organization soured on Werek, however Lindberg was rumored to not want to sign in PHX. Werek finished last year with 19 points, 10 goals in 67 games in the AHL. Not a terrible 1st year in the AHL.
I hope Spelling isn't too down about playing in the U20 league. He should use it as motivation and try to absolutely dominate as best as he can. This is still a pretty good step for him developmentally.
I hope Spelling isn't too down about playing in the U20 league. He should use it as motivation and try to absolutely dominate as best as he can. This is still a pretty good step for him developmentally.
Spelling is in 3rd place in scoring in the J20 SuperElit Södra League in Sweden with 6 goals, 8 assists and 15 points in 11 games. Our other European pick from this year - Calle Andersson is in 5th place (1st place for defensemen by far) in the same league. Not bad.
The guy to watch is however William Nylander Altelius, playing for SSK, son of former Ranger Micjael Nylander. 2nd in scoring in this same league right now (at a mere 16 years of age) with talent just oozing out in every way! Possibly a top tier draft pick in the NHL 2 years from now, he will most likely take the college route in the future. He would have been playing with men already now, but abdicated in order to save his college eligibility!
