This is what happen since the "Fire Sather"-thread died....
And for Stepan, He needs to be stronger with the puck, he sure got the skills, but in order to take the next step and face the toughest d-men in the league, he must improve.
The thing that cencerns me (and others obviously) about stepan is "How much can he improve".
I like Stepan alot, but with his skill set I don't see him growing into much more than he is now. I saw the upside in DelZotto, I see in Kreider, but Stepan??
He's not a practicualrly fast or great skater, not overly physical.
He is a very heady player with a nice wrist shot and is a good passer. I don't see him growing into much more than a solid 45-50 point guy.
I am honestly embarrassed for the fans of other teams who go on this board and read some of the stupid things that are said. This thread in particular.
I am honestly embarrassed for the fans of other teams who go on this board and read some of the stupid things that are said. This thread in particular.
OK, I'll ask the question. Why are Rangers fans so ignorant?
OK, I'll ask the question. Why are Rangers fans so ignorant?
I do hope that people understand that part of why Eberle is getting paid 6 mil a season is because Edmonton bought up some UFA years, which are always more expensive. I love Eberle, but crying that we got Del Zotto instead of Eberle? That's jut silly. We got a good offensive defenseman, who had 41 points last season, and looks to be playing even better this season. His defensive play has been questioned since before he was drafted. He really has been taking the next step in that area of his game last season and so far in this one.
The Rangers are paying far less for one of the budding offensive defensemen in the league, who plays 20+ minutes per night.
Stepan has 25 less career points then this 6+ mil per season player. Stepan: 2.463 (rounded up) cap hit.
Del Zotto + Stepan = approx 5 million cap hit.
You make a very good point here.
Look, Del Zotto has always exhibited very good offensive awareness augmented by excellent passing skills and he may very well turn out to be a gem in the rough.
Stepan? While he has very good hockey intelligence! awareness and
passing skills, he also has many holes in his game that I believe will stymie his development going forward.
I've been watching Stepan for years now. He plays his best hockey when he has a guy with size on his line. He's not a fast skater, but he's agile. If he gets some open space, you can see the magic he can generate with his vision and hockey sense. He was excellent with Anisimov, played his best minutes of the season with guys like Boyle and Pyatt on his line and was stellar at the WC with Blake Wheeler on his wing. He's a very good player who can, and often does make the players around him better. However, if he had better wheels and a better shot, we wouldn't be griping about him as a #2C, because he'd be a #1 center.
I'm telling you, get this kid out there with someone who can create space -- whether that's Pyatt or someone else, and he, along with his linemates will benefit from it. Not all great players are guys who carry a line themselves. Sometimes you just need to give them the right situation to succeed.
I've been watching Stepan for years now. He plays his best hockey when he has a guy with size on his line. He's not a fast skater, but he's agile. If he gets some open space, you can see the magic he can generate with his vision and hockey sense. He was excellent with Anisimov, played his best minutes of the season with guys like Boyle and Pyatt on his line and was stellar at the WC with Blake Wheeler on his wing. He's a very good player who can, and often does make the players around him better. However, if he had better wheels and a better shot, we wouldn't be griping about him as a #2C, because he'd be a #1 center.
I'm telling you, get this kid out there with someone who can create space -- whether that's Pyatt or someone else, and he, along with his linemates will benefit from it. Not all great players are guys who carry a line themselves. Sometimes you just need to give them the right situation to succeed.
agree completely
i'd like to see him with Nash and Pyatt then put Hags back with Gaborik and Richards
I've been watching Stepan for years now. He plays his best hockey when he has a guy with size on his line. He's not a fast skater, but he's agile. If he gets some open space, you can see the magic he can generate with his vision and hockey sense. He was excellent with Anisimov, played his best minutes of the season with guys like Boyle and Pyatt on his line and was stellar at the WC with Blake Wheeler on his wing. He's a very good player who can, and often does make the players around him better. However, if he had better wheels and a better shot, we wouldn't be griping about him as a #2C, because he'd be a #1 center.
I'm telling you, get this kid out there with someone who can create space -- whether that's Pyatt or someone else, and he, along with his linemates will benefit from it. Not all great players are guys who carry a line themselves. Sometimes you just need to give them the right situation to succeed.
OK, now I get it, its all his linemates fault that he has done nothing positive during the playoffs and this season.
Who knows if he was playing with Crosby & Malkin maybe he would have 1 goal in the past 20 games, instead of ZERO
I've been watching Stepan for years now. He plays his best hockey when he has a guy with size on his line. He's not a fast skater, but he's agile. If he gets some open space, you can see the magic he can generate with his vision and hockey sense. He was excellent with Anisimov, played his best minutes of the season with guys like Boyle and Pyatt on his line and was stellar at the WC with Blake Wheeler on his wing. He's a very good player who can, and often does make the players around him better. However, if he had better wheels and a better shot, we wouldn't be griping about him as a #2C, because he'd be a #1 center.
I'm telling you, get this kid out there with someone who can create space -- whether that's Pyatt or someone else, and he, along with his linemates will benefit from it. Not all great players are guys who carry a line themselves. Sometimes you just need to give them the right situation to succeed.
Been asking for a Kreider-Stepan-Nash line for a while now.
OK, now I get it, its all his linemates fault that he has done nothing positive during the playoffs and this season.
Who knows if he was playing with Crosby & Malkin maybe he would have 1 goal in the past 20 games, instead of ZERO
You and I are on the same page regarding Stephanie. Some people around here think that he doesn't have to score goals as long as he gets assist. Pretty sound logic! Lol
You and I are on the same page regarding Stephanie. Some people around here think that he doesn't have to score goals as long as he gets assist. Pretty sound logic! Lol
So wait, if he had 5 goals and 40 assists in a 48 game season (just saying), that wouldn't be a good season? almost a ppg?
The thing that cencerns me (and others obviously) about stepan is "How much can he improve".
I like Stepan alot, but with his skill set I don't see him growing into much more than he is now. I saw the upside in DelZotto, I see in Kreider, but Stepan??
He's not a practicualrly fast or great skater, not overly physical.
He is a very heady player with a nice wrist shot and is a good passer. I don't see him growing into much more than a solid 45-50 point guy.
Bingo; we have a winner! I've been saying exactly that all along about Stepan. Oh by the way, to the genius who thinks he's better than Henrique, he returned tonite to the Devils and scored a goal!
Last edited by Brian Boyle: 01-31-2013 at 10:37 PM.
So wait, if he had 5 goals and 40 assists in a 48 game season (just saying), that wouldn't be a good season? almost a ppg?
Yes, that would probably be a good season.
But I ask all you guys praising him, one question --- Have you seen him make a really good pass this season that set someone up for a goal? or even a good scoring chance?
