if your reasoning for wanting MZA is because he plays better defensively than brad richards you can't seriously think you have an understanding of hockey. brad richards isn't much of a defensive player, but he's also a huge upgrade offensively from MZA. MZA's skills can only get showcased in special teams and the shootout. he's been consistently below average as a 5 on 5 player.
the guy will never make it on this team. effort doesn't matter on a team based around forechecking and defensive play when you can't do either of those things effectively, and your offensive talent isn't so great that it outweighs that fact. give me a tough stu bickell or john scott at 4th line forward over MZA ANY DAY.
the people who want MZA are all the same people who think brad richards was a bust. completely based on stats and not actually watching and understanding the game. every game MZA played in last season he was completely overpowered and did not look like he belonged. i'd rather stick with somebody who has proven he can take the physical abuse.
Wait what? His 5on5 play is good too, he 14 of his points were on 5 on 5, and his corsi was the best on the team (again, ruling out the guys that has played under 10 matches). And this team is built on effort in the forecheking and defensive play. You can't take out the effort of the equation here. I'd rather have a sub-par guy who tries every time, than a above-par player that only tries if he isn't tired yet.
And I can agree MZA looks lost from time to time, but if you study him, you can see that he's always thinking three steps down the road, and has a nack for being in the right place at the right time way more than by pure luck alone...
Offensivly BR are having a 0,1 higher pts/game average than MZA had last year. Considering that MZA was a rookie, and BR is a veteran, I can't see how he is a HUGE upgrade offensivly (and I'm not calling Brad Richards a bust in any way shape or form), at least not when we are thinking long term.
i wouldn't take mitchell out of the lineup. feds or rupp could sit though...i like rupp but he seems a bit injury prone. maybe he's still nursing some bumps and bruises. feds is a good glue guy but maybe not the best guy to move up to fill-in for callahan. and he really hasn't done much offensively.
i'd do something like this...dubinsky could sit for feds if tortorella wants to keep punishing him.
Even if he made a miraculous turnaround and started light workouts tomorrow... guy would still be very out of shape and wouldn't be able to go probably until playoff time.
His brother has played one game since 2009 with concussions symptoms.
Wait what? His 5on5 play is good too, he 14 of his points were on 5 on 5, and his corsi was the best on the team (again, ruling out the guys that has played under 10 matches). And this team is built on effort in the forecheking and defensive play. You can't take out the effort of the equation here. I'd rather have a sub-par guy who tries every time, than a above-par player that only tries if he isn't tired yet.
And I can agree MZA looks lost from time to time, but if you study him, you can see that he's always thinking three steps down the road, and has a nack for being in the right place at the right time way more than by pure luck alone...
Offensivly BR are having a 0,1 higher pts/game average than MZA had last year. Considering that MZA was a rookie, and BR is a veteran, I can't see how he is a HUGE upgrade offensivly (and I'm not calling Brad Richards a bust in any way shape or form), at least not when we are thinking long term.
Saw this alot of times last year, the guy constantly found holes and spaces in front of the net but rarely got a pass. The day he`s paired with guys with the right skills it will be huge, mark my words.. I think Richards is a good tip here.
The Rangers should trade MZA to either Phoenix or Florida. He's not a physical player, but he'd be a better fit in their systems (like Korpedo and Wolski). This would also shift the allegiances of all the Norwegian NHL fans, when those two franchises could really use some fans.
please explain the logic in not qualifying Zuke. Is he not still young? Is he not a AHL all star?
At the very least you retain his rights since his qualifying offer is low.
This season is not over. If a top 6 player gets hurt Zuke is going to get called up...............then we will see what he is made of
I don't really consider his QO to be low at $945,000. Not for a player who doesn't play for the team. He's 24, so in terms of player development, he isn't that young. Not that I'm calling him old, obviously.
The real reason why he wouldn't be qualified is that he doesn't fit the team's identity and there isn't a whole lot of room for him to begin with. Although, I wouldn't be surprised to see him dealt at the draft either.
It'll be interesting to see what he does with a shot on the roster.
I don't really consider his QO to be low at $945,000. Not for a player who doesn't play for the team. He's 24, so in terms of player development, he isn't that young. Not that I'm calling him old, obviously.
The real reason why he wouldn't be qualified is that he doesn't fit the team's identity and there isn't a whole lot of room for him to begin with. Although, I wouldn't be surprised to see him dealt at the draft either.
It'll be interesting to see what he does with a shot on the roster.
Considering the Rangers are full of cash, and they don't need to pay it all if he doesn't play for the rangers, it would be unwise to do otherwise, it's basicly giving him away to another team for nothing.
I understand that some people criticize MZA's footspeed or see him as weakening our forechecking if he takes a regular shift, but he has the skill and vision to possibly help our powerplay.
Really, we have 4th line guys playing barely 7 mins a game. Couldn't he fill in a couple of even-strength shifts and then be a powerplay specialist? As bad as our powerplay is, I can't believe this hasn't been tried.
Give Feds some rest before the playoffs...
Scott should not be playing unless its against the Boston Bruins or maybe the TML to give Phaneuf the *ss whipping he so dearly deserves...
Give Feds some rest before the playoffs...
Scott should not be playing unless its against the Boston Bruins or maybe the TML to give Phaneuf the *ss whipping he so dearly deserves...
I could go for that. seems like we should play him a bit just to reaffirm if we should resign the kid or not. he's a great passer, but can he play a complete game and contribute on the bottom 6, possibly working his way up the lineup?
John Mitchell has logged 28:41 on the PP this season and has 0 goals.
Hate to pick on Mitchell because a lot more people are struggling, but it's a crime that Zuccarello hasn't been given a shot yet, it's clear the organization believes he has no future here...which really is a shame.
Agreed with the lines posted by GaBorat, posted virtually the same ones in a blog of mine this morning noting that the Rangers truly need some more skill in the lineup.
There used to be a guy named Camile Henry that played for the Rangers. He was smaller than Zooks. He was my dads favorite player. He was a power play specialist of sorts but also played a regular shift. This guy actually beat out Jean Béliveau for the rookie of the year. He played in a low scoring era but was a significant Ranger player in that era. He would get you around 20 goals and 55 points a season. I do not see any reason why Zooks could not put up 50-60 points a year in the NHL. I really think we should give him a chance on that 3rd line for a few games. The downside to him playing on that 3rd line is very limited.
Let hope Torts has changed his mind about him and gives him another shot. He deserves it and nothing much at stake now. The recall should tick in any moment now, but if not it has to be something personal issues between them. I dont think so or else he would have been traded.
The recall should tick in any moment now, but if not it has to be something personal issues between them. I dont think so or else he would have been traded.
At least Torts loved him when he played his first games during Christmas 2010. He got some 4v4 time in OT, and scored in the shootout vs Bolts.
If Feds is out they have to call up a forward. They can't go with scott and Bickel on the 4th line
I do not usually get down on Torts but he could go with 3 lines of single digit scorers. I think we win more based on great talent than Torts system. The more we win the more stubborn he seems to get regarding the lineup and it could be fools gold. Come playoff time I hope we arent a team that just has 1 line to shut down.
The amount of lesser skilled guys played before Zooks this year (despite Whale coaches saying Zooks deserved the call up months ago) is disheartening. I'm starting to think Zooks must have dated Torts daughter and Torts is trying to punish him for it.
If he isn't called up if Fedotenko is out (who has been offensively impotent this season), Zuke should be traded. He deserves a chance at NHL level. It's not like he made a fool out of himself last season, his PPG ratio considering his minutes was very respectable. He brings offense we don't have and he has heart.
If we play two defensemen on the 4th line, something is very wrong.
Wait what? His 5on5 play is good too, he 14 of his points were on 5 on 5, and his corsi was the best on the team (again, ruling out the guys that has played under 10 matches). And this team is built on effort in the forecheking and defensive play. You can't take out the effort of the equation here. I'd rather have a sub-par guy who tries every time, than a above-par player that only tries if he isn't tired yet.
And I can agree MZA looks lost from time to time, but if you study him, you can see that he's always thinking three steps down the road, and has a nack for being in the right place at the right time way more than by pure luck alone...
Offensivly BR are having a 0,1 higher pts/game average than MZA had last year. Considering that MZA was a rookie, and BR is a veteran, I can't see how he is a HUGE upgrade offensivly (and I'm not calling Brad Richards a bust in any way shape or form), at least not when we are thinking long term.
Brad Richards slightly below a point per game player through over 700 career games.
Stanley Cup Champion.
Conn Smythe winner.
Widely considered an elite center.
Zuccarello is an undersized, slow, weak, minor pro player that couldn't stick with an NHL club.
MZA didn't date Torts daughter , the problem is MZA is smaller and slower than Torts daughter .
All kidding aside I could give Jack Bones about MZA but with injuries it wouldn't hurt to give him a call up and play him in the top 9 maybe move him around and give him 1 ST unit PP min since # 24 is out
