The Rangers lost their 10th (Prust), 11th (Fedotenko) and 13th (Mitchell) forwards to free agency. Their 14th (Christensen) was traded at the deadline. So yes, bringing in 10th (Pyatt), 11th (Halpern), 13th (Asham) and 14th (Haley) forwards is totally an indication of moves to come.
While you may be right for replacements, there is hints to a move in this deal. Halpern was out of nowhere and was not necessary considering the lineup a few hours prior to now.
Halpern is a 4th line C. We have a 4th line C - Boyle, who now seems to be slotted for the 3rd line (which isn't all that grand considering he is putrid offensively).
Before Halpern:
Richards
Stepan
Anisimov
Boyle
After Halpern:
Richards
Stepan
Anisimov
Boyle
Halpern
Prerequisite? Definite possibility. Don't be so quick to deem otherwise.
[QUOTE=BrooklynRangersFan;52363071] - They haven't made a single move in this direction (although the increased skill in the 4th line will be welcome).
But if he's you're 3rd line center you are DEFINITELY missing the playoffs.
We are not "definitely" missing the playoffs if he's our 3rd line center, I guarantee you that. While he's not an ideal 3rd line center, he won't make or break a playoff team -- we have enough talent and depth to overcome one player.
__________________ "Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!"~H. Rose
The Rangers lost their 10th (Prust), 11th (Fedotenko) and 13th (Mitchell) forwards to free agency. Their 14th (Christensen) was traded at the deadline. So yes, bringing in 10th (Pyatt), 11th (Halpern), 13th (Asham) and 14th (Haley) forwards is totally an indication of moves to come.
Right, because it hasn't been documented that the Rangers have made offers to Columbus for Rick Nash.
Boyle and Halpern in the bottom 6 both are very good FO guys in each of the defensive lines. Anisimov still struggles with draws this late into his development, I think the writing's on the wall that he's gone or being moved to a full time Winger.
__________________
"Of course giving Sather cap space is like giving teenagers whiskey and car keys." - SBOB "Watching Sather build a team is like watching a blind man with no fingers trying to put together an elaborate puzzle." - Shadowtron
Sestito still on the make a wish tour. - rholt168
We should put Boyle at LW.. Boyle-Halpern-Pyatt/Asham/Haley
It's funny, Boyle isn't an ideal 3C (offensive production wise) but he's almost too good to be a 4C. It looks like you have him penciled into the fourth line wing, but I like the third line wing better. Unfortunately you lose his face off ability for the most part though... Hmmm.
Boyle's future should be on wing. He's not nearly as good ES defensively as he is on the PK.
Yep, his poor skating is such liability even strength. Prust covered for him CONSTANTLY. The center position, which requires to cover a TON of space, has to have a solid skater filling that position.
He also handles the puck poorly. and can't act as a pivot effectively in the offensive zone.
While you may be right for replacements, there is hints to a move in this deal. Halpern was out of nowhere and was not necessary considering the lineup a few hours prior to now.
Halpern is a 4th line C. We have a 4th line C - Boyle, who now seems to be slotted for the 3rd line (which isn't all that grand considering he is putrid offensively).
Before Halpern:
Richards
Stepan
Anisimov
Boyle
After Halpern:
Richards
Stepan
Anisimov
Boyle
Halpern
Prerequisite? Definite possibility. Don't be so quick to deem otherwise.
Halpern wasn't on whose radar a few hours ago? Ours? These kinds of signings come out of nowhere every single year. And 90% of them are accompanied by "this is a precursor"... and only about 5% of those are actually precursors. I'm not saying it's not a possibility, but it's unlikely that bringing in Halpern has anything to do with bringing in another player.
Also, Halpern, Boyle and Anisimov all play wing. This isn't tic-tac-toe here. Guys will slot in where they slot in. If Richards, Stepan, Anismov and Boyle all stay at center, Halpern will either be in the press box or on the wing.
decent size, good wheels, hopefully will take more than a fair share of draws in the defensive zone thus sharing the load with Boyle and saving Stepan and Richards for draws in the offensive zone.
Hope he shows the numbers he had in Montreal rather than last seasons caps team.
For those who don't think that the team is positioning to make another move:
- It's been clear in everything management said in exit interviews - and that's been reported by the most knowledgeable writers in the industry - that they're looking to upgrade their offense.
- They haven't made a single move in this direction (although the increased skill in the 4th line will be welcome).
- They just signed their 14th forward (counting both Gabby and Haley, but none of the prospects).
They're clearly setting up for a move. Whether or not it's imminent is a different question - but they're clearly setting up for one.
I just don't see how signing Halpern and Pyatt to replace Prust and Fedotenko is a sign that we are setting up for another move.
The Rangers lost their 10th (Prust), 11th (Fedotenko) and 13th (Mitchell) forwards to free agency. Their 14th (Christensen) was traded at the deadline. So yes, bringing in 10th (Pyatt), 11th (Halpern), 13th (Asham) and 14th (Haley) forwards is totally an indication of moves to come.
Sigh. The whole point of a bullet pointed list is to make it very hard to miss any of the individual points. Yet, somehow you overlooked the first one in my post.
Reconstituting last year's roster was not the goal; improving offense was. They now have extra forwards, but haven't made a single meaningful improvement to the offense.
They're set up to make a move.
Or do you really think that this is the roster that breaks camp?
