This hopefully means Bickel is castled off to the ECHL where he belongs.
+1 on this.
By no means do I think Gilroy is more than a bottom pairing guy in the NHL, but saying you'd want Bickel in the line up over Gilroy is mind boggling. I have nothing against the guy personally, but Bickel is one of the worst players I've ever seen put on a Rangers sweater for as long as I remember, and yes, I do remember the pre-lockout dark days. I'm cringing at the thought that he actually saw ice time in games as important as the ECF series against the Devils.
Gilroy brings a puck moving element out of the back end that this team still severely lacks. By no means does he solve that problem, but he helps. It doesn't hurt that he's another right handed shot, either.
Last edited by I Eat Crow: 10-05-2012 at 04:15 PM.
By no means do I think Gilroy is more than a bottom pairing guy in the NHL, but saying you'd want Bickel in the line up over Gilroy is mind boggling. I have nothing against the guy personally, but Bickel is one of the worst players I've ever seen put on a Rangers sweater for as long as I remember, and yes, I do remember the pre-lockout dark days. I'm cringing at the thought that he actually saw ice time in games as important as the ECF series against the Devils.
Gilroy brings a puck moving element out of the back end that this time still severely lacks. By no means does he solve that problem, but he helps. It doesn't hurt that he's another right handed shot, either.
I can't believe we signed Bickel for 2 years AND a 1-way contract. That's just way too stupid.
possible 7th defenseman. i'd def take bickel over him as well.
if/when we get del zotto:
mcdonagh/girardi
staal/stralman
del zotto/bickel
gilroy>eminger (albeit it's close)
and of course sauer or mcilrath when ready would likely bump stralman and bickel down
honestly nothing wrong with this as of right now it's just an ahl contract. we can never have too much extra depth and the options out there aren't much better. def needed better defensive depth for the ahl team.
def a different kind of defenseman over what we have in the depth
Decent AHL player? He was a decent NHL player. Not great, but certainly not horrendous. I'm no fan of his, but he's okay for depth purposes and is better overall than Bickel.
I think the bigger question is is he better than Eminger. Right now provided we sign Del Zotto and Sauer doesn't make a miracle comeback we have
Mcd-Girardi
Staal-Del Zotto
Eminger-Stralman
assuming he plays Del Zotto and Eminger on their off sides, though the two could be interchanged. Is Gilroy better than Eminger? We know he is better than Bickel but Stu should make the roster as pro depth for #8 dman and the wing.
Gilroy is a better skater and definitely more skilled than Bickel but he hasn't proven he can handle the physical play. He's soft. I don't mind signing him--if nothing else it's depth that can step into the NHL but Bickel is ahead of him for a job because he can handle the physical play. Hopefully Stu will improve off of last season--much stranger things have happened. In any event if he doesn't the Rangers are going to have a need to bring in somebody else and Gilroy isn't that guy.
I agree with this. Gilroy made one really great pass that I can remember in his time here, and that's it.
Him and Stu are about equal as far as i'm concerned.
Gilroy averaged 17 minutes a game last year to Bickel's 13, and actually played penalty kill for a portion of the season.
Torts avoided Bickel on anything special teams related.
So even if you assume they are about equal at even strength, what Gilroy does as a player who has played in numerous special teams roles for the Ranegrs is a guy that allows the Girardis, the Staals, to play either less minutes over a long schedule or potentially more in a PK and ES role as opposed to having to be out there on the PP.
Gilroy averaged 17 minutes a game last year to Bickel's 13, and actually played penalty kill for a portion of the season.
Torts avoided Bickel on anything special teams related.
So even if you assume they are about equal at even strength, what Gilroy does as a player who has played in numerous special teams roles for the Ranegrs is a guy that allows the Girardis, the Staals, to play either less minutes over a long schedule or potentially more in a PK and ES role as opposed to having to be out there on the PP.
He did it for one of the worst defensive teams in the league, though. Unless i'm completely making things up, which is possible since i'm pretty exhausted right now.
I don't think Stu is good- but i'd rather have his ability to fight then an extra 4 minutes of Gilroy doing nothing productive. I'm sure Bickel could be just as bad with those minutes as Gilroy, but still eat them up.
I used to kill Gilroy, but I have no problem with resigning him. Let Gilroy, Eminger and Bickel compete for the 6th spot. If they all suck then look to upgrade at the trade deadline.
I do think Eminger and Gilroy are both better than Bickel.
It's a good move for Ahl depth and sure NYC would sign him to a two way deal but he's only Ahl depth even after the lockout. Are people forgetting Bickel fights so serves a role vs division rivals
I can't believe we signed Bickel for 2 years AND a 1-way contract. That's just way too stupid.
Not really cause he's on the team this yr for sure as the 7 0r 8th dman and emergency 4 th line wing. DZ is signing and Sauer could be healthy when the lockout ends. Gilroy is a Ahl call up option only. Bickel and Eminger have one way deals and gives 8 D, McD,girardi, staal ,stralman, dz, sauer,Bickel, eminger
I think some of you are forgetting just how bad Gilroy was in his own end. Out-muscled constantly in front of the net and in the corners, poor gap control, and for as good as his straight line skating was he got beat to the outside a good deal.
I don't hate the signing (there's no risk and it is just more competition), but if he is getting a regular shift I am a bit worried.
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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
Bickel takes up about 1% of the salary cap. We've had players produce less for more money. If he is the bad contract on this team I am flippin thrilled.
Its either going to be Gilroy or Eminger an the choice frankly will come down to the type of teams we ply and whoever is in better form at the time.
And if we get substantial defensive injuries (It has happened) we have guys with NHL experience who can step in instead of... exactly who do we have in Connecticut? McIlrath without a kneecap?
Thats like saying you can never have enough turds in your closet.
Well, not at all actually. Because if he doesn't work out on the big club (assuming that's the goal with bringing him back) then he can go to the Whale where he'd instantly be one of the clubs best defenseman.
You took my words wrong. I meant "nothing wrong with depth" when they're all suited to be depth players on the roster. Would I have a problem with having 6 Gilroy's on defense, and then signing a 7th Gilroy? You better believe it. But when we have 3 people on a similar level all vying for the 6th defensive spot in the lineup, then that is never, absolutely never, a problem.
Gilroy is still an above average offensive player. His defense is below average but I do believe he can keep up with the speed in his own end...its his size, strength, and defensive awareness that are weak. Maybe he can work on those things more. There are good defensmen that he would be surrounded by. He offers more than Bickel when you match up there games, no doubt about that. I think he can be a much better player offensively than eminger but he is nowhere near as good defensively (not that eminger is some stud but you understand what im saying). And because defense comes first with torts thats why eminger would get more time. But if youre playing a weaker offensive team, like some have suggested then you give gilroy a shot.
I also dont understand people showing bickel the door so quickly. I'm not a huge fan of his but he sticks up for his teammates, he did get better as the year went on but still not enough. Theres no reason to send him down unless you need that roster spot for a forward.
Regardless this could all become a moot point if Sauer can come back at some point.
No more Gilroy please. The ship has sailed. There's a reason why he hasn't stuck on any other of the NHL rosters he's played on. He is not an NHL caliber defensemen.
