Seriously, can someone tell me a bit about him other than his stats. I'd rather hear it from posters than outdated scouting reports. Sounds like he's a good physical specimen.
Clark and Gorton know what they're doing. I feel very confident with them in charge of bringing in young talent.
Its exciting to see so many quality players coming through the system.
Slats should get credit here too. People are acting like he has nothing to do with our drafting. At the end of the day, he's the final decision-maker. If we weren't drafting well, this whole forum would be blaming Slats first and foremost, so why not give him credit when the situation is reversed?
Slats should get credit here too. People are acting like he has nothing to do with our drafting. At the end of the day, he's the final decision-maker. If we weren't drafting well, this whole forum would be blaming Slats first and foremost, so why not give him credit when the situation is reversed?
because people only remember the 2000-2007 sather and there is absolutely nothing he can do that will get credit from a number of rangers fans.
Seems like a lot of guys with second liner potential. Did we think we had a bunch of second line prospects during the dark ages?
No, we kept thinking that our top prospects (Dube, Savard, Cherneski, Brendl, Lundmark, Holmqvist, Blackburn, Tyutin) were going to be All Stars. Only Savard panned out as such, and Tyutin is ok. Two guys retired due to injury.
Cherneski looked great, could've easily become a 30-goal scorer. He was like a faster version of Adam Graves. His loss hurt a lot. He was only sent down to the AHL for a few weeks, was the last cut about 24 hours before the regular season began. His knee was destroyed into little pieces. Looked horrible on the X-ray.
But anyway, there was never a feeling between 1998 and 2003 that we have a lot of prospects.
To be honest, after the 1995 draft I felt the Rangers were in really good shape, and after getting burned there, I have been extremely apprehensive about saying anything good about our prospects until I see very, very distinct signs from them. My Islander fan friend is still throwing Dube in my face, I kid you not.
But at the time, Dube looked great in the juniors and so did Savard. Mike Martin, a tough defensive defenseman managed to score for over a point per game. Bob Maudie exploded for over 100 points, and there was hope that he was a really good prospect (turned out he was just Iginla's center). Vasiliev looked terrific in the Russian league, and you could tell quickly that Purinton will become a low-end NHLer. And that's all just from the 1995 draft.
We had Norstom growing into his own. He was called "untouchable" literally 2 days before he was traded with Ferraro for the injured McSorley, washed-up Kurri and useless Churla.
There was also the belief that Cloutier might become a really good goalie. Sundstrom was presented by Rangers PR as the next Jari Kurri. Even Lee Sorochan, Maxim Galanov, Joby Messier and Barry Richter were seen as quality prospects. The Ferraro brothers kept going hot/cold one after another, but were seen as real prospects. Blouin was a brutally good fighter, but couldn't do anything else.
After this bunch came Jeff Brown and Wes Jarvis on defense, and there was Dan Goneau, who scored over a point per game in his first 10 games of the 1996-97 season, only to peter out completely. The same happened to Vorobiev, who within a dozen games was on the RW with Messier and Graves, scoring like crazy, only to completely disappear from the scene just as quickly as he made his debut.
The prospects of the mid-90s were just a big disappointment. And after them it was just terrible drafting. For half a dozen years, it felt terrible. Every season I argued on AOL's Rangers board that we need to rebuild, and was abused for calling on the team to trade away Leetch, Beuk, even guys like Momesso and Flatley. Everyone wanted to add to the team, everyone felt that we are only 1-2 players away from the playoffs, and once you make it, even as a #8 seed, "anything can happen."
I can't describe how relieved and happy I was when we decided to clean the house 9 years ago.
One thing that is crystal clear watching this game - Nieves is CLEARLY a center. As I said before, he absolutely dictates play when he's on the ice. You can actually see him as he pushes the envelope of his game to see what he can do.
looked pass first but seems to have a good shot. his goal was in a wide open net but he was in the slot where a goal scorer needs to be. puck came out to him from behind the net and he fired it into the net. hes got really good vision though. i know its one game but for a freshman to play that well is really exciting, especially as he will have no physical barriers to excel at the next level.
No, we kept thinking that our top prospects (Dube, Savard, Cherneski, Brendl, Lundmark, Holmqvist, Blackburn, Tyutin) were going to be All Stars. Only Savard panned out as such, and Tyutin is ok. Two guys retired due to injury.
Cherneski looked great, could've easily become a 30-goal scorer. He was like a faster version of Adam Graves. His loss hurt a lot. He was only sent down to the AHL for a few weeks, was the last cut about 24 hours before the regular season began. His knee was destroyed into little pieces. Looked horrible on the X-ray.
But anyway, there was never a feeling between 1998 and 2003 that we have a lot of prospects.
To be honest, after the 1995 draft I felt the Rangers were in really good shape, and after getting burned there, I have been extremely apprehensive about saying anything good about our prospects until I see very, very distinct signs from them. My Islander fan friend is still throwing Dube in my face, I kid you not.
But at the time, Dube looked great in the juniors and so did Savard. Mike Martin, a tough defensive defenseman managed to score for over a point per game. Bob Maudie exploded for over 100 points, and there was hope that he was a really good prospect (turned out he was just Iginla's center). Vasiliev looked terrific in the Russian league, and you could tell quickly that Purinton will become a low-end NHLer. And that's all just from the 1995 draft.
We had Norstom growing into his own. He was called "untouchable" literally 2 days before he was traded with Ferraro for the injured McSorley, washed-up Kurri and useless Churla.
There was also the belief that Cloutier might become a really good goalie. Sundstrom was presented by Rangers PR as the next Jari Kurri. Even Lee Sorochan, Maxim Galanov, Joby Messier and Barry Richter were seen as quality prospects. The Ferraro brothers kept going hot/cold one after another, but were seen as real prospects. Blouin was a brutally good fighter, but couldn't do anything else.
After this bunch came Jeff Brown and Wes Jarvis on defense, and there was Dan Goneau, who scored over a point per game in his first 10 games of the 1996-97 season, only to peter out completely. The same happened to Vorobiev, who within a dozen games was on the RW with Messier and Graves, scoring like crazy, only to completely disappear from the scene just as quickly as he made his debut.
The prospects of the mid-90s were just a big disappointment. And after them it was just terrible drafting. For half a dozen years, it felt terrible. Every season I argued on AOL's Rangers board that we need to rebuild, and was abused for calling on the team to trade away Leetch, Beuk, even guys like Momesso and Flatley. Everyone wanted to add to the team, everyone felt that we are only 1-2 players away from the playoffs, and once you make it, even as a #8 seed, "anything can happen."
I can't describe how relieved and happy I was when we decided to clean the house 9 years ago.
This is a terrific post, very informative about some really dark days for this franchise. Some of the guys we drafted make you wonder about our ability to both analyze and then develop young talent.
Some of the trades Neal Smith made were downright head scratchers! Well done!
This is a terrific post, very informative about some really dark days for this franchise. Some of the guys we drafted make you wonder about our ability to both analyze and then develop young talent.
Some of the trades Neal Smith made were downright head scratchers! Well done!
I think it's more developing. We had much better coaches since the lockout. We actually have had systems. A lot of these players are two way players that our system is good for.
One thing that is crystal clear watching this game - Nieves is CLEARLY a center. As I said before, he absolutely dictates play when he's on the ice. You can actually see him as he pushes the envelope of his game to see what he can do.
We have a gem here, folks.
Scouting report at the time was that he was a shifty, playmaking center. He is a very intriguing prospect when you look at his size and skating ability along with those hands.
Everyone assumes that Nieves benefits from being on a bad team because he gets to be on the first line this way, but the reality may be that he could've scored even more with better quality players around him. Every time I see him, he looks like a legit college first liner.
Is there even a small chance that between Miller, Stepan, and Nieves someone can replace Richards as a legit #1 C at some point?
I want Richards gone regardless by the end of the amnesty period.
I think Miller could be ready to fill in for a 2C role next year if he develops chemistry with Kreider and Callahan. Nieves, I hope he spends 2-3 more years in college and becomes one of the best players there before turning pro.
Next season, run with Stepan-Miller-Boyle-Halpern and continue restocking/developing young centers or wait to strike for another 1C in free agency when the time is right.
I want Richards gone regardless by the end of the amnesty period.
I think Miller could be ready to fill in for a 2C role next year if he develops chemistry with Kreider and Callahan. Nieves, I hope he spends 2-3 more years in college and becomes one of the best players there before turning pro.
Next season, run with Stepan-Miller-Boyle-Halpern and continue restocking/developing young centers or wait to strike for another 1C in free agency when the time is right.
That's actually a pretty good plan and I agree with it except for one thing: If Richards is gone, you still need a 1st line center to replace him.
That's actually a pretty good plan and I agree with it except for one thing: If Richards is gone, you still need a 1st line center to replace him.
Yeah that's the big problem here. Technically we need Richards because he is still a productive centerman (at least on the scoresheet), however I think it best benefits us in the long term to get rid of his contract ASAP because his on ice play has been far from impressive during his Ranger tenure here. I think he should be able to get a great return since 1Cs are the highest valued commodity in the NHL. The Rangers should get at the very least a good prospect, a filler roster player and a 1st Rounder from a team desperate enough for a 1C. Next year without Richards will be a mini-retooling period by 'letting the kids play' and they can look at the deadline for a guy like Pavelski and sign him to a long term deal.
Slats should get credit here too. People are acting like he has nothing to do with our drafting. At the end of the day, he's the final decision-maker. If we weren't drafting well, this whole forum would be blaming Slats first and foremost, so why not give him credit when the situation is reversed?
I didn't say he doesn't deserve credit. And I've been one of his defenders in this regard for a long time.
But, Clark especially, and Gorton are really in the trenches in regards to player development and scouting.
