While I agree with the principle of spreading the scoring, I don't think the answer is to pair our two best wingers with Dubinsky. Giving our two best centers (and yes, I still consider Drury "better" than Dubi) youngin's to play with does not make organizational or even financial sense.
The best-case scenario right now is to pair one of Nas/Z with one of Gomer/Dru and work from there. In my opinion, Nazzy is the better playmaker of the two wingers, so would likely be more functional with Drury, whereas Zherdev is more of a finisher and should mesh with Gomez.
Dubinsky is still progressing, and were it not for an 800 lb. gorilla requiring certain concessions in line-ups he would be viewed as a great home-grown replacement for Cullen.
Over the next couple of seasons, the choice will get harder as Dubi gets better, but as of now if anyone is going to shift positions to get him "top six minutes," it's Brandon himself.
im just curious, when did it become necessary to have a big huge behemoth on every line?
I coulda sworn the pens made the finals with crosby, dupuis, and hossa, not exactly any tough guys there, 90% of the top lines in the NHL dont have a big bruising player on it, why do the Rangers suddenly need to have this? weve got plenty of tough nosed players in orr, voros, dubinsky, and callahan. thats enough. you guys are seriously overestimating the importance of being a ruthless murder you hockey club. looking at the lineup, yeah, were soft, but no more so than the reigning Stanley Cup champion.
Pukku, it's not quite moot, considering we have 4 very good faceoff artists on the team and we are talking about putting two of them on the same line. That leaves the other (presumably third line) center as someone either out of position, or with little to no experience in the NHL faceoff circle.
I know it's not the biggest deal in the world, but I just see us as having a solid, solid spine to build this team around in the four centers we have.
im just curious, when did it become necessary to have a big huge behemoth on every line?
I coulda sworn the pens made the finals with crosby, dupuis, and hossa, not exactly any tough guys there, 90% of the top lines in the NHL dont have a big bruising player on it, why do the Rangers suddenly need to have this? weve got plenty of tough nosed players in orr, voros, dubinsky, and callahan. thats enough. you guys are seriously overestimating the importance of being a ruthless murder you hockey club. looking at the lineup, yeah, were soft, but no more so than most hockey clubs out there today.
The game has changed, its time we recognize this.
Where did I say that? I'm talking about grinding in corners, hitting defensmen on forecheck, winning battle in front of the net...
I never related to "tough guy". It's just called balance and even though hockey has change, a balanced line is still always more effective than the sum of its part.
And yes, to use your example, both Crosby and Dupuis can fit this description as opposed to either Gomer, Z or Nazzy...
Drury is our second line center. Dubi, while he may have a promising future, will still only be a second year player. He did flourish when paired with Jaromir Jagr. Drury put up better numbers while playing with Ryan Callahan. Until Dubi proves he can do it without aid from a star, he will be our 3rd line center, and it could be a great 3rd line, but it's still our third line.
I'm not ready for Dubinsky as our second-line centre. If either Dubinsky or Drury has to play out of position on the wing, I'd rather it's Dubinsky.
More than once it's been mentioned in the press that there is a line of thought amongst Rangers' management that Dubinsky might be a better contributor in the future as a winger anyway. Whether this is true or not, I think he can handle the change of position.
Meanwhile, in Drury we have one of the league's preeminent 2nd line centres on our team. Let's stop screwing around and play him there.
We'll have, as always, some minor injuries and line chemistry issues.
By the end of the season, second line center: Anisimov.
Really?
I've been more active in this thread than most others in my tenure as a reader of this forum, but how does Anisimov leap-frog the consumate teammate and professional in Drury (overpaid as he may be) and everyone's second-year darling in Dubinsky?
I just can't see Anisimov being a 60 pt per yr player (pro-rated if he plays fewer games of course) in his freshman season.
Voted Dubinsky, if he or Drury have to move to wing I would rather Drury do it. Duby is too talented to play on the 3rd line.
To me Drury makes an excellent 3rd line center.
Gomez
Dubinsky
Drury
Betts
That is a nice set of centers.
Dubinsky is too talented to play on the 3rd line but Drury is not? Really? While we all like Dubi, Drury is a far more established player and led the team in goals last year, so I don't see how he can play on the 3rd line.
Are you serious? Dont u really think that guys in bold are'nt tougher than your guys?
As for for underlined, we're not talking about first team line here...
Isnt that what Voros and Orr are for?
__________________
I feel like this is such an appropriate quote for these boards...
"Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level, and then beat you with experience"-Mark Twain
How are those lines any much tougher than a Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev. Dubinsky-Drury-Prucha line?
The highlighted guys I would characterize as tough. Note the number of tough guys on the Red Wings' lines. Dubi is tough, but for the most part the others aren't to likely to do any damage or bull past many defenders (try as Prucha might).
How is Dubi better than Drury? That is not a rhetorical question. I would actually like to see how.
I'll take it one step further: How is Dubinsky better than Cullen.
BTW, this has NOTHING to do with potential, since I think Dubi could be better than both some day. That day just doesn't happen to be Oct. 5th, 2008.
Considering Dubinsky was our 1st line center last year, how is me voting for him based on potential? That kid can play the game. I'm sorry I don't wanna see a good kid like that get the Manny Malhotra treatment. He has to play and keep playing in big situations with good linemates like he was doing. You guys have wayyyy too big a hard on for Chris Drury.
Dubinsky is too talented to play on the 3rd line but Drury is not? Really? While we all like Dubi, Drury is a far more established player and led the team in goals last year, so I don't see how he can play on the 3rd line.
Whats such a crazy idea about that really? Drury wasn't given 7 mil for his scoring ability alone, don't forget those intangibles. He is our best face off guy besides Betts. He is probably our best defensive foward........way more so than Dubinsky. I want to see that kid put in a situation to keep growing, and on the 3rd line isn't it. And I want to see Drury play in a role where he can do well, and 3rd line C to me sounds good for a player of his ability. And whats wrong with having 3 lines that can score? If Betts is back ya know we won't have 4.
i really think fritsche will fit in well with this team....with either dubi or drury as he is a good forechecker with good size and a good shot....waiting to pencil him in to the second line rw
