Rangers "should take a swing" on O'Brien (O'Brien Clears Waivers)
it looks like he is the odd man out in vancouver. i really hope sather gets him here. we need that type of player. sather tried to get him 3 years ago when he was in anaheim but he was moved to tampa for a 1st rounder.
I don't find the Exelby comparison accurate at all. I've seen a lot of Exelby and he's a guy who goes out of position to throw checks. O'Brien doesn't do that, in fact he doesn't throw as many hits as people think. A lot of his ''physical'' play comes after the whistles in scrums and beaking matches. If he would simply stay within his abilities he would be a very good number 5 d-man but at times he tries to do too much with the puck instead of making the simple outlet pass or play off the boards. He's had ongoing conditioning issues but has looked very good so far. He had one bad game but so did the rest of his team. He's had issues in the past where he hasn't wanted to fight as much as the coaching staff wanted and loves the nightlife a ton and that could be a problem in New York.
He's not a bad player, he's a solid third pair guy with great size and good enough ability. He's just very immature and difficult at times.
He actually played some really good hockey last year when paired with Christian Ehrhoff. If his minutes are 16-18 a night and he's paired with someone who can skate and breakout he's solid.
I'd much rather have him than Eminger or last years version of Gilroy. Not sure about the other guys since I haven't been able to see any of your games so far.
sather actually did not try to get him at all. burke called him and offered him to glen BEFORE he sent him to tampa bay bc burke was just looking for an extra 1st rounder that year to work another deadline deal. glen said thanks but no thanks....
this was widely reported after the deadline.
In the not too distant past, I would be for this. Not now. We have a bunch of young guys who came in here ready to play and compete for a spot. They busted their ***** all through camp and have played very well. To pull the rug out from under them by filling their spot with a veteran would be a mistake, IMO. Not to mention, Conditioning issues+ Tortorella drills = failure. I'm not saying there is no veteran I would bring in right now, but it's not Shane OBrien.
In the not too distant past, I would be for this. Not now. We have a bunch of young guys who came in here ready to play and compete for a spot. They busted their ***** all through camp and have played very well. To pull the rug out from under them by filling their spot with a veteran would be a mistake, IMO. Not to mention, Conditioning issues+ Tortorella drills = failure. I'm not saying there is no veteran I would bring in right now, but it's not Shane OBrien.
Nice post.
Fans forget sometimes that there is so much more that goes into the game then what looks good on paper.
Just cut the D vets at camp. Plus Shane fell out of favor because he decided he doesnt want to beat guys up anymore. He would be the new whipping boy at MSG with a skill set and attitude like that.
I don't find the Exelby comparison accurate at all. I've seen a lot of Exelby and he's a guy who goes out of position to throw checks. O'Brien doesn't do that, in fact he doesn't throw as many hits as people think. A lot of his ''physical'' play comes after the whistles in scrums and beaking matches. If he would simply stay within his abilities he would be a very good number 5 d-man but at times he tries to do too much with the puck instead of making the simple outlet pass or play off the boards. He's had ongoing conditioning issues but has looked very good so far. He had one bad game but so did the rest of his team. He's had issues in the past where he hasn't wanted to fight as much as the coaching staff wanted and loves the nightlife a ton and that could be a problem in New York.
He's not a bad player, he's a solid third pair guy with great size and good enough ability. He's just very immature and difficult at times.
He actually played some really good hockey last year when paired with Christian Ehrhoff. If his minutes are 16-18 a night and he's paired with someone who can skate and breakout he's solid.
I'd much rather have him than Eminger or last years version of Gilroy. Not sure about the other guys since I haven't been able to see any of your games so far.
Appreciate it.
And there is definitely a big difference between guys who play physical during play and just the extra stuff after the whistle. Not as much use for those types of guys. Give me the ones who can actually punish people during play.
The Rangers have a tough makeup as it is this season with Prust, Avery, Boogy etc...there is no need for someone like OB who takes to many penalties and if what HenrikSedinFan is saying about the nightlife that really scares me
This team is of such a young makeup that the last thing we need is some guy coming in here whose going out and partying all the time....people like drury, prospal etc who can show them how to be classy hockey players is what i want.
The rangers had locker room issues in the past and i really dont want that to happen again...big PASS
I don't find the Exelby comparison accurate at all. I've seen a lot of Exelby and he's a guy who goes out of position to throw checks. O'Brien doesn't do that, in fact he doesn't throw as many hits as people think. A lot of his ''physical'' play comes after the whistles in scrums and beaking matches. If he would simply stay within his abilities he would be a very good number 5 d-man but at times he tries to do too much with the puck instead of making the simple outlet pass or play off the boards. He's had ongoing conditioning issues but has looked very good so far. He had one bad game but so did the rest of his team. He's had issues in the past where he hasn't wanted to fight as much as the coaching staff wanted and loves the nightlife a ton and that could be a problem in New York.
He's not a bad player, he's a solid third pair guy with great size and good enough ability. He's just very immature and difficult at times.
He actually played some really good hockey last year when paired with Christian Ehrhoff. If his minutes are 16-18 a night and he's paired with someone who can skate and breakout he's solid.
I'd much rather have him than Eminger or last years version of Gilroy. Not sure about the other guys since I haven't been able to see any of your games so far.
Very well put. I agree with everything you said. We need exactly this type of player as the 5 guys fighting for the last 2 spots dont bring what obrien brings.
