I gotta agree - every minute in the NHL he learns something. Every game, every practice, every shift. You don't want to overwhelm the kid and burn him out though. There are highs and lows wnd let's not overreact too early.
either the guy is going to get quality minutes or he should be in the AHL getting top line time
this last game frustrates me to no end
hey torts you either trust the guy or you don't, which is it ?
this is just dumb. stepan getting ten minutes a night at the moment is fine. the fact is, stepan has slowed down the past few games. there is a helluva big difference from an NCAA schedule and NHL schedule and you see it time and time again that guys out of college struggle their first season with the schedule more so than guys from juniors. torts thinks very highly of stepan and right now is putting him in situations to succeed without exposing him by playing too much. if he starts playing less minutes than he should be in hartford, but ten minutes a night is not worth creating a thread over.
this is just dumb. stepan getting ten minutes a night at the moment is fine. the fact is, stepan has slowed down the past few games. there is a helluva big difference from an NCAA schedule and NHL schedule and you see it time and time again that guys out of college struggle their first season with the schedule more so than guys from juniors. torts thinks very highly of stepan and right now is putting him in situations to succeed without exposing him by playing too much. if he starts playing less minutes than he should be in hartford, but ten minutes a night is not worth creating a thread over.
really good point but the great NHL players coming out of NCAA aka, Kariya, Leetch, Heatley, Toews among many other examples where they hit the ground running and never stopping at the NHL level denounce the 40 game theory you have. It may be a case where Stepan will never be in that class but a notch below making him human. Let's face it, will 60-70 points in Stepan's prime be ok for a 2nd round pick? Dont think many would argue with that. He seems like a real good kid with a great attitude but man the pre season and that hat rick really put some undue pressue on him maybe. Just my humble opinion
well I guess we will have to disagree on what constitutes "development"
I would also hazard the speculation that 9 minutes of ice time against the leafs is not "productive". 9 shifts a game does not create effective players.
Perhaps others think that watching the game from the bench will help DS ?
Maybe MDZ should also watch the game from the bench too ? I mean if watching helps development.
I think we both agree that for NY to have any chance at the playoffs they will need a healthy productive Stepan so it stands to reason that sitting him does not improve him as a player.
just give the kid a regular shift.
Christensen got 18 minutes, 1:11 of PP time
Stepan got zero PP time
not sure how that allows him to play up to his abilities
He got plenty of playing time in the beginning of the season. He played well in his first three or four games. After that he hasn't done much. His play on the ice hasn't warranted extra time. He hasn't warranted PP time. He hasn't been productive when on the ice. You don't play players 15-20 minutes just because they're 20-years old. Every player has to earn their spot. He hasn't been pulling his weight recently, regardless of him being 20-years of age or not.
Brian Boyle is playing significantly better hockey than him, he has earned more ice time. Through quality play by Boyle he has earned extra ice time in different situations. Boyle wasn't given much, but what he was given he used to the best of his abilities. In doing so he earned more ice time. I don't get what is so hard to get.
Is playing 10-minutes detrimental to him? I don't think so. You can get a lot more out of playing 10-minutes at the NHL level than playing 15-minutes at the AHL level. Playing at the AHL level can only develop you so much as a player. Ultimately, there is a big difference between the two. Players who are studs in the AHL (Giroux) are nothing up here. I'd rather have him get a little bit less ice time at this level.
It is also the fact that visualization is a huge part in development so he is to some extend still learning just by watching and being in the environment
Brandon Dubinsky's start to his rookie year:
9:31
9:20
7:38
10:37
7:38
8:50
11:50
10:17
Anyone else have any shortsighted, irrational, ignorant concerns that they need addressed before this thread dies?
You disagree that this is a concern so it must shortsighted, irrational and ignorant. Of course. You're so smart.
I'm not so concerned with the ice time as much as I'm concerned with who he's getting that time with. Playing ~8 minutes with Todd White and Grachev doesn't seem like a good situation for any young player who is going through a quiet patch after a great camp and a quick start. He and Grachev have had some chemistry together but never in an actual NHL game. Grachev himself hasn't really done anything at this level yet and White isn't the kind of player that Stepan's game gels with IMO. I'd have him with Frolov and Prust. That would make a more complete line in my eyes and Christensen has yet to do anything at all to earn that spot. Personally, I think its good in the long run to not pile the minutes on just yet but he isn't going to succeed on that line. Nobody would.
Got no problem with his ice time. He's a rookie. Its not like he doing anything that great out there to warrant more. 10 minutes sounds good about now.
Absolutely 100% okay with how hes being treated. Stepan is not used to playing at this level of hockey and would absolutely burn out under an 82 game schedule (few players don't in their rookie year). Keep his minutes short enough that he can play 100% for every single shift, and he will gain confidence. I am of the opinion that if he gets too many minutes and tires, his play will deteriorate and so will his confidence.
Joe Thornton played straight out of college and barely had any ice time during his first season. He played on the fourth line and was benched for like 20 games.
Being in the NHL and playing 10 minutes a night, as well as practicing with the best professional players in the league is much more beneficial for his development than being in the minors where the majority of the team will never see an NHL ice.
He needs to adjust to the speed of the NHL game. He looks a little slow in everything he does right now. You can see, that he's seeing the ice and wants to make something happen but he just has to do everything quicker.
either the guy is going to get quality minutes or he should be in the AHL getting top line time
this last game frustrates me to no end
hey torts you either trust the guy or you don't, which is it ?
There's no reason to give him more time when other players are playing better. I won't be surprised if we send him down when Drury and Gaborik are healthy, for now we need him. Who else would play center?
You disagree that this is a concern so it must shortsighted, irrational and ignorant. Of course. You're so smart.
I'm not so concerned with the ice time as much as I'm concerned with who he's getting that time with. Playing ~8 minutes with Todd White and Grachev doesn't seem like a good situation for any young player who is going through a quiet patch after a great camp and a quick start. He and Grachev have had some chemistry together but never in an actual NHL game. Grachev himself hasn't really done anything at this level yet and White isn't the kind of player that Stepan's game gels with IMO. I'd have him with Frolov and Prust. That would make a more complete line in my eyes and Christensen has yet to do anything at all to earn that spot. Personally, I think its good in the long run to not pile the minutes on just yet but he isn't going to succeed on that line. Nobody would.
I don't know what Stepan has done to earn ice time over Christensen. Christensen was a huge part of our push to get to the playoffs last season and arguably our best player. He's been fairly steady this season and played through injury.
Stepan had a good camp and the hat trick against the Sabres. Since then he's been about invisible.
look who stepan is playing with.gabby does not want ec to center his line. he has made that very clear. ranger tell me what ec has done better than stepan. where is are future stepan or ec?
look who stepan is playing with.gabby does not want ec to center his line. he has made that very clear. ranger tell me what ec has done better than stepan. where is are future stepan or ec?
look who stepan is playing with.gabby does not want ec to center his line. he has made that very clear. ranger tell me what ec has done better than stepan. where is are future stepan or ec?
Anisimov was consistantly getting LESS than 9 minutes a game in October over a span of 13 games. By the end of the season he was getting as much as 20 and no less than 12.
Right now Stepan has gotten 9:44, 12:14, and 10:39 in his last 3 games. Anisimov got less minutes over a longer period of time and he turned out fine, and yet the sky is falling because in October Stepan is getting 10 minutes for a game or two?
Have to say, this was the perfect argument to bring forth in a thread like this.
While I will NEVER agree with Torts' distribution of ice-time or his lines or scratches, in this case, Stepan will have to earn his ice time. If his play turns for the better, his ice time will as well. No worries.
Though the kid does need a game break IMO. Sit him just for rest and nothing else. The NHL grind is much different than college and I believe that is affecting him in the early going.
I kind of agree with Torts. Boyle is playing better he deserved some more minutes. He just reduced Stepan's even strength minutes. Step is still getting power play time. He just really hasn't done much. Its not a big deal he will go through growing pains. They did the same thing with Anisimov last year.
Unless something drastically changes, stepan will infact head to hartford when drury comes back. Atleast for a bit. The rangers are in no way dissapointed with him. If he impresses in hartford he will be back up just like that as they are actively looking into todd whites future with the team.
I don't know what Stepan has done to earn ice time over Christensen. Christensen was a huge part of our push to get to the playoffs last season and arguably our best player. He's been fairly steady this season and played through injury.
Stepan had a good camp and the hat trick against the Sabres. Since then he's been about invisible.
Good post. Christensen is under appreciated on these boards. He was very good last year and has been steady this year playing through an injury. He does have talent and he is young enough to see what he can contribute to this team. Once Gagorik gets back, let's see if he can find that chemistry with Gaborik again. This team would then have (3) really strong lines up front. Torts has this team believing.
I kind of agree with Torts. Boyle is playing better he deserved some more minutes. He just reduced Stepan's even strength minutes. Step is still getting power play time. He just really hasn't done much. Its not a big deal he will go through growing pains. They did the same thing with Anisimov last year.
Vert true. If Stepan needs the rest.. (not sure I understand why after 11 games or so)... Torts can minimize his 5 on 5 time and etc but still give Stepan the Power play minutes which it seems Stepan is getting right now. It is actually a perfect situation right now for Stepan.
The reduced icetime isn't about him needing rest...it's about managing his minutes so that he's not overwhelmed at the NHL level, that some guys are playing better than him at the moment (Boyle), and is a simple acknowledgment that he's adjusting to the NHL.
It was great when he came out and scored 3 goals in his first NHL game, and he still does a lot of good things out there on the ice, but it still seems obvious to me he needs some time to develop at this level. If he gets played 18-20 minutes per night and doesn't put up any points and starts struggling on defense, does that really help him? Or help the team?
Let's just chill and let him develop. Most people didn't even expect him to be in the NHL to start the season. If nothing else, I think he gives the Rangers some depth when they need it, as he can step up and play on higher lines at times without looking out of place.
I don't see the issue here. Stepan hasn't earned any more ice time than he's getting right now. They need him to play with all of the injuries but hasn't played better than AA, Boyle, or Christensen the last 6 or 7 games.
