Mike Rupp. Plays a hard-nosed game and fits the style of the team. He will be moved around the line-up to add a different dimension when needed. Great depth signing.
Prust can play either wing. He does though generally play the RW.
With the way this is shaking out I guess Rupp goes here.
I'd prefer
Boyle on AA or Steps LW wing with Fedotenko or Prust on the RW for our 3rd line.
Let Rupp play C for Avery LW, and Prust or Fedotenko RW on the 4th unless he proves unable to play C. If that happens then BB can slide back to 4th line C.
If Zuccarello has a terrific camp and forces his way into a top 9 spot then this is moot. I think Zucc needs a big camp to not start in the A, though I'm sure he will at some point get plenty of time with the big club.
Voted Avery. I expect Rupp to start in that spot but I have a sneaking suspicion that Boyle will have to outplay Avery to stay in the lineup and after 20 games he won't and Rupp will center Aves and Prust for the majority of the season.
I've read several times that Rupp was a good faceoff guy, something they considered when signing him. Boyle is not great on faceoffs. If they're to play together.....
I've read several times that Rupp was a good faceoff guy, something they considered when signing him. Boyle is not great on faceoffs. If they're to play together.....
True but i don't think he was signed for face-offs. Boyle is decent at face-offs and i'm not completely disagreeing with you but i think Rupp will spend most of his time in the LW spot.
True but i don't think he was signed for face-offs. Boyle is decent at face-offs and i'm not completely disagreeing with you but i think Rupp will spend most of his time in the LW spot.
This is the fun part about debating on lines.
I just think Boyle scored 20 goals last yr and will need to be in more offensive situations. With that I think he will play the wing more this yr.
I see Torts using the 4th line more like a 4th line this yr since he should now have a true #1 line with Richards, Gaborik and say Wolski, then the Packline #2
Those two lines will eat up tons of minutes so between the other two lines there wont be much. Feds and Boyle are also defensively reliable and Stepan needs ice time.
Leaves a good energy line of Avery, Rupp, Prust with EC sitting most games.
Yes it knocks out Zuke but do you really think Torts is going to trust him defensively as much as he would Boyle?
Totally agree with these combos. truth is Torts is going to mix it up a ton regardless of what we each prefer
Thats the main point. These lines will shift 100 times this year, even with some more definition. But, with the Rangers so low last year in faceoffs (2nd to Carolina for last, right?), I can't see them having two of their better faceoffs players on wing (Rupp and Dubi). A lot will depend on the growth of Anisimov and Stepan, I suppose.
I just think Boyle scored 20 goals last yr and will need to be in more offensive situations. With that I think he will play the wing more this yr.
I see Torts using the 4th line more like a 4th line this yr since he should now have a true #1 line with Richards, Gaborik and say Wolski, then the Packline #2
Those two lines will eat up tons of minutes so between the other two lines there wont be much. Feds and Boyle are also defensively reliable and Stepan needs ice time.
Leaves a good energy line of Avery, Rupp, Prust with EC sitting most games.
Yes it knocks out Zuke but do you really think Torts is going to trust him defensively as much as he would Boyle?
Yes Boyle is better at offense than Rupp, but I think Zucc will make the team on the line with Steps and Feds. Feds and Steps are solid two-way players and Zucc has his share of back-checking also. I just dont see the need for more defense on a line that could have a creative passer in Zucc.
No some of us agree with you. I see Rupp as a C but yea sure he can play wing if they decide to go that route
I see Zuke not making it and the bottom two lines being
Feds, Steps, BB ( gets Boyle in more offensive situations )
Avery, Rupp, Prust( gritty line that could chip in with a goal, Avery will play
I don't see Torts going out of his way to get Boyle in more offensive situations. His passing is high school level and many of his goals were soft. He needs to work on faceoffs and continue playing on the defensive side of the puck at a high level. We have several guys (young guys) whose offensive abilities are way above BB (MZA, Thomas, Hagelin). So, if Torts is looking to get more O out of the 3rd line, Brian Boyle is one of his worst options.
Let's not try to make him something he's not. What was it 3 goals after Jan 1? Something like that. And the assists were non-existent. Barb did not improve his puck skills.
I don't see Torts going out of his way to get Boyle in more offensive situations. His passing is high school level and many of his goals were soft. He needs to work on faceoffs and continue playing on the defensive side of the puck at a high level. We have several guys (young guys) whose offensive abilities are way above BB (MZA, Thomas, Hagelin). So, if Torts is looking to get more O out of the 3rd line, Brian Boyle is one of his worst options.
Let's not try to make him something he's not. What was it 3 goals after Jan 1? Something like that. And the assists were non-existent. Barb did not improve his puck skills.
I made the opposite point recently. His goals were not soft at all. He's got a very hard and accurate wrist shot. Watch a handful of his goals at NHL.com.
I'm not proposing a spot on the top line like some, but after aggressively moving to get him at the draft, followed by his success last year, along with his relative youth, I don't see the Rangers cutting into his playing time. Third line wing is the perfect spot for him, IMO. If finding Stepan playing time wasn't an issue, I'd keep that 3rd line in tact.
A fearsome 4th line. Boyle will have to take on some added defensive responsibilities which will mean a likely drop in goal production (Unless we have some serious center injuries) however, he will be one of the better 4th line centers in the league, much like each of our centers down the lineup are prime for their spot.
Richards-Anisimov-Stepan-Boyle or Richards-Stepan-Anisimov-Boyle is prime. Probably around the #5 center crew in the league if they continue to develop.
Wolski-Dubinsky-Fedotenko-Rupp is solid but unspectacular. If Wolski has a big year then it could be above average. A lot of good 2 way players and grit.
Gaborik-Callahan-??-Prust obviously contingent on Gaborik's year and whoever wins that mystery RW spot. We know what we're gonna get from Cally and Prust. Could be our strongest position, however, could be weakest as well. Not any real prime candidates that are 100% proven to take that spot, though Weise, Zuccarello, and Thomas will all have something to say. Can always go Avery-Stepan-Fedotenko on the 3rd line like the beginning of last year if need be.
I like the lineup more than any NYR lineup since 07-08 by far.
I made the opposite point recently. His goals were not soft at all. He's got a very hard and accurate wrist shot. Watch a handful of his goals at NHL.com.
I'm not proposing a spot on the top line like some, but after aggressively moving to get him at the draft, followed by his success last year, along with his relative youth, I don't see the Rangers cutting into his playing time. Third line wing is the perfect spot for him, IMO. If finding Stepan playing time wasn't an issue, I'd keep that 3rd line in tact.
Obviously I disagree. He is a 4th liner and a good one. If he scores it's gravy and yes he a hard shot. But not an accurate one which is why absent two months last fall he has not scored his entire career. He belongs where this Poll will place him; on the 4th line. If he doesn't improve on draws Rupp will step in and take alot of them.
