Trouble in Ranger Land

[X. Benedict]

Dude, seriously, you really need to let go of Chris Drury. Your man love for the dude is causing you to diss your own team. Come on man, that just ain't right.

 

1. Montreal with Carey Price

2. @ New York Rangers with Lundqvist

3. @ Minnesota with Backstrom

4. Washington with Theodore

 

That's 4 solid teams, and the first 3 are some of the best defenses in the league. The part C is just plain stupid, i don't know why you'd even bring it up. Right before the Ottawa home game which we got killed by, Sabres had the toughest strength of schedule in the league. I didn't look it up, i think it was mentioned here but also WGR.

 

Now, about Derek Roy ($ 4 million cap hit) has 2 goals and 4 assists. Is also a +2. And i've several times called him out in several posts.

You butt-buddy Chris Drury ($7 million cap hit) has 2 goals, 3 assists. He's a -5.

 

He also played more games and one of his goals was the biggest fluke goal of the year.

 

Now about Dubinsky. I've seen him play several times this season and i really think he over achieved. Slapshop going high, hits Martin Brodeur glove and goes in. I guess when you're getting lucky, breaks come more frequently. In the LAST 10 games, Dubs has 1 goal, 3 assists and a -1.

 

In THE HOCKEY NEWS fantasy preview magazine (Ovechkin on cover), it predicts stats on players.

 

On you're boy Dubs-

"Dubinsky has a sensational rookie season, but he also played with talented players, so don't get overly excited. He has never been a huge scorer so don't expect much more." They have him "projected" at 15g, 20a". Statistically, he's on pace to beat that, but if you look into his hot start, i'm not too sure if he will. He's cooled off and now being moved around lines. I believe last night he played on the 3rd line.

 

And as for my hate for NYR? I don't hate anyone. I don't hate Drury. This is a discussion forum and when someone comes on and sucks the NYR off because their off to a great start, i'm gonna post MY opinion on why i think you're wrong. Dubs doesn't impress me, and you MOCK my hockey IQ, but he also doesn't impress the Hockey News. Sorry, i'm NOT a fan of Dubs. And i'm not a big fan of the NYR as a team. I could careless for them. I follow hockey very closely and watch many games. It's my opinion that the NYR have a bad offensive team and take stupid penalties which will cost them. Right now, they are i think the best or second best Penalty Killing team in the league. Betts has been amazing for them. You have to wonder if that will keep up? With all the come back wins they have, and all the close wins they have, and the lack of scoring they have, if their PK goes down under and drops from top 3 in the NHL to say 10th, which still is VERY HIGH, how many more games would they lose?

 

What happens when Zherdev and Naslund come back to earth? Even if it's only for a month? This team has too many questions, too little anwsers and that's why they won't finish top 2 in their division. With the NJD facing a major issue, it boosts NYR chances so much more.

 

Anyways, i love discussing hockey with you, if it's Tampa, NYR, or our own Sabres, but seriously, don't mock my hockey IQ because i'm not a big fan of a 22 year old who had 40pt in the AHL (70 games), 40 pt rookie year and off to a good start. Is there a chance Dubs can become like a Bertuzzi? Sure.... is there a chance he'll be a Jaime Lundmark? Sure.

 

The Rangers are an interesting story because they are following the Buffalo model.

12 mobile forwards .....good front line speed....and a mobile defense (that i'm not quite sold on yet) with a great backstop. Keepingf Jagr and Shanny would have been the easy option...

but they went with two-way balance and Gomez-Drury-Dubinsky up the middle give them very

balanced two way lines that will have you guessing throughout the season who to stop.

 

I can't see not liking Dubinsky at this stage of his development. Age 22 and has played every line, good vision, very good hands playing at speed and just solid instincts. This kid is going to have a very long career. I wouldn't put him ahead of Carter or Richards in Philly yet, but he reminds me a bit of Craig Janney (not quite sure why yet) with a little more physical edge.

[nfreeman]

The Rangers are an interesting story because they are following the Buffalo model.

12 mobile forwards .....good front line speed....and a mobile defense (that i'm not quite sold on yet) with a great backstop. Keepingf Jagr and Shanny would have been the easy option...

but they went with two-way balance and Gomez-Drury-Dubinsky up the middle give them very

balanced two way lines that will have you guessing throughout the season who to stop.

 

I can't see not liking Dubinsky at this stage of his development. Age 22 and has played every line, good vision, very good hands playing at speed and just solid instincts. This kid is going to have a very long career. I wouldn't put him ahead of Carter or Richards in Philly yet, but he reminds me a bit of Craig Janney (not quite sure why yet) with a little more physical edge.

Good post, as usual. Dubinsky is a good player who could turn into a very good player. I'd trade Stafford for him in a second.

[tom webster]

I love taking shots at expensive big city teams that aren't producing. Makes us look better. They got off to a good start, now reality is setting in. We'll see where they'll be in May or June. Renney probably won't be there by then.

 

 

That would be great if there were some reality other then that they are a really good team setting in. They lost two games and if for someone you want to dismiss their start, they are 5-4-1 since they won their first five.

[jimiVbaby]

There aren't many teams I dislike, but the Rangers are definitely one of them -- for the reason you mentioned, and because of Drury. But to say they "aren't producing" is a bit of an overstatement. They are 10-4-1, have won 3 of their last 5 and are in 1st place in the Eastern Conference. (I know, they've played 3 more games than we have, but they also have 2 more wins than we do). I was hoping they'd take a big fall this year, but they are going to be very tough all year. They have good coaching, good goaltending and play great team defense. And let's not kid ourselves -- we'd all take Drury back in a heartbeat at the deal we were supposed to sign him to.

I think I hate the Rangers, not because of Drury, but because of the BS that MSG has on their station. "NY Fans are the best fans", "There's no better place to play than MSG" ect. I live in NYC and worked right on 34 St. for quite awhile. Most people don't give a crap about the Rangers.

[nfreeman]

I think I hate the Rangers, not because of Drury, but because of the BS that MSG has on their station. "NY Fans are the best fans", "There's no better place to play than MSG" ect. I live in NYC and worked right on 34 St. for quite awhile. Most people don't give a crap about the Rangers.

I live in NYC too and while I agree that most people aren't into the Rangers, I think that NYC is such a big, diverse place that there are huge sections of the population that don't really care about sports at all. It's nothing like Buffalo, where everyone you see is wearing a Sabres or Bills shirt. So, while the Rangers aren't at the forefront of the NYC vibe, I don't think any of the sport teams is. And I also think MSG gets full and loud with good, knowledgeable, passionate Rangers fans -- much more so than the Devils get.

[Bmwolf21]

I was never Drury's biggest fan and I love the fact that the Rangers overpaid him and his numbers are down. I will revel in this whether the Rangers are winning or losing.

It still pisses me off that Quinny was ready to match any offer(at least that is what he said after the fact).

I never bought that Quinn crap. I always felt like that was a save-face comment made after the fact, knowing that there was no way in hell that Drury was going to accept the Sabres' "matching offer."

 

It wouldn't surprise me to find out that the offer to match was never presented to Drury and was just something he told the media.

[Two or less]

Tom, the one thing i will admit to, is the NYR penalty killing unit is unreal. Teams just can't get scoring chances when NYR are short handed. Oh, and your boy Drury just scored a SHG too.

[tom webster]

Tom, the one thing i will admit to, is the NYR penalty killing unit is unreal. Teams just can't get scoring chances when NYR are short handed. Oh, and your boy Drury just scored a SHG too.

 

Once again, while I loved Drury here and think he would be a great addition to this team at $5.3 million, he is not my boy. You will not find one recent post where I refer to him at all except in response to someone who feels that they are not complete unless they take a shot at him, Briere or Campbell.

I'm not the one who can't get over it. At their current contracts, I would take Dubinsky over Drury.

[X. Benedict]

I'm not the one who can't get over it. At their current contracts, I would take Dubinsky over Drury.

 

Me too.

[LabattBlue]

...or Campbell.

You trying to egg me on? :D

[LabattBlue]

I can hear Drury now..."How did you like my hat trick? Take that you bunch of mouse potatoes!". :lol:

[wjag]

I can hear Drury now..."How did you like my hat trick? Take that you bunch of mouse potatoes!". :lol:

Nice night, 1 SHG, 2 PPGs... Wish I hadn't dropped him from my fantasy team, but he really hasn't done much at all this year... Got tired of waiting for a night like last night.

[shrader]

I'm not the one who can't get over it. At their current contracts, I would take Dubinsky over Drury.

 

Way to go out on a limb there. ;)

 

Of course, I'm sure things will look very different next year when he's not on his mid-range entry level deal anymore.

[carpandean]

Way to go out on a limb there. ;)

Of course, I'm sure things will look very different next year when he's not on his mid-range entry level deal anymore.

Yeah, I'll take Malkin at his current contract ($984k + $2.85 million bonus) over just about anybody. Now, at $9 million (2009-) ... not so much.

[stenbaro]

Sabes have plenty of cap room..Dont tell me that none of you would take his leadership and game with Rivets and even at his current contract and watch the Sabes go deep in the playoffs..

[tom webster]

Way to go out on a limb there. ;)

 

Of course, I'm sure things will look very different next year when he's not on his mid-range entry level deal anymore.

 

 

OK, I would take Dubinshy at Hecht's cap hit.

 

The previous post was intended to answer some incorrect insinuations made by previous posters. Standing by itself, it does look a little obvious.

[carpandean]

Sabes have plenty of cap room..

... this year. There has been talk that the cap may go down next year. With Drury at his current contract, they'd be at $48 million for only 15 players next year.

 

Don't get me wrong, if I could go back two years and make changes, I'd have him signed at $5-$5.5 million. But you can't rewrite history.

[stenbaro]

... this year. There has been talk that the cap may go down next year. With Drury at his current contract, they'd be at $48 million for only 15 players next year.

 

Don't get me wrong, if I could go back two years and make changes, I'd have him signed at $5-$5.5 million. But you can't rewrite history.

And they would still be a better team..Not that it matters though obviously he is gone..But to bash him and downplay what he brings to a team is freakin funny....I would take him and our signed 14 with 8 scrubs next year at 48 mill and they would beat our team we have signed now any day...

[carpandean]

And they would still be a better team..Not that it matters though obviously he is gone..But to bash him and downplay what he brings to a team is freakin funny....I would take him and our signed 14 with 8 scrubs next year at 48 mill and they would beat our team we have signed now any day...

You forget that those 8 scrubs would still cost $500k+ each, putting them at $52 million minimum.

 

Our starting defense would be:

Rivet - Lydman

Tallinder - Paetsch

Weber - Scrub

(or some mix thereof)

 

Our forward lines would be something like:

Vanek-Roy-Scrub

Hecht-Drury-Pominville

Paille-Gaustad-Scrub

Scrub-Mair-Scrub

 

Press box: Scrub (F), Scrub (D)

 

 

All you can hope is that several of our prospects are truly NHL ready in order to fill those scrub spots and pray that we don't have a run of injuries. I know what you are saying -- I would never downplay his contributions here -- but at his current contract level, we would be in a tight spot to field a full team.

[stenbaro]

You forget that those 8 scrubs would still cost $500k+ each, putting them at $52 million minimum.

 

Our starting defense would be:

Rivet - Lydman

Tallinder - Paetsch

Weber - sekera

(or some mix thereof)

 

Our forward lines would be something like:

Vanek-Roy-paille

Hecht-Drury-Pominville

Staffor-Gaustad-Mancari

Kaleta-Mair-Kennedy

 

Press box: Scrub (F), Scrub (D)

All you can hope is that several of our prospects are truly NHL ready in order to fill those scrub spots and pray that we don't have a run of injuries. I know what you are saying -- I would never downplay his contributions here -- but at his current contract level, we would be in a tight spot to field a full team.

I would think that would do...Of course I didnt take the time to see whose contract is up but I dont think any of those contracts would be earthshattering..I would take that team over this one any day..Not taking away anything from our great start to the season..I just think our team is lacking a solid center and some forward who will grab the team by the seat of the pants and get it going when it needs to..It looks like Vanek is developing into that player, time will tell..

[inkman]

I just think our team is lacking a solid center and some forward who will grab the team by the seat of the pants and get it going when it needs to...

I know Mike Grier was vocal about players not performing up to their talent level, much to Vanek's dismay, but was Cris ever that guy. I got the distinct feeling he was the lead by example type.

[stenbaro]

I know Mike Grier was vocal about players not performing up to their talent level, much to Vanek's dismay, but was Cris ever that guy. I got the distinct feeling he was the lead by example type.

I dont know..Ask Satan about that..I guess we will never really know..He is the captain of the Rangers so that must say something..

[inkman]

I dont know..Ask Satan about that..I guess we will never really know..He is the captain of the Rangers so that must say something..

It was reported (whatever that means), that Drury asked management to trade Satan. If that was the truth, I would give Drury props but I'm still leery of Chris' leadership skills. Did he alienate many of the young guys with his style? Not sure...

[stenbaro]

It was reported (whatever that means), that Drury asked management to trade Satan. If that was the truth, I would give Drury props but I'm still leery of Chris' leadership skills. Did he alienate many of the young guys with his style? Not sure...

That is how we receive information... :nana: .....

I dont think I would be to leary of his leadership skills.. Ruff wouldnt have given him the C if there were questions...

[tom webster]

I know Mike Grier was vocal about players not performing up to their talent level, much to Vanek's dismay, but was Cris ever that guy. I got the distinct feeling he was the lead by example type.

 

One example was the western road trip Janouary of 06 were the team played horribly in losing their 5th of 8 games and Drury just went off on some of the younger players. The Sabres turned their season around at that point and lost just once in regulation in twenty games.

I ma sure there were other examples, but that time sticks out.