Arthur Staple at Newsday has a piece on Chris Dury and the Rangers needing more consistancy this season..."Dru and I really got to know one another, and I love the guy," Tortorella told Newsday. "I think we really bounced him around last year, because the guy will do whatever is asked of him, whatever we need him to do. I want to be able to put him in a more consistent role."
...to me the perfect role for Drury would be the third line center position. Not too much pressure for him to score allowing him to relax and play his game. I'd like to see a rookie (Grachev?) on his line maybe to get him going.
Torts on the younger players...
"The kids were starting to get it, I think," Tortorella said. "[Michael] Del Zotto, Cally [Ryan Callahan] - they had some bumps, and Cally got hurt, but they were getting there. Dubi [Brandon Dubinsky] made terrific strides, but he's got a long way to go."
...the kids are going to be depended on this season to make giant steps forward if this team wants any kind of success. I'm looking at you Dubinsky, Callahan, Anisimov and Staal.
20 comments:
Man, torts really gives Dubi the tough love, doesn't he? I thought he was one of the bright spots on the roster last year, yet he's continually told he needs to be better. They're really molding this kid for a first line role it seems.
Gary, I agree that is a tough comment. But I think Dubi needs that. He is going to be counted on this season and he has to know he needs to be better.
Dubinsky needs to step up even more this year. When he's on, he's on, when he becomes a ghost thought the team slides. I'm sure the broken wrist had something to do with that, but I think 20-25 goals and 60ish points are to be expected from a full season.
As for Drury, the more consistent a role he plays, the better it will be for him. His best stretch as a ranger was in his first year for about the month he was centering the 3rd line with Dawes and Callahan on his wings. The more he plays in one role, the better the team will perform.
It's going to be an interesting season, it's been a while since expectations were this low going in; not many people seem to have hopes of the Rangers making the playoffs this year and are assuming that it's just going to be a rebuilding year and a year for the prospects to get more experience under their belts.
I guess I find myself among them, sort of more curious to see which of the young players start to show the ability to live up to their potential rather than seeing what seed the Rangers get in the playoffs.
There aren't a ton of open roster spots at this point so I'm not really sure if someone like Grachev is even going to make the team at this point, given that he didn't really tear things up in the AHL last year.
yeah, sounds good putting grachev with drury but remember, torts changes lines with every breath. its so infuriating. hes a chemistry killer.
I would love to see Drury get some more consistency on another team, he is going to be the 6th. highest paid player in the league thats almost as funny as LI Joe attempting to question my knowledge of the sport I forgot more than he'll ever know.
Drury's BEST game last year was against the Penguins at the end of the season....when he blindsided dude into the boards, then got mugged...then Rosival jumped in...anyone remember that game? He's got a laser shot, I hope his role is mostly offensive for a change.
drury's consistent role should be waiving his no trade clause or going to the minors. $7 mil is for the players who actually score goals.
Great post, Kevin.
And good comments, everybody.
@Patrick ... I like that you say, "it's been a while since expectations were this low going in." I'm counting on an "interesting season," and hope to see progress in developing the team. I also invite the possibility that the Rangers could exceed my expectations this year.
I hope this team can be a lot more organized this year. I think that players need to be placed in the appropriate role and they have to understand that role. I think chemistry develops after everybody knows their specific job. The lines don't even have to be the same every night if each and every player is focused on their role.
Avery, for example, hasn't quite found his role yet in the Tortorella system, and I'm suspicious Torts has tried to change Avery's game too much. He has to be the agitator; I hope he and Torts are coming to an understanding. But Avery shows a scoring touch now and again too, and he's a great skater, I'd like to see him get closer to 20 goals. He has to get better.
And I agree that Dubinsky has to know he's got further to go. Especially after his contract negotiations last year. This is what he's signed-on for: producing. And I thought he had a good year. I like the guy because I think he will get better this year; I think he's planning on it.
Drury did bounce around a lot last year, even doing time on the 4th line. He was pretty solid on faceoffs and consistent with the penalty kill and defensive play. I think we have to expect Drury and Cally back in defensive roles, but I hope to get more offense from both of them. In any case, I think Drury should be good for some of the young guys moving forward. I like pairing him with Grachev (though I don't expect to see Grachev on the opening night roster, but certainly by the second half of the season we'll see him on the ice).
Grachev - Drury - Callahan?
Early to tell what lines we'll see, but with Tortorella we should see quite a few versions. Here's something he might try at some point during the year. I don't quite expect to see Grachev make the opening night lineup, but I'm sure we'll see him over the course of the season. What do you guys make of these lines?
Dubinsky - Prospal - Gaborik
Avery - Anisimov - Zuccarello-Aasen
Grachev - Drury - Callahan
Prust - Christensen - Boogard
(I realize a couple guys may be left out here, Boyle at least; this is just imagining lines at some point during the year . . . )
@kevin-
Could not agree with you more. I've always seen him as a player who hasn't quite hit his peak yet. I'm hoping torts pushing him like that has a positive effect. I think it did last year, and I'm hoping there's carry-over.
Ag_Blue-
I can't overlook christensen on that fourth line. Eeek. Not for me.
I cant stand the Drury bashing any longer. He was chosen to the Olympics for a reason. He gives you his all every game. He blocks shots, fights for pucks, kills penalties, leads by his work ethic and loyalty and team approach. He will do anything the team asks. The Captain for a reason. The one issue? He doesn't score goals a 6mil dollar player should. Well guess what, it's not his fault. Sather gave him that much. Was he supposed to say :"um Glen, I think you are giving me way to much money."? And the money is not our money to decide how much to give who. So why are we bashing a guy who is so important to this team and does everything for it just because Sather gave him a lot of someone else's money. If he was making 2 million a year, would you still hate him? He is a solid player. Has come up big in the clutch. He has the right mentality, and the heart. Give him a break for not scoring more please, there is NO need for this. Would we like to see more goals? Yessss, but don't kill him for it, he does a lot more than score goals. Thank you for listening to my rant.
ivanyr - great post agree 100%. he also scored 20-25 goals his 1st 2 yrs
disagree with those who think dubi is 1st liner.
don't have much to say about ltp comment. don't think much of him as a person or his hockey knowledge. he or she has continually tried to go after me since i started posting here.
"I can't overlook Christensen on that fourth line."
I hear you, Gary, but Torts might roll out those lines, right? I know they want to give Anisimov more ice time this year... I would love for Christensen to come into his own this year and surprise us all; who wouldn't? I'm sure he'll put in his time on the first line, but can he own it? There's no doubt he has skills; I expect him to do better this year, but I continue to doubt his consistency.
Build me some lines, Gary!
@LI Joe... I hear you on Dubi, but the fact is, on this team, Dubinsky is a first liner (though not full time; our lines will continue to change). Dubi got a lot of 1st line time last year and he is going to get more this year, period. He was 4th in points and tied at second in goals last year. I think he'll get a little better too, but you're right,... there are things you can point fingers at. I'd be happy if any of our forwards stepped-up and brought a better game than Dubi - I'm not talking about Gaborik, and Callahan is one of the hardest working forwards, but everybody on this team has room for improvement.
Give me some lines you think we'll see this next season.
Am i the only one that still have some kind of hope that he will bounce back and score 30 goals? I know it won´t happend, but i cant stop dreaming... :P
ag - at ebst even on this team he's 2nd liner. on bad team he's 2nd liner on good team he's slotted as 3rd liner. since we're a bad team he's 2nd liner.
re drury - we can hope he reverts to 20-25 goals of 1st 2 yrs here. i'd love to see it and slow down all the drury bashing i see on the internet.
Thanks for the back and forth, Joe . . .
I know what you mean, but Dubi plays a lot of games on our first line and he'll do it again this year. Like I said, not full time, but he plays there. Are you telling me he won't do time on the first line this season? Care to put money on that?
Just out of curiosity, and there are no wrong answers here (well, maybe some wrong answers), given our current roster, who would you put on the first line?
christensen and prospal. remember 1st line is not always best 3 forwards either. at 1 pt we had the lesser hossa playing 1st line on jagrs line. in reality we only have 1 1st line caliber player which is why we needed kovy and why we really are much more a bottom feeder than true contender
OK, Joe, I'm hearing you now and, basically, I agree with you. I can't argue we're a contender, but I have to believe we'll compete. And I see what you mean that, for the time-being, Gabby is our one proven 1st liner, though I hold out hope for others to step it up.
You play Christensen on the left wing and Prospal at center? or either/or?
No wager then, huh?
(because you know Dubi will see ice time on the first line . . . )
Christensen - Prospal - Gaborik
Frolov - Anisimov - Zuccarello-Aasen
Dubinsky - Drury - Callahan
Prust - Avery - Boogard / Boyle
ag - put christensen at center frolov on wing on 1st line. prospal on aa line but that might really be the 3rd line.
you're pretty close to what i'd do. of course pp will be interesting as teams often break up lines and even put forwards on the point. and injuries will always come into play.
good posts by you and i appreciated the give and take
Thanks again, Joe,
and this should be my last post on this thread . . .
Good catch on Frolov. I included him since he was still just a rumor when I posted, and now it sounds like he'll likely sign tomorrow; and I put him on the second line because I figured folks would wonder what the hell we're signing him for if he doesn't contend for 1st line duty. Just stirrin it up. On the other hand, with Torts steering the ship we can see just about every line combination.
also curious to see avery at center. he's got the skills and it would be interesting to see him with the responsibilities that come with the center position. i still want him to be the agitator, but at center it seems like he would be forced to be a little smarter about it. again, we're gonna see guys moved around.
pp will indeed be interesting and hopefully a lot more productive this year - we'll see. and as for injuries, there are always a few, and that's when we'll see more prospects on the ice.
good stuff, joe
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