The Rangers Tribune

Player Review: Ryan McDonagh

Ryan McDonagh is a special kind of hockey player that the Rangers are extremely fortunate to have on their hands. For a kid that was only recalled by the Rangers in December of 2010, it's amazing that he is already among the League's best shutdown defensemen in 2012. It's been a pleasure watching Ryan mature and grow into the powerhouse that he now is, and the best is yet to come from the 23-year-old. 

The Good: McDonagh is a coach's dream player. He's responsible, steady and can play in any situation against any opponent. McDonagh is a one and a half-year veteran, as wild as that sounds. It really is incredible to see how much this kid has grown in just two seasons of professional hockey, especially with how he held himself in the postseason in the months of April and May. McDonagh, based on performance, was the most consistent Ranger defenseman all season long and is probably the blue-liner that is most trusted by the coaching staff. 

McDonagh's poise and decision-making is what puts him ahead of the rest. Nothing seems to faze him and nothing ever negatively impacts his judgement of a play. How often can you say you've seen McDonagh burnt badly by an opponent, even as skilled as an Evgeni Malkin or Alex Ovechkin? I cannot even think of one instance on the fly. He's that good/dependable. 

The Bad: The only area of McDonagh's game that can be improved upon is his offense. 32 points on the year is nothing to be ashamed of, but if McDonagh wants to ride with the elite, adding some more offensive production will speed up the process even faster than it is moving at the moment. From the powerplay to leading the rush, there is room for improvement and I'm sure this is something that has been addressed with management and the coaching staff. 

Highlight of the Year:

 

Overall Assessment: Let's cut right to the chase here; Ryan McDonagh is the best defenseman on the New York Rangers roster. Dan Girardi is a close second, but when I analyze a player, the two major aspects of their game that I take into heavy consideration are expectations and consistency. McDonagh has blown his expectations as a second-year defenseman out of the water and is as consistent as they come. The Rangers have a gem on their hands here, that WILL NOT BE TRADED, Mr. Howson. 

Report Card Grade: A

Player Review: Dan Girardi

Dan Girardi has been a keystone for the New York Rangers on defense for a while now, but 2011-12 was the first season in which the veteran blue-liner out of Ontario, Canada received league-wide recognition for his efforts. HBO's 24/7 helped with that, as did his spot in the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, the Winter Classic and of course the handful of votes for his name under the Norris Trophy category for the League's best defenseman. This may sound strange since Dan is 28-year-old, but this past season, all things considered, was his break-out year. 

The Good: Dan Girardi is the Ryan Callahan of defensemen. He isn't flashy by any means, but boy is he an important player and does he ever put forth a 110-percent effort every night. His willingness to block shots coupled with the way he uses his body to slow down the most talented of opponents speaks to his dedication. He can be paired alongside the best or the worst on the team, but will still find ways to succeed and also bring the game of his partner up another notch as well. 

Girardi may not have a loud voice (or he may, I really don't know), but he sure does know how to lead by example. He's the type of guy that, if you were his teammate, you'd take a bullet for him. His focus on the team and winning hockey games is evident in his every move, and that dedication and persistence rubs off on the younger guys, especially his partner, Ryan McDonagh.

Danny G is the all-around package on defense, to put it simply. 

The Bad: The only knock on Girardi that I could come up with is his lack of offensive production. Just five goals and 29 overall points this past season had him pretty low on the depth chart in terms of scoring. One thing I've noticed with Dan is that he misses the net with his shot more often that not, especially when positioned at the point on the powerplay. It's possible that if he can fix that aspect of his game, maybe the offense will begin to come more naturally. You all know the Gretzky quote I'm thinking of right now, right?

Also, Girardi did have his moments in the postseason, more frequently than he did during the regular season. And when I say "moments", I am referring to blunders, penalties, turnovers and what not. 

Highlight of the Year:

 

Overall Assessment: Although, in my opinion, Ryan McDonagh has surpassed Dan Girardi as the team's top defenseman, 'G' is still a vital part of this hockey club and right up there with McDonagh. Girardi represents what it means to be a Ranger, and plays with that certain grit and determination that defines this team. The best part is that he has only continued to get better with each passing season, so I'm expecting even bigger and better things in 2012-13. 

Report Card Grade: A

Player Review: Michael Del Zotto

The player review you've all been waiting for. Michael Del Zotto was and still is one of the more debated names on the New York Rangers roster amongst fans. His offensive smarts that are sometimes hidden by his defensive blunders have the fan base split when it comes to the 22-year-old from Ontario, Canada. As a current restricted free agent, he's a name we will be hearing a lot from now until September. Unless, of course, he is gone by then. 

The Good: Michael Del Zotto made great strides this season as compared to his last, finishing fifth on the team in scoring with ten goals and 41 points. His offensive game has improved majorly and even grew stronger as the year progressed. From that standpoint, Michael was great, helping to lead the rush and create offense. Also overlooked was his plus-20 overall rating, which is fantastic for an offensive-minded defenseman in today's NHL. 

As compared to 2010-11, Del Zotto made tremendous progress in his game to prove that he belongs at the NHL level this past season. He's no longer a player who will borderline the NHL and AHL, possibly having to start over from the beginning. He's finally found his game, or at least half of it, and gained some trust out of the coaching staff and fans. He's dynamic when it comes to the offensive side of things. 

The Bad: On defense, however, that is not so much the case with DZ. While his offensive game greatly improved, his defensive game remained the same, if not grew worse. He's fortunate that his assists outweigh the number of goals against he was out for this season, otherwise he'd have some ugly numbers up on the board. And the frustrating part of it is that a majority of Michael's mistakes on D are the result of mental failures. Whether it is pinching at the wrong time, getting caught in no-man's land or not protecting the crease, it's all preventable with a little thinking. 

Oh, and the postseason was a complete disaster for Michael. He was clearly nervous, he was constantly coughing up the puck and lacked any sort of confidence that could've helped him fight through it. Again, the Rangers cannot afford to have top contributors during the regular season suddenly fall off into nothing when the playoffs roll around. That is far too costly, especially on defense. 

Oh, and he tweets wayyyy too much. He thinks 'Ja Rule' is still a relevant music artist. Just saying. 

Highlight of the Year:

 

Overall Assessment: With Del Zotto, you must take the good with the bad. He'll give you offense from the back-end, but he is not the most reliable player when it comes to defending. At this point, he isn't expected to give the team strong defense, but rather contribute on the scoreboard and help to create scoring chances off the rush - which he has shown that he can do quite well. Del Zotto is a restricted free agent and just this past week was qualified by the team. We'll see where negotiations go from here, but if the Rangers somehow land this Schultz kid, that likely means the end of DZ on Broadway. 

Report Card Grade: B

Player Review: Stu Bickel

Stu Bickel was not expected to remain with the New York Rangers long after being recalled by the team in December of 2011. However, it turns out that he would go on to play 51 regular season games in addition to 18 postseason contests before the end of the 2011-12 campaign. Who once was intended to be a temporary spot-filler suddenly molded into a permanent skater on the blue-line, and one that came in handy for the Blueshirts over the course of a very lengthy year. 

The Good: Stu Bickel wasn't exactly a name you'd here often on the nightly broadcast during the regular season, but he did have a quiet effectiveness about him in his rookie NHL year. He was tough, he learned the system quickly and was serviceable as a third pairing defenseman. It was not often where Bickel would find himself in a situation which he was a liability out on the ice, which is basically the goal of a sixth blue-liner on any team. To be brief, he did what was asked of him. 

But what really grabbed the attention of the coaching staff and fans, and in this case bloggers, was his snarl that was put on display every night. Bickel is a fearless hockey player ready to drop the gloves with anyone, which certainly isn't a bad thing in this day and age when defensemen continue to grow softer and softer as they years go on. This guy is as blue-collar as they come, and he was always ready to sacrifice his body in one way or another if it meant helping the club. 

The Bad: Bickel is not a rare player, or someone who will stand out. Actually, he may not even play all that much, so basically he is a spot-filler despite skating in over 50 games with the Rangers this season. Don't get me wrong, he was of great use to the Rangers this year, but the organization is looking to get stronger on the defensive side of things talent-wise and Bickel isn't exactly a 'talented' player. He is responsible, yes, but he's not going to score goals, lead a rush or quarterback a powerplay - all traits the Rangers are in the hunt for at the moment (see Justin Schultz).  

Highlight of the Year:

 

Overall Assessment: Stu Bickel, 25, is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, so his future as of right now is unclear. Whether he is contacted again by the Rangers may depend on whether or not they are able to reel in Justin Schultz and/or re-sign Anton Stralman. Bickel was great to have around for this past season, but he's not someone the team necessarily needs moving forward. 

Report Card Grade: B

Player Review: Brad Richards

With great contracts come great expectations, and that especially applied to Brad Richards once he signed a nine-year/$60 million contract with the New York Rangers last July. As the biggest free agent target of the 2011 summer, Richards knew going in that he was going to be thrown lucrative deals left and right. However, it was the Rangers who, as compared to others, low-balled Richie in terms of cash. Richards took less money to come to the Big City and be reunited with head coach John Tortorella, and it ended up working out pretty well for the 32-year-old center, all things considered. 

The Good: As far as my personal expectations for Richards went in his first season with the Rangers, he exceeded them and exceeded them largely. Coming from Dallas to New York would be a tremendous jump on and off the ice, and I truly thought it was going to get the best of Brad in year one. To my surprise, it didn't have the impact I thought it would, and Richie turned out to be a key player for the Rangers throughout the season, especially down the stretch and in the playoffs. 

His 25 goals and 41 assists gave him 66 points during the regular season, which was good for second on the team in scoring behind Marian Gaborik. I honestly did not see Richards reaching beyond the 20-goal mark, but again, he beat the odds. Not to mention nine of those 25 goals were game-winners, making Brad the new Mr. Clutch on Broadway. He always came up with the big play during the regular season and playoffs, whether it be the go-ahead goal in the Winter Classic, the .1 second game-winner against Phoenix or the 6.6 second tying tally against the Washington Capitals in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Those are the moments a team's top performer is expected to step up in, and Richards did so many times, which is why Tortorella is such a huge fan. 

And then of course there is every other role he fills, such as penalty-killing, powerplay quarterback (although that one didn't work out all that well), and most of all, leader. There is a reason why Richards was given the alternate captaincy before playing a single game for the team. He's a natural-born leader that was a fantastic mentor for many of the younger guys on the hockey club. That's not a trait everyone possesses, but when they do, it can be quite special. At first I was skeptical of giving Brad a letter, but now, after season one, I couldn't be more happy. 

The Bad: Consistency was an issue for Richards throughout the season. I mentioned how he exceeded my expectations, which is true, but it can become frustrating when a player gives a team so much for a certain amount of time, and then falls off the face of the earth the very next week. This was sometimes the case with Richards, and it left the fan base rather aggravated when it was. Moving forward, consistency is something Richards is going to want to improve in his game, and if he does, he will be up there among the League's top scorers, let alone the team's.

Highlight of the Year:

 

Overall Assessment: All in all, you have to be happy with Richards' first season as a New York Ranger. For the most past, he did what he is being paid the big bucks to do, he established himself as a fan favorite and a leader and played a major role in the team's ascension to the top of the Eastern Conference. Next objective? Help bring the team a Stanley Cup. 

Report Card Grade: B

Player Review: Brandon Prust

Brandon Prust, along with Ryan Callahan, is the heart and soul of the New York Rangers. His relentless attitude and persistent work ethic have both been aspects of his game that have been appreciated by the Garden Faithful as well as the coaching staff since he was first acquired from the Calgary Flames in 2010, and have carried through over the course of his three-year career with the Blueshirts so far. Prust, age 28, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 of this summer if not re-signed before then, but there's little doubt that he will be getting a call from GM Glen Sather, if not already, then soon about extending that deal into the 2012-13 campaign and beyond. 

The Good: As I said, Prust is relentless and does not allow much to faze him. Just seeing that he battled through more than half of the regular season as well as twenty playoff games with a broken finger speaks to this guy's character and his commitment to his team. He'll drop the gloves with anyone for any reason, despite only weighing in at 192 pounds and measuring 6-foot. Back in the early months of the season in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Prust fought twice in one period in defense of a teammate, which prompted head coach John Tortorella to claim that Prust had "balls as big as this building" following New York's win over the Flyers. 

Aside from the fisticuffs, Prust is a very versatile player as far as the role his coach can place him in. He kills penalties, he's responsible defensively, he puts forth an incredible work ethic on the forecheck and is very smart when it comes to picking his hits and, ultimately, his fights. Sure, he'll take the odd bad penalty here and there, but that does not occur often. Prust is a smart hockey player for a third/fourth line guy who serves as a role player more than anything. 

Another thing that stands out about Brandon is his off-ice chemistry with the team and his locker room presence. As seen on HBO's 24/7, Prust is just an all-around great guy to have around the club for multiple reasons, aside from his performance on the ice alone. 

The Bad: The only knock on Prust is that he did not contribute offensively this season as he did in 2010-11. He went from 13 goals to only five goals in a year's span, which isn't going to help him much when negotiating that new contract. The Rangers desperately need their depth to produce offensively as we saw in the playoff series against the Devils in late March, but Prust did not give them that this season. I don't think that is enough to turn Sather away from re-signing Prust, but it does place a sense of doubt there. 

Highlight of the Year:

 

Overall Assessment: If you want to know what it means to be a New York Ranger in this current day and age, Prust is one of the guys to look to on the roster.  He defines the term blue collar and carries a swagger that makes him hard to resist. As stated earlier, there's a very good chance he will be re-signing with the Rangers come July, if not before, for at least another season with the Rangers. 

Report Card Grade: B

Player Review: John Mitchell (UPDATE)

John Mitchell was not a player anyone really expected to touch the ice in a Rangers jersey at any point this season, but that changed on November 25 of 2011 when he was recalled by the team from the Connecticut Whale of the AHL to play against the Washington Capitals, along with Carl Hagelin. Mitchell would never look back to the AHL from that point on, sticking with the Blueshirts for the entire season and playing in 63 games over the course of that time. Surprisingly enough, he went on to play in 18 of the Rangers' 20 postseason tilts as well. 

The Good: John Mitchell is not someone who will potentially cost you a game, which is something that is sadly a plus for a fourth line player on the Rangers. He could take faceoffs, he was committed defensively and, for the most part, he knew where to be at all times. He learned the system quickly upon being recalled by the team, and he did (sort of) contribute offensively with five goals and 16 points. 

Mitchell became a player that head coach John Tortorella gained trust in, so it wasn't necessarily a shock to see him out there in crucial situations. For example, he won the faceoff that led to Marc Staal's overtime winner in Game 5 of the semifinals against the Washington Capitals. Also in that series, he made a huge shot block that led to Marian Gaborik's triple overtime winner in Game 3. So Mitchell certainly did have his moments as a New York Ranger. 

The Bad: The main problem with Mitchell is that he can be replaced and will not be missed. There are plenty more individuals just within this organization alone who could fill his role and bring more to the table than he did throughout the past season. Mitchell is not an offensive force or someone who stands out for any specific reason. He's just sort of a 'meh' player if that makes any sense to you; he's boring, bland and doesn't possess any special talents. 

Not to mention that Mitchell is already 27-years-old, so it's not like he is young and just starting out in this League as a rookie. To me, he's a career AHL player that the Rangers need to drop from their roster if they wish to be considered serious contenders. 

Highlight of the Year:

 

Overall Assessment: Due to become an unrestricted free agent in July, it is very unlikely that his career as a member of the New York Rangers organization will be going any further than it already has. He is an easily replaceable player for the Rangers and the team needs all the roster space they can create for new, more effective additions as well as for younger players ready to make the jump from the AHL/Juniors into the NHL. 

Report Card Grade: C

RANGERS EXTEND QUALIFYING OFFERS

#NYR Rangers have extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents Zuccarello, Stralman, and Del Zotto

— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) June 16, 2012

Player Review: Chris Kreider

Yesterday we reviewed rookie Carl Hagelin on the blog, so it was only appropriate that we followed that up with Chris Kreider (more like their names coincidentally come right after each other on the roster). But anyway, Kreider was signed by the Rangers just before the playoffs in the NHL kicked off, and immediately after his Boston College Eagles won the Frozen Four NCAA tournament. It was obviously all a whirlwind for Chris at the time, but despite doubt placed against him and the tough circumstances he was entering into, he came out and wasted no time stealing the spotlight on Broadway, becoming a major story League-wide during the postseason. 

The Good: Much like Hagelin, speed is the key ingredient to Kreider's success. This enables him to get to loose pucks first, lead the rush, backcheck extremely well and even break away from the defense for scoring opportunities a la the highlight below. At some point throughout the Rangers' playoff run, we saw Kreider do all of this and much more. He's a slippery player although quite large at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds. He played well with almost every line he was placed on, but especially with friend and center Derek Stepan. These two had a chemistry that the Rangers hope will continue to build next season as well. 

Not to mention Kreider racked up five goals and 2 assists in 18 playoff games, which had him tied for eighth on the team in scoring, as a rookie remember. I doubted the kid coming out of college and jumping right into NHL playoff action as that is a difficult task for anyone to swallow. However, as he started to build up the points and create opportunities on the ice, he rapidly began to prove me wrong. 

And the great thing about Kreider is that he is already one of the players you anticipate to come out onto the ice and immediately make something happen, at only the age of 21 mind you. The confidence that he played with was truly amazing considering his young age and his inexperience, and that speaks to how well he could possibly perform in his official rookie season next year with the Rangers. I think there's little doubt that if not at first, somewhere along the road he will work himself into the top six on offense. 

The Bad: This one is tough. The only thing I could say here is that Kreider must learn when it is right to use his bursts of speed and when it is not. This is something he sort of tested with during the postseason, but again, he was a kid coming straight out of college in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's not something that was unexpected. 

Plus, he did turn the puck over a bit in the early going and wasn't thinking shot as often as he should have. Both of those changed by the end of the postseason, however. 

Highlight of the Year:

 

Overall Assessment: In just 18 playoff games, Chris Kreider displayed loads of promise for the future. Night in and night out the kid was one of the better forwards on the team, in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as a rookie. That right there speaks for itself, and if he was capable of doing that in the playoffs, imagine just how high he could set the bar during the regular season. You can pretty much pencil Chris in as 2012-13 Calder Trophy winner. 

Report Card Grade: A

Player Review: Carl Hagelin

The hype surrounding Swedish-born forward Carl Hagelin began last year when the then-Michigan State Wolverine was tearing it up in the NCAA. Hagelin's powerful strides were a clear indicator as to how his speed was going to set himself apart from the competition upon making it to the NHL level. After about a month in the American Hockey League playing with the Connecticut Whale in 2011-12, Hagelin was recalled by the Rangers and neither side would ever look back from there. It was the team's smartest recall since Ryan McDonagh was brought up in the prior season, for an endless number of reasons. 

The Good: Carl Hagelin adjusted to the NHL game quicker than any rookie I've seen in a long while. In just his first game he was already having an impact on the ice that simply could not go unnoticed by the coaching staff, leaving them with no other option but to gradually slide him up in the lineup. Nothing fazes this kid, he will go into the corner with any opponent, he is not afraid to get hit, he can outskate any opponent and he's an incredible playmaker. Over the course of 64 games during the regular season, we saw all of that displayed by the 23-year-old in addition to much more. 

Hagelin's 14 goals and 24 assists put him at sixth on the team in scoring with 38 points, fifth among Ranger forwards and sixth among NHL rookies in scoring. Those numbers alone are impressive, but then you look at the way in which Hagelin contributed to the Blueshirts' bountiful success this season and he really becomes a player you cannot resist from keeping your eye on. He is an extremely skilled hockey player on both sides of the puck with confidence that will take him very far in this League. The best is yet to come from young Carl, which is frightening considering the damage already done in his freshman campaign. 

Plus, he has the next best hair on the team behind Henrik Lundqvist. 

The Bad: There aren't a whole lot of negative comments to be made about Carl Hagelin as far as the regular season goes. It did take him a little while to establish himself as a playmaker with his speed, whether that was his goal or not, and it did take him some time to learn when to explode with that speed and when to maybe hold back a bit. Then again, that is normally the case with all rookies, and as I said, Hags made those adjustments much quicker than most of his peers did in their first seasons. 

Hagelin was awfully quiet in the postseason, however, only recording 3 assists in 17 games. I don't think a three-game suspension thrown in there helped to establish any sort of rhythm, either, but we aren't here to make excuses. After the production the Rangers received from Hagelin during the regular season, they needed more from him in the playoffs to balance out the depth with the top scoring. I know, that's a lot to put on a rookie, but it's the truth. 

He'll learn with experience, and going all the way to the Conference Finals (plus Winter Classic, plus All-Star Wekend) this year was excellent for his development. 

Highlight of the Year:

 

Overall Assessment: With Hagelin's versatility in skills and ability to fit in fine with any offensive line, he's gearing up for a long and successful career in the NHL. This is a kid that will develop into a difference maker if he hasn't already, and will be helping the Rangers reach the Conference Finals for many years to come. It's unbelievable just how bright his future is. 

Report Card Grade: A

Player Review: Marian Gaborik

In terms of regular season play, 2011-12 was the second best of Marian Gaborik's three seasons with the New York Rangers to date. His offensive prowess coming off not only a rough year in 2010-11 on the ice, but off the ice as well when he lost two dear friends in Derek Boogaard and Pavol Demitra, carried the Blueshirts very far. Without Marian, there's not doubt that this team wouldn't have been sitting in the top spot in the Eastern Conference for a majority of the season, let alone be in the top four in the Conference in order to snag home ice in the playoffs. Yes, he had that much of a positive impact on the club, which is why it was extremely unfortunate to see him have to fight through an injury during the postseason when the Rangers needed him most. 

The Good: For the third time in his career, Marian reached the 40-goal plateau and also tacked on 35 assists for 76 total points on the season. As far as goals go, Gabby just about doubled his total from the prior season to really become a different beast from the player that struggled throughout his second year on Broadway. The motivation was there from the beginning of training camp for Marian, as he had to jump into the swing of things a day late after attending Pavol Demitra's funeral in Slovakia. He had both Boogard's and Demitra's numbers printed on the back of his helmet during camp and kept them throughout the season until the very end. 

That motivation carried him far, as he finished third in the entire National Hockey League in goals and 15th in points. After a lackluster year in the prior season that had some fans frantically calling for his departure, he made quite the effort to completely turn things around 180-degrees and to his credit he did it amazingly well. I'd go as far as to say he was the turnaround player of the year in the League, because there was no one player this season who had odds against them to the degree that Gabby did going into training camp. What he was able to accomplish is inspiring. 

We saw the speed, the competitive edge, the quick release, the willingness to shoot the puck; it was all there for Marian this season, just as it was in his first year with New York two years ago. This earned him a spot in the 2012 All-Star Game in Ottawa, in which he scored three times (twice on Henrik Lundqvist) to win MVP. 

The Bad: The postseason, plain and simple, was a whole different story. Marian finished with five goals and six assists in 20 playoffs games through April and May, and although those numbers are not horrible, they were an extreme drop-off from what was expected of him based on regular season play. The most frustrating part of it all was that Gaborik was playing a very timid style of hockey that had fans enraged. A team's top offensive player cannot shy away from the pressure of the playoffs when it means life or death at that point. 

We later would find out that there was a legitimate reasoning behind Gaborik lack of production in the playoffs, however, and that was a torn labral in his shoulder that was operated on last week. The injury was suffered in the first round series against the Ottawa Senators and progressively grew worse as the playoffs went on. 

Highlight of the Year:

 

Overall Assessment: Playoffs (and injury) aside, this was a very hopeful year for Marian Gaborik. He showed that an 'off' season could not stop him or slow him down, coming back better than ever with the effort we saw throughout the 2011-12 season. As I said, what he did was inspiring and the Rangers hope his dominance continues from here on out. Gaborik is a star caliber player in this League, no doubt about it. 

Report Card Grade: A