Just to be clear, Montoya may turn out to be an above-average NHL goaltender, and I hope he does. It just appears it won't be in New York.
If not in Tampa, where, as Jimbo correctly points out, there are prospects on the bubble, then somewhere else. The concept here is simply to raise possibilities which the Rangers may---or should be---exploring down the road.
Several teams (Phoenix, for one) need help in the net, but many teams have youngsters developing.
As for Prucha---a great kid with speed---whether or not you agree on his value, I just hope he isn't injured again. His fearless style and lightweight frame may, unfortunately, lead to that. It appears the coaching staff doesn't see him on the top two lines this year. Note: this year. Maybe next year, when possibly Shanahan, Straka and Avery aren't around? Maybe not. Then what?
Not everyone can play in the top six. Do I wish Prucha was used more on the power play? Yes. But it would help if he mixed in a few goals wherever he's playing. Hope he breaks out soon, perhaps with Avery and Dubinsky, because he doesn't look confident.
Anyway, just opinions to trigger off-day discussions. Please weigh in...
I'll swing by again tonight....
Comments (27)
“Do I wish Prucha was used more on the power play? Yes. But it would help if he mixed in a few goals wherever he's playing.”
We all do. But how’s that to happen when Hollweg is on the wing? Don't give me that "did you see the game last night" crap. I saw it, and watched his mouth drop as he realized he was going to get a shot.
Why is Hossa still on the first line? No one seems to have a straight answer to this question. But I bet I'll hear the "power forward" excuse.
Slick,
generally i agree with most of what you say but i disagree. Hossa opens up space all over the ice, hits people, and moves the ouck well. The past few games i have seen him behind the net causing a ruckus and keeping the puck. I like his presense on the first line. Yes i wouldnt mind Prucha there, but at the moment im enjoying Hossas size up there.
Exactly, Slick.
Why should Prucha feel confident? The coaching staff does everything in their power to bring him down. Take away the spot he EARNED on the PP, 4th line, healthy scratch, you name it.
The way Renney utilizes him is a joke. Does anyone here seriously belive that if Prucha was shown the same faith and ice time Hossa has been shown in NY, that Prucha would produce way more?
If you DON'T think that, then don't answer my comment because you dont' know hockey and I don't want to talk to you.
By the way, Prucha's been hurt once in his career. Lightweight frame and fearless style? Look at Lindros. Built like a tank and did everything he could to be a perimeter player...Happens to one of the most fragile NHLers over the past 3 years.
repost since the comment this was posted to is about to fall off the main screen.
Dan - right on about Pock.
Christopher - Pock will be 26 in December and is earning about 1/2 the $ 1.3 mm you quoted. He has this yr and next on his contract. As Dan correctly pointed out all other teams passed on him. He is an AHL caliber dman. Having said that I do think he would be claimed on the way back up. So it serves no purpose to try to bring him back just to have dead cap hit to our cap space. So adios Pock don't let the door hit you on the way out.
injured again? Prucha only had 1 minor injury in 2 seasons
Jovanovski is only 800K more expensive, while being much bigger and a bit younger than Boyle. Trading for Boyle makes no sense unless it is Malik and Straka who get traded
Hossa is on Jagrs line, cause Jagr wants him there. He's the top lines version of "grit." You dont wants Jags doing too much work in the corners right?
In some ways the Rangers suffer from too much talent. With Avery back, Struds moves to the bench or defense, depending on who the Rangers play that night. If I had my way I'd put either Prucha or Hossa on the 4th line with Betts & Orr, keep Hollweg where he is, and put Avery where the open space is.
Montoya... the real reason to keep him is the unthinkable... in case Henrik goes down. The problem is Al is ready for the NHL, and the Rangers can get a lot for him if he's packaged right. But, what do the Rags need right now? Another forward to clog the lines? Most likely a dependable top 10 D-Man is all the Rags need, but since they're at the top of the league in goals against... they really dont need that either right?
I guess it's logical, Montoya plays in Hartford until he wants a trade or Henrik gets hurt.
Renney is responsible for Prucha's lack of production and Prucha's lack of confidense. Under another coach Prucha would have scored over 60 points last season, including 40 goals.
Well I wasn’t expecting that Joe. Don’t get me wrong, I like Hossa. He just might be a 20 goal scorer. He does do all the things you say he does. But not the things Prucha has done.
Can we agree that Prucha disserves the same amount of “chances” that Hossa has been given?
And we have one Gomez who sees the light!
Prucha definitely deserves a chance on the top lines. Hossa is nothing more than a good 4th or 3rd liner. We got too many small forwards that is why Straka and Gomez should be traded. Maybe after about 25 more games 1 of Dawes, Callahan and Prucha is clearly inferior to the other 2 he should be traded.
I did forget to mention that in Prucha’s 2 seasons and into his third, his ice time has been on the decline. As Hossa’s has been on the incline.
Jagr wanting Hossa up front is most like the entire case in a nut shell.
Trade Gomez, Orr, and some secondary prospect like Graham or Busto or a pick for Zubrus, and Matvichuk, and Janssen.
Congratulations Gomik for the stupidest trade anyone has thought of so far this season.
why is it stupid? Maybe you are stupid?
I am a big Prucha fan, but I get the feeling sometime this season we may have to give up an offensive player of talent and youth in order to strengthen our blue line later in the season. Also without question I'd like to see the young guys get more power play time.
what about Prucha to nashville for Hamhuis
Slick,
dont get me wrong i would LOVE to see Prucha on the first line. But for where the team is right now we need Hossas presence up there. Slick like i said before i generally agree with everything you say, i just thought you were a little hard on hossa. If you took what i said as insult it wasnt, you bring nothing but real information to the table which is alote more than can be said about most of the people who post here.
Stop your crying! Prucha is a decent hockey player with hands, he is not on Jagrs line bc he can not open up space or move the puck. He needs to be a finisher which unfortunately he is not doing.. he is not even getting opportunities. Dont give me this crap of look who is playing with.. if you know hockey you know it is about what YOU create.
Ortmeyer sucked but he got opportunities, he has stone hands. How can Betts & Hollweg create opportunities with half the talent of prucha?? If they had Prucha's hands they would be all stars. So you all crying about where Prucha should be playing is enough to say he is not that good... all offense. I love the kids heart but with the emergence of Dawes (who is a better all around player the Prucha) we will be packaging Prucha in a deal to get another top notch defensemen.
Now I know you will all cry about this, but we finally have kids in our system playing.. someone has to go to make us better in other areas.
So to the you dont know hockey comment by Peter.. maybe you should look at the big picture before you go insulting people.
Peter,
You have been on Gomez all year and i dont think hes been anythign short of great. He isnt taking penalties, hes been great in the defensive zone, hes crating chances, getting great shots, drawing players to him, and he should be quarterbacking our powerplay with Drury planted in front.
So what, hes been hitting the post, and the perfect feeds he has been giving people havent been buried. The points will come my friend, he Jagr and Hossa are just starting to gain chemistry. Give him a break.
Enough of Prucha - How can you argue that Jagr needs people on his line to open up space, but then go on to say that we can't use Prucha's linemates as an excuse for him not producing?
Joe - I haven't been dogging Gomez all year. In fact, I've been saying it's more important to find him wingers who can keep up with him than it is to find a center for Jagr. So I don't know why you're getting so upset.
my mistake peter, i meant to write to Gomez/Gnomik. Sorry for the mix up
with gomez...l really do not feel he has been great for you guys. It seems this year he is trying to be the leading scorer instead of an assist man. but its early, so anything could change just my opinion
Alright. We (as armchair coaches) need to calm down about the Prucha thing...Avery will be back so someone has to sit and the choices will most likely be Strud, Petr, or Nigel. In my mind the choice is easy. I would pick Strud, but...there is a reason I work for New York State and NOT the New York Rangers. It really becomes a problem when Straka returns. Who do you sit? Petr, or Nigel? Nigel's scoring and Petr isn't. Or do you trade one of them? I know who I would sit. You can only scratch Petr for so long, and you can't send him down or you risk losing him for nothing. The solution there is either send Nigel back or TRADE SOMEONE. On top of all this you are starting to find chemistry in the line combos that you have and now you're going to upset them? Do you really want to do that? Coaching is a tough job. I wouldn't want it. You get the blame for everything. Coaches get fired for a team going on short losing streaks after highly successful seasons (wink wink Hartly).
Joe,
I read you load and clear. I am a little hard on Hossa. But only for the opportunity he's given, lack of "high level" performance in my eyes. But what the heck do I know.
As my wife sits over my shoulder, she says, "Hossa was great last night, you shut up."
So I guess with that. I will. But only about Hossa, and only to keep the girl off my back. lol
Dan, The choice is easy. sit Orr or Hollweg. Fit Renny sat Prucha over Hollweg or Orr I think most of us would blow a gasket.