i'd think:
callahan gomez naslund
dawes drury zherdev
prucha dubinsky sjostrom
rissmiller/voros/betts/orr/fritsche/greg moore
Thanks for your thoughts. Here's my reaction.
As to the Rissmiller and Voros moves, I think they are just looking to have the most freedom to move around. This is a team with a serious identity crisis now that Jagr and Straka have Czeched out (see what I did there) and I think that while they have a pretty clear idea of what they want the top two lines to be the rest of the team is kind of in flux.
There's a lot of talk about making dubes a winger... and I don't know why you would do that given your current composition. The kid is a great center and those top two lines are going to be LOADED anyway. Let him develop.
I think the concern though, and its well founded, is that if you put Dawes on a line with Drury or even Gomez its going to look like you've got the mighty mites out there. Dawes is a midget (in hockey terms). This didn't hurt Gionta when he was playing with Gomez, but then again Gionta's production has slowed significantly because of all of the punishment he's endured in front of the net as a result of having no one there to protect him.
Its going to be an interesting season for the Rangers. One I feel like Devils fans have seen before. Lots of production but spread pretty evenly across three lines. Some good puck moving defensemen, some good stay at home defensemen, and a goaltender who keeps you in most games when he isn't do his best Beezer impersonation.
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3 comments:
i don't think any of those people will keep korpikoski from moving up all year. they'll play it safe. maybe he earns a spot. i doubt it though. they'll be an injury or one of those cliche "shot in the arm" moves that will bring him up. and if he performs like dubes and callahan before him, he'll get his spot. the one thing i like about this franchise now, they are committed to developing talent.
I hate to say it but I agree with Daniel. The Rangers went from a team that traded prospects, or drafted Lundmarks, to one that builds them. Korpikoski will get his shot but be patient. This is already a VERY young team. One that isn't as top heavy as in years past. They are built for now and the next couple of seasons. I expect good things.
I think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves with Korpikoski. The guy scored 50 points in the AHL last year. Like Dan and Rich have been saying, maybe he earns a spot, maybe he doesn't. Injuries will take care of the rest. Best case scenario, he has a season like Dawes in 07-08.
Personally, I'm rooting for Byers and Jessiman over Korpikoski -- they need some size in that lineup.
Voros is probably a fourth liner, definite upgrade over Hollweg. Renney likes to have a couple of guys like that and if it means he doesn't sit Mara for a guy like Strudwick (I know he's in Edmonton, but someone like that) I'm all for it.
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