Chris Kreider Sent to Whale, JT Miller Staying?
#NYR Chris Kreider has been sent back to AHL. Will play tonight for CT Whale. Team wants him to play rather than sit and watch
— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) February 15, 2013
...With the Whale playing three games this weekend, this is the right move. It doesn't help Kreider's development sitting or playing limited minutes with the Rangers.
...The one thing you have to worry about is Kreider's confidence being affecting by shuffling around. Torts preaches his "process" with the kids. Not sure how beneficial it is to be sending Kreider back and forth.
...Looks like 19-year-old JT Miller will stick around, which is awesome. Kid has impressed since being called up, although the last two games haven't been his greatest. If Miller plays one more game, his ELC kicks in this year.
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Why do the devils win every night? I hate that team so much, I dont know how they keep doing it. What do they have that we don't besides a power play...
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There is zero doubt in mind that John Tortorella is a better hockey coach than anyone on this blog. No question in my mind. He has already won a Stanley Cup and that's nothing to sneeze at. While some of his decisions may be dumbfounding to some fans from game to game, remember he is a lot closer to the situation (as in, actually there) and is taking great care to put his best team on the ice. What do you expect, an undefeated record? There's work to do and the professionals are working on it. But freak out all you want and call the coach an idiot, it's great for the blog!
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@AG_Blue Wait, he's not better than me! I'll have you know that I...I....I uh...well, okay maybe he is better than me. Lol. Yep, people who get upset about it are crazy. Still, some of us actually do have decent opinions. And further, though it doesn't stack up against being directly involved as the coach is, there is always something to be gained from the 30,000 ft view and having ZERO knowledge of the minutiae. I always respected outside opinions when managing in my business for that very reason - outside the frame and all that. But most of all, all of us opining about the Rangers is just because we love the team and it is fun.
Torts is destroying CK's confidence, he hates CK anyways it seems. Biggest bonehead move by him getting rid of the kid with speed and a great shooter for slow brian boyle. I don't expect much at all from the third line now that kreider isnt with miller and cally. I'm sure we'll see more losses from stupid coaching decisions like this. Torts with his favorites like boyle and richards who have both done absolutly nothing this year as well. Oh yeah how bout the non power play and too many men penalties. Thats poor coaching. Torts better get send down to the minors too because his coaching and command of his team sucks this year bigtime.
Torts is destroying CK's confidence, he hates CK anyways it seems. Biggest bonehead move by him getting rid of the kid with speed and a great shooter for slow brian boyle. I don't expect much at all from the third line now that kreider isnt with miller and cally. I'm sure we'll see more losses from stupid coaching decisions like this. Torts with his favorites like boyle and richards who have both done absolutly nothing this year as well. Oh yeah how bout the non power play and too many men penalties. Thats poor coaching. Torts better get send down to the minors too because his coaching and command of his team sucks this year bigtime.
Even with all of his speed, he has been practically invisible out there. He's looked lost in the defensive zone as well. He needs to be on the ice learning, and there's no time for that in NY right now. He needed to go down. He'll be back though.
Even with all of his speed, he has been practically invisible out there. He's looked lost in the defensive zone as well. He needs to be on the ice learning, and there's no time for that in NY right now. He needed to go down. He'll be back though.
@TheNYRBlog Whale have three games this week, Kreider will prob play in two of them and come back on sunday for rangers game,
@TheNYRBlog i think Torts was an idiot 4 putting Boyle back in! Why mess with the lineup? Now we r back to playing shitty like opening week
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Both Kreider and Miller's future is extremely overrated. Do you remember when Muckler said Manny Malholtra had a future as a third-line checking center and everyone got all riled up? Well guess what? Same is true for both Miller and Kreider. Likely solid third line guys. Neither player has the potential of say, Stephan, who can carry the puck and make plays. Maybe they develop, but you could see Stephan's potential in his first few games. He had mojo with the puck right away. In fairness, Miller has shown me more than Kreider, but neither has really impressed. As an aside, does anyone else wonder, now that we've had a chance to see Nash play, whether the Rangers may have gone deeper last year with him and without Dubi and Anisimov? "Don't break up the chemistry!". "Can't give away Kreider!". Please.
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@rangersfan So what were the 5 goals Kreider scored in the playoffs last year? You're out of your mind to think they don't have at least as much potential as Stepan offensively
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@kevocavo59 @rangersfan -- actually, you could see the potential of the three of them -- Stepan, Kreider, and Miller -- in their first few games. But hockey is not about getting excited for a few games. It's sustaining ones game for a season. It takes time. Just hold on to your shoppers.
Cally is closing in on my all time favorite Rangers Graves and Donnie Maloney but wasn't as polished as CK is. Cally 4th round pick coming out of the OHL. But CK is first round pick, played in bean pots, national championship games and had success in NHL playoffs already.
Gotta earn it, he's clearly got the tools but it's a short season there's no time to work stuff out
Kreider is faster than Miller and has a better shot. Kreider seems like he is more afraid of making a mistake than Miller. Miller lets his heart and aggression lead him, Kreider his head. Someone needs to instill in Kreider that feeling that he is the best person on the ice. Once he has that the sky is the limit. Hope he eventually clicks in that way.
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Completely okay with the move. Tons of overreactions here. Just gunna step back and let all of this...whatever it is. Take place. That's all.
@JoshKaye -- you and me both. there's nothing wrong with sending him down. he's going to be better for it.
@AG_Blue @JoshKaye Couldn't agree more with you both. For those whining about Kreider's mental toughness going back and forth, if he can't handle that, then he won't be able to handle the regular struggles of the NHL. Kreider needs to fine tune some stuff. Torts is a Stanley Cup-winning coach. We can debate and opine all we want, because it is entertaining and fun. But at the end of the day I wouldn't want anyone else behind the bench besides Torts.
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I posted yesterday that Kreider was going to be sent down. It was a no-brainer really. The kid has talent, but lacks hockey instincts and awareness. He's a liability on the ice, constantly out of position due to taking poor routes to the puck.
And to agree with kicker75 he doesnt give the young players any chance to play on the team. If they make one mistake they sit for the rest of the game almost. That is not what a good coach does with a young player. Every other team in the league has young players, for instance the Devils with Matteau. But they give them enough ice time to make an impact on the game, quite simply tortorella does not. Which is the reason Kreider never had a fair shake and the same will happen to Miller at some point throughout the year. It's almost as if this team became to "Hollywood" and needs dramatic story lines.....
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@slapshot13j Hmmmmmmm......
Del Zotto 22 and in his third season under Tortorella
Hagelin 24 and in his second season under Tortorella
McDonagh 23 and in his third season under Tortorella
Miller 19 and in his rookie season
Stepan 22 and in his third season under Tortorella
Staal 26 and in his fourth season under Tortorella
Also include Anisimov who was 20 and Dubinsky who was 22 in Tortorella's first full season as coach.
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@Beckfan5 @slapshot13j -- seriously, Kreider and Boyle are hardly comparable. Boyle has the more complete game and it's come from experience. Kreider is getting great experience being here at all and Connecticut is going to be good for him too. We all like to believe in Kreider's tremendous upside, and if he reaches his potential he would become a more valuable player than Boyle. The coaching staff is sensitive to Kreider's development, the kid knows that and that helps his confidence, knowing full well he has their support. Kreider is going to be okay.
@slapshot13j Kreider has 1 goal!! And only 3 SOG.
Let him learn and flourish in the minors. I don't understand what's the big deal?
Boyle is a checking center that happened to have a very good year two seasons ago. Anyone that though he was going to duplicate that was in for a big surprise.
As for Miller, he is a better and more complete player than Kreider. Kreider has two things, speed and a decent shot. That's it. He needs to hone his game some more.
@slapshot13j What's his faceoff winning percentage? How many minuets does he average per night on the PK? How many hits does he have? How many shots has he blocked?
@Beckfan5 Yes, I agree. But right now after watching every one of these games he is better for the team than Boyle. And the best team should be on the ice every night.
@Beckfan5 I am saying that if they make a mistake he benches them... As can be seen by Miller and DZ still, and the others all the time in their rookie and sophomore seasons. Not that he doesnt play young players.
I understand why everyone is saying that I am overreacting. But look at the tats since Kreider had come back from his ankle injury the Rangers were 3 and 1, not to mention 3 and 0 with the Kreider- Miller- Callahan line. You don't mess with a team that wins. Sending him down now says, "yea we were winning when you were on the ice, but you have to be sent down"
These were Torts comments on it: "I don't think Chris has done anything poorly," Tortorella said last night before the Rangers loss to the Islanders. "On the other hand, I don't think he's done anything really good either."
Okay John then tell me what the hell has Brian Boyle done to deserve his chance. If you guys think he played so well last night, open your eyes. He had one maybe two good shifts, and Torts overplayed him to say the least.
Also, explain to me what Brad Richards has done for the team this year? Absolutely nothing is the correct answer.
It is simple Chris Kreider offers more upside than Brian Boyle (and even JT Miller). Being a part of an organization that hasnt won a Cup in 18 years I dont give a crap about these prospects growing up anymore to be quite honest. I want the best team on the ice every night, and that includes Chris Kreider. This team may succeed and make the playoffs, but without Kreider they lose a versatile weapon that carried us in the ECF, and against the Caps. This is a horrible decision and I really hope it doesn't stunt his growth.
@slapshot13j Dude, Kreider has obvious holes in his game. His positioning is shit, sloppy backchecking, weak on the boards. He needs big minutes in the minors to build his confidence and develop his skills. He's got the speed, the shot, and the size, but he is nowhere near as well-rounded and competent as Boyle for a 3rd line position.
Kreider needs to learn to use his body and do better at fighting for the puck. He is amazing at chasing down the puck as long as he gets there first and has a great shot but can't seem to win the puck battles. If he would play like Miller and skate like he can he can be so great. Hopefully the Rangers organization will find a way to get him to play up to his potential.
That said, I want the Kreider/Miller/Cally line back! Hopefully this is temporary and Kreider will take advantage of this opportunity to get some playing time in.
@greggray24 Your first sentence may be the most important. I notice it too. Kreider doesn't win board battles. Then again, Boyle doesn't win a lot of those either and is pretty easy to knock of the puck, or simply knock down...and he is slower. He played decently last night, but I still think it's six of one as far as Kreider/Boyle. Still...I would have kept Kreider and tried to light a fire under his butt to get him to crash the boards. It may be possible to teach/whip someone to be more aggressive, but you can't teach/whip speed.
@jmacwilli @greggray24 -- double the sentiment on greg's first sentence. this is part of the reason sending him down will be a positive.
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Kid has impressed? Yea he had a great game against the isles. But his last two games? Nothing. There is no question that Kreider offers more to this team. But being in torts doghouse got him sent down. Boyle shud just be cut he sucks, no other way to put it. He had his years but right now he is a terrible player. Kreider might as well be done for the year his confidence is shot. The rangers managed to take away his swagger and probably destroy him mentally as a player. Thanks torts, why don't you keep the lines the same after a loss and then when we win change them drastically... Look how well it treated you last time. This organization continues to disappoint. I am officially on the get rid of Boyle bandwagon, and buyout Richards. Plus fire torts. Won't happen this year with torts, but if we miss the playoffs and start bad next year he will finally be gone. This is a joke. I am so upset by the moves torts continues to make. If this is sather than add it as another blunder on his extremely long list which now also includes the Richards signing. I don't care what you guys say he is nowhere near the money we gave him.
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@slapshot13j I agree with your comments about Miller. Did he have the puck on his stick last night? I can't remember any time that he did. I would have sent him down before Kreider.
Torts is a control freak. My way or the highway.
@Dminches which is why i doubt they win the cup this year. If Kreider or miller or whoever is on the team makes a mistake in the playoffs he will sit them for the rest of the series. You do not win games in the playoffs with that mindset.
@slapshot13j Send Miller down, fire Tortorella, cut Boyle, buy out Richards........
Anything else? Don't stop there, just blow up the whole organization while you are at it. Why not? They only finished 2nd overall in the league last season. Pfffttt....
@Beckfan5 @slapshot13j It isn't about winning the President's trophy, it is about winning the cup. They were close to being outplayed in every round even though they made it to the Devils series.
@Beckfan5 thats basically what we did, they are a completely different team.... can't draw comparisons between the two almost. The defense stayed the same but it looks a heck of a lot worse this year for sure.
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@kicker75 @Beckfan5 @slapshot13j
really? Here it's a troll favorite. Not very imaginative...
@kicker75 @Beckfan5 @slapshot13j
in the way "fishsticks" is or "Philthy" is or "Shitsburgh" is
So frustrated right now. We could have had a special year, but you can't win if you don't build chemistry and the truth is torts isn't allowing them too
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@slapshot13j Think you need to take a step back from the computer, take a deep breath and relax.
@TheWrage how well do you think he is gonna play in the ahl? I think he plays terrible down there because he is tired of going up and down and in and out of lineups. Really wouldn't be surprised. In five years don't be shocked if everyone looks back and sees him as a prospect that torts personally destroyed. But we will see I guess
@Fleisch14 @slapshot13j @TheWrage
having lived through the Phil Esposito, Ron Low, John Muckler years...hell, Bryan Trottier, I can tell you, there is nothing to be excited about.
-I dont mind Kreider being sent down...he needs to be more physical, to often skates around without engaging.
-If Kreider loses confidence that quickly then he is not mentally strong enough to be in the NHL....
-Our great captain, Ryan Callahan was brought up and sent down a few times, and it didnt seem to effect him in the long run...
-Also thought Boyle was one of the best players on the ice last night...cant cut everyone, and he provide depth, which every team needs.
Go get yourself a drink slapshot13j..things will be alright.
