Islanders Add Size to Line-up Tonight
In an effort to add size to their line-up, Arthur Staple at Newsday reports that the Islanders have replaced David Ullstrom with 6' 1", 225lb Eric Boulton for tonight's game vs. the Rangers.
Boulton is scoreless in five games this season, while Ullstrom has 2g, 3a in 12 games.
Capuano wants more size in lineup tonight, felt #Isles were outmuscled last week here vs. #NYR. Would expect Ullstrom back vs. NJ on Sat.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) February 14, 2013
...please don't tell me this is the reason Boyle is in the Rangers lineup over Kreider tonight.
...got to love the Islanders. Team is struggling to score goals and they take one of the few guys with multiple goals out of their line-up for someone who hasn't been on the scoresheet this season. Nice work.
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I would not be surprised if Boyle dropped the gloves tonight. He's a terrible fighter but he's got to up his game on every level and hitting hard and being willing to answer the bell if challenged at the right time in a game would really help his cause.
i fear this is to motivate kreider and boyle, which means miller might be sent down after tonight
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See what the Islanders are doing ? Get used to it....there will be a lot of teams doing the same thing. You don't want to skate up and down the ice with this Rangers club. You want to play a very physical, chippy game against them. Disrupt the flow. You don't have to worry about putting us on the PP because we don't score on the PP. And until our PP improves, you'll see more and more teams dress a tougher line-up against us....which will lead to cheap shots and our skilled players will be the targets.
As for Kreider, not a huge fan. He plays soft for his size, and he takes very awkward routes the puck, which leads him to being out of position.
I was calling for Boyle to be benched for several games. He needs to play physical...if he does that every game...he stays in. If not.....
Call up Mashinster, and see what he can do. If he can skate and keep up with the pace of the game.....he could be the added muscle and toughness this team is lacking at the moment.
@Mcphee21 Kreider is still adjusting to the league. He was never a player who would give you a big hit or anything like that. He's a player who will give you a solid effort night in and night out and score. Keep in mind, he's 21 years old. He will get better.
Hey Josh,
I understand Kreider's young, and I'm not questioning his work ethic.
What I am questioning...actually...questioning is the wrong word...what I'm pointing out is two things. The fact that Kreider plays soft for his size, and him being a defensive liability on the ice.
Kreider takes horrible routes to the puck...it leaves him often times out of position...which makes him a defensive liability. You can knock a young player for a lot things, but how often do you hear a young player being knocked for the path they take to the puck? You don't hear that a lot, because with hockey players, its instinctual. And Kreider lacks that instinct. That's a fact. And it's something to be concerned about.....
The other point is he plays soft for his size. Look at Nash...our most skilled player. I've seen him crush individuals this year with a good clean hits. He doesn't have to do it....Nask could just play a pure skill game. But he doesn't. He'll look for that big hit. He wants to do it
Kreider has the size, but plays a soft game. Hockey is a physical game. Hits can cause turnovers, hits can intimidate, hits can change the momentum of a game. Kreider has the body to do these things....but he has to want to do it....game in, game out. Torts needs to get this into his head.
You don't think Kreider has bad instincts. I think he has very bad instincts....and it's all a matter of time til he gets sent down. Let's just agree to disagree.
@Mcphee21 Yeah Miller had seven hits, but Miller reminds me of a Dubi/Cally type of player. He's someone who will easily throw his body around. The thing Kreider is gunna have to do is figure out how to use his speed as an advantage and not just another part of his skill set. When looking at speed, I look at the way Hags is able to use his speed to prevent icings and to create turnovers on the forecheck. I don't think he has bad instincts, I just don't think he's completely adjusted to the pro game from the college game. Being sent down may not be the worst thing for him. But he'll grow into the game.
Josh,
Oh, believe me...I know Kreider and Nash are different players...lol. I only used Nash as an example because of his size.
How about JT Miller? How many hits did he have in the Bruins game? 7? It's all about wanting to play physical. You're not going to score every game....so if you can make difference taking the body you need to do it.
But playing soft isnt Kreider's biggest problem. It's his skating instincts. He takes bad paths to the pucks. It leaves him out of position. This is his biggest problem. And I will not be surprised at all if Kreider gets sent down because of it. You can teach certain things....hard to teach instinct. Either you have it...or you don't. Kreider doesnt have it. It will most likely get him sent down.
@Mcphee21 If you really wanna compare Kreider to Nash, let's look at Nash in his rookie season. Nash, in 74 games, had 31 hits. Last season he had 104. That's a big jump. It'll take time for Kreider to get comfortable with his game to play to his actual size. Just because a player is 6'3-6'4 it doesn't mean he's gunna jump right in and hit people. The two of them aren't the same player either. Nash is a two-way forward who has some of the best hands in the league and could make some of the prettiest moves and score a goal. Kreider will use his speed to make plays and has a shot that will improve as time goes on. Hockey is a physical game, and Kreider will absolutely get there.
I will admit that Kreider hasn't been playing the best hockey as of late. And I won't say that just because he played fairly well in the playoffs it means he will be amazing. There's still a lot of room for improvement obviously. But the kids got a good head on his shoulders and he has shown he will put in all the hard work that goes with being a 1st round pick. I don't believe we've seen the best of Chris Kreider. I think we have to be a bit more patient with him.
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Fishsticks wereen't out muscled last time they played the Rangers, they were just out played. I'm guessing that Eric Boulton will have little effect on changing that...except maybe he'll put the Rangers on the PP more which will obviously limit their offensive chances!
BTW, Boyle is back in the line-up to see if the rest can get him going. They're not trading him and he's a more complete player at this point than Kreider. I love watching Kreider play, but I understand there is not much room for learning curves this season. If he was on the team for good, I suspect Miller would have sat instead of Kreider. I think it may have to be one of the 3 stars tonight to avoid being sent back to the Whale.
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I can't fathom how everyone keeps ignoring the fact that Boyle was our leading scorer in the playoffs last year (before his concussion problems)... I understand the excitement for the young kid but you don't wanna ruin the kid and Boyle is a huge asset to the rangers
I'm thinking either Torts wants to see if the benching woke him up, or he's being showcased for a trade.
If the Islanders wanted to add size then why not call up the 6' 2" Nino Niederreiter who is tearing up the AHL?
Why has halpern not been scratched yet? What has he brought to the table this year? He was brought in to win faceoffs and hasn't done much of that..
Kreider is a healthy scratch way to kill the kids confidence Tort. I mean really couldn't replace anyone else. Found a system that works with his 3 lines and messes with this now. No sir I don't like it don't like it at all
No way this is the reason for Boyle in the lineup. If we weren't worried about size against the Bruins, Tortorella will never be worried about being out-muscled. Not to mention that Kreider is no small kid, he is 6'3" 225
@TheNYRBlog Why aren't you a coach? You clearly must know more than the Rangers since you negatively critique every move and practice
@TheNYRBlog For the record I like your blog. Just no need to act like every move is a negative one, especially when Torts has proven himself
@RPerry824 You need to start reading the blog more if you think i act like every move is negative.
@TheNYRBlog I would guess the reason for Boyle over Kreider is to get an extra PK player out there to keep them fresh.
@TheNYRBlog Isles PP is very good. Willie important to keep forwards fresh on the unit, thus Boyle + Powe, Halpern, Cally, etc
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If Capuano wanted more size you'd think he'd just order a bakers dozen of donuts every morning instead of the normal 12. HEYO!
@GLENsatherVSglennDANZIG he lost weight. Didn't update wardrobe. Looks like little kid wearing daddy's suit. Nice hair
@TheNYRBlog Think they are showcasing him before they have to commit on JTT. Kreider is just a short term casualty. he'll be back in Sun.
@TheNYRBlog if they added size keep kreider leave out boyle and play bickel at least hes an animal
@TheNYRBlog Is 6'1" and 225 considered "size" today? Sounds like they're trotting out a thug to go head hunting.
@ScottyHockey @TheNYRBlog The same Boulton who refused to go with Asham at the end of last week's game. Sitting Kreider makes zero sense.
@TheNYRBlog i dont understand why kreider is out tonight, personally i thought that third line was great, boyle should be in the stands
Lol the Islamders may beat us once and awhile cus of the 'rivalry' but they are pathetic... Until they sell out more than 3 games a season... And win a playoff series they will always be garbage! A pathetic team, and am even more pathetic move... Hat-trick for nash tonight i just know it!
Could have played bickel if he was worried about a physical game. I'm guessing kreider is still hurting.
Ah, but this is the Rangers. The Islander who hasn't scored will get a goal and an assist tonight.
Nothing Asham and Callahan couldnt handle... Pathetic excuse... Miller and Kreider deserve to stay permanently!
