Mashinter In; Kreider Out
Pat Leonard at the Daily News reports that Brandon Mashinter will make his Rangers debut tonight vs. the Candiens.
This means that Chris Kreider will be a healthy scratch for the third straight game.
...how pumped am I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really hoping Torts gives the kid more than three minutes. Guess that all depends on how he performs. You heard it here first. Mashinter vs. Prust in the first period.
...as far as Kreider goes. If Torts was just looking to plug the hole left by Powe's injury then I'm happy he went with Mashinter over Kreider as the Rangers top young talent has no business playing on the fourth line. The Whale don't play again until tomorrow, so I'm hopeful he's reassigned after the game to get him some much needed playing time.
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Remember Kreider has a bone chip in his foot. I've never had that injury, but it doesn't sound like too much fun to play through. I know Torts has his 'injury is a state of mind' thing, but maybe some rest now will prevent a nagging injury. To prove my point, does the kid skate / look anywhere near as fast as he did last year in the playoffs? - no. Why? Hmmm So I say - the kid's a stud, relax Ranger faithful, he will be fine. Let's hope for a full and quick recovery for Powe, and now Nash.
I'd rather just see us dominate on the score board. Prust is smart he'll pick a moment if the Habs are down. If we need some momentum I'm not so sure he's the guy to go after!
I cannot recall a similar situation where a team he dicked around with one of their top young stars. Are the rangers trying to set Kreider back? i don't get it. I don't know who is calling all the shots but my guess is Torts. I am getting tired of him quickly. I guess they have short memories and have forgotten how Kreider helped save the rangers from the embarrassment of an early exit in the playoffs last year. His performance didn't earn him a permanent spot on the team, but it should have earned him some slack. Either put him on the ice in the NHL or demote him for an extended period of time. This up and down and press box sitting cannot be helping him. Plus, JT Miller has done absolutely nothing since his 2 goal game. Why is he still playing and Kreider is not?
The kid will be ok. He took on some heavy weights last year in San Jose and held his own.
From what I've read and seen with Masher, he seems to have adapted to each level of play within a season or two. The guy seems to have a bit of a scoring touch; his three seasons (before this one) in the AHL he has gotten 22, 14, and 16 goals. I don't think he'll be a second coming of Newbury. I think he does have a chance to do well at this level as a 3rd-4th liner who plays a solid physical game as well as contributing 10-15 goals a season, maybe even hitting 40 points. Not this year obviously but in a full season.
@TheNYRBlog I think u r crazy benching krider he is so good torts ruined another player,u got to be kidding me playing a Boyle over him.wow
Assuming the lines resemble those from practice, this is absolutely the right move.
If Kreider had been alternating with Miller in practice, then I think he might have been competing for a spot. Since he was alternating with Mashinter, I don't think there was any chance Kreider was going to play unless Nash's sniffles acted up. Kreider has played himself out of a spot this season. Not really a knock on the kid, but he has his work cut out. I hope he'll be back in Hartford straight away so he can get some ice and develop a more complete game.
These look like capable lines:
Carl Hagelin -- Derek Stepan -- Rick Nash
Marian Gaborik -- Brad Richards -- Ryan Callahan
Taylor Pyatt -- Brian Boyle -- J.T. Miller
Arron Asham -- Jeff Halpern -- Brandon Mashinter
@AG_Blue that third line is awful and has done nothing since being assembled a couple games ago
@AG_Blue @JoshKaye I agree just need to see some signs of life, and I don't consider one face off a signal of anything. Gotta see him create for others more, and stop turning the puck over
@slapshot13j @JoshKaye -- Richards won the faceoff that lead to Stepan's game winning power play goal the other night. he's still in it. just hang in there.
@AG_Blue drury slumped his whole rangers career basically. Best thing he did in his career was against the rangers in the playoffs for buffalo
@JoshKaye @AG_Blue it's not just that. At least Nash is doing other things on the ice. Richards has become a complete ghost. Horrible on the power play and at even strength. And oreily could be a center on our team if we lose Richards huge contract. But he would have to play at this terrible level for a lot longer before anything like this happened
@slapshot13j @AG_Blue Not sure how getting O'Reilly and getting rid of Richie go hand it hand, but I do agree Richie needs to step it up. It's nice that he's tied for the team lead in assists, but he needs to keep the turnovers at a minimum. Him and Nash are having the same issues: the pucks just not going in the net for them. Nash puts the puck in the net 5.3% of the time while Richie puts it in 6.5%. That won't last. It can't.
@slapshot13j -- he'll get going, but there's no way he doesn't start looking like Drury before his contract is up at age 40. the turnovers have been troublesome and he can't buy a goal right now, but he is still making some plays. he also brings a lot to the locker room and bench. he is a leader even when slumping (just like Drury). he'll get going, he'll get going ...
@AG_Blue don't even get me started on Richards, guy couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat right now. Every day he starts to look more and more like Chris Drury. He better start playing hockey or I would have no problem buying out of his contract at the end of this year and getting that kid Oreily or someone better.
@slapshot13j -- i'm with you there. after all these years, Boyler still has to work so hard just to get by. still, when he's not literally on his ass, he knows where to be on both ends (although it'd be nice if he could spend more time in front of the opposition's net) and away from the puck, plus he is our #1 faceoff guy -- that should change as Richards gets going.
@AG_Blue no that. The third line is to slow. Can't get any production out of it. And personally I just don't like Brian Boyle right now, hopefully he can change my mind with his play. But so far he hasn't.
@AG_Blue @slapshot13j Any chance we see Miller maybe join the Gabby Richards line to light a fire under Richie's ass? Richie seems to play well with the young guys. That line of Gabby Richie Hags was a good one last year, and when Richie was on a line with Miller and Kreider I thought the trio looked good and Richie was his most energetic trying to keep up with the kids.
We need this game...not gonna b easy...watched the Habs play Carolina last night and they have a pretty good team....we play them twice this week so they should b some good games....LGR
Bad move, but hopefully this kid plays well tonight. Still believe Kreider was the right move here, but we will see.
@TheNYRBlog Definitely excited to see this kid. Don't know much about him. I know he's big but what can I expect?
@MMiotts He's got some speed for a big man as well as good hands. He also isn't afraid to drop the gloves.
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Asham versus Prust will be the fight off the opening draw or something that early...no way its Mash against Prust
@thelink44 -- would seem the more likely pairing, although i don't find a fight between them with a cursory search ... could it be a first?
@AG_Blue I'm not seeing any Prust vs Asham fights....http://www.hockeyfights.com/players/54/videos
I understand. But AA is 5'11" to Prust's 6'. How bad will it look if the kid goes after him at 6'4" and loses?
Let's keep in mind, this kid played 13 games in the NHL already averaging 6 minutes per game and had 5 shots on goal (3 in 1 game) with no points. We can all hope to catch lightning in a bottle, but he will probably remind us a lot of Kris Newbury.
@gravey94 Most likely. Although he said in the interview I posted earlier this morning he was getting the most ice time in his career down in Hartford and he was thriving because of it. Maybe something's clicked for him with the additional ice time. I guess only time will tell.
@TheNYRBlog gotta cheer our new boy on, said for a few, Prust rarely gets crushed. I agree we'll find out. He gets cheered then we move on.
@TheNYRBlog Prust has been a small but nice consolation from the Rangers aftr #Habs gifted McDonough
@TheNYRBlog excited to see what this kid has....if he sucks your credibility goes right out the window.
@Artfuldodger91 Shit, never thought about it that way. I may need to down play him the rest of the day. lol
