Bickel In; Eminger Out; Lundqvist Starts Again
Lundqvist is starting tonight vs. #Flyers. Bickel goes in, Eminger comes out of lineup #NYR #NHL
— Pat Leonard (@NYDNRangers) January 29, 2013
...got to say I'm not a fan of this move at all. Despite limited ice time Eminger has looked real solid out there, while Bickel was a liability in his two starts on defense.
Although, this could be a reason for Bickel's reemergence into the line-up...
It appears Rinaldo and Sestito are in. McGinn likely out tonight. #Flyers
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) January 29, 2013
...i guess after watching both Rupp and Asham take a beating Saturday night, Torts felt he needed to have at least one guy who can fight in the line-up. God I'd love to see Bickel give "Fantasy Camp" Sestito another beatdown.
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This isn't a case of Eminger being benched but a case of not trusting Rupp or Asham to defend their teammates.
@Beckfan5 ... and Bickel is worse at forward, so ..... Asham has got to be able to do it. I know we haven't seen it, but really? All done? Rupper? No? Nothin? C'mon guys ...
@AG_Blue It's not that they don't/can't stick up for their teammates it's that they get their asses kicked when they do.
I'd much rather see Newbury in there over Rump or Ass-ham.
@Beckfan5 -- Rupp really looks like he's done, but I'm in a little disbelief about Asham ... I know he's already 34 or something and he's been hit in the head his whole life, but I want to see him earn some more of his contract. Can we really not trust these guys to stick up for their teammates?
@Beckfan5 -- I'm saying they could put Bickel at forward again, since Rupp and Asham haven't shown up, but he's worse there than on D, so Emmy sits just to have a fighter on the ice. After that I'm like, really guys? (talking to Rupp and Asham) You can't do it anymore?
Does that help?
Emmy looks good out there. But you need a little more beef I guess cause rupper look like he forgot how to fight, asham doesnt seem to bad though. There are pros and cons of this move, emmy is a better d man so that gives you a better chance to win but bickel can swing momentum.
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Bickel is not good no matter where he plays. They should just convert him to a goon forward and be done with it. Let him have a few shifts a night and be the team's fighter. He's a 7th defenseman or borderline 4th liner at best. Keep him around for fighting, but let's not pretend that he will ever amount to anything else.
Yes! Such a liability on D. Put him at F, They have the last change at home tonight, put him out at the right time, done.
I kno Kevin...I'm just thinking out loud that I like going with Hank...lol...I'm with ya on the other one also
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That's exactly why Bickel is playing tonight. I've gone on record saying I don't care who the sixth defenseman is since they never get ice time but tonight Torts didn't really have a choice since Bickel seems to be the only one who can win (or come close to winning) a fight. Plus those two minutes of ice time are well worth it in my mind if he keeps those goons off the ice.
@Melissa (angelzeyes2521) -- Bickel should get more minutes than either Rupp or Asham would get. All those guys are good for is keeping goons off the ice, but Bickel has a defensive game coming along ... hopefully. I'm sure Torts doesn't trust him much more than Emmy.
@AG_Blue Oh I agree but every time I say that I get shot down so figured I would just go with the trend this time. Torts doesn't trust either of them (and honestly can't blame him at the moment) but seems to want to see Bickel succeed (at least that's how it looks to me).
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@Melissa (angelzeyes2521) @AG_Blue If he's going to play Bickel put him at forward and take out either Rupp or Asham.
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I'm not a fan of Bickel replacing Eminger either. Man, Emmy has it tough with Torts, but I guess Torts wanted a fighter and didn't want to bother with Bickel at forward again.
Bickel has to be in. I have hope for Asham. Has Rupp ever won a fight with the Rangers? Seems like a good guy, but is just taking up space right now. I would have kept Eminger in and replace Rupp with Bickel.
We need wins..Gotta go with Hank and let him get in a groove...games are a little spread out now, so it shouldn't b a problem....LGR
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@Dudeinski I'm fine with Hank, I meant I wasn't a fan of Bickel replacing Eminger.
