Rangers to Discuss Kreider to Whale; Newbury Recalled
Steve Zipay at Newsday reports that John Tortorella raised the possibility of the Rangers sending Chris Kreider back to the CT Whale saying he's going to have discussions about it.
Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record adds this quote from Torts on Kreider...
“He just hasn’t played well, I don’t have a reason. It’s something we really need to talk about as an organization. I still think he needs to go through the process. We need to be really careful in how we’re dealing with a kid. It’s a discussion we have to have.”
...i hate to criticize the kid because he's still young and learning, but man he looked lost in the defensive zone last night. And we all know that Torts won't tolerate that.
...i know Kreider had been struggling to produce with the Whale, but I really thought playing so much during the lockout would give him a leg up on the competition early in the season. I guess not.
...tonight will be a huge game for him.
In related news, Gross reports that the Rangers recalled Kris Newbury from the Whale after last night's game.
...with Asham likely to miss another game and the Rangers facing a physical Flyers team tonight this move makes sense. Plus, seeing Torts give Bickel just three minutes of ice time last night has me thinking he's not all that confident in his young brawler.
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I am sure that the short season has a big effect on the Kreider thinking. The team probably feels they can't afford to lose games because of his bad defensive play. I don't buy that. He is playing on the 3rd, or 4th line, which is usually not against the other team's top lines. If they are that concerned just match him up against the other team's defensive line when you can. Just let this guy play and give him some slack. Torts is too much of a control freak. It isn't as though all the other forwards are great defensive players. Kreider will get there. They just have to give him time.
If anyone has ever seen the movie Goon, I'm convinced Newbury is destined to be our Gord Ogilvey
I really think Kreider needs Torts to tell him hiney is special and there's no other like it and that he loves him unconditionally. I think a little tlc could go a long way with this kid. I thinkTorts probably has treated him like dirt up to this point. Give him a hug Torts!
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I think Kreider just needs some confidence in his game. He needs some first line minutes, and he doesnt deserve them on the Rangers. His success last year came after he had a huge confidence boost from winning in the NCAA. He just seems too nervous, like he is always worried about making the right play, instead of just playing. He needs to stop over-thinking the game.
The whole kreider situation is very perplexing. It almost seems like he doesn't like being tied down to a certain system. When torts let him just play in last years playoff run he had crazy success, but obviously hasn't been the case this year. As for Bickel, hope he's up in the press box tonight. We will have Rupp and Newbury in the lineup, no need for any more grit. Only fighter on phl to worry about is Simmonds considering hartnell and schenn are out tonight
@ATCRyan I'm really surprised at how lost he looks defensively. Gernander must run the same defensive system in Hartford. Shouldn't be that hard for him.
