As I've done in the past, I graded each of the 2013 New York Rangers based on expectations, performance all season long and performance when it counted - NOT performance compared to other players. I am, admittedly, a tough grader. Guys with less than five games received incompletes.
If you feel so inclined, you can refer back to the report cards for the last few seasons: '07-08, '08-09, '09-10, '10-11 and '11-12.
By my math this season's grades worked out to a 1.95 GPA, which is a C. Yes, I'm well aware that the team made it to the conference semifinal but they barely made the playoffs, barely beat a bad Washington squad and were blown out by a Boston team that wasn't playing to their ability. Mediocrity, thy name is New York.
Forwards
#45 Arron Asham: Stupid penalties, senseless fights, zero intimidation, a spot in the press box right when his experience was supposed to help most. His four goals and the enjoyment I get from our banter on Twitter saved him from failure. D
#22 Brian Boyle: Same number of points in the playoffs as he had in the regular season - five. Reluctance to use his size physically or offensively outweighs occasional faceoff success. D
#16 Derick Brassard: What a difference a new zip code makes. After underwhelming in Columbus, came to New York and showed the skills that made him the sixth overall pick in '06. A-
#24 Ryan Callahan: Unquestioned work ethic and willingness to leave it all on the ice. Leadership by example not exactly working. A-
#29 Ryane Clowe: Nine points and two fights in 14 games wasn't bad, but rushing back from his concussion was a mistake. B
#15 Derek Dorsett: Jumped into the active roster in playoffs so it isn't exactly fair to judge him based solely on his stupid penalties or wrestling matches. Even though he played more than five games, going with an INC.
#36 Benn Ferriero: Was stuck with some sad-sack linemates most of the time but four shots in four games while averaging over nine minutes per were not enough. INC
#10 Marian Gaborik: Coming off of shoulder surgery the Slovak sniper potted just nine goals in 35 games and was publicly humiliated by his coach. No matter what Torts said to the media, it was clear he didn't trust Gabby and Gabby didn't want to play for him anymore. D
#62 Carl Hagelin: Bork! For all of his speed, Hags had a hard time scoring. Points per game average went down and had goal droughts lasting six or more games four times this season. C+
#32 Micheal Haley: Former Islander toughie hit plenty but had just two fights in 12 games. D
#15 Jeff Halpern: The one assist in 30 games wouldn't be a big deal if he won all faceoffs and killed all penalties. Sadly Super Jew got a poor start after the lockout and was an easy waive. D
#20 Chris Kreider: Started the season like he was entitled to a spot and was understandably banished to the bus league but another playoff performance raised his grade. C
#40 Brandon Mashinter: Hoped he'd be a physical power during his callup, instead he was slow and sloppy. INC
#47 J.T. Miller: Not yet ready for primetime player showed some potential. C
#61 Rick Nash: Nearly a point per game through the regular season but his lack of heart in crunch time cost the Rangers a real playoff run. B
#45 Kris Newbury: A typical AAAA player, great for the AHL but unable to play with the big boys. Add to that his penchant for stupid penalties and... F
#8 Darroll Powe: Blair Betts Mark II defensively accountable, offensively absent until he was injured. C+
#14 Taylor Pyatt: Great start, solid end to the season. It was the 35+ games in the middle that underwhelmed. C-
#19 Brad Richard$: Had 11 of his 34 points in the six games against sad sack teams at the end of the regular season but had no legs all year long. Helping people after Sandy saved him from outright failure. D
#71 Mike Rupp: Eight games, two fights, two losses, no hockey ability at all. F
#42 Brandon Segal: One game, one bad penalty. INC
#21 Derek Stepan: Had a tough time shaking the bad habits he gained from playing in Finland but afterwards took the next step in his development into a top line talent. A
#58 Christian Thomas: One game wasn't enough to see if he is more Corey Locke or post-Rangers P.A. Parenteau. INC
#36 Mats Zuccarello: A season under Paul Maurice in Magnitogorsk added defense and a willingness to shoot to his tenacity. B+
Defensemen
#41 Stu Bickel: Stuuuu-pid mistakes and Stuuuuuu-pid penalties cost him any trust of the head coach and he was banished to the bus league. D
#4 Michael Del Zotto: Another season of no development and Del Zastrous defense. F
#44 Steve Eminger: Solid work for a seventh defenseman, poor work as a fourth defenseman. C-
#97 Matt Gilroy: No hope for Hobey. Slow, poor decision making and no physical presence. F
#5 Dan Girardi: The milage hurt and there were occasional gaffes along the way but another solid season by the cornerstone of the defense. A-
#40 Roman Hamrlik: Old, slow and awful, singularly responsible for several Ranger losses. F
#27 Ryan McDonagh: Like Girardi, McD showed the milage at times but was the best Blueshirt blueliner and he is only getting better. A
#17 John Moore: Part of the Gabby deal, Moore was more than just a throw-in. The youngster showed all-around ability and rarely made costly mistakes. B+
#18 Marc Staal: A puck to the eye derailed another solid season from the stalwart. Hopefully it won't cost him the rest of his career too. B+
#32 Anton Stralman: Inconsistent, mediocre play. C-
Goaltenders
#43 Marty Biron: His GAA and save percentage actually improved from last season and yet he was still so horrendous that Hank had to play every night for the team to have a chance to win. But he's good in the room ... D
#30 Henrik Lundqvist: Yep, still the King. Sadly had a few nights when he was human but the Blueshirts woulda given Columbus the first overall pick of this summer's draft without him. A-
By my math this season's grades worked out to a 1.95 GPA, which is a C. Yes, I'm well aware that the team made it to the conference semifinal but they barely made the playoffs, barely beat a bad Washington squad and were blown out by a Boston team that wasn't playing to their ability. Mediocrity, thy name is New York.
Forwards
#45 Arron Asham: Stupid penalties, senseless fights, zero intimidation, a spot in the press box right when his experience was supposed to help most. His four goals and the enjoyment I get from our banter on Twitter saved him from failure. D
#22 Brian Boyle: Same number of points in the playoffs as he had in the regular season - five. Reluctance to use his size physically or offensively outweighs occasional faceoff success. D
#16 Derick Brassard: What a difference a new zip code makes. After underwhelming in Columbus, came to New York and showed the skills that made him the sixth overall pick in '06. A-
#24 Ryan Callahan: Unquestioned work ethic and willingness to leave it all on the ice. Leadership by example not exactly working. A-
#29 Ryane Clowe: Nine points and two fights in 14 games wasn't bad, but rushing back from his concussion was a mistake. B
#15 Derek Dorsett: Jumped into the active roster in playoffs so it isn't exactly fair to judge him based solely on his stupid penalties or wrestling matches. Even though he played more than five games, going with an INC.
#36 Benn Ferriero: Was stuck with some sad-sack linemates most of the time but four shots in four games while averaging over nine minutes per were not enough. INC
#10 Marian Gaborik: Coming off of shoulder surgery the Slovak sniper potted just nine goals in 35 games and was publicly humiliated by his coach. No matter what Torts said to the media, it was clear he didn't trust Gabby and Gabby didn't want to play for him anymore. D
#62 Carl Hagelin: Bork! For all of his speed, Hags had a hard time scoring. Points per game average went down and had goal droughts lasting six or more games four times this season. C+
#32 Micheal Haley: Former Islander toughie hit plenty but had just two fights in 12 games. D
#15 Jeff Halpern: The one assist in 30 games wouldn't be a big deal if he won all faceoffs and killed all penalties. Sadly Super Jew got a poor start after the lockout and was an easy waive. D
#20 Chris Kreider: Started the season like he was entitled to a spot and was understandably banished to the bus league but another playoff performance raised his grade. C
#40 Brandon Mashinter: Hoped he'd be a physical power during his callup, instead he was slow and sloppy. INC
#47 J.T. Miller: Not yet ready for primetime player showed some potential. C
#61 Rick Nash: Nearly a point per game through the regular season but his lack of heart in crunch time cost the Rangers a real playoff run. B
#45 Kris Newbury: A typical AAAA player, great for the AHL but unable to play with the big boys. Add to that his penchant for stupid penalties and... F
#8 Darroll Powe: Blair Betts Mark II defensively accountable, offensively absent until he was injured. C+
#14 Taylor Pyatt: Great start, solid end to the season. It was the 35+ games in the middle that underwhelmed. C-
#19 Brad Richard$: Had 11 of his 34 points in the six games against sad sack teams at the end of the regular season but had no legs all year long. Helping people after Sandy saved him from outright failure. D
#71 Mike Rupp: Eight games, two fights, two losses, no hockey ability at all. F
#42 Brandon Segal: One game, one bad penalty. INC
#21 Derek Stepan: Had a tough time shaking the bad habits he gained from playing in Finland but afterwards took the next step in his development into a top line talent. A
#58 Christian Thomas: One game wasn't enough to see if he is more Corey Locke or post-Rangers P.A. Parenteau. INC
#36 Mats Zuccarello: A season under Paul Maurice in Magnitogorsk added defense and a willingness to shoot to his tenacity. B+
Defensemen
#41 Stu Bickel: Stuuuu-pid mistakes and Stuuuuuu-pid penalties cost him any trust of the head coach and he was banished to the bus league. D
#4 Michael Del Zotto: Another season of no development and Del Zastrous defense. F
#44 Steve Eminger: Solid work for a seventh defenseman, poor work as a fourth defenseman. C-
#97 Matt Gilroy: No hope for Hobey. Slow, poor decision making and no physical presence. F
#5 Dan Girardi: The milage hurt and there were occasional gaffes along the way but another solid season by the cornerstone of the defense. A-
#40 Roman Hamrlik: Old, slow and awful, singularly responsible for several Ranger losses. F
#27 Ryan McDonagh: Like Girardi, McD showed the milage at times but was the best Blueshirt blueliner and he is only getting better. A
#17 John Moore: Part of the Gabby deal, Moore was more than just a throw-in. The youngster showed all-around ability and rarely made costly mistakes. B+
#18 Marc Staal: A puck to the eye derailed another solid season from the stalwart. Hopefully it won't cost him the rest of his career too. B+
#32 Anton Stralman: Inconsistent, mediocre play. C-
Goaltenders
#43 Marty Biron: His GAA and save percentage actually improved from last season and yet he was still so horrendous that Hank had to play every night for the team to have a chance to win. But he's good in the room ... D
#30 Henrik Lundqvist: Yep, still the King. Sadly had a few nights when he was human but the Blueshirts woulda given Columbus the first overall pick of this summer's draft without him. A-
No comments:
Post a Comment