Re: New York Rangers
Having watched the last 2 games since Andersson & Chytil were called up I thought I post my thoughts on their play. Plus some additional commentary on some of the other younger players on the team.
Chytil is going to be a special player. He has gained about 4 kilos of muscle and yet hasn't lost a step. In fact he has a 2nd gear that he put on display in both games. In game 1 vs Tampa he received the puck in mid stride and dipped his shoulder giving himself a very nice scoring chance and this was vs Stamkos who is no slouch. Using his size the shield Stamkos from the puck, the kid pointed himself towards the netminder and made a very nice play.
It seems like the game somehow slows down for Filip when he has the puck on his stick.
In the Carolina game he just accelerated away from 2 Cane defenseman for a nifty breakaway that Ward made a very nice save on. The kid deposited the puck to Ward's left just above the pads and the netminder had to be swift with his glove to prevent a goal. Chytil is also playing very well along the boards where he is able to use his powerful frame to move other players as well as the puck. His head is up and looking for teammates who are in position to skate the puck northwards. I was impressed in that many of his passes are not across the ice but rather to a forward skating towards the Carolina blueline.
He is by far still a work in progress as he did not hustle to get back into the play once the puck was past him and Carolina was moving on an odd man rush. Rather he never crossed the blueline perhaps hoping to be fed the puck for a counter move. So defensive awareness is something he has to work on.
Overall I would give the kid a B since his recall.
Andersson always has a smile on his face. He clearly loves playing hockey and being in NY with the rangers is probably the icing on the cake. He has a nice stride, good size and vision to create offense down low as well as across the blueline. Coach putting him on the 4th line was a bit frustrating but perhaps using the uptempo play style might suit him while he continues to learn the game at the NHL level. He hasn't displayed the offensive sizzle that Chytil has so far, but there are still a few more games to play before closing the book on the season. AV continuing to dress Deharnais is enough to make me want to pull my hair out. However due to a wrist injury in the Tampa game he was out giving Andersson some time with Namestnikov & Paul Carey. There is no doubt the kid can play in the NHL but I am still uncertain where he best slots into a successful team. Hopefully we will get a chance to see more of him down the stretch.
Pionk has passed Gilmour on the depth chart. The skating and awareness sets him above. Not that Gilmour is a slouch, far from it but Pionk just flies out there and now that he isn't getting punished with the puck and has the confidence to skate with it, I expect some nice things from him next season. He is now shooting the puck when in position to deliver a shot on net and the forwards are not available for a pass. He had some nice PP time and looked very comfortable back there. Very few NHL skaters are going to get past him so perhaps the pinching decision will be crucial for him, but I think that holds for most if not all NHL defensemen. A very promising young defenseman for NY.
Gilmour is keeping his game simple and thus continues to earn AV's trust. He is able to skate stride for stride with enemy forwards while near Hank, reaching out with his stick to thwart offensive chances. NY could do much worse than to have him on the roster next season.
Ogara is covering the minutes but do not generate much if any offense and so will have to be paired with a partner who can skate. Both he and Sproul have ample size and can clear the crease nicely but when the puck is on their stick its a little bit cringeworthy resulting in an icing or turnover as often as a breakout. Sproul did have a nice look and goal on a great setup in the Carolina game.
It would have been interesting if DeAngelo had been healthy to see how he would have fit into the mix.
Consider Sim Hockey because guys who play shutdown minutes, deflect shots and clear creases build championships. Yet in fantasy they litter the unwanted UFA lists.