• By The Suit, December 9, 2011 @ 2:17 pm Excellent post. I hope the uninformed read this prior to any transactions. One thing I will add, is I’d like to see how his icetime is affected if and when Dubi moves off the 4th line. Inserting Dubi in Boyle’s spot could make for a solid tertiary scoring line. Also, I’d like to see how Hagelin fares on the PK too. Would be a good way to get him more icetime and make him a threat at a SHG.

• By Matt J, December 9, 2011 @ 2:19 pm Ehhh last night with all the penalties and power plays isn’t exactly a game where you put in Hagelin. His play on and off the puck has been great and without Wolski, or Rupp do you want EC to play? I don’t. The Suit Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 2:26 pm We have to see if its a continued trend. If it is, Chris’s suggestion might be the right thing to do for Hagelin’s development, which is what this is addressing.

• By RangerSmurf, December 9, 2011 @ 2:30 pm It’s only 7 games and thus incredibly small sample, but the Hagelin-Boyle-Mitchell line have been possession monsters so far. Increasing his ice time is a much better fix than sending him down right now, and that’s on the coach to address. The one thing, he’s not getting special teams time, so he’s not likely to get more than 10-12 minutes in a typical game. TOR (scrambling for a goal) and TBL (lots of special teams) type games will have an impact on him.

• By Agentsmith, December 9, 2011 @ 2:35 pm im mixed on this subject. It seems like hags causes havok more often then not when he’s out there. like he was half a puck away from scoring. however if torts is gonna have to play guys according to their $$$$$ (think dubi) he should go back to ct. The Suit Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 2:45 pm No one is getting more minutes because of salary. That is the complete opposite of Torts’ philosophy. If that was the case Drury and Redden would still be on the team. And Dubi has seen his minutes decrease despite his salary. I’m giving you a mulligan on this one Smith.

• By JordanO, December 9, 2011 @ 2:41 pm I understand the premise, but if they can find him consistent ice time, he deserves to stay. His speed makes him a clear asset to the team. I can understand him being demoted in a roster crunch when Wolski / Rupp are back, but he deserves a spot ahead of Christensen, Mitchell, even Avery. Chris Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 3:45 pm I agree, with smurf and the sample size too, that he’s done alot of good and deserves to stay. I didn’t say I had an issue with his play. But, I’d the trend i pointed out continues (dwindling ice time) let him dominate in the minors. It didn’t do Anisimov any harm. scrangersfan Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 9:43 am I agree with you Chris,if he doesn’t get the ice time with the Rangers,going back and play at CT.for one more season will do him a world of good.Come next year, hopefully he’ll be a stud.

• By Walt, December 9, 2011 @ 4:12 pm The point is well taken, but the coach is the reason this kid will be made to pay! Lets face it, he has all the tools, plays solid two way hockey, has speed, is very smart on the ice, yet Torts is unwilling to use him, what’s with that? Yes he can dominate in the AHL, but will that help his developement, and more importantly, how about his head? A kid could be sent back, and that could work on his mind, and a word that is thrown out there forever, CONFIDENCE. I understand the idea of double shifting, getting the best chance to get a win, but there are some talented guys who will have pine splinters in their butts from sitting so much. As the season progresses, these guys will wear out when needed most, come play-off time, so what good did it do for the team????? I love the kid, and given a choice, I’d keep him, and rid myself of the trash we have, are you listening EC? Chris Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 4:25 pm I would love to ‘loan’ EC to Europe! Hagelin’s got a good head on those shoulders, he’s 23 don’t forget. If a Demotion was explained to him I’m sure he’d not regress because if it. But as I said… My preference would be to Find him more ice time bob Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 12:30 am Couldn’t agree more,Give Hags some more time.Stick him with Richie and Calli,see what he can do.And play 4 lines at least the first half of the game.Let these guys get their legs going and see how they are going.Some of the opposing lines will be mismatches and they may have a good game.

• By Jess, December 9, 2011 @ 4:39 pm Unpopular move yes it would be but one thing not being taken under consideration is Hagelin’s cap hit which is basically nothing 875,000. The NYR have a little over 540,000 open and it is doubtful the NYR will want to go with a Stralman/Wookie 3rd pair for an extended length of time. I also really can not complain about Hagelin’s ice time right now it is only 7 games. The NYR have started using him on the PK which IMO is a sign that Torts is wanting to use him more. I think the decision people will not like hearing will be sending Avery back to the AHL. Avery yes has not played badly but he has been used less than Hagelin or Mitchell but his 1.9 million cap hit hurts.

• By kgb16, December 9, 2011 @ 7:45 pm This article being writtenmeans that something has happened totheRangers and the wheels have fallen off. So, there is clinical hockey and poular hockey. I like both, but I am, above all, a fan so I go with popular passion. Tortorella is a fool who rewards great play with rationing of minutes. Hagelin has become a fan favorite because he delivers.Heshould be rewarded(with his linemates) with more minutes, where he can accomplish more good things. I also feel that Avery has played really well, but why would you want to credit him for that. I know, because he is Sean Avery, I GET this (all you haters). The clinical solution that makes the most sense is to demote Dubinsky, and let him get his mojo back in the AHL (all the while lookingfor trade interest). You solve your salary problems and punish the wicked with that move. You skate WW, EC or Rupp and you let Dubinsky earn his trip back. Oh yeah, and fire Tortorella. Hire a logician in place of the Dour Clown. The Suit Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 8:18 pm You don’t know much about hockey do you? Jebus there is so much wrong with your points, I’m just going to say thank you for your page view. Hopefully someone else will handle you. kgb16 Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 9:39 pm I guess you missed some of the sarcasm, my bad. They have lost 2 games in a row, the first with an excellent effort. The wheels have not fallen off. The rest of the idea was like a letter in a safety deposit box, ie if something happens to the team, here’s what you do. The team has been rolling along well so why change anything? I might not understand waivers and the risk of demoting Dubinsky if he had to pass through waivers. Jesus does not have a B in it genius. I still hate the coach. The Suit Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 10:05 pm Jebus is a joke from Simpsons. Sorry I missed your sarcasm. And you should hate Torts for being the most winningest American born coach in NHL history or the third most winningest coach in Rangers history, or the fact that he has a ring. But you should def not hate him for his use of Sean Avery. Sarcasm. Bobby G Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 8:38 pm Please bring back the sin bin. scrangersfan Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 9:56 am kgb16, be carefull of praising Avery and critisizing Tortorella, I posted a similar story last week and got killed by some bloggers one of them was the suit.I’d been a fan and watching the Rangers for 46 years and was tod that I don’t know anything about hockey. So be carefull or you’ll be blackballed on this site. The Suit Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 12:04 pm I have no problem with people’s infatuation with Sean Avery. I don’t really get it, but I’ve come to learn it’s not worth arguing about. But you should expect people to defend Torts when you say you want to get rid of him win or lose. That’s not an innocuous comment. I’ve been playing hockey most of my life and have worked for two pro hockey teams and my opinion gets tossed just as quickly as yours does sometimes. Welcome to the Internet. scrangersfan Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 3:10 pm I just like to clerify that I like the intensity that Avery brings to the Rangers games but I don’t agree with some of his beliefs and agenda. In the interest of fairness,I don’t agree with the way Torts treat him and to me it comes across as dislike. I like to see everyone get treated the same, play them if they produce or sit them if they dont. Also I’am not questioning Torts.ability to coach, I just do not agree with his arrogant attitude and the way his trying to bully the media. I also coached for 12 years in an other sport and I’am proud to state that I had earned the respect of the people I came in contact with for the simple reason that I treated everyone with the respect that I want to be treated. I do think that you believe that I’am a stounch Rangers fan.(you can not root for a team for 46 years and not be a fan especially the Rangers with their ups an downs over the years.) I will admit that if the Rangers win the cup with Torts, I will learn to tolerate him. The fact is that you and I are both a big fan of this team even though we may not agree on who we like or dislike is good reason that we respect each other. I read a lot of your posts and nost of them I find interesting and enlithning.So in the spirit of the holidays, I say to you Peace to you bro! The Suit Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 3:21 pm These are the kind of comments I was looking for scrangersfan. More like these and I will be sending silk ties your way. Peace be with you. scrangersfan Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 3:25 pm Thanks for the kind words. we’re all in this together. The Suit Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 3:27 pm Amen. VinceR Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 2:06 pm Like I said on the same post you talk of, SC, I love Avery too. I like his attitude on the ice (when he controls it and doesn’t hurt the team) and I love what he does off the ice, especially his support of the NY gay marriage bill and using his celebrity for a cause he believes in. Ballsy considering the character he is and the sport he plays in. But when I hear someone say that they want “to burn Torts” whether the team is doing great or not, as you did in that same post, I just tend to think they are more concerned with their man-crush then the fact the team is winning or losing. Or than having an interesting, logical discussion of the game vs. throwing around conspiracy theories. Perhaps kgb’s sarcasm was misunderstood, but the main reason it was taken at face value is because there are posts here after almost every game that aren’t really that far from the caricature that kgb was portraying. You have the right to post what you want. People have the right to post what they want in response. If you want to make bold statements, you better have thick enough skin to take a reply. BTW, here is what the players think: http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/10/28/rangers-love-tortorellas-brutal-honesty/ (By line dated Oct 28) scrangersfan Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 3:18 pm Vince, your point is well received I just like you to know that I do not have a crush on Avery (he is of the wrong gender for me to have a crush on)but I like what he does on the Ice. Please read my response to the suit above and I hope you’ll understand where I’am coming from. VinceR Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 3:39 pm Cool man…fyi man-crush is not a straight/gay/LGBT thing…it’s the 2000 version, like, not quite idolatry, but in a “that’s my boy” or “man I kind of want to be like that guy” kind of way. I guess my point is that the attitude that Sean brings to the game and the attitude Torts brings are not so dissimilar, so I don’t get the big distaste towards him. Granted they have two different jobs, but I don’t give two poops if Torts is grating to the media; it’s what his players think and what he gets out of them that counts most to me. And I think, in general, he gets an incredible amount out of what he has. I personally don’t see that much favoritism. I can get how some of his actions can be construed but I just don’t believe they are out of spite or personal feelings. Folks may not agree with his decisions, that’s fine, and I don’t always either, but I think he demonstrates that he cares most about winning, not personal vendettas against players. That’s my bit. scrangersfan Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 4:26 pm I agree with him about winning. It will heal a lot of wounds. We are cool you and I Vince am I correct, Vince R Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 4:38 pm Yeah, of course. Just don’t expect me not to argue with you

• By Tim, December 9, 2011 @ 7:56 pm Hagelin’s great–gotta do what’s best for his career right now because that’s what’s best for the team in the long run so it’s either regular ice time or back to AHL (good post!). Personally I haven’t turned on Dub’s yet, so I think for us to do some damage this year we’ve gotta get him going. The effort is there, we all saw it against Toronto, just gotta get some pucks in the net! Feds is playing great and I don’t exactly want that to stop, but the best thing that could happen to this team right now would be Dubs tearing his way up the depth chart and reclaiming that spot at Richards’ side. Lets go Rangers. (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap) Tim Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 7:56 pm Mind fart. Tampa not Toronto* (Damn T’s) The Suit Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 8:19 pm Nice, someone who gets it. Silk tie for you. Bobby G Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 8:44 pm Let me preface this with that fact that I have never actually played hockey but have been a diehard fan with season tickets my entire life, so excuse my ignorance here. I do have a question that someone could hopefully help me out with. Dubi has been demoted to the fourth line because his offensive game has been lacking this season and everyone says that we need to get his game going again. How does he do that on the fourth line? I feel like its a weird situation when a good player starts playing poorly. On one hand, you want to give him ice time so he has more opportunities to succeed. On the other hand, how can you justify that ice time when other players on the roster are outperforming him? What do you guys think the best course of action is with dubi? The Suit Reply: December 9th, 2011 at 10:01 pm Good question Bobby boy. I’m here to help. Dubinksy was playing well earlier in the season. He wasn’t scoring goals, but he was making plays, forechecking, playing solid defense. People called for his demotion to the fourth line, but it was premature. Torts had confidence in him and stuck with him. The last week or two, his play away from the puck started to plateau and others were more deserving of ice time, so he was sent to the fourth line, which at that point was the right thing to do. But now we are getting to the point where we need Dubi to get going. The problem is he is a very inconsistent player offensively. Nothing new. Burying him in Hartford, as KGD sarcastically suggested, is not the thing to do because he would be claimed instantly. I think if he plays another hard nosed game or two like he did last night he will move up to the second or third line, because after all he is a top six forward. So I guess to sum this all up, when it comes to ice time, things aren’t black and white. Just shades of grey. Bobby G Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 12:03 am Thanks for the reply. The whole thing seems like a very sticky situation. If Dubinsky can get his act together and has his ice time increase, I’d have to assume it would come at the expense of Hagelin (or possibly Boyle if he remains at center, although Torts insists he’ll stay at LW long term). If that is the case, I definitely agree with Chris on this one. Much better to see Hagelin get top lines minutes with the Whale than get the 4th line minutes with the big club. People shouldn’t consider it a set back for Hagelin either. You have to remember that he was a 6th round draft pick. It can take a long time for late rounders to fully develop into capable NHLers. Bottom line is that one way or another Hagelin will be sure to flourish with the Rangers organization. The Suit Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 7:36 am Absolutely. Couldn’t have said it better myself. Mikeyyyy Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 8:39 am I think this all stems back to Dubi thinking he is a center. This is Torts lesson to him… Your a 4th line center, or a 3/2 left wing. I have issues with players from Alaska . Fast but Streaky. He needs to stop doing his Gomez impression, and start playing in your face hockey. He got his payday and now he is slacking If not he needs to be shopped. Our current depth says we don’t need him as he is playing now. And that isn’t even considering that WoWo will be coming back soon. So who do you play at that point, an invigorated Wowo or a slumping Dubi. Walt Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 9:51 am Dubi is going through a rough time, but he is not slacking in the slightest. He has to earn his time, fine, but I beliieve that the problem is that he is trying TOO hard, squeezing the stick, and is loosing his confidence in the process. Lets face it, Dubi was never a top flight center, but he was the best we had when he centered the Jagr line, so he does have skills, and he still is a very effective PK, fore checker, and protects his team mates. For all the mentioned reasons, I’ll take him any day over WW. End of discussion!!!!! Mikeyyyy Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 10:00 am Very closed minded. If another player is doing better they should play. You earn your ice time. If wowo earns it he should play. If dubi isn’t earning it, he should sit. At least he is better than ec. scrangersfan Reply: December 10th, 2011 at 10:05 am Spot on Walt!

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