I've seen a few posts that I feel are undervaluing Roslovic and Wennberg in these playoffs and wanted to point out a couple of things,
On Roslovic, I kind of look at him as a better version of Brodzinski. He doesn't have the versatility of position that Brodzinski has at forward, but he's faster, and that speed along with better shot and playmaking make him a better player. He's not particularly strong, which I think is more the issue than whether he can hit or take a hit, I just think he could use some more leg strength and probably upper body...but maybe he's nott built that way. He's also inconsistent, and as we've seen not always the best decision maker on defense, however I think he's part of the reason why the Zibanejad line has managed to stand out more in the playoffs
Here's a clip from last night, with Roslovic who actually taps the puck back to the oncoming Zibanejad while being checked
https://twitter.com/reccer626/status/1791452847055278279
On Wennberg I think he's been a great addition defensively and has given the bottom six something that wasn't there. The Rangers reportedly were aiming for Lindholm (who went to Vancouver), but weren't ready to pay that much for him, so Wennberg became a much more affordable option, though flawed. Primarily his shot is more that of a 4th liner, with his passing ability probably in that same vein, but at the same time, he's helped the line of Kakko-Wennberg-Cuylle become a really solid defensive line. In 67:01 of time at 5v5 in the playoffs, that line has scored 2 goals and allowed just one...which was actually the first goal last night where Kakko didn't read the guy coming down the boards.
I mean all three players have contributed to that, and have seen HD chances favor that line 11-6 at 5v5. He's not everything for sure, and ideally you'd like that line to be able to convert more (Kakko and Cuylle just 1 goal each so far, Wennberg the only regular forward in the playoffs without a goal), but it's far from terrible because the opposition isn't scoring when they're out there either.
It also frees up the Zibanejad line in particular to go chase offense more, because you have more options defensively, particularly at home with the last change.
Bottom line, both players have flaws, but they also came relatively cheap. Meanwhile Carolina spends a good amount of assets to get Guentzel for a couple of months and is now heading home. Guentzel easily the best player moved at the deadline, but ultimately their goaltending (.878 combined save percentage) let them down.
I am not a fan of either, I see the offence Roslovic once in awhile generates with his obvious evident skill. While he has battled a little more in the playoffs, to often he refuses to engage. Could be something to be said about your light weight point Fish, but I have more than a few concerns about his ability to be any type of factor against either Boston or Florida next round. Wennberg is a cream puff, can’t hit, can’t shoot, and has zero creativity needed at the center position. It’s not hard to be good defensively for any NHL player that doesn’t even try to create offence. Cuylle and Kakko have both been very responsible defensively before he ever got here. And both produced better offensively without Wennberg. If anything Wennberg has pulled both Cuylle and Kakko down to his zero offence capability. The Rangers will need scoring from ALL four lines going forward and battling and fighting for every inch of ice and puck possesion by every player every night. If a line or defence pair is off kiss it goodbye. I didn’t see Wennberg as a factor in any way against Carolina and Roslovic only a little more.
If by you mean you don’t want them back then I’m right with you….but I do think they were upgrades and didn’t cost the Rangers much
Fish gets it.
My only comment about trade deadline acquisitions is: Guentzel is making tee times now.
If they need me to bleed, then I'll bleed for my team
If by you mean you don’t want them back then I’m right with you….but I do think they were upgrades and didn’t cost the Rangers much
I don’t want them back. Were there other Center’s out there in the same price range of Wennberg that were available. I find it hard to believe more of a playoff type grinder wasn’t available. I’ve never said or implied the Rangers should have got a name like Guentzel. At the deadline Drury did go after needs on a limited budget, which in both cases, options had to have been available, and it was a matter of choice, not these two were the only ones to fit the budget. Will see, I doubt it, but stranger things have happened than those two digging deep and going all in the next round.
I do think Fish get's it. I also think he has a good way of explaining it, wish I could be more like that.
I do like the speed element of Roslovik's game, however, I would be inclined to sit him and put Vesey there while making a 4th line of Goody, Rempe and Edstrom against the Panthers. At least home games when you control the matchups.
De Oppresso Liber..
from the left elites
Important to note with Roslovic is that he has speed. When he is on the ice, his speed causes a Dman not to take too many chances. Unfortunately I don't think he has enough time in the Rangers system to be able to read when to go like Hagelin and a younger Kreider did. I think this could come into play against the Panthers because they utilize larger type dmen at the blue line Lav needs to employ more stretch passes to escape the zone and create offensive pressure on bigger slower dmen. Just like everybody else does to Trouba
If they need me to bleed, then I'll bleed for my team
I'm pretty sure when Florida goes over the Ranger roster they are not spending much time talking Roslovic. As the playoffs roll along teams with weak links get eliminated, the more you have the quicker you go out. Rangers can't afford any weak links against Florida. Jack has had a couple moments, including his world class snipe against Washington. Last round noticeable at times in good ways and also in not so good ways. But he has it to do this round, everything is going to be harder against Florida and he has to bring his absolute A game compete level. If he does he's plenty skilled enough have a impact.