Phil Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Maybe Greg McKegg had no business being elevated into Kaapo Kakko?s spot on the wing for those shifts in the third period at Calgary on Jan. 2 in the sequence of events that drew Larry David?s ire on Michael Kay?s fine radio show. But the fact is ? and you had to know this was coming ? the 27-year-old Rangers forward did a pretty, pretty, pretty good job in his standard role as coach David Quinn?s fourth-line center. The problem is that for Quinn?s two years behind the Rangers bench, the role of the fourth-line center has been as narrow as the role of the fourth line, which has been used for the most part as a repository for tough guys and mismatched forwards, but rarely as a defined unit. Quinn has insisted that he views himself as a four-line coach, but not through two seasons in New York. Part of that surely is personnel-driven. But Quinn loves to ride his top-of-the-line talent, and until the last month or so of this season, he apparently felt it was necessary to have a pseudo-enforcer in the lineup. Hence, Cody McLeod in 2018-19 and, until his season ended in early February with surgery on his bilateral core muscle, Micheal Haley this year. So, really, the fourth line that most often included Brendan Smith, needed on the penalty kill at his usual defense spot, kind of got leftover minutes and produced little in terms of offense or change of momentum. Lemieux will be battling for top-nine minutes and Gauthier likely will get an opportunity to show off his offensive talent. But if the Rangers are serious, they could sure use a defined fourth line. They could do much worse than re-upping McKegg to center it. https://nypost.com/2020/04/05/note-to-larry-david-rangers-greg-mckegg-is-getting-job-done/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albatrosss Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Dont mind him as a 13th forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThirtyONE Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Personally, I don't think McKegg is any good. Even as a 4th liner. I was disappointed with his play this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangersIn7 Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 McKegg has some value but they still need an upgrade. If he’s the 13th forward, that’s not an awful situation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoMinutesForNothing Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 As long as he's in our lineup we aren't contending for anything. He wasn't even in once we were playing well at the end this season. With Howden and Andersson there is no way McKegg is getting 4th line center minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 I don't know...Don't really think 4th line center is the position that makes or breaks this team as a contender. He's fine for a 13th forward. He doesn't pass the puck at all, but when I see his wingers...I get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Seems like we have a handful of guys that could battle for the 13th forward position on a good team. That's a part of the problem with this group taking the next step Maybe the more accurate statement is way too many bottom 6 where you could just throw the names in a hat. Meaning lots of guys that aren't good enough at this point to help elevate this team. Some are young, some I have little faith in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Garbage. He. Does. Nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 We've established that the bottom 6 wasn't good enough for a majority of the season. Despite looking engaged and somewhat possessing a motor from time to time, McKegg was extremely inconsistent and part of the problem, not the solution. Move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravesy Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 As long as he's in our lineup we aren't contending for anything. I dunno. He played half the regular season and all but one of Carolina's playoff games last season when they went to the ECF. Not saying he's a great player, or even that they should keep him, but the idea he can't play on a contending team is demonstrably untrue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 I would MUCH rather have a 4th line center that can win a face off. I look at a player like MacTavish and say, YEAH! That's a good 4th line center. That guy could be relied upon to kill penalties, win key faceoffs, and also play a shut-down defensive game when called upon against some star potential opponents. Not a guy like McKegg...sorry, they can do better than him....and it wouldn't cost a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 I would MUCH rather have a 4th line center that can win a face off. I look at a player like MacTavish and say, YEAH! That's a good 4th line center. That guy could be relied upon to kill penalties, win key faceoffs, and also play a shut-down defensive game when called upon against some star potential opponents. Not a guy like McKegg...sorry, they can do better than him....and it wouldn't cost a lot.I'm just dying for you to stop referencing the 94 team lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 I'm just dying for you to stop referencing the 94 team lol. Never!! :rofl: ...but MacTavish was good!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slobberknocker Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 i don't know. guess he was serviceable. i still believe we need to develop more depth down below. DQ definitely has a penchant for riding his top guys. i don't believe thats a recipe for success in today's NHL. there should be no reason why we can't upgrade this given all the draft picks we have had and are about to have the next two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThirtyONE Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 The 4th line was actually better when he wasn't in the lineup so I don't know why he'd come back. He has a good name... and that's about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangersIn7 Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 If many of us are like... “I don’t know” “maybe” “he’s not so bad” and using adjectives like serviceable and inconsistent that should tell us all we need to know. I’m fine having him on the roster. But ideally he’s your extra forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LONG LONG LONG TIME FAN Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 Never!! :rofl: ...but MacTavish was good!! Finally the truth. BTW, last helmetless player in the NHL. Just another fact from the H.O.T.Y.U.:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sod16 Posted April 6, 2020 Share Posted April 6, 2020 Now and then is quite effective, but the same could be said of most any player in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 McKegg parties aren't very exciting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4EverRangerFrank Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 McKegg parties aren't very exciting. Maybe he just hasn?t been tapped properly. *crawls towards the door with sheepish grin* 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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