Here is the latest rumor on the Wisconsin Badgers defenseman Ryan McDonagh. Sounds like the Rangers would really like to sign Ryan McDonagh to a professional contract and why wouldn't they. Ryan McDonagh has a lot of upside and has a great chance of being an every day player some day in the NHL. Seems to be a lot of speculation but no one really knows what is going to happen. This is the worst time of the year for college hockey fans.
Anyway, basically what is going on here is that McDonagh realizes he has options and is not about to be forced into something he does not want to necessarily do. With knowing that he will captain Wisconsin next season, and knowing that he is guaranteed an expected amount of playing time as well as responsibility, he is leaning toward sticking with the Badgers. This is option number one.
Option number two would be to agree on terms with the Blueshirts, sign an entry level contract and jump straight to the pros instead of finishing his senior year in college. The difference between option one and option two, besides salary of course, is that he is guaranteed absolutely nothing once signing with the Rangers. He is not guaranteed that same playing time he is with Wisconsin, and he certainly is not going to be given the same amount of responsibility.
Take Matt Gilroy, for example, who signed with the Rangers out of college last April. A former Hobey Baker Award winner, Gilroy entered the National Hockey League playing under a coach that apparently did not have much patients to allow him to develop. He was docked ice time, sent down to the minors, and then was sentenced to watch the final week of the regular season from the press box. Again, a Hobey Baker Award winner, coming out of college, was shown very little respect by head coach John Tortorella, and barely was given a chance.
After seeing that, can you blame McDonagh for wanting to stay in college for his final year where he is one of their "go to" players instead of being belittled by Tortorella and possibly not even dressing on occasion? I cannot, and it is a shame that out coach can possibly scare off future talent. Gilroy has potential, and could have developed nicely this past season, but Torts finds it necessary to play individuals such as Wade Redden over him. If I am McDonagh, I do not jump to the pros and lock into a contract with the risk of having to contend with that nonsense.
Now I am not saying this is why McDonagh is holding out, but without a doubt, it is a possible explanation. Once the upcoming NCAA season concludes, the 6-foot-1 blue-liner has no choice but to enter the National Hockey League, and there is plenty of time between the end of his season and early August for him to strike a deal with the Blueshirts before becoming an unrestricted free agent and New York losses his rights. Until then, he is Rangers property and has shown no indication whatsoever of not wanting to play on Broadway as Brooks claims in his article.
McDonagh has the upper hand in this situation, which is rare for a rookie entering the league, and most people that are fortunate enough to have that upper hand are going to fully take advantage of it. If he does not have to rush, why should he? With the risk of making the wrong decision, he should take all of the time given to him be sure he is making the right one. No, it may not be the ideal thing for the Rangers (or their fans), but I am presenting the situation to you from his point of view
[Rangers Tribune]
Though I don't really agree with how Tortorella has treated Gilroy, I don't think that it is that black and white.
ReplyDeleteIt's VERY VERY hard for ANY player to jump right from the NCAA (or MJ imo) directly to the NHL.
It's even harder if you are a defenseman and almost unheard of hard if you are a goaltender (which is what made Ed Belfour and Tom Barrasso so special...though Barrasso never played higher than high school hockey IIRC).
The developmental curve is EXTREMELY steep at the NHL level. More often than not, defensemen can't hack it and are sent down.
Tortorella had issues with Gilroy's development not holding above or at the curve so he benched him. To make matters worse, Rangers were fighting for a playoff slot. So, the patience was further tightened.
Yeah, Gilroy showed promise, but Tortorella's problem was not sending Gilroy down to the AHL. If he's not going to get better in the press box, then send him somewhere where he can play.
McDonagh isn't going to sit in a press box if he signs early. He may not be in the NHL right away, which may be what he wants if he's going to bolt early.
And with the advantage in his corner, why not?
I think he'll be back for his senior year.