Posted by  Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 10/15  at  09:16 AM

Dale,

I think you are right on about both Ranger and Lundin.  Lundin played almost the entire time that we were two men down from penalties and Carolina didn’t score.  This year, he is starting to bring the puck up a little as well.  He’s not flashy, but he is fundamentally sound.  Someone took the time to teach him how to play defense and it shows.

Posted by  dale, fl on 10/15  at  06:48 AM

Leanman, thanks for the heads up on the fact that Paul’s beginning his 4th season, does that make me a year older :( I just don’t see him as a real strong player, hope he proves me wrong.
I think Lundin was our best D-man last year and could be again this year. He’s not going to light it up on the scoreboard or flatten big forwards with crushing hits, but he will shut them down and come up with the puck in most cases.

Posted by  leanmean43, Tampa, Fl on 10/14  at  08:45 PM

Dale,
Last year was Ranger’s third year, and no he wouldn’t be a third pair defensemen on other teams, he would be a second pair defensemen on any team in the league.  I think your mixing up last year with his sophomore year.  Last year he was our best defensemen logging 25+ minutes in Boyle’s absence.  He racked up 10 goals and 31 points probably could have had more if he played on the powerplay.  Most of his points came at even strength because Kuba played the powerplay a lot last year.  He still makes mistakes every now and then, but not as much as his first two years, overall he is getting pretty solid in his own end and on offense as well.

Posted by  dale, fl on 10/14  at  07:15 PM

Ranger is 3rd pairing on 75% of the other teams in the league and wouldn’t even make some of them. Paul coughed up the puck in his on end so many times last year that if I remember correctly Torts benched him.  Boyle was told to pinch in leaving Ranger alone allot, they were all told to pinch, but Boyler was to be the 4th forward, so guess what his defence suffort. Boyle was, is and will be top 15 d-man in the NHL for the next 3 or 4 years. I believe Ranger went through somewhat of a sophamore jinx last year, I hope he plays like he did his rookie year. Still glad to see him back.
Go Bolts.

Posted by  Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 10/14  at  06:53 PM

It will be good to have Ranger back.  A lot of his +/- can be attributed to the fact that he played with Boyle a lot and was the lone player back on the 2 on 1’s that resulted from Boyle’s complete lack of defensive responsibility.  Of course, it would have been better if Ranger knew how to play a 2 on 1.

Overall, we do get someone who is capable of getting the puck clear of the defensive zone.  Don’t look for physical play though.  He’s mush when it comes to that.

Posted by  Leanmean43, Tampa, Fl on 10/14  at  05:42 PM

Ranger is an underrated defensemen, he had 10 goals and 31 points last year, and almost all of those points came at even strength.  Torts didn’t give him much powerplay time, if he gets alot of powerplay time he could be a 40+ point defensemen.  You can’t look at the plus minus last year they had Holmqvist in net most of the year.  Ranger’s greatest strength is his first pass and that’s what the Bolts desperately need.

Posted by  chris, jensen beach on 10/14  at  05:00 PM

Hopefully all defensive issues are not expected to be solved by getting a -13 player from last year back. Lots of issues to be dealt with out there.

Posted by  JK, Oldsmar on 10/14  at  03:32 PM

"Range” and his huge checks? Surely you’re referring to pay checks.

Posted by  vickie, tampa on 10/14  at  02:14 PM

I can’t wait to see Range and his huge checks along the board. Welcome Hun. Now go kick some butt, oh and uh Range drop the gloves cus we all know O’bee taught you well.