Rachunek Offensive Potential?

I may get flamed for this rant, but here goes...

With Rachunek the biggest question seems to be his health. However, IF (yes, it’s a big if) he can find a way to play a full season, he’s def. got some real offensive upside. If you average out what he was on pace for, every year, if he played a full 82game season, he would’ve had some pretty good years offensively, for a young dman….

00/01---71 gp---3g---30a---33pts
00/01 pace---82gp---4g---35---39pts
01/02---51gp---3g---15a---18pts
01/02 pace---82 gp---5g---29a---34pts
02/03---58gp---4g---25a---29pts
02/03 pace---82gp---6g---35a---41pts
03/04---72gp---2g---19a---21pts
03/04 pace---82gp---2g---22a---24pts
06/07---66gp---6g---20a---26pts
06/07 pace---82gp---7g---25a---32pts

Sure, he’s not Brian Rafalski. But, he’s also a few years younger than Brian, and waaaay cheaper. According to TSN he “Shows great poise and rarely gets caught out of position." too. The other thing he’s going to contribute is his size, 6’2 212 is 4 inches and 22 pounds bigger than Rafalski’s 5’10 190 frame.

Look, like I said, he’s no Brian Rafalski, and I’m not saying that they are comparable. But, he has a definite offensive flair and is capable of putting up even better numbers. I just think this signing now is being a little bit overlooked with the Souray rumors, the Vishnevski signing, and the Elias/Gionta/White trade rumors. Rachunek has the potential to be a definite contributor in the Devils system offensively, while also showing from his days in Ottawa he can more than hold his own in his own end.

The defensive unit took a hit offensively when we lost Rafalski. But, with Rachunek capable of 35+ points, a full season of Andy Greene (knock on wood :)), and Martin possibly taking that step forward and becoming a 40 point dman, there is still some definite offensive potential there.

P.S.- I'm actually starting to really like our defense just the way it is right now. Some good skill players who can contribute offensively, some great size, 3 players who can make it very scary to enter our zone, (Matvichuk, White, Vishnevski). And if Oduya is our 7th guy, he's way better than Brooks.

According to TSN he “Shows great poise and rarely gets caught out of position."

I wish you people would stop quoting TSN's scouting report. That thing hasn’t been updated in years ... not to mention that it wasn’t too great in the first place.

Sure, he’s not Brian Rafalski. But, he’s also a few years younger than Brian, and waaaay cheaper. According to TSN he “Shows great poise and rarely gets caught out of position."

ur right he is not, he gets caught out of position way too much, ask any ranger fan that had to watch him the past few seasons. He is a waste. Id rather have a younger player play than Rachunek.

I wish you people would stop quoting TSN's scouting report. That thing hasn’t been updated in years ... not to mention that it wasn’t too great in the first place.

It was more or less a side note. The point of the thread as the title suggests, is his offensive potential anyway.

ur right he is not, he gets caught out of position way too much, ask any ranger fan that had to watch him the past few seasons. He is a waste. Id rather have a younger player play than Rachunek.

so it's your opinion that "He is a waste". It's my opinion that Rachunek was just a product of the Rangers system, and stands a strong chance of more than holding his own in the devils system.

Hopefully 30 points.

Hopefully 30 points.

+1

Expecting anymore points is just wishful thinking. But hey that's why they play the game.

As some have already pointed out, our bottom four won't be playing 82 games this year. Feels good to have that cap space not wasted on Souray.

Rachunek is bad. I suspect he might be a useful fill in if injuries hit hard and there is nobody else.

Rachunek is another example of Ranger fan bandwagon hating. He had a rough couple of games with the Rangers when they first acquired him and people started hating him after that no matter what.

While he's not great, he's certainly not as bad as they make him out to be. He has the potential to be a steady all around D-man, but sometimes slips in one area or another. He has occasional brain cramps on defense, but they're not as frequent as Ranger fans would have you believe.

He's got a rocket of a shot, and if the Devils let him use it on the PP, 35 points or so isn't out of the question. He can skate pretty well and pass pretty well...don't expect the world out of him and he'll do alright for your team.

Rachunek is another example of Ranger fan bandwagon hating. He had a rough couple of games with the Rangers when they first acquired him and people started hating him after that no matter what.

While he's not great, he's certainly not as bad as they make him out to be. He has the potential to be a steady all around D-man, but sometimes slips in one area or another. He has occasional brain cramps on defense, but they're not as frequent as Ranger fans would have you believe.

He's got a rocket of a shot, and if the Devils let him use it on the PP, 35 points or so isn't out of the question. He can skate pretty well and pass pretty well...don't expect the world out of him and he'll do alright for your team.

Thanks for the honest scouting report. I'd be more than happy with 35 points, at his salary.

Out of Position????? You simply are not allowed to take Chance in New Jersey.....

Funny I watched the Ducks a bit this year, and I will tell you I saw SCOTT NIEDERMAYER out of position MORE THIS season than I have in his last 7 season with New Jersey.

Pretty interesting to look at his +/- as well....That is one heck of team he played for and he was only + 6 only good for 10th on his team....The Reverse is his point totals have gone up dramatically since he got to Anaheim....

Rachunek will not provide lots of offense in New Jersey....But he'll chip in and his defense will be improved.....Or he'll be gone

He had some pretty good games, and all of his goals that I can remember he had a great shot. Unfortunately his bad games outnumbered his good.

Out of Position????? You simply are not allowed to take Chance in New Jersey.....

Funny I watched the Ducks a bit this year, and I will tell you I saw SCOTT NIEDERMAYER out of position MORE THIS season than I have in his last 7 season with New Jersey.

Pretty interesting to look at his +/- as well....That is one heck of team he played for and he was only + 6 only good for 10th on his team....The Reverse is his point totals have gone up dramatically since he got to Anaheim....

Rachunek will not provide lots of offense in New Jersey....But he'll chip in and his defense will be improved.....Or he'll be gone

with that being said i dont think he wil get 35 pts. raf 55 or so and he is alot better than rachunek offensivly PLUS martin and langs will be at the point for the first pp

Out of Position????? You simply are not allowed to take Chance in New Jersey.....

Funny I watched the Ducks a bit this year, and I will tell you I saw SCOTT NIEDERMAYER out of position MORE THIS season than I have in his last 7 season with New Jersey.

Pretty interesting to look at his +/- as well....That is one heck of team he played for and he was only + 6 only good for 10th on his team....The Reverse is his point totals have gone up dramatically since he got to Anaheim....

Rachunek will not provide lots of offense in New Jersey....But he'll chip in and his defense will be improved.....Or he'll be gone

E X A C T L Y! :clap:

Rachunek will not provide lots of offense in New Jersey....But he'll chip in and his defense will be improved.....Or he'll be gone

Well I imagine most of his offense would come from the PP, regardless. I wouldn't expect him to chip in a ton at even strength even if we weren't talking about the Devils and their emphasis on D.

Let him shoot the puck on the PP and you'll get the most out of him.

Rachunek is a lot better than people are giving him credit for. He's not going to win the Norris, but he has very good potential. He had a rough start last year, but when he was paired with Mara he really came on and was a big part of the Rangers end season run. Than he, unfortunately, got hurt.

It took him a while to adjust to the new system, Rennys coaching style etc

I would not be surprised if the Devils get some good play out of him. For the money he's a good aquisition imo.

I wouldn't expect him to chip in a ton at even strength even if we weren't talking about the Devils and their emphasis on D.

Let him shoot the puck on the PP and you'll get the most out of him.

WOW , he had 15 power play points of his 26 total points in 66 games .....


I don't remember him on the First PP Unit last year in New York? Was he?

WOW , he had 15 power play points of his 26 total points in 66 games .....


I don't remember him on the First PP Unit last year in New York? Was he?

I don't know for sure, but I do remember hearing his name a few times while they were on the power play.

I'll be happy with something like 7+27=35 from Rachunek.

WOW , he had 15 power play points of his 26 total points in 66 games .....


I don't remember him on the First PP Unit last year in New York? Was he?

no, Rosival was on 1st PP with a forward, usually Straka.

I'll be happy with something like 7+27=35 from Rachunek.

I find always better to lower the expectation....

He's averaged about .4 points per game so over 82 games thats 33 points.....

He's averaged .055 goals per game so over 82 games that's 4.5 goals.

Factor in the way the Devils put Defense First and subtract 10% for his totals....30 points seems reasonable to me.... of course totally depending on the Role he finds himself with NJ and him playing 82 games---Which he has never done before.

I find always better to lower the expectation....

He's averaged about .4 points per game so over 82 games thats 33 points.....

He's averaged .055 goals per game so over 82 games that's 4.5 goals.

Factor in the way the Devils put Defense First and subtract 10% for his totals....30 points seems reasonable to me.... of course totally depending on the Role he finds himself with NJ and him playing 82 games---Which he has never done before.

Haha pretty good formula.

They way I see it, he has a good point shot, not a rocket, but maybe the best on team right now. He's big and skates well, which is the way Lou is going. He will be told to hold the line and don't take chances unless you're sure. If not, like Jim wrote above, he won't receive much playing time.

Rafalski's numbers will be replaced by committee. Hopefully Greene, Rachunek and a boast from Martin should help that.

I'll be happy with something like 7+27=35 from Rachunek.

I'll be happy with math skills. :p:

He is not a mail carrying dman. He does his best when joining the play, stepping up. The problem is that his decisioning to do so is very questionable. Renney and staff made good strides with him and I think Laperriere and Robinson will further that improvement. At 27 he shouldn't be a project, but that is the reality. He may do very well in NJ's system which is very similar to Ottawa's where he had a degree of sucess.

His one or one coverage is a sore spot. Again, when you have forwards or the center coming back hard, he's better. His offensive number are not going to be great. 5-10 goals if he gets top 4 minutes, maybe 20-25 assists. But I also don't think you can bench him. Renney was pretty good with him, sticking with him, working with him through his mistakes. You jerk him around and you can for get about him.

Rachunek is not too bad at all. He had a hard first half last season and the Rangers fans wouldn't let him live it down.

He played very well with Mara when they were put together. He was STRONG for the final 2.5 months of the season.

He is decent in his own end, not really physical, but he is usually where he needs to be. He can skate pretty well, and that's a plus. He won't carry the puck from one end to the other, but he will be an asset on the Power Play. The Rangers never gave him much of a shot on the Power Play, but he has a rocket from the point, it will create rebounds and frankly, if he gets consistent PP time on the top unit, 40 points is not out of the question just because he can really fire the puck and he can pass pretty well.

Plus, under the Devils system, I think he's going to be pretty solid all year in his own end. Look for him to be solid defensively at even strength, and potentially a dark horse to produce a surprising amount of points if he is allowed to play on the first PP unit.

This is an objective view from a Rangers fan.