Big Blue Huddle

Season is right around the corner.

How is everyone feeling about the team and its chances this year?

What are you most excited about? What are you most concerned about?

Right now, I am most concerned about Panarin getting hurt twice in pre-season.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on October 03, 2024, 07:19:46 PMSeason is right around the corner.

How is everyone feeling about the team and its chances this year?

What are you most excited about? What are you most concerned about?

I wasn't sure if another thread had already been created, but this one works for me so thank you for starting it up with less than a week to go before the pucks fly for keeps.

It's always exciting to start a new season but plenty of questions going into this one. First, which is the worry bead for all of us, is the extent of the Breadman's injury and how it will impact him as far as lost time and his overall performance capability. It's definitely an area of concern worth keeping an eye on. Jimmy Vesey's injury appears more serious and he will be out and, of course, Lindgren is also hurt and may be out to start the season. So, the injury front to start things off is a bit of a worry but, also, an opportunity for Jones to step into the lineup and demonstrate he's ready for more ice time in defense, and Othmann to get more ice time on offense.

The goalie situation remains the same and all that's left is the Rangers and Igor's agent hammer a deal out to see #31 as the highest paid goalie in the league. He played lights' out  last season and a similar performance will likely be needed this season for the Rangers to compete once again for a run to the Finals.

What will be interesting to see is how the head coach handles this group in his second year. Will he continue the path he set forth last year or does he have some other things planned to help get this group over the top and into the Finals this year?

Will the team be able to respond after getting to within two games of the Finals for a second time in three seasons? Or, has the core gone as far as they can go and we'll see them fall back and signal a time to rebuild?

Last year they played a pretty consistent brand of hockey throughout the regular season and were exciting to watch. It resulted in the best ever performance by a Ranger team in terms of wins, earning the President's Trophy, winning two playoff series with one against a team many expected to win the Cup. Even against Florida, up 2-1 in the series, had they won Game 4, the possibilities were endless. Instead, they lost the momentum, got manhandled and never had a chance despite keeping every game within a goal.

Losing a semifinal like that for the second time in three years has got to be difficult to swallow. How do you get past not just the physical element but the psychological?

That's what Laviolette has to overcome with this group; a year older, perhaps a year wiser, but without any new players to honestly make them better. How do they get back to the semis and take on a physical force of a team and beat them?

Lots of questions. Hope springs eternal this time of the year. Hoping they will have another Northwestern Canadian sweep like they did last year to jump-start their season and let's see where it goes.

They play Florida early and it will be a marquee matchup. But they have their Cup now and the situation isn't the same anymore.

I'm not really sure who will be favored to win it all this season. Edmonton will be the sentimental favorite. Dallas, Carolina, Boston, Florida, Winnipeg, LA and the Rangers will all be in the hunt. Maybe Nashville will step up to compete. Colorado is a dynamic organization, but their mystique is beginning to wear as other teams (e.g. Dallas, the Rangers) have demonstrated their ability to skate with them.

I'll be curious to see if Florida still has the cojones to make a second run and go back-to back.

Peace!

Quote from: kartanoman on October 03, 2024, 09:08:29 PMI wasn't sure if another thread had already been created, but this one works for me so thank you for starting it up with less than a week to go before the pucks fly for keeps.

It's always exciting to start a new season but plenty of questions going into this one. First, which is the worry bead for all of us, is the extent of the Breadman's injury and how it will impact him as far as lost time and his overall performance capability. It's definitely an area of concern worth keeping an eye on. Jimmy Vesey's injury appears more serious and he will be out and, of course, Lindgren is also hurt and may be out to start the season. So, the injury front to start things off is a bit of a worry but, also, an opportunity for Jones to step into the lineup and demonstrate he's ready for more ice time in defense, and Othmann to get more ice time on offense.

The goalie situation remains the same and all that's left is the Rangers and Igor's agent hammer a deal out to see #31 as the highest paid goalie in the league. He played lights' out  last season and a similar performance will likely be needed this season for the Rangers to compete once again for a run to the Finals.

What will be interesting to see is how the head coach handles this group in his second year. Will he continue the path he set forth last year or does he have some other things planned to help get this group over the top and into the Finals this year?

Will the team be able to respond after getting to within two games of the Finals for a second time in three seasons? Or, has the core gone as far as they can go and we'll see them fall back and signal a time to rebuild?

Last year they played a pretty consistent brand of hockey throughout the regular season and were exciting to watch. It resulted in the best ever performance by a Ranger team in terms of wins, earning the President's Trophy, winning two playoff series with one against a team many expected to win the Cup. Even against Florida, up 2-1 in the series, had they won Game 4, the possibilities were endless. Instead, they lost the momentum, got manhandled and never had a chance despite keeping every game within a goal.

Losing a semifinal like that for the second time in three years has got to be difficult to swallow. How do you get past not just the physical element but the psychological?

That's what Laviolette has to overcome with this group; a year older, perhaps a year wiser, but without any new players to honestly make them better. How do they get back to the semis and take on a physical force of a team and beat them?

Lots of questions. Hope springs eternal this time of the year. Hoping they will have another Northwestern Canadian sweep like they did last year to jump-start their season and let's see where it goes.

They play Florida early and it will be a marquee matchup. But they have their Cup now and the situation isn't the same anymore.

I'm not really sure who will be favored to win it all this season. Edmonton will be the sentimental favorite. Dallas, Carolina, Boston, Florida, Winnipeg, LA and the Rangers will all be in the hunt. Maybe Nashville will step up to compete. Colorado is a dynamic organization, but their mystique is beginning to wear as other teams (e.g. Dallas, the Rangers) have demonstrated their ability to skate with them.

I'll be curious to see if Florida still has the cojones to make a second run and go back-to back.

Peace!

Really good summary.

For those wondering, according to DraftKings, only three teams (Edmonton, Florida, and Dallas) have shorter odds than we do to win the Cup. We have the same odds as the Leafs, Devils, Canes, and Avalanche (13-1).

We're clearly one of the strongest teams in the league. We won the President's Trophy last year.

However, I thought we were the clearly inferior skating team to the Panthers and only Shesty kept that series from being a sweep. We also could have lost to the Canes, but Kreider had other ideas.

We're one of the best teams, but I guess the question for me is, "why will this year be different"?

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on October 03, 2024, 09:19:20 PMWe're one of the best teams, but I guess the question for me is, "why will this year be different"?

Yes, that's the question I just don't have an answer for.

If I were to take a guess, it would have to come from the defensive side of the rink. Personally, I would love Jones to make the leap and force his way into the second rotation and build depth there. Don't know why he never was selected in the playoffs.

We'll see what happens but there are a few kids who are playing to try and make the team so the final pre-season games might be worth the watch.

Peace!

Last year they were a great team that ran into a juggernaut that eventually won the cup.  This year I'm not sure they made a lot of improvements but they also didn't have a lot of options to do so.  I think Laffy took a big step forward last year and if that can lead to another step this year it will certainly help.  Sometimes we forget he's like 21 or whatever because he's already been around for 3 years.  I don't think I'd say I'm more or less confident than I was last year around this time.  They have a great team with an elite goaltender.  They should be in the mix of teams that could win it all and they'll probably add a piece or two at the deadline depending on what it looks like they need.  But I'm glad it's back!  Hockey offseason is always short but never sweet.  Unless you're the Panthers.

There is some young blood competing to make the team this year and I hope drury puts some of them on the team. Namely Othman, Edstrom and Mancini for starters. Drury badly bungled the trouble situation but needs to move him as soon as possible along with Lindgren   

I'm concerned the Rangers didn't improve and it's hard to see them duplicating their top of the league regular season.  They need better from Mika and hopefully Kakko can make a leap. 

Quote from: Messiah717 on October 05, 2024, 11:28:16 PMI'm concerned the Rangers didn't improve and it's hard to see them duplicating their top of the league regular season.  They need better from Mika and hopefully Kakko can make a leap. 

I agree. One of my concerns is around the Igor contract - is it sorted by Thursday, can he focus 100% if it's not and if it is sorted, just how much of the cap space does it eat?

Other than that, I don't feel like they have improved too much from last season. It feels like they are simply rolling it back and I'm not convinced that's good enough.

I agree with you guys that the Rangers don't really look different from the team that was soundly outplayed in the ECF by a clearly superior Florida Panthers team.

That same team did win the Presidents Trophy with just a good but not great season from Shesty though, so it's not like it's not a very good/top team.

One X factor for me is Laffy. I think he took a major step forward last year and that step forward could continue this year. I could see him blossoming into a bona fide star this season. That would be one thing that could improve the team overall.

Another is Chytil. He more or less didn't play last year. Now.. am I confident he will ever stay healthy? Not really, but I am not going to completely rule it out either. If he could play a full season or close to it and be a very good third line center for us that will also make an impact.

Miller is another guy who I wonder if he can take a step forward. His mistakes on the ice are glaring and haven't gone away, but there is no question he has talent. Perhaps he can finally put it together and have his best season as a pro.

What if we got most if not all of the above, plus Shesty had a Vezina type season instead of just a good to very good season? I realize it's a lot of ifs, but none of those individually seems out of the realm.

Our core vets are what they are. I don't see any getting better, but they're not yet old enough to where I think age is a clear factor.

Overall I think it's down to our young players taking a step forward. If that happens, I think we might improve.

Notice I didn't mention Kakko anywhere in the above. If he surprises me, fantastic, but I have pretty much given up on him ever being anything more than mediocre/pedestrian. This will be his sixth NHL season. He's the Daniel Jones of the NHL.

I was very impressed with Laf, especially in the Playoffs. If he can get some PP1 time another 8-10 goals isn't out of the question   That would be fantastic.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on October 06, 2024, 05:52:31 AMI was very impressed with Laf, especially in the Playoffs. If he can get some PP1 time another 8-10 goals isn't out of the question   That would be fantastic.

From what I saw last year, I wouldn't put it past Laffy to take the step towards being an 80 point type player. I thought he was tremendous and as someone mentioned earlier, he literally only just turned 22.

The aren't many changes for this team; pretty much the same players and coaches. Lavi could not get them over the hump in the ECF, pretty much the same as in Gallant's first year with the Rangers. Gallant's second year result, one and done in the playoff, looms over Lavi. This is not a prediction, just an indication that he has a tough task ahead to move them over the hump. It's not going to be easy as the core players had been around for a relatively long time. I am hoping that Lavi still have some tricks up in his sleeves, but we'll see.

Some of the injuries during the preseason (https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/injuries/_/name/nyr/new-york-rangers) will impact the start of the season. Vesey out for couple of weeks, while others are day-to-day.

Othman and Korczak are back to Hartford (https://puckpedia.com/team/new-york-rangers/transactions), while others are on waiver. They really didn't show much during the training camp and preseason games. In my view, this was the right decision by the coaching staff.

I am optimistic about the upcoming season. It may start out slow, but as they say; it's not how you start, it's how you finish....

What I think they lacked last season was toughness and grit. I don't mean fighting, I mean guys doing the dirty work in the corners and in front of the net. I don't see a whole lot of that being added this off season, it looks like basically the same lineup as last season.
They also need to rely less on the power play and score more when skating 5 on 5.
Lastly, I think one way to improve on my first two points is to SHOOT THE PUCK MORE! I get so frustrated watching a guy between the face off dots pass off to a guy with a worse shooting angle always looking for the tic-tac-toe picture perfect goal. Between the dots, shoot the Puck and the other guys crash the net for rebounds.

We'll see how they look. Last year reminded us that you can be the "best" team in the regular season but still be badly outplayed by someone else in the postseason.

The big elephant in the room is Panarin. The guy is electric in the regular season but just shuts down in the playoffs. It has been a theme throughout his career not just as a Ranger but going back to his Columbus and Chicago days too. He has had plenty of different coaches who have tried to help him, and it just hasn't happened. At 32/33 years old, this problem is all but certain to not change at this point in his career. Our other vets are at best inconsistent in the playoffs too. All of these guys are in their 30s now, all have nice fat contracts with no trade clauses, and all have no desire to go anywhere. Will their postseason suddenly change at this stage in their careers? Fans can choose to be optimistic, but that's not a bet I would make.

We need young guys to bring their games to a new level and we need a "stand-on-his-head" season and postseason from Shesty.

Certainly, Bread deserved to be called out for his performance during the playoffs, but he wasn't alone. From Mika, Kreider, Fox, Laffy, etc., they had also disappeared in playoff games. Maybe not as much as Bread, but more than one guy disappearing at the same time had been the main issue for years for various lines. Trochek and others had been pretty much consistent, but during the playoff that's not good enough. This is the biggest problem that Levi didn't fix yet, they were great during the season.

Levi is trying and brought in Rempe for some toughness, that worked at times. Maybe Rempe will be more effective on the ice, aside from scaring players with his size. Aside from Rampe, I hope Levi does something else to fix this... LFGR!!!


 

We can't look at this Rangers' season from a "rear-view mirror" perspective, as much as we don't want to, but afraid we have no other choice based on historical trends.

Last year's team played about as well as they could and their disappointing playoff finish doesn't diminish what was one of the great regular season performances at least my eyes have ever witnessed. I haven't experienced more pure fun and excitement following a Ranger team than last season. My wife and youngest daughter caught the fever as well and that counts for something!

Obviously, here, the only thing that counts is hoisting Lord Stanley and I've come to appreciate, especially with this hockey club, it is the rarest and most precious sporting achievement New York sport has to offer. You have to accept the "One Cup in an 81-year Span" background which surrounds this club's annual pursuit of the most difficult path to glory in all of sporting competition. The fact that it is New York, in an age where cost of living presents a competitive disadvantage, the pressure to produce in the World's Most Famous Arena, and the fact the smaller clubs get revved up when they come to town to play and get a taste of the "high life" of New York City, being a Ranger and playing in MSG is an extraordinary privilege which comes with it extra responsibility for the history of the club and that 81-year span the players and coaches carry on their backs every day.

The talk in the papers state this is the "final shot for the core group." Maybe there is truth to that; however, it certainly does not have to define the season which begins in a little more than 24 hours from now.

Why can't the story center on "the core group is NOW ready to take the next step where nothing less than a date in the Finals will be looked upon as a failed season?"

I think we all realize that last season's President Trophy might have meant nothing in the final analysis, and that if they don't win it again it shouldn't mark them as having lost anything from last season. They simply need to be playing solid, winning hockey while being as healthy as possible. That's it. They need not worry about Carolina as they have their number and they don't represent the obstacle in their path to the Cup. They have to get past the Florida teams and their goalies when they get hot.

The team, as is, can get back to the semifinal round if all things are equal. But we know they won't be. How they address those differences, as well as any issues impacting them from within, will begin to show the character of this team. Then, we shall see what Laviolette is really made of.

At Pittsburgh tomorrow; a good opening season test for them to see if they're resiliency is still in top gear! Looking forward to it!

Peace!

Reports say Igor turned down an eight year $88 million contract extension.  Enjoy him this season because if that's the case he can go.

I don't disagree... It certainly had been a great season, but the goal had been getting to the SCF. They failed to achieve in three consecutive years. They had proven in three seasons with two different coaches, that they are not capable to reach the SCF. We can blame the coaches, but in my view this is on the players. Certainly, running it back does not look like that the same players will get over the hump this season. I'd be surprised, if they do, but probably will have another great season.That's not enough in my view and basically admitting, that this team reached the plateau and not capable to to do more.
 
@Messiah717 Agree, ride him hard this year and let him go. I like Igor, I really do, but rejecting the $88M/11M/AAV puts him in different light for me. Thanks for the memories Igor....

I strenuously disagree about letting Shesty go. He's the only key player on the team who consistently shows up in the playoffs. Vezzina caliber goalies in their mid 20s don't grow on trees. Good luck replacing that.

I'm surprised people are so casual about being willing to let a player of his caliber and impact walk out the door just because he doesn't agree to the first offer put in front of him.

How much more than 11mil a year does he want?

C'mon Shesty, sort this out.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on October 08, 2024, 07:04:01 PMHow much more than 11mil a year does he want?

C'mon Shesty, sort this out.

I think 12.5 or 13 gets it done.

Fox gets 12. Is Shesty worth less to this team than Fox?

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on October 08, 2024, 07:05:45 PMI think 12.5 or 13 gets it done.

Fox gets 12. Is Shesty worth less to this team than Fox?

Foxy is a critical piece of any Stanley Cup formula.

Given this team in its current state, the Igor/Quickie formula is the cornerstone and, without Igor, just begin tearing the team apart now and start from scratch. I don't see any other goalie, except maybe for last year's Vezina Trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck, that is going to give you the game over game outstanding performance that Igor has provided the Rangers. The Jets have already extended Hellebuyck's contract after last season to the tune of seven years, $59.5 million dollars, or 8.5 million per season. Considering the cost-of-living differential between Winnipeg and New York, Hellebuyck's home travel from Winnipeg to Michigan versus Igor's travels from New York to Russia, other possible financial factors (e.g. paying taxes in both the US and Russia) and, of course, wanting the recognition of being the highest paid NHL goaltender by a landslide!

So, is it really over a matter of principle whether it is $11 million/year, $12 million or even $13 million/year? If his agents are putting their chips to the center of the table, Igor had better deliver world-class performance from here-on-out or the fans are going to drop-kick him on the next tug-boat pointing due east.

A deal is going to get done soon enough. How it will redefine the goalie market for the NHL is what the other owners, and especially the other goaltenders, will be closely watching for.

Peace!

I don't know, if it make sense to keep an overpaid Shesty. Surrounding him with players who are no better than the Rangers already have and expect them to win the cup is in sane. During the last three season, Shesty had been with the team. The core of the Rangers players were not been able getting to the SCF, much less winning it, with two different coaching staff. This is the fourth year in a row, where they have a chance to get over the hump and still have Shesty for the upcoming season.

I believe Drury did the best he could. Let it play out this upcoming season and readdress the goalie issue, no matter which way the season turns out. If they don't win the cup, it's time for some change and Drury will be frugal, he'll need some cap left for changes. For around $4-6 M/AAV, he could get a goalie, certainly not at Shesty's level, but that would be serviceable, if changes are coming. Even if they win, the same goalie for less should be just fine for couple of years.

Again, I like Shesty, I really do, but he put himself front of the team. It's understandable that he tries to cash in with his records. That's fine and I wish him luck to get it somewhere else...

PS: Shesty borne in 1995, I would not put him into the mid-twenties age group. In couple month he'll be in the early-thirties group and 38 years old in the eighth year of the rejected contract.   

Unfortunately, even with the cap increasing Drury is needing to pull every string to start the season under the cap.  He doesn't have any flexibility to do much.  That said it's fair to blame some of the contracts they have out.  Especially the no movement stuff.

Guys my apologies - I made a mistake on Fox. I confused his 24-25 cap hit with his salary. His cap hit is indeed 12, but his AAV is 9.5  My bad on that. I should have taken more time before posting that.

Getting back to the Shesty issue, I actually like that he's betting on himself this year. That oozes confidence and reminds me of when Aaron Judge did the same thing with the Yankees a couple years back. I'm not a Yankees fan but I remember respecting it at the time. What if Shesty gets a serious injury this year? That $88mm offer won't be there in the summer and he knows it. There's risk involved in what he's doing and he knows it. I like that myself. It's more than just pure greed. There's a balls factor to it that I like.

Shesty plays his best under pressure, so I think we get a great year out of him. Keep in mind we have until July 1 and after this year we'll have a better sense of what we want to pay him, particularly against the context of the other contracts they have coming up (Laffy, Miller, Lindgren, Kakko). Nothing wrong with waiting until then.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on October 09, 2024, 06:11:27 AMGuys my apologies - I made a mistake on Fox. I confused his 24-25 cap hit with his salary. His cap hit is indeed 12, but his AAV is 9.5  My bad on that. I should have taken more time before posting that.

Getting back to the Shesty issue, I actually like that he's betting on himself this year. That oozes confidence and reminds me of when Aaron Judge did the same thing with the Yankees a couple years back. I'm not a Yankees fan but I remember respecting it at the time. What if Shesty gets a serious injury this year? That $88mm offer won't be there in the summer and he knows it. There's risk involved in what he's doing and he knows it. I like that myself. It's more than just pure greed. There's a balls factor to it that I like.

Shesty plays his best under pressure, so I think we get a great year out of him. Keep in mind we have until July 1 and after this year we'll have a better sense of what we want to pay him, particularly against the context of the other contracts they have coming up (Laffy, Miller, Lindgren, Kakko). Nothing wrong with waiting until then.

I'm OK with this strategy. If the Vezina winner is only getting $8.5 million (NOTE: adjusted for NYC dollars is closer to $11-12 million), and he is every bit as good as Connor, then go and win the Vezina and collect your payday. The Rangers will be a contender once again, everyone's happy and if they somehow break through to the finals, it's a done deal.

Chips to the center of the table!

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on October 09, 2024, 06:11:27 AMThere's risk involved in what he's doing and he knows it. I like that myself. It's more than just pure greed. There's a balls factor to it that I like.

There's no question that there some risks for Igor. Albeit that risk is somewhat softened, when this season's salary of $5.6M is taken into account. 

So, Igor delivers the first Rangers' shutout on opening night since the Gumper did it in 1956.

Then, after 10 minutes, the Rangers flexed their muscle and it was game over. Where do you want to start with tonight's impressive 6-0 win?

The top line with Vinny Trocheck, Lafreniere and the 🍞 man seemed to do what they want. Big things expected from these guys.

What a great sight to see Chytil back on the ice scoring goals again! Here's hoping he can stay healthy all season because he is a necessary cog in the machine that will take this team the distance.

The special teams yet again are going to be a force this season. These guys may end up setting a record for short handed goals if they keep it up. I've never seen a team so adept at scoring while short handed.

Game one was as impressive as it comes. Next up is Saturday's first look at the Utah Hockey Club; a bit of a stinger for me as this group was the former Arizona Coyotes and my annual chance to see the Rangers locally went with these guys. They're going to be an up and coming club but they always play the Rangers tough. So expect a too close for comfort game but a Ranger win at the end.

Peace!

I watched the game this morning.

I was impressed as can be for game 1. Nice to see the depth guys making an early impact. I would have liked to see more shots on that 4-3 pp but outside of that, I was impressed.

Not to put a downer on the great opening night win, but I have to point out something I didn't like...
It seems the Rangers power play is going to be the same as it was last year, pass the puck around the zone passing up good, high percentage shots, until someone can feed Zebenajab for a one timer on the off wing. It seems to be the only thing they look to do when they are a man up.
Yes, the PP was successful last season, but I think a bit more variety would benefit the unit as a whole.
It's frustrating to me to see them pass up good scoring chances just for a chance at the one timer.

Quote from: ozzie on October 10, 2024, 09:08:01 AMNot to put a downer on the great opening night win, but I have to point out something I didn't like...
It seems the Rangers power play is going to be the same as it was last year, pass the puck around the zone passing up good, high percentage shots, until someone can feed Zebenajab for a one timer on the off wing. It seems to be the only thing they look to do when they are a man up.
Yes, the PP was successful last season, but I think a bit more variety would benefit the unit as a whole.
It's frustrating to me to see them pass up good scoring chances just for a chance at the one timer.

Conversely, 5 v 5 play looked better than we have seen in 4-5 years. With scoring from every single line. This could be an even more important factor moving forward.

Quote from: Uncle Mickey on October 10, 2024, 09:14:22 AMConversely, 5 v 5 play looked better than we have seen in 4-5 years. With scoring from every single line. This could be an even more important factor moving forward.

Very true. A well balanced attack last night and that will be a huge factor throughout the season.

Quote from: ozzie on October 10, 2024, 09:22:31 AMVery true. A well balanced attack last night and that will be a huge factor throughout the season.

Chytil to me has proven he can be a high level scoring talent. It is evident in the way he plays. His only issue (and a big one) is staying healthy. But he makes that 3rd line a viable scoring threat.

Kreider looked amazing yesterday.

Zibs was totally off last year that sniper guy is entirely gone and I have no idea where he went. Hopefully he comes back this year.

Panarin Im not worried about regular season. He always produces in the regular season.

Lafreniere's little drag the puck , wait for the defensmen to clear and then fire it perfectly short side for the goal was a goal scorers goal. I think this is the year he shows everyone why he was the #1 overall pick. I expect 30+ this year.

Allright, folks. It's about 90 minutes until they drop the puck at the Garden and this strange Powder Blue team coming into the Garden has received a lot of hype out west here in getting their first win of the season and feeling good about themselves. Utah Hockey is working its way out of the basin, across the plains and into the big city. Are they ready for for the big stage? This is your Arizona Coyotes team with a twist from last season whom the Rangers dispensed 8-5 in the desert last spring but played our heroes fairly well. But, they've started well in beating Chicago and the OT win against the Isles scoring five in each game.

Not sure if Igor gets the start or if Quickie will handle this one. But, either way, I expect a high-scoring contest and the Rangers need to continue to score 5v5 and I see them winning this in a close but surprisingly high-scoring affair.

Peace!

What kind of game do you expect tonight?

Quote from: kartanoman on October 12, 2024, 05:51:49 PMAllright, folks. It's about 90 minutes until they drop the puck at the Garden and this strange Powder Blue team coming into the Garden has received a lot of hype out west here in getting their first win of the season and feeling good about themselves. Utah Hockey is working its way out of the basin, across the plains and into the big city. Are they ready for for the big stage? This is your Arizona Coyotes team with a twist from last season whom the Rangers dispensed 8-5 in the desert last spring but played our heroes fairly well. But, they've started well in beating Chicago and the OT win against the Isles scoring five in each game.

Not sure if Igor gets the start or if Quickie will handle this one. But, either way, I expect a high-scoring contest and the Rangers need to continue to score 5v5 and I see them winning this in a close but surprisingly high-scoring affair.

Peace!

What kind of game do you expect tonight?

I'll be very surprised -- shocked even -- if Igor doesn't get the start.

I expect the Rangers to play well and win in their home opener. Should be a good crowd.

Well of all the games the rangers will play this was definitely one of them. Very sloppy all around. Lucky to even get a point out of that.

Igor wasn't his sharpest and they were very sloppy in their own end.  Miller was absolutely awful including a missed goal that I still don't know how he pulled off.  It also looks like Mika is going to continue his pass first even if he has a good look mentality.  His effort on the game winner was ridiculous.  It's only game two and they got a point.  Also, have to like 11 goals in the first two games. 

If you thought this was going to be a continuation of Pittsburgh, the facts are this Utah team is an up and coming young group which now has a real owner which is going to spend and nurture his product on the ice. They play fast, skate fast and have one of the premiere scoring threats in the league (Keller) who is barely on anyone's radar. His name will be spoken in the same breath as McDavid and MacKinnon soon enough. His two goals, one assist performance, including his OT winner, with that sweet little move of his, is something I've watched many times on the local PHX channel since we moved here and it's one of the best in the league.

You've gotta give credit to the boys for fighting back after falling behind by two on two different occasions.

The refs poured it on hard for the home team tonight. Hitting up Cuylle for roughing the Utah goalie, Connor Ingram, who charged out of his crease, and played the role of a tackling dummy while Cuylle was tied up with another Utah skater was just unforgivable. Give Ingram an interference call on that one or a dangerous play since he was a third man in to two players already engaged; the NFL has a penalty for that. The other issue was Rempe's foot being in the goal crease when Ingram stepped up and engaged him which the refs then nullified the ensuing goal. Ingram initiated the contact!

Utah's head coach, André Tourigny, said after last season's 8-5 loss to the Rangers at Tempe, AZ, that he felt his team could skate with the "then" best team in the league (i.e. the Rangers) and, today, his guys hung in there when they had to and capitalized on Rangers' mistakes.

The Rangers got a point by outworking Utah in the third. Utah gets the second and improves to 3-0 to start the season.

Home and home with Detroit next week with the first game at home on Monday.

Peace!

Not the outcome you're looking for as a 2-1 favorite in your home opener.

Fortunately it's October hockey. Doesn't mean much, as long as you don't put yourself in too deep of a hole.

And as someone mentioned, one point is better than zero.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on October 13, 2024, 05:17:06 AMNot the outcome you're looking for as a 2-1 favorite in your home opener.

Fortunately it's October hockey. Doesn't mean much, as long as you don't put yourself in too deep of a hole.

And as someone mentioned, one point is better than zero.

Hey, it was a hard-fought point the refs were trying to take away from them, if not the Rangers' defense making it easier with Miller facing most of the wrath being out of place at the worst of times; though he found the "sweet spot" on the side boards to bank in that fourth goal to make it 5-4 at the end of the second which the team needed.

Games like these happen and, let's not kid ourselves, we all had fun watching it whether you admit it or not. When things got "stupid" with the refs, and then the game started tightening up, then it became more serious. But they managed the equalizer and got it into OT.

They had one or two shots but I kept screaming "STAY ON TOP OF KELLER!!!" They did for the most part until a split second later he got loose, got the puck, I screamed "OH $H!T" and game-over. It happens. But the Rangers worked their tails off to even be in position to get the point so, from this corner of the country, I'm grateful. On the other hand, I'm very happy for the Utah Hockey Club and hope this is the beginning of something very successful for them. You have no idea how much patience this team and its players and coaches had to put up with a cheap-a$$ owner who didn't put their investment into the product on the ice to make it the best for their customers. Think of the Giants at the Yale Bowl back in the early 70s. That's what Arizona NHL hockey was like for that team. Now that they have a "real" owner who has big plans to grow and nurture the Utah Hockey Club, that team is only going to get better as time goes on. They haven't played all the big boys yet, but they have the infrastructure in place, finally, to become a challenger in their division in the next year or so.

Who knows? Maybe it might be worth the flight from PHX to SLC when the Rangers visit them later in the season to check it out.

Peace!

10/14 EDITED TO ADD:

This article I found perhaps puts into better perspective what I was trying to say above about the Utah team and the buzz surrounding their new lease on life which lends itself to a promising future:

What New York hockey fans know about Utah and its new NHL team (https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/what-new-york-hockey-fans-know-about-utah-and-its-new-nhl-team/ar-AA1sd6pC?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=dea850cf6f3843b48ecff506dbed6b8c&ei=52)

Only caught the third period last night. Igor had turned away a massive Detroit attack in the second before the Rangers settled and completely controlled the third and put the game away with Riley Smith's first as a Ranger off a Z-Man's faceoff win he threaded through no less than three players and hit the top underside of the goal; a beauty! The empty netter, where the Rangers played keep-away from Detroit for over a minute, was entertaining and satisfying when the Z-Man wristed it from inside the blue line to cap off the scoring.

It was a much cleaner game on defense for the Rangers and Igor shook off the effects from Saturday to notch another impressive win.

Thr home-and-home with Detroit concludes on Thursday which kicks off a three-game road trip for the Rangers. Saturday is a Hockey Night in Canada matchup in Toronto before next Tuesday's game in Montreal. When they come back to the Garden, a team "of interest" will be waiting for them Thursday 10/24. The Stanley Cup Champions will be in the house showing off their hardware. Not to get ahead of ourselves, but is this a regular hockey game or do the bitter emotions from last season's playoffs kick in and this one becomes an intense battle? The Rangers can't overinvest in the Florida game because they then play teams who will feast on them if they come up flat (i.e. typical trap games).

Let's see how they go on the road.

Peace!

A surreal 4-0 start by the Rangers last night in Montreal set the tone for a convincing 7-2 win. This team has had no issues scoring so far and Igor has been excellent to date. The three-game road trip sweep was a nice way to kick off their first road test.

A circled date on the calendar is Thursday when they will see the Panthers at the Garden. Expect the house to be full for a rematch of two of the best in the Eastern Conference. It's early days but should be a great match.

Peace!

It's a really cracking start, that's for sure.

They're almost averaging more points per game than the Giants at this point!  Obviously this can't be sustained forever but it's a lot of fun to watch.  Scoring 3 goals in the first 6 mins of the game was tremendous fun!

Quote from: Gmo11 on October 23, 2024, 09:15:23 AMThey're almost averaging more points per game than the Giants at this point!  Obviously this can't be sustained forever but it's a lot of fun to watch.  Scoring 3 goals in the first 6 mins of the game was tremendous fun!

Yes, especially since the Habs carried much of the play during that time and sent their goalie to the bench a few minutes later after goal #4.

I've also noticed the Rangers have been good in shutting down games late in the third period. They scored twice last night to cap the scoring before the Habs tried to pull their goalie.

I would love to see this scoring continue on Thursday but more likely another one goal differential game coming up between these two battle tested rivals. Should be a great one!

Peace!

Solid win last night. I thought Shesty was incredible.

He was excellent.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on November 02, 2024, 08:22:50 AMSolid win last night. I thought Shesty was incredible.

My brother texted me saying it was the kind of game he'll point to when he asks for his $12M AAV contract.

Interesting stuff here.

Man, Lavvy is demanding. He's unhappy with the play of a 7-2-1 team. I like it.

https://nypost.com/2024/11/03/sports/rangers-mulling-line-changes-in-hopes-of-getting-mika-zibanejad-going/

Sorry I haven't been keeping up here, as I just returned from a vacation up in the Northern Arizona Pinelands.

The brilliant 2-1 goaltending clinic put on by Igor was a site to see. He needed it after a less than stellar loss to the Caps where they jumped him early for three in the first period. Hopefully the Caps got their revenge game out of their system and we can all move on.

Today's matinee against the Isles was a terrible scheduling conflict with the Giants at the Sardine Can. At least I can watch the Ranger game replay on ESPN+ after the Giants conclude.

After this, the Rangers have half the week off and host Buffalo on Thursday, then travel to Detroit on Saturday before beginning an interconference run of opponents starting with Winnipeg and the Great Connor Hellebuyck, who loves the MSG stage, to start things off. The Rangers will then play San Jose before heading west to play the Pacific Division.

The month of November will become a test for the Rangers while December and January represent a true gauntlet for them leading into the All-Star break.

So far, so good after 10 games. What we know so far is what we already knew going in. They will contend, but the physical teams will eat their lunch, as Florida demonstrated when the two teams played.

Peace!

Has Laf signed that deal that was rumoured last week? Was like 7.5m which seemed like a steal.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on November 03, 2024, 01:19:01 PMHas Laf signed that deal that was rumoured last week? Was like 7.5m which seemed like a steal.

Yes, as far as I know that's a done deal.

I'm about to flip over to the Rangers game given the way the Giants have started. Normally I would never watch an October/November hockey game over my NFL team but it could happen today.

My old man is a Washington fan from way back when in the 80s, he's come down for the game. I suggested turning over to the hockey and he's like "I won't be able to track the puck".

Great stuff on Laf. That's a steel

Good win today.  YES! YES! YES! YES!

I left the house for the rink at 7:20 and the Rangers were down 1-2 in what was a very good game.  

I left the rink and it was 3-6.  Looks like lots of action in the 3rd???

Any see the game ?

Quote from: babywhales on November 13, 2024, 07:55:52 AMI left the house for the rink at 7:20 and the Rangers were down 1-2 in what was a very good game. 

I left the rink and it was 3-6.  Looks like lots of action in the 3rd???

Any see the game ?

If you look at the stats you say there's no way they lost 6-3.  Unfortunately, the Jets are off to an incredible start and are a dangerous team who buries their chances.  The Rangers had some solid chances they missed on.  Zibanajad has to either to be benched or shipped out of here.  Between him and Miller glaring giveaways resulted in atleast two Jet goals.  He has turned into such a soft useless player whose only contribution seems to be wanting to take one timers on the power play.  Another season where fourteen games in and he has two goals. 

Quote from: babywhales on November 13, 2024, 07:55:52 AMI left the house for the rink at 7:20 and the Rangers were down 1-2 in what was a very good game. 

I left the rink and it was 3-6.  Looks like lots of action in the 3rd???

Any see the game ?

The final score was a bit misleading.  This was a one goal game until about 7mins left in the 3rd when the Jets scored to make it 5-3 and that kinda ended things.  The last goal was an empty netter. 

Considering they were playing the best team in the league that wasn't a bad effort.  Scoring 3 off Hellebuyk is an accomplishment in it's own right.  That dude made his typical 3 or 4 magnificent saves that seemingly only he or Spiderman could make.  Mika had a couple bad turnovers that led to goals but also may have been injured at some point.  He hasn't played particularly well all season though to be honest.  Laffy gets a goal along with Kakko and Cullye from the 3rd line.  Certainly not their best performance but were still able to keep it a 1 score game most of the way against the best goalie in the world. 

Their issue is that they will have a decent regular season mostly because of their goaltending.  Beyond that this is a lesser roster than they finished last season with.  Up against the cap they will repeat the same get what they can at the deadline model unless they can pull off a trade that shakes things up. 

The games against the Cup Contenders, the Rangers have looked a step off so far this season.

Yesterday's loss was no different despite it being close for most of the game, you felt the Jets kept the Rangers at arms' length.

Yet again, Hellebuyck loves center stage on the big stage in Broadway. Yes, he never gives up three there, or hasn't in the past, but he has a scoring machine now in front of him who can get it back for him in short order, which the Jets demonstrated last night; they are running hot right now for a reason. They're a damned good team who are pissed off after a first round exit last season and are ready to make some noise this year.

Fortunately for the Rangers, their northern Canadian road trip sees those teams currently not playing their best brand of hockey. This is exactly how they went into this road trip last year and came out of it with an unprecedented five-game sweep that served as the catalyst to start the roll of winning hockey for them.

It's early days so far and this might be the perfect opportunity for them to kick it into gear. I'd also consider giving Quickie more games because that also seemed to help Igor kick his game into high gear at the right time last season.

It's not a crime to lose top the current top team in the league, but a measuring stick on what they need to do to adjust their own game. Let's see if they can do that on this upcoming road trip.

Peace!

Zibanajad's play is unacceptable.  You will go nowhere with your first line center playing like this. 

Sadly, 15 games in and Chytil leaves with the dreaded upper body injury.  Hard to have anything but a bad feeling.

Quote from: Messiah717 on November 14, 2024, 09:24:29 PMSadly, 15 games in and Chytil leaves with the dreaded upper body injury.  Hard to have anything but a bad feeling.

Sadly agree with you.

But Jimmy Vesey is coming on strong right now and that's a shot in the arm. It took a while for the Rangers to get into gear yesterday but five minutes of dominance yielded three goals which barely stood up against the Sharks. They'll have to do better on the road because Seattle is no pushover and neither are Vancouver, Calgary or runners' up Edmonton from last season.

I think getting Quickie one or two of the games on the road might get them the spark they need. That said, Igor did well enough despite the few shots in his direction last night.

Peace!

Such bad news with Fil. He's an absolute bonus 3rd liner. Far superior to Vesey.

It's early but I'm not sure we are better than last year.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on November 15, 2024, 05:30:53 PMSuch bad news with Fil. He's an absolute bonus 3rd liner. Far superior to Vesey.

It's early but I'm not sure we are better than last year.

The early votes in seem to forecast that you are correct. There's a long way to go and nobody last year at this time, for example, would have ever guessed Edmonton making it to a seventh game in the Finals after the slow start they had. Remember their 17-game winning streak?

The Rangers winning all five on their Northwest Canadian trip last season kicked them into gear and into first place where they stayed the rest of the season, if I remember correctly.

Lots of hockey to play, and who knows if they will be active this year before the trade deadline to boost the lineup heading into the playoffs.

They are not quite a Tier 1 team right now but definitely a Tier 2 working to become a Tier 1.

The Seattle and Vancouver games will be good tests for them before heading to the snow country in Alberta for even tougher clashes. Plenty of opportunity to make some statements in the great Northwest!

Peace!

Quote from: kartanoman on November 15, 2024, 07:21:12 PMThe early votes in seem to forecast that you are correct. There's a long way to go and nobody last year at this time, for example, would have ever guessed Edmonton making it to a seventh game in the Finals after the slow start they had. Remember their 17-game winning streak?

The Rangers winning all five on their Northwest Canadian trip last season kicked them into gear and into first place where they stayed the rest of the season, if I remember correctly.

Lots of hockey to play, and who knows if they will be active this year before the trade deadline to boost the lineup heading into the playoffs.

They are not quite a Tier 1 team right now but definitely a Tier 2 working to become a Tier 1.

The Seattle and Vancouver games will be good tests for them before heading to the snow country in Alberta for even tougher clashes. Plenty of opportunity to make some statements in the great Northwest!

Peace!

Oh I agree. And I've always been a proponent so get your dance card and see what happens.

Well, when Quickie starts the Western road trip by delivering back-to-back shutouts, and a number of outstanding saves in goal, the Rangers controlling the puck in a quiet 2-0 victory, you realize and begin to appreciate the fact they Rangers have, by far, the best goalie tandem in the league, bar none.

I thought they defended well last night. The Octopii's goalie, Brubauer, also has a great game but the Rangers kept battling until the Breadman fed a nice pass from the corner, across the face of goal to Lexy who tapped it in to open scoring in the second period.

I am ecstatic to see Jones get more ice time this season and he demonstrated what he can do in transitioning defense to offense. His taking it coast to coast and finishing it with the Rangers' second score in the third period is, in my opinion, something thr Rangers could have used against Florida in last season's semifinals.

But a good tune up game for the Rangers as they get ready to go into Vancouver for what is expected to be a more challenging, and exciting, matchup with Igor expected to return between the pipes

Peace!

So is Will Cuylle just a star now? That third line has been tremendous

Quote from: jgrangers2 on November 20, 2024, 08:30:53 AMSo is Will Cuylle just a star now? That third line has been tremendous

One of the reasons this team might end up being better than last year's when it's all said and done is guys like him developing.  I don't know if he's going to sustain this forever but he certainly looks more comfortable and just better out there than last year.  Especially early last year.

Chytl rejoining the team in Calgary. No concussion. https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/injury-update-filip-chytil-doesnt-have-concussion-travel-calgary/
The bottom six may be the difference this year. The fourth line just may be better than most if not all the fourth lines in the league. The third line has two #1s, and a #2 pick. They have speed, grind, and talent.

Good news for now on Chytil.  Unfortunately, I still feel it's not a matter of if but when.  I hope not because he's a huge piece they need.

Kakko 13 points in 17 games.  Not too shabby for a "bust".  Cullye 16 points.  Their analytics as a line are very strong, as well.

Kakko has a long way to go to justify the second overall pick. 

Quote from: Messiah717 on November 20, 2024, 11:37:11 AMKakko has a long way to go to justify the second overall pick. 

There is not a single team in the league that would not have taken Kakko if they had the 2nd pick.

Quote from: coggs on November 20, 2024, 12:33:48 PMThere is not a single team in the league that would not have taken Kakko if they had the 2nd pick.

Picking him is not the issue.  His output as a winger taken second overall is.  He needs to take the leap Lafreniere has.  The guy has three goals and overall 60 in 320 career games. 

Quote from: Messiah717 on November 20, 2024, 11:37:11 AMKakko has a long way to go to justify the second overall pick. 

At this point I don't let the second overall cloud my view. I just want to see an improving player contributing. Kakko is strong on the puck,and on the boards, can skate, has a good shot that he doesn't use enough. That lines full potential depends on Chytl's health. I don't like Brezinski, he's a 4th line player at best. If I were Drury/Lavy I'd be keeping an eye out for a better option than Brez.

Didn't watch the game last night but caught the highlights. Looked like a nailbiter but also a competitive match. The boys put four past the Canucks' backup; not sure if that means anything or not because he appeared to make some good saves.

Have you all noticed that Igor's been giving up a lot of goals to his short side lately? Yup, there was one where he was completely screened that went in; fair enough. But in his last two starts, I'm noticing a trend with his short side becoming a desirable target for opponents to attack. It begs watching. It's clear he's not on his "A" game yet but he can get away with that as long as Quickie keeps pumping out shutouts. I think last year he shut out the Flames in what was a first for the Rangers in the Saddledome. It will be interesting to see if the coach rotates them the rest of the road trip.

It's hard to gauge the lines on a highlight film as I'm really looking at what Jones playing more has done overall to their defensive lineup. I see him as a developing left-handed version of Foxy with his strong ability to transition to the attack. My mind wanders thinking about both of them on the ice simultaneously along with the first offensive line.

Anyway, with a very difficult Calgary game coming up, the meat of the road trip will give us a little bit of a feel for how they are adjusting to more games during the week. If anything, I think it will make them better and come together even faster.

Peace!

Quote from: coggs on November 20, 2024, 11:12:26 AMKakko 13 points in 17 games.  Not too shabby for a "bust".  Cullye 16 points.  Their analytics as a line are very strong, as well.

It's 11 points in 17 games, but I hear you.

Terrible performance in Calgary giving up 49 shots. 

Yeah. It really wasn't as close as the score indicates.  They were out played most of the game. 

This team needs to find the missing pieces if they intend to be a contender.  Right now I'm not sure they can hang with the best.  This feels like a bit of a regression from last year.

You're all doing Calgary a great disservice. That young, hungry team came to play last night and their young goalie, Dustin Wolf, has been magnificent this season and given them a base on which to build confidence that was clearly evident after going up 0-2. Even in giving up two (2) goals in 16 seconds, he fought like crazy to keep them out of the net. In all, a three-star performance for the kid and clearly was best on ice last night.

If anyone expected them to walk into the Saddledome and repeat last year's historical shutout, and return home sweeping the Northwest Canadian teams, they're not dealing in reality right now. The Rangers are currently a cut below where they were at their best last season. Igor played well last night but hardly a stand-on-your-head effort. The team was outshot because Calgary kept them on their heels all game with intensity and determination.

They lost, fair and square. Regroup, try to get one back in Edmonton, and get back home where the schedule will start ramping up into playing every other day. They'll either get back on track or they won't. But they're nowhere near as intense nor effective as last year's team right now. You'll see shades, here and there, but they've yet to really take it to any good teams so far. Tomorrow night in Edmonton will be another test against another excellent team and arguably the best player in the league in Connor McDavid and his equally dangerous sidekick, Leon Draisaitl.

The Oilers have lost three of their last four games which should hopefully give the Rangers incentive to be more daring in their attack. That means unleashing the Bread Man and Lexi, getting power play chances and converting and Foxy and Jones not being afraid to take the puck coast-to-coast and create headaches for the Oilers' defense and goalie.

Games are usually high scoring between these two teams so pin your ears back and let's all sleep in a little late tomorrow and enjoy the late game (NOTE: thank goodness I'm in Mountain Time 8 PM puck drop!).

Peace!

After one in Edmonton down 2-0 being outshot 21-8. 

Down 4-1 as the second period winds down.  Definitely are a step or two behind the top teams. 

Yep  They were definitely better in the 2nd, but barely. Hopefully they put together a strong 3rd.

6-1 as this team is frankly being exposed. 

Well, quite an abysmal performance by the Rangers tonight.  Might be their worst game in a while. 

Oh well. It's a long season. Hopefully they can get it together.

Quote from: bobalobabingbong on November 24, 2024, 12:36:18 AMWell, quite an abysmal performance by the Rangers tonight.  Might be their worst game in a while. 

Oh well. It's a long season. Hopefully they can get it together.

Quote from: bobalobabingbong on November 24, 2024, 12:36:18 AMWell, quite an abysmal performance by the Rangers tonight.  Might be their worst game in a while. 

Oh well. It's a long season. Hopefully they can get it together.

The core needs a shake up.  Bringing it back this year with a team not as deep isn't the answer.  Drury needs to make a move.

The veteran core on this team has gotten so stale.

Horrible team defense and it all starts with the deplorable effort of the front lines 

No forecheck 
No backcheck 

Defenders are sitting ducks back there 

Just awful to watch 

Agreed on the defense. I didn't realize Jones incurred an upper body injury and wasn't going to play last night. But even his input wouldn't have slowed down the Oilers' machine that managed to get back on track after being stuck in the mud over the last week and a half.

One thing is becoming clear and that is the Rangers can't keep up with the fast teams anymore and they can't match up with the physical teams at all. They have outstanding goalies but they can only keep them in the game so long. Their power play hasn't clicked at all in the last two weeks and, as many have suggested here, it is time to make some moves.

Honestly, I want to see how they play at Carolina later this week before making any other comments. The Western Canadian road trip has always been a challenge for them and winning in Calgary and Edmonton are no easy affairs. Truth be told, they got both of those teams at the right time in October 2023 when they were both struggling. Now, it's the Rangers' turn and Laviolette is going to have to figure it out back at the Garden against a pesky Blues team that often gives the Rangers fits.

The boys haven't looked good against the better teams in the league this season. Their confidence is clearly lacking so maybe it's time to get back to the basics and do the little things right with some motivation and energy because what they've served up the last two games is fit for a ninth placed team trying to squeeze into the final eight. Laviolette would be pretty pi$$ed off at that effort.

Peace!

Goaltending has then with a better record than they deserve.  They're stale, the defense is abysmal and they have veterans playing like absolute dogs.  Drury needs to shake this team up. 

Another loss this time on home ice to the Blues 5-2.  Changes are needed.

Now, I am starting to worry.  Saturday was bad, but it happens.  Thursday I thought they would pull it out after they tied it up.  Tonight is inexcusable. 

Quote from: coggs on November 25, 2024, 09:42:54 PMNow, I am starting to worry.  Saturday was bad, but it happens.  Thursday I thought they would pull it out after they tied it up.  Tonight is inexcusable. 

There's just something off with this entire group. 

Yeah I'm worried too.  This was a very winnable game.  They are having trouble scoring.  They were getting chances and miss the shot or miss the pass.  That happened a lot late last year too and was a worry heading into to the playoffs.  I hope they can turn this around.

Quote from: bobalobabingbong on November 25, 2024, 09:47:09 PMYeah I'm worried too.  This was a very winnable game.  They are having trouble scoring.  They were getting chances and miss the shot or miss the pass.  That happened a lot late last year too and was a worry heading into to the playoffs.  I hope they can turn this around.

Quote from: Messiah717 on November 25, 2024, 09:46:02 PMThere's just something off with this entire group. 

I honestly feel like I am watching my daughter's 12U team who just can't hit the effin net.  I think they are now 3-5 at home. 

Started with Trouba refusing to be traded.  Came back to be useless and it's like follow the leader out there.

Tick tok Drury.  This current roster is going nowhere.  Also, I tell Igor go look for that contract elsewhere. 

Good game last night but watching that third period was rough. Carolina just wanted it more, and at the end of the day Shesty just isn't coming up with the big saves this year. If I'm not mistaken, the Rangers only lost four in a row once last year. I do think they'll stabilize eventually, but there is no question this team has some serious issues right now.

This team is just sad.  Down 4-0 at home to New Jersey. 

It's over for this team. Time to retool/reconstruct. It happens, sometimes faster than expected. Drury knows. He dangled Kreider, Trouba to gage the market as it stands today. A baseline. Keep all the young guys, all of them. How far away is Gabe Perrault? They need to increase overall team skating speed.

This is rough.  Defense has been bad!  They are getting good opportunities but not finishing them!  No good.  It is a long season and it can be turned around, but the way they are playing out might be longer still!

Agree it's over for this team as it's currently constructed. I'm sure some posters will disagree and call it a knee-jerk panic reaction, but the reality is that this has been brewing for a while. This team has been somewhat successful, but well short of greatness. Going to six against the champs in the ECF is a good result on paper, but the two teams were not close at all and anyone who watched that series knew it. Shesty was the only reason it wasn't an easy sweep for Florida. And now with Shesty struggling, we're being exposed.

The core veteran group is stale. The team defense is bad. There really is no true leader on this team. Some young guys have shown some promise but it hasn't really impacted the results that much.

Drury seems like a stay the course, safe type of guy. That may be ok if people are content with just being "good", but where is the risk taking and drive to get better?

Remind me again why we got rid of Gorton and JD? Over some stupid argument about the Tom Wilson/Bread pile-driving incident?

They have had success with five ECF appearances and finals appearance in the past twelve seasons.  Unfortunately, just not good enough in each of those instances.

This group just isn't getting it done.  Drury who frankly has been complete crap is in over his head.  Last year's team had a real shot and Drury had the worst deadline possible.  That's pretty much unforgivable.

Last monday, I pushed the panic button.  Last night, I pushed it so hard I broke the fucking thing.

While I didn't expect them to play this poorly I saw this season coming.  The team lost players and replaced with crap.  The core is stale and some have just lost their hunger.  I'd definitely be looking to move guys like  Mika, Kreider, Fox, and Miller. 

Last night was hard to watch. I ended up turning the channel 1/2 through the 2nd.  Some players are playing some real nice hockey but overall this team is struggling to play focused hockey.

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy
They sleepwalk through the first and seem slow to get into games.  Their focus or lack there of on defense is painful to watch.  No advanced thought or attention to details, not to mention crap effort to forecheck and backcheck. The high probability offensive opportunities they manufactured in past seasons are fewer and further between and when they do present themselves they tend to miss more so then they used to.


Proud Dad moment-
My youngest son's team won the 14U Silver Sticks International Qualifier in Fort Wayne and earned the right to be 1 of the 12 finalist playing for the Silver Sticks International North American Championships in Port Huron, Michigan later in January. My youngest was between the pipes going 4-1 in the tournament, the team outscoring opponents 25-8 over 5 games.

Quote from: babywhales on December 03, 2024, 03:38:28 PMLast night was hard to watch. I ended up turning the channel 1/2 through the 2nd.  Some players are playing some real nice hockey but overall this team is struggling to play focused hockey.

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy
They sleepwalk through the first and seem slow to get into games.  They focus or late there of on defense is painful to watch.  No advacned thought or attention to details, not to mention crap effort to forecheck and backcheck. The high probability offensive opportunities they manufactured in past seasons are fewer and further between and when they do present themselves they tend to miss more so then they used to.


Proud Dad moment-
My youngest son's team won the 14U Silver Sticks International Qualifier in Fort Wayne and earned the right to be 1 of the 12 finalist playing for the Silver Sticks International North American Championships in Port Huron, Michigan later in January. My youngest was between the pipes going 4-1 in the tournament, outscoring opponents 25-8.

Congratulations.  That sounds like it will a great trip.

Trouba not playing tonight and seems like something is up.  Either he accepted a trade or possibly on waivers this afternoon.  Could be another Goodrow scenario.

Quote from: coggs on December 06, 2024, 10:37:51 AMTrouba not playing tonight and seems like something is up.  Either he accepted a trade or possibly on waivers this afternoon.  Could be another Goodrow scenario.

He's been traded to the Ducks!

Wow. Ducks took the whole contract? Great trade by the Rangers as that's a huge dump.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/06/sports/rangers-trade-jacob-trouba-to-ducks-to-captains-divisive-tenure/

Lots of talk out there about the Rangers targeting Brady Tkachuk as the end game.

Shesty signed.

Rumored to be $11.5m-$12m AAV. That's more than the one he turned down.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 06, 2024, 05:04:03 PMShesty signed.

Rumored to be $11.5m-$12m AAV. That's more than the one he turned down.

8 years.  Holy hell.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Would have been happy to just dump Trouba at half price. To shed the whole contract while also getting a pick AND a warm body in return is just gravy.

Happy with re-signed Igor.

They need to sell off some more pieces and come back strong next season.  This group looks absolutely dead. 

That Blackhawks game had to be rock bottom. There's just no excuse for that.  Something has to change and it's not just Trouba.  That's not enough to shake this team up.

Quote from: Gmo11 on December 10, 2024, 01:36:35 PMThat Blackhawks game had to be rock bottom. There's just no excuse for that.  Something has to change and it's not just Trouba.  That's not enough to shake this team up.

I'm sorry I haven't posted here lately, but late work hours and helping ma decorate the house have been higher priorities and, seemingly, better ones based on the Rangers' performance these days.

Did Trouba put a curse on this team before he headed out to So Cal or what? I mean, losing to the Blackhawks is not a good look, although I'm sure they're probably better than last year. What the heck is wrong? Offense forget to score? Defense still in mourning over loss of Trouba? Igor got his payday and is going to become an average player now? What???

I'll eventually get some time but anyone, who would be kind enough to share some insights, it would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

Peace!

They are becoming unwatchable. This is back to being as bad as the Dave Quinn Rangers during their worst periods. Gallant's teams were never this bad, and he got fired after two years.

I don't put this all on the coach though, by any means. This team has just gotten stale. Guys like Zibanejad are beyond terrible now. It just feels like everyone else has gotten better except us.

Also, let's face facts: on numerous occasions in recent years, we have won games in which we got totally outplayed but Shesty bailed us out. With him (and suddenly now Quick too despite his great start) suddenly not playing well, it's really exposing how unimposing and soft this team really is.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 10, 2024, 04:16:24 PMThey are becoming unwatchable. This is back to being as bad as the Dave Quinn Rangers during their worst periods. Gallant's teams were never this bad, and he got fired after two years.

I don't put this all on the coach though, by any means. This team has just gotten stale. Guys like Zibanejad are beyond terrible now. It just feels like everyone else has gotten better except us.

Also, let's face facts: on numerous occasions in recent years, we have won games in which we got totally outplayed but Shesty bailed us out. With him (and suddenly now Quick too despite his great start) suddenly not playing well, it's really exposing how unimposing and soft this team really is.

It sounds like they have officially hit empty and it is time to start afresh with bringing the kids up and get them blooded for valuable experience and find out who the players are for the future.

As for the overpaid pros who aren't delivering, maybe it's best they either sit or get demoted to the farm team for a long while until they make up their minds to either play or retire.

Maybe I'll find something else to do tomorrow night when they get shuffled, along with the snow, out of Buffalo and made to ride the NY Thruway back to NYC and let them think about why they have their heads up their collective back-ends.

They have the matinee on Saturday against LA and I might record and watch it later in the day to assess the funk myself. But thanks for the Executive Summary. It doesn't sound good at all.

Peace!

Zero grit.

Carrying passengers.

Not a good recipe.

Quote from: kartanoman on December 10, 2024, 04:46:32 PMIt sounds like they have officially hit empty and it is time to start afresh with bringing the kids up and get them blooded for valuable experience and find out who the players are for the future.

As for the overpaid pros who aren't delivering, maybe it's best they either sit or get demoted to the farm team for a long while until they make up their minds to either play or retire.

Maybe I'll find something else to do tomorrow night when they get shuffled, along with the snow, out of Buffalo and made to ride the NY Thruway back to NYC and let them think about why they have their heads up their collective back-ends.

They have the matinee on Saturday against LA and I might record and watch it later in the day to assess the funk myself. But thanks for the Executive Summary. It doesn't sound good at all.

Peace!

It gives me no pleasure.

The Rangers are a team that I count on to be at least, if nothing else, watchable every winter. And they virtually always are. They are seldom a genuinely bad team. They're usually competitive, if not one of the better or best teams. This isn't the Giants or the pre Leon-Rose Knicks. The Rangers are a pretty well-run organization, even if Cups are a rarity.

This team is pushing the bounds of what I would consider even "watchable."

Do I think they're capable of being a lot better than what they're giving us? Yes. Do I think this core veteran group is stale and past its prime? Yes. Do I think we have a timid and sycophantic, uncreative GM? Yes. Do I think a number of young players that we were counting on to blossom into very good players (Miller, Kakko) have been completely disappointing? Yes. Do I see a lot of hope for greatness for this current group? No. Is that a concern given the contracts and the no-trades etc? Yes, big time.

It's too bad Sam Rosen's last season is this disaster so far. 

Quote from: Messiah717 on December 10, 2024, 07:45:48 PMIt's too bad Sam Rosen's last season is this disaster so far. 

I was thinking the same thing.

Peace!

Crazy that a challenge that didnt go their way against Calgary started this.  But, it is simple.  Panarin has gone cold, so that line has gone cold.  Mika can't get the puck to the net, so Kreider can get deflections and rebounds.  Miller and Mika turn the puck over like it is their job. 

It's baffling that this team, which won the president's trophy last year and was basically wire to wire the top team in the NHL.   At least until the trade deadline anyway.  Could fall this far this fast.  It defies logic!

I'll watch them tomorrow and give you my thoughts. It's crazy!

Wow.

5 down with 7 to play in the second.

Might be the end of Lav.

Incredible how bad this team is right now.

OK, I've seen enough. I don't know who those guys are wearing blue but they have no business being on the ice in an NHL hockey game.

I'm stunned by how much they have fallen in a short period of time.

If this is what they are going to put out the rest of the season, they may as well start dismantling it now and rebuild because this is simply embarrassing along the lines of the Giants.

Peace.

Yup, this team is toast.  Have to sell two or three of these veterans off.  This is looking worse than Gallant's second season.

Quote from: Messiah717 on December 14, 2024, 04:36:03 PMYup, this team is toast.  Have to sell two or three of these veterans off.  This is looking worse than Gallant's second season.

Gallant?

This is Dave Quinn level bad. Maybe worse. I can't remember when the Rangers were this bad.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 14, 2024, 04:50:32 PMGallant?

This is Dave Quinn level bad. Maybe worse. I can't remember when the Rangers were this bad.

Like Gmo11 said above it truly is amazing how badly this has fallen off.  Everyone looks to be going through the motions.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread it's time to retool, reconstitute. They have an anchor in Shesterkin. The goal should be not to rely on him, but to craft a buzzsaw checking team backstopped by a top 3 goaltender. I would really like to see no matter what team is fielded an infusion of a f/u "New York Street" attitude.

Now sitting at .500 which will definitely become under .500 shortly.  They are completely broken.

They might not make the playoffs at this rate. Just zero offense and bad defense is a recipe for disaster. It's thoroughly confusing.

I honestly don't get it.

Whilst last year might have been a bit of a mirage with the reliance on special teams in places - the drop off this year is astronomical.

They have a relatively tough stretch over the next few games too.

Is it too early to start thinking about the draft lottery? 

Quote from: coggs on December 18, 2024, 08:03:45 AMIs it too early to start thinking about the draft lottery? 

Probably a little early...but given how they've looked recently probably not unreasonable.  There's just no sign of hope.  last year was so much damn fun watching them win just about every day to go from that to this with more or less the same roster is mind boggling.  Right now there just aren't a lot of teams they can beat and I don't know if there's even anything that can be done about it.

Kakko traded to Seattle for defenseman Will Borgen and two picks. 

Quote from: coggs on December 18, 2024, 08:03:45 AMIs it too early to start thinking about the draft lottery? 

Now you guys sound like my fellow Islanders fans!  :knockONwood:

Quote from: Messiah717 on December 18, 2024, 07:39:48 PMKakko traded to Seattle for defenseman Will Borgen and two picks. 

xxxx Drury.  Captain Little League Mother Fucker

Apparently there was players only meeting to fire Drury 

Drury has honestly been terrible since he started with that awful Buchnevich trade. 

Quote from: babywhales on December 18, 2024, 11:12:14 PMApparently there was players only meeting to fire Drury

Wow.

Quote from: babywhales on December 18, 2024, 11:12:14 PMApparently there was players only meeting to fire Drury

One of the hockey personalities mentioned this on twitter.  Then added he cant remember a time when a player revolt against the GM caused him to get fired. 

Mika won't accept a trade?  No problem, trade Kreider.  Trade Lindgren. 

Quote from: coggs on December 19, 2024, 07:34:45 AMOne of the hockey personalities mentioned this on twitter.  Then added he cant remember a time when a player revolt against the GM caused him to get fired. 

Mika won't accept a trade?  No problem, trade Kreider.  Trade Lindgren. 

Biggest hurdle to trading Mika isn't the NMC. It's a question of who in their right mind would take that contract right now? We're likely stuck with it for another couple of years at least. The Trocheck contract likely won't age well either for that matter. The Rangers are just completely trapped for the next few years.

Quote from: coggs on December 19, 2024, 07:34:45 AMOne of the hockey personalities mentioned this on twitter.  Then added he cant remember a time when a player revolt against the GM caused him to get fired. 

Mika won't accept a trade?  No problem, trade Kreider.  Trade Lindgren. 

And again....they were the best team in hockey for the majority of last season.  Does anybody have any idea exactly what the hell happened?

Players can't fire a GM. They players only meeting should be to play better. 

At least your GM isn't 82 years old handing out 7 year contracts to mediocre players only to waive them less than 2 years later.

Quote from: jgrangers2 on December 19, 2024, 08:38:20 AMBiggest hurdle to trading Mika isn't the NMC. It's a question of who in their right mind would take that contract right now? We're likely stuck with it for another couple of years at least. The Trocheck contract likely won't age well either for that matter. The Rangers are just completely trapped for the next few years.

Trocheck has a modified NTC starting next season.  If Drury asks for a list and Trocheck tries to get too cute, he has shown he is not afraid to just put him on waivers.  Kreider has a mod NTC, too.

From this fan's view the league GM's should collectively refuse to offer NTC's, and NMC's. As a fan I only care about winning, period. Those type of contracts hamstring teams. The players get paid well enough. When they're done, they're done, and/or when it's time for a "divorce" goodbye. 1 Cup in what will be 85 years is beyond words unacceptable. Thankfully the Yankees, and the Knicks are relevant. If they weren't, together with the Giants, and Rangers I'd be wearing the largest, and heaviest "Golden Sombrero" ever. 

Quote from: files58 on December 19, 2024, 11:29:36 AMFrom this fan's view the league GM's should collectively refuse to offer NTC's, and NMC's. As a fan I only care about winning, period. Those type of contracts hamstring teams. The players get paid well enough. When they're done, they're done, and/or when it's time for a "divorce" goodbye. 1 Cup in what will be 85 years is beyond words unacceptable. Thankfully the Yankees, and the Knicks are relevant. If they weren't, together with the Giants, and Rangers I'd be wearing the largest, and heaviest "Golden Sombrero" ever. 

that would be collusiom.

Quote from: babywhales on December 18, 2024, 11:12:14 PMApparently there was players only meeting to fire Drury

Read this today

Vincent Trocheck then initiated a scrum with the Rangers beat reporters to clear the air about a specific report that claimed the team meeting they had after the Kings game was to criticize Drury. 
"That could not be further from the truth," he said bluntly. "If we have a closed-door meeting, with just the players, I think the last that we'd do is complain about our general manager. When we have closed-door meetings in here, it's about us. It's about what we can do.

Quote from: coggs on December 19, 2024, 12:23:12 PMthat would be collusiom.

Of course it's collusion. Go prove it. The teams would put out some corporate bs how it's not economically sound yada yada. Then there would be a compromise. If there were no winning incentive attached to the game, fine, have all the no moves you want. It's not just entertainment. Once a player's shelf life/effectiveness wanes or is gone, bye bye. I know it sounds harsh. I'm not on the owner's or the player's side. I WANT TO WIN. This Ranger team is done. They need to retool.

Quote from: files58 on December 20, 2024, 10:27:04 AMOf course it's collusion. Go prove it. The teams would put out some corporate bs how it's not economically sound yada yada. Then there would be a compromise. If there were no winning incentive attached to the game, fine, have all the no moves you want. It's not just entertainment. Once a player's shelf life/effectiveness wanes or is gone, bye bye. I know it sounds harsh. I'm not on the owner's or the player's side. I WANT TO WIN. This Ranger team is done. They need to retool.

What the heck happened? They beat the Dallas Stars 3-1? Now, all of a sudden, they decide they want to actually do their jobs, or was Dallas in town for a little Christmas shopping along Broadway?

Discuss.

Peace!

Quote from: kartanoman on December 21, 2024, 03:39:08 PMWhat the heck happened? They beat the Dallas Stars 3-1? Now, all of a sudden, they decide they want to actually do their jobs, or was Dallas in town for a little Christmas shopping along Broadway?

Discuss.

Peace!

Rangers were on the road.

Actually, it was more like Shesterkin beat the Stars.

Still pitiful.

Igor pulled again as well

This really is ugly.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on December 29, 2024, 06:03:09 AMIgor pulled again as well

This really is ugly.

Dead last place in the division.

Whole thing needs to be gutted. Not a single player in this mess should be off limits.

Can the answer be as simple as they hate playing for Drury?

This is basically the core that won their first 7 playoff games last year. The only thing that's changed is Drury's waive of Goodrow and the debacle around Trouba's trade.

Baring in mind they started 12-4, that might be unlikely but I simply don't understand how they can have fallen off the face of the earth over the last 5 weeks.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on December 29, 2024, 06:12:43 AMCan the answer be as simple as they hate playing for Drury?

This is basically the core that won their first 7 playoff games last year. The only thing that's changed is Drury's waive of Goodrow and the debacle around Trouba's trade.

Baring in mind they started 12-4, that might be unlikely but I simply don't understand how they can have fallen off the face of the earth over the last 5 weeks.

Maybe, but if that's the case I find that incredibly weak and unprofessional. If they hate their boss so much and they're so unhappy, nobody is stopping them from demanding to be traded. You're allowed to leave. That's what normal, self-respecting professionals do when they're unhappy with their employer. Sulking and deliberately performing poorly but continuing to accept your bloated paycheck is beyond lame, and it actually really turns me off to these guys. I would have much more respect for any of them if they said "I want out. This guy is an XXXXXXX. Trade me. I don't want to be here anymore."

But they're not doing that. They continue to go through the motions and play like xxxx. And get paid a ton of money for doing so. So if they're deliberately dogging it out there because they're unhappy, they better suck it up and get over their petty xxxxxxxx if that's really the reason. Or get out.

Or maybe they just simply suck, period.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 29, 2024, 06:19:04 AMMaybe, but if that's the case I find that incredibly weak and unprofessional. If they hate their boss so much and they're so unhappy, nobody is stopping them from demanding to be traded. You're allowed to leave. That's what normal, self-respecting professionals do when they're unhappy with their employer. Sulking and deliberately performing poorly but continuing to accept your bloated paycheck is beyond lame, and it actually really turns me off to these guys. I would have much more respect for any of them if they said "I want out. This guy is an XXXXXXX. Trade me. I don't want to be here anymore."

But they're not doing that. They continue to go through the motions and play like xxxx. And get paid a ton of money for doing so. So if they're deliberately dogging it out there because they're unhappy, they better suck it up and get over their petty xxxxxxxx if that's really the reason. Or get out.

Or maybe they just simply suck, period.

Yes, maybe it's this.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 29, 2024, 06:19:04 AMMaybe, but if that's the case I find that incredibly weak and unprofessional. If they hate their boss so much and they're so unhappy, nobody is stopping them from demanding to be traded. You're allowed to leave. That's what normal, self-respecting professionals do when they're unhappy with their employer. Sulking and deliberately performing poorly but continuing to accept your bloated paycheck is beyond lame, and it actually really turns me off to these guys. I would have much more respect for any of them if they said "I want out. This guy is an XXXXXXX. Trade me. I don't want to be here anymore."

But they're not doing that. They continue to go through the motions and play like xxxx. And get paid a ton of money for doing so. So if they're deliberately dogging it out there because they're unhappy, they better suck it up and get over their petty xxxxxxxx if that's really the reason. Or get out.

Or maybe they just simply suck, period.

How do you go from President's Trophy, most wins in team history, two games from a Stanley Cup Finals berth to ...

You're sucking it big-time on the big stage?

Did everyone get old at the same time?

Is it a mutiny?

Is this even commonplace in the modern era NHL?

Is this coach now all of a sudden the next Roger Neilson and this is the 1992-93 Rangers?

This saga is beyond analysis. If Drury wants to break it up, then so be it, but if he thinks he can find another Mike Keenan, Mark Messier and Stanley Cup winning castoffs from perhaps Tampa and Florida to make a run, I think delusion is in the air, though the concept might actually not be bad as far as building a defense in the style @files58 describes.

But the ship has sunk and it remains to be seen what Drury's going to do about it.

Ideas, anyone?

Oeace!

Quote from: kartanoman on December 29, 2024, 06:40:52 AMHow do you go from President's Trophy, most wins in team history, two games from a Stanley Cup Finals berth to ...

You're sucking it big-time on the big stage?

Did everyone get old at the same time?

Is it a mutiny?

Is this even commonplace in the modern era NHL?

Is this coach now all of a sudden the next Roger Neilson and this is the 1992-93 Rangers?

This saga is beyond analysis. If Drury wants to break it up, then so be it, but if he thinks he can find another Mike Keenan, Mark Messier and Stanley Cup winning castoffs from perhaps Tampa and Florida to make a run, I think delusion is in the air, though the concept might actually not be bad as far as building a defense in the style @files58 describes.

But the ship has sunk and it remains to be seen what Drury's going to do about it.

Ideas, anyone?

Oeace!

Clearly doing nothing and hoping things better is not a plan. Hope is not a strategy. This has gone too far now. It needs to be broken up. And that doesn't mean a player or two after Trouba. It means a full gutting.

I understand it's complicated with all these NMCs on these contracts, but there are things they can do. Healthy scratches are one way. At this point it's obvious they're not contending and probalby not even making the playoffs, so in the short run losing doesn't matter anymore. They need to gut this. Get some prospects and picks in exchange for 30-something veterans.

Look, some of these guys are still capable of playing. You mean to tell me some teams out there wouldn't want guys like Trocheck, Kreider, Panarin, Zibs, Fox, etc?

The Rangers had a window where these guys were in their primes, and it didn't happen. Now they're aging, and quite frankly the young guys we were expecting to play a big role simply haven't managed to do it. Laffy has been the closest thing to panning out, and Cuylle has been a nice player, but by and large the kids have fallen well short. If you want to blame Chytil's situation on his inability to stay on the ice, fine, but either way he hasn't been able to get it done. Kakko was obviously a massive bust. Miller is a huge bust. This Othmann kid I've been hearing about for three years sounds like a bust. It goes on.

And the vets just aren't that good at this point. Yes, Bread Man is a highly talented and producitve player. But he's a stiff in the playoffs. Zibs has become a one trick pony that the league has figured out. Goalies are in position to stuff his power play one timer from the left dot before the pass to him even happens now. Kreider is obviously a solid player and has been a great Ranger overall but even he is limited and he's inconsistent in postseason play.

Fox went from being a Norris Trophy caliber guy to just a "good" player. No idea what happened there. Schneider is average.

And I have no idea what has happened to Shesty. The guy got paid, and he is totally unreliable.

It's a sad state of affairs. Gut it and break it up. And if guys refuse to waive their NMC, scratch them every night for all I care. See how long they can tolerate that. I guarantee you in the end the team win that game of chicken every time. At this point losing doesn't matter. The season is gone.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 29, 2024, 06:54:13 AMClearly doing nothing and hoping things better is not a plan. Hope is not a strategy. This has gone too far now. It needs to be broken up. And that doesn't mean a player or two after Trouba. It means a full gutting.

I understand it's complicated with all these NMCs on these contracts, but there are things they can do. Healthy scratches are one way. At this point it's obvious they're not contending and probalby not even making the playoffs, so in the short run losing doesn't matter anymore. They need to gut this. Get some prospects and picks in exchange for 30-something veterans.

Look, some of these guys are still capable of playing. You mean to tell me some teams out there wouldn't want guys like Trocheck, Kreider, Panarin, Zibs, Fox, etc?

The Rangers had a window where these guys were in their primes, and it didn't happen. Now they're aging, and quite frankly the young guys we were expecting to play a big role simply haven't managed to do it. Laffy has been the closest thing to panning out, and Cuylle has been a nice player, but by and large the kids have fallen well short. If you want to blame Chytil's situation on his inability to stay on the ice, fine, but either way he hasn't been able to get it done. Kakko was obviously a massive bust. Miller is a huge bust. This Othmann kid I've been hearing about for three years sounds like a bust. It goes on.

And the vets just aren't that good at this point. Yes, Bread Man is a highly talented and producitve player. But he's a stiff in the playoffs. Zibs has become a one trick pony that the league has figured out. Goalies are in position to stuff his power play one timer from the left dot before the pass to him even happens now. Kreider is obviously a solid player and has been a great Ranger overall but even he is limited and he's inconsistent in postseason play.

Fox went from being a Norris Trophy caliber guy to just a "good" player. No idea what happened there. Schneider is average.

And I have no idea what has happened to Shesty. The guy got paid, and he is totally unreliable.

It's a sad state of affairs. Gut it and break it up. And if guys refuse to waive their NMC, scratch them every night for all I care. See how long they can tolerate that. I guarantee you in the end the team win that game of chicken every time. At this point losing doesn't matter. The season is gone.

I respect your analysis, and can see the fire has left their belly, but such a gutless response from these players with the "country club" mentality.

It also sounds like the farm system needs to be evaluated, as well as scouting, player development, and so forth. Carolina wasn't afraid to make changes to their front office in the offseason and it probably is time for the Rangers to evaluate Drury and his staff.

But for things you get this out of hand, this early in the season, is absolutely unacceptable. If they don't want to work, sit them and call up the kids and send every one of those overpaid bums to the farm league until they get their collective heads out of their back ends.

Just sad, and unwatchable.

Peace!

I don't know if I buy that this is just because they're aging. They were plenty good last season. They can't all fall off a cliff at exactly the same time. I don't know what's going on but after recent losses to Chicago and Nashville and showing absolutely no hope against anybody remotely good...they might be the worst team in hockey. 

After winning the president's trophy last year and starting 12-4. This is unbelievable.

Sometimes it's impossible to figure out.  The 91-92 team won the Presidents Trophy and then missed the playoffs the following year before winning the cup the season after.  This core went to the ECF, lost in round one to NJ, went back to the ECF and now this. 

Beyond a historical perspective I place a lot of blame at Drury's feet.  Some terrible trades and definitely some terrible contracts has hamstrung this roster.  I felt before the year that they were bringing back a stale core with a less talented overall roster.  I certainly didn't expect this where they don't look like they can be competitive or win a game. 

The season is going to be a complete loss.  There's no quick more that will fix anything.  They certainly have to move some of these veterans but that's nothing that can be rushed. 

Signing Shesterkin to that massive deal will go down as a huge mistake.  They need to move on from Mika, Kreider, Miller, Fox and frankly your biggest return would come from Panarin. 

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse:

https://x.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1874216259002524006


While I would never say an injury is a good thing (obviously I do not think that), maybe this will hasten the much needed process of blowing this whole thing up.

This team reminds me of the Sather years.

With no Torts in sight to right the ship.

Sorry, but signing Shesty ...big mistake.

Our one and only valuable trade chip....he could fetch half a rebuild from the right team.

And let's not mention the league as a whole is very improved for the most part, especially the East.  No easy points anywhere anymore.

Drury and Lavy will be gone. 

Quote from: Messiah717 on January 01, 2025, 12:41:25 AMDrury and Lavy will be gone. 

Won't make any difference whatsoever without a complete overhaul of the roster.

The next GM will be another Drury..  a robot in a suit who does what he is told.

Lavvy is a good coach who has won a cup. Obviously given what has happened he is going to have to be replaced, but he wasn't the problem here.

Our players are a bunch of soft, spoiled brats who all pouted and gave a half-assed effort because hey, guess what, in a professional sports league sometimes your friend gets traded. That's how it works.

Quote from: Giant Obsession on December 31, 2024, 09:01:14 PMThis team reminds me of the Sather years.

With no Torts in sight to right the ship.

Sorry, but signing Shesty ...big mistake.

Our one and only valuable trade chip....he could fetch half a rebuild from the right team.

And let's not mention the league as a whole is very improved for the most part, especially the East.  No easy points anywhere anymore.

Mike. We can still trade both Igor and Fox who has been a big disappointment for a haul before their NTC KICK JN THIS SUMMER. Drury has needed to do for awhile and Lavs has been a joke this season with his veterans coddling. Playing Mika in the last minutes down a goal with Chytil and cuyyle on the bench was the last straw with me. IMO the 2024-25 rangers have become the 1965 NY YANKEES

Quote from: Section 101 Steve on January 01, 2025, 12:52:51 PMMike. We can still trade both Igor and Fox who has been a big disappointment for a haul before their NTC KICK JN THIS SUMMER. Drury has needed to do for awhile and Lavs has been a joke this season with his veterans coddling. Playing Mika in the last minutes down a goal with Chytil and cuyyle on the bench was the last straw with me. IMO the 2024-25 rangers have become the 1965 NY YANKEES

To me the Rangers are looking more and more like the Giants.

Meddling owner? Check

2 year coaching carousel where the coach gets blamed and then we go through the same exercise two years later? Check

Suck at drafting? Check

Players soft (for the most part at least)? Check

Overrate our own talent? Check

A sad commentary (but accurate) on a team a couple of tough guys away from competing in a finals two out of the last three seasons. Perhaps there were other things missing, but now there is no contender here going forward.

The answer is clear and it should have started at the end of last season, to be honest. Why start hot in October only to be the turkey carved up for Thanksgiving?

If they're going to tear it down, they couldn't have picked the worst time to start this, management and players, all.

Just a sad and yes, pathetic, thing to do to the fans who have stood by these guys. Just a bad look overall.

I'm honestly speechless.

Peace!

It really is crazy how far this team has dropped.

Is the sense out there around NY this all stems from teammates getting a red a$$ about Kappo getting traded?

____________________________________________________

I always felt this group failed in the playoffs because the stars played soft in the playoffs. Simply didn't skate aggressively and were content existing on their parameter on offense. Sloppy play with defensive and neutral zone turnovers.

Lacked physicality i'ld agree with but I think the bigger issue was key guys were mentally soft.

Guys like Panarin and Zibs weren't willing to work in the mid/low slot.  Mentally weak players who wouldn't rise up on the biggest stages.  Too willing to rely on Igor to stand on his head.



_____________________________________

I watched the Game vs the Panthers and the Blue shirts played pretty good, despite the 5-3 score.
Gave up two early and fought back and played solid. 

Unlike the crap effort on the devils game

________________

Tonight vs Boston should be interesting.   

Quote from: babywhales on January 02, 2025, 09:52:50 AMIt really is crazy how far this team has dropped.

Is the sense out there around NY this all stems from teammates getting a read a$$ about Kappo getting traded?

____________________________________________________

I always felt this group failed in the playoffs because the stars played soft in the playoffs. Simply didn't skate aggressively and were content existing on their parameter on offense. Sloppy play with defensive and neutral zone turnovers.

Lacked physicality i'ld agree with but I think the bigger issue was key guys were mentally soft.

Guys like Panarin and Zibs weren't willing to work in the mid/low slot.  Mentally weak players who wouldn't rise up on the biggest stages.  Too willing to rely on Igor to stand on his head.



_____________________________________

I watched the Game vs the Panthers and the Blue shirts played pretty good, despite the 5-3 score.
Gave up two early and fought back and played solid. 

Unlike the crap effort on the devils game

________________

Tonight vs Boston should be interesting.   

I think it is more than that.  Mika can't hit a soccer net, but still getting more ice time than Chytil.  Mika and Miller continue to give the puck away and continue to get ice time.  The PP1 is awful, but these guys are still getting 75% of the PP time.  Mika gets put on during the 6-on-4 with the game on the line and twice misses the net badly.  Love that Jones spoke up.  Think there are too many people at the top of the line-up who feel a little too comfortable.  Hope the rumor that Mika is willing to waive his NMC is true and that Drury can find a destination for him.  Need a major shake-up.  To start, I would let the Chytil line start the first PP tonight.

3 pts in the last two games.

I thought they were unlucky against Dallas and didn't take their chances. I thought they looked okay last night - rode their luck - especially with the Zib giveaway at the end of the game (or in OT).

Whilst they are likely going nowhere this season, I enjoyed the better performances.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on January 10, 2025, 08:55:44 AM3 pts in the last two games.

I thought they were unlucky against Dallas and didn't take their chances. I thought they looked okay last night - rode their luck - especially with the Zib giveaway at the end of the game (or in OT).

Whilst they are likely going nowhere this season, I enjoyed the better performances.

It is nice to just not get blown out every day.  That's fun!  3-1-1 in their last 5 games!  Here come the Rangers!! Not quite.  Although that really should have been 4-1 if not for a boneheaded play from Miller in the Stars game where they had already coughed up a 3-0 lead.  God he's been bad this year. 

Quote from: coggs on January 02, 2025, 11:07:17 AMI think it is more than that.  Mika can't hit a soccer net, but still getting more ice time than Chytil.  Mika and Miller continue to give the puck away and continue to get ice time.  The PP1 is awful, but these guys are still getting 75% of the PP time.  Mika gets put on during the 6-on-4 with the game on the line and twice misses the net badly.  Love that Jones spoke up.  Think there are too many people at the top of the line-up who feel a little too comfortable.  Hope the rumor that Mika is willing to waive his NMC is true and that Drury can find a destination for him.  Need a major shake-up.  To start, I would let the Chytil line start the first PP tonight.

Your comment on Jones is spot on. I like him and he can be a good, long-term player for them. But this coach just doesn't see him in his plans, for whatever the reason. If they let him go, then you'll start seeing me throw the towel in regarding my support for the coach.

The rest, as you stated, either they put their best foot forward for this club or remove all obstacles and go elsewhere. No entitlements. No games, no messing around. Going forward, put an end to these contracts where the player has got the team by the cojones and pulls this crap.

It is such a bad look and makes it hard to pull for this group when internal forces divide what should have been a clear effort to get back to the semifinals and kick Florida's back end. Guess that went out the window early on when the exact opposite happened the first time the two teams played.

Owned again, guess we'll act like petulant children since we know we can't win now.

Ugh.

It's time to keep shaking this roster out of players with that attitude and the coaches as well. You want to play and coach for the Rangers? Report to @files58 and, if you get past his screening interview, you've got the job!

Peace!

Quote from: kartanoman on January 10, 2025, 09:23:32 AMYour comment on Jones is spot on. I like him and he can be a good, long-term player for them. But this coach just doesn't see him in his plans, for whatever the reason. If they let him go, then you'll start seeing me throw the towel in regarding my support for the coach.

The rest, as you stated, either they put their best foot forward for this club or remove all obstacles and go elsewhere. No entitlements. No games, no messing around. Going forward, put an end to these contracts where the player has got the team by the cojones and pulls this crap.

It is such a bad look and makes it hard to pull for this group when internal forces divide what should have been a clear effort to get back to the semifinals and kick Florida's back end. Guess that went out the window early on when the exact opposite happened the first time the two teams played.

Owned again, guess we'll act like petulant children since we know we can't win now.

Ugh.

It's time to keep shaking this roster out of players with that attitude and the coaches as well. You want to play and coach for the Rangers? Report to @files58 and, if you get past his screening interview, you've got the job!

Peace!

I heard today the Rangers told Jones agent to seek a trade 

Quote from: babywhales on January 10, 2025, 01:31:53 PMI heard today the Rangers told Jones agent to seek a trade

Given how bad both Lingren and Miller have been this season you'd think they'd have SOME use for a young defenseman that's shown promise in the past.  Apparently you'd be wrong.

Quote from: Gmo11 on January 10, 2025, 01:42:42 PMGiven how bad both Lingren and Miller have been this season you'd think they'd have SOME use for a young defenseman that's shown promise in the past.  Apparently you'd be wrong.

Yes, this!

I honestly believed that Jones could have helped them in the semifinals last season. He certainly couldn't have done worse and he filled in very nicely when members of the defense went down.

It makes absolutely no sense to me at all. You have a young and budding player who plays a decent game, gives you an offensive push and appears, by and large, to be a good teammate whom everyone gets along with ... except the head coach.

Preposterous!

Reports are saying jones is disgruntled 


Not sure that is true but it is what I heard

Quote from: babywhales on January 10, 2025, 02:52:02 PMReports are saying jones is disgruntled


Not sure that is true but it is what I heard

Yea but he's disgruntled because he's a healthy scratch every day while guys that play his position are openly costing the team games.  He can't possibly be worse than what's been put out there in his place the last month or so.

Quote from: Gmo11 on January 10, 2025, 03:15:49 PMYea but he's disgruntled because he's a healthy scratch every day while guys that play his position are openly costing the team games.  He can't possibly be worse than what's been put out there in his place the last month or so.

This is exactly the point! You have a young, healthy player who can contribute, and you have players who are playing and costing the team wins, game after game.

I HAVE glass in my glasses, you know!!!

Maybe a guy behind the bench needs a stronger set of lenses in HIS (hint, hint?)!

Peace!

Currently on an 8 game point streak, not too bad after the season collapsing mess they endured.  A very welcome change.

Giving up the lead late in the last two games only to lose in OT is unfortunate but man o man are they creating high probability opportunities.

Struggling to capitalize on the 2:1's and breakaways but the opportunities are there.

Boys in blue are still giving up too many high % shots against their goalie. 

The hockey is watchable again.

Headed to Port Huron for the North American 14U Hockey Championships on Wednesday. 

Game 1 vs Talbot Trail Blazers (#1 Team in Ontario)
Not the best draw but it is what it is

They've shown signs of life but they can't afford to be just giving points away late anymore.  Those last two games they could have easily had an extra point if not for blowing a lead in the 3rd and there was another one last week I think too.  Those 3 points could end up being huge at the end of the year.  But yes, they are playing watchable hockey again which feels like a win just to be able to say that. 

Getting a point in Montreal seems disappointing, but that's a tough building to win in this time of year. Last year, around this time, they lost a competitive game to them because the Les Habitants were hungrier and wanted the game more. I'll take a point out of there anytime.

When you can get points out of Colorado, wins out of Utah and Vegas, that's evidence they're making progress. Remember last year that Vegas dressed them down twice that the games were embarrassing to watch. Utah, formerly my Arizona Coyotes team, have had a good first season up in Salt Lake City and the coach likes to use the Rangers as a measuring stick for their own progress.

They're coming along and we all know they aren't where they should be but there's time. It's been such a crazy season so far and I don't have any expectations for it. Just play good fundamental hockey.

We'll see where they go.

Peace!

Only saw 1/2way through the second but it was a solid effort especially the defense.

2 much needed points

Big win.

Flyers on deck next then the Avs.

Playing some good hockey and back to back shut outs for Igor.

Big in the sense that they actually dominated a game from start to finish.  Been a while since that happened.  A nice little run here but still a long ways to go to get to relevancy.  It is encouraging also to see the monumentally stupid defensive breakdowns have gone down quite a bit during this stretch too.  Probably not a coincidence.

Quote from: Gmo11 on January 22, 2025, 09:02:56 AMBig in the sense that they actually dominated a game from start to finish.  Been a while since that happened.  A nice little run here but still a long ways to go to get to relevancy.  It is encouraging also to see the monumentally stupid defensive breakdowns have gone down quite a bit during this stretch too.  Probably not a coincidence.

I think that is very important in building back some confidence in this club. But the next two games (i.e. PHI and COL) represent two contrasting teams in how they need to play. The Flyers will test them in their "toughness" and ability to get a lead and stay on top of them. The Avs, on the other hand, have so much speed and big-name scorers on offense, yet the Rangers have matched up very well with this team over the last three seasons and have taken at least one point over that stretch.

Looking forward to seeing how they perform in two big matchups.

Peace!

Another strong performance after an inauspicious start. Igor has really rounded into form, Miller is player better with Borgen next to him and I thought Miller had his best game of the year last night. 

Avs, Canes and Bruins on deck next. So it's not getting easier.

A long way to go but I don't think anyone would fancy this version of the rangers as a wildcard team. But a long way before we think about that.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on January 24, 2025, 08:04:30 AMAnother strong performance after an inauspicious start. Igor has really rounded into form, Miller is player better with Borgen next to him and I thought Miller had his best game of the year last night. 

Avs, Canes and Bruins on deck next. So it's not getting easier.

A long way to go but I don't think anyone would fancy this version of the rangers as a wildcard team. But a long way before we think about that.

Need to keep collecting points before we can start looking at playoffs.  They're still one bad week away from dropping to the bottom of the division.  But they have looked significantly better during this last run of about 10 games or so.  Top to bottom better, including Shesty who has had 3 really really good games in a row. 

This next stretch will be a nice barometer to see if they are in fact rounding back into a playoff caliber team or if this was simply a nice little run that doesn't mean much more than that.

Seriously, 7-0-3 in their last 10, and two of those OT losses probably could have ben wins had they held it together in the end, what more could we possibly ask for at this point?

It just makes Sunday's sport lineup that much more exciting with the Rangers hosting the Avs at 11:00 AM MST (1:00 PM local EST), followed by the NFC Championship and, later, the HUGE AFC Championship.

Buckle your chinstrap and get ready for an action-packed weekend!

Peace!

Crumbs:

https://x.com/nyp_brooksie/status/1885482098405818662?s=46&t=AA9Ptl-VPYK0JnuHE-oAWA

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on January 31, 2025, 07:27:29 PMCrumbs:

https://x.com/nyp_brooksie/status/1885482098405818662?s=46&t=AA9Ptl-VPYK0JnuHE-oAWA

Giving away young talent and a first rounder for a 30-something in the midst of a crap season.

Ok...

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on January 31, 2025, 08:43:57 PMGiving away young talent and a first rounder for a 30-something in the midst of a crap season.

Ok...

It's peculiar for sure. Miller is a better player but by how much? And they are fighting for their lives just to get into the playoffs at all. I guess they think that recent run is more indicative of the team they are than the entire months worth of losing they just wrapped up but I'm not sure I'd agree.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on January 31, 2025, 08:43:57 PMGiving away young talent and a first rounder for a 30-something in the midst of a crap season.

Ok...

a young talent who is 1 hit away from the nursing home.  I love Chytil, but cant be pissed about this deal.

Agreed.  This is a trade you gotta make. 

Perhaps a year too late. They could have used Miller's snarl against the Panthers. Coggs is right about Chytl's medical vulnerability, AND Gabe Perrault may be ready next year. Could Miller be the cog of a big retool?

I'd rather take my chances with the injury history and keep Chytil. Good young talent is hard to come by and he can be something special with the puck.

Quote from: files58 on January 31, 2025, 11:24:59 PMPerhaps a year too late. They could have used Miller's snarl against the Panthers. Coggs is right about Chytl's medical vulnerability, AND Gabe Perrault may be ready next year. Could Miller be the cog of a big retool?

The team needs to get tough in a "tough love" sort of way, so now they do this, albeit a day late and another post season series short.

Just watching the Colorado game last Sunday, the way those two teams always duel it out, and it looked like yet another OT classic was coming until that boondoggle play at the end gave the game away. I won't even mention the Carolina game. But they've clearly fallen from their perch and if they're not rebuilding through youth, this musical acquisition game isn't going to be a long-term solution and Laviolette, unfortunately, will be looking for work.

Maybe the coach squeezed everything he possibly could out of them last season. Maybe that was as good as they could be, which was not quite good enough for the finals. Maybe Laviolette and Drury need to accept the fact that their windoelw closed with the Panthers' series and the best thing to do now is clean out what you can, get through this season and begin dismantling and plan to rebuild this group so it can contend again in a couple of years or so.

Right now, the best they are is an eighth placed team in the conference playoff run. At worst, they are damned ugly and painful to watch.

How do you give away the f'in game winner to the guy coming out of the penalty box, breaks in, scores on Igor with 30 seconds left in regulation. The Rangers sent the Avs home with the kindest of gifts last Sunday, and left their fans dumbfounded.

Peace!

Quote from: files58 on January 31, 2025, 11:24:59 PMPerhaps a year too late. They could have used Miller's snarl against the Panthers. Coggs is right about Chytl's medical vulnerability, AND Gabe Perrault may be ready next year. Could Miller be the cog of a big retool?

Would have cost A LOT more to trade for him last year.

Hopefully, Drury orders him to start bullying Mika so Mika agrees to waive his NMC.

Quote from: coggs on February 01, 2025, 01:32:38 PMWould have cost A LOT more to trade for him last year.

Might have put us over the top though.

Retooling won't begin until we have a couple of good hard flushes.

First flush...Drury. before he gives away any more young talent for 33 year olds in a season already in the crapper.

This is going to take a while, IF we act smartly and let's face it that has never been our forte.

At least our 18 million can keep us hovering around .500.  How does the rest of the league do it every year at the G position and manage to win Cups ???  Need a hint ???

This team is obviously headed nowhere this season.  If they can dump a few of these dogs and retool they might be in better position moving forward.  That said their defensive system or lack of the players buying into it is a massive issue. 

The most painful part of the trade is losing a first rounder. Don't get me wrong, I like Chytil, but he has a concussion history like Tua and is on borrowed time. Losing a first rounder on a team full of 30-plus year olds is tough.

If we don't make the playoffs this year this trade is going to look bad.

Fox's defense looks like crap.  The effort simply isn't there .  Poor positioning, lackluster skating, poor situational awareness, he simply needs to step up.

The team as structured can compete and probably quit well.

Some of the vets are playing with zero passion and it shows and must end .

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on February 02, 2025, 07:21:31 AMThe most painful part of the trade is losing a first rounder. Don't get me wrong, I like Chytil, but he has a concussion history like Tua and is on borrowed time. Losing a first rounder on a team full of 30-plus year olds is tough.

If we don't make the playoffs this year this trade is going to look bad.

Based on how poorly they develop prospects, part of me wishes they would trade all their picks.

The best move they can make is dumping Drury.  Guy has been xxxx since trading Buchnevich.

Big win over the bruins
Gave up 8 shots in 1st and another 9 over rest of game with two finding the back of the net in less than 20 seconds

Team defense and controlling the faceoffs was huge

6-4 in the last ten and 9-6 over the last 15

Next 5 are very winnable for a team earning a playoff spot
Pittsburgh at home on Friday and let's see if the boys in blue can grab a 4 game sweep on the road leading up to the maple leafs back in The garden

Quote from: babywhales on February 06, 2025, 12:49:19 PMBig win over the bruins
Gave up 8 shots in 1st and another 9 over rest of game with two finding the back of the net in less than 20 seconds

Team defense and controlling the faceoffs was huge

6-4 in the last ten and 9-6 over the last 15

Next 5 are very wins Le for a team earning a playoff spot
Pittsburgh at home on Friday and let's see if the boys in blue can grab a 4 game sweep on the road leading up to the maple leafs back in The garden

A run like that could vault them into wild card position.

Last night was awesome. Kreider's goal was pretty amazing. Very difficult from that angle.

Every game is basically a playoff game for now. Good to seem them seemingly energized.

Just not happening this year.  You can't lose to a depleted Pens team at home. 

What an absolutely disastrous loss. We needed two points tonight and we got zero. Played like absolute dogs--t.

This team is lost.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on February 07, 2025, 09:52:17 PMWhat an absolutely disastrous loss. We needed two points tonight and we got zero. Played like absolute dogs--t.

This team is lost.

Yup, better off being sellers.  Not going anywhere.

Quote from: Messiah717 on February 07, 2025, 09:32:32 PMJust not happening this year.  You can't lose to a depleted Pens team at home. 

My boy had his HS game so I didn't see the Rangers


That sucks to hear the boys had everything to gain and came out uninspired

At what point does Laviolette start to take some heat? He's just coasting through this disastrous season completely unquestioned it seems.

Igor out for a couple of weeks with an injury sustained last night.

Was at the game vs Pens with my 9yo grandson. Halfway through 2nd period he asks "Granda, why aren't the Rangers playing harder?"

No life, ill advised passes, no traffic in front of the net and absolutely no forecheck or sustained pressure in the Pittsburgh end.  Pens without Crosby AND Malkin but instead of mailing it in, they were the better team all night

Hard to believe they were so lackluster with every game so vitality important. Something's broke

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on February 08, 2025, 11:26:20 AMIgor out for a couple of weeks with an injury sustained last night.

The probable final nail...

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on February 08, 2025, 01:54:23 PMThe probable final nail...

Well, they need a win tonight in a big way.

I guess most of this injury will be absorbed by the 4 Nations break.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on February 08, 2025, 03:14:50 PMWell, they need a win tonight in a big way.

I guess most of this injury will be absorbed by the 4 Nations break.

8 games until the deadline. Looking at the standings, if I'm running this team I would need six wins out of these coming eight to be convinced I should be a buyer. Keep in mind, we already don't have a first round pick in the next draft, and we have an increasingly old team.

Four losses or more and I'm selling with both hands.

After tonight we have this Four Nations thing. The next game after tonight's is Feb 22.

If Shesty is out for "a couple of weeks", it's pretty conceivable this injury might not cause him to miss any games other than tonight's.

Nice win. Now no games for two weeks.

Good opportunity for Shesty to heal up and for this team to do some soul searching.

Yeah, I enjoyed the win. I thought they were quite unfortunate to go into the 1st intermission down 2-1.

Nice comeback, although the inability to defend the rush maddens me. Look like Laf decided to not bother with the back-check again.

Good to see Cuyle back amongst the goals, he sorta dropped off over the last little stretch so good to see him pot on.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on February 09, 2025, 05:41:13 AMYeah, I enjoyed the win. I thought they were quite unfortunate to go into the 1st intermission down 2-1.

Nice comeback, although the inability to defend the rush maddens me. Look like Laf decided to not bother with the back-check again.

Good to see Cuyle back amongst the goals, he sorta dropped off over the last little stretch so good to see him pot on.

It certainly wasn't any sort of glorious win. They have some major soul searching to do during this period off.

They did get two points though, pretty or not. Now nothing that counts for 13 days. Get well Shesty!

Right back in it.

Really strong in all parts.

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on March 15, 2025, 09:33:22 PMRight back in it.

Really strong in all parts.

Just saw a tweet that read, "I wish this team would just decide what it is.  What we saw last weekend or what we saw the last 2 games?"  Can't say I disagree.

The one thing that gives me some element of hope with the Rangers is that I know what Shesty is capable of when he is on. Also, he has generally been excellent in the playoffs, something I can't say for a number of our core veterans with big paychecks. Anyone who has watched a lot of playoff hockey knows that a hot goalie can take you a long way. Meanwhile it's not like we have zero talent elsewhere on the team.

I would not say I have high hopes, but games like last night keep me from completely losing interest.

Yes, an important psychological win, plus the surprising upset in Nashville, are making us wonder.

But after watching the Winnipeg game, a match where Hellebuyck stood tall yet again and the Jets had no trouble keeping the Rangers at arms' length, you get frustrated as he'll, but they only lost 2-1.

You're absolutely right in that a healthy and " in the zone" Igor creates problems for good teams in the playoffs. But you just don't know what you're getting from this Rangers team anymore.

The Jets' loss was close only on the scoreboard, but they were completely outplayed. The two wins may only gloss over what is to come since they go back to Northwestern Canada to face the Oilers today and the Flames on Tuesday (NOTE: that's a lot of air miles in a short period!).

If they do manage to get into the playoffs this season, they will definitely have earned it. If their energy is still going strong, who knows, anything is possible but I suspect either of the Florida teams would dispatch them in short order and Rod Brind-Amour would love nothing more than to whip them to the tune of a sweep should those teams find their destiny intertwined yet again.

Crazier things have happened.

Peace!

Turn off the lights

Already they're calling for the coach's head.

This every other season ritual is getting old.

The players with the big checks don't want to play, you sit them for the rest of the season, call up the young kids from the farm and let them play. Find the hungry fire pissers who want to play, and who will deliver, at the pro level.

Just a most incredibly disappointing season. But at least now there are no more illusions that this group is one of this, one of that away from getting to the finals. That ship has passed and it's now time for a new era so the sooner they blow this whole thing up, the better.

Peace!

The Calgary game was the clearest example of players who have simply quit.  That's what happens when you plaster your roster with fat contract vets with no trade clauses. Drury should be the first one to go. 

Home game 
2 pts available against a struggling team that got in on a very late flight 

The effort was horrible.

No desire, no passion, no seize the day

Zero forecheck 

The terrible passing, the turnovers 

Zero care if they won or lost

Igor is a beast 

 

Quote from: babywhales on March 20, 2025, 12:11:32 PMHome game
2 pts available against a struggling team that got in on a very late flight

The effort was horrible.

No desire, no passion, no seize the day

Zero forecheck

The terrible passing, the turnovers

Zero care if they won or lost

Igor is a beast

 

Igor has pretty much done it all except put the puck in the net and score. Guess now he has to practice doing that since the clowns in front of him don't feel like doing it.

Shameful!

Peace!

They stink.

I mean it's best to just accept it's a lost season.  Even if they snuck into the last spot they would be out in four or five games.  They have a lot to do moving forward as this screams for a house cleaning.

The worst part of this season is the realization that, given the contracts and the roster make-up, they're unlikely to be good anytime soon either. They'll be wasting Shesty's prime years and this huge contract they gave him.

To not even have a first round pick after this calamity of a season is just a disgrace. Drury is a useless yes man.

Meanwhile Jeff Gorton appears to have the young Canadiens thriving and will be in the playoffs.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on March 22, 2025, 03:42:39 AMThe worst part of this season is the realization that, given the contracts and the roster make-up, they're unlikely to be good anytime soon either. They'll be wasting Shesty's prime years and this huge contract they gave him.

To not even have a first round pick after this calamity of a season is just a disgrace. Drury is a useless yes man.

Meanwhile Jeff Gorton appears to have the young Canadiens thriving and will be in the playoffs.

Trade Kreider.  If you have to sell low, sell low.  Hopefully that makes Mika agree to waive his NMC.  This feels like 1993 all over again, but without the talent there to make next year 1994.  Dont really care about the 1st round pick as whoever they take, the Rangers will mess them up anyway.  I said after tuesday, the Rangers are going to waste the Igor years the same way they wasted the Lundqvist years.

Quote from: coggs on March 22, 2025, 06:44:31 AMTrade Kreider.  If you have to sell low, sell low.  Hopefully that makes Mika agree to waive his NMC.  This feels like 1993 all over again, but without the talent there to make next year 1994.  Dont really care about the 1st round pick as whoever they take, the Rangers will mess them up anyway.  I said after tuesday, the Rangers are going to waste the Igor years the same way they wasted the Lundqvist years.

Given their recent track record of developing Kakko, LaFreniere, and Miller, all big time prospects (especially Laffy), I can't disagree with your point that they'd likely screw up any first round pick. Obviously, given the state of affairs right now, I'd still much rather have that pick than not have it, and I'm sure you'd agree with that.

I agree about trading vets like Kreider and, if possible, Mika. I'd be fine trading Bread too. The only player I would be close to a hard no on trading is Shesty. Frankly if any of these older players fully hold out on their NMCs, given the state of the time and the extremely low likelihood of contention anytime soon, that would say a lot about how much they care about winning. I could understand not wanting to get traded to a bad team, but not being willing to be traded to any team at all would reveal a lot about how big of a priority winning (including winning a championship) is to them and might explain why so many of them have been consistently awful in postseason play, when the stakes are highest and opponents raise their effort level up several notches.

The team just stinks and it's likely not gonna get better anytime soon. Part of me kind of wishes they would have traded Shesty, get a good return and let this team see what happens when you don't get elite goaltending for the first time in 20 years. Might force them to actually recognize that this core isn't winning anything and stop trying to make it work.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on March 22, 2025, 07:00:04 AMGiven their recent track record of developing Kakko, LaFreniere, and Miller, all big time prospects (especially Laffy), I can't disagree with your point that they'd likely screw up any first round pick. Obviously, given the state of affairs right now, I'd still much rather have that pick than not have it, and I'm sure you'd agree with that.

I agree about trading vets like Kreider and, if possible, Mika. I'd be fine trading Bread too. The only player I would be close to a hard no on trading is Shesty. Frankly if any of these older players fully hold out on their NMCs, given the state of the time and the extremely low likelihood of contention anytime soon, that would say a lot about how much they care about winning. I could understand not wanting to get traded to a bad team, but not being willing to be traded to any team at all would reveal a lot about how big of a priority winning (including winning a championship) is to them and might explain why so many of them have been consistently awful in postseason play, when the stakes are highest and opponents raise their effort level up several notches.

It is more than just Kakko and Laf.  It goes back to Malhotra and Marc Savard. 

Quote from: coggs on March 23, 2025, 12:30:14 PMIt is more than just Kakko and Laf.  It goes back to Malhotra and Marc Savard. 

Yup, this team could've been handed Mcdavid, Crosby and Ovechkin and would've screwed them up.  This is decades of this garbage. 

Quote from: Messiah717 on March 23, 2025, 07:44:36 PMYup, this team could've been handed Mcdavid, Crosby and Ovechkin and would've screwed them up.  This is decades of this garbage. 

I'm almost 40 and the only two really good skaters they've developed, and actually kept long term, in my lifetime are Leetch and Kreider. Two guys in 40 years is absolutely brutal and I'd hardly call Kreider an "elite" player.

Taking all the disappointment, disgust, and whatever other emotions out of the equation, the fact remains that this team is still very much alive and kicking in this race for the final wildcard. While I have absolutely no designs on them going anywhere if they get in (which is far from certain), hockey is not like the NBA where the low-seeded teams have basically zero shot.

As far as making the playoff goes, while this team has been a total disappointment, I'm not convinced there any worse or less deserving than the Canadiens or Blue Jackets, myself.

I will continue to pull for them until it's over. I've been a fan since the mid 80s. I'm not going to stop now.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on April 01, 2025, 07:01:56 PMTaking all the disappointment, disgust, and whatever other emotions out of the equation, the fact remains that this team is still very much alive and kicking in this race for the final wildcard. While I have absolutely no designs on them going anywhere if they get in (which is far from certain), hockey is not like the NBA where the low-seeded teams have basically zero shot.

As far as making the playoff goes, while this team has been a total disappointment, I'm not convinced there any worse or less deserving than the Canadiens or Blue Jackets, myself.

I will continue to pull for them until it's over. I've been a fan since the mid 80s. I'm not going to stop now.

Yeah, it's a big ask but the Jackets or Montreal have been unable to pull away.

If they can win six of the last eight - huge ask - I think that's enough. 

Quote from: EDjohnst1981 on April 01, 2025, 07:35:25 PMYeah, it's a big ask but the Jackets or Montreal have been unable to pull away.

If they can win six of the last eight - huge ask - I think that's enough. 

outside of the first 15 games of the season was there any point at all that they managed to string 6 out of 8 wins together?  I can't recall it if it happened.  Even if they make it to the playoffs, and the ONLY reason I still would want them to do it is for Sam Rosen, they're gonna be washed out in the short order. 

What I don't understand is how a Laviolette coached team has as many defensive lapses as this team. I watch them saying "really?, are you kidding". The right type of team to build is a smothering checking team backstopped by Igor. Like the Brodeur Cup Devils.