Big Blue Huddle

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?

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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.



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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

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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?

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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.



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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

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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!