First! Good morning Boneheads welcome to Thursday. I am not at all disappointed at Gorton moves or lack there of. It appears the necessary work that needs to be done to return the Rangers to contender status will be done over the summer. He knows what this team needs, can he accomplish that is the question.
Right now I almost wish they haven’t overachieved…Got people’s hopes up for this season. They’re the softest team with the softest coach and they’re getting bounced in the first round. I have high hopes that Gorton will fix things over the summer.
Good morning, boneheads!
File my name under “not disappointed” too. Gorton did the right thing. Addressed their defense, probably slightly overpaid for Smith. One extra pick, or perhaps one of the picks could’ve been lower. But what if Smith works well with McD? Wishful thinking? Who knows, he may be a better option than what they have now.
He didn’t add a difference maker upfront. But those were either not available, or would require dismantling their core.
Everyone was clamoring for a physical 4th liner. But let me ask you this: The way this team is constructed, do you really think one physical player, with TOI at around 10 min, would make a difference? Or are they better off enhancing what made them successful so far and dressing the 4th line that could be a scoring threat?
Bottom line is, he didn’t give up much and addressed their main need.
Did AV play soft as a player? Or has it been his personnel in Vancouver and here? It’s an eternity ago, but what kind of team did he try to have in MTL? Fast or thumpers?
With AV’s roll 4 lines (and 3 D pairs) strategy; the 4th line is an integral part of this team (and any team). The idea that they (or the bottom D pair) only play 10 minutes so it doesn’t matter is not accurate. Is it more important for the stars to play well who get more ice (ahem, Step); yes.
.
The challenge with this team is they have 12 top 9 forwards because Pumps and Puree are not possession players. Fast going down, playing his best hockey on the 4th line with Oscar, is a big blow. If they added a complementary possession 2-way player on that 4th line (or two), it would have made that line an asset, not the liability it is now.
.
Everyone wants to get on the NHL 3.0 ‘Speed League’ bandwagon but who did Pitt play on their 4th line last year? 4th liners..
.
Glad Gorton didn’t overpay. He knows this team is not built for a long run.
.
LGR!
I don’t think the team plays any “softer” than most other teams do these days. Are there exceptions, sure but lets not forget we beat these same Caps a week ago? We have done very well against the west (again) too. Its not that we can’t and don’t win against the teams that still play a more physical checking game.
Where I think this team has an issue is in the motor/motivation department. Too many games they have Jeykl and Hyde periods (not always in the same order). That is just perplexing to me. Is it conditioning? Desire? Mental? If this team comes out and plays hard for 60 minutes they can win a series against any other team. The concern is that they do not.
Finding out that Smith and McD are former teammates that were occasionally paired together at Wisconsin makes the move somewhat more satisfying. While it’s not Kevin “I only cost 3 picks” Shattenkirk, they obviously addressed or attempted to address getting the captain a steady partner while not giving up the farm
I don’t remember if I’ve ever complained about the team being “soft”. I can tell you this though, come playoff time you need a team that can play in the dirty areas, absorb hits and nastiness and dish it right back and score from tough areas of the ice. You’re not going deep into the post season by scoring on the fly no matter how much skill you possess.
Seems fairly straightforward to me. Gorton and AV had a plan going into the season, their plan has worked, and they’re not going to suddenly revert to someone’s imagined Plan B in the face of: success.
Donuts says Smith can skate and is feisty. We have a bunch of guys who qualify on the first count, a feisty we could use. From his lips to God’s beers.
This should be a tough stretch coming up, what with Zibanajad, Fast, Girardi, Grabner, Klein in various stages of dinged. Smith now looks like a genius move, perhaps an indication that the Klein/Girardi situation is worse than we may think. We saw the effect the prolonged Mika absence had, Grabner was slumping even before Gerund popped him, and I don’t know who replaces Fast’s leadership. He’s been my favorite Ranger this year by a mile, you rarely see the guy take a shift off, and while his skill set is easily replaced, his example may not be. No surprise to me that AV has put him through many lines, as if to indicate to various passengers the level of effort he’s looking for.
Fast has been challenged in his NYR career in playing the puck. This most recent stretch with Oscar on the 4th line showcased an improved ability to make an NHL quality pass that was missing in his game.
.
A bad habit that he has slowly rid himself of is holding the stick with one hand in board battles. With two hands on the stick he has the ability to move the puck quickly (Fast?) and maintain better balance to not get knocked off the puck so easily.
.
However, it does not help you absorb a jumping charge along the boards by a 230 lb ape.
So it’s a coincidence that Fast was at his most effective playing on the 4th line 10 minutes a night. And that leadership thing, I spit coffee out of my nose I laughed so hard. Give me a break.
On Grabner,
As soon as teams started matching there top pair D against that line, Grabner struggled. It is probably time to put Grabner where he was originally signed to play.
Norm talks about fast (in no way shape or form saying this in a negative context) in the exact same way many here talked about Prust etc…skill set replaceable, heart not so much.
I think the first round is going to be fascinating regardless…every potential playoff team that lacked some sort of sand paper or playoff experience added it to some degree.
–
On any given night any team can beat another team, in a 7 game series that becomes a little less true. Couple that with “costly” wins (or in the case of the last game vs caps costly losses), injuries obviously play huge factors.
–
It will be fun and interesting.
–
Re AV and the past…the Rome hit changed everything about his style..cost the Canucks the cup imo.
BDL and RR2, are you saying you don’t see the value of Fast’s brand of leadership, or are you defining it more narrowly, e.g. letter on the sweater? (And you might want to look at a game log, BDL, before you throw out inaccurate TOI numbers.)
Sorry that I missed the fun yesterday, but I had a bad reaction after the eye doctor’s visit and was on the IR yesterday. The deadline was about as boring as can be – a lot of swapping out of deckchairs on the Titanic as far as I could see 9and i couldn’t see that well). I have to guess that three factors played a part: Expansion Draft, so-so regular Draft and a flat salary cap for next year.
Yeah, Gorton probably paid too much for Smith but given the injuries to Girardi and Klein he didn’t have much choice as he was dealing from a point of weakness.
It is amazing how everyone goes nuts about the Rangers being so soft. How soft were they the first two times they played, and beat, the Capitals? Getting a Steve Ott is not going to make the difference. When everyone is healthy, the Rangers have enough size to compete. The problem is the players not using their size. Not sure if that is on the players on the coach.
Also, remember that the Rangers played the other night without Girardi and Klein in the lineup. Granted they aren’t big hitters or overly physical, but they are the second coming of Beck and Beukeboom when you compare them to Clendening and Kampfer.
The only thing I might have looked to bring in would have been a fourth line center who can win faceoffs, but I don’t know who was available. Anyhoo, it always seems that the asking price for players is always higher when the Rangers come calling. Not sure who said it here, but I bet the Wings wouldn’t have done McIlrath and fourth for Vanek if it were the Rangers and not the Lightning (of course Hollnad might have wanted to help his old buddy out).
I’m laughing at the suggestion that on a team full of veterans who have gone deep in the playoffs that Jesper Fast would be anywhere near the top of the “leadership” board.
With AV’s track record between the rangers and the canucks it appears to me AV’s style is great for the regular season, not so much in winning a stanely cup.
I still can’t stand the “new” playoff format. So one of the #2/#3 seeds in the East exits round 1 and one of the #2/#3 seeds in the Antics Div goes to round 2? And the Rs, having wised up, take the weaselly route the Isles took last year and I’m supposed to be happy about it? Where’s the sport in that? http://www.montypython.net/scripts/mosquito.php
In his last handful of games, Fast has played, 11 minutes twice, 10 minutes once, 13, 15, 12, and 14. The last couple he was with Nash, and Stepan. When he plays 4th his minutes are down, and his effectiveness is up.
Thanks for correcting the record, BDL. And the “leadership board”–I assume a reference to the Cs and As?–is RR2’s creation. I think Fast’s leadership by example is unquestionable and that his upcoming 0 minutes per game is not a good thing.
In my mind, not making any moves also sends a message to the current players: Gorton likes these guys together and likes their potential. Seems to me that it’s a really great vote of confidence, even though he would have made a Sather-esque move if they were really going for it. That can galvanize a lot of them and bodes well for offseason work and next year’s performance.
—
I think that the effect of this vote of confidence could be squandered if the coaching staff is not replaced, though. You guys have far better informed perspectives on whether or not that would happen, but I really don’t see how AV can come back given the Jeckyll/Hyde nature of the team.
—
I’d bet that Gorton is placing more faith in his players than his staff at this point.
Norm, I’m not talking about letters on sweaters. I’m talking about the “leadership group” of the team. Ain’t nobody looking down the bench at Fast for inspiration.
Is it bad that he’s out? Sure. He’s better than Puempel and Pirri, both of whom will play in his absence.
Of course for it to work, Girardi has to be bought out, Klein either in Vegas or traded, Smith re-signed and Shattenkirk signed (Would it be asking too much for him to give us a bit of a hometown discount?)
I didn’t see anybody that switched team that would have turned a 4th place team into a Cup contender. No, not even Shattenkirk. I’m not sure what the Rangers lack (other than consistency), but whatever it is it didn’t appear to be available at the deadline
If Gorton didn’t have any confidence in AV he would’ve fired him already. Easiest thing to do, especially since his extended contract only counts against Dolan’s income.
ilb, it’s the old Bobby Holik saying: If Bobby Holik is your third line center, you will win the Stanley Cup. If Bobby Holik is your first line center, you will not win the Stanley Cup.
It’s not that there are 3 teams in front of the Rangers, so they suck. It’s that two of those teams have shown to play more consistently than the Rangers. Can the Rangers win the Cup? Sure. You never know what happens when the playoffs start, but at this point can you say that they look to be as good a team as Washington or Pittsburgh? I don’t think so.
What is Bobby Holik is paid like a 1st line center? No Hard Cap back then, didn’t matter…
.
NHL Power Rankings ESPN.com + (current Vegas Odds): 4th in Eastern; 7th in league
Hawks 17/2
Wild 5/1
Caps 9/2
Pens 19/2
BJs 10/1
Sharks 15/1
NYR 11/1
Preds 25/1
Ducks 20/1
Habs 12/1
Pittsburgh more consistent? Is that the same Pittsburgh that lost this season to Columbus and Washington 7-1? And the Rangers 6-1? And had that 8-7 game against the Caps? And is 5-5-1 in their last 11? That’s the more consistent team?
This over reacting by some gets very tiring. I love how if some one says this team isn’t the greatest, others here instantly interpret that as you are saying they suck. That’s just dumb, sorry but it is.
–
This is a top 10 team in the regular season, not top 5, but probably 6 or 7. Does that mean I think this team sucks?!
–
The playoffs are a different bird and this team in the playoffs is tbd.
–
AV is not the worst coach in the league, but he isn’t a proven cup winner either (a lot of very good coaches aren’t…humpty comes to mind immediately). I personally do not like his “whistle to whistle” coaching philosophy but that doesn’t make him a terrible coach, just means I don’t like that philosophy. He does make bad decisions at times and good ones, but no coach is perfect.
–
This team as a whole reminds me of Gomez…if I had a dime for every time Gomez got within half a stride of delivering a check and then turned and didn’t, I’d buy us all lunch for a week. The players on this team do that rountinely…30 plus times a game. Other teams finish their checks constantly (see capitals, Washington for a recent example). The rangers have several players with the check finishing mentality, but they don’t do it…I attribute that to coaching (and not in a good way).
I think its a given that the Rangers have nobody as good as Crosby. I think it’s a given for all the other 30 teams (yes, Vegas is now in the league) as well.
I read somewhere the package St. louis wanted from the rangers was a lot more than what the craps gave up because the blues GM knew that Shattenkirk wanted to go to the rangers and the rangers needed help on the blueline.
also, Wick, speaking only for myself … There are some people who say they suck, day after day after day. Those are the ones I mock. I agree with most of you guys who point out their deficiencies, and there surely are a few deficiencies. Which is why I consider them a next-level contender after the Big 3.
Um, neither are any other coaches that have never won. And what does winning a cup once get you today? Keenan, Crawford, Hitchcock, among others with one on the resume who are unemployed. Bylsma and Sutter aren’t in a playoff position.
Wicky – Yeah, I took exception to saying that just because I called them a fourth place team, that I said they sucked. That kind of stuff is what douchebags on other sites do.
Grabner had goal called back last game due to the rule that should and will be changed this off season. whether the back foot is on the ice or couple inches above is irrelevant.
I wanted the goal to count in large part due to keeping the wolves away regarding him and his place in the lineup.
Alex,
Grabner earned his place in the lineup. That entire line has slowed down since the other teams stayed paying more attention to them. Also, I get what I am about to say is going to sound foolish, but I think the best place for the Rangers leading goal scorer is on the 4th line. Buchnevich, and Vesey on the 4th line does not work. They both need to be top 9. Grabner is good enough that he create and get opportunities on the 4th line.
Nash, Stepan, Zucc
Kreider, Zibanijad, Buchnevich
Vesey, Hayes, Miller
Grabner, Lindberg, Fast.
One goal lead late, Grabner replaces Vesey, and Fast replaces Buchnevich.
BDL- you make more sense than you think. Neither Vesey or Buchnevich can be effective 4th liners. And it was tried. Grabner on the 4th, with a lot of PK time will do much more damage, and require opposing teams to adjust their lines, than those two.
Grabner doesn’t need to play with better linemates. He’s scoring off of breakaways that he’s going to get regardless of which line he is playing on. And he isn’t creating opportunities for his linemates, hence his Cy Young stat line. Would he get more attempts with better linemates that would spring him for breakaways more often? Absolutely.
All of this getting our undies in a twist about lines is pointless unless guys like Nash, Stepan, Kreider, Zibanejad, and Zuccarello start scoring some goals. And I think it has a lot less to do with their linemates and a lot more to do with them getting their hands dirty and taking a lot more shots.
While I agree he needs more in all three zones, he’s still showing a hell of a lot more in the neutral and defensive than Richards ever did, albeit, he’s showing a lot less in the offensive zone than Richards did.
Even at his worst, most broken down, washed-up self, Richards was still dangerous when the puck was on his stick in the offensive zone. But then, and only then. And he did very little to make sure it got there. Right now, with Stepan, I count two Rangers passes from when it touches his stick in order to know the next time the Rangers might have a chance at scoring a goal. Oftentimes, the Rangers are no longer in possession within that time frame.
RR2, this full-time teaching that I’ve returned to deprives me of valuable Bonehead time. Coming up for air, when you say “replace Fast’s name with any other 4th liner that has been in and out of here”, I understand your point and the examples you name are good ones. But I would disagree that any 4th-liner will do. He’s the guy this year, and maybe Vegas picks him off and they get a replacement, or he leaves for other reasons. But there’s nobody on the roster, yet, who brings it the way he does (meaning, consistently) and they need him. 4th line, perfect. Occasional goal or assist, fine. PKs, protect last-minute lead, yes. Role player and a damn good one.
Liking your lines, BDL. Here’s hoping they can stay healthy and get to that target. Buchnevich needs to earn it, of course, but here comes his [last?] chance, as Pirri and Puempel. The latter two have a lot of proving to do, doubt they’ll come up with the goods.
Agreed, Doodie. Vesey and Nash have brought out the best in each other at times when on the same line. Grabner had cooled off again. I get that his speed helps Miller and Hayes on that line but I think at the moment they’d benefit from Buchnevich on the RW there or even back with his preseason linemates which could help get them going a bit. plug holes on the fourth line with the Pirri’s and Puempels of the world in Graby and Fast’s absence.
I have to say, I really would like to see the Kreid-Zika-Buch troika that we saw for all of 5 games to start the season after seeing it throughout the preseason.
Buch-Mika-Kreider was awesome offensively during camp and in the early season, but still was on ice for pretty much every goal against during that stretch. And Zibanejad has missed his man, and his line has been on the ice, for a boatload of GA lately. I don’t understand it.
Agree on Zibanejad. While I wouldn’t call this season a disappointment, it’s certainly a tough break kind of year for the kid. starts to find his stride then breaks his leg going into the boards and hasn’t looked too good since coming back. Would be nice to see him heat up over the final stretch here.
Since they’re impersonating beached whales, perfect time to extend Girardi and Staal without any salary raises, and lock them in for 5 or 6 more years. 🙂
And Doodie, I think the Wild have been excellent (but that Parise. woof). But my point was just that Bruce Boudreau probably takes a lot of heat from different fan bases as another coach who has impressive regular season teams but has yet to win a Cup.
I’m sure people criticize some of his decisions too. At the end of the day, AV has won a lot here since he’s been at the helm. But that’s a lot of the fan base. on pace to be a 50 win team in a top 4 finish and should be sellers at the deadline.
If this Smith trade works out and stabilizes the first pairing on the regular, we may actually be in decent shape. Holden/Klein along with Girardi can make up the third pair
which goaltending platoon, Doodie? And you’re right about Parise. But think about how many players on how many teams you can make that point about. It’s why we’ll be in the midst of another lock out sooner than later
*I wanted another righty shot but everyone I want to put in is a lefty: McDonagh, Vadnais, Greschner, Lowe, and Neilson. I ended up with Girardi because he was one of my wife’s favorite Rangers and I still need to keep her happy or she will come back and haunt me.
Interesting thing I never realized, the four Rangers d-men from my youth Park, Rolfe, Seiling and Neilson were all lefty shots.
Point to ponder – Emile Francis tried trading for Vadnais when he was with the Seals. I wonder how the Rangers fortunes would have turned out with Vadnais added to the big four. Does Francis trade Park/Ratelle to Boston for Espo without a Vadnais coming back in return?
Before I forget, the goalies are Richter and Lundqvist. It killed me to not list Giacomin, but no Cup means he’s out – which is why Richter is my starter.
In case no one’s noticed, they have 15 games this month. 11 of which are against Eastern Conf along with the lovely West Coast trip through the big 3 in CA. So yeah, at least a couple of players may want to find their game sometimes soon…
Zika playing with THE and Zucc; not exactly Erixon and Nemchinov but only one minus game since his return (CBJ -2) even though that stat doesn’t count.
I’d put chi, Pitt, was, minn, sj (in no particular order) ahead of the rangers for different reasons.
–
I understand a coach isn’t a “cup winner” until he wins it, but AV can’t seem to close it out. He gets his team there (credit where credit is due), but hasn’t won it. Humpty, hasn’t got there yet (does that make AV a better coach than him…maybe). I thought the point of the whole thing was to win the cup, you know…Stanley cup championships. I mean piling up a lot of victories (longevity is great…I’m sure the owners like the revenue if winning teams and playoff revenue for a round or two), but seems like the championships should be a factor of measuring success.
Speaking of 4th line centers who would play the body during the playoffs…wonder if they made a play for Boyle? Toronto overpaid for sure, a 2nd rounder is way too steep for a 4th line rental – not sure what Lou was thinking there.
Lou was thinking, I have an extra 2nd rounder, the team has overachieved, and I should get them some help to let them know I believe in them. Why Boyle? 100 playoff games experience.
Wicky always capitalize “Stanley Cup Championships”…if you don’t it tender to piss off the hockey gods and then they crap on your team and give you players like Wade Redden for 25+ years…
If there was one thing the Leafs needed, it was a playoff veteran. Boyle is second only to Hagelin in playoff games since 11-12. The total combined playoff GP for the Leafs is 239. Boyle has more than double the playoff GP than the next highest Leaf (Polak-49, 24 of which were last season). Aside from Polak, Martin, Hunwick, Smith, and Anderson, no one on that team had even been to the playoffs since the epic collapse against Boston, and only JVR had ever been to the playoffs before that, too. Boyle was a great depth add for them.
You don’t know that, BDL. what gives you the right to make that assumption? Maybe Lou was thinking that he could go for a large pie with sausage peppers and onions…or a nice golf outing at pebble beach. Surely you can’t just assume the man was thinking so in depth about his team at that precise moment. 🙂
I wouldn’t be surprised if he went back to Tampa but I’d be very surprised if it was on 7/1. Tampa has a lot of cap problems for next year. If Boyle really wants to go back there, he will have to wait until they can figure out how to fit him in.
doodie you left out that with Boyle, there’s someone there to sit at his locker with a backwards hat on his head and answer questions after the games. I kid, but in seriousness Boyle is a solid locker room guy. One who preaches accountability. It was a wise pick up
Boyle hated AV. AV didn’t want Boyle. And AV doesn’t want lumbering guys. So, I doubt they considered that move.
anthony, I have no problem with the 2011-12 Girardi being in your group. But another RH who was pretty good was James Patrick. And he had the skills to play AV’s system.
That was actually mentioned by a few people after the trade: that he will sit there after every single game and answer questions, no matter what happened in the game. Not a lot of guys that can say that.
Thanks Carp. I completely forgot all about Patrick. I wanted a more defensive partner for Park, but Jeep fits in just as well.
On sad note in the hockey world, Helene Elliott is reporting that long time Kings play-by-play announcer Bob Miller is going to be retiring due to poor health. Whenever the Kings were on at a reasonable hour I always made sure to listen to Miller and Jim Fox.
To think that Zubov put up at least 40+ points for 11 straight years (7 seasons of 50-70) after they traded him makes me sick. Even in the first year of the Jagr era when the dark years were done he put up 76 points. But instead we got the last few years of Ulfie’s NHL career
Stralman Bros. Band:
“I’ve got to runnnnnnnnnn to keep from blockin’ cause I’m bounnnnnnd to get my game rockin’ but I got one mo’ month to go now…cause they’re not gonna get me no, not gonna get me to elevate my game- before the plaaaaaay offffffffs”
Zubov was regular season leading scorer in ’94
Trade him and Nedved to get Last Legs Ulfie and Lucky Luc.
Nedved scores 99 pts in first yr with pens
Zubov has 66pts and is a +28
.
oy
IIRC, one of the reasons Neil Smith made that deal was because the Rangers got (literally) run out of the playoffs by the Flyers in four games. In an attempt to get tougher, he made the deal. Who knew that Ulf would “find religion” and become a clean player with the Rangers.
So Donn Clendenon knocks Grabner out with a crosscheck in practice. With all the D around, he’ll be playing a lot going forward once everyone is healthy. NOT.
Lots of chatter today. What I’ve discovered is… Norm is really AV. Nobody shows so much love of Fast other than AV! (He’s ok and Norm does have a point about he’s one guy that seems to be busting it when on the ice)
Also … Zubov bailed big-time in that Flyers series. It was a brutal trade, but if Robitaille had done what he did every other year in his career, it would have been much less brutal. And if Ulf had knees. Still, Leetch won a Norris with Samuelsson as a partner.
Nice photo on page 42 of today’s daily news of a player leaving his skates to hit and injure an opponent. I wonder if the charger was Sean Avery and the injured player was Sidney crosby,how many games would the suspension been.
Rangers Report 2.0 
First! Good morning Boneheads welcome to Thursday. I am not at all disappointed at Gorton moves or lack there of. It appears the necessary work that needs to be done to return the Rangers to contender status will be done over the summer. He knows what this team needs, can he accomplish that is the question.
LikeLike
Right now I almost wish they haven’t overachieved…Got people’s hopes up for this season. They’re the softest team with the softest coach and they’re getting bounced in the first round. I have high hopes that Gorton will fix things over the summer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning, boneheads!
File my name under “not disappointed” too. Gorton did the right thing. Addressed their defense, probably slightly overpaid for Smith. One extra pick, or perhaps one of the picks could’ve been lower. But what if Smith works well with McD? Wishful thinking? Who knows, he may be a better option than what they have now.
He didn’t add a difference maker upfront. But those were either not available, or would require dismantling their core.
Everyone was clamoring for a physical 4th liner. But let me ask you this: The way this team is constructed, do you really think one physical player, with TOI at around 10 min, would make a difference? Or are they better off enhancing what made them successful so far and dressing the 4th line that could be a scoring threat?
Bottom line is, he didn’t give up much and addressed their main need.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Buchnevich, by the way, had two goals last night in Hartford. I hope he is on I-95 as we speak.
LikeLike
Did AV play soft as a player? Or has it been his personnel in Vancouver and here? It’s an eternity ago, but what kind of team did he try to have in MTL? Fast or thumpers?
LikeLike
With AV’s roll 4 lines (and 3 D pairs) strategy; the 4th line is an integral part of this team (and any team). The idea that they (or the bottom D pair) only play 10 minutes so it doesn’t matter is not accurate. Is it more important for the stars to play well who get more ice (ahem, Step); yes.
.
The challenge with this team is they have 12 top 9 forwards because Pumps and Puree are not possession players. Fast going down, playing his best hockey on the 4th line with Oscar, is a big blow. If they added a complementary possession 2-way player on that 4th line (or two), it would have made that line an asset, not the liability it is now.
.
Everyone wants to get on the NHL 3.0 ‘Speed League’ bandwagon but who did Pitt play on their 4th line last year? 4th liners..
.
Glad Gorton didn’t overpay. He knows this team is not built for a long run.
.
LGR!
LikeLike
So if Grabner is out then I see no reason Buchnevich shouldn’t be called up and playing top 9 given the current state of things
LikeLike
First to the traid deadline post! That’s a Yahtzee!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My sauces are saying Jim Gordon is going to have a big day!
LikeLike
I think he had an assist too
LikeLike
I don’t think the team plays any “softer” than most other teams do these days. Are there exceptions, sure but lets not forget we beat these same Caps a week ago? We have done very well against the west (again) too. Its not that we can’t and don’t win against the teams that still play a more physical checking game.
Where I think this team has an issue is in the motor/motivation department. Too many games they have Jeykl and Hyde periods (not always in the same order). That is just perplexing to me. Is it conditioning? Desire? Mental? If this team comes out and plays hard for 60 minutes they can win a series against any other team. The concern is that they do not.
LikeLike
Finding out that Smith and McD are former teammates that were occasionally paired together at Wisconsin makes the move somewhat more satisfying. While it’s not Kevin “I only cost 3 picks” Shattenkirk, they obviously addressed or attempted to address getting the captain a steady partner while not giving up the farm
LikeLike
I don’t remember if I’ve ever complained about the team being “soft”. I can tell you this though, come playoff time you need a team that can play in the dirty areas, absorb hits and nastiness and dish it right back and score from tough areas of the ice. You’re not going deep into the post season by scoring on the fly no matter how much skill you possess.
LikeLiked by 2 people
SN- my point was that one “banger” who would play on the 4th line wouldn’t make any difference.
LikeLike
Hello, Larry:
http://nypost.com/2017/03/02/rangers-stanley-cup-push-must-include-return-of-an-exiled-player/
LikeLike
Seems fairly straightforward to me. Gorton and AV had a plan going into the season, their plan has worked, and they’re not going to suddenly revert to someone’s imagined Plan B in the face of: success.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Has it worked?
LikeLike
ilb – I agree, they needed to get 2 😉
LikeLike
You aren’t far away from what I meant. They needed to retool the 4th line completely. Or leave it.
LikeLike
and bring back Butch…
LikeLike
A Habs series will be a meat grinder, that’s fo sho
LikeLike
Donuts says Smith can skate and is feisty. We have a bunch of guys who qualify on the first count, a feisty we could use. From his lips to God’s beers.
LikeLike
Plan Nine from Outer Space
LikeLike
This should be a tough stretch coming up, what with Zibanajad, Fast, Girardi, Grabner, Klein in various stages of dinged. Smith now looks like a genius move, perhaps an indication that the Klein/Girardi situation is worse than we may think. We saw the effect the prolonged Mika absence had, Grabner was slumping even before Gerund popped him, and I don’t know who replaces Fast’s leadership. He’s been my favorite Ranger this year by a mile, you rarely see the guy take a shift off, and while his skill set is easily replaced, his example may not be. No surprise to me that AV has put him through many lines, as if to indicate to various passengers the level of effort he’s looking for.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Norm – You said it re: Fast.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As in hockey, as in life: the toughest guys are not necessarily the boxers. Toughest guys keep coming at you and don’t give up.
LikeLike
O’cooscoos one of the best sci-fi movies of all times! AV’s play book?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fast has been challenged in his NYR career in playing the puck. This most recent stretch with Oscar on the 4th line showcased an improved ability to make an NHL quality pass that was missing in his game.
.
A bad habit that he has slowly rid himself of is holding the stick with one hand in board battles. With two hands on the stick he has the ability to move the puck quickly (Fast?) and maintain better balance to not get knocked off the puck so easily.
.
However, it does not help you absorb a jumping charge along the boards by a 230 lb ape.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So it’s a coincidence that Fast was at his most effective playing on the 4th line 10 minutes a night. And that leadership thing, I spit coffee out of my nose I laughed so hard. Give me a break.
LikeLiked by 1 person
With the excruciating pain of a separated shoulder (?), Quickie went to the bench instead of straight to the room. Wouldn’t catch me doing that.
LikeLike
Uh, Players’ Player. That don’t happen by accident.
LikeLike
On Grabner,
As soon as teams started matching there top pair D against that line, Grabner struggled. It is probably time to put Grabner where he was originally signed to play.
LikeLike
Gonna be positive about tonight game 4-3 Rangers in OT. Who gets the game winner? McDonagh!!!
LikeLike
Norm talks about fast (in no way shape or form saying this in a negative context) in the exact same way many here talked about Prust etc…skill set replaceable, heart not so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the first round is going to be fascinating regardless…every potential playoff team that lacked some sort of sand paper or playoff experience added it to some degree.
–
On any given night any team can beat another team, in a 7 game series that becomes a little less true. Couple that with “costly” wins (or in the case of the last game vs caps costly losses), injuries obviously play huge factors.
–
It will be fun and interesting.
–
Re AV and the past…the Rome hit changed everything about his style..cost the Canucks the cup imo.
LikeLike
To be clear, the hit didn’t, the call did.
LikeLike
BDL and RR2, are you saying you don’t see the value of Fast’s brand of leadership, or are you defining it more narrowly, e.g. letter on the sweater? (And you might want to look at a game log, BDL, before you throw out inaccurate TOI numbers.)
LikeLiked by 3 people
Sorry that I missed the fun yesterday, but I had a bad reaction after the eye doctor’s visit and was on the IR yesterday. The deadline was about as boring as can be – a lot of swapping out of deckchairs on the Titanic as far as I could see 9and i couldn’t see that well). I have to guess that three factors played a part: Expansion Draft, so-so regular Draft and a flat salary cap for next year.
Yeah, Gorton probably paid too much for Smith but given the injuries to Girardi and Klein he didn’t have much choice as he was dealing from a point of weakness.
It is amazing how everyone goes nuts about the Rangers being so soft. How soft were they the first two times they played, and beat, the Capitals? Getting a Steve Ott is not going to make the difference. When everyone is healthy, the Rangers have enough size to compete. The problem is the players not using their size. Not sure if that is on the players on the coach.
Also, remember that the Rangers played the other night without Girardi and Klein in the lineup. Granted they aren’t big hitters or overly physical, but they are the second coming of Beck and Beukeboom when you compare them to Clendening and Kampfer.
The only thing I might have looked to bring in would have been a fourth line center who can win faceoffs, but I don’t know who was available. Anyhoo, it always seems that the asking price for players is always higher when the Rangers come calling. Not sure who said it here, but I bet the Wings wouldn’t have done McIlrath and fourth for Vanek if it were the Rangers and not the Lightning (of course Hollnad might have wanted to help his old buddy out).
LikeLike
I’m laughing at the suggestion that on a team full of veterans who have gone deep in the playoffs that Jesper Fast would be anywhere near the top of the “leadership” board.
LikeLiked by 2 people
First, tonight is a must win.
Second, I’m in Bloody Mary land, and it ain’t pretty.
LikeLike
There’s a good chance I may have committed some… light treason
LikeLike
With AV’s track record between the rangers and the canucks it appears to me AV’s style is great for the regular season, not so much in winning a stanely cup.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I still can’t stand the “new” playoff format. So one of the #2/#3 seeds in the East exits round 1 and one of the #2/#3 seeds in the Antics Div goes to round 2? And the Rs, having wised up, take the weaselly route the Isles took last year and I’m supposed to be happy about it? Where’s the sport in that? http://www.montypython.net/scripts/mosquito.php
LikeLike
In his last handful of games, Fast has played, 11 minutes twice, 10 minutes once, 13, 15, 12, and 14. The last couple he was with Nash, and Stepan. When he plays 4th his minutes are down, and his effectiveness is up.
LikeLike
Thanks for correcting the record, BDL. And the “leadership board”–I assume a reference to the Cs and As?–is RR2’s creation. I think Fast’s leadership by example is unquestionable and that his upcoming 0 minutes per game is not a good thing.
LikeLike
Tommy, they say that about every coach, until they win one.
LikeLike
Buchnevich is back.
LikeLiked by 3 people
More softness 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
it’s such a tired narrative, that this guy hasn’t won a Cup. His teams have won tons of playoff series. he’s not just a regular-season coach.
LikeLike
In my mind, not making any moves also sends a message to the current players: Gorton likes these guys together and likes their potential. Seems to me that it’s a really great vote of confidence, even though he would have made a Sather-esque move if they were really going for it. That can galvanize a lot of them and bodes well for offseason work and next year’s performance.
—
I think that the effect of this vote of confidence could be squandered if the coaching staff is not replaced, though. You guys have far better informed perspectives on whether or not that would happen, but I really don’t see how AV can come back given the Jeckyll/Hyde nature of the team.
—
I’d bet that Gorton is placing more faith in his players than his staff at this point.
LikeLike
Norm, I’m not talking about letters on sweaters. I’m talking about the “leadership group” of the team. Ain’t nobody looking down the bench at Fast for inspiration.
Is it bad that he’s out? Sure. He’s better than Puempel and Pirri, both of whom will play in his absence.
LikeLike
If Smith proves to be a good partner for his Badger buddy McDonagh, could the Rangers defense in 2017/18 look something like this:
McDonagh-Smith
Holden/Staal-Shattenkirk
Staal/Holden-Skjei
Clendening
Of course for it to work, Girardi has to be bought out, Klein either in Vegas or traded, Smith re-signed and Shattenkirk signed (Would it be asking too much for him to give us a bit of a hometown discount?)
LikeLike
JMR, I’d bet you’re mistaken, given how they just extended AV for 3 years at over 4 million a year.
LikeLike
I didn’t see anybody that switched team that would have turned a 4th place team into a Cup contender. No, not even Shattenkirk. I’m not sure what the Rangers lack (other than consistency), but whatever it is it didn’t appear to be available at the deadline
LikeLike
Jeckyll has won 40 times, Hyde 21 (I assume the two ties occurred in transition). I’ll take it.
LikeLike
CCC, a 4th place team isn’t a Cup contender already?
LikeLike
they sure weren’t getting a legit top-pair RHD, unless they emptied the vault for Shattenkirk.
LikeLike
Only the losses count, Norm.
LikeLike
See, there are three teams better than the Rangers in the NHL. Hence they suck.
LikeLiked by 2 people
If a few Rangers haven’t been looking out on the ice at Fast (no idea what he’s like on the bench) for inspiration, they should start.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I do think that if AV’s team loses all remaining 19 games he could be in trouble.
BTW, they probably have to go 5-14 to miss the playoffs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have no idea (no sauces) what happens in the Rangers locker room. All I can do is look at how they play.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If Gorton didn’t have any confidence in AV he would’ve fired him already. Easiest thing to do, especially since his extended contract only counts against Dolan’s income.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If Fast is their 4th liner without any need to move up, this team will make a lot of noise this offseason. And I mean A LOT OF NOISE.
LikeLike
That’s what I get for not reading the blog over the last few weeks… and a reason why I love it so.
LikeLike
ilb, it’s the old Bobby Holik saying: If Bobby Holik is your third line center, you will win the Stanley Cup. If Bobby Holik is your first line center, you will not win the Stanley Cup.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think he said it to Barnaby.
LikeLike
Norm, replace Fast’s name with any other 4th liner that has been in and out of here.
If only they tried as hard as Ortmeyer/Betts/Prust/Dorsett/Moore/etc.
He isn’t that good at hockey. They will live.
LikeLike
It’s not that there are 3 teams in front of the Rangers, so they suck. It’s that two of those teams have shown to play more consistently than the Rangers. Can the Rangers win the Cup? Sure. You never know what happens when the playoffs start, but at this point can you say that they look to be as good a team as Washington or Pittsburgh? I don’t think so.
LikeLike
LikeLiked by 1 person
At this point last year, did you think Pittsburgh could beat Washington and win four rounds?
LikeLike
Best way to make noise: Do the Fish Tank!
LikeLike
I’ll bet if the Rangers win Game 1 against Pittsburgh or whomever, all you “one-and-done” guys will snap your ankles jumping on the bandwagon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
At this point last year did anybody say that Pittsburgh sucks? Do the Rangers have any player on the roster comparable to Crosby?
LikeLike
If the fish tank and I was Traveras, I couldn’t wait to hit free agency.
LikeLike
carp, I disagree, I won’t jump on any bandwagon, it would be just 1 game, got to win 4, they win 4, than yes and I would admit I was wrong.
LikeLike
What is Bobby Holik is paid like a 1st line center? No Hard Cap back then, didn’t matter…
.
NHL Power Rankings ESPN.com + (current Vegas Odds): 4th in Eastern; 7th in league
Hawks 17/2
Wild 5/1
Caps 9/2
Pens 19/2
BJs 10/1
Sharks 15/1
NYR 11/1
Preds 25/1
Ducks 20/1
Habs 12/1
LikeLike
Nice, Carp. I would love to know exactly what was asked by St. Louis in return…
LikeLike
Pittsburgh more consistent? Is that the same Pittsburgh that lost this season to Columbus and Washington 7-1? And the Rangers 6-1? And had that 8-7 game against the Caps? And is 5-5-1 in their last 11? That’s the more consistent team?
LikeLike
tommy you’ll be thinking they can win the series. bet on it.
though some of you will complain if they only go 16-1 in the playoffs.
LikeLike
I’d bet it was Buchnevich or Skjei, ilb … and more than a first if Shattenkirk signs here.
LikeLike
This over reacting by some gets very tiring. I love how if some one says this team isn’t the greatest, others here instantly interpret that as you are saying they suck. That’s just dumb, sorry but it is.
–
This is a top 10 team in the regular season, not top 5, but probably 6 or 7. Does that mean I think this team sucks?!
–
The playoffs are a different bird and this team in the playoffs is tbd.
–
AV is not the worst coach in the league, but he isn’t a proven cup winner either (a lot of very good coaches aren’t…humpty comes to mind immediately). I personally do not like his “whistle to whistle” coaching philosophy but that doesn’t make him a terrible coach, just means I don’t like that philosophy. He does make bad decisions at times and good ones, but no coach is perfect.
–
This team as a whole reminds me of Gomez…if I had a dime for every time Gomez got within half a stride of delivering a check and then turned and didn’t, I’d buy us all lunch for a week. The players on this team do that rountinely…30 plus times a game. Other teams finish their checks constantly (see capitals, Washington for a recent example). The rangers have several players with the check finishing mentality, but they don’t do it…I attribute that to coaching (and not in a good way).
LikeLike
I think its a given that the Rangers have nobody as good as Crosby. I think it’s a given for all the other 30 teams (yes, Vegas is now in the league) as well.
LikeLike
… and I am in complete agreement with all of you, that this team is inconsistent. … and when it’s bad it can really be bad.
LikeLike
I read somewhere the package St. louis wanted from the rangers was a lot more than what the craps gave up because the blues GM knew that Shattenkirk wanted to go to the rangers and the rangers needed help on the blueline.
LikeLike
wick, give me five or six teams that are absolutely better than the Rangers. And i will disagree with two or three of them.
LikeLike
also, Wick, speaking only for myself … There are some people who say they suck, day after day after day. Those are the ones I mock. I agree with most of you guys who point out their deficiencies, and there surely are a few deficiencies. Which is why I consider them a next-level contender after the Big 3.
LikeLike
“but he isn’t a proven cup winner either”
Um, neither are any other coaches that have never won. And what does winning a cup once get you today? Keenan, Crawford, Hitchcock, among others with one on the resume who are unemployed. Bylsma and Sutter aren’t in a playoff position.
LikeLike
Carp, who are the big 3, in your opinion?
LikeLike
Wicky – Yeah, I took exception to saying that just because I called them a fourth place team, that I said they sucked. That kind of stuff is what douchebags on other sites do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t say that you said that, just that they are already contenders.
LikeLike
to be fair, usually the teams that win a cup have at least 1 lottery picked stud that the rangers will never have.
LikeLike
I’d go Caps-Wild-Hawks-Pens for sure over us. Then I’d start wondering between us, Columbus, and San Jose.
LikeLike
I think they’re better than Wild.
LikeLike
Potent offense, great goaltender and Gorton just addressed defensive depth. Rangers have enough to make some noise in playoffs
LikeLike
I would go Caps, Pitt and Chicago as big 3
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the Wild are really damn good.
LikeLike
Who did we give up for Buchenevich?
LikeLike
Grabner had goal called back last game due to the rule that should and will be changed this off season. whether the back foot is on the ice or couple inches above is irrelevant.
I wanted the goal to count in large part due to keeping the wolves away regarding him and his place in the lineup.
LikeLike
Wild are good, but they accumulated a lot of their points in the WC. Devan Dubnyk played all of 16 PO games in his career. And he is 6-10.
LikeLike
I’m not hearing much on today’s trains. It’s feels like I’m a a day late to the party.
LikeLike
Wicky
Vancouver had to go at least 9 defensemen deep due to injuries or suspensions. Hard for any team to overcome that in cup finals.
LikeLike
WAS-PIT-CHI.
Not sold on Minnesota playing in the weaker West and that crap division.
Rangers over Wild in 6.
LikeLike
Alex,
Grabner earned his place in the lineup. That entire line has slowed down since the other teams stayed paying more attention to them. Also, I get what I am about to say is going to sound foolish, but I think the best place for the Rangers leading goal scorer is on the 4th line. Buchnevich, and Vesey on the 4th line does not work. They both need to be top 9. Grabner is good enough that he create and get opportunities on the 4th line.
LikeLike
Nash, Stepan, Zucc
Kreider, Zibanijad, Buchnevich
Vesey, Hayes, Miller
Grabner, Lindberg, Fast.
One goal lead late, Grabner replaces Vesey, and Fast replaces Buchnevich.
LikeLiked by 1 person
BDL- you make more sense than you think. Neither Vesey or Buchnevich can be effective 4th liners. And it was tried. Grabner on the 4th, with a lot of PK time will do much more damage, and require opposing teams to adjust their lines, than those two.
LikeLike
And I get it, it’s an indictment of how this team is structured: they have too many top 9. But this is what they have, you use it to your advantage
LikeLiked by 1 person
The times at which I have liked Vesey most are when he was playing with Nash, following behind Nash to the goal to get the dirty goals.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Grabner doesn’t need to play with better linemates. He’s scoring off of breakaways that he’s going to get regardless of which line he is playing on. And he isn’t creating opportunities for his linemates, hence his Cy Young stat line. Would he get more attempts with better linemates that would spring him for breakaways more often? Absolutely.
LikeLike
I don’t disagree at all, BDL.
LikeLike
They outta put some %$#@!@& Downey in these jersey’s…
LikeLike
Gum?
That’s an interesting package.
Yeah, it’s from China. Go ahead, try a piece. Tell me that’s not the most delicious gum you’ve ever tasted.
Yes, yes. We shall all try a piece and tell you how delicious it is. (he
LikeLike
Carp, listening to your podcast appearance with Cerny. Here’s the Hero chart that shows Smith’s Shot Suppressor Status:
https://public.tableau.com/shared/B3FRJRKRY?:display_count=yes
LikeLike
Miller and Hayes have been sending a lot of those passes to Grabber but agree he belongs on 4th with Butch/VC in top 9.
LikeLike
Am I crazy, or does Carp not wear glasses?
LikeLike
Looks like a damn Amtrak schedule to me.
LikeLike
“That’s your best friend?”
“Yeah, but he doesn’t wear glasses.”
“That man was wearing glasses.”
“Don’t you see, he was doing it to fool Lloyd Braun.”
LikeLike
All of this getting our undies in a twist about lines is pointless unless guys like Nash, Stepan, Kreider, Zibanejad, and Zuccarello start scoring some goals. And I think it has a lot less to do with their linemates and a lot more to do with them getting their hands dirty and taking a lot more shots.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Especially Opie. Needs to be better in all three zones. Lately he looks like Richie did at the end, and Step’s only what, 25?
LikeLike
More zone play, more forechecking, more cycling, more driving to the net. Less off the rush, less wish passing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
While I agree he needs more in all three zones, he’s still showing a hell of a lot more in the neutral and defensive than Richards ever did, albeit, he’s showing a lot less in the offensive zone than Richards did.
Even at his worst, most broken down, washed-up self, Richards was still dangerous when the puck was on his stick in the offensive zone. But then, and only then. And he did very little to make sure it got there. Right now, with Stepan, I count two Rangers passes from when it touches his stick in order to know the next time the Rangers might have a chance at scoring a goal. Oftentimes, the Rangers are no longer in possession within that time frame.
LikeLike
Step is 26 going on 27, if you can believe it.
LikeLike
Opie always has a stretch like this during the season. He should put him back with Kreider for a while.
LikeLike
RR2, this full-time teaching that I’ve returned to deprives me of valuable Bonehead time. Coming up for air, when you say “replace Fast’s name with any other 4th liner that has been in and out of here”, I understand your point and the examples you name are good ones. But I would disagree that any 4th-liner will do. He’s the guy this year, and maybe Vegas picks him off and they get a replacement, or he leaves for other reasons. But there’s nobody on the roster, yet, who brings it the way he does (meaning, consistently) and they need him. 4th line, perfect. Occasional goal or assist, fine. PKs, protect last-minute lead, yes. Role player and a damn good one.
LikeLike
BDL
Grabner makes miller and hayes better by giving them more room. and visa versa of course.
LikeLike
LikeLike
Liking your lines, BDL. Here’s hoping they can stay healthy and get to that target. Buchnevich needs to earn it, of course, but here comes his [last?] chance, as Pirri and Puempel. The latter two have a lot of proving to do, doubt they’ll come up with the goods.
LikeLike
Hayes, IMO, is a better player with two burners. Why not Kreider and Miller?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Kreider likes to get the puck while he’s bursting through the nuetral zone. I like a righty center to make that pass.
LikeLike
Carp, are you playing line combinations with us? I never thought I’d see the day.
LikeLike
Papa, he just needs the puck played into space for him to skate onto it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Which, incidentally, is what the Rangers have been doing with him since AV got here. Used to do it with Hagelin, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Line combos!
LikeLike
“AV sucks. He’s never won a Cup.”
how do you like the Wild this year?
“They’re awesome. They have a great coach and balanced scoring”
……..
LikeLike
Buch / Mika / Kreider
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vesey / Hayes / Nash
LikeLike
Zucchini / step / miller
LikeLike
Grabby / Lindbergh / Fast
LikeLike
Agreed, Doodie. Vesey and Nash have brought out the best in each other at times when on the same line. Grabner had cooled off again. I get that his speed helps Miller and Hayes on that line but I think at the moment they’d benefit from Buchnevich on the RW there or even back with his preseason linemates which could help get them going a bit. plug holes on the fourth line with the Pirri’s and Puempels of the world in Graby and Fast’s absence.
LikeLike
I have to say, I really would like to see the Kreid-Zika-Buch troika that we saw for all of 5 games to start the season after seeing it throughout the preseason.
LikeLike
Stepan when he’s going is a solid player offensively. But when he’s cold, BOY is he cold.
LikeLike
I’d also very much like to see Pirri go away and never come back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Line Combos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed, Doodie. I’ve tried not to harp on it but Kreider-Zibanejad-Zucc hasn’t exactly had any wow factor to it.
LikeLike
I get why they want Zuke with Zibanejad (team’s best passer feeding the team’s best one-timer shot), but it hasn’t worked.
LikeLike
Buch-Mika-Kreider was awesome offensively during camp and in the early season, but still was on ice for pretty much every goal against during that stretch. And Zibanejad has missed his man, and his line has been on the ice, for a boatload of GA lately. I don’t understand it.
LikeLike
I guess now we know why Pirri got traded from a playoff team for a fourth rounder last season at the deadline. Pirri experiment= over
LikeLike
and Zibanejad has to mix in a shot that actually hits the net every once in a while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He hasn’t been good since he came back from the broken leg. Not at all.
LikeLike
BTW, I never would have predicted 40 wins at this point if you had told me this was the production they’d get from Stepan and Zika.
LikeLike
I think a lot of that is tied to the unexpected production of Grabner, Miller, and Hayes, both collectively and individually.
LikeLike
Production is overrated. It’s who picks up the bar tab that really matters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agree on Zibanejad. While I wouldn’t call this season a disappointment, it’s certainly a tough break kind of year for the kid. starts to find his stride then breaks his leg going into the boards and hasn’t looked too good since coming back. Would be nice to see him heat up over the final stretch here.
LikeLike
Since they’re impersonating beached whales, perfect time to extend Girardi and Staal without any salary raises, and lock them in for 5 or 6 more years. 🙂
LikeLike
Somebody give Stepan a blood test. Please.
LikeLike
Line Combos:
Graves-Messier-Larmer
Hadfield-Ratelle-Gilbert
Vickers-Tkazcuk-Fairbairn
Erixon-Rousseau-Kocur (1 PK, 1PP, 1 Enforcer)
LikeLiked by 2 people
And Doodie, I think the Wild have been excellent (but that Parise. woof). But my point was just that Bruce Boudreau probably takes a lot of heat from different fan bases as another coach who has impressive regular season teams but has yet to win a Cup.
I’m sure people criticize some of his decisions too. At the end of the day, AV has won a lot here since he’s been at the helm. But that’s a lot of the fan base. on pace to be a 50 win team in a top 4 finish and should be sellers at the deadline.
LikeLike
AnthonyM is the only one making any sense now 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL… typical.
https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/sports/football/colin-kaepernick-hypocrite-ends-protest-job-article-1.2986931
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m curious to see what he does this postseason without a platoon goaltending situation.
Parise has not been up to snuff this year. His body is worn down. The Wild are in big trouble for the second half of that contract.
LikeLike
If this Smith trade works out and stabilizes the first pairing on the regular, we may actually be in decent shape. Holden/Klein along with Girardi can make up the third pair
LikeLike
which goaltending platoon, Doodie? And you’re right about Parise. But think about how many players on how many teams you can make that point about. It’s why we’ll be in the midst of another lock out sooner than later
LikeLike
Sather will take that contract from the Wild
LikeLike
D-Line Combos:
Leetch-Beukeboom
Park-Girardi*
Beck-Zubov
*I wanted another righty shot but everyone I want to put in is a lefty: McDonagh, Vadnais, Greschner, Lowe, and Neilson. I ended up with Girardi because he was one of my wife’s favorite Rangers and I still need to keep her happy or she will come back and haunt me.
Interesting thing I never realized, the four Rangers d-men from my youth Park, Rolfe, Seiling and Neilson were all lefty shots.
Point to ponder – Emile Francis tried trading for Vadnais when he was with the Seals. I wonder how the Rangers fortunes would have turned out with Vadnais added to the big four. Does Francis trade Park/Ratelle to Boston for Espo without a Vadnais coming back in return?
Before I forget, the goalies are Richter and Lundqvist. It killed me to not list Giacomin, but no Cup means he’s out – which is why Richter is my starter.
LikeLike
Papa hates JT..puts him on a line with Step and Zucc…
LikeLike
In case no one’s noticed, they have 15 games this month. 11 of which are against Eastern Conf along with the lovely West Coast trip through the big 3 in CA. So yeah, at least a couple of players may want to find their game sometimes soon…
LikeLike
Zika playing with THE and Zucc; not exactly Erixon and Nemchinov but only one minus game since his return (CBJ -2) even though that stat doesn’t count.
LikeLike
Gibson-Anderson, Hiller-Anderson, Varlamov-Theodore-Neuvirth.
Dubnyk is the unquestioned starter. This is the first time in Boudreau’s coaching career there has been such a clear #1 on his team.
LikeLike
I’d put chi, Pitt, was, minn, sj (in no particular order) ahead of the rangers for different reasons.
–
I understand a coach isn’t a “cup winner” until he wins it, but AV can’t seem to close it out. He gets his team there (credit where credit is due), but hasn’t won it. Humpty, hasn’t got there yet (does that make AV a better coach than him…maybe). I thought the point of the whole thing was to win the cup, you know…Stanley cup championships. I mean piling up a lot of victories (longevity is great…I’m sure the owners like the revenue if winning teams and playoff revenue for a round or two), but seems like the championships should be a factor of measuring success.
LikeLike
Just catching up. I’ll sum it up. We aren’t winning the cup so nothing else matters.
LikeLike
I resent the implication that just because I’m a teacher, I’m not making any cents.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for that Eric
LikeLike
4th in Metro?
LikeLike
Wicky, can u give us a particular order once in while?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keenan had how many bites at the apple before winning? Quenneville couldn’t get St. Louis anywhere how many times?
LikeLike
Speaking of 4th line centers who would play the body during the playoffs…wonder if they made a play for Boyle? Toronto overpaid for sure, a 2nd rounder is way too steep for a 4th line rental – not sure what Lou was thinking there.
LikeLike
Lou was thinking, I have an extra 2nd rounder, the team has overachieved, and I should get them some help to let them know I believe in them. Why Boyle? 100 playoff games experience.
LikeLike
Wicky always capitalize “Stanley Cup Championships”…if you don’t it tender to piss off the hockey gods and then they crap on your team and give you players like Wade Redden for 25+ years…
LikeLike
tends*
LikeLike
Wouldn’t be shocked if Bran Boll signed right back in Tampa July 1.
LikeLike
If there was one thing the Leafs needed, it was a playoff veteran. Boyle is second only to Hagelin in playoff games since 11-12. The total combined playoff GP for the Leafs is 239. Boyle has more than double the playoff GP than the next highest Leaf (Polak-49, 24 of which were last season). Aside from Polak, Martin, Hunwick, Smith, and Anderson, no one on that team had even been to the playoffs since the epic collapse against Boston, and only JVR had ever been to the playoffs before that, too. Boyle was a great depth add for them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You don’t know that, BDL. what gives you the right to make that assumption? Maybe Lou was thinking that he could go for a large pie with sausage peppers and onions…or a nice golf outing at pebble beach. Surely you can’t just assume the man was thinking so in depth about his team at that precise moment. 🙂
LikeLike
I wouldn’t be surprised if he went back to Tampa but I’d be very surprised if it was on 7/1. Tampa has a lot of cap problems for next year. If Boyle really wants to go back there, he will have to wait until they can figure out how to fit him in.
LikeLike
doodie you left out that with Boyle, there’s someone there to sit at his locker with a backwards hat on his head and answer questions after the games. I kid, but in seriousness Boyle is a solid locker room guy. One who preaches accountability. It was a wise pick up
LikeLike
Boyle hated AV. AV didn’t want Boyle. And AV doesn’t want lumbering guys. So, I doubt they considered that move.
anthony, I have no problem with the 2011-12 Girardi being in your group. But another RH who was pretty good was James Patrick. And he had the skills to play AV’s system.
LikeLike
in fact, JP would be fairly awesome on this team and the way it plays. Top pair with McDonagh. Run the PP.
LikeLike
That was actually mentioned by a few people after the trade: that he will sit there after every single game and answer questions, no matter what happened in the game. Not a lot of guys that can say that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In today’s game, Patrick would probably be every bit as good, if not better than Shattenkirk.
LikeLike
True about Tampa. even without Flippula’s contract on the book they are in rough shape. Wonder what the buy out on Callahan’s contract is..
LikeLike
I think Zubov would be a better fit for the system.
And I thought AV thought Boyle was more than fine, but only as a 4th liner.
LikeLike
The difference back in Patrick’s day was that the defensemen were still required to play defense, Carp.
As for Boyle, I didn’t realize he disliked AV. I know he wanted third line responsibilities and not fourth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Zubov was a good fit for most teams. Talk about a guy that should have spent his career as a Ranger…
LikeLike
And PP.
LikeLike
Thanks Carp. I completely forgot all about Patrick. I wanted a more defensive partner for Park, but Jeep fits in just as well.
On sad note in the hockey world, Helene Elliott is reporting that long time Kings play-by-play announcer Bob Miller is going to be retiring due to poor health. Whenever the Kings were on at a reasonable hour I always made sure to listen to Miller and Jim Fox.
LikeLike
Loved James Patrick. Another guy with two first names!!
LikeLike
Doodie,
NBC showed graphic I saw with boyle being number one at 101 playoff games compared to hagelin 97 the last 5 years.
LikeLike
Yzerman will get palat Johnson and drouin figured out. The man knows what he’s doing.
LikeLike
To think that Zubov put up at least 40+ points for 11 straight years (7 seasons of 50-70) after they traded him makes me sick. Even in the first year of the Jagr era when the dark years were done he put up 76 points. But instead we got the last few years of Ulfie’s NHL career
LikeLike
We should have brought back Stralman Sundae!
LikeLike
Great nickname, too. Jeep. I wasn’t suggesting Patrick was as good as Zubov.
Bob Miller was a tremendous pbp guy and is just a nice, nice man. Sad to hear.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eli, according to the Mrs, we ate at that Oyster House in 2014. I vaguely remember it being pretty awesome.
LikeLike
Stralman Bros. Band.
LikeLike
Eric, Since 2011-12, Boyle 95 GP, Hagelin 97. Go back an extra year and Boyler has 100, but Hagelin wasn’t in the NHL yet.
LikeLike
Stralman Bros. Band:
“I’ve got to runnnnnnnnnn to keep from blockin’ cause I’m bounnnnnnd to get my game rockin’ but I got one mo’ month to go now…cause they’re not gonna get me no, not gonna get me to elevate my game- before the plaaaaaay offffffffs”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Zubov was regular season leading scorer in ’94
Trade him and Nedved to get Last Legs Ulfie and Lucky Luc.
Nedved scores 99 pts in first yr with pens
Zubov has 66pts and is a +28
.
oy
LikeLike
Yeah and what was Kovalev’s first year with Pens? Funny how playing with Mario and Jagr does that to your numbers.
LikeLike
IIRC, one of the reasons Neil Smith made that deal was because the Rangers got (literally) run out of the playoffs by the Flyers in four games. In an attempt to get tougher, he made the deal. Who knew that Ulf would “find religion” and become a clean player with the Rangers.
LikeLike
It did a lot of good. Two years later it took them 25% more games to knock the crap out of us.
LikeLike
One more thing about Boyle, he does a killer Anisimov impersonation:
LikeLike
Patrick, too, if I remember correctly, had a bit of a snarl when called for.
LikeLike
Norm – teachers make a lot of scents. Take E3 for example…
LikeLike
Robinson Crusoe is the only one ever to have everything done by Friday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So Donn Clendenon knocks Grabner out with a crosscheck in practice. With all the D around, he’ll be playing a lot going forward once everyone is healthy. NOT.
LikeLike
Anyone want to write a review for tonight?
LikeLike
Lots of chatter today. What I’ve discovered is… Norm is really AV. Nobody shows so much love of Fast other than AV! (He’s ok and Norm does have a point about he’s one guy that seems to be busting it when on the ice)
LikeLike
Well, Carp loves Fast, too.
LikeLike
To say nothing of Mrs. Fast.
LikeLike
I hate everybody.
Also … Zubov bailed big-time in that Flyers series. It was a brutal trade, but if Robitaille had done what he did every other year in his career, it would have been much less brutal. And if Ulf had knees. Still, Leetch won a Norris with Samuelsson as a partner.
LikeLike
If Bure still had knees that would have been a good trade, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice photo on page 42 of today’s daily news of a player leaving his skates to hit and injure an opponent. I wonder if the charger was Sean Avery and the injured player was Sidney crosby,how many games would the suspension been.
LikeLike
Good evening all and happy 26th birthday to the King! Must win game for me if I want my Boston cousins to suck it! LGR!!!!!
LikeLike
Jeff, funny you should mention my Sweet 16 as I happen to be wearing my favorite Avery t-shirt today…..
LikeLike
Ugh, what is with the PK Slewfoot love fest on No Brain Cabal?
LikeLike
And that’s my pregame hattie….can I get a go time?!
LikeLike
Stepan probably will make a good coach someday… Talkative and smoothly explaining theorist.
LikeLike
MAMA!!!
LikeLike
If he doesn’t start playing better, Stepan might be coaching sooner than expected 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. That’s exactly what I meant between lines…
LikeLike
4ever!!!!!
LikeLike
Are we getting a go time or do I need to poke somebody?
LikeLike
new post.
LikeLike
No, Mama, it is not just a name, – it is my particular pleasure to call someone 3 times younger than me the MAMA.
LikeLike
NEW POST!
LikeLike