Played well after a poor first period. Lafreniere looking real good. Kids in general looking real good. I love it. I wish we could fast forward to the NHL draft and then free agency. Cannot wait for next season.
If only this stubborn mule would play Kravtsov regularly on the second line for the rest of the season. There is no reason why he's not in the top 9.
I'm enjoying the end here. They are playing consequential games and competing. Good experience for the young guys. Just hope they pick up their game against a way more talented team than their recent opponent. Last time they won 4 straight against the Devils but got gut punched by the Isles. Will need to play a lot better against the Isles this time to have a chance.
Agreed. I am sure they will play a couple of rough games to end the season here against experienced teams playing playoff type hockey. I hope for at least 2 or 3 wins and everyone staying healthy. Get a little more experience, and away we go with hopefully good vibes into the offseason. I think the staff has done a real good job cultivating the kids. The wrong approach is throwing them to the wolves. The right approach is integrating them in a thoughtful way. So many kids have played pretty much the full season, and have slowly and smartly been given more responsibility. Others like Kravtsov and Jones were added to the lineup when here, and are getting their feet wet in the NHL. Smart approach, and I think it will pay off in the long run.
Good win as any is this time of year. That win is on Igor for without him we lose that game easy. Kids are really coming on and the one move left that Quinn is reluctant to make is swapping kravtsov with Blackwell. Kravtsov is just wasted playing with Rooney and Howden. Smith has played really well the last few games and good to see Miller finally getting enough confidence to throw his weight around. Kids gonna be a monster. Chytil between open nets and breakaways should get 3 goals a game. Just has to convert the chances. Big one Thursday. Must come out strong and take it right to the isles!!
The one major flaw this team has from what I've seen is they have no ability to play a big game when the game gets playoff physical. They simply roll over and just give up. They did that the last time the Islanders played them. Having a lot of talent isn't going to win if the talent is soft. Lafreniere as he gets older should play physical and with an edge as he did in juniors. I hope Miller goes that route. Schneider and hopefully Cuylle will bring that to the team. I hope Barron can play that way as well.
There isn't much of a need to give Kravtsov top 9 minutes at this time though. They are battling for a playoff spot with 6 games left in the season, that alone is a pretty impressive place to be as a team considering their youth. If/when they fall out of playoff contention I imagine he will move Kravtsov up to see how he does with more skilled line mates. But if they continue to win while he is on the 4th line there is no rush to move him up.
Spot on Grey. It's really a nit-picky type of thing that of course is made out to be more because there has to be something to bristle about. You would think after seeing how the other kids were handled, and have continued to grow and improve over the season, people would say yeah no need to rush Kravtsov. He has gotten some time on other lines, he is getting experience for the future, and clearly Quinn thinks highly of his upside. Again I say be patient. If he moves up full-time for a game or two or more to finish the season, that's okay. And if he doesn't, that's okay also. I trust the staff as they have done well with the kids this season. Enjoy it and don't worry about nit-picky stuff like Kravtsov moving up, when it really doesn't matter. He's in the lineup getting experience, that's the key, and was put in pretty quickly after he arrived. Big picture fellas...you don't have to find something to be bothered by....
Chuck, don’t know why you take every observation as an affront to Quinn. Bottom line is Blackwell hasn’t been good for a few weeks and is a 4th line player. Kravtsov is a skilled player who would benefit playing with strome and panerin to the benefit of the team. Whether we’re in or out of playoffs that move should be made. Rooney and especially howden are just useless.
Not sure who Chuck is, but this isn't about Quinn. I am simply saying instead of always finding something to nit-pick enjoy the growth of the kids and be happy. Whether Kravtsov plays full-time with Pan and Strome, or just mixes in here and there over the final 6 games really isn't a big deal, it just isn't. He is on the team, he is playing minutes, he has been given opportunities, he is gaining experience, he is being brought along in a smart way just like the other kids were. That's all good news, not something to nit-pick. I'll also add, while the chances are very slim at best, we are still in the playoff hunt as Grey mentioned. Whether you guys like it or not, Quinn owes it to the team/players to go for it until there is no chance. So he is doing that, and feels this early into his time in the NHL, Kravtsov is better served on the 4th line mixing in here and there. That's all good, and again quite frankly really isn't a big deal either way.
I think your lost chuck if after watching kravtsov play u don’t think he’s more valuable to the rangers up on the 2nd than 4th.
It's not an affront to Quinn? [QUOTE="mrmel29, post: 5147738, member: 27818". Kids are really coming on and the one move left that Quinn is reluctant to make is swapping kravtsov with Blackwell. Kravtsov is just wasted playing with Rooney and Howden. [/QUOTE] No big deal but, it's definitely a nitpick complaint/affront. And that's fine, you want Kravtsov on with Strome Panarin. I think it will be great to see how he does with them when it's time. I suspect Quinn is taking a slower approach with Kravtsov because he is playing his 15th NHL game while they are making a push for the playoffs. As for Blackwell, yeah he's not playing as well as he was earlier in the month with showing up on the score sheet in the last week (it's only been a week that he's not factored in a goal) but, the team has faired pretty well with him playing on the 2nd line. Kravtsov will get PLENTY of opportunities to showcase his skills and abilities when the time is right. It's just likely to come when they are eliminated from playoff contention or next season.
I don't think it's about valuable or more valuable. He's a young kid with 14 NHL games played. I'm okay if he's brought along slowly and not thrown right into the fire shift after shift. He gets mixed in here and there. It is a similar approach to the one taken with other kids, and that has worked out well. And again most importantly, I just don't think it is a huge deal either way. Maybe he gets moved up against the Isles tomorrow night, that's fine. Maybe he stays on the 4th line, that's fine also. In the grand scheme of things I just don't see it as a big deal. Many of you complained all season about the kids, how Quinn was ruining them, and how they were used, how has that worked out? Again - have patience people. Next year is the year. Whatever we do in the final 6 games this year is a bonus for the kids IMO.
Blackwell has fallen off the face of the earth. Kravtsov should absolutely be on the Panarin line. Blackwell or Howden in no way, shape or form should be playing over Barron. It's a disgrace. Barron is 6'4, 220 with 21 points in 21 AHL games. It's pathetic he's not up here. Our 4the line should be Barron-Rooney-Gauthier. or Barron-Rooney-Howden. Every time we face the Isles 4th line they bitch slap us. I'm tired of it.
Sounds like they're going to protect Blackwell and it'll be either Howden, Gauthier or DA to Seattle. Blackwell on a 4th line with Barron and maybe a FA could be a good pairing on a playoff team. Gauthier has alot of ability but I'm not sure where he fits going forward.
