So I watched some of that 30 for 30 about Spano and the Isles last night on ESPN, and a couple of things hit me. 1. Milbury actually came off as pretty cool. Some of the things he was saying, and how he felt, were funny. He was good. 2. It is truly amazing how Spano pulled that off. And if he had another week or so he may have gotten away with it as he had a potential partner lined up to fund the 17 mill. 3. Bettman came across as the lost, arrogant, obnoxious fool that he is. He was made to look the fool by Spano, the whole NHL was, but instead of acknowledging that he tried to play it off like it never could really happen, or the NHL didn't know. It was actually a comical joke to see how he reacted to things. What he should of said was we dropped the ball. We were duped. Since then we changed our process big time. But that's not our boy Bettman...LOL. 4. As I watched this I started to think about the Knicks and Rangers. And then I started to think wow, if I am being honest both of these teams are in trouble. The Nets already clearly passed the Knicks. And honestly I rather be the Isles right now than the Rangers. And while you cannot flat out say the Isles passed the Rangers, it is happening before our very eyes. And when they move to Brooklyn in 2 years they will be in a great place. Have money. Have good youth. It is a bad time for the Knicks and Rangers IMO.
Did not watch the show so I cant really comment. Bettman has always been a fool. That's nothing new. Regarding your fourth point. I don't completely agree with it. MSG has gotten renovated. As result it's one of the better arenas in the world. How has the Nets passed the Knicks? Knicks have a very good team that can compete with anybody in EC. The Rangers have not been great so far this year but they do also have some good youth and will be competitive as much as the Isles for years to come.
Haven't seen the show (will see if i can find it tonight on watchespn) but the little i've seen of Milbury when he used to do hockey shows for NESN is that he's an a-hole, but that could be posture for the show. And no, the Rangers are not in trouble. If you're looking for a team in trouble go look at NJ but you'd be foolish (and then some) to think the Rangers are in trouble.
Funny, I was in my 20's then but really can't remember hearing about this, which pretty much tells you how irrelevant the Islanders had become.
1. Milbury is a total a-hole, but he was actually good on this show calling out Spano. Funny. 2. If Cally and Nash aren't back soon the Rangers are in huge trouble 31. I know you live in that fantasy land where if you knock the Rangers at all you are a bad fan, but it is reality. If Cally and Nash are out for a long time we have big issues. I don't see how anyone can sit here and not say they are concerned about Nash. Let's hope Cally is back in 2 weeks or so, and Nash isn't out much longer with head issues, but if those things don't happen we will struggle to score...unless Kreider turns it on suddenly. That would be our only hope without those two IMO.
"As I watched this I started to think about the Knicks and Rangers. And then I started to think wow, if I am being honest both of these teams are in trouble. The Nets already clearly passed the Knicks. And honestly I rather be the Isles right now than the Rangers. And while you cannot flat out say the Isles passed the Rangers, it is happening before our very eyes. And when they move to Brooklyn in 2 years they will be in a great place. Have money. Have good youth. It is a bad time for the Knicks and Rangers IMO." right, when you said "in 2yrs they'll be in a great place....it's a bad time for the Rangers", you certainly were referring to the next couple of weeks this year, lol. I think it's time to get your Tavares jersey.
Without Nash and Cally the Rangers are in trouble. And guess what 31, if you said to me Rangers or Isles who will be better in two years, I am taking the Isles right now. That's just the way I feel. They have a stud upfront that we don't. They have a very good young core. I do think they need a goalie, which is a huge concern for them, but if they can get that worked out they look really good. From a Ranger POV, we have a star who did nothing in the playoffs last season, and now has head issues. Hank is not signed yet, and is 31. Kreider hasn't taken that step yet to say he is a given. The future here is a huge question mark. Now it can move in our direction if guys like CK and Miller pan out, and we make some smart moves, but right this second I am sorry but the Isles look brighter. Just my opinion.
And in the short term the Rangers are in trouble without Nash and Cally. I know 7 games mean nothing to you, but at 2-5 and looking bad in almost every game, things aren't great at the moment. The Devs are terrible and literally cannot beat anyone, excpet us. Tomorrow night should be interesting. The Flyers are actually worse than us crazy as that is to believe. So can we beat them minus Hank, Nash, and Cally...we'll see. I was thinking 2-7 or 3-6, and that's where we'll be. If we get Cally and Nash back we will improve, but Nash is a huge question mark right now.
This season is basically going to serve a few purposes. Get some of the prospects integrated into the NHL, get the players who will be here in the future acclimated to AV's system, get rid of the dead weight gradually, hopefully in the form of some decent picks and hope Lundqvist can be convinced to re-sign next summer, which is alot less certain than I thought a month ago.
As usual Chuck and his negativity. Even if you'd take the Isles 2 yrs from now (surprising to no one on this board) it's foolish to think this team is in ANY kind of trouble. Look at the nucleus of this team: Brassard - 26yo Miller - 20 Stepan - 23 Kreider - 22 Nash - 29 Cally - 28 Fast - 21 Del Zotto - 23 McDonagh - 24 Moore - 22 Staal - 26 That's 11 players on the roster with an average age of 24, and doesn't include Kristo, McIlrath and Lindberg, who appear to be future NHL players and are all in their early 20s. Nor does it include prospects like Nieves, Yogan, St. Croix and Skjei, who are very young and may make it to the show some day. Now, not all those players will be on the roster in 2yrs, nor will they all achieve their ceilings, but they can also be used as trade chips for more proven players. This team has enjoyed good success the last few years making the playoffs consistently and has a lot of young players to work with. So no, we're NOT in trouble. It's actually the opposite, where it's very nicely set up for the next few years to be strong cup contenders if Sather can get off his boat and make a couple of moves to strengthen the team.
That's what "concerns" me about this season, that we're not even getting read of the dead weight, at least yet. If Nash is out long term and this is a transition year at least get rid of Pyatt, Boyle, Zucc and Stralman and get some young players in so they can start getting used to the new system.
If Nash isn't the same player again that could be a cap and a roster killer. Just when we thought the Richards contract would give some breathing room.
even if he's not the same i dont think he's going to transform into Brian Boyle, but yes, it'd be a hit to us if he's not a 1st line player anymore, but at this point no concern. Crosby has like 2 concussions a week and he's still playing just fine.
You live in fabtasy land as usual 31, to the surprise of no one on this board. WAKE UP. This franchise has done NOTHING in 15 years. I know you want to live in dream land where everything is awesome and wonderful, but I live in reality. You should join me there sometime. Let's list all these kids. They are all wonderful. They are all going to be great. 3 years ago we said the same thing. Where are we? I guess we are also the only team with young kids. It also blows my mind how despite having ALL THESE GREAT YOUNG KIDS our system gets rated as lower middle in the NHL. Why...is that pure NYR hate? Is that why we don't have a top 5 system? Or top 10 system? GIVE ME A BREAK. You are the worst kind of fan. The kind of fan that feels like living in a fantasy world where your team is the best no matter what, is the way to go. And anyone who simply tells it like it is gets called negative or not a good fan. You be whatever kind of fan you want, but just understand that the FACTS are with me. We have done nothing in 15 years. Our system doesn't get rated highly by the experts. Do we have any studs down there or do we have a bunch of solid 2nd/3rd lines guys? No other teams have good kids...just us? Give me a break 31. You are such an a**. Once again if you were in front of me I would punch you right in the mouth.
Nash and Crosby. Nash couldn't hold Croby's jock. AGAIN fantasy land. Nash was a GHOST in the playoffs last season. Let me guess...he was hurt even though he said he was fine? Once again we live in fantasy land. We need to wake up to the reality that is the New York Rangers. I am hopeful. If Cally and Nash come back I think we will be okay, but make no mistake about it, we have work to do, and the last 15 years have been pretty awful.
lol, take a deep breath, Chuck. The only fact is that you are a reactionary bandwagoner. Go get your Tavares jersey already. It wasn't too long ago you were drinking the kool-aid and told us Stepan was good for 70-80pts and now this team is in trouble for the future? with half the roster averaging under 25yo? Yes, this team hasn't won a Cup in years, but to say it has done NOTHING in 15yrs is inaccurate, because they have consistently gone to the playoffs the past few years and have even been within a couple games of the SCF's. That is being successful, even if it fails to reach the ultimate goal. In the past 10yrs 9 different teams have won the SC. Does that mean the other teams in the league have done NOTHING in 10yrs? The Rangers have their shortcomings that we are all aware of, but with the right moves it can be very well positioned for the rest of this decade. We go through this with you every...single....time the team is on a losing streak so its not surprising, but it would help you if you tried to be more objective once in a while.
And there it is. You always live up to your low standards 31. Nicely done. Wait...you are questioning the Rangers...you are a bad fan who jumps on the bandwagon. To be a good fan you need to tell people how to be a fan, and only say good things about your team. That is how it works for an idiot like 31. We have many years of no playoffs. Many years of one and done. No SCF trips. One ECF trip. So just cut the BS 31. Enough with your total and utter nonsense. We have been a bad organization for the last 15 years. THAT IS REALITY. If being honest makes someone a bad fan, then I am guilty. I call it reality though. Again, if we are SO stacked with all these great kids why don't we see them here? And more importantly why isn't our system ranked 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, and so on? They all hate NY so they devalue our kids. JUST STOP.
And BTW...I am not saying we are the worst organization, or we should shut the doors. But the reality is we have not been a good organization for a long while now. It is not about winning a title or bust, but how about some long runs? How about getting close? How many divisions have we won? How many SCF's have we made? How many ECF's have we made? Come on man. I am sorry if I won't blindly say I am a Ranger fan therefore we are good. I can't do that. I have to be honest. And I can't say peope don't rate our system as top 5 because they hate NY and the Rangers. We need to be real. I do think if Nash and Cally get back soon we will be okay, but that still doesn't change what we have been, and the fact that we have work to do still.
You're right. we're awful and our future sux. But at least do us all a favor and stay away from sharp objects.
