Everyone that posts on here knows it and sees it. We all knew they were never gonna win the cup this year but we were all looking for progress. This team has regressed and there are no signs of it improving. It's nice to see McDonagh becoming one of the best d-men in the league...and Kreider seems to be getting better. But aside from those two players this is a lost season in every aspect.
You're right that nobody had this team pegged as a cup favorite. And you're also right that we didn't see much progress outside of a few players. This team is too small to compete this year. Always has been. But AV has installed a system that is actually creating chances. We havent had that here in years. We're going to have some roster turnover next year, we'll find some guys who can finish, we'll get some size, and I still think we're close. This team can still steal a playoff series if it gets in. I think that's important for kids like Stepan, Kreider, and McD to get as much playoff experience as they can. Even if they arent going to win the cup, lets not just say fuck it. A lot of meaningful hockey left. Beat OTT, beat CBJ, and beat NJ and we're right there for a run.
Have to give Sather a lot of blame for his deadline lack of moves. Stralman, Dorsett and Boyle all should have been moved. I don't want to hear he couldn't have. He could have.
I was absolutely shocked we didnt get some bulk in here at the DL. Once Sather landed Diaz I thought for sure Stralman was out. Stralman for a good 4th liner like Fraser, then ship Boyle out for a pick to replace the pick for Diaz. 4th line of Fraser (or someone similar) - Moore - Carcillo. Mind boggling that didnt happen.
I said it yesterday, I think the bigger fail for Sather was not adding a big dman at the DL. Our bottom 3 d are questionable. Stralman stinks. Moore is a 3rd pair guy. And Klein is a 5th guy ideally IMO. We should have added a solid dman to go with MSL. That would have been a big help.
Truthfully, the 4th line has been pretty solid. Issue is MSL and Nash doing nothing, and some bad D breakdowns the past few games...not the 4th line IMO.
Its not that the 4th line hasn't been solid in creating and on the forecheck, it's that this team just isn't very big, isn't very tough, and isn't very difficult to play against. Who knows, getting some size and toughness in here might give guys like Nash and MSL a little more room. They're getting knocked around right now and we can't knock anybody back.
I agree with Dis. And I do agree the team isn't big enough, but I don't think that fix needs to be a 4th line kind of guy. I think that fix should be a big banger in the top 9. That is what I would focus on this summer. And a top 4 big physical dman. And a # 1 C to replace Richards after he is bought out. I don't think we are far away either. Size in the top 9. Size in the top 4 dmen. A very good C to replace Richards. Do that and away we go. Nash, MSL, MZA, Kreider, Hags is a solid group of wingers to start with. A a very good C for Richards. A big physical dman for the top 4. And add one more skilled big winger to complete the top 9 wingers, and away we go.
The top guys are having dreadful seasons and they are absolutely the reason this team has been struggling. My point was more that since we can't make wholesale changes at the deadline, something that could have been done to maybe prevent this season from "falling apart" would be to get bigger and tougher up front to maybe open up some more space for these top forwards to get going Chuck as for your offseason plans that's absolutely the way I go. I just meant from a this-season standpoint, changes could have been made to give this team and the top players a better shot and they werent.
They could've also upgraded the 4th at the DL with a little creativity. Boyle/D Moore/Carcillo just isn't good enough.
I hear you Prod. Overall I think we are all on the same page. It does sound like a broken record, but I really don't think we are far off. We have top end talent in Nash, MSL, maybe Kreider getting close to that, McDonagh, Girardi, and Hank. We have some other solid pieces in MZA, Hags, Stepan, and Staal. Now we need to finish it off, and best part is we clearly have the space to do it this summer. We badly need another top 4 dman so we can play Klein and Moore as the 3rd pair, which would be solid. We badly need a better C. And with the buyout of Richards that is nearly 7 mill right there to spend on that C. And we badly need to complete the top 6 wingers with a guy with size and some skill. And again we have the space to get it done. I would also bring back Brassard and let him be the 3rd C after the guy we bring in and Step. And I would use a kid or two on the 4th, and then add a legit big banger/grinder to complete the 4th line. I will also add, if we don't see a clear top 9 home for Miller next season, maybe we let Brassard walk in favor of Miller, I may look to deal him for that big skilled top 6 winger we need.
Sather knows the greens better these days then he knows what his hockey team needs. He should retire...Dolan is a complete asshole.
For this team to be very good you have to have great seasons from the following players....of which none have really delivered 1) Lundqvist - Has had some vintage games but he hasn't been great this year in fact its his worst season in GAA and save percentage since 08 2) Nash - Uh......no. I am officially worried he is ok being a 25 goal/50 pt player....all for the bargain of $7.6m cap hit 3) Stepan and/or Richards - Both have had good stretches but both of them have been clear disappointments this year I like the new system. Agree we can tweak this team in the offseason and potentially change things around. No issue buying out Richards. We have 6 more years on his deal. Yikes. He would be a great 3rd line center for $4m. I would also have no issue looking into packaging Stepan in the offseason. I do agree with Dump that getting older with St Louis makes me want to keep Stepan but he is certainly not untouchable. He just isn't a #1 center. But I am not sure there is one out there for this team. Sather brought in a proven impact player in St Louis who is still playing at a high level and he hasn't been very good in 7 games in New York. Getting this play from Lundqvist, Nash, Step and Richards + the few games of St Louis gets us where we are: Fighting for a WC
Seasons are full of peaks and valleys, the Rangers were peaking until the ridiculous Olympics break now they're in a bit of a rut. If AV gets them to hit their stride and perform up to pre-Olympic levels they can cause problems for most teams. The team that lost today to San Jose is light years better than the one San Jose pounded early on and honestly they should have won today's game easily but for the inability of Derek Brassard to hit an open half of the net twice, another bs ruling from Toronto and MacD trying to slapshot a perfect pass instead of merely tipping it into an open net. Hank's numbers are down but he's playing much better now than when he started off the year. I would not sign Brassard for the $4 mil he's going to want, would rather use the money to lock up CK and Zuc long term, would rather use the $4 mil to bring back Pouliot and Boyle. The Rangers 4th line is fine it's the 1-2 lines who get the lion's share of minutes that are killing them. I think Nash would perform better with a bigger player on his line to watch his back, an annual problem Glen has never properly addressed. No point on giving up on the Rangers now with 13 games left. I still think this team is better than the one that made it to the Conference championship.
Good post Panzer, I do agree with the peaks/valleys. Just a frustrating game but definitely better than the one where their rook put Biron in retirement
