That will be a great thing about the Richards buyout. He will no longer be on the point during the PP. That being said the Rangers need somebody who can actually play the point and bomb away shots on the power play.
Not looking to make excuses for him but that concussion absolutely messed with his head. He had never been that scared of contact while he had the puck. Yeah he was asserting himself on defense and laying some nice hits thru the playoffs, but you have much more control over the contact when you're the one initiating it. The power move on offense was completely gone from his game and has been since he went out. He needs to take a long look in the mirror this offseason and decide if he wants to nut up or not. Without that power move and puck carrying ability he is a very average player
Agree Prod. That's what it is about with Nash now. I am sure the concussions play a role still, but playing the way he has doesn't work. He is average at best as you said. Let's hope after a summer to relax he comes back and plays with a fire and gets his power game going again. That is what he needs to do in order to be a success. If he can't/doesn't do it, we are f'd. Nash had 0 goals in 3 of 4 series. Nash had 0 points in the SCF. I respect the fact that you are trying to be positive mel, but come on bro. Nash was pretty much invisible out there man. Of course he had a few chances, and setup a few chances, but what does that mean? He plays 15 + mpg, so he will get/create a chance here or there. That's just obvious IMO. To say anything outside of Nash was almost invisible out there is a real stretch. 0 goals and 0 points in the SCF. 0 goals in 3 of 4 series. This guy has a 7.8 mill cap hit to score goals, not to check and play on the PK.
There is no bigger non-Nash fan than me on these boards as you all know. I didn't want him here in the 1st place and Dubi was exactly the type of center we needed against LA. That being said, especailly with everyone killing him now, I'm going to make some positives points about Nash going forward and don't think we should trade him unless we got equal value. If you really look at how he played during the playoffs, I believe he started a transformation. I know the results weren't there but he skated really hard, went to the dirty areas, actually hit people, some very hard, played good d, and got better looks as time went on. In the finals, I saw him skate harder than I ever have. He really tried to force his way to the net, even with defenders on his back. These are the things I used to kill him on. Maybe, just maybe, he's learned from this year what it takes to play in the playoffs and play in NYC. He has a great shot. He didn't just lose that, he became frustrated and squeezed the stick to sawdust. He also hasn't played with a great center (Stepan is the guy I would like to see moved). Not giving him a pass, but the seeds might have been sown for the future. Sometimes the results don't show up right away. We need to add a top playmaking center to set him up, as well as another scorer so the pressure isn't all on him to be the main scoring threat. He doesn't have the speed for that. Would love to see some responses to this.
They won't trade Nash, they know he still has it in him and saw the effort in the playoffs. A better C for him is half the battle. Perhaps there was still some lingering concern on his part about the concussion but he just seemed to be overhandling the puck at times and trying to do a little too much on his own.
I personally don't see the concussion as an excuse. The 10 or 12 game tear he went on was well after the concussion, and he had no problem going to the net then. If something happened to him after that, maybe, but I don't remember him missing any time. Totally agree with you about him trying to do too much. I'm thinking that was just determination to get some goals. Hoping that was part of the learning process and next year, maybe with a real good center, he'll let the game come to him.
last night listening on radio they were interviewing someone about the Rangers and he mentioned about getting a big C (like Thornton) to create space for Nash rather than Nash having to create it for himself all the time. Thought it was an interesting point when looking at adding a center for next year. The Nash-Stepan experiment just isn't worth continuing and we need to find a way to unlock him if we're going to win a SC.
Sad news He is and has been unlocked. Just not capable. Too soft with no heart. I think he also has a skating problem. I've never seen a guy with his size get knocked off the puck so easily.
It's fine for now, but I think in another 3 years they will be trying to get away from it. I agree with you on the rest of the points though, but we'll see with McIlrath.
I have heard a few analysts comment on Nash's conditioning since his concussion happened early in the season they felt he never had his legs. Even with short shifts Nash always seemed quickly winded. The Rangers should have him working with a trainer all off-season.
When I read this. I don't see this as you wanting him back Chuck. Hoping he finds his game. I see this as a fan who would have taken the first decent offer another team made for Nash while helping him pack out of town.
Thank you for bumping this. I am actually happy you did. Once again goes exactly to what I posted as # 2 in my last post. You see people write what you want to see them write and then run with your agenda. I said two days ago we were all down on Nash, including me. He was terrible in the playoffs his first two seasons here. He has as many goals through 39 games this season as he did ALL SEASON last season. So he has WAY stepped up his game, and great for him. He showed what he is made of as an athlete and a man. But this exactly proves my point. You act like I am saying I was never down on Nash and wouldn't have dealt him no matter what. When in fact I said 2 days ago, sure I was down on Nash and was willing to explore trades. Again seeing what you want to see dump, but that is who you are so PLEASE keep being you buddy. BTW on Nash. He has been awesome for the first 1/2 of this season no doubt, but he still has a big monkey on his back in the playoffs. He still has to prove he can do it there. I think he will this season, but if he doesn't it is a big issue. He must produce in the playoffs to really be fully the stud we expected when we dealt for him. So he has something to prove still IMO.
I can not stress how awesome this post is. I felt the same way after the finals. I've also started skipping Chuck's posts. If you are going to lie and get caught, at least own up to it.
Oh dump. I am not going to go back and forth with you anymore. The rest of the board doesn't care about that. I believe the point is made. I am here if you need help. You know that buddy.
Everyone hated Nash after the Finals. Some of us loved him before. I was and remain a huge Nash guy but impossible to love him after the playoffs. Some of us (62) hated him all along. He was an abortion in the playoffs. Glad to see he is playing better. He has a lot to prove in the playoffs but I am stoked he is going to the net hard every game and scoring a ton of goals.
He just didn't score enough but I thought he actually played fairly well considering the lingering concussion issue. It's a relief now to see he may be the old Nash for the remainder or most of his contract, though one hit could also spell big problems.
I admit it, I hated last year Nash and wanted to ship him out in the offseason. He has been proving me wrong big time this season which I love. It is great for the whole organization. That trade looks good now as every day goes by if you think about it. We made the cup finals with him and might make another great playoff run. I feel that he is going to have a great playoff run this season.
there is nothing to admit, Nash is playing like the way we expected him to play, a POWER FORWARD not the pussy we saw for most of last year and especially in the playoffs. Even still, he is having a great year...lets see what happens when we play a team for a series where he will be up against bigger better players night in and night out....will he wilt again?
