And you said it 71...that is the key here and the issue with the D. These guys didn't forget how to play. They didn't go from very good to awful overnight. They are simply playing lazy stupid hockey right now. That's the issue. Not working as hard, not playing the system, off their games. That is why I thought we'd struggle this regular season and finish as a lower playoff seed. I had a feeling we'd struggle to bring A game very often this season. We'll see how it goes.
Yeah...we lose to the Oilers a lot. At MSG all the time, in Edmonton at least 1/2 the time against a terrible team the past few seasons.
I don't know, i think is going to be a real dogfight just to get in this year. They need to start finding ways to win some of these and just even things out here. Some bad warning signs for sure.
I think we'll get in, need to keep perspective that there are 50 games to go, but I think it will be a battle all season. Maybe we finish 3rd in the Met. Truth is, like I said this summer, I don't care. Home ice doesn't really mean anything so just get in and go from there. All that matters. 3rd in the Met would be perfectly fine with me.
Ulf needs to be let go if this does not change soon. This guy has been a buffoon coaching D this year. Probably worries more about his sons playing hockey than fixing this disaster. At least Arniel fixed the PP.
Look at tonight's game...guys wide open in front all night. Is that McD and G being bad and not saying hey we might want to cover in front...or is it low % lazy hockey? Pinching at stupid times...see the winning goal against and the McD pinch...is that McD being bad or low % stupid hockey. That's it to me...team doesn't have their focus, or fire, or desire to play the disciplined team way you must play to win in the NHL. Crystal clear to me. Same with the O...shoot everything against the Sens...come out against the Canucks and refuse to shoot. Joe said it also. Again no focus and clearly off their games. Staal, G, Kreider, Miller, Etem, Hayes...on and on underperforming. No coincidence to me. Hockey is a game of passion, desire, teamwork, focus, and discipline. We are severely lacking in those departments right now. The NHL isn't the NBA where most talent wins all the time, you need to play together and be hungry with desire...if you are not you will lose.
They simply aren't staying focused after scoring and keeping other teams from coming right back. But that's been a trademark of theirs for years. Very annoying.
I hear you, but way worse this year. So many sloppy mistakes and low % plays. That is not the trademark of these guys...just isn't. That would be my focus if I were AV. SHOOT the puck or you sit AND play with focus and passion and desire and make smart plays like we always have...or you sit. Issue is we have no dmen to sub in right now. So no one can be benched at the moment. Is what it is. I remain hopeful we will wake up and play Ranger hockey...we'll see. The thing that concerns me, and we all discussed it this summer, is sometimes a team just gets stale and runs out of juice after coming so close and playing so many games the past few seasons. At some point you go to the well and it isn't there. No gas left in the tank. I hope that isn't the case right now. Maybe they need a big move to get some life into this team if we struggle for a few more weeks after the new year.
McDonagh is a very solid player but man he ticks me off with some of the things he does. Girardi and Staal are just getting older and combined with years of wear and over 100 games are just not all that effective anymore, just average at best. Throw in steadying Klein being out..
Nah, Nah. Everything is OK according to a few on this board. LOL. Yeah..... Sure..... I've said it for weeks. This team needs major changes and the GM better get his head out of his ass. First trade or release Glass. Period. Two, tell Boyle he's in the stands or drop his clause. Three, trade Yandle. End of Story. This team is a mess. Something has to be done. A big concern is you have a lot of players on this team who aren't motivated. That comes with bigger paychecks and repeated failure in the playoffs. After a while, you need to bring in some new, young, blood that is hungry. Many players on this team aren't hungry to win any longer. It's obvious. Graves seems to be playing better than Skjei from what I'm hearing. IMO, trading Yandle is key. Team needs another center for depth, a physical 4th line player with some talent and some draft picks.
Yep. A guy a lot of our fan base called a bust. I don't think it's a lack of high end talent. I think it's a lack of physical players on the roster. A lack of agitating, energy players in role positions. As each day goes by. I stand by Yandle being dealt. He's added nothing to this team for what they gave up. They can't get that return back. However, they can get back potentially a late first or early second, a tough role player and a solid, vet defenseman for depth. All in for getting Pouliot back. I've been in on that since last season. Yandle for Pouliot, Edmonton's second and maybe like a 4th with Edmonton paying half his contract. I think they do that. I think the Rangers should do that. Then see what you can do with adding a vet defenseman on the left side to back up Graves or Skjei. The best players on this team other than Zucc and Brassard have been Lindberg and McIlrath. Hungry kids who want to stay in the NHL.
Question...why would the Oilers make that deal for a few months of Yandle? Yandle will be treated as a rental...and yeah we can get value for him just as other teams do at the trade DL for rentals...but that value is usually picks/prospects not NHL players. And that is why to me we won't deal him unless we are out of it. The hunger, passion, desire thing is a concern as I said above. It is also why I am not jumping ship after 30 games. It is hard for a team like ours to get up for early regular season games. It is hard for a team like ours to play with the focus and discipline and structure for early regular season games. Not saying it is right or they get a pass, just saying I think it is reality and being honest. It is why I thought we'd have a rough regular season this year. I am well aware that EVERY season many on this board jump ship after 20 or 30 games, but I won't do that. We have issues that need to be corrected, but I won't jump after 30 games. We need to get the focus and desire back. We need to get CK, and Hayes, and Miller to get their sh*t together and start scoring some goals. So yeah there are concerns, and I am concerned overall, but I won't bail after 30 games.
I've never seen a defense that sends 2 guys behind the net and leaves a man wide open 10 feet in front off the net with no one covering him as much as the rangers do. It happens so often now that I'm thinking they actually teach it that way. The best RD on the team right now is Big Mac and he has been since Klein went down. AV needs to wake up and pair him with McD before McD gets hurt with some of the cheap shot he's getting lately. Girardi is either hurt or turned 60 overnight. He offers no physicality, gets skated around routinely and is totally ineffective. How Boyle is getting 22 minutes and more a night is a f'ing joke. Glass being on the ice when we have any healthy body available (stalberg) is an absolute disgrace. Second time now recently we score a late goal to insure a point and give one right back and lose in regulation. If ulf is the one controlling the D ice time and not AV someone needs to give him an electric jolt. Offense seems better on paper but when you really break it down we just have way too many 4th line players disguised as 3rd line players and sometimes 2nd line players. Really need step back and for someone to kidnap buch in russia and get the kid over her pronto. That duke trade is looking worse and worse. Hopefully they get their heads out of their asses and get a win tonight as this would be a sorry trio to get swept by.
I don't think it is taught that way...I do think the players aren't focused, aren't playing with desire like they need to, and clearly aren't playing with the structure we have the past few seasons. I really don't think the D is a personnel issue as much as it is a focus/attention to detail/structure issue. As for the O...I'll break it down and make it very simple for everyone. Kreider, Miller, Etem have done SH*T. Hayes has done very little...especially recently. If that is going to be the case over the long haul we are f'd. This is not complicated guys...LOL.
I just think it is stale right now and lacking a spark. Maybe as the season goes on and the games get bigger we get that focus and structure back. OR maybe we need a move to mix up the group to get it going. Don't know, but it will be very interesting to see how it plays out over the next 4-6 weeks.
