This fan base has unrealistic expectations for defenseman as you said and as I’ve said many times. But there is PLENTY wrong with Staal’s game this year, and I’ve defended Staal probably more than anybody for years. He has lost every single race to a loose puck. He can’t pinch. He cant carry defenders. Unless one of his poke checks happens to connect, he cant force a takeaway. He still makes decent first passes and is good at the exit transition, but that’s when he has the puck- which is rarely. Just key on him for a defensive zone possession and there is no way you can sit there and say “there’s little wrong with his game this year”. He rarely even moves. Skjei and Trouba made countless more mistakes because they are on the ice way more against way better players - and there is a reason for that.
Staal has been on the ice for both goals so far. Not saying he is responsible for either, but that’s why that stat is meaningless. If you are a third pair dman you’re going to see less of the top scorers and likely not be out there as much period. Staal is a road cone at this point in his career. He’s only out there for opposing players to skate around. If he doesn’t get the puck with a poke check he might as well just throw his stick at the opposing player, it’ll be more useful than him standing around like a lost puppy. His best days are LONG gone.
On paper Skjei seemed like a perfect pairing with Trouba given their history but Skjei just couldn't get on track. I still think Brady can be a good player given his age and size, he seems to be overthinking things but his Staal-like contract made him expendable. I have no problem with Trouba, physical players are always going to end up in the box especially when they wear the Blueshirt but his positives vastly outweigh the negatives. Staal's last 3+ years can be summed up during the Islander game when the puck took a funny carom and was tapped in by a player who glided right by Marc unmolested. Marc avoids physical contact at all costs despite being 6'4", his game is dropping to a knee to effectively screen his own goaltender while waving his stick like an excited Labrador's tail but amazingly never getting a piece of the puck. Time for Marc to take his tired ass game to the shuffleboard court at the retirement home. There are too many prospects that deserve a look.
Gotts love refs making hooking calls 30 seconds into the game but yep there was Marc flailing away ineptly on the first Philly goal then way out of position on the 2nd but I guess that's how serviceable is defined now.
Dear NYR, This time of year I dont have many free hours as tax season has me away for most of the week. Sunday is my one day off, after helping out with houshold work, I rely on you putting put a respectable performance. This afternoon you have me looking to go to the office so i have a reason not to have to watch this garbage. Thanks for ruining my day off. Signed Me
Another 100% legit call on Howden by 94's boy the ref. Guess it's to be expected against a squeaky clean team like the Flyers who have owned the Rangers.
Today looks like one of those November games with the overpassing, missed nets going the other way and dumb penalties. Maybe being thrown back into the playoff conversation is making them nervous some too. They just need to play the string out and not let the injuries get them down. If they can get through the week with 3-4 pts maybe Shest can get back in and they'll still have a shot.
Dude, are you high? That hooking call 30 seconds in was a CLEAR hooking. Hell, it was probably a smart penalty he took if the Rangers could have killed it off as the Flyers player would’ve had a free skate right to Hank. Just because you don’t WANT a call made in the first minute of the game doesn’t mean a call SHOULDN’T be made in the first minute. It was a clear hook. Take off your homer glasses and actually watch a game for what it is. If that was Panarin that got hooked like that we would all want a call, regardless of when in a game it is. If it’s a penalty, it’s a penalty regardless of when in the game it occurs. Go have a drink or several and pass out...wake up and get over it.
Oh and we got 6 PPs today. Fact is that we were clearly not good enough to win this game. Came out flat and got beat, plain and simple.
This is the downside of playing really well for a good stretch, playing above our heads I'd say, the expectations get unrealistically raised. Yes it was nice to see the team play well and get into the mix, but playing at that level was not sustainable, double so when you add the Kreider injury into the mix. This team is a year away from really being a legit strong playoff type team. I'd say the following year is when we can be a legit deep run/SC threat. That really is our timetable, and we should not lose sight of that. To me this is all positive stuff from the goalie, to two more 1st round picks, to kids ready to come up and make an impact (especially on D). Really exciting I think. We saw it against the Bruins, we saw it in the two games against the Flyers, we struggle against the bigger physical teams. We have issues getting out of our own zone and with turnovers against teams like that. It is something we'll need to improve on moving forward to take the next step. Hopefully as some of the young dmen get comfortable, and others come up, we'll get better against bigger teams. I'd also say adding a legit # 2 C should be our biggest focus. We need a guy behind Ziban to truly complete the top 6. If we can clear those two hurdles the sky is the limit for this team real soon I feel. I see good times ahead for us next year and beyond.
The defensive play by the forwards is still quite bad. Team will bet bigger when Miller and Robertson are ready on defense. Hope Gettinger can take a role on the 4th line. Barron probably has a good chance of making the team. Kravtsov needs to get it together offensively. These are all very big forwards. Kakko should be much improved next year. I hope Howden finally steps up his offense. The size is there up front. Just needs time to develop.
Pisses me off that J.T. Miller is on pace for 85 points this year and is winning 59% of his draws. Guy was such a lazy fuck here. Especially in the faceoff dot. Guess he had to go someplace where nobody cares.
That was my point 94, get a call 30 seconds into a game and get used to seeing the refs face all game - 4 tripping, 3 hooking penalties - ticky tack crap that usually is let go during the playoff stretch kinda like the recent Carolina game. To say hooking is called 100% of the time is nonsense, t's like holding in football. I don't think the Rangers are as bad as last 2 - Philly has their number but they scored 4 special team goals and Ryan Strome might as well have worn a Flyers jersey both games. Gauthier helps but this team needs more physical players, something's wrong when Bucjnevich leads the team in hits. ! aree about Gettinger, he couldn't be any worse than McKegg.