At about 30 games, you know what you are as a team. That is a .500 team That's not good enough. Once again, the effort sucked last night. Brassard has been a total disappointment this year. He's never clicked with this coaching staff. It's a problem.
I have to agree. It was one game last night so I don't want to get too worked up over it, but bigger picture it is games like last night that make it difficult to take this team seriously. That's just the way it is sadly. Until we can really string together a few good games in a row and put some distance between us and .500, it is hard to really truly believe in this team. I still think moving a dman for another scorer is the way to go, but that would mean Sather would have to do something, and we know he doesn't like to work, so I doubt that happens.
I would rather see them move a dman for a large physical forward or two, not necessarily a fighter but that would be a plus. Insert in the place of the useless Dominic Moore (when's it time for this bum's healthy scratch?), Pouliot or Brassard. The recipe for teams playing the Rangers is to hit them hard and often, AV has 6 players in his daily lineup who cannot or will not throw the body. I agree with you Chuck this is on Glen but he's apparently asleep at the wheel of his fishing boat.
For some reason I like Pouliot. It certainly isn't production based that's for sure, but he has a big body. And there is always the hope he would use it. I just wish we could add one more guy who can deepen the lineup and move everyone down a peg. And I agree it would be ideal if that guy had size, somehing we can use upfront IMO. As for Brassard, he has been a downer. I expected/hoped for 55-60 points. Seems very unlikely that will happen. And he does make a lot of soft stupid plays. This team just has too many flaws to win game in and game out. We have enough talent to play really well some games, but then we also have enough flaws to fall flat on our face too often. To me here are the flaws I see: A big physical dman is needed to add some size on the BL and clear the crease and pound the larger forwards. Another legit 20 or so goal threat is needed, ideally with some size. A big strong physical forward is needed to do some pounding on the other teams D. It would be ideal if this guy could also be the legit 20 or so goal scorer we need as well. That's what I see as needed. I think with McD playing better on O we can survive without another dman with a very good offensive game. But I do think we need some physical size on D (McIlrath?) and another legit 20 or so goal scorer (ideally with some size).
And BTW...to me I think Staal needs to step up his game. I think he has really been struggling recently. He was bad against Boston. Last night I thought he was lost out there a few times. Hopefully he gets it together as the season moves forward.
I really thought this was a game they would win and they would start a nice little win streak. Not a good sign with this stretch of home games.
Sather needs to put down his cigar for 2 minutes and go get the best big scoring forward he can with a package built around Del Zotto and Miller. DZ actually had a pretty good game last night, a few nice rushes. Glad it was against Winnipeg, we'll take Kane please. Give them whatever other prospect or pick they want. Then call up McIlrath. That'll give us two new big bodies on the roster, as well as a guy who can fight. Falk is playing 10 minutes a night as it is, no reason McIlrath can't take those minutes right now. Kreider-Stepan-Nash Kane-Richards-Callahan Hagelin-Brassard-Zucc Pouliot-Boyle-Dorsett McD-Girardi Staal-Stralman McIlrath-Moore That's a team that can win. You reading this slats?
Disappointing loss, for sure. This team just cannot seem to get into a rhythm. They still have a favorable schedule before Xmas so they need to pile up some points b/c right after comes a rough stretch where we play 6 of 7 on the road and visit WSH, TOR, PIT and CHI. Tough games for sure.
As poorly as they played at times last night, it took a lucky bounce for Jokkinen to get the game winner. It also didn't help that Richards missed an open net to tie. Agree with you Podigy that some moves need to be made. Whatever it might be, I'd like to see a fast, big, tough forward who has some offensive ability. Not sure who might be available that fits that mold, but we could use a couple of them. As far as McIlrath, watching him in preseason showed me he's not nearly ready for the NHL. Maybe the end of the year or next year, but I doubt 20 or so games in Hartford makes him ready now after being completely overwhelmed a few months ago.
I don't think I agree on McIlrath. Yeah he had a really bad camp and I haven't seen a Pack game all year so I can't vouch for his improvement. But I do know that if he comes up here he won't be asked to play 25 minutes and shut down top lines. He'll be a third pairing guy who will play 11-12 minutes but add some size and toughness to the blue line. Is he really going to be that much worse than Falk?
Tough loss last night. I felt like someone peed on my meatloaf watching that game. That being said the rangers have righted the ship from the opening 9 games and will no doubt be in the playoffs. Improving the size is a nesessary thing to be able to compete with the big boys at the end. The problem is what the hell does anybody want from us that doesn't open another hole in a different area for us. My sense tells me that girardi is more valued around the league and gets us a better big forward/scorer type than del zotto brings back without adding a lot of extra pieces. Now call me crazy but girardi was a lot better fit in face blocking torts system than av's uptempo system. He's not played well all season and has more goals on deflections for the opposition than the rangers. Thats plus his upcoming contract status makes him the guy who sather should be dealing for what we need. If not, look at the spare parts that are just too small or suspect toughness and not competitive against the larger teams like hags, richards, moore, fast, brossard, boyle, piatt etc. Holy crap, thats half our forwards. Notice I didn't include the hobbit who despite his lack of size is feisty and not afraid of throwing an elbow to the opponents knee when hes in close. This means outside of a team who views girardi as a top pair defenseman they have to have any other trade slats makes is going to involve multiple players, prospects and draft picks going the other way to get what we need.
Agree with all this mrmel. I'm don't really want to trade Girardi, but like you said, most trades would open up a hole somewhere. We have a surplus of talented but smaller forwards like Hags, Stepan, Brassard, Zuc etc and would need to find a trade partner that has a surplus of bigger forwards that might need some of what we have. Don't know that a team like this exists, but this team needs a makeover. Not a complete one but a partial one. Prod, I haven't seen McIlrath play at Hartford either, and would love to see him here, but logic tells me he'd be better off right now playing 20 minutes at Hartford than 10 minutes here. I'm sure if the coaches thought he was ready, he would have been brought up instead of Falk.
Booth blows. I really want to see McIlrath up. I'm shocked at how many teams still dress worthless goons. It's pretty sad that teams still haven't adjusted to the new NHL. The team toughness if fine but I do think you need one policeman on the roster. McIlrath can also play. He's done well in the AHL after a shaky camp. It's time. I really think the Islanders are a good fit for us in a deal. I would absolutely take Nelson. I would also take Neilson at center. I'm not feeling good about Brassard right now. I don't think he likes the coaching staff. He's dogged it a lot this year. I didn't expect him to do this.
