Game 4 Preds vs. Rangers

I'm not going to make up fantasy trades that have no shot of happening. I think this comes down to two things - the kids need to take a big step up (as 717 wrote we all knew that would be the case if this team were to take a step forward), and the vets on this team simply don't play the way that is needed to win tough hockey games, and they are a mismatched bunch.

I don't think Vlad has anything to do with it, if he were here instead of Wheeler we'd be a very different team? That didn't work last season, and Kakko and Laf need to be playing well in the top 6 for us to have a real shot at big things anyway. I like Vlad a lot, but he isn't moving the needle here with the issues this team has.

We can blame the Rangers for Laf and Kakko not turning into the players you'd expect selected 1 and 2 in the draft, but I think that is a bit faulty. If these guys were as good as they were supposed to be, it would show up. They would rise to the top. We'd see a lot of glimpses at least. Only 4 games, but they are playing in the top 6 now, and how have they played thus far? At best they look like ordinary guys to me. I won't tell you there is no responsibility on the Rangers management/coaches for these guys not performing at the expected level, there is for sure, and the Rangers have to own that, but the larger % no doubt IMO is on Laf and Kakko for not being near the players they were expected to be when drafted 1 and 2.

As far as Drury goes, I hated the move from day 1. What did Chris Drury ever do to be the Pres and GM of the NYR? That is a premiere job in all of the NHL, and Drury gets to it with a few years of assistant GM experience? Come on now, he was not qualified to be in that dual role when he was put there, and I have seen nothing that has shown me he should have been put there. He had a great trade DL 2 years ago, and outside of that I have seen very little from him. Thanks Dolan and Sather for that move. And BTW, where we thought the Rangers were 3 years ago with all these kids ready to blow up, to where we are now with the moves Drury made to finish the team off, is the biggest bummer of all to me at least. I thought we were on the edge of great teams and great runs, and instead we have this.

I'll also add, the flat cap has killed the Rangers, but that is no excuse as all the teams have been hurt by that. Go look at how many teams are in a terrible cap position just like the Rangers. Some teams have already played short this season due to cap issues. It's a joke, and why the NHL is a joke also. The players need to get some balls in the NHL and stop Bettman and a handful of hard-line owners from killing teams. You can never keep a team together for more than a few seasons, so many teams have no wiggle room at all to improve, there is no flexibility at all. It is a broken model that hurts teams and the league. Thankfully at least the cap will go up $4M + next season, but the broken model will still be here until the players man up against the Bettman and the owners.

The Rangers also have two contracts that really hurt them, Goodrow at over $3.6M for a 4th line sort of leader/gritty guy is $2M too much, and Panarin at over $11.6M per is over $3M too much. $5M doesn't seem like a lot, but it is in a cap system that is tight like the NHL's system. You could argue Trouba also makes about $2M too much. With this system and the flat cap, you almost need to be perfect or close to it, and these contracts really hurt the team. With that said, if Laf and Kakko were the players we expected them to be it wouldn't matter nearly as much, which is why I think a big % of the concerns comes right back to that sadly.

With that all said, I am not ready to give up on this season after 4 games. We are 2-2, and outside of the Nashville game I think we have played pretty well. I don't have overly high hopes, but I will stay hopeful none the less that these guys get it together and make a run like 2 years ago - looking at you Laf and Kakko.

 

Laf is a lazy hump who has done nothing to improve his skating, strength or offense over the years and the Rangers have bent over backwards to try and accommodate Alexi. He's right behind CK, Panarin and Mika on PP time (as he should be) and done nothing. Even after a promising start to the season with a tip in goal against Buffalo, since then 1 SOG in 3 games.

 

Wheeler looks like he eats 3 Big Macs before he steps on the ice he's so sluggish. Maybe it will take some time for him to adjust to things but he looks bad so far. Another issue is Trocheck, who really is more of a 3C being forced into a higher slot. We really miss that 1-2 punch the better teams have.

 

Carlsson first nhl game. Second overall pick. 19 minutes of icetime. Pay attention Rangers you dumb fucks.

 

I read two lines of your long winded post then I’m bored and stopped. You need a hobby.

 

Conditioning chemistry cohesion

this team shows none of them.

 

Laf has never had the legs to skate 19 minutes per game and if he somehow did it wouldn't change the fact that he won't shoot the puck. I thought we had finally pulled you from the clutches of the Lafatfanboy Cult Dump but it appears your will is faltering.

 

Actually Dump is going to the other side. He is finally acknowledging that Laf is a bust. Read his post earlier

 

And Miller, don't even get me started. Despite decent numbers last year, he's been a turnover factory.

 

I'm not sure if I'd call Laf a bust yet but he's trending in that direction, definitely a disappointment. A player with his alleged talent should be able to play with anyone and make them better regardless of where he's positioned. I'm hoping Alexi's sluggish performance is just a product of him starting the season out of shape again. I like Trocheck, he was a top team scorer last year and is a dominant faceoff guy. The Rangers need more gritty players like Vinny.

 

It's amazing that we have so many clueless fucks that think Miller makes Trouba look good. Miller turns the puck over constantly. This coach hasn't benched him yet. Just like Gallant didn't. If you don't do that, he won't stop doing it.