I'm sure the Lightning will be in a great mood after getting asswhipped 9-3 by Florida. Rangers against winning teams is now starting to become an issue as one poster mentioned before. Early on I thought it was more just some bad luck, backup goalies and new system. However, lately they have not shown much against the better teams. This is mostly because of the coaching stupidity of Gallant and his refusal to commit to developing Kakko and Lafreniere. Hunt should be traded or released by Drury as well as McKegg if these moronic coaching decisions continue to take place. Also, Drury need to get off his ass and take advantage of a big trade chip in Zac Jones and get a real fucking 3rd line center in here as well as dumping Chytil before his value completely goes to shit.
It is a little scary that the #1 and #2 overall picks are putting up so few points in their 2nd and 3rd year.
Of course they are. Lafreniere is on a line that is not going to develop him. They both don't get first PP unit time. It totally makes sense. The team needs a proven 3rd center which won't be easy now as the league has a lot of teams that probably think they can squeak in the playoffs. Montreal blows and they suck in all kind of areas. I think they would easily do Dvorark at 35% retained for Chtyil and Jones. This is a deal we should absolutely make. He is a faceoff stud and is much more likely to develop Lafreniere. Montreal gets a great piece on defense and a cheap center who can develop further there. I would also make them take Hunt and McKegg in the deal to rid Gallant of his dumb toys. Maybe ask for a 3rd back as we don't have one this year. To be honest, you probaby could ask for a second back which would give us 3 seconds this season.
They both need to be on the top 2 lines. But I don't see how they both get on the PP1. If they move Strome to PP2 you can slide Kakko into his spot. But you can't take anyone else off that line. Kreider is too good in front to move him down. Really though in my mind...the truly great players elevate the players around them. Few players if any come into the league and are immediately great but, when everyone was talking about Lafreniere he was SUPPOSED to be one of those players. Clearly he needs a lot of development and the only way he is going to get it is by playing with the top talent on this team.
I think you take Strome of the PP and split time with Kakko and Lafreniere. Honestly, Zibanejad looks like dead weight on the PP. The PP is basically Panarin, Fox and Kreider. So I have no issue taking Zibanejad off and making him earn his money more at even strength.
Thats a strategy but you can't take both of them off PP1 (Strome/Zib) otherwise they will never win a face-off. Its a tough situation to figure out on the PP but as far as the regular lines go it should 100% be Kakko on one and Lafreniere on the other even if it means one of them plays on their off wing. They both need help developing.
If fuck face Gallant would play Barron who was by FAR our best faceoff guy in the pre-season and Drury wold grow some balls and get a legit 3rd l ine center who can win draws by using guys like Jones, Kravtsov and Chytil, things would be easier.
Gallant screws up with mckegg and strome on the ice last 2 minutes and Tampa tied it up. Thankfully zman scored the only shootout goal for the 2-1 rangers win. Happy New Years everyone!!
Kreider should've been allowed out there on that goal they kind of got screwed there but got the 2 pts anyway. HNY!
Didn't see most of the game. I was out with a couple where the guy was running up a ridiculous bill trying to show off like a dickhead. Then you have to split the bill. Some of you might know what I'm talking about. Smh.
Let's face it, if Tampa has their starting goalie, this is a loss. Forget about Kucherov. This team is still not a contender. Several reasons why. Drury needs to get rid of Chytil, Hunt and McKegg immediately. Getting a real third line center in here is huge.
