Pens vs. Rangers series

[kreidertime]

Hope I'm wrong but I'm not optimistic. Blais and Motte are going to be enormous losses in this series. Lafreniere despite the mind boggling incompetence of this organization and understanding how to develop young, elite offensively skilled players is starting to come on. However, both he and Kakko, injuries aside for Kakko are way behind in their development because the Rangers are dumb. That could show up in this series. I hope those 2 kids can overcome the stupidity of their organization in this playoff series but I doubt it. I might stretch it to Penguins in 6 but I think they win it in 5. Copp getting hurt again first game back after his injury was a very bad sign.

 

[NYR Fan]

What a ridiculous post. You don't hope you are wrong, you are always so negative, and I have said it many times but I do not believe you are a Rangers fan. You are sent here to write rude vulgar things and drive real fans away. Do you get any happiness from this team quickly rebuilding, and getting 110 points this season clearly ahead of schedule?

Yes, Quinn/Gallant have killed Lafreniere's growth, which is why he scored 19 goals in year 2 - but yes I know, he did it in spite of his terrible coaches, and he is being ruined because they don't play him on PP1. Ridiculous.

As for this series, the Pens are a soft team, with poor goaltending, and no depth. Not having Motte and Blais won't hurt them this series. It will hurt them going forward, assuming Motte isn't back if we get to play Carolina in round 2. Rangers win this series in 6 games. This is a good matchup for them.

 

[kreidertime]

It’s not a ridiculous post you’re a fucking Homer who’s had blinders on since you came to this chat board. You have little idea of how to develop players and you have no idea how the playoffs work. Teams that make runs have veteran defensemen and a lot of them. You’ve already been proven by several posters to be a fucking moron on the development of Lafreniere and Kakko and why the Rangers are doing it wrong

 

[kreidertime]

This team has shown zero ability to beat Carolina during the regular season. A lot of the roster has little to no playoff experience and if you don’t think that matters you’re a dumbass. The only way I could see them winning a playoff round is if Shesterkin stands on his head and he hasn’t done that for over a month and Panerin and Zibanejad have a big series offensively at even strength and I’m not expecting that to happen. That and the Rangers have to win game one if they don’t they’re done.

 

[NYR Fan]

I am not a homer at all, I am just not a fake rangers fan who whines and complains about everything, and only cares about kids and kids and draft picks like you are. I know they are a better team than the Pens, and will win this series. They are not a better team than Carolina, and strong odds are they will lose that series as I have been writing. That could be Carolina in 5 games as they are the better team and experienced as well.

As for the kids, again Lafreniere leads the team in even strength goals since the start of last season. He also scored 19 goals this season. That doesn't say to me oh the two coaches he has played under have totally misused him and hurt his growth. I know in your mind Lafreniere not getting PP1 time automatically means his coaches have misused him, but most of us aren't as simple as you are to make that the end all be all.

As for Kakko, he has been hurt so many times since he has been a Ranger it is difficult to get a good read on his game. He needs to stay healthy and play with a little chip on his shoulder. Hopefully he has a good playoff run.

Overall it is a fun time to be a Rangers fan, despite all your negative posts and venom. Even if they lose in round 2, highly likely, the arrow is pointing up, with a lot of up and coming kids in the system, and that's exciting. This year has been very good results ahead of the curve, so enjoy it instead of whining.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

Still not sure how playing on the power play develops a player.

Stop comparing other first overall picks who go to teams with crappy talent and have no better options other than playing them minutes.

We should just have benched kreider and let Laf develop...why..for what reason...so he can learn how to score with one less player on the ice...is that how a player develops?

Let's take Strom off the pp unit..why..because...top 5 pp unit should definitely be separated because we need to make a kid feel all grown up.

Again..Eichel...McDavid...tons of pp minutes..yet their teams have done shit..but hey they are all developed..that's awesome

 

[NYR31]

Still not sure how playing on the power play develops a player.

Stop comparing other first overall picks who go to teams with crappy talent and have no better options other than playing them minutes.

We should just have benched kreider and let Laf develop...why..for what reason...so he can learn how to score with one less player on the ice...is that how a player develops?

Let's take Strom off the pp unit..why..because...top 5 pp unit should definitely be separated because we need to make a kid feel all grown up.

Again..Eichel...McDavid...tons of pp minutes..yet their teams have done shit..but hey they are all developed..that's awesome

Stop pretending this team was some sort of Cup-contending team. It's been bang average, at best, until this season and the reason other first and second overall picks play a lot of minutes in other teams is because it's the obvious thing to do. Not for the Rangers who are going to be looking at 30 years since their last cup, however.

 

[NYR31]

Missed the past few games so had not realized Copp is hurt. That definitely hurts and leaves us thin on offense, dependent on the usual 3-4 forwards.

Still think we get past the Pens but not sure we're there yet for a long playoff run.

 

[NYR Fan]

I agree with that, we are not a cup contending team at this time. We are ahead of the projected curve for us with a very good season this year, but we are not a legit cup contender currently. I think we'll beat an average Pens team in round 1, and lose to a good Canes team in round 2. Hopefully that experience will help us in the long run.

I will add I fully expect Lafreniere to be a stud next season. Kakko I am way more unsure about as the kid needs to stay healthy. His game relies on power as well, and that is tough for a young kid to rely on early in his career. He has a lot of talent though, so hopefully health and filling out come together next season.

Word is all players are good for the playoffs outside of Motte, so we should be healthy and ready to go game 1. Good stuff.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

Stop pretending this team was some sort of Cup-contending team. It's been bang average, at best, until this season and the reason other first and second overall picks play a lot of minutes in other teams is because it's the obvious thing to do. Not for the Rangers who are going to be looking at 30 years since their last cup, however.

When did Edmonton last win a cup...Buffalo...this has to thrust kids minutes doesn't prove that it makes the team better.

 

[Ranger71]

It's a good problem to have a pp unit that you don't need to force 21 y/o on it much and they can still get experience on pp2. It's not like they're 24 and you simply aren't putting them there out of spite or something. Both guys will be in the top 6 next year so they will get more and more responsibilty commensurate with their age. I'd be surprised if Laffy isn't on the first unit next year. Kakko hasn't shown enough even when healthy to be put there yet but there's still plenty of time with him.

 

[Messiah717]

It's almost like some hope the team loses.

 

[kreidertime]

Bullshit we’re just realistic. I also think there is a very good chance they will lose Kakko to an offer sheet.

 

[NYR Fan]

It is not realistic when all you write is negative stuff and everyone sucks and is doing a bad job and should be fired. The ratio of negative to positive is way slanted. That is not realistic, that is whiny with no joy, and good odds you are not really even a Rangers fan.

I don't see anyone in here saying this team is great or going to win the cup. I see people saying they'll beat the Pens, which we will, and most everyone is picking us to do so. From there we will be underdogs and I haven't seen anyone say anything different. That is realistic.

 

[Messiah717]

It's worth noting that on Nov 5th there was an official fire Gallant thread started. Honestly, can we just enjoy getting back to the playoffs and cut the shit?

 

[kreidertime]

Gallant did an amazing job coaching the team. An atrocious job developing Lafreniere and Kakko. Lafreniere somehow is overcoming it. Kakko also but to a lesser extent because of the injuries he's had this season. Unfortunately, the Rangers are not getting healthy at the right time of the season. Which blows. Igor is going to have to stand on his head at least 4 games in this series and the Rangers barely have to take any penalties. Their PK is shaky lately. Their PP also has been slipping. I hate Crosby but the prick knows how to play in the playoffs. Especially against inexperienced players.

 

[NYR Fan]

Thank god Lafreniere looks really good in spite of his coaches. All the good players do. The bad ones, man the coach is f'ing them...

If only Gallant had put Lafreniere and Kakko on PP1 then all would be okay with how he is handling them. Damn you PP1........that is the make or break up or down on how these young kids are handled and grown, don't you know that Gallant.

 

[kreidertime]

Malkin is a hot head. If the Rangers actually hit him and hit him often, he will lose his cool. Historically he pretty much always does this. However, if they play like they do against Carolina where they just watch them skate around and buttfuck them, they are in deep shit.

 

[Greyvtrayn]

If I had to choose between a 2nd year player getting a lot of PP time or a 2nd year player being able to score at even strength I'll take the player scoring at even strength 100% of the time. Obviously Gallant COULD have put Lafreniere on the PP1 but it's also pretty obvious why he didn't. Since nearly the start of the regular season that was the Rangers biggest and sometimes only strength outside of remarkable goaltending. That Lafreniere has developed into a very capable scorer at even strength while playing on the 3rd line is a huge plus for the Rangers in the playoffs.
I am more in agreement with dump though that this is going to be a tough series. The Pens have just as much talent as the Rangers (Crosby, Malkin, Geuntzel, Carter, Zucker, Rust, Letang, Rakell). They have guys that can score. The Rangers biggest advantage is in net and will need a strong series from Shesterkin to advance.

 

[NYR Fan]

They can score, they also have a very questionable D, and below average goaltending. What the Pens have going for them is a few stars, and a good deal of playoff experience.

In the NHL playoffs just about everything is close, so anything can happen, especially when you have Crosby, Malkin, and Letang with a lot of experience, but if this series goes 7 games I will be very surprised. From 1-18 and in goal we have the deeper, more physical, overall better team, and we'll show it I feel.

 

[Rangers94]

I’m gonna stick to what this thread SHOULD be about and make my pick and avoid all the middle school drama. Rangers in 6.

 

[NYR Fan]

Jarry and Zucker both out to start the series. Another reason we don't have any excuses in this series. Go win it.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

Rangers in 5

 

[Ranger71]

Unless Shest has some deer in the headlights in his first playoffs and the team has alot of defensive breakdowns, they should win this series in 6. I'd be surprised if it made it to 7, especially with Jarry out for the first few. Nothing's ever easy with the Rangers but you have to feel pretty confident going into this, even with a fairly young D and not optimal 4th line.

 

[kreidertime]

Not really but I hope you're right.

 

[mrmel29]

I see this series as the rangers in 5 although I admit I'm a bit leery in a close game of crosby selling a bogus penalty call. Otherwise, Im thinking we handle the pens fairly easily.

 

[NYR Fan]

14/16 pickers on NHL.com picked the Rangers to beat the Pens.
21/27 pickers on ESPN.com picked the Rangers to beat the Pens. Only 16/27 picked the Canes over the Bruins, and 20/27 picked TB over the Leafs.

By the pickers, Rangers a big favorite. By Vegas I think the Pens are a slight favorite. They always get over bet though due to Crosby.

 

[Ranger71]

It will be a long series. Maybe 7g i suppose if the Rangers have one of those games where they look lost and hang Igor out to dry. They usually have one in any playoff round they're in regardless of the year/roster.

 

[Greyvtrayn]

Separate threads for each game or cram them all in here?

 

[PorterPanzer]

Realistically if you were beating the no chance of the Rangers making the playoffs this past Summer you have zero cred on postseason analysis, but this is an opinion board so none of that matters. I think the gritty Rangers will be a handful for any team especially Pitt, the only thing that can keep them in a series with the Rangers is the officiating. I'm interested in seeing how well Carolina holds up to the physicality.