Well, the so called morons in the media predict us to be crap. I guess they didn't know that the number 1 problem the team had last year was a terrible PK unit and a lack of speed on the third and 4th lines. They added what might be the best PK guy in the sport in Grabner and a another really good one in Jooris. Plus picked up a ton of speed with Grabner, Jooris, Gerbe and Zibanejad. Second biggest problem was the defense with Girardi, Boyle and Yandle all playing like crap defensively. Yandle's atrocious net coverage was just ignored all season by most of our fans. Skjei in there for a full year should help. Hopefully, McIlrath in there for a full year with our thickhead coach finally getting a clue. I suspect Girardi is going to be sitting a lot for Holden and AV will have to get over his 3 righty-lefty nonsense. Defense should be better defensively by miles with Skjei replacing Yandle and McIlrath replacing Boyle. Third biggest problem was the defense of the forwards. Like Brassard but he sucked ass defensively last year and has no defensive ability compared to Zibanejad who is excellent defensively. D. Moore was completely useless other than draws. Slow and every part of his game was terrible. Glass was his usual clown self. Hayes was atrocious defensively at any position but you can't have him at center and when Lindberg comes back, Hayes has to be moved to the wing. Four biggest problem was as always, a lack of right handed shots on the top 3 lines. Zibanejad being a righty should be a huge plus to the PP. I would say the 5th biggest problem was the play from the role players. They were lazy. Lacked hunger. Lacked effort which is what our role players were known for. I think adding the role players they did will make it much tougher for teams to control the puck in our zone.
Girardi and Staal both seem confident they will be markedly better this year so that will certainly be a big point for the defense. Even 30% better would help. Hopefully Buchnevich adjusts quickly and it looks like Vesey is ready to go. The offense should be pretty exciting and I'd expect Nash to have a nice bounceback year of 30+. The additions and overall speed boost push them back into solid playoff contention but the defensive coverage has to be alot better. Skjei hopefully develops well but i don't see DMc playing all that much as the spare again. Holden will get more time as a vet.
Looks like girardi and staal will be given every opportunity to fail on the ice again (GOD DAMN IT) There is no way D Mac is not one of the top 6 on the d-line this year. Left side will be Mcd, staal and skjei and the right side Klein, D-mac and girardi (ugh). If glass makes this team much less starts on the 4th line again AV needs to be fired immediately. I predict Vesey will be a big asset for the team no matter what line he ends up on. Buch looks like a heavy skeleton and just hope he doesn't get his balls beat in too badly. Really looking forward to this season and hope Beuk makes Mcd and dylan a pairing. Hope AV doesn't fuck this team up again like he did last season. Gorton needs to give him a short leash if the same shit happens (glass on the ice, girardi and staal 20 plus minutes a game, Dylan sitting in the press box etc.) and get rid of him immediately if it does.
Why AV is a moron: On Dylan McIlrath: "he has some good internal competition on the right side. If Dylan plays on a regular basis in the NHL it will be first and foremost because defensively he is real dependable. When you talk about that you are talking about a good gap, good on one on ones. What we also see from Dylan is good puck decision. Doesn't need to be 2-3 guys going up the ice but he needs to make a good first pass to do that. You need to beat the first forechecker, if he can do that and make that first pass then he has some good internal competition there on the right side. With his size, I've been here for four years and I have seen him progress the four years. I'm expecting him to be better than he was at the end of last year. He has exhibition games to prove it, very well respected and liked by his teammates. Brings an element that all teams like to have. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks he will prove that he can make our team." On Girardi, "I do believe that after a summer that he was able to get as far as mental break, physical break, being able to heal his body. Everything that I have seen so far, all the indications not just what I have seen on the ice and in the gym but how he is conducting himself, real positive attitude is giving me every indication. He has been so good for so long and the warrior who put his body on the line for his teammates, I think that is the Dan Girardi we are going to see." (Rangers Report)
I don't think anyone is questioning Girardi's contributions from previous seasons but it's a matter of where he is now and the level of play he can deliver this year. Dan looks used up to me, too small and slow to contend with today's larger, faster skaters. Nothing would make me happier than to see Dan prove me wrong but it seems like his last two seasons have been filled with excuses rather than facing the reality that his best years are behind him. Staal falls into the same situation especially if a prospect like Graves shows promise. I agree that the biggest obstacle to the Rangers success is AV's stubbornness, the team has performed worse each year he's been here.
Would love to have Gorton pick his own coach, instead of being given Sather's choice. Just sayin. If kids are NHL ready, keep them on the team. Plain and simple. Why do I get the feeling that Glass will be on the roster opening night. As long as I see his name on the roster, AV proves to be a mule.
