This is what it's about, boys. Doesn't matter that we trailed this series 1-2 or 2-3. Doesn't matter that we won the last game or scored 7 goals. What matters is winning one hockey game tonight. That's it. Win one game and give ourselves another shot at taking care of what we couldn't last year.
I don't need to pump anyone up for this shit. If you love this team, your heart has been racing since the second you woke up. You know what's at stake, you know how unbelievably huge this game is. You know what's on the line.
If you're looking for a good omen, today's date is May 29th. On May 29th, 2014, the Rangers defeated the Canadiens at MSG to punch their ticket to the SCF. It was exactly a year to the day. Same venue. Let's get the same result.
Let's fucking do this.
I never really counted that San Antonio massacre (though IIRC the ride there over Miami and Indiana was fun)
They don't have enough goal scorers on this team. Too many guys that are easily shut down in tighter checking games.
I think the G / D is fine (though we're going to be up against the cap and with age concerns with this D in a year or two)... and we have really solid 2nd and 3rd lines for a while... but you've got to find that 1st line stud that when he touches the puck the other team fears.
The Bruins won without that sort of elite Toews/Kane/Stamkos talent up front.
I think they need to add a bit more grit up front - bordering on douchebaggery. Not necessarily a star - guys like Ovechkin, Perry, and Stamkos have this in them, and Messier had it in spades, which is the ideal. But too many times when games seemed over they lacked fight or far too tentative.
I saw someone say they think the locker room is a bit too chummy and that there isn't any one who will step up and challenge guys. I think it's an interesting theory. But sometimes you just get beat. They were good enough to win it all this year. They just didn't.
Sather did a great job of quickly improving the team after 2012. He isn't one to sit back and think we'll go with the same group next year.
Fuck
Watching Costner rape the Seattle GM for the 6th pick Bo Callahan (his picks back + an all-pro kick returner) is how Yzerman and crew must have felt with their backs in the corner when Sather out of no where handed them Callahan for a TBL playoff run + a 1st
-Hayes makes up for no 1st last season
-Rangers got a 2nd this season
-Rangers firsts they gave up were late
if you told me Hayes picked NYR because MSL was here... fine... but that wasnt the case.
And I have no idea if the Rangers beat Pittsburgh or not with Callahan here instead of MSL. Maybe they dont take 7 grueling games with Philly or fall behind 1-3 to Pittsburgh (only reason they lost 3 straight to Pittsburgh was because the NHL scheduled an absurd 5 playoff games in 7 days)
I didnt hate the MSL for Callahan trade - but throwing in 2 first round picks for him too was off the reservation. Yzerman and co. had a very good laugh at that and will be making that pick this spring now maybe with their Lord Stanley next to them at the time.
You have to credit Sather with the Hayes signing. They courted another teams first rounder on a technicality. He could have gone wherever he wanted and they sold him on the rangers. You may not see them as linked but it doesn't matter. If you're going to criticize one negotiation and use it to knock the front office you have to acknowledge their successes. You can't have it both ways.
Obviously on the whole this management team from Glen to the scouts has done a great job. The club has gone to the SCF and 2 ECF in the last four seasons. They are one of the best teams in the NHL over an extended period. The window isn't closed yet we have a couple more years for this group to get it done imo.
It stings like Hell right now but don't lose perspective and act as if this team is mismanaged. It isn't. So many decisions go into developing a roster over the years to form a contending club. The Rangers have gotten the lions share of those decisions right.
Nick Fotiu on Game 7 Effort - ( New Window )
I thought it raised the team's ceiling but dramatically shortened the window. First line guys become available all the time in the NHL. Spezza, Nash, Ryan, Vanek, Gaborik, etc. To pony up significant assets for one who was in his late 30's was a huge mistake.
Second, we were all fine with MSL-Callahan in principle. Throwing in two picks for the privilege? Give me a break. With the 28th pick in the first round courtesy of the NY Rangers, the Tampa Bay Lightning select.....
Third, I really hope this group's claim to fame (Lundqvist included) was a 5 game series loss to the Kings. That would be sad.
And the 2nd in return very well could be the very last pick in the 2nd... which under your definition ... "almost a 3rd"
With that said, next year seems like the peak year. Brodeur won his last Vezina at 38 (was 37 during the regular season). Who knows how long Lundqvist will be top five?
This year was a year with a lot of 'transition' league wide - there was no dominant team. Boston, LA, and Chicago were all a bit weaker. Teams like Columbus should be much better - Hagelin made a comment about being exhausted in game seven, can you imagine how they would be if they went through Columbus and Washington?
Good find.
Like AV's Canucks, the Rangers didn't hit.
No one cares about defense? What the fuck.
Criticize Nash all you want, but to act like his defense doesn't matter just makes you sound like a fucking fool.
They didn't lose the series because they didn't hit. They lost the series because the offense failed to show up in 2 games at MSG.
With that said, next year seems like the peak year. Brodeur won his last Vezina at 38 (was 37 during the regular season). Who knows how long Lundqvist will be top five?
This year was a year with a lot of 'transition' league wide - there was no dominant team. Boston, LA, and Chicago were all a bit weaker. Teams like Columbus should be much better - Hagelin made a comment about being exhausted in game seven, can you imagine how they would be if they went through Columbus and Washington?
Finnish guy for CHI? or is there another youngster? Chicago is a little like Pittsburgh, load up on O and top heavy D and hope their stars and their goalie holds it together.
but Chicago is deeper than Pitt.
The Islanders hit everything that moved and the Caps almost matched them hit for hit. Matt Martin became my favorite non-Canadien, Non-American player. He's fun to watch.
And Fotiu's opinion of Kreider is ridiculous, and sounds very influenced by Kreider not calling him back
And imagine if Pitt drafted Toews instead of Staal?
just needs a little more discipline. he's like leclair in front of the net. I liked when they paired him with Fast. Would zuccarello have been on that line?
Players like Kreider need guys who can keep up with them or they play down to their linemates (IMO)
They didn't lose the series because they didn't hit. They lost the series because the offense failed to show up in 2 games at MSG.
Stamkos didn't hit and take runs at Rangers? The Rangers crashed the net? Speed kills and the Rangers slowed down that Tampa speed? You chalk that up as "the offense failed to show up"? Pretty vague
The Rangers played 25 playoff games last year - of course we're going to have guys in the top 10. His PPG didnt sniff top 10. Misleading statement - you're better than that.
And tied for 2nd on team - its all relative. Like every year we watch this group... they cannot score playoff goals.
But yes, he beat Dustin Tokarski in OT. It was a nice moment.
Fuck - this window has nearly slammed shut and the best we have is a 5 game beatdown to the Kings. Awesome. At least those 90s Knicks teams made 2 finals and went 7 with the mighty Rockets. Would have won if John Starks didnt shit the bed.
But cool... enjoyed 2012's insight that we dont hit enough. We score 1 goal a game on that Presidents Trophy home ice but yeah its an issue of physicality. Meanwhile two finesse teams will compete for the Cup the next two weeks.
You have to admit.... talk about being taken to the woodshed. What has transpired over the past 13 months between these two franchises is about as thorough a front office ass-whooping as you will ever see in professional sports.
But cool... enjoyed 2012's insight that we dont hit enough. We score 1 goal a game on that Presidents Trophy home ice but yeah its an issue of physicality. Meanwhile two finesse teams will compete for the Cup the next two weeks.
Reading and thinking is so low on your priority list. Who is Nick Fotiu? never mind, chalk it up with a big whine and claim the Rangers offense didn't show up while it was the Rangers who failed to adapt, crash the net and clear out Tampa who altered their game. Oh, and finesse Stamkos didn't drill multiple Rangers and the Blackhawks just allowed the huge Ducks to pound the without any retaliation.
Tell us again how old the Rangers are b/c you understand so little.
The following night, Game 7 at the Garden on Friday, Kreider turned the other cheek all game, his teammates turned the other cheek all game, and they were slapped out of the playoffs in as mute and passive a performance as possible in this kind of a showdown match.
The Rangers turned the other cheek the way the Canucks were instructed to turn the other cheek in the 2011 final against Boston, which they lost in seven with Vigneault behind the bench. Vancouver turned the other cheek even when Brad Marchand went rat-a-tat-tat on Daniel Sedin’s face in Game 6 then went out with a whimper in Game 7.
Hit back - ( New Window )
I sort of 'comfort' myself with the loss by thinking the team would get taken to the woodshed with two of their four best defensemen playing with broken bones in their feet.
but aren't you proposing Lucic for a physicsl presence to crash the net and battle the boards? The Rangers didn't demonstrate any physical presence to break the Tampa defense. There were a lot of 2-1 games with a healthy defense and opponents easiy shutting down the Rangers finesse.
I think a huge takeaway this post-season is how flawed you can still be to win a Cup. Tampa has a questionable goaltender and only three quality defensemen as well as a shit bottom six. Chicago has three/four defensemen and softer depth than they've had historically.
Quote:
In comment 12308765 BrettNYG10 said:
But cool... enjoyed 2012's insight that we dont hit enough. We score 1 goal a game on that Presidents Trophy home ice but yeah its an issue of physicality. Meanwhile two finesse teams will compete for the Cup the next two weeks.
Who is Nick Fotiu?
"Who is Nick Fotiu?" Oh man do I feel old now.
1) I hated the MSL trade last year and said so, he has done nothing to change my mind. He is finished and they gave up a #1 in addition to Callahan. The Pat Leonard NYDN column today was spot on, that the PP grinds to a standstill when MSL (and Boyle) are out there.
2) I was skeptical of the Yandle trade because again, they gave up a #1 and their best young scoring prospect to get him. The Hayes signing offsets some of the loss of picks, but you can't go 3 out of 4 years w/o a #1.
3) I agree with many of Nick Fotiu's comments. Nash is a big guy who plays small. Willie Huber. Built like Tarzan, plays like Jane, never in front, never gets dirty.
4) Letting Stralman go, signing Boyle was a mistake. They missed Stralman's grit and skill.
5) I know they couldn't really help it due to cap constraints, but I think they missed Brian Boyle. Not so much in the reg season, but in the playoffs. He's big, tough, gets in front and wins face offs.
When your players refuse to get in front of the net and take the necessary punishment to score tough goals, that is lack of physicality. I not just about banging along the boards. Kreider gets in front. Nobody else does consistently.
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They lost because they couldn't score. They got to game seven in the ECF without a top-line forward and a broken defense. This isn't the time to totally change the identity of the roster. I'd love to add a forward with a bit of snarl (Lucic), but I'm not gutting the roster to do so.
but aren't you proposing Lucic for a physicsl presence to crash the net and battle the boards? The Rangers didn't demonstrate any physical presence to break the Tampa defense. There were a lot of 2-1 games with a healthy defense and opponents easiy shutting down the Rangers finesse.
Lucic lead that Bruins Stanley Cup team in points - some people don't realize that - maybe you do, he wasn't just physicality. he reminds me a little of Kreider, but Lucic isn't nearly half as skiled as Kreider, probably tougher though.
the Bruins have been rumored to be trying to trade him for years. He makes a lot, but has only one year left (2015-2016), on a team a player away from a championship I'd be interested if they are some cash. even though he's a douchebag and I hate him with every fiber of my being.
Here's what I said on 5/3/15:
Modus Operandi : 5/3/2015 4:10 pm
Fwiw: I had dinner with a family member of one of the players and was told Zucs has a fractured skull and they fear he may not play again.
Not sure how true, but disappointing.
But according to Headhunter, it was all bullshit.
Fuck off dipshit - ( New Window )
Here's what I said on 5/3/15:
Quote:
NFT: Asshat Ranger "news"
Modus Operandi : 5/3/2015 4:10 pm
Fwiw: I had dinner with a family member of one of the players and was told Zucs has a fractured skull and they fear he may not play again.
Not sure how true, but disappointing.
But according to Headhunter, it was all bullshit. Fuck off dipshit - ( New Window )
There are a few (blanks) who called out the credibility of others and they all look like @holes today and acted or been acting like @holes for a long while.