4 long days to discuss the number 5 and 6 overall seeds left in the tournament squaring off over the next 18 days. Post all related info here. As well as any jokes you can think of about Andy in Halifax. Fuck the enemy.
Personally, I went 3-5 in the first round so i will hold off on making winner projections going forward. This one should go 6+.
As far as this series' storylines, not exactly rivals but you knew somehow/someway the Rangers big trade this past offseason would end up with that player coming back to face us in a playoff round. It's been the story of the Torts/AV tenure:
Brassard, Gaborik, Stralman, Boyle, Callahan, Hagelin, Prust... off the top of my head
Everyone will talk about Mika vs Brassard in this series and i get why. To me the more relevant analysis is Stepan vs Brassard. One of them was getting traded given cap issues, and I'm certain the Rangers shopped both (DS supposedly wanted to play for Minnesota).
But i guess Gorton got the return he liked better on Brassard.... similar players -- Stepan needs to have a big series and outperform Brass-balls for us to be successful.
Finally, Geeey vs Elaine. How did Geeey get that massive scar on his face?
Won't get as much press as Brassard for obvious reasons, but Stalberg is also a Senator and fits the ex-Ranger bill. Though he was only here for a year.
Not NYR related, but Joe Thornton was supposedly playing with a torn ACL and MCL. Tough dude.
Outside of WAS/PIT not a team I believe in left in the tourney, which means after WAS and PIT beat up on each other, it's anyone's cup.
Darkhorse for me is NAS. I don't have teams I root for other than my team, but if I did I'd root for them because of Lavy. His niece was on my daughters hockey team. Good family.
My hope (not that anyone asked) OT's and game 7's. First round was great for OT's, but no game 7's.
They've also got that shitstain Burrows on their roster now too.
Won't get as much press as Brassard for obvious reasons, but Stalberg is also a Senator and fits the ex-Ranger bill. Though he was only here for a year.
Not NYR related, but Joe Thornton was supposedly playing with a torn ACL and MCL. Tough dude.
You picked against the family?
You Fredo-acting motherfucker
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I also did terribly on my first round predictions. The only teams I was correct about were WSH, EDM, ANA. Whiffed on every other series, including ours.
Won't get as much press as Brassard for obvious reasons, but Stalberg is also a Senator and fits the ex-Ranger bill. Though he was only here for a year.
Not NYR related, but Joe Thornton was supposedly playing with a torn ACL and MCL. Tough dude.
You picked against the family?
You Fredo-acting motherfucker
I did. I really did not like much of anything I saw from this team leading up to the playoffs and the whole "flipping the switch" business is risky. I thought we'd give the Habs a tough series but honestly did not expect to advance.
A lot has changed since. Henrik has shown that he can, indeed, flip the switch. This team is playing really well right now. Either I over-estimated MTL or just underestimated NYR.
In any event, I am thrilled. The Senators will be another tough matchup. I think everyone here knows better than to expect anything close to an "easy" series when it comes to NYR (when was the last one... the Thrashers like 10 years ago?) but I do think we can win this series and play in our 3rd ECF in 4 years.
Pumped.
As a wild card team the Rangers had the same odds as their 1st round opponent, and better odds than their 2nd round opponent to win the cup. Now cup odds aren't necessarily a predictor of how good or bad a team is, but it's a data point.
As a Rangers fan you couldn't be happier than the way this worked out (other than playing the Bruins which some of you didn't want for some reason, but they're worse than Ottawa - especially on the blue line), but it highlights flaws in the playoff structure.
Ottawa had a miserable time defending leads against Boston (blew leads in game 1, 3, 5 and 6 of that (happened to regain lead in 3 and 6 to win). That happened because our fore-check disappeared. We are so much more effective with an active fore-check, even with the third guy high all the time.
On that topic... Expect to see three guys back, pretty much every time you go up the ice. It's how we play and it's been very effective but we also have skill and can score when needed. Karlsson is amazing. The rest of the D is meh.
Our PP and PK suck, so that's a big issue for Ottawa.
Good luck!
As a wild card team the Rangers had the same odds as their 1st round opponent, and better odds than their 2nd round opponent to win the cup. Now cup odds aren't necessarily a predictor of how good or bad a team is, but it's a data point.
As a Rangers fan you couldn't be happier than the way this worked out (other than playing the Bruins which some of you didn't want for some reason, but they're worse than Ottawa - especially on the blue line), but it highlights flaws in the playoff structure.
Well yeah, but we've known that for years. Last year was no different and was why we were so pissed we beat Detroit in meaningless game 82. We played the eventual white hot Cup champs in round 1, while NYI nearly got the ECF going through the Sunrise state.
The issue is if they are going to stick to this "division rivalry" format they need to relax the terms. If the top 2 teams are in the same division, than (Pittsburgh) should assume top seed in the cross-over. If after the first round, 3 "Metro" teams are still alive they should have made it so the Caps faced "the worst Metro team left in the playoffs" - e.g., Rangers not Penguins. Etc.
The issue on "rather facing" Ottawa vs Boston is that the Bruins were critically injured in round 1, but it was unclear if they'd get a lot of those reinforcements back for round 2. At full strength the Bruins are a more well rounded, puck possession-type team, the type that can give our low Corsi squad fits, than Ottawa.
But its the fuckin' Elite 8 -- all these teams are good and we;re all going to be chewing down our fingernails over 6 or 7 games no matter who the opponent is.
That this guy wishes he never got those balloons in the first place.
Why were the Canadiens punished vis-a-vis Ottawa for winning its division? Makes no sense.
finally, i think to avoid "tanking" for wild card slots like we saw NYR do vs CBJ... i'd like to see one game wild card play-in games starting next season on monday and tuesday nights leading into the playoffs.
We'd have faced Tampa the Garden with NYI going to Toronto as lead in to the postseason. You cant beat the excitement of a one game playoff.
Why were the Canadiens punished vis-a-vis Ottawa for winning its division? Makes no sense.
finally, i think to avoid "tanking" for wild card slots like we saw NYR do vs CBJ... i'd like to see one game wild card play-in games starting next season on monday and tuesday nights leading into the playoffs.
We'd have faced Tampa the Garden with NYI going to Toronto as lead in to the postseason. You cant beat the excitement of a one game playoff.
so you want to take a flawed system and make it even worse?
Same here.
I think the 7 game series is what makes playoff hockey so appealing - the momentum swings, the adjustments made in-series, the distaste that the teams increasingly harbor for one another as the series' go on, etc.
A one game play-in would certainly be tense but it's shitty when your entire season goes down the tubes because of one game where maybe you got a bad bounce or bad/pivotal call made by the officials.
I thought the standard 1-8 seeding was perfectly fine, to be honest, and I'd prefer they went back to it.
Me too, hockey is too random in one game IMO (I guess like most sports), but seemingly more so in hockey. I think the better team usually wins a best out of 7 series.
At the very least 8 should play 9. Often times 2 points separate the teams over 82 games, and they didnt play each other the past month of the season so the final weekend becomes anti-climactic.
Wild cards play-ins have worked well in baseball and football.
And YAJ, maybe i misinterpreted your comment earlier but how would having the Rangers (102) points face Ottawa in round one while the Canadiens, who won the division, faced Boston (95 points)... make things worse?
Or was your point that the Capitals ... if the league just has to have these division rivalries in round 1 and 2... facing the worst team left in its division instead of necessarily the 2/3 in its bracket (so not only Rangers this year, but Islanders last year) -- how is that worse than having the damn #1 and #2 OVERALL teams in the league facing off in a playoff quarterfinals??
At the very least 8 should play 9. Often times 2 points separate the teams over 82 games, and they didnt play each other the past month of the season so the final weekend becomes anti-climactic.
Wild cards play-ins have worked well in baseball and football.
And YAJ, maybe i misinterpreted your comment earlier but how would having the Rangers (102) points face Ottawa in round one while the Canadiens, who won the division, faced Boston (95 points)... make things worse?
Or was your point that the Capitals ... if the league just has to have these division rivalries in round 1 and 2... facing the worst team left in its division instead of necessarily the 2/3 in its bracket (so not only Rangers this year, but Islanders last year) -- how is that worse than having the damn #1 and #2 OVERALL teams in the league facing off in a playoff quarterfinals??
I was referring to you having this scenario
We'd have faced Tampa the Garden with NYI going to Toronto as lead in to the postseason.
And to address the WC-1 tank, which Im not sure actually happens/ed, you'd have to open it up to 7 vs 10. Except in that world 7 isnt really 7 -- the Rangers were actually the 5th best team in the conference. Under that plan, a 102 point Rangers team would have to play a single-elimination game against the 94 point Lightening? Rangers get knocked out on a garbage game like that, and miss the playoffs, if a better outcome because it diminishes they hypothetical incentive to tank? Yuck.
You can win a championship with Carey Price.
I'm in the "no one is untouchable" camp.
I'm thinking Trouba and Nikolaj Ehlers, something like that would be a starting position.
that's a top 4 D and a top 6 F both superstars or close and both under 23. Trouba is 22, Ehlers is 20. Not saying WPG would do that, but they are an up and coming team and a goalie like Price in his prime gets them in the playoffs and they keep their young core talent with Laine, and Scheiffle.
Ben Bishop is a free agent and not too long ago he was a goalie you could win a cup with and MTL could sign him for less than Price would need or roll with Lindgren and el cubano.
Just saying nothing is definite, and I'd listen on anyone.
If MTL wants to sign him they will. I doubt he tests the market if he gets a good offer. He loves playing in MTL. As do almost all the players who play there.
In other news Radulov (who is a UFA) is trying to entice the Canadiens to re-sign him and bring in Kovalchuck who apparently wants to come back to the NHL.
Sure Karlsson is one of the 10 best players in the league but their other D are not all Jags IMO even if they're noit flashy. I don't watch them as much as Andy, but I watched all of their Canadiens games and most of the Bruins games.
Ceci is not going to light up the score sheet but he's solid in both ends.
Phaneuf is not the Phaneuf of 5 years ago, and he may be the villain of the series for Rangers fans, I can see the complaints already, and he's got a good shot still and is still a tough defender
Methot is a lot like Ceci, they're solid, responsible defenseman
their top 4 remind me of the Penguins last year, with the Penguins letang being nowhere near as good as Karlsson.
And you should hope Borowiecki doesn't play, that dude is like the Tanner Glass of the Senators, he hits everything that moves.
Just my observations...
FWIW, I think they will trade Stepan in the offseason, but that's for another day.
Erik Karlsson is the only guy on D worth a shit but he's playing 30 minutes on average a night injured. Rangers could exploit him and the rwst of that D.
#SloppySeconds #ImissTeddyRoosevelt
Staal is the worst top 6 D on either team and Karlsson is by far the best - no idea why playing 30 minutes a night makes him worse - it's because he's so good that he plays that much.
Staal was brutal in the Canadiens series. Coughed the puck up a ton and the Senators forecheck similar to the Canadiens. He's the D I'd target.
McDonagh did well shutting down Pacioretty, AV deserves a ton of credit for keeping them matched up (and Hank for making some saves on Paciorretty) but he was practically invisible offensively and if he's your best D, the rest are lesser. I like Skjei right now too, but McDonagh and Skjei <> Karlsson and anyone.
Girardi probably played third best after Skjei, but the best thing he did for the Rangers was concuss Shaw.
I don't think anyone is going to say many Rangers D are worth a shit either.
I was joking. He's not a very good defenseman, but he is a headhunter. And he hits like a ton of bricks.
Andy, was he a healthy scratch? I didn't notice him after the first game.
He sprained his ankle in game 1 or 2 and missed the rest of the series. Harpur came in and quickly became one of our most reliable defenders. Looked better than Ceci and Wideman for sure. Not sure Boro gets back in the lineup unless Wideman comes out. But Wideman is on PP2, so that would be surprising.
FWIW, I think they will trade Stepan in the offseason, but that's for another day.
Erik Karlsson is the only guy on D worth a shit but he's playing 30 minutes on average a night injured. Rangers could exploit him and the rwst of that D.
#SloppySeconds #ImissTeddyRoosevelt
No I heard Stepan was quite open (at the request of his wife supposedly) to go home. I'm guessing they couldn't agree on terms with the wild and then Minnesota ended up signing staal.
I like him but yeah would not be surprised to see him traded this offseason. His NMC kicks in after this summer so its now or never
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It's not that Stepan wanted to play for the Wild. It's that the Wild were interested in bringing Stepan home.
FWIW, I think they will trade Stepan in the offseason, but that's for another day.
Erik Karlsson is the only guy on D worth a shit but he's playing 30 minutes on average a night injured. Rangers could exploit him and the rwst of that D.
#SloppySeconds #ImissTeddyRoosevelt
No I heard Stepan was quite open (at the request of his wife supposedly) to go home. I'm guessing they couldn't agree on terms with the wild and then Minnesota ended up signing staal.
I like him but yeah would not be surprised to see him traded this offseason. His NMC kicks in after this summer so its now or never
5/26/16 | 9:54AM: Larry Brooks reports that the Minnesota Wild are believed to have "serious interest" in Rangers center Derek Stepan. (NY Post)
The Wild have been searching for a center and were rumored to be involved with Nashville in talks for Ryan Johansen before he was traded to Columbus. (Star Tribune)
It's believed that the Wild offered defenseman Jonas Brodin and a forward to try and get Johansen. (Reddit)
Brodin, who is a left shot, has played the right side for much of his career with Minnesota. (Star Tribune)
Stepan has five more years left on his contract at $6.5 million per year and a no-trade clause starting in 2017-18,
I would not be shocked if Rangers lose. But I'd make the Rangers at least 3:2 favorites.
Nice article by Brooks about the most beloved Ranger.
He is ninth in franchise history with 788 games played, fifth among defensemen behind Harry Howell, Brian Leetch, Ron Greschner and Jim Neilson. He leads all Ranger skaters in playoff games played with 116 and counting. He was a charter member of the Black-and-Blueshirts, consistently among the club and league leaders in blocked shots and hits.
Playing 759 games of a possible 764 (playoffs included)
The ability to flip the switch and all of the sudden play back at the top of their game up and down the lineup was not a given.
Offensively the two players put up similar numbers most years. When they were here we all called them either both 1(b) or solid 2nd line centers. They were interchangeable.
I suppose Stepan at least kills penalties. Maybe plays better defense, i'm not certain as I havent studied Brassard in a while.
We all liked the return we got for Brassard - which by the way hopefully since Mika missed so much time this year and was ineffective for much of the 2nd half, he wont command huge money as RFA this offseason.
I know, probably a lame question, but I was just wondering. I was only interested in the Caps-Leafs series and now I couldn't care less who wins the Cup.
2. Montreal dominated play
3. Montreal dominated play
4. Rangers dominated play
5. Dead heat - Lundqvist stopped a breakaway with 5 minutes to go in a 2-2 game. That was the series. Not us moving to 4 scoring lines. However, once Lundqvist did save the game over the first two periods and then that breakaway -we wore them down in the OT by having those 4 lines. THe better team in OT won.
6. Rangers slightly carried play. Lundqvist did toe tap a tieing goal with about 1 minute left to keep game going to OT, but the Rangers missed 2-3 great opportunities themselves in the final 10 minutes.
I think one team had more than a 1 goal lead for 19 cumulative minutes over the entire series. The only 3 goal lead, Montreal had for about 2 minutes in game 3.
Rangers led by more than 1 goal for a combined 1 minute in the entire series (both times, due to empty net goals)
Rangers were better at protecting leads (game 2 notwithstanding) - we held a one goal lead for 140 minutes, Montreal for just 87 minutes.
Most notably, MTL took a 1 goal lead in the series 6 different times - this will make PJ throw up - of those 6 leads, they scored the following goal just once (game 3).
4 or 5 years younger than Brassard too. They made the right call with that trade. Brass really didn't have that great a season this year but has predictably raised his game in the playoffs.
Girardi has seen his role with the Rangers diminish over the past couple seasons, but he was strong in the first round series against Montreal. "I’m not worried about what might happen later or what happened before. I’m only thinking about right now," Girardi said. "I’m just playing every game as hard as I can. I’m not doing any speculating about the future. I’m playing to help the team win. I’m not playing for next year. I’m playing to win the Cup." The Rangers next test will be facing the Ottawa Senators in the second round. That series starts on Thursday.
Source: NY Post Apr 25
Slow news day I guess. How is this even a discussion? He's owed just $10 million over the final 3 years of his deal and is playing top line D-minutes for a team in the Elite 8 of the postseason. Even if he didnt play as fantastic as he did against Montreal and should against Ottawa (Pitt/Wash is another story).... for the life of me i dont understand how someone playing 25-30 minutes/night for us wouldnt get even a 3rd line job on a shitty team elsewhere?
Even if we had to eat some salary and some salary cap - 3 years of dead weight would be better than the 6 years we'd eat with a buy-out. Far inferior players with worse contracts have been dealt. There's always a small market team out there interested at the right price.
Who knows what would've been except for that chinstrap.