NFT: Rangers @ Ottawa tonight…

wtf is wrong with these fucks

...overachieved last season. This led to unrealistic expectations for 2022-23. Last year you had Shesterkin stealing games, Kreider scored over 50 goals. Let's not forget that the Rangers beat the Penguins in 7 games against Domingue. But credit them for playing a good series against the Hurricanes and then falling to the Lightning.

I don't think blowing it up or changing the coach is the move. I am sure this won't sit well with everyone and the situation was different but similar expectations were written for the Islanders for 2021-22. The schedule and the COVID games certainly impacted them but they more or less kept the same roster and are playing better.

We will likely have to settle on a wildcard birth and hope our experience last year can propel us to a playoff run.

Just ridiculous.

He’s really struggling. Schneider isn’t exactly playing great, but Trouba needs less minutes until he gets it turned around.

Never thought I’d see the day when Gauthier is one of their most consistent players.

In comment 15927183 shockeyisthebest8056 said:

Quote:

He’s really struggling. Schneider isn’t exactly playing great, but Trouba needs less minutes until he gets it turned around. Never thought I’d see the day when Gauthier is one of their most consistent players.

shockey - less minutes! You nailed it, brother. I noticed that Fox had 30 minutes of ice time. Now I know the powerplay opportunities the Rangers were given Monday was a factor but as I was watching the Devils forecheck and wondering how the heck are they so energetic. Look at the time on ice comparisons for each team. The Devils roll 4 lines and from my humble, non pro eyes, it seems that they take quick shifts.
Link - ( New Window )

drop 10 to the third line.

In comment 15927178 Victor in CT said:

Quote:

Just ridiculous.

100%. It's ridiculous how much favor Gallant gives him, the guy literally walked onto the team off the street.

in Hartford with better skills than Vesey? I mean, COME ON!

They lost Vatrano, Copp, and Strome. That's a lot of punch.

And I'm not saying they should have kept those guys. But they have been replaced by Blais (a tough guy with no skills), Trocheck (a very poor signing) and Vesey (a guy who was on his way out of the league).

So, they are significantly worse in terms of depth. The hope was that the kids would step up--but that has not happened so far.

Ultimately, Laf, KK and Chytil hold the Rangers fate in their hands. If those guys live up to their draft position, this team is cup contender. If they don't Rangers will slip back to being a fringe playoff team because age is starting to become a concern with a lot of their core players--Panarin, Ziba, Kreider (and Goodrow--not core but paid like one)

from their first round draft choices is holding this team back. Lafreniere and Kakko should be showing why they were drafted so high. Right now, they're just mediocre players. Kravstov is worthless. Chytl is OK for a third line center. Of course, Lias Andersson was probably the worst first round selection since Jamie Lundmark and Pavel Brendl.

Meaning he will likely start. I also don’t think the Rangers overachieved last year. Losing the 3 deadline acquisitions was key, and hopefully they can even bring Motte back (he’s in Ottawa on a 1 year deal) at the deadline again. The key for me is the amount of speed they lost when those guys left. Vatrano and Motte in particular. Aside from Kreider, Gauthier, and Chytil, the Rangers do not have a lot of speed at the forward positions, and you saw it hurt them against a fast team like NJ the other night (although, while NJ looked good, I felt that was actually a pretty even game, scoring chances reflect this as well). Rangers didn’t really fill the holes left by those 3 players. I like Trocheck, probably better than Copp, but with Blais and Vesey essentially replacing Frank and Motte, it’s a downgrade for sure. Not to mention Trouba’s play being poor and Igor being human (for now). I’m really trying to not panic, I think the Rangers are definitely better than this. A lot of the Henrik era teams had slow starts too, and they did not have the talent this team does. They’ll figure it out, hopefully not too late though with the Devils, Islanders, Red Wings crashing the top 8 the way they are right now.

Interesting and fair counter points. Trocheck is someone I wished for the Rangers for years. His signing excited me as through fantasy hockey and center ice, I followed his career in Florida and Carolina. So I immediately thought he would be an upgrade to Strome or Copp. I was never anti-Strome but certainly thought this would be an upgrade.

Motte was the one deadline acquisition I wanted the Rangers to bring back but obviously with the raises to our current roster and the cap space, that was not possible.

with very little production from the kid line, but now the kid line lack of production is what's holding the team back?

lol, ok.

the only change from the main contributors last year is Strome and people couldn't wait to get rid of him. Like him or hate him Trocheck is not a downgrade or even on a bad day is not a significant downgrade from Strome.

the difference in last year and this is last year Igor playing like Dominik Hasek, and the power play was pretty lethal last year (over 25% on the season).

This year the Rangers are at 21% on the pp this year.

Igor last year was 1st in the NHL and had a .935 save %, this year he's 30th with a .913 save %.

Last year, Igor was 1st in the NHL with a whopping 53 goals saved above expected and this year (just 25% through the league) he's 16th with 4. That's a big deal.

Anyway it's all related the defense isn't doing Igor any favors, but last year when they didn't do him any favors he still made the save, or when both struggled (rarely) the PP bailed them out.

Where they are right now, IMO, has very little to do with Lafreniere, Kakko and Chytil. They should be relied on for secondary scoring (which no doubt they're struggling with, but it's not why the team is doing worse than last year)

In comment 15927332 Drewcon40 said:

Quote:

Interesting and fair counter points. Trocheck is someone I wished for the Rangers for years. His signing excited me as through fantasy hockey and center ice, I followed his career in Florida and Carolina. So I immediately thought he would be an upgrade to Strome or Copp. I was never anti-Strome but certainly thought this would be an upgrade. Motte was the one deadline acquisition I wanted the Rangers to bring back but obviously with the raises to our current roster and the cap space, that was not possible.

I wanted Motte back and was not thrilled when they didn't get it done. He was their best fourth line player since Brian Boyle. Always in the right place at the right timeand went to battle for pucks consistently. How stupid was it to extend Ryan Reaves when he's now been traded in the first half of the season?

I don’t think Chytil should be lumped in with Kakko and Lafreniere. 11 points in 16 games (really 17, but he played 11 seconds in one) is an 82 game pace of 56 points. You’re in good shape if your 3C is generating 56 points with under 15 minutes ATOI primarily skating with bottom 6 forwards. Kakko and Lafreniere’s lack of production have had an impact on the team this year, but not to the degree that defensive breakdowns, giveaways in the defensive zone/neutral zone, and less than stellar goaltending have.

Lafreniere and Kakko were living up to where they were drafted, the team would be much better. They are not the whole problem, of coarse, but anyone that can't admit that they are part and a big part of why this team is struggling are fucking clueless. They were supposed to step up into the roles that the late additions last year played. You think k tgey have done that? They have not, and based on where they were drafted they shpuld be able to upgrade those players. It's getting close to say Lafreniere and Kakko are both a bust. Yes, they ate not close to playing as well as they should be playing. Next is Trouba and Miller, they have struggled defensively. Plus the great goalie is not playing great this season. Add it all up and there is the issues with the Rangers. It's not the coach. It's the players.

if Lafreniere and Kakko were doing better the team would probably be doing better, that's pretty obvious but also not the point.

It is simply not logical (and scapegoating) to say last year the Rangers did well without any meaningful contribution from either Lafreniere and Kakko (until the playoffs) but because there is no meaningful contribution from them so far this year that is why the team is not doing as well.

it's almost like people are toddlers and want to blame someone.

The Rangers brought Lafreniere and Kakko into unique situations unusual for such high draft picks. The Rangers were not a bottom dweller like most teams with high draft picks that the player can step onto a top line and PP1 unit.

They already had a top line and most of the second line established with no real space for either. Many of their draft contemporaries are on their teams top lines and 1st power play units and you can look at it two ways, one they haven't forced the issue (fair) but also was it realistic that a 21 year old Lafreniere is going to displace Kreider or Panarin?

Go Sens go!

Also, fuck Davisian too.

net.

In comment 15927625 bluesince56 said:

Quote:

net.

Not a terrible period by any means. Nice rebound goal by Vesey.

passes have to be broken up until the Rangers figure the other team is waiting for them?

refuses to shoot.

be still my heart.

Good for him. Rangers played better tonight for the entire game. Not to many lows.

They really needed that win.

Not a bad move to start Halak and let Shesterkin get a breather after Monday and possibly take some time to work on things with Allaire. I would imagine him and Halak split the weekend back to back.

Beat them again Friday.

And I fell asleep during the comeback against the Kings, so I haven’t watched a game they won in what seems like a month! Great to see Halak put together a good start and get a win. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Gallant go back to him again Friday with some familiarity with the opponent and needing to start him a game this weekend with the back to back anyway. I’m not advocating for that, since I’ll be at the game Friday, but it would make sense. Seems like Lindgren played the game of his life tonight!

back for more. I don't know how he came back from that blocked shot. Then he proceeded to have an outstanding game.

ANOTHER one!

to this being what we’ll see from this group all season long. They’re missing something other than repeated, brutal turnovers and horrible defensive zone play.

No one but no one has lifted their play this season. They’re the Islanders of 2022 without the rash of COVID cases.

In comment 15929294 Stufftherun said:

Quote:

to this being what we’ll see from this group all season long. They’re missing something other than repeated, brutal turnovers and horrible defensive zone play. No one but no one has lifted their play this season. They’re the Islanders of 2022 without the rash of COVID cases.

Valiquette ripped the team after the game and rightfully so. He says they aren’t nearly as fast, aren’t as structured and not working nearly as hard as they did last year.

In comment 15929296 MetsAreBack said:

Quote:

In comment 15929294 Stufftherun said: Quote: to this being what we’ll see from this group all season long. They’re missing something other than repeated, brutal turnovers and horrible defensive zone play. No one but no one has lifted their play this season. They’re the Islanders of 2022 without the rash of COVID cases. Valiquette ripped the team after the game and rightfully so. He says they aren’t nearly as fast, aren’t as structured and not working nearly as hard as they did last year.

I couldn’t agree more and unless they suddenly and inexplicably flip the switch there going to be on the outside looking in when it comes to the post season.

They’ve largely been lifeless in fact it almost appears as if they think because of their big step forward last season they’re expecting it to come to them. As if they’re entitled. They’re a mess!

They look slow, sloppy and uninterested. Yet the same roster last year looked fast, creative and feisty

Not liking what I’m seeing

And Trouba is easily the worst C this team has had since...Drury

In comment 15929296 MetsAreBack said:

Quote:

In comment 15929294 Stufftherun said: Quote: to this being what we’ll see from this group all season long. They’re missing something other than repeated, brutal turnovers and horrible defensive zone play. No one but no one has lifted their play this season. They’re the Islanders of 2022 without the rash of COVID cases. Valiquette ripped the team after the game and rightfully so. He says they aren’t nearly as fast, aren’t as structured and not working nearly as hard as they did last year.

I would say tank for Bedard or whomever, but there's a good chance that player will bust here too....

indictment of this organization may be the lack of development of their young players.

You can’t blame them for selecting KK and Laffy as they were the consensus top picks at the time they were drafted but they’re simply not getting enough out of them. It’s killing them now and will continue to hurt them for the long haul unless something changes.

It’s not all gloom and doom as the likes of Cuylle and Othmann may change the trajectory but we’ll have to wait for their arrival.