Good morning, boneheads!
We can keep debating about lines, the youngsters not progressing, Barry Trotz, 3rd pair L D, etc…It doesn’t matter. If Shesterkin doesn’t get back to his expected level of play, they aren’t going to make playoffs, let alone contend. Doesn’t have to be a Vezina level of play, just good enough. He, with the exception of a few stretches, hasn’t even been above average. More importantly, he hasn’t made many saves when they needed him the most. There is a reason they have blown so many leads. This team is fragile, and largely because the can’t rely on either of their goaltenders to make a timely save. Quite opposite, they oftentimes let in softies.
102 responses to “Rangers-3, Devils-5”
This might turn out to be an unpleasant season.
Fire Benoit Allaire!
Why are the Devil young forwards so much faster than the Ranger young forwards? Why does Devil 4th line winger have more goals than Laffy and Kakko combined?
Answer: because the Devils are a better team. Much better.
In positive news Chytil looked like a second line center
So we may be quite strong down the middle with a 2 a and 2b behind Mika as a legit 1
Don’t recall the last time we had 3 good centers
Chytil a lot to handle. He’s not afraid of contact and bulls his way in a bit more
Would be interesting to look at Brendan Smith career numbers
Seems every team he’s on is a top team with goals against
Carolina last year and now devils
Admiral at least it isnt TOI
Are we going to have to do another rebuild????
Chytil one of the few Ranger forwards that kept up pace wise ….Laffy looks like he’s dragging a cart
I think a smart hockey trade either during this season or over the summer can turn the Rangers back around.
I don’t have any ideas, but if a guy like Loaf or Cheechoo can be moved, it would help. Not to sound like ilb, but if the goalies aren’t stopping anything, it’s all for naught.
Saw someone note last night that they are playing like a team that wants to get the coach fired. Even if it’s not intentional there is some truth to that. I don’t know if Shesty has ever gone through a patch like this before. It seems to be getting to him. Can’t take back the ones that when in. He needs to look forward. One game without a “How the hell did that go in?” goal would a start. They are a lottery team with him playing like this.
On the bright side, don’t think Patty Kane will be eager to join this mess
I can be a bit d-baggy at times. I will try not to make this one of those times…I think many Rangers fans – not just here- had their expectations set too high for what this season would be. And THAT is why I was preaching last year that they were not that good.
This isn’t a “I was right all along” post, in fact I would love to have been wrong. 5 0n 5 issues scoring, defensive issues nightly, sizeable holes in terms of roster balance…The breakdown of reality goes something like this without me being too much of a broken record:
– Shesterkin spent most of last season with a save percentage around .930%. He was the difference maker in a lot of games even if they wound up winning by 2 or 3 goals some nights.
– Guys like Goodrow and Hunt may not belong in the top six full time, but they did their due dilligence when there was a need for them to play up in the lineup at times. Hockey is a sport where it doesn’t always have to look pretty to get the job done and that’s what they were able to do last year. This year not so much.
-Kreider’s inflated scoring numbers took some pressure off of younger guys like Kakko and Chytil who were both injured and when healthy didn’t do much offensively as far as numbers.
– Rooney was a bettter 4th line center than Carpenter regardless of what stats anything else may suggest.
– Probably fair to say that there were teams that came out expecting a bit easier of a night against a Rangers team that had been in termoil for a bit. This year they’re a team that got within a couple of wins from the SCF. No one’s coming out asleep.
– The deadline acquisitions plugged holes that caused them a lot of issues during the regular season. They were unable to address any of those issues once the deadline guys departed.
That’s just reality. If some of you think it can be addressed by firing Gallant, bringing in Kane or crying the blues 8 days a week (Beatles reference) then keep pumping out the same tiring posts about it.
James great point about Rooney. Couldn’t afford to pay him another 500K.
And they miss Hunt.
Both the above could still be here (cap wise) had they moved on from Reaves over the summer. Not saying Reaves didn’t have some value added but the 1.75M would have been better spent on those two.
Said this after the game: “Drury needs to do something. GG can be court jester and juggle all that he wants, the result is going to be the same. Just hope he doesn’t move the wrong player, like someone who is closer to productive.”
I fault GG for being excessively stubborn with PP1 and not even giving the 2nd unit the time of day. But the rest of it? Players have to play. If they are not in NHL shape, that is on them. If they are taking shifts off? Thats on them. Avoiding contact, etc, etc – on them.
There is no urgency at all on this team. Yes, it is a long season and nobody expects 150% 60 minutes every game. But how about 90-100% for those 60? Want a shift off? Get a four goal lead and let GG play the 4th line/3rd pair the last 5 minutes.
I would like to see Charmin in the line-up next game. Not because I expect any great shakes from him. More to send a message to whomever comes out.
Some good points but the holes were supposed to be plugged by our top 2 draft picks who have trouble keeping up or generating any offense whatsoever. And we can keep blaming it on ice time/powerplay time but at what point do a top overall pick and 2nd overall …actually do something
GG: ““Tonight was a good night to try and turn it around with the team that we were playing: a young team but they play hard, they play fast.”
I heard that last night and it irked me. Why? Derbils average age: 25.58 (#30) NYR: 26.14 (#27).
Implication being that average age > 26 means not play as hard or as fast?
Not blaming Gallant but he’s gonna get canned if they don’t turn it around soon. One they have limited options trade wise and two they will bring in Knoblauch so our problem children get more ice time
and three this is a very good draft year and Drury has 2 first rounders
I was not one of those who were pushing for the GG hire and of course he does share in the blame for play so far, but we could live with the record if they were playing tough hockey for 60 minutes and just coming out the wrong side.
But we have seen this type of problem previously under DQ, perhaps even back to AV. Whether at the individual level or collective level, the NYR too often play like they can win it in the last two minutes of the game. Management needs to pay a lot more attention to the intangibles when bringing new players in and less on fancy stats.
My take on the problem. They tried to rush the rebuild with a retool with the wrong 4 players Panarin, Zibanejad, Kreider, and Trouba. Pretty obvious to me. On top of that #7-9-21-2-1 forward draft picks just aren’t that good. But it is just my opinion so take it anyway you want it. I’m just going to do the best I can to enjoy the games as they unintentionally tank for the draft.
Bring in Sherman. He’s always been a tank.
Bobby, no matter how you slice it,
A) Those draft picks have not been the caliber of player that changes the face of a franchise to this point despite doing some good things. I’m not saying they have to be game changers, I think both are solid but can’t get away from the “high draft pick ” label.
B) Even if Kakko and Laf had 15 goals a piece to this point, they would still be a very flawed team. I know you can’t ice a team with 12 selke finalists up front but lets face it, team defense is not a quality this team has going for it and it has nothing to do with the “kids”.
Fans are too enamored by the draft positions these days. Could Gorton have done better? Positionally speaking, yeah. But that doesn’t mean that you just waltz up there on draft day and say “Yeah we’re taking Zegras and Byfield”! It’s easy to sit on NHL.com and look at who has the most points then proclaim those are the missing pieces. Why didn’t they take Stutzle? why didn’t they take Dach?
What Rangers fan follows these players regularly and knows their game to game/ shift to shift performances are so wonderful? There aren’t any. It’s just another way to cry over spilt milk honestly.
as far as GG is concerned, the Rangers have 24 points after 23 games…the defending SC champions have 25 points in 19 and a line up 5x more balanced. So let’s try to keep things in perspective instead of hanging our hats on the performances of NYI, NJD and Boston. I’d like to know the potential replacement coaches on everyones list. My guess is that it doesn’t go beyond “BARRY TROTZ!!!” but I won’t say that because people whine when you call them out for being hung up on all things NYI and NJD
James if they had 15 goals a piece they would be in comfortable playoff position. No one is asking for franchise changing players but they have been here for several years now… does anyone consider Kakko or Laffy solid? Is it too much to expect some offense?
Beezle- exactly. It’s a bad look regarding Reaves. First they had to let Rooney leave then Motte. Then they release Hunt. Then they trade Reaves anyway. We talk about asset management? That’s poor management and poor decision making.
On GG, I wasn’t singling you out, you’re making rational points and obviously the coach is usually on the hot seat when these things happen but I think Drury would be lying to himself and to Dolan if he put the blame on this coach that he hired over some decent candidates less than 2 seasons ago.
Agreed that GG is stubborn about certain things but I think that’s most veteran coaches for better or worse. They’re making the right moves when the team is winning and they can’t get it right when the team is losing. Just how it goes.
Beezle,
They do miss Hunt, and they miss Reeves. For what reason did they lose these two you ask?, well so Kravtsov can be a healthy scratch, so Carpenter can play 5 minutes a night, and Vesey can put a sweater on every night. Awful evaluations of their own roster.
BDL brings up 3 more players that you can add to that poor management/assessment list.
8x$8.45M for Hintz
Vesey has been just fine …especially based on the cap hit. Rydahl or Brodz will be replacing Carpenter soon I would guess
Rydahl and Brodzinsky we want the cup! Vesey, just fine on line 4.
Also this franchise, once and for all, has to get away from the “our goalie will save us” mentality. Who did Colorado have last year?
You can win in this league without the Vezina winner in net. Solid (but not elite) will go far if the rest of the team does what it is supposed to be doing.
Ref: https://www.thesportster.com/hockey/ranking-all-stanley-cup-winning-goalies-since-2000/
Should have signed Stralman way back when. He wanted to stay and offered home-town discount. Long, valuable career after leaving.
Rydahl has not played the last 3 Pack games. Guessing he’s injured. We saw Brodzinski last year. Do we really need to see that again?
Completely missing the point on Vesey.
Frenchie smiling less.
SalmonJoe missing too much on-ice drama. Yak Yak Yak.
Bdl
I am not. Just fine loses every time .
Brodzinski belongs on the Filth so they can start playing the Bro hymm again 😉
Cops told me Dolan arbitrarily fires Garden workers at an alarming rate.
Not sure I’m missing the point on Vesey…he’s better than both Hunt and Reaves
Drury needs to get another defenseman. Get Edmundson at half the contract hit. https://twitter.com/mooredom/status/1597587598058610690?s=42&t=ZM9HpCejWqqnzWyS3m9jFw
James,
Trotz is not currently employed by a certain team whose name I won’t mention. So saying that you want one of the best coaches in the league (and better than our current coach) to coach your favorite team has nothing to do with the team I won’t call out by name.
Vesey is little more than a useful, oft-waivered journeyman commanding under $1 mil per. Look elsewhere for necessary NHL talent.
Mr. Sniffles playing Foxy waaaay too many minutes. He often comes off the ice wincing, holding his side or back. He rides him like a rented horse.
Teams like to have someone on their bench who can bang and kick azz. Bet on it. Losing Reaves, correctly or not, creates a demoralizing gap.
Sniffles very polite to the Press, and they’ve been kind and deferential to him.
No thanks on Trotz. He is the classic tease pony that often finishes 2nd or 3rd but never seems to win. Or in the case of Trotz, win once with lots of misses.
9 no playoffs
5 out in first round
7 out in second round
1 out in third round
1 win
So in his career, he’s won 7+2+4=13 play off series. AV has won 14 and don’t hear anyone clamoring for a 2nd go around.
Miller NOT improving. In fact, regressing. Pair him with a stud Dman, let him loose on O, or trade his azz while you can still get a decent return.
Goals:
Chytil Clifornia 4
Frenchie 3
Kakko 4
Blais 0
You kiddin’ me?
Am I the only one who sees the the 4 core vets as the biggest issue?
You can have a team of All-Stars and future HOFamers, but if you don’t dominate, and if fact play sketchy and mediocre, you break them up. Win or DO it!
Corpse vets.
First thing, fire all Scouts and Suits.
and kill all the lawyers…..(Shakespeare)
Other than coos I guess I am.
Sam I am
Well, I guess I was wrong, Scottsdale. I really thought they were going to fool us and clobber the Devils. Been following this team since 1972. You think I’d know better by now. It just shows to go ya, you never know with this team.
Trotz is a trapping coach. Do you think Dolan wants to pay Panarin, Zibanejad, Fox and Kreider to play the game in a fashion that makes offense secondary?
The answer isn’t the trap. They need to fix the holes not hide them.
For the first time, I’m beginning to think Laffy and KK are busts, further ruined by an awful player development team (Jed Ortemeyer and Tanner Glass… I mean….what do you expect?).
This team is f-cked 6 ways to Sunday and may sadly require another rebuild. Only problem is, they don’t have the coaching staff and player development personnel to do it effectively.
Sad state of affairs…
Appropriate for blog sentiment today…
LOL, Beez.
The more I think about it the more I realize that most people just aren’t concerned with how their team plays when they don’t have the puck and the Rangers happen to be one of those teams that really genuinely struggles when they do not have the puck.
At the end of the day you can trade and fire and draft until you’re blue in the face but they need two things- to become a team that doesn’t rely so heavily on their goalie and to have the kind of depth in their system where if they lose a servicable player that plays a key role or someone struggles more than anticipated, they can at least call up a guy that can give them some effective if not comparable ice time and help keep their heads above water.
I don’t see it happening anytime soon. Which is sad considering all of the draft picks they’ve had the last 5 years.
LOL cmon Craig. Look man, there’s really no rebuild to be had. The average age of the team is <27 years old. They need to move one contract and start filling some holes.
BTW…If anyone’s interested, Morgan Barron is playing RW on the Jets’ first line tonight.
Did Stamkos, McDavid ,Matthews, McKinnon have superior player development coaches or did they just play better
Jack Hughes “Speed kills.”
Only thing player development people and coaches do to elite talent is to stymie it.
My brother jpg says hello and you are 1000%correct ilb
Vesey goes from Devils cast-off to Rangers top line:
That just about sums it up regarding this season’s version of the Rangers.
Losing Motte, Rooney, Hunt, and now Reaves takes a lot of heart, sandpaper and muscle off the Rangers roster. Those players haven’t been replaced.
I think the greatest failure of the Rangers thus far this season has been the inability of certain players to take “the next step” in their careers. I’m of course talking of Lafreniere, Kakko, Miller, and to a lesser extent Chytil. And of course Shesterkin, in fact, has taken a few steps backwards. Only Schneider has been able show some growth.
The thing is — these players either don’t have it in them to get much better or, the organization has yet to put these players in positions where they can improve their games.
When the Devils drafted Hughes, for example, he was placed front and center as their go-to-guy. There was no Zibanejad or Kreider or Panarin to defer to. Hughes learned on the job. Lafreniere and Kakko have not had that opportunity with the Rangers.
Finally, I’m increasingly concerned with the “leadership” of this team. Is the C weighing on Trouba? Does having a named captain make Kreider and Zibanejad more complacent in their leadership? Is Panarin beginning to regress? Ugh.
JAMESGEAU
Admiral
And as long as GG has Panarin, Zibanejad, Kreider, and Trouba as the “go to vets” they never will. And we may never know.
break up Miller Trouba pairing …they have been brutal for a while now….put Laffy and Kakko back in top 6 to stop all the whining…. Get Kravstov in lineup with Chytl and Goat and let Goodrow center 4th line with Blais and Vesey for defensive purposes.
So here is a very tall graphic showing the current season stats of the top 15 forwards from draft years 2017-2020. I’ve also included a couple of NYR, see notes. ALL means ranking including defenders.
Just one initial observation – the top guys from each draft year are getting 5-8 shifts more a per game than are those of the NYR and have not considered whether any PP time is included.
You fellow Boneheads continue to confirm what I have been saying. This inept organization needs a cultural and structural change from the top down.
Hmm…and if GG were handing out grades, how many would be getting D’s and F’s? Must be grading on a curve
Play fast lol!
Is Trouba just spouting off niceties to the press or does he actually believe what he is saying? If the latter, that goes a ways in explaining why things are what they are. Fox previously and now Trouba tell us there is “urgency” yet it seems not to show on the ice all that often. Yet, we’re lucky to get a full 20 minute period when they look to have an urgent state of mind, certainly not compared to that night’s competition.
So is the leadership group delusional?
Minx: Jesper Fast 23 GP 2 G 4 A 😉
Nice work, Beez. Only thing I don’t like is that those STATS do not tell us the whole story. What are all those guys doing on the other side of the puck? Stutzle and Caufield and some of the other shiny toys there may score a lot and make highlight reels that Rangers fans want to nail themselves to like a cross, but their defensive play would equate to more of the same even if they were Rangers draft choices.
Quickie sucks on the Power Play.
MSG is no place to play if you’re a loser. A horde of Press axes you the same lame questions over and over, day after day.
Maybe we can trade Kakko or Laffy for Caufield or Stutzle if Jughead or Dorion want top draft picks that are strong on the other side of the puck
Hopefully tonight they will have some “Good looks.”
bobbyo2019
I already suggested that offer to the Hedgehog. But it was Laffo-Busto and Krakko for Suzuki and Caulfield. And then listen to the Hedgehog lol!
Caulfield’s Suzuki: Holden’s new two wheeled ride.
We go from Mr. Wedgie to Joe College to Mr. Sniffles.
coos
🤣
I could throw out some Pionk/Trouba stats from 2019-22 but they would only make CCCP gloat and Wicky mad.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Beezle
🤣
Not sure what to tell you, Bobby. Their goal differential isn’t a make believe stat I asked the NHL to include in their standings to mess with you lol. Kakko’s stats don’t look like Brady Tkachuk’s or Tim Stutzle’s but I’d rather have the Rangers than the Sens as my team. Know what I’m saying?
90s were different…
wow
Kris Letang is out indefinitely after suffering a stroke on Monday.
He had a stroke eight years ago and came back. Tough guy.
I wonder how many of those hits ended up with fights immediately after. I’ll bet not too many.
That sucks for letang. So young and healthy otherwise. Wish him the best.
I hope he can heal well and wonder if he will shed light on what his underlying issue is to maybe raise awareness for others that may be at risk. I assume something anatomic
Just googled letang
https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/35147718/penguins-kris-letang-indefinitely-second-stroke-career
Guess he had a PFO discovered with the prior stroke
Sounds like he is doing ok and it’s not career threatening.
NEW POST