Rangers lose their only must win game of the season and lose the series in six games. Even though it was a poor performance, I think corporate Carp will have a review later today.
I’m sure I’m not alone in being pretty disgusted with the team. I just don’t have the appetite to think about them today, so I’ll see you all soon.
366 responses to “Rangers 2, Senators 4.”
Zucc was tagged earlier as mediocre so that was what I was referring to…in addition you could say when any player is playing great you tend to forget he is on the ice.
Pre-season I for one saw a team that would win plenty and win more than one playoff series. I mean look at the realities: Hank in net, Auntie ready. A bunch of talented youths who should finally come into their own with gusto (THE, JT, Hayes. McDonuts maturing, Nash healthy, Klein (a proven inexpensive quantity) healthy, Zibby a younger, energetic, equally talented Brass, Buch, Skjei improving, Staal with a rebound year, Danny G healthy and cunning. What’s the shock with anticipating 100 points?
How did Pumpernickel get tickets to give away? Matter of fact, how did he, himself, get into the building?
Get a grip. Glass and Fast excelled in their limited roles here.
do you also think they’re getting to 100 if Lundqvist has the worst season of his career? And Stepan is lousy? And Nash only puts up 20 or so goals? And the PK crashes and burns in the second half?
NO! But that’s all retrospect.
Methinks you’re tacitly implying that AV carried this broken down team on his back to the finish line.
hardly implying that. not at all.
I called Zucc season mediocre, and his STATS fake. If I tried to tell you that Stepan had a good season because he scored 50 puts again, you would all call BS, and you would be right. Well that how I feel about Zucc season, calling it a good season would be BS.
just saying, people seem to be grossly over-reading a lot about this item in my review.:
Last summer, when the Rangers were pretty much cap-maxed out and losing Keith Yandle without adding any high-profile NHL free agents – they did win the Jimmy Vesey sweepstakes, which looks like an even bigger win now – I thought this season would be a step backward. Rangers GM Jeff Gorton admitted later that he thought about going with a more nuclear roster shakeup, but decided against it. I think part of the thought process was that they’d still be competitive this season, while they played a lot of young players (three rookies), but that they’d also be able to reload and get back into the fray next season. I thought they’d make the playoffs, still be one of the better teams in the East, maybe win a round or two, depending on the draw. I think, in hindsight, they overachieved to some degree.
One last thought on the Buchnevich, Glass thing. If AV felt that Buchnevich was not going to help in the playoffs, he should have relayed those thoughts to Gorton. This way, maybe Gorton could have gone out and gotten a top 9 forward for the playoff run.
Agree with BDL’s 1:43 One of the reasons I favor trading Zuc is I think you are selling high. There is no realistic expectation of significant improvment from him and quite a few already question the quality of his record point haul. Being a GM means knowing when to move, even if fan favorite. I forget who said it but better to sell a year early than a year late.
Overall, not only do I want a younger team, I want one that is rid of the current stench brought by some of those older/”experienced” players. And that is not a diss on G, who is a warrior but one who just can’t do it anymore. The team needs a change in attitude and I really don’t think it is good for the younger players to continue to be exposed to what has been going on the past two years.
Also, like others, a big thank you to the guys who have kept this blog going. And is there a line in Vegas yet on when Norm comes back?
you could apply same to much of the team by that logic ..don’t know how they made the playoffs
Love it. every player and the coach stink, need to blow up the whole thing, but they didn’t overachieve. LOL.
I’m just going to toot my own horn for a second and point out that Grabner was my #1 free agent target. And that I also said we needed a right handed shooter in the top 6 and on the PP, which came in the form of Zibanejad.
I also said we needed a top 4 defender/PP QB… that one went unaddressed.
Rangers still have good young core and Gorton has a clue so think they will be fine
Let’s agree they made the POs as they had the prior year; gang buster start followed by mediocrity in the 2nd half, ultimately leading to PO del zaster. Luckily the Metro was strong enough to push them over to the lower bracket to beat the toothless Habs.
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AV cannot adjust in 2nd half when things change and relies on his vets too much. We have seen that back to back years. Ready for round 3 next year??
BobbyO -agree; there is talent. help needed on back end and down the middle but talent is there. year 2 of Butch, VC and Shea; continued progress of younger vets (please!) and sh!tcanning the dead wood vets.
Don’t know how the heck they don’t keep Grabner on the second year of that deal. All the more reason to dump the dead wood prior to expansion draft.
SN, how did it work out the year before in the second half? Asking for a friend.
Carp,
Do you think the Rangers should have won this series? Do you feel the better team won?
3Cp – re: pyatt was responding to Doodie’s comment about signing expensive vets who don’t work out (Pyatt), not to be confused with signing vets and assigning them to Hartford who don’t work out (Paille) or not signing your own vets who end up playing well and beating you in Playoffs (BBoyle) which also does not work out.
Doodie – tell your friend it won’t last a lifetime
BDL, I’d say Carp’s review is pretty clear on that point, that the Rangers should have won this series.
Had they not choked away games 2 and 5, I would have been on the money with Rangers in 5. The series went largely how I thought it would, less the chokes at 6 on 5.
If they win the series as they should have and lose in say 6 to Craps or Piss, is it a great year? I mean, they made the ECF, so that is good, right?
Are expectations too high or not high enough?
SN, it’s not like one can snap their fingers and make a championship team. This team was never going to win a championship this season unless the teams around them all crumbled under their own weight of injuries or incompetence. If they made it to the ECF, that would have portended good things for the future of this team because it would have required significant contributions from players who will be here in the future, when the team may once again be at a championship caliber.
Choking away a series that it should have won does the exact opposite. It calls into question the value of the core players and whether a new direction is needed.
It would have been more palatable, to me, had they lost to Pittsburgh or Washington, and even Montreal in the first round than had they lost this series.
I;m not saying it would be better, just that I wouldn’t be as upset.
I never thought they were on the same level as WAS or PIT. But at their best — with their best player at his best — I thought they should be at the level of the three teams still playing in the West.
Even after Gorton and Drury landed Vesey and Zibanejad, Hayes lost 140 lbs. I thought this team would be lucky to make the playoffs. then the season started and Pirri and Buchnevich showed some spark.
I think the Rangers overachieved this season. I also think they could have won this series. I
I told my buddy yesterday before the game started that I had a bad feeling. When I saw it happening, I looked over at him and said, “I told you.”
This doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as last year. With the moves Gorton has already made, and my confidence based on his recent actions, I feel pretty good about the 2017-18 Rangers. I don’t know what I am going to do Thursday though.
I was posing the question, not insinuating either way. ECF is a plus no if, and, or buts.
Nashville v Ottawa in the finals is NBC’s dream…
or Edmonton
That’s underachieving. Losing to a team you should have beat. A team you are better than.
Rangers in 9!!!
If it wasn’t for Raanta we would probably not made the playoffs.
If we were in Metro first round exit would be appropriate.
Once we end up in the Atlantic, Montreal was the only team that had a chance to beat us.
Once we defeated Montreal it was for us to loose. And that is what we did.
Ottawa didn’t win, we lost it.
Overachieve or not, it is unforgivable for them to loose this series. They should’ve won in 5.
In Gorton we TRUST!
He made some good moves last summer, our team is younger than most.
We need to improve on D, and Shattenkirk “wants to be a Ranger”, so I see that as a possibility. Now will he be “worth” his paycheck….. I’m not so sure Nash or Lundqvist lived up to their paycheck this year.
#1 C that can win a draw …… Joe soft shell is really good at that…… maybe he will take 1 year deal? That’s all he does is win draws, and dish out assist.
If Shattenkirk truly “wants to be a ranger” he needs to show and sign a Ranger-friendly contract. If he wants 6-7 years at $7+ million then he can look elsewhere.
Cullen vs Oshie tonight, game 7.
I’m not going to lie it was pretty fun, parting with the Cup last year.
So you have to go with Cullen tonight!!!
Who ever wins this series wins the Cup!!!!
would love a Nashville Ottawa final just to piss off Buttman and further damage his relationship with NBC ..thats if he watches the playoffs…appears his focus is on outdoor games and the next lockout
but the players suck and the coach sucks, so how are they better than anybody?
I agree Anthony! If he wants to be a Ranger, he will have to sign a “Ranger” contract. He will get $6x6M, and he has earned it, how much more over that will be the question.
I just think with his skating ability, and as a PP QB, he is the perfect fit for AV system. He will be the perfect player to bring in on July 1st.
Shattenkirk’s gonna get well over $6M, probably $7, for many years, with no-trade. and everybody will hate him.
Good review, Carp. Bet you would’ve added a bit more…
We have:
CCCP
CCC and
CC
6-7 for Shattenkirk too high ….he has looked like a defensive liability most of playoffs
Carp, deep inside I wish Gorton truly shows that he is a good GM, with a long term plan, and stays away from Shattenkirk.
Is it too early to talk about the Draft????
First time in forever, the Rangers have a 1’st round pick!
T.J. Oshie anyone?
Justin Williams?
Good point Souix.
I know this draft class is not as deep as the last 2, but can they trade up and get a 1C?
Carp, you’re saying thats what hes getting on the open market or you think that’s what he’s getting here?
I didn’t want Yandle and although I don’t want Shattenkirk.
I didn’t want Yandle and I don’t want Shattenkirk.
Is Dan Boyle coming back for break-up day?
“6-7 for Shattenkirk too high ….he has looked like a defensive liability most of playoffs”
He’s also been playing with Orpik, so he’s going to look bad when the puck goes in a lot because Orpik is just god awful. To me, he’s had one really bad game and a lot of pretty good ones. One great one.
If coming to the Rangers is as important to Shattenkirk as general media narrative says it is, then he should take a discount. If it’s not, stay away, not because I don’t think he’s a good player (I think he is) but because he won’t be worth anywhere near the contract he can get as the only worthwhile UFA defender on the market, especially as a right-handed one.
I thought Shattenkirk was weak in his own zone with St Louis.
20 foot pole as 10 is not enough.
Brian Monzo @BMonzoWFAN
This Mets loss is 100% on Alain Vigneault and Henrik Lundqvist.
Well Doodie it’s 50/50 …… if Shattenkirk is a Ranger. 50% he signs here, and 50% he doesn’t.
Nash goes into his last year as a Ranger, and then will be dealt at the trade deadline. I’m ready for him to be done as a Ranger. What’s are the odds we can sign Tavaras with his money when he is done being an Islander?
sioux, 0% on Tavares.
Wishful thinking….. right up there with the future former Parise.
Caggulia & McDavid will load up on the Ducks tonight. Talbot is going to stand tall in the net tonight, Ducks are done!!!
If Tavares cares about winning then he won’t sign with the Islanders. If he cares more about making money, then he will sign with the Islanders. If the Islanders manage to resign him, it will be to the richest contract signed under the current CBA except potentially McDavid’s (who will be eligible for an extension at the same time as Tavares).
I’m thinking 8 years, 11+
I could see Tavares signing in Toronto.
ok so if management goes after shattenkirk it’s bc they believe he’ll be effective well into his 30s. His game suits it, and it can be said even if he slows down, his strengths can still strive on. PP specialist, good 1st pass/passer in general.
So what I would look to do is get him at an annual salary that is really fair, so that even in his later years, the # won’t be crippling or a thing that makes him public enemy #1 with the fans. And I’d give him 8 years as the compromise. 8yrs 4.7. 37.5 million. The captains Salary.
Make him a lifelong ranger employee afterwards. Loyalty for loyalty.
I’d do that deal, especially since lockout 4.0 will probably come with another round of compliance buyouts.
Most Rangers can sign for is 7 yrs. He will get 7M somewhere. Probably Boston. Rangers will have a shot, just how close will they go to 49M????
Not good for the yutes having Danny G and Staal around. Noticed already Skjei starting to kneel, shuffleboard, snow-angel and and ice-fish.
Kings need toughness and offense. Stepan for Kopitar and Doughty.
McDavid and Ted Nugent Hopkins for Stepan.
Another possibility is Toronto. I’m hearing that The leafs are looking to get slower and weaker on the PP:
Harry Reams Van Dyke and Austin Matthews for Stepan
LeTang, Malkin, and Crosby for Stepan.
Doodie said toot his own horn
I would summarize review of the last game in short headline: “DIAGNOSE – IMPOTENCE!”
Keep in mind the term “discount” is relative to what other offers he receives. For instance, Brad Richards took a “discount” to play in NY but that didn’t exactly help make his deal a good one. Just meant that another team had an even worse contract on the table.
Listening to Milbury on the NHL on NBC pre-game show is akin to a hallucinogenic experience. He just described Lundqvist as “adequate” and said the Rangers should be looking to have him split time with Raanta going forward. This is about 2 weeks after the Habs series when he described him as “still one of the best ever.” He also basically said Nash, Staal, and Stepan suck and they need to move on from all of them. Ummm, who exactly is going to replace them? He is as bad as everyone here crowding on to that ledge!
Scru Kunitz
I love this place I’d go nuts, no more nuts without it. I would be very surprised if Gorton does it but imo Faceoff Stepan & the Hobbit are the guys to move for blue line help. On another note we may never understand The Enigma. If he played they way he did in the 3rd period Tues. he would a constant defensive nightmare to opposing teams. And whatever is wrong with JT needs to be fixed!
Nash gets a pass? Not on my watch. Once again, plays small in big games.
Staal’s game went to siht when Strallman went to Tampa.
If I have to keep one, Gun to head, I’m keeping Girardi over Staal
Tom GulittiVerified account
@TomGulitti
. @BjurmanPer asked Lundqvist last night about worlds and he said ask him again in a couple days.
. @BjurmanPer believes there’s decent chance Henrik Lundqvist joins Sweden at world championship to play with brother Joel, who is captain.
Papa let’s not forget people wanted Stralman gone every season he played here as well. Until he was going to be ufa after the Cup final of course
that plus a couple of more concussions for Staal
Sittoo I’m sure Milbury would do just that if he were rangers coach. That’s the man that traded Luongo and Joikenen for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha so he could draft Di Pietro instead of Heatley or Gaborik.
Why is Ovechkin playing with Wilson and Eller and not Backstrom and Oshie in a game 7?
JAMES, a few of us were Strallman fans all along
Wilson loses his helmet just about as much as Holtby loses his mask
I hate Pittsburgh!
Game over. Next
Can you imagine what the Caps blog is gonna be like?
Thirdroundaphobia.
Where to start….someone said intangibles (or the lack there of in the rangers case) would be a big issue for this team….voila… that Jedi master was correct.
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This team has a fragile psyche (gives up a goal and cracks like an egg and gives up more). And it has a lot to do with the overrated core and specifically guys that wear the “A”.
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They quit hitting and grinding in the o zone and tried to play speedy…not the way to win. Speed is fine in transition, can’t win trying to play like it’s an all star game and it bit them in the butt.
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Time for the participation award coach (oh but he has a good record) to be gone, sorry championships matter (they damn well better) and this guy is in lock step with Boudreau, all regular season all the time…cups….ZERO
cullen looks like a guy who is good to have at end of game
Ovechkin>Lundqvist no cup for you!
Pens speed beats Washington power. Have to give the devil his due.
Caps shut out in game seven at home. Again. Man they stink.
Rangers exit Rd 2, devils #1 pick, filth #2 pick, Pens win cup! Great year for Ranger fans!
Thought it was tough being a Ranger fan …Pens dominated 3rd period
Wicky would like Barkleys take on hockey especially the bit about beating somebody up and only getting 2 minutes
A few of us here have been saying how overrated Stepan is for more than just a season or two…nice to see more of you realize this.
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Top 3 guys to move…Stepan and staal (I’d absolutely buy him out) followed by Nash (I have no issue with Nash, but his contract makes him a must go).
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No….absolute NO to shattenkirk.
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I’m not against moving zucc, I just think he means a lot more to this team than his stat line, I feel the same way about Girardi.
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I’d have zero problem with jumbo joe.
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You have to move Stepan and I’d look at a forward for him. landeskog, duchene, Galchenyuk come to mind.
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Trouba is the D the rangers should target, especially when you consider his current contract
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If I add a higher profile guy via free agency, I go after oshie (oh man is that tough to say)
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Can not win a cup with your goalie as the highest paid player…so far, so true
Ha, pens physicality and speed and goalie beat caps physicality and speed and goalie (and third member of the participation award coaching community)…if you’re being unbiased and honest about that series assessment
Wicky
you watched a different Pens – caps series than I did. Speed and goalie won it for Pitt.
I understand some of you have an agenda, I really do. I’m sorry your agenda just isn’t right….pens #8 in league in hits aka physicality, caps #15. Nice try though.
Nope, watched the same series, I just watched everything, not the parts that suit an agenda.
Physicality still in the NHL contrary to what some want, 5 teams still alive hit rankings…2,4,6,8,21
Edmonton is a speed team. Pittsburgh is a speed team.
It’s a different league and it’s not going back.
I want taveres swoop in and shock the world.
Alex
Ahahahahaha
Oh my god….I just look at the NHL stats, every team in the league had ZERO hits. It MUST be a speed league. No physicality, ZERO hits.
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The thing is people that understand the 2017 NHL, get the fact that it is a physical, fast league.
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People that try to sound like they know what they are talking about to fit an agenda say…it’s all about speed, only speed, it’s speed….ahahahahaha
No it’s not only speed especially in playoffs. But speed is huge. The league is going that route more and more.
Funny a few days ago you and i agreed that we wanted too play Pittsburgh but for partly different reasons.
You specifically wanted to play Pitt as you said we could dominate them physically and Washington would dominate us physically. I agreed with those sentiments along with my view that Crosby and others were hurt.
Hey boneheads, did you guys see the NHL stat “zoom”? It’s a speed only league so that is a “real” stat. I’m sure it replaced the “hits” stat. Just keep looking everyone I’m sure that “zoom” stat is there somewhere. LOL
I think you are cliff noting it a bit. If the rangers played physical, our size would trump the pens size, speed a wash, if we played the caps, they are bigger, so it would be more of a wash, speed again, would be a wash.
So, I thought we matched up better with the pens because of size, the pens are a physicality team and it runs top to bottom in their line up. They are also a quick and determined team, they win a lot, A LOT, of one on one battles.
Like i said Pittsburgh’s speed and goalie beat the tougher Washington team. Washington spent a lot of time in the Pitt zone but the counter rushes for Pitt were effective in enough games to win the series.
Has nothing to do with the Rangers. as I stated at 10:07
The rangers are a much better team when they play physical and nasty and actually use their size to their advantage, which is something they can’t do if they are playing just a “speed” game like it’s an all star event. Proof was in their playoff wins and losses.
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Are players faster now than in the past, of course. Until you see a no contact NHL, physicality will always be the most important thing, speed will evolve with all players on all teams (unless you are the kings) with Players training and abilities evolving as well.
Doodie, – Would just like to extend my deep appreciation to you and the other contributors for keeping the RR going with this HAV. As Carp said, it would have been a very long season without this forum. I so enjoy reading all the banter that goes back and forth and appreciate the insight of so many very knowledgable hockey/Ranger fans. I have been truly impressed with all the boneheads knowledge of the game and so enjoy the many comedic exchanges.
Carp – I would be remiss not to thank you for being the inspiration for keeping this HAV together. I truly believe you are by far the best hockey reporter around.
Alex
Actually you are incorrect, the pens had more offencive zone possession than the caps. Their fringing in the o zone led to the series win, not the occasional turnover transition goal, but nice try.
Just like the rangers success was far more geared around a grinding zone time game than speedy goals.
like i said the pens are a speed team. your statement just now that physicality is the most important thing? important yes. not to the extreme you portray.
i’m not only for pure speed guys with no hands or hockey sense like rico fata. guys like hagelin and grabner i like a lot. i also like a smith who can play with an edge with the key words that he can play.
joe thornton at this stage of his career is another 10 foot pole guy. just like for different reasons shattenkirk is.
wicky229 says:
May 3, 2017 at 11:12 PM
I’m in complete agreement with Alex on this. To me it isn’t just what Alex has already pointed out, but we win the physicality match up vs the pens, we don’t vs the caps.
Did you see the shots Washington had all series. They far outshot Pitt.
No one is saying speed certainly doesn’t help (least of all me). I have stated that speed is important, it just isn’t more important than physicality and it won’t be until the NHL becomes a non contact league. Just a fact, sorry kiddo.
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On that note, I’m going to watch 2 physical teams with some speed play the rest of their game.
Night wankers!!
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LGR
Superior talent combined with superior speed should win out. Problem with this theory not working out more often than it does is that there is still a ton of social psychology integral to this game, meaning that if two teams are close in talent and speed, the most macho, keep bringing it, never back down 60 minute element can often prove the difference.
31 teams and their scouts are approaching the game differently. More and more players are getting marginalized as they get older. example phaneuf. he even lost a race with stepan.
the physical guys north of 30 have a very short shelf life. yes some exceptions like brett burns exist.
but i would not go near long term deals for guys likes backes or thornton. bodies too beaten up.
http://www.bardown.com/goalie-robs-vladimir-putin-twice-while-nine-other-players-stand-around-like-pylons-1.748178
Now I had to laurel….my statement (I knew you would go back and find it to try to prove a point…you didn’t btw). All you did was reinforce what I posted this thread…we win pens match up size /physicality, it’s a wash vs caps. Which is what I said on 03 may.
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I know it’s tough for you, it’s ok Alex. The game isn’t just speed, you’ll be ok I promise.
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It’s a combination of a few things, none holding decided edge over any other, I understand that, I’m really sorry you don’t get it.
Everyone who plays the game knows what you are saying Wick. Every one.
I wonder how speed game only guys try to spin these 2nd intermission highlights?
I know coos, I appreciate it. I like Alex, I’m trying to help him understand how NHL hockey is played, but maybe I should just go all Stepan and mail it in. He will either figure it out at some point or stay lost like he is now.
Did no one ever notice that the high energy tough guys, often guys who contribute very marginal minutes, are inevitably greatly revered by their individual teammates?
Ever hear any one of them ever say publicly or leak it sub rosa, “what’s that guy doing here?”
Give me a break. I understand the game quite well thank you. I appreciate the speed and go along with leaguewide trends. Playoffs ramp it up for sure. Players can not play that way all year.
Speed works both ways getting back on d and forechecking. if you can’t catch them you can’t hit them.
Stepan for Max P, WWeber, Gallagher, and Price.
Hank, Nash, Girardi for Tays, Seabrook, and Keith
Stepan for Kray-chee, Marchand, and Bergeron.
Had the Rangers beat Ottawa, Penguins, and Ducks/Preds, it would have been with a PP that would have gone 4-70. Amazing.
Stepan for Perry, Gets-laugh, and Kesler
If Lucic and Stepan had a go, how bad does Step crush Lou Chee?
If Stepan could be transported into the past, the battle I’d pay $$$$$$$ to see would be a brawl between Stepan and Nedved.
Time to see what Gorton (and Drury) is made of, did a great job last off-season to re-tool this team that but for 10 minutes of madness would have made it at least as far as the ECF, when a lot of people thought they couldnt even make the playoffs.
The most importantly being revamping the D-corps. Staying away from Shatty would be a sign of a big change in philosophy upstairs. I wonder what it’d take to get Trouba or Vatanen? You’ve got to give to get, Ducks are old up front, Jets are lacking goals up front big time – expect Miller, Hayes and Kreider’s names to come up a lot.
Good morning, boneheads!
Hate to say it, but the Penguins know how to win. Pretty impressive, if not a little boring, performance last night. Speed, skill, physicality, and superior goaltending.
Too bad, I was hoping AV wins the Cup this year. But he looked very small last night. The Caps will have a lot of decisions to make this summer.
OV, not AV…
Speaking of AV. I’d be shocked if he is fired. In fact, I believe he will be a huge part of their decision making. I think we should embrace ourselves and expect a good amount of unconventional moves, including moving people who we do not think should be moved or touched.
Morning ilb & fellow boneheads!
Summer starts here for me, not sure if i can watch the rest of this after watching us give Ottawa a free pass.
I think the biggest question is who mis-placed the “big boy pants” on the flight back from Montreal? Sack the equipment manager!!
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