Rangers-6, Hurricanes-3

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Good morning, boneheads!

So the Hurricanes are trying to make playoffs this year. They still have a remote chance to do so, very unlikely after last night’s loss. But that’s all you need to know about the mid-pack of this league. There is no reason NY can’t be in the mix next year. The new owner decided that Ron Francis isn’t fit for GM duties. Hard to argue with the roster they have. But their troubles go much deeper than that. Goaltending, luck of forwards depth. You can only do so much with young, puck moving defense. How about the coach? Do you think it was smart to pull Darling that early?

Another thing. While I fully understand they’re damaging their chances of getting high pick by winning, it’s pretty obvious they will not tank. They will play to win games. Why can’t we just enjoy the ride? I am enjoying every game because it’s exciting to see their youngsters grow, and I am not nervous while watching it. Can’t wait to see Andersson and Chytil play in NY very soon.

Finally, the way things look now, if Pionk isn’t playing here in October at the expense of some outside veteran, I will join the crowd of “fire Sather/Gorton/Coach/Dolan/masseuse/etc.

I’ll update this post after Carp’s review shows up in the Athletic.

UPDATE: Here is Carp’s review of last night’s game.

 

154 responses to “Rangers-6, Hurricanes-3”

  1. BobbyO Avatar
    BobbyO

    Nailed it with no reason Rangers can’t be in the mix next year…don’t understand all doom and long rebuild talk. First!

  2. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Glad I hit the refresh button before posting first. Woulda shouted for nothing

  3. James G Avatar
    James G

    I’m on board officially. Let’s get into the post season and pull a memorable upset over everyone!
    Then we can suck for 5 years…

    On another note the power ball jackpot is in excess of 400 million dollars. Don’t bother buying a ticket. Bad odds.

  4. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Post updated above. Carp’s review is up. Even though Carp himself isn’t 🙂

  5. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    That Tikkanen/Graves story never gets old.

  6. Dan Tetrault Avatar
    Dan Tetrault

    Ilb. 100% agree with you!

  7. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    I’ve liked Veseys game for a while now. Nice to see him get rewarded. Pionk is a keeper. Is it possible to have a quite 3 assist night? I think both Buchnevich, and Zibanijad had one.

  8. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Yes, he did, BDL.

  9. James G Avatar
    James G

    BDL you overlooked the guy who opened the scoring. Set up the victory with his goal if you ask me
    🙂

  10. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Quiet 3 assist night.

  11. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    You mean the sensitive one, James? Hot streak at just the right time. Saving the season.

  12. James G Avatar
    James G

    And I forget who said Pionk is at best a 4-5 dman but I disagree. I think he can be a solid top four.
    But let’s not start up the “He has to be Leetch or bust” stuff again.

  13. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    Powerball a regressive tax on people who can’t do math. Also prevents others from making simple purchases at the counter while the long line of math-challenged burn their cash and take their time doing it.

  14. James G Avatar
    James G

    Nothing like that distinct CRACK when a can of worms gets opened for the day, BDL.

    Anyhow I’m wondering if Pionk makes Shattenkirk expendable. Especially if DeAngelo stays.
    Someone remind me of Shatty’s contract details. NMC?

  15. James G Avatar
    James G

    As if on cue..

  16. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Looking like the mistake if the idea was to truly rebuild was agreeing to take on (and/or playing) Spooner and to a lesser extent Names. Usually when a team sells at the deadline the players they use to replace the traded assets aren’t as or more productive than the players traded.
    —-
    Ilb, but we aren’t currently playing a bunch of new young forwards and think likely only 1 or 2 of the young D currently playing should be here next year (as the rest aren’t that good and/or too similar to other players currrntly on the roster or in the system). So can’t say i share your enthusiasm or think that we are looking at the next core of the Rangers
    —-/
    And Bobby and ILB, the NHL is so mediocre nowadays that of course they can be competitive next season, but that shouldn’t be the goal. The goal should be to build a team that can legitimately compete for and win multiple cups, not one that can just consistently finish in the middle of the pack and if everything breaks right as far as matchups perhaps make a run to the finals. They just did the latter and could do so again without too much more heavy lifting. However the former is what they need to do at least in my opinion and that is a long and hard process.
    ——
    Further, absent them acquiring Tavares and Karlson this offseaon they won’t have the centers or D to match up against the best in the east and west and even with those two they still wouldn’t be as deep or as good (at least on paper) as the best teams (Pitt, Tampa and Nashville in my mind). we could sign a couple of other free agents and make the playoffs and even win a round or two as soon as next year, but that’s not gonna satisfy me at least. To each their own though, not for me or anyone else to tell people how to cheer for their team

  17. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    I don’t think Pionk makes Shattenkirk expendable. Different type players.

  18. James G Avatar
    James G

    Norm, did you ever notice those counter hogs are always in front of you when you’re in a rush and or have to pee?
    I just want to buy my coffee and get where I’m going and I have to stand there while these people ramble on “give me five straight and a meg piler then I want 10 on 32….”

  19. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Shattenkirk has an NMC. And I believe Pionk and Shattenkirk aren’t mutually exclusive. Pionk can be a steady, reliable two-way D-man with more defensive upside. If anything, I wonder if Gilmour and Shattenkirk are very similar, to an extent. Both will take chances.

  20. James G Avatar
    James G

    Different players in deed. One knows how to defend. The other wears #22.
    🙂

  21. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Here you go, I’m agreeing with BDL… Not good 🙂

  22. James G Avatar
    James G

    I guess there’s more similarity between Shatty and Gilmour. I was thinking more along the lines of RD.
    But in any event I think it’s still a good question. If you have Gilmour do you keep Shatty and his cap hit for 3 more years when someone else can do his job (and subsequently you have a steady 2 way dman in Pionk on the right side Plus DeAngelo)

  23. James G Avatar
    James G

    LOL, that’s how you know you need time off, Ilb.

    Full NTC on a Shatty?

  24. Dan Tetrault Avatar
    Dan Tetrault

    It’s been said Lisa and heetle will get some games. Only 12 left so do they still get to play some games and if so, who sits?

  25. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    The amount of people who have no money who buy lotto tics and scratch off where I live, is mind boggling.

    Really, it’s mind-boggling

    Like really really mind-boggling. I’m talking people who spend less money on food than they seemingly do on lotto. My local gas station, currently only one, while a brand new one is going up. My local gas station has a line solely for lotto and there’s a line all day.

    It’s like every poor man’s foolish dream.

  26. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Pete- Kreider, Spooner, Fast-26, Hayes, Namestnikov-25, Zibanejad, Vesey-24, Buchnevich-22. That’s 8 out of 12. The oldest one who may or may not stay next year is Zuccarello. The rest will be gone next season. In a few games we’ll see Chytil ( 18), and Andersson ( 19). Not necessarily a nursing home.

  27. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Although, on the other hand, my best friend’s brother, his old buddy won the lotto twice. He was a bartender in Atlanta and played a ton I think, and won the first won. And he kept playing using the winnings and won again. Guy owns a couple of mellow mushrooms and does nothing now.

  28. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Full NMC, JamesG. Can’t trade, can’t move to Hartford.
    Pete, they aren’t contending next year. But there is no reason for them to try and make playoffs next year. Even if they go out early, it’s an important experience for youngsters.

  29. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    The odds of winning the power ball and the Rangers winning the cup are probably even money!

  30. SN Avatar
    SN

    Clowns to the left of me
    Jokers to the right
    Here I am
    Stuck in the Middle with you.
    .
    Middling middle of mediocrity is easy to attain. Roster has plenty of middle six talent to get 40-45 points or play bottom 4 and look like serviceable D-men.. That we know…
    .

  31. SN Avatar
    SN

    When you earn points on ENGs, those are much quieter…
    .
    Canes have similar but different problems as NYR; not enough talent in middle and in goal to be a consistent winner. Love to have Justin Williams on my roster though.
    ,
    Interesting to note their
    #2 Center; Elias Lindholm is a R1, #5 pick; 23 yo, 40-45 pts…
    #3 Center; Victor Rask is another 35-45 pt. player depending on how much PP time he gets.

  32. James G Avatar
    James G

    That being the case, I sure hope he settles into a role when healthy next year, ILB.

  33. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    The whole league sucks. Look what Boston has been able to do in 3 years time, they are one of the most complete teams again.

    This whole 3-5 rebuild is a fantasy of a certain portion of the rangers fan base. They feel so close to it, want to believe it’s gonna go down hfboards style and are gonna be the ones eating crow. This deadline, this summer, next deadline, next summer. That’s the rebuild. Asset reallocation as someone put it. They reset, they will continue to do so with the pieces still remaining. Turn over the whole roster, gets the pieces sorely needed and complimentary pieces, and build in around it over the next 3 years. The rangers will bring in the players they want, even if it this summer and hurts the teams chances of being a lotto team next year. Most important part of this rebuild has happened and is happening. Trading the players with value for multiple pieces and the cap flexibility moving forward to sign or trade for impact players and guys who will fit into the roster as they build it to be complete for 2020

  34. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    My dad brought this to my attention so I looked at the entire league standings and it’s true across the board. Bolts, bruins, maple leafs, Vegas, preds, jets, and penguins. Those are the only teams with 40 or more wins.

    Philly for example has 35 regulation wins, 4 more than the rangers, the caps, division leading team only has 39 reg wins.

    Most of the playoffs teams seeds 4-8, only have a handful more regulation wins then the rangers.

    This league sucks so much, making the playoffs is about getting OT losses. Look at the standings. Teams got another 10-15 Losers points than the rangers. That’s what determines who makes the playoffs for the 23-24 teams in the league. That’s mediocirce

  35. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Carp wrote: “Between periods, a woman in a “SKJEI” jersey was shooting from center ice for a chance to win a car. Before she shot, somebody upstairs yelled “you suck!”

    Clearly she should have been wearing the SkjeL sweater!

  36. James G Avatar
    James G

    “Going down HFboard style”
    I love it lmao

  37. cooscoos Avatar

    Lotsa AHL teams in the NHL these days. And we’re borderline at best if we’re lucky.

  38. cooscoos Avatar

    Tikkanen!

  39. cooscoos Avatar

    He of the classic ‘Chinese Fireplace.’

  40. BobbyO Avatar
    BobbyO

    Pete agree that goal should be to win cups just that consensus is that this rebuild is going to take years and dark days are ahead. just think thats overly pessimistic as usual and they will be a much better team next year with hopefully new coach and defensive system and several new players

  41. cooscoos Avatar

    Numerous NHL teams even worse than we, making us look better than we are by comparison.

  42. cooscoos Avatar

    Gorton (and AV) will be pressured to show that they are more than mediocre leaders.

  43. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    Still weird that McCleod is taking an audition spot away for his 5 minutes of deterrent value. It’s the one thing I don’t like about AV, his one piece of vestigial old-school Canadian-coach DNA.

  44. cooscoos Avatar

    Hundreds of delusional screechers lined up this AM in the snowstorm at CitiField, auditioning to sing the Anthem at various games this summer.

  45. cooscoos Avatar

    Get off McLeod’s back, por favor. If you were a 19 year old, 160 pound wide-eyed rook, you’d be looking to Hayes for help in the scrums.

  46. James G Avatar
    James G

    Agreed, Norm. Not sure if you signed up for the athletic but there’s a good article from yesterday on AV.

  47. cooscoos Avatar

    With all these pacific, undersized, starry-eyed kids, you can bet that Slats/Gorton will have a McLeod type around somewhere next season. If not, they’re incompetent.

  48. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Who’s spot is McLeod taking?

  49. jpp Avatar

    His name is roussel. THE Antoine

    Pay the dude.

    Lesser komarov, Martin

  50. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    We don’t need McLeod we have Kreider. He is strong enough to wrestle anyone to the ice and whisper in their ear, “If you keep this up I will hit you like a freight train when you least expect it.”

  51. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Ilb, not saying we are an old team, but Kreider has what 2 years left on his deal and Hayes/Spooner/Names/Vesey have 1 or 2 RFA years left and they are all over 25 and sorry to say none of them are difference makers. They can choose to extend all or some of those guys but it won’t that easy or smart to do from a cap perspective. So I don’t consider those players as longterm difference makers as likely only have a season or 2 more at most when they are all here. Fast is a good 4th liner playing on the 1st line for some reason.
    —-
    What we really need is 18-22yr old talent to step up and be the leaders of this team offensively and defensively.

  52. jpp Avatar

    McLeod isn’t a bad skater. That’s why he’s able to keep playing in a new NHL. better skater than I would have thought.

  53. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    So you like AV’s defensive system, choice in assistant coaches and over reliance on vets and defensive forwards Norm?!

  54. jpp Avatar

    Kreider should be moved to Edmonton this summer. Best move for all parties. Kreids seems to have a new outlook at playing hockey in the NHL after his health scare. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world than to make 7+ mill while playing shotgun to the best player in the world for the next 6 years. Edmonton is beautiful and unique in a way a lot of NHL cities aren’t. Got a good friend in talbot on the team. I could see kreids resigning in Edmonton and have a really good fun 5-6 years.

    If he’s part of a package for draisaitl and/or the oilers 1st rd pick. It’s a win-win for both teams and all players involved. Like Kreider as a person, like him as a player, but the timing and make-up of the roster and the age of his free agency doesn’t fit with the timetable of the club. We’d also need him to become an uber power/speed forward, where in Edmonton he would be much more of a pure goal scorer. Think he’s better suited out west with mcdavid.

  55. TomK Avatar
    TomK

    Norm-i’ve said I don’t think that Scotty Bowman could do much with the transition in the petry dish of a Ranger roster these days. That said, I’m not sure how you can defend the lack of coverage in front of the Rangers net. I’m not talking about the last few months. Not about injury depleted and now post trade deadline Rangers.

    Outside of the ’94 team, AV has had more success than any Ranger coach i’ve seen. (I’m 52. I don’t really remember the Cat very well) With all the turnover, you could argue that “shelf-life” is no longer an issue. However, his track record with young players and more importantly stubborn refusal to adjust his precious system to the personnel he has on the ice is kind of an eff-U to the organization, the fans and the players,(particularly to Hank and the other goalies).

  56. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    coos, you’re in a corner, grinding. AV sucks, and yet he plays McCleod. For 5 minutes. I guess that’s at least one thing you think he’s doing right! Don’t get me wrong, I think McLeod’s been better since he shook off the month-long Preds-Prucha, but I don’t see where he fits long-term as an old rental. Maybe a younger ruffian from the minors who can skate a little for 10 games, give him a little showcase? Do those exist?

  57. SN Avatar
    SN

    Pete – easier said than done. The 18-22 year olds? Who are they??

  58. cooscoos Avatar

    Norm, my take is that Slats or Slats/Gorton insists on a Prust/Glass/McLeod type and AV hasn’t the juice to argue.

  59. SN Avatar
    SN

    Team needs middle 6 players to fill out the 2/3 lines and perform higher as they do not have 1st line talent, Mngt. needs to choose which players they think will take the next step or they can also just qualify them for a year or sign to a 2 year deal to serve as a bridge to next gen.

  60. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    TomK, what exactly is his track record with younger players? I’ve heard about this repeatedly, but who are the young players who left him and then took off? Not a rhetorical question, not disagreeing with the assessment, just don’t know. As to the young D now, I think they’re doing better each game with the exception of Gilmour, who I think is a keeper but who keeps blowing coverages. Pionk in particular is making better decisions. O’Gara I think has the best discipline, but not the athleticism of the others. Staal, Jr.

  61. cooscoos Avatar

    I like Kreider, who’s 27 next month, but he’s already been around 6 seasons or so and although always promising and always eminently watchable, he has yet to ring my bell as I had expected him to do.

  62. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    I hear a little bit more about AV in Vancouver now that I’m in the NW, and I was not aware that before he arrived, Crawford had the Sedins on the second line, and that he read Burrows the riot act the summer before he promoted him and the brothers to the first line. Which became an OK line.

  63. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    Well, coos, that’s the correct conjecture if AV has to suck.

  64. TomK Avatar
    TomK

    Norm-Over-using Staal and Holden over Skjei comes to mind last spring.

    I’m not going to kill him for Miller, but I’m concerned about Buch’s development. Nothing wrong with sending a message, but got to give him some slack.

  65. TomK Avatar
    TomK

    Obviously, the Holden/Staal over Skjej in the playoffs is less about teaching. It just showed that he’s got his own version of “beer goggles” and doesn’t trust younger players. The result hurt the team.

    However, the bigger issue, IMO was the defensive structure.

  66. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    Buch is 22 and is 14, 25, 39 in 62 games. Not bad for a 75th pick. You could argue that AV’s holding him back, but how, exactly?

  67. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    TomK, here’s a contemporaneous article from Vancouver after AV got canned there. Interesting stuff, not black-and-white. http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/canucks+coach+alain+vigneault+fired+losing+games+that+really+counted/8421276/story.html

  68. cooscoos Avatar

    He (and others in diapers ) gets no on-ice protection. None. Don’t tell me it means nothing. Human nature is human nature.

  69. TomK Avatar
    TomK

    Norm-interesting article. Vancouver now on their 3rd coach since his firing. I’m not sure who’s left of his leadership group in the Rangers’ locker room. He and Hank don’t seem to be particularly tight right now.

    I think AV knows he’s probably done here and that he’ll have a slew of choices whenever he’s ready to coach again.

  70. TomK Avatar
    TomK

    FWIW- I think Buch would have benefited from a Russian speaking mentor. (cue the Kreider speaks fluent Russian rumor 🙂 ) Maybe Namestikov is that guy?

  71. cooscoos Avatar

    Buch in Hartford: “Sir, could point me to food building”

    “Don’t make any quick moves and hand over your wallet.”

  72. cooscoos Avatar

    Kudos to Ovi. Not liked here, but devil deserves his due. Quite an accomplishment.

  73. James G Avatar
    James G

    And just to be fair re: AV in Vancouver- Torts didn’t last there either after coaching the Rangers to pretty respectable records and has done well enough in Columbus since.
    A lot has to do with the team you inherit. That said, he took over a pretty solid team here in NY.

  74. SN Avatar
    SN

    Hmm…interesting since 2011, the team has performed well under two different coaches; including one who reset the direction of the franchise and convinced Slats to stop selling futures to win the present which changed when AV came aboard. The commitment to a defense first strategy to leverage world class goalie began to reap benefits which was then countered by an offense-first moves on backline and bottom six forward group. It remains unknown how much influence AV had in the personnel decisions.
    .
    Torts: Playoff Record
    09 – R1
    10 – No POs
    11 – R1
    12 – ECF
    13 – R2
    .
    AV: Playoff Record
    14 – SCF
    15 – ECF
    16 – R1
    17 – R2
    18 – No POs

  75. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Keep the Vesey / Namestikov / Buchnevich, and the Silver Spoon / Haze / Hobbit lines together the rest of the way. I say keep Kreider around for 2 more years he is 27 and believe it or not the team needs his skill set going forward. I might trade him at the deadline as he is becoming a UFA. No reason he can’t bring back a Rd 1 pick. If traded over the summer it better be for a younger version of The Crackin! Boy George is the real deal watch and see perfect name for the Rangers. “Boy George and The Blueshirts.”

  76. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    the organization is a mess. it’s not just the rangers. the pack has been bad for quite a while.

  77. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    New York Rangers
    ‏Verified account
    @NYRangers

    AV also said Georgiev will start tomorrow against Pittsburgh.

    AV said Shattenkirk suffered a minor setback, forcing him to hold off on skating for a few days. DeAngelo, meanwhile, had an MRI this morning and more info should be available later today

  78. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    per Brooks Sproul up

  79. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Brendan Smith, welcome back to NY?

  80. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Ah, never mind then…

  81. SN Avatar
    SN

    Smitty is doing his ‘Frank the Tank’ impression up at Trinity College.

  82. AnthonyM Avatar

    Poor Georgiev, getting the start against the Pens. He is going to look like this by the end of the first period (except he won’t be speaking in French – although he might considering the barrage he is going to face).

  83. Hockey Sittoo Avatar
    Hockey Sittoo

    Anthony, although I am happy Georgi is getting the start, I can’t help but wonder if it had to do with the Brooks article yesterday. The relationship between Hank and AV certainly seems like it is ice cold. That being said, I think the kid should start most of the remaining games to see if they can count on him next year. He looks really good so far. Might even make sense to bring Pavelec back and just put Hank out of his misery for the rest of the season. No sense risking an injury for no reason.

  84. cooscoos Avatar

    Re: The Athletic. – Very odd place in terms of comments. Carp’s writing worth the price of admission. However, relatively few comments, hard to follow up with other posters, no idea who ‘likes’ your comments or indeed, if anyone at all is reading them.

  85. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Brendan Who?

  86. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    I read them coos but there are some anti Carp post now and again, don’t get it?

  87. AnthonyM Avatar

    The anti Carp posts are from stat fanboys who need to see percentages and metrics in order to understand and enjoy hockey. If a story ain’t got Corsi or some other invented measurable, they don’t want to read it.

  88. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    I must assume none of them are Boneheads?

  89. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Here is my conspiracy theory take. Bazooka Joe knows he’s gone so he is doing every thing he can to win games and screw our draft position!

  90. cooscoos Avatar

    If fired, AV gets a sweet 4+ mil for doing nada, which is what it seems he does now. And what does Scotty do? 🙂

  91. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    I enjoy the comments under the (Mama) Shayna Goldman articles, because half of them are just men saying “GREAT article Shayna!”

  92. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    To understand what AV is doing, you have to look no further than this quote from the Moneyball movie:

    “I disagree with you, plain and simple. And moreover, I’m playing my team in a way that I can explain in job interviews next winter.” – Art Howe

  93. SN Avatar
    SN

    Dave B – funny you bring up Moneyball, because that film, more than any other, showed these ‘coaches’ and managers are glorified supervisors who rarely have any keen insight and just are repeating the practices learned long ago.

  94. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    I’m torn on the true impact of a coach, SN. I do think it’s different across the different sports. I think I heard or read a very compelling analysis that the difference between a great baseball coach and a mediocre one is 4 wins.
    Hockey’s a weird one because you can instill systems all you want, but it’s a dynamic, organic, chaotic thing happening on the ice where a player absolutely needs the wiggle room to “break the system” sometimes.

  95. DaveB Avatar
    DaveB

    Also – I’ve seen enough of Georgiev to confidently say, if he keeps it up through the end of the season, we should pencil him in as backup next year.

  96. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Marc Staal come get the Stanley Cup! “I’m Waiting”

  97. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    One thing better on the Athletic Comments feature is the ability to reply to a post and have it show up right there under the original post.
    Here, if I get to the site late or after DVR im a couple hundred posts behind and hard to catch up or have a 2 way conversation sometimes.
    Was there ever talk of ability to make the comments have that “reply” feature. Or history says just straight timeline is way to go?

  98. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    I read the Shayna article and wondered who she was. She’s only 6 years out of high school so not sure how much credence to give her writing yet. Unlike Carp and Gross and Brooks, stripes yet to be earned, but I guess you gotta start somewhere. Curious to how she got hired right out of gate at Athletic?

  99. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    i went with kreider. the guys traded were off the ballot as expected. as was smith.

    since i don’t expect kreider to win i hope henrik gets it despite my vote.

  100. cooscoos Avatar

    NYR – ‘Above and beyond the call of duty?’ Hard to find. Ergo, a large part of our problemo.

  101. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    playing with a blood clot (which seemed to be developing as he was feeling effects for a while), to me at least, is going above and beyond.

  102. cooscoos Avatar

    Absolutely NO WAY he would be playing with a blood clot had he or his doctors known of it. Had he done so, he would be up for the Extra Imbecile Award (and won it).

  103. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    SN, we only potentially have a few of the 18-22yr olds currently in the system (and Buch in the NHL) who could be part of a successful core going forward. My point was we need to get and develop such players for there to be a real chance at a successful rebuild. The mid to late 20 something are for the most part known quantities at this point and none of them on D or forward are true top line talent. Good to great middle 6 players, but until we have a real 1st line and 1st pair D, can’t see us winning it all, especially since there hasn’t been a cup winner in the post lockout era to my recollection that didn’t have one or the other (if not both). A collection of 2nd and 3rd line players and 2nd/3rd unit defenseman hasn’t won a cup in recent memory and unlikely to be the case this year either.

  104. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    kreider didn’t know he had a clot but the effects of the clot were at various pts manifesting themselves. out of breath probably due to how his ribs were aligned. still tried to play through it all. i believe brooks had article when kreider was close to returning on what he went through for a decent segment of the season.

    i’m certainly not a dr but that’s how i see it.

  105. cooscoos Avatar

    Then why didn’t his doctors know about his ailments and take investigative action? Too stupid?

  106. SN Avatar
    SN

    Pete – which is why I want full tank next year and not a band aid or you are back to the same middling scenario, but others are ‘excited’ that the rebuild with be ‘quick’. Greatness takes time and suckitude in this league; mediocrity is always there for the taking (not tanking)

  107. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Totally agree SN, but we may have already shot ourselves in the foot by taking on relatively talented guys like Spooner, Names and not yet moving Zuc. Picking at the back end or even just outside of the top 10 in this year’s draft should not be seen as a meaningful rebuilding step and nor is having two additional 1st rounders at the end of the first round. Could find useful pieces there, but unlikely to be differencemakers.
    -//
    Now Gorton can move all those guys in the offseason, but if they and others are on the team next year, unlikely we are 1-3 overall pick bad….here’s hoping!

  108. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Coos, apparently he didn’t go to the doctors right away, even after he was coughing up blood!! That’s too stupid!!

  109. Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) Avatar

    A few wedgies in the old video today, coos.

  110. Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) Avatar

    where in holy hell is that damn Wicky?

  111. E3 Avatar
    E3

    Just bought 10 power ball tickets. Expecting to win on at least 7 of them. Bought two identical tickets which should double my winnings. My future is looking good.

  112. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Wicky traded to pens Carp!

  113. James G Avatar
    James G

    Two words regarding Wicky, Carp: Roof Rake.

  114. Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) Avatar

    Haha. Probably.

  115. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    If I am not mistaken, Wicky usually gets busy this time of year, and tends to be away from the blog for a bit. Pops in every once in a while.
    I think I have been on this blog way to long for me to remember that.

  116. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    He must be a tax accountant

  117. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    I missed some good topics today.
    On coaches, depends on the sport. I think a very good coach in hockey can make a big difference. Nobody really plays a system that hasn’t been seen before. It’s about having the players that fit the system, and being able to adjust when needed. It’s also about not coaching scared. Some coaches coach not to lose. They often do just that, lose. Some coach to win. Those are your best coaches. They play there best player the most, and live with the mistakes that go with it. The guys that coach scared will play there 3rd and 4th line guys way to much, because they are afraid of any little mistake, and trust there bottom line players not to make mistakes. These coaches tend to have regular season success, but playoff failure.

  118. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    I think people sometimes make too much of player/coach relationships with the top talent, usually high maintenance and often prima donnas.

    Still maintain next year is transitional – sign the rfas and don’t waste time on UFAs unless the deal is truly compelling and involves a player under 26. Let’s also put the hobbit out of his misery and trade over the summer instead of causing undo angst again as the trade deadline nears. Poor guy is sensitive!

    Coos – I think that toughness has to come from within and not from a designated enforcer. Guys like Buch need to bulk up a bit, take a boxing class and realize sometimes you need to a) take the body and b) drop the gloves. Its the NHL, not euroland, and things can get a little chippy. Adjust.

  119. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Buch could use to put on some weight but he actually will try and throw the body and has gotten into a fight or two. Compare that to the paper tiger Rick Nash and Buch looks like Joey Kocur!

  120. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Any word on ADA?

  121. TomK Avatar
    TomK

    Buch looks like the Hulk compared to the way he looked in his first camp. Namestikov is another skilled player who, while not that big, doesn’t shy away from contact or even a fight.

  122. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Some guy named Miller has two goals for Tampa tonight. Is he any relation to the Miller that the Rangers had, and AV kept benching?

  123. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    That Miller guy now has three.

  124. ThisYearsModel Avatar

    Good thing that the Rangers dumped that goldbricker JT Miller on Tampa so he could score hat tricks. Squirrely Bowman must not be as smart as AV.

  125. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    the canes lost tonight more bad news in our race for draft position. they blew a 4-1 lead in the process.

  126. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Wow JT with the hatty? Good for him

  127. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Miller had enough of Bazooka Joe wanted out of town! He will probably go on and pot 30 next season!

  128. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Ranger sourh with 4 goals tonight!

  129. Hockey Sittoo Avatar
    Hockey Sittoo

    Miller had 10 shots on goal tonight. Something to prove I’d say. He is going to be one helluva player for the Bolts.

  130. GhiYourGhiEvrockriser Avatar

    I could get a hat trick with Kucherov and Stamkos as my linemates. Guess who got the assists on McDonagh’s goal as well?

  131. GhiYourGhiEvrockriser Avatar

    At least one of Stamkos and Kucherov got an assist in ever lightning goal tonight. The other assists? Hedman.

  132. GhiYourGhiEvrockriser Avatar

    *on

  133. GhiYourGhiEvrockriser Avatar

    Alex, the hurricanes didn’t just blow a 4-1 lead. They blew a 4-1 lead in the third. 19 minutes left with a 3 goal lead. Ugh.

  134. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    Good for Miller! Only Tampa guy playing tonight apparently. Change of scenery doing the trick? Garbage goal for McD as well.

  135. SN Avatar
    SN

    So Millers 5-4-9 in 7 games don’t count because playing with good players but Namestoolong 1-2-3 n 7 games is impressive…

  136. Slatsko Folkyerself Avatar
    Slatsko Folkyerself

    It’s Miller time?
    It’s Miller time.
    It’s Miller time!

  137. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    EV

    you meant 10 min left as I just checked the box score

  138. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    AV messed Miller up by not putting him with Kuch and Stamkos.

  139. Slatsko Folkyerself Avatar
    Slatsko Folkyerself

    Boy those Gorton-Sather boys sure can evaluate talent. Now watch them turn those draft picks into Hartford’s finest.

  140. SN Avatar
    SN

    AV does no wrong; as the coach he has the authority so he must be right.

  141. Slatsko Folkyerself Avatar
    Slatsko Folkyerself

    Rangers management in it’s entirety is inept. Can’t draft, Can’t trade, can’t develop talent, can’t coach, can’t teach, can’t execute, can’t win.
    They all must go. Clean Slate!

  142. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    anther bad result with edmonton losing tonight

  143. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    Good theme, SN, hold on to it. Unlike you, though, I don’t think AV is flawless.

  144. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    the miller – namestoolong part of that deal is ugh

  145. GhiYourGhiEvrockriser Avatar

    Alex, I was referring to when the hurricanes made it 4-1. Bruins had from that point to come back from 4-1.

  146. GhiYourGhiEvrockriser Avatar

    Norm, I’m going to take a wild stab in the dark here and assume that SN was being sarcastic.

  147. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    EV

    and all the goals were scored in last 10 minutes

    so bad night when it looked like we’d get help

    edmonton losing just makes it worse.

    so looking like 8th from bottom with carolina, brooklyn and chicago up in the air

  148. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    Thanks, Ev, I had no idea.

  149. goodguyinsports Avatar
    goodguyinsports

    Does Hank play Saturday?

  150. cooscoos Avatar

    Wedgies!

  151. tomb Avatar
    tomb

    I would like to end this sentence with two adverbs.

    I am too happy for JT Miller. I always thought he was a great player. The NHL guys and the Tampa guys sure like him.

  152. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Miller was misused, mistreated, misunderstood, misliked, mislaid, and mislead by an Ultra-Maroon of a coach! But hey skating on a line with Stamkos & Kucherov can change anyone’s attitude in a hurry.

  153. SN Avatar
    SN

    While a big Miller fan, JT did himself no favors this year by coming into the season in so-so shape and never being able to kick into 3rd gear when skating with the puck. When you have first line players, they raise the game of second line guys, which reinforces Namestoolong is another middle six forward.
    Maybe coaching is only done in the AHL or NYR is forced to use younger players above their skill grade because of bad roster mngt, but Shea, Kreider, Miller and Haze all make the same mistakes and have low hockey IQ. (What does Arniel do?)
    Haze recently said he began shooting more because he started watching film and realized he had more opps to shoot. Really? He needed to watch film and come to those conclusions??
    .
    Lazy (un)fair coaching mon ami???

  154. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    NEW POST