Rangers-5, Sabres-3 (Updated)

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When you have to “find a way to win” against the worst team in. meh. Forget it. Here’s Carp:

https://theathletic.com/2470640/2021/03/23/hes-unbelievable-adam-foxs-100-games-with-the-rangers-have-been-nothing-short-of-remarkable/

New Carp article:

https://theathletic.com/2471935/2021/03/24/alexis-lafreniere-for-jack-eichel-or-aleksander-barkov-who-says-no-analyzing-your-rangers-trade-proposals/

204 responses to “Rangers-5, Sabres-3 (Updated)”

  1. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    That win sucked.

  2. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Weirdly Kakko was put on a line with Panarin. Even weirder is that Kakko scored. Who could see that coming. Putting Kakko in a position to succeed, and he does? Strange, very strange.

  3. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Kreider scored his 15th, and 16th last night. Carp seemed to giving credit to Zibanejad for that. What am I missing?

  4. James G Avatar
    James G

    Kakko sucks, BDL. 2nd overall picks shouldn’t need Panarin to help them do well.
    (S)

  5. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    Kakko still needs to just shoot the damn puck and do it quickly

  6. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Kakko should be given at least a 5-8 game look playing with Panarin and Strome.

    It’s about time some other kids not named Fox (or Miller) step up.

  7. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Of course, the recent offensive production notwithstanding, but Zibanejad shows noticeably more jump in his legs than at any other point this season.

  8. Old Ranger Fan Avatar
    Old Ranger Fan

    Kakko still tried to stick handle the puck into the net on his goal. It seems to be a Euro thing to always go to the backhand.
    Rangers still paying Girardi more than Buffalo is.
    One of the commenters on Carp’s article mentioned something about the Scandinavian press writing about the toll that COVID took on Mika and also Kakko. Any Swedes or Finns on the blog?

  9. James G Avatar
    James G

    BDL, Carp and others have been providing a cushion for Zika most of the season. Not all of the time but a fair amount of it. No one mentioned how Kreider was in a tough spot when Quinn had him paired with Zibanejad at the start.
    Now he’s been scoring goals (primarily with Strome in Panarin’s absence) and it’s “and another assist for Zibanejad!”
    I think it’s silly but I don’t lose sleep over it.

  10. James G Avatar
    James G

    They need Shester-tin back ASAP. Kinkaid is a competitor but you can see he isn’t going to be a long term solution if the plan is to win as much as possible down the stretch.

  11. James G Avatar
    James G

    Can’t downplay the effects of Covid but why are these guys playing if they are suffering that badly from the after effects?

  12. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Saw this online.

    fun fact: Chris Kreider passed Anders Hedberg and tied Mike Gartner and Tomas Sandstrom for 18th place with 173 career goals with the Rangers.

    Next up on the list that are realistically passable this season are Andy Hebenton (177), Ron Greschner (179), Phil Esposito (184), Dean Prentice (186), and Bryan Hextall Sr. (187).

  13. James G Avatar
    James G

    There was something yesterday about “this day in history” and it talked about Drury back in 2009 tying a faceoffs won record with 20 in a game for the Rangers.
    They should suit him up and let him take draws.

  14. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Drury sneaks into New Haven McDonalds’ and takes straws.

  15. James G Avatar
    James G

    I think Kakko is taking a ton of criticism in the midst of what’s been a very frustrating season for fans.

    They won’t over take Boston for a playoff spot but seeing some of these guys get opportunities and results would be refreshing.

    They’ll need Wolski back to win games though. Ugh. Not Wolski. Shesterkin. Sorry. Honest mistake:)

  16. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Get him out of the tub!

  17. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    I dont think Kakko has been overly criticized…he can thank Zibnajad for that….but he brings a lot of heat on himself becuase he doesn’t shoot the damn puck or drive the net consistently

  18. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    ORF. My grandparents were from Finland and Sweden but unfortunately passed away prior to my arrival and the language went with them.
    Wish I could speak and read Finnish. Very difficult to learn from what I’ve been told. Mongolian roots.

    My Norwegian friend can speak multiple languages including Swedish said he wouldn’t even try Finnish.

  19. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Kakko looked like he wants to stay on that line. Had a fire lit on his skating efforts and puck retrieval. He’s so darn good at getting pucks along the boards and in the corners. I think he is a good fit on that line when he is working hard.

    Looked faster and more deliberate to me.

  20. SN Avatar
    SN

    Chuck Knoblach said DQ wanted to put Kakko up on that line. That the Sabres were the opponent is no coincidence.

    Good for Special K, needs to go to net and shoot ze puck like Kreider and stop with the Kevin Hayes impersonation along the boards.
    .
    I did notice on one break out, Bread and Strome were cruising into the Ozone and Bread pulled up to look for trailer and no Kakko there for the pass.

    Curious if they keep him there against the Caps and Flyers. Need to see what he can do and Crspsoft is available as well soon.

  21. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Ready to see

    Laf Chytil Kravstov line

    I think he looked good with Chytil preseason last year. Has familiarity as well with when Chytil was sent down and earned his way back.

    Vitally having the Hartford experience end of last year and a successful KHL season should be ready to show us what he’s got there. 3rd line could surprise teams who have to focus on Bread and Mika lines

    4Th line

    Pepe Rooney with (Goat/Barron/Blackwell) depending on health and performance

    Please keep Howden far away from this depth chart. Makes no sense while healthy to dress him.

  22. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    NYR time only:

    GART 322 173 113 286
    THE 554 173 165 338

  23. SN Avatar
    SN

    Gart?

  24. SN Avatar
    SN

    Oh, Mike Gartner. Rumor was he could play the whole game with a half dozen eggs in his pants and not have any break…

  25. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Sorry, rather see Howden over Blackwell if we are going to do the kids thing.

    How about some first line time for Howden? Or even second? Guess he does not qualify for a chance with anyone over 4th line because he was not a NYR original draft pick? Or is it just the lingering bitterness against Gorton for the JT trade?

  26. SN Avatar
    SN

    Seriously, Gartner was a goal scoring machine; never understood sending him packing for Glenn Anderson no less; who added very little, outside of being a former Oiler.

  27. James G Avatar
    James G

    I have little doubt Kravtsov will be able to keep up as far as skating, but the question will be whether the coaching staff can stomach his inept play on the defensive side of the puck to keep him out in the top six and accept the risk for the sake of explosive offense.

  28. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Not bitterness at all

    I’m not a chart boy but from what I hear his advanced stats are some of the worst in the league through his career

    Eye test. He sucks. Like really sucks. And I’m usually an apologist and benefit of the doubter for any ranger. Takes a lot for me to be this critical.

    No hands. No snarl. Falls down excessively. Average speed. Barely throws body checks. Doesn’t creat plays for any linemates. No matter who they are. He’s played up and down the lineup before. Maybe not much this year. But he has well over 100 NHL games so it’s not a “kids” issue with him anymore. He is what he is with zero upward trajectory. Only stagnation.

    Beeze – I didn’t realize u were a Howden fan. I hope my constant complaining about him doesn’t irk too much. We agree on so many other things.

  29. James G Avatar
    James G

    SN, when you’re on Messier’s list, your bags are packed and on the way to another arena. Plain and simple.

  30. James G Avatar
    James G

    Beez, the issue there is just that they’ll never bump Zika or Stromeo to third line duties in order to experiment with Howden. Playing shuffleboard with a bunch of rook /2nd year wings is a different story.

  31. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    Howden needs to grab some pine when Kravstov ready….agree with Cregg and 4th line of Pepe Rooney and Goat boy. If Howden was not part of Tampa trade he would have been Hartford since last year

  32. James G Avatar
    James G

    Bobby, there’s a laundry list of guys who do not shoot the puck often enough. My issue with Kakko is he lacks confidence. This league isn’t going to pave the way for him. He needs to bust it and play the game with his talent and instincts instead of getting the puck and then beginning to think.

  33. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Would be very curious what Howden would do in AHL playing 1st line minutes and first power play.

    He skipped Hartford because DQ was enamored with his interview and intentions as a young buck. Maybe that wasn’t right for him.

    Is he a tweener. Is he AHL fodder.

    Could he score 25 goals and be a play driver on the Wolfpack? We may never know.

    I just see below average skill set in all of what he does. (Shooting, passing, skating.). Maybe average to above average IQ meaning he can be defensively responsible.

  34. James G Avatar
    James G

    Howden is in the lineup because Quinn trusts/likes some element to his game. Feels it necessary on this team. No different than his blind loyalty to Smith and guys like Blackwell and JJ. Only difference is his age.

  35. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    He’s above average in how nice a person he is.

  36. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    This is one fun video!

  37. SN Avatar
    SN

    Re Kakko; what happens when you are head and shoulders better than everyone in your age group, bad habits can develop. And as a mentor of mine used to say; Habits are easy to make, hard to break.

    His habit is the love of stick handling and deking, regardless of where he is on the ice. Works great in time and space, but that is a luxury in the NHL, not so much in Finnish Junior Leagues.
    .
    He scored standing all alone in front of the goal with a pass on the tape of his stick and then he STILL tried to stick handle and was fortunate to jam it in when the initial attempt trying to go backhand was thwarted.
    .
    If you look at most of his goals scored, he is stick handling alone in front of goalie. When he had the one timer early in year, you hoped, he might have turned the page, but not so much.

  38. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    The lines I would put together when Kravtsov is ready, you can number them any way you want.
    Lafrenière, Zibanejad, Kravtsov
    Panarin, Strome, Kakko
    Kreider, Chytil, Buchnevich
    Lemieux, Rooney, ?
    Balanced, and the kids all put in a position to succeed.

  39. SN Avatar
    SN

    Can’t wait for the Red Barron to come up so they can put Laffy where he belongs at LW4

  40. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    James the laundry list of guys who do not shoot the puck often enough dont include many 2nd overall draft picks

  41. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Goatboy is AHL material – Second coming of Letteri.

    Howden has played 165 games to Chytil’s 161 and Kakko’s 90. IIRC Howden has had only a handful of shifts on anything over 3rd line and on 3rd line as a sometimes fill in for Chytil.

    If people complain that Chytil has had limited linemates, what of Howden? Chytil, who has been given quite a few chances on 1st/2nd lines, has … 10 more pts. Kakko? Prorate his 90 games to 165 and you get… six points more than Howden and I don’t think he’s played many minutes with anything below a 3rd line. There is also growing disparity in even strength TOI.

    Not trying to claim that Howden ever ends up more than a 3rd/4th liner but the hate on the kid is really disproportionate. Like Chytil, think the team should be giving him a stretch on the wing, even if with Rooney at center.

  42. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    SN if Barron comes up I’d like to see him at center, not wing. 6’2, 210+ and that is his natural position.

  43. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    Beezle in reference to Howden… he never shows you anything …he’s not noticeable …and slow…and has no scoring touch whatsover…or any bite …and the last thing they need is another winger . Goatboy shows you flashes of speed and drives to the net

  44. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    SN hates Lafrenière.

  45. James G Avatar
    James G

    “you’re a high draft pick so you need to shoot more” ???

  46. James G Avatar
    James G

    SN,
    I didn’t know much of Kakko before January of that draft year. I thought the whole thing about Kakko prior to the draft was that he was playing against older competition and doing well?

  47. James G Avatar
    James G

    LOL, BDL.

  48. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    yes James …if you are forward

  49. James G Avatar
    James G

    I don’t disagree with his needing to shoot. But I don’t agree with your reasoning. No offense meant. But I will use that to reinforce my point about needing a team that plays a more North-South style. Everyone wants to be a play maker and set up a fancy twirly swirly goal off the rush. Even on a 2 on 1 no one wants to shoot. “here shoot. No you. No you” that’s what I hear watching the games sometimes. I’m borderline insane from it.

  50. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    All for North South style but he doesn’t get that yet….Kakko is offensively gifted but still doesnt understand that stickhandling around NHL Defensemen and goalies usually doesn’t usually work.

  51. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Breakdown of pts is nice. But not on a vacuum.

    Pepe is not scoring pts, but still is fun to watch and makes an impact on the game

    When I watch Howden he just isn’t doing it for me. (Or for the rangers)

    Chytil has shown so much more potential.

    If it were all breaking down points, there would be no reason for scouts to actually watch games. They would only need the box score.

  52. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    That’s really what we are as fans. Armchair coaches and scouts

  53. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Pull my finger.

  54. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    The number of lottery draws is reduced from three to two, so the last-place team can’t draft lower than third overall
    Clubs can move up a maximum of 10 spots, so only 11 teams have a shot at winning the No. 1 pick (instead of the current 16)
    No team can win the draft lottery more than twice over a five-year period (this takes into account lotteries beginning in 2022)

    https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/nhl-reportedly-agrees-to-make-changes-to-draft-lottery-process-that-will-help-bad-teams/

  55. 4everanger Avatar
    4everanger

    Hate to do it, but… Мy armchair optimal offense:
    (skipping long explanations why)
    Kreider, Zibanejad, Buchnevich
    Panarin, Strome, Kakko
    Lafrenière, Chytil, Kravtsov
    Lemieux, Нowden (C), Rooney(W)

  56. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Bdl
    I really like those lines you put together, but who’s our coach?

  57. James G Avatar
    James G

    No team can win the draft lottery more than twice over a five-year period (this takes into account lotteries beginning in 2022)

    ^^^ Otherwise known as the Pittsburgh / Buffalo clause

  58. Gravy Avatar
    Gravy

    I don’t agree with breaking up Mika, THE, and Buchnevich when they’re all playing well, though I get the intention of balancing.

    I’d start with 4ever’s lines, but with Rooney and GOAT on the 4th line.

  59. SN Avatar
    SN

    Those draft changes are important because getting 1st OA locks in Cup contention for years to come…
    .
    I like Laffy, have said numerous times he is going to be very good. I do ‘laughy’ as those who want to keep the training wheels on and don’t care about culture of accountability and performance only because he was chosen 1st. If he was chosen 4th or 5th overall, should he be getting star treatment? Seems a little ridiculous.
    .
    Fit the player to the team, don’t fit the team to the player. Bad message being sent. Started with 4th year Flip, continued with Special K and now Laffy. Who are the brass trying to appease? No fans are in the building. What’s the point?

  60. James G Avatar
    James G

    Opening Faceoff:
    Lafrenière, Zibanejad, Kravtsov
    Panarin, Strome, Kakko
    Kreider, Chytil, Buchnevich
    Lemieux, Rooney-Blackwell

    10 minutes into the 2nd:

    Kreider, Zibanejad, Buchnevich
    Panarin, Strome, Blackwell
    Lafreniere, Chytil, Kakko
    Lemieux, Rooney Kratsov

    14 minute mark of the 3rd period

    Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
    Panarin-Strome-Blackwell
    Chytil-Rooney-Lafreniere
    Lemieux-Chytil-Kravtsov

  61. James G Avatar
    James G

    Those draft changes are important because getting 1st OA locks in Cup contention for years to come……unless you’re buffalo or Edmonton

  62. James G Avatar
    James G

    The more I watch the team the more I agree with you, SN. Look at Buffalo. I do not want the Rangers to become Buffalo. Rasmus Dahlin has regressed, Eichel is lost in the fog and “injured”. Cozens seems to be doing a good enough job but is still very very inexperienced at the NHL level. Middlestadt isn’t exactly wowing anyone. Tage Thompson…don’t get me started…

    This is what happens when you just throw guys onto the NHL rink and say “give em hell boys”. It’s not a sustainable plan if you want these guys to learn and grow into a team together. But at this point it’s a tough to change course.

  63. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Buffalo only has 1 first OA

    They “lost” the lottery for mcdavid and got Eichel

    Edmonton most, Pitt second most and to an extent Washington benefitted from the system. The latter two surround the lockout with OVi and Crosby

    But the most ridiculous example was the run at the the draft that the oilers had. Disgusting.

  64. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Chicago and NJ also benefitted under the old rules

  65. James G Avatar
    James G

    Gauthier is looking more and more like a young player that is trying to figure this out on his own. Not sure if they aren’t coaching this kid up or if he’s just not getting the message but he looks raw out there. Last night didn’t do much for arguing his case for him.

  66. SN Avatar
    SN

    Crapsoft could have a bigger impact than Laffy and Special K this season. He won a RW role in training camp and then they kept up K, which must have set him off thinking; I beat this kid in camp yet they chose him because draft position?? Chuck Knoblach had good things to say about him during his return.

    Most impressed this season when he got completely rocked by a hit and came back later to play in the same game. He is also 21 yo and 6’3″ 190 lbs. Excited to see if and where he plays.

  67. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Good afternoon, boneheads!
    Took a break, and while my girls are getting Yeti’s ( eat your heart out, Wicky) I’m reading the comments.
    A couple of things that I think are being overlooked. One, this team isn’t being built around either Lafrenière or Kakko. They can take time to develop. With bumps and slow downs, both will be very good when it’s time for NY to contend. I believe Lafrenière will be better all around than Kakko, but both will produce at a very high level.

  68. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    And two, I thought it was a very good win last night. They didn’t play their best by any stretch and fell behind. Then they surrendered two goals on rookie mistakes, but pulled themselves together and won, avoiding a disaster against bad team. Players who are their building blocks today did it.

  69. James G Avatar
    James G

    Supposedly Shesterkin is going to try to play Thursday against Philly. If he can’t go they still have Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and if necessary, Dorothy as options. Or you know…back to Kinkaid is fine.

  70. James G Avatar
    James G

    SN, I was thinking it would be ironic if Kravtsov came in and was the one to rack up the points fans have been clamoring for from the young’ns.

  71. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    takes draws, takes straws. DeComa

  72. James G Avatar
    James G

    Certainly enough Russian presence on this team for Vitali to be comfortable. Just don’t let him get in a car with Shesty or Buch.

  73. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Good advice James!

  74. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Speeding Porsches in Manhattan safer than Ruskie airplanes by a factor of 1000.

  75. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    James e-mail. Everyone else – maybe you have e-mail, I really don’t know 😉

  76. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    James. No email.

    Everyone else…also, no email.

  77. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Boneheads, meet the savior. Only question is how long it takes them to teach him that this here is a pass first team, not a shoot first one!

  78. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    How does Kravstov matchup to what Buch did in the KHL?

    They may be similar in their trajectory.

  79. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    This is Buch You can get Kravtsov same place, Ilb no allow two links in one post!

  80. jeff Avatar
    jeff

    Some of the goalies in this video don’t look like they could stop a beachball let alone a puck. As my sainted mom would say. “we’ll see”

  81. Old Ranger Fan Avatar
    Old Ranger Fan

    Kravstov looks like he may be copying Panarin hair style or gave up cutting it because of CIVID.

  82. jeff Avatar
    jeff

    Looking at the schedule I think they should make Kravstov’s debut April 1st and 3rd vs Buff. this way he gets some practice time with new team,let him travel to Philly and Wash to get use to it and start him off with not the toughest teams to play against.

  83. James G Avatar
    James G

    Those goalies wouldn’t last a period in a game of pick up hockey where I come from. But those announcers are much more entertaining than Sam

  84. jeff Avatar
    jeff

    Dear James. Agree 100%

  85. SN Avatar
    SN

    To be fair, goalies rarely look good in goal scoring highlight reels. Like the quick release and supple wrists (Sure plays a mean pinball!)

    Can make a living on the right dot during PP if that release translates to NHL

  86. E3 Avatar
    E3

    Filthy D : 6 Norris finalists

  87. SN Avatar
    SN

    AV circling the drain

  88. E3 Avatar
    E3

    AV = ain’t victorious

  89. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Avoided Victory

    Wonder what Philth fans who heralded AV as the Saviour feel about him now?

  90. CraigWeather Avatar
    CraigWeather

    The Grittiots lose

  91. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    SN, you lost me at singling out only Laf and the team or fans not caring about culture of accountability and performance by insisting on playing him given where he was picked. Mika first and foremost shouldn’t have been playing at all for about 2 months if accountability and performance are the key drivers on playing time and then there is Howden.

    James, we are never gonna be buffalo or Edm for that matter as we will likely always be able to attract free agents and/or players with NMC/NTC wanting to come here. Add to that even under Slats we were never as dysfunctionally run as Oilers used to be and Buffalo currently is. But what both Edm and Buffalo show is that there is always an unfortunate element of dumb luck in which top prospect is available year to year , but amateur and pro scouting does matter (Why clarke should be canned) as is identifying when to trade even high 1st round picks while rebuilding (where Oilers screwed up).

    JD should get dolan to spend big $ on pro and amateur scouting as that is an area we have been deficient in essentially dating back to Craig Patrick and early Neil Smith era

  92. SN Avatar
    SN

    Pete – I said all the recent 1st rounders including 4th year Flip, Special K and Laffy are getting preferential treatment solely based on mngt’s desire to showcase the future. It’s not their fault mngt is acting this way. They should use any and every opportunity to advance their professional development..

    God forbid they luck into another top 5 pick this draft. The cycle may never end.

    Sitting or demoting Mika would have been a curious move as they have NO other players capable of playing center in the top 6, I also feel the Assistant Capt and leading goal scorer last season may get some more latitude as compared to the rookie who dominated teenagers in the Quebec Junior league.

  93. E3 Avatar
    E3

    But that Quebec Junior League is virtually the NHL….well, not really…

  94. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Let’s hope Avoiding Victory continues to avoid victory over the next 2 games!

  95. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    some more latitude, sure, but what he got was above and beyond. He was an outright hindrance at even strength and pp for several multi-game stretches, to the point where shifting Strome to 1C and Chytil or anyone else to 2C couldn’t have netted any worse results.

    This is also a coach who pulled Kakko from Panarin’s line in the middle of game 1 of the season.

    And Howden? Mr. Hustle only finally got benched a game. So just saying the coach doesn’t exactly scream equality in his treatment. Speaks more to him not being as willing to live with growing pains of younger players while being willing to live with slumps of veterans

  96. James G Avatar
    James G

    3k Philly fans stay until the end to boo their team off the ice. I give them credit for that. WOOF.
    Let’s see them blame Carter Hart for those oh so familiar looking defensive breakdowns we all know and love.

  97. James G Avatar
    James G

    So did you guys catch the story about what happened with Tim Peel in Nashville last night? Classic NHL blunder. Now the same league that supports this kind of stuff will go fine him because it was seen by the public eye. Silly.

  98. James G Avatar
    James G

    Correction, Pete. Howden went to the Covid protocol list. No benching lol

  99. James G Avatar
    James G

    Post updated above with new article from Carp. I think you guys will like this one.

  100. James G Avatar
    James G

    Pete, I think the dumb luck you are referring to is exactly what the Rangers do not get much of as their scouting department is always going after what they think is a can’t miss prospect.
    Some years you can throw a dart at names on the board and do better. And while we’ll never be dysfunctional like an Edmonton or Buffalo, we certainly won’t be that much better in terms of success or scouting. And by success I’m talking about Stanley Cups, not regular season wins against the Isles and Pens.

    In light of this revamp of the draft lotto rules I wish they would just clear out the scouting department and start over fresh. I get myself sick looking at other players in this league that could have been drafted.

  101. SN Avatar
    SN

    Pete – where am I supporting Howdy Doody? The only players who get the less than preferential treatment are Pepe and Goat Boy.
    It’s part of the culture of this team.

    In your Mika scenario, they bench him and replace him with Art Rooney or, well, Howdy as 4th year Flip was out??

    As bad as Mika was, he did play himself out of it recently.

    Or did you have a different plan?

  102. James G Avatar
    James G

    Carp still seems to think Stromeo is out the door at some point. I guess that means he thinks they’re re-signing Mika or tearing it down completely in the middle.
    I think Chytil’s early injury and stint with Covid was detrimental to this team’s evaluation of center ice this season.
    Despite our opinions, the organization still sees him as a center and most likely will give him more time before they make up their minds.
    And the more time they wait, the more sand falls through the hour glass keeping track of the prime years for their vets.

  103. James G Avatar
    James G

    What they really need is some blind luck up front. Instant chemistry between Kravtsov and someone. The Fox-Lindgren type chemistry.

  104. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    They fired Tim Peele. A bit of an overreaction in my opinion.

  105. James G Avatar
    James G

    GTFO of here. They fired him?

  106. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    Wow! …he got fired for something that all NHL referees do …I guess since he got caught…Bettman is a tool …Peel has been in the league forever

  107. James G Avatar
    James G

    That goes to show you one thing- this is what the league wants and they don’t want it known publicly.

    Until this news broke I took it for what I felt it was. A referee thinking out loud about calling a game evenly in his mind. Level playing field. Apparently it’s more than that in the eyes of the league. That’s ugly.

    Never had this problem in the era of clutching and grabbing. One team may take 5 penalties and their opponent takes 2. In other words if it’s a penalty they called it. There wasn’t any of this guy goes down and play on or “evening up the numbers” late in a game so both teams take 3 or 4 minors a piece.

  108. James G Avatar
    James G

    Bobby, are you as shocked as I am? I didn’t think there’d even be a suspension. I figured a fine at best.

  109. James G Avatar
    James G

    This is like when Gus killed Victor in Breaking Bad. Didn’t do anything wrong per say….but he got himself seen…

  110. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    He was retiring in 1 month. Real penalty is now he can’t ride off into the sunset like many other long time officials

    Too bad the mic caught that but didn’t continue to complete the thought

    I imagine he wanted to even it up early second and not 3rd period when game on the line.

    It’s wrong if it’s known to be soft. Just call the game as played. If wilson crosschecks 5 guys call 5 penalties.

    Stop with the subjective baloney (ha. Went to moderation for the other cowmanure word) and fantom stick infractions that have nothing to do with the play.

    Call the dangerous plays and illegal checks and interferences. Regardless of time of game and regardless of how many penalties that team already took.

  111. James G Avatar
    James G

    Just saw that Cregg. Makes much more sense now. Not a firing they’re just asking him to retire a few weeks sooner. Makes much more sense.

  112. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Old college basketball Ref admitted years ago that, at MSG, zebras were told sub-rosa to keep games close, but not to decide outcomes.

  113. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    shocked James.. Peel has been around forever and is retiring … for sure this is not gonna go over well among rest of officials …wonder if any will speak out

  114. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Good morning, boneheads!
    Saying it on hot mic and league’s reaction to it are both an embarrassment to NHL. The latter is even more so because it’s an attempt by the league to pretend those types of penalties are an exception rather than common occurrence.

  115. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Zebra suicide. NHL will NEVER admit the reality of Ref prejudice.

  116. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    And if a Ref senses that he might be in danger of losing control of the game, he’s liable to call ANYTHING and EVERYTHING, including things that never even happened in order to make sure he stays in charge.

  117. James G Avatar
    James G

    LOL, Cregg I just got the moderation notice. I’ll leave it be since you re-posted

  118. James G Avatar
    James G

    well said, by the way.

  119. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    I was a ref for 7 + years, I’m ducking as I write this. The most difficult thing for me was to officiate a game without prejudice.

  120. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    And with gambling becoming legal and omnipresent in sports, Leagues can anticipate not only Congressional hearings, but RIOTS if they ever admitted even obvious Ref irregularities.

  121. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Paper transactions to fit players, Kravtsov including, into a 23 player roster. More to come when Kravtsov is ready to play. With taxi squad it isn’t very complicated.

  122. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Now we are going to hit the mountain.

  123. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    What we need now is a Date/Frontline expose on NHL refs making the sh*t up as they go along. Complete with anonymous refs, back to camera with voice synth!

    “Yeah of course I make up calls on little Pepe. His dad was a POS and should have been penalized a lot more”

    “Look we all know Strome is not a 1C. I’m doing every fan a service buy making these fantom slashing calls to keep him at 2C or lower”

  124. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Hall-of-Famer Ralph Kiner of MLB said, that as a rookie in the thirteenth inning of a tie game, he came to the plate and the first pitch, two feet outside, was called a strike. He stepped out of the box and questioned the ump, who replied: “Swing the bat, son, we didn’t eat yet.”

  125. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Someone said to start KHLsoft on 4/1 v Buf. I think that is a terrible idea. The karma of starting the Savior on April Fool’s is -∞

  126. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Lol

    Peel has been one of the NHL’s most maligned officials, with fans using social media to critique his calls through the years. In 2015, Peel was removed from officiating a New Jersey Devils home game after being photographed at a bar drinking with a reporter. [Editor’s note: The reporter was ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, the writer of this piece.]

  127. James G Avatar
    James G

    LOL thanks ILB. Now that you posted that, this blog is going to hit a mountain too 🙂

  128. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    ‘hit the mountain?’ ‘Splain, Lucy.

  129. tommyG Avatar
    tommyG

    I’ve been watching the NHL forever. I always got the impression Refs called there own game instead of what actually
    happens and Peele gets fired because he let the cat out of the bag.

  130. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Boston 11W 9L since Feb 1. 6W 8L since Feb 15. It will take magic pixie dust for Buffalo to win any of those games but stranger things have happened.

  131. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Hey boys Ovi needs another goal.

  132. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Ilb, much better to ride on the mountain. When you hit the mountain, it always hits back and it is much bigger than you!

  133. 4everanger Avatar
    4everanger

    I only hope, that Rangers are aware, will be fully alert and expect, that Philthies will be ready to everything, I mean EVERYTHING, and lay down with their bones, to snatch a victory, after that embarrassing and humiliating last game and teams standing. They are like a rats in a corner… Just be ready!

  134. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Why is it good to keep the cat in the bag? 🙂

  135. James G Avatar
    James G

    Have they won 3 in a row this year?

  136. 4everanger Avatar
    4everanger

    I’m just talking about level of adrenalin and potencial traumas…Rats doesn’t have fangs, but bites painfully nevertheless.

  137. aneirin Avatar

    Ask Schrodinger

  138. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    If you get put on the Taxi squad, can you get Danny DeVito’s autograph?

  139. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Is it worse to let the cat out of the bag or to spill the beans?

  140. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    Beezle the question is who will be left on Buffalo after trade deadline for some of those Bruin games

  141. James G Avatar
    James G

    Depends on how much Danny had to drink that day, Coos.

  142. James G Avatar
    James G

    If I was the GM in Buffalo I’d trade Hall, Risto, Reinhardt and the UFAs they signed in the off season for futures. If he can move Skinner you do it otherwise buyout as soon as possible. Start fresh. Find a goalie. Build around Eichel, Cozens, Dahlin.

  143. Old Ranger Fan Avatar
    Old Ranger Fan

    I never was a fan of Peel but I need context to judge the remark. Has Nashville been running goalies and he wants to set a standard for the game? Was he just BS’ing with the other ref? There are times when you make a call to send a message. He just said it out loud. Otherwise it didn’t seem like that big a deal to me. I’ve done games with guys who said worse things. They just didn’t say it to everyone in the building.

  144. SN Avatar
    SN

    Trade Risto? I would take him on my team.
    More like trade Dahlen – el busto (for a 1OA)
    30 GP; -28
    Both have crazy minus stats playing on a garbage team.
    Poor fans up there, trying to remember the good old days of the French Connection line.

  145. Gravy Avatar
    Gravy

    Hot mic is offensive. I believe the term you’re looking for is attractive Irish lady.

  146. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Gravy
    Clever!

  147. 4everanger Avatar
    4everanger

    BTW, I would like to warn our fandom against euphoria in relation to Kravtsov. Do not expect him to be an instant saviour or panacea from offense deficiencies. I, closely following his development, still convinced that a phenomenon he is not, just slightly higher than average, which, probably would be enough for the Rangers, on the bottom of the top 6 (pan intended), apart from the shown his character flaws. However, this low expectation is just my opinion.
    So, flag to the hands of the ones, who is glad to be deceived, – blessed they are…Hope dies last.

  148. James G Avatar
    James G

    SN,
    Hear me out on that. I actually like Risto a lot. But he isn’t going to re-sign in Buffalo after next season. So before you lose him for nothing you might as well attempt a hockey trade and get something for a very good player.

  149. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    4ever you are ruining the narrative 🙁

  150. SN Avatar
    SN

    Tim Peel getting the Ray Rice treatment; everything is OK, unless it is caught on audio or video; them you are fugged.
    Where is “Let em Loose” Bruce Hood when you need him?
    All refs suck anyway…

  151. SN Avatar
    SN

    Not even bronze… Who is contolling the twitter feed, the facebook page, the Snap Chat site?
    jk
    https://blog.feedspot.com/ny_rangers_blogs/

  152. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    At least we’re ahead of blueshift banter

  153. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    Blueshirt

  154. James G Avatar
    James G

    I guess the yellow brick road leads into Philadelphia because Shester-TIN is in net tomorrow (Hope there’s a security sweep for snipers up in the rafters.)

  155. James G Avatar
    James G

    I guess blog enthusiasts prefer want to be beat writers over want to be GMs.

  156. James G Avatar
    James G

    I wouldn’t trade you guys for anything…Except cash…or maybe an 86 Grand National….lifetime supply of free pizza from Johnnys in Mt Vernon…I think that’s about it though.

  157. Eddie J Avatar
    Eddie J

    Never been a big fan of Peel’s officiating, but I agree with Cregg and ORF that he could have been joking, or maybe it was taken out of context and it wasn’t meant the way it sounded. However, nobody except Peel knows the truth and I don’t believe the league can take that chance. They have to cover themselves.

  158. James G Avatar
    James G

    No I take that back. I think the 87 Grand National had a better intercooler system on the 3.8 turbo. So just the cash…and the pizza.

  159. Gravy Avatar
    Gravy

    Someone actually thinks Kravtsov is the savior? Not on this blog. Instant Busto unless they score on their first shift.

  160. Old Ranger Fan Avatar
    Old Ranger Fan

    John Claude Van Damme is the backup tomorrow night. SUDDEN DEATH!

  161. 4everanger Avatar
    4everanger

    …and then on every other.

  162. SN Avatar
    SN

    Bwahahaha

  163. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Groin goal?

  164. James G Avatar
    James G

    Even Tim Peel has scored dirtier goals than Mika…

  165. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Shonny: “Have another donut, you fat bastid!’

    (what the mic didn’t pick up, May 6, 1998: below)

    Koharski: “Every chance I get for the rest of my effing life, I’ll eff that motherf…. and whatever team he represents”

  166. James G Avatar
    James G

    Exactly, 4ever. The cynics are drooling over his debut. They have Wahlstrom, Farabee, Foudy, Lundestrom, even Dobson to compare him to, scream bloody murder about and scoff over. All he has to do is not be perfect and it’ll be a feast. Like the walking dead zombies on a fat dude.

  167. SN Avatar
    SN

    Farabee will forever be the one that got away but I like Crapsoft’s chances on the right dot if he can manage other parts of the game

  168. James G Avatar
    James G

    Gordie: “‘Mericans don’t understand the game the way the European guys do. We spend a lot of time scouting Europe”

  169. James G Avatar
    James G

    Canadians don’t understand the game as well as European players either. That’s why we passed on Vilardi the year before. The joke must be on the Kings. Cleary they don’t know anything about drafting centers…

  170. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    I wouldn’t trade you guys for anything…Except a big nasty 1C or 2C

  171. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Dr Question: My 85 year old uncle in cali apparently had covid when he got his first Moderna shot; tested positive like two days later. He’s managed ok and has since tested negative in mid March. Being told that he should now wait three months before getting second shot (or perhaps another first?). Does that sound Kosher?

  172. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    all this refs deciding games on their own talk got me thinking of this

  173. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Kerry Fraser thought it was goalie interference. Scroll to the bottom of the page

    https://scoutingtherefs.com/2014/06/3806/goaltender-interference-call-cost-rangers-game-2/

  174. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    and refs get away with everything (unless you’re an idiot on a hot mic) that’s why they call however they like.

  175. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    That series was a lot closer than the final game count.

    Some costly plays for sure.

    I think a Zucc penalty was fantom if I remember correctly

  176. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    cregg7
    You are correct the actual penalty was on the Hobbit but he ended up in the box instead. Though I don’t remember what the call was. And I went ballistic in my living room for the non-call on Hank!

  177. Gravy Avatar
    Gravy

    3 OT-Ls, including the interference game. NYR led in every game except Game 3 (they lost 3-0), include 2-0 leads in Games 1 and 2. The closest 4-1 series I can remember.

  178. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    …and the memories of 1994 live on.

  179. Gravy Avatar
    Gravy

    That one will last a lifetime.

  180. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    the kings owned the second half of every game. the bigger/better team won. we would have needed huge luck to pull it off.

  181. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    AV and Quinn’s defensive system have been so poor. Luckily Martin fixed some stuff this year. Even Vally mentioned the lack of snow angles

    Imagine what hanks HOF numbers coulda been if he played behind what we’ve seen this year with PK and a system good enough to withstand missing Trouba for 4 weeks ?

  182. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    So DiG and KHLsoft to get cardiac screening to finish covid protocol. Must not be very good screening as we bought out HL.

  183. Gravy Avatar
    Gravy

    They should be offering cardiac screening to fans.

  184. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Also remember The failed to convert on 2 OT breakaways.

  185. Gravy Avatar
    Gravy

    I don’t think they needed incredible luck. They needed to convert OT opportunities. Playoff OT is a 50-50 split. NYR tossed tails three times in a row.

  186. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Nash shot that hit the shaft of a stick was huge I remember

  187. SN Avatar
    SN

    To my earlier 4000 posts on lineup decision from Chuck Knoblach’s press conference today:

    “Whether he’s (Crapsoft) ready for the lineup, that’s not my decision,” Knoblauch said. “I don’t know what the timetable is. That’ll (general manager Jeff Gorton) and Quinny who decide that.”

    This is Gorton’s team. All decisions around personnel are his for better or worse which is why Howdy gets the love.

  188. jeff Avatar
    jeff

    RE 2014 Playoffs. If Nash scored 2or 3 and Kreider 1or 2 more that would have been enough. Like someone else said no puck luck. And if Zucc would backcheck. Well you all know what I mean.
    Tim Peele. Among the people who inhabit this space we have seen thousands of hockey games; with many strange calls. The NHL firing this guy is so THEM.

  189. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    they didn’t need to resurface half the ice the second half of those games or the ots. so yes our boys would have needed incredible luck. it was 1 way traffic.

  190. E3 Avatar
    E3

    Alex Martinez tripped zucchini and the zucchini got 2 minutes. Might be the worst officiated finals EVER. Rangers should have won that series regardless of what the chart boys say. Hi Alex.

  191. E3 Avatar
    E3

    Rangers had as many, if not better, great scoring chances than the kings. Play was in Ranger’s end, Rangers had many chances to end those OT games. Quick outplayed Hank in the big moments …

  192. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    E3 we agree! And that call blew my mind along with the mugging of Hank.

  193. SN Avatar
    SN

    04 Stanley Cup scoring top 6

    St Louis 2-1-3
    Kreider 1-2-3
    Stephan 0-2-2
    Hags 1-1-2
    Richards 0-1-1
    Nash 0-0-0

  194. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    the cup that got away was 1992 losing to pitt after being up 2-1 in games. but i wonder about whether 94 cup would have happened for us then.

    and before most of our times, 1950. no home games. 5 road and 2 neutral site games. and lost in game 7 2 ots. at least the chant would have been 10 years less.

  195. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    The misery for Blueshirt fans goes on and on and on, something about lasting a lifetime?

  196. James G Avatar
    James G

    Hi is this the right classroom? Revisionism 101? Is there an empty seat?

  197. E3 Avatar
    E3

    1979 Rangers win game 1 in Montreal and up 2-0 early in game 2. Lost a game at the garden in OT and lost in 5 to a Habs team with 46 HoFers

  198. Eddie J Avatar
    Eddie J

    Having just watched the Tim Peel incident, it troubles me that he’s probably talking to another official and whoever it was said, “I know.” They didn’t sound surprised. They sounded as if they understood, meaning this kind of thing isn’t out of the ordinary.

  199. James G Avatar
    James G

    NEW POST

  200. Old Ranger Fan Avatar
    Old Ranger Fan

    Don’t read too much into the other official’s reaction. Even if you think your partner has made a bad call it really doesn’t help to express that on the ice. Think of it as two cops in a squad car. You have to live with that guy for the next couple of hours. You also need to get on the same page with the other guy to provide consistency to the teams on what is called and what isn’t. You may not agree with his standard but you should be aware of it.