I said it before the playoffs and now I look super smart (even if I agree with what I said a little less now than when I said it) ... Mason isn't a lock until he does it in the playoffs. And I only say that because he's had headcase issues in the past and goalie is one of the few positions in professional sports where I think you can mindf*ck yourself into ineffectiveness.
The offense ... were you on the "once our D prospects come up, look out!" bandwagon some of my other friends are/were? Because that forward group doesn't look like one that can be on an elite team even if you put the Nashville D behind them.
Post by durenduren on Apr 20, 2016 10:24:35 GMT -5
Eh. I think our prospects are good, but youth on a defensive line rarely translates into success, I need veteran experience back there. I'm worried our offensive veteran core will be washed up and old by the time the prospects are truly ready - Giroux, Simmonds, etc. I think our real problem is depth - this team is not deep at all, anything after the top line is truly garbage and needs to be overhauled.
We've got decent plan in place, but we need some players to really pan out and other pieces to fall in place. The powerplay is 0 for Gazillion this series - we lack any sort of goal scoring. And of course, find a friggin goalie - I'll be saying this until the day I die, I'm guessing. This rebuild is going in the right direction, and we're ahead of schedule even making the playoffs this year, so we're playing with the house's money right now. But like any rebuild, it's far from a lock, though I do think Hextall is a very worth GM.
I really, really, really hope you trade Couturier. He has Bergeron-lite written all over him and I want him gone before it really shows up.
Agreed. And its very weird and sad to see you with a seemingly competent, non-reactionary front office. I was really thinking it would be more of the same after he hired his no-experience son's coach out of the NCAA but that seems to have worked fine enough.
Post by durenduren on Apr 20, 2016 10:40:28 GMT -5
That's some good Hextall knowledge right there. Went to highschool with Brett, needless to say somebody was better at hockey than me... I played at La Salle, him at... Well, yeah.
Losing Cooter was a huge blow for this series, could have made a serious impact on the defensive end. They better not move him, but I'm really down on Matt Read and Michael Raffl.
So when are you guys going to get younger? I feel like the Rangers' window is closing really quick, maybe another season with some of that core? Unless your office is going to pull a Flyers and ride that core into oblivion?
The thing is, we actually have a pretty solid young core, its just offset by all the money and years given to the older, declining players and the fact that the greatest and most attractive goalie in the history of the world is already past what you'd expect to be his peak. Sooo ... I don't know. Huge offseason this year, in terms of direction. If they dump one of the RFAs (Kreider, Miller, Hayes) rather than move/buyout Girardi or Staal, we're screwed. If they make the tough decision, its more of a backfill than a rebuild. Unless you look at our system, which is empty. Thanks, Glen!
Post by durenduren on Apr 20, 2016 11:34:52 GMT -5
Can't stand playing against Kreider / Miller / Hayes. Drives me nuts, they always have a big night against us. Moving Girardi (what a decline) or Staal really is the way to go, but from an outside view I wouldn't be surprised to see fatal loyalty keep them in New York. Both the Flyers and Rangers are living with too many bad contracts to older, under-producing players. That all-in approach the last few seasons really did sell the farm. The best thing Hextall did in his relatively short time was to restock the cupboard. Guess with Henrik's window closing, they're reaching a point where they're going to have to choose the direction of the organization, flip the roster or roll the dice
I would have agreed until Girardi sat the last two games. I don't doubt he's hurt, I expect he has been for the last 4+ years, but he's not more hurt than he was in Game 1.
Post by durenduren on Apr 20, 2016 13:51:09 GMT -5
Oh, I get it. Was an awfully f'ing bad slash... "The stick got caught on the stanchion" but he was in the middle of glass panel... Just please beat them to a pulp.
Oh, I get it. Was an awfully f'ing bad slash... "The stick got caught on the stanchion" but he was in the middle of glass panel... Just please beat them to a pulp.
Oh, I get it. Was an awfully f'ing bad slash... "The stick got caught on the stanchion" but he was in the middle of glass panel... Just please beat them to a pulp.
On the bright side, I was at Jazz Fest so I got to miss the Saturday flame out.
(Which, I'd argue, is a good thing. A bunch of 1 goal losses means "we were so close" or a player/injury away. This highlighted the large gap between us and a team that isn't even the best in the East.)
Which, I'd argue, is a good thing. A bunch of 1 goal losses means "we were so close" or a player/injury away. This highlighted the large gap between us and a team that isn't even the best in the East
It's okay, Ranger bros. We can hate Pittsburgh together now.
Post by theneumann64 on Apr 28, 2016 7:48:51 GMT -5
Yeah I'm a very casual hockey fan but I root for the Islanders. Definitely enjoying things so far, although if they get by Tampa, either Pittsburgh or Washington is a tall order.
