Brooks on Rangers. They're dead. Game over

[kreidertime]

It's scary when you start agreeing with a moron like Larry Brooks. Says the team looks slow and poorly coached. Sadly, I agree.

 

[chuckd3534]

I know you agree with him dump, but for Brooks to write that article with 37 games left as we sit in playoff position now, only 1 point out of 2nd place, is a joke.

I think we'd ALL agree it doesn't look good big picture. I think we'd ALL agree we need to make a move here to shake things up. I think we'd ALL agree the current players need to step up their games big time for us to have a shot. We'd ALL agree there are clearly issues that need to be worked out.

That is all true IMO. But to say we are done now...AS WE SIT IN A PLAYOFF SPOT CURRENTLY...is a joke by Brooks.

Ridiculous.

 

[panzerporter]

Well guess we might as well shut it down if Brooks has ruled - Let's Go Rangers Next Year! The Rangers are going to the playoffs, anything can happen from there. The NHL record books are full of teams who have played better than this year's Caps team only to be shown the door in the first round.

 

[chuckd3534]

Amen panzer...agree 100%.

Dead with 37 games left as we sit in playoff position...funny stuff.

 

[NYR31]

Well guess we might as well shut it down if Brooks has ruled - Let's Go Rangers Next Year! The Rangers are going to the playoffs, anything can happen from there. The NHL record books are full of teams who have played better than this year's Caps team only to be shown the door in the first round.

It's LIKELY we will go to the playoffs, but if you look at the standings you can see it's far from a guarantee. We're 3rd in the division w/ 53pts and PIT is only 4 pts back and have a GM with balls who is not afraid to pull off trades. NJ also has 49pts, though i worry less about them. In the Atlantic BOS, MTL and OTT are all within 3pts of us or less so getting one of the wild card spots will not be easy.

 

[chuckd3534]

For sure 31. We are no lock at all to make the playoffs, but truthfully I don't think that is the point at all.

Pronouncing a team dead with 37 games left, a team that currently is in playoff position, is ridiculous. That's the point to me, not whether or not we will actually make the playoffs. We could miss the playoffs for sure...don't think we will, but it certainly can happen no doubt about it.

 

[Messiah717]

I'm not surprised by Brooks since he never saw a positive side to anything even during the prior two seasons. That being said he's not the only one since today we're a very knee jerk society. As soon as something doesn't go right they want to throw the baby out with the bath water.

 

[NYR31]

Coming into this year i wasn't too high on the team because i thought they were flawed, but then they got off to that crazy start and everyone was excited how we were a powerhouse. Dump was the only one who during the amazing start openly said the team was flawed and he was vilified for it, yet here we are couple months later and he was spot on. After our unexpected 16-3-2 start over the first 21gms, we have gone 8-13-3 over the last 24. That is a long enough sample to realize there IS a problem and if not fixed we're screwed and very reasonably could miss the playoffs.

 

[kreidertime]

Wasn't rocket science. You just look at the other teams forwards standing in front every game and Hank standing on his head to see this team was eventually going to lose.

 

[chuckd3534]

Dump was also the one who started threads the past two November's pronouncing the team dead. You know the teams that ended up making the SCF AND won the Pres trophy and made the ECF. Not sure I would be throwing him any bouquets...LOL.

AND last time I checked the final chapters weren't written on this season either, so may be a little premature to say he was spot on there as well.

But hey...that's just me...and I guess Mess also based on his post....

Edit to add...and I guess Prod also based on his post below....

 

[theProdigy223]

Dump was the only one who during the amazing start openly said the team was flawed and he was vilified for it, yet here we are couple months later and he was spot on.

Dump declared this team dead the past two years as well, and we've gotten damn close despite his gloom and doom.

Who knows where we'd be if Zucc doesnt take a slapshot off the temple and if our top 3 dmen dont end up with significant lower body injuries, two of which required surgery the second the season ended. Injuries are part of the playoffs and they can happen, or not happen, to anybdy. What if the same thing happens to the caps this playoffs? Ovi gets hurt, Holtby goes down...what happens then? You never know. This isnt the damn NBA. Just get in and who knows. I didnt see any Kings fans a few years ago declaring their team "dead" when they snuck in as an 8 seed and then whoops they won a cup.

Declaring a team that sits in a playoff spot dead is idiotic. But I expect nothing less from Larry "Lets trade JT Miller for Santorelli at the deadline" Brooks.

 

[Messiah717]

Nothing is certain. The team very well might not find themselves and continue to stumble. But this is also not NHL on PS4 where you can just trade everybody for whomever you want. Plus, like I have said if you do want to completely slice and dice the roster you better be prepared for the down seasons that come with something like that.

 

[panzerporter]

I guess the Rangers record the last 24 games overrides the fact that they've been to the playoffs 5 straight years, too bad the powers of prognostication possessed by a few board members couldn't provide the winning powerball numbers. At least wait until the deadline before waiving the white flag.

 

[Rangers94]

I guess the Rangers record the last 24 games overrides the fact that they've been to the playoffs 5 straight years, too bad the powers of prognostication possessed by a few board members couldn't provide the winning powerball numbers. At least wait until the deadline before waiving the white flag.

Actually, yes. It does. Because if you go by past performances than I guess that every year you should give New England the super bowl trophy since they've been there so much. You can only go by performances in THE CURRENT season. Who gives a crap what whomever did last year? How does that have ANY affect on this team this year? The last 5 years have been fun to watch as a fan, and painful to see us come up short, but in no way does past successes guarantee present or future success.

 

[chuckd3534]

Not sure that was a good example 94 because the Pats are in the SB or AFC championship game pretty much every year. You have to be in it to win it.

And it does matter because it shows this team has a winning pedigree and winning players. Doesn't mean you are a lock to get back there, but I think panzer's point is this team has earned our faith and trust as fans, and I agree with him 10000000000000000% even though most on the board jumped ship weeks/months ago.

 

[Rangers94]

Not sure that was a good example 94 because the Pats are in the SB or AFC championship game pretty much every year. You have to be in it to win it.

And it does matter because it shows this team has a winning pedigree and winning players. Doesn't mean you are a lock to get back there, but I think panzer's point is this team has earned our faith and trust as fans, and I agree with him 10000000000000000% even though most on the board jumped ship weeks/months ago.

You missed the point totally chuck. I said that if past success is the only thing that matters, then there's no need for the NFL season to be played because we should just give them the Lombardi trophy every year. To base current success on past successes is an inane idea. Current success is based on CURRENT trends, not past successes.

 

[chuckd3534]

Past success does matter. It sets a pattern for the team. Winning teams and winning players matter. I disagree with your point 94. I think the Pats would disagree with your point as well.

It does matter 94, and as fans of a team that has had great success over the past couple of years we should have more faith, but that is not what we do in here.

 

[Rangers94]

Past success does matter. It sets a pattern for the team. Winning teams and winning players matter. I disagree with your point 94. I think the Pats would disagree with your point as well.

It does matter 94, and as fans of a team that has had great success over the past couple of years we should have more faith, but that is not what we do in here.

Jesus Christ. PAST SUCCESS HAS ZERO TO DO WITH THIS SEASON. How in the fuck does what we did 5 SEASONS AGO matter AT ALL this year? Experience? Experience what? More close games and big losses in huge spots and not winning it all? Knowing that they've been built for the past 5 years at winning 2-1 and 1-0 games but seeing they can't do it this year and panicking because PAST experiences say that they can't score consistently so they have to play solid defense but aren't and are still awful offensively? You cannot simply use last years success or the year before, and sure as shit not 5 years ago success on this season. Eventually a team WILL regress if new blood isn't brought in and is effective. Hell, if past success were consistently so "important" then the Cowboys would still be relevant due to their success in the 90s. The 49ers too. But we can see that past success doesn't mean dick and every season is a new season.

 

[chuckd3534]

And I disagree. Having winning players who have winning pedigrees does help IMO. It doesn't mean you are a given to win again, but I don't agree that it plays no factor. When games get bigger and moments get tighter having past success matters. Having winning players matter. So yes I do think winning in the past has an affect on winning today and tomorrow.

We disagree 94...that's okay man. No need to get upset because I don't agree with you...LOL.

 

[Ranger71]

If Staal and Girardi can at least get back to being average, which may be asking alot, and they can add a Buchnevich and someone like Ladd or Boedkker up front they will have a solid shot to make it deep into May. Otherwise they will probably expend all the energy they have just to sneak into the playoffs and may not even win a series.

 

[chuckd3534]

We are a done dead team that currently sits in 2nd place, and has a couple of very winnable games coming up.

Good stuff....

 

[panzerporter]

No guarantee of anything in life 94 but my point is the roster didn't change that drastically that they will suddenly plummet in the standings out of playoff contention. Using an NFL point to make your point seems weak though, at least use an NHL team since we're talking hockey though using the Pats is a terrible example since they go to the playoffs every year. But then again why am I arguing with someone who has already given up on the season? I'll be the last poster to congratulate you if you're right and the Rangers miss the playoffs.

 

[NYR31]

Panzer, i agree the roster is not that much different but for some reason most of our key forwards have regressed this year. All of Kreider, Stepan, Nash, Hayes and Brass are playing at a lower ppg than last year. Have other teams adjusted to our style/players? we were already lacking that star forward and this year is felt more than ever it seems. We don't have that player that says "enough of this shit" and goes and dominates a couple of games and everyone follows him out of the slump. Nash is supposed to do that but we all know we're not going to get that from him.

 

[panzerporter]

The guy who is supposed to handle that is the Captain and I think McDonough's play has been terrific lately but he can't seem to get the consistent effort level that last year's team gave. They need to play with last night's mentality every game - take any open shot and stop in front of the net instead of looking for the impossible skate-by tip in. I think they should resolve the Yandle situation sooner than later, keeping him would be a stupid business move. I appreciate his offensive skills but defensively he's 18th on the team in hits (28 in 46 games), 9th on the team in blocked shots per game (0.7 ) and by far and away the team leader on giveaways (44, McD 2nd with 35). Would have been nice if Gorton could have pried Prust away from Vancouver.

 

[mrmel29]

Panzer, it doesn't matter if we want to keep yandle or not and I do. He is being so misused by our suddenly braindead coach in both time on ice (3rd pair) and pp situations (last 20 seconds on the 2nd pp) its impossible for gorton to do anything but trade him or fire AV. And the hands down best partner where Yandle plays like the Yandle we expected is stuck sitting up in the press box every night unless a disabling injury (more than someone who has a hole in his knee) or a 40 year old that sucks defensively and even the salary cap salary friendly klein who can't seem to find a way to keep the crease clear in front of hank.

 

[chuckd3534]

The D has played well the past 10 games or so.

And Klein is a +13, best on the team, AND the Rangers are 3-7-2 when Kevin Klein is out of the lineup.

So he is a very important part of this team.

As for McIlrath, he will get plenty of chances to play the last 36 games. I'm not too worried about it. He will get his games in. Dmen will miss some games. G and Boyle will get games off here and there. He'll get his chances.

 

[chuckd3534]

I would have to think the Yandle move will happen sometime over the next couple of weeks, maybe after the AS break.

 

[panzerporter]

I'd take Yandle over Staal any day all day Mel but the reality of the situation is that they can't resign Keith so they need to recoup something from Glen's lopsided trade. Misused or not Yandle blows defensively, he should get more PP time but his usage by AV doesn't explain the awful defensive stats. The argument could be made that he's the Rangers worst defensive dman. No need to prolong the inevitable, the longer Keith is here the more of a distraction the trade talks will be.

 

[cagedlion]

Brooks thinks he's a better coach than AV!

I say, "Please retire!"

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

Correct me if im wrong but....has the Peg ever won anything with Andrew Ladd? Like this guy is the difference maker

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