Come on Talbot

[chuckd3534]

The schedule is favorable. Not out of the question.

Zona twice, at Buffalo, Vancouver and Calgary and CBJ all at home.

Favorable for sure.

If we can find a way to win at the Avs that would be a god jumping off point.

 

[chuckd3534]

They're in Mess. Just a question of where. I still want 2 in the Met. Would like to avoid the Isles until the 2nd round if we get there.

 

[chuckd3534]

The way to look at it is like this. Every point we get with Hank out is a good point. Just hope he is back in a month.

 

[Stepupstepan]

They can still get at least a second seed in the division. MSL needs to get it going though, that would help.

 

[panzerporter]

The Rangers were 0-2 against Toronto coming into tonight's game including their home opener where the Leafs hung a 6 spot on Hank (.750 save %) and chased him. Not surprising that despite being suddenly thrown into the starting position Cam starts 2-1-1 and already the sky is falling crowd is calling for his head. The 4th goal wasn't even his fault but counts against his shooting % as once again McDonough drops like there's a sniper in the crowd to deflect the puck past Cam as he slid through the crease away from the shooter. I am a lot more concerned with what's going on with McDonough than Cam. I agree the second goal was garbage but please stop acting like Hank never gives up a soft goal and he's also more prone to turning the puck over while he's trying to stickhandle. There is a huge mental and physical adjustment Cam has to make in his routine to be a starter and not surprisingly he's made some mistakes but he'll never be Hank. Rielly's 2 goals were not easy saves, the guy can shoot the puck. I don't see Glen making any type of move until Hank is reevaluated by the medical staff in the next 1-2 weeks.

 

[Stepupstepan]

Chuck and mess will disagree, man. We went back and fourth about this during the game if you read the entire thread.

 

[cagedlion]

One of the sloppiest played games vs a poorly disciplined team.
It is 2 points on the road.

 

[kreidertime]

More and more you see Zucc playing himself into a contract now and St. Louis not coming back unless it's for cheap. St. Louis is finally showing a lot of age.

 

[chuckd3534]

Here is the difference, we all know when Hank struggles for a few games he will come around. He has a proven track record as one of the best goalies in the world. Cam...he does not have that. 4 starts no sv% over .900. And don't blame the D when in 3 of those starts he has faced 25 shots or less. He has let up at least 1 soft goal in each of his last 3 starts.

I think he will be a 3 gaa +/- kind of guy. Is what it is IMO.

Not sure why this discussion gets people so fired up. That is how he has played over this stretch. Not making it up. I think he is a backup goalie who is forced to start 15 games +/- at least, and I personally don't believe he can get it done with anything other than mediocre play, a 3 gaa, maybe best case a .900 sv% +/-, and soft goals allowed. Not sure why that is such a big issue. That is my opinion. That is Mess' opinion. So far we have been dead on. BUT guess what...I am sure we both hope we will be dead wrong AND Cam has time to prove us wrong. So let's see how it plays out. I hope he plays great and shuts us up. Still plenty of time for that.

 

[chuckd3534]

Zucc has been up and down no doubt. If he would shoot more I think he would be up more than he is down, and he mentioned in his post-game interview that the whole team keeps telling him to shoot more...hope he listens.

I think the Rangers want him back because he is an important part of the team. But he has to be fair. I don't see giving him 5 mill or more per on a long term deal as a smart move. If he takes low to mid 4's long term I think it works. So what is he looking for...that is the question.

As for MSL...3 mill per for two years...maybe 6.4 total for two years max. I cannot go more than that. If he wants more than a 3 or very low 3's cap hit, he needs to go somewhere else. This is a business, and we have to treat it as such.

 

[chuckd3534]

On a side note, last 5 games Glass is a -3. Glass is a -16 and the next "closest" +/- on the team is Miller at -2 (I throw out Malone because he is retired bagging groceries right now).

I know +/- is FAR from the end all be all, but when one player is a -16 (in 39 games at 10 mpg) and the next closest player is a -2 that is VERY glaring. Glass is so terrible it hurts now. WAKE UP AV. I really hope whatever we do at the trade DL involves added depth and AV FINALLY says Glass you have to sit. I know you will be upset, but we'll work it out at home (I assume they live together since there is no other reason AV continued to play Glass all this time).

Just WOW when you step back and look at it. 1 assist in 39 games...1 point...1.

 

[chuckd3534]

Mess and I aren't making this stuff up. Joe said it last night as well. Another comment on Cam:


Cam Talbot was shaky tonight and could have stopped a couple of the goals he let in. He didn’t look as calm in net and seemed to struggle catching the puck. He will need to be better for the Rangers moving forward.

 

[chuckd3534]

And for the record, I am not sure I'd say I'm more concerned about McDonagh than Cam, but it is neck and neck for sure. I agree McD is a concern panzer. I have to think he isn't 100%. He is playing so poorly and making mistakes he would never make that he cannot be 100%. Either that or his confidence is so low that his game is really taking a huge hit because of it. Result is bad either way.

He has 18 points (4 goals) in 41 games this season. That is not what any of us expected. And his D has been very up and down at best. Not good. Needs to get it together. Big issue for us if he doesn't.

 

[Messiah717]

His shoulder probably needs surgery this offseason. If not he should be smacked because mostly all the others on defense are playing better.

 

[chuckd3534]

Fair point. Klein, Girardi, and Staal have been better for sure. You can argue Boyle has been as well, outside of the Dallas game. And while he has been better than Moore/Hunwick, I actually think Moore has played well the last 3 or 4 games he has played.

BTW...shout out to Staal. He has been really good this season. A lot better than I thought he would be. He deserves big credit for how he has played. Staal and Klein have been our best dmen. Now not playing against the other teams best players like McD and Girardi do certainly helps, but none the less Staal and Klein have been really good.

 

[Ranger71]

The Rangers need better balance at forward going into next year, without much cap space, so either mz or msl need to be let go, and who knows if Hagelin gets dealt.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

Hags is a good 3rd liner. On pace for 30-35 points.. But that's it

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

More and more you see Zucc playing himself into a contract now and St. Louis not coming back unless it's for cheap. St. Louis is finally showing a lot of age.

so a hot streak by MZA and its on the up and up...where the fuck has he been for most of the season? MSL you know what you are going to get...even with his horrible past 15 games he still is top 3 in team scoring

 

[Messiah717]

Zucc is 27 and St. Louis is going to be 40.

 

[mrmel29]

More and more you see Zucc playing himself into a contract now and St. Louis not coming back unless it's for cheap. St. Louis is finally showing a lot of age.

Can't say it much better than that

 

[chuckd3534]

We beat this to death, but it is very simple with MSL. I cannot see us bringing him back without a big discount, so does he accept that or does he want big money again? That's the question IMO.

 

[panzerporter]

Would much rather see Zucc shoot the puck than throw no look passes, his postgame interview was funny, very self-deprecating. I would rather see him back than Hags though it was nice to see Hags actually turn on the burners and put a decent shot on goal. I think MSL's return will be based on his post season performance but I really think one of the 3 has to go to make room for youth. Miller has been very impressive, while he obviously has offensive ability he has really stepped up the physical play and has been laying guys out lately. Unbelievable that it took an injury to Fast to get JT in full time but hopefully it's permanent. Would be nice to see a young player getting some play time/experience but it looks like the inept Glass has a regular spot in the lineup locked up.

There's really no sense getting so worked up about Cam because he's the guy at least until Hank gets reevaluated especially when he's gone 2-1-1 against tough competition. Highly unlikely Hank would have gone 4-0 if he wasn't hurt, probably 3-1 so we're talking a one point difference. With games in hand the Rangers could be first place in the Metro, quite a feat for a team that started slow and dealt with several injuries to key players. There's much more to be positive about.

 

[chuckd3534]

I don't see a way all 3 are back unless all take way less, and even then you could argue it is better for the team to let one move on.

I think Hags will be back. Then it comes down to Zucc and MSL, and I think that is decied by money. First choice would be Zucc, but if he gets crazy I could see MSL back.

With that said the wildcard here is if MSL says I'll take 2.5 or 2.7 mill then he might be back with Zucc and Hags.

Right now we are finally playing our best 3rd line. Hags/Hayes/Miller should be the 3rd line all the time. I hope AV gets that.