kreidertime
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I'm sure Tkachuk will be running his mouth.
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You cannot get too high or too low during the long marathon NHL season, especially in Oct. The Rangers will have good games and bad games, and overall they are off to a very good start. They will be a good regular season team, maybe win the Met again, maybe finish 2nd or 3rd, but they will be a good team and make the playoffs. I say enjoy that for what it is. With that said, also know the reality, this is not a SC winning team, I am not sure they are even a really legit contender, and when they play the best teams, as they did tonight, they will have ups and downs and sometimes look outclassed. We have seen this core make it very clear who they are many MANY times now, and it isn't good enough.
They will not magically get tighter, more structured, more disciplined in their own zone. They will not magically change their style to play tight playoff hockey or play the right way against teams like Florida. This is who they are, and who they will be, and it won't magically change with the same core season after season. It could be way worse, the Rangers are a good team that will give you a lot of fun games, but they will not win a Cup, or even get to a SCF, my guess is 2nd round is their ceiling this season.
The undisciplined, lack of structure in their own zone, lack of tighter/tougher play is issue 1A, and there is way too much evidence to think it will change. And at this point I think Zibanejad is issue 1B. This is not close to the same guy from 2 or 3 seasons ago. Since the start of last season, he has been a PP specialist only, and it is a major issue for the team, and again I see no reason, outside of hope, it will change for Mika.
Enjoy the season, enjoy the fun games and wins they will surely get, enjoy making the playoffs, but stay grounded about what this teams ceiling really is. That is how I am viewing it.