Game Thread Montreal at Rangers

[mrmel29]

Same old same old. Defense lacking and this time playing a talented team not letting them get away with it. Ranger hitting stats are a joke as I guess they get credit if they accidentally brush up against someone. Not one defenseman can put an opposing forward on their ass and make them hesitant to come back in there except for the kid in the press box. AV needs some teeth in his defense. Our record so far is great but I think in large part to not playing a lot of the good teams and hank playing like the runaway vezina winner. Time to cut boyle loose whether trade or press box or just buy out, use big mac full-time and can bring up diaz as the 7th d man.

 

[cagedlion]

Rangers never came to work tonight.

 

[chuckd3534]

Hey 94, not only are you wrong but you're a fucking asshole pulling for career ending injuries just because a guy isn't playing well. Hope karma catches up to you sooner rather than later. Now do everyone a favor a dump a drink on your keyboard.

I couldn't wait to read the board this AM Prod...and these guys did not let me down. Exactly what I expected. The sky is falling, everyone sucks, the D is awful, Boyle is a serial killer, AV sucks, team is horrible. On and on.

Well played guys...LOL.

 

[kreidertime]

Said it going back to last year. Team is flawed. There is no physical element to this team. They have guys taking draws that simply suck and can't do it. There are just too many of the same types of players on this team. AV 90% of the time is an amazing coach. However, he's a stubborn buffoon with a few things. Not playing McIlrath is one. Second, he can't grasp the concept you need tough defenseman who can clear the crease. His stupid praise of Montreal's defenseman moving the puck shows that. Monteal was dominated by Tampa even more than this team was in the playoffs because their defense is also soft. How many more times does thickhead AV have to watch Boyle suck and do nothing but screw up games before he puts the kid in there.

The problems in order

1. Kreider is a moron. About time for the GM to step in and sit the kid down and tell him the following. Play better and consistent or we will shop you.
2. Yandle is not a difference maker on the PP. So instead of losing him for nothing, they need to deal him and change the makeup of this team unless they can get rid of bonehead Staal.
3. Tell the same thing to Stepan as Kreider. Bottom line is this tool got a big contract and now he's playing like a lazy tool. Play better or you will be on the block. Also, never let Stepan take a faceoff again. He sucks and this shows his lack of commitment to be a top player. He has made no efforts IMO to get better on draws like Brassard did.
4. McIlrath needs to play every game, the rest of the season. Boyle sucks. Fact. He is a negative on this team.
5. Tell Boyle he will not play any longer and accept a trade. If he does, trade him along with Etem and Stalberg for Pouliot and a 2nd with both teams eating half the contract of Boyle and Pouliot. So basically, Edmonton dumps 2 million a season which they will need for other players, gets Etem who is dirt cheap and Stalberg who can provide some depth for them. Rangers get Pouliot back at 2 million a season for the rest of his contract, a high second rounder. Edmonton from what I hear is looking to get rid of Pouliot. Fat chance at 4 million. They have to eat some of that contract. Getting Pouliot will then push players down on lines who don't deserve to be playing higher. You also re-unite the Zucc line. I'm letting Miller take the draws. Bottom line is that Stepan and Hayes suck on faceoffs. Let's see what Miller can do full time on draws. He was good in the minors. His % this year should go up if he takes the draws full time. Plus, Kreider, Stepan and Miller don't deserve 2nd line ice time. All 3 have sucked this season.

Pouliot-Brass-Zucc
Hayes-Lindberg-Nash
Kreider-Stepan -Miller
Fast-Stoll-Moore

 

[kreidertime]

At some point I'm looking to add a physical, 4th line wing with some offense because D. Moore is starting to look like he's done. Perhaps R. Nash for the 4th line. Edmonton is also going to have to dump some salary before that deal. It's about time for the Oilers to finally trade Eberle. They can't afford him. Toronto seems like a perfect fit for him.

 

[kreidertime]

Of course, none of this will happen. All this team does is trade away draft picks and acquire extra pieces which they overpay for instead of changing the team from a soft bunch of assclowns to a team built for the playoffs.

 

[Ranger71]

They need Buchnevich here, a guy who can actually make a play without having to be perfectly set up for a wide open net. Nash and Z are the only ones with any semblance of creativity. I agree Dump on the 4th line thing too, replacing Moore is a minor tweak that could help. Someone like Purcell maybe.

 

[chuckd3534]

Last year through 22 games we were 10-8-4. This year through 22 games we are 16-4-2. 10 more points this year through 22 games.
Last year through 22 games we had allowed 58 goals against. This year through 22 games we have allowed 43 goals against. That is a big difference.

So if the sky is falling and we suck this year...what the F were we last year...LOL. And we won the President's trophy.

Now that doesn't mean we are perfect or don't need some tweaks, we do, but this nonsense of negativity is a comical joke.

We can use a top 6 RW as Prod has said. And to me we need to add some power/grit up front. I still think that is our biggest issue, toughness up front. We still try and be too pretty, and that doesn't work well in the playoffs as you get further.

I'll also add that Miller AND Etem struggling hurts because I don't like the top 6 without either of them. Hayes should be the 3rd line C, without him the 3rd line doesn't look as good. Miller or Etem has the talent to play that 2nd line role I believe, but neither is there mentally IMO, so it hurts us as we bump Hayes up and Fast up (Fast is a 4th line player). And as 71 loves to point out, maybe Buch can help in this area later in the season.

So yeah we have to tweak some things, but for the love of god this negative BS in here is laughable and so over the top. We will finish near the top of the Met, 1st or 2nd with the Caps is my guess, and then the real season will start...the only season that matters for us IMO.

 

[chuckd3534]

They need Buchnevich here, a guy who can actually make a play without having to be perfectly set up for a wide open net. Nash and Z are the only ones with any semblance of creativity. I agree Dump on the 4th line thing too, replacing Moore is a minor tweak that could help. Someone like Purcell maybe.

Now it's Nash and Zucc? I thought it was only Lindberg and Zucc...LOL. Funny stuff.

 

[chuckd3534]

Of course, none of this will happen. All this team does is trade away draft picks and acquire extra pieces which they overpay for instead of changing the team from a soft bunch of assclowns to a team built for the playoffs.

Amazing how a soft bunch of assclowns not built for the playoffs has won 8 playoff series over the past 4 playoffs. Made it to at least the ECF 3 of 4 seasons. Made it to an SCF two years ago.

Totally not built for the playoffs...LOL.

 

[kreidertime]

Reports on Purcell is that he is horrible defensively. Pouliot plays with an edge. He also played well in big games. Would have been great if not for his dumb penalties. I've been pushing for the Rangers to bring this guy back at half price for a while. I think they can do that now. This is probably a stretch but I wonder if they can pull off a trade for Simmonds with the Flyers. Flyers make crazy deals. They really don't care who they trade with. Tough, right handed shot, scores dirty goals and is having a crap season. Maybe something like Yandle, Etem and Halverson for Simmonds with the deal contingent upon Yandle signing an extension. You never know. Flyers need a puck mover. Streit is hurt and is older than dirt.

 

[kreidertime]

Chuck, you're a fool in denial. How quickly you don't want to accept that the were one Holtby whiff on a Kreider wrist shot from the blueline with a minute left of being knocked out in 5 games in the second round. Craps are better. So are the Habs. So are the Sens. You're lost.

 

[kreidertime]

Pretty much everybody who watches this team is stating their defenseman unit blows and the team is soft. You're the only assclown left who still won't admit it.

 

[chuckd3534]

I am lost...got you.

I know you are not the kind of guy who likes to let facts get in the way dump, so I'll drop it.

But we are TEN points better this season than last season after 22 games.
We have allowed FIFTEEN less goals against this season than last season through 22 games.
AND somehow a soft bunch of assclowns who are not built for the playoffs (your words) have won EIGHT playoff series the past 4 playoff seasons, and have made 3 of 4 ECF's and 1 SCF during that time.

Clearly the facts back you up dump...LOL.

And BTW...Mess and Prod also agree with me. So it is the 3 of us against the rest of you over the top negative chicken little's dumpster.

And again...facts...not your strong suite...the Kreider shot was from the edge of the faceoff circle not the blue line.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[chuckd3534]

You do have one good strong suite though...making up 785878648797805095 trades that NEVER EVER EVER NEVER EVER happen. You are spot on there dumpie...LOL.

 

[Ranger71]

Why are you saying we're chicken littles Chuck, because we point out something of issue, and big issue, about the team? It isn't magically going to get better simply because it's the first day of spring and the playoffs roll around. Watching these games you can't tell me you sit there and say 'this isn't a big concern' with the way the d is leaving people wide open all the time. Staal and G aren't getting any younger and Staal looks like he's aged 5 years.

 

[chuckd3534]

No...I say it because we are a much better team this season through 22 games than we were last season. I point it out because dump says things like this team is soft and not built for the playoffs, yet we have won series after series the past 4 playoff seasons.

Now NONE of that means we will automatically win playoff series again this season, and as I said I do think we need to tweak a little, upfront to me not worried about the D, but you guys are WAY over the top and have been since day one.

This is a win now playoffs team. 22 games in the regular season, during which they are 16-4-2 10 points better than last season at this time and 15 goals against less than last season at this time, are not going to make me flip out and curl into the fetal position like some of you other "fans".

 

[kreidertime]

He doesn't get it. He didn't get it last year. He thought the 4th line being useless all season was not a big deal. He was wrong. It's like he watched the playoffs with his eyes closed last year. They barely won each game vs. Pitt who had half their team out. Should have lost vs. the Craps. Were dominated in 4 out of 7 games vs. Tampa. The games they lost weren't even competitive for the most part. It's pointless talking to him. This is the same guy that wants to give up all our draft picks every year at the deadline.

 

[chuckd3534]

You are so clueless dump it hurts...I was the guy on this board saying ALL SEASON LONG we didn't have enough depth upfront and the bottom 6 was a huge issue. I can bump 800 posts about that, so again FACTS not your strong suite dumpster...LOL.

Should have lost to the Caps...BUT DIDN'T.
Dominated 4 of 7 games against TB...BUT WON THE OTHER 3.
You loved the Yandle deal. And loved the Nash deal. And LOVED the MSL deal. And loved the other pick deals we made...AND NOW KNOCK THEM.
You loved MDZ for years...HOW DOES THAT LOOK.

You are comical dump. Again facts are no concern for you...I admire that quality...LOL.

 

[kreidertime]

He was sucking off the Yandle trade last year. I waited until this year to judge it. It's been a disaster. While I'm not convinced with Duclair to ever play defense in this league he is scoring. Giving up the picks has been horrible. Yandle hasn't delivered what the team expected. He's been poor defensively and has not added a lot to the PP. This team has shown absolutely nothing vs. the best teams to make you think they would beat them in a best of 7 playoff series.

 

[chuckd3534]

Facts dumpie...you were all for the Yandle trade after it was made buddy. You changed that tune after we lost to TB. You can't run from facts no matter how hard you try dump.

I still love you though bro.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

I was waiting to aee the post about Hank not being about to play in Montreal. ...

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

 

[kreidertime]

The Rangers have had the best goalie in the world for over a decade and have won nothing which means the team never had the right mix. So for certain tools to sit here and tell us the team is fine, the mix is great, is laughable to say the least. The mix hasn't been right since Hank took the nets for this team. If it was, you win cups with the best goaltender in the league.

 

[chuckd3534]

Now I do agree with that comment dump. I think they need to add a tougher/grittier player upfront. Still too much finesse and prettiness for my liking, and as you advance later in the playoffs I don't think that works well. It also doesn't work well when you have to grind for every little thing in round 1 and round 2 and win 2-1 games every night.

So yeah I do think we either need to stop the fancy BS and understand GETTING PUCKS TO THE NET is the key. That means guys like Brass, Yandle, Step, Hayes, even Zucc need to look to shoot more often.

AND/OR add a tougher forward upfront that can score some dirty goals. Ladd would fit that bill as 71 has mentioned, but I don't think it is feasible for us to get him.

 

[panzerporter]

I knew this team would be better than last year's simply by MSL retiring, Glass and Hags gone but never expected this kind of success. The Rangers go on long winning runs somewhat routinely every year but usually not this early in the season, Hank showing up in midseason form has been the difference. That being said there are still flaws obvious to even armchair posters like ourselves and the defense has been one of the more glaring. The Rangers defensive unit gets dominated by teams like Montreal who are able to get through the backcheck and challenge our dmen to clear them from the crease. Offensive improvement means the Rangers change their mindset to pass less and shoot more often but I don't see a solution defensively with the current personnel. Offense begins with a good breakout started from your own zone and that's where the Rangers suffered last postseason, our defensive unit could not get the puck out of the zone for minutes of time.

McIlrath to me seems like a logical upgrade since in the few games he's played I watched him fend off forecheckers with one hand while controlling the puck with the other and put a slapshot on goal from the blue line. That doesn't make him a savior to me, I just want to turn the page on Dylan, he was drafted in 2010 and the Rangers, let alone any poster on this board still don't really know what they have in him as an NHL player. Dan Boyle could sit for 2-3 weeks at a time and still come on the ice and be the same guy you get playing him every game. Yandle or Staal has to go, I'd much prefer Yandle but with Staal oversigned and probably untradeable it has to be Yandle. This isn't a terrible thing since he's a decent player and even in his last year will be easy to move.