One thing that concerns me

[kreidertime]

Maybe I'm off on this. It sure seems like the defense of this team gives up a ton more high quality scoring chances than the past years. Maybe it's the team being more confident offensively and not paying attention to detail to defense.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

give and take....

scoring over 5 goals a game lately, you are going to give up quality chances

 

[kreidertime]

Most fans don't get how good Kreider is when he plays playoff hockey like he did against the Islanders. This guy has the ability to be 80 points a season. Honestly, he plays in the playoffs like Ovechkin does in the regular season when it comes to intensity. Said it many times. If Kreider played half the regular season games with playoff intensity, he would be 30-30 in his sleep.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

he has the speed and has very good shot...the last thing missing is the finishing touch around the crease on those breakaways

 

[chuckd3534]

I'll say this, the play of the 3rd line recently has really made the debate/discussion of where we spend our one bullet an interesting one.

Do we spend our main bullet on a forward like Vermette/Winnik and then use a smaller chip on maybe a depth dman like a Diaz type with regards to cost OR do we change course now and spend our main bullet on a dman like Sekera to give us an awesome top 6, and then maybe add a depth forward to the 4th line mix for cheap.

I am still on the side of add the forward like Vermette/Winnik and a lesser dman, but it is closer now. Reasons are I don't want to have to rely on BOTH Hayes and Miller all playoffs. I also think our 6th dman duo of Moore/Hunwick is solid, especially if we add another lesser dman to the mix. And lastly, how much does the 3rd pair of D really play in the playoffs. You know the top 4 will play a ton.

But it is now a very interesting and close debate.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

definitely top 9 forward..i am confident if needed we could bring up Connor Allen in a pinch ..very odd that they wont give lindberg a chance though since he was supposly a face off wiz in the Swedish elite league

 

[cagedlion]

Giving the puck up on their D zone is serious cause for concern.

Also.........not being able to get the puck out of their zone.

IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED, RANGERS WILL BE ONE ROUND
AND OUT.

................AND THAT'S WITH WHOMEVER IS IN GOAL.

 

[Ranger71]

Sekera would be a nice way to bolster the D with more offensive punch. Petry might even be more attainable but won't give you quite the O. Either are head and shoulders better than Moore and obviously Hunwick.

 

[kreidertime]

You could make the case come playoff time, they turn the defensive game up a ton.

 

[chuckd3534]

So let me ask you straight out dump. Use the big bullet on the dman like Sekera OR use the big bullet on a forward like Winnik or Vermette?

Where do you come down. And pick one don't say neither....

 

[kreidertime]

I'm going to say Sekera. With the emergence of Hayes and Miller now sticking, seems like the offense is good enough. I suspect you can deal J. Moore, a 2nd and perhaps Lindberg and have a shot of getting Sekera. Maybe now. Defense has been shaky lately.

 

[cagedlion]

I wonder if AV goes with Skapski in goal. He should. Ranger D
looks like they are tired and skating in mud. Not a good sign.
Team has 3 good lines. Our 4th line is a liability while the better
teams' 4th lines are game changers.

 

[chuckd3534]

The kid is starting tonight. Let's see what he has. First start...may make Cam look like Hank....

As for your call dump, I may agree. Hard to say because I don't want to rely on BOTH Hayes and Miller in the playoffs, but I also like the idea of making our D so deep and talented.

I have been saying we must add top 9 forward depth all season, but I can see the merit in going bigger on D and just added a depth forward for some grit and faceoffs.

 

[mrmel29]

At this point we need the D-man before another forward

 

[cagedlion]

I'm leaning toward a D man. J.Moore, Boyle, Hunwick.....there is
a need for a better D man.

 

[panzerporter]

I agree cage but I don't know why clearing the puck has become such a problem since the Rangers were pretty good at it last year. The turnover problem is not limited to the defense as forwards have been just as guilty. Even in last night's game with 5 minutes left a Ranger turned the puck over at the goal line leading to a short breakaway chance. The Rangers could add a Winnik or Vermette if Hags or Zucc is part of the deal but I think defense is a priority. I would have liked to see Allen or McIlrath up as the 7th guy over Hunwick just to get the experience.

 

[cagedlion]

Panzer, it is true that the forwards are also to blame....some seem to be
out of position and others are overplaying the puck......leaving it on the
D men and the goalie. AV is piling up the minutes on Girardi, Staal, and
McDonagh and it is showing. Can't compare last year's squad with this
year's. Rangers are much younger than last year. It may take a full year
if the core stays the same for the Rangers to be legit SC contenders.
Yes, they have a shot this year, but moving forward they just do not
look right. Hank's injury is telling. With the way GMs stack their rosters
in accordance with the team's Cap situation, teams just do not have the
same periphery players. Right now I just do not think Allen or McIlrath
will help the D situation.

 

[chuckd3534]

They are not going to deal Zucc IMO. They like him a lot and want to bring him back. Only caveat I see is if Zucc is crazy with his demands and wants 5 mill + on a long term deal.

 

[kreidertime]

Like I said before. Zucc has gone from playing himself out of town into a long term contract. St. Louis on the other hand won't be back. Even if he takes less. I think Sather and AV will go with a young kid. Either Duclair, Buch or deal for a 20 goal type with some physical play.

 

[kreidertime]

Thought the Kings were done, now they are on fire. I still don't think they are any good. Their defense is not what it was last year. Losing Voynov and Mitchell was huge. I wonder with this hot streak if they will now not make a deal. I think that would be a disaster for them. The Rangers made their defense look bad last year in the finals. If not for the incompetent finishing of Nash, Kreider and Hagelin, the cup would be in NY.

I wonder if Sather thinks Boyle might be a liability in the playoffs and decides to go after a right handed defenseman like Petry. Figuring he can use Moore and Hunwick as a platoon. Moore to me raised his play in the playoffs last year. I thought he was real good.

Nova is in love with the right handed shot. He does have somewhat of a point. I would absolutely like to swap Stempniak and maybe Kristo for Ryder who is a UFA next year.

 

[chuckd3534]

Not sure why you doubted the Kings, this is what they do dump. Same deal every season.

As for Boyle, not sure what you mean. Simply no shot he gets benched...none. He has his ups and downs, but he is also a +14 playing 20 mpg. Not getting benched no way.

On Zucc, I never thought they'd deal him, and always thought they wanted him back, but we'll see what he asks for on a new deal. No shot they trade him either way, BUT it is possible he could price himself out of here. But they would let that play out rather than deal him by next week. He is a big part of the team.

With that said I don't see him as a 5 mill player, and I think that's what he wants. To me mid 4's per seems fair, but I know he wants more. Just not sure I feel Zucc is worth 5.2 per let's say. Seems high to me.

 

[chuckd3534]

Couple of other comments.

Hags is now on pace for 20 goals and close to 40 points. Playing really well. He is important to this team and will get a little raise as an RFA this summer.
Brass is on pace for almost 20 goals and nearly 70 points. What a year he is having. Making some great passes. He has turned the corner in his career it seems.
Stepan is on pace for 17 goals and 64 points despite the 14 games he's missed. Really good stuff from him. Stepped his game up like Brass. Our C's are now a strength.
Kreider on pace for 20 goals and 45 points. Think we wanted 25 +, but he has also stepped up his game. Good to see.
Zucc on pace for 17 goals and 50 points. He has also turned it around as we said. Went 19/60 last season, so closing in on those numbers again.

Some good stuff going on with this team on O. It is why I have flipped and think we should target a dman to play with Boyle as our # 1 focus prior to next weeks DL. Watching the D play recently concerns me. Never thought I would say it this season, but get a dman over a top 9 forward. I think that is the smart play. Then just add a gritty depth forward who can maybe take some faceoffs. Think we need that dman.

 

[kreidertime]

Kings defenseman as a group suck. Don't be fooled. They will not get it done in the playoffs this year.

 

[chuckd3534]

Different point. Do I think they'll win the West...no. I do think they have a shot to get to the WCF though, assuming they get into the top 3 in the Pacific. That division is weak. I think the Ducks would beat them, but I won't say no shot.

Right now I would go Ducks and Preds in the WCF. I like the Blues team but don't trust their goalie play. And while the Hawks have a lot of talent, they have been up and down. That can change though of course, but sitting here today I'll go Ducks and Preds in the WCF.

In the East I like Montreal and us or the Caps in the ECF...today. Again could change 25 times by the time the playoffs start.

 

[kreidertime]

I think this is the year the Blues make a run. Tarasenko has given them a lot more offense.

 

[chuckd3534]

I do like that team a lot. I just don't know if I trust Elliott to get them past the Hawks in round 1 and the Preds in round 2 (assuming they end up 2nd behind the Preds).

But man for man on the team I think they are very good. Maybe the best team in the NHL.

 

[chuckd3534]

The Rangers and Mats Zuccarello are not “remotely close” when it comes to a contract extension for the Rangers winger. (NY Post)

The Rangers have offered Zuccarello between $4 million and $4.25 million on a four-year deal while Zuccarello is looking for more than $5 million on a longer term deal. (NY Post)

Zuccarello will NOT be traded though as he is a big part of what the organization views as a Stanley Cup contender. (NY Post)

The Rangers want to keep Zuccarello and are expected at some point to raise their bid to between $4.5 million and $5 million. (NY Post)

 

[Stepupstepan]

chuck, what about Tampa? You think we can get by them this year? I would be more concerned about them then the caps.

 

[chuckd3534]

I cannot give Zucc more than 5 mill per. I go into the mid 4's, 4.6 or 4.7 TOPS, and that's all I can do. I felt the whole time mid 4's was fair, and I cannot go much higher than that. 4.7 tops IMO, but rather stay around 4.5 per.

 

[Stepupstepan]

Zucc is on crack if he wants over 5. No way they are going to give him over 5 AND a long term deal.