Game Thread Rangers at Florida

[chuckd3534]

I know you guys are OBSESSED with McIlrath as if he is some magic bullet, but that isn't the case sadly. That is all this board cares about now, and it is real sad. McIlrath McIlrath McIlrath. On and on and on. I find it very funny. If he was playing over Boyle you all would find something else to whine about. I would play Mac more as I have said many times, but my lord mel you are creaming over the kid...LOL.

After this season Yandle or Staal will be gone, that is a given I believe. I will worry about that in July though. For now I will focus on what matters this season. I would give Mac a few more games here and there, but we also need to remember there are 60 + games left, so PLENTY of time for him to get PT and PLENTY of time for other dmen to get some rest.

I know we live in the what have for you done me this second world, but have patience people. I know it is really difficult, but the good thing is we are 15-3-2 and have the 2nd best record in the NHL. I know we still have some big issues...LOL...but how about we accept that and have patience that we will continue to improve and give McIlrath, the savior, more PT as the season progresses.

 

[Ranger71]

If Winnipeg is out of it in Feb i think Ladd will definately be available in his ufa year and at a portion of his 4m salary. What they might give up i don't know but probably at least a 2nd and top 5 prospect. I might even give up a 1st since it will be most likely very high again. I don't care about losing another 1st to help this team get over the top in this 3-4y window.

 

[panzerporter]

I have no worries about the offense, it's the defense that concerns me as well. The Rangers forwards play an aggressive back check with AV's system which greatly assists the defensive unit. When the system breaks down you'll rarely see a Rangers defender take the body and the opponent usually gets a quality chance. Why do you find it strange that a Rangers fan like myself wants to see what they have in McIlrath Chuck? He was a high pick in the first round whose development has been delayed by 2 major injuries. We know what we have in Boyle, an over the hill turnover machine with zero physical presence totally unsuited to the physical grind of playoff hockey (4 assists so far but I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Dan returns to his former glory). I find the assumption by some on this board that McIlrath is nothing more that a #6 dman curious, based on what?

 

[chuckd3534]

I don't find it strange at all panzer. I have said 65768 times I would be playing him more as well. I would be playing him more in favor of Boyle than AV has. So we agree there.

What I find strange is how some of the posters in here go on and on in post after post about McIlrath playing more as if he is some savior and dominant dman. What I also find strange is how these posts happen again and again as we sit at 15-3-2.

So that is what I find strange panzer, not that people want to see McIlrath play more than he has, because I would like to see him play more than he has also, I just don't go crazy about it because I don't think it is this huge issue through 20 games that McIlrath plays more as the 6th dman.

And that would be his role on the team right now...a 6th dman which is what Boyle is. Is he better than Girardi or Klein? If not he is the 3rd pair RD, so he would be our 6th dman, and I won't sweat that through 20 games as we win and win and win and win. I also know that as the season progresses he will get his chances to play some games IMO.

We'll see...

 

[chuckd3534]

What I do find strange is that every year in the playoffs when we do lose it is the O that let's us down not the D, yet you worry about the D and not the O. That is weird to me I must admit.

I have zero worries about the D, I expect them, combined with Hank, to do what they always do. I am concerned about the O once we get into the playoffs though as they have consistently struggled to score in the playoffs.

I still sit here scratching my head wondering how did we get shutout in games 5 AND 7 on home ice to lose in the ECF last season. I still scratch my head wondering how we won four 2-1 games against the Pens who were playing without 4 dmen. I still scratch my head wondering how we scored only 13 goals in 7 games against the Caps as we grinded out a long 7 game series (and in 5 of the 7 games we had 0 or 1 goal through regulation).

So yeah worrying about the D over the O is interesting to me. Wanting to play MacIlrath over Boyle as the 6th dman more, that one I get and agree with.

 

[Ranger71]

The defenseman already get run ragged enough in these games, why do we need slowpoke AHL level people making it worse?

 

[mrmel29]

Chuck, you need to stop scratching your head Ha ha ha. I'm more worried about the defense this season than the offense. The offense problem is just shooting the puck more instead of constantly overpassing as we get a million opportunities. The defense constantly requires hank and raanta when he's in there to stand on their heads. Watching this season our supposed suffocating defensive is a myth. One turnover after another. I'm waiting for hank to crack his stick over someones head soon or kneecap them. Outside of being 39 and good years ago what the hell does boyle bring at this stage to stunt the development of big mac. He is a turnover machine (including a penalty shot in the last minute yesterday) that hank bailed his ass out on as usual. Why do you feel the need to keep antagonizing those of us that feel this kid should be in the lineup more regardless of what our record is. As nash starts to get pounded as he did yesterday with no response from anyone how long till teams start open season on our best players without fear of having their heads broken in return.

 

[mrmel29]

The defenseman already get run ragged enough in these games, why do we need slowpoke AHL level people making it worse?

71, if your referring to dylan being slow I think outside of mcd and yandle he's probably a better skater than the rest of our defense.

 

[chuckd3534]

I respect you guys feeling that way, but to me there is just no way I would be more "concerned" about the D than the O. We have years and YEARS of evidence that this O let's us down in the playoffs. And we have years and YEARS of evidence that our D plays really well in the playoffs (combined with Hank of course).

But if you guys feel there will be a 180 this year from all of the past playoff runs, so be it. Your right to feel that way of course. I respectfully disagree 100%.

And for the record not sure how I am antagonizing anyone about McIlrath WHEN I AGREE WITH YOU GUYS...LOL. I also would play him more than AV has and play him over Boyle way more often than AV has...so I AGREE WITH YOU GUYS.... Also on the record, I have no issues with McIlrath and would play him more than AV has...period. That is where I stand. McIlrath would be getting more PT at the expense of Boyle if I were the coach.

I just don't think it is the criminal act that you guys do...LOL. AV is stubborn and continues to play Boyle as our 6th dman over McIlrath, I wouldn't play Boyle nearly as often as AV has.

With that said we are 15-3-2 so I don't focus on it that much. PLUS we have played 20 games of an 82 game season, I am very confident that McIlrath will play more as the season progresses to give some of the other dmen a blow.

I think you may be related to McIlrath and that's why you love to post about him mel....

All good overall...at 15-3-2 there isn't much to talk about, so we might as well discuss McIlrath and Boyle again...LOL.

 

[cagedlion]

I'd like to see this board of the team was 3-15-2 instead. Everyone sucks, the coach is a moron and nobody can make a play.

Bite your tongue! Blasphemous!

 

[kreidertime]

McIlrath is not slow. That's just stupidity. He also has a huge reach. Chara was slow as molasses and for a while, nobody got around him because of his reach. This defense is soft and isn't built for the playoffs. Period. We saw that last year. They were all hurt by the end of the post season and the team should have lost to the Craps in 5. This defense has given up tons of glorious scoring chances all year. They don't clear the crease. Other teams forwards have no fear about skating into the zone. You could see the frustration on Hank's face after last game. The team forward wise is set for a few years. Especially with Buchnevich probably coming into the mix next year

While the age might not reflect it, the defense looks old. I've supported Staal and Girardi for years. Our spoiled fan base states they suck every year when it's nonsense. They were among the better shutdown guys for years. They both look old this year. I would be all in favor of the team trading Staal or Yandle for a 1st. The reality is this team is going to draft defense, defense and more defense in the draft next year. I'd like them to have a first rounder. If the reports are good on Skjei down there, he can come up after game 40. To me, this defense this year has shown no ability to shut any top offense down. Tarasenko embarassed them all game. I haven't seen that happen to this defense in many years.

 

[chuckd3534]

As the Rangers sit on top of the Met and near the top of the NHL, and are a clear win now team, I cannot see them dealing one of their top 6 dmen for a pick...not happening IMO.

Now this summer could they deal Staal, assuming they can get him to waive his NTC, yes I could see that and then resign Yandle.

But as it stands now I just don't see the Rangers dealing a dman unless they get a dman back. They have already made their peace with letting the Yandle thing play out and dealing with it after the season.

As the season progresses and we hit the dog days of winter I fully expect McIlrath to play more games giving G, Klein, and Boyle some games off. I won't sweat it 20 games into the season. If we are sitting at 50 games in and AV still never plays McIlrath, then I will have more of an issue because I don't think it is smart to play a guy like Girardi 80 games.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

If Nash needs an enforcer this team has more issues then simply dan boyle

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