In terms of a shakeup we can do it without losing a single player...

Torts needs to open things up a bit for certain players on certain lines.

Let Gabby And Kreider just fly around and score goals and not be shaking scared of the coach.

Bench Richards next game. And have the 2 kids take those minutes and take your lumps and hope they bring the energy.

Give Christian Thomas the one game you bench Richards and don't jerk him around ala Kreider. Tell him, you have 1 game cause you deserve it and maybe it gives the Vets a wake up call. No matter what he does, send him down after the game.

You really shake things up on the team without gettign rid of everyone.
- mrhattrick27

So many players could be shown a seat, based on their play, right now. Richards, Boyle and to a lesser extent Kreider, simply aren't doing anything.

Would love to see Richarda benched but we all know that won't happen.

I disagree, those teams didn't have the amount of youth this team has, making youthful mistakes.

Take a look again at the blueline's of the teams of that era and compare it to this one.

I am however getting a strong reminder of the 92-93 season with this team, in terms of expectations and crapping the bed a bit.

There is still time to turn it around.

We need Nash yo
- jimbro83

Your're right, maybe its the free agent signings that just continue to disappoint, after each game is become more clear that Richards has to be bought out, we won't have an amnesty clause or be able to bury him in Hartford, he's in serious decline.

I tend to agree with Carp. The team is lack some snarl, and that is perhaps where we miss guys like Prust and Dubinsky the most. But, as I stated last night, I think it may be a little bit more than just snarl. I think this team has too many nice, quiet guys that just go about their business. Those types of guys are great, and I love them, but I seriously think the team could use an A-Hole or two that can also play. Someone that other teams hate. Someone like Scott Hartnell.
- Pete V

We had the biggest bumhole and Tortorella did his best to run him off the team.

Not going to mention his name but he was A very good player for this team before Tortorella put the shackles on him.

So many players could be shown a seat, based on their play, right now. Richards, Boyle and to a lesser extent Kreider, simply aren't doing anything.

Would love to see Richarda benched but we all know that won't happen.
- MidnightMarauder

Richards has been terrible, but come on guys, if you sit him, who are going to play at center -- Stepan, Miller and Boyle. Richards is no rookie, and sending him a message is going to do much good. He just needs to play out of it, because as bad as he's been, and as mad as we are, we need that guy to snap out of it to have any chance of doing anything this year. In many ways, Richards is the most important player on the team, as far as needing a player to play well.

So many players could be shown a seat, based on their play, right now. Richards, Boyle and to a lesser extent Kreider, simply aren't doing anything.

Would love to see Richarda benched but we all know that won't happen.
- MidnightMarauder

Kreider wasn't supposed to be a savior, Torts is the reason Kreider has been invisible, it's not because he can't play or he's over hyped, he doesn't play minutes and he doesn't get time in critical spot no should he , he a rookie and we shouldn't be depending on rookies with his lineup.

First a foremost our top players are not playing like top players, Richards, Boyle and, Gaborik are looking for someone else to make a difference and Step has played better but for christ sake already someone teach this kid to stop freezing and telegraphing all his shots, that shoot out attempt was horrendous, speaking of shoot outs, how can a prolific scorer like Gabby be so bad at one on one? When Jagr was here I thought it was just him but it's the ability to play in NY and/or just or destiny to change player after player but have the same results.

About the only thing that could get me out of this depression would be hearing Nash is a go tomorrow night, then we can rule out concussion but with our destiny he's out and the curse continues.

Richards has been terrible, but come on guys, if you sit him, who are going to play at center -- Stepan, Miller and Boyle. Richards is no rookie, and sending him a message is going to do much good. He just needs to play out of it, because as bad as he's been, and as mad as we are, we need that guy to snap out of it to have any chance of doing anything this year. In many ways, Richards is the most important player on the team, as far as needing a player to play well.
- Pete V

Mine as well sit him out, maybe it lights a fire under him. He obviously isn't getting the message with in game benchings because it hasn't done much when he has been nailed to the bench during segments of games.

He looks like a player that knows he will never suffer the humiliation of a healthy scratch, plays with zero fire in his belly.

Richards has been terrible, but come on guys, if you sit him, who are going to play at center -- Stepan, Miller and Boyle. Richards is no rookie, and sending him a message is going to do much good. He just needs to play out of it, because as bad as he's been, and as mad as we are, we need that guy to snap out of it to have any chance of doing anything this year. In many ways, Richards is the most important player on the team, as far as needing a player to play well.
- Pete V

Torts must figure out how to get Richards and Gaborik going.

I actually thought it was good last night that after Gaborik hit the post in overtime that he went over to him before the shootout, tried to encourage him and let him go first in shootout.

This isn't going to get solved by Torts going YOU SUCK Gaborik like many fans would like him to

Kreider wasn't supposed to be a savior, Torts is the reason Kreider has been invisible, it's not because he can't play or he's over hyped, he doesn't play minutes and he doesn't get time in critical spot no should he , he a rookie and we shouldn't be depending on rookies with his lineup.

First a foremost our top players are not playing like top players, Richards, Boyle and, Gaborik are looking for someone else to make a difference and Step has played better but for christ sake already someone teach this kid to stop freezing and telegraphing all his shots, that shoot out attempt was horrendous, speaking of shoot outs, how can a prolific scorer like Gabby be so bad at one on one? When Jagr was here I thought it was just him but it's the ability to play in NY and/or just or destiny to change player after player but have the same results.

About the only thing that could get me out of this depression would be hearing Nash is a go tomorrow night, then we can rule out concussion but with our destiny he's out and the curse continues.
- cranford93

Never thought Kreider was a savior this season, just pointing out that he looks terrible out there. That is not a mishandle by the coach either because lest we forget, he was having an awful time of it down in Connecticut, during the lockout.

Gaborik, for all of his obvious offensive abilities, is just way too inconsistent for my taste. His critics are right, he has a hard time putting together back to back productive seasons.

Richards is just on an apparent steep decline and right on time too; he only has seven years to go on his existing contract.

Boyle had a brief shining period of time where he fooled us all in thinking he was a decent hockey player. But he is anything but, proving the Kings got the last laugh on that trade.

I am not one to shy away from bashing Stepan but, and even though you are right about his shot release, he gets a pass from me lately. He, along with Hagelin, have been their two most consistent forwards in the last few weeks.

Mine as well sit him out, maybe it lights a fire under him. He obviously isn't getting the message with in game benchings because it hasn't done much when he has been nailed to the bench during segments of games.

He looks like a player that knows he will never suffer the humiliation of a healthy scratch, plays with zero fire in his belly.
- MidnightMarauder

Sometimes when a player slumps it sports, its not because they aren't getting the message, or aren't trying, et., its because they are just going through a really bad spot and maybe have lost confidence. You have a few bad games, and then it compounds, and they you start pressing. Two years ago, Brad Richards was a point per game player. Last year, he wasn't great, but he certaintly wasn't bad either. Indeed, he had a really good playoff until the Devils series. I am not willing to give up on Brad Richards because he has sucked for 15 games, because he has a track record that I can look to know that he knows how to play the game.

the last time everybody was completely healthy on this team they beat the Lightning 5-1

the last time everybody was completely healthy on this team they beat the Lightning 5-1
- jimbro83

Is missing Powe understated as well? I mean, the guy really rounded out the bottom 6 very nicely.

I tend to agree with Carp. The team is lack some snarl, and that is perhaps where we miss guys like Prust and Dubinsky the most. But, as I stated last night, I think it may be a little bit more than just snarl. I think this team has too many nice, quiet guys that just go about their business. Those types of guys are great, and I love them, but I seriously think the team could use an A-Hole or two that can also play. Someone that other teams hate. Someone like Scott Hartnell.
- Pete V

If CBJ thinks so low of him as to want to hold onto half the cap hit and move on, would you take him back @ $2M and change? I would.

EDIT: It would never happen.

If CBJ thinks so low of him as to want to hold onto half the cap hit and move on, would you take him back @ $2M and change? I would.

EDIT: It would never happen.
- mrhattrick27

I get the impression they really like him.

They gave him an A if that's any indication. Loads of ice time until he got hurt.

I get the impression they really like him.

They gave him an A if that's any indication. Loads of ice time until he got hurt.
- jimbro83

Yea they will never do it. Im sayign strictly from a Rangers perspective, would you give up a couple of mid-picks and do it?

Yea they will never do it. Im sayign strictly from a Rangers perspective, would you give up a couple of mid-picks and do it?
- mrhattrick27

yeah I think so, Dubi at half the cap hit is worth it, Dubi at his current cap hit is a buyout

I get the impression they really like him.

They gave him an A if that's any indication. Loads of ice time until he got hurt.
- jimbro83

Let's face it, he's a real likeable player if you don't have an expectation of him scoring 25-30 goals. He played a lot of good years for the Rangers, and did so at a bargain price until he signed his $4 million deal, and immediately lost his ability to score any goals. Now, he couldn't hit the ocean if he were standing on a pier.

I think he is the perfect example of a guys game going to downhill a little, when they feel the pressure of performing to a contract.

back to the question i asked before the game, maybe the rangers just aren't that good?

can one of the ranger coaches teach chris krieder how to skate. the guys falls down more than an italian soccer player?

back to the question i asked before the game, maybe the rangers just aren't that good?
- devfan30

Devils letting the habs take contol of 1st place in the east.

can one of the ranger coaches teach chris krieder how to skate. the guys falls down more than an italian soccer player?
- devfan30

hopefully the coaching staff is reading hockeybuzz right now and will get on it

back to the question i asked before the game, maybe the rangers just aren't that good?
- devfan30

Thats very insightful...is this Chico Resch or HB's "The Return of Sam Woo"?

back to the question i asked before the game, maybe the rangers just aren't that good?
- devfan30

WORST ... TROLL ... EVER!

Dude, being a troll is bad enough, but not even being good at the craft is even worse.

can one of the ranger coaches teach chris krieder how to skate. the guys falls down more than an italian soccer player?
- devfan30

I'll give you that one. Even in the playoffs he was always falling everywhere.

WORST ... TROLL ... EVER!

Dude, being a troll is bad enough, but not even being good at the craft is even worse.
- Pete V

He's repeated that same line about 10 times in the last few weeks. I don't think he's capable of any more words. A troll & an idiot. His parents must be proud.

Isles to expose DP to waivers at noon. Never thought I'd see that.