Yeah, it's time for some new hate though.

But how can anyone hate Tavares?
- GioRock

If the Montreal Mounties do not launch an immediate investigation into the Pacioretty assault last night, they are (frank)ing hypocrites.

Nuff Said

X-rays on Girardi were negative, which means the warrior will be in no later Han Thursday
- cranford93

Very good news, Thank you sir, for that news

If the Montreal Mounties do not launch an immediate investigation into the Pacioretty assault last night, they are (frank)ing hypocrites.

Nuff Said
- WayneZ

I beat you to it. Posted it hours ago

As far as grit, we lost prust and dubi...right? True those 2 were
Real warrior types who played a lot of minutes (unlike Asham
who's got grit but not enough game) but its only 2 guys and not
Exactly world beaters. I'd say the team as a whole doesn't seem
To be taking care of the details like they did last year whether
It be hitting, puck battles, defensive coverage, backing each
Other up, etc. which could be a result of an attitude shift / lack of team unity
that Comes with swapping out lunch pail
Guys for stars. Or maybe they just aren't clicking yet with the
New faces. Or they are tired of Torts overbearing and unforgiving
style. Or they had no training camp or preseason for torts to
Hammer his philosophy into the team.
- BobbySchmautz

It's a combination of both things, the one I mentioned and what I bolded. The injuries obviously have something to do with it as well. They had a week to get ready before Opening Night. Then Callahan gets hurt. He comes back, then Nash gets hurt. Arguably, at this point, your two most important players.
Replacing grit, on the ice and in the locker room, is hard as hell.

Asham, at this point, is a mercenary, whereas a guy like Prust, even a guy like Dubinsky, were really counted on as "muscle guys "just as much as they were respected in the locker room. They were Tortarella guys, a coach needs players, especially respected, hard nose-types, to convey his message to the rest of the team.

100-times-out-100, you trade a Dubinsky type for Nash though. You can't question it.

I find it funny that Torts has earned no political capital with the fan base. The lesson I take from that is if you are going to act like an ahole you better be damn well sure you remain a successful ahole, because people won't put up with your act if you're not.
- Pete V

Great post. Unless you have earned the right to be an a-hole, win a cup with us, than you can act like one. Torts doesn't get it.

It's a combination of both things, the one I mentioned and what I bolded. The injuries obviously have something to do with it as well. They had a week to get ready before Opening Night. Then Callahan gets hurt. He comes back, then Nash gets hurt. Arguably, at this point, your two most important players.
Replacing grit, on the ice and in the locker room, is hard as hell.

Asham, at this point, is a mercenary, whereas a guy like Prust, even a guy like Dubinsky, were really counted on as "muscle guys "just as much as they were respected in the locker room. They were Tortarella guys, a coach needs players, especially respected, hard nose-types, to convey his message to the rest of the team.

100-times-out-100, you trade a Dubinsky type for Nash though. You can't question it.
- potvin05

I don't know. Team chemistry is a fickle thing. Would you say the same about moving Callahan for Nash? Obviously Nash is the more skilled player, but what about the intangible factors? I think an organizational identity and a consistent approach means more than the players on the ice... see NJ Devils.

Great post. Unless you have earned the right to be an a-hole, win a cup with us, than you can act like one. Torts doesn't get it.
- jslnyr1102

If you talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk. One great season doesnt blind fold us to the past and present.

It's a combination of both things, the one I mentioned and what I bolded. The injuries obviously have something to do with it as well. They had a week to get ready before Opening Night. Then Callahan gets hurt. He comes back, then Nash gets hurt. Arguably, at this point, your two most important players.
Replacing grit, on the ice and in the locker room, is hard as hell.

Asham, at this point, is a mercenary, whereas a guy like Prust, even a guy like Dubinsky, were really counted on as "muscle guys "just as much as they were respected in the locker room. They were Tortarella guys, a coach needs players, especially respected, hard nose-types, to convey his message to the rest of the team.

100-times-out-100, you trade a Dubinsky type for Nash though. You can't question it.
- potvin05

Totally agree. You also have to take into account that (to some)
A conclusion was reached last year that the 'hard working lunch
Pail' group might not be enough to win it all so some skill had
To be added, which risks changing the complexion.

I don't know. Team chemistry is a fickle thing. Would you say the same about moving Callahan for Nash? Obviously Nash is the more skilled player, but what about the intangible factors? I think an organizational identity and a consistent approach means more than the players on the ice... see NJ Devils.
- WayneZ

Callahan is the thread that holds the team together, where as Dubi was one of the role players, a long standing one but thats what he was. Plus Callahan can score 25-30 goals and put up 50-60 points... Dubi, guy cant get out of his own way.

Cranford said that Pacs has a phone hearing with Shannahan this afternoon, so the most disciplinary action Pacs can recieve is a Game suspension. Considering that is was Pacs, I mean the guy almost had his career end by that type of hit is just as hypocritical as one could possibly act.

Totally agree. You also have to take into account that (to some)
A conclusion was reached last year that the 'hard working lunch
Pail' group might not be enough to win it all so some skill had
To be added, which risks changing the complexion.
- BobbySchmautz

I dont think theyre going away from the 'hard working lunch pail' but they also realized they needed some skill, so they had to do what they had to do to get the skill, now theyll spend this year and this coming offseason to find themselves the grit and lunch pail they lost.

Callahan is the thread that holds the team together, where as Dubi was one of the role players, a long standing one but thats what he was. Plus Callahan can score 25-30 goals and put up 50-60 points... Dubi, guy cant get out of his own way.
- aecliptic

My point exactly. I think the Nash trade was really smart. I was just saying you can't always say trading for a star is the right move, regardless of who goes the other way.

I don't know. Team chemistry is a fickle thing. Would you say the same about moving Callahan for Nash? Obviously Nash is the more skilled player, but what about the intangible factors? I think an organizational identity and a consistent approach means more than the players on the ice... see NJ Devils.
- WayneZ

Even though I agree with your post, Callahan, to me, is a different type of animal than Dubinsky.

As far as grit, we lost prust and dubi...right? True those 2 were
Real warrior types who played a lot of minutes (unlike Asham
who's got grit but not enough game) but its only 2 guys and not
Exactly world beaters. I'd say the team as a whole doesn't seem
To be taking care of the details like they did last year whether
It be hitting, puck battles, defensive coverage, backing each
Other up, etc. which could be a result of an attitude shift / lack of team unity
that Comes with swapping out lunch pail
Guys for stars. Or maybe they just aren't clicking yet with the
New faces. Or they are tired of Torts overbearing and unforgiving
style. Or they had no training camp or preseason for torts to
Hammer his philosophy into the team.
- BobbySchmautz

Great Post! Our players never look like they are having any fun on the ice. That's a reflection of who is coaching them.

What the hell was Girardi doing on the ice with a 1:30 left in a game we are not going to win? Torts should be shot for that we are down 2 defensemen why risk our best for no reason

Hopefully theyccall up Haley. Guy knows how to stir things up and can fight a little bit.

Hopefully theyccall up Haley. Guy knows how to stir things up and can fight a little bit.
- tomburton99

Agreed. He's got balls.

Agreed. He's got balls unlike Kessel who only has ball.
- jslnyr1102

That's just wrong.

I dont think theyre going away from the 'hard working lunch pail' but they also realized they needed some skill, so they had to do what they had to do to get the skill, now theyll spend this year and this coming offseason to find themselves the grit and lunch pail they lost.
- aecliptic

They want to have it all; question is, will it work?

They want to have it all; question is, will it work?
- BobbySchmautz

It will, but Torts needs to swallow his pride and bring in someone to coach the offense and PP. What Torts and Sully have done on the defensive side has been great... but it seems like all is lost on that PP, its just straight up atrocious. Teams have 0 respect for our PP and play us aggressively as if its even strength.

If theres one thing I noticed about our team is that outside of a couple guys, most of these guys are not that good with the puck. Passes that are on the tape are jumping over the blade or just completely mishandled all together. Then you have a couple guys that have open lanes to pass and put the puck in the guys skates. The play on the puck has been really bad.

I dont know if anyone else has noticed it, but I find myself saying "WTF kinda pass was that?" or "Does everyone on this team have stone hands?" atleast 10 times a period.

It will, but Torts needs to swallow his pride and bring in someone to coach the offense and PP. What Torts and Sully have done on the defensive side has been great... but it seems like all is lost on that PP, its just straight up atrocious. Teams have 0 respect for our PP and play us aggressively as if its even strength.

If theres one thing I noticed about our team is that outside of a couple guys, most of these guys are not that good with the puck. Passes that are on the tape are jumping over the blade or just completely mishandled all together. Then you have a couple guys that have open lanes to pass and put the puck in the guys skates. The play on the puck has been really bad.

I dont know if anyone else has noticed it, but I find myself saying "WTF kinda pass was that?" or "Does everyone on this team have stone hands?" atleast 10 times a period.
- aecliptic

I think it is safe to say that Torts will be fired before a third coach is brought in and the writing is on the wall that he and Richards are as good as gone, the only thing left to happen is Hank getting hurt, this has been the most distraught a fan base could feel and with 30 games left

I think it is safe to say that Torts will be fired before a third coach is brought in and the writing is on the wall that he and Richards are as good as gone, the only thing left to happen is Hank getting hurt, this has been the most distraught a fan base could feel and with 30 games left
- cranford93

the nash trade was the beginning of the end

so foolish

It will, but Torts needs to swallow his pride and bring in someone to coach the offense and PP. What Torts and Sully have done on the defensive side has been great... but it seems like all is lost on that PP, its just straight up atrocious. Teams have 0 respect for our PP and play us aggressively as if its even strength.

THIS ---------->If theres one thing I noticed about our team is that outside of a couple guys, most of these guys are not that good with the puck. Passes that are on the tape are jumping over the blade or just completely mishandled all together. Then you have a couple guys that have open lanes to pass and put the puck in the guys skates. The play on the puck has been really bad.

I dont know if anyone else has noticed it, but I find myself saying "WTF kinda pass was that?" or "Does everyone on this team have stone hands?" atleast 10 times a period.
- aecliptic

My point exactly. I think the Nash trade was really smart. I was just saying you can't always say trading for a star is the right move, regardless of who goes the other way.
- WayneZ

Yes, this is true. That was the philosophy of the Rangers of the late 90's, early 2000's and look how badly that failed.

As for chemistry, with the amount of roster turnover this team experienced not having training camp really hurt this club. I think last year's team was so close because one, they had been together for a couple of years, and two, they had a full training camp to not only work on conditioning but to grow together and develop an identity.

Obviously the Rangers aren't the only team that didn't get a full training camp but I do think that not having that is why they have struggled to find their identity.