Not the time to hit the panic button yet. Team is play 500 hockey which is hovering around 8th place in the East. What the team needs right now is to infuse a little attitude change. They've endured a lot this year with system changes and a defensive core that has been very subpar and a starting goalie that has allowed questionable goals in many of the games he's played. Not going to put too much blame on Hank considering the number of Grade A opportunities the defense gives up on a routine basis, but Hank has not been the show stopping rock they're use to getting.

I'm not ready to give up on this group yet. 500 hockey is not gonna win you the cup, but if they can get it together a little bit, a 5 win swing over 500 puts you in like 5th or 6th place. A good win streak followed by some above 500 hockey puts you in 4th place. The line is very fine right now, don't overreact and blow up the team as if we were bottom feeders like Buffalo. We don't have a losing record where rebuilding the core is necessary. We need a little attitude adjustment and commitment to black and blue hockey. They know how to do it, they've done it before.

That said, I wouldn't be opposed to picking up some role players. As mentioned above, we could use 1 or 2 "annoying" players to play against. I would move Pouliot and Pyatt. They serve NOTHING to the lineup. You can get agitators in your line that contribute 1 or 2 points every 10 games and that is the same that your getting from those 2. We need a Shawn Thorton or a Jordin Tootoo. A few Todd Harvey's, lol. Maybe give Beach a shot with the club.
- xcheckmajor

Moving a few fringe pieces is not going to get anything in return. If the Rangers want to be anything other than the borderline playoff bubble team, that they currently are, they need to make a statement trade.

I agree they need some attitude, in the lineup, but it can't be another useless fourth line goon type of trade.

A trade for Ott or Glencross is a good start. They also need to adress their lack of physicality on their blueline. They let players park in front of Lundqvist all day long.

Need some players that take it personally when they stand near Hank for more than one second.

all the GM's and governors and what not are in Pebble Beach Ca, for the annual meetings today, so there certainly will be some talkin

Also, it's like the Yankees hitters facing a rookie pitcher or a Yankees pitcher facing a rookie hitter. All you hear is, his first hit, or first win or first home run. Every time watching the Rangers all I hear is someone getting their first NHL goal or win against them. Grubauer was in the ECHL last year and it took almost 59 min to get a goal, are you kidding me

Also, it's like the Yankees hitters facing a rookie pitcher or a Yankees pitcher facing a rookie hitter. All you hear is, his first hit, or first win or first home run. Every time watching the Rangers all I hear is someone getting their first NHL goal or win against them. Grubauer was in the ECHL last year and it took almost 59 min to get a goal, are you kidding me
- pcjr307

yeah, it's freaking ridiculous

mirtle: Islanders put Pierre-Marc Bouchard on waivers

You also dont see Hagelin or Miller in that lineup, and I havent even gotten to the D. Where Id definitely want to move Del Zotto and possibly Girardi (I would only trade him if he continues to be lack luster after a series of remodeling trades).
- aecliptic

Ahhh...didn't see Hagelin...haven't seen him in a long time now that you mention it.

Miller is a possibility to move; as is MDZ and Moore; possibly Stralman if it looks like he may bolt after the season.

You also dont see Hagelin or Miller in that lineup, and I havent even gotten to the D. Where Id definitely want to move Del Zotto and possibly Girardi (I would only trade him if he continues to be lack luster after a series of remodeling trades).
- aecliptic

Ahhh...didn't see Hagelin...haven't seen him in a long time now that you mention it.

Miller is a possibility to move; as is MDZ and Moore; possibly Stralman if it looks like he may bolt after the season.

Also, it's like the Yankees hitters facing a rookie pitcher or a Yankees pitcher facing a rookie hitter. All you hear is, his first hit, or first win or first home run. Every time watching the Rangers all I hear is someone getting their first NHL goal or win against them. Grubauer was in the ECHL last year and it took almost 59 min to get a goal, are you kidding me
- pcjr307

What made it worse was that the Capitals defense is banged up and they are playing some inexperienced players back there.

The Rangers had barely a handful of quality scoring chances last night.

mirtle: Islanders put Pierre-Marc Bouchard on waivers
- jimbro83

You know your career is in the toilet when the Islanders put you on waivers.

You know your career is in the toilet when the Islanders put you on waivers.
- MidnightMarauder

they are making way for the Ryan Strome era

they are making way for the Ryan Strome era
- jimbro83

I know, I just couldn't pass up the chance to insult the Islanders.

they are making way for the Ryan Strome era
- jimbro83

More offense, can he play net and D too? We are complete opposites, combine NY teams and it would be a dynasty

We need grizzly vets with pride to get in here.

Id like to see Sather try to kick tires on Andrew Ladd.
- aecliptic

trying to get any other teams captain in their prime is either impossible, or will cost you a TON in a trade

mike Richards is the only example i can remember and that was because he partied too much, holmgrens an idiot, and they wanted pronger to lead the team

More offense, can he play net and D too? We are complete opposites, combine NY teams and it would be a dynasty
- cranford93

He's a good player. Plus he's versatile, can play C or RW.

Moving a few fringe pieces is not going to get anything in return. If the Rangers want to be anything other than the borderline playoff bubble team, that they currently are, they need to make a statement trade.

I agree they need some attitude, in the lineup, but it can't be another useless fourth line goon type of trade.

A trade for Ott or Glencross is a good start. They also need to adress their lack of physicality on their blueline. They let players park in front of Lundqvist all day long.

Need some players that take it personally when they stand near Hank for more than one second.
- MidnightMarauder

Falk is the only guy who will forcefully move a guy from in front of the net with a two-handed crosscheck. That is another area of Staal's game that disappoints me. He is a big guy but defends too much with his stick and doesn't use his size enough.

What made it worse was that the Capitals defense is banged up and they are playing some inexperienced players back there.

The Rangers had barely a handful of quality scoring chances last night.
- MidnightMarauder

Against a goalie 90% of NHL fans had never heard of before. Yeah, he looked okay in net but he wasn't challenged much. I'm usually a guy who tries to see the positives after each game but there was nothing last night. Not a single player in my mind had a good game. Some may have had better games than others but none could be classified as good.

Against a goalie 90% of NHL fans had never heard of before. Yeah, he looked okay in net but he wasn't challenged much. I'm usually a guy who tries to see the positives after each game but there was nothing last night. Not a single player in my mind had a good game. Some may have had better games than others but none could be classified as good.
- gkmkiller

Guess its a good thing i chose to ignore listening to the broadcast on my drive home last night...

I still think it doesn't necessarily needs to be a big trade to get this team on track. Remember back when they traded for Avery and the impact he brought to a team also lacking toughness. A move for the right type of player can change the whole chemistry and dynamic of the team.

The biggest thing that upsets me with this team is, they are suppose to be a skill oriented team. How many odd man rushes have they converted this season? ONE. Zuccarello to Stepan on a 2 on 1 against Nashville. EVERY single odd man rush they get they completely FUMBLE. I think 80% of them, they don't even get a shot off. If they just figured out how to make a simple pass and shot, things could be very different considering they get an odd man rush at least once a game. Can't express how frustrating it is to see them come in 4 on 1 sometimes and barely flutter a weak chance on net.

The team has talent. They have a solid core group of players. But, not too many players are actually playing well right now, and the team seems to be playing uninspired and listless. Who knows? That may be because they aren't good enough. Or, it may be because they need some addition to start stirring the pot a little. The team kind of reminds me of the team the second year after the first lockout that played bored, uninspired hockey during the early half of the year (despite good talent), and then added Avery and then there season turned around. Is an acquisition like that the answer? I don't know, but I think they have to try it. Add some attitude to that lockerroom.

The one thing that I am sure about is that they aren't going to be bad enough to draft in the Top 3 picks in the draft. It's just not going to happen, nor will Sather just blow it up to force that to happen.
- Pete V

i think the core of this team is really great in terms of all around depth. we have speed, we have defensive forwards, we have size, we have a superstar in nash, we have solid center depth in stepan - richards - brassard, we have a great goalie, and we have a very good defense (assuming they play up to this level).

what this team is missing is both grit and more high end talent in the top 6. this team, with the addition of a guy like patrick kane for example or phil kessel, without removing from the core, is all of a sudden an extremely dangerous team. the question in my opinion is how do we get that other gamebreaker without destroying what i think is a solid foundation/core.

a lineup of:
Kreider - Stepan - Nash
Kane - Richards - Callahan
Hagelin - Brassard - Zuccarello
Dorsett - Boyle - Cooke

i think something like that would be a team that can score, fight, hopefully defend leads, etc.

The biggest thing that upsets me with this team is, they are suppose to be a skill oriented team. How many odd man rushes have they converted this season? ONE. Zuccarello to Stepan on a 2 on 1 against Nashville. EVERY single odd man rush they get they completely FUMBLE. I think 80% of them, they don't even get a shot off. If they just figured out how to make a simple pass and shot, things could be very different considering they get an odd man rush at least once a game. Can't express how frustrating it is to see them come in 4 on 1 sometimes and barely flutter a weak chance on net.
- xcheckmajor

richards scored off one in the devils game, but yes i agree.

Against a goalie 90% of NHL fans had never heard of before. Yeah, he looked okay in net but he wasn't challenged much. I'm usually a guy who tries to see the positives after each game but there was nothing last night. Not a single player in my mind had a good game. Some may have had better games than others but none could be classified as good.
- gkmkiller

Every good team has an edge to their collective game.

The Rabgers are very easy to play against. A bunch of nice guys that don't have any sort of nastiness to their game.

They really only have three feisty forwards: Kreider, Zuccarello and Dorsett.

Callahan has been a physical player, in the past, but rarely the type to get in an opponent's face.

Every other forward would sooner move out of the way, to avoid collision, than run into an opponent with a purpose.

The lack of scoring talent is their biggest downfall but not too far behind is their inability to push back, against teams, that get in their face.

I still think it doesn't necessarily needs to be a big trade to get this team on track. Remember back when they traded for Avery and the impact he brought to a team also lacking toughness. A move for the right type of player can change the whole chemistry and dynamic of the team.
- gkmkiller

Thats why I think moving Pouliot and Pyatt for an agitator that throw his body around every shift would be perfect. Thats what we're missing. We go through long stretches where we control the puck (don't score) and the momentum changes and we play on our heels until we give up a goal. During those times, we need a player like an Avery type to get under the opponents skin and give us some momentum back.

i think the core of this team is really great in terms of all around depth. we have speed, we have defensive forwards, we have size, we have a superstar in nash, we have solid center depth in stepan - richards - brassard, we have a great goalie, and we have a very good defense (assuming they play up to this level).

what this team is missing is both grit and more high end talent in the top 6. this team, with the addition of a guy like patrick kane for example or phil kessel, without removing from the core, is all of a sudden an extremely dangerous team. the question in my opinion is how do we get that other gamebreaker without destroying what i think is a solid foundation/core.
- rangerdanger94

You don't.

You can't get an elite scorer, in this league, for an exchange of spare parts. High end assets need to be involved for a high end player.

You don't.

You can't get an elite scorer, in this league, for an exchange of spare parts. High end assets need to be involved for a high end player.
- MidnightMarauder

unless you draft said player, acquire him through free agency (that always works for the rangers....), or take a huge risk on a player with a lot of potential but a lot of question marks in a trade.