Boston also has great forward depth and are extremely physical; as we Rangers should know full well.

Team toughness needs to be addressed and they have to up their skill, to a significant extent, as well.
- MidnightMarauder

I did just read that there is a possibility of recalling...Stu Bickel as early as today, so there's that lol

Boston also has great forward depth and are extremely physical; as we Rangers should know full well.

Team toughness needs to be addressed and they have to up their skill, to a significant extent, as well.
- MidnightMarauder

This is why Im pushing for going after Ladd, Glencross and Ott.

Those 3 will immediately change the dynamic of the team.

Id love to see Ott in Ranger blue smacking that little shyt Marchand around.

I did just read that there is a possibility of recalling...Stu Bickel as early as today, so there's that lol
- beuka23

I heard Bickel is hurt, he didn't play all weekend, and Haley is hurt too

How long do you think the losing streak has to be before some major-ish changes are made (via trade etc)?? We've locked Hank in, so I guess all that's left is to sort out the mess in front of him?

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

I am not jumping for joy over this team so far, but c'mon. We know how frustrating it is to see this team not score, but they have converted more than one odd-man rush. I mean, did you not see the Rager/Devs game? Richards goal was a 2-on-1 (odd-man) rush.

I feel your pain; we all do. It'll get better as it can't get much worse...can it?

I heard Bickel is hurt, he didn't play all weekend, and Haley is hurt too
- jimbro83

McIlrath!!!!!!

I did just read that there is a possibility of recalling...Stu Bickel as early as today, so there's that lol
- beuka23

Bickel sure added toughness. He's not the best in his own zone, but not any worse than Falk and Moore have been. With Torts gone, he has a shot again.

I highly doubt the Rangers will go into rebuild role unless they are completely tanking by the deadline, and decide to become sellers. So, with that said, I think the more relevant discussion is what they realistically intend to do now to make the team better.

With those limitations in mind, I think it is pretty much universally accepted that the Rangers need to add toughness and scoring. How do you do that, I don't know. Maybe a rebuilding Calgary team would be interested in young defensemen like Del Zotto for someone like Glencross. Maybe Ottawa might consider moving Neal in the right deal. Ott will be available, but the price may be prohibitive, and may not be worth it for an impending UFA. Maybe you can troll the bottom-feeders in the league to add some help in the scoring department, although that help is unlikely to be elite. Guys like Fleishmann and Cammy are probably more realistic options.

The team is simply too easy to play against, and they need to add grit one way or the other. But, grit that can actually play. Not some guy that is going to play 4 minutes a night on the fourth line.

As to the defense, you can say they are overrated, you can say that Lundqvist has made them look better, but their numbers since the first lockout are pretty impressive. Counting backwards, they have finished 4th, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 6th, 5th, 9th, and 4th in goals against since the first lockout. Those are pretty impressive numbers, and they happen both under Renney and Torts, so I don't think it is fair to say that they all relate to Torts' system.

Has Lundqvist helped? Sure. But, he is also a part of the team, so I am more than willing to live with this defense or a slightly modified version thereof (if Staal isn't out long term).

The immediate needs are toughness and scoring help.

I am not jumping for joy over this team so far, but c'mon. We know how frustrating it is to see this team not score, but they have converted more than one odd-man rush. I mean, did you not see the Rager/Devs game? Richards goal was a 2-on-1 (odd-man) rush.

I feel your pain; we all do. It'll get better as it can't get much worse...can it?
- mames11

I actually missed that game, only one I've missed all year. Yes, I heard about Richards goal. That makes 2.

Its a very obvious frustration, its not even an exaggeration. Everytime we get an odd man rush I'm already saying in my head, "were gonna f it up somehow". I've said it a million times. The Defense on the other side gets 1/2 the credit for our offensive woes. The other 1/2 is our own players messing up our own chances. I face palm all the time at our inability to convert the chance thats right there in front of us. Sometimes, the lack of creativity is astonding to me. You see 3 Rangers coming in and they take a straight shot right into the goalies chest. All this talent and very little creativity in high pressure high speed situations.

McIlrath!!!!!!
- mames11

If he has yet to be called up, he's not getting the call. Idk why. Maybe the Rangers think he's not ready, maybe the organization thinks he's a bust. I don't know. But if he has to be given a shot, he won't get one now.

If he has yet to be called up, he's not getting the call. Idk why. Maybe the Rangers think he's not ready, maybe the organization thinks he's a bust. I don't know. But if he has to be given a shot, he won't get one now.
- tomburton99

I know we are lacking in the toughness department and players aren't sticking up for one another, but McIlrath's issues during camp was game related. He wasn't making the right decisions and left way too many gaps on the ice. I don't think that kind of play will help us at all right now. Especially since another issue we've been experiencing in our own end is giving up prime scoring chances because of bad positioning. Other teams when we lose, have been able to find seams and open players way too easily. There's way too many cross passes into prime shots taken against us. I think McIlrath would make that even worse.

If he has yet to be called up, he's not getting the call. Idk why. Maybe the Rangers think he's not ready, maybe the organization thinks he's a bust. I don't know. But if he has to be given a shot, he won't get one now.
- tomburton99

Leslie Treff ‏@HFNYRangers 20h
@borki77 McIlrath may be called up; just think it would be better for development spending season playing on pair w Johnson in Hartford.

Bobby Pappas ‏@borki77 21h
@HFNYRangers Whats Mcllrath need to improve on to make it to the big team #NYR

Leslie Treff ‏@HFNYRangers 21h
@borki77 McIlrath still needs to improve positioning and decisionmaking.

Leslie Treff ‏@HFNYRangers 20h
@borki77 McIlrath may be called up; just think it would be better for development spending season playing on pair w Johnson in Hartford.

Bobby Pappas ‏@borki77 21h
@HFNYRangers Whats Mcllrath need to improve on to make it to the big team #NYR

Leslie Treff ‏@HFNYRangers 21h
@borki77 McIlrath still needs to improve positioning and decisionmaking.
- jimbro83

So he's not ready. Basically he won't be ready at all this year. Guess we have to rely on Stu Bickel then, whenever he gets healthy. Lovely.

I know we are lacking in the toughness department and players aren't sticking up for one another, but McIlrath's issues during camp was game related. He wasn't making the right decisions and left way too many gaps on the ice. I don't think that kind of play will help us at all right now. Especially since another issue we've been experiencing in our own end is giving up prime scoring chances because of bad positioning. Other teams when we lose, have been able to find seams and open players way too easily. There's way too many cross passes into prime shots taken against us. I think McIlrath would make that even worse.
- xcheckmajor

They can't get worse. They just let Nate Schimdt, Steve Oleksy and Phillipe Grubauer beat them last night.

What management needs to do right now is make a statement. Give this squad one more game to show they have the heart and guts to play. If not:

Lindberg for Boyle
Hrivik for Pyatt
Fast for Pouliot
Haley for Moore

Infuse some energy and aggressive play with these kids. They will bring some life to our complacent play.

They can't get worse. They just let Nate Schimdt, Steve Oleksy and Phillipe Grubauer beat them last night.
- tomburton99

Pretty much sums up how pathetic the Rangers were last night.

What management needs to do right now is make a statement. Give this squad one more game to show they have the heart and guts to play. If not:

Lindberg for Boyle
Hrivik for Pyatt
Fast for Pouliot
Haley for Moore

Infuse some energy and aggressive play with these kids. They will bring some life to our complacent play.
- xcheckmajor

I am with all of those moves because, at this point, I just need to see a different lineup for the Predators game tomorrow.

I believe Haley is hurt though.

What management needs to do right now is make a statement. Give this squad one more game to show they have the heart and guts to play. If not:

Lindberg for Boyle
Hrivik for Pyatt
Fast for Pouliot
Haley for Moore

Infuse some energy and aggressive play with these kids. They will bring some life to our complacent play.
- xcheckmajor

I know that Haley is hurt and no timetable for return.

The answer isn't in hartford fellas. The team can't score either and is 2-11-2 the last 14 games.

So he's not ready. Basically he won't be ready at all this year. Guess we have to rely on Stu Bickel then, whenever he gets healthy. Lovely.
- tomburton99

Start looking at defensemen around the league that could be available, I guess, which is going to require assets to be used that could have been used to address other needs.

Or, they may decide to break of McDonagh and Girardi. Maybe they play Girardi with Del Zotto and Stralman with McDonagh to balance out the two top pairings, but I am not even sure that that is such a good idea. It's terrible what is happening with Staal. He's turning into hockey's version of Job, but it's getting to the point where the Rangers just can't rely upon him.

I know that Haley is hurt and no timetable for return.

The answer isn't in hartford fellas. The team can't score either and is 2-11-2 the last 14 games.
- jimbro83

I totally agree. People tend to project their hopes and dreams upon players that they don't see on a regular basis. The cavalry isn't coming from Hartford to save our season, and if all the listed players were better than current options, why aren't they here? Believe me, I don't think the coach is interested in playing worse options.

I totally agree. People tend to project their hopes and dreams upon players that they don't see on a regular basis. The cavalry isn't coming from Hartford to save our season, and if all the listed players were better than current options, why aren't they here? Believe me, I don't think the coach is interested in playing worse options.
- Pete V

Not necessarily worse just don't want to impede their progress in pro development.

The answers aren't in the minors nor are they on the big club. And since the trade market is limited, this season, there really are no answers for this team.

I totally agree. People tend to project their hopes and dreams upon players that they don't see on a regular basis. The cavalry isn't coming from Hartford to save our season, and if all the listed players were better than current options, why aren't they here? Believe me, I don't think the coach is interested in playing worse options.
- Pete V

The greater issue is, you have to have players other teams want, and in order to change the face of the club you have to be willing to part with them.

I know that Haley is hurt and no timetable for return.

The answer isn't in hartford fellas. The team can't score either and is 2-11-2 the last 14 games.
- jimbro83

Yeah, but calling up 3 kids to make a Fast Lindberg Hrivik line might just infuse some inspirational play that could help rub off on our other lines. Sometimes they will respond to the chance and play with a lot of energy. They looked good in preseason. Like I said, can't be any worse that Pouliot, Pyatt, Boyle right now. Have a good old fashion Kids line to go out there and have fun and play aggressive when things start slowing down.

Kreider Step Nash
Zucc Richards Cally
Hags Brassard Moore
Fast Lindberg Hrivik

Yeah, but calling up 3 kids to make a Fast Lindberg Hrivik line might just infuse some inspirational play that could help rub off on our other lines. Sometimes they will respond to the chance and play with a lot of energy. They looked good in preseason. Like I said, can't be any worse that Pouliot, Pyatt, Boyle right now. Have a good old fashion Kids line to go out there and have fun and play aggressive when things start slowing down.

Kreider Step Nash
Zucc Richards Cally
Hags Brassard Moore
Fast Lindberg Hrivik
- xcheckmajor

Looks like another line up that would get pushed around and manhandled by the better teams in this league.

This is why Im pushing for going after Ladd, Glencross and Ott.

Those 3 will immediately change the dynamic of the team.

Id love to see Ott in Ranger blue smacking that little shyt Marchand around.
- aecliptic

Who are you willing to part with in order to obtain those 3?