I think they do now because of the off season for two reasons. Lack of down time, and player acquisitions.
- Topshelf Mountain

honestly there couldn't have been a player more inconsequential in the entire playoffs than Scott Hartnell was in the Flyers series vs the Rangers

I think this is what im trying to figure out though. What are your reservations of the Rangers? Im here for honest conversation, dont want you to think im coming at you. I agree with everything else though.
- AmazingSav

I'm a hockey guy that happens to love the Pens. No senseless bashing of other teams comes from it and honest conversation is the only part I take part in.

My take on the Rangers revolves around age, rest, and depth. The D looks great but the high optimism for Boyle is unwarranted with his recent play. The first pairing is stellar but that's easily avoidable on away games.

The top two forward lines are similar to the Pens last year, a serious digression from star players to the bottom six. Compared to the Pens though, the problem is Marty is another year older with a shortened Summer and Nash is incessantly underwhelming. Neither will single-handedly win a regular season game like the big two in Pitt. The bottom six is going to feature Stemps and Glass who were underwhelming last year. Moore, while I root for him non-stop, will likely be centering the fourth line at his 33 age.

It seems to me that the signings and loss of certain players will lead to a regression this year. Outside of the playoffs? Possibly.

honestly there couldn't have been a player more inconsequential in the entire playoffs than Scott Hartnell was in the Flyers series vs the Rangers
- jimbro83

The player acquisitions was directed at the Rangers, not Columbus.

I'm a hockey guy that happens to love the Pens. No senseless bashing of other teams comes from it and honest conversation is the only part I take part in.

My take on the Rangers revolves around age, rest, and depth. The D looks great but the high optimism for Boyle is unwarranted with his recent play. The first pairing is stellar but that's easily avoidable on away games.

The top two forward lines are similar to the Pens last year, a serious digression from star players to the bottom six. Compared to the Pens though, the problem is Marty is another year older with a shortened Summer and Nash is incessantly underwhelming. Neither will single-handedly win a regular season game like the big two in Pitt. The bottom six is going to feature Stemps and Glass who were underwhelming last year. Moore, while I root for him non-stop, will likely be centering the fourth line at his 33 age.

It seems to me that the signings and loss of certain players will lead to a regression this year. Outside of the playoffs? Possibly.
- Topshelf Mountain

Ok I understand where you are coming from and the rest, or lack thereof, can be unpredictable. I would counter with this though.

Although D Boyle has/is declining, he isnt a drop off from Strahlman.
Marty and Nash, contracts and perpestive aside, will still score 25-35 goals each. Not amazing but lets be frank here the Rangers haven't had two ACTUAL 30 goal scorers in years.
Stempniak, in my mind, was brought in flat out to replace Pouliot. The question will be how good does Zucc make him look. Poor Edmonton.
Now who takes over for B Boyle. I will REALLY miss playoff Boyle, but regular season Boyle? Extremely replaceable. That in my opinion is between JT Miller and Lombadi which both are capable of doing.

I'm a hockey guy that happens to love the Pens. No senseless bashing of other teams comes from it and honest conversation is the only part I take part in.

My take on the Rangers revolves around age, rest, and depth. The D looks great but the high optimism for Boyle is unwarranted with his recent play. The first pairing is stellar but that's easily avoidable on away games.

The top two forward lines are similar to the Pens last year, a serious digression from star players to the bottom six. Compared to the Pens though, the problem is Marty is another year older with a shortened Summer and Nash is incessantly underwhelming. Neither will single-handedly win a regular season game like the big two in Pitt. The bottom six is going to feature Stemps and Glass who were underwhelming last year. Moore, while I root for him non-stop, will likely be centering the fourth line at his 33 age.

It seems to me that the signings and loss of certain players will lead to a regression this year. Outside of the playoffs? Possibly.
- Topshelf Mountain

yeah, that's how Marc Staal was out there all the time vs Sidney Crosby

one of the biggest weaknesses the Rangers had last year was not having a right handed shot from the blueline who could be effective on the powerplay. Dan Boyle had 12 goals last year. The Rangers don't need him to be a shutdown defensemen, they have those and they also have the best goalie in the world. The need a guy who can add offense on the blueline, and Boyle will be an upgrade there.

Henrik Lundqvist is still going to be Henrik Lundqvist without Stralman around. Lundqvist was Lundqvist before Stralman even arrived on the scene and Lundqvist had Marek Malik in front of him every night.

Rangers > Penguins > Capitals > Islanders > Flyers > Blue Jackets > Devils > Hurricanes
- rangerdanger94

You're biased and proud

Nice call Homer. How can you possibly think the Rangers will be better?
- crebar

Because we are? We did beat you in a 7 game series after all.

I don't know, G can play well while still grabbing ass, the two aren't mutually exclusive. But I think he does need to graduate to punching engaged players in the back of the head and nut shots to really be elite.

Speaking of goalies and imploding...

The Pens D has had a bit of a makeover, has a bit of a question mark with Letang, and better hope Maata doesn't come back down to earth in his second season.
- wolfhounds

Agreed on both our goaltending and D. Although I think GMJR has actually done a good job shoring up both areas.

On D we basically traded Erhoff and our young Dmen for Nishkanen, Orpik, and Engelland. I personally think that is a big upgrade. Orpik was getting bad and there is no way I pay any of those three the contracts that they got in UFA.

Plus Maata is young so he will have growing pains. But we also have Pouliet, Doumalin, Despres, Harrington and Samuelsson.

Goaltening worried me a little bit but I also like the fact that they didn't go the easy route and go after someone like Brodeur. I think Greiss will challenge Fleury, which is what he needs.

I think the Flyers aren't a bad team but I think alot rides on Mason. Plus I really don't get the Hartnell deal. But Hextall seems pretty smart so I think you guys are probably headed in the right direction.

Isles way too low. And Philly way too high. Halak > Mason, Isles D > Flyers D, Isles O and Flyers 0 are close, especially after Hartnell for Umberger (another atrocious trade from the Flyers).
- isles10289

Mason > Halak
Flyers D pretty close with Isles D
Flyers O > Isles O (even with JT back)

Ask us how disastrous the Hartnell trade is when we're free from his contract in a few years, and as he gets slower and slower as he ages. Not to mention we'll see less dumb penalties for our PK unit to kill off.

full season of Martin St. Louis, the addition of Dan Boyle, Ryan McDonagh will be a Norris finalist, Lundqvist will be a Vezina finalist.

The Rangers didn't win the division last year only because they started off so poorly, one of the best teams in league after Christmas, it wasn't just in the playoffs.
- jimbro83

You lose Stralman who was a possession machine. You lose Pouliet and Boyle from one of the better 4th lines in the league. You add Glass, who believe me is not good, to take their place so good luck with that, and you add in Lombardi who hasn't played in the NHL in 2 years.

How will you be better again?

yeah, that's how Marc Staal was out there all the time vs Sidney Crosby
- jimbro83

When home ice is used properly he wouldn't have been. I'm assuming the new coach actually works the matchups.

You lose Stralman who was a possession machine. You lose Pouliet and Boyle from one of the better 4th lines in the league. You add Glass, who believe me is not good, to take their place so good luck with that, and you add in Lombardi who hasn't played in the NHL in 2 years.

How will you be better again?
- crebar

Depth, defense, goaltending, coaching. Basically how we beat you guys in the playoffs.

Give me a (frank)ing break with this possession crap

Also this post is extremely wrong. Glass is Dorsett's replacement. Pouliot played on our 3rd line with Zuccarello and Brassard. Lombardi fills in on the 3rd line for Pouliot and Stempniak replaced Boyle on the 4th line...yea, the Stempniak that was your 2nd best offensive player in the 2nd round behind Malkin. Then you completely disregard JT Miller.

Stralman was our NUMBER 4 defenseman and if you actually analyze the advanced statistics correctly and adjust for zone starts and only look at close game situations, Stralman played the EASIEST competition out of all 6 of our defense.

When home ice is used properly he wouldn't have been. I'm assuming the new coach actually works the matchups.
- Topshelf Mountain

Then he'd be out there against McDonagh?

What do I see? Nothing because my vision has yet to return after being blinded by that incendiary array of dazzling smart moves by the Penguins this summer. The Bluejackets are so improved they might take the Pens to 7 games next year!

You lose Stralman who was a possession machine. You lose Pouliet and Boyle from one of the better 4th lines in the league. You add Glass, who believe me is not good, to take their place so good luck with that, and you add in Lombardi who hasn't played in the NHL in 2 years.

How will you be better again?
- crebar

the guy who stopped 102 out of the last 105 shots the Penguins had in the 7 game loss to the Rangers is still the Rangers goalie.

Chris Kreider will finish off Fleury this year by the way, keep an eye on that one

Rangers > Penguins > Capitals > Islanders > Flyers > Blue Jackets > Devils > Hurricanes
- rangerdanger94

Rags being at the top...especially after a horrible offseason (Tanner Glass )...I know it's just a prediction but it doesn't make it any less pathetic and hysterical.

Rags being at the top...especially after a horrible offseason (Tanner Glass )...I know it's just a prediction but it doesn't make it any less pathetic and hysterical.
- csotirake

Our team is better now than last year's

Rags being at the top...especially after a horrible offseason (Tanner Glass )...I know it's just a prediction but it doesn't make it any less pathetic and hysterical.
- csotirake

Move passed your bias due to hate and see that Tanner Glass was not the only signing and that the players we lost are replaceable and have been.

Move passed your bias due to hate and see that Tanner Glass was not the only signing and that the players we lost are replaceable and have been.
- AmazingSav

Glass is Dorsett's replacement. It's as simple as that. Not only is Glass cheaper than Dorsett, but we managed to get a solid prospect with the 3rd round pick we traded Dorsett for.

But apparently Dorsett was the 2nd coming of Gretzky because Glass will never be even half the player Dorsett was?

Glass probably won't even dress half the games this season....

Glass is Dorsett's replacement. It's as simple as that. Not only is Glass cheaper than Dorsett, but we managed to get a solid prospect with the 3rd round pick we traded Dorsett for.

But apparently Dorsett was the 2nd coming of Gretzky because Glass will never be even half the player Dorsett was?

Glass probably won't even dress half the games this season....
- rangerdanger94

Haha seriously. Even if Glass does dress the majority of the season how much worse can he be then Dorsett. Besides he at least kills penalties.

Every one of your > is a question mark at best. Last year, Flyers D>Isles D, Mason>Halak, and the Flyers O was significantly better than the Isles.
- aflyerpower8

umm. Mason's gaa was higher and his save % was lower than Halak. So no, Mason wasn't better.

philly scored 11 more goals than the Isles. JT missed 23 games. Add Grabovski and another year for Lee, Nelson and Strome and I think the Isles pass the Flyers in offense this year. Better goaltending, equal or better offense, defense still needs another addition but without amac we're better on d. He makes every player he plays with worse so...good luck with that one.

umm. Mason's gaa was higher and his save % was lower than Halak. So no, Mason wasn't better.

philly scored 11 more goals than the Isles. JT missed 23 games. Add Grabovski and another year for Lee, Nelson and Strome and I think the Isles pass the Flyers in offense this year. Better goaltending, equal or better offense, defense still needs another addition but without amac we're better on d. He makes every player he plays with worse so...good luck with that one.
- Isles_since_6

Halak benefited from playing behind arguably the best defense and defensive system in the league for 75% of the season.

Halak benefited from playing behind arguably the best defense and defensive system in the league for 75% of the season.
- rangerdanger94

And his save percentage went up when he went to the caps.

Agreed on both our goaltending and D. Although I think GMJR has actually done a good job shoring up both areas.

On D we basically traded Erhoff and our young Dmen for Nishkanen, Orpik, and Engelland. I personally think that is a big upgrade. Orpik was getting bad and there is no way I pay any of those three the contracts that they got in UFA.

Plus Maata is young so he will have growing pains. But we also have Pouliet, Doumalin, Despres, Harrington and Samuelsson.

Goaltening worried me a little bit but I also like the fact that they didn't go the easy route and go after someone like Brodeur. I think Greiss will challenge Fleury, which is what he needs.

I think the Flyers aren't a bad team but I think alot rides on Mason. Plus I really don't get the Hartnell deal. But Hextall seems pretty smart so I think you guys are probably headed in the right direction.
- crebar

No doubt, if Mason goes the wrong direction, the Flyers have some serious problems to deal with.

Fleury is a solid tender. If he gets good defensive support in front of him, he'll be fine. It's got to be tough living up to the SC Finals or bust expectations that surrounds the team. That's a lot of weight to bear, or help support.

As a rival, I hope Maata has the infamous sophomore slump, but as a fan of the game, that kid is impressive.