There wasn't much to develop from the get go. Slats passed on Fowler...biggest mistake.
- jmo16

Yes pretty bad in hindsight and even at the time. But I think our defense is just fine without fowler.

No one is saying that but he could have been a frans nielsen or a adam henrique. But instead he, along with nino, were rushed and you now have 1 waste of a player in bailey on the team and nino on another team as a result. Two wasted top picks.
- rangerdanger94

I wouldn't call Bailey a wasted pick yet.

The first line is doing nothing at even strength
- Dan Petriw

agree...but there are 3 players on that forward line even strength...I'm not a Conacher fan but he isn't the only one not producing 5 on 5....JT and KO got a lot of their points on the PP...that's why he has 1 pt to their 8 and 10 pts. as mentioned in another comment...course I'm not opposed to someone else on the top line but it isn't all Conacher....my main point was why change all the lines when we were replacing one guy....

Nino had 1 point in 55 games and was relegated to the 4th line. If that's not the sign of a player who wasn't ready then I dont know what is. The lightning sent Drouin back to juniors even though he was ready for the AHL but not NHL and his development is going perfectly.

The friction was caused when the Islanders didnt invite him to camp after the lockout ended despite him having a successful campaign in the AHL. But why didnt they invite him? Because after wasting a full year of his development they wanted to take it slow this time around. The simple fact is that if nino was sent to juniors again then the chain reaction that caused him to request a trade never would've happened.

The rangers have had their fair share of 1st round busts but staal, kreider, miller, and even mdz wbo was able to get us a quality defenseman worked out. We are great at drafting in later rounds as evidenced by the success of dubi and anisimov who we flipped for nash, cally who we flipped for MSL, hagelin, stepan, Lundqvist, talbot, and prospects like duclair, buchnevich, and halverson. We're also great at bring in undrafted free agents like girardi and zuccarelo..
- rangerdanger94

I agree to an extent but using Drouin as an example is borderline insane. Drouin was drafted on to a team that had legit NHL talent and depth. They were in a situation where they could send him down. This team had nothing but okposo and Nielsen after Milbury left. No one would sign with us. I'm no fan of snow but he didn't have much to work with when Bailey was drafted. As far as the Rangers having their fair share of first round busts that's an under statement if I've ever heard one. You're saying miller worked out? Can't tell if you're joking or not?
You're sitting here blowing smoke up our asses about the Rangers drafting prowess. Really? Saguenetti, sauer, mcillrath(looking like one), grachev, Montoya, jessiman. Come on now. The draft is a crap shoot. It's not an exact science. I'll be the first to say sather has done a decent job recently. Maybe you're too young to remember that wasn't always the case. Half the guys on your thread yap about ranger busts and dropping the ball on fowler.
I agree with you on taking your time with prospects. I'll never have an issue with a player developing in the ahl as long as it's not to an overly ridiculous level but your examples have little to no merit. I'm not even trying to be antagonistic I never have an issue with you but give me a break.

I agree to an extent but using Drouin as an example is borderline insane. Drouin was drafted on to a team that had legit NHL talent and depth. They were in a situation where they could send him down. This team had nothing but okposo and Nielsen after Milbury left. No one would sign with us. I'm no fan of snow but he didn't have much to work with when Bailey was drafted. As far as the Rangers having their fair share of first round busts that's an under statement if I've ever heard one. You're saying miller worked out? Can't tell if you're joking or not?
You're sitting here blowing smoke up our asses about the Rangers drafting prowess. Really? Saguenetti, sauer, mcillrath(looking like one), grachev, Montoya, jessiman. Come on now. The draft is a crap shoot. It's not an exact science. I'll be the first to say sather has done a decent job recently. Maybe you're too young to remember that wasn't always the case. Half the guys on your thread yap about ranger busts and dropping the ball on fowler.
I agree with you on taking your time with prospects. I'll never have an issue with a player developing in the ahl as long as it's not to an overly ridiculous level but your examples have little to no merit. I'm not even trying to be antagonistic I never have an issue with you but give me a break.
- Cptmjl

Why some of you even respond to that idiot is beyond me

Why some of you even respond to that idiot is beyond me

- Vukota

He cracks me up. Most of the time... sometimes not intentionally.

I wouldn't call Bailey a wasted pick yet.
- Cptmjl

what are we waiting for?

XxNYIxX

what are we waiting for?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

what are we waiting for?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Well he has 2 goals in 6 games. That's would put him on pace for 25-27 goals in season. And that playing on 3rd line.

What are you waiting for ?

I agree to an extent but using Drouin as an example is borderline insane. Drouin was drafted on to a team that had legit NHL talent and depth. They were in a situation where they could send him down. This team had nothing but okposo and Nielsen after Milbury left. No one would sign with us. I'm no fan of snow but he didn't have much to work with when Bailey was drafted. As far as the Rangers having their fair share of first round busts that's an under statement if I've ever heard one. You're saying miller worked out? Can't tell if you're joking or not?
You're sitting here blowing smoke up our asses about the Rangers drafting prowess. Really? Saguenetti, sauer, mcillrath(looking like one), grachev, Montoya, jessiman. Come on now. The draft is a crap shoot. It's not an exact science. I'll be the first to say sather has done a decent job recently. Maybe you're too young to remember that wasn't always the case. Half the guys on your thread yap about ranger busts and dropping the ball on fowler.
I agree with you on taking your time with prospects. I'll never have an issue with a player developing in the ahl as long as it's not to an overly ridiculous level but your examples have little to no merit. I'm not even trying to be antagonistic I never have an issue with you but give me a break.
- Cptmjl

Nino not getting time with JT on the 1st line was puzzling especially when the Isles did not have great options. Nino was drafted as a goal scorer and not a 4th line energy guy. Fair to say mistakes were made by the Isles and along with Nino and his people. It's always tough for me to rip NHL teams in terms of drafting when you are drafting 18 year old kids. It's not the same as drafting in the NFL or NBA.

Nino not getting time with JT on the 1st line was puzzling especially when the Isles did not have great options. Nino was drafted as a goal scorer and not a 4th line energy guy. Fair to say mistakes were made by the Isles and along with Nino and his people. It's always tough for me to rip NHL teams in terms of drafting when you are drafting 18 year old kids. It's not the same as drafting in the NFL or NBA.
- ses111

By the way nino has one point on season
Nelson drafted 25 spots after him in same draft is looking like the better pick
I do think Nelson emergence made nino expendable for snow.

Nino is a cry baby. He did have a full NHL season to prove himself even though it was with rolston

Nino had 1 point in 55 games and was relegated to the 4th line. If that's not the sign of a player who wasn't ready then I dont know what is. The lightning sent Drouin back to juniors even though he was ready for the AHL but not NHL and his development is going perfectly.

The friction was caused when the Islanders didnt invite him to camp after the lockout ended despite him having a successful campaign in the AHL. But why didnt they invite him? Because after wasting a full year of his development they wanted to take it slow this time around. The simple fact is that if nino was sent to juniors again then the chain reaction that caused him to request a trade never would've happened.

The rangers have had their fair share of 1st round busts but staal, kreider, miller, and even mdz wbo was able to get us a quality defenseman worked out. We are great at drafting in later rounds as evidenced by the success of dubi and anisimov who we flipped for nash, cally who we flipped for MSL, hagelin, stepan, Lundqvist, talbot, and prospects like duclair, buchnevich, and halverson. We're also great at bring in undrafted free agents like girardi and zuccarelo..
- rangerdanger94

let's be completely blunt here. Nino was pissed off because he wasn't receiving an NHL cheque after a full year of them for nothing. If he'd kept his mouth shut he would have been up with the Isles last year, but instead he couldn't handle another half year of ahl money.

No one is saying that but he could have been a frans nielsen or a adam henrique. But instead he, along with nino, were rushed and you now have 1 waste of a player in bailey on the team and nino on another team as a result. Two wasted top picks.
- rangerdanger94

Your points get dumber by the minute. Nino and Bailey are not top 6 wingers. They are bottom 6 and nothing anyone did " ruined" them... Are the Rangers Ruining Duclair this year? Did they ruin J. T. Miller 2 years ago?

Nino is on checking line in Minn.. He was our 4 th best forward in system behind Nelson, Strome, and Lee... Uncle with the Nino sht!

Nino not getting time with JT on the 1st line was puzzling especially when the Isles did not have great options. Nino was drafted as a goal scorer and not a 4th line energy guy. Fair to say mistakes were made by the Isles and along with Nino and his people. It's always tough for me to rip NHL teams in terms of drafting when you are drafting 18 year old kids. It's not the same as drafting in the NFL or NBA.
- ses111

He had power play time and did play top 6 minutes once in a while and had stone hands. He needed AHL time and is playing bottom 6 in Minn.

If Anders Lee gets a goal or assist tonight he will be tied with Nino.

Did you here new owners say 5th RING. lol. No rings in hockey new guys. Also they ask Charles wang to stay to teach him.

But reading on in new day article I have to agree wang was proud owner and he did care. And snows plan would have never have worked to take advantage of all those teams over cap of we just went out and spend for sake of spending.

Either way. Let's get a big win tonight and get back on track.
Lets hope cappy doesn't bury lee on last line

Did you here new owners say 5th RING. lol. No rings in hockey new guys. Also they ask Charles wang to stay to teach him.

But reading on in new day article I have to agree wang was proud owner and he did care. And snows plan would have never have worked to take advantage of all those teams over cap of we just went out and spend for sake of spending.

Either way. Let's get a big win tonight and get back on track.
Lets hope cappy doesn't bury lee on last line
- Spartiarti

cheers to that.

I think the players and coaches do get rings?

Well he has 2 goals in 6 games. That's would put him on pace for 25-27 goals in season. And that playing on 3rd line.

What are you waiting for ?
- Spartiarti

Ya well we've seen spurts like this numerous times. I pray like hell he stays consistent and can get anywhere near 25+ goals. I'm rooting for him big time, but I'm not gonna sit here and say I think it's gonna happen. Odds are from past experience he'll slowly check out

If Anders Lee gets a goal or assist tonight he will be tied with Nino.
- niteislander

Honestly shocked he took a step back. Kid has the tools to be a great player.

Yes pretty bad in hindsight and even at the time. But I think our defense is just fine without fowler.
- rangerdanger94

Granted a ton of teams passed on fowler, and our pick didn't exactly pan out, but when the Rangers took DM I stood there scratching my head. At least at the time I understood why snow picked Nino. I didn't have a clue why Slats chose him that high. They could of traded back 15 picks and still got him.

To me this is a huge game tonight. They have to stop this skid tonight. They drop this then they face another strong team in Dallas and we can get ourselves in trouble. This is a must win for this team tonight and I'm guessing for Capuano. He'd probably be on the hot seat if they lost tonight and the next one.

To me this is a huge game tonight. They have to stop this skid tonight. They drop this then they face another strong team in Dallas and we can get ourselves in trouble. This is a must win for this team tonight and I'm guessing for Capuano. He'd probably be on the hot seat if they lost tonight and the next one.
- Cptmjl

If you start off 4-0 and end up 4-5, you've completely wasted an excellent start. If you go 2-7 then you know this team isn't gonna work. But starting off with 4 wins shows how capable you are, then dropping 5 completely shows you can't maintain it.

I agree to an extent but using Drouin as an example is borderline insane. Drouin was drafted on to a team that had legit NHL talent and depth. They were in a situation where they could send him down. This team had nothing but okposo and Nielsen after Milbury left. No one would sign with us. I'm no fan of snow but he didn't have much to work with when Bailey was drafted. As far as the Rangers having their fair share of first round busts that's an under statement if I've ever heard one. You're saying miller worked out? Can't tell if you're joking or not?
You're sitting here blowing smoke up our asses about the Rangers drafting prowess. Really? Saguenetti, sauer, mcillrath(looking like one), grachev, Montoya, jessiman. Come on now. The draft is a crap shoot. It's not an exact science. I'll be the first to say sather has done a decent job recently. Maybe you're too young to remember that wasn't always the case. Half the guys on your thread yap about ranger busts and dropping the ball on fowler.
I agree with you on taking your time with prospects. I'll never have an issue with a player developing in the ahl as long as it's not to an overly ridiculous level but your examples have little to no merit. I'm not even trying to be antagonistic I never have an issue with you but give me a break.
- Cptmjl

Milbury left us with NO prospects, and not enough bodies to put a farm team on the ice. Let that one sink in for a minute, while we're all trying to figure out why the rebuild has taken so long. Worst GM in the history of sports.....by a LONG shot....there isn't a close second, in my book.

I wouldn't call Bailey a wasted pick yet.
- Cptmjl

Not all "top half of the first round"-ers even PLAY in the NHL. The problem is that they needed to accept Bailey for what he is- they should have a long ago, and taught him to play defense up and down his wing, while contributing the sporadic offense he always has from day one. Unfortunately, as you said, we were so bereft of players- not only talent, mind you, but living, breathing human beings with skates on when Milbury left, that we expected our first round pick to be our savior, when first of all, he should not have needed to be in the NHL, and second of all, he's just not that good. He's not going to be Okposo. He's not going to score 60+ points at this level, and no one should be waiting for that. He works well with Nielsen, in my opinion, and should just stay there on line three, playing defense. If they're going to expect him to provide big time offense, then they might as well just waive him now, because he doesn't have (and it is mostly this issue) the cerebral capacity to be able to make that happen.

If you start off 4-0 and end up 4-5, you've completely wasted an excellent start. If you go 2-7 then you know this team isn't gonna work. But starting off with 4 wins shows how capable you are, then dropping 5 completely shows you can't maintain it.
- Dedshark

The problem is other teams adjusting to our team. Watching tape and seeing what our weaknesses are. You can see the deficiencies in those 4 wins. The offense saved our asses for the most part and Halak did at the garden. Good coaches/teams adjust. We haven't done that yet. I'm all for rolling four lines(to an extent/within reason)but when you continually throw out a line(4th line)that gets pinned in their own zone and put them out against the strongest competition you're giving momentum to the other team. Creating lines that very well could cost us points. For ANY fan those line combos were head scratchers. Some will say it was only for two games or they had to give him a shot. Oh, I see, the Islanders are such a power house they can give away points early in the season to give players like Mcdonald a shot or put players who clearly lack offensive skill on our scoring lines. Makes sense. If we miss the PO's by 4 points we can all remember these games right now.
Common sense right? I've said this countless times but why is something that is so obvious to a fan not grasped by the coaching staff? Is it stubbornness or incompetence OR a combination of the two? I don't want to see this team lose but it may be the best thing for the team in the long run? Problem is who is his replacement? For such a great offseason(and it was)there always seems to be one ball drop. When there were so many great coaches available why stick with someone like Capuano?