In keeping with Eks theme, here are some Ranger-centric predictions:

1) Kincaid or Wall will play more games for the Rangers this season than Georgi

2) Zac Jones will appear in more than 50 NHL games

3) Kakko and LaFranchise will both play well and exceed 50 points

4) Mika will win just over 50% of his face offs, but overall this will still be a problem for the team

5) Rangers will make the playoffs and will be one of the hottest teams in the league in the last month of the regular season. They will be one of the teams that nobody wants to play in the first round.

6) The Islanders may make the playoffs, but will be one of the last teams to qualify in the last few games of the year. Devils will completely miss.

7) Despite being tougher to play against, the Rangers will NOT be in the top 5 in the NHL in fights this season.
- TommyGTrain

Nice! I like some of these.
1) Yes. Georgiev was least impressive in preseason. See Shesty playing 60+ anyway.
2) I’m thinking 10-20 games. A year in Hartford is probably what he needs to get stronger still.
3) YES. Can’t wait.
4) Yup
5) Why the (frank) not?
6) idk. Isles are pretty damn good. Devils should struggle.
7) could see that, not many guys are stupid enough to fight Reaves.

Media-wise I get why this is being looked at as a "Tom Wilson Revenge Lineup" but I think last year we were all frustrated that this team could only play one way and when they played the heavier teams like Washington, Isles, etc they struggled. I have no problem with some of these younger kids sitting some of these games early on and letting them get acclimated in games that they will be put in a position to succeed and utilizing some of the depth they acquired to match the physicality of some teams.

I believe the team bonding took place in Rhode Island. Kravtsov was back in NYC and not traveling with the team., supposedly getting treatment on his lower body injury.
- Downeaster

The question we asked but I haven't seen answered anywhere was why he couldn't have had the treatment in Rhode Island rather than keeping him in NY. With team building exercises, they should have had him with the whole squad rather than separated and by himself at the training facility.

I wasn't the biggest fan initially but it's not like Jack Johnson is out there. He doesn't look like a liability at all, just no offensive flash.
- JRR1285

Yeah seemed pretty steady this preseason

I've seen some B's fans say they wish he had come back and was a nice 7th D to have last year

The question we asked but I haven't seen answered anywhere was why he couldn't have had the treatment in Rhode Island rather than keeping him in NY. With team building exercises, they should have had him with the whole squad rather than separated and by himself at the training facility.
- airjan23

Kravs seems to be surrounded by drama, we will see what happens with him this year.

Kravs seems to be surrounded by drama, we will see what happens with him this year.
- Brukie

brukie seems to be surrounded by drama, we will see what happens with him this year

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing NYR have given Vitali Kravtsov permission to contact other clubs in seek of a trade. Kravtsov did not make the Opening Day roster.

This is far from ideal. Have to really wonder if there was a discussion before he was demoted

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing NYR have given Vitali Kravtsov permission to contact other clubs in seek of a trade. Kravtsov did not make the Opening Day roster.

This is far from ideal. Have to really wonder if there was a discussion before he was demoted
- airjan23

Jesus, apologies for the french, tapdancing (frank)ing christ. what are they doing? Not only did they trade buch to clear room in the lineup for him and alienate him but they've now tanked his value

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing NYR have given Vitali Kravtsov permission to contact other clubs in seek of a trade. Kravtsov did not make the Opening Day roster.

This is far from ideal. Have to really wonder if there was a discussion before he was demoted
- airjan23

Wtf is going on!? There’s a clear logjam on this team and Drury hasn’t done a damn thing to fix it. Krav is partially to blame here too though, he’s clearly a bit soft emotionally. The NHL is the best league in the world, it’s hard to stick, even for 1st round picks (which we know all too well). Send him to Arizona.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing NYR have given Vitali Kravtsov permission to contact other clubs in seek of a trade. Kravtsov did not make the Opening Day roster.

This is far from ideal. Have to really wonder if there was a discussion before he was demoted
- airjan23

completely botched this whole thing. really unacceptable

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing NYR have given Vitali Kravtsov permission to contact other clubs in seek of a trade. Kravtsov did not make the Opening Day roster.

This is far from ideal. Have to really wonder if there was a discussion before he was demoted
- airjan23

(frank) this makes me sad

LOL Drury maybe isn't as great as we all hoped

Wtf is going on!? There’s a clear logjam on this team and Drury hasn’t done a damn thing to fix it. Krav is partially to blame here too though, he’s clearly a bit soft emotionally. The NHL is the best league in the world, it’s hard to stick, even for 1st round picks (which we know all too well). Send him to Arizona.
- TC88

The issue is that it appeared he DID do enough to stick. For some inexplicable reason they opted to keep Dryden Hunt up instead.

The issue is that it appeared he DID do enough to stick. For some inexplicable reason they opted to keep Dryden Hunt up instead.
- JRR1285

No I think it was because they didn't want to lose Hajek to waivers. A player who has no future here is more important than one of your best prospects. Drury with a clown move

No I think it was because they didn't want to lose Hajek to waivers. A player who has no future here is more important than one of your best prospects. Drury with a clown move
- TPC

Well yeah, both could have been lost to waivers but who gives a (frank)?


The worst part of this is that Kravtsov has now requested a trade. While I get where he is coming from it's still a little ridiculous.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing NYR have given Vitali Kravtsov permission to contact other clubs in seek of a trade. Kravtsov did not make the Opening Day roster.

This is far from ideal. Have to really wonder if there was a discussion before he was demoted
- airjan23

Clearly something happened that forced the team to leave him off the Rhode Island trip. I am guessing that they placed him on the power play ( where he scored a goal ) as a "showcase" to help facilitate a trade.

First Lias Andersson at 7th OA and now Kravtsov at 9th OA. That is a great amount of draft capital that has been wasted on snowflake players ---- real shame!

Andersson produced Cuylle, lets see how Drury turns this lemon into lemonade.

The issue is that it appeared he DID do enough to stick. For some inexplicable reason they opted to keep Dryden Hunt up instead.
- JRR1285

I don’t disagree, I think he belongs in the NHL. But at the same time, it seemed like more of a paper transaction and I think it’s clear he was going to get his shot at some point. Why not put his head down and work his ass off like 99% of guys would do including Barron and Jones? That’s my rub with him, a little too entitled.

Well yeah, both could have been lost to waivers but who gives a (frank)?


The worst part of this is that Kravtsov has now requested a trade. While I get where he is coming from it's still a little ridiculous.
- JRR1285

Rangers need some new scouts who do better background checks on these European players character. First Anderson and now Kravtsov. Such wasted top 10 picks

Clearly something happened that forced the team to leave him off the Rhode Island trip. I am guessing that they placed him on the power play ( where he scored a goal ) as a "showcase" to help facilitate a trade.

First Lias Andersson at 7th OA and now Kravtsov at 9th OA. That is a great amount of draft capital that has been wasted on snowflake players ---- real shame!

Andersson produced Cuylle, lets see how Drury turns this lemon into lemonade.
- TommyGTrain

i thought kravtsov stayed in new york to get treatment for his injury while the team was in RI

i thought kravtsov stayed in new york to get treatment for his injury while the team was in RI
- picklerick

lol

completely botched this whole thing. really unacceptable
- NYRangers1124

Yep. Totally agree. Awful stuff.

It looks to me like Drury/Gallant may not have the biggest affinity for young European players.

North American grinders are in fashion at MSG

I don’t disagree, I think he belongs in the NHL. But at the same time, it seemed like more of a paper transaction and I think it’s clear he was going to get his shot at some point. Why not put his head down and work his ass off like 99% of guys would do including Barron and Jones? That’s my rub with him, a little too entitled.
- TC88

I agree. He likely slots in for game 2. It's still frustrating all around. Annoyed at Kravs and at management for bungling these assets.

brukie seems to be surrounded by drama, we will see what happens with him this year
- picklerick

I guess Brukie seems to be right about Kravs drama,

You RichardHead!!

Rangers need some new scouts who do better background checks on these European players character. First Anderson and now Kravtsov. Such wasted top 10 picks
- TPC

drafting is a crapshoot. the year we got Lias we also got Chytil and Barron. The year we got Kravtsov we also got Nils and K'Andre (and my boy Olaf)

Yep. Totally agree. Awful stuff.

It looks to me like Drury/Gallant may not have the biggest affinity for young European players.

North American grinders are in fashion at MSG
- jimbro83

Must contain Jam™