.
- Tonybere

Also true. But, those storylines can be found in 99% of post seasons. We are not obliged to take it easy on opponents who have fallen on hard times. They iced a team and we played the way that was needed to beat those teams. Do I wish we were better and could stand toe to toe with any team? Of course. Should we stop cheering the team on unless they are the President's Trophy winner and #1 Cup contender?
- Tonybere

Of course not, but the goal SHOULD be to win the cup.

Of course not, but the goal SHOULD be to win the cup.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Of course. But, sometimes it seems on here like people don't believe there are 31 other teams trying to do the same thing. Like we should just trade more crap for winners and just put together the greatest team ever assembled. We're dealing with a league that imposes a salary cap that prevents ANYONE from having a line up without holes. We just seem to have a bunch of players who can't decide whether they are elite, mediocre or plugs. Until there is a push for them to play a system that will suit our strengths and for them to pick each other up and impose their will on the opponents, not much else will make a difference. That is what we have to hope Laviolet will bring. Fingers crossed!!!

You can’t get blood from rock. Asking Panarin and Zib to get in hard on the forecheck is a lost leader, it’s not that they don’t want to do it, they can’t do it. GG could stand on his head and do cartwheels it wasn’t gonna happen.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Zibanejad had a bad playoffs this year. His last 27 playoff games: 28 points.


I love living in this fantasy land.

Chris Kreider was credited with more hits this year than Barclay Goodrow....
- tomburton99

Hey stat man. Ya can regurgitate all the numbers you want, but in no way, shape, or form did Kreider have an physical edge in NJ series...AND I didnt once bring up Goodrow, so IDK why you keep doing so. ALL I am saying is that Kreider can/could/should bring a bit more nastiness into his game.

Hey stat man. Ya can regurgitate all the numbers you want, but in no way, shape, or form did Kreider have an physical edge in NJ series...AND I didnt once bring up Goodrow, so IDK why you keep doing so. ALL I am saying is that Kreider can/could/should bring a bit more nastiness into his game.
- rrentz

Yeah. Gretzky was such a wussy, too. He should've hit more if he wanted to be better.

Hey stat man. Ya can regurgitate all the numbers you want, but in no way, shape, or form did Kreider have an physical edge in NJ series...AND I didnt once bring up Goodrow, so IDK why you keep doing so. ALL I am saying is that Kreider can/could/should bring a bit more nastiness into his game.
- rrentz

I also love ignoring facts. I brought up Goodrow because of perceived hard to play against style. But his perceived style doesn't match up with the factual outcomes of the games or what we call stats.

Zibanejad had a bad playoffs this year. His last 27 playoff games: 28 points.


I love living in this fantasy land.
- tomburton99

How do you think Zib would fare against the Knights in a seven game series playing against Echiel or Barbasiev?

I’ve been watching the Rangers for over 60 years, 59 of which have ended in disappointment. I won’t get another 60, hope you guys do.

Yeah. Gretzky was such a wussy, too. He should've hit more if he wanted to be better.
- Tonybere

Oh Lord...So now Kreider is Gretzky?!!!!! Geez..

You can honestly tell me that Kreider shouldn't be more physical? I get Panarin isn't that guy...but Panarin can be smarter w/ the puck..NOT throw a 50 ft backhand saucer pass when he gets over blue line, and turn the puck over. WTF...They are professionals, and when NJ answered back, the players...the coach didn't change a dam thing. Sorry...If Zibby, Panarin, and the rest of them cant dump the puck in once in a while, and take the body (not saying they have to kill the defender ), muck it up in corners, and cycle, then they will NEVER win the Cup.

I also love ignoring facts. I brought up Goodrow because of perceived hard to play against style. But his perceived style doesn't match up with the factual outcomes of the games or what we call stats.
- tomburton99

Goodrow was hard to play against in Tampa, because he played on a line that was hard to play against. Whole greater than its parts. NYR doesn't have one dam line that stands out in the playoffs.

How do you think Zib would fare against the Knights in a seven game series playing against Echiel or Barbasiev?
- OLDSCHOOL#6

No idea. That's also a fantasy matchup. But if I went back and screen shot opinions on Eichel from people on this thread when it was rumored he was going to be traded, we can see who did or did flip their opinion on him.

I do know that Zibanejad has played 42 career Ranger playoff games. 39 points. Since when is that bad?

Again. It's just hottest and dumbest takes today.

Goodrow was hard to play against in Tampa, because he played on a line that was hard to play against. Whole greater than its parts. NYR doesn't have one dam line that stands out in the playoffs.
- rrentz

So then he's a system product and not actually tough to play against.

Oh Lord...So now Kreider is Gretzky?!!!!! Geez..

You can honestly tell me that Kreider shouldn't be more physical? I get Panarin isn't that guy...but Panarin can be smarter w/ the puck..NOT throw a 50 ft backhand saucer pass when he gets over blue line, and turn the puck over. WTF...They are professionals, and when NJ answered back, the players...the coach didn't change a dam thing. Sorry...If Zibby, Panarin, and the rest of them cant dump the puck in once in a while, and take the body (not saying they have to kill the defender ), muck it up in corners, and cycle, then they will NEVER win the Cup.
- rrentz

No, Kreider is not Gretzky. lol. I was trying to prove the point that it's useless for us to wish any player would change their game to any great extent. Could it happen? Sure. But, they have all become some of the best players in the world in their own way. It is foolish to expect very many to actually achieve it.
I am frustrated with how far we seem to be from getting the Cup, too. But, we have what we have and we don't have much cap space to make big changes. I just think that we should hope for change from the kids who have yet to figure out how to excel in this league before expecting it from a guy who is 13th in the league is goals scored over the last 5 seasons (Zibby is #12, btw).

No idea. that's also a fantasy matchup. But if I went back and screen shot opinions on Eichel from people on this thread when it was rumored he was going to be traded, we can see who did or did flip their opinion on him.

I do know that Zibanejad has played 42 career Ranger playoff games. 39 points. Since when is that bad?

Again. It's just hottest and dumbest takes today.
- tomburton99

Well, after completely folding after game 2 against the Devils...some one has to be blamed.

We've seen them get in on the forecheck. We just haven't seen them try to do it consistently. So, what's your solution? One that doesn't involve outlandish trades that have a 0.01% likelihood of coming to fruition in the real world. Or, is it just another chance to say you know better than everyone else?
- Tonybere

I’ve offered many ways to fix it. Signing Panarin was a mistake and trading Buch was a blunder. Trading for Kane was a disaster and firing GG was an excuse for a poorly put together team. They need to get bigger, faster and nastier. No matter who is telling him (GG Quinn Roy Laviolette Hynes etc etc) Panarin will never play a north/south game. I’d love to get rid of him but it’s unlikely. Tolvanen would’ve been a perfect addition, but Drury passed on him to get Lesychyn??? How does this man still have a job.

https://twitter.com/hocke...&t=uyemCTfXPLjxebCnYBfx6Q

Well, after completely folding after game 2 against the Devils...some one has to be blamed.
- rrentz

Gallant was, obviously.
Now we see whether it was the right course of action. Hopefully, Drury already has plans in place for both whether that was the right or wrong way to go.

Gallant was, obviously.
Now we see whether it was the right course of action. Hopefully, Drury already has plans in place for both whether that was the right or wrong way to go.
- Tonybere

Well..yes Drury and the players blamed Gallant. They running out of excuses. Players gotta play. We will see

No, Kreider is not Gretzky. lol. I was trying to prove the point that it's useless for us to wish any player would change their game to any great extent. Could it happen? Sure. But, they have all become some of the best players in the world in their own way. It is foolish to expect very many to actually achieve it.
I am frustrated with how far we seem to be from getting the Cup, too. But, we have what we have and we don't have much cap space to make big changes. I just think that we should hope for change from the kids who have yet to figure out how to excel in this league before expecting it from a guy who is 13th in the league is goals scored over the last 5 seasons (Zibby is #12, btw).
- Tonybere

Kreider is what Kreider is, he isn’t changing. When be first came up he had more of an edge. Now, we see if sporadically. Years ago the view was he wasn’t a complete player. He now is part of the PK and become more of a 200 foot player but ia far from perfect. I would love to see a mean streak but that comes out rarely. He was great early against NJ then faded like the rest of the team. But to single him out seems kind of short sighted given what we have seen the last few years and improvements in his game. He will never be the player we all hoped he might become after he was first promoted. Still doesn’t mean he isn’t effective

Patrick Roy officially stepped down from his roles as head coach and general manager of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Quebec Remparts on Tuesday but a return to the NHL coaching ranks doesn't appear to be in the cards for now.

When asked by the media at the Tuesday morning press conference of whether any NHL teams have reached out to him regarding a coaching position, Roy said "absolutely none."

Kreider is what Kreider is, he isn’t changing. When be first came up he had more of an edge. Now, we see if sporadically. Years ago the view was he wasn’t a complete player. He now is part of the PK and become more of a 200 foot player but ia far from perfect. I would love to see a mean streak but that comes out rarely. He was great early against NJ then faded like the rest of the team. But to single him out seems kind of short sighted given what we have seen the last few years and improvements in his game. He will never be the player we all hoped he might become after he was first promoted. Still doesn’t mean he isn’t effective
- airjan23

It’s a never ending cycle. When he first came up everyone complained he didn’t produce enough points. Now that he is producing offensively he isn’t physical enough anymore. People want him to be like Thachuck. Matthew Thachuck is probably a top 5 overall player in hockey. People’s expectations are just unreasonable. Kreider isn’t making 10 million a year like other top players. Yet people get mad he isn’t one.

Patrick Roy officially stepped down from his roles as head coach and general manager of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Quebec Remparts on Tuesday but a return to the NHL coaching ranks doesn't appear to be in the cards for now.

When asked by the media at the Tuesday morning press conference of whether any NHL teams have reached out to him regarding a coaching position, Roy said "absolutely none."
- jimbro83

Gonna be a long summer...

It’s a never ending cycle. When he first came up everyone complained he didn’t produce enough points. Now that he is producing offensively he isn’t physical enough anymore. People want him to be like Thachuck. Matthew Thachuck is probably a top 5 overall player in hockey. People’s expectations are just unreasonable. Kreider isn’t making 10 million a year like other top players. Yet people get mad he isn’t one.
- TPC

TPC, you know my view on Kreider

Gonna be a long summer...
- MeltingPlastic

Been a long spring