From the NHL.com mailbag section:

Peter Laviolette, the New York Rangers head coach, has already expressed some concern about the work ethic of the team. It seems like culturally speaking it is a theme from last year. If it's not the coach, then do you see any personnel changes to shake up the culture? -- @mingrass513

Response:
Let's slow down. It's training camp, preseason games, and players, especially veterans, go at their own speed to ramp up and be ready for opening night and the start of the 82-game grind that is the NHL regular season. You're talking about Laviolette's comments after the Rangers lost 5-3 to the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday. They were down 3-0 after the first period, 4-0 after the second. It wasn't good, and Laviolette didn't mince words about it, saying things like "unacceptable," and "not who we are or who we want to be." He praised young players like forwards Brennan Othmann, Will Cuyle and Matt Rempe for "working hard" and "competing," but clearly wasn't happy with the effort of the rest of the team. He did not use an excuse like getting used to the new system. "Backchecking is a universal language. Finishing checks and competing for pucks is a universal language," Laviolette said. To me, that's a coach publicly letting his players know that work ethic will never be allowed to be compromised. I don't know, but my guess is he said the same thing to them in private too. But slow down and realize it's still training camp, still the preseason, just exhibition games and players have to sometimes go at their own speed. If the Rangers are having work ethic problems in two weeks, that will be a big problem.

That doesn't mean there won't be some surprises to start the season. Othmann and Cuylle have played well in camp and preseason games. Alexis Lafrenière has not stood out. Other than potential NHL salary cap constraints, there's nothing stopping Laviolette from giving Othmann an opportunity to play a top-six role at right wing. Lafreniere has that opportunity, but if he can't seize it and Othmann can, then go with the 20-year-old rookie if the cap allows. Laviolette owes nothing to Lafreniere or any of the players who have been with the Rangers the past several seasons. He's new and he's setting his own standard. It's a high one and if players don't match it ice time will plummet and opportunity will go to someone else.
- Tonybere

Hopefully the team responds to him, but its been several different coaches and there definitely is the appearance of a team that doesn't work all that hard at times. One think I like about Lav is I don't think he would be afraid to bench anyone dogging it, including vets.

Hopefully the team responds to him, but its been several different coaches and there definitely is the appearance of a team that doesn't work all that hard at times. One think I like about Lav is I don't think he would be afraid to bench anyone dogging it, including vets.
- mdw7413

This is the "cores" last chance. If it does not work with Lavi players will be traded off in 2 years

This is the "cores" last chance. If it does not work with Lavi players will be traded off in 2 years
- nyrangers2

That's a short list of guys. Panarin, Chytil, and Trouba.

That's a short list of guys. Panarin, Chytil, and Trouba.
- tomburton99

Full NMC's for Panarin and Trouba. Although Trouba's converts to a 15-team trade list next season.

Full NMC's for Panarin and Trouba. Although Trouba's converts to a 15-team trade list next season.
- eichiefs9

I know. In 2 years, after this one. Panarin is UFA. So he's off the books, Chytil doesn't have a clause. Trouba becomes moveable due to the NMC changing. (Doubt they get any takers for him.)

That's a short list of guys. Panarin, Chytil, and Trouba.
- tomburton99

Zib has to decide if he wants to continue to be a 1st line center, or a professional DJ. I’m not sure where his heart is.

Bread knows he cannot possibly be a straight line, forechecking winger. He’ll have to a season so good no one will care.

Can Krieder find that subtle mean streak he had before he turned into Camille Henry?

Chytil? No upper body strength means constant upper body injuries, but when healthy he can skate, which is more that can be said for the other top six.

Kakko needs to hit the next level now.

Drury should have moved Laf at seasons end, and used that money to bring back Tarasenko. Like it or not, this is now a veteran team who must win now, Vald would have lengthened the forward lines substantially.

Quick cannot play 22-24 games.

These are only a few questions and obersavations. This club very well might miss the playoffs, attitude, commitment and heart will tell the story.

Zib has to decide if he wants to continue to be a 1st line center, or a professional DJ. I’m not sure where his heart is.

Bread knows he cannot possibly be a straight line, forechecking winger. He’ll have to a season so good no one will care.

Can Krieder find that subtle mean streak he had before he turned into Camille Henry?

Chytil? No upper body strength means constant upper body injuries, but when healthy he can skate, which is more that can be said for the other top six.

Kakko needs to hit the next level now.

Drury should have moved Laf at seasons end, and used that money to bring back Tarasenko. Like it or not, this is now a veteran team who must win now, Vald would have lengthened the forward lines substantially.

Quick cannot play 22-24 games.

These are only a few questions and obersavations. This club very well might miss the playoffs, attitude, commitment and heart will tell the story.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

- tomburton99

Like it or not, he hasn’t played a decent hockey game since last February. He disappeared the last month of the season, and his playoff performance speaks for itself.

Like it or not, he hasn’t played a decent hockey game since last February. He disappeared the last month of the season, and his playoff performance speaks for itself.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

He ended last regular season on 6 game point streak... He had a bad playoffs. 95% of the team did. To say he wants to be as much or more than he want to be hockey player is laughable.

I know. In 2 years, after this one. Panarin is UFA. So he's off the books, Chytil doesn't have a clause. Trouba becomes moveable due to the NMC changing. (Doubt they get any takers for him.)
- tomburton99

Not so sure no team would trade for him. His contract is looking better each year is ages with all these insane d-men contracts being dished out in the offseason.

He ended last regular season on 6 game point streak... He had a bad playoffs. 95% of the team did. To say he wants to be as much or more than he want to be hockey player is laughable.
- tomburton99

Not buying it, I haven’t seen anything in his game since last February that gives me any confidence he’s ready to be the player he needs to be for this team. Time will tell.

Not buying it, I haven’t seen anything in his game since last February that gives me any confidence he’s ready to be the player he needs to be for this team. Time will tell.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Ok, well he had 25 points in 20 march games last season. That's just a fact.

https://www.hockey-refere.../z/zibanmi01/gamelog/2023

Edit: he as 39 points in 42 career playoff games as a Ranger...

Not buying it, I haven’t seen anything in his game since last February that gives me any confidence he’s ready to be the player he needs to be for this team. Time will tell.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Did he only start dj’ing last February?

Did he only start dj’ing last February?
- picklerick

Look. This is not an indictment of Mika’s talent or what he has meant to the team. But I’m not sure the same level of hunger is there. And as my post indicated, he’s far from alone in that obersevation.

Look. This is not an indictment of Mika’s talent or what he has meant to the team. But I’m not sure the same level of hunger is there. And as my post indicated, he’s far from alone in that obersevation.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Those 3 sentences cannot co-exist in 1 thought.

Those 3 sentences cannot co-exist in 1 thought.
- tomburton99

Ok. See ya’all later.

He ended last regular season on 6 game point streak... He had a bad playoffs. 95% of the team did. To say he wants to be as much or more than he want to be hockey player is laughable.
- tomburton99

Zib also was trying to shutdown Hischier and Hughes. Which he did a pretty good job of when all was said and done

I agree with you Tom!! It’s amazing what people don’t notice in/on players sometimes. We have problems, but Zib surely isn’t one of them

Zib also was trying to shutdown Hischier and Hughes. Which he did a pretty good job of when all was said and done

I agree with you Tom!! It’s amazing what people don’t notice in/on players sometimes. We have problems, but Zib surely isn’t one of them
- Slimtj100

Not really a lottery guy but I'm definitely going to buy a Powerball ticket after reading the bolded

Would Drysdale for Laf be deal both would like? Just hearing that drysdale is ina bit of a tiff with the ducks org

Not really a lottery guy but I'm definitely going to buy a Powerball ticket after reading the bolded
- eichiefs9

Crazy 😱

Not really a lottery guy but I'm definitely going to buy a Powerball ticket after reading the bolded
- eichiefs9

- eichiefs9

Does this happen among islander fans? Like imagine questioning the player who: in the last 5 years has 371 points in 358 games?

Ok. See ya’all later.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

The reason they lost vs NJ is simple, the kid line. Going into that series they needed them to step up and none of the 3 did. Zib had a responsibility they didn’t have to do. Eric Haula of all people outplayed them. That was the difference

Does this happen among islander fans? Like imagine questioning the player who: in the last 5 years has 371 points in 358 games?
- tomburton99

We have our own set of internal issues