Jan Levine: Game 15: NYR 3 PHI 2, S/O, Georgiev leads way, Fox plays 30:07 in win Off the losing schneid

I can't decide which is more painful:

Listening to a clearly diminished Sam Rosen calling games or watching Jack Johnson try to defend. Both are GOOD men, but it is time for them to hang it up...

I can't decide which is more painful:

Listening to a clearly diminished Sam Rosen calling games or watching Jack Johnson try to defend. Both are GOOD men, but it is time for them to hang it up...
- TommyGTrain

Just like some guys like to throw a hit or handle the puck to get them into the flow of the game, JJ needs to take a penalty before he can settle in!

Blackwell has been great and he played a total of 12 minutes last night. He had only 7 minutes through the first 2 periods. Quinn’s inability to make adjustments mid game is a problem, I’ll take the win but it’s been a problem with Quinn all season. Like when Gauthier got his first goal and was playing great and at the end of the night had a total of 7 minutes.

Blackwell has been great and he played a total of 12 minutes last night. He had only 7 minutes through the first 2 periods. Quinn’s inability to make adjustments mid game is a problem, I’ll take the win but it’s been a problem with Quinn all season. Like when Gauthier got his first goal and was playing great and at the end of the night had a total of 7 minutes.
- nyrangers9479

I'm not going to say that Quinn doesn't need to improve, but are we really going to complain about 4th line players ONLY getting 12 minutes?
Yeah, they are playing great. And I'm happy about that. But, at the same time we are talking about how we won't win anything if our top 6 don't get going. How exactly is that going to happen if they sit on the bench? Guys like Mika, Kreider and Buch are our best path forward. So, they have to play their way out of the slump.

Kakko and fox really playing well. Blackwell has been a gem find.

Howden should he 4c once chytl is back. Zib and Kreider should be off the pp.

Last Laf looks like a passenger. Kid needs to skate and posses the puck more. He just looks so below average and overwhelmed. More disappointing than Kakko after all the hype

Kakko and fox really playing well. Blackwell has been a gem find.

Howden should he 4c once chytl is back. Zib and Kreider should be off the pp.

Last Laf looks like a passenger. Kid needs to skate and posses the puck more. He just looks so believe average and overwhelmed. More disappointing than Kakko after all the hype
- nyrangers2

Yeah, I see glimpses of it with Laf. He certainly hasn't had the puck on his stick enough, but when he does there is a calmness and agility to his look that you don't normally see in a rookie, IMO. I think he will be great, just obviously not one of these kids that takes over from the get go. I feel like we've been made to expect it, but it has to be more rare than what we've seen in the last 10-12 years.

Surprising to hear that Kakko is in the top of the league in take aways. He is obviously playing really good this year, but that stuck out. Now he just needs to get on a scoring streak

Yeah, I see glimpses of it with Laf. He certainly hasn't had the puck on his stick enough, but when he does there is a calmness and agility to his look that you don't normally see in a rookie, IMO. I think he will be great, just obviously not one of these kids that takes over from the get go. I feel like we've been made to expect it, but it has to be more rare than what we've seen in the last 10-12 years.
- Tonybere

It does suck though, really thought we would see some of that raw elite talent he has. Or at least flashes of it. Haven't noticed it at all yet

I can't decide which is more painful:

Listening to a clearly diminished Sam Rosen calling games or watching Jack Johnson try to defend. Both are GOOD men, but it is time for them to hang it up...
- TommyGTrain

I get the Sam Rosen talk and the things he says making a lot of mistakes which he did even when he was actually in the areana, it is prety funny.

But it must be a lot harder to call a game watching like us on a screen and the screen they are watching on is terrible, 9 small screens made into one big screen. MSG couldn't give them a 70-80 inch 4k clear tv?

It does suck though, really thought we would see some of that raw elite talent he has. Or at least flashes of it. Haven't noticed it at all yet
- TPC

There's no evidence to back this theory up, but something tells me that the way the coaching staff is treating rookies sucks the "rawness" out of their game. We saw it happen last year with Kakko, who looked awful in his first 60 games of his career. I actually think Laf is having a better rookie campaign than Kakko so far, so maybe that translates into Laf exploding next year.

Easy to forget that he's still only 19, living in NYC alone, trying to make it in the NHL. But man, would be great for him to get on the score sheet more...

There's no evidence to back this theory up, but something tells me that the way the coaching staff is treating rookies sucks the "rawness" out of their game. We saw it happen last year with Kakko, who looked awful in his first 60 games of his career. I actually think Laf is having a better rookie campaign than Kakko so far, so maybe that translates into Laf exploding next year.

Easy to forget that he's still only 19, living in NYC alone, trying to make it in the NHL. But man, would be great for him to get on the score sheet more...
- Bean_Dip

Yea it's not even about the points to me. I just wish I noticed him more, saw that raw talent everyone talked about. Maybe you are right and they are just trying to get him to focus on playing 200 feet of hockey and take the rawness out. But man they better not turn him into a 3rd line grinder. Let the man play with his skill if he has it.

Yea it's not even about the points to me. I just wish I noticed him more, saw that raw talent everyone talked about. Maybe you are right and they are just trying to get him to focus on playing 200 feet of hockey and take the rawness out. But man they better not turn him into a 3rd line grinder. Let the man play with his skill if he has it.
- TPC

Given the lack of a full training camp and no preseason, had the AHL season started at the same time it would have been interesting to see him start there. He hadn’t played a game in 9-10 months, so that could have been the rationale. I still think it would be a good idea for him to play 20+ minutes a night against lesser competition and tear it up but can’t imagine the negative attention a demotion would bring. Same with Kakko last year, he dominated traverse city which locked him into the NYR roster. He probably could have used half a season in Hartford as well, but at least we are finally seeing his true potential which I think is still just the tip of the iceberg.

Given the lack of a full training camp and no preseason, had the AHL season started at the same time it would have been interesting to see him start there. He hadn’t played a game in 9-10 months, so that could have been the rationale. I still think it would be a good idea for him to play 20+ minutes a night against lesser competition and tear it up but can’t imagine the negative attention a demotion would bring. Same with Kakko last year, he dominated traverse city which locked him into the NYR roster. He probably could have used half a season in Hartford as well, but at least we are finally seeing his true potential which I think is still just the tip of the iceberg.
- TC88

It also doesn't help he has had to play with Zib and Howden all season for the most part. Would be nice if he could play with an NHL caliber center

It also doesn't help he has had to play with Zib and Howden all season for the most part. Would be nice if he could play with an NHL caliber center
- TPC

That really probably is the biggest factor right now. We have the least threatening offensive I’ve seen in recent memory. It sucks to see their point totals, and can only imagine how much it’s weighing on them. But, had our top 6 continued at last years pace (or even 75% of it!) both Kakko and Laf are .5 PPG players at a minimum. Kakko is average fewer PPG than last year and he never sniffed top 6 minutes last year. THATS BAD, but not his fault whatsoever.

silver linings

Lafreniere and Kakko aren't jumping from entry level contracts to big money

but, for a little perspective...

look how good Barzal has become, and he had two full junior seasons after the Islanders drafted him, it just takes time

and on top of it, both Kakko and Lafreniere are extremely effected by how poopty the veterans have been

That really probably is the biggest factor right now. We have the least threatening offensive I’ve seen in recent memory. It sucks to see their point totals, and can only imagine how much it’s weighing on them. But, had our top 6 continued at last years pace (or even 75% of it!) both Kakko and Laf are .5 PPG players at a minimum. Kakko is average fewer PPG than last year and he never sniffed top 6 minutes last year. THATS BAD, but not his fault whatsoever.
- TC88

You watch highlights of Laf in juniors he always had the puck and controlled play. Now he plays hot potatoe. Just never makes plays

It also doesn't help he has had to play with Zib and Howden all season for the most part. Would be nice if he could play with an NHL caliber center
- TPC

That's the thing. I can think of at least 10 scoring chances that he had or his linemates had that didn't go in. Would we still be having these conversations if any of his linemates performed better? If he had 11pts, are we even having this conversation? Probably not.

You watch highlights of Laf in juniors he always had the puck and controlled play. Now he plays hot potatoe. Just never wants or Mars plays
- nyrangers2

I have noticed that as well. He also doesn’t seem to attack the net for rebounds or dirty goals or have much of an instinct on how to get open in scoring areas. Other than batting that puck out of the air the other game, he hasn’t had many of those grade A chances he had in the first handful of games where he just missed or was robbed. I think it that killed his confidence. I would be okay with a stint in Hartford to get him going, it would just be a media sh*t show.

That's the thing. I can think of at least 10 scoring chances that he had or his linemates had that didn't go in. Would we still be having these conversations if any of his linemates performed better? If he had 11pts, are we even having this conversation? Probably not.
- Bean_Dip

If he had 7 points I don’t think we’re having this conversation. 1 point just looks rough. I’m still confident it’s coming but the Zib domino effect is real right now.

If he had 7 points I don’t think we’re having this conversation. 1 point just looks rough. I’m still confident it’s coming but the Zib domino effect is real right now.
- TC88

I really think if you stuck Lafreniere in the middle of the way this offense was humming last season January through the pause in March he'd be putting up points

there's no doubt this absolutely stagnant offense this season, that looked exactly like this in the bubble, is the main reason for lack of production of the kids

I really think if you stuck Lafreniere in the middle of the way this offense was humming last season January through the pause in March he'd be putting up points

there's no doubt this absolutely stagnant offense this season, that looked exactly like this in the bubble, is the main reason for lack of production of the kids
- jimbro83

100%. Just have to hope it doesn’t have long term consequences.

I really think if you stuck Lafreniere in the middle of the way this offense was humming last season January through the pause in March he'd be putting up points

there's no doubt this absolutely stagnant offense this season, that looked exactly like this in the bubble, is the main reason for lack of production of the kids
- jimbro83

Maybe instead of pointing the finger at Quinn, we should be looking to remove David Oliver. He's the offensive coach, runs the power play. Both of those have been the issue since the bubble.

Maybe instead of pointing the finger at Quinn, we should be looking to remove David Oliver. He's the offensive coach, runs the power play. Both of those have been the issue since the bubble.
- Bean_Dip

I agree, watching management sit on their hands so far is almost as frustrating as watching the team play some nights.

Not sure who has The Athletic, but Shayna posted a great read yesterday. She suggested a line of:

Panarin-Zib-Blackwell

Honestly love that idea. Blackwell fills the Fast role (with more offensive instincts) and Panarin hopefully helps Zib out of his slump. I couldn’t see them going more than 2 games without getting him a goal (or at minimum a helper).

Maybe instead of pointing the finger at Quinn, we should be looking to remove David Oliver. He's the offensive coach, runs the power play. Both of those have been the issue since the bubble.
- Bean_Dip

If anything happens, I bet it will be at the end of the season. They will start fresh from there. Does anyone really think JD is blaming Quinn for our top lines play?