Because they wake up. Kinda hard to get worse from how flat they come out nightly
- nyrangers9479

So it's just that the players "wake up" and there's no change to the game plan? I've heard plenty of press conferences where DQ says they need to do x, y, and z to be successful against any particular team. Then the prayers don't do it and they lose. Hard to blame the coach. Name one player that actually showed up tonight. The Islanders never stopped skating or hitting. The Rangers couldn't get out of first gear. Hard to blame the coach's planning when the players don't execute.

So it's just that the players "wake up" and there's no change to the game plan? I've heard plenty of press conferences where DQ says they need to do x, y, and z to be successful against any particular team. Then the prayers don't do it and they lose. Hard to blame the coach. Name one player that actually showed up tonight. The Islanders never stopped skating or hitting. The Rangers couldn't get out of first gear. Hard to blame the coach's planning when the players don't execute.
- gravey914

A lot of this is on the players as well. bc they are missing an element to this team where players go to the dirty areas and win those one on one battles. This offseason will be interesting from Groton

So it's just that the players "wake up" and there's no change to the game plan? I've heard plenty of press conferences where DQ says they need to do x, y, and z to be successful against any particular team. Then the prayers don't do it and they lose. Hard to blame the coach. Name one player that actually showed up tonight. The Islanders never stopped skating or hitting. The Rangers couldn't get out of first gear. Hard to blame the coach's planning when the players don't execute.
- gravey914

Yep I agree

Thoughts going forward:

1) We are not physical or tough enough as a team the way we are currently constructed. Some here want the team to do very little this off season and just bring everyone back next fall. I do not share this sentiment. Many moves must be made.

2) We have to get a center that can win faceoffs! I may sound like a broken record, but it is ESSENTIAL to upgrade over Strome. Chytil is still young enough that he may improve with time. Sell high on Strome! I am not blaming Strome for the loss tonite, but he picked the worst night to have one of his worst games. He won only 3 of 12 faceoffs, he led the team in giveaways, and was simply bad. BYE, CYA it was a good run, but time to trade him.

3) I cannot believe I am typing this, but HOWDEN showed up tonite and played exactly the way we needed the entire team to play! He was noticable all game ( and in a GOOD way! ). Brendan Smith played well too.

4) Call up more kids like Barron and Reunanen and let them swim in the deep end of the pool to see what they can do. Cut back everyones minutes, roll 4 lines and 3 D pairings evenly for the remainder of the season.

5) Lets hope we get some more lottery ball luck and stick it up Yzerman's a$$ one last time before they change the rules! Biggest offseason of Gorton's career is coming up, going to be interesting to see what he does...

Putting the draft on, Someone come get me if the rangers decide to show up lol
- TPC

Thank you for the Slim Reaper. Can’t believe they made a deal after so many years of draft day hate

Plus...we both stick it to the Giants!

They have some of the better goal differentials in 2nd and 3rd periods throughout the entire league. +11 in 1st periods, +15 in 2nd periods, +12 in 3rd periods.
- gravey914

Those numbers mean nothing. We know they can score the lights out. What those numbers dont show is when the Rangers go up 4-0, and ultimately win the game 6-5.

very very disheartening

I don't know if it's accurate to say the problem is "they weren't ready to play"

it's that they have no answers for the Islanders style of play

nothing they try works, the Islanders instantly make them look like the Ranger team from the bubble

and other teams are able to be successful against the Islanders, but the Rangers have absolutely nothing and its very disappointing

from the coaching on down, tomorrow night seems like a waste of time

very very disheartening

I don't know if it's accurate to say the problem is "they weren't ready to play"

it's that they have no answers for the Islanders style of play

nothing they try works, the Islanders instantly make them look like the Ranger team from the bubble

and other teams are able to be successful against the Islanders, but the Rangers have absolutely nothing and its very disappointing

from the coaching on down, tomorrow night seems like a waste of time
- jimbro83

Spot on. They don’t have the personnel from coaching to the players to adjust and play that style of game. Panarin and zib were ghosts. There will be changes this offseason to hopefully address the face off/center issue and add some size in the bottom 6

very very disheartening

I don't know if it's accurate to say the problem is "they weren't ready to play"

it's that they have no answers for the Islanders style of play

nothing they try works, the Islanders instantly make them look like the Ranger team from the bubble

and other teams are able to be successful against the Islanders, but the Rangers have absolutely nothing and its very disappointing

from the coaching on down, tomorrow night seems like a waste of time
- jimbro83

Yeah, The Islanders style seems to just neutralize everything the Rangers do.

Disappointing is an understatement. Someone mentioned it earlier but there is no way I would let Varlamov be so comfortable in his crease. I will not advocating running a goalie CK20 style but at least bump him, get in his face, call his wife a dyke, something.

very very disheartening

I don't know if it's accurate to say the problem is "they weren't ready to play"

it's that they have no answers for the Islanders style of play

nothing they try works, the Islanders instantly make them look like the Ranger team from the bubble

and other teams are able to be successful against the Islanders, but the Rangers have absolutely nothing and its very disappointing

from the coaching on down, tomorrow night seems like a waste of time
- jimbro83

I just think there are two things going on here:

1) I think as currently constructed NYI is just a bad matchup for us stylistically. I think though some of those problems will fix itself. Guys like Key, Laf, and Kakko will continue to fill out and hopefully they get that snarl. I do think some minor tinkering will be done to the bottom 6. Don't forget Trouba was also out and that didn't help.

2) You wonder if this team might just be about out of gas after all the man games missed and playing major minutes for about all of our key positions. This is where bringing in a 2C might help greatly so that Zib doesn't have to play quite as many minutes by getting him off the PK. We need to find ways to just shave a minute or two off Fox ice time too. It's one thing I always felt AV did reasonably well when he was here, was rolling lines more to keep guys fresher.

Isles are able to get into the Rangers head by clogging the N zone to the point the Rangers make terrible W/E passes that eventually lead to GA. Missing Kreider hurts & Gauthier should have been in the line up to address size/skill missing. Trouba loss hurts way more than Kreider, loss of true physical presence & able to block shots and keep play to the boards. The Rangers had to win out and we all know that wasn't happening. I appreciate the Rangers staying put at the deadline knowing their chances were slim to none in breaking the top 4. 82 game season, we are in the playoffs but prob get bubbled out in the first round. Need a summer of training & bottom 6 toughness & Center.

I just think there are two things going on here:

1) I think as currently constructed NYI is just a bad matchup for us stylistically. I think though some of those problems will fix itself. Guys like Key, Laf, and Kakko will continue to fill out and hopefully they get that snarl. I do think some minor tinkering will be done to the bottom 6. Don't forget Trouba was also out and that didn't help.

2) You wonder if this team might just be about out of gas after all the man games missed and playing major minutes for about all of our key positions. This is where bringing in a 2C might help greatly so that Zib doesn't have to play quite as many minutes by getting him off the PK. We need to find ways to just shave a minute or two off Fox ice time too. It's one thing I always felt AV did reasonably well when he was here, was rolling lines more to keep guys fresher.
- 2sticks1puck

Beyond just the man games missed, the simple grind of any season, let alone a condensed schedule, can be very impactful and these guys are all so young.

Depressed like we lost a game 7, don’t know what to think or who to blame, anything seems like an overreaction and I have no idea what they need to do in the off-season because we should have enough talent to get to the next level, all honesty I’d consider moving Kakko in a deal, I think he’s a bust, also Chytil, can we get a high caliber Center for those two?

Depressed like we lost a game 7, don’t know what to think or who to blame, anything seems like an overreaction and I have no idea what they need to do in the off-season because we should have enough talent to get to the next level, all honesty I’d consider moving Kakko in a deal, I think he’s a bust, also Chytil, can we get a high caliber Center for those two?
- KreiderBomb

I think Kakko will turn out well. I just don’t think he’s more than a 50-60 point guy. Still can be very productive for the team

Depressed like we lost a game 7, don’t know what to think or who to blame, anything seems like an overreaction and I have no idea what they need to do in the off-season because we should have enough talent to get to the next level, all honesty I’d consider moving Kakko in a deal, I think he’s a bust, also Chytil, can we get a high caliber Center for those two?
- KreiderBomb

What's your definition of bust?
There's ebb and flow to how strong a draft class is. Your statement seems to be saying that they drafted the wrong kid. Who was the better choice?

The reality is this team might not be as good as we all thought. This season they only played 7 teams. They were able to beat up on bad teams like the Sabres, Flyers and Devils. But they struggled and looked out of sorts at times against the better teams like the Pens, Isles and Bruins.

How can we judge what we really are till we play the rest of the league?

It’s why I wasn’t on board like a lot of you in wanting to run it back and give out big contracts to players like Strome and Buch. Gorton has some tough decisions to make. They need to get another top 6 center, whether that means keeping Strome or not. Buch may be a trading piece in that. They also need another veteran d man If they want to compete next season

What's your definition of bust?
There's ebb and flow to how strong a draft class is. Your statement seems to be saying that they drafted the wrong kid. Who was the better choice?
- Tonybere

Before you go into the rabbit hole, now might just be a good time to just put a pot of coffee on, for your own sanity

Depressed like we lost a game 7, don’t know what to think or who to blame, anything seems like an overreaction and I have no idea what they need to do in the off-season because we should have enough talent to get to the next level, all honesty I’d consider moving Kakko in a deal, I think he’s a bust, also Chytil, can we get a high caliber Center for those two?
- KreiderBomb

I don’t think Kakko is a bust. His d game is really improved. He really needs to work on his finishing though. I am willing to give him next season to see if he can.

I agree though, they can’t go into next season with Zib, strome and Chytill as the top 3 centers if they want to make a playoff run

The reality is this team might not be as good as we all thought. This season they only played 7 teams. They were able to beat up on bad teams like the Sabres, Flyers and Devils. But they struggled and looked out of sorts at times against the better teams like the Pens, Isles and Bruins.

How can we judge what we really are till we play the rest of the league?

It’s why I wasn’t on board like a lot of you in wanting to run it back and give out big contracts to players like Strome and Buch. Gorton has some tough decisions to make. They need to get another top 6 center, whether that means keeping Strome or not. Buch may be a trading piece in that. They also need another veteran d man If they want to compete next season
- TPC

Your point is perfectly fair. Though, i do think we were hurt not playing the other dregs of the league throughout the season too, so it kind of works both ways.

I still think Strome is the perfect guy to keep around. Chytil becomes part of a trade package to get a 2C, you let Strome walk after one year after being one of the best 3C in the whole league that can play on the PP. Buch for the most part IMO has lived up to his contract, but you never know he could be moved too in the right situation.

The reality is this team might not be as good as we all thought. This season they only played 7 teams. They were able to beat up on bad teams like the Sabres, Flyers and Devils. But they struggled and looked out of sorts at times against the better teams like the Pens, Isles and Bruins.

How can we judge what we really are till we play the rest of the league?

It’s why I wasn’t on board like a lot of you in wanting to run it back and give out big contracts to players like Strome and Buch. Gorton has some tough decisions to make. They need to get another top 6 center, whether that means keeping Strome or not. Buch may be a trading piece in that. They also need another veteran d man If they want to compete next season
- TPC

thats definitely never been one I wanted to do

the Rangers 2nd ilne center needs to be big, powerful and able to win faceoffs

it's unquestionably the biggest need

thats definitely never been one I wanted to do

the Rangers 2nd ilne center needs to be big, powerful and able to win faceoffs

it's unquestionably the biggest need
- jimbro83

Completely agree. I hope Gorton sees it too. If they are serious of being contenders next year, it is a must

Your point is perfectly fair. Though, i do think we were hurt not playing the other dregs of the league throughout the season too, so it kind of works both ways.

I still think Strome is the perfect guy to keep around. Chytil becomes part of a trade package to get a 2C, you let Strome walk after one year after being one of the best 3C in the whole league that can play on the PP. Buch for the most part IMO has lived up to his contract, but you never know he could be moved too in the right situation.
- 2sticks1puck

Yea I don’t mind keeping Strome, but they need an upgrade as well. I just don’t know how that works when Strome is due a big payday in another year

Also going to start this with saying in no way Am
I saying fire Quinn but going back to the bubble last year every damn big game the team doesn’t show up? How is that possible. Is it the players or the coaches. Something needs to be looked at.

Yea I don’t mind keeping Strome, but they need an upgrade as well. I just don’t know how that works when Strome is due a big payday in another year
- TPC

Well in a year, you just let him walk. I think Barron is going to be a perfect 3C in this league.

The more I think about it, I am going to be really pissed if Gorton doesn’t add another top 6 quality center this off-season. Just has to be a must