GDT: #11 - 02/08/21 | islanders @ RANGERS | 7:00 - MSG, NBCSN

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

This is the guy that was in the package for McDonagh lol. That entire trade other than the 1st was f***ing awful. Almost have nothing to show for it

Yeah him and Hajek who is said to be the must have player in the deal for Gorton and the hardest to give up by Stevie Y.

Now 3 years later and one has seemingly regressed from an ok 4th liner with potential to a not even NHL caliber player. And the other can’t even crack the lineup and when he does he looks like an ECHLer.

Pretty staggering. I mean Gorton made that deal basically having made up his mind he had to move McDonagh and got best deal he could I guess. Pretty brutal. Thank god for Nils he could be the saving grace of that deal.

 

[NYR3]

One last thing... whoever gets put on that Panarin and Strome line.... they have to do two things, go in and dig a puck out IF it EVER gets dumped in. (almost never with that group). And then that forward has to quickly transition back to the third man high because Strome is NEVER 3rd man high. And Panarin is sometimes first forward back but that's usually the result of him attempting something fancy inside the offensive blue line that results in a turnover. So, if you're looking for Kakko to score tons of points on that line... it's likely not going to happen unless he's getting secondary assists. Kakko needs to play with a Chytil or a center that can keep possession and cycle downlow. That's Kakko's strength. When Chytil comes back Kakko needs to be stapled to Chytil's wing.

This is why Fast was a bigger loss than they thought he would be

 

[wafflepadsave]

The problem is our center depth is so shitty you have no choice but to play him big minutes and hope he gets on track. Who’s taking Mika’s minutes? Strome? Howden? Rooney? Jesus?

Jesus would be perfect!

 

[wafflepadsave]

One last thing... whoever gets put on that Panarin and Strome line.... they have to do two things, go in and dig a puck out IF it EVER gets dumped in. (almost never with that group). And then that forward has to quickly transition back to the third man high because Strome is NEVER 3rd man high. And Panarin is sometimes first forward back but that's usually the result of him attempting something fancy inside the offensive blue line that results in a turnover. So, if you're looking for Kakko to score tons of points on that line... it's likely not going to happen unless he's getting secondary assists. Kakko needs to play with a Chytil or a center that can keep possession and cycle downlow. That's Kakko's strength. When Chytil comes back Kakko needs to be stapled to Chytil's wing.

I think you might of just described Fast.

 

[mike14]

Jesus would be perfect!

Too old, and if you think people have an issue with Mika's hair there's no way they could cope with Jesus'!

 

[brians1128]

Somehow kakko in in a worse ppg pace than he was last year even if he is playing better defensively

lafreniere I am just floored by how little he’s done. He’s a guy that sneezes and gets 2 pts a night

Neither has sniffed PP1 which is like dead last at this point in the league. Just a weird coach

Thats the biggest problem, one of them should be on pp1. Panarin and Kakko had a nice setup 5v5, imo if you want to improve that chemistry put Kakko on pp1 and let them do work on the man advantage and their 5v5 production will also benefit from it. Move Zibby to pp2 and move laf to his wing 5v5 and let them develop some chemistry. split pp time 50/50

 

[gravey9]

This is why Fast was a bigger loss than they thought he would be

I would argue that our current issue is not about having another speedy two-way grinder. We have pretty good options there. PDG. And blackwell was weirdly great there. Our issue is, we have a lot of top 6 wings and they're not meshing great. And I believe, the majority of that has to do with not having centers who can drive play right now. I'd much rather have another legit middle-6 center on this roster.

 

[NYR3]

I would argue that our current issue is not about having another speedy two-way grinder. We have pretty good options there. PDG. And blackwell was weirdly great there. Our issue is, we have a lot of top 6 wings and they're not meshing great. And I believe, the majority of that has to do with not having centers who can drive play right now. I'd much rather have another legit middle-6 center on this roster.

Agreed. Kevin Hayes would be perfect on this team

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Personally when everyone is healthy id just go with

Kreider zib buch
Pamarin Strome Blackwell/Pdg
Lafreniere Chytil Kakko
Lemieux Howden Blackwell/Pdg/Rooney

I think the kids need to play together and learn as they go, playing sheltered minutes and with players who have the same engine and just roll the kid line out with someone and Miller for pp2. I don't think forcing them into the top 6 is helping, especially when Zib hasn't been himself.

 

[will1066]

One last thing... whoever gets put on that Panarin and Strome line.... they have to do two things, go in and dig a puck out IF it EVER gets dumped in. (almost never with that group). And then that forward has to quickly transition back to the third man high because Strome is NEVER 3rd man high. And Panarin is sometimes first forward back but that's usually the result of him attempting something fancy inside the offensive blue line that results in a turnover. So, if you're looking for Kakko to score tons of points on that line... it's likely not going to happen unless he's getting secondary assists. Kakko needs to play with a Chytil or a center that can keep possession and cycle downlow. That's Kakko's strength. When Chytil comes back Kakko needs to be stapled to Chytil's wing.

Why Fast was a good fixture that complemented them and made a good line.

 

[NYR3]

Personally when everyone is healthy id just go with

Kreider zib buch
Pamarin Strome Blackwell
Lafreniere Chytil Kakko
Lemieux Rooney Howden

I think the kids need to play together and learn as they go, playing sheltered minutes and with players who have the same engine and just roll the kid line out with someone and Miller for pp2. I don't think forcing them into the top 6 is helping, especially when Zib hasn't been himself.

Replace Howden with Di Giuseppe and i'm fine with it

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Replace Howden with Di Giuseppe and i'm fine with it

I edited it when i realized i forgot pdg.

 

[wafflepadsave]

Too old, and if you think people have an issue with Mika's hair there's no way they could cope with Jesus'!

I probably (wrongly) equate long hair with not going full tilt. I don’t see enough of the battle level out of him yet. And this will set some people off but how many Rangers were sent down on the ice vs. islanders players? That stat, if they were counted, would be worse than the typical faceoffs won stat.

 

[bl02]

I think you might of just described Fast.

too many chiefs not enough Indians on that line. I mean maybe in the future Kakko could do it but right now there is no one that can forecheck like a demon on that line. Unless Panarin carries the puck in with absolute possession no one right now is able to retrieve the puck.

 

[will1066]

I would argue that our current issue is not about having another speedy two-way grinder. We have pretty good options there. PDG. And blackwell was weirdly great there. Our issue is, we have a lot of top 6 wings and they're not meshing great. And I believe, the majority of that has to do with not having centers who can drive play right now. I'd much rather have another legit middle-6 center on this roster.

This would be much less of a glaring issue if Mika hadn't gotten Covid. Just one of those things in one of those years. At least we're still playing games unlike NJ, Buff, and Minn.

 

[gravey9]

Why Fast was a good fixture that complemented them and made a good line.

Fast was and is great. And perfect for that line. But our more pressing issue right now is at center. I think PDG, Blackwell and any number of prospects can eventually replace what Fast brings over time. But we have no center depth at all.

Plus, if Fast was in this lineup, they would be riding top 6 even harder. Kakko and Laf would be getting 9 minutes a game and everyone would be shouting about that 24/7. And they wouldn't be wrong. But has this all created some major chemistry issues --- yes. But less so if we have Chytil. And even far less so if Ryan Strome wasn't suddenly our most effective center on the roster. Yuck... (well, maybe Zib at 60% is still better than Strome but you get the point). It's all about the centers.

 

[Synergy27]

They played fine tonight. The Islanders exist to suck the soul out of the game. Varlamov wasn’t getting beaten tonight.

I’m honestly not sure how to process this right now. They are in every game and are having really bad luck in close contests. The fact that things are close with Zib being bad and the #1 and #2 overall not yet putting up stats should probably be encouraging.

I think we’d all feel better if they were losing games 6-4 and both Laf and Kakko were scoring lots of points but I’m not sure that would be indicative of a team heading in the right direction.

 

[brians1128]

An Eichel trade would be the dumbest thing they can possibly do. Such a predictable move

Imagine trading for a top 5 -10 center who fits their time frame would be the dumbest thing.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I probably (wrongly) equate long hair with not going full tilt. I don’t see enough of the battle level out of him yet. And this will set some people off but how many Rangers were sent down on the ice vs. islanders players? That stat, if they were counted, would be worse than the typical faceoffs won stat.

I think Howden alone fell down to the ice more than the whole Islanders team combined.

 

[NYR3]

Imagine trading for a top 5 -10 center who fits their time frame would be the dumbest thing.

Lol ok. What would you give up for him? A top 5-10 center will cost a lot so go ahead and give me a package. Also need to include his contract on the cap

 

[gravey9]

O one last thing. I feel like there's a lot of focus on panarin and zib and how if they don't score we don't win. But i would argue the opposite. When the team doesn't score a dirty, lunch pail goal, they don't win. We have enough skill to win, but do we have the will to win? Getting inside, crashing the net, getting rebounds and screens. that's what creates space for your skilled forwards. We need THAT every game. And we win most games.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Lol ok. What would you give up for him? A top 5-10 center will cost a lot so go ahead and give me a package. Also need to include his contract on the cap

We have tons of young prospects, they’re not all going to play for us. There’s not enough room.

Part of rebuilding and acquiring tons of assets is to build up tons of young capital to either play for us or be used in a trade. We have enough high end prospects to be able to lose a few in trades and w have a ton left for us.

 

[NYR3]

We have tons of young prospects, they’re not all going to play for us. There’s not enough room.

Part of rebuilding and acquiring tons of assets is to build up tons of young capital to either play for us or be used in a trade. We have enough high end prospects to be able to lose a few in trades and w have a ton left for us.

So what's a package you give up for Eichel that you think Buffalo would take?

 

[will1066]

O one last thing. I feel like there's a lot of focus on panarin and zib and how if they don't score we don't win. But i would argue the opposite. When the team doesn't score a dirty, lunch pail goal, they don't win. We have enough skill to win, but do we have the will to win? Getting inside, crashing the net, getting rebounds and screens. that's what creates space for your skilled forwards. We need THAT every game. And we win most games.

You're not going to get that from Strome and Panarin, who are east-west. You said as much earlier. A not healthy, ineffective Mika mesns KZB are grounded from their cycling game. The bottom six are doing their jobs but they're bottom six for a reason. Either line in the top six should be producing a goal at even strength and cashing in on the power play each game that helps carry the team.

 

[mas0764]

They played fine tonight. The Islanders exist to suck the soul out of the game. Varlamov wasn’t getting beaten tonight.

I’m honestly not sure how to process this right now. They are in every game and are having really bad luck in close contests. The fact that things are close with Zib being bad and the #1 and #2 overall not yet putting up stats should probably be encouraging.

I think we’d all feel better if they were losing games 6-4 and both Laf and Kakko were scoring lots of points but I’m not sure that would be indicative of a team heading in the right direction.

I’d feel better because my inclination is to believe that natural offensive skill can’t be taught but that defense can. Instead I’m seeing a defensively responsible team that looks like it can’t score again just like the 2012-15 versions of the team which would be my nightmare.