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

[wafflepadsave]

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.

Now you opened Pandora’s box.

 

[mas0764]

I was alternating between the MSNBC feed and MSG feed (don’t ask why, long story) and on one of the feeds they said something along the lines of Quinn was trying to get his team to learn to play like the Isles do.

No, no, no, no, no. If that is true it explains a fricking ton.

 

[wafflepadsave]

You're not going to get that from Strome and Panarin, who are east-west. You said as much earlier. A not healthy Mika and 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.

I still think we have a number of placeholders yet on this team. I think this summer is when some more turnover will occur.

 

[will1066]

I was alternating between the MSNBC feed and MSG feed (don’t ask why, long story) and on one of the feeds they said something along the lines of Quinn was trying to get his team to learn to play like the Isles do.

No, no, no, no, no. If that is true it explains a fricking ton.

In the context of puck support and disciplined structure. If they play like tonight, they should come away with the W most nights. Varlamov was lights out and they took advantage of our mistakes. It wasn't like we had no good looks (at even strength, PP still blows), because we did and their goaltender made our SOGs look like muffins.

 

[will1066]

Agreed. Kevin Hayes would be perfect on this team

Hayes would be the possession type center who would slow the pace down and play catch with and feed Laf, with his big body protection on the cycle. Too bad Chytil went down because he was beginning to display the signs of becoming a board monster.

 

[gravey9]

You're not going to get that from Strome and Panarin, who are east-west. You said as much earlier. A not healthy Mika and 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.

i don't disagree, i just think that ALL lines need to be able to score a greasy goal when nec. And top two lines are refusing to do the dirty work and get to the middle. crash the net and find a rebound.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

I'm worried but also not worried about Zibanejad.

No, because he had covid and he's out of shape.

Yes, because is he just out of shape or does he have long covid? Long covid just doesn't go away in some patients, period. It will take many more months to understand cause and treatment. This might Zibanejad for the foreseeable future if that's what it is.

No, because after his current contract expires, I didn't think he fit into the financial scheme moving forward anyway.

Yes, because if he doesn't, who's the organization's top center?

Roller coaster of emotion here for me as a reader.

 

[will1066]

i don't disagree, i just think that ALL lines need to be able to score a greasy goal when nec. And top two lines are refusing to do the dirty work and get to the middle. crash the net and find a rebound.

I think they have. Blackwell was PPG before he went down lol. They've been getting the greasy goals, but that's not to be counted on every game at the end of the day.

And Blackwell was the new "Fast" with Panarin and Strome before he went down.

 

[gravey9]

I think they have. Blackwell was PPG before he went down lol. They've been getting the greasy goals, but that's not to be counted on every game at the end of the day.

Getting inside has to become muscle memory. I think we have done it in spurts but it's not in our DNA yet. Tonight was a good example.

 

[gravey9]

Worst gaffe of the night goes to Pierre McGuire though --- when he called Zac Jones another Cale Makar. That's like when I thought Mike Mottau was the next Brian Leetch. Jones is better than MM. But Cale Makar IS Brian Leetch-esque.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

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

I really have no idea but I know we would be positioned to make a move for him better than almost every team in the league.



I’m guessing some combination 3-4 of the following would make up the package: Kravtsov, Zac Jones, Howden, Hajek, Lundkvist, Chytil, Schneider.

Eichel is a unique case bc he’s young, in his prime, locked up for years and he’s a top 5 player at his position currently. They should get a ransom for him. But we know the typical package for a star is usually AT LEAST 1 roster player, 2 high end prospects, 1st round pick.

Howden, Kravtsov, Jones, 1st round pick would be a coup of good deal for us so any actual package would most likely hurt more than that.

I’m guessing Buffalo would want Kakko or Laffy. We won’t want to give up Kakko or Laf so they’ll probably want Chytil at least. Would they want Georgiev? Possibly. Lundkvist? Schneider?

It really is a unique situation.

 

[NYR3]

I really have no idea but I know we would be positioned to make a move for him better than almost every team in the league.



I’m guessing some combination 3-4 of the following would make up the package: Kravtsov, Zac Jones, Howden, Hajek, Lundkvist, Chytil, Schneider.

Eichel is a unique case bc he’s young, in his prime, locked up for years and he’s a top 5 player at his position currently. They should get a ransom for him. But we know the typical package for a star is usually AT LEAST 1 roster player, 2 high end prospects, 1st round pick.

Howden, Kravtsov, Jones, 1st round pick would be a coup of good deal for us so any actual package would most likely hurt more than that.

I’m guessing Buffalo would want Kakko or Laffy. We won’t want to give up Kakko or Laf so they’ll probably want Chytil at least. Would they want Georgiev? Possibly. Lundkvist? Schneider?

It really is a unique situation.

I doubt Buffalo wants Howden. I think Eichel costs Kakko or Lafreniere and then a bunch of other things. No thanks

 

[ViD]

How did Igor look? Any of the goals on him ?

 

[nyrleetch]

I'm pretty indifferent on Quinn, I don't think he's been that bad, I don't think he's the guy to lead this team towards the ultimate goal in the future. However, for a guy not really expected to win, how long does he get a leash for when Kakko and Laf have played like this? Those guys development's should be the #1 goal, and yeah Laf offseason obviously wasn't ideal for a rookie, but 1 point in 10 games while still getting 15 mins a night, is somewhat concerning, not sky is falling concerning, but really would love to see him get going.

 

[Kravtsov420]

Quinn is teaching defensive responsibility at the expense of the kids learning offense. I disagree, get them the reps for offense now, and the defensive will come later. But doing this, you’re lowering the potential offensive ceiling imo.

 

[tomobson]

how many more game we have against the islanders? just lulls you to sleep.

 

[bl02]

How did Igor look? Any of the goals on him ?

I thought he was fine. Stopped 28 of 30. Two goals he gave up were islander players going to the net in close.

 

[Synergy27]

I doubt Buffalo wants Howden. I think Eichel costs Kakko or Lafreniere and then a bunch of other things. No thanks

Why would anyone hesitate to move Laf or Kakko for Eichel? Eichel is who we pray either of those guys becomes, if not better, and he plays a more important position.

The idea behind having these high draft picks is because they can contribute greatly, if not dominate, while still cheap. It’s not looking like that will happen with our crown jewel prospects, so why the hesitation to move them for a sure thing?

Sure it’s possible that things start clicking for both of our kids while they are still on their ELC but they haven’t personally shown me enough to forgo the sure thing if it was made available.

 

[huerter]

What page is the Trouba foot race on? We've seen it many times but that one was RADEKulous BONKers.

 

[NYR3]

Why would anyone hesitate to move Laf or Kakko for Eichel? Eichel is who we pray either of those guys becomes, if not better, and he plays a more important position.

The idea behind having these high draft picks is because they can contribute greatly, if not dominate, while still cheap. It’s not looking like that will happen with our crown jewel prospects, so why the hesitation to move them for a sure thing?

Sure it’s possible that things start clicking for both of our kids while they are still on their ELC but they haven’t personally shown me enough to forgo the sure thing if it was made available.

Laf played 11 games, 19 years old., Kakko 76 games, 19 years old. And they haven't shown enough? I guess we should trade every teenager who doesn't score 100 points right away then. Lmao only in NY

 

[huerter]

Meanwhile, NHL Radio is laying it on thick with their love for Neil Pionk.

Two weeks in a row on TSN690's friday scrum they have mentioned how underrated he is. BTW, that's Montreal's radio station for those who dont know.

 

[huerter]

Two weeks in a row on TSN690's friday scrum they have mentioned how underrated he is. BTW, that's Montreal's radio station for those who dont know.

Damn, now I've mentioned this two weeks in a row. I'm turning into Statboy and his well-groomed agreeable protege.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Kreider - Strome - Kakko
Panarin - Lafreniere - Buchnevich
Lemieux - Howden - PDG
Blackwell - Zibanejad - Gauthier

f*** it

 

[Rempe73]

I waited until midnight to watch the replay of this game, ordered a pizza, and blazed...for THAT?!

 

[eco's bones]

Sometimes you have to give credit where it's due. Panarin goes in on a breakaway in the 3rd period and Varlamov shuts him down. A couple minutes later here's Zibanejad and again Varlamov shuts him down. It could have been the other way.

So the positives I take from this---the Rangers have taken a significant step forward this year in the realm of defending. We don't often see big shot numbers against our goalies anymore. I thought the Howden, DiGiuseppe, Lafreniere line had some great shifts and it's probably (for me anyway) the best game that Julien Gauthier's played for us. As I said overall team defense has improved significantly.

This was anybody's game really until late.