GDT: #16 - 11/09/18 | RANGERS @ red wings | 7:30 - MSG

[will1066]

Expect big-time games from Paul Ysebaert and Yves Racine.

And Steve Yzerman. Never seen a team with so many names starting with a Y.

 

[Hugh Mongusbig]

It should be Little Caesar's Palace.

The Pizza Dome

 

[eco's bones]

I’ve never felt this way in my entire life rooting for this team but I just want them to lose as much as possible. Tonight would be an ideal game to drop. Play well but lose. I’d be happy if we lost as much as possible on the road.

How can we play well and still lose against the Red Wings?

 

[Harbour Dog]

Couldn't agree more.

Henrik is performing at a heroic level, and we have guys rooting for the L's in November. Can't relate. It's best to agree to disagree. Come February, I may be singing a different tune; but until that bridge, recognize and support the greatness in net, and allow this group to push forward as a unit.

This is where I'm at.

I don't care how terrible a team is, I'm not going to cheer for them to lose games in the first half (at least) of the season. There are so many positives to enjoy on the roster right now, even travelling on up to the coaching staff. I want Hank to push his career numbers ever higher, I want our young guys to score and prosper, I want Quinn to prove himself as a guy who gets more than the sum of the parts out of his team, and I want our guys to prove the doubters wrong and push into the playoffs.

Once they slip out of the post-season picture, then I'll re-evaluate that last desire; but until then, just win.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

How can we play well and still lose against the Red Wings?

Howard does his usual against the Rangers.

 

[Kovalev27]

75 years of misery only one bright spot and we needed maybe the best two wag player in history and probably the second best dman ever to do it. We aren’t winning shit with what we have. In this day and age you need to hit rock bottom to climb to the top. The fans thinking with their heads instead of their hearts know this.

I’d even say it’s not even hearts. Takes a lot to know when to put old yeller down. That’s what we’ve needed to do and instead keep taking it to the vet to just barely keep getting by.

 

[NCRanger]

This rooting for losses this early is beyond annoying. Let the season play out a little and see where the chips fall. Maybe they fall apart, and yes, time to sell off assets, and look for picks and prospects.

What about somehow the team is something like 20-13-4, solidly in 2nd place in the division around Christmas. Is everyone still going to root for tanking?

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

This is where I'm at.

I don't care how terrible a team is, I'm not going to cheer for them to lose games in the first half (at least) of the season. There are so many positives to enjoy on the roster right now, even travelling on up to the coaching staff. I want Hank to push his career numbers ever higher, I want our young guys to score and prosper, I want Quinn to prove himself as a guy who gets more than the sum of the parts out of his team, and I want our guys to prove the doubters wrong and push into the playoffs.

Once they slip out of the post-season picture, then I'll re-evaluate that last desire; but until then, just win.

If all the wins are like the one against Montreal where they battle back and win on the backs of the young players? Sure.

They haven't been. We've had plenty of "we won only because of Hank" so far this year. I know that the last win gave everyone the warm and fuzzies, but they were grossly outplayed by Buffalo just 2 days prior.

I want no part of winning games and staying "in it" because of just Hank. That does nothing for us.

 

[Off Sides]

Once the game starts I root for the Rangers, before and after the games I know in the long run it's likely not good for them to end up with worse lottery odds.

It's akin to suspension of disbelief I figure.

 

[NCRanger]

If all the wins are like the one against Montreal where they battle back and win on the backs of the young players? Sure.

They haven't been. We've had plenty of "we won only because of Hank" so far this year. I know that the last win gave everyone the warm and fuzzies, but they were grossly outplayed by Buffalo just 2 days prior.

I want no part of winning games and staying "in it" because of just Hank. That does nothing for us.

You also realize they skated evenly with Nashville in the season opener, and got reffed.

They outplayed Buffalo in Buffalo, and got stoned by a goaltender.

They outplayed Calgary and got stoned by a goaltender nobody ever heard of.

Sure, maybe they've won a game or two where Hank was the difference, but they've also never given up, they've worked extremely hard in every game but that Chicago one.

You aren't giving these guys enough credit.

Maybe Pionk and ADA are a poor man's Leetch and Zubov?

Maybe Zibanejad is finally ready to be a 1C?

Maybe Kreider is going to score at a 40 goal pace?

Maybe Hayes is a top two-way center?

Maybe Howden might compete for the Calder?

Let things play out before you throw in your cards and chips.

 

[Harbour Dog]

If all the wins are like the one against Montreal where they battle back and win on the backs of the young players? Sure.

They haven't been. We've had plenty of "we won only because of Hank" so far this year. I know that the last win gave everyone the warm and fuzzies, but they were grossly outplayed by Buffalo just 2 days prior.

I want no part of winning games and staying "in it" because of just Hank. That does nothing for us.

I agree that this isn't ideal, but it's been the case for most of our teams since 2004.

Hank basically smoothed over the transition to a new system by standing on his f***ing head. And now we have a team that seems to be working together more effectively, young guys emerging on D, our first round picks from 2017 both on the NHL roster, and a four game winning streak.

Isn't it just easier for to cheer for them to put it all together? We're not a bottom-feeding team.

 

[Jayan]

I will never get over this, **** corporate arenas that corrode the soul of the teams. I'd rather watch a game at the crappy but historic Råsunda than the sleek but soulless "Friends Arena".

I agree that friends arena in the Swedish town Solna and its inhabitants do indeed suck, but that’s because of bad construction and really ill audio dynamics and not due to the name however considering its named after a non-bullying organization and not a company like many other arenas.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I agree that this isn't ideal, but it's been the case for most of our teams since 2004.

Hank basically smoothed over the transition to a new system by standing on his ****ing head. And now we have a team that seems to be working together more effectively, young guys emerging on D, our first round picks from 2017 both on the NHL roster, and a four game winning streak.

Isn't just easier for now to cheer for them to put it all together? We're not a bottom-feeding team.

Thats the thing, we're not really that far off from being a bottom feeder. We're bunched up in the middle of a bunch of teams that are out of it (this is with the 4 game winning streak, of which I'd say we were fortunate to win 2 of those games, maybe 3.) Some of the teams below us won't be there for much longer (Vegas and Florida in particular.)

Again, if they put it all together this year thats great, but the chances of that happening are next to zero. We need a top end player much more than we need to stay relevant enough where management may feel tempted to do something stupid and set this team back even further.

 

[will1066]

Howard does his usual against the Rangers.

Athanasiou

 

[Jayan]

Maybe Howden might compete for the Calder?

I’m pretty sure Elias Pettersson will grab this years Calder. He’s been going from elite prospect to looking like a generational talent this last year, was SHL mvp last season and carried his team to the gold.

I’d love for Howden to prove that wrong tho, but it’s currently like asking a Lexus to beat a Formula-1 car in a race.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Thats the thing, we're not really that far off from being a bottom feeder. We're bunched up in the middle of a bunch of teams that are out of it (this is with the 4 game winning streak, of which I'd say we were fortunate to win 2 of those games, maybe 3.) Some of the teams below us won't be there for much longer (Vegas and Florida in particular.)

Again, if they put it all together this year thats great, but the chances of that happening are next to zero. We need a top end player much more than we need to stay relevant enough where management may feel tempted to do something stupid and set this team back even further.

Fair enough. I think the difference in our opinions is based on how strong we view the team to be.

If Hank wasn't Hank, then maybe we're bottom five, sure. But as long as he is putting up numbers that are at or near his career averages, this roster is going to be pushing for a playoff spot.

Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, and Los Angeles are all definitely worse than us, and I would put another 6ish teams as being below us as well (including Vegas).

Once Hayes and/or Zucc are moved, then perhaps that will change the landscape, but for now, we aren't bad enough to lose at the rate of some of the dumpster fires that are in the league.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Fair enough. I think the difference in our opinions is based on how strong we view the team to be.

If Hank wasn't Hank, then maybe we're bottom five, sure. But as long as he is putting up numbers that are at or near his career averages, this roster is going to be pushing for a playoff spot.

Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, and Los Angeles are all definitely worse than us, and I would put another 6ish teams as being below us as well (including Vegas).

Once Hayes and/or Zucc are moved, then perhaps that will change the landscape, but for now, we aren't bad enough to lose at the rate of some of the dumpster fires that are in the league.

We're not far off at all. We're l just as close to being a wildcard team as we are to being bottom 3 in the league.

I don't think Montreal and LA are worse than we are. Montreal is ahead of us with Price playing like ass. If this is what he is then yeah, different story, but conventional wisdom would leave on to believe that there is massive improvement to be made there. Same with LA, but that applies to their whole team rather than just one guy.

Vegas is better than we are, as is STL (who I left out.) Those teams aren't going to be where they are in the standings right now in a few months. I don't see anyway that the Rangers hang around much longer, they just aren't that good.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I'll never be able to understand rooting for losses this early in the season.

If we're past the TDL and close to the basement, sure then we should be hoping to lose just get a good draft pick. But in November? I want them to win every game. I want Hank to be a top 5 goalie. I want them to make the playoffs. Sure, I know we're better off tanking and getting a top 3 pick, but I'm a fan, I can't help myself I want my team to win.

It's easy to sit here and say "we don't have the pieces to be a good team in the future without one more top pick" but you just don't know. How about play well, progress the kids currently in the lineup playing in games that matter and maybe we win the lottery? The current system makes it a better chance than ever for teams that barely miss the playoffs to move up to the top 3. Hell, we could not move up but hit a home run with our pick.

Plus, I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that we don't have the pieces for a strong future core of a contender already.

-Andersson
-Chytil
-DeAngelo
-Pionk
-Howden

Already playing NHL minutes.

-Kravtsov
-Hajek
-Shestyorkin
-Rykov

Will be here next year

-Miller
-Lundkvist
-Keane
-Huska
-Lindgren
-Gettinger

All could be here in a couple years.

Factor in current players who will probably be part of the next wave in

-Zibanejad
-Buchnevich
-Kreider

Throw in a high end free agent like Panarin.

I mean when you look at those pieces, there could absolutely be a contending core in there already. Even if we end up with a 10-14 pick this year, we could end up with a very good prospect to add to that group, possibly even an elite one. (Not for nothing, I think we have an elite talent in Kravtsov already but I know people disagree there).

I just want to enjoy watching my team. If that means they compete and play meaningful games all season and stay within range of the playoffs all season and don't get a top 5 pick, so be it. As long as Gorton isn't deviating from the plan organizationally then success on the ice should be viewed as a positive not a negative.

 

[will1066]

Looking for more sexy outlet passes and sexy spin moves from our two young RHD studs tonight.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

Howard does his usual against the Rangers.

Effortlessly stops anemic shots as many others do?

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

You also realize they skated evenly with Nashville in the season opener, and got reffed.

They outplayed Buffalo in Buffalo, and got stoned by a goaltender.

They outplayed Calgary and got stoned by a goaltender nobody ever heard of.

Sure, maybe they've won a game or two where Hank was the difference, but they've also never given up, they've worked extremely hard in every game but that Chicago one.

You aren't giving these guys enough credit.

Maybe Pionk and ADA are a poor man's Leetch and Zubov?

Maybe Zibanejad is finally ready to be a 1C?

Maybe Kreider is going to score at a 40 goal pace?

Maybe Hayes is a top two-way center?

Maybe Howden might compete for the Calder?

Let things play out before you throw in your cards and chips.

Yeah...the Rangers will never win the cup again because of this.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

Fair enough. I think the difference in our opinions is based on how strong we view the team to be.

If Hank wasn't Hank, then maybe we're bottom five, sure. But as long as he is putting up numbers that are at or near his career averages, this roster is going to be pushing for a playoff spot.

Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, and Los Angeles are all definitely worse than us, and I would put another 6ish teams as being below us as well (including Vegas).

Once Hayes and/or Zucc are moved, then perhaps that will change the landscape, but for now, we aren't bad enough to lose at the rate of some of the dumpster fires that are in the league.

Which is very bad.

 

[egelband]

It should be Little Caesar's Palace.

Great! Hahaha.

 

[egelband]

I've decided to not worry about it. If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose. I can't do anything about it either way and I know that the players and coaches are going to do whatever they can to win. I also know that Gorton is going to trade good players and that will make the team worse, so I'm just going to try to enjoy the season as much as possible and let the chips fall where they may.

This is always the correct approach.

 

[will1066]

I agree.