Post-Game Talk: #33 - 12/16/19 | predators @ RANGERS

[DanielBrassard]

At least the analytic guys are happy... that's whats important

I don't think anyone is happy they lost. But they would have much more success if they played like tonight than if they played like most of the season. Over the long haul

 

[UnSandvich]

I don’t know. Is there like a WAR stat or Goals Above Replacement stat? Willing to bet he is top of the list.

He's tops on our team at least

 

[Leonardo87]

I would say easy subtract 8-10 points. Strome would also be about 2-3 million lighter per year on his next contract.

Panarin is just so good has come as advertised. Mika is repeating what he did last season, that neck thingy set him back but has picked up where he left off. Trouba has been solid but up and down. More up, imo.

Went into this season knowing they are rebuilding, some players are progressing and some aren’t and not where we want them to be. How about this though, Fox has the same amount of points as Trouba in his first NHL season. That is a good thing for a young player like Fox, not a negative towards Trouba.

Quinn however has a big decision to make with Kakko. Someone said give him a game off. Think that might be wise.

 

[Crease]

McKegg is the kind of player EA would create to fill out their rosters before they acquired full NHLPA rights.

 

[UnSandvich]

I don’t know. Is there like a WAR stat or Goals Above Replacement stat? Willing to bet he is top of the list.

GAR: 9.9, T9th leaguewide
WAR: 1.7, T5th leaguewide
SPAR (Still not sure what this is): 3.3, T8th leaguewide

Buch is our only other Top 50 player in any of those

 

[Inferno]

Skimming through this thread and it looks like I'm alone..I thought we were by far the better team, we just had no puck luck at all.

 

[Maximus]

It’s almost like he has a slight groin injury and nobody is saying anything.

I mean it's possible what your suggesting...who really knows. Bottom line is Kakko has looked like he has been skating in mud since Game 1 except as I said on the PP where speed isn't as much of a factor.

I dunno man...I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit surprised that this skating issue for Kakko has been such a big factor but it is as it never ever seemed to be apparent whatsoever from the times I've watched him at the World Juniors or on highlight packages of his from Finland. Kakko looked just fine as far as his skating is concerned...never ever thought this would be an issue but it is.

And it's kind of like the elephant in the living room. It's not talked about alot either in here or in the media but it needs to be addressed but quick. I'm surprised Brooksie hasn't brought it up in one of his NY Post columns. Seeing we all know he reads our forum, I'd not be surprised if soon we'll be reading a Kakko article from him about his needing to improve his skating and maybe going down to Hartford might not be such a bad idea...lol

The thing is I'm sure it will addressed but unfortunately as I suggested in my other post on the subject, it's likely going to take an offseason of power skating training, lessons and major commitment from Kakko to improve to the point where he can compete favorably in the greatest league in the world where skating is a very important component for a player's success.

So I got the feeling what we see of Kakko now is what we'll be seeing of Kakko going forward the rest of the season and it won't be till next year when we see an improvement in his speed and skating.

We aren't talking for him to be the next Pavel Bure as far as skating at all. But he needs to get to be at least a Derek Stepan type who never has been accused of being fast but at least was a good enough skater to be effective in his job.

 

[wafflepadsave]

I mean it's possible what your suggesting...who really knows. Bottom line is Kakko has looked like he has been skating in mud since Game 1 except as I said on the PP where speed isn't as much of a factor.

I dunno man...I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit surprised that this skating issue for Kakko has been such a big factor but it is as it never ever seemed to be apparent whatsoever from the times I've watched him at the World Juniors or on highlight packages of his from Finland. Kakko looked just fine as far as his skating is concerned...never ever thought this would be an issue but it is.

And it's kind of like the elephant in the living room. It's not talked about alot either in here or in the media but it needs to be addressed but quick. I'm surprised Brooksie hasn't brought it up in one of his NY Post columns. Seeing we all know he reads our forum, I'd not be surprised if soon we'll be reading a Kakko article from him about his needing to improve his skating and maybe going down to Hartford might not be such a bad idea...lol

The thing is I'm sure it will addressed but unfortunately as I suggested in my other post on the subject, it's likely going to take an offseason of power skating training, lessons and major commitment from Kakko to improve to the point where he can compete favorably in the greatest league in the world where skating is a very important component on a player's success.

We aren't talking for him to be the next Pavel Bure as far as skating at all. But he needs to get to be at least a Derek Stepan type who never has been accused of being fast but at least was a good enough skater to be effective in his job.

Groin was a hypothetical. Like you said, it wasn’t an issue last year. Could be a nagging issue that hasn’t been dealt with yet. Can howden go with him for the power skating lessons?

 

[Maximus]

Groin was a hypothetical. Like you said, it wasn’t an issue last year. Could be a nagging issue that hasn’t been dealt with yet. Can howden go with him for the power skating lessons?

Funny and I know you were just being hypothetical.

I actually think Howden is a much better skater than Kakko at this point in time which doesn't say alot but at least I see times where Howden has some a shift or two a game where he seems to be pressing the issue with his skating.

But I hear ya. I can't be on an island here...right? You and others have to be seeing the same shit going on with Kakko.

There is not a question in my mind that once his skating improves to the point where he can at least keep up with his linemates and doesn't get gassed after 20-30 seconds, that his elite talent will start to show much more consistently than it does now.

And yes we all have to remember...he's just 18 years old and probably doesn't even shave yet. He'll be great one day no doubt but he's got some work to do!

 

[Inferno]

Funny and I know you were just being hypothetical.

I actually think Howden is a much better skater than Kakko at this point in time which doesn't say alot but at least I see times where Howden has some a shift or two a game where he seems to be pressing the issue with his skating.

But I hear ya. I can't be on an island here...right? You and others have to be seeing the same **** going on with Kakko.

There is not a question in my mind that once his skating improves to the point where he can at least keep up with his linemates and doesn't get gassed after 20-30 seconds, that his elite talent will start to show much more consistently than it does now.

And yes we all have to remember...he's just 18 years old and probably doesn't even shave yet. He'll be great one day no doubt but he's got some work to do!

Howdens definitely a better skater than kakko..but his skating isn't the issue IMHO . It's his head.. he's playing like a scared 18 year old... It's not surprising.

My concern isn't his skating, it's his endurance. He looks gassed 5 seconds into his shifts. He needs some major work. We've seen first hand guys rapidly turning that around. Lemieux being the most recent example.

 

[bobbop]

The lack is depth was really glaring tonight.

 

[bobbop]

Some of the takes tonight are really mind boggling. The Rangers outplayed the Predators. It was one of their better games. The lack of depth and sandpaper was clearly apparent tonight. it usually costs the team more than it did tonight.

So they lost. It happens.

There’s little reason to trot out the usual whipping boys.

And remove Kreider from the equation and you have no one left with real skill playing in front of the net.

This is a work in progress. It reminds me of when Fran Tarkenton was the Football Giants QB. You win some games you should lose and you lose some that you should win.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

The refs sucked nuts

 

[Gresch04]

I’m not convinced this is the plan, I think the plan was probably for Quinn to grow with the group and become a better nhl coach as they develop into a good team.

However we’re really not seeing much growth in his coaching. If he were smart he’d try and shake up his staff and bring a veteran X and Os guy to try and help him out. Ruff was obviously supposed to be that guy but it’s clearly not working.

Fair point. I've just seen it much more in the NFL where the job is not attractive enough for a first-rate coach so they get the seat warmer. It felt a bit like that here to me. Though I'm not sure.

If he's here to develop the young guys he has a lot to prove. Right now he's a fail as a stopgap and not very likely a good long-term guy either as you said.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Sorry guys, ragequit this bull**** game, and forgot about the thread

Oh well, they wanna send you down anyway...

 

[Kshahdoo]

Protest the game.

#metoo

 

[Ola]

Howdens definitely a better skater than kakko..but his skating isn't the issue IMHO . It's his head.. he's playing like a scared 18 year old... It's not surprising.

My concern isn't his skating, it's his endurance. He looks gassed 5 seconds into his shifts. He needs some major work. We've seen first hand guys rapidly turning that around. Lemieux being the most recent example.

Definitely, and just like strength, endurance is something a kid must grow into. It takes a few years to build up.

 

[aufheben]

One of their best games this season. Great response to the Anaheim game.

Shoutout to Trouba with a +14 shot attempt differential.

 

[Tob]

Though on the whole, Michael Haley hasn't done anything this season aside from drop the gloves on his first shift to stir the shit. Lemieux and Tony has been far nastier. Not sure how a 5 minute serving of Haley would change anything.

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

Skimming through this thread and it looks like I'm alone..I thought we were by far the better team, we just had no puck luck at all.

I agree 100%

We played really well, and it was very encouraging.

I don’t get the Georgie hate at all. He maybe should’ve had the 1st Josi goal, but even that was a snipe through a screen. The other two were a bouncing deflection in front and a breakaway.

I don’t like the lack of pushback we had. This tells teams we can be bullied into losing. We have some players who can play with snarl, and they were largely absent. Lemieux’s 10 minute misconduct doesn’t help, but why isn’t Smith or McKegg getting in someone’s face? Or Staal for that matter?

Does Howden do anything? Like at all? Cue the Office Space Bob’s line “What would you say, you DO here?”

A big part of the Blues Stanley Cup win was the ability to bully the other teams and knock them off their games. They out Bruined the Bruins in the finals.

Not an advocation for skill-less goonery, just longing for us to be a bit more punishing physically.

 

[kovazub94]

Intriguing that the players asked for that

Players are idiots then if they asked for this alignment. You want to let Panarin get away from opposition, then move around during PP and rotate 3 RHS (Panarin, Ziba and ADA) between blue line, left circle and the bumper spots. Confuse the opposition instead of making it easier for them. Ridiculous.
This is actually the first time when I have a serious issue with Quinn’s coaching. We have two players who’s been playing extremely well in Chytil and Buch who just struggle to convert on their chances. Why not just put them with a conversion magician in Panarin for a few games at least? Strome I’m sure will survive a few games separated from Panarin. McKegg is a ridiculously bad choice there right now.

 

[Larrybiv]

No. We have a wealth of examples at this point that this team an overwhelming amount of the time turns the other cheek inherently. Them. Not the coach. Them. On the ice. The players.

I don't know how you could possibly come to any other conclusion.

Something definitely is amiss here. If my brother gets a whooping and I ain't there at the time, I will eventually find him and remind him that was my brother.
The sport has changed and we know that. Vally was right as usual. If the refs dont call what they are supposed to call, then the players have to take it onto their own hands. I am sorry, but I didnt see much of the leadership that is needed.
Many times, this is why teams go down in the 1st round, not just because of inexperience, but because of team tuffness and leadership when stuff like this happens.
Shouldnt Quinn have said......okay boys, off with the kid gloves?

 

[bumrusherer]

Skimming through this thread and it looks like I'm alone..I thought we were by far the better team, we just had no puck luck at all.

Agree with this largely but the two errors that led to their goals #2 and #3, lead me to a place where we got what we deserved.
But for sure, the coaches can take a lot of positives from the game.

 

[Larrybiv]

Players are idiots then if they asked for this alignment. You want to let Panarin get away from opposition, then move around during PP and rotate 3 RHS (Panarin, Ziba and ADA) between blue line, left circle and the bumper spots. Confuse the opposition instead of making it easier for them. Ridiculous.
This is actually the first time when I have a serious issue with Quinn’s coaching. We have two players who’s been playing extremely well in Chytil and Buch who just struggle to convert on their chances. Why not just put them with a conversion magician in Panarin for a few games at least? Strome I’m sure will survive a few games separated from Panarin. McKegg is a ridiculously bad choice there right now.

There were at least 3 instances of total domination in Nashville zone. Cycling and whipping the puck around, you would swear it was a PP, a PP that we havent seen regularly. Even getting full changes during such. So yes, this is the best answer.
Give Saros credit, he was really good. As inconsistent as Rinne has been, makes me wonder if we would have scored 5 or 6 on him. Wonder if they are changing the guard similar to what we slowly have been doing.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

Kakko looks like shit

 

[kovazub94]

Skimming through this thread and it looks like I'm alone..I thought we were by far the better team, we just had no puck luck at all.

Some of the takes tonight are really mind boggling. The Rangers outplayed the Predators. It was one of their better games. The lack of depth and sandpaper was clearly apparent tonight. it usually costs the team more than it did tonight.

So they lost. It happens.

There’s little reason to trot out the usual whipping boys.

And remove Kreider from the equation and you have no one left with real skill playing in front of the net.

This is a work in progress. It reminds me of when Fran Tarkenton was the Football Giants QB. You win some games you should lose and you lose some that you should win.

Yup, some poor puck luck, horrendous officiating and it seems like the rookies are starting to hit the proverbial wall.

Quinn and Gorton need to start thinking about accommodations to rotate them sitting out for a game or two here and there. This mini break until Friday, grind a few more games and then a Christmas break should help. Also get Fogs up for another chance to stick.