Post-Game Talk: #5 - 01/24/21 | RANGERS @ penguins

[romba]

This team has a lot of problems. Coaching being the main one. However, Covid has disrupted the routines of athletes in all sports leading to a lot of underachieving.

Everyone’s in the same boat this is not an excuse

 

[tailgunner]

i said this in another post and got skewered for it

i am not impressed with igor at all
he looked terrible in the one game in august and he has been terrible this season...skewer away all you want

 

[SnowblindNYR]

They wouldn't have won shit because Lundqvist wasn't in goal and Shesterkin isn't up to the task. Yet. I hope.

People are overreacting to two bad games, come on man. He was up to the task last year and now people think he's some scrub. Once again look at Lundqvist's first 10 games of his sophomore season.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

i said this in another post and got skewered for it

i am not impressed with igor at all
he looked terrible in the one game in august and he has been terrible this season...skewer away all you want

He looked fine in February, gave up 3 goals, and none of them were his fault. He didn't steal the game but he didn't have a bad game. He played 3 games this season. And one game was fine (last game), and two bad games. Are people seriously forgetting how poorly Lundqvist played at times, particularly the start of his sophomore season?

 

[mas0764]

Main themes:

1. Miller is an absolute stud. Jaw on the floor type game for him. Offensive zone, defensive zone, everywhere, he was good.
2. Shesty let in a couple softies, which has everyone worried and freaking out
3. Overall, defensively, this was a very solid game

Sub Themes:

1.Laffy had a quietly good game. Made some little plays here and there. Looked engaged and more active/comfortable
2.People are mad at Panarin, but he's scoring at more than 1 point per game and leading the team in scoring, so I don't get it.
3. Zibby hasn't quite found his groove yet

All valid but a point #4 somewhere has to be the lack of flow and cohesion overall on offense. They cannot really generate any quality chances. They are winning the advanced stat numbers but all their shots seem to be low quality, and when they find a set up for a high quality chance, they fan on the shot, miss the pass, or have it blocked or broken up somehow. They are not in sync on offense at all. Perhaps it's due to the kids and lack of practice/training camp/time together, but it's concerning for sure.

 

[eco's bones]

All in all better defensive structure in this one but too many guys are underperforming. Getting the easy targets like Johnson and Howden out of the way they include Zibanejad, Kreider, Strome, DeAngelo who are players who need to produce if we're going to be a good team. None of them are producing right now nor are any of them looking particularly effective/snakebit or anything like it. Trouba's been good defensively but awful on the 2nd power play unit. We are not getting the goaltending we need yet either. Shesterkin's been very ordinary.

The revelation so far this year has been K'Andre Miller.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

i said this in another post and got skewered for it

i am not impressed with igor at all
he looked terrible in the one game in august and he has been terrible this season...skewer away all you want

He's been a great goalie his whole career, you're basing this on what 3 or 4 games. Not gonna skewer you lol, but this is a different year, goalies need to stay sharp, hes played 4 games in 10 or so months. Last season before covid hit he was sharp and positionally sound from what i saw.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Ill say this, i believe we are worlds better defensively this season which is really encouraging because our issue now is that our top players haven't gotten going yet, once that happens, and it will for Mika and Panarin atleast, i expect us to go on a win streak.

 

[mas0764]

Not bad. Not great. Like a kid trying to figure it out.


Again tho...no coach in the universe is going to win games consistently where the goaltending is giving up 2 to 3 bad goals a game.

That winner was horrendous...he basically ramped the puck in with a weak paddle.

Horrible.

I'm not down on shesterkin but let's call a spade a spade...he's been awful.

On the plus side kakkos is noticeably faster and more engaged this year with much better jump to his game.

Once he gets stronger on his feet he's gonna be tough to contain.

I still notice Kakko tapping out literally all the time and it seems like it's way more than anyone else. Maybe because my eyes are specifically drawn to him, but he seems to come off the ice earlier than his teammates a lot. I have nothing to back this up other than my anecdotal observations so anyone with stats can feel free to set me straight, but I want to watch Kakko, so I focus on him... and it sure seems like a significant amount of the time, once he's been removed from the flow of play, he turns and skates to the bench with his stick or hand lifted, without hustle, like he's gassed.

I am left to still wonder about his conditioning.

 

[mas0764]

On a side note, how long can the NHL sustain itself without fans in the arenas?

Hopefully it doesn't have to much longer.

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

remember this the next time we get dominated and steal one

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

All valid but a point #4 somewhere has to be the lack of flow and cohesion overall on offense. They cannot really generate any quality chances. They are winning the advanced stat numbers but all their shots seem to be low quality, and when they find a set up for a high quality chance, they fan on the shot, miss the pass, or have it blocked or broken up somehow. They are not in sync on offense at all. Perhaps it's due to the kids and lack of practice/training camp/time together, but it's concerning for sure.

Fair point. I guess in my mind I'm a little more forgiving as there was no preseason and to your point there are some new players just learning the NHL game right now. Offense can be very complex and chemistry sometimes has to be earned over time. I think from a talent perspective, we were all expecting a click right away but (I hope) it's just going to take a little extra time.

 

[mas0764]

So I'll be positive. Coming into this season we thought we'd have a shitty defense, great goaltending, and great offense. Instead we have good defense, shitty goaltending, and shitty offense. The goods news is the defense is playing well because Fox is a stud, it looks like Miller is one too and his play is not a fluke, and Lindgren/Trouba are playing their roles well. With that and Martin here, I don't think it's a fluke. I can't imagine our top 6 being this bad long and same with Igor.

And concerning that other than stemming from huge outbursts of production from Panarin and Zibanejad last year, this team always seems to underachieve or have players go through long point droughts. Not just a Quinn thing either. Though he certainly is answerable for it now.

 

[Larrybiv]

Can anyone on this team please not flub a one timer?

What do you mean? They succeeded with a one timer.......









One time.

 

[mas0764]

I'd agree with this had we not signed Panarin. Now the flip has switched and the pressure is on to win a Cup while he is still in his prime. Aka the next 2 years. As evident as keeping Kreider post-Panarin but trading away two better players in Miller and Hayes pre-Panarin.

I don't agree; in fact I think you have to fight the urge to "win a Cup for Panarin while he's in his prime."

His signing should be looked at as fireworks to put fans in the seats and take the pressure off the kids and otherwise make NY Hockey fun while the team grows.

I don't even think making the playoffs should be looked at as an imperative. He didn't sign with a team in the middle of a rebuild because he wants to win immediately. He came here to be part of the long build for the long haul and because he wanted to play for a first class organization in the middle of a huge city with a huge fan base. He knew the deal when he came here - he chose the lights and appeal of broadway which many free agents do (and of course the money, but he turned down more money to play for teams who were farther along as contenders but not as appealing as franchise destinations).

You don't have to "win now," with Panarin and Zibanejad. Frankly Zibanejad may not even be on the roster when this team is a real contender. Frankly given Zibanejad's streakiness and injury history, and age when his contract is up, I would be low-key exploring similar deals to the Brassard-for-Zibanejad trade already. He's so much better than Brassard was we could probably get two Zibanejads in return if we found the right deal.

Panarin projects to maintain elite status throughout his contract; I look at him as the elder vet helping the kids with their first serious runs, when he's in his early 30s and still under contract.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

What do you mean? They succeeded with a one timer.......









One time.

That's why they call it a one timer.

 

[Larrybiv]

Pretty bad when Strome has MORE votes, than a combo of Panatin, Zbad AND Kreider.
And Strome wasnt even good to be deserving of 5. Imo.

 

[Larrybiv]

That's why they call it a one timer.

Then we need a ten timer.

At keast we dont have any "two timers" on this team. Most arent married.

 

[Larrybiv]

Igor has to be better.Our top guys need to start scoring.Our bottom 6 shouldnt be our best players in any game period

Agree, but its been a welcome sight. Now all we need is our top 6 to get to stepping.

 

[Larrybiv]

Bummer. The team played well. Deserved to win that one.

Positive of the game: Miller seems to be getting better every shift.

Question: How many times did Trouba whiff on a pass or shot today?

He makes Strome look like Mario Lemieux. Yes, I coukd have said Gretzky, but I didnt wanna go that far.

I hate to be right when being wrong would be better for this team. I didnt want Trouba to begin with, and for that $$$? When all is said and done, this has Marc Staal written all over it. And I loved Marc, at least he gave us some great years and would DIE for Rangers colors.
Send Trouba to his buddy Brady's team. They miss each other.

 

[NYSPORTS]

You don't have to "win now," with Panarin and Zibanejad. Frankly Zibanejad may not even be on the roster when this team is a real contender. Frankly given Zibanejad's streakiness and injury history, and age when his contract is up, I would be low-key exploring similar deals to the Brassard-for-Zibanejad trade already. He's so much better than Brassard was we could probably get two Zibanejads in return if we found the right deal.

Panarin projects to maintain elite status throughout his contract; I look at him as the elder vet helping the kids with their first serious runs, when he's in his early 30s and still under contract.

I agree with you. Panarin has that shot so he should be be playing at a high level throughout this contract. Zibby might be gone and Kreider could be moved down the road.

Meanwhile, I think it speaks volumes a Captain has not been named.

 

[Larrybiv]

Youngest team in the league!

They are. And we can rant and rave all we want about that and use it as a legit excuse. But pardon me for saying, our kids are playing much better than our vets. IMO, only Zbad gets a pass. Buch and Chytil have been excellent.......but we NEED Panarin and Zbad to at least be almost as good as last year.

Knew it might be this kind of year. High hopes BUT they simply havent learned "how to win and finish games off".
Our 3rd periods have been horrific/unfortunate. Very few puck luck things going our way.......literally all against.
Concerned about the "heart" and "leadership" of this team.
No wonder why we dont have a "C" on anyones jersey.

 

[Inferno]

I still notice Kakko tapping out literally all the time and it seems like it's way more than anyone else. Maybe because my eyes are specifically drawn to him, but he seems to come off the ice earlier than his teammates a lot. I have nothing to back this up other than my anecdotal observations so anyone with stats can feel free to set me straight, but I want to watch Kakko, so I focus on him... and it sure seems like a significant amount of the time, once he's been removed from the flow of play, he turns and skates to the bench with his stick or hand lifted, without hustle, like he's gassed.

I am left to still wonder about his conditioning.

He's tapping out while moving his feet the entire time. This season it seems like he earns his exhausted exits from the ice.

 

[Trxjw]

Kids are playing well almost top-to-bottom. Igor being the lone exception but I'm not worried about him whatsoever.

I don't get the Trouba bashing. He's been good defensively with Miller and playing with an edge. Not great on the 2nd PP but he was also directly responsible for Strome's goal. Room for improvement? Sure, but hardly a glaring issue.

 

[East Coast Bias]

Outside of the 1st game, they've been good enough.

It's frustrating as shit to watch because the games are there for the taking, and we make a couple boneheaded plays and blow it.

But I think the signs are there.

- The bottom 6 has been great.
- The left side of the defense has been much, much better than I imagined (thanks to Miller)
- Chytil, Kakko, Howden, Fox have all been good to great.

The goaltending has been shit, but that happens.

If the biggest issue is the vets shaking off the rust, we'll be fine.