Post-Game Talk: #6 - 01/26/21 | RANGERS @ sabres

[Mandar]

Mike Keenan is out there....lurking in the shadows.....whip in hand.....

 

[Unpredictable1]

If that's the cass why are they making stupid turnovers forcing passes that arent there?

This is the easiest team to defend against. Just clog the middle and the neutral zone. The players refuse to get dirty.

How about someone drive to the net and start passing off the pads?

When Blackwell looks more confident and making better decisions with the puck than Panarin Ziba and Strome we got a problem.

That's just it - they're frightened to death to try anything and they're forcing crap when it's way too late. Trust me I'm frustrated too.

Another thing I don't like is Quinn's "everybody play tough" message - it seems like ever since I've watched Panarin start to chase guys around to try and throw his 100 pounds at him - his offence has fallen off the map. He's just not that kind of player.

Everyone on here will have their opinion on what they think the problem is, but we all agree that there's definite problems. For me, I really don't like what I see with the coaching so far...

 

[gravey9]

If you want to set a tone, name a captain. Kreider is the only one on the Rangers who knows what a winning culture is here. He is the perfect guy to be the captain that will set the tone and lead these guys. Start there.

Strongly disagree. You set a tone by benching players. By demanding accountability out of every player. Coach is coaching like he's afraid to lose as opposed to instilling the right way to play.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

If a team is bad overall, they're likely bad in all of these situations, no?

Normally yeah. We're bottom of the league bad. I'd guess that we're bad in all three facets too.

We got roasted on FO's against Pittsburgh on Friday too, we kicked their teeth in despite the loss. Faceoffs aren't the reason they're losing games. It's just being harped on right now because they're losing a ton of them and losing games.

 

[Edge]

Edge, I take the same stance for the most part as you. I think Kakko is look more and more assertive with each passing game, as you are saying and I am happy with this progress. But in regards to Laf, I have to disagree with you about him being engaged. He seems to be shying away from board battles and I find that troubling for a guy that is supposedly known for grinding it out and plays physical.

There is one play in specific that pointed this out so well. Mid-way through the first period, Kakko was fighting for the puck on the half wall and was winning against TWO Sabres players and would have came out of it with possession if he had some help. Closest player to him? Laf who just glided towards them instead of hustling to get in there. And that is a microcosm of how I have seen his engagement in puck battles so far. I'm not worried about him in the same way I wasn't worried about Kakko last season, but I hardly would call what he is doing right now engaging.

Could Laf have done some things different or better? Certainly. He could’ve. There’s no denying that.

Does he look bad out there or like he’s having a horrible time? No, I really don’t see that.

He had at least one prime scoring chance tonight, and he usually gets 1 or 2 per game. But I’ve never looked at him and came away concerned. I’ve looked at him and seen a kid who, despite his pedigree, hasn’t even played a preseason’s worth of games against NHL talent, after not playing against anyone for 9 months.

So for me there’s that distinction between bad, excellent, and okay to good, but could be better. Laf is in that third category for me.

 

[SA16]

Could Laf have done some things different or better? Certainly. He could’ve. There’s no denying that.

Does he look bad out there or like he’s having a horrible time? No, I really don’t see that.

He had at least one prime scoring chance tonight, and he usually gets 1 or 2 per game. But I’ve never looked at him and came away concerned. I’ve looked at him and seen a kid who, despite his pedigree, hasn’t even played a preseason’s worth of games against NHL talent, after not playing against anyone for 9 months.

So for me there’s that distinction between bad, excellent, and okay to good, but could be better. Laf is in that third category for me.

I thought Laf had a good game today. He had a few good scoring chances. More than he had in recent games. Especially in the third period.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Always did.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Normally yeah. We're bottom of the league bad. I'd guess that we're bad in all three facets too.

We got roasted on FO's against Pittsburgh on Friday too, we kicked their teeth in despite the loss. Faceoffs aren't the reason they're losing games. It's just being harped on right now because they're losing a ton of them and losing games.

It signals a lack of compete, if you are getting torched in the faceoff circle you need to tie up and battle your ass out of it, wingers in, giving a shit. The top players arent battling anywhere.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

If you want to set a tone, name a captain. Kreider is the only one on the Rangers who knows what a winning culture is here. He is the perfect guy to be the captain that will set the tone and lead these guys. Start there.

The Rangers have had multiple opportunities to name him captain and they’ve chosen not too.

Should tell you everything you need to know about what they think of Kreider’s “leadership”

 

[LOFIN]

That's fair.

I'm moreso pushing back against the people that are saying he isn't what he was advertised as. He is. He's just a kid playing with a garbage team. That can be laid at the coach's feet, the vets', or both.

Yeah and hey I'm here as well as a Kakko fan, who had watched him before draft as a TPS and Finnish fan. I'm sure there's more from him.

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

I think the no crowd stuff could be taking a toll on the particular kind of veteran mix we have. There probably isn't a Lundqvist, St. Louis, "Captain Serious" personality in the locker room but these are guys who want to be showmen in New York, especially Mika, Bread and Tony.

 

[romba]

Panarin is overthinking. Forcing passes and then hesitating whenever he isn't.

 

[Unpredictable1]

Pretty much agree, and you could add Buch to the good list too.

Absolutely, Buch has been good. I have no problems with him thus far.

 

[haveandare]

At some point the Quinn apologism needs to end. I've been defending them outplaying their opponents in the last 4 games before this game, but at some point that's not enough. Unless we'll win the "outplay the other team" cup at the end of the season.

It’s not apologist, it’s just not jumping on the bandwagon of blaming him for everything. The fact is, if Panarin drives the net a handful of times or even takes a shot on target now and then, or Mika makes anything happen 3 or 4 times over the last half dozen games, this record is very different and we’re talking about a team with a winning record that has been outplaying the opposition regularly.

We were never winning any kind of cup this year in any even semi realistic outcome.

 

[Edge]

I thought Laf had a good game today. He had a few good scoring chances. More than he had in recent games. Especially in the third period.

Honestly, I thought so too.

Was he amazing and changing the course of the game? No, of course not. But I thought he looked a hell of a lot better than some guys making multiple times his salary and with years of more experience.

I don’t feel let down by him or Kakko right now. I feel let down by too many of the players who should be helping their transition into the NHL.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

They invested a bunch of money in Kreider for intangibles, he needs to man up and take the lead here.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Honestly, I thought so too.

Was he amazing and changing the course of the game? No, of course not. But I thought he looked a hell of a lot better than some guys making multiple times his salary and with years of more experience.

I don’t feel let down by him or Kakko right now. I feel let down by the players who should be helping their transition into the NHL.

Agreed...our highest and most recently paid players are our least helpful. The kids are more than fine, the leadership group should be ashamed that they are hanging these kids out to dry to fend for themselves. Its embarrassing.

 

[OverTheCap]

My biggest concern with the veterans playing such poor and uninspired hockey is that it sets a bad example for the kids.

However, I think/hope the young players on this team are smart enough to realize that they should not be looking to emulate whatever the hell the veterans are doing right now.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

It’s not apologist, it’s just not jumping on the bandwagon of blaming him for everything. The fact is, if Panarin drives the net a handful of times or even takes a shot on target now and then, or Mika makes anything happen 3 or 4 times over the last half dozen games, this record is very different and we’re talking about a team with a winning record that has been outplaying the opposition regularly.

We were never winning any kind of cup this year in any even semi realistic outcome.

We're not winning, Laf looks lost. What the hell are we doing then?

 

[Edge]

Re: Quinn, I will say that the lack of response from the veterans over the last 10 months is concerning.

It’s funny, while some people are concerned that he is ruining the young talent, I actually think he’s more or less doing okay there.

It’s the veterans (among other issues like preparedness, and line jumbling, and reliance on shitty players) that has me shaking my head.

So while I don’t hate Quinn, I’m not without concern either. It just seems to be different than the concern expressed by some others.

 

[Ori]

DeAngelo for instant -5 now with 4 games
Jack Johnson -4 with 5 games.

Player development: How they perform on the ice and I know Lafs first season in NHL so I dont pay a lot of attention to his progression that much as other fans maybe, and Kakko with 2 points is fine.
But Strome with 1 point, DeAngelo 0 points -5 player. The whole top line is (-) stats with Zib, Kreider, so defensive issues for sure not only in the bottom lines.

New York Rangers Stats | 2020-2021 | New York Rangers (nhl.com)

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Panarin is overthinking. Forcing passes and then hesitating whenever he isn't.

He's trying to make plays because nobody else is doing it.

 

[Unpredictable1]

Honestly, I thought so too.

Was he amazing and changing the course of the game? No, of course not. But I thought he looked a hell of a lot better than some guys making multiple times his salary and with years of more experience.

I don’t feel let down by him or Kakko right now. I feel let down by too many of the players who should be helping their transition into the NHL.

My biggest gripe was how little Laf was being played early on, but he seems far more engaged as the minutes increased. IMO

 

[The New Russian Five]

Could Laf have done some things different or better? Certainly. He could’ve. There’s no denying that.

Does he look bad out there or like he’s having a horrible time? No, I really don’t see that.

He had at least one prime scoring chance tonight, and he usually gets 1 or 2 per game. But I’ve never looked at him and came away concerned. I’ve looked at him and seen a kid who, despite his pedigree, hasn’t even played a preseason’s worth of games against NHL talent, after not playing against anyone for 9 months.

So for me there’s that distinction between bad, excellent, and okay to good, but could be better. Laf is in that third category for me.

This is fair. And I am not saying I don't think Laf played bad, I thought he was ok. And overall I do think he will figure it out. The talent is clearly there, more so than Kakko last year. Just want to see a bit more hustle from him and providing puck support.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Currently has tied with Ottawa for the 1st pick, Owen Power/Matt Bieners/Kent Johnson come on down

It’s your time to play savior for the franchise