Post-Game Talk: #8 - 01/30/21 | penguins @ RANGERS

[chosen]

Bad goaltending

Bad defense

Half the roster underperforming

A terrible system.

A clueless coach

And a roster that clearly doesnt want to play for said clueless coach

If all of this were true, every game would be a 22-0 defeat.

 

[chosen]

This team could sign Charles Manson and HF would say we're not tough enough.

We gave up five goals.

Charles Manson was one of the least tough men of all time.

 

[chosen]

Amazed how many people want to get rid of Zibanejad.

 

[Mikos87]

Liked what I saw in the 1st two periods in the offensive zone, especially 5v5. Lots of home plate chances, racked up the goals there too, so it was good to see the guys break through after getting pucks and bodies to the net. Kreider had a lot of good leadership shifts. Think they need to shorten the bench and protect leads. Rolling lines the way they are, with the games turning out the way they in the third... that's simply a losing operational formula. You don't win in this league unless you can protect leads, and this team can't.

They did shorten the bench to 5 D, but you can't go down to 4 D. K'Andre is a top 4 guy now, and I think he has to lead the way offensively as well. The team needs it.

This was a poor puck management game, and it was somewhat painful to watch in OT. The way things are unfolding, I think you will need to have a competent driver on every line, and shorten the bench after you get the lead to win games. Same thing happened last year, I think you have to go with match-ups to win games, and get effective checking from your bottom 6. You have too many minutes where guys want to play the same way, and not adapting to the in-game situation. There is progress, but still not seeing that across a full 60.

 

[Priorae]

This was a poor puck management game, and it was somewhat painful to watch in OT. The way things are unfolding, I think you will need to have a competent driver on every line, and shorten the bench after you get the lead to win games. Same thing happened last year, I think you have to go with match-ups to win games, and get effective checking from your bottom 6. You have too many minutes where guys want to play the same way, and not adapting to the in-game situation. There is progress, but still not seeing that across a full 60.

Totally agree with this. I think Quinn has unwavering faith in about a 1/3 of the roster, and that's not enough. That third is gassed by the end of each game. Separating "creators" on each line / pairing would be so beneficial. The OTs are dreadful to watch because they are completely done.

 

[Chytilmania]

There seems to be a growing commonality regarding which prospects develop and which seem to stagnate under Quinn. Someone mentioned earlier that the college guys are doing better under Q. That could be it, but I'm also noticing that he tends to have a better track record with slightly older prospects. All of the kids who have struggled under Quinn (Lias, Chytil, Kravtsov, Kakko, Laf) were teenagers when they got here. The ones who have done well (Buch, Fox, Lindgren, Miller, and--at least last season--DeAngelo) were all in their early 20s. While there are the occasional 20-something prospects who DON'T do well under Quinn (Gauthier, Howden) he does seem to have a SERIOUS problem with the younger players. Was he the coach in Boston that had the rep for never playing underclassmen, regardless of their play or pedigree? I remember something along those lines back when Kreider was in college.

Looks like he's only good with Americans.

 

[CasusBelli]

This team is so careless with puck it’s absolutely horrid. I’m not sure what the official turnover total was but it had to be over 20 maybe even 30. Bread man, love him, but it starts with him. He’s got to be stronger at the defensive blue line. Far to often the D rims the puck around and the wings can’t get it out. Mica throws the puck into the middle of the ice as often as a U10 player in the defensive zone. These guys are amazing on offense but this has to stop.

Things that are making it impossible for the team to win.

1. Terrible coaching. Again we see Mica out there for defensive zone starts and the guy can’t win face offs- I won’t kill Quinn for this because none of the centers can. I will say this team has not been able to win face offs since Quinn arrived.
2. Far below average goaltending. Both guys are below .900 save percentage and can’t make big stops. If this continues it will( and may already have) demoralize this team.
3. Atrocious 3rd pair on D. Smith, Johnson, Tony, have all proven incapable of defending or even giving the coach any decent minutes. Something has to be done here because it’s painfully clear this will not work.

By the way, how great does Miller look?!? Been saying the guy was destined for stardom since the pick. Looks incredible each shift!

The postgame interviews certainly suggest this.

 

[CasusBelli]

The development of Kakko and Lafreniere should be everyone’s red flag concern right now and if they keep this up you better find someone that can get the most out of them.

I haven’t seen Laf hit anyone not named Libor Hajek yet. It’s amazing really.

and kakko looks like shit we can try our best to sugar coat it with a few good shifts here and there along the walls but he bumbles pucks like crazy. He never gets to the middle of the ice. This is a kid that was deadly with the puck on his stick. What’s happening? The one thing we haven’t tried? Maybe playing him on a top line and power play for 18 plus mins win or lose for a week. TRY IT

I think Quinn tells players to tone down physicality in games. Would certainly explain the lack of big hits from 13 and 20. Even 93 can throw around the body, and I’m sure 79 can too, without losing positioning, due to his excellent sharing.

 

[RGY]

Go away

Good contribution. You go away then come back with some substance to the conversation. Because the reality is Zibanejad has not been good and they are going to need to make a decision on him sooner than later.

 

[CasusBelli]

Looks like he's only good with Americans.

It certainly seems that way. Baffling really.

 

[CasusBelli]

Good contribution. You go away then come back with some substance to the conversation. Because the reality is Zibanejad has not been good and they are going to need to make a decision on him sooner than later.

If he weren’t so injury prone, I might disagree with you, but better offload him soon — before his value decays due to age and/or he sustains another significant injury. We’re not competing within the next two years, by which point he will have a significant raise, so sell now while his relative value is high and he’s healthy.

 

[kovazub94]

A lot of bad “3”: 3rd period, 3rd D pair (didn’t notice if it was Smith or JJ, anyone could help ), 3 on 3 overtime, and of course #40 in the net (yeah, I know)

Pens goalie was lights out in the 1st period but the Rangers played pretty well. 2nd period was good too . PP was good except for Zibanejad who I feel sorry (for struggling so much). I thought Trouba played very well.

P.S. Can Gauthier at least get a chance?

 

[RGY]

If he weren’t so injury prone, I might disagree with you, but better offload him soon — before his value decays due to age and/or he sustains another significant injury. We’re not competing within the next two years, by which point he will have a significant raise, so sell now while his relative value is high and he’s healthy.

I am frustrated with Zibanejad as of late but I also acknowledge he has a ton of talent. The problem is he isnt a young kid anymore. He is going to be 28 when he needs a new contract. Its his injury history that is a concern when he will want a big raise. If there werent these concerns then yea I would still lock him up for 5-7 years since he is a Center. His play has been lackluster. Its been off. He needs to be better. And even if he gets going, we still need to consider trading him.

 

[Daves a mess]

Fixing this teams issues right now is like playing "Wack A Mole", while drunk at the County Fair.

 

[Dr. Ogrodnick]

Fixing this teams issues right now is like playing "Wack A Mole", while drunk at the County Fair.

Led by a blind, armless man.

 

[Daves a mess]

Led by a blind, armless man.

Some say we are so at this very moment..

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

Just want to say I have really liked DiGi's game so far.

ADA will be fine. Mika will be fine

I'm worried about Quinn's decision making. This is a short season. you need to ride the hot hand. Shesty finally showed he might be heating up, and now has to wait 4 days to play again. Any momentum is now dead, and the only thing we have to show for it is an OT loss.

 

[Black Aces]

If all of this were true, every game would be a 22-0 defeat.

Which of these are untrue?

 

[haohmaru]

That OT goal. WOOF.

 

[Joe Ranger Fan 1960]

The Rangers missed Blackwell. It likely meant the difference.

 

[ArPanet]

Is this true?

It’s pure hopeful speculation

 

[Gordon Bombay]

They should trade him to Carolina. Mrazek (probably) broke his wrist today.

THERE MUST BE REVENGE FOR THIS

 

[eco's bones]

Looking at the taxi squad. Anthony Bitetto is an experienced stay at home D. I can't think he'd be any worse than Jack Johnson. I'm kind of thinking he might be an improvement. Stick him and Smith together for a dozen minutes a night and maybe we'd have a semi-competent third pair that didn't bleed goals all night long. Maybe not exciting but whatever.

I'm also kind of thinking that maybe giving Kinkaid a game or two might wake up Shesterkin/Georgiev.

Mika's not been lucky for sure but he's not really playing well. That hurts the team. We go from being a serious two line threat to a one line threat and again why is the team fading in third periods. The Pens last night took over in the 3rd period. We can blame goalies all we want but really the Guentzel goal that tied it Alex had almost no chance on and the Pens outshot us 16-7 for the period. No Letang and going with 5 D---most of whom wouldn't be playing if it weren't for a slew of injuries. They wanted it more than our team and it's not like Crosby or Malkin had stellar nights.

 

[GAGLine]

Amazed how many people want to get rid of Zibanejad.

I'm not looking to get rid of him, but he's playing like ass right now. If Chytil were healthy, I would move him up and drop Zib down. There's no reason Zib should be getting that much ice time as poorly as he has been playing. Unfortunately, with Chytil injured, we are way too thin at center. Maybe Rooney can center the 1st line until Mika gets his head out of his ass.

 

[Kovalev27]

While I agree with the sentiment here, just for clarity sake, pretty sure K’Andre Miller was a first round pick and he looks amazing. By the way, could not agree more with your original point that under developing talent is a hallmark of David Quinn.

Im also going to add that I believe the reason these guys are being underdeveloped is because they’ve all been rushed to the NHL. This new age idea of “ just put everyone into the NHL right away,” is not working. With Kappo and Laf I see how most organizations would go with the notion of just get them in the NHL type mindset but the learning curve is ENORMOUS! Just because these guys dominated at earlier levels does not guarantee that will translate over. Skill sets are the biggest precursor for success and to me, Laf is light years ahead of Kappo. Kappo is slow and Laf is not. Every single talent needs to be looked at in terms of “ do they have the skill set( mostly speed and ability to think the game) to handle NHL minutes.

KAndre Miller is a defenseman. My whole post is about developing forwards