Player Discussion Alain Vigneault: Part III

[bl02]

Gorton is showing tremendous patience which is a good thing.
No need to force a trade right now unless you rob the other team blind which is not gonna happen.
I think we all would like clendenning to rotate in with Girardi but it's obvious the coach doesn't feel the same.
This team is better than last years team no question. The pp and penalty killing alone are obvious improvements which pay huge dividends. It's not like we have 14 points and are at the basement of the eastern conference. I'm sure Gorton realizes that RHD is still our biggest deficiency and will get something done by spring. Especially if we are a contender .

 

[Raspewtin]

This team is better than last year but the same problems are still there sans the PK.

I'm not convinced this season will end in a better fashion than it did last year.

 

[bl02]

This team is better than last year but the same problems are still there sans the PK.

I'm not convinced this season will end in a better fashion than it did last year.

Well lets give the GM a chance . He knows the defense is far from perfect. Right now eventhough clendening should be given chance to rotate in he is far from being the solution. And honestly unless we draw the pens in the first round I give us a pretty good chance to get by round 1 but we are only quarter way into the year so it's a moot point to make as of now

 

[Raspewtin]

Well lets give the GM a chance . He knows the defense is far from perfect. Right now eventhough clendening should be given chance to rotate in he is far from being the solution. And honestly unless we draw the pens in the first round I give us a pretty good chance to get by round 1 but we are only quarter way into the year so it's a moot point to make as of now

But I didn't say anything about the GM

 

[NYRFAN218]

I become more pissed about the Eric Staal trade by the day. We threw away 2 2nd's and Saarela for a piece that we 100% didn't need and didn't address any issues the team had at all for no reason. All of those pieces would be great trade assets this season to get a defenseman when the forward corps is a lot better.

That's the issue I keep running into now when thinking about getting an impact top 4 guy. I don't even know what the Rangers could give up because we have pretty much nothing worth a lot in the system and we really can't afford to give up another 1st rounder.

 

[True Blue]

There exists no team that has the Plan B you keep insisting this team needs. No team is built to play two totally different styles in case one isn't working.

Most teams have another plan if what they had originally planned for is not working. Hence the term in-game adjustment.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

This team is better than last year but the same problems are still there sans the PK.

I'm not convinced this season will end in a better fashion than it did last year.

But that is a huge problem that has been fixed,fixing a PK that was absolutely disgusting last season.
That alone changes the dynamics for this team when it comes to goals allowed

 

[bl02]

But I didn't say anything about the GM

I know your issue is with av right?but is your point that anything in house is going to change the deficiencies that much? Do you think clendening will make that much of a difference against top playoff competitors ? I think it's ultimately gonna come down to what the GM thinks and what he can magically accomplish and he's done a pretty good darn job up until now

 

[bl02]

But that is a huge problem that has been fixed,fixing a PK that was absolutely disgusting last season.
That alone changes the dynamics for this team when it comes to goals allowed

Exactly! With a good pk last year we probably would have won game 3 last year vs pens and who knows. AV hasn't been perfect and some decisions head scratchers but you can't deny the fact he's been the winningest coach in the nhl In the last 6 years or so I believe .

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

This team is better than last year but the same problems are still there sans the PK.

I'm not convinced this season will end in a better fashion than it did last year.

This team passes the eye test a lot better than it did last season.

If Zika and Buch can come back healthy, and the team can trade for a legit top 4 RHD (a pure rental with no roster players going the other way), then they'll be in very good shape in my eyes.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

Exactly! With a good pk last year we probably would have won game 3 last year vs pens and who knows. AV hasn't been perfect and some decisions head scratchers but you can't deny the fact he's been the winningest coach in the nhl In the last 6 years or so I believe .

I agree, plus how many times was momentum changed because we could not kill ONE PENALTY let alone 3 or 4

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

I agree, plus how many times was momentum changed because we could not kill ONE PENALTY let alone 3 or 4

I remember giving up 1 to 2 PP goals a game. AV has cleaned that up along with those atrocious last minute goals at the end of EVERY PERIOD. This team is definitely different. It took me awhile to accept it but i do. If we can get Shattenkirk we'll be cup contenders easily

 

[bl02]

I agree, plus how many times was momentum changed because we could not kill ONE PENALTY let alone 3 or 4

Last year everytime we were on pk was certain we would
Give up a goal. Just had that feeling. That's a killer for a team.

 

[Raspewtin]

But that is a huge problem that has been fixed,fixing a PK that was absolutely disgusting last season.
That alone changes the dynamics for this team when it comes to goals allowed

Well yes, this is true.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

Last year everytime we were on pk was certain we would
Give up a goal. Just had that feeling. That's a killer for a team.

As the season went on, that feeling got worse every game leading right up to the playoffs and it was major reason why we were knocked out in the 1st round

 

[SnowblindNYR]

In Lundqvist's time with the Rangers and especially under AV last year's PK was a complete anomaly. Glad it's back to the standards where it should be.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

I remember giving up 1 to 2 PP goals a game. AV has cleaned that up along with those atrocious last minute goals at the end of EVERY PERIOD. This team is definitely different. It took me awhile to accept it but i do. If we can get Shattenkirk we'll be cup contenders easily

If St Louis hasn't made any headway in contract talks with Shatty, I would not be surprised if we got him at the trade deadline and not for the kings ransom everyone things it going to cost IMO

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

In Lundqvist's time with the Rangers and especially under AV last year's PK was a complete anomaly. Glad it's back to the standards where it should be.

Absolutely correct

 

[BroadwayStorm]

I criticize this guy for being too loyal to old washed up players like Girardi or downright terrible players like Glass. But what I do like is he has a system in place and now we are starting to see players acquired who fit this system and we look so much better. I know from watching Skjei who is very similar to McDonagh in playing style that he prefers a certain kind of skating defensemen and when its all said and done we will have the guys to stay competitive for a really long time. We will always have a good skating team when this guy is the coach.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I criticize this guy for being too loyal to old washed up players like Girardi or downright terrible players like Glass. But what I do like is he has a system in place and now we are starting to see players acquired who fit this system and we look so much better. I know from watching Skjei who is very similar to McDonagh in playing style that he prefers a certain kind of skating defensemen and when its all said and done we will have the guys to stay competitive for a really long time. We will always have a good skating team when this guy is the coach.

It confuses me why he wants a good skating team and plays the likes of Girardi and Glass over Clendening and just about anyone not named Glass.

 

[Crease]

It confuses me why he wants a good skating team and plays the likes of Girardi and Glass over Clendening and just about anyone not named Glass.

I imagine he feels the couple of slower guys provide a useful element a faster sub can't bring.

Or he just doesn't have the heart to break up with them. We've all been there.

 

[Tawnos]

I imagine he feels the couple of slower guys provide a useful element a faster sub can't bring.

Or he just doesn't have the heart to break up with them. We've all been there.

There's a misunderstanding out there that, just because you like one type of player, it means you only want that type of player regardless of any other factors. You're on point there.

I personally think there's value to diversity in the lineup.

 

[True Blue]

But what I do like is he has a system in place and now we are starting to see players acquired who fit this system and we look so much better.

Not sure what we have seen over the last several weeks qualifies as looking so much better. As of now, this team looks like a faster version of last year's team. And still no idea of what to do when pond hockey is not permitted. Which is where my main criticism of AV comes in. Lack of an idea of what to do when what he has drawn out on paper is not working in-game.

 

[Inferno]

having fun with adobe fireworks...

 

[True Blue]

Again, I go back to AV's arrogance. What he believes to be simply is. Despite whatever is going on the ice? Need a top-6 forward? Jesper Fasth is your man. Need a shut down defenseman? Girardi, of course.

And the unwillingness to have the players do anything except stickhandle through out-manned situations are is maddening. As is having the PP revert to perimeter passing.