Series Talk: Around the NHL - 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Second Round

[Mac n Gs]

There will be better prospects where we pick. It's that simple.

Cop out answer, and I'm just gonna leave it at that.

 

[Bob Richards]

I did not know Fiala was from Switzerland.

"Kevin" really threw me off.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

There will be better prospects where we pick. It's that simple.

We will see, but I think you are selling Farabee's skill level short.

 

[Machinehead]

Let me bring in a different angle.

I've been around this site quite a bit. I've been on the main boards and on other team's boards.

The Rangers board is easily, without a doubt in my mind, a top 3 most positive board on this site.

Any criticism of the Rangers lately, unless it's AV, is met with pitchforks.

I spent a bit of time on the Leafs board this spring and it's quite the opposite. Any post that isn't "f*** the Leafs I hope this franchise dies" is met with pitchforks.

I'm not saying that's right either, but explain to me where this positivity comes from. Explain to me why the Rangers are immune to criticism.

 

[darko]

From what I've read and heard about Farabee he wouldn't be a bad pick. I'd love to grab one of the d-men but am also looking forward to stockpiling talent, period.

 

[Machinehead]

I did not know Fiala was from Switzerland.

"Kevin" really threw me off.

There's a ton of Kevins in Germany, which by proxy, would mean there's a ton of Kevins in Switzerland.

Tbh, I was surprised too.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

Just because they are raving about his character and leadership DOES NOT mean he isn't talented.

His D+1 season was on par with Kopitar.

This is a bit of an unfair comparison because Kopitar was almost a year younger than lias in their D+1 season. But Lias still had a strong year and people still angry over that pick are just complaining over minor things

 

[Tawnos]

This board is far more critical of the team, players, coach, and GM than they deserve.

 

[darko]

This is a bit of an unfair comparison because Kopitar was almost a year younger than lias in their D+1 season. But Lias still had a strong year and people still angry over that pick are just complaining over minor things

True. I'm not saying Lias is Kopitar 2.0, just saying he's not some plug and the numbers he put up are impressive.

 

[Machinehead]

From what I've read and heard about Farabee he wouldn't be a bad pick. I'd love to grab one of the d-men but am also looking forward to stockpiling talent, period.

I just don't see Farabee as being any more than another middle six forward that we have plenty of. That's just my opinion.

I'd rather have Wahlstrom or even Kravtsov.

 

[darko]

I did not know Fiala was from Switzerland.

"Kevin" really threw me off.

The greatest tennis player of all time is from Switzerland and his name is Roger.

 

[Machinehead]

This board is far more critical of the team, players, coach, and GM than they deserve.

You haven't read anything but the Rangers board if you think that.

This place is paradise compared to most fanbases. And look, that's fine, I just wanna know what they've done to earn that.

Honestly, folks in our baseball thread are harder on the Yankees.

 

[Tawnos]

You haven't read anything but the Rangers board if you think that.

Just means they’re worse, not that what I said is untrue.

 

[Machinehead]

True. I'm not saying Lias is Kopitar 2.0, just saying he's not some plug and the numbers he put up are impressive.

I've said a million and one times it isn't about Andersson.

If you think he was BPA, you're entitled to believe so.

The issue is that I have reason to believe the Rangers don't think he was BPA.

 

[darko]

You haven't read anything but the Rangers board if you think that.

This place is paradise compared to most fanbases. And look, that's fine, I just wanna know what they've done to earn that.

Honestly, folks in our baseball thread are harder on the Yankees.

Well in the past few years they built a team that was contending and with a bit of luck could've had a Cup.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

You haven't read anything but the Rangers board if you think that.

This place is paradise compared to most fanbases. And look, that's fine, I just wanna know what they've done to earn that.

Honestly, folks in our baseball thread are harder on the Yankees.

They've been one of the most successful franchises this decade without the cup. Also personally I believe in the moves made by jg are good ones outside a few like smith, so I have faith, and I was super young the last time the Rangers were garbage so I'm a bit excited to see how the rebuilding process goes

 

[Machinehead]

Well in the past few years they built a team that was contending and with a bit of luck could've had a Cup.

Yes, you're right.

But 2015, 2016, and 2017 were massive steps back in terms of the offseason. Gorton gets exactly zero criticism for that.

The Dolan interview was a mess. Maybe he's not involved and I hope he's not, but I vehemently disagreed with every word of it.

But I'm not allowed to bring these things up. The Rangers are perfect and have never made mistakes.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

I've said a million and one times it isn't about Andersson.

If you think he was BPA, you're entitled to believe so.

The issue is that I have reason to believe the Rangers don't think he was BPA.

This is silly whether you agree if he was the BPA or not doesn't mean they don't believe he was the BPA. No team would intentionally sabotage their own team by taking the guy the didn't view as the BPA, thats how drafting works. You have your list on who you thinks the best player and teams tend to stay by that list

 

[Mac n Gs]

I've said a million and one times it isn't about Andersson.

If you think he was BPA, you're entitled to believe so.

The issue is that I have reason to believe the Rangers don't think he was BPA.

Based on what exactly? Because what you're saying is they moved their top center for the 7th overall pick to take someone they didn't think was the best player in that spot. If it's because they believed he was an NHL ready forward, that doesn't necessarily detract from them thinking he's the best player available.

 

[Machinehead]

This is silly whether you agree if he was the BPA or not doesn't mean they don't believe he was the BPA. No team would intentionally sabotage their own team by taking the guy the didn't view as the BPA, thats how drafting works. You have your list on who you thinks the best player and teams tend to stay by that list

I think there's plenty of reason to believe the Rangers didn't draft the best talent because Andersson offers intangibles.

I'm not making this up. There's plenty of evidence that Andersson has some of the Jonathan Toews fluff. It's in everything ever written about him.

That's fine, doesn't make him a bad player. But I fear that the team is too focused on leadership/character to identify real problems.

Again, maybe Dolan means nothing, but his interview was a leadership manifesto. He talked about almost nothing else.

 

[JT Kreider]

This board is far more critical of the team, players, coach, and GM than they deserve.

AV was every bit deserving of the criticism he received.

Gorton though better hit a grand slam this upcoming draft. Most important off-season we've had in a very long time and will put us on a trajectory one way or the other.

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as he nailed the Nash and Grabner trades, but the McDonagh return was pretty underwhelming. Depending on if Hajek and Howden pan out and what he does with the extra first, but when you're trading a player like McDonagh there should be no "ifs".

Should have gotten an high end NHL ready player instead of the quantity type of package.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

I think there's plenty of reason to believe the Rangers didn't draft the best talent because Andersson offers intangibles.

I'm not making this up. There's plenty of evidence that Andersson has some of the Jonathan Toews fluff. It's in everything ever written about him.

That's fine, doesn't make him a bad player. But I fear that the team is too focused on leadership/character to identify real problems.

Again, maybe Dolan means nothing, but his interview was a leadership manifesto. He talked about almost nothing else.

But either way they drafted Andersson under the belief he was the best player available. Sure you may think it was for intangibles but IMHO it was because they liked his two-way game and hockey iq. Also I'd take what Dolan says with a grain a salt hes not all that involved with decisions, he doesnt run this like the knicks. Now if JG came out and said we did this because he wasnt a great captain instead of the fact were rebuilding and rebuilding teams tend to not give a soon to be 30 year old dman a contract with long term and aav then I'd say that is dumb

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I think there's plenty of reason to believe the Rangers didn't draft the best talent because Andersson offers intangibles.

I'm not making this up. There's plenty of evidence that Andersson has some of the Jonathan Toews fluff. It's in everything ever written about him.

That's fine, doesn't make him a bad player. But I fear that the team is too focused on leadership/character to identify real problems.

Again, maybe Dolan means nothing, but his interview was a leadership manifesto. He talked about almost nothing else.

It matters.

 

[Tawnos]

Yes, you're right.

But 2015, 2016, and 2017 were massive steps back in terms of the offseason. Gorton gets exactly zero criticism for that.

The Dolan interview was a mess. Maybe he's not involved and I hope he's not, but I vehemently disagreed with every word of it.

But I'm not allowed to bring these things up. The Rangers are perfect and have never made mistakes.

Oh please with this persecution complex.

People disagreeing with you isn’t remotely the same as you not being allowed to bring these things up.

Gorton doesn’t get cut slack for those off seasons so much as we should recognize the state the team was in after Sather stepped down, with major cap problems, a depleted farm, and an aging core. There’s not a whole lot he could do to prevent the decline we’ve seen. That being said, he gets plenty of criticism for the Staal trade and the Smith signing. I, for one, remain unhappy with the return on the Stepan trade. I also think Etem was a bad target from the Ducks. But, see, lots of people are guilty of the kind of thing you’re talking about in a different direction. It’s not Gortons fault that Etem was a bad choice from the Ducks. AV is the reason Etem didn’t succeed.

There are a lot of people who don’t see the point in harping on things that don’t really have much implication for the current situation. Stepan is long gone, so whatever my misgivings were about that particular trade don’t matter anymore. It’s all about Andersson and DeAngelo. It’s okay to move on and focus solely on the current reality and not dwell on the could’ve-beens.

I also don’t see the point in dissecting the public statements executives make about players and planning. Their actions are the only thing that matters.

 

[Machinehead]

But either way they drafted Andersson under the belief he was the best player available. Sure you may think it was for intangibles but IMHO it was because they liked his two-way game and hockey iq. Also I'd take what Dolan says with a grain a salt hes not all that involved with decisions, he doesnt run this like the knicks. Now if JG came out and said we did this because he wasnt a great captain instead of the fact were rebuilding and rebuilding teams tend to not give a soon to be 30 year old dman a contract with long term and aav then I'd say that is dumb

Gorton has been going on about character too. Not to the extent Dolan has, but still.

Andersson was a character pick. He has skill as well, but the team liked his leadership. Again, not making this up.