Around the NHL - Part XLII - (Playoffs Edition)

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

We're down 2-0 if they're not 4 for 9 in those games.

Everybody's powerplay runs hot and cold. That's why you have to be good at even strength. I have absolutely zero concern over the PP hitting a cold snap other than we have no ability to make up for it 5v5.

Our second unit is an abomination. Good PK teams like Florida can focus 200% of their film to the top unit because the 2nd unit is basically like playing 5 on 5. If they can even get the zone, they get forced to board cycles because not a soul on that unit can make a play to beat pressure.

The 2nd unit needs to improve, I'd be for putting Trouba back there full time to just hammer one timers and keep it simple. I think Gus is a better PP QB but he needs skill around him because he can't shoot. He's a Fox type PPQB where Trouba just goes full Tuba mode and "me clap one timer" for rebounds is a better fit for the dipshits on that unit

 

[PuckLuck3043]

You once proclaimed that Lafreniere is a bad PP player and you don’t want to be proven wrong.

Maybe Zib used to be a good PP player but he’s not anymore. Laf is the better player and deserves to take his place.

He at least deserves to get a look on PP1. Maybe in the pre season.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Nothing Game 3.

Shorthanded goal Game 4.

Shorthanded goal Game 5.

Kreider scores 1 in Game 6 when he went Beast mode.

The cracks were beginning to show that series.

Kreiders goal in game 6 is honestly one of the most insane deflections I’ve ever seen. Panarin rifled a puck at his tits and he bunts it into the shelf.

It’s a good example of the talent out there prevailing in spite of a structure that doesn’t generate good looks for the best shooters out there (mika/bread).

 

[Machinehead]

He at least deserves to get a look on PP1. Maybe in the pre season.

I think the different handedness makes it a bit awkward to just throw him in there, but I absolutely wouldn't be opposed to working him in now and then if it gets cold.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Our second unit is an abomination. Good PK teams like Florida can focus 200% of their film to the top unit because the 2nd unit is basically like playing 5 on 5. If they can even get the zone, they get forced to board cycles because not a soul on that unit can make a play to beat pressure.

The 2nd unit needs to improve, I'd be for putting Trouba back there full time to just hammer one timers and keep it simple. I think Gus is a better PP QB but he needs skill around him because he can't shoot. He's a Fox type PPQB where Trouba just goes full Tuba mode and "me clap one timer" for rebounds is a better fit for the dipshits on that unit

A big reason pp2 never improves is because Miller or Trouba spends 75% of the season on it. Put Jones there for an entire season and everyone out there will get quality puck touches with space on the half wall to mold their game.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Yes there’s nothing wrong with Mika’s one timer, it’s great when they actually get him looks near the top of the circle especially off seam passes. They’re not generating these looks anymore so he’s pointless. And yes you’re totally right about Mika not shooting short side through screens anymore. I think he scored it agaisnt Philly once this year and that was it.

But it’s mainly a product of too much pressure and how Mika can’t handle it. They could probably be better with better coaching as I don’t think they set up 3 on 2s down low well when the two point players get blitzed up high.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying but I've seen nothing from Laf on the 2nd unit to warrant him being on the first unit. I think Mika is actually extremely strong when it comes to breaking pressure in-zone.

His zone entry attempts in the Florida series were atrocious but I mean.. that unit really isn't built to dump and retrieve. 4/5 guys on that unit aren't winning a puck battle behind the net so the zone entry options are limited. Gotta give Florida credit for taking the zone entries away; they definitely did their homework on us.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

They also didn’t do a damn thing against the mighty NJ Devils last year either. So maybe it’s not only Florida.

But this year it was only against Florida essentially. I don't care about last year.

 

[Machinehead]

If I did give Laf a look, it would be for Trocheck. I could see Laf excelling in a similar role to him anyway.

Being stuck with Zibanejad and having him not do one of the things he's at least good at is violently stupid. I'm getting brain cancer reading it.

 

[gabevh3]

Oilers 0-3 since McDavid was harassed by those fans.

Link?

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

If I did give Laf a look, it would be for Trocheck. I could see Laf excelling in a similar role to him anyway.

Being stuck with Zibanejad and having him not do one of the things he's at least good at is violently stupid. I'm getting brain cancer reading it.

I don’t even want Laf out there for Laf. I want him out there to get Panarin back in a goal scoring role, get Trocheck more looks, Kreider more looks, Fox more looks. Lafreniere makes other players better at this point and Mika is a guy who stands still while everyone else does the work. Off the top of my head the only two playoff power play goals they scored in the last like 10 playoff games were tic tac toes that didn’t even involve Mika at all which isn’t a coincidence. Again, if you want to cook the Sabres in November Mika will get the job done. If you want zero weak links on the ice in the playoffs (which seems to be your philosophy for the team overall) you get Lafreniere out there who Panarin/Fox can actually bounce the puck off of and get it back

 

[bl02]

A big reason pp2 never improves is because Miller or Trouba spends 75% of the season on it. Put Jones there for an entire season and everyone out there will get quality puck touches with space on the half wall to mold their game.

Makes too much sense. Gave up on it about a year and half ago hoping that Jones would be the 2nd pp unit qb. The kid barely gets a chance to play and when he does somehow the coaches think Trouba/Miller are better options at pp 2 QB.

 

[Machinehead]

I don’t even want Laf out there for Laf. I want him out there to get Panarin back in a goal scoring role, get Trocheck more looks, Kreider more looks, Fox more looks. Lafreniere makes other players better at this point and Mika is a guy who stands still while everyone else does the work. Off the top of my head the only two playoff power play goals they scored in the last like 10 playoff games were tic tac toes that didn’t even involve Mika at all which isn’t a coincidence. Again, if you want to cook the Sabres in November Mika will get the job done. If you want zero weak links on the ice in the playoffs (which seems to be your philosophy for the team overall) you get Lafreniere out there who Panarin/Fox can actually bounce the puck off of and get it back

It's not a smart option. Find a way to get rid of Zibanejad or find a way to get some value out of him. Those are your choices.

 

[bl02]

Link?

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

It's not a smart option. Find a way to get rid of Zibanejad or find a way to get some value out of him. Those are your choices.

I’m not talking about salary cap implications. This is purely a “in an ideal world who would’ve helped us more in that series”

 

[Machinehead]

I’m not talking about salary cap implications. This is purely a “in an ideal world who would’ve helped us more in that series”

We don't live in an ideal world. Taking him off the powerplay makes him more useless than he already is. And he's not bad at it to the point that it desperately needs to happen.

We know what Zibanejad is at even strength. You're being disingenuous saying he's not good on the powerplay to push a weird narrative.

 

[Boris Zubov]

@Boris Zubov @GoAwayPanarin you guys owe me an apology lol

I'm sorry you live in the land of the shitty pizza.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

If I did give Laf a look, it would be for Trocheck. I could see Laf excelling in a similar role to him anyway.

Being stuck with Zibanejad and having him not do one of the things he's at least good at is violently stupid. I'm getting brain cancer reading it.

No.....he's too important in winning the initial faceoff. Unless you want zbads soft ass losing most draws clean and burning 40 seconds off as they try and get back in the zone.

 

[Machinehead]

No.....he's too important in winning the initial faceoff. Unless you want zbads soft ass losing most draws clean and burning 40 seconds off as they try and get back in the zone.

Yeah but they do this thing now, it's really cool, where you have guys jump over the boards during play. They're calling it a line change.

 

[Boris Zubov]

Yeah, like, Zibanejad is mid af but he's clearly our second best center. Plenty of bad 2C's have won. Chandler Stephenson low-key sucks ass.

Stephenson doesn't suck ass, but he needs a strong wings to be effective. He's a perfect 3C candidate IMO & someone you're fine with if he has to fill in the top 6 for a spell.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Yeah but they do this thing now, it's really cool, where you have guys jump over the boards during play. They're calling it a line change.

Chill with that condescending stuff, lol.

That's not a thing on the PP, having a faceoff specialist. Tro can do everything pretty well from shoot, pass and enter the zone, so to justify having Laf over him while being an elite faceoff man, Laf would really ahve to really do or have something the Rangers need.

Like you said its an elite PP. The only reason you would change it, is when it's gone cold and one individual is really stinking up the joint.

That guy in the playoffs and FLA series was Zibanejad. I agree, in the long haul you keep in on the PP as that's where he excels but when he's playing like shit in general and the PP has gone cold, I would say put Laf in his spot to try and spark something.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Regardless of success and synergy of the current unit….There’s a legit argument for Laf on PP1 just in terms of establishing and elevating to a true top and elite player in the league (hopefully that comes true)

Top players obviously have to play and be impactful on the PP

 

[Machinehead]

Chill with that condescending stuff, lol.

That's not a thing on the PP, having a faceoff specialist. Tro can do everything pretty well from shoot, pass and enter the zone, so to justify having Laf over him while being an elite faceoff man, Laf would really ahve to really do or have something the Rangers need.

Like you said its an elite PP. The only reason you would change it, is when it's gone cold and one individual is really stinking up the joint.

That guy in the playoffs and FLA series was Zibanejad. I agree, in the long haul you keep in on the PP as that's where he excels but when he's playing like shit in general and the PP has gone cold, I would say put Laf in his spot to try and spark something.

I'm just messing.

So have Tro play like a minute and then they can switch Laf in. We're too married to the idea of a PP1 and a PP2 that never interact.

 

[Nickmo82]

Ever since that post on the main boards crying that people credit Bouchard as elite, I've seen mistake after mistake after mistake from him that has led to goals against.

 

[mike14]

I'm just messing.

So have Tro play like a minute and then they can switch Laf in. We're too married to the idea of a PP1 and a PP2 that never interact.

I've been bleating about this for a while. Almost no team has 10 good PP players, especially a team like the Rangers. So instead of wasting 4-60 seconds on crap, just have 7-8 PP players and rotate them around to provide different looks.
You might start with Mika, Panarin, Tro, Fox and CK, and then after 30 seconds Mika changes with Laf, 40 seconds after that that Mika and someone else come on for Tro and CK and maybe Laf goes to the net and the 2nd player provides a better look from the point.
Fox and Panarin should play almost all of the 2 mins, but everyone else ends up playing about 1 min each with those guys

#toocomplicatedforprofessionals

 

[Row I Goon]