As I sit here...

[TopShelf86]

The Rangers do need to toughen up IMO. How they go about doing that I have no idea. It's not so much that the Rangers won't stick up for themselves or we don't have anyone at all who can fight but we are not a heavy forechecking team and the guys who will fight are small or mediocre at it. This is what always brings me back to guys like Roussel, Calvert or Sam Bennett because they will up that grit quotient even if they're not the biggest of guys and at least give us more edge. At the end of the Carolina series the team acknowledged we're too easy to play against--so we'll see if they do anything to rectify that.

I agree...forechecking is just imperative now for a successful team.
You have to create your own turnovers because some nights teams are giving you anything. Not even penalties.

One thing we definitely have to work on is taking control of games
Even if your up 2 or 3 nothing doesn't necessarily mean you're in charge of play
We have to learn how to be more authoritative. Not JUST the more skilled team out there
Sort of a Will vs Skill mentality but Combine them
IMO that's crucial for successful team.

 

[OrlandK]

Guys like Barron and Holloway may help providing some complementary grit but they are not the answer. We need a couple of real tough guys. Look at the Islanders - they have an impressive group of young dmen, good goaltending but only a few talented forwards. And their bottom 6 includes Martin and Johnston, both with quite limited talent, along with sidekicks like Komorav, Clutterbuck and Cizikas. Pretty low skill as a group, no better than the Rangers weak bottom 6. Yet it works, especially in the playoffs. We already have more talent than the Islanders, even with the unsettled 2C position that consumes so much discussion. What the Rangers need to succeed in the playoffs is to be a tougher team - the equal to the Bruins, Tampa & Islanders.

 

[leeroggy]

Agreed...TBL and BOS draft like no other my God
From the late 1st round all the way through 4th they find these guys

I know it sounds crazy with how lucky we got with Kakko and Laf
But we gotta start finding guys the way they do

Except 2015 when they passed on, IN ORDER, after their 3 1st round picks . . . Barzal, Connor and Chabot

Imagine the Dynasty they'd be celebrating right now adding those 3 to this lineup (minus DeBrusk, who was one of the 3 they did take)? Bergeron, Barzal, Krejci down the middle. Connor with his 105 goals the last 3 years on the 2nd line. Chabot behind Chara on the LD? Thank the Hockey Gods that didn't happen.

 

[True Blue]

Ours is fancy east-west, freestyle, free- flowing hockey. We need more sandpaper to balance things out.

And I think that is what Gorton and Quinn are building and changing.

 

[True Blue]

Is it team philosophy? Team strategy? Style? Idk
I just thought it would be an interesting discussion to see what you all thought on this.

I think that is what Gorton is trying to change but it takes time to alter the construction of a team. What you describe is what Gorton and Quinn want to build. And you are seeing that. This is far from a finished product.

This is also why some fans may scream when someone like Buchnevich is traded to provide the lineup with not his replacement but with the type of players that will diversify the high end skill that is already here.

 

[True Blue]

been toutingBarron and been hoping for Holloway in the draft for a while. Although. Holloway might need a little time.

Barron is not that physical of a player.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

been toutingBarron and been hoping for Holloway in the draft for a while. Although. Holloway might need a little time.

Holloway needs A LOT of things.

 

[usekakkorightquinn]

As I sit here and watch the TBL/BOS series...I think to myself that although we are getting so much better on paper and the future looks brighter than ever.... I'm reminded that we, by and large, simply do not do what these playoffs teams do.

I see them skating with urgency and creativity. A dynamic element to most shifts
They attack the slot and crash the net. Rage through the neutral zone. The physicality
It's almost every shift, as if it's the finals. Going hard every shift.

This is not a thread of negativity or pessimism but I am just wondering "Why?"
It is disappointing. Its not just winning or losing but the WAY you do it.
I can handle us losing games but looking anaemic and flat. That's no good.

Is it team philosophy? Team strategy? Style? Idk
I just thought it would be an interesting discussion to see what you all thought on this.

I think you sound like a fan who spends their life living in panic. The Rangers are only at the beginning of their rebuild. With Lafrenierre and a more mature Kakko they pretty much have their top two lines. Putting the lower lines together and adding a couple of stay at home types on defense won't be difficult.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Holloway needs A LOT of things.

this place needs a refill of their happy pills.

 

[TopShelf86]

I think you sound like a fan who spends their life living in panic. The Rangers are only at the beginning of their rebuild. With Lafrenierre and a more mature Kakko they pretty much have their top two lines. Putting the lower lines together and adding a couple of stay at home types on defense won't be difficult.

Not panicking....just an observation in the differences between us and them

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I think a lot of is being thread is the positive you take away from the play-in series. The team got a glimpse of what it takes to be successful in the postseason. There's value to that.

 

[will1066]

And I think that is what Gorton and Quinn are building and changing.

As I sit here, I am hoping you are right.

 

[OrlandK]

I think a lot of is being thread is the positive you take away from the play-in series. The team got a glimpse of what it takes to be successful in the postseason. There's value to that.

Good point. The play-in series was a reality check. Having a bunch of talented young prospects is fantastic. The future seems bright. It still is a long way from developing a team that can actually contend for the Cup.

I compare the Rangers now to the Canucks a year or so prior. Lots of talent that should mature naturally in a few years a result in a contender. However if the Canucks get their heads handed to them by Vegas the optimism so rampant a few days ago will be tempered by the reality that a tough chore remains to get to the promised land.

 

[Larrybiv]

The average age of most of this roster is second trimester. Most teams don't go from "out of the playoffs" to "Contender" in one year. They need to have a taste and get their teeth kicked in first. Hearing about it can't prepare a kid for the difference in the way the game is played after 82. They've had a bit of a taste. The key now is to see what they do now that they KNOW what it takes.

They "needed", (not need) as they certainly did get their teeth kicked in. What's equally important is......how many teeth did Quinn lose? Did HE learn anything?

 

[True Blue]

As I sit here, I am hoping you are right.

As I sit here, I am certainly hoping the same.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Good point. The play-in series was a reality check. Having a bunch of talented young prospects is fantastic. The future seems bright. It still is a long way from developing a team that can actually contend for the Cup.

I compare the Rangers now to the Canucks a year or so prior. Lots of talent that should mature naturally in a few years a result in a contender. However if the Canucks get their heads handed to them by Vegas the optimism so rampant a few days ago will be tempered by the reality that a tough chore remains to get to the promised land.

If you want another positive, it's this: while, on the whole the team was unremarkable, their best players were kids (Lindgren, Kakko, etc). It was the established stars who didn't show up and you have to believe that was an anomaly.

 

[OrlandK]

I think it best to look at the Canes series as too small a sample size to make many judgements other than we have to become harder to play against. I'm amazed at how hard and disciplined the Islanders play, and with a pretty pedestrian talent level all in. Barry
Trotz is one of a kind but there is a roadmap there to be studied. Also fun to see AV get his comeuppance.

 

[JCProdigy]

What I saw/see is a lot of people over-evaluating and over-valuing a three game series under the most unusual of circumstances.

The Rangers brass knows where the team's shortcomings are. I think they very well knew it before the series. If anything it just went further to confirm it.

There is nothing that has been said or done in the last bit that makes me believe that Gorton (and JD) will not continue taking a measured approach in molding the team.

 

[TopShelf86]

I think a lot of is being thread is the positive you take away from the play-in series. The team got a glimpse of what it takes to be successful in the postseason. There's value to that.

Totally agreed. I've said that just not here
A reality check was the best thing before the lottery of course

 

[TopShelf86]

As I sit here, I am hoping you are right.

Lol

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

What I saw/see is a lot of people over-evaluating and over-valuing a three game series under the most unusual of circumstances.

The Rangers brass knows where the team's shortcomings are. I think they very well knew it before the series. If anything it just went further to confirm it.

There is nothing that has been said or done in the last bit that makes me believe that Gorton (and JD) will not continue taking a measured approach in molding the team.

All this ^^^, and the bolded in particular.

While you can't completely discount the team's performance, it would be an enormous mistake to attach any real importance to 3 games played after 4+ months off, in the middle of a pandemic, without fans, in Toronto, during the summer, with our #1 goalie out (then injured), etc., etc.

 

[Edge]

What I saw/see is a lot of people over-evaluating and over-valuing a three game series under the most unusual of circumstances.

The Rangers brass knows where the team's shortcomings are. I think they very well knew it before the series. If anything it just went further to confirm it.

There is nothing that has been said or done in the last bit that makes me believe that Gorton (and JD) will not continue taking a measured approach in molding the team.

I was asked if the three game series dramatically alters the Rangers approach. I doubt it does.

I was later asked if Lafreniere dramatically alters the Rangers approach. My answer is the same.

I think this organization will continue to take a steady, but appropriately aggressive approach to building things. They'll look for the opportunities where they can dart it and make a move, but I don't think they're going to chase every disgruntled player or reclamation project on the planet.

I think they'd like to make some moves, but I don't think we're look at 4-6 groundbreaking moves that completely change the landscape of the team --- especially not in a short period of time, and in the current climate in which the NHL operates.

No one is heading into next season on the hot seat. Frankly, Quinn is probably not on the hot seat if we see continued growth from the young talent and if this year's breakout players maintain their performances.

Every report I have from the inside, and every conversation I have with people close to the situation indicates a staff that is on the same page. Maybe to a greater degree than I've ever seen.

 

[effen]

people forget Buchnevich's rookie year he got leaned on (!) by bigger players to the point he strained his abdominals and back to the point he couldn't play for like 20 games or something.. 3 years later Buchnevich is an average strength player only NOW despite a good frame.

man strength is a thing and it's gonna be years before a lot of the core guys get there. that's a big part of playoff hockey

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I was asked if the three game series dramatically alters the Rangers approach. I doubt it does.

I was later asked if Lafreniere dramatically alters the Rangers approach. My answer is the same.

I think this organization will continue to take a steady, but appropriately aggressive approach to building things. They'll look for the opportunities where they can dart it and make a move, but I don't think they're going to chase every disgruntled player or reclamation project on the planet.

I think they'd like to make some moves, but I don't think we're look at 4-6 groundbreaking moves that completely change the landscape of the team --- especially not in a short period of time, and in the current climate in which the NHL operates.

No one is heading into next season on the hot seat. Frankly, Quinn is probably not on the hot seat if we see continued growth from the young talent and if this year's breakout players maintain their performances.

Every report I have from the inside, and every conversation I have with people close to the situation indicates a staff that is on the same page. Maybe to a greater degree than I've ever seen.

The value of having JD on top now setting the tone for the entire organization cannot be overstated.

 

[TopShelf86]

people forget Buchnevich's rookie year he got leaned on (!) by bigger players to the point he strained his abdominals and back to the point he couldn't play for like 20 games or something.. 3 years later Buchnevich is an average strength player only NOW despite a good frame.

man strength is a thing and it's gonna be years before a lot of the core guys get there. that's a big part of playoff hockey

Excellent point...being burly is definitely a characteristic in the playoffs now.