Compare the 2015-16 Jackets with the 2015-16 Rangers

[EspenK]

The Rangers are one game away from returning to the Stanley Cup finals.The Jackets are golfing. The Jackets had an inordinate amount of injuries this year. Many here in the past have disparaged the Rangers and many have said the Jackets are a better team. Looking ahead to next season if nothing changes roster wise but the Jackets stay healthy and each team loses about the normal amount of man games to injury how do the teams stack up against each other?

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[Cash for Nash]

The Rangers are one game away from returning to the Stanley Cup finals.The Jackets are golfing. The Jackets had an inordinate amount of injuries this year. Many here in the past have disparaged the Rangers and many have said the Jackets are a better team. Looking ahead to next season if nothing changes roster wise but the Jackets stay healthy and each team loses about the normal amount of man games to injury how do the teams stack up against each other?

The nyr were good this year. The cbj sucked this year. That's the comparison.

 

[CBJx614]

Realistically, its gonna come down to Bob vs Henrik. Its pretty even throughout both rosters but whichever goalie steps up will be the difference maker.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Presuming JJ-Savard is the Jackets' top d pairing... that'd be the third pair on NYR. While there are more differences at the micro level, this one is most striking to me.

 

[Kev22]

It's all about goaltending for me. When Lundqvist was on the shelf, they got top notch goaltending from Cam Talbot and really kept things moving for the Rangers. I'm not sure that if McIlhinney was the backup for the Rangers that the results would have been the same.

Overall, I think the Rangers are a better team. The meeting at the end of the season to me was more of an indication of how close these teams are. I think the Rangers and Jackets have to be considered a couple of the contenders in the Metro next season. The Metro might be a heck of a division next season with the Rangers, Pens, Caps, Isles, Flyers and Jackets. The offseason will be interesting to see who makes the improvement to possibly jump some teams. For our sake, I hope it's the Jackets.

 

[EspenK]

The nyr were good this year. The cbj sucked this year. That's the comparison.

That's exactly what I was looking for. In depth, thoughtful analysis.

 

[Johansen2Foligno]

Both teams wear some shade of blue. They will occasionally be in the same arena next year, but not wearing their blue uniforms at the same time. Mike Reilly probably won't be playing for either of these teams.

...

That's about all I got.

 

[EspenK]

Presuming JJ-Savard is the Jackets' top d pairing... that'd be the third pair on NYR. While there are more differences at the micro level, this one is most striking to me.

I agree with that.

I also think the Rangers are a faster team, both in terms of fast skaters and in the way they play. The Jackets stylistically are still more of a Western Conference team than an Eastern team imo.

 

[Cash for Nash]

Realistically, its gonna come down to Bob vs Henrik. Its pretty even throughout both rosters but whichever goalie steps up will be the difference maker.

So the difference between the presidents trophy winner and a fringe playoff teAm is just goaltending?

 

[JacketsDavid]

The Rangers will likely be competing for the Cup.
The CBJ will be trying to get to the playoffs.

Goaltending - When Bob is good he is really good, but he's shown in the past he goes though some bad spurts as well. Advantage has to be to NYR but very slight.

Forwards - I honestly think this is pretty close. Maybe a toss up?

D-men - As it stands right now the Rangers are far and away better than us here. This is a clear advantage to NYR.

 

[Viqsi]

Presuming JJ-Savard is the Jackets' top d pairing... that'd be the third pair on NYR. While there are more differences at the micro level, this one is most striking to me.

I think the principal differences between the NYR blueline and the CBJ blueline can be summed up as follows:

Ryan Murray was injured; Ryan McDonagh wasn't.
We need another quality RHD.

...and that's about it.

 

[CBJx614]

So the difference between the presidents trophy winner and a fringe playoff teAm is just goaltending?

Cam Talbot is THE reason why they won the presidents trophy..

 

[Cash for Nash]

Cam Talbot is THE reason why they won the presidents trophy..

Well if that's the case we need to splurge for a quality backup first and foremost

 

[Viqsi]

Well if that's the case we need to splurge for a quality backup first and foremost

...or, if we want to actually duplicate those circumstances, hope that Forsberg has one hell of a breakout season.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

I think the principal differences between the NYR blueline and the CBJ blueline can be summed up as follows:

Ryan Murray was injured; Ryan McDonagh wasn't.
We need another quality RHD.

...and that's about it.

I don't like it but really the only comparable (without employing the term "potential" or something similar) between those players is that they are both named Ryan M.

I hope Murray becomes McDonagh-y. I think he can. But he has not as of yet. So there's more to it than "injured," although that may indeed be the most significant reason Murray is not yet McDonagh-y.

As for the rest, I stand by my original assessment, which is in clear opposition to your "and that's about it."

 

[DarkandStormy]

Looking ahead to next season if nothing changes roster wise

Not gonna happen. Rangers are going to have cap issues. Stepan, Hagelin, and Miller all need contracts. St. Louis is a UFA, probably gone. Questions about their 7th D. They basically need to sign one more D, plus about 7 forwards. And they're going to have maybe $12-$13 million to do that. So they're either going to have quite a few young guys/rookies or a deal or two is going to have to be made to be cap-compliant.

Still think the Rangers finish 12-15 points better than the Jackets.

 

[Light the Lamp]

Hank > Bob - Bob still has lots to prove. Hank is a beast.

NYR Blueline > CBJ Blueline - Rangers have great depth at the blueline. If Murray were healthy, a bit closer, but still far off. Where would Murray fall on NYR depth? After McDonagh and Staal? Will NYR be able to afford Girardi?

CBJ Forwards > NYR forwards - When healthy, this is the closest positional matchup and I give the edge to CBJ due to depth (especially at Center). CBJ have ability to role 4 solid lines, which makes next year exciting. NYR will lose some talent, since they have to sign Hagelin, Stepan, Fast and Miller, with St. Louis's cap space.

NYR still a better team.

 

[EspenK]

Not gonna happen. Rangers are going to have cap issues. Stepan, Hagelin, and Miller all need contracts. St. Louis is a UFA, probably gone. Questions about their 7th D. They basically need to sign one more D, plus about 7 forwards. And they're going to have maybe $12-$13 million to do that. So they're either going to have quite a few young guys/rookies or a deal or two is going to have to be made to be cap-compliant.

Still think the Rangers finish 12-15 points better than the Jackets.

Stepan and Miller aren't going anywhere. I'd be surprised if MSL is back unless he comes for a mill. Stepan will be the big gun to re-sign.

Buyout or trade looming for Glass and maybe Dominic Moore (although he is kind of a glue guy imo)

I think JT Miller gets Joey'd as an RFA. same with Fast (although I'm a bit unsure of his status vis a vis arbitration rights).

Hagelin could be a trade candidate.

End of day I see them having very much the same roster as this year maybe missing one or two guys but they will still approximate this year's team.

 

[CBJx614]

Well if that's the case we need to splurge for a quality backup first and foremost

Not was i was implying, just that without Talbot the rangers dont even sniff the presidents trophy. And that goaltending can make a tremendous difference. Lundquist is on a entirely different level than Bobrovsky. But we all know how Bob can play once hes hot

 

[Viqsi]

NYR Blueline > CBJ Blueline - Rangers have great depth at the blueline. If Murray were healthy, a bit closer, but still far off. Where would Murray fall on NYR depth? After McDonagh and Staal? Will NYR be able to afford Girardi?

After McDonagh. Staal, in his present form, though? He might make our second pairing.

 

[major major]

I think the principal differences between the NYR blueline and the CBJ blueline can be summed up as follows:

Ryan Murray was injured; Ryan McDonagh wasn't.

I don't buy it. Murray has never played at McDonagh's level. He could ultimately get that good, if a lot of things go well for him, but it's not likely.

Currently:

McDonagh >> Yandle, Girardi > Murray > Staal and everyone else on both teams.

I could see Murray passing Yandle and Girardi, but probably not McDonagh. This really is the reason why the Rangers are so much better than the Jackets, and the reason why it's likely to stay that way regardless of whether we outmatch them up front.

We need another quality RHD.

...and that's about it.

Another? Adding another player of Savard's quality gives us plenty of second pair guys who'd fit on the Rangers third pair.

Presuming JJ-Savard is the Jackets' top d pairing... that'd be the third pair on NYR. While there are more differences at the micro level, this one is most striking to me.

This is exactly the point I was going to make.

 

[EspenK]

While I pretty much agree with all the comments about the Rangers D being better than ours, Staal has really not looked good in the playoffs, save the first game. Based on these last handful of games I'd be hard pressed to say he is much better than Johnson. Lot of Ranger fans syaing he was better in the season but playoffs not so much. Add in his contract and I'd much rather have JJ.

 

[blahblah]

This really is the reason why the Rangers are so much better than the Jackets, and the reason why it's likely to stay that way regardless of whether we outmatch them up front.

Yet, oddly, we play them pretty very well head-to-head. The gap isn't nearly what you're letting on here. "so much better" is pure hyperbole.

As far as, overall, defensively - sure they are a bit better. I think we're quite a bit better up the middle and marginally better, overall, on wing.
In 2-4 years I suspect we'll be substantially better at forward.

They have the advantage in net; although when Bob is on that advantage disappears.

 

[Crede777]

Their top line center is currently Brassard who we all saw was the 3rd best center here behind Johansen and Dubinsky. Wennberg next year will likely match the 40 points that Brassard achieved here.

Nash is better than any winger we have, but Foligno and Hartnell are better than any one else I can think of (St. Louis has declined and Kreider is a beast in the playoffs but lukewarm in the regular season. Hayes has been pretty good this season.)

On defense, prior to this season defense was our strong suit. It was widely considered that Johnson, Tyutin, Wisniewski, and Nikitin were quality top-4 guys while Savard, Murray, and Erixon were poised for breakout seasons. Nikitin was let go, Tyutin has declined, and Wisniewski either threw himself under the bus or was put there. I still maintain that Johnson is a top pairing guy due to his versatility and ability to log huge minutes. Say what you will about his "advanced stats" but according to management this was a very strong season for him. Savard has broken through and Murray was injured all the time.

While McDonagh is the best of the group, Johnson would be second ahead of Girardi, Staal, Yandle (same boat as Wisniewski), and Klein.

This doesn't even account for the "potential" of Murray to become a franchise defensemen like McDonagh. But I disagree that Johnson/Savard are the 3rd pairing in New York. Johnson easily displaces Staal on the 2nd pairing and while Girardi is at his peak, Savard is still on the upswing.

The difference in defense isn't as big as many seem to think.

I have to give the edge in goaltending to Hank and Talbot who are demonstrably better than the Bobrovsky / McElhinney tandem.

What it comes down to, to me, is that the NYR is the slightly better team when everyone is healthy.

But, this team didn't just underperform this season, it VASTLY underperformed. When somewhat healthy, we went 15-0. Now I don't think we will be undefeated, but it is certainly a team that can compete with anyone for the lead of the Metro next year.

 

[EDM]

I agree with Crede's summation.