Player Discussion David Quinn: Part IV

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

TDA saga aside, there are now simply too many negative signs pointing to Quinn. His handling of the most prized prospects this team has ever had. Their lack of preparation to play Carolina in the bubble last year. His handling of the goaltenders. Non-stop line shuffling. His questionable comments about how many “men” this team has.

He runs the lockerroom like he’s some legendary coach imposing his vision on the plebes. Reality is that he’s a nobody.

I do really hope that they move in before it’s too late.

Do any of your gripes not tie back to Quinn overseeing the youngest team in the league (with the "most prized prospects" being teenagers) in the middle of a global pandemic that has blowtorched everyone's "normal" way of life? Im not searching for excuses, but if there was ever one to slap you in the head, I'd say we're at that point.

Im no fan of Quinn. I doubt he'll be here when this team is contending in a few years. But right at this moment, given the conditions, I think character development is probably more important than W's and L's, and he seems to be doing an admirable job in that department.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

TDA saga aside, there are now simply too many negative signs pointing to Quinn. His handling of the most prized prospects this team has ever had. Their lack of preparation to play Carolina in the bubble last year. His handling of the goaltenders. Non-stop line shuffling. His questionable comments about how many “men” this team has.

I think the FO feels exactly the opposite.

He is working on making the "most prized prospects" better all-around players at the NHL level. That means firing them to work on the aspects of the game that may not be their strengths.

The Carolina series, disappointing as the result and their play may have been, was playing with house money. And the team got some much needed experience playing against a team that is used to playing in a playoff-line atmosphere. They learned what it takes to win in those kind of games. And that is invaluable.

He's clearly looking for one of his goalies to grab the starter job and not let go. To date neither has been consistent. This is only magnified because goaltending was a perceived strength of this team and has been noticeably not been. Especially with the team playing generally better defensively.

The non-stop line shuffling is a result of his top players not performing well—another area that was thought to be a strength of this team.

He runs the lockerroom like he’s some legendary coach imposing his vision on the plebes. Reality is that he’s a nobody.

I'd love to know how you know this. It comes off as frustration rather than insight.

I do really hope that they move in before it’s too late.

Too late for what? They are the youngest team in the league? They are still in the middle of their rebuilding. Dealing vets for picks was easy. Using those picks was easy. But those two things are only half (more than half?) is player development. That's much more difficult and takes much longer. That is exactly where this team is in their process of rebuilding.

Progression is not a straight line. There are ups and downs. Steps forward and steps back (maybe more than one step either way). And that can be damn frustrating. That's why they call it growing pains.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Im no fan of Quinn. I doubt he'll be here when this team is contending in a few years. But right at this moment, given the conditions, I think character development is probably more important than W's and L's, and he seems to be doing an admirable job in that department.

To the bold, I think that internally the FO are not expecting Quinn to be the guy who coaches this team when they are ready to seriously compete.

 

[Synergy27]

Do any of your gripes not tie back to Quinn overseeing the youngest team in the league (with the "most prized prospects" being teenagers) in the middle of a global pandemic that has blowtorched everyone's "normal" way of life? Im not searching for excuses, but if there was ever one to slap you in the head, I'd say we're at that point.

Im no fan of Quinn. I doubt he'll be here when this team is contending in a few years. But right at this moment, given the conditions, I think character development is probably more important than W's and L's, and he seems to be doing an admirable job in that department.

Maybe this all does boil down to me not knowing what it’s like to watch the youngest team in the league. And of course the pandemic is a massive, unprecedented mitigating circumstance.

That said, if character development is the current priority, how has he been doing in that regard? Top 10 pick Lias Andersson, chosen so high because of leadership and character, was jettisoned to the moon. TDA, perhaps the most offensively skilled defenseman this team has had since Leetch, has been banished back to the Pine Barrens. Is character development simply ridding the lockerroom of guys that don’t get the message and fall in line soon enough?

Where would we be without Kakko’s Finnish Sisu right now?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Maybe this all does boil down to me not knowing what it’s like to watch the youngest team in the league. And of course the pandemic is a massive, unprecedented mitigating circumstance.

That said, if character development is the current priority, how has he been doing in that regard? Top 10 pick Lias Andersson, chosen so high because of leadership and character, was jettisoned to the moon. TDA, perhaps the most offensively skilled defenseman this team has had since Leetch, has been banished back to the Pine Barrens. Is character development simply ridding the lockerroom of guys that don’t get the message and fall in line soon enough?

Where would we be without Kakko’s Finnish Sisu right now?

I guess I don't understand two things, which are connected:

1. Why, with dozens of prospects/young players being brought in over the last few years, isn't there at least an acknowledgement that some of these guys are going to wind up being bad apples?

2. Why is automatically expected a coach can fix these underlying issues?

The guys you choose had red flags before they even got here. Are you really that surprised they struck out? Just going by the law of averages, young players are going to flame out, and Im not too surprised it was those two who couldn't persevere.

 

[Synergy27]

I guess I don't understand two things, which are connected:

1. Why, with dozens of prospects/young players being brought in over the last few years, isn't there at least an acknowledgement that some of these guys are going to wind up being bad apples?

2. Why is automatically expected a coach can fix these underlying issues?

The guys you choose had red flags before they even got here. Are you really that surprised they struck out? Just going by the law of averages, young players are going to flame out, and Im not too surprised it was those two who couldn't persevere.

You steered this to the character development topic. I don’t view that as a high priority for a coach, but you seemed to be pointing to that as a success under Quinn.

There’s also a lot of talk around here about coaches not being responsible for x, y, and z. What are they responsible for? I agree that turning dipshits into adults isn’t a prime responsibility for a coach, but if he’s also not responsible for winning games because the team is too young, or for building line chemistry because his top players are underperforming, what exactly is he responsible for?

 

[Synergy27]

I think the FO feels exactly the opposite.

He is working on making the "most prized prospects" better all-around players at the NHL level. That means firing them to work on the aspects of the game that may not be their strengths.

The Carolina series, disappointing as the result and their play may have been, was playing with house money. And the team got some much needed experience playing against a team that is used to playing in a playoff-line atmosphere. They learned what it takes to win in those kind of games. And that is invaluable.

He's clearly looking for one of his goalies to grab the starter job and not let go. To date neither has been consistent. This is only magnified because goaltending was a perceived strength of this team and has been noticeably not been. Especially with the team playing generally better defensively.

The non-stop line shuffling is a result of his top players not performing well—another area that was thought to be a strength of this team.


I'd love to know how you know this. It comes off as frustration rather than insight.



Too late for what? They are the youngest team in the league? They are still in the middle of their rebuilding. Dealing vets for picks was easy. Using those picks was easy. But those two things are only half (more than half?) is player development. That's much more difficult and takes much longer. That is exactly where this team is in their process of rebuilding.

Progression is not a straight line. There are ups and downs. Steps forward and steps back (maybe more than one step either way). And that can be damn frustrating. That's why they call it growing pains.

I had a long response to this typed out and the website spontaneously refreshed and erased it. Will respond again later.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

You steered this to the character development topic. I don’t view that as a high priority for a coach, but you seemed to be pointing to that as a success under Quinn.

There’s also a lot of talk around here about coaches not being responsible for x, y, and z. What are they responsible for? I agree that turning dipshits into adults isn’t a prime responsibility for a coach, but if he’s also not responsible for winning games because the team is too young, or for building line chemistry because his top players are underperforming, what exactly is he responsible for?

I didn't steer you anywhere. Im telling you what I think the organization is valuing most while still in a rebuild and housing the league's youngest team. It's not my fault you have no respect for this process and don't want to hear it.

 

[haveandare]

At this point I almost want him to be replaced just to wait and see how long it takes until the same complaints are getting tossed at the new guy.

 

[Synergy27]

I didn't steer you anywhere. Im telling you what I think the organization is valuing most while still in a rebuild and housing the league's youngest team. It's not my fault you have no respect for this process and don't want to hear it.

We might be talking past each other, but if he’s here to “develop character” he is not doing a good job there either. Tony D was a perfect opportunity to show of those skills.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

At this point I almost want him to be replaced just to wait and see how long it takes until the same complaints are getting tossed at the new guy.

A spite firing. Different.

 

[will1066]

Petition for a Zoom town hall with Quinn to have all your dying questions answered. Bill Pidto can host.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

We might be talking past each other, but if he’s here to “develop character” he is not doing a good job there either. Tony D was a perfect opportunity to show of those skills.

I don't think we're talking past each other. I think we have different expectations of where blame can lie.

I give Quinn credit in that situation for signing off on ridding the locker room of a talented skunk.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

Gallant as HC; Jacques Martin as one assistant; Mike Kelly as the other

 

[RangersFan1994]

part of it is the soft roster Rangers management put together. players that are soft are always going to be known as soft either physically or mentally. name a player that added grit to his game just to stay in the NHL on the Rangers recently . I'll wait.

 

[haveandare]

A spite firing. Different.

Obviously if i had an actual say in it, I’d say no, but it will be interesting to see the reaction when or if it does happen and not much changes

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Obviously if i had an actual say in it, I’d say no, but it will be interesting to see the reaction when or if it does happen and not much changes

Fortunately, I don't think the FO has any interest or any social experiment that may come as a result of it.

 

[Synergy27]

I don't think we're talking past each other. I think we have different expectations of where blame can lie.

I give Quinn credit in that situation for signing off on ridding the locker room of a talented skunk.

Just trying to understand your assessment. You do think it’s on Quinn to “build character” in the room right? Your take is that you do that by identifying the problem personalities and getting rid of them?

 

[NYR]

At this point?
Jacques Martin..Step on up!

 

[WojtekWolski86]

This fan base is obsessed with the grass that looks greener on the other side.

Quinn was brought in to be a teacher. There are some good examples of guys like Kaako, Chytil, Buch growing their all around game.

People point to lack of preparation or failing to adjust as negatives. We arent in the room and I feel like some post game pressers from both him and some players have pointed out the stubbornness some players have on this team with playing the way they need to play to be successful, especially against tight checking teams.

His PP personnel decisions leave a lot to be desired. Execution wise is a bit on the players as he def let's the skill guys like Panarin and Ziba run the PP.

Do I think Quinn is or will be the answer to the promised land? Probably not. But people act like he is the sole reason holding this team back and that hiring Gallant will all the sudden make Ziba hit his one timers or players to shoot instead of overpass. Maybe Gallant has some Professor X powers I dont know about

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I don't know that I'd call Quinn a great teacher either and this is coming from someone who thinks player development under him has been mostly positive.

He's not a tactician (hes the WORST in game coach in the league by a billion miles when it comes to in game adjustments. Its not just the PP), hes not a motivator and beyond that his decisions between games have been questionable at best (this year? downright horrible.)

This isn't the only young team in the league. Chicago is a young team that have been ravaged by Injuries and they havev zero goaltending, why have they performed better than the Rangers have? They've had more things go wrong for them than we have.

There is no excuse for this team to be at a Detroit/SJ/LA level. I understand that they have had some issues out of Quinn's control, but hes contributed to their ineptness much more than his apologists care to admit.

This coaches negatives heavily out weigh the positives - for the DURR grass is greener side, most of us understand that there is no such thing as a perfect coach. A guy who has his pulse on the game and isn't losing games before they're played because of roster decisions should be a f***ing solid requirement though. Hes ran his course here, it's time to move on.

 

[NYR]

Just trying to understand your assessment. You do think it’s on Quinn to “build character” in the room right? Your take is that you do that by identifying the problem personalities and getting rid of them?

Nobody is a teacher of character as character can't be taught.

It's who you are..

It's a big part of why a player is drafted, if that makes sense..

 

[Synergy27]

Nobody is a teacher of character as character can't be taught.

It's who you are..

It's a big part of why a player is drafted, if that makes sense..

I agree to a large extent. Just trying to understand BRB’s point about character building.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

my guess is nothing gets done this season, Rangers profits are likely cut significantly due to Covid and they will not want to have extra losses by terminating Quinn and his clowns. Unless they want to demote Quinn and his clowns to Hartford...

 

[mike14]

Nobody is a teacher of character as character can't be taught.

It's who you are..

It's a big part of why a player is drafted, if that makes sense..

It's been a while since I was at uni, but you and I obviously had very different professors and entirely different curriculums!

Mine would likely have argued that it's at about the draft age where people tend to alter and add to their character quite a bit...